Police Joker and SDCC Egon

The last 2 days have been full of news in the toy-collecting world of me!

First: Hot Toys revealed that Police Joker (pictured to the right, from the Hot Toys website) will come with an alternate sculpt head (with the make-up), as well as a complete classic Joker costume for the figure, which basically means that if one has Police Joker, one can change out the head and the clothes and essentially have a brand new original Joker. Plus grenades in his coat.

(And, apparently, even the eyes are positionable. Unbelievable.)

So I pre-ordered one, obviously, from Toy Rocket, at a fairly decent price. Then today I noticed they've increased the price by $20+. I emailed them to see if they're going to charge me the new, jacked-up price, which they probably will, and I will probably be angry.

Second: Mattel revealed today that the San Diego Comic Convention exclusives will include Dr. Egon Spengler with Slimer as a pack-in. (The image is from the Toy News International Website.) I'm also assuming this is the 6" figure that was shown as a prototype at NYCC.

If you look closely, you'll notice two interesting things: 1) Egon is "slimed", and 2) Slimer is translucent.

Why, Mattel, would you make the first Egon a "slimed" version? Perhaps all the boys in gray will be slimed, but it seems an odd choice. I'm not complaining, I just don't understand. Perhaps when these figures are sold online (as Mattel said they will be right after the con), they will be the slimed versions, or maybe there will be other "clean" variants. I'm curious.

And finally, Slimer being translucent is really exciting. I was wondering how they would do the pack-in ghosts, and it looks like they will be the dense, clear plastic/rubber that the original RGB pack in ghosts used. That excites me. (I also looked at ToyFare for this month, and they had an interview about the GB figures... saying they're going to use movie ghosts like the librarian and the taxi driver as pack-ins. How awesome is that?? Especially if they keep using the translucent effect.)

All I know is, I will cry if I don't get this guy when he is released online (supposedly the Monday after SDCC, at the end of July). Don't doubt me; I'll do it.