Author Archives: Paul

They misspelled another name! The 6″ The Empire Strikes Back 40th Anniversary Imperial Tie Fighter Pilot is an expected release, although we wonder if it was needed. Do you need another one? (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 12!

Do you want to know what sets the reissue of 2020’s TVC Boba Fett’s Slave I apart from the 2013 TVC Slave I (Boba Fett’s Spaceship) Amazon exclusive? A lot. We have completed a full 76-image gallery for you to peruse, updated the review and Collector Notes which outline all of the difference for you. We also kept the old gallery too. Hasbro did collectors a solid here. Check it out! By the way, we’re treating the re-release of this vehicle no differently than the TVC basic figures than also get reissued, so we’ve updated the original review from 2013 and added details separating the two releases. Leave your thoughts in the review’s comments!

Hasbro misspelled the name. They designed a new card back and developed a character name that didn’t need to be created. Oh, and the paint operations are terrible. And lastly, the figure is still too small. Find out why The Black Series [The Empire Strikes Back 40] Artoo-detoo (R2-D2) (Dagobah) figure SHOULD have been released as 1982’s ESB ARTOO-DETOO (R2-D2) [Sensorscope] instead if they had to re-release it at all. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 12!

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

If you’re interested, the Walmart exclusive Retro Collection The Empire Strikes Back Leia (Hoth) figure is IN STOCK at Walmart online! UPDATE: Lando Calrissian is also IN STOCK.

Happy 43rd Anniversary to the film that started it all: Star Wars. It debuted in 32 theaters across America 43 years ago today! We’d also like to say Happy 37th Anniversary to Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi!

It has the wrong name. It has the wrong card art. And it might even have the wrong gun. Despite all of these potential negatives, The Black Series [The Empire Strikes Back 40] Rebel Soldier (Hoth) figure is probably Hasbro’s best 6″ figure to date. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 12!

Happy Memorial Day! Please take a moment to remember the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

We launch Research Droids Reviews: Season 12 with The Black Series [The Empire Strikes Back 40] Luke Skywalker (Snowspeeder) figure. Hasbro screwed up the figure’s deco and named it incorrectly, but the figure still has a lot going for it, like new knee joints without pins for example. (more….)

JTA reader Dan D. waited on pins and needles for his Retro Collection Luke Skywalker (Bespin) figure to arrive unharmed from Walmart. With all of the terrible shipping reports, he had good reason to worry. Click the image below to see what he received. (more….)

Full Story

In case you’re not aware, it looks like TARGET marked down The Black Series [Phase III] 6″ Moloch finally. JTA reader and friend Russ T. found it this morning for 50% off.

As you know, Jedi Temple Archives ended the daily Research Droids Reviews column yesterday. (Thank you for all of the kind words by the way. You all made my day.) That said, we’re not retiring them “completely.” We’d like to introduce what we’re calling Research Droids Reviews: Season 12. It’s like a Research Droids Reviews 2.0 for all. After 11 years of 4,018 daily nonstop reviews, the volume will come to a noticeable slowdown. The column will no longer be daily, but we will still review new products as they get released. The format and delivery won’t change much at all. Additionally, we will also post a review of older things no more than once per week during the lulls without new releases. Thank you for reading, and I hope this announcement is good news for our readership! Join us for RDRs: Season 12! Come back later for the first review of this new season! Let’s shoot for another 25 million visits, OK?

JTA is in the #FightForTVC. Ignore the noise here and elsewhere. It’s important more than ever to now sign the petition, contact Hasbro, Walmart, TARGET, and other online retail and let them know you want to see more TVC. Let the campaign CONTINUE! #FightForTVC. JTA led the campaign for the relaunch of TVC, and it was successful as it came to fruition in 2017. We also organized a successful campaign for Jabba’s Sail Barge (“Bring On The Barge”) years ago. If we all successfully worked together to do that, we certainly can do it again to get the figures we want! Hasbro Pulse Instagram: HERE. Hasbro Pulse Facebook HERE. Hasbro Twitter: HERE. Online Consumer Care HERE. Use #FightForTVC everywhere you reach out. Sign the petition HERE.

This is the funniest thing you’ll see on the internet today. Guaranteed. Thank you From 4-LOM To Zuckuss for the laugh, but we’re not laughing at your pain.

In 1984, new packaging for Star Wars figures was introduced for the European market. A cost containment initiative, the new packaging sported three languages of the Return Of The Jedi logo for a “one size fits all” approach. Although a “three-logo” design was created for The Power Of The Force line (as evidenced on some ‘boxed’ toys), it wasn’t carried over to the basic figure line’s card design. They continued to use the three Return Of The Jedi logos instead. Although the word “Trilogo” is found nowhere on the packaging, the term is universally adopted by all Star Wars collectors to describe this line of figures.

