Finally got my Star Wars Marvel comic #102 which completes the vintage SW comic run for me.  Should be delivered in a few days.  Finally just broke down and paid about $7 for it.  After losing multiple auctions for it, and just could not find it cheap in the local comic bins either.

That's really about it.  Sngged the 3D TPM wave a few weeks ago at 5 Below for $5.

Bought the little one a DS ObiWa pen stylist thingy, a $1 box ofSW Valentines at 5 Below and some  4 pack Fighter Pods for $3.  Also grabbed the Boba Fett collapsable water bottle at Target in the $1 bin this weekend.

Little stuff...  fun stuff.

Love this show!  One of my all time favs!

Plus just saw the new ad cards at mylocal comic shop for the next season "Eye for and eye"

I just got all th various collectors edition Blu Ray's for Xmas..been watching everthing from the start again.  While the extras are really good, I jus wis there were moreof them.  Plus, I'd love to see more of the comic series in the extras, maybe some exclusve comic book stuff, or digital copies of th originals, or a nice series showing the side by side comparisons of frames in the comic vs. the TV show...characters, places, zombies, etc. etc.

All good stuff!     

I kinda like the initial looks of the 6" line, but I'm also torn.   Seeing the Luke... the figure itself looks great, plusthe packaging is really nice!  I also like how the accessories are not just packed in, but almost displayed.  Very much aimed at the collector.

I say I "kinda" like the line, and I'm probably goin to buy it, but I may wait ad play the clearance deals on this one, ad see what happens.  Iget that odd feeling I'm going to get burned if I shell out $20 a pop over and over again with this line.

I'd be gung ho for it, but I just don't have the trust in Hasbro they'll treat this line well.  I completely get that they are a company and thier #1 goal will be to make money and keep thier investors happy.  No secrets there.  I just think there's a way to mke money AND keep collectors happy.  Maybe  say "Hey, let's keep things going with all the toys and all like we always do, but what if we just steppd aside and had this nice little 6" line and devote it to the collectors/fans.  We'll treat it a little different an try not to bastardize it.  We may not make as much as the rest of the stuff we churn out, but it will make our fanbase happy, and it might just give them a warm fuzzy feeling, put the fun bck into it all, and keep them coming back for more...for the long haul...which would be a good thing for everyone

...wouldn't it?

Bob

The Fighter Pods sold out within days at my 5 Below.  FYI, the same 4 packs were goin for $9.99 at TRU as a few other places.  I'm split on these.   don't collect them, but we'e bough some for hte kids and they seem to love them.

I actually like the, and the fact that thy tae up so litte space is appealing.  I just can't see startig a new "blind packed" collection.  Always seems (in any "bind pack" collectable) to end up  beng hundreds of commons that aren't worth crap, and just one or two really expensive peices everyone istrin to scramble to get and really HTF.

Dave Prowse is going to be signing at the April 5-7, 2013 Steel City con.  Details below:

http://www.steelcitycon.com/

I've seen him numerous times, and have a bunch of stuff autographed by him.  One thing to keep in mind, is that a lot of the original SW folks are getting up there in age.  You just never know when the last time will be that you can get an auto or one last photo op with some folks may be.

I bought a Deluxe Vader costume last month.  I may just bring the hemlmet and have hom sign it.

See you there!

Bob

I'd say it's a bit of a gamble too.  Brian's would have to order a certain number to carry the exclusive, but given their store's size it's tough to say if they could order a boatload or not.  Ordering when I did, I am completely satisfied with it.  At $33 with no coupon codes I think I maybe would've passed.  Really would've regretted not getting the accessories though.

Looks likea nice figure.   I'm just looking over the last 15 years whenever there's any exclusve offered well above a "normal" asking price..in this example let's say a single figure ("normal" being about $7-$10)  MANY of these "exclusives" seem to eventually end up on ebay at about half thier original asking price. 

Celebration exclusives, the talkin Vader, the silver anniv. fgs that were being offered at various convetions for a few years, any exclusives, TRU exclusives, Target exclusives, etc.etc..  you name it.  $33 seems to be at the top of the list for any single carded figure that I've seen.  Just always seems to be lately a similar mentality around SW that when something comes out it's originally offered a rediculously high prce (i.e. take advantage of everone who needs one first or feels they have to hurry an buy before it's "sold out"), then it eventually goes on a few rounds of sales or Special offer prices, then eventually hits it's it final absolute low clearance price... which at that point the price is so low they get wiped out/sold out.  If you can get the timing down, and get an item on the last clearance price (or as cloe to it as you can), you could probably have about 3X the items in your collection vs. buying everything at it's original offered price.  This particular item just seems to scream clearance deal eventually.

Also, not saying this practice is wrong in any way (Heck, if I was a company, I'd do the same)  However, bing a collector, and NOT a company, I'm just looking at it through the eyes of a collector...be smart about your purchases, and hoping to save folks (maybe newer folks to the hobby) a lot of $ and frustration in the end.  Hopefully have more fun with it. 

   

I haven't seen any new figs at 5 Below since aroudn the holidays (I hit the one in Monroeville, and occasionally the one in Pigh Mills)!

If you think of it and ever see new figs show up there, please shoot me an email.  I've been trying to gra one of ea. now that they are $5.

Thanks!

By the way they just got in the Fighter Pods.  4 packs are $3.  At that price, I grabbed 2 packs for the kids.
 

hahaa.

Back to the original qestion.  Hasbro is always petty good for keeping the line going through the ups/downs...movie years/non-movie years.  Thye have REALLY pumped out the product over the years.  I won't mind at all seeing a break for the summer.  Maybe come back and hit it with the 3-D movie tie-ins on and off over the next 2 years.   

From a collectors standpoint, I think it lets everyone get caught up, gets everything in order for the new moves in a few years.    From a company standpoint they just want to keep the product rolling out, and it makes sense.  I'm excited for the new movies, but if they keep pumping out rehashes for 2 years...ugh..I can see the collector burnout starting to hit.  I went through it for a few years not too long after ROTS.  Sometmes a little break is all you need.

I think a lo are going back ad flling in holes, which is great for SW collecting.  Purges some product off the  secondary market,  lets everone take a  breather and get focused.  I may even finish the search for the last couple comics I need.  God, I'm hoping theydon't get carried away wth the LE Variant covers..the whole money grab LE/variant thing has been handled quite well in the comics category, hope it stays that way.

Should be a fun year!