Marvel Comics is preparing trade paperback collections of the G.I. Joe and Transformers comics that it published in the 1980s, and Dark Horse will reprint the Star Wars comics that Marvel published in the 1970s and 80s.

The big players seemed to dominate this month, with multiple products associated with the strongest properties taking many of the top slots.

The success of Gundam on the Cartoon Network, the video revival of the Transformers , and the surprising interest in Comedy Central's Battlebot s have created something of a 'robot trend,' which has inspired a slew of robot-themed TV series and toys coming this fall.

Nelvana, the Canadian-based company that packaged Cardcaptors for American (and Canadian) television, has just announced that its latest anime import, Medabot will appear this fall on the Fox Kids network Like Cardcaptors, the Medabot anime series comes from NAS/Kodansha, Japan's largest multi-media company. Nelvana has acquired worldwide distribution and merchandising rights.

Wizard Entertainment is preparing its first totally anime publication, Anime Invasion , which is being solicited in the current (April) edition of Diamond Previews . Retailers will be able to select from two different covers, one featuring an Akira design by Pat Lee ( Warlands ), and one with a DBZ and Sailor Moon 'Toonami' cover. The magazine will carry a $4.99 cover price.

Retailers looking for bargains on toy close-outs can now check out KB Toys' online wholesale toy operation. The wholesale online service shares fulfillment and customer service with KB's regular online consumer site.

Fox Kids has announced two new anime series that will be a part of their fall lineup along with new cartoon series based on Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Evolution . The new Japanese cartoons on Fox Kids include Transformers: Robots in Disguise and Shinzo.

Rhino Video has been extremely active in resurrecting vintage kiddie-treats like the Transformers.

Company info on this critically acclaimed publisher of graphic novels.