1. I'm trying to create/complete an Endor "environment" for displaying all of my loose Endor-related figures. (I might even go a little EU and throw in some Elite/Kashyyk troopers, since they really fit in well, but I digress). I want to be sure that I have ALL Ewoks produced since the POTF2 Wicket and Logray days. Where can I find a checklist of all Ewoks (even repaints) produced from POTF2-present?
--Robert

Ah yes, the "do some research for me, Q&A slave!" question. How I missed those. Anyway, sure, what the hell.

Wicket (POTF2/OTC), Logray (POTF2/OTC), Complete Galaxy Endor Ewok (POTF2), Teebo (POTJ/Saga), Ewok (Saga/Glider), Paploo (POTJ), Chief Chirpa (Saga Collection), Romba (30th), Graak (30th), Wicket (30th Target Exclusive, doesn't look like Wicket), Oochee (30th Target Exclusive). More are coming, but let's wait for those to be released first.

2. Can you break down the figures in the Training on the Falcon Battle Pack? Which are new (if any), kitbashed or completely rehashed?
--Jeff

Based on the photos I've seen, the entire set is rehashed. R2-D2 is another Vintage Original Trilogy Collection release from 2004, most likely with the removable door glued shut. C-3PO is the Endor version from 2006. Luke is the Tatooine version from 2006. Obi-Wan Kenobi, like R2-D2, is another Vintage figure. The accessories seem to be pretty much entirely rehashed. As such, buy one only if you feel the need to own extras, like the packaging, or missed them last time.

3. This isn't really a question but a gripe which you are welcome to respond to: what is with so many comic packs having Leia or Vader? Those two seem to have shown up significantly more than other characters...and their figures are generally lame. The Leia with Xizor has cankles for god's sake. And the poncho Leia with the white Vader is stupid. At least Vader has had a couple of interesting variations (battle damaged w/ Anakin's face and the white Vader). Is this Hasbro trying to squeeze money out of us hardcore fans by spreading the cool figures around instead of packing them together? I'm getting really annoyed and it just makes me want to turn to eBay to get the figure loose. I don't really want the comic or the lame additional figure.
--Dan

Bundling makes a big difference-- people often buy something they want to get something they don't. It helps bring down costs, raise profits, and annoy collectors.

Leia's a tough sell. By including her with another figure that's more likely to sell (Vader), it's a smart move to get fans to buy Leias. (This doesn't make sense for Xizor, given he's the worst pegwarmer of the POTF2-era.) But yeah, by including a Leia with other figures that should easily sell, Hasbro will sell more Leias.

Darth Vader's an easy sell. Parents WILL BUY their kids a Vader if it's $7 or if it's $10-- Hasbro should put more Vader comic packs out because they'll actually sell. It's smart for Hasbro to put a Darth Vader with anything they might think is a tough sell because that might help push the millions of non-collectors to buy an item if they're on the fence. "Well, it has a Darth Vader," they'll say, and then get it.

When it comes to the issue of spreading around the cool figures in multi-packs, I'm a little torn. Personally, I don't care about multi-packs as long as I don't end up with a lot of a figure I already have. I make exceptions for Troopers, but I honestly don't want more Darth Vaders based on the same mold unless there's a variation. A tattered cape, a little dirt, you know, something. The Moff Trachta and Vader set is a little bit annoying because while I don't mind owning a Trachta, I honestly didn't want another of this Vader with no changes. It's times like this I'm actually very much OK with "let's add lava glow" or "let's add snow to its boots" type variations. At least I can tell it apart from what I got. I think what my main beef is resources are being used to use oil, paper, shipping space, etc. to re-sell me something I bought when Hasbro could have spent an extra five hours developing the product to ensure what I got would be at least a little different.

Ultimately, the thing we have to look at is cost. Is $8 for 1 figure better than $12 for 2 and a comic book, even if you have the figure? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Buying loose figures on eBay generally results in increased shipping charges which may mean you'll pay more for that loose figure than you would just biting the bullet and getting it when it's on sale at Target/Toys "R" Us/etc.

