The Star Wars I Love & The Star Wars I Don't

 Before I begin, I have been negligent in reviewing VC figures, work and football season take up a lot of my time. I do have some leave coming, so I'll have time to do some photos and write a review. I plan on reviewing either 4-6 figures for the rest of the year. I'll also do my Top VC Figures Of 2026 in early December  which will be my last post until 2027. I'll even use the time to get started on building the Cantina, and when that's done it will replace the BB-8 Playset as my photo lounge. Also my 1st post in November will have my Last Figure Standing winners revealed. And yes, 2 of my Figure reviews will be the Anakin and Padme I showed off last week. Still waiting on Obi-Wan, who won't be reviewed. 

When it comes to Star Wars, there's a lot to like and a lot to not like. From the Legends Era to today's Diz Nee Era, that's a long time. Almost 50 years worth of stories. So while my intense dislike of the Sequels is well known to readers, I haven't really gotten into what I like overall. In short, I prefer the Legends Era over Diz Nee. By a lot. But that doesn't mean that Diz Nee is all bad, or that Legends was all good. So, I'll go over what I like about Diz Nee Star Wars and what I don't like about Star Wars Legends. So why do I use the words Diz Nee and not Disney? I personally feel today's version of that company has strayed from what they originally did: tell great stories in an exciting way. I don't think they do that now. But, on occasion, they do some good stuff. While Legends is highly revered, it had some of the worst moments in all of Star Wars. 

THE GOOD DIZ NEE STAR WARS

1. Rebels. This isn't in any particular order, but Star Wars Rebels was the 1st series under the new ownership. Ezra Bridger, Kanan Jarrus, Hera Syndulla, Garazeb Orelios, Sabine Wren and Chopper have become beloved characters. Even getting VC love with the Ghost HasLab and some figures spread out the last 2 years. Heck, we even learned what happened to Ahsoka, and saw her battle Darth Vader. The show could even be the spark that lights a fire that could undo the Sequels: The World Between Worlds. In the Sequels reality, Ahsoka wasn't pulled out by Ezra. In the new reality, Ezra saved her. It could work.  But it's a show I like to go back to watching again and again. I still get chills when Ahsoka fights Vader, when Obi-Wan defeats Maul, and when Ezra and Thrawn vanish in the series finale. 

2. Resistance. I may get hate for liking this series, but it did a good job of fleshing out the galaxy at the time of Episode 7 & 8. Plus the social media interactions with the cast while episodes aired was fun. It's not the best story out there, but the 2D animation was really well done, especially with the race sequences and the space battles. I'm hoping the Blu Ray dude at Comic Con has this series for sale, I have S1 on DVD, but S2 was never released. On the toy front, we were robbed. It came out in the 5 POA era, but my favorite figure was Yeager, because he came with his astromech Bucket, which isn't a bad figure at all for its size. But the various racing ships, had they been made by Hot Wheels, would have sold. I think a few were made, but not all were. 

3. Andor. I remember nobody asking for this series. Do you remember that? But, it was actually pretty good. While Rogue One is the best movie in the new ownership group, in my opinion, I didn't think a series about Cassian Andor was needed. The only downside to the series is we know Cassian doesn't escape Scariff. But to have a son he would never meet makes him a tragic hero. I'm also glad we aren't getting a Jyn Erso series, but I wouldn't object to a Baze and Chirrut series. Those dude's kicked @$$! While Luthen Rael has won every contest the last year, I think he's only viable in the VC in a 2, 3 or 4 pack. But there are troop builder possibilities in the VC from Andor. But will Hasbro make any?

4. Darth Vader 2017 Comic Book Series. My all time favorite Star Wars comics is Star Wars: Legacy. My 2nd favorite? The 2017 Vader series by Charles Soule. It takes place just after Revenge of the Sith, and explains how the Inquisitors came to be, plus how Vader got his red crystal for his lightsaber. It's the only modern comic series I recommend. 

5. The Mandalorian (1st 2 seasons). I actually just finished rewatching these seasons. It's fun to watch, and there's a ton of both VC and Sixer figures available. It served as connecting tissue to the OT, with Boba Fett making his return, and Luke Skywalker being a badass Jedi Knight in Chapter 16. And while I liked the Mandalorian and Grogu movie, it would have been better as Mando S4. Mando S3 was doggy doo. 

6. Rogue One. While I don't always watch this movie when I rewatch the Lucas Era movies, it is the best one recently. I kinda wish it hadn't become a one way mission, but the HISHE ending is hysterical and you need to watch it. We have long had the crew in the Sixer scale, but this year we got Baze and Bodhi, so after a decade, we finally have it. I also like Solo and why we don't have Chewbacca and Therm Scissorpunch from that movie baffles me. 

