Monthly Archives: December 2023

The Force Spirits (Anakin Skywalker/Yoda/Obi-Wan Kenobi) three-figure multipack will get overlooked by many collectors, but it’s one of the nicer 40th Anniversary things Hasbro’s done for Return Of The Jedi this year (more….)

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Welcome to our New Year’s Eve Visual Guide update! Tonight we are adding Grand Admiral Thrawn (VC296) to The Vintage Collection Visual Guide. Click below to check him out! You can also check out our review of this figure in our review database.

There probably isn’t a bigger rip-off for 2023 in The Vintage Collection than the Fan Channel exclusive AT-ST & Chewbacca. We’re grateful we got our sample during the Best Buy blowout. (more….)

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Our next The Vintage Collection Visual Guide update features Morgan Elsbeth (VC295) from Ahsoka. Click below for the full Visual Guide. You can also read our full review of this figure right here.

2023 will soon be over, it’s that time of the year where many people look back, reflecting on the things that happened, but where people also look forward, to things they hope to achieve in the new year. So I thought it would be fun, on this very last weekend of the year, to think back to things that could have been. But never were.

Three years ago, on December 10th 2020, Kathleen Kennedy revealed her big plans for Star Wars and Lucasfilm as part of the Walt Disney Investor Day event. Kenobi! Andor! Ahsoka! Visions! Willow! Rangers Of The New Republic! Lando! A Droid Story! Children Of Blood And Bone! Indiana Jones 5! Whatever it is Taika Waititi is supposed to make! And most important of all: Rogue Squadron! You may have forgotten already, but the plan for Rogue Squadron was to be released in December 2023, just now. So in some alternate universe we would be talking about the latest Star Wars movie now, instead of discussing yet another movie that was announced a few months ago… Anyway, this is the perfect opportunity to look back… to what happened and did not happen… Click through for some delicious memberberries!

They even filmed a short teaser featuring the director Patty Jenkins and an X-Wing

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The C1-940 Droid Factory figure and its name are based on Fantasia, Mickey Mouse, and the 1940 theatrical release, respectively. (more….)

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We are going to continue our additions to The Vintage Collection Visual Guide. Up next is Boba Fett (Tusken) (VC285). Click below for the full Visual Guide. Click here to check out our review.

The Black Series [Phase IV] Echo (Mercenary Gear) figure is another lovely repaint of the original figure. (more….)

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Tonight’s The Vintage Collection Visual Guide update features Moff JerJerrod (VC284). Click below to access the full Visual Guide, and make sure to also head to our review database and check out a full 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.

GameStop is closing out the Holidays with some major markdowns on a few of the Holiday Edition The Black Series Figures:

• Jawa & Salacious B. Crumb (Holiday Edition) – $10.48
• Protocol Droid (Holiday Edition) – $8.48
• Scout Trooper (Holiday Edition) – $8.48

The Black Series [Phase IV] Wrecker (Mercenary Gear) figure is a lovely repaint of the original figure. (more….)

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Our next Visual Guide entry features The Vintage Collection Han Solo (VC281) from Return of the Jedi. Click below for our full Visual Guide. You can also read our full review of this figure in our review database.

Are there any men in Star Wars: Ahsoka? Asking for a friend. Despite how good The Black Series [Phase IV] Shin Hati figure looks, we are a tad dumbfounded. (more….)

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It’s time for another addition to The Vintage Collection Visual Guide. Next up is Hunter (VC268). Click below to check him out. You can also read the full review of this figure right here.

The “holiday-themed” Droid Factory R8-H23 figure is a colorful addition to the line. (more….)

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Our 12 Days of Holiday Figues concludes today with the addition of last year’s GameStop exclusive The Black Series Wookiee (Holiday Edition). Click below to visit our full Visual Guide. We also reviewed this figure last year on Christmas Day, so make sure to revisit that review right here! Merry Christmas! If you missed any of our updates you can check out the full run of the 12 Days of Holiday Figures here!

All of us here at JTA are wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and continued good fortune into the New Year and beyond! 

I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It’s not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love.

The Black Series Ewok (Holiday Edition) is our 11th entry in our 12 Days of Holiday Figures run of Visual Guides. Click below to check out the full Visual Guide!

The Black Series [Phase IV] Ewok (Holiday Edition) figure has an all-white porg and a cowl full of holly and berries. (more….)

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It’s a Very Merry Christmas month with our 12 Days of Holiday Figures Visual Guide updates. Day 10 features the Target exclusive Snowtrooper (Holiday Edition). Click below to enjoy the full Visual Guide, and revisit our review right here.

The Black Series [Phase IV] Snowtrooper (Holiday Edition) [2023] figure is the second snowtrooper in this series, but this time inspired by a snowman. (more….)

