The holidays are upon us and as AFJ gets ready for the annual decorating and gift-giving ritual, we noticed that there are tons of new holiday-themed toys for 2017. Certainly, there are those of us that break out our NECA Cult Classic John McClane figures every year, but what about some new items? The following is AFJ’s “Top 10 2017 Holiday Themed Toys”. #AFJ4LIFE

***Writer’s note to the reader: You will certainly notice a trend here in these products and properties.

Funko Elf Pop!s

Jon Favreau's 2003 hit comedy has already become a holiday staple. Funko has now captured the cast and Mr. Narwhal in Pop! form. Keep your eyes open for Buddy with the Jack-in-the-Box Chase Variant as well as the Toys ”R" Us exclusive Narwhal. However, it is the BoxLunch exclusive that has us stoked!

Funko Home Alone Pop!s

My wife hates the fact that I refer to John Hughes’ holiday classic Home Alone as Die Hard for kids. Seriously, think about it though. We love the Macaulay Culkin likeness as Kevin McCallister. Yet we have to wonder why one would seek out the Wet Bandits individually when you can pick them up at Best Buy as an Exclusive. All three are solid choices for holiday cheer!

Funko Krampus Pop!s

Michael Dougherty’s 2015 horror holiday film, Krampus, really struck a chord with us. Since then, and with a little research about Krampusnacht and the Feast of St. Nicholas (December 6th), Krampus has found its way into our normal holiday cheer. What better to way to decorate than the cute little Krampus Pop!s that arrived this season? There is a multitude of variants, but the Hot Topic “snow flocked” (felt) is in our holiday sights.

NECA & Shout! Factory’s Silent Night, Deadly Night Santa Packaged only with 2,000 orders, directly from Shout! Factory’s website comes the 8-inch clothed Billy Chapman action figure dressed in a fabric Santa suit. These bad boys go on sale December 5th and are perfect for the horror aficionado who loves a bit of gore mixed in with his/her holiday yuletide. Order it HERE. Disney Tim Burton' s The Nightmare Before Christmas 7 inch Action Series Santa Many, if not all of us have Jack and Sally from Tim Burton’s wonderful stop-motion film. However, this year, how about finally picking up Santa? We have seen this spectacular figure at Toys ”R” Us and it is also under $20! It’s time Sandy Claws joins the collection! FYI, there are elves this year that come with Zero too! Funko Christmas Vacation Pop!s FYE Clark Griswold & Cousin Eddie Again, both of these now classic holiday characters are available separately. However, why not just get both in one shot and set them on either side of your punch bowl? Where do you get these cousins in a two-pack, you ask? Well at FYE (it's their exclusive, but we have found them on Amazon) of course. Individually, we suggest Entertainment Earth (see here: Clark - Eddie). National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 8-Inch Scale Chainsaw Clark Action Figure So here is one for both the comedy and horror movie fan in the house. Who doesn’t need Clark W. Griswold in his tree trimming garb? This figure by NECA may be a tad harder to get by decorating time, let alone Christmas. Be watchful because they are out there. Online may be another story. Entertainment Earth currently has them out of stock (HERE).  National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Clark Griswold Santa Outfit 8-Inch Clothed Action Figure Another rendition of Clark W. Griswold for the homestead? Why not? What better thing to put on display than Clark in all his holiday glory from the end of the film. Don’t expect to tap dance yourself into one of these right away, they have quickly become hard to find. Entertainment Earth also has them out of stock (HERE). Hopefully, next year, we will have a figure of Clark in his Black Hawks jersey.

Dr. Seuss The Grinch Santa Grinch Pop! Vinyl Figure In all your holiday shopping that will transpire, keep your eye out for Funko’s Santa Grinch. We’re not 100% sure why they chose the odd colors for the variant. The variant should have been one Grinch with red eyes and the other with blue. These Pop!s land in December. Good luck, Junkies! Watch for them to go on sale at Entertainment Earth HERE.

The Twilight Zone The Night of the Meek Santa Claus 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure In Color Series 2 This is one holiday-themed action figure that every fan of the Twilight Zone should own. Now Big Bang Pow! has done Santa from “Night of the Meek” before but this Series 2 colored edition will be easier to find than other previous incarnations. If you aren't sure which Twilight Zone I am talking about, turn on Season 2, episode 11 and grab a box of tissues. Get Santa HERE at Entertainment Earth.

With the dawn of yet a new Star Wars film on the horizon, we actually have to wonder if there will be a great lightsaber battle in the film? Rey and Kylo Ren battled it out before on Starkiller Base, but both are still novices. In anticipation of that duel, we here at Action Figure Junkies decided to list our Top 10 Cinematic Sword Fights. How does a Star Wars duel rank against that of one from the Adventures of Robin Hood? Find out who made the list twice! 

10. INDIANA JONES VS. THE SWORDSMAN - RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
All right, so it is just a tad lopsided but it is cinematic gold. The truth behind this moment is just as fun, not for the cast and crew, as watching it all take place. Originally, there was going to be a fight between Indy (Harrison Ford) and the Swordsmen (Terry Richards) which can be seen here on YouTube. It doesn’t compare to the final product (sorry about the music attached to this one).

9. WANG VS. RAIN - BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA
This fight is absurd. These two men go flying through the air sword fighting from the hip without getting a scratch. This is fitting because the whole movie is absurd. What clinches it is when Wang (Dennis Dun) gives Rain (Peter Kwong) the “how about that” eyebrows. At that moment, you know Wang will emerge victoriously.

8. GANDALF VS. THE BALROG - LORD OF THE RINGS
To see it all happen, we do need to leave Gandalf (Ian McKellen) for a while. Peter Jackson really added scope to this fight by not only having its combatants fall but continue to fight all the way down. To watch it all still gives us chills.

7. ROBY ROY VS. ARCHIBALD CUNNINGHAM - ROB ROY
Who would have ever thought that Tim Roth (standing at 5' 7") could ever be a match for Liam Neeson (6' 4")? The fight itself is a bit long and drawn out; Roth does have Neeson in the palm of his hand the entire time. What places this fight on the list is the ending. It is like nothing you have ever seen before.

6. YU SHU LIEN VS. JEN YU - CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON
They aren’t many sword fights involving ladies in the real world. In Anime films there are several. In Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, these ladies battle not only with swords but a gallery of weapons making each moment fresh and unique. Ang Lee not only created a cinematic wonder with the film, he reinvigorated the sword fight.

