Author Archives: Paul

As if its clearance at Target and Walmart weren’t enough, JTA reader and friend Robert F. found the deluxe The Black Series 6″ Jar Jar Binks at Ollie’s.

Funko and Macy’s unveil a new Grogu-themed Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade float. Yahoo! has the full story!

Welcome to another entry in our The Vintage Collection: The Ninety Six column. Hasbro recently committed to collectors that they will be “focusing” on characters in The Vintage Collection that fall under “The Ninety Six” banner. If you’re new to this, it means that there needs a modern counterpart for every classic Kenner figure. Between 2020 and 2021, Hasbro’s made an admirable effort by focusing on these characters. But there is more work to be done, and we’ll figure out where we are step by step. Today we assess Imperial TIE Fighter Pilot.

Full Story

After getting a dozen destroyed Princess Leia (Endor) figures from Walmart online, I have to admit that this is a sight for sore eyes. However, I found them on the bottom shelf nowhere near the Star Wars section. Why do things have to be this way?

If you’re still looking for the Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary The Vintage Collection figures, be sure to check your local Walmart’s clearance section. JTA reader Jon M. found Paploo and others hanging with clearance stickers on them there.

Welcome to another entry in our The Vintage Collection: The Ninety Six column. Hasbro recently committed to collectors that they will be “focusing” on characters in The Vintage Collection that fall under “The Ninety Six” banner. If you’re new to this, it means that there needs a modern counterpart for every classic Kenner figure. Between 2020 and 2021, Hasbro’s made an admirable effort by focusing on these characters. But there is more work to be done, and we’ll figure out where we are step by step. Today we assess Zuckuss.

Full Story

Jedi Temple Archives would like to take a moment and remember the 2,977 innocent people that died and the 25,000 injured on the 20th Anniversary of this evil terror attack. Our lives are forever changed by this event, and we wish peace and love to the families directly affected by this.

I forewarned you to pick up The Original Trilogy Collection Lobot (OTC #20) figure because I knew Hasbro wouldn’t include the awesome accessories that came with the neo-classic figure. Get him now before he’s gone forever. You’re going to want that space-aged laptop and communicator, trust me.

Hasbro, we will give you proper congratulations for choosing the RAREST The Vintage Collection figure to re-release for us. But is there any way you could think outside of the box and go a step further? How much more would it have belabored you to include an alternate helmet of the 332nd Company (Ahsoka Tano’s Clone Trooper), so we can pair them with the glorious Ahsoka Tano (Mandalore) (VC202) figure you just released. Let us get this straight. We have The Black Series [Phase IV] version of this character and a 5-inch Galaxy Of Adventures version, but you can’t include a second helmet and give it to us in a 3.75-inch scale. You hurt us! We know “newness” to a figures counts as a new figure, but it would have been WORTH IT here. Oh, and please continue to pick candidates from JTA’s Top 25 Better Choices For The Repack Case Assortments poll.

Hasbro, there are some collectors who like the Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary The Power Of The Force “2” packaging. That’s fine. But if you must release figures in it, can you please get it right? Princess Leia (Ceremonial Outfit) (not “Yavin IV”) came in the final unique packaging of the Kenner/Hasbro The Power Of The Force “2” line, in “starburst” FlashBack and CommTech packaging, not the original red/green card backs. This version of Leia was also part of  “The Princess Leia Collection” but that was different packaging too. Are you familiar with the different original modern toy line looks? Do you perform the appropriate research? It’s probably too late to fix, but you should, at the very least, know the error of your ways.

Welcome to another entry in our The Vintage Collection: The Ninety Six column. Hasbro recently committed to collectors that they will be “focusing” on characters in The Vintage Collection that fall under “The Ninety Six” banner. If you’re new to this, it means that there needs a modern counterpart for every classic Kenner figure. Between 2020 and 2021, Hasbro’s made an admirable effort by focusing on these characters. But there is more work to be done, and we’ll figure out where we are step by step. Today we assess Bespin Security Guard [B].

Full Story

Welcome to another entry in our The Vintage Collection: The Ninety Six column. Hasbro recently committed to collectors that they will be “focusing” on characters in The Vintage Collection that fall under “The Ninety Six” banner. If you’re new to this, it means that there needs a modern counterpart for every classic Kenner figure. Between 2020 and 2021, Hasbro’s made an admirable effort by focusing on these characters. But there is more work to be done, and we’ll figure out where we are step by step. Today we assess (Twin Pod) Cloud Car Pilot.

Full Story

JTA reader Jon M. found some impressive-looking Star Wars masks at his local Walmart. As we approach Halloween season again, it’s interesting to see the focus once again on George Lucas-era characters. Star Wars masks are often second-rate, especially at a Walmart price point ($31.88), but look at the details here, especially the Tusken Raider. These are pretty impressive. Click each thumbnail image below for a closer look!

