Tag Archives: Expanded Universe

The Vintage Collection Gaming Greats sub-line was perhaps the best announcement from the Hasbro Pulse Fan Fest presentation last Friday. And I am one who is eager to purchase them all. One thing is bothering me about them, however. (more….)

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Sigh. I shouldn’t have walked away from Hasbro Pulse’s Fan Fest online event saying “Why does Hasbro hate The Vintage Collection collecting community so much? Why are they completely disengaged from its needs?” But I did. And between the sorry repacks confirmed, to the desperately needed repacks they’re dangling over our heads, I understand why people are fleeing from this scale left and right. The straw that broke the camel’s back for me was the announcement of the re-released Han Solo (Endor) figure. Does Hasbro store any record-keeping of their releases? Do they go to discount outlets? Do they have any indication of what fans want? (more….)

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“Well well well! Look what the cat cleaned up, showered, exfoliated, powdered, lipsticked, Gucci’d and dragged in!” Hasbro, without warning, is now invading the old Expanded Universe for The Black Series 6″ line. For the newbies, the Expanded Universe made its debut in 1998 during The Power Of The Force “2” era and ushered in a new and eager facet of the Star Wars collecting community. Years later, fans wanted more, and Hasbro introduced the Comic Packs line, and release dozens of two-packs featuring some of the most interesting, rich, unique, and beloved Star Wars characters ever introduced outside of the films. They are some of our most-visited reviews too! Some of the figures go for INSANE amounts of money today. With this post, we’re asking that Hasbro treats The Vintage Collection community with dignity and respect and get out some of the most classic (and expensive aftermarket) action figures in multipacks, or single-carded to include, and not exclude, us in this momentous event. See the full range of Comic Packs figures HERE.

And here is The Black Series Archive Grand Admiral Thrawn to finish out February. What a surprise addition to The Black Series Archive line! (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 12!

A new GameStop exclusive The Black Series [Phase III] Gaming Greats figure has been rumored on Instagram: Darth Nihilus!

Eagle-eyed RDRs readers may have noticed some of our banners changing for a couple of The Power Of The Force “2” lines. Previously, we organized everything by (1) “Red” packaging, (2) “Green/Freeze Frame” packaging and then by (3) “CommTech/FlashBack” packaging. However, recently adding the Collector Series and Action Collection 12″ figures posed some organizing complications for us, and it’s necessitated a reorganization in the categories. Going forward, the lines will be organized by (1) The Power Of The Force “2” [Red/Green] (which includes all POTF2 products prior to the 1998 Freeze Frame launch and all Collector Series 12″ figures). (2) The Power Of The Force “2” [Freeze Frame/The Kenner Collection] (which includes all POTF2 Freeze Frame figures, anything with a “The Kenner Collection” logo on it, and all “green” Action Collection 12″ figures. And finally (3) The Power Of The Force “2” [FlashBack/CommTech] (which remains unchanged). The latter line also houses Action Collection 12″ figures in the “starburst” packaging (used for FlashBack and CommTech 3.75″ figures). Shadows Of The Empire and Expanded Universe continue to maintain their own categories and also remain unchanged. Thank you for reading!

Tonight we are finishing up our Visual Guide updates for The Vintage Collection wave 24 with the Shadow Trooper (VC163). Click below to check out the full Visual Guide. Make sure to also stop by and check out our review of this figure if you haven’t already.

It’s beautiful! We’re continuing to look at the new The Vintage Collection figures! Next up is the Shadow Trooper! It utilizes a fantastic figure sculpt, and comes with unique accessories! We have comparison images of previous iterations in our gallery! 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.

You can check out rough Photo Galleries for The Vintage Collection wave 24 RIGHT NOW in our Research Droids Reviews. The RDRs, begin tomorrow, but you can check out most of them now. Princess Leia Organa (Yavin) (VC150) got delayed but will be here tomorrow. I’ll add her as soon as she arrives. In a nutshell, wave 24 is a great “repack and repaint” wave. (Remember those?)
Interestingly, the Sith Trooper is an all-new figure. I thought for sure he used parts from the SIth Jet Trooper, but not a single part is reused. For me, the Jawa is bittersweet. I desperately wanted a Jawa on a Star Wars card, and Hasbro delivered. But I would be lying if I said I am content with the straight repack of The Black Series [Phase II] figure. A Jawa deserves all-new tooling and premium soft-goods. At the moment, the Shadow Trooper is my favorite of the bunch so far. It’s a fantastic sculpt, and the extra gear is appreciated and welcomed. Anyway, be sure to check them all out!

