Hasbro, your continued failure reminds me of someone who gets a zero on a multiple choice test.  You have to actually be trying to fail in order to fail that epically.  In no way am I suggesting the Hasbro is tanking the line on purpose, but the failure is impressive to say the least.

Over the last few days, I’ve been taking pictures of stores FLOODED with what we fans call Wave 5 and what Hasbro calls 2011 wave 1.  This was a pathetic wave when it was new, and it seems to be Hasbro’s go to wave as it’s been omnipresent SINCE JANUARY and was Habro’s belle of the ball to capitalize on fan excitement from the Blu-ray release.  This cow dung wave is the source of so much of our collective ire, the we even submitted a tactfully worded Q&A question about its never ending rotation. 

I’ve been so disgusted about this that, in the heat of the moment, I’ve thought of breaking our own curse word censorship on the front page.  You can decide what word I wanted to replace “blasted” with in the title.  But as the passion caused by seeing pegs dripping with defective or half hearted efforts waned, I decided this was probably a local problem since New England tends to be on the hind end of distribution.  Then I saw our good friends at Jedi Temple Archives posted about similar experiences and I had to react. Only unlike our friends from the Keystone state, our “blessings” with wave 5 are not endemic to Target. Walmart and Toys R Us have been cursed with this wretched disease.

Hasbro, I feel empowered to state for all fans and collectors that you are on notice.  A fourth straight year of mismanagement is more than most of us can take.  If 2012 doesn’t turn the clock back to the way things were for much of 2007, most of us will be gone.  The fact that wave 2 of 2012 only contains five new figures, leads me to believe you have no lessons learned from 2011 and we’re going to be in a similar situation come April. 

Update:  Back from my daily lunch run.  The store photographed to the right replenished with two more cases of Wave 5.  A Walmart, which was not pictured and gets about one case every other month, received a case of wave 5.  Looks like I’ll be saving some gas this holiday season.

Santroopers hits us with another image drop of some packaged Movie Heroes items.  Click through to check them out.

The answers are back and this time with another late 2012 confirmation.

Click through for the FULL STORY>>

Sadntroopers does it again.  They’re first to the street with carded pics of the upcoming 2012 Phantom Menace wave.  Click through to take a look.

So here’s a big pack which is definitely great for the holidays, kids, and new collectors.  The packaging is nifty, and the set features ships and characters from one of the most memorable scenes in the entire Saga.  But is it good for seasoned collectors?  A bit expensive, (although as of this posting, it’s on sale for $20 less and can ring up at $79.99 at Toys R Us), it includes 3 figures you may already have, and 2 ships that may not be different enough for you to warrant a purchase.  Vader’s TIE has barely discernable weathering/paint differences, but the X-Wing has some all new features, and a completely redesigned cockpit.  Click through to get a closer look.

For your reading and viewing pleasure, check out our review and full gallery of SOTDS - Death Star Trench Run

Boba Fett as a concept started life as an elite Stormtrooper or “Super Trooper”.  The 2011 mail away figure, Boba Fett (Prototype Armor), captures the concept.  Click through to take a peek.

Well that didn’t take long.  The winner of the Bastila Shan giveaway has been drawn.  For privacy reasons, we don’t want to publicize the person’s name, but the Facebook fan with the initials G.S. will be hearing from me soon.

Don’t forget that we will be having another BIGGER give away soon, so even though you might have missed the Bastila Shan give away, liking our Facebook page will still put you in the running for the next give away where the prizes could get serious.

Check out this scan of the Star Wars page in “The Great Big Toys R Us Book”  $20 off the Trench Run starting October 30th.  Decent opportunity to nab this set if you were turned off by the original price.  Click the thumb for a full size view.

Want to win a free Vintage Collection Bastila Shan figure?  Just click through to find out how…

Click through for the FULL STORY>>

And with this entry the trifecta of Target fall exclusives comes to a close.  Hoth wasn’t every kind to tauntauns.  It makes you wonder why they lived there.  This particular tauntaun, distinguished by a broken left horn,  lasted only a few minutes into the film before becoming Wampa fodder.  Click through to take a look.

For your reading and viewing pleasure, check out our review and full gallery of VC - Luke’s Tauntaun

Now things are about to get serious. For round one, the participating fan sites submitted their top 10 Fans’ Choice nominees.  The results were collected and the weighted scores produced an overall top 20.  For round 2, you may vote for one of the 20 nominees. The winner will be realized in plastic for the 2013 figure line-up. Click here to jump to the Star Wars Insider Fans’ Choice ballot.

The nostalgia vibe is in full effect with the Vintage Collection Landspeeder.  Click through to take a look at Luke’s sweet ride.

For your reading and viewing pleasure, check out our review and full gallery of VC - Landspeeder