Today we revisit Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi. Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi’s Trilogo card art features an alternate “portrait style” image of the character with a background of the Millennium Falcon inside of the Death Star. The artists at Kenner “airbrushed” the bottom third of the character and added a lit lightsaber that didn’t exist in the original publicity shot. Most of the background is “fake” and also part of the “airbrushing” technique of the early eighties. It was also used for the running change American Kenner Return Of The Jedi figure. The review’s Collector Notes are updated with this information. See the full card art and additional notes by revisiting 1978’s STAR WARS Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi figure HERE.

Let’s finish up the last daily Research Droids Reviews entry with the Jabba’s Palace (With Han Solo In Carbonite) 3-D Display Diorama. It’s essentially perfect! See a host of images in our review today! Also, thank you for 11 incredible years. And if you missed it, please see my daily RDR wrap-up post HERE.

In 1984, a new packaging design of Star Wars packaging was introduced for the European market. A cost containment initiative, the new packaging sported three languages of the Return Of The Jedi logo for a “one size fits all” approach. Although a “three-logo” design was created for The Power Of The Force line (as evidenced on some ‘boxed’ toys), it wasn’t carried over to the basic figure line’s card design. They continued to use the three Return Of The Jedi logos instead. Although the word “Trilogo” is found nowhere on the packaging, the term is universally adopted by all Star Wars collectors to describe this line of figures.

Today we revisit Stormtrooper. The Stormtrooper’s Trilogo card art varies quite a bit from the standard cart art image of the Kenner release. Plumes of bright orange and yellow smoke as well as blackened areas were airbrushed onto the image. The altered card art came from a 1978 Kenner Toy Fair catalog so that the figure could be seen against the background image. The new detail added to the card art provided the background for the figure in the catalog The packaging also comes with the name Stormtrooper (Garde Imperial) printed on the name “pill.” The review’s Collector Notes are updated with this information. See the full card art and additional notes by revisiting 1978’s STAR WARS Stormtrooper figure HERE.

Let’s finish up the last two days of Research Droids Reviews with some cool releases. First up is the Cantina At Mos Eisley (With Sandtrooer & Patrol Droid) 3-D Display Diorama. It’s essentially perfect! See a host of images in our review today!

There are only two days left for our daily Research Droids Reviews column. I put together some words for you expressing my thankfulness and my appreciation for your consistency and your dedication as readers. And I go down some lanes of memory to recapture some important moments on how this column came to be and grew. I encourage you to click through and read my thoughts. Thank you!

Full Story

In 1984, the new packaging design for Star Wars figures was introduced for the European market. A cost containment initiative, the new packaging sported three languages of the Return Of The Jedi logo for a “one size fits all” approach. Although a “three-logo” design was created for The Power Of The Force line (as evidenced on some ‘boxed’ toys), it wasn’t carried over to the basic figure line’s card design. They continued to use the three Return Of The Jedi logos instead. Although the word “Trilogo” is found nowhere on the packaging, the term is universally adopted by all Star Wars collectors to describe this line of figures.

Today we revisit Darth Vader. Darth Vader’s Trilogo card art doesn’t vary much from the original card image. It’s interesting, however, that they didn’t use the running change Death Star II Darth Vader image instead. The packaging also comes with the name Darth Vader (Dark Vador) printed on the name “pill.” The review’s Collector Notes are updated with this information. See the full card art and additional notes by revisiting 1978’s STAR WARS Darth Vader figure HERE.

It’s the LAST THREE DAYS! Let’s change pace at check out the Kylo Ren Titanium Series figure. It’s pretty nice. See more in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

It’s almost unfathomable, but Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back officially turned 40 years old today. We can all celebrate the film’s 40th Anniversary and the impact it’s had on popular culture. Recollect your memories of this prestigious film in our comment.s And don’t forget to include your Kenner memories if you grew up with the toy line at this time too!

Full Story

The Star Wars “Saga” line gave us “Troop Builder” sets. Let’s finish up with the Rebel Trooper Builder Set which was also a Fan Club exclusive in 2002. See more in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

Some of those who pre-ordered the Retro Collection The Empire Strikes Back figures at Walmart online are getting shipping notices as we speak, although a few of the shipping details explain the package is delayed. Who knows what’s happening at this point, but let us know how your orders go

The Star Wars “Saga” line gave us “Troop Builder” sets. Let’s now check out the Endor Troop Builder Set which was also a Fan Club exclusive in 2002. See more in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

As we exclusively reported several weeks ago, those who pre-ordered the Retro Collection The Empire Strikes Back figures at Walmart online will indeed receive delayed shipments. Originally believed to ship with a new release date of May 20th (instead of May 4th), some are now receiving notices pushing out the shipping dates to June 19th. (And it may be later for others too.)

UPDATE: Some are receiving cancellation notices too!