Monthly Archives: June 2023

Hasbro posted an image on their Social Media accounts teasing their upcoming Haslab announcement, making it look more likely that the long-rumored Ghost will be announced as the next Haslab. The translation:

Ship diagnostics – Complete
Laser cannon turret: Ready
Forward cannons: Ready
Rear cannons: Ready

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We have another! The Obi-Wan Kenobi (Jabiim) figure is not one you likely want for your collection. But it looks alright. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

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Hasbro hosted a livestream yesterday and revealed their latest wave of Indiana Jones Adventure Series 6-Inch figures, with this wave featuring a Build An Artifact pack-in. Pre-orders are now live. Click below for pre-order links:

• Indiana Jones (Last Crusade) (Entertainment Earth • Amazon)
• Grail Knight (Entertainment Earth • Amazon)
• Henry Jones, Sr. (Entertainment Earth • Amazon)
• Dr. Elsa Schneider (Grail Temple) (Entertainment Earth • Amazon)
• Doctor Jürgen Voller (Entertainment Earth • Amazon)
• Renaldo (Entertainment Earth • Amazon)

Star Wars News Net has revealed two new The Black Series figures from Obi-Wan Kenobi: Darth Vader (Duel’s End) and Commander Appo. Both will be Target exclusives available to pre-order on July 14 for $27.99 each. 

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The upcoming Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade will get a San Diego Comic Con special edition. Click through for details. You can pre-order the regular edition right here, due to release on July 18th.

The next two cards from the weekly Topps Star Wars Living Set are now out. Featuring the iconic blue starfield and the impressive artwork of Kris Penix, check out Cad Bane (#425) and Morai (#426). Two new cards will be released each Tuesday and only be available for one week. Click here to view the entire Star Wars Living archive, including individual print runs.

This post contains affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, JTA may receive a commission if you click and make a purchase.

The Black Series Tala (Imperial Officer) from the latest wave is now available and in-stock at Entertainment Earth. 

Update: The Black Series HK-87 was just added today and is in stock and ready to ship. Get 10% off and free shipping on all in-stock products with our affiliate link. 

It’s a weekend, not much going on… but maybe you all want to have a fun time reading the latest crazy Star Wars rumors! We did this previously, where we discussed the rumor that Disney wants to sell Lucasfilm or is at least considering it (verdict was: extremely unlikely), but the rumor mill keeps on spinning and there are all new rumors making the rounds, and they are just as entertaining! So click through to enter the Star Wars Rumor Zone… this week mostly about The Acolyte!

You are about the enter the Star Wars Rumor Zone!

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Today’s Visual Guide update features the colorful Umbra Operative ARC Trooper (GG09) from The Black Series [Phase IV] Gaming Greats line. Get the full Visual Guide by clicking the image below. we also have a full review of this figure right here.

This post contains affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, JTA may receive a commission if you click and make a purchase.

If you missed it a few days ago, the TVC Clone Trooper (Phase II Armor) is back in stock on Amazon.com. Click here for the product page.

The next two cards from the weekly Topps Star Wars Living Set are now out. Featuring the iconic blue starfield and the impressive artwork of Kris Penix, check out Lark & John (#423) and Qui-Gon Jinn (#424). Two new cards will be released each Tuesday and only be available for one week. Click here to view the entire Star Wars Living archive, including individual print runs.

We have one more update from The Mandalorian in The Black Series [Phase IV] line, this time The Mandalorian himself Din Djarin (Morak) (TM31). Check him out over in our Visual Guide database, and also make sure to stop by and read our full review right here.

Up next for The Black Series [Phase IV] Visual Guide updates in the New Republic Security Droid (TM23) as seen in The Mandalorian. Click below for a full look at our Visual Guide page, and click here to read our review.

We are continuing with our Visual Guide updates from The Black Series [Phase IV] line. Up next is the Death Watch Mandalorian (TM21). Get a look at our full Visual Guide by clicking below! Make sure to also stop by and check out our full review of this figure.

File this under… “why?”

One year after the series finale of Obi-Wan Kenobi was released on Disney+ starwars.com has revealed a brand new limited Marvel Comics Star Wars series: an adaptation of the Disney+ show Obi-Wan Kenobi. Written (adapted) by Jody Houser (who worked on various other Marvel Star Wars titles before) and pencilled by Salvador Larocca (who also worked on various other Marvel Star Wars comics before) Obi-Wan Kenobi will be released in September 2023.

