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3-17-2006Good Star Wars day. The new Qui-Gon Jin figure went on sale from SidshowToys today and I was able to score the exclusive version which will include his poncho. Kind of an important accessory for the figure, in my opinion. So far I've been able to get on the site for all the exclusives but I haven't ordered them all. On the way home from work I stopped in Target for the daily trek to the toy aisles only today it paid off. I found a restock of figures. Unfortunately it wasn't a Geonosis case it was one of the new assortments of mixed figures. That meant new Carkoon and Hoth waves however I was happy to fine one Scorch and two of the Utapau Clone Troopers which I promptly bought. They also had Geo-wave Yoda and Jango figures. What was odd was that they had 3 Yoda figures? I don't know the new mix but I think there were two cases on the shelves. I'd be surprised if I missed another Scorch and the other Geo figures, that's why I think it was one of the refresh cases. 3-16-2006The new Fans Choice vote is now up at WizardUniverse.com and includes the top 25 characters that the fans nominated. I'm somewhat disappointed in a few of the choices because I think they're short-sighted. I'll break them down.
I come away from this list with a couple thoughts. First, KOTOR should have it's own line of figures. Hasbro should see about partnering up with Game Stop or EB and doing an exclusive, make it available on-line and, possibly, directly from Hasbro's toy shop. If there's a KOTOR3 coming then a simultaneous release should work well. Second, people are idiots. They can have ANY character in the SW universe and even though they picked some obscure video game characters, they still picked Luke Skywalker and Darth Maul? They also picked at least 2 others that are all but confirmed for this year anyway. Padme Ilum and Kir Kanos are characters that only hardcore fans would pick and those very same fans should have known how close they were to already being made. Finally, jokes are funny but Willrow Hood and Gargan are not. I'll give credit that there were enough people out there in on it to get them on the list but out of all 25 I don't think any figure would warm pegs worse than either of these two. If I could have any figure in the SW universe I'd like to see Guri. Unfortunately she didn't make the cut. I'd also love to see a very well done Mara Jade or an animated Padme Ilum. I don't think the Target Padme is going to be that version and I kind of doubt that we'd get her in that style even if she won this contest. Mara has already been done so if she doesn't win I won't be that broken up. If Hermi Odle wasn't so high on rumor lists I'd vote for him on this contest. Because he is so high I plan on voting for Vos. He's the only other character I find interesting enough that I'd actually lay out $7 for. Around TownDoesn't look like anything was touched in the Hoth wave that got stocked at WM on Monday. They did restock a lot of exclusive Titanium vehicles, though. Most of them were on an end-cap and appear to be part of the huge quantity left over from the huge bin sale they had late last year. Nothing exciting but some old favorites like Anakin's Starfighter, TRI Fighter, AT-RT and a few others were out. Target stocked 2 each of the new Titanium action figures. Darth Vader doesn't look that bad but his legs are really spread out. Fett looks okay as well and the removable helmet is a nice touch. The fact that he looks a lot like the 300th sculpt is a shortcoming. All 4 were the regular version, no patina finish. I passed. I'm waiting on Grievous though because if he looks good and has a little articulation I may grab him. The plastic versions of him sucked so I'm holding out my last hope that the Titanium version won't suck. New stock on Transformers figures; Luke X-Wing, Grievous Wheelbike and Vader TIE. I'm still thinking that if I see that Fett and Maul again I may be sucked in. Restocks also on the Galactic Heroes figures. These consistently sell out so that line is doing well. Same smattering of 3.75" figures but I think they did sell a Bib Fortuna sometime in the last couple days. Plenty of role play guns and Vader helmets. May have been new stock on the electronic sabers but I'm not positive. Oh, and it appears that my WM, at least, isn't carrying Transformers any more. They've used up the slots for Titanium...this store is literally swimming in Titanium vehicles. It's too bad they got so overstocked on them when other stores around the country didn't seem to get any. Oh, and still no slots for the new Ultra line. Maybe WM got pissed that it was no longer exclusive and stopped? Don't know, don't care. I'm probably done with that line anyway unless they shock me with something original like, say, an AOTC Jedi Starfighter with a hyperspace ring?! Instant sellout in multiple waves. 