Category Archives: Collecting News

Episode 320: Land Speeder Record

As Star Wars toy collectors know, right now at Target are two new items that are sure to take Gen X-ers back to their childhood–an Empire Strikes Back Tauntaun in vintage packaging, and Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder in vintage packaging recalling the packaging from the 1978 original. On this week’s Star Wars Action News podcast, Jerry takes the landspeeder up to 88 miles per hour and travels back in time to look at the actual vintage Kenner Landspeeder, and compare it with Target’s current exclusive release and all the Landspeeder releases in between!

Also at Target, in the trading card aisle, a new Star Wars item has slowly been pulling in Star Wars collectors, and metal shavings–Star Wars Power Plates, tin magnets shaped like license plates from the Star Wars universe. On this week’s Star Wars Action News podcast, Marjorie and Arnie review a few of these blind-packaged plates.

Also on this week’s podcast, Marjorie and Arnie discuss new exclusives and Revenge of the Jedi figures hitting stores, and play your voicemails to share what you’re finding. Steve, the Gingerprince, reports in from the Entertainment Media Show in the UK, and Nathan continues his look back at Hasbro’s beloved Comic 2-Packs.

With information on how to win a set of Star Wars soaps, information on the Star Wars Action News listener gift exchange, and more, it’s all on this week’s Star Wars Action News podcast!

Regular Version:
http://www.swactionnews.com/Podcasts/SWAN320.MP3

Enhanced Version
http://www.swactionnews.com/Podcasts/Enhanced/SWAN320.M4A

Toyguide Update: VC70 Ponda Baba

The Yakface Toyguide updates resume today with the addition of Ponda Baba “Walrus Man” (VC70) from The Vintage Collection.

PROS: Hasbro has again rendered all previous versions useless, not to mention laughable, with this ground up rework of fan favorite Ponda Baba. Great sculpting details in the jacket. The inclusion of both style of hands and the switch out severed arms is what playing with toys is all about! Paint operations are minimal, but well done (kudos to Hasbro for painting that little snap on the jacket pocket).

CONS: Nothing major, his head seems a tad under scaled, jacket could use a dirty paint wash and Hasbro gave him the wrong blaster and he’s missing the yellow stripes down each of his pant legs. Also, too bad his partner in crime, Dr. Evazan, isn’t on the pegs at the same time.

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.