I thought I had come across a thread in the past that discussed this, but for some reason I can't find it...so sorry if this is duplicate.  Although I know the majority of us collect the whole Star Wars world, I know that many people have some mighty impressive "specific character" sub-collections.  I just thought it would be neat to hear about/see your collections, or maybe if you are thinking about starting one.  With all the interesting sub-lines from Star Wars out there, it is tough to keep up with complete lines, so sometimes its a nice option to just limit it to one character that you enjoy.

I personally don't have anything extensive, but have always been interested in odd-ball things (and bought some extra figures to keep carded) of Han and Chewie.  I'm thinking about slowly starting a Chewbacca based collection, since aliens are sometimes a little more interesting, and plus, I just enjoy the wookiee .  Anyways, does anyone have collections, pictures or ideas for collections that they would like to share....or maybe why you might like to focus on that particular character(s)?

For those of you who have received (or picked up) Insider issue #78, they have a feature called "50 Factoids About the Original Star Wars Trilogy".  I just got a chance to start reading through some of them last night, and noticed a few interesting things:

First off, under the section "Freeze Frame Fun" (No. 13 in specific), that factoid reads like this:

"The Ice Cream Guy As reported in Insider #49, the Ice Cream Guy can be found among the evacuees in Cloud City, lugging a piece of equipment that looks remarkably like an ice cream maker.  He remains one of our favorite cameos, and we're still holding out for the novel Tales of the Ice Cream Guy. - I just thought of Scott when I read this, and didn't see it mentioned anywhere else.

There are a number of other cool facts, including a different idea for the climax of ROTJ, original concepts and ideas for characters and scenes that weren't used, and much more.  I won't post anything else word for word here, but if you have/are getting/or are considering picking up the Insider, it is an interesting read.  Just had to mention the Ice Cream Maker Guy in here though

Although the majority of us have likely not found the entire VOTC line quite yet, it does appear they are starting to make their way through the retail system.  This was probably one of the more anticipated and talked about Star Wars lines in quite some time, and from what I have read it seems to have brought a lot of casual or old collectors back into the game.  Of what you have (or have seen pics of, in person, etc.), what are your impressions of this line?  Did the figures meet your expectations?  Are they the "best ever" incarnations of these figures, in these particular outfits?  Which were hits, and which were misses.  Also, if you don't think the VOTC versions were the best of what we've seen...which previous versions top them?

A New Hope Wave Found: 4 of 4

Luke Skywalker - not too bad, but probably not one of the stronger figures.  The cloth cloak seemed unnecessary, but at least it was a different take on the farmboy Luke.  The articulation was nice.  I wouldn't say it was worlds better than previous farmboy Lukes overall though, but parts did seem pretty good.  Maybe a wee bit too short.

Obi-Wan Kenobi - again, not terrible, but not particularly impressive either.  I think I've gotten mine into a position where the bulky cloak at least looks decent, and the additional articulation is nice (no knees though?), but I wouldn't say that it is that huge of an improvement over the POTJ or recent Spirit version from the OTC.  Also, the fact that he has the "old style" lightsaber with no "flame effect" at the base kind of bothers me.  Minor quibble though.  Average figure, probably not worth $10.

Princess Leia - Pretty good figure.  Sure, the face sculpt isn't 100% accurate, but its probably as good as any past ones have been.  Better articulation than all previous versions.  Otherwise, not a huge difference between this one and the Commtech versions.  That said though, this is probably my favorite version of the New Hope Leia, pretty easily.  A solid figure, not spectacular, but solid.

Han Solo - Wow.  My favorite figure of all time I think.  Han and Chewie are my favorite characters, so that might have something to do with it too, but this figure to me is pretty much perfect.  The vest isn't a seperate piece, but that is really the only minor quibble with this figure to me.  I think this is easily the best Han Solo figure we've seen, and makes a solid Commtech Han Solo look quite dated.  A template for the future of well articulated figures.

Empire Strikes Back Wave Found: 4 of 4

Yoda - Another favorite character of mine, so I was really looking forward to the figure.  It is a nice figure, and I really like the vintage "nods" of the soft goods cloak and snake, but the soft goods doesn't sit quite right on mine.  Plus, as has been pointed out by Jesse I believe, the belt isn't on the outside of the cloak, like the vintage figure.  I do like the VOTC Yoda overall, but I almost think the OTC version is a better overall likeness.  My VOTC Yoda just looks a little....chubby or something.  Good figure though...$10?  Not sure.