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We are up to Day 9 in our 12 Days of Holiday Figures Visual Guide updates! Tonight we are adding the Jawa & Salacious Crumb 2-pack from this year’s run of The Black Series Holiday figures. Click below for the full Visual Guide, and click here to read our review of this set.

Gentle Giant has posted a limited (500 edition size) R2-D (Holiday Edition) Jumbo Figure. Click here for the product page! Thanks, JTA reader Russ for the alert!

The Black Series [Phase IV] Jawa & Salacious B. Crumb (Holiday Edition) figure two-pack brings together Santa Claus and The Grinch. (more….)

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The 12 Days of Holiday Figures continue with our Visual Guide update of the Walmart exclusive The Black Series KX Security Droid (Holiday Edition). Click below to check it out! You can also view our review of this figure in our review database.

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 Jaro Tapal (#475) and Dewi Pamular (#476). 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.

The Black Series [Phase IV] KX Security Droid (Holiday Edition) figure looks like a duck. (more….)

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Happy Holidays! We are celebrating the 12 Days of Holiday Figures with Holiday-themed  Visual Guide updates. Today’s Day 7 update features the Fan Channel exclusive Mandalorian Scout (Holiday Edition). Click below to check out the full Visual Guide. We’ve also added this figure to our review database 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.

Pre-orders are now open for both the Captain Enoch (TMS120) & Night Trooper (TMS121) sixth scale figures. Click below for pre-order pages at Sideshow Collectibles.

Hot Toys continues their Ahsoka releases with the Night Trooper (TMS121). Click through to check out the full gallery and details.

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Hot Toys has revealed their latest sixth scale figure from the Ahsoka collection: Captain Enoch (TMS120). Get all the details and gallery images after the jump.

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The Black Series [Phase IV] Mandalorian Scout (Holiday Edition) figure is uniquely blue. (more….)

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The 12 Days of Holiday Figures Day 6 features the Fan Channel exclusive The Black Series Purge Trooper (Holiday Edition). Check out the full Visual Guide by clicking below. And, in case you missed it earlier, check out the full review of this figure here.

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The Amazon exclusive The Black Series Ahsoka Tano & HK-87 Assassin Droid Carboized set is currently marked down to $49.99. Thanks to JTA reader Mike for the alert!

The Black Series [Phase IV] Purge Trooper (Holiday Edition) figure is inspired by a Nutcracker (more….)

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The Black Series [Phase IV] Omega (Mercenary Gear) figure isn’t half bad, even though the figure looks like Chucky with the alternate head sculpt. (more….)

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

Bestbuy.com currently has the TVC AT-ST & Chewbacca on sale for $43.99. Click here to grab one!

Update: It is now SOLD OUT

Today is day 5 of our 12 Days of Holiday Figures special run of Visual Guide updates celebrating the Holiday season! Today’s addition is the First Order Stormtrooper (Holiday Edition). Click below for our full Visual Guide! Make sure to also stop by and check out our full review of this figure.

Hasbro Pulse is celebrating 100 years by opening their ‘HasLab Vault‘ and making a limited number of previous HasLab projects available to Pulse Premium members. 

Update: No Star Wars offerings

We’re celebrating Hasbro’s 100th by making a charitable donation to Hasbro Children’s Hospital, and by cracking open the HasLab Vault! For a limited time only, Hasbro Pulse is offering a chance to purchase previous HasLab product by opening its reserve vault exclusively for Hasbro Pulse Premium members.

While supplies last, get ready to snag exclusive access to very limited quantities of select, fan favorite HasLabs from the past! Act fast! The HasLab Vault only opens for a limited time, beginning TODAY, December 18^th at 12:00PM ET through December 19^th at 12:00PM ET*.

The Black Series [Phase IV] Marrok figure is the first 6-inch figure with reduced articulation. Uh oh. (more….)

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It’s time to add another 12 Days of Holiday Figures Visual Guide update! Click below to check out The Black Series Mandalorian Warrior (Holiday Edition). We also have the full review of this figure in our review database for your reading pleasure.

The Black Series [Phase IV] Professor Huyang is another excellent figure. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

The 12 Days of Holiday Figures continues with the addition of the Protocol Droid (Holiday Edition) to the Visual Guides. Click below to check it out! And, check out our full review too.

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 Depa Billaba (#473) and Vulture Droid (#474). 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.

The Black Series [Phase IV] Obi-Wan Kenobi (Jedi Legend) is excellent. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

Happy Holidays! It’s time for another 12 Days of Holiday Figures Visual Guide update! Up next is the Walmart exclusive Scout Trooper (Holiday Edition) from last year’s line-up. Click below to check out our full Visual Guide. Click here for a 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.

