ToysRUs is putting out merchandise early prior to the January 30th street date and their pending Feature Shop. We found their exclusive Podracer Pilots ($26.99) and Vintage Class II Attack Vehicles ($31.99) in their Scottsdale, AZ store. They've also put out The Vintage Collection TPM Wave, Movie Heroes and Clone Wars Wave 1, and Fighter Pods. Happy Hunting!

Comparing the new Vintage Collection Battle Droid to the first versions from 1999 is almost like comparing a Vintage Kenner Stormtrooper with a modern super-articulated version. They're just worlds of sculpt, design, and engineering apart.

Ratts Tyerell was originally supposed to be included as a 2 pack with BD11 Clegg Holdfast but was held back to be released in 2012 as part of The Vintage Collection. The date stamp on the figure even indicates 2009. How does he hold up over 2 years later? Hasbro executed a decent design and sculpt albeit we would have liked to have seen the "screaming" face instead of a calmer, grinning Ratts. The included Pit Droid has a nice new deco and is a re-used mold from the Bonus Pit Droids packed in place of Commtech Chips that were only released in Asia for The Episode I Collection.

The ROTJ Blu-Ray Deleted Scene Figures aka The Vintage Collection Wave 2 are now up for pre-order at Entertainment Earth! This wave includes the deleted "Sandstorm" scene figures of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Lando Calrissian. The wave is scheduled for delivery in March.

As far as figures in action are concerned, Neimoidians probably are up there with Imperial Dignitaries. They're just supposed to stand, sometimes speak, and scheme. The captain of the Trade Federation battleship blockading Naboo was remembered more as a "stunted slime" than anything, but Hasbro chose to put some real thought in his figure and give him a fully sculpted body and soft goods. Daultay Dofine is excellently designed with a removable headpiece and sculpted robe with a cloth material that drapes well. We're hoping Hasbro gives the same treatment when they finally (hopefully) release Sim Aloo. 

It’s not news that Darth Maul is back in 2012. The tattooed Sith Lord is the face of the Hasbro 2012 line and also will make a much anticipated appearance in The Clone Wars series. For his Vintage Collection figure, Hasbro achieves a masterstroke of sculpt, articulation, and even tailoring.

Yep, it’s the same figure as you’ll find in the 2008 Jedi Legacy Evolutions set and then again in the Eopie Mailaway. It’s a decent enough version, with good articulation and passing likeness to Neeson, but it’s time to update the noble Jedi for the new decade. Like Obi-Wan, there’s nothing new here so move along if you’re a loose collector.

The poet Charles Baudelaire (or was it Verbal Kint?) once said that "the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn't exist." This new Darth Sidious figure is certainly a revelation. We were completely prepared to be underwhelmed by Hasbro's latest effort of "The Phantom Menace" himself mainly because he didn't look anything special in the package. The VC12 Darth Sidious, while certainly sporting a great face sculpt, fell short with the soft goods and fur coat giving him more of an evil "bag lady" look.

Technically speaking, this isn't a "Character Debut" for the Naboo Royal Guard since a version was released in 1999 for The Episode I Collection. Aesthetically speaking, this all new iteration is worlds and 12 years of sculpt and design evolution apart from that TPM figure. This Guard deserves a variant head sculpt/running change for troop/squad building purposes. You can head swap yourself with the ball jointed neck so pick a couple up for that Naboo Hangar diorama that will be immediately enhanced by this worthy upgrade.

Hasbro expanded upon The Phantom Menace Celebration scene finale where we witness little Ani in full Padawan garb. The figure includes a lightsaber, training helmet, and training remote orb. This is a super articulated, with great likeness, vast improvement from the 1999 "Naboo" figure, which until now had been the only version of Padawan Anakin released. It's worth the wait as Hasbro packed in 14 points of articulation, incredible detail, and even a soft goods skirt to plus it up. Can I get a "Yipeee"?

Hasbro has hardly disappointed with the various versions of Queen Amidala and her ornate dresses. We're glad they ditched the salt shaker bodies and went with sound design. While not super-articulated because it doesn't make much sense unless they can engineer appropriate soft goods, they do include swivel elbows and sculpted legs. The likeness is decent and the sculpt and paint app for the Foreign Residence Dress is superb. 

We like our Jedis dark, brooding, conflicted, and dreadlocked with warpaint. Easily one of my favorite figures of this wave, the new Quinlan Vos is finely detailed and articulated to include ball jointed hips to be battle posed in many ways. Vos was a blink and you'll miss him Easter Egg in Episode I, but Hasbro made every effort to make sure this figure stands out as one of the better ones to kick off 2012.

Images of the upcoming Return of the Jedi Deleted Scenes wave including Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, General Cracken, Lando Calrissian, and the Mon Calamari Rebel Pilot have been posted at Sandtroopers.com. Due to a lack of good source photos, Hasbro had to rely on composite art and these turned out fantastically in our opinion.

The Hasbro Darth Maul Giveaway site is now live. The grand prize is a life sized Darth Maul signed by George Lucas himself. 100 Force FX Lightsabers will be given away as a first prize. Entry forms can be found inside 2012 Vintage assortment figures and vehicles.

Walmart continues to be the destination for Star Wars 2012. Along with new Movie Heroes, Clone Wars, Vehicles and Battle Packs, the retailer is now receiving and putting out the new The Vintage Collection The Phantom Menace wave. These were found at a Scottsdale, AZ store and retailed for $8.96 each. Note that these cards do not have the Maul promotion sticker and entry form. Happy Hunting!