Shows how much money Hasbro is leaving on the table by not having a clone repaint every few waves.

Hasbro is doing that "A-List" line of figures, and the first two are Mandalorian (Mines of Mandalore) and Darth Vader (ANH).

Is the ANH Vader any different than previous ANH Vaders released?

I got the exclusive Galen and Stormtroopers box set. The Galen figure is pretty good. I don't like the single knees, but I think in this instance, they would look better then the double jounted knees. All the hands and force effects and stuff are really neat. The stand was a pain to put together but afterward it looks awesome. Only gripes I have are he can't holds his lightsaber well, and his heads all look a tad small. I also wonder why he has like 5 places to put the saber on his belt. Some figures get none, Galen gets 20 lol. I'll be getting the single release version as well. Does anyone know if there's any difference? This one has blood coming does his arm and on his shoulder, I was hoping the single release maybe was a clean version or something.

The Stormtroopers on the other hand, while they look cool, are a mixed bag. The single knees suck, they get to 90*, thats about it. Their ankles don't click in a good spot for neautral poses. Their feet are paper thin. They don't have gun holsters. And they have those stupid ass blank heads under the helmets. One of them was completely crooked and wouldn't let his head turn properly, and getting the head out to adjust it, broke the peg for the neck. So I had to just douse it with glue to hold the neck on. And the other one had the head in just fine, but the glue they used didn't hold well and his helmet came off just moving him. So annoying. And their chest armor connects weird on their sides, it doesn't line up proper. I'm afraid to break them even more if i try tl correct it, so I'll live with it. And I get why they do the shoulder armor this way, it works most of the time, and looks good. But on these, the armor is too solid and all it does is push them up and look awkward and bent. The old Stormtrooper mold wasn't the best either, I wish they could've found a good medium. The blank heads under the helmets is the biggest problem. The rest is easy to live with. These heads are just all kinds of messed up. I've had so many that come out twisted or sideways. It just doesn't work. I don't know what they're reasoning is behind it, but it's not great. One of the biggest issues with the RotJ "deluxe" Boba they did too. And the old Dins. The new Dins head is a solid piece, and its so much better. 

I also got mine and noticed that even at 6", Starkiller's hairline has problems getting full paint coverage. The TVC version was always laughable in how they couldn't properly cover his hairline.

How come he only comes with one lightsaber hilt but four blades? Does he only ever use one in the game? I've never played.

Also, I noticed in the render on the side of the box his faceprints were darker and that looked better than the final prints.

I haven't played the game in ages but I think you can change the blade color in the game? I don't know why four blades tho

I have been really into EU stuff lately, playing Jedi Survivor, reading the comics, listening to audio books, and I have a few comments. 

First, it is crazy that the Jedi games are getting so few named characters. It has been talked about before, but Merrin really needs to be made. From both games but if we only got one, Survivor would be preferred. Cere and Greez too tbh. Either mainline or from gamestop, I really want these. Or a mix like KOTOR. Which also leads me to say we need more KOTOR characters. HK-47 would sell great, and you can repaint him for HK-50. Do 47 in the mainline and 50 as a gamestop exclusive. But in Galaxy of Heroes, i've been leveling my KOTOR and Jedi characters, and i'm really wanting them.

Kyle Katarn is a great character who has become popular again recently, and his apprentice Jayden Kor. I think both of those would be great in the line, and I have hope since we finally got Starkiller. I really hope Outlaws makes it's main characters / cast, unlike the Jedi games. The K2 droid with a trench coat could be an easy one. Then we definitely need Kay and Nix as that is basically this games Cal and BD-1. 

Second, the comic series is soooo underutilized. I feel like we could be getting some good High Republic characters. From the books and comics I feel like there are so many characters I want figures of. So many cool Jedi in cool robes that the bodies would be easy to just repaint. One of two male and one female could get us so many High Republic Jedi.

Quinlan Vos is a big need. And more for the main recent ongoing series. Sana Starros is a pretty big character. Beilert Valance was big enough to start a mini series and get a 40+ issue ongoing. Plus he looks cool. Terminator, cyborg, big muscle bounty hunter dude. He is great and very much needed. 

Overall, the main part of Star Wars enjoyment for me has never been the films, but the shows, movies, comics, books and games. I feel like recently we have been fed well in these areas, especially television shows, but I would really like more focus on the gaming greats and comic line. I am so glad we have them, but they are crazy underutilized. 

I definitely agree there are tons of EU characters that could be done, and clearly I don't even mean obscure, background, or secondary supporting characters. Yeah, I'd actually take a figure of Komari Vosa, and Lumiya is likely to always be on my wishlist, but when you have the main cast of popular video games and significant characters from current comic series, I dunno... make some! I'm really grateful for a couple of Scar squad members, and am guessing they'll do some more, if not all, but there's plenty of Imperial Knights and Sith from the Legacy series that would surely be popular, TOR Jedi and Sith... I dunno... there's so many. And I know Hasbro seems stuck because there are so many characters they can make figures of from soooooo many sources (several of us complain about not enough OT, or not enough PT, or not enough of the current project, or not enough... etc), but I think I've gotten two BS figures so far this year. (Phase two clone, which I got because I decided I just wanted him and the Phase 1 clean clone, then sold all my Commanders and named clones, and I also got the BOBF Tusken Chief.) I have no other preorders so far, though I anticipate Momaw Nadon, and there are a couple I may keep an eye out for in November. But they aren't doing too many that appeal to me.

