Jedi Temple Archives Presents: 2013 - The Year In Review

What a year 2013 was indeed. We have taken some time out to distill some of the highlights of 2013 for you. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll become outraged, and then you'll smile. Journey with us as we look at the 2013 calendar year through our own eyes and revisit some of the key events that occurred during the year, and show yourself why you should stick to Jedi Temple Archives like glue for the latest in Star Wars collecting news! For more details of the highlights listed, simply click on the month and year of that post and it will take you to our news archives for that month where you'll find links to the stories and full details. Click through for more!

JANUARY 2013:

• Jedi Temple Archives releases our "annual" Vintage Versus Modern analysis, this time entitled: 2013: Almost Done, So Give Us Some!
• Sideshow Collectibles announces 1:6 Preque Trilogy Yoda.
• Jedi Temple Archives revisits wave 5 of the 30 (77-07) line (as well as the rest of the line too).
• Sideshow Collectibles announces Darth Malgus 1:6 Scale Figure.
• TARGET’s computer reveals that the Droid Factory line is cancelled, before it officially comes from Hasbro.
• George Lucas gets engaged to Mellody Hobson.
• JTA joins Pinterest.
• Sideshow Collectibles announces their very first Chewbacca collectible; a Premium Format Figure!
• Figures from The Vintage Collection arrive at Five Below and are quickly clearanced out.
• By popular demand, Jedi Temple Archives has added a Home Screen icon for all Apple devices.
• Walrus Man (the Kenner figure) makes a cameo appearance in The Clone Wars TV show.
• Rebel Force Radio is formed featuring the talents formerly of the Force Cast.
• Gentle Giant Ltd. surprises Jumbo collectors with a $49 Luke Skywalker (X-wing Pilot) figure.
• The missing in action final wave of Star Wars [TPM 3D] Movie Heroes figures begin to hit eBay for the very first time. They’re expensive too!
• StarWars.com announces JJ Abrams will direct Episode VII.
• Hasbro lays-off portion of workforce after stock plummets.
• StarWars.com announces that 3D releases of Episode II and Episode III are indefinitely postponed.
• Hasbro announces 6” The Black Series line.
• JediDefender.com reveals that there will be a 6” The Black Series 2013 SDCC exclusive.

FEBRUARY 2013:

• JediNews.co.uk breaks big news at UK Toy Fair!
• StarWarsFiguren reveals that The Clone Wars line is dead in the water. Many fans of the line won’t accept its fate.
• Stuart Freeborn passes away.
• Hasbro releases 2013 NY Toy Fair Press Release.
• JTA attends NY Toy Fair.
• JTA asks Hasbro your questions and gets answers…. If you can call them answers.
• JTA affiliate BanthaSkull.com completely redesigns their website.
• Adam Pawlus from GalacticHunter.com writes our Research Droids Reviews entry for the day as a guest star.
• Black Friday 8-packs show up at some Walmart stores on clearance.
• Hasbro reveals new Disney STAR TOURS packs.
• StarWars.com reveals shocking news about Max Rebo.
• Gentle Giant Ltd. reveals a ton of new Jumbo figures from The Empire Strikes Back on the back of the Gamorrean Guard figure. Unscrupulous collector steals our image from the post and sends to another site as news.
• JTA reveals a 50% off Star Wars Kmart sale days before it happens – readers find Scout Walkers for as low as $10.50 each.
• The Vintage Collection Deleted Scenes figures hit many retail locations a year later to the date for the very first time.
• Gentle Giant Ltd. announces 2013 PGM exclusives.
• Hasbro officially announces that all 2013 Star Wars [Yoda/Attack Of The Clones] basic figures would NOT be available for sale in the USA.

MARCH 2013:

