HOF announcement today, time to start up the new thread.

It'll be really interesting to see what happens today with Bonds and Clemens.  I'm expecting both to come in around the 40-50% mark, but we'll see.

I'd like to see the Killer B's get in together, but I have a feeling that Biggio alone may be the only one (if any) that get in today...

(ps. can't forget to include the usual MN-homerism HOF voting rant here for Jack Morris  - '91 game seven is still the greatest game of baseball I have ever had the chance to watch.  )

This topic has been moved to JediDefender's Sarlacc Pit where all of our politcal type threads go to fester.

If you can't see the Sarlacc Pit area, that means you're not a member there.  If you want to see it (and lord only knows why you'd subject yourself to that), send a PM to me or another Staff Member and we will review your request to be added to the Sarlacc Pit membergroup.  In other words, it's a big boy area and not everyone is big enough to play.

http://www.jedidefender.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=13959.0

Hasbro sends along word this morning that they will be re-releasing a number of Vintage Collection figures in early 2013 - check out the press releases below.

For the USA:

STAR WARS VINTAGE FIGURE LINE: U.S. REGION UPDATE
Great news, STAR WARS action figure fans!  Hasbro will be re-issuing “fan favorites” from the popular VINTAGE line.  We heard fans loud and clear, and as such only the “best of the best” characters from previously released waves will be featured in the revived line.  The new series of VINTAGE figures will be available starting in early February 2013.  Distribution of characters may vary by location and is not controlled by Hasbro, so please check your local retailer for your favorite characters around that time.

Characters to be featured in the line include the following in the U.S. market:
• Episode I Darth Maul
• Episode VI Luke Skywalker (Lightsaber Contruction) – Deleted Scene figure
• CW Anakin Skywalker
• Episode IV Darth Vader
• Episode V Luke Skywalker (Hoth Outfit)
• Episode II Aayla Secura
• EU Nom Anor
• Episode III Clone Trooper (501st Legion)
• Episode VI Kithaba (Skiff Guard)
• Episode IV Dr. Evazan (Cantina Patron)
• Episode VI Wedge Antilles
• Episode II Barriss Offee (Jedi Padawan)
• Episode V Han Solo (Bespin Outfit)
• Episode IV Bom Vindin (Cantina Patron)
• EU ARC Trooper Commander
• Episode VI Logray (Ewok Medicine Man)
• Episode VI Gamorrean Guard
• Episode IV Rebel Fleet Trooper
• Episode III Odd Ball (Clone Pilot)
• Episode IV Grand Moff Tarkin
• Episode VI Nikto (Skiff Guard)
• EU Starkiller (Vader’s Apprentice)
• EU Shae Vizla (Old Republic Bounty Hunter)

And for the international markets:

The following characters will available in markets outside of the U.S.:

Wave 1
• Episode II Aayla Secura
• Episode III Clone Trooper (501st Legion)
• Episode VI Kithaba (Skiff Guard)
• Episode IV Dr. Evazan (Cantina Patron)
• Episode VI Wedge Antilles
• Episode II Barriss Offee (Jedi Padawan)
• Episode V Han Solo (Bespin Outfit)
• Episode IV Bom Vindin (Cantina Patron)
• EU ARC Trooper Commander
• Episode IV Rebel Fleet Trooper
• Episode VI Gamorrean Guard
• Episode VI Logray (Ewok Medicine Man)

Wave 2
• Episode I Jar Jar Binks
• Episode I Jar Jar Binks (Lost Line Look)
• Episode II Clone Trooper Lieutenant
• Episode II Clone Trooper Lieutenant (Lost Line Look)
• Episode III Shocktrooper
• Episode III Shocktrooper (Lost Line Look)
• Episode IV Sandtrooper
• Episode IV Sandtrooper (Lost Line Look)
• Episode V Princess Leia (Bespin Outfit)
• Episode V Princess Leia (Bespin Outfit) (Lost Line Look)
• Episode VI Darth Vader
• Episode VI Darth Vader (Lost Line Look)

Sandtroopers.com have posted a few comparison photos of the new, smaller-scaled 2013 Class II ships.

It will be interesting to see how well these sell... they will certainly be more affordable at $20 compared to this year's $30, but the smaller sizes on some of them (Slave I, I'm looking at you) is so ridiculous that most collectors are going to just laugh and ignore these.   

Dear Hasbro,

Please ignore all the ****** ret-cons of cantina guy names going around these days.  Seriously.  The names they had in the 90s are perfectly fine.  Don't let some fanboy EU fiction wreck perfectly good names. 

When you make this guy:

It's Mosep, not Tawss Khaa.  I don't know who the guy with the long white pony-tail is, but he's not Mosep.


When you make this guy:

It's Baniss Keeg, not Chachi de Maal or Probos or Jawflumper or whatever.

When you make this guy (and by "this guy", I mean the one who's not a bug):

It's Solomahal, not Ownellco or Lemonjello or whatever.

Mkay, thanks!  As always...

Your pal,
Jeff

Looking over the Toy Fair stuff again today...  what's the deal with Hasbro apparently announcing two new movie Battle Packs for the Fall?  Something about a new Naboo 3-pack and new Bespin 3-pack?  I haven't read too much on those, but I guess there must have been some mention of them at the collector event?

So... this weekend already!  And we don't even have a thread yet?  Crazy!  What do you hope/expect to see?

I'm expecting them to have that MTT there and ready to show off and I'm hoping we get a good look at some of the VC figures on RS's rumor list...  but, with SDCC, Celebration VI, and NYCC all coming later this year, I'm not going to be surprised if they end up having to hold a lot of the Fall stuff back for those shows.

I'd really like to see...
Toy Fair = Full Spring 2012 product line for VC and CW, preview of stuff for Fall including the con/show exclusives
SDCC = Full Fall 2012 product line for VC and CW
Celebration 6 = Spring 2013 product preview for VC and CW
NYCC = all the AOTC 3D re-issue crap product

But, who knows how they will choose to break things up this year...


And a quick note on JD's planned coverage:
Unfortunately, I can't be in NY this weekend to cover the show (ending my streak at 4 in a row ), but I think we will still have some coverage and pics of hte Hasbro event here at JD thanks to a NY forumite who has volunteered to try to get down to the Hasbro show for us.