This week in Q&A - Classic Playset Connectivity! Oh, 2002. We miss you. And Death Star playsets. Shuttle happens. Also online shopping - you know I love it.

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

They're back!  Before Funko launched Pop! Vinyl, Hasbro captured lightning in a bottle with Mighty Muggs about a decade ago.   We got Star Wars, Transformers, G.I. Joe, Marvel, and Indiana Jones as just a few of the $10 chunky figures.  Collectors and kids loved them, but Hasbro didn't want to farm the line out to more licenses, or keep it going, and just let it lapse.  This is when Funko released Funko Force 2.0, which were renamed Pop! Vinyl figures and changed the toy world - the greatest toy trend was in Hasbro's hands, and by letting it languish, someone else one-upped them.  But they're back!   And they brought a cool action feature this time!

The big figures are in this season, so we're happy to see new guys and more importantly, new old guys.    There are new movie characters, there are original trilogy characters, and one of my absolute favorites is getting a big upsizing!    In today's reveals, you'll find 5 new 6-inch action figures which could be in your hands over the next year.

New stuff!  While some of it may not look new - a revised Asty is appreciated, but we've got Asty - there are some other new things here to enjoy.   Asty appears to have a removable helmet and a blaster, but you've got Asty.   Probably.

Also returning is Maz Kanata with a snazzy jetpack.  Previously exclusive to a 4-pack, this slightly modified figure gives you another crack at the character with some new gear.

Take a look at the Elite Praetorian Guard (2-Pack, The Last Jedi Line Look) with its bonnet.  Ofsnoke has a cool bladed weapon and a faceless mask, and is one of (so far) three different 3 3/4-inch guards on the market.   Should you get it?  Of course.  Read on!

I was surprised to find Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi (The Last Jedi Line Look) over Force Friday weekend.  This is a spectacular figure for the asking price - not only does it talk, but the design is really good.   He can't sit in a Landspeeder, but there are jointed legs, a fantastic painted beard, one of the best Alex Guinness faces yet rendered in plastic, and oh yes - it's one of the few new 3 3/4-inch Original Trilogy sculpts since the dawn of the Disney new movie toy era.  Read on!

This week in Q&A - personalized action figures! They were sort of a thing. Droids at Disney are the gift that keep on giving... me anxiety. And some of the better recent figures, because why not.

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

It has just been brought to my attention that Adam May, former Galactic Hunter contributor, has died.   A knowledgable fan, ace reporter, and tremendous asset to the collecting community, May was famous for his excellent rumor and news threads in the form of the Fortune Teller droid, his custom Stormy Sevenspire figure won through a Target contest with Hasbro, and just being a swell fellow.  Our thoughts and best wishes go out to his husband Todd and his family.

If you haven't seen it yet, take a look at the Elite Praetorian Guard (The Last Jedi Line Look).   It has big giant split gown legs, a cool weapon, and a helmet that looks sort of like it has blinds on it.   Read on!

There's a Dark Side of the Force and a Light Side.  Also, Kylo Ren's got an evil side of the face with a battle scar for The Last Jedi, including this one from the TIE Silencer.  It's good enough for granddad, it's good enough for him.   But is it better than the carded one with a cape?   ...no.   Read on!

This week in Q&A - the missing Walmart wave of The Black Series! I haven't seen them yet, still, either. And exclusives on eBay - should you be wary? Maybe. It's tough. And is a new Walker toy coming this year? Ha ha, no.

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

Ad: Pre-Order New Star Wars 6-inch The Black Series action figures from Entertainment Earth! Jaina Solo, Snoke, and Rose are just some of the new entries up for grabs right now.

After a long wait, we got a figure of Snoke (The Last Jedi Line Look)!   He comes in a big playset, but if you don't want to buy the playset a super-articulated version is coming in the new Vintage line next year.  Read on!

New at Toys R Us, the exclusive  Star Wars: The Black Series Action Figure - Rey (Jedi Training) on Crait has been revealed!  She's due in November for $34.99.  The figure is a new one, more or less, with added cloth elements and a display base.

So Kmart isn't doing well - in Phoenix, most of them have slowly closed and become other things - furniture stores, indoor go-karts, or sad husks. The last open store is on the I-17 and Northern, currently going through its death throes. I was there last week on my birthday toy run, and the toy department had been collapsed with the former toy department being empty shelving for sale. It looked far better in July, when the YouTube account Retail Archaeology made this lovely video.

Semi-related, Toys R Us announced it'll file for some sort of bankruptcy this week, which doesn't necessarily mean it's going out of business.