Monthly Archives: January 2019

We are going back and filling in wave 1 in our Visual Guides from the Galaxy of Adventures line. First up is Chewbacca (The Copilot). Click below to check out the full guide page for this figure. Make sure to also go back and revisit this review and discussion right here in our review database.

If you still need it, Walmart.com has The Black Series [Phase III] 6″ Dewback/Sandtrooper set for around $30. Special thanks to JTA moderator Sjefke for the alert!

In case you’re not aware of what makes up The Vintage Collection wave 21, Star Action Toys are taking pre-orders for it. Check it out! This is the wave with the long-awaited Stormtrooper all-new figure! Special thanks to JTA reader Ruari W. for the alert!

The 3.75″ TVC Mimban Stormtrooper is toggling IN and OUT of STOCK at Walmart.com as of this posting! Special thanks to all who wrote in with this news and were successful placing orders.

Welcome to another one of our JTA Presents: Evolutions features! Let’s check out how close or far we are from having an ideal Hasbro 3.75″ Kit Fisto (ROTS) action figure. Have we arrived at definitive status yet? Weigh in and let us know what conclusion you’ll come to by clicking through and adding your two cents in the comments!

(more…)

Season 4 of Rebels was available yesterday for free online, so my wife and I got to binge watching it. If you haven’t seen the Rebels cartoon… go watch it right now. The story is incredible, and along with the Clone Wars cartoon, we get some pretty incredible insights into the mystical lore of the Jedi religion. Something Rian Johnson knew George Lucas cared about since the inception of Star Wars. Click through for more…

(more…)

Good news everyone! Despite the absence of Toys R Us and what some analysts feared would lead to a double digit decline in toy sales in the USA, the toy market in the USA merely saw a decline of 2% in 2018. According to the NPD Group the toy market in the USA was 21.6 billion USD in 2018, in 2017 sales were somewhat higher with 22 billion USD. But it’s getting even better! Action figure sales were up 10% in 2018! What, you have a frowny face? Why is that? You want to know about Star Wars? Well, click through to learn some more!

That moment you suspect the ‘good news’ is actually bad news

(more…)

Hasbro re-released The Force Awakens R2-D2, relabeled it with a TLJ-specific bio and resold it to Walmart. Yeah, you don’t need it either. Learn more in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

I planned for this moving image, created by JTA reader and friend Alientek, to be the funniest thing I saw today, but fortunately for me, a story relayed by good friend Chris Swanksi at Bantha Skull took the cake. I sadly cannot share his story with you, so please enjoy this image below. I usually don’t post silly things like this on our front page, but I think we all could use a laugh. If you don’t check our RDRs on a daily basis, you miss the creative work that so many of our readers that post stuff like this often. And I am thankful to all that do. You can check out our RDR on this Lando Calrissian figure HERE.

Tonight’s Visual Guide update features Lando Calrissian, from the Star Wars [Solo] 12-Inch figure line. Click below to check out the full guide page. Make sure to also check out our full review on this figure right here.

Coming soon! We’re finishing up this fun collection in our Research Droids Reviews! Stay tuned!

Gamestop.com has the upcoming The Black Series 6-Inch Imperial Jumptrooper up for pre-order. Click here for the pre-order page! Thanks to JTA reader Cybereye for the alert!

New Zealand Mint have just announced that their Star Wars poster collection will continue in 2019. The first coin for this year features Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Released in December 2015, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the seventh film of the Star Wars film franchise. It was one of the most successful films in history, ushering in an entirely new era of Star Wars storytelling and inspiring generations young and old.  Click through for complete details.

(more…)

Lucasfilm’s SVP of Development, Kiri Hart, profile is no longer listed on Lucasfilm’s leadership page. She also (as of this posting) is not listed on the company’s leadership team page. This development could mean a couple of things. Does it mean nothing? Does it mean that she’s been promoted to another role at Lucasfilm and they’re updating her page? Or does it mean she parted ways with the company? Time will tell to see what’s happening here. Special thanks to JTA reader Craig P. for the alert!

Hasbro re-released The Force Awakens BB-8, relabeled it with a TLJ-specific bio and resold it to Walmart. Yeah, you don’t need it either. Learn more in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

In case you haven’t checked out the official Star Wars Instagram page recently, make sure to hop over and check out some beautiful art by Disney Consumer Products artist Eric Tan featuring prints from all 8 saga films. 

Today, GameStop, the largest independent seller of video games in the USA, announced that they will no longer try to find a new buyer. The company had started looking for potential buyers back in June 2018, a search that ended today “due to the lack of available financing on terms that would be commercially acceptable to a prospective acquiror”, according to GameStop. In other words: not one of the potential buyers considered GameStop a good investment or having a viable business model.
Why exactly is GameStop in trouble? Click through for an explanation!

(more…)

We’re updating another one of our Legacy guides today into our modern Visual Guide format. Click below to check out the updated POTF2 Cinema Scene Final Jedi Duel. We’ve also added this set to our Research Droids Reviews database, and you can view that right here.

Jon Favreau loves to tease… and this time he posted a photo of an R5 unit from The Mandalorian on his Instagram!
I wonder if this could be R5-D4? Only with a functioning motivator this time? I compared the photo with my Bandai model kit of R5 and even with how R5 appeared in the movie and the color scheme seems to be identical, however this R5 unit appears to show some more wear and tear than the R5 we meet in A New Hope. But it’s many years later, so who knows what he went through. Maybe some droid experts out there can shed some more light on it. Anyway, it’s photos like these that build up anticipation for the show!

Skippy?

Welcome to another one of our JTA Presents: Evolutions features! Let’s check out how close or far we are from having an ideal Hasbro 3.75″ Shaak Ti action figure. Have we arrived at definitive status yet? Weigh in and let us know what conclusion you’ll come to by clicking through and adding your two cents in the comments!

