Well, you've got the television show to tide you over until volume 6 finally gets completed.  The series may be something that manages to light a fire under George R.R. Martin's ass.

I'll lay odds on 3 years.

More Season 2 casting news.

Wow...anyone notice this little gem of a battlepack, using the Obi Wan Outlander club figure? Talk about a step backwards...

The thing is, in it's time that was the best AOTC Obi-Wan from that period.  And in keeping that retro theme it looks like that Jango Fett may be the AOTC preview figure, too.  If Hasbro wants to offer 10 year old figures in battle packs, it makes it far easier for me to ignore them.

So far things look okay.  We'll obviously see more after the panel.  I caught up with the SWAN folks last night after they had been in the hall and they seemed underwhelmed with what was on display then.  The revisions on the pod racers look a bit better, but I was never a big fan of those vehicles in general.

The electronic Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon figures are predictably bulky.  That's what comes with electronics in a figure, though.  I guess we're likely to see more of this MOVIE HEROES line a little later on.

I think what's lacking in the series is any kind of emotional investment from the audience.  We know where the main characters have come from, and we know where most of them are going.  Anakin, Obi-Wan, Padme, Yoda, Dooku, etc all have to hang in there in order to maintain the continuity that brings the characters to Episode III. 

The only key characters who could face that kind of jeopardy are Ahsoka, Rex, Asajj Ventress and Savage Opress.  We saw something like that with Captain Tarpals a couple of weeks ago.  But until someone like Ashoka or Rex starts getting killed, I think the series is going to be lacking in drama.

For those that are seeing wave 5, are you getting the corrected Stormtrooper helmet, or the ****** one?

Most recently I've been seeing the crappy helmet.  I managed to score a couple with the good helmets, but I got those months ago.

Sif has been scarce pretty much everywhere.  The only way I've known that Sif has shipped anywhere is the leftover, weird versions of Thor that ship in the same case.

TRU's online store has a listing for Sif, but it's been out of stock every time I check on it.

I still feel as though Anakin has faced off against Dooku TOO MANY times.  There's the duel in AOTC, another in TCW animated feature, and again this past week.  It does seem to diminish lightsaber duels in general.  They're not supposed to be a common occurrance.  And yet we've got 4 or more villains in the mix who are armed with lightsabers. 

There will be an Avengers panel next Saturday at NY Comic Con.  Chris Evans will reportedly take part, as will Kevin Feige.