September 18, 2020 – You would not recognize the diminutive actress if you walked by her on the street. But to millions of Star Wars fans, they will remember Penny McCarthy for her non-speaking role in the Cantina on Tatooine as a Devaronian, a devil-looking alien.
Penny McCarthy
Penny McCarthy played a Devaronian in the Star Wars Cantina.
Penny McCarthy, age unknown, passed away yesterday of undisclosed causes. The American actress frequented various fan conventions, including the London Film & Comic Con (2018); Star Wars Celebration in Chicago (2019); the Power of the Force convention in Germany (2019); and most recently the Los Angeles Empire Con (Dec. 2019).
In the original Star Wars, she also acted as a Cantina Band member, a Jawa who misses R2-D2’s bolt, and was Carrie Fisher’s hand-double. (Her hand served as Princess Leia’s hand, which inserted the Death Star plans into R2.)
Penny McCarthy’s lent her hand (literally) inserting the Death Star plans into R2, and she was the restraining-bolt Jawa in “Star Wars” as well.
August 21, 2020 – Hasbro Pulse announced via its Facebook live stream this morning that they will be selling a modular Tantive IV playset (price to be determined).
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Connect two or more modules to re-create your Tantive IV encounter. As part of The Vintage Collection, the new playset is compatible with your 3.75-inch action figures. The module is semi-glossy and features a sliding door.
Each playset comes with a carded 3.75-inch Rebel Fleet Trooper who will be packaged on a Rogue One cardback for the first time ever. The rebel trooper will also be sold separately (price TBD) so you can assemble any number of them within the Tantive IV’s hallways.
A 3.75-inch Rebel Fleet Trooper will come as a pack-in with the Tantive IV playset.
Two modules are combined here and displayed with the new 3.75-inch “Rogue One” version of Darth Vader and the all-new Rebel Fleet Troopers.
The Tantive IV can be pre-ordered today beginning at 4:00 pm EST at HasbroPulse.com and may be released again for sale later this fall amongst various retailers.
August 2, 2020 – Wilford Brimley, a portly actor recognizable for his walrus mustache, died yesterday at the age of 85. He was often cast as a cantankerous or gruff old man in films such as The Natural, Absence of Malice and Cocoon.
Brimley played the role of Noa in Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985). His character was the first in Star Wars‘ history to wear glasses on film – a concession for the vision-challenged American actor.
He had a recurring role on the TV series, The Waltons (1972-1981) as Walton Mountain resident Horace Brimley, making seven appearances between 1974 and 1977. From 1986 to 1988, he starred as Gus Witherspoon, the opinionated but lovable grandfather in the NBC series Our House.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Wilford Brimley was a frequent TV commercial spokesman for Quaker Oats, gruffly telling viewers to eat the cereal because “it’s the right thing to do,” and for Liberty Medical, which sells diabetes-testing supplies. He was diagnosed with diabetes in the late 1970s and, for the last two months, had been sick with a kidney ailment.
A Mormon, he was born in Salt Lake City and passed away in Utah.
In a newspaper interview in Wyoming in 2014, Brimley said: “I can’t talk about acting. I don’t know anything about it. I was just lucky enough to get hired.”
July 20, 2020 – It’s a bit curious to be honoring Return of the Jedi (1983) now, which hit cinemas 37 years ago. But, oh well, beggars can’t be choosers.
Hasbro celebrates Return of the Jedi with its all-new six-inch line of figures coming in September, 2020. The boxed “Heroes of Endor” set includes four figures:
● Luke Skywalker wears a camouflaged poncho, and he comes with a helmet and his green lightsaber
● Han Solo comes with his trusty blaster, which easily fits into his holster
● Leia Organa also comes with her skinny blaster and helmet. Oddly, however, none of the press-release photos indicate whether she has her camouflaged poncho.
● Paploo – he’s the mischievous Ewok who stole one of the stormtrooper’s speeder bikes in the extended Endor chase scene
Image Credit: Hasbro/Lucasfilm
Image Credit: Hasbro/Lucasfilm
In addition, the boxed set also includes one speeder bike. Retail price is $109.99 U.S.
Paploo, from the Bright Tree tribe, gets to go joy-riding on the included speeder bike. (Image Credit: Hasbro/Lucasfilm)
Yahoo! was the first to announce the “Heroes of Endor” boxed set, which will be available from Hasbro Pulse in September, 2020.
July 20, 2020 – Yes, we’ve seen more than a few Wampa action figures released over the years ever since the onscreen snow monster knocked Luke unconscious in The Empire Strikes Back (1980).