(more…)

Many of us didn’t know this figure existed until recently, but the Lando Calrissian 12-Inch Figure is remarkable. Find out why in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

Deadline reports that Disney won’t show a teaser for Episode IX during Super Bowl. The airtime Disney booked for ads will most likely show trailers for the MCU or some of the other upcoming Disney movies. It looks as though we have to be a bit more patient before that first teaser drops. Star Wars Celebration seems like the next good opportunity to do that.

Let’s wrap up the complete run of the POTF2 Electronic Power F/X figure addtions to our Visual Guides with Emperor Palpatine. Click below for a complete look at this figure. Make sure to also check him out in our complete review.

Here we go! Some people who backed the barge are now “dumping” the included and super-rare Yak Face figure with the coin on eBay. Bids are traveling high. If you nacked the barge, are you selling this figure too? Or will it be treasured forever?

We’re looking at the FINAL Cinema Scenes set with Final Jedi Duel. It’s pretty dang cool. Learn more in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

Star Wars Authentics has launched a new Gift-With-Purchase Topps Star Wars trading card set featuring Return of the Jedi. Spend $79.99 or more on any Star Wars Authentics items and received this exclusive Topps Star Wars: Return of the Jedi trading card set.  Shop any category – autographs, official photos, or signed Funko Pops. This exclusive sequentially numbered 5-card set is limited to only 50 sets. Click here to visit Star Wars Authentics.

We have another figure from the POTF2 Electronic Power F/X line for today’s Visual Guide update. Click below for a look at Luke Skywalker. Be sure to also check out our full review on this figure for more gallery images, as well as our discussion forum.

Topps has week 6 of their limited Star Wars Galactic Moments: Countdown To Episode 9 cards now available. This week, the featured cards are Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Destroys Death Star, and Award Ceremony.

(more…)

We’re finishing up the Electronic Power F/X line! Let’s conclude with Emperor Palpatine, a figure that turned out pretty well, but mostly because of the environmental display stand included with him. Learn more in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

NJ Toys & Collectibles have posted an update about TBS6 Commander Gree. IN their update they state “We regret to inform you that Hasbro has notified us they have decided NOT to offer Commander Gree again.” They also leave it open stating that once they receive a “final word” from Hasbro that they will begin refunding pre-orders. What a disaster. It feels like the perfect figure for re-release in this line! Special thanks to JTA reader Brian F. for the update.

Today’s Visual Guide update continues to look at the POTF2 Electronic Power F/X line. Click below to check out the Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi figure. You can also visit our full review for additional details and discussion.

The network television premiere of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story happens tonight at 8 PM ET on TNT! Check your local listings for channel lineup.

You likely remember when we reported about a plethora of Jyn Erso and Captain Cassian Andor TBS6 figures arriving at TARGET unexpectedly and in vast numbers. With your help, we figured out that the Five Below stock (both online and in stores) was purchased for $5 each and then people used their TARGET receipts to return the $5 figures with receipts of new figures they paid full price for. Well, it appears TARGET is onto the bait and switch. They’ve covered up the UPCs and created a unique UPC on the clearance sticker to ensure these never get returned to the store again. Acts like this will change return policies for the worse and could make some products ineligible for return for all of us. Let’s not make Hasbro’s bad case assortment decisions worse with this type of clearance life cycle that seemingly is without end. We’ll be seeing Jun and Cassian in stores until who knows when.

Website adage.com lists companies that are known to have booked airtime for the upcoming Super Bowl in February. And one entry is quite interesting. Filed unter “entertainment” the website says: “Walt Disney will air an undisclosed number of spots in the game.” With no further details, while all the other entries have detailed info on who made the spot and even some basic details about the spot.
What is it that Walt Disney could possibly air? Ok, there are upcoming Marvel movies, but we’ve had trailers for them already. Maybe there will be some last minute marketing for the Captain Marvel movie, which is released in March? But why keep that a secret? Or maybe, just maybe, we will get to see a first teaser for Episode IX, arguably the most important Disney movie in 2019? I believe the Super Bowl would be the perfect time to release the Episode IX teaser. We’ll know very soon!

We’re looking at the Electronic Power F/X line and Luke Skywalker is likely the worst-looking of them all. Find out why in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

Up next for the Electronic Power F/X Visual Guide updates is Darth Vader. Click below to have a look at our full Visual Guide. Make sure to also stop by and read our full review.

Check out the latest newsletter from sponsor Brian’s Toys…

Free domestic shipping when you spend $75 $35 at www.brianstoys.com!  We have dropped our minimum order price to only $35 spent to receive free shipping domestically, so be sure to place your order today to take advantage of this special! This shipping promotion ends February 3rd.

Dorkside Toys has the wonderful 4th wave of The Vintage Collection in-stock now, and with free shipping (US residents)! You can purchase them here.

The Kids License Monitor is released every three months and gives insight into the popularity of licensed toys among kids in three European core markets: the UK, France and Germany. These three countries are also the core legacy markets for Star Wars in Europe, where Star Wars has always been very popular. JTA had an article about the previous License Monitor. But now the report for the fourth quarter of 2018 has been released. Time to look at how and if things have changed. Where does Star Wars rank among kids aged 4-12 in the UK, France and Germany? Click through for more details!

What Disney execs dream of at night

(more…)

We’re looking at the Electronic Power F/X line. Let’s continue with Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi. He’s the second-worst figure in this line. And he’s the focus of our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

We are filling another hole in our older POTF2 [Green/Freeze Frame] Visual Guide with the addition of the Electronic Power F/X R2-D2 (Artoo-Detoo) figure. Click below to check it out! You can also check out this figure in our full review right here.

Welcome to another one of our JTA Presents: Evolutions features! Let’s check out how close or far we are from having an ideal Hasbro 3.75″ Aayla Secura action figure. Have we arrived at definitive status yet? Weigh in and let us know what conclusion you’ll come to by clicking through and adding your two cents in the comments!

