So what does that all work out to after taxes?

Old Cap'n Sweater is the Accountant, but judging by my accounting days...  A **** load of $.

He'll eat a lot from Uncle Sam unless he finds a way to finegal it like through charitable donation or gift-giving.  I'm not sure how winnings in a game, gameshow, etc. are handled by the government.  If they will just count it as income or what.  He may be able to make some of it back though depending on how he disperses it and then claims it at the end of the year.

At first though, it's gonna take a huge bite out of him.

It's sort of a game I've found...  I'm almost fascinated by it since I'd never have noticed unless it was brought to my attention by the fine folks here.

The making-of documentary's really good for people to learn the process they make figures by.  It's been posted on the net before how it's done, so most folks enjoying hte hobby know the general routine, but the Insider's showing a lot of stuff unseen to most before so I think the article will be informative for the majority.

I've seen every production process's step at one point or another for various toy lines (including Star Wars), but I still found this article pretty enjoyable.  It's neat seeing the concept drawings and how the designers envision the toy much the same way film-makers draw out a sequence of events on storyboard for a film. 

it's a neat read even if you just check it real quick at the newsstands.  And it's only part I of a multi-part mini-article, so check it out if you have time.

The shots of the preview wave that we've seen so far online don't do the figures justice, judging by the shots in Insider.  Really nice stuff shown there, and the Wookie and Greivous look ten times better than before IMO.

The Jedi Fighter (Anakin's) I'm not sure on.  R2 looks like he just plugs into this ship, but that it doesn't have a bottom to it and like R2's lower half is just gone...  This makes me think the ship is way underscale, but I don't know enough about it to say at this point.  If it is though, I'm disappointed because NO fighter should be underscaled given what is put out by other companies.  Plus this thing DOESN'T look big in any shot I've ever seen, so I don't know.

Just seems odd.

Oh, and Obi's Astromech has the hoses on his feet.  I didn't notice that till now, but he's a really nice looking figure.  Best astromech ever possibly. 

Where have all the bald, beer-swilling, criminal history rednecks gone?

I'm wagering that he's face-down in a gutter, laying in a pool of his own vomit, and growing some man-boobs since he can't afford roids anymore. 

Anyone else wanna take a stab?

I think Dooku, Organa, and Palpatine are in the C2 line-up...  their protos have surfaced (actually before the preview figures even).

Gooooooood clear shots of preview wave in the Insider that's shipping BTW.  REALLY clear, show all the articulation.  Grevious, I hate to admit it, is pretty bitchin'.  Spooky looking guy, and his guards on the cardbacks look quite freaky too.

Why didn't Darth Big Boy break this?

OK, now...  As most of you who know me have realized, I'm a huge champion of the articulation factor.  I have found the Star Wars line has been a quagmire of under-acheivers because of lacking articulation.  Not a good thing...

Then visions of the E3 line have shown up...  Pretty articulated figures we've been seeing, and the Collection 2 ones sporting the super articulation we all know and I'd say the majority of us love.  Collection 1 itself, while laden with action features, appears to be a nice attempt at articulation itself and hiding said features.

So my question to you...  We see heavy articulation here, so what do you think of the articulation issue now? 

My stance remains the same on this issue...  Articulation makes the toy, so the more the better, however I do see that Hasbro's dropping their traditional style they've used on ball/socket joints on some figures for a hinged piece with a swivel to it.  Still retails the same motion, but is more noticeable.

The articulation on Collection 1 is definitely more noticeable than that on the C2 figures or the VOTC for instance.  Is that a big enough problem to require "griping" though?  Again, to me I would rather have a poseable Mace than one stuck in a pre-pose...  So no.  I do believe the articulation could be better hidden since they managed on the VOTC so well.

Myself, I'm happy as a clam (so far) with the images from E3's Collection 1 and 2 figures.  They're unique, and show a stronger effort from this company than they have ever shown before.  C1's still not perfect, but some of those C2 figures were really impressive to me.  I'm really anxious to see the rest of the opening E3 line-up though because so far this looks like the best effort for a film release that Hasbro has ever made.

Hey Fluke,

Do you need mint or opener on the Ephant because i have an opener.