Monday 31 May 2010

EU: Revenge of the Sith Trilogy


Sticking with the Vader theme this evening, these books outline the transformation from Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader. Left to right its Labyrinth of Evil, the novelization of Revenge of the Sith itself and thirdly Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader. As I'm sure most reader of this blog will know ROTS is the big one where Palpatine declares himself emperor and the Republic falls and the novelization is even more awesome than the film itself however what you may not know about is the prequel book Labyrinth of Evil which really delves into the character of Anakin Skywalker and the turmoil and torment he's in the run up to ROTS, some particularly awesome things go down in this book including that business on Cato Neimodia that Obi-Wan thinks shouldn't count and an incredible scene in which Anakin loses his patience with an illusive Count Dooku and screams a ceiling down. Dark Lord then serves as the sequel to ROTS with its own story about a bunch of Jedi trying to escape Vader's purge however it's most notable for getting back into Vader's head in the aftermath of ROTS, this includes his rage at Kenobi and his anger at Palpatine for rebuilding him with such cheap and rubbish prosthetics, good entertainment and good insight. All Star Wars fans should be forced to read all three of these books whether or not you like the prequel trilogy.

0.45 Scale Darth Vader's Lightsaber


One of the fancier pieces in my collection this scaled down replica is a fully detailed copy of the Darth Vader's lightsaber from the original trilogy, bought on a whim this beautiful bit of metal is definitely one of my centre pieces.

Darth Vader Action Figure


Starting today I've decided it's Darth week here at http://kishometeora.blogspot.com/ so who better to start with than the man in black himself, the original and greatest of all the Darths, it's Dark Lord of the Sith himself, Darth Vader!

Incidentally this was actually my first ever action figure, I was in Forbidden Planet one day, fed up with the selection of titanium models seeing as I had all or most of them on display and decided to buy an action figure instead that day, well it all just spiraled from there as the urge to own every character quickly took over.

Saturday 29 May 2010

Greedo Action Figure


Greedo shot second!

Asajj Ventress Action Figure


The femme-fatale of The Clone Wars TV series, this figure catches her likeness really well and the two lightsabers can be connected at the hilts to form a double blade.

Boba Fett w/ Han Solo in Carbonite Statue


Awesome statue this, Boba Fett looking cool next to his bounty.

Jek Porkins Action Figure


Check out the gut, it's fatboy Jek Porkins from the Battle of Yavin in ANH.

Friday 28 May 2010

Kit Fisto and Nahdar Vebb w/ Scuba Trooper


It's an underwater special with this post. Left to right is Jedi Master Kit Fisto, a Scuba Trooper and Fisto's padawan Nahdar Vebb. Fisto's appearance and the Scuba Trooper itself are based on the original Clone Wars mini-series (2003-2005) whereas Nahdar comes from the proper The Clone Wars TV series (2008-present).

Plo Koon and Clone Space Trooper Action Figures


Jedi Master Plo Koon on the right, this figure is based on his appearance in AOTC and on the left is one of the Clone Space Troopers who stars alongside Plo in the TCW episode Rising Malevolence however in the episode they didn't have the cool space gear this one is sporting.

Titanium B-Wings


The B-Wing starfighter first seen in ROTJ in the Battle of Endor. The grey model appears in the film but I don't know the origin of the orange model, looks nice though.

Biggs DarkLighter and Wedge Antilles Action Figures


It's Biggs and Wedge! Luke's wingmen from the Trench Run in ANH. Poor Biggs is shot down and killed by Vader however Wedge survives to fight another day and goes on to become the leader of Rogue Squadron.

Wedge is on the left dressed in his formal attire as seen in the X-Wing: Rogue Squadron comic books and on the right Biggs is dressed as he appears in a deleted scene at Toschi Station from ANH where he tells Luke he's defecting to the alliance, an insightful scene that will hopefully someday make into a special edition, blu-ray perhaps?

