Saw this on our Facebook group posted by Eric and wanted to share it here too. Looks like Hasbro is starting a cool new line of 6" action figures called the "Black Series." These look pretty sweet and might get me back collecting action figures once again.
Star Wars action figures are growing up with their audience.
After 35 years of fantastic plastic standing tall in pop culture at 3¾ inches, Hasbro is releasing the Star Wars Black Series this year, beginning a new set of 6-inch figures that will feature more articulation and an increased attention to detail.
Priced at $19.99 each, eight figures are planned for 2013 — Hasbro will primarily draw characters from the original Star Wars trilogy of films while also bringing in key players from the prequels.
The first wave of four, due out in early to mid-August, includes Luke Skywalker in his X-Wing Fighter flight suit, fan-favorite droid R2-D2, bad guy Darth Maul and an Imperial Sandtrooper.
"We consider them the best figures that Hasbro's ever produced for Star Wars that meets the sensibilities of romancing the character as well as the playability and poseability that fans really appreciate," says Derryl DePriest, Hasbro vice president of boys marketing.
Hasbro has had success with the scale before with the 6-inch Marvel Legends figures based on Marvel Comics heroes and villains. In terms of Star Wars, though, the Black Series will act as a transitional point between the 3¾-inch toys — "which is rooted in the childhood memories of generations of now-grown kids," DePriest says — and the 12-inch Sideshow Collectibles figures for adult collectors.
The current "vintage"-style line of 3¾ figures will also continue under the Black Series banner.
In creating something new and different with Star Wars, the color black became an inspiration for toy designers, DePriest says. "It's one of the main colors of Star Wars all the way back to the beginning, and it's the approach that Lucasfilm has taken with their collector-oriented product line. We're bringing that simplicity and essence and focus on the character now to the toy aisle."
The Black Series appeals to those newbies who want to start a series from the start as well as those hardcore collectors who gobble up anything having to do with the words "Jedi" or "Empire" and "are looking for something new and their interest isn't as piqued by the 15th cantina alien we have yet to do," DePriest says. "We realize folks want their iconic characters delivered up in a new way."
With Star Wars: Episode VII coming from new Star Wars director J.J. Abrams in a couple of years, as well as comics, novels and other media adding to the universe George Lucas started in 1977, it's a good time to figure out different scales and toys for the next generation of Star Wars fan, according to DePriest.
Before then, however, the Black Series also gives a chance for parents to connect with their own little Star Wars fans.
"Our focus here is the adult collector, the dad," DePriest says. "We know they have their own generation of youngsters they like to share the adventure with. It can be something for dad, and the 3¾ world can be something for the kids to share."
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2013/01/29/hasbro-star-wars-black-series-action-figure-toys/1872035/ (http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2013/01/29/hasbro-star-wars-black-series-action-figure-toys/1872035/)
I am looking forward to this line, as 6 inch figures would be great. I want to get the R2-D2 for sure, but probably get the rest as well. Would be nice if they don't release the waves to quickly and limit how many they do each year.
I am so going to collect these for my son!
Picked up the Sandtrooper in this line today, also saw the Luke, R2, and Maul figure. They have lots of accessories and articulation. With this guy, he looks awesome with the extra stuff on and without it, and comes with 3 guns. Probably gonna pick the rest up, I like the 6 inch size. The retail is great.
Where did you find him? Was the price $20?
Got him at Target. Yep, they were 20 bucks. I was at Toys R Us today and they didn't have them.
Awesome, I have the first wave on order.
I have been avoiding the stores because of these, went to Walmart the other day and made sure not to venture to the toy aisle as I feel if I see these I am going to buy them. I am probably just delaying the inevitable... That Sandtrooper looks pretty sweet, and I am pretty sure if I see R2-D2 I will pick him up.
Ours are more expensive here coming in at £20 about £6 more than in the US. Wave 2 comes out in December here, wave 1 out on 15th August.
Dropped by Target today and found Darth Maul and R2-D2. Only bought the Maul. Tried Toys R Us too but they had nothing in this line yet. Not sure how many I'll be picking up at $20. per fig but they are nice!
Cool Rico, Yesterday a friend of mine dragged me out to look for these. Fortunately for my wallet I did not find any as all sold out where we went. Since they are first wave, I suspect sooner or later they will be in abundance.
The Emperor is in my head. "You want this..."
Bought the Luke though.
Unboxed.
