I'm going to start talking about this movie in a completely backward way, and right out of the gate, point out that I had NO IDEA there was a new kind of AT-AT in the film. As a massive toy geek, counting the AT-AT as once of my favorite Star Wars vehicles (I own 4), for me to not notice there was an entirely new AT-AT in The Last Jedi was troubling for me. I didn't have to go far for an answer, as it all stems from one reason. I was disengaged. Let's start from the top now.
**THIS IS GOING TO BE LOADED WITH SPOILERS!! DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU'VE ALREADY WATCHED THE FILM.**
Star Wars: The Last Jedi marks the third moment in history that the gatekeepers of the Star Wars mythos have allowed strangers to, in a word, mess with their sand box...on a massive scale. It was one thing to allow authors to create an expanded universe in novels (which they unceremoniously wiped clean in one pitiless stroke), but quite another to allow creators to impose their vision on such an iconic and, dare I say, revered property, and commit it to film for history to judge. Whenever this happens, we assume Disney will guide a creator along a pre-determined route, allowing the creator to tell a story within guidelines already set up, much like a comic book company would do. You tell your story, but you have to remember rules set down before...behaviors...history. Move along the same time line, advancing the narrative to what is hopefully a new and exciting conclusion.
Or you can just say that everything that happened before was crap and burn it all down.
From the first images of the film to the quick flashes of brilliance and a rolling BB-8 that created instant, rekindled luvs for all droids to the teaser out of San Diego Comic Con that made many a grown dork blubbery and now, my friends, the time has come to drink in the full HD amazing that shows off just what we are in for with a gorgeous, modern tale existing within the legendary Star Wars mythos which brings old favorites back to fight alongside new heroes. It's shot with amazing care..it strikes all the right chords and right now, as tickets go on sale across America, it is breaking the internet. Let's watch the full trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens!
Yesterday, we posted an alert. All those in the NY area with light sabers were to get to Times Square between noon and 6pm. Here's why...
Yes yes...not very action packed, but damn cool none the less and probably a ton of fun on the inside! All of this is inspired by the new video game Star Wars: The Old Republic, which is in stores NOW. Here's the game trailer...
Now that the Flickr is jam packed with Toy Fair 2011 goodness, it's time to grind out all the little bits of info for the lines you'll be obsessing over this year. What better way to kick this off than with STAR WARS!!(<~click here for 268 images!)
Clone Wars Wave 2 hits this March with Ahsoka and Anakin (Season 3) grown up, El Les the bounty hunter, Clone Commander Wolffe and an Aqua Battle Droid.
Wave 3 stars Jedi Eeth Koth and Bariss Offee (from the brain invaders episode), Clone with Riot Gear and Red Leader Arc Trooper.
Figure and Vehicles – (June) Clone & Scout Speeder, Seperatist Droid & Speeder and Castas & Speeder
This Fall – Republic Fighter Tank Remote Control Vehicle rolls out with 6 projectiles and a Clone Trooper. A light comes on at start up and when you fire a missile, it simulates the recoil action of a real tank.
The Republic Attack Ship is the big mother trucker this year with fully positionable wings, pop up blaster cannons with spots for Clone Troopers to man them. The ship can be converted into a battle platform playset with blast shields, scout tower and a cockpit that turns into a recon vehicle with fold out wings. Electronics included boast an “interactive mode” with the Commanders voice telling you to fire on the enemy…and he’ll know if you’ve done it!
Vintage figures were a success so they are continuing the line into 2012 with 35 figures minimum coming out in 2011. Most will have some new tooling while others will have all new tooling (meaning they are new figures; the tool being the mold from which the plastic is punched when they make the figure.) The line will extend beyond episodes 1-6 this year into the Expanded Universe. This fall the line will introduce deleted scenes figures as well. On tap are..