As part of its celebration of the 40th anniversary of Empire, Hasbro will be releasing a 6-inch scale version of Wampa to join the Black Series line of figures and vehicles.
The 6-inch scale Hoth Wampa is a cleaner version of an earlier “bloody mouth” Wampa sold in 2014. Price is $29.99. (Image Credit: Hasbro/Lucasfilm)
Screenrant.com was the first to announce Hasbro’s newest offering, which will be available in September, 2020, from Hasbro Pulse. MSRP is $29.99 U.S.
For some collectors, a large part of the appeal of today’s offering is the vintage 1980’s style Kenner-inspired packaging.
The vintage-style packaging includes a flap reminiscent of certain boxed Star Wars mini-rigs from the 1980s. Note, however, that the Hoth Luke figure and the tauntaun are not included. (Image Credit: Hasbro/Lucasfilm)
Image Credit: Hasbro/Lucasfilm
Image Credit: Hasbro/Lucasfilm
Hoth Wampa has fully articulated legs and arms. Available from Hasbro Pulse in September, 2020.
July 7, 2020 – After the umpteenth viewing of Star Wars or The Empire Strikes Back, your curiosity is piqued about the aliens and droids that appear on screen for a fleeting second or two. Who are they and what are they doing there? And why hasn’t Kenner/Hasbro, after all these decades, released these obscure droids for sale?
After decades of waiting, eager collectors can now turn to custom builders (forget Hasbro) to fill the voids in their collections. Since 2019, Stan Solo Creations on Etsy has been producing brilliant 3.75-inch scale figures, some complete with heavy-duty cardbacks, of the obscure droids we have come to love.
Clear dome A2 loose
Clear dome Y2 loose
Grey Q2 loose
Some of the custom droids, including those pictured above, start at $39.02 plus shipping from the UK. Customizers such as Chris Smith of Stan Solo Creations on Etsy cannot compete with Hasbro as to production and distribution efficiencies, and their one- or two-man shows reflect higher labor (time) costs, thus the higher sales price.
But the customizers are filling a niche in the demand-market. For collectors looking to expand their collections with these high-quality, limited-run droids, custom orders are their best option.
The grey Q2 droid, seen at bottom left in this clip aboard the Tantive IV in “Star Wars” (1977), has been reproduced at 3.75-inch scale by Stan Solo Creations (Image Credit: Lucasfilm/Disney)
K-3PO loose is currently offered at $39.02 or carded at $52.03. Shipping costs extra.
K-3PO loose (left) is $39.02 and the clear-domed Y2 (right) is $39.02. Shipping is extra.
K-3PO is busy at work on the planet Hoth in this still from “The Empire Strikes Back” (1980). Note that Hasbro has previously released their own version of K-3PO Protocol Droid in 2000’s Power of the Jedi 2 series and again in 2008 as part of the Hoth Recon Patrol battlepack.
The cardbacks are made from heavier, higher-quality stock than the flimsy, warping cardbacks in Hasbro’s Retro collection (2019-2020).
U-3PO (center) aboard the Tantive IV in “Star Wars” (1977)
Carded U-3PO appears to be out of stock. Check the Etsy site frequently as inventory changes.
R-3PO carded is $52.03 or loose $39.02
Some reviewers claim the vac-plated C-3PO from Stan Solo Creations is the shiniest iteration yet.
A search of the Etsy store reveals some unique items that you have never seen on the big screen – or at retail. A set of seven (7) glow-in-the-dark vintage style “swords” will set you back $26.01, and the B0-B4 droid – whose paint scheme easily mimics Boba Fett’s colors – will cost you $39.02 plus shipping.
The third or middle leg costs $13.01, separate and apart from the droid ($39.02) … plus shipping.
B0-B4 is $39.02 plus shipping
Seven glow-in-the-dark vintage-style “swords”
As inventory changes, you shouldn’t wait too long to order. Some past items (carded Blue Snaggletooth or carded figures from the animated “Star Wars Droids”, for example) are no longer available at publishing time.
July 1, 2020 – If you were able to order the 40th Anniversary The Empire Strikes Back 6-inch Black Series figures from Amazon – specifically, 4-LOM and Zuckuss – some lucky customers are beginning to receive them today.
An Amazon exclusive, the two-pack of 6-inch bounty hunters were listed at $49.99 in early May, 2020. They are currently listed as out of stock.