5. WILL TURNER VS. JACK SPARROW - PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL
By the time the first Pirates movie came out, filmgoers had seen it all when it came to sword fights. The trick here was to make it fun, establish a character for both our heroes, make it entertaining as hell and then have both of them live through it. Mission accomplished.

4. ROBIN HOOD VS. SIR GUY - THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD 
This was actually the rematch (between Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone) to their 1935 duel in Captain Blood (seen here). It is, of course, played on a grander scale in The Adventures of Robin Hood. The lavish colors don’t hurt either.

3. DARTH MAUL VS. QUI-GON JINN AND OBI-WAN KENOBI – STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE 
The time had come. Finally, we were going to see what Jedi, at their height, could really do. Episode 2 did have Yoda squaring off against Count Dooku and Episode 3’s final fight was long in coming. They both pale in comparison to this.

2. WESLEY VS. INIGO MONTOYA - THE PRINCESS BRIDE
Clearly taking its cue from the great Errol Flynn sword fights of the day. Rob Reiner crafted an elegant duel for us to not only witness but learn and care more about both characters. There hasn’t been a finer duel between two characters since. A credit to both Cary Elwes and Mandy Patinkin.

1. THE BRIDE VS. THE CRAZY 88 - KILL BILL VOL.
Who else but Quentin Tarantino could bring the samurai into the modern era? This sword fight also has scenes that are in black and white. Why? Censors. Who cares, really? It does make it so much cooler and the pure piece of pulp fiction it is.

Sony Pictures has released the first trailer for the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse! Yes, this is the Miles Morales tale that fans have been waiting for. The animation looks amazing. The hook, for the film and this property, comes at the end of the trailer, of course! #AFJ4LIFE

Synopsis: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the creative minds behind The Lego Movie and 21 Jump Street, bring their unique talents to a fresh vision of a different Spider-Man Universe, with a groundbreaking visual style that’s the first of its kind. “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” introduces Brooklyn teen Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore), and the limitless possibilities of the Spider-Verse, where more than one can wear the mask.

Enter a universe where more than one wears the mask #SpiderVerse In Theaters Christmas 2018.

AFJ’S PSYCH: THE MOVIE REVIEW!

By Jarrett Kruse 

**NO SPOILERS!!**

Sorry for the lateness on this one gang. I am still back East in New Jersey and naturally the room I am staying in only has a ROKU so I could not watch PSYCH: THE MOVIE live and had to DVR it and watch it after my folks went to work. That being said, I have been looking forward to this 2 hour special for months. Actually to say, "looking forward to" is an understatement--I have been positively giddy that Shawn & Gus were returning for a Christmas Special along with the whole gang.

It is hard to believe that it has already been three years since PSYCH ended with the dynamic duo heading north to San Francisco. To say that I was sad that the show was ending is an understatement--I was devastated. See, after my car accident, I desperately needed something to watch that would make me laugh and fight through the terrible pain I was in. My brother suggested that I pick up the first season of PSYCH and the rest is history. I became a full on PSYCH-O, obsessed with the characters, the barrage of 80's references and the camaraderie of the Santa Barbara Police Department. 

I believed that James Roday & Dule Hill were best friends in real life (they are) and it comes through perfectly since the pilot episode aired in 2006 on USA Network. The bromance between the two was completely organic and downright hysterical; polar opposites that would take a bullet for one another without a second thought. I had a major crush on the adorable Maggie Lawson playing Juliet O'Hara who was cast after actress Anne Dudek dropped out of the role. To be honest, I do not think that the show would have been as big of a cult hit had Dudek stayed on. The Clint Eastwood obsessed, by the books Timothy Omundson was pitch perfect as Head Detective Carlton Lassiter constantly butting heads with Shawn Spencer in an effort to prove to that he was in fact a fraud. Even Kristen Nelson's Chief Karen Vick, a veteran character actress in her own right, was the exact kind of mediator that the show needed when team Shawn/Gus & team Jules/Lassiter had differences of opinion. She was diplomatic and smart enough that although Shawn was not really a psychic, he had the skills handed down by his curmudgeonly retired cop dad Henry played by an against type Corbin Bernsen. 

Die hard fans may remember from the 2014 finale that Shawn's grandmother's ring he was planning on proposing to Jules with was stolen in the last scene leading the trio on one last chase around the streets of San Francisco before fading to black. Cut to three years later and Shawn is still looking for the ring in the back alleys of the streets of San Francisco where stolen goods are fenced, dressed up as one of my favorite characters, "Soupcan Sam" which is actually part of Gus's Hagrid costume. Shawn immediately gets spotted by El Provedor and his goons leading to a chase where he eventually escapes winding up at Gus's boring new day job. 

Juliet is on a stakeout with her vanilla new partner, the anti-Lassiter Sam Sloane, catching petty thieves when she catches Chief Vick's all-grown up tween daughter Iris being the perp. While Jules lets her go, she goes to the Chief's house to let her know what her daughter is into before Iris begs Jules not to disclose what she saw. You feel bad for the kid as she struggles to find that spot between becoming a full on teenager and it only ups Jules' cool factor as my dream girl. 

When Jules' new partner heads home to his loft, he is met by Zachary Levi's "Thin White Duke," a lanky Brit with a brilliant cockney accent that makes you question if Levi is even American. (I looked it up and he is from Louisiana). Levi chews the scenery with his David Bowie bleach blonde hair and is flanked by Heather Rockrear and the Black Gentleman Ninja (God I miss these hysterical names) played respectively by the WWE's Ashley Fliehr (Ric Flair's real life daughter) and Nathan Mitchell. After stealing Sloane's dongle (flash drive), the bad guys take down Sam in a hail of gunfire and he is barely clinging to life in the hospital.

Shawn has set up a new shop for PSYCH's home-base in a near exact replica of the shop where the Dad in GREMLINS purchases a Mogwai and renamed it, "PSYCHPHRANCISCO." I was hysterical at this because it really is a replica of the shop from the scary Christmas movie where cute little Mogwai's become terrifying monsters. Shawn & Gus have not changed one bit and at one point in my notes, I actually wrote, "I am home again." It just all felt right, no BS or reboot nonsense or reinventing the wheel, just the gang doing what they do best. Shawn's first quip to Gus is, "Don't be the comma in Earth, Wind & Fire." Sure on paper it is not a hysterical joke but Roday's comedic timing has not lost a step nor has Dule's straight man reaction to his partners constant refusal to enter adulthood. 

