"Bag Head" Spider-Man is essentially Peter Parker in a Fantastic Four uniform with a paper bag for a mask.  There was a period of time in the comics where Peter had lost his costume, and made due with this.  I think it is pretty cool that we're getting a figure of it, and hope I can find one.

I'm wondering more about the future of this line.  I have the next (small) wave preordered with Prof X, Jubilee, and Blastaar, but I don't know if we know much beyond that.  Also, I see some info has popped up online regarding some of Hasbro's other Marvel lines heading into 2013...

http://idlehands1.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/hasbro-and-marvel-into-2013.html

Looks like, if this is accurate, we'll be seeing a 3 3/4" animated style line for the upcoming "Avengers Assemble" cartoon, as well as 6" and 3 3/4" lines for the animated Ultimate Spidey cartoon.  Also, there is some info on Iron Man 3 toys, and they mention some sort of "cross building" figures where you can switch parts, etc.  More at the link.  Factor in a likely Thor line later in the year (and I'm not sure about anything for the Wolverine movie?), and I wonder how many resources will be put towards Marvel Universe (or Legends for that matter).  I know there have been rumors in the past of MU slowing down/ending, so who knows.  I guess we've had a good run regardless.

EDIT: And then right after I post this I see that BBTS has put another wave (Hercules, Puck, Nighthawk, Nova, and Angel) up for preorder.

Latest rumor....brace yourselves:

Darth Vader Returns?

Probably just another one of the many rumors that we'll read/hear over the next few years, but I could see this one really bothering people if it holds up.  Vader/Anakin's story had such a nice resolution with the redemption at the end of Jedi, so I'm not sure how they would bring him back.

I can understand that people (either at Disney or Lucasfilm) are realizing that they really had the "magic" with the Original Trilogy, and want to try to recapture that by using the old characters, but hopefully things are still going to make sense.  I'm sure that this one won't hold true, but if it does, things could really get interesting...

Went to see Wreck It Ralph this weekend.  I really liked it.  Way too many VG references to absorb in one viewing.  Lots of fun!

Same here.  We caught this last Saturday, and loved it.  Lots of old schooly video game references which I liked.  I won't ruin some of the references here for those who haven't seen it yet, but it reminded me of some games from my childhood that I had completely forgotten.  Fun movie.

I played a couple of the previous versions of Angry Birds from time to time (mainly with our daughter, who loves it), but never went through any of those games completely.  We've been playing the Star Wars version quite a bit though, and I think it is pretty fun.  For some reason, I laugh almost every time I hear the "yahooo" when you launch the Han Solo bird.  Pretty good stuff so far.

I saw that too, not overly surprising I guess.  I sort of would have liked to see Spielberg give it a go, at least for one movie, but I guess that wouldn't really go in line with the "handing it off to a new generation of film makers" thing.  I do hope the rumors of Abrams and Brad Bird getting a look at the script, because I'm a fan of both.  I'd be a little surprised if Abrams would with Star Trek and all that.

I see that people like Zack Snyder and Tarantino have said they aren't interested (although I don't know that anyone asked them).  Tarantino in particular was a little snippy about it.  I just hope it doesn't devolve into a "no one wants Star Wars" thing in the media.  It is fun having Star Wars rumors/news on an almost daily basis these days though.

Apparently (and somewhat surprisingly), rumor is Ford is up for reprising his role, at least at this point:

http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/11/05/star-wars-sequel-harrison-ford-han-solo-exclusive/

Honestly, and I know everyone has their own opinions on this, but I sort of want to see the OT characters back.  I know they are older, but really that is where the magic is for me with Star Wars.  I enjoyed the prequels for what they were, and still watch them now and again, but they never held that same magic as the OT did for me.  A lot of that may be nostalgia and everything, but the prequels for the most part never had that same feel to me as the OT.

I think it would be nice to at least have them appear, whether it is to set up new characters for future installments, or in maybe more supporting roles, but I just think it would be nice to see again.  Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, the Droids and even characters like Lando helping to continue the Rebellion, etc.  I'd be interested in seeing any new movie set in the SW universe, but honestly the OT time period is the most interesting to me right now.

