In the state of Louisiana, counties are called parishes. In St Tammany parish every April and October (the next 2024 show is in November) is the St Tammany Comic Con, which us in the town of Mandeville, LA. I discovered this small convention in 2022, and managed to find a Kenner Holy Grail, and another last year. Guests there aren't numerous but there have been a couple who I knew, Deep Roy, the actor who played all the Oompa Loompa parts in Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka movie, and John Morten, who played Dak in The Empire Strikes Back. But this time, WWE Hall of Famer Sgt Slaughter was there! And yes I got to meet him, and get his autograph, as well as a special collectable from the Sarge! Sadly, nobody there cosplayed as Cobra Commander last Saturday, but if they had, it would have been great to see Cobra Commander in the Cobra Clutch!  A big advantage in the St Tammany Con is the merchandise prices are fair. Fan Expo NOLA is a bit of a near rip off. This year, inflation did hi...

 Here it is, nearly the end of April, and I finally have a figure released in 2024 that I can review in 2024. Which shows why one retailer, Target, has stopped carrying the Vintage Collection. I'll talk about that more at a later time. When Hasbro made the Phase II Clonetrooper last year, we in the collecting community knew it would only be a matter of time until we got a Phase I Clonetrooper, and it is worth the wait!  Honestly, that card image is perfect! I didn't get a figure to keep on card, but I probably should, as I had hoped it would be the image used on the card back when this figure was announced to be arriving soon.  It's from one of the best shots of Attack of the Clones! Definitely a great choice!  The articulation is excellent! He has 17 points of articulation (POA),  including the new barbell hips. He's very easy to pose, and can achieve almost any pose you can think of. I didn't get one with him doing a two-handed weapon grip (THWG), but it shoul...

 Some big news this week as last Saturdays Wondercon reveals, another writer has been brought on to the James Mangold First Jedi movie, and there's a new animated anthology series coming on May 4th, the same day we learn what the new Vintage Collection HasLab will be.  TALES OF THE EMPIRE A 2nd season of Tales Of The Jedi had been announced, but this was a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one! Morgan Elsbeth is one of the featured characters, and we will also get an idea on the fate of Barris Offee, as she becomes an Inquisitor. It looks like we'll see how we first meet Morgan in the 2nd season of The Mandalorian, along with the elimination of the Dathomir Witches. Screenshot from Yakface.  WONDERCON REVEALS  Black Series Hammerhead  This will be a deluxe priced figure, but I have to say it looks excellent! He'll come with 3 cups to share with friends: so far the only Black Series Cantina figures are Ponda Baba & Dr Evazan, who I managed to find at Ollie's...

 Before I get into the topic in hand: Happy Easter!  For the last Imperial March event of the month of March, Hasbro revealed the tan HK-87 and Darktrooper for the VC, and a Clonetrooper and Battle Droid 2 pack. But forget that because Hasbro also revealed The Last Command 4 pack for the Black Series! And yes, I'm excited about it! Ever since I started reading the original Thrawn Trilogy, I hoped there would one day be figures from those novels. Of course I envisioned them as Kenner style figures, and while Mara Jade has had several figures made of her since 1998's POTF2 line, we have also gotten a few Grand Admiral Thrawn figures since 1998 as well. But there hasn't been a figure of Joruus C'baoth and the clone Luke (Luuke Skywalker) made until now. I'll break down the figures, and also give reasons as to why any fan of the One True Expanded Universe should get this set, even if you aren't a *Filthy Sixer! (Writers note: the term Filthy Sixer is a joke phrase t...

 Hasbro had an 'Imperial March' livestream this past Wednesday and both the Black Series and the Vintage Collection had reveals, with the Black Series having more this time. Which is okay by me. Also the trailer for the Acolyte series dropped, and from a toy perspective I find it fascinating. As for the story I'll make my own judgment when I see it. So now onto the reveals!  BLACK SERIES  The Acolyte featured heavily for the Black Series as the entire wave, including Jedi Master Sol (who speaks in the trailer) and the lead character Mae (purple robes). Also you see the Jedi Master played by Carrie Anne Moss (Trinity from the Matrix movies). At the moment, I'm skipping character names because I don't know them yet. We also have a young alien apprentice that should make for a unique figure, and something Black Series collectors have wanted for Jedi: cloth robes! The recent Light Cruiser Luke and Darth Malgus have shown that the Black Series can get these right, and th...