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1 Quick question for you about the upcoming Dagobah Vader/Luke figure. Do you know if the head will be removable? I think it should be although this might not be the best idea for a children's toy. -Jeff
Ummm... well, Hasbro has made removable head Star Wars figures before--
C-3PO comes readily to mind. I haven't seen any word on if it'll
actually come off, but I doubt it. While all small parts present a
choking hazard, it shouldn't be a problem. Unless you mean the fact
that it has a removable head in the first place being the problem, to
which I'd say no. Kids have decapitated their toys for years, plus you
know and I know that the way things have been going, kids are going to
be darned lucky to see it on the pegs in the first place.
2 Is there any way to tell if you have a carded vintage that has been resealed? -Bryan
You can usually tell if you're around enough of the original packaged stuff. There's no tell-tale signs since some people can do a great job of closing up a package, but usually it's pretty obvious-- the patterns in the area of the bubble that's sealed are the best place to look.
3 Does Hasbro plan on releasing a higher-grade version of the Stormtrooper a la Marmit? Hopefully for a reasonable price (I just can't bring myself to pay $100 for a figure, no matter how cool)? -Sparky
ActionAce was blowing these out for $9.99 over the weekend-- they were gone before I got the notification they were even in at that price. Sucks, hunh?
Hasbro has no plans for ANY more open-stock (read: non-exclusive) Classic 12" figures in 2000, as seen at Toy Fair (and as told to many who went.) Plus the US market has never been big on high-grade model/toy products like the Marmit figures.
I got one, mine cost around $60. (I knew a guy.) Since that's about Japanese retail, $60-$100 is about right for the imported toy... I think it's the coolest. Most of you know how sour I've been on the 12" line, but this... this is a beautiful toy, if such a thing can exist. Scrape together some money and buy one, even at $100 you won't be disappointed.
4
(Sounds of half-hearted applause.) Congrats. You've discovered one of the rules of toy collecting. New product is usually very hard to find, that is, until it becomes old product.
On to a legit answer: Hasbro's site lists it as a Wal-Mart exclusive. Since nobody has one, I'd wager to say it's not out yet... hence the silence.
And many of you will remember the trials one reader went through last year with Etoys regarding this one. In a nutshell, if it's new, odds are you won't find it for a while. A very long while, given I have yet to see a Holo Sidious and quite a few things-- and I haunt those toy stores.
5 So why is C-3PO's leg silver in The Empire Strikes Back? -Danandtan
While not as easily noticable, it was also silver in A New Hope.
The C-3PO leg thing has never really been addressed outside "well, something happened to his leg before the films, and someone cobbled him together." Odds are we'll find out why the leg is silver in a future past episode of Star Wars.
6
Yup. Dialogue was altered, I think someone said a scene in ANH was moved around (but I don't think it was), and some other stuff was done. Nothing too major, of course, outside from the Conan O'Brien "On The Ailse"-esque Wampa scene added to ESB.
7
If you have the means, any toy is worth picking up. A split-apart Maul just begs to be played with, even if the figure is something you have already. It's nifty, but is it worth the cost? Well, you'll know when you see it.
8
As far as service goes, I have yet to have a problem with them. The job gets done-- it might take a little while, but then again, this is Star Wars, where things typically take longer than one might expect.
As far as improving the service... well, a free cupcake with every order? It's pretty good. If they could get more stuff in at discounter store (read: Target, Wal-Mart, Toys "R" Us) prices, or get everything so we (and by we, I mean me) can get a Watto's Box or something. I have heard horror stories from people, but then again, I also hear a lot of people calling in to ask questions that they know the club's staff wouldn't know. So (and all issues of cost aside), I like their service.
9
Nope. That's what the chain was for. Some people use tackle boxes, me, I use a shoebox.
10
At ten bucks a pop, I gotta say I'm not exactly thrilled with the concept. If there was more detail, a translucent figure that was more painted, and it was still $7, I'd be pretty stoked. But $10? It reminds me of those didn't-sell-jack Star Trek Transporter figures from a while back...
