Star Wars Toys- can't believe I bought em

Post by **Vympel** » 2005-04-13 10:02am

The date: 12 April 2005.

The place: Toys R Us, Hurstville Shopping Centre

The objective of the visit: look idly at Episode III toys

Background

On a complete whim I had bought the Sneak Preview General Grievous figure from K-Mart, the one with the cape, gun and lightsabre.

Summary

Upon walking in, I was confronted with basically the complete set of Collection 1 and Collection 2 toys for Revenge of the Sith, at about $12 per figure.

I went straight for Anakin. Then I grabbed Obi-Wan. Oooh! A Blue Royal Guard! Wow, a Clonetrooper! Shit, that Mace Windu is cool too! And oh man, Yoda!

At this point, I was holding that many figures in my arms.

How could they expect me to purchase so many at a time without ...

Ah!

A basket! A handily placed bunch of baskets, right next to the new batch of Star Wars toys! How convenient!

I proceeded to load up.

Final tally of my Revenge of the Sith toy binge, in no particular order:

1. General Grievous #1
2. General Grievous #2
3. Obi-Wan Kenobi
4. Anakin Skywalker
5. Darth Sidious
6. Yoda
7. Count Dooku
8. Clonetrooper
9. MagnaGuard
10. Mace Windu
11. Darth Vader (suit)
12. Emperor Palpatine
13. Royal Guard (Blue)

Total price? About $140.00 give or take.

I am insane. And the checkout chick obviously thought seeing a 23-year old guy in an impeccable suit rock up with a basketload of Star Wars toys wasn't the most normal thing she had ever seen.

My rationale was as follows:

- I wasn't born for the ANH toys.
- I wasn't born for the TESB toys.
- I was too young for the RotJ toys (I was 2)
- I didn't have the money for the next wave of movie toys that came out in around 1997 IIRC
- I didn't have the money for TPM or AotC toys
- This is the last Star Wars movie ever, these look kick ass, fuck it I'm getting them I'll never get another chance again.

But my dilemma now is this- What bout all the figures I haven't gotten yet that were there?! In patricular, of Collection 2:

1. Chancellor Palpatine
2. Bail Organa
3. Plo Koon
4. Battle Droid
5. C-3PO
6. Padme
7. Agen Kolar
8. Shaak Ti
9. Kit Fisto
10. Mon Mothma

Collection 1:

1. Super Battle Droid
2. Chewbacca
3. R2-D2

Sneak Preview:

1. Tion Medon
2. R4-G9
3. Wookie Warrior

And then there's the Star Wars Unleased Statues! I have Darth Vader lording over my computer and Jango and Boba Fett on my book shelf. The Episode III ones look awesome.

Ack, I've been hit with the completist toy bug! I must restrain myself. I must! As can be seen, I went for all the "cool" figures and left the lame ones (who wants Mon Mothma, and what for?) behind- though I think R2-D2, C-3PO, the two Battle Droids, and the remaining Jedi I still need to get.

And then Collection 3 is going to come out and I'll be even more screwed! There's all sorts of cool figures in that one, IIRC (the various Clone Commanders and such).

Woe is me.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2005-04-13 10:04am

Bah, that's why you reserve from your local toy dealer.

I have my Vader's all dueling each other while Anakin and Luke cheer.

Post by **Vympel** » 2005-04-13 10:07am

Ghost Rider wrote:Bah, that's why you reserve from your local toy dealer

I'm not sure there is such a thing as a local toy dealer in Australia- don't get me wrong, every toy in all three categories was there. I just chose the cool ones on a whim.

I have my Vader's all dueling each other while Anakin and Luke cheer.

Wierd. How many Vader's do you have?

I haven't even taken my ones out of the box. I've got that strange Comic Book Guy thing going on, as well as pathological fear of the force of nature that is my grandmother- she loses and breaks everything I like in my room by default.

Chris OFarrell · Post by **Chris OFarrell** » 2005-04-13 10:08am

Wait, when were you in Hurstville on Tuesday? Cause I swung by about 1 PM and got some lunch, then annoyed the guys in EB for about half an hour...

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2005-04-13 10:10am

Vympel wrote:
Ghost Rider wrote:Bah, that's why you reserve from your local toy dealer
I'm not sure there is such a thing as a local toy dealer in Australia- don't get me wrong, every toy in all three categories was there. I just chose the cool ones on a whim.

Damn. Those guys make it easier...still I have done the whole "Look at the 25 year old guy buying toys...in a suit." It was after work, and really getting changed takes too long.

I have my Vader's all dueling each other while Anakin and Luke cheer.
Wierd. How many Vader's do you have?