Amazon has dropped the TVC The Rescue Set to $46. Click here to take advantage of the discount.

(Of course, if you can find this at Ross for $20 that’s MUCH better!)

A few days ago Jeff Sneider, who has a pretty good track record when it comes to Star Wars scoops, reported that The Mandalorian season 4 would be turned into a theatrical movie instead. Following this report sources contacted both Bespin Bulletin and Making Star Wars, who are also scoopers with a really good track record, and told them that Sneider reported old news and that turning The Mandalorian into a movie was merely an option Lucasfilm considered, depending on how badly the Hollyood strike would affect things, but that The Mandalorian season 4 will ultimately NOT be turned into a movie. Instead, Bespin Bulletin reports that season 4 will begin filming early next year, most likely in February or late January and is still scheduled for a 2025 release, probably in the summer, if season 4 also spends about 12 months in post production like season 3. There are some more tidbits, including more info about Skeleton Crew, click through to read it all!

You are about the enter the Star Wars Rumor Zone!

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It’s time to celebrate the season with the 12 Days of Holiday Figures! First up is our Visual Guide update from The Black Series featuring the Phase II Clone Trooper (Holiday Edition). Click below to check out our full Visual Guide. Make sure to also check out 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.

Entertainment Earth has many Retro Collection figures marked down to less than $5. And, since these are all in-stock items you get an additional 10% off with our affiliate link. Browse the full selection here.

The Vintage Collection Jedi Knight Revan/HK-47 multipack looks pretty good, but should Hasbro have re-released one of the figures inside of it? (more….)

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Check out The Vintage Collection’s HK-87 Assassin Droid (VC294), our latest Visual Guide update. Click below to access the full Visual Guide, and click here to read our full review.

Check back tomorrow as we start a run of daily Visual Guide updates celebrating the Holiday season!

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

Pre-orders are now open for yesterday’s The Black Series and The Vintage Collection Gift The Galaxy reveals. Click below for the pre-order pages:

• The Black Series C-3PO (B1 Battle Droid Body) & Super Battle Droid set (Pulse exclusive)
• The Vintage Collection Deluxe Jango Fett (Entertainment Earth • Pulse)

The Black Series 6-inch Cassian Andor & B2EMO multipack is nice but ridiculously priced. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

We have another The Vintage Collection Visual Guide addition tonight, this time featuring the Grand Inquisitor (VC293). Click below to access the full Visual Guide. You can also check out a full review of this figure right here.

Hasbro revealed even more new toys today, this time they used io9 / Gizmodo as their outlet to announce an all new The Phantom Menace Retro Collection 6-pack to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the movie next year.

The Target exclusive set will be released in spring 2024 and will cost only $60. You will get Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, Queen Amidala (really now, Retro gets a Queen Amidala and NOT any of the other lines????), Darth Maul, Jar Jar Binks and Battle Droid. Gizmodo had no info on any pre-order dates.

Source: io9 / Gizmodo

The Gift The Galaxy reveals continue with The Black Series C-3PO (B1 Battle Droid Body) & Super Battle Droid 2-pack. This former pipeline reveal will be a Hasbro Pulse exclusive retailing for $49.99 and available to pre-order tomorrow (December 13th) at 1 PM Eastern at Hasbro Pulse.

This week’s Gift The Galaxy campaign gives us another addition to The Vintage Collection Deluxe line: Jango Fett. Get the full details and additional images over at Bleeding Cool. Pre-orders for this Fan Channel exclusive go live tomorrow (December 13th) at 1 PM Eastern.

As a companion piece to yesterday’s bombshell news that Hasbro will fire about 20% of its total workforce in 2023 I would like to point you to a podcast hosted by YouTube channel 3POA. Now this podcast is from early 2023, after the initial round of layoffs was announced and does not talk about the current layoffs, but the things said by two former Hasbro employees are certainly still valid 10 months later.

3POA talked about the layoffs and inner working of Hasbro with two ex Hasbro employees, Bobby Vala, of Valaverse, creator of the Action Force toyline, who used to work on the GI Joe team as a designer at Hasbro (and was fired in 2018) and Rick Laprade, who was Hasbro’s social media manager and also responsible for content creation, who was let go during the pandemic. The podcast is on the long side, 92 minutes, but if you want to get an insight on how it is to work at Hasbro and what the company culture is like it will be highly informative and maybe even shocking here and there. Click through for a few highlights from the podcast!

Bobby Vala and Rick Laprade on the 3POA podcast

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How bad are things for Hasbro? Hasbro had already layed off 800 employees earlier this year but on Monday Hasbro released a memo and informed its employees that another 1,100 of its remaining 6,500 strong workforce will be let go – which in total is almost 20% of its entire workforce.

