I'd like to be able to rely on retail as well, its a little cheaper, and its always nice actually finding something in the stores like that.  I've had a little bit of lucky lately with the Screen Scenes, Hoth Han, the first 3 Clone Wars figures, and my brother found me the Faytonni wave, and JediMAC is helping me fill out some holes in my collection from this year....but I really don't want to miss out on any 2004 figures.  I was hoping that maybe the new "wave every month" thing for next year would help, but I don't know.  Since I don't have anywhere to shop in my home town for the figures it is a 30-40 minute drive just to check for them, most likely on a Saturday, so they'll probably be cleared out before I get there.  I don't remember having quite this much trouble during POTJ though.  Hopefully it will improve .

Just curious if anyone had read this report at OfftheCard.com, regarding ROTK figures/toys...it is at this link, under October 15th News:

Off the Card.com

Since the story is a couple days old, I'll also post the text of it here...if that's a no-no, I'm sorry, and feel free to delete it if necessary mods!  Anyways, this report might be totally untrue, just thought some of you might want to read it if you haven't already.  Here it is:

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Another Nail in the Coffin?

It is starting to look more and more likely that the ToyBiz ROTK product currently on the shelves may be all we will see. OTC reader Matthew recently contacted ToyBiz, and got this response:

I noticed you have listed a Wave 4 with Harad Archer, Pippin in Armour, etc. I eagerly await this series because I think that there is hardly any different character selection in the Return of the King figures! But I called ToyBiz and they said they are stopping at Wave 3...

While it is entirely possible that the Customer Service rep Matthew talked to wasn't completely informed, this may also be taken as a good sign. The rumored LOTR "Trilogy" lists that popped up about a month ago didn't list an ROTK Series 4. Entertainment Earth's case assortments list the ROTK wave of the Trilogy assortment to be exactly the same as ROTK Series 4, however. As long as nothing gets shifted around at ToyBiz, it looks like all plans are going ahead for the Trilogy Assortments, which should start to hit in January with FOTR, TTT, and what was originally ROTK Series 4:

    * King Aragorn
    * Pippin in Armor
    * Harad Archer
    * Legolas

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I was kind of curious about that as well JediMAC, putting the figure inside the glass...that was on the glass.  I wasn't sure how to feel about the possibly re-release of these glasses either.  On one hand, I had some when I was a kid, but they aren't in the best shape now after years of going through the dishwasher courtesy of my parents...but you didn't think of that back then.  I have actually been looking over ebay the past month or so hoping to pick up the sets little by little.  I can't decide now if I want to keep doing that, or wait and get the "re-releases" at Target if this comes true.  It would be nice to have the originals, but if they are going to be exactly the same, and cost less...I suppose I might go with the Target versions.  It is hard to know what to do, I'm with you, this was always one of my favorite collectibles from Star Wars, and it would be nice to have them all on display.  Hopefully we will find some more details soon.

Hope this doesn't cause any problems, but there is more news up over at Galactic Hunter from the swami...including news of the return of the vintage Burger King glasses!....click on over to check it out!

More 2004 News

OCB, I just found out yesterday that your T'Wolves were playing somewhat near us (Omaha)...wish I would have known sooner, would have been nice to go to an NBA game (we don't get that much here in Nebraska)  Last time I went to an NBA game here it was Sonics vs. Bucks, when Shawn Kemp was still good  

I think this is potentially not such good news, as this would likely indicate that this already peg warming line will be continuing on further than had been announced previously by Hasbro, which was the end of 2003.  That probably means that it will also be at retail concurrently with the "animated" line of CW figures, as well as the regular Saga line of figures.

That was my biggest fear all along, since I think there's no way in hell the retail shelves and pegs can support 3 seperate Star Wars lines, especially 2 that will probably struggle.  That means that the distribution of the Saga line to retail could be in serious jeopardy if the CW lines are already filling the pegs.  I've even seen a number of stores in my area that have pulled the Saga line completely in favor of the CW line right now...

2004 was looking to be the best year ever.  I pray that the CW lines don't ruin the fun for all of us!

This was exactly my fear as well.  Although I don't hate the Clone Wars line, and I actually picked up the first three this past weekend...Anakin, Yoda, ARC, I definitely don't want it taking up space from the regular Saga line...especially with the figures we have seen rumored/confirmed for next year.  2004 was looking like it could be the best year of collecting since POTJ, and maybe even surpass it.  I know I am really looking forward to most, if not all, of the regular Saga offerings for next year.  That said...a few more Jedi, Dooku, etc. are great ideas for the Clone Wars line, but if this series is going to be taking up space from our "regular" figures, I'd just as soon they put an end to it now.

Ummm....check this out, not sure what to think of this one personally:

Snake Teela Exclusive