• The 2012 Star Wars [TPM 3D] Clone Captain Rex figure variation is found.
• Sideshow Collectibles shockingly cancels their first Star Wars collectible: the C-3PO Life Size Bust (clean version).
• JTA teams up with Yakface.com to bring an exclusive look at the USA cancelled 2013 The Clone Wars basic figures.
• The 2012 Kmart two-packs (Ewoks and AT-ST Drivers) are found for as low as $5.50 each.
• JTA puts PROMO card set on eBay for sale for those who didn’t/couldn't attend Celebration VI.
• Rebelscum.com reviews the Tamashi Nations C-3PO figure with a stunning video review.
• The online exclusive wave 16 of TVC is found at Puzzle Zoo stores in the mall in the USA.
• Dave Filoni clarifies the future of The Clone Wars for fans. It still doesn’t appease fans.
• JediDefender.com reveals Republic Commando Boss variation from The Clone Wars line.
• Geekadelphia.com reviews The Ultimate Action Figure Collection by Steve Sansweet.
• Toys R Us runs $5 Star Wars sale. Many collectors find new figures for the first time during the sale.
• Yakface.com photographs and reviews Republic Commando Boss hard-to-find variation.
• The Vintage Collection “Greatest Hits” assortments become the new controversy. No one believes they exist.
• The Vintage Collection Millennium Falcon goes on clearance for the very first time (aside from any previous sale promotions).

APRIL 2013:

• Sideshow Collectibles announces 1:6 Scale Clone Commander Wolffe figure.
• TVC Darth Malgus wave hits many Walmarts for the first time.
• As new case assortments from TVC arrive, The Phantom Menace wave menaces the shelves again... and again.... and again...
• Adam Pawlus “retires” his Figure Of The Day column, a column partially responsible for inspiring Research Droids Reviews.
• Kmart clearances new 12” figures for $5. They were barely on shelves for a couple of months.
• 2012 TPM 3D vehicles hit discount chains like ROSS and Marshalls.
• Yakface.com reveals the official release date for The Vintage Collection Endor AT-AT.
• JTA hits 3500 ORGANIC Facebook fans. Thank you!
• Richard LeParmentier, the man who played Admiral Motti, passes away.
• The highly sought after Naboo Starfighter is found at Gordmans, a store most states do not have.
• JTA reveals the news that TVC’s Kit Fisto was indeed to sustain a running card back change. Image proof was provided.
• Cancelled Droid Factory FA-4 hits eBay loose.

MAY 2013:

• One of the greatest fan made posters ever was created by Christopher Lee: a compendium on the original Kenner 92 back card.
• Jedi Temple Archives welcomes AP Collectibles as one of our sponsors.
• Hasbro reveals 2013 SDCC Exclusive Boba Fett with Han Solo in Carbonite.
• May the Fourth be with you!
• Concerns about the case assortments to The Black Series 3.75 line begin brewing.
• Gabriel Brothers begin receiving discounted TVC merchandise.
• The Vintage Collection is found at Meijer stores for $6.
• StarWars.com announces new Star Wars television show: Star Wars: Rebels.
• LEGO reveals life-size LEGO X-wing Fighter at Times Square, NY. JTA was onsite for reporting.
• Return Of The Jedi turns 30 years old! Happy Birthday!
• JTA reaches over 17K ORGANIC people on Facebook with our tribute 'poster' for Return Of The Jedi.
• Hard to find TVC figures begin arriving in the UK en masse.
• Hasbro enrages adult collectors with their Angry Birds 12-back SDCC exclusive. These are for kids, right Hasbro?
• A few forum trolls misinterpret our post about Previews showing that The Black Series is an overseas exclusive and cause unnecessary panic within the community.

JUNE 2013:

• The Black Series wave 2 case assortment is revealed.
• Rebelscum.com reveals high-rez images of carded The Black Series wave 1.
• The Vintage Collection TIE Interceptor goes up for pre-order.
• JTA is the first to reveal the BREAKING NEWS of a plethora of The Black Series 3.75" figures coming to collectors.
• flyguy.net also reveals some new figures coming in The Black Series 6” figure line.
• A TARGET investigative report reveals what TBS figures were intended for the defunct TVC line. (sad face)
• JTA reader Eli Hyder shows off his fabulous crispy Darth Vader custom.
• Peter Mayhew is stopped by airline security for his lightsaber cane.
• Entertainment Earth PAINFULLY reveals The Black Series Greedo 6” figure over a grueling four week period of time. They should have been shot for it.
• Tokyo International Toy Fair reveals TVC Slave I and it’s gorgeous!
• The hard-to-find TVC wave 14 hits Books a Million stores.
• Tuesday Morning stores begin receiving hard-to-find Naboo Starfighter vehicles.
• Sideshow Collectibles declines offering exclusives for the first time ever at SDCC.
• 2013 Star Wars [Darth Vader/Revenge Of The Sith] product begins hitting retail.
• Yakface.com foresees that Gentle Giant Ltd. will release a Jumbo Yak Face as their SDCC exclusive. Sadly, GG doesn’t give them the chance to fully reveal and review it.
• Based on our BREAKING NEWS reports, JTA sums up what collectors can expect for the rest of 2013.
• TVC Gamorrean Guards still are hitting retail, a testament to the travesty distribution is for the line.
• Sideshow Collectibles announce Deluxe Clone Trooper figures based on the most popular battalions from Episode III.
• The Black Series 3.75” line arrives at retail.

