It's not R4-E1, or really all that close.   The R4-Series Astromech Droid White with Red and Silver reminds me of that droid, but all the patterns are different - check out the unique feet, torso, and the dome markings similar to the blue R4.  Read on!

The  Star Wars Planet X Bossk Premium Hikari Sofubi Vinyl Figure is up for pre-order at your favorite toy sites right now, like this one.   You can see it's similar in feel as the Planet X Groot, and looks pretty nifty.   If you missed Metallic Bossk - the one that looks like it came from the movie - this might be a good second choice!

The R2-Series Astromech Droid Black and Silver looks a lot like R2-Q5, but it's actually a buildable Disney droid at a theme park (not) near you!  The colors are as vibrant as the black plastic is not glossy.  Read on!

Ad: Nesting dolls! They're not just for Eastern Europe anymore.   The  Star Wars Jabba's Palace Nesting Dolls - Entertainment Earth Exclusive set is up for grabs right now.   $16.99 gets you Jabba the Hutt with Salacious Crumb, a Gamorrean Guard, Max Rebo, Droopy McCool, and Sy Snootles.  Click here to get yours!

It's new.  It's different.  But it's not exactly a premium figure.  Hasbro's 2015 Commander Thorn brings you a mishmash of parts that could be used to make Cody or Rex (or Doom!) and gives them a rich red paint job that, as long as you don't compare it to the animation model, is the best thing ever.  Once you start to hold them up side by side, it looks a little less great.   Read on!

New for 2015 - today's Figure of the Day!   Jon "Dutch" Vander was done over 10 years ago, but now he's back with a slightly different helmet deco and a couple of more joints on a different body.   Read on!

This week in Q&A: Why? Why are we still writing and reading about this stuff? Force Friday! No, we can't share any useful information. Also, packaging colors. Do you know what'd be awesome? I sure do! Find out what, in this week's column.

So send in your questions for next week. Read on!

A new deco design, the R7-Series Astromech Droid White and Blue  is actually really striking.  Some of the elements on his person do tend to evoke certain other elements in nature and consumer products, or perhaps he's just happy to see you.  (Droids are a chipper lot.)  Want to see more?   Read on!

Let's look at the Disney park exclusive R2-Series Astromech Droid Silver and Purple (not R4-M6).    It really is close to R4-M6, though, just made of build-a-droid parts with slightly less paint.   Should you get this new-for-2015 figure?  Read on!

Let's look at the new, cartoon-inspired, desert gear version of Clone Commander Wolffe.  The good news - it's well-designed, with a great cloth "skirt" that is the best we've ever seen.  The bad news - he is indeed a little short for a Clone Trooper.  Read on!

Since the line reboot, Jawas as a two-pack have been an important part of the line.  Start an army in every pack, or collect them all and pack out the Sandcrawler you probably skipped in 2004.  Ah well - so how are these new, non-light-piped versions?  Read on!

This week in Q&A: Bossk! Why are there so many?  Also TIE Anxiety - do we need to buy the vehicle to be complete on figures?  Also Stormtrooper scares.  Don't be too scared, but do be vigilant.

So send in your questions for next week. Read on!

Generally speaking I try not to post anything that's mostly self-congratulatory nonsense. I don't like to post notices about holidays or too many anniversaries, because it's not what I started writing about toys on the internet - but today seemed like a good day to try it anyway. You may not know this - or care - but I started writing about Star Wars on the internet as a free newsletter on August 1, 1995. Word on the street was the Power of the Force relaunch by Kenner was hitting Service Merchandise stores, that the AT-ST may have shipped despite not being one of the four vehicles announced at Toy Fair, and the most juicy (and weird) rumor of all was that Froot Loops cereal would have a mail-in Han Solo in Stormtrooper Disguise action figure. In July of that year, it seemed difficult to find any proof of what sounded preposterous. A new mail-in cereal figure? From Kellogg's, and not General Mills? And for free? Preposterous.

This new Han Solo from what may be one of the last waves (that we know of) for the 3 3/4-inch The Black Series is here!  He's cool - as in frozen - and loaded with articulation. Despite this he can't quite perfectly use his handcuffs, but the carbonite block is new and it's quite nice.  Read on!

Continuing the trend, a clear blue sparkling Hologram Darth Vader also went up for sale today.   750 have been made, and it's due around August.  Sponsor Entertainment Earth has theirs up for sale, so click here to order one.