Here's an analysis on what you can expect in The Saga Collection, as well a details on four figures in the Battle of Carkoon wave.



Packaging
The cardbacks are a GREAT new design. A perfect combination of Original Trilogy Collection and Revenge of the Sith.


The front of the card identifies which film the figure is from, in this case Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.


The figures are all numbered "SAGA 00#", which indicates that we might be seeing this line for more than one year, and we could be seeing more 100 figures before it's all over!


The character bios on the back are really cool. Each have a character/scene specific story as well as a 3 line "stat" about that specific character (again VERY scene specific).


The front plastic still wraps around the back but is MUCH smaller. The backs of the card have a glow around the holos-blue for good, red for bad, similar to the OTC line's desginations.



The figures also fit nicely in the generic ROTS style StarCase, but DO NOT fit into the Hasbro official ROTS case. Looks like Hasbro will need to create a new TSC style for this line.


Exclusive Hologram Figures
The holos...well they are what they are.


Apparently, "Good Guy figures" will come with "good guy holos" and the same for "bad guys". They do appear to be very randomly packed. These particular figures came with Luke Skywalker (Jedi), Queen Amidala, Han Solo and Darth Maul. The good guy holos are on a base with the Rebel insignia and the bad guys have the Imperial insignia.



Unfortunately, there will probably be A LOT of theft with these. The tape is right beside the holo figure and all someone has to do is cut the very small piece of tape, peel back the corner and pop the holo out. No doubt there will be a lot of cards that are tampered with.



SAGA 001: Princess Leia (Boushh Disguise)
Mission: Rescue Han Solo
Barganing tool: Thermal Detonator
Jabba's opinion of Boushh: "My kind of scum"
Bio: The brave and beautiful Princess Leia Organa disguises herself as the bounty hunter, Boushh, to sneak into Jabba The Hutt's Palace. Once inside, Leia frees Han Solo from the confines of his carbonite casing. Her actions, however, are anticipated and Jabba turns the tables, capturing Leia and forcing her to become a slave. Little does Jabba know that Leia and her powerful friends will have the last laugh...


Accessories: Staff, Thermal Detonator (YES REMOVABLE!), Removable Helmet, and a figure/movie specific stand. This is definately the best part of the new SAGA line, even if "Boussh" is misspelled on the stand.


Articulation: The figure has 12 points of articulation (very VOTC/Evolutions standards), but does not have articulated ankles. She is very petite like the recent Leia figures, and the likeness is dead on! She does have the braid instead of the bun. Overall, this figure is a HUGE improvement over the POTF2 mold.


SAGA 002: Han Solo (Carbonite)
Encasement: Carbonite
Status: Jaba's favorite decoration
Thinks Jaba is: "A piece of worm ridden filth"
Bio: After Han Solo is captured by the Empire and put into carbon freeze, Boba Fett delivers his prize to Jabba the Hutt. Trapped, but in perfect hibernation, Solo is freed from carbonite by Princess Leia. Jabba, however, has other plans for Solo and orders that he and his friends be executed in the Pit of Carkoon. After a harrowing battle and a close call with the almighty Sarlacc, Solo and friends escape and set their sights on taking down the Empire.


Accessories: Force Pike, Carbonite Block, and character specific stand. The Carbonite block is an all new sculpt and when held to the light it actually glows.


Articulation: This figure has 10 standard points-very OTC style. The new sculpt is GREAT and a vast improvement over the other Jabba's Palace Han Solo figures. Overall it's a great new fig, but could be vastly improved with new articulation. What is REALLY cool about this new figure is the new Carbonite Block. It is also an all new sculpt and VERY movie accurate. Looks just like a mini movie prop. It is molded with clear red plastic on the inside, so when you hold it up to the light the top half really glows and looks like he is truly melting out!


SAGA 004: Barada
Species: Klatoonian
Objective: Execute Luke Skywalker
Becomes: Lunch for Sarlacc
Bio: When Jabba the Hutt needs a goon to push his prisoners into the Pit of Carkoon, the remorseless Barada is the perfect creature for the job. Armed with a staff and trained to serve and protect Jabba, Barada is usually regarded as a formidable opponent in hand to hand combat. That is until he becomes quick work for the expert lightsaber skills of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight. Luke knocks Barada into the Pit of Carkoon and Sarlacc makes a quick meal of him.


Accessories: Blaster and character specific stand.
Where you've seen him before: Originally part of the POTF2 Jabba's Skiff Guards Cinema Scene and most recently part of the SAGA Skirmish at Carkoon multipack.


SAGA 005: Chewbacca
"Captured" by: Boushh, the bounty hunter
Sold to Jabba for: 35,000 Credits
Stays away from: Sarlacc's digestive system
Bio: The mighty Chewbacca has been "captured" and taken to Jabba's Palace. Jabba quickly realizes that his capture is a mere ploy to free Han Solo from carbonite. Jabba orders Chewbacca and his friends to be executed, but Luke Skywalker has other plans. Chewbacca helps his friends defect Jabba and saves Han and Lando Calrissian from their doom, proving once again that he is a fearless Wookie warrior.


Accessories: Real metal chain and character specific stand.
Where you've seen him before: Previously available as POTJ Chewbacca (Millennium Falcon Mechanic), SAGA Chewbacca (Escape From Hoth), OTC Chewbacca OTC-08, in OTC's C-3PO Carry Case, in OTC's The Empire Strikes Back DVD Collection, and part of OTC's Millennium Falcon Crew. But now he comes with a real metal chain.


HUGE Thanks to Michael Mullins from mrmforce.com for the details and photos.