The Amazon-exclusive 6-inch bounty hunters, 4-LOM and Zuckuss, pay homage to the 40th anniversary of “The Empire Strikes Back.”
Regrettably, Amazon has elected to ship the figures in the dreaded padded envelope, which offers insufficient protection from dinging, dropping and all manner of shipping abuse.
Do you hold your breath or say a “Hail Mary” when opening Amazon’s dreaded padded envelope?
Once you open Amazon’s shipping envelope, you will discover a semi-glossy outer box, whose masthead proudly reads: “Bounty Hunters 40th Anniversary Edition“. The reverse of the box reads:
“When Kenner first produced the 4-LOM and Zuckuss figures, the names somehow got reversed. But since these two bounty hunters were not identified in the film, the switch was not immediately noticed. When the mix-up was finally caught and corrected in 1989, Zuckuss and 4-LOM finally got back their rightful identities. In this exclusive set, we are paying homage to the first appearance of these bounty hunters that puzzled so many for years, with replicas of the original packaging – switched names and all!”
The outer box is a nice bonus, especially if you collect Star Wars packaging. However, notice the slight smoosh or crush in the upper left of the box.
While receiving anything Star Wars-related in the mail from Amazon can be a nerve-wracking experience these days, we were relieved to find the two bounty hunters in pristine condition.
The two carded figures are stacked face-to-face, then placed inside the semi-glossy outer cardboard box, which helps to reduce or (if you are lucky) avoid any dings to your carded figures.
Hopefully, Amazon will restock these two bounty hunters. They will make fine additions to your growing collection.
June 24, 2020 – Hasbro yesterday began selling its 3.75-inch scale “Carbon-Freezing Chamber Playset” ($49.99). Some eager fans shelled out $100 for two boxes to form a complete set.
But more than a few observers have been disparaging Hasbro for what some call a flimsy, incomplete and grossly overpriced product. Across collector channels and social media, critical comments fall into several categories:
● “Too Expensive”: Priced at roughly $50 U.S., many collectors are calling Hasbro’s latest offering a cash-grab which preys on over-eager consumers. Some are calling the playset an “easy pass” while others state they will wait for the price to fall. They cite the example of Hasbro’s Jabba’s Palace Adventure Set, which was produced in 2018 and experienced steep discounts within a year from its original list price of $49.99.
The above graphic label from the YouTube channel “RetroBlasting” makes another great point: Contrary to what Hasbro’s marketing photo might suggest, its newest playset will not be followed by any “Empire Strikes Back“ figures. “None of the figures shown have been available at retail for YEARS.”
● “Not a Playset”: More than a few critics have questioned Hasbro labeling its latest offering a playset. Where are all the play features, they ask? No sliding doors or opening/closing hatches, no control panels for the Ugnaughts, no crane above or a mechanism to lower/raise the Han Solo carbonite block, no overhead swinging steam pipes for Luke Skywalker to slash or climb, and no collapsible stairs.
It would be more accurate to call the plastic ensemble a figure stand or, at best, a diorama display.
●“Too Little, Too Late”: We waited 40 years for this? Featuring one of the most dramatic scenes in The Empire Strikes Back (1980), Hasbro’s newest playset is a disappointment coming four decades late and light in design and accessories.
Yes, a 3.75-inch stormtrooper action figure and Han Solo frozen in carbonite are included. And yes, the ensemble is handsomely boxed in Kenner-vintage-style packaging.
But Hasbro’s newest creation misses the mark in so may ways, critics say. First, its incomplete. You have to buy TWO sets just to get a complete circle platform and two sets of stairs that lead to nowhere. That will set you back a hundred dollars. Second, consumers are receiving minimal plastic with an incomplete design – no control panel for the Ugnaughts, no overhead claw, and below deck all you will find are some spindly plastic legs. Third, there are no interactive elements to provide real value.
Commentator “Darth Sakul” yesterday provided one of the more detailed, spot-on criticisms in a JediTempleArchives thread:
Michael French, in his YouTube channel “RetroBlasting”, also unleashed some withering criticism at Hasbro and its designers:
All valid, on-point criticisms that we agree with. Hasbro, are you listening?
June 23, 2020 – If you missed yesterday’s Hasbro Pulse Livestream, you can still watch it on their Facebook link. Hosts Patrick and Emily unveiled coming Star Wars products for The Vintage Collection and The Black Series and teased a new HasLab project.
Patrick is Hasbro’s Senior Manager for Global Brand Development & Marketing. Emily is Hasbro’s new Senior Product Designer.