JULY 2013:

• JTA reaches 1500 Research Droids Reviews. We feature the Darth Vader Life Size Bust for this landmark number.
• TVC Slave I becomes available for pre-order at the outrageous price of $99.99.
• JTA hosts guest essayist Chris Swanski from BanthaSkull.com’s thorough position on The Black Series.
• JTA breaks news that the UK might be seeing the TVC Slave I.
• JediDefender.com reveals interior of recently announced Kmart Scanning Crew long lost Scanner box.
• TVC Republic Gunship is revealed.
• Hasbro announces TVC X-wing Fighter (Biggs Darklighter’s vehicle).
• Gentle Giant Ltd announces Jumbo Hoth Wampa.
• SDCC reveals Droid Factory exclusive for Amazon.com.
• TVC Slave I drops down to $69.99 once price card is revealed at SDCC.
• Sideshow Collectibles reveals awesome 1:6 Scale Commander Luke Skywalker (Hoth) figure.
• JediNews.co.uk partners with Jeremy Bulloch for Caravan Of The Force.
• The once revealed “Dalmation” Ewok gets canned from upcoming Kmart two-pack. Sad faces ensue.
• JTA Presents: A Digested Look at The Vintage Collection (Ultimate Edition) special report.
• Sideshow Collectibles reveals incredible details regarding the Premium Format C-3PO & R2-D2.
• JediNews.co.uk visually reveals JTA’s longstanding rumor report of upcoming The Black Series figures.
• StarWarsFiguren.com reveals new Battle Of Geonosis multipacks.
• BanthaSkull.com creates MISSING IN ACTION FIGURE column.

AUGUST 2013:

• Steve Sansweet and Anne Neumann guest star on My Family Recipe Rocks on Disney XD.
• The Star Wars [Darth Vader/Revenge Of The Sith] line hits Ireland.
• The Black Series line finally hits Philly.
• TARGET doesn’t change DPCI for TBS. Backlog of TVC’s TPM wave prevent new figures from arriving.
• The Vintage Collection X-wing Fighter hits Toys R Us.
• Two skiff guards get official names at StarWars.com. Special thanks to Yakface.com for alerting the community to the news.
• JTA friend Dan Curto works on Star Wars: Galactic Files (Series 2) by Topps.
• Slave I vehicle from Amazon.com arrive in horrid condition for collectors.
• JTA reveals new forthcoming Saga Legends and Mission Series figures.
• The Black Series figures are found at Walmart for $1.00 each.
• Bubblegate is officially recognized by the Star Wars collecting community. The Black Series figures are falling off of their card backs. Hasbro has no comment.
• A single store report comes in that TVC Ponda Baba (Walrus Man) is found once again at retail.
• PETCO picks up Star Wars license for products for your pets.
• Sideshow releases one of their greatest products to date: The C-3PO & R2-D2 Premium Format Figures set.
• JTA creates all-new Visual Guides index page.

SEPTEMBER 2013:

• JTA creates new column entitled “Q and A of the Day” which is our answer to bringing back the Q&A With JTA column.
• Hasbro has TARGET promote electronic Shampoo Bottle Darth Vader as their Holiday 2013 Hot Toy Item.
• TVC Mid-Size vehicles arrive at Tuesday Morning.
• TVC TIE Interceptor begins shipping from Amazon.com.
• Underground Twitter campaign begins: Give The Black Series Its Own DPCI!
• Rancho Obi-Wan is inducted into the Guinness Book Of World Records! Congrats Steve!
• Disney announces Star Wars “spin-off” films.
• JTA Assists Auction House With CA Dept Of Justice Seized Star Wars Items.
• Sideshow Collectibles rightfully brags about articulation included with upcoming 1:6 Scale General Grievous figure.
• Because of poor packaging, the TVC TIE Interceptor gets yanked from Amazon.com.... multiple times.
  TRU exclusive TVC Y-wing Fighter goes on clearance.
• JTA reveals what figures were actually included with the TRU exclusive TVC Republic Gunship.
  