Thursday 27 May 2010

Ulic Qel Droma and Exar Kun Action Figures


As mentioned when I posted about the Tales of the Jedi comic books, Ulic Qel Droma is on the left and Exar Kun is on the right. That's right kids, long before Darth Maul, Exar Kun had a double bladed lightsaber. Literally just got these action figures this evening and I think they kick ass, Kun's cape is fantastic and the sculpt on Qel Droma's tattered clothes is awesome, looks just like it does in the comics.

Imperial Knight Action Figures


From the Legacy comic books these are the Imperial Knights, for those not familiar with the series it suffices to say these force users are a part of the Imperial military yet do not prescribe to the Sith ways or even think of themselves as using the Dark Side of the force.

From left to right you have Ganner Krieg, Antares Draco and Sigel Dare.

EU: Rogue Planet and Outbound Flight


While essentially unrelated these two novels both fall between TPM and AOTC and both serve as prequels that foreshadow much later books in the Expanded Universe. Rogue Planet on the left is a prequel to the NJO series and Outbound Flight is a precursor to Survivors Quest. Both books feature Obi-Wan and a young Anakin Skywalker and Outbound Flight is the first appearance chronologically of Grand Admiral Trawn.

AT-ST w/ AT-ST Driver Action Figure


Time to start showing off some the larger pieces in my collection. It's awesome to see properly scaled vehicles among the action figures, needless to say this one towers over my action figure collection and can stretch out its legs to be a lot taller again however it gets pretty unstable as the centre of gravity rises.

Wednesday 26 May 2010

Mara Jade Action Figure


As mentioned earlier in the week when I posted one of my Luke Skywalker action figures, this is the other half of the Heir to the Empire comic pack.

Dark Horse Omnibus: Tales of the Jedi vol.1&2


I'm a huge comic book fan so what better than Star Wars comics? In these two omnibuses is every issue of Tales of Jedi, set around 4,000 years before ANH they tell some of the earliest stories in the galaxy. In particular the feature they two fallen Jedi, Ulic Qel Droma and Exar Kun (action figures of whom I currently have in the post yay!)

Admiral Ackbar Action Figure


I love this character and I love this action figure, instantly recognisable. Makes me want to shout, 'IT'S A TWAP!' every time I look at it.

Tuesday 25 May 2010

Titanium Red 5 X-Wing


Luke's X-Wing from ANH, the ship that blew up the first death star, enough said show respect. As with most titanium models this is nicely detailed mold.

EU: Medstar


Think M.A.S.H but Star Wars and you have the Medstar duology. Technical part of the 'A Clone Wars Novel' series of books, these two book chronicle the adventures of Bariss Offee and the medical staff on a Republic medical base, Michael Reeves and Steve Perry take every possible to opportunity to reference M.A.S.H. from the stereotyped characters, the scenes in the bar and the sound of heli... I mean Star Wars flying machines constantly interrupting the action. Also cool about these books is that they heavily feature I-5YQ, the sentient protocol droid who first appeared in Darth Maul: Shadowhunter, also by Michael Reeves.

Emperor Palpatine Action Figure


All rise for his royal highness, his majesty, his pure evilness, his insidiousness (heh heh, see what I did there?), its the all powerful Emperor Palpatine!

Good, read this post for you like, like your father, are now his.

Monday 24 May 2010

Lando Calrissian Action Figure


'Hello, what have we here?' or if you prefer 'Lando's not a system he's a man.' Either way its Lando the dirty traitor, I mean Lando the guy in a tough spot who had no choice they showed up right before and the deal kept getting worse...

Cool figure this, I love the silk cape it comes with, a level of true class worthy of Billy Dee Williams.

