Category Archives: Collecting News

Collecting News, Podcasts/Streaming

Episode 349: $600 of Meh

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Star Wars collectibles may be coming in a trickle, but the news is fast and furious, and on this week’s Star Wars Action News Marjorie and Arnie have a round-up of the hottest Star Wars toys and tchotkes. From iPhone cases to ice cube trays to SDCC exclusives, it’s all on this week’s podcast along with another UK report from Steve the Gingerprice from Collectormania 18!
Also this week, your hosts review a trio of statues that recently shipped. First two statues from Gentle Giant’s cantina series, Blue Snaggletooth and Greedo! Both were put up for sale last month with May the 4th, and Marjorie and Arnie have them in hand. How were the final production versions? Listen to find out! Plus an in-depth review of Sideshow’s Premium Format Han Solo in Carbonite. The Star Wars Action News hosts were underwhelmed with the Premium Format Stormtrooper, and their first Han in Carbonite was damaged in transit. Now that a replacement has arrived, listen in to see if you should try to score this bounty for yourself!
Plus do you have your tickets for the Star Wars Action News/Yakface party at Star Wars Celebration VI? Tickets are already 1/3 sold out! Hear an update on this and some Celebration exclusives on this week’s Star Wars Action News podcast!

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Collecting News, Toyguide Updates

Toyguide Update: VC98 Grand Moff Tarkin

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The Yakface Toyguide updates resume today with the addition of Grand Moff Tarkin (VC98) from The Vintage Collection.

PROS: Charming to the last. After nearly a half dozen iterations, Tarkin finally gets the super-articulated treatment and to top it off, he graces the Vintage Collection card back crossing one of those “must-haves” off the list. From an articulation and sculpt standpoint,  Tarkin hits all the right marks (thanks to recycling parts from past Imperial officers) but falters is some key areas that ultimately elicit a sign from collectors. Tarkin includes blaster and all new MSE Droid which is now in the proper scale and features rolling wheels/axles.

CONS: So close yet so far. Immediately upon reveal, collectors wondered what the heck was going on with his uniform color and those soft goods. We hoped and pleaded that it was because we were just seeing hand-painted prototypes, but sadly, what we saw is what we got. The soft goods skirt is the main culprit as the cut and color looks plain out of place on this figure. The outfit overall looks to be far too green and should be more drab. While the face sculpt looks good, the overall skin tone is very pale and make him look even more gaunt than intended.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this figure is worth adding to your collection.

You can also weigh in with your impressions on the figures we add to our toyguide on facebook and in our forums.

Collecting News, Toyguide Updates

Toyguide Update: VC97 Odd Ball (Clone Pilot)

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The Yakface Toyguide updates resume today with the addition of Clone Pilot Odd Ball (VC97) from The Vintage Collection.

PROS: We’ve seen many iterations of the Episode III ARC-170 pilot since 2005,and with this latest version, I think the word definitive is applicable. Gone are those funky looking “moon boots” as he now sports full ankle articulation. Not surprisingly, Hasbro has recycled many of the previous pilot parts but has tooled up new lower legs and helmet which, thankfully, is well-proportioned.

CONS: Oddly, he features Imperial emblems on its shoulders where I would think they should be Republic symbols. With distribution the way it is it might be some time before folks see this figures in the wild let alone its other Wave 5 case mates.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this figure is worth adding to your collection.

You can also weigh in with your impressions on the figures we add to our toyguide on facebook and in our forums.