Merchandise USA

The US gets excited by the forthcoming release of Red Dwarf goodies.

23 November, 2001

For all those fans trying to track down Red Dwarf merchandise in the USA, your wait may nearly be over. Rittenhouse Archives have announced their production of a line of 'Dwarf trading cards - and it seems that this will be the first in a long line of States-based 'Dwarfendise' as Deep7 have announced Red Dwarf: The Role Playing Game.

"There's really been nothing like working with Red Dwarf. The series has drawn so many fans in the United States with its outrageous humour," explains Christy Jarboe, Senior Licensing Manager at IMC Licensing. "Our only goal is to answer the relentless call from American fans for branded merchandise." IMC already have other merchandise in production, news of which will be hitting reddwarf.co.uk in the near future.

"We're very excited about the Red Dwarf program," says Steve Charendoff, President and founder of Rittenhouse Archives, whose output includes merchandise for hit shows Farscape, Xena, Star Trek, Hercules, The Twilight Zone, and Stargate-SG1. The company will produce a line of trading cards and trading card albums to be distributed in the United States and Canada through speciality and comic retailers, catalogues and web-based stores.

Current plans see the first release of cards focussing on favourite characters, moments and dialogue from the first eight series. Whether you were most taken with the shrinking boxer-shorts, anti-matter chopsticks or Rimmer and Lister's time-delayed fight, expect to be satisfied - but not in the Rimmer/sexual magnetism virus sense.

Deep7's role playing game, meanwhile, is planned to feature a fully illustrated hardcover Core Rulebook, accompanying handbook, Game Master's Screen, and series supplements and guides for Red Dwarf fans to become Dwarfers in their very own storylines. (Don't worry, you won't have to eat the dog food...)

"Red Dwarf has been a favourite of mine for years," says Ron Dugdal of Deep7. "We are committed to providing a top notch game series to be enjoyed by Red Dwarf fans for years to come." Red Dwarf: The Role Playing Game will, it is hoped, premier in 2002. Plans include supplements to cover the complete eight year series, culminating with a deluxe edition to support the Red Dwarf feature film.

The launch of American-based merchandise bodes well for the expected international success of the Red Dwarf movie. News of Rittenhouse's trading cards follows hot on the heels of a forthcoming, UK-based trading card release. As has often been the case with the James Bond series, it seems different cards created on opposite sides of the Atlantic will cause mass-clamouring among fans and collectors aiming to get hold of both complete sets.

Expect the Webboard to light up with transatlantic exchange offers and game playing tips following releases next year.

You can link to the Rittenhouse and Deep7 websites from our Links section.