(more…)

The NPD Group released some numbers for the UK toy market in 2018. And things are quite disappointing. Year on year the toy market in the UK shrank by 7%. According to the NPD Group the toy markets in the USA, France, Spain and Australia also saw a decline. Click through for some more details!

Update: article updated with more data and charts for better visualization.

(more…)

Who remembers the Electronic Power F/X line? Let’s continue with Darth Vader. It’s the focus of our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

We have another Cinema Scene Visual Guide update, this time featuring the POTF2 [FlashBack/CommTech] Rebel Pilots set. Click below to check out our full Visual Guide. You can also read about this set in our full review right here.

Heroes Series/12-Inch Figures including some I didn’t even know existed are on clearance at Walmart.com. A final wave of 12-Inch Figures was intended for release in the summer of last year but never made it out. These include Lando Calrissian, Darth Vader, Stormtrooper. I also found the First Order Executioner in Star Wars [Solo] packaging. Also, Walmart’s exclusive R2-D2 and BB-8 are also on sale. Special thanks to JTA reader Craig F. for the alert!

Who remebers the Electronic Power F/X line? Let’s begin with R2-D2 (Artoo-Detoo). It’s the focus of our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

Check out the poster art for the official Star Wars Celebration Chicago poster. You can also read all about the newly announced guest attending over at StarWars.com. 

We’re updating a few of our old guides to our new Visual Guide format, starting with the Cantina Aliens Cinema Scenes set. Click below to check out our full Visual Guide page, and make sure to also read about this set recently added to our review database.

It looks like Commander Gree is making a return, folks. The former Toys R Us exclusive is now up for pre-order with an April 2019 delivery at NJ Toys & Collectibles!!

The nominees for the 2019 Academy Awards were announced. And Solo – A Star Wars Story received one nomination for best visual effects. Adam Driver is nominated as supporting actor for his role in BlacKkKlansman, also nominated in this category is Richard E. Grant, who will star alongside Driver in Episode IX. And yet another artist associated with Star Wars received a nomination: Ludwig Goransson is nominated for best score for Black Panther, he is the composer for The Mandalorian.
I believe Solo has zero chance of winning, that award will probably go to Avengers Infinity War or maybe Ready Player One. But maybe Adam Driver will actually be an Oscar winning actor once IX is released. let’s hope he won’t be struck by the Oscar curse then…
Will you be even watching the Oscars this year? The show seems to be more and more out of touch with time and general audiences. But maybe the Black Panther best picture nomination will attract some more viewers than last year.
Edit: The person called Ben Burtt nominated for sound editing for Black Panther is not THE Ben Burtt apparently, but someone who has the exact same name and works at Skywalker Sound.
Edit 2: Actually Ben Burtt Jr is the son of Ben Burtt. Who is also a “Jr”, so apparently calling your son “Ben” is a time-honored Burtt family tradition. What a joy family gatherings must be!

Welcome to another one of our JTA Presents: Evolutions features! Let’s check out how close or far we are from having an ideal Hasbro 3.75″ AT-AT Driver action figure. Have we arrived at definitive status yet? Weigh in and let us know what conclusion you’ll come to by clicking through and adding your two cents in the comments!

(more…)

Let’s continue looking at some POTF2-era stuff. We will continue with the Rebel Pilots Cinema Scenes set. Did you know it’s sixty-six and two-thirds percent screen-inaccurate? Learn more in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

Here’s the second Two-Pack set from the Star Wars [Resistance] line for today’s Visual Guide update. Click below to check out Poe Dameron and BB-8. You can also check out our full review of this set right here.

We’re switching gears once again! Let’s look at some POTF2-era stuff. Let’s begin with the Cantina Aliens Cinema Scenes set. It’s still a lot of fun today. Learn more in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

Tonight we are adding the Jarek Yeager/Bucket (R3-B7) Two-Packs set to our Star Wars [Resistance] Visual Guide. Click below to check out our full guide page for this set, and click here to read our full review.

Let’s finish up the Star Wars [Resistance] line with the Poe Dameron/BB-8 Two-Packs set. It’s another nice release. Check it out in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

Our Galaxy of Adventures run of Visual Guide updates finishes with the Imperial Stormtrooper (The Enforcer). Click below to visit the full guide page. Make sure to also check out our full review right here.

StarWars.com has a first look at the cover for the recently announced Alphabet Squadron novel, as well as the upcoming Marvel Comics TIE Fighter series. Both novel and comics will be a crossover series and will take place at the same time, following the events of Return of the Jedi. It was also revealed that Alphabet Squadron will be a trilogy of books. Get the full scoop after the jump…

Topps has week 5 of their limited Star Wars Galactic Moments: Countdown To Episode 9 cards now available. This week, the featured cards are R2-D2, Trash Compactor Escape, and Duel on the Death Star.

(more…)

Retail is clearancing out the Star Wars [Solo] wave, and so many collectors have yet to see a single character from the film on pegs. Hasbro Toy Shop’s eBay store has the last wave in stock if you’re quick. These figures MAY show up on clearance somewhere down the road, but you know what they say about last wave syndrome…. Special thanks to JTA reader Shawn P. for the alert!

The Jarek Yeager/Bucket (R3-B7) Two-Packs set from the Star Wars [Resistance] line should be one of your first must-have 2019 action figure purchases. We’re not kidding. Hasbro also goofed on the droid’s name. See why you need this set in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

JTA sponsor Brian’s Toys checks in with their latest newsletter…

All kinds of goodies this week!  Hasbro is producing a bunch of items that will be sure to fulfill your collecting needs. Our personal favorite Mace Windu FX Lightsaber is back 🙂 I mean who doesn’t love the purple lightsaber? Be sure to check out our auctions this week as we have several Sideshow items ending this weekend along with 2011 SDCC Death Star Figure Set… who knows you might get a steal!