I have the R2, Maul, and Luke with the Sandtrooper on the way. I think these figures are great and give me a chance to get back into figure collecting with a fresh, new line. I am keeping them in box as i plan on saving them for Jensen one day if he has an interest in STAR WARS like his old man. The figures look great, I am surprised none of you got the R2 yet, he might be the best of the first wave with his accessories and features. Wave 2 looks great with Han, Greedo, Boba Fett, and Slave Leia, although I am going to skip the Slave Leia, not really interested in being a completest and that figure.
http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodinfo.asp?number=HSA4301B (http://www.entertainmentearth.com/prodinfo.asp?number=HSA4301B)
Tada!!!
Nice haul Bryan! I really need to find that Luke!
Quote from: Rico on August 16, 2013, 02:59:53 PM
Nice haul Bryan! I really need to find that Luke!
I bought these on Amazon for a really good deal. Lower prices then E.E. by a little. I got them all separately, although three came from one seller. You know what was cool was that E.E. actually e-mailed me to ask why I canceled by case order. Very nice customer service.
You guys are making it harder and harder for me to resist. Fortunately they still keep getting picked off the pegs before I get to the store ;)
What's so smart about this line is it offers a new generation of collectors to step in and a more manageable, albeit more $, release schedule. And the quality is terrific, although I am keeping them boxed for Jensen to enjoy.
I am pretty much sold on these, though they still allude me, as a friend of mine and I spent Saturday trying to track these down. Just a matter of time as I can see at the Walmarts the space is there for them. I agree in that has sort of reinvigorated the modern line of Star Wars action figures for me. In our Travels we ran across the 3 Foot Darth Vader from Jakks Pacific, it looked cool, but not enough for me to actually want to own it, mostly because there was no option to have him hold a lightsaber, just a molded hilt to his belt.
Yeah, I was so done with Star Wars collecting. The last figure I bought was a Cad Bane a couple years ago. Gonna pick up the remaining two if they are still at the Target in the next town on Friday.
Some high res pics of Wave 2. I like the Han, Greedo, and Boba, the Boba is REALLY nice, but that Leia is terrible. I was thinking of collecting all of these but that isn't worth it. I also think collecting Slave Leia figures is a bizarre geek fetish. And I don't see these being valuable in 30 years either.
http://www.rebelscum.com/story/front/High_Resolution_Hasbro_6Inch_Black_Series_Wave_2_153746.asp (http://www.rebelscum.com/story/front/High_Resolution_Hasbro_6Inch_Black_Series_Wave_2_153746.asp)
Who buys figures to sell in 30 years? I buy them if I like them! :)
Quote from: Rico on August 19, 2013, 04:15:04 PM
Who buys figures to sell in 30 years? I buy them if I like them! :)
Which is what I am going to do. :) That Leia is just weird.
And I certainly can appreciate the value of collectibles if you recall. :)
I wasn't referring to you Bryan. :)
Leia could use a better paint application. For figures with little clothing, it might be better to do less articulation. The odd thing is I heard on Star Wars Action News them talking to Hasbro saying how they were able to come up with a way to hid the joints better on the Slave Leia. Yeah, I don't see it.
That Leia doesn't look very good, I sort of hope they pack the cases more heavy on Fett and less on that Slave Leia.
I think this will be a bit of a pick and choose line for me. I was thinking I might pickup all the figures that were done in the Original Kenner line, and then the Prequel and other OT figures that I like.
Quote from: Rico on August 19, 2013, 04:34:08 PM
I wasn't referring to you Bryan. :)
Leia could use a better paint application. For figures with little clothing, it might be better to do less articulation. The odd thing is I heard on Star Wars Action News them talking to Hasbro saying how they were able to come up with a way to hid the joints better on the Slave Leia. Yeah, I don't see it.
Yeah, I heard that show and would agree in general but this one looks a wonky.
See, here are all of Wave 1 and the points of articulation are well concealed within the clothing. Even in Wave 2, Han, Greedo, and Boba look great, it's just Leia that's a big old mess. It just begs the question as to why even bother making that figure.
Yeah, why not make New Hope Leia, Hoth Leia, Bespin Leia....I never cared for a figure of Slave Leia. I'm sure they'll get to those, but that looks like ass. Fett looks awesome though.
I like all the accessories that come with Han, you can do him up in a few different versions which is nice. I guess will see if that cuts down on all the different variations they release. The 3 3/4 line had numerous versions of ANH Han, and might have been one of the reasons I burned out on Action Figures, as they just had some many different versions of the same character.
It's truly hard to keep up with Star Wars merchandise - especially the various figure and toy lines. And with multiple new movies coming there is going to be a TON new stuff very soon. It will be fun to buy some new characters again in the near future too.
