Monthly Archives: January 2024

Hasbro produced a decent version of Mara Jade, but it reuses 75% of existing tooling. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

Our next update for The Black Series Visual Guide is the Gaming Greats Nightbrother Archer (Gaming Greats 10) from Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Click below to check out our full Visual Guide. Make sure to also stop by our review database to read our full review.

Hasbro produced a stunning version of Starkiller from The Force Unleashed. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with many accessories. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

Tonight’s Visual Guide update adds the Clone Trooper (187th Battalion) (The Clone Wars 10) from The Black Series. Click below to access the full Visual Guide. Make sure to also revisit our 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.

LEGO is celebrating 25 years of Star Wars building! To celebrate the milestone they have quite a few sets coming out, several of which are up for pre-order now. You can read about all the releases at StarWars.com, and click below for some pre-order pages. These sets will be out on March 1.

• R2-D2 Brick Built Droid Figure (75379)
• A New Hope Boarding The Tantive IV (75387)
• LEGO Star Wars Visual Dictionary (updated edition)

Pre-orders coming soon:

• Millennium Falcon (75375) – 921 pieces ($84.99)
• Tantive IV (75376) – 654 pieces ($79.99)
• Invisible Hand (75377) – 557 pieces ($49.99)

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Our next The Black Series Visual Guide update adds another from The Mandalorian: HK-87 (The Mandalorian 29). Click below to check him out. You can also read our 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.

ShopDisney has the Ahsoka 4-pack available to order for $49.99. This set features C1-10P, C4-R4C, Professor Huyang, and RD-3. Click here for the order page.

Let’s take a look at our next Visual Guide update from The Black Series: Dark Trooper (The Mandalorian 28). Click below to check out the full Visual Guide. You can also visit this review in our database right here.

Toy photography is a hobby that enjoys growing popularity. A lot more effort however are animated shorts. Check out a very fun example of an animated action figure video created by DGDX Animation. In this short the Hasbro Indiana Jones action figure saves the Black Series Han Solo action figure from his captors. Watch it right after the jump!

Ford saving Ford

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Tonight we are adding The Black Series Princess Leia Organa (Yavin 4) (A New Hope 01) to our Visual Guides. Click below to view the full Visual Guide, and click here to check out our review.

Our next The Black Series Visual Guide update takes a look at Ahsoka Tano (The Mandalorian 19). Click below to check her out. We also have this figure’s review available in our review database.

Gentle Giant has added several new pre-orders this week:

• Star Wars: Ahsoka™ – Night Trooper™ Mini Bust
• Star Wars: Ahsoka™ – Captain Enoch™ Premier Collection Statue
• Star Wars: Return of the Jedi™ – Sy Snootles™ Jumbo Figure

Click below for more images and product information.

We have one more update from Obi-Wan Kenobi for our The Black Series Visual Guide, this time featuring the Walmart exclusive Obi-Wan Kenobi (Jedi Legend) (Obi-Wan Kenobi 17). Click below to access our Visual Guide page. You can also visit our review of this figure right here.

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 C-3PO (#485) and Ochi of Bestoon (#486). 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’s Visual Guide update features Darth Vader (Duel’s End) (Obi-Wan Kenobi 15) from The Black Series. Click below for our full Visual Guide. Make sure to also check out 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.

It’s pre-order time again! Click below for pre-order pages for yesterday’s The Black Series and The Vintage Collection announcements.

The Black Series

• Phase 1 Clone Trooper (Entertainment Earth)
• Droideka (Entertainment Earth)
• Grand Admiral Thrawn (Entertainment Earth • Amazon)

The Vintage Collection

• Captain Rex (Entertainment Earth • Amazon)
• Luke Skywalker (X-wing Pilot) (VC158 re-release) (Entertainment Earth • Amazon)
• Axe Woves (Privateer) (Entertainment Earth • Amazon)
• Mandalorian Fleet Commander (Entertainment Earth • Amazon)
• The Mandalorian (Mines of Mandalore) (Entertainment Earth • Amazon)
• Grogu (with Pram) (Entertainment Earth • Amazon)
• The Ghost Mural Card Backs 2-pack (Hasbro Pulse Exclusive)

Full cases via Entertainment Earth:

• • The Black Series Wave 17 (Includes Grand Admiral Thrawn)
  • The Vintage Collection Wave 42 (Includes Mandalorian Fleet Commander, Axe Woves, The Mandalorian (Mines of Mandalore), and Grodu)
  • The Vintage Collection Wave 43 (Includes Captain Rex, Luke Skywalker (X-Wing Pilot)

Tonight we are adding The Black Series Tala Durith (Imperial Officer) (Obi-Wan Kenobi 13) to our Visual Guides. Click below to check out our complete Visual Guide page. Make sure to also check out our review right here.