As it turns out, the stolen dongle (the guys cannot even keep a straight face any time this word is mentioned regardless of how dire the circumstances) is revealed to contain all of the SFPD's files including an entire dossier on Juliet. Hiding outside the hospital is none other than Nick Conforth, Ralph Macchio reprising his role as Santa Barbara police academy trainer who is still tight with the now clinging to life Sam Sloane, his former student. Nick reveals to the guys that he tried to approach Juliet at one point but she put him off. Clearly Detective O'Hara is hiding something big which is very out of character for her as she has always been the shows straight shooter. Sam had called Nick saying not to trust anyone, especially Jules, because of a continuous series of burner phone calls talking about "The Crimes of Juliet." Hmmm...

Despite Jules' objections, Shawn & Gus track a lead where the burner phone was pinging off of and it is a condemned mental hospital. Naturally, Gus is terrified but Shawn presses forward convincing his partner that nothing terrible can happen. I always love the banter between Roday & Hill and they are so invested in these characters that even in promos and interviews, they are not that different than their onscreen counterparts. Plus they are legit best buds in real life upping the ante of being able to work on an awesome show together where the chemistry is so genuine. 

C'mon Son!

After being chased down by a rescue dog that Shawn naturally names Morrissey, a British 80's musical icon. Its nice to know that Shawn's 80's-centric focus has not waned after he soothes the attack dog with an $80 bag of jerky that Gus was hiding for himself. The guys find a message saying, "She must be judged" among what is clearly the home base of The Duke filled with lots of high-tech gadgets, computers and all of Jules' personal info. The Duke and his minions arrive and realize their lair has been compromised while a perimeter check is in action. Seeing Shawn & Gus escape from any situation is always a laugh riot and this one is especially hysterical as their car now appears to be equipped with two steering wheels because of the incessant fighting over who should drive. So seeing the two try and maneuver a K-turn is comedic gold. 

When the duo reveal to the Chief what is going on at the mental hospital, she is gung ho to be back in the field after almost three years of cutting ribbons and photo ops. Naturally when the gang arrives back in the condemned building, it has been cleaned out and Shawn slayed me with a David Mamet joke quipping, "We've been Spanish Prisonered again!" It is those little nuggets of obscure pop culture that have kept me coming back to PSYCH all these years with all 120 episodes on my DVR. 

As die hard fans know, Gus's game with the ladies has always been a little off despite his bravado and GQ style and upkeep while being mistaken for "Bud" from THE COSBY SHOW. His go to line has usually been, "You hear about Pluto? That's messed up right?" (after the star was demoted from planet status). Gus is hellbent on attending a planetarium party where he quickly hits it off with his real life fiancee Jazmyn Simon playing Selene, an astrological enthusiast that jumps Gus's bones in the middle of the party. After years of botched relationships and false starts with the wrong women, Gus seems to have finally found his perfect female foil even if she is a little stalkerish. 

When Jules heads back to the ICU to check on Sam's status, there are men down everywhere and Sam has been smothered with a pillow by Heather Rockrear posing as a nurse. While examining the body, it turns out that scene stealer Kurt Fuller, Medical Examiner Woody Strode, is back in the fray. It is hugs all around and despite Sam's death, it is a joyous reunion for the guys. Fuller has a capacity to get the strangest laughs throughout the shows run and he is back and as goofy as ever. Somehow, Selene shows up in the morgue wanting to follow up with Gus after having thoroughly checked out Burton and his personal history online. Creepy? Yes. On the other hand, she is a single woman that is interested. 

Upon further examination of Sam's stomach contents, Woody is able to procure Sam's dongle (LOL) and they boot it up to find the documents labeled, "The Crimes of Juliet O'Hara." Meanwhile, El Proveedor is waiting for Shawn & Gus at PSYCHPHRANCISCO and Spencer is forced to "read" the criminal's future to get out of the jam under the threat of death. Shawn's quick thinking always impresses me because intuitively, people buy into psychics because they want to hear something specific and El Proveedor is no different. 

Jules has been keeping a "murder board" of sorts and apologizes to Shawn for not wanting him to get involved. She comes clean for the first time that she may have fudged the rules over the years to put the bad guys behind bars but nothing blatantly illegal. All of the criminals had a legitimate beef; a technicality that they hoped would get them off that did not pan out even though they helped O'Hara. Shawn does a very cool MINORITY REPORT style scan of all of the documents and determines that The Duke is a snitch named Billy McGoldrick who despite his assistance to Juliet, was also put away. It turns out that The Duke has been surveilling Juliet from an apartment across the street and a shootout ensues. Billy feels betrayed and that Detective O'Hara ruined his life hence the maniacal plan to take her down once and for all assuring her that he keeps his promises. However, something kept gnawing at me that Billy was not the one pulling the strings behind this convoluted caper. 

Zachary Levi aka The Thin White Duke will be playing SHAZAM for DC Films next! Art by George Evangelista

Henry Spencer shows up in San Fran determined to help but it is not the Henry we remember. This is a new zen Henry with a hip wardrobe and a much less by the book attitude than we remember. As the dust settles for an intimate scene of pondering between Shawn & Jules when she gets some air and FaceTime's Lassiter to get some much needed advice from her mentor. I have to admit I was very bummed out that this was Omundson's only scene even though it played very well to move the plot along. Shawn has a very intense dream with the return of the deceased Mary Lightly (the always terrific Jimmi Simpson) and the Gin Blossom's "Allison Road" playing in the background. I should have picked up on the clue but it went over my head.

The Duke had promised Juliet that he swore to someone else that he would not be the one to kill her. But if not The Duke, then who? The dastardly bleach blonde abducts the Chief's daughter Iris and are keeping her in a cell on The Rock. That's right, Alcatraz baby! The final act plays out just as you would expect but it has panache and flair without feeling rehashed and boilerplate. The clues of who is really behind it all are all there, I just did not have the detective skills to figure it out because even I had a jaw-drop moment when the big reveal of who the person pulling the strings was. Cat fights ensue, Woody & Henry have the crap beat out of them by Ric Flair's daughter and even the old standard, "Gus is a table" finally works correctly! 

To reveal anymore would be criminal because I really want to hear the Junkie PSYCH-O's opinions and theories. Needless to say, when the team gets back to the docks and everyone is safe and sound, El Proveedor is waiting to thank Shawn personally because all of his "prophecies" came true. Of course, it was Junior Detective Buzz McNabb that made it all happen but more importantly, the fence has located Shawn's grandmother's ring. The career criminal just also happens to be ordained and the long overdue wedding of Juliet & Shawn takes place right there on the docks. I have to admit, it was a very satisfying two hours and I wish to the TV gods that somehow, someway, that PSYCH can continue.

