The guillotine continues.  The USA Today and others are reporting Another 60-plus Sears, Kmart stores set to close in January 2018; see the list.   It's less a strategy for competitiveness than it is an ever-decreasing trek toward obscurity, marching toward the same place in our culture held by Montgomery Word, Woolworths, or Kay-Bee Toys.   As far as we know Hasbro is no longer offering Kmart or Sears exclusive toy product, but it's increasingly difficult to verify this first-hand. 

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The new Kylo Ren is a 3 3/4-inch figure available in multiple configurations - this one is sold carded, with a cape, and has a painted scar on his face.  It's probably the best of these, unless he's also going to come out with the "space bandage" we saw in the movie trailer later.  Read on!

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Hasbro's convention Hascon was enough of a success that we're getting a sequel - but we're going to skip a year.  The next one will once again be in Providence, RI in 2019, not 2018.   It was posted on Twitter, and we'll post more as we have it.  This year's Star Wars presence was pretty good - a good chunk of space was devoted to the first public showing of The Last Jedi toys mere days after launch, although few items on display were reveals.

Possibly at a Walmart near you, the Elite Praetorian Guard (The Black Series) 3 3/4-inch figure is pretty cool - but looks different from the other ones.  The cloth robes allow for full leg movement, and the arms are nicely jointed.  Read on!

This week in Q&A - momentum and the lack of it in toy aisles this month. Certain kinds of trash compactor monsters - you just don't see 'em anymore. Also disappointing the fans of the prequels is in fashion this (and almost every) season.

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

Thanks to the great Shannon, we now know Anaheim Disneyland has the Protocol Droids!  2 for $21.95. cheap.   I've got a bunch of these (thank you Shannon!) and reviews will be going into Figure of the Day semi-irregularly, as often as I can.   If you're in Southern California, perhaps a trip to the house of mouse is due soon.

There are multiple styles and colors, but not every droid is available in every color.  As far as we know there are no new styles available from Orlando, but if you discover otherwise please let us know!

If you've ever picked up the classic, original trilogy-era sketchbooks and artbooks you no doubt recognize the name John Mollo.  He designed a lot of the costumes based on work from his own notes and other concept artists - he did a ton of great work that we all know and love as our action figures or in the movies themselves.  He died this weekend at 86.

Kotaku posted a really swell article called The Collapse Of Visceral's Ambitious Star Wars Game.  The game was one in which you played a Han Solo-gone-wrong type in the pre-Star Wars time frame, and the demos looked gorgeous.  The feature goes in to detail about what the game was - and wasn't - and how deadlines and budgets are a far deadlier enemy than the Galactic Empire.  Check it out.

What's kind of fascinating in the Disney era is that most figures look  better than ever.   Great sculpting and top-notch detail are the norm with very few exceptions, and this Yoda from the CG prequel design is possibly the very best one we've ever seen on that design.  The eyes have a subtle outline, the shoulders are able to move outward, plus he has both a cane and a lightsaber.  It seems like this is the figure most likely to sell out too - so get one if you see it. Read on!

The excessively named Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi 4-pk. Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master), Rey (Jedi Training), First Order Stormtrooper Officer & Resistance Tech Rose Figure Set by Hasbro is in stock on Kohl's web site.   The only actual exclusive in the set is the Stormtrooper, which may be a mix of parts already on the market - I haven't had the chance to examine it up close yet.  Retail is $49.99, but a 20% off coupon gets it down to about $35.99.

While C-3PO would fill in on your The Black Series shelves nicely, the value version of Captain Phasma might not.  She's about a head shorter, but as a standalone figure she's pretty cool for the asking price.   Phasma has a cape and a blaster, based on her The Force Awakens look - so no new spear here.   Read on!

This week in Q&A - Diminishing Returns! Do we need to better be exploited? Let's look at some lost toys - or at least, lost ideas on a whiteboard. And Vintage - and, I might add, arguably the most valid question we've had on the topic lately.

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