Paul talks about The Walking Dead from time to time here on JTA, so I thought, heck, why can’t I go off topic too, at least once… Also, it’s Friday night, things are usually slow now, not much going on, why not talk about something completely different? Let’s talk about Star Trek! That other franchise, right! However, I will also touch on Star Wars in my, let’s call it “rant”, so it’s not as off-topic as Paul’s TWD articles. Click through for my rant!

“Spock” (or is it Ash Tyler???)  kisses Michael passionately

(more…)

Yoda (The Master) is today’s Visual Guide update, the latest from wave 2 of the Galaxy of Adventures line. Click below to have a look at the full Visual Guide, and make sure to also visit our review for this figure right here.

JTA reader Aldo S. informs us that the The Black Series Rocket Trooper is up for in-store pre-order at Gamestop! So you may want to head to your local Gamestop and see if you can pre-order him too! Below is visual confirmation of Aldo’s pre-order! Thanks Aldo, for the alert!

A few hours ago some Episode IX rumors appeared on the Star Wars Leaks subreddit, the most credible source of Star Wars information, only second to Mike Zeroh. However, the rumors might actually have some truth to them as some evidence was apparently provided to a moderator on the Star Wars Leaks subreddit. So I thought, ok, why not look at these rumors and discuss them. You know the drill by now, if you want to know more, click through. If you want to know nothing, well, then do nothing and forever wonder what might be discussed in the article, tossing in your sleep at night.

Not an actual spoiler or rumor! Maybe. Also, these are actual toys by Funko.

(more…)

Goodness, gracious me! Bubblegate returns AGAIN! JTA Facebook reader Rob H. sends us a heartbreaking image of the Stormtrooper (Mimban) figure off of its card back while still in the bubble. I am not sure about you, but my figures arrived in terrible condition, and I have heard it’s been the consensus of many other collectors as well. Rob writes “Yes it was packed in a vinyl envelope but if this was torn off in shipping paper would have been removed from the card. It looks like it never had anything on it. I think this would come off with little effort.” Maybe your sample didn’t arrive after suffering abuse as his did, but this is a warning not to test fate and treat your own carded sample with extra tender loving care. How this figure wasn’t a general marketplace release is beyond my comprehension.

tunghori has once again put up The Vintage Collection Yak Face wave up Special thanks to JTA reader and friend Mark for the second alert!

OK, here’s a beauty of a figure. Let’s finish up looking at Galaxy Of Adventures wave 2! The Imperial Stormtrooper (The Enforcer) finishes up this series. He’s the focus on our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

Check out Han Solo (The Scoundrel), the next Visual Guide addition to the Galaxy of Adventures line. Click below for a full look at the guide page, and click here for a full look at our review.

Welcome to another one of our JTA Presents: Evolutions features! Let’s check out how close or far we are from having an ideal Hasbro 3.75″ Lando Calrissian action figure. Have we arrived at definitive status yet? Weigh in and let us know what conclusion you’ll come to by clicking through and adding your two cents in the comments!

(more…)

The reports are pouring in from JTA readers ecstatic that they finally received their Saelt-Marae wave of The Vintage Collection line, and what a FANTASTIC wave it is! Special thanks to JTA reader Justin for sharing his joy with us!

tunghori put up The Vintage Collection Yak Face wave up(loose)! Special thanks to JTA reader and friend Mark for the alert!

Pop! fans make sure to check out the latest pre-orders over at Entertainment Earth. They’ve listed 6 new Pops! Click the links below for each product page. 

• Endor Han Solo Pop! Vinyl Figure #286
• Ewok Village Leia Pop! Vinyl Figure #287
• Electrocuted Vader Pop! Vinyl Figure #288
• Emperor Palpatine Pop! Vinyl Figure #289
• Wicket W. Warrick Pop! Vinyl Figure #290
• General Lando Calrissian Pop! Vinyl Figure #291

Fans will get another chance to experience a piece of Rancho Obi-Wan this April when Steve Sansweet once again brings a bit of his collection to share with the masses. If you’ve never stopped by this booth at past Celebrations, you are missing out on a fun peek at his amazing collection. We are glad to see this must-visit booth return for another Celebration! 

On November 30th 2018 Lucasfilm launched their brand new Star Wars Kids YouTube show Galaxy of Adventures, which animates short scenes from the original trilogy movies, using the original dialogue and sound effects. Hasbro also launched a Galaxy of Adventures toyline to coincide with the new animated show. Now, after about six weeks, I think it’s time to take a closer look at how Galaxy of Adventures performs on YouTube. So click through for an analysis!

(more…)

Ok, so here’s a riddle! JTA regular Darth Rizzen went to a local toyshop in France and scanned a Star Wars product to see how much it costs. You can see the result pictured below: 16 euros, which is a little more than 18 USD.
Now… what product do you think was scanned by Monsieur Rizzen? A discounted vehicle? A discounted Black Series Figure (Finn? Jyn?) Click through for the solution!

(more…)

Let’s continue looking at Galaxy Of Adventures wave 2! Yoda (The Master) is next! He’s the focus on our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

We are opening another new guide page (our 3rd in less than a month!). It’s time to add the Galaxy of Adventures figures to our Visual Guide database. Click below to check out Princess Leia (The Rebel). You can also read about this figure over in our review database as well.

Let’s continue looking at Galaxy Of Adventures wave 2! Han Solo (The Scoundrel) is next! He’s the focus on our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

It’s late, but we didn’t want to say goodnight without providing you a sneak peek at the stunning Jarek Yeager/Bucket (R3-B7) Two-Packs set from the Star Wars [Resistance] line. It’s one of the most beautiful things Hasbro’s produced in quite some time. We’re quite taken with this line, and the products continually get better and better. Bucket has more articulation than expected, and its design is gorgeous. Jarek Yeager is one of the nicest animated sculpts we’ve ever seen! This is a must-have set in our opinion, so check it out early right now!