PSYCH is still fresh, timely and funnier than most one hour procedural cop dramas currently on the air. I genuinely miss the show because it really did get me through a tough period after my car accident. If this is the final time we see Shawn & Gus together, I am thankful that it was on such a fun ride that I will watch over and over again. It is so rare to have such a large ensemble cast gel the way PSYCH did and creator/showrunner Steve Franks certainly leaves the fate of the show wide open in a final scene with a very special guest star. Here's hoping it happens. I know you know that I’m telling the truth...

Warner Bros. hosted a special live streaming event (below) for READY PLAYER ONE featuring a Q&A with Ernest Cline from the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, TX.  The new trailer premiered during the live stream (above). Warner Bros. also released a new poster for the film as well (seen way below). 

If you haven't heard of this film or the book, we highly suggest that you pick it up [the book]. It is the perfect thing for AFJ Members to check out! #AFJ4LIFE

Synopsis: In 2045, the planet is on the brink of chaos and collapse, but people find salvation in the OASIS, an expansive virtual reality universe created by James Halliday. When Halliday dies, he promises his immense fortune to the first person to discover a digital Easter egg that's hidden somewhere in the OASIS. When young Wade Watts joins the contest, he finds himself becoming an unlikely hero in a reality-bending treasure hunt through a fantastical world of mystery, discovery and danger.

READY PLAYER ONE features Olivia Cooke, Tye Sheridan, Simoon Pegg, Ben Mendelsohn, T.J. Miller and is directed by Steven Spielberg. 

READY PLAYER ONE arrives in theaters March 30th, 2018. 

By Rob Vaux

John Boyega first rose to prominence as a cockney British criminal fending off alien invaders in the 2011 sci-fi cult hit Attack the Block. Oscar Isaac found success in the Coens’ Inside Llewyn Davis and the Alex Garland AI thriller Ex Machina. Both of them shot into the stratosphere with their appearance in Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens: Boyega as stormtrooper-turned-freedom-fighter Finn, Isaac as cocksure X-wing pilot Poe Dameron.  They reprise their roles in the next chapter to the Star Wars saga, The Last Jedi, which (as you may have heard) opens Friday. They talked about the project at a recent press day for the film.

Question: How would you say this film feels different from The Force Awakens? What sets it apart from that film?

Oscar Isaac: The second chapter in a story of three can be tricky, because the first one kind of sets the tone and the world, and introduces the new characters. In the second one, you don’t have to spend so much time doing that: you can really just delve into the story, into the conflict of each of the characters. I think what Rian Johnson’s done so incredibly well is challenge every single character, including the droids. He’s thrown the biggest challenges they’ve ever faced at them, and that’s how you’re able to really get to learn about them: on all sides of the spectrum, from light to dark. I think it’s really amazing what he’s done.

John Boyega: I just think the story’s moving forward. J.J. Abrams had a blueprint, a foundation of The Force Awakens that was pretty good. Now it’s about moving forward with the story and just challenging the characters, as Oscar said. Everyone has their own specific reckoning here, and it’s all different.

Q: Star Wars is probably the ultimate pop-culture icon: we wouldn’t have the MCU or any of these other franchises without it. At what point did you start owning your characters and the process as contributors instead of just fans?

JB: I’m still trying to get over it. I can’t lie. When we filmed The Force Awakens, it was about two years before we started on The Last Jedi, and we all obviously went to do other stuff. Then when you come back, it just feels like you’re back in school, and it’s fun. Every day was a new set. The practical effects, I think doubled in this movie. The sets were bigger. It’s always exciting and amazing.

Entertainment Weekly

Q: Obviously the death of Han Solo is a huge moment in The Force Awakens. Without spoiling anything, can you speak to your characters grappling with that here?

JB: I think we’re just keeping it moving, to be honest with you. The pressure’s on with this one, and there’s not a lot of time for these characters to reflect. I think that’s the one thing that’s unique to me about watching this movie: the commentary on war. I don’t think there’s been a Star Wars movie yet that has explored war as a concept than the way The Last Jedi does. It’s very messy: the categorizing of good and evil is all mixed together. In terms of Han, I’m sure Finn and Rey would feel profoundly about it if you sat them down and asked them, but their journey is continuing, and they simply have more pressing things to do.

OI: I think it’s reverberating but he’s right. It’s a dire situation, it’s critical. The Resistance is on its last legs. They’re trying to survive. The First Order’s right on top of us. It is like war, where you just keep moving to try to survive. I think this film captures the momentum of everything that happened in The Force Awakens, but focuses on just pushing and getting to a critical mass.
Q: This is one of the last projects of Carrie Fisher, and her final turn as Leia. How do you think the Star Wars films will continue her legacy?

OI: An interesting thing, going back to one of the things about the question about the strong women in it, because think as a guy I’d like to say that for me the most formative people in my life have been women. And so that has shaped my destiny so much and so to see that reflected in the film is really, really a beautiful thing, and it does, it is more true to real life and what’s happening now, but what’s always happened: they’re the ones that shape you. Carrie helped shape a lot of people with Princess Leia, and I think her performance here is going to remind people of that.

I remember the outright anger that Disney faced when they canceled Star Wars: The Clone Wars. I don’t think any fanboy or fangirl realized that Disney wasn’t just canceling a beloved show, but simply closing a chapter in Star Wars to open a new one. We all should have known that Supervising Director Dave Filoni would not leave his characters from The Clone Wars to have open-ended storylines. The magic of what he did with Rebels was to weave those characters perfectly into the series we celebrate today.

The downside to Star Wars Rebels is that the series' toys and collectibles have been under the juggernaut that is the Star Wars Cinematic Universe. Certainly, Hasbro has found a way to weave Rebels' action figures and vehicles into their releases, but not nearly as many as we would have liked. It was a tough Top 10 here Junkies. We love so much of what we were actually given, we only wish there was more.

10. Rebels Mission Series: Action Figure Set: Jedi Reveal 

It never hurts to start a list with the first toys released for a new show. This Toys R Us exclusive harbored a secret figure (a hologram Obi-Wan Kenobi) and even went so far as to blacken out his window. Cool, but odd because the internet moves at such a fast pace, that the first one simply had to be bought for it to be known everywhere. It was great that three figures kicked off this new line of toys! 

9. LEGO Star Wars Captain Rex's AT-TE (75157)

A tad more on the expensive side but Captain Rex's AT-TE’s from the “Lost Commanders” (Season 2) episode is one of the best toys from Rebels. Of course, we wish that Hasbro would have released it as a toy, but it gives us all the more reason to pick up one of the AT-TE from The Clone Wars they released and get creative. Thank you, LEGO we love this set!

