When I was a very, very, very young 20-something, we had a Space Trooper that was the same size as everything else, it looked like it was made from hair gel, and we liked it that way! Now the kids won’t even glance at a figure with less articulation than the average human being has.

So here comes this new la-di-da Space Trooper that actually looks like something that might be worth spending $5 on, except now he’s $8! What?!? Does he have a cool diorama backdrop? No? Someone get the smelling salts. At least it’s very likely that his helmet comes off and he’s sporting a cool backpack, and that warms me up to about $6, so I’d better get some of them-there Clone Cash Coupons and save some money up.

This next part I am presenting as a hostile witness situation because I would just post pictures of the figures and blink at them. Yes, it’s an Expanded Universe wave, but that doesn’t mean two boring, white kids have to be….

Here’s Shabby Blue for the defense:

After years of hoping for two of the most significant Expanded Universe characters to be immortalized in plastic, we finally have the Solo Twins, Jacen and Jaina. [Blogger’s Note: Where’s Gleek?] Just as Hasbro promised, they produced this pair as depicted on the popular Japanese cover art of the New Jedi Order novels.  My only minor complaint is that Jacen’s likeness isn’t sculpted to more closely resemble the late actor River Phoenix, who was clearly the model for the character’s likeness on several of the New Jedi Order novel covers. I guess I’ll have to make use of the Young Indiana Jones headsculpt instead, with his hair repainted to match his doppelganger.

This is an auspicious start to a very new year. (That just sounded like a good way to end this.)