C-3PO - Although I can appreciate the vac-metallized work on this, I was fairly unimpressed with this figure when I found it.  As with all of the VOTC, I am happy to have it, but it definitely isn't worth $10.  I think the part that bothers me the most about this figure is the face sculpt (at least on mine).  He almost has a "puckery" look to his face/mouth, if that makes sense.  I guess I was more impressed when I finally found the repack of the MMC version this year, I thought that figure was a more impressive 3PO.  Plus, the obvious flaw of more articulation too.  Again, some of the other areas of sculpting, as well as paint/metallize work, are impressive...but this figure could have been much better I think.

Lando Calrissian - I was happily surprised with this figure.  I guess it wasn't one I was really psyched and thinking about a lot, but when I found it I thought it ended up being one of the best of the line that I have seen.  The cape is a little better detailed, the articulation is very well done, and overall it is a solid figure.  Some minor complaints would be the head sculpt (POTJ one seems a little more accurate), and the lack of ball joints on the elbows (which is a running theme in this line).  They did it with Han, and it worked great, would have liked to see it here.  Otherwise, this is a very good version of the "other" smuggler, and capable of more than one pose (like the POTJ version)

Darth Vader - Another favorite of mine, and a great figure.  I like how it turned out.  The only problem I really have with it is again the ball jointed elbows, but I guess it doesn't hurt this figure too badly.  The sculpt is nice, the soft goods worked pretty well (at least on mine), and the fact that we got a lit and unlit saber was a nice bonus.  I would say this is the best Vader we've seen so far, but it could probably still be improved upon a little bit.  A terrific figure though I think.

Return of the Jedi Wave Found: 2 of 4 (Missing Chewbacca, Boba Fett)

R2-D2 - A nice little figure, and Hasbro did a little extra with things like the pop-up sensorscope, removable third leg, and the "gadgets" panel to make it something different.  The "chrome" dome might not technically be accurate, but it looks nice, and is another nice nod to the vintage figure.  We've seen quite a few nice R2s over the years, and this is another nice take.  The recent Jabba's Sail Barge figure might be a better R2 overall, but I don't have any complaints about this one personally.

Stormtrooper - One of the best of the line.  It took the very popular and well liked Commtech version, and improved upon it.  Finally, a super articulated version of the best army builder in the Star Wars saga.  Ball sockets everywhere you look, the stormie blaster, and a good sculpt.  Best version ever.  Only drawback (as with the whole line), $10 a pop.  Tough to justify army building with that pricepoint.

Chewbacca - I haven't found this figure yet, but outside of Han it is my most anticipated of the line.  From the pictures that have come online within the past week or two, it looks amazing.  Likely the best Chewie ever.  The Cloud City version is also nice, but this one looks like it will be even a little better.  Although it seems to be missing peg holes in the feet, i do like how they gave him the "sasquatch" feet.  I don't have it yet, but judging from pictures, it is second only to Han with me.  Really hope I can find one (and that everyone else can too).

Boba Fett - Haven't found Fett either, but from the pictures it looks to be a great figure as well.  We've been wanting a "super articulated" version of this character for quite some time, and it looks like Hasbro has delivered on that.  From the pics, the color of the jumpsuit seems a little bit off, and overall the accuracy of the figure might be beaten by the great 300th Edition Fett.  But, that figure is pretty much stuck in one pose.  In some pics online, the head looks a little big, but I have seen that people who have found him say that isn't the case.  He'll probably be a bugger to find int he stores though.

