Monthly Archives: February 2023

It’s the 40th Anniversary of Return Of The Jedi! And the Lando Calrissian (Skiff Guard) figure is a lovely but unnecessary addition to the line. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 14!

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Funko just posted their eBay exclusive Funko The Mandalorian on Speeder (with Grogu). Click here for the product page!

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 listed a newly revealed The Black Series NED-B & Purge Trooper, OBI-Wan Kenobi Carbonized 2-Pack, for a whopping $74.99. Click here if your jam is overpriced, repainted re-packs that no one asked for! 

It’s the 40th Anniversary of Return Of The Jedi! And the Biker Scout figure feels like salt in the wound. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 14!

The latest The Bad Batch character poster has dropped, featuring Benni Baro. Click below for the full poster.

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 the Hot Toys sixth scale Paz Vizsla (TMS097) figure. Click here for the product page.

The Mandalorian Season 3 premieres this Wednesday, and as expected Hot Toys is revealing new figures. In what is essentially a repack with a few new accessories inspired by his appearance in The Book of Boba Fett, Paz Vizsla (TMS097) is the first Season 3 announcement from Hot Toys. Click through for complete details and gallery images.

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It’s the 40th Anniversary of Return Of The Jedi! And the Han Solo (Endor) figure is an expected addition to the line. But aren’t you bored of this character by now? (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 14!

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

Amazon dropped the price to $19.99 for The Black Series Stormtrooper Jedha Patrol. Click here for the product page.

It’s the 40th Anniversary of Return Of The Jedi! And the Princess Leia (Endor) figure is a wise choice to repack. But why couldn’t they fix the character’s name to include “general”? What a bunch of misogynistic women-haters Hasbro is! (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 14!

Regal Robot has unveiled their latest Concept Maquette, featuring Grogu (The Child). This will be available to pre-order on March 1st. Click here for the product page for additional details and images.

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Iron Studios’ latest release is Mando’s N-1 Starfighter, as seen in The Book of Boba Fett. Click through for detailed information and images.

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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 Pyke Boss (#389) and Queen Apailana (#390). Each Tuesday, two new cards will be released and be only available for one week. Click here to view the entire Star Wars Living archive, including individual print runs.

It’s the 40th Anniversary of Return Of The Jedi! So it’s time to celebrate that with some figures. Let’s check out the all-new Wicket 6-inch figure. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 14!

The premiere of The Mandalorian Season 3 is just one week away. The official Social Media channels have released several new character posters for Season 3. Click below to check them out.

In case you wonder why there was no Bad Batch review last week… it turns out The Crossing and Retrieval are a two-part episode, so I wanted to review both episodes at once, which, in my opinion, makes more sense than discussing each episode individually. And yes, it’s mostly back to normal procedure this time, with yet another fetch quest for Cid. But things are a bit different this time, since we get some actual messages in the episodes instead of just pointless action.

Omega is pretty angry and sad after Echo’s departure and lets everyone know about it. And she hasn’t even hit puberty yet. Meanhwile Cid has the Bad Batch play space miners and we get some wild west vibes with pretty vistas of a Space Grand Canyon. But throughout the course of the two episodes eveything turns into Oliver Twist in space… so there are quite a few things to talk about! Click here or on the banner to read my spoiler review for both episodes and let’s discuss the latest Bad Batch adventure!

The latest The Bad Batch character poster features The Emperor himself. Click below for the full view!

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StarWars.com has a breakdown of the latest Micro Galaxy Squadron series. Click through for the full breakdown.

Amazon has many of these already up for pre-order.

As we continue living through the unending hellish nightmare of Disney Star Wars, I do my best to look for whatever glimmer of hope, ray of light, or saving grace that will keep me engaged. Sadly, it doesn’t work nearly as much as it should or could. But the other day, I unintentionally channeled the Grinch in the scene where he cracked a maniacal smile, and his heart swelled. (more….)

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Today is our 100th Visual Guide in our 100 Days of Visual Guides run of updates, finishing up with the Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary original Kenner deco Greedo. Click below to check out the full Visual Guide. You can also catch up on our review of this figure here. 

We’ll have a short hiatus of Visual Guide additions while we prep the next round of updates, but we will be back soon with another run to fill some more holes in our guides!

It’s the 40th Anniversary of Return Of The Jedi, and instead of an updated Barada, the Klatooinian we get is the repacked Klatooinian Raider released three years earlier. But we’re not bitter. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 14!

Check out tonight’s Visual Guide update featuring The Black Series [Phase IV] Rebel Trooper (Hoth) (TESB03). Click below for the full Visual Guide page. Click here to check out our full review.