EU: 'The Clone Wars' novel series


These three then are the more recent Clone Wars books written to tie in with the on-going Clone Wars TV series. From left to right you have the novelization of The Clone Wars movie, Wild Space which tells of an adventure between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Bail Organa and thirdly No Prisoners which sees Captain Rex and Ashoka matched up with Paellon and Jedi Master Altis along with Calista, cool to see what those characters were up to at that stage in galactic history. Much like the 'A Clone Wars Novel' series which preceded it these books largely stay out of the way of greater galactic events.

EU: Original 'A Clone Wars Novel' Series


From left to right its Shatterpoint, Jedi Trail, The Cestus Deception and Yoda:Dark Rendezvous. These books were all released in between the theatrical releases of AOTC and ROTS and are essentially one off character based stories of from the Clone Wars with Dark Rendezvous being the only one to really hint at larger galactic consequences. Shatterpoint and Jedi Trail aren't the most spectacular Star Wars books ever releases but Dark Rendezvous is pretty cool and has some excellent Yoda moments but make no mistake, The Cestus Deception is truly incredible and a firm favourite of mine.

Sunday 23 May 2010

Shirtless Luke Skywalker Rebel Pilot


OK not totally shirtless he has a vest on. This particular version of Luke is based on the Heir to the Empire comic book and comes in a comic pack with Mara Jade which I will post soon enough. You'll find as well this is just the first of many Luke Skywalker action figures that I have, gotta love the farmboy.

Kyle Katarn Action Figure


It's Kyle Katarn from the Dark Forces/Jedi Knight video games. A classic series of games and a classic character meant I had to buy this one as soon as it first appeared on ebay, I believe its part of a comic pack but there was no way I could wait for the pack to reach UK shores.

Titanium Slave 1


Boba Fett's ship from The Empire Strikes Back, really nice mould on this model.

EU: Attack of the Clones and The Approaching Storm


Left is The Approaching Storm, the prequel book to Attack of the Clones and on the right is AOTC itself. The Approaching Storm is an interesting book essentially based off one of the opening lines in AOTC where it's mentioned in an off hand statement that Kenobi and Skywalker have just returned from a border dispute on Ansion, this book is that dispute.

Clone Wars Obi-Wan Kenobi w/ Commander Cody and airborne troopers


'Hello there', this Clone Wars styled Obi-Wan was one my first action figures and standing next to him is Clone Commander Cody. Can't have one without the other, after all when has he 'ever let him down?' One either side of Kenobi and Cody you have two airborne Clone Troopers from Kenobi's unit, I had to buy these two for the way they remind me of Buzz Lightyear with their pop out wings, see below.

Saturday 22 May 2010

EU: The Phantom Menace and its Prequels


Great books all three of these. From left to right its Cloak of Deception, Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter and the novelisation of The Phantom Menace. Both these prequel books do an excellent job of setting the scene going into TPM. Cloak of Deception provides insight into the political situation in the galaxy in the run up to the Trade Federation blockade of Naboo and Shadow Hunter again takes a look into the Trade Federations dealings but also does an awesome job of setting up Darth Maul as an ultimate killing machine.

Phase II 501st Clone Troopers

More 501st Clone Troopers, this time its the phase II troopers from Revenge of the Sith. Left and right you have your standard troopers but in the middle is a cool looking heavy trooper, I bought this figure loose of ebay and it has a very specific pose to carry a large blaster that it sadly didn't come with however I'm quite proud of how inventive I was in putting a hologram of Obi-Wan in its hand, looks nice and deliberate and hopefully you wouldn't notice if I didn't tell you.

Thursday 20 May 2010

Captain Rex w/ TCW 501st Troopers and Speeder Bike


Gotta love Captain Rex, one of my many favourites from the Clone Wars TV series. Above you have a basic 501st trooper on the left, Rex in the middle and on the right is Denal (the trooper Cad Bane dispatched then impersonated at the start of TCW season 2). Behind the troopers I've included the blue 501st speeder bike which is pretty cool looking but its a nightmare getting the troopers to properly sit on it. To the right of this text is a close up of Rex without his helmet.

