Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Embo (The Vintage Collection). This is not a deluxe figure, but it did leave me asking "what makes a figure a deluxe?" Embo comes from The Mandalorian and Grogu with his hat and bowcaster... and extra weapons based on his bowcaster, and alternate hands.

The deco is good, but not exceptional, and the figure has more parts than a lot of recent releases. The range of movement is very good, the face is painted nicely, and most importantly he looks like the guy in the movie. There was an animated version back in 2010, so for those of you who weren't all-in from jump? This might be your first crack at him. I saw him in actual stores yesterday, so it's worth your while to go looking.

I was out and about on Wednesday and saw something that made me find something else you might want to see. First, if you have a 3D printer, Thingiverse has a free download file for Vintage Kenner Millennium Falcon Vents. These would be a replacement for missing, damaged, or aged stickers on an old Kenner-style Millennium Falcon toy. Other makers have made 3D "stickers" you can roll to fix up and refurbish an old beloved toy, or a cheap junker.

If you don't have a 3D printer, this might be a good time to get one.  More stores are stocking printers and filament.

Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Garindan (The Retro Collection). This is the last new Retro "Kenner" guy for the year, and it's a neat one. Each new version of Garindan has been interesting in that they take elements from the movie, and this one adds some red lenses and an extra long robe around the pants that weren't on the movie costume. It's worth a look, and we'll have more retro next year. You can keep tabs on what kind of stuff they're doing on this special Retro page. But for today's review? Read on!

This week in Star Wars Q&A - Direct to streaming? The future of film puts the premiere in your home, maybe. And what other good 3 3/4-inch stuff should you be looking at? I've got options and opinions in one of the most rambling answers I may have ever foisted upon you.

Read on!

Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Lieutenant Callahan (The Vintage Collection). While she did come out last year, I only just got around to cracking this E-Wing pilot open.

She has the old-style hip joints, with a twist - they're good now! Typically those pre-ball-and-socket hips have been stiff and a real hassle to move, especially for pilot figures, but Hasbro did something to ensure smoother movement and I'm impressed. It's actually easy to get her in the vehicles. The body is more or less a reuse of the previous Rebel Pilot body - yes, the orange flight suit - but with a new head, new vest, and new boots hiding it all. I know a lot of fans decry old mold reuse, and there are a couple of little bits that don't quite match up with the costume photography, but it's all rather clever and pretty great for what is likely to be the only figure we ever see of this character.

Read on!

Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: RA-7 (Blue Droid Factory) . If you were sorting through bins, you might have been able to put this one together. On some days you couldn't assemble a uniform figure, so things like this might prove challenging to add to your collection. It's not quite a match for AP-5 - a droid, he said without ego, presumably named after me - but it's a nifty addition to the world of robots. If you're ever building out Kligson's Moon you're going to need background extras, or if you just like blue things this is pretty great. Disney's mold is not Hasbro's mold - Hasbro's has more and better detail, while Disney's has more articulation. But Hasbro doesn't have a blue one, so you'll want this one. (There is a comic purple one, though, and it's great.) Read on!

This week in Star Wars Q&A - What's in a name? Would a clone by any other name smell so much like a repack? And are we having fun yet? Well... fun is in the eye of the beholder.

At the end we look at the recelt slate of reissues of classic movies in theaters, and some upcoming documentaries I'm excited to see.  I know, this is why you come here.  

Read on!

I picked up a few items from The Cardboard Galaxy a few years ago, and he does great backdrops and add-on kits for plastic playsets. I'm probably going to need to get TVC HasLab Cantina Modular Floor Insert Panels kit. If you needed a Cantina floor, as The Vintage Collection release lacked one, it looks like he restocked.  The kit is 10 modular panels for $35.  

I've also seen people use rolls of screen or mesh or other things - even a clever use of a corkboard - but this is probably more what fans were expecting to get.

Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Princess Leia Organa (Yavin, The Retro Collection). This one is particularly interesting in that it's more accurate than some previous versions in ways that made fans expect something else entirely..

She has unique, big sleeves that at first glance seem ridiculous - but if you freeze-frame the movie you'll find they're closer to the mark than the capes she had on 1990s figures. Who knew? The face deco seems to vary from figure to figure, so she may not look exactly the same on every sample - but she's decent and fills a request fans have had in this line. She's also the only main character in the wave, which is available at Target now, and we're almost done reviewing here.

For those who absolutely must have 70mm, good news. StarWars.com shared that Star Wars (1977) and Star Wars: Starfighter Debut in IMAX 70mm in 2027. And depending on your local film house, Akira - yes, that Akira - may be showing there this very week in IMAX 4K.  It looks a little funky in spots but it's definitely the biggest I've ever seen it.

Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Anakin Skywalker (The Vintage Collection). You can actually get this one at Walmart right now as part of an exclusive 2-pack. It's even in stores! How often does that happen? This one looks a lot like the "Dark Side" Anakin or Darth Vader we got from Ahsoka last year, except without the Dark Side eyes and now with a blue lightsaber. And a really good cloak. Take a look at the review for a comparison shot. Read on!

This week in Star Wars Q&A - Pricing! Fans asked for better paint and more detail, so Hasbro is charging us for more paint and better detail. Also sculpting - did we lose some of the art with computers aided design?

Read on!

It's been actual years since we had a movie that could even have a home release, so it is fun to say The Mandalorian and Grogu is now streaming on Disney+ along with a couple of episodes of a behind-the-scenes podcast.

The movie is presently the lowest-grossing live-action Star Wars movie, but I would recommend you check it out anyway.  It's about as good as the streaming shows, loaded with creatures, and it even has some pretty fancy Phil Tippet-powered droids in it.  It will be difficult, if not impossible, to get you a movie that makes you feel like you're a little kid again - but there's enough going on here tthat should make you smile.   And if you have a three-day weekend, what else is there to do?

Disney Store still has the new R2-D2 (D-Squad) Droid Factory Figure Set – Build-a-Droid Series in stock for $19.99.  While he doesn't have a new hat, he does have the caution tape yellow and black highlights on the legs plus the RX droid base.

There's also a "SAVEMORE" coupon running for 20% off $100 or 30% off $150.  If you've been holding off ordering R5-PR0UD, the BDX droid set, R2-WRWLF, or those blind-box crate droids, this is probably the time to go for it. 

Ron Salvatore has been writing about Star Wars toys for as long as I can remember, and his new article (from 2 weeks ago) is  A Model Craftsman: Bill Lemon and His Sculpting Contributions to Kenner's Star Wars Toy Line.  In it, you'll find unreleased Micro Collection sculpts, tidbits about early figures, completely alternate sculpts for Kez-Iban and Yak Face, and a lot more. It even has a list of all the figures Mr. Lemon sculpted, so you can look at the old line and go "Yeah, OK, I see that now."