Denuo Novo has announced pre-order information for their 1:1 scale Rogue One Death Trooper Helmet. Get the details after the jump! 

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We are adding the last Carbonized Target exclusive to our The Black Series Visual Guides, Paz Vizsla (Carbonized). Click below to check out the full Visual Guide page. Make sure also to check out our full review for additional image galleries.

JTA sponsor Crazy Collecting just let us know about some new stock they received. Head over and check out what they have.

We just added The Black Series Aayla Secura from the newest wave, and we received a limited supply of the Previous Walmart exclusive TVC Deluxe Incinerator Trooper and Grogu and The TVC Deluxe Imperial Stormtrooper and E-Web Cannon. We also still have the one-time Discount code available that will allow anyone to save 10% off their entire order using the code STAYINGPOSITIVE in all caps.

Liam Neeson was a guest on the “Watch What Happens L!ve” show recently. A short clip from the after show (with Paul Rudd as the second guest) was released on the show’s YouTube channel on Friday and Liam Neeson didn’t hold back when he was asked if he would be interested in having his own Qui-Gon Jinn spin-off series on Disney+.  This is what Liam said in reply to the question:

No, I’m not. There’s so many spin-offs of Star Wars, it’s diluting it, to me, and it’s taken away the mystery and the magic in a weird way, you know.

Does Liam has a point here? Let’s discuss his statement and examine whether or not Star Wars has been diluted since the Disney takeover! Click through for more!

No spin-off for Qui-Gon – as far as Liam Neeson is concerned

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It’s another beautiful release in The Vintage Collection. But will you want the Cal Kestis figure from the Jedi Survivor video game? (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 14!

Up next for our Target exclusive The Black Series Carbonized updates is the Scout Trooper. Click below to check out our full Visual Guide. Click here to visit our 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 several The Black Series items marked down, including the Smuggler’s Run Set for $24.98. Click below for some of the deals.

• Smuggler’s Run Set ($24.98)
• New Republic Security Droid ($16.98)
• Greef Karga ($16.98)
• Saw Gerrera ($19.98)
• Greef Karga (Credit Collection) ($19.98)

Wow! The Vintage Collection Luke Skywalker (Imperial Light Cruiser) figure is pretty dang nice. You may want to buy it to replace your Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight) figure. With many new parts and a pure black costume, could this be the surprise figure of 2023? (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 14!

We are nearing the end of our run of 100 Days of Visual Guides as we kick off a look at the series of Phase IV Target exclusive Carbonized figures. First up is the Shoretrooper (Carbonized). Click below to check out the complete Visual Guide page, and click here to have a look at our full review.

Hasbro released its preliminary Q4/2022 and full year 2022 results a while ago. And today we got the final numbers with added details. As reported previously 2022 was a very bad year for the toy company. Revenue is down by 9% year over year and the holiday season was abysmal, 17% less revenue, and even 30% less partner brands revenue in Q4, and then in early January Hasbro agitated the Dungeons & Dragons community, the effects of which will only be visible in the Q1/2023 report. But despite all the doom and gloom and a 9% decline in partner brands sales year over year Hasbro also had a few positive things to say in their presentation. And yes, according to Hasbro it was a record year for Marvel toys and Star Wars also saw growth. Click through for more!

Higher prices increase revenue?

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The marketing campaign for The Mandalorian is underway with only a few weeks until Season 3 drops. The official Star Wars YouTube channel dropped a 45-second clip from the upcoming season. Click through to watch!

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Our 100 Days of Visual Guides hits update #95 with The Black Series [Phase IV] The Armorer (Pulse-Con Exclusive) figure. Click below to access the complete Visual Guide. You can also check out our full review for additional image galleries and details. 

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 Oniho Zaya (#387) and Freck (#388). Each Tuesday, two new cards will be released and be only available for one week. Click here to view the entire Star Wars Living archive, including individual print runs.

Our next Visual Guide update features the Walmart exclusive The Black Series Clone Captain Rex (TBB06). Click below for our complete Visual Guide page. You can also read a full review of this figure right here.

Do you know how bad that headline is? I can’t believe I am conceding that, but it’s true. And it’s all Hasbro’s fault. OK, that’s a bit much and hyperbolic. But they aren’t without blame. Take a walk with me down memory lane, and see if you agree with my assessment that the Hasbro Star Wars brand is walking in a minefield with no escape plan. The lack of respect for the 40th Anniversary of the most toyetic Star Wars film should be clanging in your ears and burning your eyes that things are in complete chaos and disarray in Rhode Island and that perhaps they’re the wrong gatekeepers for Star Wars action figures. (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.