Here’s a breakdown of what was revealed during today’s livestream for The Vintage Collection and Retro Collection. Pre-orders start tomorrow (January 24) at 1 PM Eastern. 

Click through for additional details!

The Vintage Collection

• Captain Rex (from The Bad Batch)
• Luke Skywalker (X-wing Pilot) (VC158 re-release)
• Captain Axe Woves (VC315)
• Mandalorian Fleet Commander (VC314)
• The Mandalorian (Mines of Mandalore) (VC312) (Season 3 card back)
• Grogu (with Pram) (VC313)

TVC Ghost Crew (The Last Two) revealed:

• Sabine Wren (now with newly sculpted interchangeable proportionate helmet)
• Chopper

Packaged as a set in a box, and include 2 loth cats. Available during a pre-order window that closes February 14 at 11:59 PM ET, and NOT exclusive to HasLab backers. Order limit of 5, but you can make multiple orders if desired. 

Pipeline reveals:

• Retro Collection 6 pack: Anakin Skywalker (EIII), Padme (EII), Mace Windu, Jango Fett (EII), General Grievous (EIII), Clone Trooper (Phase II Armor)
  • Hasbro Pulse/ShopDisney exclusive
• TVC Multipack: Ahsoka, R7,A7, CH-33P (Cheep), RG-G1 (G-G) (Amazon Exclusive)
• TVC HK-87 (Tan version)
• TVC Dark Trooper (single card back, no locker)
• TVC Ahsoka Tano (white outfit)
• TVC The Mandalorian (yes, another one)
• TVC Bo-Katan
• TVC Cobb Vanth (Deluxe)

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Today’s Hasbro Star Wars livestream did not have all that many reveals, three new figures were announced:

• Phase 1 Clone Trooper using the all new clone body (spring 2024, fan channel)
• Droideka (summer 2024, fan channel)
• Thrawn from the Ahsoka series (spring 2025, fan channel)

All figures are available for pre-order on January 24th, 1 pm ET!

Click through for photos and the pipeline reveals!

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Once again, Hasbro has addressed where Fan Channel items can be found, this time giving us a graphic. Click below for Fan Channel outlets in your region!

Hasbro is having their first Fanstream of 2024, kicking off at 11 AM Eastern. Click through to watch and discuss!  You can also watch it on the Hasbro Pulse YouTube channel.

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Our next Visual Guide update adds another figure from Obi-Wan Kenobi, this time the lead character himself: Obi-Wan Kenobi (Wandering Jedi) (Obi-Wan Kenobi 01). Click below to visit our full Visual Guide, and click here to visit our full review.

The Bad Batch Season 3 debuts February 21st with a 3-episode premiere. Check out the full trailer and Teaser Poster after the jump!

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We have another addition to the Obi-Wan Kenobi The Black Series Visual Guide, this time featuring NED-B (Obi-Wan Kenobi 10). Click below to open the full Visual Guide page. Click here to open our full review.

Hasbro produced a stunning version of Ahsoka Tano (Padawan) from The Clone Wars. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

The Black Series Grand Inquisitor (Obi-Wan Kenobi 09) is today’s Visual Guide update. Click below to check him out! Make sure to also stop by our review database and read our full review too.

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

Sideshow Collectibles has added a pretty fun Ewok collectible for pre-order. Click here to check out more images of the Ewok™ Designer Collectible Statue!

We are adding Vice Admiral Rampart (The Bad Batch 08) to the Visual Guides tonight. Click below for full access to the Visual Guide. You can also check out 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.

