Nice to see some HTF figures making their way back out.  To say that Bastila was scarce is a massive understatement.

The Dack reissue makes sense given the theme of the wave, which is *MOSTLY* Hoth / TESB.  The figure wasn't super scarce.  But maybe there's a Snowspeeder reissue on the way, and they want a figure to go with it?

I'd also be happy to see some of those later TVC figures get reissued.  Shae Vizla, Starkiller, the Old Republic Trooper and the Emporer's Royal Guard were all woefully under-distributed.  They could all benefit from another go-round at retail.

Mark Hamill, who is *PROBABLY* reprising his role as Luke Skywalker in Episode VII, will be conducting a Reddit "Ask Me Anything" session starting at 4 PM Eastern time.  I imagine the Episode VII questions will be bountiful.

I've been checking out True Detective for the past couple of weeks on HBO.  Thus far it's in keeping with the dramatic tone that HBO has been able to strike with it's original series.  I think it captures some of the painstaking search for details that detectives have to undertake in order to solve a real crime.  And it also seems to capture the darkness that's in some of the people who are called to investigate murders. 

I get the sense that this show might take some patience.  At least before things really pick up.  But they've definitely got my interest for now.

Deny the trends as much as you want.  The fact remains that female characters sell more poorly.  I know that flies in the face of what YOU and other collectors may want.  But in the broader market?  Female characters just don't sell as well.  Hence, they get short-packed.  If they didn't, the retailers would give the manufacturers grief regarding case assortments that don't sell through.

As for short packing being used to create artificial demand?  We've seen it plenty of times.  Do we really need to go back to some of the golden oldies?  How about as far back as 1999, with the POTF2 CommTech R2-D2 with holo Leia?  Shortpacked at 1 per case and only offered in once case.  At it's peak that figure sold for as much as $80.  Or how about the Ultimate Galactic Hunt foil cards?  That wasn't even discrete.  Hasbro called them what they were:  chase figures.  We also saw EU characters in the TVC line which were only offered as one per case like Bastila, Galen Marek/Starkiller, and Shae Vizla.  All offered in only a single case assortment and packed one per case.  Lo and behold you wound up with these as "HOT" figures, and some collectors NEVER saw them at brick & mortar retail.  THAT is called creating artificial demand.  And it's been done numerous other times, all in the interest of driving the collecting chase.

If you still need a Bespin Leia?  I know where there are plenty of them if you want one.

As for Wasp?  She's an important character in the scope of the Avengers comics.  And IIRC she wound up making an appearance in one of the Ultimate Avengers animated features.  But I don't think you're likely to see her in an Avengers figure assortment at more than 1 per case until her character winds up in one of the Marvel cinematic universe's feature films.

I wonder if sales would be better if Hasbro actually made more of them.  Can't imagine anyone wanting more Shae Vizla or Bastilla Shan.  Good thing Guri didn't top the EU most wanted figure list this year.  Oh wait...

When you artificially create a shortage of a character through shortpacking, you drive up their desirability.  Hence Shae Viszla and Bastila were VHTF figures.  That's a calculated move by Hasbro because of the long running track record with female characters.

Case in point?  The Lost Line Look wave from the TVC line was pretty equally packed.  There are some places I know where you can still find this particular wave of figures.  And guess who's left?  Bespin Leia.  The Clones, Sandtrooper and Vader have pretty well sold through.  Even Jar Jar has sold.  But some of those Leias still linger.

Quote from: Nicklab on January 12, 2014, 09:26 PM

Esquire had renowned Scottish actor Brian Cox sit down in an effort to educate Americans about the pronunciations of the names of some of the more renowned Scotch whiskeys.  Check it out here.

Holy crap.  That is what I was logging in to post.

But how else would you know how to pronounce Bruichladdich or Caol Ila?

1 - PK Droid
2 - Tey How
3 - R5-X2
4 - Cliegg Lars
5 - Senator Padme Amidala (ROTS bun hairdo)
6 -  Cin Drallig
7 - Chancellor Palpatine - Office Duel
8 - Arleil Schous
9 - Baniss Keeg
10 - Han Solo (Carbonite)
11 - Princess Leia (Bespin Escape)
12 - Sergeant Doallyn
13 - Ishi Tib (Jabba's Palace)
14 - Emporer Palpatine
15 - Sim Aloo

There was so much jammed into that trailer that I don't know where to begin...with the trailer, that is.  It looks awesome.

But my own great Game of Thrones moment from the weekend?  I was walking in NYC and someone caught my eye.  Who?  Peter Dinklage, hailing a cab!  He saw the recognition on my face.  And considering he was with his kid?  I especially did not want to be an annoying fanboy, and just gave him a nod of acknowledgement.