I haven't even taken my ones out of the box. I've got that strange Comic Book Guy thing going on, as well as pathological fear of the force of nature that is my grandmother- she loses and breaks everything I like in my room by default.

I think each of the old ones, plus both the redo(one with ultra long saber and normal sized) and this one. So six in total. I may include lego versions and bigger one later....though 1 foot tall action figure Vader would likely win in the end.

It's either that or Stormie vs clones...and somehow I'm not digging out my ST army of 100....ah as a kid I had too many.

EDIT: forgot the Shadows of the Empire versions...so 8.

Post by **Vympel** » 2005-04-13 10:21am

Chris OFarrell wrote:Wait, when were you in Hurstville on Tuesday? Cause I swung by about 1 PM and got some lunch, then annoyed the guys in EB for about half an hour...

Dude, I was there for lunch and to buy some new contact lenses- Toys R Us was a whim visit- I live 5 mins away from Hurstville, work barely 10 mins away.

I visited EB while I was at it, but didn't buy anything. For all I know, you were in there at the time

I just checked rebelcscum.com page, and it appears that what they list as being part of Collection 1 and Collection 2 is not what's on the back of my purchases, and I certainly didn't see the extra ones they say in there ... but then, for many of them (Commander Baccara etc) they've got placeholder images and no description. Wierd.

Post by **LadyTevar** » 2005-04-13 12:29pm

If I still had the StarWars toys that originally came out, I'd be getting rich off Ebay.

Pity about Hoth Luke and his little run in with the M-80 practice gernade. We never did find his head... or legs...

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2005-04-13 12:49pm

I have been eyeing the ARC-170 Lego Fighter for 2 weeks now trying desperately to justify spending $39.99 on a Lego set.

I don't want to buy the ROTS action figures for the simple reason that the action figures for the prequel era have been pretty disappointing in terms of playability. I loved my Kenner SW figures back in the day, Luke with his built in slide action lightsaber, Vader with his cheap ass vinyl cape that I always lost, Leia who was constantlyhaving sex with my Starwars figures and later on my early GI JOEs.

Somehow these new figures aren't the same. For TPM I purchased Qui Gon, Obi Wan and Maul. They're OK to have posed but playablity is just meh. They seem so...awkward.

AOTC had the figures preposed whoch SUCKED ASS. My clone trooper is in the same position, leg cocked back, arms akimbo to hold the big ass blaster rifle but no articulation like in the GI JOE figures I adored and consider the best action figures ever.

I might get the Grevious figure and a clone trooper but otherwise no joy on that front.

But that ARC Fighter is going to be mine...oh yes...I can convince myself that I need that set.

Cal Wright · Post by **Cal Wright** » 2005-04-13 01:54pm

I'll have to list what I got. I didn't buy the whole collection this time like I normally do. I already have the Jedi from AotC, and there wasn't much variance here. The one thing that irks me though, is I wanted that damn ARC-170 for the figure line and not the Lego version.

Post by **Vympel** » 2005-04-13 07:56pm

I'm pretty sure an ARC-170 for the figure line is coming out-

Yeah, what is it about Star Wars toys and their shitty articulation? Why can't they all have fucking articulated joints like GI Joe? Pisses me off.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2005-04-13 10:06pm

Vympel wrote:I'm pretty sure an ARC-170 for the figure line is coming out-

It's already out. 30 bucks. Not bad, though it means I have to find three pilots for it.

Yeah, what is it about Star Wars toys and their shitty articulation? Why can't they all have fucking articulated joints like GI Joe? Pisses me off.

Kids. Kids like action features apparently. Bastards.

Post by **Vympel** » 2005-04-13 10:27pm

Kids are stupid. Action features fucking suck. How can you make a remotely plausible play scenario where the characters do the same stupid looking shit time and time again?

Panzer Grenadier · Post by **Panzer Grenadier** » 2005-04-13 10:32pm

Have you seen the Grievous Unleashed figure? I havent been big on buying toys since I was really young, but that thing is just too fucking cool looking.

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2005-04-13 10:42pm

I'm debating whether or not to acquisition the Lego Republic Tank. It's not as cool as a UCS, but damn is it not the ultimate grey vehicle parts pack.

Post by **Vympel** » 2005-04-13 10:54pm

Panzer Grenadier wrote:Have you seen the Grievous Unleashed figure? I havent been big on buying toys since I was really young, but that thing is just too fucking cool looking.

Just remember the Unleashed series aren't toys, they're more like statutes. Very cool ones though. I love my Darth Vader and Jango & Boba Fett Unleashed. I'm gonna get the whole Episode III batch of them when they come out. Too bad I didn't get the Attack of the Clones and Original Trilogy ones when I had the chance, but maybe they'll be re-released?

