The rumors are true - maybe! Walmart posted a listing for a Imaginext STAR WARS Darth Vader Bot 2 Ft Toy Lights Sounds Stormtrooper Diecast Character Key, meaning that two of my favorite things are coming together - Star Wars and Imaginext from Fisher-Price/Mattel. (Could Playmobil be next? I can dream.) A second set is making the rounds on some image servers, and that's a giant R2-D2 with a die-cast metal C-3PO figure. Now if you're paying attention, you'll note a pattern is emerging.

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So far, the leaks have resulted in a giant R2-D2 (with a non-specific playset environment that you could squint and see as a Death Star or Blockade Runner) and a giant Darth Vader (with no obvious playset landmarks) at very high price points. As I write this I haven't heard anything about these through official channels, so I'm just speculating here - but this could be the result of licensing demands, so as not to step on Hasbro's feet.  Historically Imaginext has had single figures, blind-bag figures, 2-packs, small vehicles, medium playsets, and sometimes gargantuan toys as big as a coffee table.   It's the real deal, and you'll probably find some of them at your local Goodwill on the cheap.

Imaginext toys have been around for over 20 years, and have slowly exited most toy aisles - there used to be a big section at Kohl's, Toy R Us had a massive aisle. Right now the line has what's left of Lightyear (on clearance somewhere near you, but good toys), Batman/DC, and Jurassic World. Some non-licensed items also may be out there still, but again, distribution in American stores has been lousy for the last year. I have no idea what exactly we'll see from this line, but so far, we know two things: it's expensive, and it's proof that someone out there believes in playsets and action features in toys, made for kids, again.

Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Yak Face (The Retro Collection). Depending on your age and when you got into these toys, this might be considered to be an unattainable grail - and Hasbro reissued it last year, making it available to most Americans for the first time at regular retail prices. He's a well-made replica that looks and plays great - the colors are a little tweaked, but considering buying a 6-pack of figures is probably cheaper than an unpackaged Yak Face has been for most collectors' careers, that's probably a worthwhile purchase. Or it would be, had it not already sold out. Read on!

Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Princess Kneesaa (Ewoks Cartoon, The Vintage Collection). This is a redeco, with slightly different gear - one hood is missing. But you get a bag and a coin that you didn't get on the last release. The packaging is nice, at least. Read on!

This week in Star Wars Q&A - New Movies and big toy launches! And X-Wings - do we need more? Probably!

Be sure you send in your questions, the mail bag is empty. Read on!

If no news is good news, the Wall Street Journal has news. Hasbro’s CFO Sharpens Focus on Cost Savings as Toy Shoppers Pull Back does not necessarily sound like great news, although if Hasbro is reading I'll take care to remind them that The Retro Collection has minimal parts, fewer elements to assemble, and relatively simple packaging.

The article says: "[Hasbro CFO Gina Goetter] pointed to the company’s recent review of Nerf products, noting that the company analyzed everything from the thickness of the plastic it uses to the type of packaging, and compared those costs to competitors’. At every step of the Nerf production process, the company found, it was spending more than its rivals, Goetter said."

Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Tusken Chieftan (The Black Series). He uses parts of the old Tusken Raider from about seven years ago, but most of what you'll actually see are new parts, with new robes, and some decent paint.

Mega-publisher Electronic Arts is experiencing massive layoffs this week. According to the Beeb, there was a Star Wars game cancelled as EA cuts 670 jobs. That's a lot of jobs. Recent games have received a fair amount of praise as of late, but canceled Star Wars projects are everywhere lately. They write:

Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Sabine Wren (Epic Hero Series). This is the one that you might actually find in a store near you, and she has a decent array of gear - but no blasters. She is a deluxe release, so they're charging more for her (backpack, shield) but it's still a pretty nice figure and feels like a durable toy. Read on!

This week in Star Wars Q&A - Cartoon-style figures for The Bad Batch - should you get your hopes up? And Pilot Season - will your E-Wing get what it needs?

Be sure you send in your questions, the mail bag is empty. We have no questions for next week's update, which may mean I get a break. Read on!

Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: R4-Series Astromech Droid Black with Silver. This was a later droid bin part from the Disney theme parks - and it looks a lot like a Hasbro dome, but doesn't have a perfectly matching body. It's also not too expensive on eBay if you can find it. Read on!

Via Variety: Disney Strikes Deal for Sony to Take Over Its DVD, Blu-ray Disc Business. From TFA: " As part of the deal, Sony will market, sell and distribute all Disney’s new releases and catalog titles on physical media to consumers through retailers and distributors in the U.S. and Canada. Disney will continue to manage its own digital media, like premium video-on-demand."

Some stores like FYE, Barnes & Noble, Target, and Walmart still carry some physical media while Best Buy retail stores are in the process of phasing it out. In many markets, local media and record shops might be an even better bet as the once-ubiquitous 5-inch digital versatile disc is increasingly a niche product, albeit one that has enjoyed a much longer and arguably stronger life than VHS.

Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Mon Mothma (The Retro Collection). Why does she have a blaster? I have no idea - most figures in the 1980s would have, but Anakin didn't, so it's probably just for fun. Read on!

This week in Star Wars Q&A - Vehicular line-plotter! Can we expect more 1990s ships? Should you give up your worldly collection and follow Retro exclusively? And what would you want to see? I'd support that cult - but maybe just grab a few to start with.

Be sure you send in your questions for next time, mostly so we can keep this going another decade or so. Why not? It's something to do. Also, Happy Presidents Day. Read on!

Ad/sponsored link (so if you click and buy something, we may get a share of the sale): Amazon posted a new STAR WARS The Vintage Collection Escape from Order 66, The Clone Wars, Ahsoka Tano & Droids 3.75 Inch Collectible Action Figure 4-Pack today. Ahsoka may look familiar, and you may have other versions of R7-A7 (animated, Celebrate the Saga, or Disney droid), but CH-33P and RG-G1 are new here.



Escape from Order 66 comes in a big box with 4 carded figures inside, similar to other recent Amazon exclusives.

The set is $69.99 and due this summer. Click here to order.

Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Tusken Raider (Dark Robes and Stripes, The Vintage Collection). Sometimes new deco is all you need to refresh a character, and I love having new guys to build out this group. Read on!