OCTOBER 2013:

• Yakface.com reveals details of TRU exclusive Battle Of Geonosis multipacks.
• Sideshow Collectibles sells out the C-3PO & R2-D2 Premium Format Figures in record time.
• JTA attends Hasbro NYCC Preview Party and is the first to reveal Star Wars: Rebels packaging.
• Five Below sells The Art Of The Clone Wars book for $4 each.
• JTA reveals Ree-Yees is coming in The Black Series 3.75” line.
• JTA and Imperial Shipyards posts Hasbro Q&A from Hasbro NYCC Preview Night.
• Kenner Imperial Transport will appear in Star Wars: Rebels. Could this vehicle be released in 2014?
• Canadian collectors find TVC figure cheaply at Hart stores.
• JTA runs a poll to see what figures collectors want to see re-released again.
• JTA reveals that SDCC 6” TBS Boba Fett differs from general release 6” TBS Boba Fett.
• JTA affiliate MintInBox.com celebrate a decade on the web!
• The Black Series 3.75” wave 2 hits Hong Kong.
• StarWars.com reveals new writing team for Star Wars Episode VII.
• Rebelscum.com sells Cancer Awareness Charity Patch.
• JTA reveals the very first loose production figure shots of TBS 3.75” wave 3.
• JTA provides the collecting community with the very first complete look at the Amazon.com exclusive Droid Factory set.
• Mexico gets a crazy amount of The Vintage Collection exclusives.
• Yakface.com alerts collecting community to a crazy Disney Star Tours special (figure multipacks).
• Amazon.com begins their crazy pricing of Star Wars toys. It’s like watching the stock market.
• JediDefender.com discovers a list of unmade Star Wars toys. It creates huge buzz in the community.
• JTA distills the list that JediDender.com alerted the community to and finds out more interesting things.

NOVEMBER 2013:

• The Black Series Anakin Skywalker is discovered to have three variations.
• JTA apologizes to 2010’s TVC See-Threepio (C-3PO) (VC06) action figure.
• Yakface.com begins new feature: Concept Series that focuses on simple but powerful ideas Hasbro could execute to bring us new figures with very little new resources.
• Foreign retails gets a ton of the figures that Americans only hope to see.
• The Star Wars [TPM 3D] Naboo Starfighter hits TRU mall stores.
• Episode VII is announced for theaters December 18, 2015.
• It’s official: Walmart Black Friday Ad contains NO Star Wars items.
• TVC Millennium Falcon gets clearanced out for less than $100.
• HasbroToyShop.com begins stocking TBS very heavily.
• Sage Stores sell the 2012 TPM 3D Naboo Starfighter for less than $15. After posted on JTA, it sell out almost instantly.
• ToyDirectory.com posts a fascinating article about the demise of the action figure.
• TheForce.net reveals some of The Clone Wars bonus content features.
• Darth Plagueis becomes in stock multiple times at HasbroToyShop.com.
• The Rise Of Boba Fett is found for $27.98.

DECEMBER 2013:

• Research Droids Reviews hits exceed the 5 million mark! Thank you JTA readers!
• JediNews.co.uk reveal new Jakks Pacific figures.
• Amazon.com choose the Slave I as their “Deal Of The Day” and sets its price at a mere $34.99. It quickly sells out.
• Reduced Star Wars [TPM 3D] product found at Ollie’s.
• Amazon.com Droid Factory drops to $14.99.
• Wave 3 of The Black Series 3.75” line hits the UK.
• Astute JTA reader points our Boba Fett chest armor pattern on Slave I seats.
• 14K TVC figures arrive in Germany. They are the same figures that made up the “Greatest Hits” urban legend assortments.
• JTA, Yakface.com and ImperialShipyards.net guest star on flyguy’s Boring Conversation Anyway podcast. It's deemed a hit by readers.
• JTA reports on Mara Jade variation, others steal the news.
• Droid Factory Padme Amidala sample surfaces
• Jumbo Holiday Yoda comes with surprise Boba Fett micro figure. Best. Christmas Present. Ever.
• A plethora of Darth Malgus figures are found across the nation at Five Below.
• StarWars.com reveals the very first Star Wars: Rebels action figure. It’s 5POA. (sad face)

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