Clone Trooper in 212th deco, New Hope Luke with grappling hook and light saber, R5D4 Droid, Storm Trooper, New Han Solo Celebration (with medal), Commander Gree, Luke in Degobah arrival outfit (ungloved hands..ooo), Clone Trooper, ATRT Driver, Weequay, Fi-Ek Skirch (Nikto Jedi from Episode 2 battle), General Lando Calrisian, Baris Offee (final cloak will be vinyl, not cloth), Rebel Blockade Trooper, Trooper Commander (Captain Fordo with his fo-hawk hairstyle and 2 helmets), Logray ( Ewok w/articulated ankles!), 501st Trooper (Episode 3), Aayla Secura, Dr. Cornelius Evazan, Kithaba, Nom Anor (resculpted and in scale for 6 feet tall, removable armor and removable back spikes to complete alternate looks), Bom Vimdin, Fan Pick Bastila Shan, Echo Base Trooper (Hoth!) and Ponda Boba (removable arm and two sets of hands for a hoofed look and hands that can hold a cantina shot glass, should he be doing shots before decapitation)
This fall, Revenge of the Jedi cards return for the vintage line. 12 figures will be released on these cards late this summer/ early fall including Slave Leia, B-Wing Pilot (Keyan Farlander), Luke Skywalker (Endor Capture), R2-D2 (with Jaba’s skiff serving tray), Han Solo (Endor trench coat), Stormtrooper, Darth Vader, Admiral Ackbar, Wicket, Boba Fett, TIE Fighter Pilot and Rebel Commando (Endor).
Hasbro assures us these figures will be easier to find than the Galactic Hunt releases, but to assure you get your set, they’ll be releasing the lot in a Death Star package at San Diego Comic Con this summer. Included are two bonus mini figures of Salacious Crumb and a mouse droid, both on small vintage cards.
This year’s mail away is Boba Fett in his prototype armor. We were told there is even a hint of the beach towel deco on the cape to mock the original painted beach towel sprayed and hooked onto the now legendary white costume.
Figure 4 packs will see release around the same time the films get their Blu-ray push, including some of the greatest characters from those films and packed with mini posters of the films. When you put all 6 sets together you’ll form a complete piece of art from the sides. The Phantom Menace set includes Qui Gon Jin, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Maul and a Battle Droid. The Episode 2 set includes Anakin Skywalker, Jango Fett, Count Dooku and a Clone Trooper. The Episode 3 set comes with Mace Windu, Yoda, General Grievous and Commander Bly. The Episode 4 set comes with Luke Skywalker, Sandtrooper, R2-D2 and Obi-Wan Kenobi. The Episode 5 set includes Luke Skywalker in Snowspeeder gear, Princess Leia (Hoth), Snowtrooper and Boba Fett. Finally, the Episode 6 set comes with Luke Skywalker (Jedi), Han Solo (Endor Trench Coat), Darth Vader and a Biker Scout.
Galactic Heroes is coming to an end. Aww. Luckily, they got out an adorable AT-AT and an oh so cute Rancor Monster in their run. Now the line will be retooled (like the other lines) for a more pre-school appeal (meaning they ain’t for you and your grubby man hands anymore). Jedi Force 2 packs include figures with new articulation so they’ll fit properly in any vehicle in the line. Coming this August are Darth Vader and a Stormtrooper, R2-D2 and C-3PO, Anakin Skywalker and Jar jar, Yoda and Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Commander Cody and Han Solo and Chewbacca. Pull back and Go vehicles include a Landspeeder with Luke, BARC Speeder with Anakin and a Freeco Bike with Obi-Wan, coming this August. Other vehicles include a Snow Speeder with Hoth Han Solo and Pilot Luke, Anakin Skywalker’s Starfighter with Anakin and R2-D2 and the Millennium Falcon (with a total redesign to be not as fat and chuncky with a smuggler’s compartment, detachable radar dish and cannons that can be re-pegged inside, full range of tools and the holo chess game.)
ROLE PLAY!! ..and we don't mean Slave Leia outfits. Hasbro returns to the drawing board with their Lightsaber design and returns with a kid friendly but still screen accurate model called the Ultimate FX Lightsaber. This is said to be the most realistic lightsaber ever produced for kids. The UFXL retails for 35 dollars with a blade that strobes to life from hilt to tip (as it should!) with activation noise, power down and clashing sounds. Each is packed with a CD to show Jedi moves so you can train properly and not behead your neighbors.
With the return of Disney Star Tours come NEW exclusive figures! Get ready for Darth Vader on his hover pod, 2 Sky Troopers and Boba Fett in the Star Tours Ambush Pack and the Baggage Handler, a new version of Ace, C-3PO and droids as well as some luggage that actually opens in the Travel Agency Pack. New Walmart 2 packs are on the way packed with single episodes of Clone Wars targeted to kids. The packs include Landing at Point Rain with Obi-Wan in Clone Armor and a Battle Droid and Weapons Factory with Anakin and a Super Battle Droid. Target Clone Wars 2 packs (sans DVD) include a Special Ops Clone Trooper and Geonosian Soldier (not a zombie this time) and ARF Trooper Waxer and a Battle Droid. Target also gets some additional Vintage 3 figure packs this Spring with a Stormtrooper, Vader (w/ soft goods) and an Imperial trooper and a second pack with Luke Skywalker in X-Wing gear, Obi-Wan (soft goods) and Han Solo. Toys R Us will score some Vehicle and Figure packs with a Rebel Transport Speeder and a Flitknot Speeder with Geonosian this Spring. Kmart gets a single figure exclusive this Spring with Clone Captain Lock.