In the memo Chris Cocks lamented that “market headwinds we anticipated have proven to be stronger and more persistent than planned” – this comes after several quarters of declining revenue and losses. Cocks also informed his employees that the problems will likely persist even in 2024. As a result of all this Hasbro will also leave its offices in Providence, Rhode Island and not extend the lease for the office space in early 2025. Hasbro’s already very low stock price dropped more than 5% after trade once the news dropped.

Christmas will not be a happy time for the soon to be fired Hasbro employees. Now the big question is when Chris Cocks will have to face the consequences himself and will be asked to go. His “operational excellence” is not all that “excellent” after all, it seems. Cocks announced that Hasbro will focus on fewer brands, digital, gaming and their direct to consumer business (which cuts out the middleman and means higher margins).

Click through to read Chris Cocks’ full email to his employees.

Things get worse and worse

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Tonight we are featuring the Walmart exclusive The Vintage Collection ARC Commander Colt (VC276) for our Visual Guide update. Click below to check out the full guide. You can also stop by and read our full review of this figure in our review database.

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 Yanna (#471) and Vice Admiral Rampart (#472). 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.

The Black Series 6-inch Clone Commando is barely above avearge. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

Here’s the last of the TVC Target exclusive Boba Fetts added to our Visual Guides. Click below to check out Boba Fett (Comic Art Edition)  (VC278). And, as always, we have a full review of this figure ready to go 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.

The last of this year’s The Black Series Holiday figures is now available and shipping on Amazon. Click here to grab the Ewok (Holiday Edition).

The Retro Collection Chopper (C1-10P) is too dang charming. You’ll want this one, folks. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

Let’s continue our Visual Guide updates from the Target exclusive run of The Vintage Collection Boba Fetts! Up next is Boba Fett (Vintage Comic Art) (VC277). Click below to have a look at the full Visual Guide page. Click here to read our full review.

Reputable leaker Jeff Sneider (who has a really good track record – one of his more recent scoops was that Damon Lindelof is working on a Star Wars movie, which turned out to be 100% correct) has dropped quite the surprise in his Hot Mic podcast. According to Sneider The Mandalorian season 4 will not be released on Disney+, instead it will be turned into a movie and it will even be the first new Star Wars movie to be released! Click through for more!

You are about the enter the Star Wars Rumor Zone!

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Tonight we are adding the Target Exclusive Boba Fett (VC275) from The Vintage Collection to our Visual Guides. Click below to check out our fully detailed Visual Guide. We’ve also reviewed this figure in our review database 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.

Along with the Clone Commando from The Black Series, Walmart has several of their other exclusives marked down:

• Clone Commando – $12.97
• Boba Fett (Tython) Jedi Ruins – $15.75
• Cassian Andor (Aldhani Mission) – $8.88
• Vice Admiral Rampart – $12.97
• Boba Fett (Credit Collection) – $13.97

There are a few other non-exclusive markdowns as well. Browse the whole listing here!

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

Walmart currently has their exclusive The Black Series Clone Commando marked down to $12.97. Click here for the product page!

With the year drawing to a close and with things like Ahsoka and The Mandalorian season 3 behind us the question is what is next for Star Wars? We now have some more details about what will be next for Star Wars on Disney+ in 2024 based on an official press release. And there is also some news about the Rey movie (what could very well be the Star Wars version of The Marvels). Click through for the details!

On set photo of The Skeleton Crew – source: Bespin Bulletin

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Entertainment Earth has opened up pre-orders for the new kid-focused Epic Hero Series 4-inch line. This line has been around for a while with Marvel offerings and now will be featuring Star Wars characters (not a bad line for younger kids). Click below to check out the offerings:

• Wave 1 (case of 6)
• Deluxe Wave 1 (case of 4)
• Deluxe Wave 1 (set of 2)

Tonight let’s add the Special 3 Action Figures Obi-Wan Kenobi set. Check out our full Visual Guide by clicking below, and also stop by and read about this set in our full review.

It’s time for another The Vintage Collection Special Action Figure Set addition to the Visual Guides. This time we are adding the must-have Jabba’s Court Denizens 4-pack. Get the full Visual Guide after the jump! We also have a full review of this set in our Review Database.

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 Ben Quadinaros (#469) and Fode and Beed (#470). 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.

Tonight we are adding the Special 4 Action Figures The Bad Batch set to our The Vintage Collection Visual Guide. Click below to check out this full Visual Guide. You can also read our full review of this set right here. 

Columbia has opened up orders for this year’s Skywalker Pilot Collection. Lock in your order after the jump!