8. Attack Vehicle: Imperial Troop Transport

From the fifth wave of Rebels action figures in the line, comes a personal favorite as I had the original one from Kenner. It was great to see Filoni and crew pay homage to the original toy and making it canon by placing it into the show. If only I could have seen it in the stores to buy it. Thank Vader for the secondary online market.

7. Star Wars Rebels Characters Disney Infinity 3.0
Disney Infinity felt like such a right fit for Star Wars. Yet, if you have visited any brick and mortar store that sold the game pieces you know that Disney canceled it long ago. Having played the game, I thought it was cool but ultimately frustrating. Outside of the gameplay, the sculpts for the character pieces are fantastic! They are now a tad harder to come by in stores, the Rebels, but look online and you will find them.

6. LEGO Star Wars Rebels The Ghost (75053-1)
Again, LEGO has released a toy that Hasbro has not. What I would give to actually have a Ghost to interact with my 3.75-inch figures. Especially after we saw The Ghost parked at the Yavin Base in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. LEGO I applaud you, a fantastic piece!

5. Star Wars Rebels Black Series - Celebration Orlando Exclusive- Grand Admiral Thrawn
Thrawn is the most respected character from the Expanded Universe (non-cannon/ legends). Leave it to Filoni to bring him into the fold on Rebels. There was an earlier Thrawn in the Expanded Universe 3.75" line and a figure that emerged in the Rogue One wave. However, the Black Series Thrawn that surfaced as a Star Wars Celebration Exclusive is perfection!

4. Star Wars Rebels Black Series - Ahsoka Tano
Ahsoka had numerous figures made in The Clone Wars line. Again, as it was with Thrawn, her Black Series figure is perfect. Here we have the mature Togruta Jedi dropout with her brilliant white lightsabers. We know Filoni will wrap up her story on Rebels. He not only owes it to the fans but to the character as well.

3. Star Wars Rebels Black Series - Kanan Jarrus
He was a young Padawan when Palpatine issued Order 66. However, Caleb Dume survived and started his own rebellion. Of courses, this version of the Cowboy Jedi makes our list. Hasbro even made the lightsaber part of his belt as to not reveal his true identity.

2. Star Wars Rebels Black Series - Hera Syndulla
Though just merely a Captain on Rebels, we know that this Twi’lek will rise to the rank of General (check out Rogue One again). This figure was long overdue and a hot commodity on Force Friday II. Surprisingly Hasbro did not release 3.75” figure of her in the first wave. Now she is only 1 of 4 from Rebels to get the Black Series treatment!

1. Star Wars Rebels Black Series - Sabine Ren
When Sabine’s Black Series figure debuted at Toy Fair it was like a rock star had been unveiled. The crowd went nuts and the cameras started to go off. Kudos to Hasbro for keeping her Black Lightsaber under wraps because it really would have spoiled the storyline and where Rebels took her.

There you have it, Junkies, our "Top 10 Star Wars Rebels Toys". We are celebrating Star Wars: The Last Jedi all this month with similar articles featuring fantastic lists of toys from the galaxy far far away!

Star Wars Rebels will end it's series finale in 2018 on Disney XD! Check out this Spanish Toy Commerical for the Rebels line below! #AFJ4LIFE

Imagine a train wreck.

You can’t look away. There’s fire and destruction everywhere and the smell of burning metal in the air but you keep hoping that someone will hobble out. You watch, but for a long time tricks of light keep giving you hope and crushing it. Then, when all hope is gone, one person crawls out. That is the cartoon of Boba Fett in the Star Wars Holiday Special (seen here).

The purpose of the Noob, here on AFJ, is to look at the things that my generation may have missed, and explain what it is like for a millennial to experience it. With that said, I think we can all agree that the Star Wars Holiday Special is not good, no matter what generation is watching.

Despite this, there is one factor that I see which causes most of the problems in the Special and there is one redeeming quality outside the cartoon with Boba Fett (because we can all agree that was cool, like this Sideshow/Hot Toys animated Boba Fett (Pre-Order it here).

The Negative
Sigh. It is hard to put all the bad into one factor, but I think the biggest problem is the narrative structure built around the three characters we can’t understand: Malla, Itchy, and Lumpy. It’s not entirely impossible to guess what they feel, like Chewie in the original trilogy, but not knowing exactly what they are saying does impact a story like this. I mean, the first 20 minutes (after the Han and Chewie intro) is just Wookiees talking to each other in a language no one in our galaxy understands.
The biggest problems facing the Special stems from this issue. Every transition into the weird songs comes from this family, and it is never clear why. It always leaves the audience with the thought, “what the hell is happening, and WHY?” This kind of story can work (see my review on the 2015 Marvel "Chewbacca" comic tomorrow), but this Special did not do it right. Why is this happening? Why is this HAPPENING?

Official quotes from the Star Wars Holiday Special from IMDB below. 

It’s not just the songs; everything they cut away to (that isn’t the cartoon) leaves me with more questions. What is with the instructional video where the instructor keeps breaking down in the middle of every sentence? And in the end, why are they wearing the red robes? And does that mean they’re naked during the rest of the Special?!

Okay. I need to move on. This will just keep going if I don’t stop myself.

Redemption
As odd as this sentence is: the Empire was the best part of the Special. This is the first time we see on screen the dark and terrible things the Empire does to the planets they control. Outside of blowing up Alderaan and their general Nazi-ishness in A New Hope, the Empire are the bad guys because we are told they are. (Then again, they do burn Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen…)

In the Special, The Empire is legitimately menacing. The way they corral Chewbacca’s family and search the house, you get glimpses of what the evil The Empire is capable of. It is frightening to see what some of these planets have been enduring while our heroes have been fighting and it gives the Rebel's cause emotional weight.

It’s just too bad that that emotional weight is engulfed in a garbage can on fire.

Life Day
I am going to be completely honest with you: I just watched the Special and I cannot tell you what Life Day is about. By the end, I was so confused that I am not sure if I cared to understand anymore. As easy as it would be for me to go back to the video and replay the end, I can’t. I can’t do it again.  At least not while the wound is so fresh.

All that being said, the Star Wars Holiday Special is an enigma wrapped in a lot of WTF moments. Yet, on November 17^th next year I will probably be celebrating Life Day because it is too weird not to. Do you celebrate it? What is Life Day to you?

Let me know in the comments below. Watch the full Star Wars Holiday Special here on YouTube. 