Behind the scenes, I calculate various statistics on what happens here on our site, just for curiosity. And I have to say you all impressed me. We had unprecedented first-day unique visits for The Vintage Collection wave 20. It seems all the hobby needs is a strong wave of Original Trilogy characters to get everyone excited again. Anyway, thank you for the astounding traffic, and we hope you keep checking back as we add more figures to this fantastic collection. If you missed checking out our larger-than-usual galleries of Saelt-Marae, Klaatu (Skiff Guard), Princess Leia Organa (Boushh) and Scarif Stormtrooper, please be sure to check them out!

According to Kotaku EA just cancelled its single player open world Star Wars game which was in development at EA Vancouver since late 2017. EA had cancelled a previous iteration of a single player Star Wars game before when Visceral Games was closed. This is the second time now a single player (and open world) Star Wars game is nixed by EA.
EA went on record previously that they don’t really like open world (single player) games and prefer games as a service (i.e. Battlefront II that encourages you to pay a lot of money on top of what you pay for the initial game). So it seems that Star Wars will have to wait much, much longer before fans can have their Star Wars version of Red Dead Redemption 2, Spider-Man or God of War. Open world single player games that did incredibly well in 2018 and broke several records.

Jedi: Fallen Order is still in development though and is supposed to be a single player game. But probably not open world and much more linear. Not much is known about the project.

My comment is that I wish Disney would give the Star Wars games license to any other publisher. What do you think about all this? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

Screenshot of the previously cancelled Star Wars game from Visceral Games

Welcome to another one our JTA Presents: Evolutions features! Let’s check out how close or far we are from having an ideal Hasbro 3.75″ Lobot action figure. Have we arrived at definitive status yet? Weigh in and let us know what conclusion you’ll come to by clicking through and adding your two cents in the comments!

(more…)

We have one more addition to our The Black Series Archive Visual Guide. Let’s check out Boba Fett. Click below to view the full guide, and click here to read through our full review.

Most of the Galaxy of Adventures wave 2 is available at Walmart.com. Click below for the product pages. Thanks to JTA reader Craig for the alert!

Uh-oh… You may want to check your email if you ordered the Mimban Stormtrooper that was available yesterday. Thankfully mine already shipped, but some people aren’t getting so lucky. Thanks to Mike H. for sharing this image with us.

“We’ll do better next time.” No, you probably won’t!

Where do action figures go after they don’t sell at 5-below and Ross? They go to Liquidator’s Discount Center in AZ. I found these the other day and feel I can safely dub Finn as the least wanted action figure (dare I say more than Zuvio?). That title is being challenged by Force Link Rose, though. Jason D. posted a picture on Facebook of several pegs of Rose Tico for full price at Disney World. Have you ever seen anything peg-warm so hard? Do you have a challenger for the least wanted action figure of 2017-18? Let us know in the comments! (more…)

We’re switching gears and are opening up Galaxy Of Adventures wave 2! Let’s begin with Princess Leia (The Rebel). She’s the focus on our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

The Force lives on! Introducing a brand-new Star Wars: The Force Awakens Silver Coin Note Collection from New Zealand Mint. It features several key characters and comes complete with a FREE seven-note collector’s album. To date, there are coin notes available for Rey, Finn, Kylo Ren, Han Solo & Leia Organa, Poe Dameron & BB-8. The final note for the Stormtroopers will be available from 31 January. Click through for complete details.

(more…)

Let’s wrap up wave 20 of our The Vintage Collection Visual Guide updates with the addition of the Scarif Stormtrooper (VC133). Click below to have a look! Make sure you also check out our full review right here.

If you successfully placed an order for The Vintage Collection Stormtrooper (Mimban) figure BEFORE the price dropped to $12.99, you can call 1-800-925-6278 and provide the Walmart rep with your order number, he or she WILL price adjust the order total and give you a refund. I just did it and it worked beautifully.

The Walt Disney Company released its proxy statement for the full year 2018 last Friday, January 11th. And it may surprise no one to learn that Star Wars earned less money for Disney in 2018. I took this opportunity to not only look at the current report, but also at past reports, to see what has been going on. So click through for a more detailed look and some insight into the reasons for decreasing revenue. Straight from the Mouse’s mouth!

Rey has just read Disney’s annual report for 2018

(more…)

Hey! The TVC Mimban Stormtrooper is BACK IN STOCK! BY the way, it looks like the MSRP is set to $19.99 for this item. I don’t think it’s changing! It’s another reason why Walmart should never be allowed to sell Star Wars figures again!

Now let’s check out the Scarif Stormtrooper figure! We’re looking at The Vintage Collection wave 20, the wave that should have begun the line’s relaunch! And don’t forget it’s our final year of Research Droids Reviews! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

The Vintage Collection Wave 20 stays with the Jabba’s Palace theme with the repacked (but “photorealistic” repainted face) Princess Leia Organa (Boushh) (VC134). Make sure to check out our full Visual Guide by clicking below, and make sure to check out our full review by clicking here.

It’s improved thanks to “photorealistic” technology! We’re talking about Princess Leia Organa (Boushh)! We’re looking at The Vintage Collection wave 20, the wave that should have begun the line’s relaunch! And don’t forget it’s our final year of Research Droids Reviews! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

Our next Visual Guide update from wave 20 of The Vintage Collection is Klaatu (Skiff Guard) (VC135). Click below to check out the complete Visual Guide, and click here to read through our full review.

There is a new development in the closing of Toys R Us. Ollies, who purchased most of their remaining inventory, is now taking over some locations and leasing them out. How bad shape TRU must have been in if a discount chain has enough liquid cash to take over both their inventory AND real estate. CNN has the full story. Special thanks to friend Martin M. for the alert to this news.

Amazon has the Star Wars [Solo] Mission on Vandor-1 multipack on sale for $16.27. Click here to order. A big thanks to JTA moderator Jeff for the alert!

