Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, Hasbro has given the Q&A a two-week break. Our regularly-scheduled session will return with questions due by Friday, November 30 at 5 p.m. Responses to your questions will, of course, be returned the following Friday, December 7.

But, as a special treat, we're excited to share some updates to three earlier questions. Plus, as a special bonus, we've got a few visual treats for youl...some new additions to our Photo Archive to go along with the updates!

From Q&A session 43:
Rebelscum: We've recently found the SAGA LEGENDS Sandtrooper figure finally being changed to the Evolutions body, although it's been found with the "less dirty" orange Squad Leader pauldron. Can we still expect the "super dirty" white Sergeant pauldron version coming (the figure that fans actually voted for) as a running change? Speaking of running changes to the Sandtrooper, can we get a list of them all (figure changes, not FC sticker changes)? Finally, it seems that the "clean" black Corporal pauldron has been painted to white...is this the case and we won't see the black at all, or is there something else going on here?

Hasbro: Well, this one has been the most confusing of all, because we are also working in the figures mistakenly produced for the initial Capture of the Tantive IV first production batch. So here goes.
1. 1st version is the TSC "super-dirty", gray pauldron, with Bantha staff.
2. TSC body, "dirty" version, with orange pauldron and Bantha staff.
3. TSC body, "clean", with white pauldron, and Bantha staff.
4. Evolutions body, "dirty" version, orange pauldron, with blaster rifle.

There has been one more version requested, but we have not seen samples - and that is
5. "Dirty" with black pauldron. This *should* be using the Evolutions body, but because of the original body switch, it may be issued using the TSC body.

We have not personally inspected this pre-production version though, so can't say with certainty which it will be. A possible sixth version, super-dirty using the Evolutions body, will likely not make the line unless we re-release additional quantities for a last shot next Spring. If we get that chance, we will....until then, we will likely have just the five.

Curto's Update: I know that fans are going crazy over the Sandtrooper variants, especially since the the "clean" black Corporal appears in our Photo Archive. Here's what happened: this version IS official, but was a very short run because it was meant to be the "clean" white pauldron sergeant (which is currently in stores now). Because Hasbro did allow some of the black version to go out, and they know some collectors still want it, they are going to release more in the Spring 2008 assortments.


From Q&A session 40:
Rebelscum: Speaking of Saga Legends, what's the status on the Saga Legends 501st Clone Trooper (SA mold), the Sandtrooper Sergeant (Evolutions mold), and the Pit Droids (sitting mold with locker)? Is it possible to reveal what case assortments these variants will be in?

Hasbro: We have some news. The Sandtrooper using the Evolution tool will be shipping starting with assortment 85770000W, and is expected to hit shelves around January.

We have seen first shots of the Pit Droids with bent-leg stance, and full production figures will be out on shelves in March, with all three color versions rolling out through until the end of Spring.

The 501st is a little murkier. While we have asked to switch this figure out for the SA Clone, we have yet to see a sample. We believe the reason is that we are running the SA clone at full capacity elsewhere and our Asian team has not had the ability to switch production. We are still confirming and are hopeful that this switch will happen but cannot confirm when it will take place.

Curto's Update: By now you probably know the story, but just in case...when this character was first shown at Comic-Con 2005, it sported the Super-Articulated body, but the actual figure ended up being a repainted AT-TE Tank Gunner. At the end of the Saga Legends tournament, I requested a change to the Super-Articulated body, since fans love their SA clones, and it looked like we were finally going to get an SA 501st Clone Trooper. However, since this figure was already in production for wave 2, the old Gunner body was used again (although with clean armor this time).

Good news, SA fans! As stated above, Hasbro has in fact made the switch and we'll see this come out in the 2008 assortments. But why wait? Check out this beautiful new 501st Legion Trooper now!


From Q&A session 43:
Rebelscum: The upcoming Commander Gree figure is top-notch, and easily in contention for "best figure of 2008", even at this early stage. While we were able to handle him at Star Wars Fan Days recently, we neglected to get a photo of him without his helmet. So in keeping with the Q&A tradition of asking for a photo of a helmetless clone, do you have any shots of Gree that you can share with us?

Hasbro: Sorry, we do not have an image to send at this time.

Curto's Update: Hasbro did not have an image to share with us last time, but after much groveling on my part, I was able to get my hands on the actual figure to photograph. The head is the same that has been used before, but now you can see for yourself all the other great details that has gone into the 2008 Commander Gree figure. Simply put, it's definitely got "best figure of 2008" potential!




I hope you enjoyed today's Special Edition Update, as well as the new Photo Archive additions. Our Hasbro's STAR WARS Q&A Session will resume early next month, so if you've got any burning Star Wars questions you need answered straight from the source, post your questions in this thread in our forums, and with any luck, you'll get your answers next time!