3-14-2006Local Wal-Mart restocked a case of Hoth wave figures so I guess I won't be seeing the Geo wave here till the big push for the Ultimate Galactic Hunt kicks into gear in another month or so. Saturday I scored a 3" Titanium Gunship chase to open as well as another white TIE Fighter. They put up two hanging displays of ships that had the Clone Swampthingamajig, Turbo Tank and others. They were wiped out Monday afternoon and a bunch of Star Destroyers were in their place. Still nothing new at Target but the Ultra Titaniums got hit hard over the weekend as did the Unleashed. Same handful of Hoth figures and a Bib. No new 3" Titanium ships since they restocked about a week ago when I found the Gunship bubble variant. Some of the electronic lightsabers have moved and so have the Transformers...just one Vader left on the shelf. And, shockingly, they are fully stocked with Choppers! K-Mart remains a giant hole of suck for Star Wars toys. 3-10-2006Threads of Destiny
Acme ArchivesI finally found a General Grievous Character Key on eBay for a price I was willing to pay. It just arrived on Wednesday and, for now, my collection is complete. Now I'm just waiting on the Padme key that's coming next. Toy RunNo new figures in town this week. Unleashed and Titanium were both restocked at Target but WM is a dead zone right now. Fett and Maul Transformers showed again and promptly sold out taking Vader and Anakin with them. I may have been wrong on my initial thoughts for this line. It's selling well and I have to admit that I kind of like the looks for that Boba Fett/Slave I Transformer. Also found the new Endor WOTC expansion set with the AT-ST and figures in Target which was a surprise. If I hadn't already pulled an AT-ST from a Universe pack I might have bought one. Maybe if there is still one around come payday. New Sideshow 12" AnnouncedAnd it's Qui-Gon Jinn. Looks like a good figure from the shadowy picture they put up. Appropriately enough he goes on sale on St. Patrick's Day. Lucas Stormtrooper Details UnveiledJediDefender.com brakes news today that the mail-in Lucas figure will be offered from the VTSC figures. Luke X-Wing will have a form that has to be filled out. The other four figures in the wave will contain a "tab" that needs to be affixed to that form and mailed in with a check for $4.95 to cover postage. Kind of steep for a new head on a CommTech Stormtrooper (with a POTF2 helmet?). Hopefully there is some tweaking to be done between now and when he's available. Afterall, Hasbro has shown mock-up figures at Comic-Con before so maybe they did the same at Toy Fair. Meh, who am I kidding, the figure show at TF is probably it. Guess I'll have to go for an open set of VTSC figures only. Or not...we'll see. ToyFare Vote ComingMarch 15th will be the release date for the new issue of ToyFare magazine and it will include the ballot for the next Fan Choice figure. Can't wait, I hope the selections don't suck....and that people don't rush to vote in a figure that sucks harder. 3-4-2006Scored a Sora Bulq at the Auburn WM this afternoon. They had all of the Geo wave except for Scorch and the Utapau Clone Trooper. I passed on Sun Fac again, still can't decide if I want to pick up this figure. 3-3-2006Hyperspace released a copy of the vintage immunization public service announcement starring C-3PO and R2-D2. If you don't have Hyperspace access grab the video here or on the Multimedia page. Store ReportsHoth wave is still hanging around at Wal-Mart, minus Vader and R2. Still at least one each of the rest of the wave. Target has Veers, Power Droid and the Hoth Rebels...and one or two Bib figures. Wave 2 of the Unleashed has shown up a couple times and seems to sell okay. Transformers are cleared out at Target which surprised me. They had been hanging around until last week when Fett and Maul showed up then they all sold. New Titanium's showed up. Scored the only Republic Gunship. They had the green Anakin Starfighter, Naboo Starship, AT-AT, Shuttle, Wookiee Flyer, Battle Damaged Falcon and a Vulture Droid and Death Star but I think they were left over from the previous stock. Restocks on the ARC-170 and TRI Fighter but nothing beyond those. Attacktix series 3 is out here at Target which is odd because I think they only stocked series 2 once or twice. Series 2 disappeared very quickly. Target also has the Attacktix arena and Gunship. Wal-Mart still has some of the first Transformer figures and a lot of older, exclusive Titanium ships. They reduced the action figure pegs from 4 to 2 and moved the Unleashed from their parallel 4 pegs to 2 pegs beneath the 3.75" figures. Everyone has an abundance of SW Choppers though... Huge surprise there (looks for rolls eyes emote). 3-1-2006I've been looking for an Uzay AT-AT Driver on-and-off for a couple of years and passed one up late last year but I finally have one. Big thanks to Adam B. in the UK for hooking me up on this so that I could add it to my collection. Uzay AT-AT Driver: Front / Back Here's a comparison shot with the new Saga Collection AT-AT Driver. |
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