The Official Star Wars Fact File Issue 3

Last week, issue 3 of The Official Star Wars Fact File hit stores here in New Zealand. Like the previous two issues, this one also came with a freebie - a set of dividers for the ring binder in issue 2

Issue 3 retails for $6.99 and features articles on Han Solo, General Grievous, and the Boonta Eve Podrace. This is the last issue that comes with a freebie (unless, of course, you decide to subscribe), so is the final one that I'll be picking up. I need to conserve my Star Wars budget for all of those awesome 3 3/4" figures on the horizon!

The Hunt Is On - The Force Awakens 3 3/4" BB-8, Unkar's Thug, and Jakku Scavenger Pack Found

It's no secret that demand far outstripped supply on Force Friday. For that reason, it's taken several weeks for items like the 3 3/4" two-packs to be widely available in the wild. Fortunately, our turn came over the weekend, and I was able top pick up the BB-8, Unkar's Thug, and Jakku Scavenger pack for the reduced price of $23.99 from my local Farmers store.

Let's be honest. There's one reason and one reason alone why anyone is interested in this pack - BB-8. In fact, unless you're willing to part with a huge chunk of cash for the Battle Action Millennium Falcon, this pack is currently the only way of getting your hands on a 3 3/4" scale version of the character. For what is a very simple figure, BB-8 doesn't fail to impress. Instead of opting for a swivel head, the designers have included a nifty ball-jointed mount that gives BB-8 a surprising amount of movement and expression. Hasbro has also nailed the sculpt and paint app - even though he might have been 'dirtied-up' a little bit to make him appear more realistic. (Which, it appears, is what's been done with the 'exclusive' BB-8 that comes with the Falcon.)

BB-8 comes with two other figures - Teedo (who we first saw riding his Luggabeast in Entertainment Weekly's Force Awakens feature) and Unkar's thug. Both figures come with the standard 5POA, but - like many other of the figures in this new line - they're sculpted in a way that makes this limited articulation very hard to spot when on display. Teedo comes with his screen-used staff, and the thug is armed with a nicely sculpted blaster pistol.

While I may have made peace with Hasbro's move to 5POA, I'm still very sceptical when it comes to their choice of pack-in accessories. The real elephant-in-the-room here is, of course, that giant net-launcher. At first I thought it was a backpack for one of the figures. But no, it's a gun. Perhaps the biggest gun we've ever seen with a 3 3/4" figure. There's no way either of the figures could hold this while on display - and even if they could, they'd look utterly ridiculous doing so. Judging by the Entertainment Weekly image of Teedo, it appears that the scavenger captures BB-8 in a net at some point - so the motivation behind this accessory makes at least a little bit of sense. But I can't help looking at the amount of plastic and moving parts in the weapon, and wondering if Hasbro couldn't have made better use of the resources. Perhaps they could have included a decent-sized net that could really hold BB-8? Or some 'desert salvage' that could be added to a diorama?

Granted, I'm thinking like a collector, and I have to remind myself that this is a line primarily aimed at kids. Action features are what will sell - not static accessories that can only be used for display purposes. It's also worth noting that this pack already includes two figures and BB-8 (compared with the other packs in this line, which only have two figures and a pack-in accessory). In light of this, the net launcher is really only an added bonus - and even without it, the pack would still be great value.

A Recap of Everything Star Wars at NYCC 2015

This past weekend marked the return of New York Comic-Con for another year. Unfortunately, Star Wars revelations were thin on the ground. Unlike SDCC back in July, there was no The Force Awakens panel, nor any updates on either Rogue One or the other upcoming Star Wars anthology films. Perhaps the most exciting piece of Star Wars news to come out of NYCC was this brand new trailer for season 2 of Star Wars Rebels.

Elsewhere in canon news, Del Rey confirmed two sequels to Chuck Wendig's Star Wars: Aftermath, entitled Aftermath: Life Debt and Aftermath: Empire's End. Claudia Gray will also be releasing a novel set six years before The Force Awakens called New Republic: Bloodlines, and Marvel will be adding to their growing Star Wars library with Obi-Wan and Anakin - a 5-issue mini-series set between Episodes II and III.