Some day I'd love to join the real life 501st group of Star Wars fans you often see out and about dressed as various Storm and Clone Troopers but I'd only do it if I could get the perfect Captain Rex costume, just something about the kama and pouldron I have to have.

Titanium ARC 170s


Cool ships these, the ARC 170 fighter is clearly the precursor to the X-wing. The red and white model on the left first appeared in Revenge of the Sith but I'm not sure where the green one comes from.

Han Solo and Chewbacca Action Figures


The true heroes of the original trilogy, every child should look up to Solo and want Chewie as their best friend, just don't tell them the odds.

EU: Republic Commando Series


Fantastic series of novels here, while they may not fit with the canon being established by the Clone Wars TV series these books are a must read for Star Wars fans and non-Star Wars fans. Karen Traviss is an incredible author and its a real shame she wont be writing anymore books in the universe.

All I can say is 'Vode An.'

Slave Leia Action Figure


What to say about this one? Nothing, just enjoy it.

Original Soundtrack CDs


As Jimmy Mac of the Forcecast puts it, its like the oxygen of Star Wars.


I will not hear a bad word about any of this music, its responsible for so much of the drama, tension, atmosphere and magic of Star Wars. It's definitely a huge factor in my obsession and I'd be confident in saying that's true for most fans.

Wednesday 19 May 2010

Neimodian Action Figures




From left to right you have Lott Dodd, Nute Gunray and Rune Haako. I love these figures for the way they're rubbing their hands, particularly Rune Haako. Filthy money grabbing Neimodians!

Monday 17 May 2010

Basic Clone Troopers - AOTC, TCW & ROTS

As this blog will no doubt prove Clone Troopers make up a huge portion of my action figure collection so I'm starting by showing off the basic white troopers. Not quite sure what it is but the Clones are just simply one of the coolest parts of Star Wars for me, I blame Karen Traviss. Doesn't matter how much The Clone Wars TV series characterizes them, Traviss did it first and Traviss did it best.

On the left is the figure based on the Troopers in Attack of the Clones, then on the right you have the Phase II Clone Trooper from Revenge of the Sith and in the middle its the stylised version of the Phase I Troopers from the The Clone Wars series.

Attack of the Clones Russian Doll

Not sure what the story is here, something my mum gave me at one stage, probably in an xmas stocking. Still its something that isn't likely to be in every Star Wars collection.

Sunday 16 May 2010

Titanium TIE Fighter Collection

This is where it all started for me. After I bought the basic TIE Fighter (seen in the middle of the shot above) I felt the compulsion to buy up the rest of the TIE variants. Above from left to right: TIE Interceptor, TIE Fighter and TIE Bomber.

Left is Darth Vader's TIE Advanced as seen in the Trench Run sequence from A New Hope.







Below can be seen a couple of paint variants of the TIE Interceptor, the white one with the red stripe is Baron Fel's ship which I first became aware of in the X-Wing Rogue Squadron comics and the red one is a Royal Guard interceptor which I believe only appears in the online game Star Wars Galaxies.

As you'll see over the coming months the titanium series was very much my first Star Wars collection and my compulsion with collecting every possible variation has definitely carried on over the years, not just with the different TIE Fighters but also when I start to collect Jedi Starfighters I had to have every paint job I could find.

On the right here is a personal favourite in my collection, again this one comes from comic books and its the standard TIE Fighter but with the Rebel Alliance emblem on the wing. Finally below is my most recent addition to my TIE fleet, the TIE Defender. I think this by far the most different looking of the TIE fighters Hasbro has put out so far and its all the cooler for it.
So that's my titanium TIE Fighter collection, now hurry up Hasbro and release all the other variants from games, books and comics so I can keep growing this!

Ahsoka Tano w/ Rotta the Hutt

Based on the Clone Wars movie this figure comes complete with Rotta the Hutt in Ahsoka's back pack.