Review of LotF : Tempest

I loved the way everything is set up for the TURNING of Jacen. However, after the 3rd book, it felt like the writers do not have joined up thinking with the characters they introduce or play around with. Aaron Allston (Book1) setup the series with the introduction of fan favourites Skywalkers and Solos and sprinkling of different characters from the New Jedi Order book series. A nice tie-up for continuity from the last known extended Star Wars universe. Karen Traviss (Book2) then uses some and added her own fan favourite characters like Boba and Sal-Solo and adds new characters into the EU. Here's where the mystery arises, in Book 3, Boba's story-thread became non-existent, not a word of mention. Alema Rar's character becomes more prominent and judging by the end, she would disappear too! Lumiya's character seemed to have done the disappearing act too after the proton warhead explosion. But they set it up like a cliffhanger, did she or didn't she die in the explosion? Except for the spine of the series, that is Jacen conversion to the darkside, a few of the side stories seemed ... worthless? Another thing, there are more Sith?! Well, if you believe what Lumiya said when she was dismantling a proton warhead to sacrifice herself by blowing it up with Luke nearby. The best scene came near the end, with Jacen actually giving orders to his SD gunners to fire upon the Millenium Falcon with Han & Leia inside, accusing them as collaborators with the Corellian faction. With the Falcon limping wounded entering hyperspace, will Han Solo finally run out of luck?

New titaniums?

The rumour mongers at Rebelscum have this new list of Titaniums. Titanium Series: V-Wing Starfighter Obi-Wan's Jedi Starfighter B-Wing Starfighter Plo Koon's Jedi Starfighter The V-wings mentioned here is a puzzle. Since I'm more EU-based, the V-wing that I know of is a vehicle that was produced around the time when World Devastators was wrecking havoc on the water planet of Mon Cal during Dark Empire 2 (comics). However, there seemed to be another type of V-wing being flown around in EP3 Revenge of the Sith movie.I haven't seen them. But since the movies are MORE official than EU canon, then the v-wings must be these types. There have been LEGO models of the said V-wing too so I think it's a given, don't you think? But I'll take the EU V-wing anytime. The rest on the list could be a big disappointment because they are looking to be repaints. Even though Obiwan's and Plo Koon's Jedi Starfighters looks be the ones with hyperspace rings, hopefully, their colour schemes will look good enough for me to buy them.

More discounts please

I missed out on 2 great deals. I really wanted to buy the Star Wars complete visual dictionary by DK as highlighted on this entry. But at $78 a book, I need discounts to help purchase this book. Well, as luck or the lack of it have it, Kino had a 2-day 20% sale but I was on holidays. Later, MPH had their own 20% sale and I had other engagements. Arrgghhh!! The wait continues ... or does anyone has a Kino membership card that I can borrow? Anyone?

Revelation 3 : Battle ready!

Another big revelation was the introduction of a new generation Star Destroyer. This star destroyer has incorporated designs of the interdictor, a starship that has gravity projector wells that can cast mass shadows (mimicking large planet masses) to pull ships out from hyperspace and prevent them from entering it (tricking the ship's onboard systems that it is not safe to continue). This new SD has a single large well near the bow of the spearhead. So imagine a star destroyer with a pimple on the underside of the bow region ... hahaha But the best part, the ship was named the Anakin Solo. It was given to Jacen under GAG authority by the Galactic Alliance administration. See the similarity with Vader on his SSD, the Executor.

Bundles of unsold titaniums

Remember the time I rant about the 5 pack giftset below; Well, today I saw bundles of it at OG. And when I say bundles, it was like nearly 30 set of it. Some on shelves whilst others in the sale box. Duhh!!! And the best part, it's selling for $29.90 from a usual price of $59.90. Later on when I went over to ToysRus, there was a heap of them too. The marketing guys need to feel the ground to avoid this debacle again. Duhhh!!! And you know what, my guess is, these giftset will stay through into 2007.

Tempest : 2nd revelation

Remember the last step that Jacen had to accomplish to become a Sith Master. He will immortalize his love It's something about sacrificing a loved one or ones. Jacen was mulling over this presuming that Allana, his daughter, and even Tenel Ka would be the ultimate sacrifice. But in the book, when Han and Leia was assumed to be involved in the assassination attempt of Tenel Ka and Allana, he was contemplating this in his mind; ... He was beginning to feel almost relieved. Maybe Allana was not the sacrifice Lumiya was talking about. Maybe his parents were what he would be required to surrender, and maybe their deaths would not be a coldhearted act of betrayal after all. And a few moments later signed off a GAG warrant of arrest/detain for his parents.