Of course, one of the most exciting parts of these conventions is seeing all of the exciting new merchandise that will soon be available for purchase. While eFX, Kotobukiya, and Sideshow Collectibles had plenty to offer premium collectors, the Hasbro panel was a little more disappointing. The big focus was on the Black Series 6" line - including our first official looks at Ello Asty, the First Order Snowtrooper, the First Order TIE Fighter Pilot, General Hux, Han Solo, and the Resistance Trooper. Hasbro also gave a sneak peak of their upcoming Darth Revan and Sabine Wren "fans' choice" figures.

Sadly, there were no new reveals of 3 3/4" figures from either the 5POA or SA Black Series lines. In fact, other than the Black Series Titanium helmets and a few new additions to the 12" and Galactic Heroes lines, Hasbro didn't have much at all to show. But I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. We've recently seen that the "mystery-box" marketing of The Force Awakens has limited Hasbro to only releasing products from the first third of the film. Given the wide variety of items we've already seen, it makes sense that Hasbro won't have too much more up their sleeve until - perhaps - the next trailer is released.

What were your highlights of this year's NYCC? Be sure to email them to me at relicsoftheforce@gmail.com or send a tweet to @Archon_Revuge!

C-3PO, R2-D2, and Yoda Pez Dispensers

Over the last month there's been a raft of new Star Wars collectibles flooding stores - but we've also seen the return of some old favourites, including the ever-awesome Pez dispenser range. While these have been tricky to find in New Zealand in the past, they're now turning up pretty much everywhere that sells novelty candy. I picked up R2-D2 and Yoda for $4.00 each from The Warehouse, and C-3PO for $2.00US ($3.04US) from Target while I was back in Houston.

These'll be joining my Chewbacca, Darth Sidious from New York, and Darth Vader and Stormtrooper from London to round out what is becoming a very international set of items. Now I'm just crossing my fingers that we'll soon see some of the iconic characters from The Force Awakens in this line!

Your Guide to Star Wars at NYCC 2015

This week sees the return of New York Comic Con for another year. As always, there'll be a strong Star Wars presence at the event - including a few panels that promise to be very exciting for fans and collectors like. Below, you'll find a list of everything Star Wars at NYCC. All event descriptions are taken from the official NYCC webpage, and times and dates have been converted to New Zealand local time.

Hasbro Star Wars [Friday, October 9, 4.15am – 5.15am]: Join members of the Hasbro team as they discuss the popular Hasbro Star Wars line that hit shelves on Force Friday! Attendees will get an in-depth look at Hasbro’s latest action figure offerings with a look at new product coming later this year.

Star Wars Rebels Season 2 Panel [Friday, October 9, 6.30am – 7.30am]: With new episodes of the exciting second season of Star Wars Rebels debuting on Disney XD this fall, Fans will get an exclusive sneak peek of what's to come in a Panel featuring Special Guests and a discussion of the new storylines and characters being introduced throughout the new season.

Star Wars Rebels Season 2 Sneak Preview [Friday, October 9, 10.30am – 11.45am]: Fans are invited to a sneak preview screening of two new episodes from the highly-anticipated second season of Star Wars Rebels which will feature the series debut of Captain Rex, Captain Gregor and Commander Wolffe – three clones from the previous Star Wars animated series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars. They join another fan favorite from The Clone Wars – Ahsoka Tano – who made her Star Wars Rebels debut in the final episode of Season 1. Fans of both series won't want to miss this incredible preview of what's to come in the all-new episodes from the second season of Star Wars Rebels!

Star Wars: A Galaxy of Fandom [Saturday, October 10, 4.00am – 5.00am]: The new era of Star Wars is here! Join Special Guests from the worlds of games, books, comics and entertainment as they share memories of seeing Star Wars for the first time; discuss how the sprawling space epic shaped their lives; and more. Geek out over your favorite parts of that galaxy far, far away with Superfans from Wookieepedia and get hyped for The Force Awakens and other exciting new chapters in the Star Wars saga!

Star Wars Collectibles Update with Lucasfilm's Anita Castellar [Saturday, October 10, 6.30am – 7.30am]: Join a surprise panelist as we make an exciting announcement for the future of Star Wars collectibles. Moderating will be Anita Castellar, a self-professed Star Wars Fangirl who manages licensing for hardlines categories at Lucasfilm, such as toys, collectibles, consumer electronics, automotive and more.

