My pal who I will call Juan Nonymous sent along sample shots of the Jabba's Rancor Pit gift set Jabba the Hutt in comparison with the 2010 model from Walmart.  This new-for-2015 version is a 100% new mold with new deco, meaning it is... say it with me...

"Just different enough to make you mad."   Well, not Jabba, Jabba's new and interesting.  The rest of the set is as interesting as your collection isn't - it's great stuff if you don't got it yet.  This set will be sold at the Entertainment Earth Booth at Comic-Con next week, on Toys R Us.com, and probably retail stores too.  Want to see more images?  Check after the jump.

The results are in!  Hasbro asked for our top 6 choices for the Fan's Choice Black Series Star Wars Poll, and here we have them for you - interestingly, the winner is someone you've seen as a controversial Fan's Choice winner (or runner-up) in the past.   Even more interestingly, we had a four-way tie for third.   Who are those tie fighters?   Find out, after the break.

This week in Q&A: let's talk Rebels Vehicles - have we seen the last of the figure pack-ins? I'm not sure. And The Rancor Pit - should you care. Maybe. Probably if you haven't been keeping up. We also talk Black Series Accessories - is Hasbro leaving the goods out of the box? We ask our panel of experts. Or we would, we don't have any, so it's just me again for the 19th straight year. Sorry.

So send in your questions for next week. Read on!

Funko posted another update!  Matte Black Darth Vader is the next Comic-Con exclusive Hikari Vinyl Figure, and it looks great.  It's a limited edition of 1,200 pieces.

Click here to see more announcements at their blog.

If you're so inclined, Amazon has Blu-Ray and DVD releases for Star Wars Rebels Season 1 up for grabs. DVD is currently $39.99, Blu-Ray is $45.99.

Two new ones today!   Prism Bossk (Entertainment Earth exclusive, limited to 500 pieces) and Starfield Stormtrooper (750 pieces) are up for grabs at your favorite stores.

Ad: New and recent Hasbro Star Wars arrivals at Entertainment Earth!  Snag the year's new Cantina alien with Mosep Bineed, in stock now for $13.99.  Also grab recent arrivals like Leia in Boushh Disguise, Han Solo in Carbonite, the new Jawas 2-pack, and others - but only while they last.  Click here for pricing and availability!

We're back! But just for this one - the season starts in the Fall. Star Wars Rebels kicked off season 2 on Saturday with the one-hour "The Siege of Lothal." Ahsoka's back, and we see Darth Vader being an incredible pilot. We meet Phoenix Squadron, we see the return of another familiar face from the original trilogy, and we also see the return of another government official who isn't quite ruthless enough for the new boss. Tarkin's specter looms large over Lothal, but we don't see him this week - that's OK, because Darth Vader keeps it real for the always Star Wars-y show on Disney XD. Darth Vader isn't afraid to sacrifice the pawns to get to the important pieces.

Read on for more! As always, spoilers follow.

...despite the graphic, we're actually very excited to report that one of our favorite fan events is making a long-awaited return!  Rejoice!

Given that we're not even two years into the 6-inch line, it's pretty amazing that Hasbro has made this announcement: "Hasbro is pleased to once again invite you and your readers to help determine its next STAR WARS Fans’ Choice figure! And for the first time ever, the STAR WARS Fans' Choice poll will choose a 6-inch scale STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES figure!"

Wow!  Well, the good news is we get to have a say in who's coming. The bad news is that since it's a little early, it probably won't get weird - after all, we haven't got the main cast of the original Star Wars yet, nor Lando, nor Jango, nor Made Windu or any of Jabba's stooges.   As such a popular movie character will no doubt get the nod before an Expanded Universe favorite like Fordo or Mara Jade.

So how do you, the reader, participate?  (UPDATE: You can't! Comments are now closed and votes are being tallied.)

This week in Q&A: The Wave 1 of Rebels. Is it done coming out? ...well, I got some bad news for you if you didn't hunt it down. And Jakks Pacific - what does their 20-inch line really mean for us in the long run? Also, let's talk unified packaging - is this multi-lingo thing going to last?

So send in your questions for next week. Read on!

It's wordy, and only available on the Comic-Con International show floor.  The Star Wars Darth Vader Hologram Limited Edition 20-Inch Action Figure has electronic lights in the box and is basically the same size as the projection on General Veers' AT-AT's dashboard.   It will be $59.99 and limited to the show floor - no online sales are being made so if you want one, you're going to need to start driving to San Diego or bribing your friends who are going to the show. It will be sold at booth #2343 via Entertainment Earth.

Funko updated their blog with San Diego Comic-Con Exclusives: Wave Five!  Two Star Wars items appear: Pop! Star Wars: Chrome C-3PO Gold and Hikari: Star Wars - 501st Clone Trooper.

Click here to see them, a new Jaws ReAction figure set, and some more goodies.

This week in Q&A: We look at more missing figures - you ain't getting them. And new stuff is making it out - but could it be better? Lastly, international packaging - will we in the USA ever care again? Probably not. But we can think about it.

So send in your questions for next week. Read on!

Ad: New at Entertainment Earth - Star Wars Hikar!   Limited to 500 pieces, check out the Infrared Darth Vader - an Entertainment Earth exclusive.  Also new and not an exclusive, K-3PO - which kicks off the C-3PO mold.

EW, girl, EW.   Over at Entertainment Weekly, you can read the descriptively titled article Check out an exclusive look at the first toys from Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  It gives you a look at the $25 Black Series debut Stormtrooper as well as Mattel's Hot Wheels car and a LEGO buildable figure.