Q&A With JTA: Our Nineteenth Column!

1. Love the [Research Droids] Reviews. They've got me wondering though. Where is it that JTA (and other SW sites) acquire their SW materials for inspection and review? I have seen it mentioned that you "buy one of everything", but is this accurate? Do the manufacturers send you samples? How is it that you get yours before they are available to the general public, as well as acquire the hard (and impossible) to find items? What do you do with the samples after you review them? (Andrew)

JTA: I can't really speak for other Star Wars fan sites because I don't know what arrangements they have with sponsors and/or vendors. I can tell with 100% honesty that the items you see pictured in the Research Droids Reviews are all items I have personally purchased and still own, with a handful of exceptions (less than a half dozen). It is true that I buy one of everything when it comes to the Hasbro action figures. And I also collect all of the Sideshow 12" figures, Premium Format figures and 1:1 Life Size Busts. (The Life Size Boba Fett Bust review I just posted was "purchased" with my Rewards Points at Sideshow - yes, believe it or not I had that many points saved.) As you can imagine, space at home is always compromised and I can no longer display everything at once so it either sits in my attic or in storage. For the rest of the categories you see reviewed, I really pick and choose my favorites including Gentle Giant, Ltd. and Medicom Toy. To date, I personally have only received two "free" samples from Hasbro. These include 2009's Legacy Collection Dewback And Imperial Sandtrooper and 2010's Star Wars [Shadow Of The Dark Side] Imperial AT-AT. (But all of the various fan sites received these samples.) Hasbro also gave each fan site the two exclusive Comic Packs from 2010 but another member of our site got those. The monies received from our sponsors gets quickly spent with site fees and materials needed and what-have-you so we can keep JTA alive and functioning for you our readers. This is why we appreciate when you patronize these sites through our own links. It only goes to helping our site function.

I have to say that I don't necessarily agree with you that we get our samples before the general public. If you just do a cursory scan of our archived news, you'll likely see my newspost about the latest wave of figures being found and then the next day (at the earliest) is when the reviews for that wave begin. I don't ever recall finding figures before the general public. I typically see store reports in the West Coast and then stay alert for when they make there way to the East where I live. (Please correct me if I am wrong and you have seen otherwise.) I know the same goes for our friends at other Star Wars sites. I visit my local Walmart every morning and my local Toys R Us and TARGET on the way home from work every single day. I don't think I have missed a day yet. That is how I have been able to secure these items (including the harder to find items) for my collection. It's a lot of time and a lot of money, but it's a hobby I enjoy.

2. I was wondering what you think about The Vintage Collection phase I Clone Trooper. It's a figure I am hating to love instead of loving to hate (which was true for me when it first came out). (Mike)

JTA: I don't think you could have expressed in words better with your question exactly how I feel about this figure (VC45). This figure has indeed grown on me. I attribute my inital chagrin to my unwillingness to accept change. I dusted off my Episode II DVD and watched the Battle of Geonosis extra carefully recently. To my amazement, the clone troopers do have rather slim builds (even with the armor). I think I had stated in my review that I thought these figures were too thin. I would be wrong in my original assessment then. I really am appreciating this figure more than ever and I believe I will have to critique my original review because my memory is telling me I was too harsh on the figure. I would still prefer a phase I clone trooper without a removable helmet, but Hasbro has designed this figure so well that the helmet still looks proportional, almost to the point that you wouldn't even realize it has a removable helmet unless you touched it. I also love the discreet articulation points. The inhibited movement of the ball-jointed shoulders still bugs me, but there is just too much positive here and to ignore this figure would be a travesty. (And let's not forget about those updated guns with the silver details added.) While I still think this new figure could almost pass for a realistic version of The Clone Wars television show Clone Trooper, it's a figure that is really growing on me.