Hey! One last thing! Evan writes from a diner at the edge of the universe with surprisingly good wi-fi. Tweet at him @Indiecomicblog and look out for more of his articles here on AFJ.

By Rob Vaux

Daisy Ridley was an up-and-coming young actress when she landed the role of a lifetime – the Force-savant Rey in the long-awaited Star Wars sequel, The Force Awakens. She returns as Rey in the new Star Wars film, The Last Jedi, opening this Friday, and spoke to the press at the recent junket for the film.

Question: What’s different in this film? What sets it apart from The Force Awakens?

Daisy Ridley: The biggest thing for me when I read the script – and this may be the tiniest smidge of a spoiler – it’s that I don’t have as much time with John [Boyega]. People responded well to John and I as a team, and I was a bit nervous about not being a team so much in this one. So I think for me personally it was a challenge. We’re in different situations, we’re with different people that we are learning about, we’re meeting for the first time. The character dynamics are much different. I don’t respond to Luke the way I responded to Han, or to Leia. We’ve just met for the first time, and you have to find that energy with a new actor. It’s different, and hopefully gives this film an identity all its own.

Q: Star Wars has always been great in providing role models for little girls. How much of that is on your mind these days, given the nature of politics at the moment.

DR: I think it’s fantastic to be a part of. As a girl growing up in London, I knew there was a disparity in films but I wasn’t so aware of it. My parents never made me conform to any expectations, and I was never really made to feel any one way. When I got involved in Star Wars, I knew it was a big deal, but the response was so beyond anything I could have imagined. You think you get it, you think you’re ready for it, and then it’s just a thousand times more monumental than anything you could have believed.

And some of that means realizing how much Rey means too little girls, yes, but also so many guys. And that I think is the key to it, because if it’s not a big deal – if it’s not “this is a guy” and “this is a girl” and those categories get thrown open – then there’s all kinds of possibilities. It’s just great characters that happily are falling into broader categories now, and yeah. It’s a thrill.

Q: What do you think lies at the core of the Star Wars appeal?

DR: Well beyond the sort of universal appeal of these heroic, operatic stories, there’s a lot of depth of detail to this universe. And if you harness that right, it can be very exciting. Every character has a story: something worth telling us. And the villains are often just as interesting as the heroes because they’re conflicted too. They have pain. So it makes for very compassionate viewing: you care very deeply about all of these characters very quickly. You’re really understanding both sides: why people are doing the things they’re doing, and the consequences of people’s actions, and how things collide – how we collide – in strange and unexpected ways.
Q: What sets making a Star Wars movie apart from making any other movie, even other big movies?

DR: As an actor, I would much more easily draw comparison of similarity. I was very new to this all with the first film. And I’ve done smaller films now this year, and I’m like, genuinely it feels the same. It’s still an ensemble of people trying to tell a story. It tends to be smaller, yes, but size matters not, as a friend of mine once said. And we came back for this one, and the same faces were here and the same people were ready to go. It’s like a family thing, and so going into it doesn’t feel as scary. That’s the only thing you can ask for: people and a setting where you’re comfortable taking risks. You can only do what you can do. If you’re in a really safe environment, then you’re able to do more.

Q: We asked your costars how their characters are processing the death of Han Solo. I’d imagine it hits Rey harder than it hits the other two.

DR: I think it’s wrapped up in what I said earlier. Things have changed, and there are stories moving in tandem. Rey is probably affected by it more than anyone. She had been alone for such a long time, and now she’s found Finny and BB-8. She’s open to friendship and love and loyalty. And then Han arrives, and she’s seeking something from him. Suddenly, she has a parent. And then in one moment it’s snatched away. It’s a lot to process, especially in the middle of this huge conflict.

But unlike the others, Rey at least has some time. To process what’s happened and ask some questions that need asking. Her emotions run higher to the surface, and she’s really beginning to understand the stakes involved: the possibility of losing someone you care about just when you’ve realized how much you care about them.

Without a doubt, Luke Skywalker is on the upper echelon of most action figures made of a character. He probably falls somewhere behind Batman, Spider-Man, and somewhere ahead of Superman. We decided to tackle the monumental task of finding 10 Luke Skywalker action figures that are the best of that lot. Now, we immediately plan on leaving out anything from Sideshow Collectibles and Hot Toys. We wanted this list to be strictly action figures of the last Jedi. Besides, we have another Star Wars movie in 2019 to make even more lists for. #AFJ4LIFE

10. STAR WARS SAGA LUKE SKYWALKER THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK - BESPIN DUEL

An odd choice to be sure to start the top 10 but look at the accessories and face details of this Hasbro figure! This Luke arrived during the Attack of the Clones era and was a delight compared to many of the magnet themed figures that surfaced. What I love about this figure is Luke’s face (the realization that Vader is telling the truth) and the Bacta cast that he is wearing in the Millennium Falcon. In many ways, the climax of the character in Empire is all contained right here.

9. STAR WARS DARTH VADER AND LUKE SKYWALKER CLOUD CITY DUEL MOVIE MOMENTS POP VINYL FIGURE 2-PACK

Without a doubt the newest Luke on our list but, like above, it ties directly to Empire. What we have here is Father and Son before the big reveal. Funko included the catwalk in this two-pack and there isn’t anything more a fan could want! Though I feel as if there should be a high ground joke made here. 

8. STAR WARS ACTION COLLECTION 12” LUKE SKYWALKER IN CEREMONIAL GEAR

To be honest, I was never a fan of Luke Skywalker in the Tatooine whites. It always annoyed me that Kenner never made a figure of Luke in the yellow leather jacket. Certainly I had the 3.75” incarnation by Hasbro, however, the 12” felt more on the money for me.

7. STAR WARS POTF EXPANDED UNIVERSE LUKE SKYWALKER

Before the new sequels, there were only comics and novels to learn what happened to Luke, Han, and Leia. A personal favorite of mine was the "Dark Empire" storyline from Dark Horse Comics. Imagine my delight when that Luke got selected to join the Expanded Universe line! Additionally, Hasbro included fold-out 3-D play scene for each of the EU figures. This is something I wish that they would bring back. It would drive collector’s crazy.

6. LUKE SKYWALKER X-WING PILOT GEAR (UNLEASHED)

No, you are not seeing the latest Black Series Centerpiece Luke but the Unleashed Pilot Luke from 2004. This whole line, Unleashed, was Hasbro’s way of competing with McFarlane Toys and is a predecessor to Hasbro's Black Series. This one was my first must have from the line. Good luck finding these on the secondary market. They go for a pretty penny.