From across the great waters, our European LEGO maniac spies send us word of new Star Wars LEGO sets on the way focusing on the Preqeul movies. The pictures dropped on us detail the following...
7913 - Clone Trooper Battle Pack : BARC Speeder, 2 Bomb Squad Troopers, Clone Trooper Commando and an ARF Trooper - $10.99 7914 - Mandalorian Battle Pack : Mandalorian Speeder, Cannon and 4 Mandalorians - $10.99 7915 - Imperial V-Wing Starfighter : Fighter with Imperial Pilot and R2-Q2 - $24.99
7929 - Battle of Naboo : Droid Carrier, Jar Jar Binks, Gungan Soldier, 2 Droid Pilots and 8 Battle Droids - $29.99 7930 - Bounty Hunter Gunship : with Sugil, Assassin Droid, Embo and Aurra Sing - $49.99 7931 - T6 Jedi Shuttle : with Obi-Wan Kenobi, Quinlan Vos, Saesee Tiin and Shaak Ti - $79.99
The greatest Star Wars convention in the 12 systems is going on RIGHT NOW, so we thought we'd bring a little bit of the plastic action home to you. Hasbro had their collector panel at the event and ran a slide show containing all the goodness hitting stores now and for the foreseeable future. Those who have seen the slides from San Diego Comic Con will note that this show has some new bits and pieces, so for YOU, we've delivered the info in two ways.
1. is via our Flickr account, where we've posted every slide individually so you can click as you like. 2. is as a YouTube video where you can watch the slides in HD, set to music, and hit pause when you feel the need to drooool.
For those who not well versed in the world of Star Wars plastics but are now tempted to buy their favorite bounty hunter, score the points needed for a Rocket Firing Boba Fett or score a killer vehicle, here's some info behind the pictures...
ITEMS ALREADY IN STORES: - The first waves of new Clone Wars, Saga Legends and Vintage figures including Hoth Han Solo, Dengar, Bossk (that lizard guy who isn't a sleestax), Greedo, Snowspeeder Luke and the HUGE Kul Teska Guard from Clone Wars: The Republic Heroes Video Game, exclusive to Toys R Us - The colossal, 2 foot AT-AT!! Two levels, lights, sounds and a speeder that shoots out its butt. I'll be making mine a little bed and read him stories before he goes to sleep every night. - The Cloud Car, Remote Controlled Hailfire Droid, Luke Skywalker's Snow Speeder - Boba Fett's Electronic Helmet!! You must own this. Don't lie.
For the die hard fans, we've got pics of...
- Clone Wars Basic Figures : Wave 2 (This August) : Kit Fisto, Mace Windo, Commander Droid and Cammo Clone Scout Wave 3 (This September) : Ki-Adi Mundi, Clone Trooper Pilot and Flame Thrower Clone Wave 4 (This November) : Shaak Ti, Boba Fett, R4-P17, Embo and Mando Trooper Wave 5 (This December) : ZOMBIE GEONOSIAN!! , Clone Draa, Cato Parasitti and Clone Commander Jet There will be 32 new figures in 2010. There's a Galactic Battle Game included with each new figure as well as a redemption certificate for a Battle Mat with Sergeant Bric (a bounty hunter hired by Kaminoans to train Clone cadets.) - Clone Wars Figure and Vehicle Packs : (Wave 3 and 4 this October and November - $15.99) : Freeco Bike with Cold Weather Gear Clone, Mini Tank with Tactical Droid and Clone Scout Boil with AT-RT - Clone Wars Battle Packs : Wave 2 (November) : Mandalorian Troopers and Arc Troopers - Clone Wars Starfighter Vehicles : Wave 2 (October) : AAT Tank, Clone Swamp Speeder, Hyena Bomber and AT-AP Walker Wave 3 (November) : Xanadu Blood (Cad Bane's Fighter) and Plo Kloon's Starfighter (December) Droid Gunship and a new deco for the Droid-Tri Fighter (January 2011) Jedi Turbo Speeder
- Vintage Collection : 37 Basic Figures in 2010 in 4 waves every 6 weeks. 27 figures will be new or have some new tooling and deco. 10 figures will be "greatest hits" on vintage card backs for the first time. Figures will be from OTC, as well as Episodes 1, 2 and 3. This will run for at least 2 years. With the 30th anniversary of Empire Strikes Back comes the "Holy Grail" of all Hasbro Star Wars figures..Rocket Firing Boba Fett!! Buy 5 vintage figures, clip the proof of purchase and send in for your Boba! Wave 2 (October) : The EP 3 Wave : Darth Sidious, Anakin, Magna Guard, General Grievous, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Sandtrooper, Clone Trooper and Commander Cody Wave 3 (January 2011) : Return of the Jedi Wave : Gamorrean Guard, Admiral Ackbar, Luke Skywalker (Jabba's Prisoner..or is it Vader's Prisoner?), Skiff Guard Woof, R2-D2 drink server with Pop Up Lightsaber, Rebel Commando, Wicket the Ewok and Rebel Pilot Wedge
