Ad: Order Star Wars: The Force Awakens 3 3/4-Inch Jungle and Space Action Figures Wave 5 from Entertainment Earth! Cases and sets are now available. New figures include Admiral Ackbar and Tasu Leech from The Force Awakens, and they're joined by the first 3 3/4-inch Fifth Brother action figure from Star Wars Rebels.

This week in Q&A - the original original trilogy. Will it come to Blu-Ray? And the BIG TIE Fighter - will it inspire more huge toys? Well... did you buy one at full price?

Don't forget, send in your questions for next week. Read on!

America's newspaper The USA Today posted this preview of the new 2016 Princess Leia Figure as based on Star Wars Rebels which, as should come as no surprise, is based on early concept art from the original movie.  It is due this Fall, and I can't wait to buy one!  Meanwhile, series stars Sabine and Hera remain elusive.

Also, there is no Lando Calrissian toy based on his appearances (voiced by Billy Dee Williams) on Star Wars Rebels.  

This week in Q&A - let's look at toy friendliness. Does the new movie have it? (Did the original?) And Die-Cast Metal Disney Store Elite Figures - are they worth tracking down? And a grab bag of questions focusing on the next movie, old TV shows, and toy licenses that maybe just aren't going to see plastic.

Don't forget, send in your questions for next week. Read on!

Want to see a new trailer for the back half of season two of Star Wars Rebels?  Yes, you do - but due to the very nature of advertising, it will show you things in these episodes which for some reason are now considered spoilers.  I'd say just watch it, it's awesome.

Ad: Order Star Wars: The Force Awakens 3 3/4-Inch Jungle and Space Action Figures Wave 4 Set from Entertainment Earth! The case is also available if you prefer a whole carton - click here for that.

New figures include The Force Awakens Han Solo,

Ad: New Hasbro Star Wars Black Series, Action Figures, and Helmets are up for grabs - pre-order yours at Entertainment Earth, or just peruse the listings of the fantastic newness.  Find sets and cases featuring new faces and returning favorites like Nien Nunb, Unkar Plutt, and a special spoilery Kylo Ren.  Also, Black Series Die-Cast Metal Helmets!

Spend $79 on in-stock toys and they ship for free in the USA! Pre-order items $79 or greater also ship free.

It's Monday, so come and get Q&A instead of working. We'll look at The Black Series 3 3/4-inch figures. And Rogue One toy expectations. And Clone Trooper figures! That's a lot of variety. Well, sort of.

Don't forget, send in your questions for next week. Read on!

They're back!   Prices went through the roof for the  Star Wars The Black Series 6-Inch Stormtrooper 4-Pack [Amazon Exclusive] over the holidays, but now it's back for $79.99.  It's a pretty good set, especially with the exclusive Clones and now we know the Officer is indeed in The Force Awakens.  Click here to order yours.

Also back up for pre-order (due ot ship within a month) is the  Star Wars The Force Awakens 3.75-Inch Figure Troop Builder 7-Pack [Amazon Exclusive].  This hasn't shipped yet, but it has the Riot Trooper that dueled Finn as well as a few other unique accessories - plus the hard-to-find Captain Phasma.   It has 7 figures for $47.99, and you can click here to order it.

Update: the 6-inch set is sold out again, but the 3 3/4-inch one is was still available.

Ad: Take a look at the Star Wars The Force Awakens MicroMachines RC Vehicles Wave 1! These miniature vehicles are in stock (while supplies last) and each feature their own dedicated remote control unit. Order yours today!

Welcome to 2016! We're back with Q&A and thanks to the secrecy of the film and the toys, we're really not a lot better off today than we were a month ago. We are, however, saying all spoilers are fair game for The Force Awakens from here on out. The Black Series at Walmart - can we expect more Cantina aliens? (Or any?) Deleted toys - what's the deal with those? And expensive figures - should you get excited, or just go with what's cheap?

Don't forget, send in your questions for next week. Read on!

Reader Frank chimed in to let us know/warn us that four more droids were added to the action figure part bins at Disney World in Florida.  No new bodies are available yet - but these four domes are.  Here's what he had to say:

"I am an avid fan and love my astromechs! I stopped out at WDW Hollywood Studios today and happened to browse by the Droid Factory counter at Tattooine Traders. Not expecting to see anything, just more of the mismatched 2015 domes series when I did see exactly that!! More mismatched domes and some that I had not seen before. I have not seen reports of these new additions. I found 4 new domes, but nothing new in the legs or bodies from before. Maybe they are on their way? Or maybe 4 domes is all there is?? Not sure when these hit the retail floor, but it looks like there are new parts coming for 2016. The 4 different domes are pretty evenly distributed out there, no shortage that I could tell. Just wish they had some matching parts to make coherent looking droids. Most interesting is the new black R4.5 [?] dome. If I learn more here I’ll send it in."

Ask Jakks! Let's finish out 2015 this week week in Q&A with more from Jakks Pacific. Jakks Pacific's Scott "ToyGuru" Neitlich offered to take on some of your questions on the giant figures of the present, past, and future - so let's go!

Life-sized figures - can we expect some? Also Bigger Boba Fett should happen, but will he? And what about other characters - can we expect Star Wars' cousins, too?

Don't forget, send in your questions for next month. The first Q&A (with me) for 2016 is written and will be up next week - but we've got a whole year to fill, and we can't do it without you. Read on!

With The Force Awakens it certainly feels like Star Wars is everywhere in the physical world, because it pretty much is.   It's difficult to leave your home to buy groceries, batteries, or a Guavian Enforcer figure without seeing that logo somewhere.  Back in the 1970s, Star Wars invaded television most frequently in comedy and variety shows, as you could plug in R2-D2 and C-3PO to pretty much any concept from Donny & Marie to Sesame Street.  They just fit.

Richard Pryor also had a show in this era, which does double-duty as a time capsule and as a reminder of how and why Star Wars felt so incredibly tight. Once you watch the video (and you should), rewatch it and take note of the various costumes - some are complete, some are wobbly, and some look incredibly fake in this different context. The editing on the original Star Wars film was said to have saved it from certain humiliation, because a few frames further would reveal the secrets to the magic. You can see Hammerhead's wobble in this sketch. You'll note that Labria's devilish features are completely frozen - it's not a make-up, the only thing that can really move are his eyes and the few frames in the Cantina were lit and framed in such a way to give him the spark of life. It's a goofy little clip, but it does wonders to show the importance of editing and helps to highlight something of interest about The Force Awakens, too.  (No spoilers follow, but recognition that the film exists and has been seen do.)

Josh and Chuck of Stuff You Should Know are two of my favorite podcasters, and they tackled the legendary and baffling (and must-see) Star Wars Holiday Special this week.  It's one of two podcasts you should probably check out today.

Click here to hear more about The Star Wars Holiday Special of 1978.