5. STAR WARS THE BLACK SERIES  X-34 LANDSPEEDER 6 INCH LUKE SKYWALKER SDCC EXCLUSIVE

Complete with sailor’s hat, yes that is what that is, comes the farm boy and his ride. This SDCC exclusive is now a prized piece for collectors. If you still want one, there is a non-exclusive version out there (usually near Rey’s speeder). You will also pay half of what you would pay for the SDCC version. A must-have for your Black Series display! 

4. STAR WARS THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK LUKE SKYWALKER BESPIN FATIGUES

 Yes, there were two different paint jobs for the Kenner Bespin Luke. Why? God only knows what happened in that factory so many moons ago, but little variants like this drive collector’s crazy. We are placing them both on the list because depending on your circle friends and shopping choices by your parents you probably only ever saw one of these. For me, it was great to know which one was mine and which one was my brother’s!

3. STAR WARS THE BLACK SERIES LUKE SKYWALKER X-WING PILOT

The Celebration Orlando and the 4oth Anniversary editions were all the rage earlier in the year, however, I chose the original Black Series X-Wing Luke because it was the first in the line. Though I am sure many of you opened yours, I sat mine on my desk and waited for a few figures so I could take a few pics. Well outside of the Sandtrooper, I didn’t get too many, and before I knew it Luke became the figure to have. So there he remains, for now.

2. STAR WARS: VINTAGE COLLECTION 3 3/4 LUKE SKYWALKER (DAGOBAH LANDING)

This one, in many ways rights a wrong that Kenner basically glossed over. Certainly, the costume from A New Hope to Empire looks the same. If you are an insane fan (like myself) or a cosplayer, you know they are very different. The Empire outfit is heavier, for the cold climate, whereas the Yavin flight suit is just jumpsuit. Take note of the outfit in the Unleashed version and the Black Series for a quick justification. Hasbro also finally released a figure that a decent held sculpt and the helmet came off! Oh, and now Luke had a holster!

1. RETURN OF THE JEDI LUKE SKYWALKER IN JEDI KNIGHT OUTFIT

Not the figure you thought would take the number one spot eh? This was the Luke to have. Here we finally had the farm boy be what he was destined to be. Mix that with Luke finally got the right colored lightsaber! What Kenner dolt thought it was yellow? It was never yellow! Back on point, it was also the Luke that carried you into your own adventures of what happened next after ROTJ. If I had to scale down my whole collection to just one Star Wars figure, this would be the one.

Have a different top 10? Have the same? Sound off in the comment section below and may the Force be with you, always.

By Rob Vaux

Starring:  Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern and Benicio Del Toro
Written by: Rian Johnson, George Lucas (characters) 
Directed by: Rian Johnson
Studio: Walt Disney, Lucasfilm Ltd., Ram Bergman Productions
Rated: PG-13
Run Time: 2 Hours, 32 minutes

It says a lot that in a pop-culture landscape littered with spoilers – where we’re eager to digest the contents of a movie well before it comes out – that blowing any details about a Star Wars movie means Death by Internet in the most brutal manner imaginable. It also makes a critics’ job very hard, because how do you talk about it in anything but the vaguest terms? “We’re back with Luke and Rey on the island and then stuff happens and BB-8 is cute and hey, it’s awesome!” It’s doubly frustrating for The Last Jedi because writer-director Rian Johnson has a lot to say. He’s not content to just sit back, answer our questions, and throw some cool X-wing battles at us. He really wants to delve into the essence of what this universe is all about: kick us out of our comfort zone and get to the root of it all.

That eventually comes back to Luke (Mark Hamill), powerful and wise but in some ways still the same angry teenager he was in the original trilogy. He’s consumed by his perceived failures, bitter about his fate, and resigned to the notion that interfering in the galaxy’s affairs is a big mistake. His would-be apprentice Rey (Daisy Ridley), eager to help her friends and looking for answers about her own destiny, has to shake him out of his lethargy. And the clock’s ticking: things are not going well for Team Good Guy, and with the First Order closing in on her friends in the Resistance, the time to act is now.

Going beyond that goes into spoiler territory, and to speak further of the story itself threatens to ruin any number of the movie’s marvelous surprises. Johnson packs a lot of them in, integrated effortlessly with a loaded plot and a surprisingly high number of prominent characters. A few of them get a little goofy, but what is Star Wars without some goofiness? The remainder simply soar.

The Last Jedi works well first and foremost by keeping all of its various story threads straight, edging up the excitement levels, and letting each character develop without feeling busy. He even throws in a few fresh faces, such as Laura Dern’s purple-haired admiral or Kelly Maria Tran’s earnest grease monkey. Both play surprisingly large roles considering how many over figures need screen time, and yet no one feels short-changed or ignored. (The late Carrie Fisher gets the best of it, with a curtain call for Leia that makes us miss the actress all the more.)

Not only that, but everyone’s arc moves in an interesting direction: developing the characters, their conflicts and how they choose to act in the face of the seemingly insurmountable. That applies to the villains too, particularly Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), confronted with the consequences of his actions in The Force Awakens and responding in a manner that no one quite expects. The Last Jedi scores a lot of points partly by defying our expectations without anything feeling gimmicky or forced, but mainly by throwing these figures into serious dilemmas – where the answers aren’t always clear – and seeing how they’ll respond.

It’s a solid blueprint for the kind of storytelling Star Wars excels at, well-oiled by self-depreciating humor and some terrific action sequences that find new ways to deliver the Republic-serial perils that have become the franchise’s stock in trade. A bit of awkward pacing mars the final act, which feels like an unnecessary coda after the film’s biggest fireworks display has come and gone, but that’s a minor quibble at best. This is the kind of movie you don’t want to end, and while not every question is fully answered, the revelations here prove immensely satisfying.

In and of itself, that would be more than enough to make The Last Jedi everything Star Wars fans could hope for. But Johnson doesn’t rest there. He dives headlong into the very notion of The Force: what it is, how it works and why even the wisest practitioner struggles to understand its purpose. His ideas move the saga in a new direction, but one still very much in keeping with everything that’s come before. It’s still Star Wars, and yet it’s something entirely different: a natural evolution from the previous eight movies suggesting that we might only have begun to scratch the surface of this universe. The characters all feel the impact, which makes their battles far more than the usual good-guys-vs-bad-guys clichés and approaches something genuinely profound. Star Wars has always reach fitfully for such heights, but The Last Jedi climbs higher than anyone could have expected. The view is simply tremendous.