3. I don't see any improving signs in the distribution of new figures. Is there anything you can do to plead our case to Hasbro? (Gary)

JTA: When the Hasbro Q&A starts up again (soon), your question will be one of our first questions to them. Hasbro assured us when the new line looks started that new assortment numbers taking over the shelves would alleve all distribution woes. That is clearly not happening. There is an endless circular loop of blame happening here: Retail blames Hasbro for not sending anything. Hasbro blames retail for not ordering enough product. There's not enough product because Hasbro doesn't send anything. And on and on it goes.

It's a neverending battle with no resolution in sight. I'd like to think that TVC (and even TCW) has exceeded Hasbro's expectations and selling beyond their initial projections. (I believe this was the reason for a repressing of wave 3 with Wedge. Otherwise Wedge would have been squeezed into another wave. Hasbro wants to get more Return Of The Jedi figures out to us. But I find it unbelievable that if I go to any TRU, TARGET or Walmart, all I will find are the following: Dengar, Cloud Car Pilot, Clone Trooper (VC15), Sandtrooper and maybe a Rebel Commando or Generla Grievous. It's very, very sad. I mean, the Attack Of The Clones wave didn't have a prayer at retail. I saw that one, albeit multiple cases, once.

So to answer your question, yes, we will definitely be addressing this egregious issue with Hasbro as soon as we are able.

4. I also love the Geonosis Arena Showdown sets from TARGET. Do you think there will be a third wave? The Battle of Geonosis arena had over 200 Jedi in it and besides the basic figures, Hasbro has many they could do from the film. If Hasbro made a third set, what 6 groupings would you like to see? (Tim)

JTA: This is actually a topic discussion in our forums, Tim! Check out this link for some great brainstorming on this topic!

If I had my own way with this, I think these would make six incredible sets!

Pablo-Jill And Super Battle Droid
Padme Amidala (Battle-Damage utilizing Evolutions sculpt) And Battle Droid
Luminara Unduli And Destroyer Droid
Lumas Etima (Human Jedi from 2003 Clone Wars Deluxe set) And Battle Droid
Twi'lek Jedi And Geonosian Drone
Plo Koon (I want an Episode II specific version) And Nute Gunray

And quite honestly, Hasbro could easily do a fourth set, so if they want to do that circular packaging gimmick, they could easily do this all over again in the upcoming new line look change. I actually think this would be a successful standard exclusive that has lots of life in it. Once they run out of Separatists, they could always throw in the new TVC Clone Trooper so we could easily army-build him (and let's not forget about all of the officers too)!

5. I was wondering if you could answer a question for me with regard to the Soontir Fel/Ysanne Isard comic pack; specifically, the Ysanne Isard figure. I think there's a lot of under-appreciated quality in the comic packs, and I'm also a fan of the Rogue Squadron books, having read them enthusiastically when I was younger. I hesitate to buy this set, though, because every image I've seen of the Isard figure appears to have its eyes "crooked." That is, one looks higher than the other. I've read a few reviews of it online though, and none of them mention this. So am I just imagining it, or what? Thanks in advance, if you can help me out. Thanks again. And again, great job on JTA. Keep it up. (Jace)

JTA: Thank you for the compliments Jace. To answer your question, yes, Ysanne Isard does have a right blue eye that is higher than her left red eye. But I actually think it looks good because she is also raising her left eyebrow. I believe this was the intended look of this Star Wars characters. That is just my opinion though. And I am not too familiar with the comic. Is she always in deep thought or wondering?

So, you’re not imaging seeing her eyes at different levels, but I think it looks the way it does for a reason. It just depends if you can accept it. If you want her at all, this may be your one and only chance! Comic Packs are dead unfortunately. I, like you, have appreciated the opportunity to get some really amazing figures from the Comic Packs line. Hopefully Hasbro will continue to being us the EU through the basic figure line at bare minimum. (I personally want that white Luke Snowspeeder pilot and Han Bespin that were shown on the back of the EE exclusive sets.)

Are you new to Q&A With JTA? Click HERE to see our previous installments of this column. Each session is chock full of all the things you ever wanted to know about Star Wars collecting and the hobby in general!