A galaxy of new toys rings in 30 years of 'Star Wars'

By Anthony Breznican, USA TODAY

The Empire Strikes Back is turning 30, and its birthday party will be held this summer in Orlando.

Celebration V, a convention of Star Wars fans that Lucasfilm hosts every few years, will have a special focus on the 1980 film during its weekend run Aug. 12-15.

Carrie Fisher is the first celebrity guest confirmed. "Princess Leia is going to be there, and she's always a huge, huge hit," says Steve Sansweet, Lucasfilm's head of fan relations.

Details can be found at StarWarsCelebration.com.

And no birthday party would be complete without toys, a staple of Star Wars fandom. Hasbro is releasing a series of new toys Aug. 1, including a new version of the AT-ATs — those giant, snowbound metal dinosaurs from the opening Empire battle sequence on the frozen planet Hoth.

The toy retails for about $100 and is 2 feet tall and almost 21/2 feet long. "It's absolutely suitable for play with a kid," says Howard Roffman, Lucasfilm's head of licensing. "But if you're a collector, it's also a trophy piece."

A decoration for a desk? "A big desk," Roffman says.

Hasbro also is putting out full-scale Boba Fett helmets with electronic sounds and phrases — probably all of the bounty hunter's lines, since he had only a handful.

And a collection of new Hasbro action figures based on the Empire characters will be released. They'll be new designs but with vintage packaging and photos of the 1980-era toys on the back. Hasbro also is repeating a giveaway from the original Empire release. Fans can mail in proofs of purchase from the action figures to get a free Boba Fett.

That toy will be a vintage design, with one big exception: The original was touted as having a firing rocket on its back, but at the last moment, those ejecting plastic nubs were declared a safety hazard and glued in instead.

"That was a big disappointment at the time. They couldn't do it within the safety standards," Roffman says. "But they have been able to make it work now." The rocket part is a little larger, to avoid the threat of swallowing and choking.

Roffman jokes: "It took 30 years for the dream to be realized."

Dumbest figure set ever?

From cooltoy review

I must have a Zibit

Check out a video of it in action here

Big Trak is back

From bigtrakisback, 2010 is the year that the world's most well loved robot toy returns, with a 21st century makeover! Dubreq Ltd (creators of the famous Stylophone pocket synth) are bringing the Bigtrak back from the dead with a new line of robot space toys for the modern toy market. Based on the famous 1980's robot vehicle, the new Bigtrak range will use 21st century technology to expand and enhance the basic Bigtrak play concept of pre-programming a toy vehicle to perform a task.

Goodbye for now, my babies

My setup at the new house has no wall for these shelves, so I'm putting the MOC display in a big storage container for a while. The timing is actually good, as Zack was just starting to understand that he could have those things, and I don't want to be a dad who dangles toys in my kid's face and tells him he can't touch them. But still, I'll miss these spaceships. Especially when I have the urge to pick one up and fly it around the room (insert vocal space jet noises).

JLU Aquaman

As with the Super Powers collection, the DC Universe's lamest superhero actually makes for a decent action figure. The orange on this guy had just a tiny bit of shiny finish, which looked pretty neat; also he had those fins coming off the back of his calves, and the fashionable severe blonde flat top.

But that price! Ouch. To be clear, I'm not 100% sure it was on the right peg, and the price-checker couldn't read it. Given the bizarre range of DC figures out right now, I'm hoping there's some large-scale line I've forgotten about and the tag was for that, because that's a serious jump. Not an impossible one, unfortunately.

And here's the back. So it's good news if you never got a Barda (and I don't think I did), but did the fans really pick another Batman variation? That seems hard to believe.

I saw a single-carded Green Lantern that had a different set of five on the back, and the group included a single carded Deadshot. Still, at $8.99, I can't tell if that's good news.

Some of the new JLU coolness headed our way

See a ton more examples, here

LOLWUT?!: German 'Identify The LEGO Star Wars Minifig By Putting It In Your Mouth' Show

From geekology, This is a segment from some German variety show in which a unisexual teen identifies LEGO Star Wars minifigs be swishing them around in his/her mouth for a little while. Unfortunately, 4 out of 5 proper ID's isn't very good AND YOU WILL MAKE THE OLYMPIC MINIFIG IDENTIFICATION TEAM. Stick to Duplo, child!

Impressive Lego lightsaber duel

McDonald's 2010 Star Wars Happy Meal TV Commercial (worst toys ever)

DO NOT WANT: Sexy Fembot LEGO Models

From geekology, Flickr user rediv (aka Alan M) went and made himself some sexy LEGO fembots. Why? I dunno, he's sick in the head or something. Or maybe he just needs somebody to talk to (get a fish, God!). Isn't that right, Mr. Tickles? You're my friend, aren't you? Mr. Tickles? MR. TICKLES? OKAY, WHO THE F*** FED MY FISH AN OMELET?!

Highly Impressive 'Crawler Town' LEGO Build

From geekology, This is 'Crawler Town', a rolling LEGO city built by Flickr user and skilled LEGOlier Dave DeGobbi. And, like Rome, it wasn't built in a day. OR SO THE HISTORY BOOKS SAY. They also don't mention alien subcontractors, but I have my doubts.

Crawler town roams the barren wastes of a post steam-punk world after cataclysmic climate change do to excessive coal use. Several such cities exist but Crawler town is the most popular due to the Aero 500 hydrogen fuel cell Air races that are held. Many people travel the wastes to Crawler town for vacation and to enjoy rare luxuries like Pizza, fresh vegetables and Beer. Travelling the wastes in search of minerals and aquifers ( vital for survival) the mobility of the city keeps it away from the vicious sand storms of the wastes
Good looking, Dave. Reminds me of the opposite of Water World. What would we call that, Land World? Mad Maxtopia? I dunno, but I do know the 2Pac video for 'California Love' is the shit. "As soon as I step on the scene, I'm hearin' hoochies screamin'." Oh yeah, I can relate. Wait -- are you bitches calling the cops?!

See some more pictures here

I'm digging Lego Boba Fett

From sirstevesguide

Lego zombie test film

Finally, a Dack Talter!*

Lots more stuff, here. I'm so psyched about this retro packaging - it will be nice to see this stuff in the aisles again!

*I was being sarcastic.

How cool is this? Boba Fett mail away!

Pictures from sirstevesguide and rebelscum

Yeah, I have to have this

I've been cranking out some good stuff lately

More pictures here.

Lame Battlestar Galatica toy!

Another vintage Kenner commercial