I've never played the game(s), although they look spiffy, but that might be where the Old Republic type stuff (or even other EU sources) don't seem as "Star Wars" to me.  I enjoy them for what they are, and maybe would really get into them if I devoted more time to those areas, but I sort of like having the character follow through from the movies.  That is sort of my feeling with EU books/novels (which, to be honest, I haven't read a ton of)....it stinks for those who are way into those, but to me they had some great stories and they'll still be great stories even if the movies overwrite them in some ways.  I'd rather have original ideas where I don't know what's going to happen than an adaptation of a story I've already read.  One drawback mentioned of the prequels was knowing the "end point", and one of the most exciting things we have about these new movies is that anything could happen this time around.  There is great material in parts of the EU, and some stuff that could even be incorporated, but to me the movies (and to a lesser extent the TV series) supercede anything else, canon-wise.

That being said, one adaptation that would be cool to see would be the Thrawn Trilogy.  That is one EU source that I've read several times, and I really enjoyed it.  Even if they went the direct to video animated route, it would be cool to see that story told at some point.  Anyways, back to the Episode VII excitement.  To me, this is some of the best part of having new movies, having all this discussion and speculation on the forums.  Just wait until we start getting casting/director news, story rumors, and even set pics.  Fun stuff.

Thought this might be a good one to bump up with the recent announcements of more Star Wars movies on the way.  Does the confirmation of Episode 7 (as well as 8 and 9, and maybe beyond) change your outlook for collecting into the future?  Has it reignited the fire knowing that there will be new characters, vehicles, etc. from these movies hitting plastic for the first time, or does it work better as a jumping off point?

Honestly, prior to this announcement, I sort of thought Star Wars was slowing down.  There were more and more figures I was starting to skip, I had cut back to basically just OT for vehicles/beasts/etc., and sort of started telling the Mrs. that I could "see the light at the end of the tunnel" of things.  I didn't think it was going to disappear in the next couple years, but it seemed like things were winding down.  Now, with new movies, that all changes.

If I'm being honest, I know I'll be there the first day the toys are available and likely buying quite a bit of it.  It all depends on the material, since we know pretty much nothing about these movies, but I know I'll likely be hyped up with the prospect of new SW movies on the horizon.  That being said, I think I'll be much more restrained this time around than I was during the PT (particularly ROTS, which was my worst spending spree).  It is easy to say now, a few years out, but I feel (hope) that I've gotten smarter and a bit more patient with what I buy these days and I wouldn't go quite as nuts when this day comes.

I can also see why people might just check out the movies and avoid a lot of the collectibles.  I've always said I'd be "in" in some capacity until the end, and I still feel that way, but I honestly didn't think we'd have another trilogy (meaning about 10 years of toy aisle time) coming up, and we know the releases tend to be fast and furious during those years.  Right now, I don't have any room for what could potentially be three movies worth of product, so who knows what will happen when the time comes.  I'll always be in it to some capacity, but maybe pace things a little more.  Again, it all depends on what the movies are about, and if I'm into them.  I don't want to keep buying it just because it is "Star Wars".  Overall though, I'm likely still there opening day, so I doubt that my collecting habits will change much more than I was already planning.  If anything, it has made me think about the other things I collect outside of SW.  Knowing that these movies are on the way (and likely a big toy line with each), it makes me think about cutting back (or out) a lot of other stuff in preparation for this.  I really can't keep spending hundreds/thousands of dollars on toys for another 10-12 years, budget or space wise, or at least I didn't plan on it.

One of the first things I thought of (and was mentioned earlier too) is what if they got Spielberg to direct one of these new SW movies.  With the relationship there with both Lucas and Kennedy (and the fact that he and others like Ron Howard, almost did in the past), it is entirely possible.  The interwebs would probably explode once again if the "Spielberg to Direct Episode 7" announcement came down the pike.

I noticed that in that short video at SW.com, Lucas mentions that he has had the ideas for 7-9 for awhile now, so I wonder if we really are getting the post-ROTJ stories (possibly with the OT characters?).  They are getting up there, but I would think most of them aside from Ford would be up for it...and having Kennedy and possibly someone like Spielberg involved might be the one chance to get him signed up.  Who knows...it is just exciting to be talking about stuff like this again .