Oh man.. this is why I need to visit this forums more often.. I'm just now hearing about these figures.. I haven't collected Star Wars action figures in a long time as they just made to many of them. I did collect the Unleashed 8inch figures and I want to start collecting these.. now I have to see if i can find them in any stores near me. I had the chance to get the SDCC Boba Fett exclusive one but missed it my minutes :(
Are these from the same set?
:roflmao :roflmao :roflmao :roflmao :roflmao :roflmao :roflmao :shootgun:
Quote from: Geekyfanboy on August 21, 2013, 11:26:39 PM
Oh man.. this is why I need to visit this forums more often.. I'm just now hearing about these figures.. I haven't collected Star Wars action figures in a long time as they just made to many of them. I did collect the Unleashed 8inch figures and I want to start collecting these.. now I have to see if i can find them in any stores near me. I had the chance to get the SDCC Boba Fett exclusive one but missed it my minutes :(
Don't worry to much about the Exclusive, as from what I understand, Both Fett and the Carbonite Han will be released on their own down the road, so the exclusive is mostly in them being packaged together.
I might take a trip to a few stores on the way home from work tomorrow and see if I can find any.
Picked up R2 today, he's got all kinds of doo dads!
Quote from: jedijeff on August 22, 2013, 05:23:36 PM
Quote from: Geekyfanboy on August 21, 2013, 11:26:39 PM
Oh man.. this is why I need to visit this forums more often.. I'm just now hearing about these figures.. I haven't collected Star Wars action figures in a long time as they just made to many of them. I did collect the Unleashed 8inch figures and I want to start collecting these.. now I have to see if i can find them in any stores near me. I had the chance to get the SDCC Boba Fett exclusive one but missed it my minutes :(
Don't worry to much about the Exclusive, as from what I understand, Both Fett and the Carbonite Han will be released on their own down the road, so the exclusive is mostly in them being packaged together.
I might take a trip to a few stores on the way home from work tomorrow and see if I can find any.
Boba Fett is in the next wave. I would not expect a Han in carbonite, though. That's really more of an accessory then figure.
Quote from: Bryancd on August 23, 2013, 02:27:42 PM
Quote from: jedijeff on August 22, 2013, 05:23:36 PM
Quote from: Geekyfanboy on August 21, 2013, 11:26:39 PM
Oh man.. this is why I need to visit this forums more often.. I'm just now hearing about these figures.. I haven't collected Star Wars action figures in a long time as they just made to many of them. I did collect the Unleashed 8inch figures and I want to start collecting these.. now I have to see if i can find them in any stores near me. I had the chance to get the SDCC Boba Fett exclusive one but missed it my minutes :(
Don't worry to much about the Exclusive, as from what I understand, Both Fett and the Carbonite Han will be released on their own down the road, so the exclusive is mostly in them being packaged together.
I might take a trip to a few stores on the way home from work tomorrow and see if I can find any.
Boba Fett is in the next wave. I would not expect a Han in carbonite, though. That's really more of an accessory then figure.
Just a rumor at this point, but it has been suggested that Han in Carbonite will show up again. I agree, probably will not see him on his own card, but could come with another figure (Boushh, Jabba).
http://www.rebelscum.com/story/front/6Inch_Han_Solo_In_Carbonite_Not_As_Exclusive_As_You_Would_Think_153339.asp (http://www.rebelscum.com/story/front/6Inch_Han_Solo_In_Carbonite_Not_As_Exclusive_As_You_Would_Think_153339.asp)
I joined the club today, as I finally got one of these larger sized figures, R2-D2. I guess I am only half in the club, as I R2 is only half size ;) . :r2d2
Need to get one of the full sized figures next.
You can get the Boba and Han in carbonite over here from Amazon. :) Bit pricey though
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Series-Carbonite-Celebration-Europe-Exclusive/dp/B00E6BTK82/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377931663&sr=8-1&keywords=star+wars+black+series+6+inch (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Series-Carbonite-Celebration-Europe-Exclusive/dp/B00E6BTK82/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377931663&sr=8-1&keywords=star+wars+black+series+6+inch)
The case of figs. I ordered on May the 4th arrived. NERD-GASM!
Looks like you can do a forensic study over whether Han shot first or not..
Hehe - we all know Han shot first. :)
Rico are you taking them out or the boxes? I'm a sucker for taking them out :)
Quote from: Meds on May 16, 2014, 12:51:50 PM
Rico are you taking them out or the boxes? I'm a sucker for taking them out :)
Well, I took them out of the 'outer packing box.' :)
Come on, they're no use to anyone in that cardboard prison!
Penny says "I want you to take them out of the box!" ;)