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JULY 21, 2006-- The theme of today was Star Wars day, with a healthy
dose of sarcasm. Hasbro kicked its panel off with an "April Fool's Day"
assortment which jokingly included Willrow Hood, Yarna del Gargan, burnt Owen &
Beru 2-pack, 2 dead Jawas, and well, you get the idea. The attempt to infuse fans
with a healthy dose of realism has been one I've failed at for nearly 11 years
now, so it's nice to see Hasbro giving it a go.
I hacked out some of the presentation as it wasn't much new. So here's what I
figure you might want to know, maybe you heard it, but let me shove it down your
pie hole again.
GALACTIC HEROES
As far as two-packs go, everything was pretty much previewed at the booth.
Darth Vader with Bespin Leia, Snowtrooper with Hoth Rebel Trooper, Chewbacca (with
a net) with C-3PO (removable limbs), and Lando with Bespin Luke are on tap for an
Empire Strikes Back wave. While Hasbro hasn't entirely ignored the film
for Galactic Heroes, they haven't exactly done much outside a couple of Hoth
figures and bounty hunters. And on that note...
Want more of the same, but different? Galactic Heroes gift packs are for you.
Each set comes in a window display box with removable cardboard "playset" and 10
figures. Each has about 2 unique figures, and costs $20. With the Death Star
pack, you get a Luke with a Stormtrooper gun and R2-Q5. With the Bounty Hunter
set, you get the baffling black Shadow Stormtrooper-- two of them. And the Battle
of Geonosis has a bunch of clones, Jango with his Geonosis jet pack, a red "OOM-9"
battle droid, and the return of Padme.
New vehicles have also been alluded to, and it sounds like they have at least
one big vehicle in a nearly final prototype stage.
ROLEPLAY
The only new lightsaber was a generic green blade, and in the new fully
collapsing format. This is more or less interesting and good news and I'm pretty
happy to say it sounds like a fun toy. Darth Vader's, Obi-Wan Kenobi's, and Luke
Skywalker's weapons are already on the way out.
The biggest surprise was a set of super-cool NERF guns. Complete with laser
sights, a Nerf-dart shooting version of the Clone Trooper pistol and the Rebel
trooper pistol are on the way. As far as toys go, this is some exciting stuff.
ATTACKTIX
They said we're getting more. Good news. They didn't elaborate. Series 4 and
all.
TITANIUM
See above.
TRANSFORMERS
It's continuing. News on various Transformers sites indicate a lot of items
are coming which means we can expect them to be announced at BotCon. Here, the
ARC-170 has been announced in the "space whale" colors and a new head, as has a
retooled Jedi Starfighter with Darth Vader bits and pieces. So yeah, good news
for those who like these. They're a fantastic concept but for whatever reason,
the regular line of Transformers, to me, has been and may continue to be lots more
fun. These two new guys are due in November.
Takara/Tomy's online store seems to have preorders up for Saesee Tiin's Jedi
Starfighter and Mace Windu's Jedi Starfighter. It seems they're going to be
milking this one.
UNLEASHED BATTLE PACKS
More? Yes. I asked about more Battle Bases, as I'm enamored with the recent
Hoth ones, and was told it's a "wait and see" situation. While not cheap, they
are fun little toys and if the price point were slightly better I'd be accosting
you for not buying them. But I digress.
New 4-packs: Shock Troopers, 501st Troopers, and two Arrest of Palpatine
packs-- one with two Royal Guards, Anakin, and Sidious & one with a Royal Guard,
Mace Windu, Saesee Tiin, and Kit Fisto. Awesome.
New 10-packs: who likes reruns? Kashyyyk, Hoth, and Geonosis are the first
candidates for these new sets due out in December. You get a whole mess of
existing figures and a repaint or two. It's a decent mix, but the problem is
Hasbro's focus on repackaging things in a "here's more of what you own" way is
getting old, fast. As our rooms are getting full, also fast.
ACTION FIGURES
This is the part that maters. 22 newly packaged figures are coming starting
November, including Sith Darth Maul (2002), Cloud City Chewbacca (2002), Clone
Wars Kit Fisto (2003), Holographic Commander Cody (NEW), 442nd Batallion Green
Clone Trooper, R5-A1, Security Clone (blue markings from 3-pack), Super Battle
Droid, and Battle Droid 2-pack. The Droids come in a new camo scheme that Hasbro
apparently designed, which is quite interesting because it means that someone,
somewhere is serious about these as toys and not as purely collectible
representations from the films.
