Review: Star Wars 6 inch Black Series Wave 1: Darth Maul, Sandtrooper, R2D2, Luke Skywalker.

In these lean years before the Star Wars Episode VII relaunch, Hasbro has mostly eschewed adult collectors by switching their focus to limited articulation action figures that look like soap bottles, and Angry Birds mash-ups. But there is one beacon of hope in these dark times. The stylish and sophisticated Black Series is a new six inch line aiming to appeal to collectors with screen accurate sculpting and increased articulation. The catch being that we’re not going to see too many of them too soon. It’s now August and the first wave - consisting of four figures - has only just been released.

Following their initial announcement, collectors (myself included) seemed torn. They looked pretty good but do any of us really want to start collecting a whole new larger scale, especially when, after years of collecting, space is at a premium for most of us now? Or is this a good time to finally abandon the hobby?

Well, thanks to our good pals at Big Bad Toy Store I have wave one in hand, featuring: Darth Maul, R2D2, Luke Skywalker and a sandtrooper. I hope to answer all the questions as to whether these are worth your while, plus about a billion photos... after the jump!

Star Wars Black Series Wave 2: Images and Pre-Order Info!

Pre-order info has been released for Hasbro’s second wave of Star Wars “Black Series” 6 inch figures aimed at the discerning adult collector. (You know, “black label”. Like whiskey. And Penthouse). These are a new scale and have superior articulation and screen accurate sculpting. Wave one is only just prepping to his shelves (I hope to review them soon), but here’s your first look at the second group of figures along with info on how to secure them.

Wave 2 is a very solid original trilogy focused line up consisting of Han Solo (A New Hope version), a Greedo (for Han to murder in cold blood), Boba Fett (for Han to unceremoniously knock into a gaping Sarlacc pit) and a Slave Leia (so Han can try to knock up her gaping Sarlacc pit). (This is why Hasbro doesn’t send us anything to review).

More images, plus a glance at some upcoming 3 3/4 figures... after the jump!

Toy Fair 2013: Hasbro's Star Wars, Including the Black Series!

New York Toy Fair 2013 is already a buzz as toy giant Hasbro displays their wares. Good friend of the site, Travis Denman is on the ground and we must thank him, as well as the good folks at Vinylmation Kingdom for helping us with images (be sure to check out their own coverage!).

So one of my own most anticipated Toy Fair reveals is more of the 6 inch Star Wars Black Series for distinguished man-children (we recently saw X-Wing pilot Luke). Three more figures were revealed today, including this one familiar filthy-toothed hell-clown...

To see a lot more images, and read unabashed opinons, please won't you join me... after the jump!

Hasbro's Star Wars "Black Series" is For Distinguished Manchildren!

I may have been too quick to judge the toy-making elves at Hasbro who I’ve accused many times recently of abandoning manchild Star Wars collectors to focus on simpler, cheaper toys aimed at kids. This reckless assumption was mostly derived from the obvious scaling back of the classic 3 3/4” action figure line although a fresh reveal shows that Hasbro is in fact still doing their part for collectors - just not in the familiar scale.

Check out this first image (cribbed from USA Today) of the newly announced Star Wars Black Series which features super articulated detailed figures, now in a bigger 6” scale. It’s a pretty nifty Luke Skywalker in X-Wing pilot gear and I have to say that the young Mark Hamill likeness looks to be lightyears ahead of anything we’ve seen in the smaller line...

Classy box too. I love the idea of a premium “black label” edition. You know, like whiskey. Or Penthouse.

We’re not going to see these until around August though and the first wave is expected to be Luke, a sandtrooper, R2D2 and Darth Maul. Only eight figures are planned for 2013 which means that it will probably take around 40 years to get through all the major characters. Plenty of room to move, huh, Hasbro? I’m especially looking forward to seeing more actor likenesses.

These will be $20 in the US, which means they’ll probably be at least $30 here in Australia, even though our dollar is mighty and could totally beat the crap out of your puny dollar. There’s always online stores but shipping will be a bitch. These guys look heavy.

Good move, Hasbro! I’m excited about these - you did well! All is forgiven.Hug it out with me, bro!

The Book Was Better Podcast Episode 34: Battleship!

The Book Was Better is the podcast where Jessica and I read, discuss and heartlessly mock the ridiculous tie-in novels of your favourite and not-so-favourite films!

For our first full episode of 2013 we have set sail for Battleship, the critically acclaimed, audience-pleasing, cult classic based on a stupid old board game. Will Taylor Kitsch manage to buy a burrito amid an alien invasion? Who cares! But we read it to you anyway. This is our biggest episode yet, and Jess' last one before she goes on maternity leave so stick it in your listening holes!

Also don't forget to help out author Peter David and assuage our guilt for being mean to him this episode. We are all wishing him the very best! To find out what went down and how you can assist his fast recovery check out all the details at www.peterdavid.net.

You can download the episode at the official site, or why not subscribe to us on iTunes and make our 2013 great!

The Fog of War Machine! Hasbro's Iron Man 3 Cover Up!

The action figure market isn't what it used to be. Major companies have eschewed fickle man-child collectors to focus on cutting-costs and appealing to actual children. This means that we are no longer seeing mainstream retail lines with screen accurate sculpts or extensive articulation. This has been particularly felt in Hasbro's Star Wars line with the recent announcement that the next waves of collector focused figures have been cancelled for now. We've gone full circle back to the eighties were cheap and simple rules the shelves.

But then Hasbro releases the following image of their new 3 3/4 inch War Machine figure for Iron Man 3. Looks pretty cool, right?

WRONG! There's a very good reason that War Machine here is photographed in the dark and has a huge hunk of debris obscuring him. This tactic is terribly transparent, Hasbro. To see what Hasbro is trying to hide... join me after the jump!

