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Update: It's over! We're back with Fan's Choice! Hasbro has asked for your input on the next new 3 3/4-inch The Vintage Collection action figure. It's going to be just like last year - you can leave a comment below or email me at this address, and I'll tally the results. Last year the ballot box got stuffed for Jaina Solo, this is your chance to vote for a future 3 3/4-inch The Black Series action figure.
Note: Please do not request figures that have already been released or announced. Please do not send duplicate entries. Please do not send a list of characters - only one will be counted.
Here are the rules per Hasbro:
A few years ago we got a glimpse into a pretty cool Starspeeder 1000 from Disney, showing that they can make vehicles for the theme parks when Hasbro wasn't so inclined. Now according to Jedi News on Twitter, it looks like they're going to do a Sandcrawler. Start saving, it's going to be an expensive year for droid fanatics.
Secret #droidfactory playset coming soon to the #disneyparks With figure. Can you guess what it is??? #starwars https://t.co/Qkh1sPjjU4 pic.twitter.com/tEc6rUehw2
— Jedi News (@JediNewsUK) April 13, 2017
More! It looks like D-23, Halloween, Christmas, and whatever season BB-8 represents will be getting more exclusive figures at Disney parks and events. According to Vinylmation World, D23 will get R5-D23. Halloween gets a killer clear green R3-B0017. BB-8 will show up at Disneyland during D-23. R3-H17 is this year's Christmas Day of the Robot. Vinylmation World has more in a tweet.
Upcoming Astromech droids coming to Disney Parks #swco #disneyparks #StarWarsCelebration pic.twitter.com/ydlsOjxhjL
— Vinylmation World (@vinylmationworl) April 13, 2017
Adam gets another ulcer! New Protocol Droid Factory announced at Hollywood Studios! Vinylmation World posted some interesting stuff in the last day, including this tweet showing a new series of Protocol Droids launching, apparently, today! Exactly how many and which parts are there remain to be seen, so if anyone can catalog everything available so we can beg friends to help us out, that would be greatly appreciated.
Build a Protocol Droid launches tomorrow at Hollywood Studios #waltdisneyworld #swco #StarWarsCelebration #disneyparks pic.twitter.com/tNapHwzRyy
— Vinylmation World (@vinylmationworl) April 13, 2017
The info just keeps rolling in! Hasbro's PR department informed us that Commander Gree is coming to Toys R Us as an exclusive. When? We don't know, but the 6-inch The Black Series figure looks pretty sharp.
More information as we have it - and it's nice to see the prequels getting some love out there.
Tonight, the world can now see Star Wars: Forces of Destiny. If you're familiar with Monster High, it's kind of like that - a new line of Adventure Dolls joined by short animation, but with the added benefit fo many of the original players voicing the characters. We've got pictures, a video clip, and a full press release. The line focuses primarily on the women of Star Wars, mercifully expanded beyond two roles thanks to the animation of the 2000s and the new Disney-era movies, as well as their adorable sidekicks.
Back in 2013 Hasbro released the very first 6-inch The Black Series figures to mixed reviews - they were great, but a lot of fans opted out and that lead to cheap clearance prices on Amazon within a few months. Fast-forward to today, and people are upset they missed a few of those early figures. Hasbro is reissuing X-Wing Pilot Luke Skywalker for Star Wars Celebration this weekend, and there's a big process about how to line up to get yours.
The less I say, the better - because there are 4 items to buy with a grand total of 8 new robots. The good news: there's finally going to be an easier way to get Chopper, and that super-articulated C-3PO you like is coming back in style. With blessed little competition from Hasbro these days, you'll probably have the scratch to pull these down. From the Disney Parks article:
This month, Cody is part of a team rolling out a limited release, boxed set with four Astromech droid action figures inspired by characters from the animated series, “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.”
Additionally, three limited release action figures are making their debut including C1-10P “Chopper” from Disney XD’s animated series “Star Wars Rebels;” a two-pack featuring R2-D2 and C-3PO celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Star Wars: A New Hope; and a red Protocol droid, R-3D0, that was briefly seen in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Sci-fi supersite io9 posted a preview of a new 6-inch The Black Series Rey's Speeder! This sizable, $60 vehicle should be out later this year and will undoubtedly be on display in Orlando at Star Wars Celebration this weekend.
I'd bet that you don't have this particular Finn figure. I got it from Mexico, it was also sold in Australia and presumably a few other countries - but not the USA. It's a 6-inch "value" figure, and that The Force Awakens premiere assortment from 2005 hasn't shipped here. Finn has 4 joints and a black blaster in his fist - is he nifty enough to buy? Read on!
This week in Q&A - Is Rogue One done for toys? Probably not. What's coming at Celebration? What am I, magic? And The Discreet Charm of Slow Sales - maybe we shouldn't be so quick to brand a slow seller a failure.
And send in your questions for next week. Read on!
If you have the 99 Cents Only store chain in your area, take a look inside. Hasbro's dumping the The Force Awakens MicroMachines head playsets there for $4.99, and Hot Wheels Carships and Character Cars are there for 99 cents - I've seen Royal Guards, the Ghost, Poe's X-Wing, and others I haven't previously seen in circulation at the big box stores much/at all. Good hunting!
If you're old enough to have seen Star Wars in the theaters originally, you're probably familiar with records. You may not be familiar with the format's cult status as a collectible and as a sound delivery system, with Record Store Day as a twice-annual shopping holiday with limited edition records, exclusives, launches, and people getting in the damn way of the record store who never shop their otherwise when you're trying to buy your damn Frank Zappa and Iggy and the Stooges records. (You know who you are, false Stinkweeds customers.)
Anyway, this year there's going to be a Crosley Star Wars edition turntable. This is a nifty collectible with cool artwork on the lid - if you're an audiophile or just want the best record player a couple c-notes can buy, this may not be the one for you. But it'll look cool next to the Ramones-edition one that you also don't actually use for listening. It should hit April 22.