Each of the six issues will adapt one episode of the show. Comic book adaptations of movies have a long tradition. I do wonder though why anyone felt Obi-Wan Kenobi needs a comic book adaptation. Released 15 months after the series ended. I believe this would have made more sense to get released in July 2022, a few weeks after the series ended. I remember reading comic book adaptations of movies based on older script versions or including material that was cut in the editing room, which made those adaptations an interesting read sometimes, because they expanded on what you had seen in theaters. I do wonder how much this adaptation will be different from the show or if it will add anything of substance.

Will you buy the comic series? Or at least the #1 issue?

Read the full announcement on starwars.com, where you can also check out the variant covers, one of them featuring Reva and the Grand Inquisitor.

The main cover, there will be variants

Now before anyone says… “that’s clickbait”, this is actually taken from a quote by Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks when he appeared at the recent JP Morgan Global Technology, Media and Communications Conference in Boston. Actually, Chris Cocks said a few very illuminating things about Hasbro at that conference. So click through to learn from the Hasbro CEO how he sees the toy market and who Hasbro’s best customers are (spoiler, yes, it’s YOU!).

Not quite Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks

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Our next featured Visual Guide update is The Black Series [Phase IV]‘s Echo (TBB11). Get the complete Visual Guide details by clicking below, and click here for a full review of this figure.

Let’s check out the Visual Guide for The Black Series [Phase IV] Fifth Brother (Inquisitor) (OWK04). Get the full details by clicking the image below! You can also check out our review of this figure in our review database.

Hot Toys revealed IG-12 on their Facebook page! You will be able to get IG-12 in two editions, a normal edition and then the set with an extensive set of accessories, not just for IG-12, but also other, previously released Hot Toys figures! Click through for all the details!

Yes or no? You decide!

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Today’s Visual Guide update features Aayla Secura (AOTC03) from The Black Series [Phase IV]. Click below to check the full Visual Guide out, and click here to read our full review.

This post contains affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, JTA may receive a commission if you click and make a purchase.

The Black Series Obi-Wan Kenobi (Jabiim) is now in stock and available on Amazon.com. Click here for the product page.

Continuing our The Black Series [Phase IV] Visual Guide updates, here’s a look at Luthen Rael (A06). Get the full Visual Guide by clicking below, and read our full review right here.

This post contains affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, JTA may receive a commission if you click and make a purchase.

Amazon has The Vintage Collection Clone Trooper (Phase II Armor) in stock for $16.99. 

NOTE: If it doesn’t show up for $16.99 make sure to check the “Other Sellers” listings.

Up next is another Target exclusive The Black Series [Phase IV] figure from the Andor series: Imperial Officer (Ferrix) (A04). Click below to check out the complete Visual Guide for this figure. And, click here to read our review.

The next two cards from the weekly Topps Star Wars Living Set are now out. Featuring the iconic blue starfield and the impressive artwork of Kris Penix, check out Fifth Brother Inquisitor (#421) and B’omarr Monk Spider (#422). Two new cards will be released each Tuesday and only be available for one week. Click here to view the entire Star Wars Living archive, including individual print runs.

Today we are starting a short run of Visual Guide updates from The Black Series [Phase IV] line. First up is the Target exclusive Shoretrooper (A03). Click below for our complete Visual Guide, and click here to revisit our review of this figure.

This post contains affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, JTA may receive a commission if you click and make a purchase.

Entertainment Earth has opened pre-orders for the Black Series Endor Rebel trooper!

You can pre-order the figure here!

Price is a ridiculous $33.99!

Will you pre-order the trooper? Or wait for the eventual regular release in the standard Black Series box? Will you wait for eventual discounts? Or skip the figure altogether? Let us know in the comments!

Now available for pre-order!

Denuo Novo’s latest 1:1 helmet is now available for pre-order. Click here to check out full details on the Captain Cardinal 1:1 Scale helmet accessory. 

This post contains affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, JTA may receive a commission if you click and make a purchase.

Entertainment Earth has set up an alert in their Drop Zone for 12 AM Eastern tonight (9 PM Pacific – June 14). Check back tomorrow to see what’s new!

Correction: Midnight (Eastern) tonight!

You can’t make this up… at least one recently announced Star Wars movie is already delayed and has been pushed back!

Now, to be fair, one reason could be the writers strike, which has currently halted many productions. Another reason may be James Cameron’s schedule and how much time he needs to finish his 100 Avatar sequels. Disney has shuffled around almost all of the upcoming Disney, Marvel, Avatar and Star Wars movies! Click through to find out more!

