First look at 2008 Star Wars toys
March 21st, 2008
The International Toy Fair in New York City gave us a preview of some very exciting new Star Wars toys that are coming our way in 2008. It’s hard to say what we love most, although the packaging for the new Star Wars Legacy Collection is at the top of our list. We have always thought stormtroopers are the coolest characters in the original trilogy. So their armor leaves them defenseless against laser blasts. And their aim is tragically off the mark. They are still cool - and the stormtrooper design of the new packaging is great.
One of the most anticipated Star Wars action figures of all time is finally on the way. For years fans have wanted the six-breasted fat dancer who danced her way into Jabba’s heart at his Tatooine palace in “Return of the Jedi.”
Kenner even developed a prototype for the action figure but ultimately never produced her. Hasbro rights that particular injustice this year with the release of Yarna ‘D’Al’ Gargan. Now you can re-create Jabba’s palace in style and get the party started!
It would appear that 2008 is Hasbro’s year to fulfill several long-held dreams for Star Wars toy collectors. We also loved our first look at the baby Ewok that is coming to stores in this new year. Ever since the younglings were released after Attack of the Clones, we’ve been waiting for a pint-sized Ewok to be added to the Hasbro Star Wars action figure line. Now, our wait is over.
Another “Return of the Jedi” character gets immortalized in plastic this year - unmasked Darth Vader. You remember the scene well. After Vader saves his son, Luke, from the death lightning of Emporer Palpatine, the young Jedi drags his father into the Death Star hangar bay.
Consumed now by love, not hate, Anakin tells Luke to remove his Vader mask so that he can see his son with his own eyes.
When Vader was unmasked, revealing the scarred, sad Anakin underneath, Star Wars fans saw the closing of a sad chapter in Star Wars history. It was the final redemption of Anakin Skywalker, the fallen Jedi who was once considered the chosen one. Now we can re-create that moment with the 3 3-4 action figure being presented by Hasbro this year.
A new series called Droid Factory features a series of two-packs that each contain one part of a special C-3PO that you can build when you collect them all. We love the new droids being introduced here, and the idea of a figure you can build from parts found in other packages is a nice new twist for Star Wars toy collectors.
We plan to collect them all - not only for the new action figures being sold in this series, but for the chance to build our own persnickety protocol droid.
The ongoing Star Wars Unleashed line is also giving Star Wars toy collectors some great new toys in 2008. Our favorite is one of the largest new arrivals - the Unleashed Rancor, which is essentially the same Rancor you saw in the 1990s.
This time he’s got a strange new substance oozing down his scary monster body, and he also comes with a saddle so that this beast can be ridden in battle. Who would dare to take on a Rancor?
The Star Wars Galactic Heroes line was very active in 2007 and that activity looks to continue in the new year with a LOT of new characters and scenes.
We’re still geeking out about a new Galactic Heroes vehicle that is sure to have you smiling as well. Darth Vader’s TIE fighter has been shrunk and added to the Galactic Heroes line. Now it can take on the Galactic Heroes versions of the X-Wing Fighter and the Millennium Falcon.
Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter hasn’t been this funny since it was sent spinning into space by Han Solo and Chewbacca at the end of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.
The Kashyyyk Battle Pack includes two Wookie warriors, two Imperial stormtroopers and Darth Vader. We have to say, the folks at Hasbro must be getting rather exhausted by the constant pressure to produce new battle packs. How else to explain this wholy inaccurate scene from the film? It was the clonetroopers - not stormtroopers - who fought on Kashyyyk - and the clones fought WITH the Wookies - not against them. So why have the stormtroopers charging the Wookies in this scene? Even more puzzling is the inclusion of Darth Vader in his full black-suit garb. At the time of this battle, Anakin Skywalker had not yet been transformed into the mask-wearing villain. Not to mention the fact that Anakin, no matter his apparel, was not present for the Battle of Kashyyyk.
Collectors of Star Wars Hallmark ornaments won’t be disappointed by the lineup for 2008. The deluxe ornament this year, which includes sounds from Return of the Jedi, is the climactic lightsaber duel between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker in the Emporer’s throne room on the second Death Star. The other large ornaments for the year are also from Return of the Jedi - the Shuttle Tyderium and Emporer Palpatine sitting on his throne.
What’s not to love about the Mighty Muggs - those vaguely Lego-like versions of our favorite Star Wars characters? We’ve already seen eight Star Wars Mighty Muggs this year - Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Darth Maul, C-3P0, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker Stormtrooper and Han Solo.
We at Star Wars Toy Museum want to wish all of our fellow Star Wars toy collectors a Happy Holiday season! Like you, our midichlorians are flowing stronger than ever now that new Star Wars toys are filling store shelves in time for the shopping bonanza that goes supernova in two short weeks.
We’re very excited about the latest wave of Galactic Heroes, although some of these little guys (and gals) have been hard to come by in stores. The whole set can be yours now when you 
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