We'll be tackling these - or at least one of these - in Figure of the Day very soon, but it seemed prudent to give you the lowdown on this awesome gift set now just in case you were waffling over buying it or just a couple of single figures.   This 4-pack costs less than 3 individual figures at most stores, plus sports one exclusive figure and accessories to boot.  When you see the Takodana Encounter you'll say "Octopus, right?"  (I think that's what it is, I never took Japanese.)

If you like you can order this item at our sponsor Entertainment Earth or on Amazon.com.

This action figure set comes in a box that's pretty much the same size and shape as last year's "Digital Release" boxed sets for all six films - on a shelf, this would look very nice next to them.   In it you'll find Finn (repack of individual figure), Rey (repack of individual figure), BB-8 (the Scavengers version), and Maz Kanata (new).  The two "combine weapons" are gone, but instead you'll find a lightsaber hilt, a lightsaber, and a trunk - the perfect place to store your priceless religious heirlooms in the basement of a bar.  In short: you'll be wanting one.

Want to be a part of the Hasbro booth at Comic-Con this year?  Here's your chance!   Hasbro sent along some new information to us today regarding taking some fan photos, and sharing them with the rest of the world in San Diego come July.   Want to know the full details?  Or better yet, want to participate?  Keep reading.  Update: background photos are now available.

In "news that can scare youse" news, Target stores have a $29.99 3-pack of 12-inch (1:6 scale) droid action figures from Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  Given no prior publicity or announcement, these sets include R0-4L0, C-3PO, and BB-8 - not a bad deal.  However, don't limit your search to the toy department - I found all of these sets and other toys in the DVD/movie/Blu-Ray section on an endcap.  Happy hunting!

One of the many criminals we didn't get to spend as much time as we might have liked, Tasu Leech brings us a new character in a nifty costume with a big blaster.   He's shorter than the average 3 3/4-inch figure, but he doesn't look half bad otherwise.  Read on!

Hey kids, it's Nien Nunb!  He's a lot like the 1983 Kenner figure, despite being from the 2015 movie.  He also has a backpack you can ignore.   Read on!

And now, First Mate Quiggold!  He's the first mate on Sidon Ithano's ship, and one of Hasbro's most detailed 3 3/4-inch action figures for The Force Awakens.  And he has a giant rocket launcher that will no doubt go in to the collector's junk drawer.  Read on!

It's Han Solo!  Not only did Harrison Ford come back to play one more turn as Han Solo last year, but now we know he's going to be back as Indiana Jones in 2019.  Perhaps you'll find this new 3 3/4-inch figure by then - it's not bad!  Han has his new jacket, old blaster, and a new green gun too.   Read on!

Also known as the Crimson Corsair, Sidon Ithano is part of a swell new 2-pack.  He's got 5 joints, a gun, and his pal Quiggold.  And a cape - I almost forgot the cape!  It's quite a cape.  Check it out, read on!

Ad: Check out some new Hasbro orders and pre-orders at Entertainment Earth! Transformers Combiner Wars 2 Menasor is in stock, and you can grab the Star Wars Takodana Encounter!

Also, New Pac-Man Exclusive Ghost Jars are up for grabs - as are a bunch of other awesome Pac-Man goodies. Pixel figures! Coasters! Pop! Vinyl figures!

While I've got more of these bigger guys coming in the mail, this Luke Skywalker completes the current round of 6-inch "value" figures which may be at a store that you don't frequent near you right now.  Luke doesn't have hip joints, but he is pretty big for the price.   Want to see more?  Read on!

Another 6-inch budget figure!  Darth Vader is pretty much required to exist in any figure format, so the enlarged toy with reduced articulation would be a given.  He's not taller than Han or his casemates, but he is a lot more fun to play with than a cake topper.  Unlike the others, his lightsaber is completely removable from his hand - but should you go on a toy run to try to find this one?   Read on!

Continuing the value range of 6-inch Hasbro figures at Family Dollar, let's look at Han Solo.   His blaster is molded to his hand, and the texture on his pants is pretty intense.   The head deco is similar to the vintage Kenner figures of old, and he looks a lot like Hasbro's other recent offerings of Harrison Ford from the original movie.  Read on!

And here we go again!  This Kanan Jarrus is a 6-inch action figure with 4 points of articulation that you can't really easily find online.   I'm only finding them at Family Dollar stores - it's a "value" item.   Should you get one?  Is a $6.75 6-inch figure worth your while?  Read on!

If you're a living, breathing fan of Star Wars it's a safe bet that you're always looking for something new.  Well, I've found it.   We saw images of a Finn last year, which I have yet to see here in the USA, but I have seen new 6-inch action figures of Kanan Jarrus, Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader at Family Dollar.   Presumably these are showing up elsewhere, too. 

The headline says it all, and this story at Bloomberg says even more.  This is at least the second attempted takeover/merger between the two toy giants, and there's no word on if it is or isn't happening - but it's certainly interesting timing with Toy Fair next week.  Read this one.