Coming to a galaxy near you somewhat later…

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The next two cards from the weekly Topps Star Wars Living Set are now out. Featuring the iconic blue starfield and the impressive artwork of Kris Penix, check out Lop (#419) and Jay (#420). Two new cards will be released each Tuesday and only be available for one week. Click here to view the entire Star Wars Living archive, including individual print runs.

This post contains affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, JTA may receive a commission if you click and make a purchase.

The TVC Speeder Bike & Scout Trooper is currently marked down to $29.39 on Amazon. Click here for the product page!

This post contains affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, JTA may receive a commission if you click and make a purchase.

Jabba’s bartender R2-S4M is now available at shopDisney through their Droid Factory line.

UPDATE: as promised Ubisoft released a 10 minute video with actual gameplay footage today! I added the video! Click through to learn more!

This is where the fun begins?
The Star Wars You Tube channel dropped a story trailer for the upcoming Ubisoft open world Star Wars game ‘Outlaws’, scheduled for release in 2024! And a gameplay trailer is going to be released tomorrow, meaning the game must be pretty far into development!

You will play as Kay Vess, a female scoundrel. But she’s not alone, she has an animal companion named Nix and chances are you will meet other friends in the game. While there are no details yet it seems there won’t be the option to create a custom character, which is usually standard for most open world games, one prominent exception is Red Dead Redemption and of course the Assassin’s Creed games by Ubisoft. Chances are also that you won’t even be able to change Kay’s appearance, similar to how Cal Kestis is a fixed character in the Repawn games. Also, since everything is canon, according to Lucasfilm, they may have wanted Ubisoft to create a canon character they can, in theory, also use for other media like books or shows.

Outlaws will be set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Are you excited for an open world Star Wars game? Say about Ubisoft whatever you will but their open world design is usually pretty great, now they only have to rein in their usual shortcomings like map markers for 1,000,000 chests and 500,000 fetch quests.

You can watch the trailer after the jump!

Kay Vess with her animal companion Nix

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Kids Warehouse has huge markdowns on both The Black Series and The Vintage Collection figures. Thanks to JTA reader Sterling for the alert!

Save $5 On Orders Over $50. Use Code: SAVE5 | Save $10 On Orders Over $100. Use Code: SAVE10

This post contains affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, JTA may receive a commission if you click and make a purchase.

JTA sponsor Entertainment Earth has opened pre-orders for several upcoming The Vintage Collection figures:

• Darth Vader (Death Star II)
• Han Solo [ROTJ]
• Weequay
• Clone Trooper (Phase II Armor)

Even though this is not Star Wars, I feel that many Star Wars fans also grew up with Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones and love at least the three classic movies from the 1980s. Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was met with a much more lukewarm reaction 15 years ago, but it ultimately almost made $800 million worldwide, which means it was a success and made money. But now industry analysts have posted updated opening weekend box office projections (The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline have articles about the latest projections) for Indiana Jones And The Dial of Destiny, in which Phoebe Waller-Bridge will star alongside Harrison Ford, and the numbers are brutal: Indiana Jones 5 is currently projected to make $60 million on its opening weekend in North America, this is way down from previous projections. Let that sink in… the movie cost at least $300 million, add marketing costs and this movie easily cost Lucasfilm/Disney $400 million. And domestic opening weekend is just $60 million. Click through for more!

Phoebe Waller-Bridge will be Harrison Ford’s co-star in Indy 5 as Indy’s goddaughter

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I feel it is time to discuss the latest rumors regarding Disney, Lucasfilm and Star Wars currently making waves. Maybe you have heard of the rumors, maybe you have not. In a nutshell: rumors state that Disney is in such a dire financial state (meaning, they have little cash, not that they are actually bankrupt) that the upcoming 2024 Hulu deal will require Disney to sell off assets so they can actually afford the deal. Hulu is currently still owned by Disney and Comcast, with Comcast having a minority stake in the company, and there is an agreement between Disney and Comcast that Disney buys Comcast’s part of Hulu. And said deal is supposed to happen in 2024. Now the big problem is that Comcast and Disney fundamentally disagree on the value of Hulu, it will not surprise anyone that Comcast has very different ideas about the value of Hulu and that Disney wants to pay much less than Comcast is asking for. So the deal is in arbitration where a third party will try to settle the question of Hulu’s actual market worth. And this is where the rumors begin, because in order to finance the deal Disney may have to resort to some drastic measures…

If you do not care for rumors that are probably just wishful thinking you need not bother, this is not for you… everyone else, let’s have some fun in the Star Wars Rumor Zone and click through!