Walmart.com has several The Black Series Boba Fett versions marked down:

• Boba Fett (Tython) Jedi Ruins – $12.97
• Boba Fett (Throne Room) – $17.90
• Boba Fett (Tython) – $13.99
• Credit Collection Boba Fett – $16.00

Several of these are via third-party sellers but should still get free shipping over $35.

I would like to discuss something that has been on my mind for a while, in fact, some of the points I will bring up here were mentioned by me before when I spoke about HasLab previously, i.e. that HasLab is – among other things – primarily a profit margin protection scheme, guaranteeing that something will never ever be submitted to the free market mechanism of supply and demand and thus will never see any discounts or mark downs. But today’s article is based on something UK etailer Kapow Toys wrote on X (still a very silly name, what is Elon Musk thinking?) earlier this week. They complain bitterly about Hasbro in a lengthy post. Click through to learn what Kapow Toys has to say and for a discussion about Pulse!

Collectors among themselves

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Mark your calendars for Hasbro’s first Fanstream of 2024. Tune in next Tuesday, January 23 at 11 AM Eastern. 

We continue to update our The Black Series [Phase IV] Visual Guide tonight with the addition of Marrok (Ahsoka 08). Click below for full access to our Visual Guide. Make sure to also head over and read our review of this figure.

Inspired by the recent Topps article by Chuck I thought it could be fun to talk about the one Star Wars toy, collectible or any other piece of Star Wars merchandise you regret losing the most. Either because you were a kid and did not know better and trashed something, or maybe because you lost interest and disposed of something as you grew older, or your parents threw away some of your stuff as you grew older… or maybe someone even stole it from you. What is the one thing you regret losing the most?

I will talk about a complete Panini Star Wars sticker album I lost after the jump, it offers a unique glimpse at the German language version of Star Wars!

German 1978 Panini Star Wars Sticker Album

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Our next Visual Guide update from The Black Series takes a look at Professor Huyang (Ahsoka 07). Click below to check out our full Visual Guide. Click here to check out our full 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 Captain Bombardier (#483) and The Duchess (#484). 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.

Our next The Black Series Visual Guide update features Senator Mon Mothma (Andor 07). Click below for the full Visual Guide. You can also find our full review right here.

Ok, you know the drill, get your salt out, take a few healthy doses… and let’s all sit down to listen to the latest Lucasfilm rumors: according to a scooper not usually known for Star Wars leaks and scoops the Rey movie is now delayed … indefinitely. This according to a report by “World of Reel”. Who, you may ask… according to Star Wars scooper Bespin Bulletin World of Reel, while not known for scoops about big Star Wars projects, usually covers news about smaller projects and is very often absolutely right. So there may be some veracity to the claims. But as usual, remember those are rumors and need to be treated as such. And reports that claim to debunk this rumor already exist.
However, it might explain Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s appearance on CNN two weeks ago, because even back then some people speculated this can only mean the project is in big trouble and Obaid-Chinoy wants to create pressure by pointing out that it’s high time a woman shapes the narrative in a galaxy far, far away. But at least according to the latest rumor it was all in vain! Click through for a few more details!

You are about the enter the Star Wars Rumor Zone!

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Even though Hollywood awards are mostly pointless exercises, it can still mean something if you are recognized for your efforts, especially if you are not in the spotlight most of the time. The big winner this year was the drama series “Succession” which beat Andor, which was also nominated in the “Outstanding Drama Series” category. Some joker at Lucasfilm also entered Obi-Wan Kenobi in the “Outstanding Limited Or Anthology Series” category, of course it did not win, a series titled “Beef” won instead.

But Star Wars did win two Emmys last night and one award went to someone who is definitely not in the spotlight most of the time!  Click through for all the details!

Lateef Crowder now has an Emmy, pictured here on set with director Bryce Dallas Howard in a season 1 episode, Howard actually never worked even once with Pedro Pascal when she filmed that episode and Crowder and his colleague Brandon Wayne were the men in the armor.

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As expected, Hasbro repacked Chewbacca from the Return Of The Jedi 40th Anniversary line. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

We continue our Visual Guide updates for The Black Series [Phase IV] line. Up next is Cassian Andor (Andor 08). Click below for our full Visual Guide. You can also check out more images and info in our full review.

Steve Evans shared a nice vintage-style Retro Collection checklist poster. You can download the full version at his site, or click below to check it out!