4. I was wondering if there's a chance we will ever see a null-arc pack and the two most popular training sergeants kal skirata and walon vau(possibly in their finest mando iron)?
--Darth Maximus

Because Mandalorians are popular and strong sellers, I'd say the chances aren't bad. Because there's little visual reference-- and most collectors don't know who those are (as the "fans who read the books" and "fans who buy the toys" segments don't overlap as much as you might think)-- I'd say the chances aren't too good. Hasbro has been extremely reluctant to do anyone from the books without comic or electronic game visual reference. If I'm not mistaken, every novel figure to date has been based off a comic book or concept art provided by LucasFilm (Shadows of the Empire/Clone Wars). So really, your question here is "should I write Dark Horse and beg for a series focusing on these two characters." And that answer is yes.

5. Given Hasbro's production of the "desert scarf" Luke and Han, and the "leg wraps" Chewbacca, are we to infer that this deleted scene from ROTJ is now canon ... even though it's never (officially) been released by LucasFilm? And should we be expecting Hasbro to produce "desert" versions of Leia, Threepio and Artoo in the (near) future?
--Edward

Not necessarily-- Lucas decides what's canon, not Hasbro.

I used to consider the toy line the ultimate authority on what is or isn't canon-- if I can touch it, it must be legit. This lasted until Hasbro started with the Infinities figures, which were clearly not cannon. Hasbro has cranked out several "deleted scene" figures, like Floppy Hat Luke, the Desert Storm figures, and Biggs Darklighter. While awesome, they don't necessarily mean that something is canon-- but according to Lucasfilm in the 1980s, the scenes' appearances in the various radio dramas produced from 1981 to 1996 do. And let me tell you as an aside, I've only heard Return of the Jedi before just now and am going through Star Wars and it's really awesome. To get through the opening battle on the Tantive IV there's over an hour of backstory first. Loads of awesome stuff in here, plus C-3PO calling R2-D2 a little "slacker" which for some reason makes me laugh. Maybe because it gives me visions of R2-D2 playing video games, reading comic books, and arguing about his favorite bands. But I digress.

Hasbro has indeed said they might consider additional sandstorm figures in the future-- but, as always, fan outcry and sales say a lot. So if you want them, be sure to harass them about it. Heck, do it multiple times wearing different hats and jackets. I'm sure we all look alike to them anyway.

FIN

So it appears the future of this column could be a lot of Hasbro Indiana Jones stuff. Basically, I've decided I won't be addressing the topic in private emails or in this column as of 11/1. As such, please do not send me any more Indiana Jones questions. A few are on deck for next week, and then that's it. For those of you responsible for asking/sending questions of Hasbro for their own official Q&A, unless you're an Indy site, I think we all owe it to our Star Wars readers to give them what they come here for. So it's time to get Indy out of our systems-- the DVD is here, the Akataor playset is out, and so are the final Hasbro and Wal-Mart exclusives. Stick a fork in it, it's just about done.

To answer your questions that seem to be commonly asked:

1. No, Entertainment Earth will likely not be able to take on the "cancelled" products as exclusives. They've taken on the final Mighty Muggs, Sallah and Short Round, but from the sound of things from Hasbro it seems that the other figures might not be far enough along to warrant release, and also it seems there's not enough demand just yet. And if someone big inside Lucas demands the products as an IndianaJonesShop.com exclusive, well, that'd grease the wheels no doubt..

2. Indiana Jones is not completely dead as a licensed property. Both Gentle Giant and LEGO have products in the works for 2009, and according to what we're seeing, LEGO is doing extremely well. (And the 2009 stuff is killer.)

3. While rumors are flying about, the future of the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 Indiana Jones and the Something of Whatever game is still in flux. This seems to be more related to LucasArts shake-ups and the priority given to the super-fun but still buggy The Force Unleashed game than anything else.

So basically, what we're looking at is Indiana Jones as a semi-viable license. If Hasbro let someone else do toys (unlikely) we'd probably see more come of it, but the very large production runs Hasbro demands of its products make it so that it isn't necessarily good for business to concentrate on a drastically smaller line. (That, and remember, Star Wars and Indy share a product team. More Indy means less Clone repaints.) With any luck, it's possible Toys "R" Us (who has been pretty good about picking up cancelled mainline items as exclusives) or another retailer might decide it's worth doing-- but I wouldn't get your hopes up too much. Right now, if you like Indy, I suggest you start getting in to LEGO. It appears that's going to be the best way to get all the characters, vehicles, playsets, and other goodies from the films. Plus when you get bored with them, you can cobble them together into something else.

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!

If you have any other questions on the Indy line, unless it has to do with non-Hasbro items that are actually going to be released or have been released, clock's a-tickin'.

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