You are about the enter the Star Wars Rumor Zone!

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Let’s check out another dueling lightsaber from DamienSaber. This time we had the chance to look at one of their custom hilt designs featuring the all-new Xenopixel 3.0 board allowing custom sound and color changing directly from your smartphone. How does it measure up? Click through for the full review!

As the title says the brand new Star Wars series showrun by Dave Filoni and featuring Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka will have its first episode released on August 23rd, which is once again a Wednesday. Ahsoka will reunite with her friends from Rebels, including Sabine (played by Natasha Liu Bordizzo), Hera (played by Ewan McGregor’s partner Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and ultimately also Ezra. Thrawn (played by Lars Mikkelsen) will be featured in some capacity and yes, we also get to meet yet even more Order 66 survivors, late Ray Stevenson plays the Order 66 survivor, his character is described as being some kind of “mercenary”. Anakin Skywalker is also rumored to be featured, how exactly is not sure, and Temuera Morrison will reprise his role as Rex. Inquisitors will also return. Let’s hope this time they will act a bit more professionally than in Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Are you excited about the brand new series? Or are you a bit wary after Lucasfilm’s recent track record with their Star Wars shows? This is Dave Filoni’s first big live action project, he previously collaborated with Jon Favreau on The Mandalorian. Ahsoka, together with The Mandalorian and probably even Skeleton Crew is meant to culminate in the yet untitled big crossover Mandoverse movie directed by Dave Filoni. So a lot will hinge on the success and popularity of Ahsoka.

Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka and Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Sabine in an Empire Magazine exclusive set photo. Source: Empire Magazine

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Chuck posted his unboxing experience and installation instructions for the Seagate Lightsaber Collection SSD a few weeks ago. Seagate Germany was kind enough to provide me with a review sample as well and thus I can now add a technical discussion to the review. What even is a PCIe NVMe SSD? How fast is it? And: do you need one? Click through to check out the updated review and to find out why the Lightsaber Collection SSD is so much faster than normal SSDs and whether or not you will benefit from that extra speed!

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GameStop has marked down some of their Gaming Greats (and others) to $18.98:

• 13th Battalion Trooper
• B1 Battle Droid
• KX Security Droid
• RC-1140 (Fixer)
• Riot Scout Trooper
• Nightbrother Warrior ($21.97)
• Tusken Raider (Credit Collection)

Note: Free shipping on orders over $79.00. And, some clearance items are buy 1 get 1 free.

This post contains affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, JTA may receive a commission if you click and make a purchase.

Amazon currently has The Vintage Collection Obi-Wan Kenobi multipack on sale for $37.81. Click here for the product page.

Update: No longer available at this price

Gentle Giant has made several San Diego Comic Con 2023 exclusives available for pre-order:

• The Mandalorian Carson Teva Mini Bust
• Raiders of the Lost Ark Indiana Jones (Sepia) Mini Bust
• Raiders of the Lost Ark Indiana Jones Jumbo Figure and Map Room Playset

Empire magazine is featuring two covers for the upcoming Ahsoka series. Get the full look right here, as well as an inside look at the upcoming series. 

This post contains affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, JTA may receive a commission if you click and make a purchase.

The latest The Vintage Collection wave, with the exception of Clone Trooper (Phase II) is currently in stock and shipping on Amazon:

• Starkiller (Vader’s Apprentice) (VC100)
• Cassian Andor (Aldhani Mission) (VC267)
• Hunter (VC268)
• Admiral Piett (VC2760)

The RC-1262 (Scorch) action figure is deceivingly nice-looking until you discover how off it is. Oh, and the price is laughable. The line is doomed. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

The Mandalorian season 3 is still on the Nielsen streaming charts, barely so, my guess is that this is the last time The Mandalorian will be on the charts until the next season is released. It is currently in 9th place on the original series charts with 319 million viewing minutes. How does that compare to season 2? Not very favorably, not at all. Season 2 already had more viewing minutes (and a higher average), but after the finale was released this gap only widened. And now the gap has become quite massive. Also, Peter Pan & Wendy is already massively shedding viewers and chances are it will drop out of the charts next week, and it only entered the charts last week, and at the box office Disney has no reason to rejoice either. Click through for more!

Luke in The Mandalorian season 2 was a ratings hit

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