Steve Evans took to Instagram to let everyone know that he will be rejoining the Hasbro Star Wars team, leading design and development for Fan/Collector products. Click here for the full post.

With a new astromech droid mold, Hasbro is already producing more characters for The Black Series [Phase IV] lineup. Let’s take a closer look at R5-D4. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

Up next for The Black Series Visual Guide updates is Fennec Shand (The Book of Boba Fett 01). Click below to see our full Visual Guide of this figure. Click here to read our full review.

As expected, Hasbro repacked The Black Series [Return Of The Jedi 40] R2-D2 (Artoo-Detoo) figure in the standard basic lineup. Will you purchase this one as well? (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

Starting today we are moving over to The Black Series for our Visual Guide updates. Up first is Antoc Merrick (Rogue One 08). Click below to check out the full Visual Guide. You can also catch up on this review in our review database.

You have probably heard the story… years ago Zack Snyder approached Lucasfilm and pitched his idea for a Star Wars movie. But Kathleen Kennedy turned him down. So Snyder eventually transformed his Star Wars pitch into Rebel Moon on Netflix. To say the movie has been trashed by both critics and viewers is an understatement… but what would it have really been like if Zack Snyder had made a Star Wars movie? Well, YouTube channel Auralnauts just released a video the other day that answers this important question! They released Zack Snyder’s Star Wars – A New Hope. An 11 minute video reimagining the iconic 1977 movie into a Zack Snyder version. You have to see it to believe it. Click through for more!

Be prepared!

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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 Freedi Pamular (#481) and AT-AT Walker (#482). 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.

As expected, Hasbro repacked The Black Series [Return Of The Jedi 40] Wicket figure in the standard basic lineup. It still has its fair share of issues. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

Tonight’s Visual Guide update adds the deluxe Krrsantan to our The Vintage Collection guide. Click below to check out the full guide. You can also check out a full review of this figure right here.

It’s a male! The Black Series [Phase IV] Baylan Skoll figure looks excellent. But is this what Star Wars action figures are these days? Random humans with boring attire and a lightsaber? (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

We have one more figure from the Walmart exclusive Carbonized series to add to our Visual Guides. Click below to check out the Shoretrooper (Carbonized). Click here to check out 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 Credit Collection sub-line has quite a few markdowns on Amazon, some as low as $7.39. Head over to Amazon to browse the selection if you need any of these at a much better price.

The Black Series [Phase IV] Phase II Clone Trooper figure may not be at the top of your wish list, but to pass on this figure would be a grave mistake. It’s the new template for all future clones. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

Tonight we are adding the Walmart exclusive Moff Gideon (Carbonized) to our Visual Guides. Click below to check out the full Visual Guide. You can also check out our full review of this figure right here.

The Black Series [Phase IV] Mandalorian Fleet Commander uses parts from previous figures. Are you surprised? (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

We are continuing to fill in some holes in our The Vintage Collection Visual Guide with the addition of the Walmart exclusive ARC Commander Havoc (VC274). Click below to check out the full Visual Guide. Click here to check out our full review.

In case you didn’t read the whole article from today’s The Mandalorian & Grogu movie announcement, Starwars.com also confirmed that Ahsoka Season Two is currently under development by Dave Filoni. 

It looks like rumors were true and The Mandalorian and Grogu will continue on the big screen. Head over to Starwars.com for the story. The movie goes into production this year and be directed by Jon Favreau.

Let’s look at the latest batch of Retro Collection figures based on The Book Of Boba Fett. The final figure in this case assortment is Grogu. It’s a repaint of the same figure from The Mandalorian lineup. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

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 ARC Trooper Fives (#479) and Death Star (#480). 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 a few Visual Guide holes to fill in our The Vintage Collection Visual Guide, starting with the Clone Trooper (Phase II Armor) (VC269). Click below to access our full Visual Guide. You can also revisit our review of this figure in our review database.

Let’s look at the latest batch of Retro Collection figures based on The Book Of Boba Fett. Next up is Luke Skywalker (Jedi Academy). It’s a repaint of the same figure from the Return Of The Jedi lineup. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

Let’s close out The Vintage Collection wave 41 of Visual Guide updates with the addition of Chopper (C1-10P) (VC304). It’s another great addition to this final wave of 2023. Click below to check out the complete Visual Guide, and click here for a full review.

