Sideshow has opened up the pre-order for their hihly anticipated Premium Format Figures C-3PO and R2-D2 EXCLUSIVE set. The Sideshow exclusive set includes a "clean" paint app and Yavin themed base while the regular version comes in a Tatooine base.

For Star Wars fans the countdown to Star Wars Celebration VI (and the Star Wars Action News/Yakface party the evening of the 23rd) is in the final stages, as less than two months from now the largest gathering of Star Wars fans will happen once again in Orlando. But for the presenters and collectible manufacturers, before they can focus on Celebration there is San Diego Comic-Con, the world's largest Sci-Fi and Comics convention. This past week has been rife with exclusive announcements and preorders from companies like Kotobukiya, Gentle Giant, Sideshow, and Hallmark, and on this week's Star Wars Action News podcast Marjorie and Arnie run down all that news as well as the first bit of Celebration VI exclusive news to come from Yodasnews.com.

Mimoco, makers of the MIMOBOT® line of designer USB flash drives and MIMOMICRO™ card readers, is announcing the release of Star Wars MIMOBOT Series 8 featuring iconic characters from Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. The eighth series in the Star Wars MIMOBOT collection includes Jabba the Hutt, Slave Leia, Jedi Luke, Admiral Ackbar, and Biker Scout - a joint 2012 San Diego Comic-Con and Star Wars Celebration VI exclusive - all sporting classic stylized MIMOBOT designs.

The brave,noble, chin pondering Jedi Knight gets an update in 2012 that is an overall improvement in terms of sculpt, but loses some articulation in the process. Hasbro must not have been entirely happy with the version from 2011 and decided to issue a new, sterner looking, head sculpt a year later. Obi-Wan even comes with a climbing pack for some play value.

There are figures you must own in your collection, but Passel Argente is not one of them.  It's a perfectly good figure with limited articulation, but it's not like he was a major character.  Is greenie  worth it? Read on!

This is not your ordinary child’s play! Travel Channel reveals the big business of buying and selling toys and collectibles in the new original series “Toy Hunter,” premiering with a special one-hour season opener featuring back-to-back episodes on Wednesday, August 15 at 10:00 p.m., ET/PT (regular time slot at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT beginning Wednesday, August 22). 

Most have figured out the secret last week, but Sideshow has completed the "puzzle" for their Comic-Con exclusive Sixth Scale Commander Fox. Fox will be available for order through Sideshow on July 2nd while the Sixth Scale Bith Band exclusive on July 4th.

Let's talk Naboo Fighters and Vintage. Is it time to worry? And how about those Droid Factory figures. Have you written a letter to Disney yet? And what about the new Toys R Us exclusives, are those any good to talk about? I think so. Read on, and ask your questions for next week's column!

We typically like our variants with some point of interest or backstory to them, and while the red bandana Kithaba isn't by any stretch of the imagination a vinyl caped Jawa, the fact that Hasbro changed up to better match the actual character and vintage version is interestingly cool.

From our sponsors at Brian's Toys: This week's Brian's Toys newsletter features a variety of rare Star Wars collectibles. The highlight of the week is three LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Collector Series sets that include the Imperial Star Destroyer #10030, X-Wing Fighter #7191, and the TIE Interceptor #7181. The ultimate series are larger and more detailed than the traditional LEGO sets, which makes them a highly sought-after collector item.

Here's a neat one.  Check out the Tartakovsky Clone Trooper, part of a once-rare boxed set which is now a dirt-cheap boxed set.  It's disgusting how awesome this figure is for the price.  Read on!

Yodas News has posted up an unboxing and review of the new Comic-Con exclusive Blue Snaggletooth! There's even a reveal on the Kenner Jumbo figure exclusive for Star Wars Celebration V!! Check out the video ahead!

Sideshow reveals (at least in full) their first of two Star Wars exclusives for San Diego Comic-Con: A Sixth Scale figure set of Tech Mo'r and Doikk Na'ts of the famous Bith Band! 

He comes legit with silver boots and all and is sure to be one of the hottest collectibles at Comic-Con. Gentle Giant announces their third show exclusive to be the Jumbo Blue Snaggletooth!

Hasbro has released additional information and copy for the Comic-Con exclusive Vintage Special Edition Carbonite Chamber Collector's Pack along with a price of $69.99 each.