- Force FX Lightsabers with Removable Blade : Darth Vader and Anakin Skywalker available now. Obi-Wan Kenobi available this September. Darth Maul available December/ January. - Galactic Heroes : Wave 2 (September) : Darth Maul and Obi-Wan, Mandalorian Troopers, Emperor and Darth Vader and Count Dooku and Commando Droid Wave 3 (November) : Luke and Darth Vader (Empire), Training Clone and Sgt. Bric, Senate Commando and Aqua Battle Droid plus one more surprise 2 pack. - Galactic Heroes AT-AT!! Adorable. Out this month
- Role Play : Boba Fett Electronic Blaster and General Grievous Spinning Lightsaber
- Transformers Crossovers : Captain Rex/ Freeco Bike and Yoda/ Attack Shuttle on shelves now. Tank Gunner/ Interceptor Tank this September. Thire/ Republic Attack Cruiser this October.
- Exclusives : Toys R Us : Clone Wars Nikto Skiff Guard figure this September. Clone Wars Rise of Boba Fett Ultimate Battle Pack with Young Boba, Mace Windu, Bossk, Anakin Skywalker, a droid, Slave-1 (? maybe it's not Slave-1 yet?) and what looks like Anakin's fighter this September. Legacy of the Dark Side 2 Packs with Pre-Cyborg Grievous to General Grievous, Boba Fett Orphan to Bounty Hunter and Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader this October. Vintage Packaging for the AT-AT comes late this October!! Endor Pilots packs hit January of 2011 with Grizz Frix X-Wing Pilot, R2-T7 (Grizz's Droid), Palso Thern B-Wing Pilot and Scythe TIE Fighter Pilot and a second pack with Ekelarc Yong Y-Wing Pilot, R5-P9 Ekelarc's droid, Sila Kott A-Wing Pilot and Oxixo TIE Fighter Pilot. There's also Saga Vehicles with figure sets on the way in March! - KMart : Jodo Kast figure in stores now. Clone Wars Clone Commando Squad with the Cold Weather, ARF, Pilot and Jetpack troops this August. - Walmart : DVD Figure 2 Packs with Clone Wars Episodes including Rising Malevolence, Shadow of Malevolence and Destroy Malevolence this September. Jabba's Throne with Oola (the slave dancer) and Salacious Crumb this October. Kit Fisto's Starfighter this October. The Tie Bomber comes this December. Khol's : Galactic Heroes AT-ST this September. - Entertainment Earth : Comic 2 Packs with Legacy #7: Deliah Blue and Darth Nihl, Knights of the Old Republic #6: Jarael and Rohlan Dyre, Jango Fett: Open Seasons #2: Jaster Mareel and Montross and X-Wing Rogue Squadron #29: Baron Fel and Ysanne Isard. - Target : Clone wars Figure Collection with Bounty Hunter DVD: Hostage Crisis Episode: Shahan Alana, Robonino and 2 Commando Droids and Hidden Enemy Episode: Captain Res, Sgt. Slick, Clone Trooper Chopper and Clone Trooper Gus coming this October. Clone Wars 2 Packs with Senate Commando Captain and Senate Commando and Cad Band and IG-86 this October. Geonisis Arena 2010 Assortment with Obi-Wan Kenobi and Super Battle Droid, Rodian Jedi and Battle Droid, Anakin Skywalker and Droideka, Shaak Ti and Geonosian Warrior, Nicanas Tassu and Count Dooku and R2-D2 and C-3PO with Battle Droid Head late this October. Vehicles in Vintage Packaging include the Rebel Armored Snowspeeder and Imperial Tie Fighter this October. Mini Muggs 3 packs debut with Bounty Hunters Bossk, Boba Fett and IG88, Yoda, Darth Vader and Stormtrooper and Clone Wars Bounty Hunters Cad Bane, General Grievous and Captain Rex this October. Battle Packs focus on Empire Strikes Back with Attack on Hoth containing an AT-ST, a driver and 2 Snowtroopers and Defense of Hoth with a turret, laser dish, 2 Hoth Rebels and a droid this December. Vintage Figure Collection 3 packs hit this December as well including the Bespin Alliance with a Cloud Car Pilot, Lando and Bespin Luke, Hoth Rebels with Han Solo, a Hoth Rebel and FX-7 Medical Droid and Imperials with 4-LOM, a Tie Fighter Pilot and an At-AT Driver.