Let’s look at the latest batch of Retro Collection figures based on The Book Of Boba Fett. Next up is The Mandalorian. It’s a repaint of the same figure from The Mandalorian lineup, but this one comes with a “darksaber.” (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

We are still working our way through the latest wave of The Vintage Collection with the Visual Guide update for R5-D4 (VC303). Click below for the full Visual Guide. You can also read our full review of this figure right here.

Let’s look at the latest batch of Retro Collection figures based on The Book Of Boba Fett. Next up is Fennec Shand. It looks nothing like Ming Na. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

You may wonder why I would want to talk about the upcoming (as of now) Rey movie “New Jedi Order” again, well, the reason for that is simple. For some inexplicable (or not) reason the director of the Rey movie, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, made a somewhat puzzling appearance on CNN on New Year’s Eve where she briefly talked about the Star Wars movie scheduled for release in 2026. CNN treated that almost as if it’s anything newsworthy, even though she was announced as the director back in April 2023, in fact, it is very strange and peculiar why Obaid-Chinoy made this appearance, doing PR work for a movie that still doesn’t have a finished script. So what is going on here? But what really irked quite a few Star Wars fans is what Obaid-Chinoy had to say about her directing job. Click through for the full story and a discussion!

Screenshot of two audience members watching New Jedi Order. Acquired from the future via wormhole time travel.

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Up next for The Vintage Collection Visual Guide updates is Director Orson Krennic (VC302). Click below for our full Visual Guide. And, make sure to also stop by and 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.

Shopdisney has the Return of the Jedi 40th Anniversary The Black Series Force Spirits set marked down to $54.98. You can also use code EXRA25 to save even more! Click here for the product page. Thanks to JTA reader Jon for the alert and code tip!

Let’s look at the latest batch of Retro Collection figures based on The Book Of Boba Fett. Next up is the Tusken Warrior. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

Our The Vintage Collection Visual Guide gets another update with the addition of Darth Revan (VC301). Click below to check him out! Be sure to also visit our full review of this figure right here.

Let’s look at the latest batch of Retro Collection figures based on The Book Of Boba Fett. Next up is Boba Fett (Dune Sea). It is Uncle Fettster. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

The Vintage Collection hit another numerical milestone with the addition of General Hera Syndulla (VC300). Click below to check out our full Visual Guide of this release. Make sure to also stop by and read our full review.

Each year, our friends at @SWTVC on Instagram run an elimination bracket in March. Characters are voted on by followers, Facebook group members, and readers of fan sites to see who TVC collectors want to see the most. This is an entirely fan-run project that has no official bearing on what gets made in the line, but Hasbro brand team members have mentioned many times that they follow the tournament. Whether by coincidence or by design, out of the 98 unique characters that havMarch e appeared on the bracket across the first three years of the tournament, 42 of them have been made.

Click through to find out how to submit your top 25 for this year’s March Madness bracket. 

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Let’s look at the latest batch of Retro Collection figures based on The Book Of Boba Fett. Next up is Krrsantan, yeah, like we needed ANOTHER action figure of THIS character. At least we have another figure from The Star Wars Holiday Special now. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

Up next for The Vintage Collection Visual Guide updates is Luke Skywalker (Jedi Academy) (VC298). Click below to check out the full Visual Guide. Make sure to also check out our review of this figure right here.

Let’s look at the latest batch of Retro Collection figures based on The Book Of Boba Fett. First up is Cad Bane, a Duros with an attitude. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 15!

Our next Visual Guide update adds the repacked and renumbered Ahsoka Tano (VC297). She only gets a slightly updated paint job. Click below to check out the Visual Guide. You can also check out our review of this figure right here.

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 Dedra Meero (#477) and Vel Sartha (#478). 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.

Hot Toys released a teaser video showcasing some of their upcoming 2024 lines. Included were Star Wars: Dark Side and Episode I: The Phantom Menace 25th anniversary. Click through to watch the whole video.

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Happy New Year to all our viewers past and present! We hope you all have a happy, healthy, and fun 2024! 2024 will be our 20th anniversary on the web so thank you all for sticking with us through the years. 

Cheers!