7. Novels. Some of the Diz Nee Era novels are good. Here are some of my favorites, including one I've heard good things about but haven't read. In no particular order:

A. Master and Apprentice. In a way, this brought back memories of the young adult Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan books, although this is definitely not a young reader's novel. Some good plot twists, plus a Jedi that dispels some myths was interesting. One book I'm happy to have read. 

B. New Thrawn Trilogy. Timothy Zahn came back to give Thrawn's origin story in the new Canon. He would write another trilogy that delves deeper into his early years, but Thrawn, Thrawn: Alliances & Thrawn: Treason are worth your time. 

C. Brotherhood. An excellent Obi-Wan and Anakin novel, post AOTC. I hope we get some pre-AOTC stories with Obi-Wan and Anakin one day, as I feel the Prequel Era has been handled decently by the new ownership. 

D. Bloodlines. An excellent Leia novel, and one where she takes center stage. The New Republic has a lack of leadership, and her true parentage is revealed to the galaxy. This sets up the events of Episode 7.

E. Lost Stars. This young adult novel is widely considered to be one of the best of the new Star Wars novels. I haven't read it, but think Romeo and Juliet taking place in the Star Wars universe. She's an Imperial, he becomes a Rebel. Most Disney novels in the OT Era don't feature the Mains as the primary focus, but this book still tells a good story. I might get it one day, but I'm interested in the Manga version. 

F. Shadows Of The Sith. A Luke and Lando adventure, plus the story about how Rey becomes an orphan. Not a bad story, and reading it made me excited, because as a kid I had read some of Marvel's post ESB stories where Luke and Lando worked together, and this novel in a way brought that feeling back. 

G. A New Dawn. The Rebels prequel novel which shows how Kanan met Hera. And introduces Rae Sloane, the Imperial Officer who plays a big role in stories taking place after Endor. 

7. Comic Books. Some TPB's I recommend:

A. Vader Down. Darth Vader at his peak after being downed in a crash with Luke's X-Wing. This is a must read for any Vader fan, and the best story arc post ANH. 

B. The Rise Of Kylo Ren. We get a look at Ben Solo's fall to the dark side, plus getting a look at Luke's Jedi Order. Charles Soule writes this miniseries, which shows the final fate of 3 of Luke's students who follow Ben after the destruction of Luke's temple. Plus we get a look into how the Knights of Ren operate, a mission where Luke, Ben and Lor San-Tekka encounter the Knights of Ren, and the birth of Kylo Ren. 

C. Shattered Empire. This recaps what happened in the hours and days after the Battle of Endor. The Mains are in supporting roles, as Poe Dameron's parents, Kes Dameron and Shara Bey are the stars. It is interesting to see Leia visit Naboo again (the Princess Leia miniseries isn't a bad read either), plus Han's battlefield shenanigans are fun. Luke's arc is the final part, and reminded me, in a way of Legends Luke. 

D. Lando Miniseries. I dismissed this when it came out, but it's written by Charles Soule so for that reason, you should read it. You find out why Lobot can't speak, plus it fills in some gaps about certain objects and storylines  from other comics. 

THE LEGENDS I DONT LIKE

1. New Jedi Order/Legacy of the Force. Killing off Chewbacca, and then Mara Jade was just bad. The Yuuzhan Vong were way overpowered, and making Jacen Solo a Sith Lord was a bad idea. I mean, the teacher's pet Raynar Thul should have been the one to go Sith. He was scarred during the Vong War, and his father was killed by an anti-human extremist. To make matters worse in NJO, Anakin Solo got killed off. Plus Jacen offing Mara just felt like an insult as Mara risked her life to save him and his sister in The Last Command. You may argue that someone needed to die in Vector Prime to shake things up, but going to the "Skywalker family member goes to the dark side" was just wrong. If I had time, I'd retcon that crap. 

2. The Crystal Star. First, Vonda McIntyre was a very good author, particularly writing Star Trek. Her novel The Enterprise: The First Adventure was a book Gene Roddenberry said he wished he had written, and considered it Kirk's real first mission as Enterprise captain. But, her novel for Star Wars, The Crystal Star, was basically a Star Trek story set in the Star Wars universe. The plot is actually good, however. Jacen, Jaina and Anakin Solo are kidnapped by a former apprentice of Darth Vader. So Leia and Chewbacca track them down. Han and Luke investigate a possible Jedi in Waru, a being from another dimension. The apprentice of Vader is a non-human, and as Leia learns when she encounters more of their kind, their species don't allow anyone to say their name, because if someone does, it's a form of ownership. Like I said, it's better for Star Trek. Hardly any characters who appear here appeared in any other Legends stories, and if they did, it was a quick mention. The exception was Lusa, who got unalived in the NJO. 