Entertainment Earth has opened pre-orders for the upcoming Indiana Jones Adventure Series figures. Click here to check out the collection.

We have another The Black Series Visual Guide update from the Gaming Greats line. Click below to check out Cal Kestis (GG02). Click here to read our full review.

Starting Wednesday, Regal Robot will open pre-orders for their Gaffi Stick Prop Replicas. Click below to check out all of the details:

• The Mandalorian™ Tusken Raider™ Gaffi Stick™ Prop Replica
• Hero Gaffi Stick™ Prop Replica – Signature Edition

We’ve been working for a long time now on the first licensed prop replicas ever made of the Gaffi sticks! This Wednesday we’re releasing two editions, both part of our Archive Collection with incredible lineage to the original prop artifacts.

This week’s The Bad Batch character poster features Riyo Chuchi. Click below for the full view.

We are continuing with our The Black Series Visual Guide updates with Omega (Kamino) (TBB10). Click below to access the full Visual Guide for this figure. You can also check out our review here.

The Retro Collection line is losing its luster and beginning to pile up everywhere. And what about Luke Skywalker (Snowspeeder) (Prototype Edition)? Are you sick of the rainbow figures yet? (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 14!

Our next Visual Guide update from  The Black Series [Phase IV] is Bodhi Rook (RO06). Click below to check out the full Visual Guide. Click here to check out our 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 R23-X9 (#385) and The Modifier (#386). Each Tuesday, two new cards will be released and be only available for one week. Click here to view the entire Star Wars Living archive, including individual print runs.

100 Days of Visual Guides Day 90 features Baze Malbus (RO05) from The Black Series [Phase IV]. Click below to check out the full Visual Guide. You can also read our full review of this figure in our review database.

You can currently pick this figure up on Amazon for $11.94.

Denuo Novo has opened pre-orders for their Finn FN-2187 Premier Helmet. Get all the details after the jump.

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Keeping with our The Black Series [Phase IV] Visual Guide updates, up next is the Photo Real version of Chirrut Îmwe (RO04). Click below for the complete Visual Guide, and click here to check out our review.

It’s that time of the year when publicly traded companies release their financial results. Yesterday Mattel and everyone’s most favorite entertainment provider Disney both released their numbers for the fourth quarter of 2022, which is Disney’s first quarter of their fiscal year. Everyone’s favorite toy company (Hasbro, in case you wonder) will release their final results for Q4/2022 next week, but we already know their disastrous preliminary numbers (Mattel fared much better in 2022 btw). So how did Disney do? Well, kind of ok-ish, but not everything is roses, unicorns and butterflies in the Magic Kingdom. Click through for more!

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In our next Visual Guide update we feature the updated The Black Series Captain Cassian Andor (RO02). Click below for the full Visual Guide. Make sure to also stop by and check out our full review. 

If you have avoided The Bad Batch thus far you should make an exception for the two-parter released today. Because what we get is not The Bad Batch, but more something in the best tradition of The Clone Wars, even featuring a new main character who was in several The Clone Wars episodes previously: Pantoran senator Riyo Chuchi, and she is actually awesome. She also gets help from none other than Bail Organa and Rex.

The Bad Batch clones only make an appearance in the second episode, but even then only in a subplot and the focus is still very much on things like the Imperial senate, political intrigue, senator Chuchi, the fate of the clone troopers, Admiral Rampart’s schemes and of course the Emperor himself, who is two or three steps ahead of everyone else. So yes, Palpatine makes an appearance in The Bad Batch and he is voiced by Ian McDiarmid. In short: this is actually worth your time and the episodes are about an important event! You don’t even need to have watched any The Bad Batch episodes, none of the previous episodes matter here really, other than the season 1 finale, which serves as the background, but the events of that are summarized here again, so you know what it’s all about: the destruction of Kamino and how the Empire covered it up.

So read my spoiler review for today’s episodes and let’s discuss it all, just click here or on the banner!

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Amazon currently has their exclusive The Black Series Holiday Edition First Order Stormtrooper for $22.39.

Up next for our The Black Series Visual Guide updates is Migs Mayfeld (Morak) (TM15). Click below to check out our full Visual Guide for this figure. You can also visit our full review of this figure right here.

It’s not much more than a repaint (with some new tooling), but the Artillery Stormtrooper is one of the highlights, so far, in 2023. See why you’ll want this one. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 14!

We continue to work through our 100 Days of Visual Guides run of updates with entry #86, another The Black Series [Phase IV] addition. Click below to check out Aurra Sing (TCW08). We also have a full review of this figure to check out right here.