With the Mucus Tick madness enveloping my life alongside 4 other projects, I bet you thought I forgot about our Wizard World Philly coverage? NEVERRR!! This years show went by like the wait for Iron Man 2. There's a level of anticipation leading up to it and then..poof..its done. I picked a Saturday visit this time around, learning my lesson from a depressingly vacant show last year when we hit it on a Friday. Half the guests hadn't even shown up yet when we walked those isles! Unfortunately, they pulled a switch on me this year and programmed toy events for Friday!! Going Saturday meant none of that was there and I'd even missed the one figure left behind by our buds at Mattel. FAIL. Ah well. At least Shocker Toys showed up with plasticy goodness for me to drool over and the promise of a Barry Tick action figure to come. Regardless, we had a hall filled to the brim with people in costume (for better or for worse), famed comic artists selling prints and sketching away, miles of comic long boxes, giant walls of action figures and celebs signing autographs every 10 feet. The dealers have adopted Mattel as their star player this year and filled their booths with Justice League Unlimited single, tripple and 6 packs as well as DC Universe Classics both on card and loose. Every booth seemed to also carry at least 3 Masters of the Universe Classics figures. There were a few Marvel Universe figures scattered here and there, but they were the newest waves only and the stray SDCC exclusive left over. It's clear who the scalpers are watching.
My mission at these shows, beyond taking lots of pictures, is to fill holes in my collections and score a new print or two from my favorite comic artists. I came up empty in my search for a JLU Silver Banshee or Deadman 6 packs and wasn't happy with the He-Man prices, so I scored an Arthur Suydam (Marvel Zombies cover artist) print of a little boy Wolverine, post dirty deed and resigned to watch Lori stalk the comic dealers for her prey. I'm forced to watch this from a distance as Lori gets INTENSE when she's on the hunt, so we stay clear of her tribal ways and cheered as she returned with a killer deal on X-Men #4!! The score was so impressive, we caught the attention of the amazing artist Greg Horn who compared shopping lists with our girl; his taped into a Disney Princess notebook while Lori's charted with meticulous care including pie charts and price fluctuation graphs. I told you she's intense.
We decided to head out in search of lunch when Cherie, who is whiter than hospital sheets, was mistaken for a vampire and attacked by dual Blades. She is well versed in drunken Kung Fu, so she dispatched the Wesley Snipes stunt doubles with relative ease. Word of her beat down spread quickly and as we made a B line for Quick Check, our path was barred by War Machine and Black Widow who, in a show of Marvel Solidarity, shot Cherie and Lori dead. Though slightly deterred by gaping bullet holes, we still managed to grab sandwiches and the ladies ate well as they bled to death. You can't keep a good geek down, and our ladies were back on the floor within a half hour, now disembodied but looking for more fun among the costumed comic fans. We made the mistake of swinging by the Philly Ghostbusters table, not even thinking that they might be startled by the drippy ectoplasm Lori and Cherie were trailing behind them. Lori faked out the troop by flashing her X-Men #4 and high tailing it for the Bruce Campbell signing line, but even Cherie's ghostly long legs couldn't earn her a pass. The Philly GB let loose with their proton packs and within minutes, she was sucked up in a trap and shoved into a duffel bag with 25 cent copies of Heroes Reborn and a jumbo bag of peanut MnM's.
We are still negotiating her release.
Thanks to Lori and Cherie for hijinks with costumed peoples and dying with dignity. Special thanks to Eileen Cleary for additional photography. Biggest thanks to the Wizard World staff for access and an extremely fun day, even with the homicide.