Even Boba Fett. Come on, do some pre-production repaints, or a proper BOBF figure.

I'd happily take some High Republic figures. Heck, I haven't even read any of the novels or comics, but I love the look of them all. The villains too. Enfys Nest has always been one of my favorite side characters, and they have a very Enfys feel to them (perhaps intentionally, I don't know). I'm sure we'll get at least some representation with the Acolyte coming out, and whatever that movie about the origins of the Force is, but still.

I get that movies and TV shows are the priority, as that's what most of the audience for these figures have seen, but I was hoping that when Gaming Greats was introduced, it would be an excuse to expand a bit and give us more variety instead of 90% army builders. At this point, I'd say that there's arguably as good a chance for someone to see and recognize Merrin or Cere on the shelf as there was someone who saw Hera or Ezra on the shelf back before Rebels really blew up in popularity/importance. And yeah, they benefit from being a Jedi character and cool looking alien, but so do the Mantis crew. You got a cool alien pilot (and they did Rio in the mainline, so it's not like little 4 armed pilots are out of the question), a cool looking Jedi, and a cool looking witch (and seeing as how the general audience is now familiar with Nightsisters, it's the perfect time).

There's obviously faith behind the Jedi games (Fallen Order/Survivor). They just canceled the Mandalorian game, but are keeping Jedi 3 in development. Don't get me wrong- I'm incredibly happy about it, but you'd think that faith would translate into some figures. Gamers, collectors, and Star Wars fans are some of the most intensely passionate crowds out there, and you have all 3 rolled up into one here, Hasbro. Give us some FO/S figs that aren't army builders or Cal variants!

The Acolyte kinda scares me as far as figures because I feel like either I'm gonna get hardly anything, if at all, like Andor, or I'll be all in because it's a really exciting series to me.

I love the EU as well.  And I like all the extra stuff that is Canon now too, like the comics, games, etc.  But man, during the pre-Disney days, the EU meant the world to me.  The Comics, games, and toys that were beyond the Prequels and Original Trilogy was all so fascinating and fun.

I think currently what I want most in Black Series is to finish the characters from the POTF2 line, which we all discussed on here a few weeks ago, and I want more Prequel characters, especially Jedi.

But that being said, to get EU characters would be so great, and all instant buys for me.

Prince Xizor
Dash Rendar
Kyle Katarn
Durge
Clone Empreor
Jedi Leia
Darkside Luke
Darth Krayte, Talon, Bane, and Plagueis
The Kids of Luke and the Kids of Leia
Exar Kun
Lumiya

I'm glad we are at least getting that EU 4 Pack this year, but Yakface has rumored we may see some more EU surprises for 2024/2025.

As far as Acolyte, I wonder what number of figures we'll get as well.  There are tons of Jedi in this show, also possibly including some known from the Prequel Era like Yoda, Yareal Poof, and Oppo Rancisis.  It seems Jedi sell well, so you'd think Hasbro would take the chance to make them.

The Darkside/Sith characters as well.

I hope this show does well.  It sounds interesting, but it definitely was made more in the vein of a show or movie for Young Adults.  Like Hunger Games or something.

So, finally got my hands on the Glavis Ringworld Mando, some thoughts:

Good:

This guy looks premium.  When Hasbro wants to do painted metal, it's always a home run.  If this were just about any other figure, I could see them doing plastic cape + swirled plastic (ew).  Overall, from the silver armor to the worn gunmetal thighguards,  blue kneepad and darker blue boots, the paint apps all looks very nice and clean.

Really love the soft goods cape.  Sure beats the earlier versions' ugly plastic capes that I ended up removing.

That darksaber thingy is awesome (sorry haven't watched the show since S1).  Love how hard the contrast hits, especially posed in front of a dark background.  I do think the area above the cross-guard is a little too long, it always looks like he's holding the handle too low.  Accessories just in general are great here, even if I miss having the rifle dealy.  Cool jump pack.

Glad they went with the molded-on helmet head this time around, wasn't a fan of the big and rubbery Beskar version's helmet.

Bad:

Knees!  The POA is entirely too low with their single-joint design and throws off the proportions when in action poses.  They also barely clear 90 degrees.  The knee is basically staying with the thigh and you're just bending the shin.  Easily the worst part of the figure, and a big step down from the other Mando figs.  This is the main reason I stopped buying Black Series, so no surprise here.

Sword handle is a bit thin/hard for him to hold.

Overall a very good figure that looks fantastic on the shelf.  Thanks for all the feedback before I ordered, everyone who had an opinion on this guy made good points and he's as good as I expected.

@supercamel-1982 the ones you named definitely seem like a well rounded and "if they only do so many EU figures, at least these" kinda list. A good representation from a few sources.

Another problem with the new Stormtroopers I just noticed. Here are some pics. These are both the ones from the TFU box. Both different figures.

https://imgur.com/a/atGkWBu

https://imgur.com/a/hPk4AZm

Don't know why it won't post both pics in the same comment. Anyway, yea. That codpiece is crooked. And extremely noticeably. Both figures. It's not a solid piece, it's another overlay. Le sigh. Killing my OCD.

Man...for MONTHS I waited for some sort of sale on that Pulse Exclusive Jabba...and then somehow COMPLETELY missed it when they marked it down to $50! Of all the rotten luck! People now selling them for a premium on eBay. Gah!!