1. When and where are we going to see the Super Articulated (SA) 501st trooper? I thought it was suppose to be released as part of the 30th Anniversary Greatest Hits. I was disappointed to find the EIII 501st Trooper in Greatest Hits packaging.
--Paul

The exact time is not known, but I do know Hasbro recently changed their Saga Legends assortments for later in the year to remove the 501st Trooper and replace it with other figures. (It's not a big secret, online stores changed their assortments in the past week to reflect the increased number of Destroyer Droids and R2-D2s.) So it looks like something is going on, but an exact ETA has not been given yet. Given the assortments we've seen, it looks like it will be part of early 2008's line, and will hopefully ship for a good long time. The original plan for the figure was the Super Articulated mold with 501st deco, but factory issues seem to have resulted in a redeco of the 2005 501st figure-- the Saga Legends one has far superior deco to previous releases, as his whites are whiter, his eyes are not crossed, and he generally looks devoid of mud.

2. if I have this straight, next year we're getting six months worth of basic carded figures on TAC-style packaging before the whole shabang switches over to Clone Wars- centric packaging and figure choices to tie in to the new tv show. We have seen wave one of TAC 2008 already and know it is ROTS-inspired (Gree, 41st Trooper, Po Nudo, Octuptarra & Vader's Med Droid). The Force Unleashed wave (waves maybe? probably not) must be due early 2008 as well. So, assuming I have those facts right, there is a gap of a few months worth of figures before we can expect to see the Clone Wars stuff. I was wondering if you would care to share any guesses as to what that gap might contain? How many waves do you reckon we might see and what figures might we get?
--Daniel

One of the problems with this hobby is I can give you precedent for multiple scenarios. For example, in 2004, the Saga line ran until the OTC line hit in July. In that time, we got about 30 newly sculpted figures plus exclusives and the "ultra" assortment. In 2005, before the launch of ROTS, we got a 16-figure post-OTC line which had only 8 new figures in it. But you're missing another key point, too-- Clone Wars has a Fall 2008 airdate according to most resources, meaning that the figures, at the earliest, probably won't start showing until August.

Hasbro has also been very coy on what The Clone Wars toys are going to be. Will it be an animated-style line developed separately from the film line? Will it be continued movie-style product, with new movie product shipping alongside it as well as more Saga Legends? We don't know for sure-- I've seen some buzz which makes it sound like the line will be movie-esque and more-of-the-same, but if Hasbro switches the style or the scale, it's a safe bet we'll see TAC-style product ship all year just to make sure we don't go to Rhode Island and form the world's dorkiest picket line.

So for 2008, we know very few things for sure: there will be a TV show. There will be toys for the TV show. There will be Indiana Jones toys developed by the SW team, taking at least some resources away from new SW product. And we know two waves for sure-- at least one Force Unleashed wave will probably ship in the Spring to tie in to the game, and a Revenge of the Sith wave will kickstart the year in, I presume, February or March. Beyond that? I expect a normal year, much like this year-- we'll probably see more comic packs, more EU figures, and more Ewoks.

And, if I get my wish, a blue A-Wing Fighter.

3. Read your latest Q&A about the comic packs and I agree with your top 4 wish list: Lumiya, Kiro, Dani, and Den Shiva. The one other Marvel issue that I think would make for a neat comic pack came to mind as I was flipping through the New Essential Guide to Droids the other day: #80. How about a Tay Vanis and LE914? Tay could use any existing X-Wing pilot figure with a new head (no need for a creepy post-mindwipe Tay, though). LE914 would have to be a new sculpt, but the mirrored finish has been done on TC-14, so we know it'd look sharp. If nothing else, a new droid or two is needed to help balance out the glut of astromechs on my droid shelf.
--Darth Cirrocu

My favorite characters usually come to be because they do cool things in the comics over a big story and/or they look cool. Den Siva was in many issues, and was a big bad villain. Dani was a libidinous creature, and let's face it, what fan boy can't admire that? Kiro was a badass fish man, Luke's sidekick, a hero, and he had many awesome costumes over several issues. Lumiya also had many costumes over several issues, returned in the Legacy novels, was a quasi Sith Lord, is essentially a female Darth Vader, and is, in short, significant.

While a good story, the tale of tortured/killed Rebel Vanis and his droid companion were a single issue and never referenced again. You'll hear more about Zeltrons, Lumiya, and even Jaxxon in other sources-- so while I hate to say never, I wouldn't get my hopes up. Comic packs usually focus on at least one major and minor character from the story, so if we were to get the droid, I'd be surprised if the set didn't come with, for example, another Luke figure. While many fans jump at the chance for more Rebel Pilots, I personally want to hold off for requesting too many more until we get a better pilot body. I am not happy with any save for X-Wing Luke from 2006 and, more or less, Zev. After we get that perfect Wedge figure, maaaaybe then we can get some more obscure pilots, hopefully, eventually.

4. What do you know about the upcoming Geonosis, Hoth and Bespin Battlepacks? They all look like straight repacked figures. Do you know if there are any deco changes? I collect mine loose so if they are straight repacks I can skip them.
--Cordova

Toys "R" Us' upcoming Geonosis Battle Pack features many figures, most of which look very similar to previous releases-- however, the Acklay has a repainted head and doesn't have the overly white face we got in 2002. As such, it's decorated different enough that you might want to get it.

For Bespin, it seems the set has improved face paint on Leia, which is probably enough for you to go get it. Darth Vader is the 500th Vader figure-- which has different deco and accessories than the later carded figures-- plus since he's standing, his codpiece should not look, erm, happy to see you.