Sorry for the excessively long post, I was just curious to see what everyone thought of this line overall.  Do you think they were worth the $10 a piece?  I'm not so sure.  Although I think the line is great, and I really like the vintage packaging, I think we've seen somewhat comparable figures at the $5 price point, and in some cases better figures at that price.  The packaging (star case) was neat too, but I would have gladly given it up to get these figures for $5-$7.  Overall though, this is definitely the most excited I have been about a Star Wars figure set in quite some time, and overall Hasbro seems to have delivered.  The $10 price point really hit me though, and it did seem like a lot to pay for the figures.  That said, I'd like to see more figures done in this style (well sculpted, well articulated, at least close-to-definitive versions), and hopefully we'll see more of this in the future.  It does seem like these could be done (minus the spiffy packaging) for a lower pricepoint though.  I really like being able to have definitive versions of the main characters, who can be posed either neutrally, or in action poses, determined by us...not by the sculpt.  Figures that either are, or come close to, being the best versions ever of the characters to me are: Han Solo, Darth Vader, Stormtrooper, Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian, Princess Leia, and Boba Fett.  The latter part of the list could still be improved upon a little, but they seem pretty close.  Anyways, what are your thoughts?  Did the VOTC live up to expectations?

Has anyone happened to see this show?  I've come in at the tail end of it twice, so don't really have a full grasp for it, but what I did see was kind of.....yikes.  Basically, the show chronicles the lives of "superfans" of particular areas.  You can read a few details at the above link about what has been covered (no Star Wars...yet...but I'm sure it is coming).  One that I happened to see was a woman "obsessed" with Lord of the Rings.  She of course had all the merchandise, but the "odd" thing was her relationship with life size cardboard cut outs of the characters.  They had footage of her playing "duck duck goose" in the front yard with them, and also taking Smeagol and Gollum out to eat with her family (which she apparently does quite often).  She then proceeds to do their voices, arguing whether they want chicken or fish (if i remember right) to eat, when the server asks for their orders.  I also saw part of a guy "obsessed" with Pac-Man, which was just....a little.....off.  Not judging though, to each their own.  Just in case anyone was wondering, both people I saw were married (and the woman had children).  Definitely some odd behavior in some people's opinions I am sure, and you just know a Star Wars one has to be on the horizon.

Just saw a little blurb about this this morning:



You can read more about the system, as well as collections that will be available to both X-Box and PS2 the way it sounds....clicky

For those of you who are subscribed, Hyperspace has a new web doc up, focusing on Anthony Daniels/C-3PO.  Its a pretty good one I think, and to me, really helps you to appreciate what Daniels (and 3PO) have brought to the Saga overall.  AD has always seemed to be someone who appreciates all that Star Wars has brought him, and from what I have read is very cordial and friendly with fans.  Anyways, a good watch if you have the time (and the subscription)

I'm not sure if this is the right place for this or not, so if it needs to be moved, that is perfectly fine.  Since its both vintage and modern, I wasn't sure.  Anyways, the other night I was talking with my wife and running the idea past her that I might start browsing ebay again to work on my vintage loose figure collection.  I have taken a longer break than I wanted to, just due to moving, finances, and finding a fair amount of new stuff over the summer (Star Wars, LOTR, Spidey, etc.).  Anyways, I've always wanted to work towards a complete, loose figure collection, and was about to get back to it.  We were just talking about it, and she jokingly said to me, "you have to pick one or the other, vintage or modern...old or new".  At least I hope she was joking .  Jk.  Anyways, it just got me to thinking, if you ever had to choose one or the other...which would you choose, or could you?  Thinking that you were starting with nothing, and just jumping into the wonderful world of Star Wars collecting, which route would you take?

It is a tough call for me.  I really enjoy the vintage figures, and obviously that is where the nostalgia comes from for me.  Plus, I doubt I'd be into the modern figures if I hadn't had the vintage ones when I was a kid.  Then, on the other side of things, I would hate to miss out on things like the current VOTC offerings, as well as some great figures from the POTJ, Saga (2004), and OTC lines.  Plus, that doesn't even take into account prequel trilogy figures (which take a backseat normally to OT anyways, but that is besides the point).  I don't know if I could choose totally.  I could do without the POTF2 figures if I had to I guess, but others (the VOTC in particular) would be tough to pass by.  Could you choose?  If so, which route would you go?  This isn't saying any of us would do this, or hopefully won't ever have to, it was just something I was thinking about and was curious to your opinions.  I mean, for the most part, the newer figures are obviously "better", but I guess sometimes that doesn't matter either when dealing with vintage figures.  Its all about what brings you the most joy in collecting I guess.