Welcome to another entry in our The Vintage Collection: The Ninety Six column. Hasbro recently committed to collectors that they will be “focusing” on characters in The Vintage Collection that fall under “The Ninety Six” banner. If you’re new to this, it means that there needs a modern counterpart for every classic Kenner figure. Between 2020 and 2021, Hasbro’s made an admirable effort by focusing on these characters. But there is more work to be done, and we’ll figure out where we are step by step. Today we assess AT-AT Commander.

Full Story

Welcome to another entry in our The Vintage Collection: The Ninety Six column. Hasbro recently committed to collectors that they will be “focusing” on characters in The Vintage Collection that fall under “The Ninety Six” banner. If you’re new to this, it means that there needs a modern counterpart for every classic Kenner figure. Between 2020 and 2021, Hasbro’s made an admirable effort by focusing on these characters. But there is more work to be done, and we’ll figure out where we are step by step. Today we assess Luke Skywalker (Hoth Battle Gear).

Full Story

The Entertainment Earth Exclusive Jumbo Grand Moff Tarkin Jumbo Vintage Kenner Figure, inspired by events in Star Wars: A New Hope, represents the latest in a series of Jumbo action figures spotlighting the entirety of the Star Wars saga. Featuring classically styled sculpting, etails, and including a removable command staff, this poseable figure is styled to resemble the Star Wars figures of old, but at an epic 12-inch scale. It is manufactured to exacting standards, and comes packaged in a resealable clamshell blister card.

Welcome to another entry in our The Vintage Collection: The Ninety Six column. Hasbro recently committed to collectors that they will be “focusing” on characters in The Vintage Collection that fall under “The Ninety Six” banner. If you’re new to this, it means that there needs a modern counterpart for every classic Kenner figure. Between 2020 and 2021, Hasbro’s made an admirable effort by focusing on these characters. But there is more work to be done, and we’ll figure out where we are step by step. Today we assess three versions of C-3PO (Removable Limbs).

Full Story

It’s extremely rare when we post non-Star Wars news, but a momentous announcement like this forces me to break format. I remember in 2008 how excited I was for the new The B-52s album that came 16 years after their last studio record. But how about waiting four decades for an announcement like this one? The “Supergroup of the 70s,” ABBA, have just released two brand new songs today (I Still Have Faith In You and Don’t Shut Me Down), announced a new full studio album entitled Voyage for a November 5th release, a new Christmas song release, and an avatar “tour” which features the band live in a modern way thanks to ILM! Let me say, every previous music industry announcement pales in comparison to this news. ABBA is being praised for “saving” 2021, and I can’t agree more that this is the joy many of us need about now. Listen to the songs. Go ahead, “lower” your standards. They’ve barely changed at all. NPR has the full story.

Are you curious to know what’s under the helmet of The Vintage Collection Luke Skywalker (Endor) (VC198)? JTA reader and friend Alientek performed the surgery. Would you believe that Hasbro tooled hair on this figure? Why couldn’t they go “all the way” and include the helmet as a removable accessory? Ridiculous. See our full review and picture gallery and this figure’s wave HERE.

The second wave of The Vintage Collection Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary 3.75-inch figures are arriving from Walmart, and we’re getting many reports that they’ve continued to ship them one per box or envelope. And the envelopes are sometimes padded, and others times not. How do they afford all of these shipping costs? (Mine arrived one per box and envelope too, and the ones in the envelope were in better condition than those shipped in a box! Special thanks to JTA readers Ken P. and Matt R. for the images!

Welcome to another entry in our The Vintage Collection: The Ninety Six column. Hasbro recently committed to collectors that they will be “focusing” on characters in The Vintage Collection that fall under “The Ninety Six” banner. If you’re new to this, it means that there needs a modern counterpart for every classic Kenner figure. Between 2020 and 2021, Hasbro’s made an admirable effort by focusing on these characters. But there is more work to be done, and we’ll figure out where we are step by step. Today we assess ARTOO-DETOO (R2-D2).

Full Story

The Mandalorian/Blurrg/Remnant Stormtrooper Mission Fleet set might make you a little mad that we don’t have this beast in The Vintage Collection or The Black Series lines yet. But maybe it’s because Hasbro isn’t sure if collectors would pay the ridiculous amounts of money to put the blurrg in those scales for us. (Look how cheap it is to make an all-new 2-inch-scaled blurrg.) (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 13!

I know I see more positive reports than negative one when it comes to Hasbro Pulse. Still, JTA reader Jason A.’s recent delivery of The Black Series [Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary] POTF2 (one of their worst exclusives ever) arrived shoved into an ill-fitted box by their shipping department. This has been the norm for me. I’ve literally had better encounters with Walmart’s shipping than Hasbro Pulse. Oh well.

Let’s take a look at the Mission Fleet Shock Trooper figure! (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 13!

Yay! More Mission Fleet figures! Let’s check out Darth Maul. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 13!