Finally, the Hoth set with the Wampa, Tauntaun, and Luke has not yet been seen in a packaged state. It's too early to tell, although I would expect at the least minor changes to one or more items.

5. Unreleased Titanium figures. Looks like they were just getting to the good stuff when they pulled the plug. Any thoughts on if the unreleased stuff witth ever see the light of retail?
--Nathaniel

While online stores still say that some are coming (Cylon, Darth Maul, Luke, Jango Fett) that seems to be about it. Nothing else has been known to make it to the final packaged stage, so unless someone gets them as an exclusive it isn't very likely. Frankly I think it's a good thing to kill the line, $15 was too high for a $5 figure with a Sea Monkeys tank.

6. How often do you find awesome stuff crammed behind toys on the bottom shelf or scattered among the stupid wrestling toys or idiotic Power Rangers? I have trained myself to search high and low on Toy Runs. Just last week I found a few Gold UGH figures behind the vehicles at Wal-Mart, one of which was a McChewie (or Chew-Quarrie as my beloved fiancee calls him). I bought him but I put the others (2 airborne troopers) on the pegs.

Also, do you ever find yourself putting figs back on the pegs, organizing the SW section? Maybe it's because I worked at TRU for 4 years after high school, but I am always making that area look nice in stores. Of course, I also want it to look good to move product so I can find new stuff.
--Thommy

Generally, I find a lot of stuff in the wrong area-- next to LEGO sets, on aisles with pink stuff, by camping equipment... you'd be surprised. I look over the whole toy aisle just to be safe, and to get an idea what the other toy lines are doing. You know, so I can point at it and whine to Hasbro and say "well, Mattel is doing flexible plastic capes, why can't you?" Part of the hunt is searching, sadly, so keep those eyes open.

While I do know people who do organize the SW section, I usually don't. Typically whenever I do anything remotely helpful it resulted in me getting yelled at. (If I see a big open box of toys on the action figure aisle which is wide open and I reach in to grab an item, I do not wish to be yelled at.) As such, they can organize the pegs themselves. Not my job.

7. Recently IÕve been cataloging some older figures I no longer display (there are too many figures now to keep track of in my head) and as IÕve been doing so IÕve noticed that some have been updated two or three times (Bossk, Greedo) while others have been ignored (Zuckuss, etc). Obviously some characters are just better sellers than others Š and IÕm not trying to suggest that we seriously need another 8D8 or 9D9 Š but as far as you know, is there any rhyme or reason to which figures Hasbro decides to update, or is it wholly based on who they expect to sell? Just curious.
--Ed

Most updates have to do with things like potential future sales, or the condition of the molds. Molds deteriorate with use, so over time Hasbro gets to ponder if they should fix up the old molds, or just make a new one-- sometimes it makes sense just to patch it up (like the super poseable Clone Trooper, if what I hear is true) and other times it makes more sense to just redo the figure and hope it generates more sales. For example, 2-1B last came out in 1997. A reissue would generate no sales-- but a new version, altered to look more like the ROTS medic droid, that might do OK. Others are just turkeys. 8D8 is still available in some drug stores, for example-- I see them every few months. I like the droid, and I like the design, but I don't see Hasbro recouping as much money as they could on, say, a new squad of hot pink Clone Trooper figures.

8. I collect a good portion of the 3 3/4 line, most of the galactic heroes for my son, and a fair amount of 12" stuff from Sideshow, in other words, I buy what I like. I have collected all the 7" Unleashed I am proud to say beacause of the short life of that line. But I remember when I started this in 1995 that I might be able to "collect them all." Now not so much, but I really thought then that this stuff would be, not so much valuable but, truly collectable? So of all the Star Wars things available, what toy line can you "collect them all?"
--Troy

Because of all the stuff out there, a) almost nobody can collect it all, and b) almost none of it will be truly collectible in the long run. For the vintage line in 1978, Darth Vader was the only Vader you could get-- and as such, people going back and collecting will say "this is the one I want" with one of several packaging types. Today, there are no less than 30 Darth Vaders to choose from for the modern line, each of which is different, but not necessarily better, than the last. So I try to advise people to be picky, because if you don't like the 2007 Luke figure, perhaps the next one in 2009 will be more to your liking.

Personally, I go for 3 3/4-inch everything, with Galactic Heroes right up there. Everything else is up in the air-- I get most of Hasbro's stuff but some items are on the chopping block if the price isn't right. I just don't need all the blasters, for example. But 3 3/4-inch is king. If Hasbro dumped that segment, I'd probably quit buying new stuff completely.

9. Any chance we'll see a new Gamorrean Guard any time soon? Since the last release was in 2004 for OTC, and that was just the 1997 version with some new paint, we could definitely use an new version with a little more articulation. Along with the skiff guards I feel they have been neglected by Hasbro. Jabba needs his guards.
--Brian

Yeesh, I hope so. The Gamorrean Guard is on my wish list. Hasbro has made no real comment about it but he's about due for a new sculpt-- although I hope Hasbro waits to release it alongside a new Jabba the Hutt some day.

10. Hey guys! I just wanted to know if the evolution of the Fetts evolution pack Jango Fett figure is super articulated.
--Armen

All signs point to yes.

FIN

I'm on vacation, so no FIN. Just had to finish this up so you cats had something to read while I run through the desert, devouring their pizza, their Jolt, and their speciality stores with Playmobil. Good times.

Got questions? I bet you do. Email me with "Q&A" somewhere in the subject line and hopefully I'll get to yours in the next column!

Click here to read the previous installment of Galactic Hunter Q&A!