Disney-Lucasfilm Publishing Presents: Star Wars: Journey to The Force Awakens [Sunday, October 11, 5.15am – 6.15am]: While Star Wars Fans eagerly await the new movie The Force Awakens, there's a new crop of titles coming out from Disney-Lucasfilm Press this fall that will take readers on a Journey to The Force Awakens–with intriguing narratives and variant perspectives of events happening in a galaxy far, far away. Now NYCC Attendees can hear from a select group of Authors penning these titles and learn what's new and to-come in the Star Wars universe.

Lucasfilm Presents: Star Wars: A Galactic Reader's Theatre [Monday, October 12, 5.00am – 6.00am]: Join a select group of Author talent as they give NYCC Attendees a special Reader's Theatre of stories from a galaxy far, far away. Nothing too dark, daring or dangerous is off-limits and NYCC Attendees will be thrilled to experience these narratives in an all-new theatrical way.

B-Wing, A-Wing, and Escort Frigate Micro Machines

If you've visited the Buy, Sell, and Trade section of this blog, you'll have seen that I'm currently trying to complete my collection of original trilogy Micro Machines vehicles from the 1990s. Last week, Dawfydd from the SWNZ Message Boards came to my aid with three more that I was missing: the B-Wing Starfighter, A-Wing Starfighter, and Escort Frigate.

With these, my set is almost complete. Now I'm just after the Cargo Skiff, Imperial Lander, and Mon Calamari Star Cruiser. If you're looking to trade or sell one of these vehicles, be sure to drop me a message at relicsoftheforce@gmail.com.

A huge thank you also goes to Dawfydd for his generous help!

The Official Star Wars Fact File Issue 2

This week sees the release in New Zealand of issue 2 of The Official Star Wars Fact File. While I hadn't planned on picking up any further issues, the inclusion of a very cool Stormtrooper three-ring binder swayed me into purchasing this one.

The issue retails for $6.99 and features articles on Yoda, Commander Cody, and the T-65 X-Wing. The binder is the best part however - featuring a galaxy map and Star Wars timeline on the inside covers. I'd been hunting for a Star Wars-binder to keep some loose collectibles in for a while, so this'll fit the bill nicely!

October 2015 Empire Magazine

This week, the October 2015 issue of Empire magazine hit shelves, along with a fantastic feature-article on The Force Awakens. The magazine comes in two fold-out cover variants - "Villain" and "Hero". Given my love for all things military in the Star Wars universe, I had to pick the former!

The article itself features exclusive interviews with director and co-writer J.J. Abrams, producer Kathleen Kennedy, and co-writer Lawrence Kasdan - though the trio are careful not to share any details that haven't already been revealed in the earlier Vanity Fair and Entertainment Weekly features. Likewise, all of the images accompanying the article have been previously released - but the amazing covers alone should make this issue highly desirable for collectors.

The Official Star Wars Fact File Issue 1

The Official Star Wars Fact File has returned to magazine stores, and while I was out of town last week my partner picked up the first issue for me. This issue features articles on The Battle of Yavin, R2-D2, Darth Maul, and the Millennium Falcon - but the best part by far is the inclusion of a beautiful (and massive) Star Wars galaxy map.

Future issues will cost $6.99 each - but even if you don't plan on collecting the series, I definitely suggest paying the debut issue price of $1.99 for the galaxy map alone. If you are interested in future issues (and seeing some of the cool gifts that come with subscription) you can read more details here.

Star Wars Rebels Complete Season 1 DVD

Yesterday, season one of Star Wars Rebels was released on DVD and Blu-Ray. Only the DVD version is currently available in New Zealand, but since all of my previous Star Wars television purchases have been in this same format, I wasn't overly bothered by this restriction.

I'll be completely honest. I think Star Wars Rebels is one hell of a show. In the space of just thirteen short episodes, Rebels has managed to develop an ensemble cast of characters that are both relatable, and utterly endearing. The visuals - while simpler than those of its predecessor, The Clone Wars - are nevertheless dynamic and stunning. Best of all, it manages to move flawlessly between moments of action, humour, and sober poignancy, while still capturing the sense of magic and adventure that made us first fall in love with Star Wars.