Mark S · Post by **Mark S** » 2005-04-13 11:44pm

Lego? Lego you say? Getting shakes... SW Lego jones coming back... Must get fix...

Hell, it's my birthday. Maybe I'll get some of the new SW sets if I see them.

As for the action figures; my mom GAVE all of mine and my brothers away to some church, some BLOODY CHURCH, when we were young. To think of what they would be worth... I haven't bought one since. Accept for the Greedo I bought as a gag for my brother when the rerelease came out. I had to. I popped the head off his original back in the day.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2005-04-14 01:12am

Vympel wrote:Kids are stupid. Action features fucking suck. How can you make a remotely plausible play scenario where the characters do the same stupid looking shit time and time again?

Interestingly enough, there is an Anakin figure with "Lonely Friday Night Guy Action."

That's not what they call it, but that's what it looks like.

Cal Wright · Post by **Cal Wright** » 2005-04-14 01:53am

If that ARC-170 is finally out, then it's on like neck bone. I bought like four Clone Pilots for the Gunship, but they have a different clone pilot for the ARC's, which I haven't seen out yet. I don't think they're scheduled for release on this run. I still want that damn fighter.

Nick Lancaster · Post by **Nick Lancaster** » 2005-04-14 02:13am

I have more Legos than I do action figures. The exceptions are a Palpatine (Power of the Force) figure, and the Jedi Spirits (translucent Obi-Wan, Yoda, Anakin). The latter is now a collector's item, since it's pre-Hayden.

Someone at the office was kind enough to give me the Hasbro press kit, which has the Anakin/Vader figures, and also a Grievous Force Battlers.

Otherwise my major purchase has been a second Parks Saber.

YT300000 · Post by **YT300000** » 2005-04-14 07:23pm

Wicked Pilot wrote:I'm debating whether or not to acquisition the Lego Republic Tank. It's not as cool as a UCS, but damn is it not the ultimate grey vehicle parts pack.

No it isn't. The LEGO DS2 is.

Cal Wright · Post by **Cal Wright** » 2005-04-14 09:39pm

1. Obi Wan Kenobi
2. Anakin Skywalker
5. Chewbacca
6. Clone Trooper (There's a No. 41 CT also, but I can't tell what's so special about him. His chest molding looks different but that's it.)
7. R2-D2
8. Grievous Bodyguard
9. General Grievous
11. Darth Vader
13. Count Dooku
15. Bail Organa
18. C3-PO
19. Padme`
20. Agen Kolar
23. Royal Guard (Blue)
24. Mon Mothma
32. Aayla Secura
33. Clone Commander
34. Clone Pilot
35. Palpatine
36. General Grievous (Exploding)

Deluxe Palpatine/Sidious Transformation
Droid Tri-Fighter
Republic Gunship
BARC Speeder w/Scout Clone Trooper
Titanium Imperial Star Destroyer

I also have multiples of some of the characters, one in package, one out for display. Like I said, I plan on going and finding that ARC-170 if it's out.

CDiehl · Post by **CDiehl** » 2005-04-14 10:32pm

I found myself considering getting the Millennium Falcon a few weeks ago when I saw it at the toy store in the mall near my house. It only cost about $30, and I had one when I was young. Maybe next time I go, I'll plunk down the cash for it.

Darth Lucifer · Post by **Darth Lucifer** » 2005-04-14 10:35pm

A little off topic (but still toy related...)

Vympel wrote:...And the checkout chick obviously thought seeing a 23-year old guy in an impeccable suit rock up with a basketload of Star Wars toys wasn't the most normal thing she had ever seen.

How about the 31 year old guy in a leather jacket buying Barbie Dolls? They had fucking Legolas from Lord of the Rings. I couldn't resist...he's so hot!!

And Batgirl Barbie, with the FUCKING BATCYCLE!!!

Back on track, I hope they have some cool 12" SW figures for EP III...I'd actually like to buy one this time around (if I can afford one). The last dolls I bought were the Amidala figurines from Episode I.

Anyway, I digress...

Post by **Gandalf** » 2005-04-14 10:35pm

I'm waiting for the Lego sets myself.

I shudder to think how many toys I'd buy if I had money.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2005-04-15 01:17am

CDiehl wrote:I found myself considering getting the Millennium Falcon a few weeks ago when I saw it at the toy store in the mall near my house. It only cost about $30, and I had one when I was young. Maybe next time I go, I'll plunk down the cash for it.

I have two of those myself. One's still in the box cause I'm running out of room.