Last week COTY, a manufacturer of luxury perfumes, with Calvin Klein being one of their brands, sued German discounter ALDI. COTY didn’t want ALDI to sell several of their perfumes anymore and a court found that COTY is in the right. The presentation and retail environment at ALDI stores hurt the brand image and thus the court ruled that ALDI has to stop the sale of COTY perfumes.
Now, what does that have to do with Star Wars? Very simple, whatever is going on with Star Wars toys at the moment, figures for $2.99, figures for $0.03, toys found at Ollie’s or Five Below are nothing that Hasbro would have to accept, unless they are ok with it.
Click through for a very brief primer on distribution and my own thoughts about how Star Wars toys should or could be distributed in the future.

Star Wars Toys at Ollie’s

(more…)

It’s another fantastic release! It’s time to look carefully at The Vintage Collection wave 20, the wave that should have begun the line’s relaunch! Let’s now check out Klaatu (Skiff Guard), a long-awaited modern update! (Special thanks to JTA reader and friend Binary_Sun for the composited image!) And don’t forget it’s our final year of Research Droids Reviews! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

It’s time to add the next wave of The Vintage Collection to our Visual Guides! First up, we look at the amazing Saelt-Marae figure. Click below to check out the full guide page. Make sure to also stop by and check out our full review, with a huge extended gallery of this figure.

If you saw our very popular post “What’s The Deal WIth The Vintage Collection’s Packaging?” you know that we addressed multiple concerns we have for the visual aesthetics of The Vintage Collection’s packaging. One of the things we discussed was the Princess Leia Organa (Boushh) figure and how Hasbro didn’t contain the figure within the orange backer area. Well, after receiving our carded samples, we discovered that Hasbro has indeed corrected it. This is one positive step forward to get the line where it needs to be. THANK YOU, Hasbro! Click the image below to see the excellent update!

Topps has week 4 of their limited Star Wars Galactic Moments: Countdown To Episode 9 cards now available. This week, the featured cards are Luke Skywalker (#10), Han and Greedo (#11), and The Fate of Alderaan (#12). 

(more…)

You’d think a person of this unscrupulous character would just wait for these things to go on clearance. Hasbro treated the Gamorrean Guard 6″ figure right and made plenty of them for everyone. If you don’t want to pay $30 for it, then buy it when it is 50% off. Don’t steal.

Target.com is having an online promotion right now. Click through to see if there are any deals you can find! There doesn’t seem to be any Star Wars clearance deals, but if there’s anything else you are after it’s worth looking through.

An anonymous JTA reader submitted evidence that his local Walmart has put The Black Series [Phase III] 6″ line on clearance. He paid $4.50 per figure. Proof below.

In case you missed our post on this earlier on Facebook today, you can pre-order Jarek Yeager and Bucket on Amazon. Special thanks to JTA reader Scott M. for the alert!

My local target has just finished their action figure reset, and it is rather sorry. They had the new archive figures in stock (I let some sixer friends know). Unfortunately, the 3 pegs of Vintage Collection figures that were present before the reset are now relegated to just 1. Fellow Council of Collectors members, what can be done? (more…)

Check out the latest update from JTA sponsor Brian’s Toys…

You are going to want to tune in these next few weeks for tons of brand new Hasbro items being added!  This week we have received The Black Series Archive Wave 1 ready to ship and preorders for the Resistance wave & Black Series 6-inch General Grievous.  Be sure to place your order today to secure your order, there are limited quantities available.

Here we go! It’s time to look carefully at The Vintage Collection wave 20, the wave that should have begun the line’s relaunch! Let’s check out Saelt-Marae, who is also coming as “Yak Face” with a coin in Jabba’s Sail Barge (The Khetanna). And don’t forget it’s our final year of Research Droids Reviews! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

UPDATE: I forgot to add an image that JTA reader and friend Binary_Sun put together. He took one of my images of Yak Face and Salacious Crumb and composited with a beautiful background. Check it out!

Our next Visual Guide update features the re-released IG-88 from the new The Black Series Archive line. Click below for a full look at this figure, and click here for our detailed review.

This is an interesting bit of news. Hasbro Toy Shop will be undergoing a major makeover and will close in February to produce a better e-commerce site. You can check out what you need to know on their site right now! (There are SO MANY changes at once at Hasbro lately, huh?)

(more…)

Holy cow! Look what new Hasbro merchandise Entertainment Earth rescues from certain clearance doom! Order them while you can. Brick and mortar are dead! I can’t believe the Disney Store exclusives are getting picked up by EE!

• Star Wars Black Series Zuckuss 6-inch Action Figure (hard to find)
• Star Wars Black Series Captain Phasma 6-inch Action Figure (damaged face mask)
• Star Wars The Vintage Collection Imperial TIE Fighter
• Star Wars Solo Force Link 2.0 Kessel Mine Escape Playset (not in big box stores)

Welcome to another one of our JTA Presents: Evolutions features! Let’s check out how close or far we are from having an ideal Hasbro 3.75″ Wooof action figure. Have we arrived at definitive status yet? Weigh in and let us know what conclusion you’ll come to by clicking through and adding your two cents in the comments!

(more…)

If you’re still in need of this First Order Flametrooper to complete your TLJ line-up, it is only $7 on Amazon right now. Not too terrible for a trooper that can hold his weapon with both hands, although having joints would be much better!

It’s our final year of Research Droids Reviews! A new year means new figures! Let’s finish up the first wave of The Black Series Archive line with IG-88. What’s up with that paint job? Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

Wow! The Black Series [Phase III] Centerpiece Rey figure, which has barely made a splash at brick and mortar, is on Amazon right now for $17 and change. (This is a $50 item). If you want it, now’s the time! Special thanks to JTA reader Jeff B. for the alert!