What's next? Holographic Obi-Wan Kenobi (ROTS), Commander Appo (with
pauldron), Yoda's Clones (BARC Troopers), Yarael Poof, Vader's black and silver
Astromech, Padme (AOTC), Brown Clone Engineer. And a Wal-Mart assortment: Kitik
Keed'kak, Nabrun Leids & Kabe, Labria repaint, comic Aurra Sing with Soft Goods,
and Mace Windu's astromech droid. So yeah, thanks for nothing Hasbro. Wal-Mart
exclusive assortments? Is this a joke? Ugh. Were fans complaining figures were
too easy to get? (There was actual significant booing at the announcement these
would be exclusive.)
New tins are on the way-- 7 of them. 1 for each movie, and a bonus Wal-Mart
exclusive one with the Cantina Band (with new soft goods and newly painted
accessories). The others are a mix of new and old parts, including a Snowtrooper
with removable helmet and yes, it's a Clone Trooper underneath. Hasbro and Lucas
decided all removable helmet troopers are Jango Fett clones now, so get used to
it. There's a Scout Trooper with flip-up visor as well.
VEHICLES
A new TIE Fighter with a retooled body is coming. It's white, has a retooled
one-piece hatch, and removed the faux LED port. In other words, it's boring.
Saesee Tiin's Jedi Starfighter includes the Jedi's unique head markings on the
vehicle, making the bright orange vehicle even better.
EXCLUSIVES
The mystery figure is Carnor Jax, and he's being packaged with Kir Kanos as the
very first in a line of Star Wars Comic Packs. It's the first in the series and
an exclusive to Internet retaillers. I got to play with final production samples
of both, and I like them-- the removable helmets are molded in clear red and are
great. The heads are both unique sculpts, so it's not a straight repaint.
Carnor's head reminds me of a Han figure. The new weapons are great and the new
modifications make these wonderful, and I really dig the capes.
The Internet is also getting the Republic Commando gift set. For about
$35-$40, you get all of Delta Squad and three Geonosians. I got to play with
this, too. The new Clones are retooled versions of Scorch with new accessories,
but the same basic articulation. The one purple Geonosian is a Sun Fac repaint,
and the one with the blaster is really nothing special-- just an old figure with
purple wings and a new gun. I believe Entertainment Earth, Diamond, Hasbro Toy
Shop, and Shop Star Wars will stock it.
Wal-Mart's getting the reissue of the Darth Maul lightsaber, as well as
Unleashed Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker in the new tube packaging. Target has
the Unleashed Grievous and Boba Fett. Kay-Bee is getting more of last year's Best
Buy exclusive Darth Vader. I can tell you're excited.
Diamond's own exclusive is a Death Star Briefing with 7 figures, including
Chief Bast, Wulf Yularen, and a new Tarkin based on the ROTS mold. It's a keeper.
Order two. Guesstimated price, $35-$40. 3 seem to be repacks with 4 having new
parts/heads.
Toys "R" Us will have the big-wing grey TIE Fighter, X-wing with Dragonsnake
and Luke, and AT-AT. Target will have Kit Fisto's Starfighter, Mace Windu's
Squadron, and Zev's Snowspeeder.
The pack of repacks and the Silver R2-D2 was not shown nor discussed.
Presumably, it's Kay-Bee, but who knows? Maybe it was rejected, or maybe it's an
International item.
2007
New packaging is dynamic and crazy and has a space for a new coin. Coins are
the harbinger of a line ending, as it heralded the end of Star Wars and Teenage
Mutant Ninjas Turtles. Here's hoping there won't be chase coins. (Translation:
expect chase coins. [Warning/guarantee: this came straight from my ass and the
ass of someone else at the panel.])
The first new figures for 2007 will include the Mygeeto Space Marine,
Mustafarian Miner, Utapau Airborne Trooper, McQuarrie Stormtrooper (repaint), and
more. There will be 8 waves in 2007, each with 1 McQuarrie figure. Hasbro
alluded to these being shortpacked and backpedaled after complaints.
COMIC PACKS
The first $10, wide-release comic packs will be of the Marvel Comics adaptation
of the original film, with coloring based on the Howard Chaykin artwork. If
you're an old fart, and like comics, this is quite the thrill. Issue #1 has Darth
Vader (red lenses) and a Rebel Trooper (in wacky amazing comic colors). #2 has
Tarkin (green, and I mean bright green) with a Stormtrooper with red lenses. #3
has Chewbacca (wacky colors) and Han Stormtrooper (also wacky colors.) All in
all, if you're a fan of Marvel's crazy coloring, it looks like this may be the
best line ever.
Later in 2007: Quinlan Vos with Villie and a Stormtrooper Luke with TBD. It
sounds like this could be a really healthy line, and as I've blathered before, the
G.I. Joe comic book packs were excellent-- and even though these are repaints, the
quasi-Warholian coloring makes these supremely exciting if you haven't already had
enough of them.
Q&A
Blah blah blah blah blah. You know the drill.
--Adam Pawlus
