Tag Archives: hasbro

Collecting News

When Star Wars Ruled the Toy Aisle

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retail2009

While cleaning out my hard drive, I came across some photos from December 2009 that I had snapped that showed what was on the pegs back then at various retailers.  Head to the forums to check them out.

Personal Note:  What a difference five years makes!  What we see now, in my opinion, is the direct result of very poor management of the Star Wars brand since the 2012 line… questionable figure selections, shoddy case ratios, drops in quality, weird gimmicks aimed at kids, and focus away from the lifeblood of the line – the 3.75″ toys.

Collecting News, Site News

Post-Christmas Clearances at Retail

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Now that the dust is starting to settle following the Christmas rush, retailers are beginning to mark down some items in the toy section as they prepare for the new year.

Among the items being cleared out is the Target exclusive Shadow Squadron set, being spotted at many Target stores for $35.00.  Wal-Mart is also slashing prices on the Jakks Pacific 31″ figures, down to $20.00.  We’ve even seen a report of the 31″ Vader being found at Target for as low as $5.00 and some of the Target exclusive Hot Wheels sets being marked down too.

Find something good at a great clearance price?  Let us know in the forums!

Collecting News, Toyguide Updates

Toyguide Update: R5-G19 (TBS #01)

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TBS_R5G19_preview

The Yakface Toyguide updates resume with the addition of the R5-G19, our first entry for the 3-3/4″ Black Series (Blue) line look.

PROS: New (i.e. never before offered) figures from the Original Trilogy come few and far between these days so it’s nice to add another to the collection and scratch another off the list (Despite the less-than-accurate deco). R5-G19 recycles the Build-A-Droid/Droid Factory mold so it’s cross compatible with prior B.A.D. figures. Yay! Hasbro retired that bland black and orange card for a nicer TIE Pilot design in a more traditional 6×9 format.

CONS: The inaccuracy of the deco has ruffled a few feathers of diehard astromech collectors, as well as the use of the B.A.D. mold. Although purely anecdotal, R5-G19 has achieved Peg Warmer Status: Level 10 at most of the Toys”R”Us stores I visit.

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

The Force Awakens 6″ Figure(s) Image

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theforceawakens

Rebelscum has posted a link and image to a leaked photograph of five 6″ figures from The Force Awakens. The image gives us our first “real” full look at characters from the teaser and one shot of a familiar walking carpet. Spoiler warnings apply.

UPDATE: Image has been removed from Rebelscum per the request of HunterPR. Image is still available at the original link.

Collecting News, Podcasts/Streaming

Episode 45: But It’s A Whole ‘Nother Year

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realmrecap_news

As we close out 2014, Flyguy and I discuss the latest collecting bits with news from Hasbro, Hot Toys, LEGO, Gentle Giant and more. Customizing and artwork gets another big focus this week as we feature some great builds and illustrations that again must be seen be believed. Finally, we run down the latest news regarding The Force Awakens, more Marvel cover variants and our latest toy acquisitions. All this and much more on Episode 45 of The Realm Recap.

We would like to thank everyone that has listened, watched, commented and shared our shows over the past year. You are all the reason why we keep doing it and we hope to continue into 2015 and beyond. MTFBWY.

Click on through to check out the latest episode and feel free to subscribe to our channel and leave suggestions on what you’d like to see covered on the show.

Also, if you prefer an audio-only version, a downloadable MP3 is available as well.

Continue reading Episode 45: But It’s A Whole ‘Nother Year →

Collecting News

Walgreens Prototype Fett Preorder Update

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walgreens

I received an interesting/unexpected email this morning from Walgreens regarding a Prototype Boba Fett which I had on preorder, but first a little background. This preorder was placed on 7/23 using a credit card which I had to have replaced due to a security breach at a national retail chain. I (and many collectors) was/were originally told that there was no way to update credit card information that was used to place the order(s). Fast forward 5 months and read the email I was sent…

Continue reading Walgreens Prototype Fett Preorder Update →

Collecting News, Site News

Toys”R”us Raising Price on Legends/Rebels

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pricing

Even though most stores can’t seem to get the new single carded Rebels figures in stock, Toys”R”us is raising prices for the 5POA figure line.  Head on over to the forums to see how much you can expect to pay for these there moving forward.

Personal Note:  If they could just get the figures in stock, they’d have no problem moving figures like Chopper, Inquisitor, Kallus for a little more… there’s no doubt that the 5POA Rebels figures are an upgrade over the other Legends stuff from the past year or so…  it’s just a shame that this stuff didn’t hit like it should have in time for Christmas gifts…!

Collecting News, Podcasts/Streaming

Episode 438: Tarkin ‘Bout Toys

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Brock reviews James Lucino’s new novel TARKIN, Jerry looks back at Vintage-era Star Wars books, and Marjorie and Arnie look at figures hitting stores and the sold-out Hot Toys exclusive Shadow Stormtrooper!

It’s been a long time since Star Wars action figure collectors could shop exclusively at their local brick-and-mortar stores to get the figures they wanted.  Since the release of Hasbro’s The Vintage Collection in 2010 store supplies have been scarce.  Now, however, that seems ready to change!  Across the country collectors are finding new Black Series figures in both 3.75-inch and 6-inch lines, plus new Rebels and Mission Series figures too!  On this episode of Star Wars Action News you can listen to find out which stores to hit to score full waves of new figures.
Also on this week’s show, Arnie and Marjorie discuss Hot Toys’ first exclusive release in their Star Wars Movie Masterpiece Series–the Shadow Stormtrooper.  A repaint of their basic Stormtrooper figure, this release sold out in just a few hours at Sideshow Collectibles.  What’s the fuss all about?  Listen to find out!
With a review of James Lucino’s new Star Wars novel Tarkin and Jerry looking back on books of yesteryear, and ThinkGeek plushes too, you’ll find all this and more in this Episode of Star Wars Action News!