More Hasbro's Q&A

This came from SSG (Sir Steve Guide). Not a big news item, but news just the same for the titanium line. Q: The 3" Titanium series X-Wing mold is being rereleased as a Dagobah version soon but the S-foil wings are stuck open on this mold which doesn't look right for the paint scheme. Will Hasbro eventually make a new X-Wing that has opening/closing wings? How about a new 3" Titanium Millennium Falcon with retractable landing gear, or other Galoob die-cast molds that could use updating? A: At long last the X-Wing will be retired after the release of the Dagobah version. We have plans for a completely new x-wing in 2008 with retractable s-foils and flip down front and rear landing gear. Well, I did throw in my rant about the Dagobah X-wing in this entry. It's good to see it resurrected later in 2008 with new movable parts.

Loose Titaniums Auctions

I've recently went into Yahoo auctions and was thoroughly shocked when someone was selling waves 14, 15 and the 2007 wave 1 vehicles in loose form. At first thought, the force is effing strong with me, OH YEAH! But, when I read more into the conditions, all hope began to fade. Apart from the bidding war that would ensue, there is also the shipping cost factor. Why? Well, apparently, my guess is he is collecting orders to bring the vehicles in. He says he is Singapore-based and has a POSB account. But, the vehicles are not in Singapore ... yet. This is the first bug-bear. Let's say he collects shipping cost from different bidders, let's say 5. On his part, his shipping consignment cost would be 1, that means he pockets the other 4 shipping cost. That to me is not fair. The other turn off factor was that he is unrated! And that straightaway puts a very big if to any bidding. Well, it's down to TFH now. If this guy can get the goods, I believe the birdshop will get their shipment too. Here's hoping.

News on Future Vehicles

Hasbro has confirmed 2 vehicles that will come out later in the future. Someone asked them about EU vehicles that he would loved to see as a titanium vehicle. And to his foresight, he had guessed 2 of the new vehicles that Hasbro has planned to produced. Q: Let's talk Titanium. The 3" line has grown into a fan-favorite as many fans have been sucked in by the appeal of these little beauties. As we head into 2007, can we expect to see more ships from X-Wing and TIE Fighter video game series? So many ships from which to choose - the TIE Defender, TIE Avenger, Z-95, and Stormtrooper Transport are a great place to start! A: We have a looong list of new and re-paint vehicles planned for 2007 (and beyond if the line continues to do well). Our plans are to dip into the expanded universe realm and video games for more inspiration for our vehicle selections. It may take a bit, so look for two out of the four vehicles on your list to make it to shelves near the middle of 2008. Here's how they looked like; Tie Defender Tie Avenger Z95 Headhunter Stormtrooper transport My guess is that Hasbro will make the Tie Defender because they had already made it for the Action Fleet series. The other would be the Z95 Headhunter, it's the easiest to tool since its predecessor was the X-wing and most fans would know this ship than the rest.

Tied up on a Tie ...

Saw more Tie-fighters today at TRU Suntec. It's getting a bit more difficult to walk away from the vehicle. How can anyone resist this? I did ...

Tag & Bink TPB

I was looking around the comics store one day when I say this tpb of the title Tag and Bink .... I knew from the net that Tag and Bink are like the Bill and Ted of the movieworld. They (Tag and Bink) would "visit" the SW comic universe and have their "awesome" adventure with SW characters ... righteous!! But, in the Star Wars universe? ... hmmm. I can't even figure what timeline they would be in. Or maybe they are like the Infinities series of "What ifs". Maybe I should stay clear of it until I've run out of Star Wars reading material or something, gagging for some SW rush. Yeah ... that's a good plan if I do say so myself.

Tie-Fighter Fetish

I was doing a recce at TRU Suntec when I saw bundles of Tie-fighter vehicles near the entrance. It was one of those crazy moments when you battle with yourself to indulge or walk away. The tie fighter was SO nice! Collectors were clamouring to buy these and it was just in front of me! I walked away ... sigh!