Click below to check out the latest character poster from The Bad Batch, featuring the Wookiee padawan Gungi.

Our next Visual Guide update from The Black Series [Phase IV] is Cad Bane (TCW06), as seen in The Clone Wars. Click below to check out the full Visual Guide. Click here to check out our full review.

JTA sponsor Crazy Collecting just received the TVC Dark Trooper in stock and ready to ship. Buy them by the singles or buy an 8-pack for a discount. Plus, use code STAYINGPOSITIVE for 10% off your entire order.

We have another The Black Series Visual Guide update from The Mandalorian, this time we are adding the Incinerator Trooper (TM03) to the Visual Guides. Click below to check him out! You can also check out our full review of this figure in our review database.

It’s time for the weekly The Bad Batch review, a little later than usual again, because of personal commitments, but here it is, the review for the latest episode “Tribe”. The Bad Batch and Omega find a young Wookiee on a space station run by droids… and he turns out to be yet another Order 66 survivor, it’s the return of Gungi from The Clone Wars! So what will the Bad Batch do?
Read my spoiler review for “Tribe” either by clicking here on the banner below and let’s discuss the latest The Bad Batch episode!

Let’s jump back to The Mandalorian for a few The Black Series Visual Guide updates, starting with Kuiil (TM07). Click below for our full Visual Guide. You can also read 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.

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 Mon Mothma (#383) and Syril Karn (#384). Each Tuesday, two new cards will be released and be only available for one week. Click here to view the entire Star Wars Living archive, including individual print runs.

We continue with our The Black Series [Phase IV] Visual Guide updates tonight with the addition of the Nightbrother Warrior (GG05). Get the full Visual Guide by clicking below. Read our full review right here.

The new season of Star Wars Visions will have nine episodes by nine animation studios from all around the globe. Instead of using Japanese studios, Visions season 2 will feature animation studios from Spain, Ireland, the UK, South Korea, France, India, South Africa, Chile and just one studio from Japan. The best known studio here is probably Aardman from the UK who make the Wallace & Gromit shorts and movies.

The titles of the episodes are “Sith”, “Screecher’s Reach”, “In The Stars”, “I Am Your Mother”, “Journey To The Dark Head”, “The Spy Dancer”, “The Bandits Of Golak”, “Au’s Song” and “The Pit”. “The Pit” was made in collaboration with Lucasfilm.

Will you check out the new season of Star Wars Visions?

Up next for our The Black Series Visual Guide updates is Princess Leia Organa (Endor) (ROTJ03). Click below to access the full Visual Guide, and click here to check out our review of this figure.

Disney+ released another new poster for The Mandalorian Season 3 along with a new featurette. Click below to check out the full poster, and then go and watch the featurette. 

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Not all that much was revealed for The Black Series in today’s livestream!

• Revenge of the Jedi Darth Vader Star Wars Celebration Exclusive
• Rebel Commando
• Clone Commander Jesse
• Ki Adi Mundi
• Scout Trooper Roleplay Helmet

There were also three pipeline reveals! Click through for the details!

This year’s Celebration exclusive

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Here’s the breakdown for today’s livestream The Vintage Collection reveals. All items will be on-shelf items with no pre-orders, other than a Walmart exclusive TBS figure.

UPDATE: Images and Details added

The Vintage Collection reveals:

• Darth Vader (Death Star II)
• Admiral Piett
• Han Solo [ROTJ]
• Clone Captain Howzer (Previously from the The Bad Batch multipack)
• Clone Trooper (Phase II Armor) (all-new clone body)
• 212th Clone Trooper Pack with LT. Waxer
• Starkiller (VC100 Refresh)
• Weequay (VC107 Refresh)

Retro Collection reveals:

• The Mandalorian (Prototype Edition) (Target Exclusive)

The Vintage Collection pipeline reveals:

• Luke Skywalker (Book of Boba Fett)
• Obi-Wan & Battle Damaged Darth Vader 2-pack
• Scout Trooper Speeder Bike (The Mandalorian)
• The Mandalorian’s N1 Starfighter

Book of Boba Fett Retro Collection pipeline reveals:

• Boba Fett (Nomad)
• Tusken Raider
• Fennec Shand
• Krrsantan
• Cad Bane
• Jedi Luke Skywalker
• Grogu
• The Mandalorian

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Hasbro’s next Livestream starts today at 11 AM Eastern. Click through to tune in to watch and discuss! You can also watch it on the Hasbro Pulse YouTube channel.

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