The Yakface Toyguide updates resume today with the addition of the Clone Trooper Lieutenant (EP2-02) released as part of the Kenner Lost Line variant packaging for The Vintage Collection.

PROS: It’s surprising that it took Hasbro this long to start repainting the ultra-articulated VC45 Clone Trooper into some of peripheral clone officers from Attack of the Clones. There is not a whole heck of a lot new here but the execution here is good with an accurate color selection for the armor flashes and a fairly decent application of them. Again like the VC45 version, articulation is abundant making with widest range of posing options possible. Accessories are basic with the standard trooper kit of a blaster, rifle and removable helmet.

CONS: A solid figure all around but maybe the only issue with it is that the paint treatment looks odd around the ankles as I don’t recall the black body suit being visible on the Phase I clones. Again with most figures, finding one at retail may be a bit of a chore, but they are turning up in decent numbers at Walmart and Toys”R”Us on both card back variants.

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.

 

I headed over to my local (Minnetonka, MN) Toys”R”Us over lunch today to satiate my new found Fighter Pods addiction and lucked into a case of TVC/Lost Line figures. This was my first encounter with these at retail so with the new Speeder Bike, Ewok and Yavin pilots hitting, it’s best you too head to your local Toys”R”Us.

The Yakface Toyguide updates resume today with the addition of Jar Jar Binks (EP1-01) released as part of the Kenner Lost Line variant packaging for The Vintage Collection.

PROS: For fans of Jar Jar, this latest version attempts to improve upon the less articulated Movie Heroes version and does to some degree. The semi-new figure incorporates additional points of articulation in the neck, shoulders and wrists as well as well-disguised ankle joints. Hasbro also has taken this figure a step further by revising the deco to a lighter, less suntanned shade and adding soft goods for the “skirt” allowing him to sit upon a kaadu fairly well. This is a solid figure if you’ve yet to find the MH version but you may want to hold out for that one for the reasons below.

CONS: In this case being super-articulated doesn’t mean better when compared to the Movie Heroes (MH13) version. The joints are poorly matched as evidenced by they contrasting colors especially in the shoulders and knees. Also, the superfluous lower neck joint doesn’t do much to improve upon the figure and is more of an aesthetic distraction than anything else. Then there is the skin color/deco. Where the MH figure seems to hit the right colors, this new version seems too light and the ornate deco on the arms is far too dark and is flat out wrong. Overall this figure seems like a waste of tooling resources, but your mileage may vary of course.

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.

Big Bad Toy Store has updated with new pre-orders and New Arrivals this week. Check out the Star Wars related items after the jump.

NEW PRE-ORDERS

STAR WARS VINTAGE 2012 SERIES 05 CASE SOLD OUT
This new case assortment will see limited release, but we will be able to get  them for our customers.  The assortment includes Clone Wars Ahsoka Tano, Clone  Wars Obi-Wan Kenobi, Naboo Pilot with Duster, Mawhonic, Aurra Sing, Lumat, Gungan Warrior, Nien Nunb, Weequay Hunter, Royal Guard, Republic Trooper and Orrimaarko.  Each figure appears to be new, many with additional accessories and more.  This case is listed at $119.99.

NEW UNIVERSAL DESIGN JACKETS & SUIT REPLICAS
Following up on the Captain America Jackets and Suit Replica, we now have listings for the Darth Maul Leather Cafe Racer Jacket at $649.99, the Empire Leather Racing Jacket in either Black or White at $499.99 and three new Suit Replicas – Tron Legacy Rinzler, Tron Legacy Sam Flynn and Star Wars Black  Stormtrooper, priced at $829.99, $829.99 and $879.99, respectively. Each Jacket  comes in sizes from XXS to XXL.

STAR WARS BATTLE PACKS 2012 SERIES 1R1 CASE
The new Battle Pack case assortment includes two each of Bespin Battle and Episode 1 Duel and one each of Obi-Wan/Jango/Battle Droid and Rebel Heroes.  This assortment is listed at $139.99.

STAR WARS JEDI FORCE FIGURE TWO-PACK 2012 SERIES 4, 5 CASES
These two new assortments include new figures like General Grievous, Captain Rex and more.  Each Case of 8 is listed at $49.99.

STAR WARS ULTIMATE FX LIGHTSABERS 2012 WAVE 02 – SET, SINGLES
Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul are each getting a new Ultimate FX Lightsaber.  They are available singly at $44.99 each, or as a set for $87.99.

NEW ARRIVALS

STAR WARS VINTAGE 2012 WAVE 04 – CASE, SETS, SINGLES
This assortment includes one each of Jar Jar Binks, Bespin Leia, Shock Trooper, Darth Vader, Clone Lieutenant and Sandtrooper on each of Vintage (TVC) cards and “Lost Line” Cards.  The Case of 12 is listed at $119.99, and the Sets of 6 are priced at $59.99 for the Vintage (TVC) versions and $69.99 for the “Lost Line”  Card versions.  Singles are available of most figures as well (on “Lost Line”  Cards) at $9.99 – $13.99 each.

Our friends at Sandtroopers.com have posted loose and carded images of the 6 upcoming “Lost Line” Hasbro figures available at SDCC in the Exclusive Carbon Freezing Chamber Set (along with the exclusive Vintage carded Jar Jar in Carbonite). These figures will also be available in the TVC collection and this “Lost Line” look as UGH-style “chase” cards at retail. You can read the full details about them from our Toy Fair 2012 coverage here. Head over the Sandtroopers.com for the images.

For your review, we’ve also added a gallery showcasing the “Lost Line” cardbacks which will be exclusive to figures at SDCC then available later as “chase” cards at retail. Click through for all the images and then weigh in with your thoughts on this series in our forums.

A few people have sent in questions regarding source material for the “lost line” look that Hasbro will be using on 6 of the individual cards included in SDCC Exclusive Carbon Freezing Chamber set (and on Limited Edition chase/variant cards available later at retail).

For the answers, look no further than The Star Wars Collectors Archive web site for illustration images of this abandoned concept to the iconic 1977-1985 Kenner packaging design we know today.

As you’ll see, the new cardbacks are very faithful to the original concept and exude that “70’s” feel.