For fans of the 3.75-inch scale The Vintage Collection, perhaps the most exciting announcement was an upcoming Carbon-Freezing Chamber Playset (MSRP $49.99; fall 2020). Recreating one of the most dramatic scenes from The Empire Strikes Back (1980), the 3.75-inch scale playset includes a stormtrooper action figure and Han Solo frozen in carbonite.
To help celebrate the 40th anniversary of “The Empire Strikes Back” (1980), Hasbro will be selling a 3.75-inch scale Carbon-Freezing Chamber Playset.
The new playset offers a great way to display your “The Empire Strikes Back” 3.75-inch figures.
To recreate the above symmetrical layout, you will need to buy TWO (2) of the playsets at about $50 each, or $100 total. Each boxed set comes with a stormtrooper and Han Solo in a carbonite block.
As for collectors of the 3.75-inch line The Vintage Collection, Hasbro unveiled only two new action figures: Princess Leia Organa (Bespin Escape) and Chirrut Imwe (MSRP $12.99 each; fall 2020).
Five new six-inch scale figures are coming in The Black Series 40th Anniversary line: Boba Fett, Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker (Dagobah), Imperial Snowtrooper (Hoth) and Darth Vader (MSRP $19.99; fall 2020)
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While some of the 6-inch scale figures appear to be retreads, their releases offer a way for new collectors (or those who missed similar releases years ago) to acquire the figures.
And finally, Hasbro teased a new HasLab project which will focus on The Vintage Collection. Could it be a Death Star Playset, as many fans across social media have been pining for? Or the Tantive IV Rebel Blockade Runner? Or the Razorcrest from The Mandalorian? We won’t know until August or September, 2020, when details are announced.
Pre-orders for the unveiled figures and playset can be made online at Hasbro Pulse, Amazon, Walmart, and Entertainment Earth starting June 23, 2020.
June 8, 2020 – Over the past weekend, Amazon and Walmart have both dropped the price of the vintage-style “Star Wars Hoth Ice Planet Adventure Game” from MSRP of $24.99 USD to $19.82.
Walmart has price-matched Amazon in reducing the sale price ($19.82) of the Hoth Ice Planet Adventure Game. However, to qualify for free delivery in the U.S., you will need to order $35+ versus Amazon’s $25 threshold.
The $19.82 price point may be a sly nod to the year when the original Hoth Ice Planet board game was first released. The slightly modified and reissued board game (released: May 2020) is part of the Retro Collection, which this year honors the 40th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back (1980).
While the game itself appeals to 1980’s-kid-nostalgia and has received mostly positive reviews online, the real star of the show is the exclusive Luke Skywalker (Snowspeeder) 3.75-inch action figure.
The Luke Skywalker (Snowspeeder) action figure is included in the Hoth Ice Planet board game and is not sold separately. As part of the 2020 Retro Collection, the Luke figure is preceded by six other figures sold separately: Luke Skywalker (Bespin), Han Solo (Hoth), Princess Leia (Hoth), Yoda, Lando Calrissian and Boba Fett.
Why Hasbro decided to issue Luke in his snowspeeder uniform is something of a mystery. For starters, Kenner/Hasbro had never released such a figure during the vintage era four decades ago. This is a first-time release.
The pack-in exclusive figure is reminscent of 1979’s Luke Skywalker: X-Wing Pilot figure, albeit this time wearing a no-see-through “banana yellow visor”. Accessories include a blue lightsaber and an ascension gun, another first-time release.
While not truly a vintage re-release, most collectors of the Retro Collection will likely appreciate the vintage style and its celebration of The Empire Strikes Back. So what if Luke’s boots are not screen-accurate and appear black. (They’re actually dark gray upon closer inspection.) And so what if this year’s board game release is $5.00 higher. (Last year’s retro “Escape from Death Star Game”, released in April 2019, had an MSRP of $19.99 versus a list price of $24.99 for the “Hoth Ice Planet Adventure Game”.)
For older collectors and diehard Star Wars fans, the pull of nostalgia is a powerful force. Amazon and Walmart have sweetened the lure with their $5.00 price drop. Surely this is not another trap?
Amazon has reduced the price of the Hoth Ice Planet game to $19.82 (was $24.99) as of publication time.
UPDATE 25 JULY 2020:
Both Amazon and Walmart have dropped the price even further. Originally $24.99, then reduced to $19.82, the Hoth Ice Planet board game and the “Exclusive Luke Skywalker (Snowspeeder) Figure” can now be yours for $15.00.
FUTURE of STAR WARS 