You saw our sneak peeks at Saelt-Marae and Klaatu (Skiff Guard) figures, but tonight we have the rest of Wave 20 for you to check out! The Scarif Stormtrooper is more different than we first realized. His base armor is a little more yellow, and it appears that the dirt deco is differently placed. Princess Leia Organa (Boushh) is, of course, stellar and the best version we have of her now. Yes, that dang thermal detonator is permanently affixed to her left hand, but you’re just going to have to deal with it because the “photorealistic” technology is terrific. (Remember, these are high-resolution images, and you’re going to see every imperfection. Don’t let it taint your appreciation of her! By the way, this should have been the first wave of the relaunched The Vintage Collection. I think things would be very different right now had that been the case. Don’t forget t leave your thoughts about these figures in the comments!

Bossk is our next addition to our The Black Series Archive Visual Guide page. Click below for our full Visual Guide. We also have our full review of this figure right here.

Star Wars Resistance is officially picked up for a second season. Along with the announcement, we get a look at the second half of season 1 with some interesting appearances. We get to see several characters witnessing a holo of the speech given by General Hux, which would lead us to believe that Star Wars Resistance will merge with the events of The Force Awakens. It will be interesting to see how they handle this given BB-8’s presence in both Star Wars Resistance and The Force Awakens. Click through for the full press release and trailer.

(more…)

Sideshow Collectibles has opened up the pre-order for the newly announced Director Krennic sixth scale figure. Click here for the pre-order page. 

Lately I’ve been thinking about the future of Star Wars, both as a whole and more particular as something that makes people buy action figures. The ultimate question is: will Star Wars either fade away, become less significant once the people who grew up with the original and prequel trilogy move on, or will Star Wars find new love and enthusiasm in a new generation, despite a much more competitive environment than we had 20 or 40 years ago? Click through for some musings and for which I hope will launch a fruitful discussion about the future of Star Wars!

Mythological kids playing with mythological Star Wars toys

(more…)

Mark Hamill posted a current photo of himself on Instagram. He was finally attending The Mousetrap play in London, which he originally meant to do back in 1976 when he was in London for A New Hope. But what is of note here is Mark Hamill’s look, it’s almost youthful. He is clean shaven and his hair is short with little grey in it.

So let the speculation begin… will Mark Hamill be de-aged for Episode IX and a flashback sequence? Do Force ghosts have barbers? Or did he get a new haircut and finally shaved his beard only after filming wrapped? The production in Pinewood has come to an end recently.

Mark Hamill having fun in London. I edited the photo on the upper left and adjusted the exposure so you can better see Mark’s face

Hot Toys has announced their upcoming Orson Krennic 1/6 scale figure!
Apart from the usual hands and stand Krennic will come with his blaster, two code cylinders, an Imperial officer’s hat and two sets of rank insignia to replicate his look from early in the movie.
Check out a lot more photos on the official Hot Toys website! Expect pre-orders to go up very soon!

It’s our final year of Research Droids Reviews! A new year means new figures! Let’s continue with The Black Series Archive line and look at Bossk. He seems alright but has some issues. Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

Welcome to another one of our JTA Presents: Evolutions features! Let’s check out how close or far we are from having an ideal Hasbro 3.75″ Tessek action figure. Have we arrived at definitive status yet? Weigh in and let us know what conclusion you’ll come to by clicking through and adding your two cents in the comments!

(more…)

We’re opening another new Visual Guide tonight. Check out our The Black Series Archive Visual Guide page, and then check out our first addition: Luke Skywalker. Click below for the full guide page. In case you missed out on our full review of this figure, you can check it out right here.

If you missed out on this item on eBay, the same seller has non-damaged versions of it for only $149.99 on Amazon and with Prime. Thanks to JTA reader Germinator for the alert!

The Episode IX rumor mill is spinning once more… there is a potentially huge rumor for Episode IX that, if true, could either be considered the best thing ever or maybe yet another desperate attempt to undo some of the perceived damage of the previous sequel movies. If you want to know more, just click through! If not… just don’t click! It’s really that simple!

This image has no connection to the rumor

Update: Now with bar chart!

(more…)

Who’s that? Vickie Stratford was the Design Director for Star Wars from 2009-2011 (um, the golden years!). If you have any reserve about that time period for Star Wars action figures, just take a look at the Shadow of the Dark Side lines, and the early Vintage Collection Series.  With TVC in full force and The Clone Wars returning for it’s final season, she would be a magnificent fit to run the brand today.

She worked alongside Derryl DePriest and the two appeared together at the celebrated 2010 Toy Fair. From what we’ve seen, we’ve logically concluded that she might be returning to the Star Wars team to replace Steve Evans as the new Director Of Product Design “for one of the most wonderful brands in the galaxy!” Let us know what you think in the comments!

Ms. Stratford when she appeared at a 2007 BotCon during her tenure over the Transformers Brand. Picture from tfwiki.

If you missed out on Jabba’s Sail Barge, but still want that sculpt of Jabba The Hutt? Did you never secure a rancor? Did you miss out on the never-to-be-shipped-again Slave Leia action figures? Well, you can get the former Toys R Us exclusive Jabba’s Rancor Pit from The Black Series [Phase II] line for its original MSRP on eBay now!

UPDATE: They’re all sold out, but we changed the link to see if any others come up for a reasonable price.

Pre-order The Black Series [Phase III] 6″ General Grievous at Entertainment Earth RIGHT NOW!

Collectors in the We Backed The Barge Facebook Group were treated with a post by Hasbro’s Steve Evans. He provided a rough sketch of how much space you’ll need to display your Jabba’s Sail Barge. Special thanks to JTA reader Jamie D. for the alert!

It’s our final year of Research Droids Reviews! A new year means new figures! Let’s continue with The Black Series Archive line and look at Boba Fett. He looks good, but he isn’t perfect. Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

Wow. Here’s a shocker. 2019’s HASCON has been postponed. Special thanks to our friends at Bantha Skull for the alert to this surprising news!

