1. So we finally got the Tonnika Sisters with the HasLab Cantina. The long-standing rumor about them was that Hasbro could never get the actresses' permissions to make figures in their likeness (which doesn't track, since LucasFilm could make figures out of anything onscreen it wanted), or the rumored background of the characters being prostitutes, thus being too seedy for young boys to play with.br>br> How long has Hasbro been able to make these figures? Do you think it has been holding them back to use as a big selling point of something like the Cantina? "We'll give you the 2 figures you've been pestering us about for nearly 30 years, but you gotta buy this Cantina playset to get them."
--Chris

I'm not going to touch the Tonnika character background element. What I see are a couple of women with great hair and if they're hanging out with cool aliens in the desert, they seem like fun people who I'd want to hang out with. Wouldn't you?

There were a lot of fan interactions with Hasbro and the surviving performer. I recall the great Victoria Reynolds (she of Victoria's Cantina) talked to - maybe I'm wrong here - Angela Staines about it and supposedly everybody was happy about the possibility of a figure happening. I have no idea what the details were - a handshake, money, a $1 royalty payment - I just remember hearing people were very positive about the whole thing.

A non-Hasbro employee made mention that Lucasfilm was (in the Disney era) a lot less interested in toys of "extras." Generic human officers were typically not based on a specific face, and it seemed there may be reasons for this as far as credit and/or compensation. I don't know the contracts, and I can't speak to the specifics of recent movies, let alone 1970s movies, and I assume this is what lawyers are for. They may fall under that banner. I know action toy companies go back and forth on the question of "do little boys want toys of women," and my answer was always "yeah, why can't I find Poison Ivy or Dr. Crusher?" When it came to Star Wars there weren't many good roles for women until Disney took over, so you may be on to something with their 20th century non-availability. How many human women spoke in the first three Star Wars movies? There's Leia, Toryn Farr, Mon Mothma, and that's about it - so it makes sense kids wouldn't want toys of girls, if there are no girls doing anything on-screen. The prequels were barely any better with a couple near-human Jedi, Padme, and her entourage. Oh, and I just found out that Celia Imrie was Bravo Five in The Phantom Menace. (She's also a delight as Phil in Better Things.)

Disney (and the 1980s Ewoks/Droids cartoons) actually gave women parts beyond "background." Star Trek sold a lot more women as action figures in the 1990s. It helps to actually cast them in your show. I can't say how sales are breaking down by gender because I don't have Hasbro's stats and a lot of characters are getting made over and over again, but hey, we didn't have anybody like Bo-Katan in the 20th century toy line.

In 1997 Galoob made a Tonnika sister but she - and a number of other figures - were costed out by 1998 with the Action Fleet Battle Packs. Every pack lost a figure, so if there's any reason from a lawsuit I either didn't hear it and/or just can't remember.

Was Hasbro holding back? Maybe. Figures like these are one of the figure things Hasbro's Cantina has over DIY alternatives. To be honest I'm kind of surprised they're not putting more gem figures like this in their $50-$60 playsets - I don't mind a Jawa, but a new Jawa is not hardly essential to my continued collecting enjoyment. The Tonnika figures are essential at this point, and both cross off a lot of 1990s fans' most-wanted lists. I'm not saying I'd quit now, but it makes sense they wanted to make these figures splashy - and not pegwarmers. I'm more baffled (and annoyed) we had to get Wuher and Greedo this way... I'm happy with the Wuhers I got, and Greedo could be a hit if he returned to stores again. But I digress.

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2. So far, I've avoided the Epic Heroes line (and retro). I just can't get enthusiastic about 5 POA. I don't need super-articulated, but knee and elbow joints are where I think a figure turns into a great toy. So I was stoked to see SM-33 and the Dark Trooper, thinking the 5 POA barrier had been broken. However, pics of Brutus look like he may be 5 POA. Have you heard anything either way on where Epic Heroes are headed?
--Steve

You no doubt saw some early leaks/reveals! I have mostly good news. My understanding is that Pirate Captain Brutus was a holdover from last year's line - late to the game - so he doesn't have as many fancy joints... but since he has a big rocket launcher and some smaller knives, I'd say he's going to be worth buying. I am unaware of a Vintage Brutus so he might have to do double-duty, and because he'll be $12, I shall not be complaining one bit.

I am under the impression most new full-size figures - if not all - are going to have elbow and knee joints, same as Marvel Epic Hero Series. The line isn't going to be huge, and it's not like you can do much with Yoda or Grogu, but I would argue these figures are certainly good enough additions that Vintage fans shouldn't turn their noses down at them. Even the 5-jointed guys are about as good as a 1990s Kenner figure - and I mean this as praise, I like that era of Batman and Grant and everything.

As far as I know the line will still be a weird kid line grabbing "greatest hits" figures, vehicles, and new things - which you may or may not have seen by now, I'm not sure if some things are going to launch by when you read this - and hopefully they'll be hits. If Hasbro got the figures closer to 3 3/4-inch over 4-inches (I know it sounds like I'm splitting hairs but I don't think I am) I'd be fine if Vintage took a dirt nap for a few years and we got this instead. Ankles and wrists are good for some characters - but not necessary for "guy who stands behind other guy on shelf."

Ross and other stores have sub-$5 Epic Hero Series figures on clearance in some locations. I would recommend buying something and seeing how you like it. Nobody needs more Ahsoka figures, but her Epic Hero release is really charming. Luke is also really good, and the new $20 Speeder Bike with Scout Trooper is a nice toy. (I kind of dislike the first Darth Vader. He's awkward.) Bo-Katan, Moff Gideon, Maul, these are all good - and check Walmart too, they're clearancing some of their exclusives out this week. Even with five joints, give 'em a shot.

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FIN

The most interesting things this week were some leaked Epic Hero Series figures, which showed a mix of late new molds (hi Brutus!) and some nice new ones (hi Chewbacca!) proving - to me at least - that you can still make a good, cheap figure that isn't super articulated. Overall I'd say they're doing a good job with the line when they make new guys - I'm certainly not disappointed with the results - but such small portions! Thankfully, what we're seeing is interesting.

We're also about two months out from the return of Andor. I'm pretty sure we saw most of the toys we're getting for that since they trickled out already, but maybe I'll be proven wrong. Visions season 3 is coming too, but when? I don't know. By and large I haven't exactly warmed up to the format, although that would probably change if they were spread out a bit more. Dumping a dozen new unrelated stories on a day can be a lot to absorb, and it doesn't seem to foster online discourse all that much. So you know, you can just watch Droids instead. It's still a lot of fun.

--Adam Pawlus

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