This week in Q&A: How is The Force Awakens comparing to The Phantom Menace nine months out? Let's also talk digital releases and variations, just like the old days. Did you know that in the 1990s people bought multiple figures based on subtle changes of the belt, or a comma on the packaging, or a warning sticker? It's true!
Don't forget to send in your questions for next week. Read on!
Rounding out the latest - and hopefully not last - wave of Saga Legends, we look at Han Solo (Endor) before turning back to the last couple of waves next week. Han has 5 points of articulation and brings back the plastic jacket - most of the figures have had cloth ones. This Han has no holster, but it's pretty swell all the same. Read on!
A limited edition of 750, the Star Wars Greedo Sublime Premium Hikari Sofubi Vinyl Figure is up for order at Entertainment Earth. The first release had metallic paint, while this one is clear, glittery plastic. These things shine bright in person, and this one is due in April. Only 750 are being produced and pre-orders are open now.
Today we look at a Biker Scout, a 5-jointed figure packed with Wicket in the popular Mission Series line. He has a working holster, and can also sit on a Speeder Bike in the same manner of the 1983 original. It's pretty cool - want to know more? Read on!
UPDATE: Disney has decided they still love you and this will not be a 6,000 piece limited edition.
If you don't like buying a toy without anxiety, we're happy to share this story from Vinylmationworld.com. R2-D60 celebrates 60 years of Disneyland with a $13 figure made of build-a-droid parts that is limited to 6,000 pieces - a low number but not tiny.
To get it, at least at first, there's a preview event with a $100 cover charge come May. If you're going, do buy an extra and let us know because otherwise we'll be stalking eBay at 3 AM to get it at the last possible second. Click here for the full story.
A character that gets a lot of marketing love, but not a lot of collector love, is Wicket W. Warrick. He's had several unique action figures since 1984 plus a whole mini-toyline aimed at preschoolers, and now he's back as a figure that feels and plays like something that would have been obscenely expensive in 1983 - but is $10, and comes with a free Biker Scout. It's been 5 years since the last Wicket, are we ready for a new one? Read on!
Check out Princess Leia (Endor)! This new-for-2015 figure is a new sculpt entering circulation today with a cool blaster, working holster, and a slightly shorter stature. I really like it - I think you will too. Read on!
The seemingly now endless parade of Figure of the Day continues! Hasbro put out yet another new wave of Saga Legends - that's 3 this year so far - and we start looking at it with Luke Skywalker (Endor). It's the Endor Battle Poncho! He's new parts, and the poncho is a physical non-removable part of the figure this time. It's also probably the least bunchy looking one yet. Read on!
This week in Q&A: let's talk rare stickers. Kenner stickers! You'll like this one. Also we can look at toy storage which is difficult to do well. And here's your chance to chime in with international variants on exclusives - I don't got any, but maybe you do!
Don't forget to send in your questions for next week. Read on!
Funko's admittedly bizarre and nifty Hikari Vinyl figure line is, in short, to vinyl figures what Gentle Giant was to Mini Busts back in 2002. It's a little strange, it seems expensive, they're limited, and it's a big shift from the kind of cheap stuff we were used to seeing. Several figures have been announced but this Original Greedo is their very first release. Each individual figure has a name for each paintjob, but it's only visible on the trading card inside each figure's box and can not be seen on the packaging's exterior. It's in the 7 1/4-inch range, rather than the much larger Hikari Marvel figures and comes to you hand-painted with 3 points of articulation.
After a handful of figures, we got a new Clone Commander Gree! The cartoon costume is in a movie sculpt, with 5 points of articulation and just enough paint to be recognizably Gree-ey. This one is showing up in stores now or you can snag it at our wonderful online sponsors. Want to know more? Read on!
So it looks like a whopping 5 waves of 5-jointed figures are hitting now between Mission Series and Saga Legends, like Skiff Guard Lando Calrissian here. His helmet is non-removable, but the sculpt is really good. Check it out, read on!
Our next week of Figure of the Day kicks off with Luke Skywalker, a 2015 redesign with a helmet and not a lot of paint. It's a pretty fun figure, but has no gun. It does fit nicely inside pretty much any 3 3/4-inch scale X-Wing toy you may own, though, so go ahead and give this one a look. Read on!