JTA reader and friend Steve U. forwards us images we haven’t seen yet online yet (but maybe you have). General Grievous is looking good!

Jazzinc Dioramas has posted a first teaser image of a prototype 6 in scale Tantive IV hallway diorama earlier today. Downpayment is $50, Jazzinc Dioramas is aiming for a $150 price tag for the finished piece.
If you want to pre-order your Tantive IV hallway for the Black Series (or SHF, of course) just head over to the Jazzinc Dioramas homepage, click on contact and you will find the mail address. Just write a short mail that you want to pre-order the set and you will receive an invoice for the downpayment. Jazzinc has produced a 1/6 scale version of the set, which you can also check out to see what the finished 1/12 scale version will probably look like. Thanks to JTA regular Matthew Cohen for the alert!

Prototype Tantive IV Hallway

JTA reader and friend “Logan” found the Galaxy Of Adventures wave 2 at his local Walmart. Admittedly, these figures look pretty neat in the colorful packaging. Too bad they’re all repacked figures. Well, the Stormtrooper isn’t. It looks like the Solo Stormtrooper (Mimban) figure painted all white with the Rogue One helmet.

(more…)

This topic seems to come up fairly frequently in a Facebook Group that I’m in, and has been the topic of recent conversation on some other collecting sites too, so I wanted to share my thoughts about articulation. These thoughts come from the last conversation I had on Facebook about it about a week ago.

Personally, I am all for super articulation, but I understand that sometimes it can get in the way of a good sculpt. In this article you’ll find the reasoning behind my desire to have Hasbro give all their figures full articulation, as well as some possible advice for future production of The Vintage Collection figures. Click through for more!  (more…)

Well, If we’re all honest with ourselves, The Vintage Collection hasn’t gone the way most of us wanted it to go. This criticism is not intended to undercut the incredible work Steve Evans did with the Saelt-Marae and Klaatu (Skiff Guard) figures (and the rest of the newness he’s brought to the line). In my opinion, he should be allowed to retire with how beautiful they (and the rest) turned out from most 3.75″ super-articulated action figures. Photorealistic technology begins this year for human/humanoid 3.75” figures. (We already see some elements of this technology with the Resistance figures.) All of that is well and good. But when it comes to The Vintage Collection packaging, it appears we’re not forging ahead as much as we need. If you’re a loose collector, please move along as you’ll likely find this post pedantic. (more….)

(more…)

Either the filming of Episode IX is finished or at least it has finished filming at Pinewood, either way, a British modelmaker posted a few pics of the crew gifts she received as a thank you on Instagram. It appears you’ll get a thank you note, a “IX” branded bag, a t-shirt with a Bad Robot logo (plus some other shirt with a boombox print), and a crewjacket with a “IX” logo. Click through for a few more details!

Click for larger image

(more…)

It’s our final year of Research Droids Reviews! A new year means new figures! Let’s open up The Black Series Archive line and start off with Luke Skywalker. He looks good, but he isn’t perfect. Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

It’s time to close out our Visual Guide updates from wave 1 of the new Star Wars [Resistance] line of figures with the First Order Stormtrooper. Click below to check out the complete Visual Guide, and then head on over to our full review for additional details and gallery images.

Klaatu (Skiff Guard) is another phenomenal release from Hasbro. You’re going to love him just as much as Saelt-Marae. Hasbro went above and beyond working in an incredible and inordinate amount of detail in such a tiny area. He’s loaded with articulation and comes with a perfectly replicated accessory. Yes, the helmet isn’t removable, but this shouldn’t be a deal breaker for you. You’ll never have to worry about it falling off of his head. The review is coming very shortly, but the Photo Gallery and the Collector Notes are ready to browse. Special thanks to JTA reader and friend Binary_Sun for the composited image in the gallery. Enjoy!

It’s our final year of Research Droids Reviews! A new year means new figures! Let’s finish up the first wave of Star Wars: Resistance figures with the First Order Stormtrooper. Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

We’re getting more store reports of The Black Series Archive first wave arriving at Walmart. JTA reader Jay V. sends us the latest report from South Carolina. You can check out our full galleries on these figures by clicking HERE.

JTA reader Mark G. alerts us to an important detail featured in an article by Baron’s featuring information on what everyone needs to know about the Galaxy’s Edge theme park coming to Disney. In it, it strongly hints at the possibility we could see exclusive action figures. Check the article out for yourself!

“Star Wars merchandise in shops will come in unique packaging that downplays the logos. Another is that merchandise based on familiar characters will take on new looks. The imagineers visited the archives at Lucasfilm for early concept art. As a hypothetical example, an artisan figure of a familiar character might look slightly off, with the back story being that residents of Batuu have never seen that character, so they don’t know exactly what the figure should look like.”

Guess what? I watched The Force Awakens for the first time since it was in theaters over three years ago tonight. Those that read with any regularity know how I feel about the film. But if you don’t, in short, I think it’s the worst Star Wars film of the bunch (yes, I think it’s worse than The Last Jedi by a landslide). And I would go so far to say that it’s one of the worst films “period” I’ve ever seen too (for its deception of not being much more than an Episode IV reboot). That’s not hyperbole. I feel it took Star Wars down a path that a large chunk of the community couldn’t follow. Anyway, this isn’t another chance to jibe the film. I have rethought a couple of things, and I felt it is worth sharing. Click through for more.

(more…)

JTA reader Geoffrey B. found the latest Star Wars [Resistance] figures at his local TARGET store. Sadly, they wouldn’t sell them to him because they have a street date of January 15th. These are two-packs, a pilot with a droid and they look very cool. Below is Jarek Yeager & Bucket (R3-B7) and Poe Dameron & BB-8.

Commander Pyre is our next Star Wars [Resistance] Visual Guide update. Click below to check out our full Visual Guide, and also check out our latest review for this figure right here.