Book Review: Star Wars the Ultimate Action Figure Collection!

As a long-time Star Wars action figure collector (I paid for most of George Lucas' children's shoes) it's nigh impossible for me not to mention Stephen J. Sanweet's brilliant new book Star Wars: The Ultimate Action Figure Collection.

Weighing in at over 350 pages and covering nearly 2,500 action figures spanning from the late 1970's to 2012 this is an unmissable resource for all breeds of collector. I was gifted a copy for Christmas by our very own Jacinta, and now I must tell you why you need a copy too!

You and I will chat... after the jump!

Review: The "Final" Wave of Star Wars Vintage Action Figures, Part 3: Clone Wars, Expanded Universe.

Here's the final part of my far-too-long look at Hasbro's last wave of vintage-design 3 3/4 action figures, covering The Clone Wars and The Expanded Universe. There's only three figures left to show you of this online exclusive wave starting with Anakin's baffling padawan... Ahsoka Tano!

And I have plenty to say about her... after the jump!

Review: The "Final" Wave of Star Wars Vintage Action Figures, Part 2: The Phantom Menace.

I feel like evoking the phrase "The Phantom Menace" is like screaming out, "HEY! DO NOT READ THIS POST!" but come on, you bitter old buggers, it's been thirteen years, give Episode One a break. Hasbro is currently producing some super fine 3 3/4 action figures, and these are some of the very last ones in their vintage look-line. I covered the Return of the Jedi figures here, and now in part two (of three) I will look at four characters from Uncle George Lucas' misunderstood cult indie classic.

Isn't somebody going to join me... after the jump?

Review: The "Final" Wave of Star Wars Vintage Action Figures, Part 1: Return of the Jedi.

The fabled/frustrating Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar may have wrapped up, but there's still plenty of new thrilling/sometimes confusing Star Wars content to be had, especially if you're a jaded old skool afficienado desperately seeking a kick to the old nostalgia balls.

A year or two ago Hasbro put their 3 3/4 inch figures back on classic silver and black cards but, sadly, all good things come to an end and the last wave of 2012 is actually the last wave (at least for now) of the "vintage" styled line. And to pile even more salt into your teary wound, this last wave is available from online retailers only - no doubt because most brick and mortar stores are still drowning under stacks of unsold Phantom Menace figures from the 3D re-release.

But let's sweep all that negativity under the wampa rug. The good news is that this is a super solid wave of twelve new action figures, including some awesome re-dos of classic trilogy characters. If this image doesn't get those aforementioned nostalgia balls throbbing then I would recommend checking your connection between your brain and your nostalgia balls...

Man, that card art takes me right back to 1983! POW! If you feel anything at all looking at that image then you better join me after the jump! Hurry before Disney adds mouse ears and fairy wings!

Review: Ewok Overload! Hasbro's Exclusive Ewok Figure Packs!

Let me tell you something about ewoks. Something you won't learn in your fancy schools. Ewoks are awesome. I don't want to hear a word about "teddy bears" or "merchandise" or "cutesy cash-cows". Ewoks are badass little murder-bears who practice witchcraft and frigging eat people. They were going to eat Han Solo and absorb his powers of smuggling, smirking and macking on ladies. If you're too cynical to appreciate an ewok then I am done with you.

Hasbro's 3 3/4 inch action figure line only manages to pump out an ewok once or twice a year but, for some inexplicable reason, 2012 has become the ewok mother lode! This year we get no less than seven unique new arboreal bear-buggers for our shelves, thanks to two new multipacks. The only catch? They are both hard-to-find US exclusives, one from Toys R Us and the other from K-Mart.

But lookee here, I managed to find them both!

And if you want to know what I thought of these fuzzy fuggers... join me after the jump!

Review: Hasbro Star Wars 3 3/4" Dr. Evazan and Kithaba!

I’m at a crossroads with my Star Wars collecting. Product is scarce, what can be found isn't always that exciting, and I’m running out of space. This weekend, in fact, I plan to cull at least a chunk of my collection at a local toy fair, so I am flailing for a focus. But, when all else fails, there’s still plenty of solace in the original trilogy - those comfort films that were ever present through my childhood - so when I saw these two misanthropic characters hanging from the pegs I felt that all too familiar caress on my nostalgia button.

I picked up curmudgeonly cantina patron Dr. Evazan and skiff guard turned Sarlacc snack Kithaba. How do these two creeps measure up? Join me after the jump!

Review: Hasbro The Avengers 3 3/4 inch Hawkeye and Nick Fury!

We’d be remiss to not occasionally check in on The Avengers, an insanely entertaining film that I had mixed feelings about initially but have grown to adore over time. (Here in Australia we’ve had the Bluray for over a month). The merchandise might be slowing down but there’s still a few things up for grabs if you have a keen eye.

After previously acquiring Black Widow, I have happened upon the equally-hard-to-find Hasbro 3 3/4 inch figures of arrow-slinger Hawkeye and depth-perceptionless superhero-wrangler Nick Fury. How do they shape up?

Join me after the jump where I will reveal all!

Review: New Star Wars Figures! Shae Vizla! Nom Anor! Aayla Secura! Starkiller!

These days new Hasbro 3 3/4 Star Wars action figures are about as rare as exposed genitals in a children's colouring in book, but I've managed to get hold of four of them, thanks to our friend Paul at Figures Direct though, rather than finding them on the shelves...

They are short-lived Jedi seductress Aayla Secura, novel-dwelling evil space-mokey Nom Anor, the Force Unleashed's secret, secret apprentice Starkiller, and The Old Republic's Boba-with-boobs Shae Vizla!

And if you're real good I'll tell you all about them... after the jump!