There are countless reviews online pointing all of this out. For me however, the real value of Rebels is something else entirely. It's the way in which this show is single-handedly binding the galaxy together.

When Disney purchased Lucasfilm back in 2012, they inherited three connected - yet very different - pieces of Star Wars visual media: the original trilogy, the prequel trilogy, and The Clone Wars animated series. While all of these were elements of a much larger story, this was sometimes lost to fans. Indeed, exactly what kind of fan you were depended on what you counted as being "true" Star Wars. Was it just the original films? Or was it the whole six-film saga? Was The Clone Wars merely a fun diversion, or did it hold a place that was just as important as any of the feature films?

In creating Rebels, it seems that Disney was keenly aware of this division. The show has, from the very outset, spent its time artfully weaving together the disparate parts of the Star Wars universe into one seamless tapestry. We've seen old friends return from both trilogies of films - many of whom have been reprised by their original actors. Now, one of the main protagonists from The Clone Wars looks set to enter the fray and have a huge impact on the future of the Rebellion.

The marrying of different elements of the Star Wars universe doesn't stop there. It's in the musical cues and cinematography, It's in the sight of a Clone Wars-era Republic Police Gunship alongside an Original Trilogy-era TIE Fighter. It's in the Joe Johnston and Ralph Macquarrie-inspired aesthetics that permeate every scene of the show. Now there are rumblings that Rebels may very well have deeper links to the upcoming sequel trilogy. If these rumours are true, then Rebels is - even more so - quickly becoming the key to the entire Star Wars universe. If, by some chance, you haven't yet indulged in this incredible show, now is the time to start.

The Season One DVD set includes all thirteen episodes from the first season, as well as the TV-films "Spark of Rebellion" and "Fire Across the Galaxy". The bonus features include fourteen "Rebels Recon" behind-the-scenes featurettes, "Star Wars Rebels - The Ultimate Guide", and "Star Wars Rebels Season Two - A Look Ahead". The set is currently available from JB Hi-Fi for $44.00, or by mail order from Mighty Ape for $49.99.

The Force Awakens T-Shirt

While in Houston, I also took the chance to pick up my first piece of The Force Awakens apparel. Target had a great range of t-shirts on offer for only $12.99US ($20.47) each, and I eventually settled on this particular one.

It's a simple design - but I like that, and I look forward to sporting it on a regular basis in the lead up to December 17th!

Stormtrooper Keyring

The dollar bins at US Target stores have always been a great place to find bargain Star Wars items. Last week, during my trip to Houston, they yielded another great find - this Stormtrooper keyring.

There were several designs to choose from, but - for obvious reasons - this one seemed the perfect choice, and it's now adorning my Stormtrooper helmet bag. It's amazing how far a dollar will go in the US!

The Hunt Is On - The Force Awakens Micro Machines Found

Sadly, New Zealand is yet to see a full release of the new Star Wars Micro Machines sets. This is the line I was most excited about post-Force Friday, so was top of my shopping list when I visited Houston last week. Despite a severe stock shortage State-side, there were still a few of these packs on shelves - and I was able to track down all but one of the sets on my wishlist.

I'm thoroughly impressed with every one of these sets. The molding and paint-apps are true to the old Micro Machine aesthetic (i.e., simple and robust) and are dripping with nostalgia. It's also great to see non-The Force Awakens gaps in the line (especially from Episodes II and III) being filled. I'm no expert on plastics - but it seems that there are two different materials being used in producing these. One is the sturdier substance we saw in old Micro Machines (used for most of the 'blockier' vehicles - like the various speeders, and Kylo Ren's Command Shuttle), and the other is a slightly more rubbery materials used for thinner detailing such as the X-Wing and TIE Fighter wings. The latter seems prone to a small amount of warping, but so far the old hot water / cold water trick seems to fix up these imperfections just fine.

My one piece advice for other Micro Machines collectors is to pick your packs carefully. It seems the vehicles aren't being inserted into the blisters with great care, and I spotted a few X-Wings which had had their cannons bent back a full 180 degrees by the way they'd been packaged. It's most likely fixable, but better if avoided.

Words cannot describe how excited I am to see this line back on shelves - and I hope it performs well enough to justify Hasbro continuing to produce Star Wars Micro Machines for a long while yet!