FIN
Questions for March 29, 2000
1
No word as to when, but yes, Hasbro has made their intentions known that a 3.75" scale Aurra is on the way in the future. (In this column, actually.)
2 I was at Kay-Bee in Des Moines, Iowa today and picked up a Han Solo with a FF Slide. I had never seen it before...and I thought my collection was pretty complete. Was this something I just don't remember seeing? Or is it something really cool? -Xander289
While it is a harder-to-find slide, that's not saying too much. I've seen quite a few (including about a dozen a coupla weeks back). For the lowdown on what was made, don't miss our checklists area here at Rebelscum.
3 I recently, recieved my Stormtrooper Marmit, and I cant believe how awesome this thing moves around! Im thinking of buying another of this model and possibly the new Sandtrooper(if my wife doesnt find out) to keep them in the box. My ? is are this line of action figures a good investment to collect and hold on to, is the demand high for these things here? Will there be a Boba Fett? -Ryan
Investments? Do you people read anything I write here? {grumble} Toys are *BAD* investments. The Kay-Bee sales should give this away. Today's rarity is tomorrow's clearance fodder-- people were paying $20 for Blast Shield Luke just last month.
Boba Fett and the TIE Pilot are both on the drawing board, with Fett being shown at Tokyo's toy fair along with tons and tons of awesome toys we'll probably never see here. I know Entertainment Earth (sponsors, gotta mention the sponsors) has/had the Stormtroopers and mentioned they might be getting future editions, but no plans exist-- at least that I know of-- of large-scale importation. In other words, don't expect to see these at Toys "R" Us anytime soon.
(If your wife doesn't find out... BAH!)
4
Early toys are rarely indications of how big they'll be in the movie. Boba Fett, anyone? Back in the pre-ESB days, he was touted as a major player in the upcoming Star Wars sequel... while he was more important to the plot than, say, Zuckuss, well, he wasn't that important.
Right now, Aurra and Mara Jade are probably the most popular characters out there, neither of which have easily available toys. So you'll probably see a lot of Aurra in the next year-- and beyond. The book for those that may not have heard, is not just Aurra, but other Bounty Hunters as well. Considering the popularity of the character, which is probably second to Fett in terms of bounty hunters, it makes sense to bundle her with the book. (Hey, for once it'll be a totally original doll.)
5 I was wondering if you had any idea why the title "The Phantom Menace" has been downplayed so much on all of the products? I think the carded figures would look so much cooler with TPM in big letters like the vintage Empire and Jedi cards. I think it would look especially cool on a Holo Sidious figure. Anyway, just wondering. -Jay
Packaged Episode One figures were finished before the name was announced. Seriously.
Plus the marketing campaign does more with "Star Wars" than the new title because a lot more people will hear the brand name "Star Wars" and immediately go, "Oh, cool." When they hear "Phantom Menace", they might go, "umm... hunh. Horror flick?" While everybody knows the name now, it was probably in their best interests to use the better known name on their products.
6
Personally, I think we might see the line becoming almost exclusively exclusive, since they seem to be better and often sell better than the regular line. After all, we're not getting any more classic 12"ers this year unless Hasbro has a surprise for much later this year, outside of exclusives that is.
7
These were the first two major pegwarmers. Not only were they available in droves, but Hasbro eventually started taking them back-- so after around mid- to late-1996, they never shipped again. (However, like almost all of the new stuff, they're far from rare.)
8
Well, we did get at least two ANH Vaders-- both the Flashback and CommTech versions have red eye pieces, the "double cape", as it was dubbed, and so forth. There are subtle differences in the helmets as well, the shapes are just a little different.
9
Considering Anakin has yet to be cast (or designed), I'd say if it wasn't Obi-Wan, I'd be genuinely surprised.
10
While I don't think many (any?) production numbers on post-vintage SW toys were released, I can say this was a tougher piece to find. I saw them at FAO and Kay-Bee, and that's it. Not many places ordered it since it... well, it kinda stinks.
FIN You want questions for your answers? Either way, send 'em in. This column is as good as... well, really only about 27% worse than the questions submitted. So please, send 'em in. |
