TIMONIUM, MD (February 10, 2004) - The new Asian trend in cool makes its way to the U.S. in the form of the Ching Head: Dead Skin Tower Exclusive Figure, available from Tower Records!

Imported from Hong Kong, this 6 ½" figure is the final in artist/designer Jason Choy's successful first Ching Head figure series, paving the way for the upcoming second series, and depicts Ching City's most notorious thief and the nemesis of its protector, Ching Head, with a brand new paint scheme! This Dead Skin figure features 8 points of articulation, includes a padded vest, two pair of removable shoes, two swords, and a ball-and-chain (for his eventual capture and incarceration)! Look for the exclusive Dead Skin Figure at Tower Records stores and at www.towerrecords.com in upcoming weeks.

Since 1960, Tower Records has been recognized and respected throughout the world for its unique brand of retailing. Founded in Sacramento CA, by Chairman Russ Solomon, the Company's growth over four decades has made Tower Records a household name.

Tower Records stores are represented in fourteen countries throughout the world and in 218 different locations as wholly owned operations, licensees and affiliations. The company opened one of the first Internet music stores on America Online in June 1995 and followed a year later with the launch of Tower.com. The site was named among the top 50 retail websites by Internet Retailer magazine.

In 1999, Western street culture hit Hong Kong with a vengeance. It was this change in style that caused designer Jason Choy to ask himself why people are always accepting Eastern or Western trends, but never a blend of the two. He created the revolutionary concept of combining the traditional Chinese Ching soldier with the hip-hop style that hit Hong Kong so hard, in a new figure that is less toy and more art.

Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. was established in 1982 to provide comic book specialty retailers with wholesale, non-returnable comic books and related merchandise. Diamond Comic Distributors is headquartered in Timonium, Md. After more than 20 years of service, Diamond has emerged as the world's largest distributor of English-language comics and related merchandise, with a network of strategically located Distribution Centers throughout the world. For more information, visit www.diamondcomics.com.

DIAMOND COMIC DISTRIBUTORS - the UK branch of the world's largest distributor of English-language comic books and related merchandise - is based in London, England, and services specialty retailers throughout the UK and Europe.