Hasbro confirmed that Darth Revan WILL NOT be part of the 2019 The Vintage Collection lineup. But it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what’s going on behind the scenes. While purely conjecture, it’s nearly guaranteed that they’re developing an all-new figure of this character from the ground up (and hopefully utilizing the digital files of the 6″ figure). A year ago, we wrote a controversial article which we both got praised for and criticized for, but I am glad I wrote it. (The angry people were those who missed out on the 2007 figure and were desperate to add it into their collections.) I know we must be getting something worthy of release in The Vintage Collection. I also know Hasbro read the article and noted the over 300 comments and 15K reads it received. So, you’re welcome? We weren’t the only ones to complain, but we started it. Sometimes “whining” pays off. It brought back The Vintage Collection, and now it’s holding Hasbro to a higher standard for a collectors’ line.

Let the past die. Kill it if you have to (but only this old figure, Hasbro).

The Original Trilogy Collection STAR TOURS line featured the fourth and final wave of action figures from Disney’s STAR TOURS attraction. Learn about G3-5LE 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.

We are updating our Visual Guides for another POTF2 [Red] figure, this time taking a look the Crowd Control Stormtrooper Deluxe figure. Click below for our full Visual Guide page. This was also the focus of today’s review. Make sure to stop by and check that out as well.

The Power Of The Force “2” [Red] Deluxe sets had their moments. Let’s finish them up by beginning with the Crowd Control Stormtrooper. It’s the focus of our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even 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.

We are starting a new category of updates for our Visual Guides featuring modern updates to our older, outdated Visual Guides into our newer, cleaner, hi-resolution format. Our standard updates will focus on items that don’t previously exist in any Visual Guide format, while these new updates will rebuild our old guides. Our first Visual Guide Rewind features the last two Expanded Universe Vehicles from 1998. Click below to check out updates for both the Airspeeder and Cloud Card. Make sure to check out the Research Droids Reviews for these as well.

We’re finishing up the wonderful 1998 Expanded Universe line. Let’s end with the Ralph McQuarrie-inspired Airspeeder (with exclusive Airspeeder Pilot). This fantastic line STILL looks great today. Learn more in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even 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.

We’re looking at the incredible 1998 Expanded Universe line. All of the basic figures are completed, but we never got to the “concept art” vehicles. Let’s continue with the Ralph McQuarrie-partially-inspired Cloud Car (with exclusive Cloud Car Pilot). This fantastic line STILL looks excellent today. Learn more in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even 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.

Our Visual Guide update for tonight takes a look back at the Expanded Universe Speeder Bike. Click below to check out the Visual Guide for this cool set, then head on over and also check out our full review.

We’re switching gears once again! It’s now time to complete the 1998 Expanded Universe line. All of the basic figures are completed, but we never got to the “concept art” vehicles. Let’s begin with the Joe Johnston-inspired Speeder Bike (with exclusive Rebel Speeder Bike Pilot). This fantastic line STILL looks great today. Learn more in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even 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.

Coming soon! We’re finishing up this fun collection in our Research Droids Reviews! Stay tuned!

Welcome to another one our JTA Presents: Evolutions features! Let’s check out how close or far we are from having an ideal Hasbro 3.75″ Mara Jade action figure. Have we arrived at definitive status yet? Weigh in and let us know what conclusion you’ll come to by clicking through and adding your two cents in the comments!

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Wow! Robot Kingdom did some warehouse cleaning and found some 2010-era Legacy Collection Comic Packs in stock. These included some of the finest figures Hasbro has ever brought collectors. It’s amazing to me how much many of these fantastic Comic Packs sets go for today on eBay. When the starting asking price exceeds $500 on some, you know that Hasbro created gold back in the day. Ah, the good ‘ole days.

We’re almost done checking out various commemorative multipacks. Let’s look at the Revenge Of The Sith Clone Troopers set which was a Walmart exclusive. it’s the focus of our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even 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.

BUT WHO WILL IT BE? It’s always fun to speculate what’s coming next from Hasbro, and this is especially true when it comes to San Diego Comic Con exclusives. Hasbro has already let it “slip” that there will indeed be a The Vintage Collection SDCC exclusive this year. So, based on past experience, we’re going to surmise what it might be. Click through for more.

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You may think this version of Maz Kanata is from The Last Jedi, but you’d be wrong, technically, This figure is a Hasbro Concept based scenes from The Last Jedi. Find out more in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or even 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.

Check out the all-new and amazing Jaina Solo (Legends) The Black Series [Phase III] six inch figure in tonights Visual Guide update. Click below for our full Visual Guide page. You can also check out our extended gallery in notes on this figure in our full review.