Dark Horse has an ambitious list of collector-oriented merchandise releases for 2005, most of which tie in to a movie that has considerable appeal for the hardcore fan. Starting in February with the release of the first two sets of PVC figures based on the Neil Gaiman/Dave McKean Mirrormask film, Dark Horse has a plethora of movie-related products that come from potential cult hits like Mirrormask and Sin City as well as definitive blockbusters such as Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and Peter Jackson's version of King Kong. 

In addition to three sets of Mirrormask PVCs (srp $14.99), which will be packaged much like Dark Horse's popular series of Tim Burton's Tragic Toys, there will be a Mirrormask Dark Queen Bust ($44.99) in March, the third series of Mirrormask PVCs in April and a Mirrormask: Really Useful Journal in May.  Mirrormask was shown at the Sundance Film Festival in January and should receive an arthouse release this spring, but the intriguing fantasy film may stand the best chance of finding its audience in the video arena where there is a strong possibility it will become a cult hit.

Sin City, which is co-directed by Robert Rodriguez and Sin City comic creator Frank Miller, is sure to get a wide release when it opens on April 1 and should attain its cult status almost instantaneously.  In addition to its Sin City graphic novels, Dark Horse has an array of Sin City merchandise including Poker Sets, Playing Cards, Tin Signs, Ash Trays and four series of PVC Figures, all of which are set for release in March.

Starting in February and lasting through May, Dark Horse will also release one superbly crafted, high-end Star Wars vinyl model kit from the top line Japanese toy manufacturer Kotobukiya per month.  The Chewbacca (February), Scout Trooper (April) and Storm Trooper (May) are all priced at $99.99, while the Yoda Vinyl Model Kit (March) will retail for $44.99.

Steven Spielberg's remake of the War of the Worlds, which debuts on June 29th, six weeks after Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, is another surefire summer blockbuster and Dark Horse has a number of War of the Worlds items, which although they are not based on the Spielberg film should be able to piggyback on the War of the Worlds movie marketing.  The Dark Horse releases, which are set for a late April release, include a T-Shirt, Cap, Coffee Mug and Yo-Yo.

Dark Horse's merchandise programs for two late 2005 movie blockbusters, King Kong and The Chronicles of Narnia, are considerably more ambitious for Dark Horse is the exclusive worldwide sales agent (save for Australia and New Zealand) for the WETA workshop, which is producing a number of high end polystone sculptures and limited edition framed prints.  Dark Horse/WETA has more than a dozen Kong skus planned ranging from $30 to $600 in cost. A first wave of products for each film arrives in October, with a second wave slated for December, the month that Kong (Dec. 14th) and Narnia (Dec. 25th) open.

In addition to all the aforementioned movie merchandise, Dark Horse will release an assortment of 1/6th scale models of the classic Fender guitars including the Telecaster, Stratocaster, P-Bass, and Jazz Bass (srp $19.99) in June and continue its well-received series of Classic Comic Characters ($49.99) with Hellboy (April), Magnus Robot Fighter (June), and American Flagg (August).