3. Callista. If any one new character could be intensely disliked, it was Callista. She first appeared in Children of the Jedi, which was a decent book. I wouldn't recommend a re-read but I am getting off topic. She sacrificed herself to save Jedi, putting her essence into a station's AI program. Luke fell in love with her when he was on the station, and before it was destroyed, Callista's essence inhabited the body of one of his Jedi students, so she could be with him. However, she had no Force abilities. But in the novel Darksaber, she could access the dark side. Which makes no sense. In Fate of the Jedi, it's was revealed that Abeloth unalived Callista, and fans everywhere cheered. So before Holdo, there was Callista. But I do recommend reading Darksaber, as it puts Daala in charge of the Imperial Remnant fleet, and brought back former Captain, now Vice Admiral Pellaeon. Plus the lunch scene with Callista and Mara Jade is very well written. 

4. Dark Empire Trilogy. While this was the 1st new comic book miniseries published in the early days of the Star Wars relaunch, it just doesn't hold up over the years. When it first came out, it sold out. Dark Empire issue 1 is still one of the best selling Star Wars comic books of all time. But, the colors diminish the excellent pencils of Cam Kennedy. Too much black, purple and green. Tom Veitch did a decent job writing the 1st 2 Dark Empire miniseries, but on Empire's End it's phoned in. Han kills Palpy?! Really?! It's still better than the Diz Nee Trilogy, and I still want VC figures of young Clone Palpy, Sedriss, Dark Side Luke, Leia Organa-Solo, Kam Solusar and those Imperial Sentinels. 

5. The short story where IG-88 has a plan to take over the computer on the 2nd Death Star. Whoever wrote that was drunk, high, or both. 

6. Corellian Jedi. For some reason they couldn't use telekinesis. Which makes no sense. I could accept not using it for personal or philosophical reasons. But this was ridiculous. 

7. The Last Jedi. Not the awful movie by Darth Ruin Johnson, but the novel, which was a follow up to the entertaining Coruscant Nights Trilogy starring Order 66 survivor Jax Pavan. In the beginning, Jax loses his Twi'lek girlfriend, I-5YQ loses his body and his head is on a pit droid...and I couldn't finish the damn book. It sucked that bad. 

8. The short story where the Tonnika Sisters pull a scam on Lando. Once I got the Cantina HasLab, and opened the figures, how could Lando not tell them apart?! One is taller than the other for crying out loud! 

9. One shot characters. Kueller, a Vader like character, was an interesting villain. But we never got a story as to why he fell to the dark side. Belinda Kalendi appeared in the Corellian Trilogy, then disappeared. Same with Cole Fardreamer, who appeared in the same novel with Kueller, The New Rebellion. You get to know a character and then...they disappear.

And since this is a collecting focused blog, some collecting stuff. Some of this may not be popular with the BanthaSkull commentors, but it's my opinion. 

1. I'm not afraid of getting more Retro. This may shock some people, but I don't see Retro being as big of a drain on the VC budget as some others do. But here's what I'd like to see for Retro in 2027:

-Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru

-Rebel Trooper on single card, not part of a 6 figure pack

-Sandtrooper on single card

-Labria on single card

-Death Star II Luke (image from Plastic Vomit Customs) 

-The Droids Collection (image from Fantha Tracks). At least Vlix. 

As long as Hasbro sticks to the OT Era for Retro, I'm cool with it. But not the 6 packs. Single cards would be preferable, and keep them to Fan Channels (Pulse, Amazon, EE, BBTS and foreign retailers). 

2. To open or not to open? I asked this question in the BanthaSkull comments section, and got various responses. The question involved the Ghost HasLab figures. I opened the Tonnika's and Greedo, and I won't open Wuher until I put the bar together. Nabrun, I may never open. But I posed the question because I had considered selling the Ghost HasLab figures for carded collectors, as I got the standard VC releases of The Ghost Crew. I got the Chopper and Sabine 2 pack to keep carded, but my display space for carded VC figures is only enough for Star Wars and AOTC cards, plus some of my extra Luke's and Boba Fett's. So, with that said... I'm opening them all today. My Ghost sits empty, and I need to populate it. My Episode 7 Millennium Falcon has the 5 POA Han and Chewbacca in the cockpit. So, my Ghost needs a crew. I'm not wild about the VC Chopper, as I have the Droid Depot version that can move its arms. I'm head swapping the Sabine with the one from Ahsoka, so she can sit in The Ghost and I can have a Sabine with a jetpack in my normal figure space. Will I review them? No. But I'll take a picture once they're open and in the Ghost. 

3. So now that I won't be getting any VC figures for the rest of the year, my wallet likes me. Yes, I have things like home and car maintenance, but the good news is I can focus on the St Tammany Collector's Convention in a few weeks, plus the New Orleans Fan Expo in the 1st weekend of January. So now I can save up for what needs fixing, Christmas presents for relatives and adult beverages for when both LSU and the Saints let me down. 

A quick post, but I'm testing the weekly waters, and may go back to that. Thanks for reading! A special thanks to Chris and Nomad at BanthaSkull for allowing me to post this in the comments section! Please share this link on your social media accounts so I can get more readers!