Written by: Gerry Duggan
Illustrator: Phil Noto
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Edition: Paperback, 112 pages. 

With The Last Jedi a few days away, and Solo: A Star Wars Story coming out next year, it seemed a fitting time to look back at the canon Marvel comics that came out following the Disney/Lucasfilm merger. In 2015, Chewbacca got his own five-issue run which follows a personal journey that has a small detour on Andelm-4.

While trying to fix his crashed spaceship, he is enlisted to help a young native, Zarro, free her father from the mines he has been forced to work in. A gangster, Jaum, has enslaved the people who owe him money and forced them to mine resources (used for blasters), which he plans to sell to the Empire. It is when Zarro asks Chewbacca if he knows what it is like to be a slave, he joins her fight. With flashbacks to Kashyyyk and what it was like there under the thumb of The Empire, Chewbacca and Zarro fight to save Andelm-4 from being sold.

This comic does something right that The Star Wars Holiday Special got wrong: communicating what a Wookiee is trying to say (see AFJ's review HERE). The Holiday Special failed spectacularly at this, and the entire thing was ruined by it. Chewbacca excels in this by giving the Chewie a character we can understand to play off. This helps us understand Chewie well enough that we can actually follow the storyline.

What is funny about that dynamic is that Zarro can barely understand Chewie, just like us. This forces Chewie to do his best to explain things in a non-verbal way, over-emphasizing his movements, and this is what clues us into what he’s trying to say.

Beyond that, the comic boasts a strong, emotional story that makes sense in the Star Wars universe. A gangster is taking advantage of a war to acquire wealth and power. A young girl raised in the era of The Empire chooses to rebel against the unjust powers around her. And a hero helps to do what he can to balance the scales of justice again.

It certainly gives you a new appreciation for our favorite Wookie, especially the ending. Have you read this comic? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below!

The cover to issue one of the individual comics! Order the TPB edition here on Amazon. 

Written by: Daniel Wallace
Hardcover: 128 pages
Publisher: Titan Books

My level of Star Wars fandom comes from a different time but one I am sure many of you can appreciate. In my day, which makes me sound like an old man, the internet was nonexistent. If I wanted to learn anything about my favorite property (Star Wars), I had to go to the library or a bookstore. I would soak in everything I could about planets, creatures, and battles. Which brings us to AFJ’s latest and most timely book review, “Star Wars: On the Front Line”. A first hand detailed (fictionalized) account of the soldiers that fought over Scariff, above Coruscant, at the forest moon of Endor, and more.

In all honesty, I didn’t know what to expect to from “Star Wars: On the Front Line”. I knew that the events of The Last Jedi would be excluded here but the depth and detail quickly made that a moot point. Full descriptions of “Combatants” and the “Tools of War” were mind-blowing. Yet it was the personal accounts of those involved that made this old Star Wars fan giddy with delight. Here was a Star Wars book that emulated a WW2 soldier guide mixed with a Stephen Ambrose-style story of an account of each conflict. Not only did this add to the canon of Star Wars, but it enriched the overall mythos of the events.

For the uninitiated or the young fan, each conflict (11 in total) features “Combatants”, “Tools of War”, as well as a “Prelude to Battle”, “Tactical Analysis” and “Aftermath”. In those pages, the focus turns to commanders of these conflicts as well as eyewitness accounts. However, it is the “Tales of Valor” that I found the most intriguing. Here was a full history of Red Leader (aka Garven “Dave” Dries) and Hobbie Klivian, soldiers that lost their lives. However, I found it odd that no Imperials (seen primarily as the villains in Star Wars) had an entry in “Tales of Valor”. Perhaps in subsequent releases, Inferno Squad will garner a Tale of Valor or two?

There are only two conflicts that tie to the Star Wars: The Clone Wars TV series, mentioned in the book. They are the Battle of Christophsis and the Battle of Ryloth. The first conflict does happen in Star Wars: Clone Wars film, released in 2008, however, only two battles from the TV series are documented. Perhaps the TV series provided too large a conflict to cover in this book. Hopefully, The Clone Wars (TV series), as well as Star Wars Rebels, will receive their own “On the Front Line” treatments.

Again, this a fantastic book lavished with amazing stories and paintings of the conflicts enclosed. Daniel Wallace also featured painted portraits of the commanders involved giving the book a real history feel, that many science fiction/ movie books fail to capitalize on. Yes, you are reading a history book, only one about a long time ago, in a galaxy far far away that keeps unfolding and revealing a rich history that even its creator never conceived of.

This book is the perfect gift for the Star Wars fan who you think has everything!

Order STAR WARS: ON THE FRONT LINES here on Amazon.

Warner Bros. has released a new clip from their upcoming Batman: Gotham By Gaslight (seen above). The clip features "Ivy, the Plant Lady" encountering Jack the Ripper in the dark alleys of turn-of-the-century Gotham City. Below you will find full details on the premiere which will take place in Washington D.C. with their “DC in D.C.,” event. This event is a full weekend of DC activities coinciding with the premiere of Black Lighting! Again, check out the full details below! #AFJ4LFE

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment's World Premiere of the highly-anticipated DC Universe Movie, "Batman: Gotham By Gaslight" on Friday, January 12, 2018.

Press Release: Get ready for “DC in D.C.” During the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, Warner Bros. Television Group, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment will team up for “DC in D.C.,” a landmark pop culture event that brings together the worlds of entertainment and public service to illuminate the story of America and current issues through the lens of comics and Super Heroes. Events will take place Friday, January 12, and Saturday, January 13, 2018, at the Newseum, and will culminate with the world premiere screening of the upcoming DC series Black Lightning — based on the first African-American DC Super Hero to have his own stand-alone comic title — in the Warner Bros. Theater at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, with a party to follow at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

“DC in D.C.” brings together stars and producers from Warner Bros. Television’s DCTV series, as well as comic book writers and artists from DC Entertainment, who will join invited guests from politics, government service, entertainment, business, academia and more. The event will explore the intersection of comic books, culture, entertainment and enlightenment through a series of panel discussions open to the public. Additionally, “DC in D.C.” will present the premiere screening of the DC Universe animated movie Batman: Gotham By Gaslight (for ages 18+) at the Newseum.

Scheduled participants include:

• The stars of Black Lightning — Cress Williams, China Anne McClain, Nafessa Williams, Christine Adams, Marvin “Krondon” Jones III, Damon Gupton and James Remar — along with executive producers Salim Akil & Mara Brock Akil

• Executive producers Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter (Arrow, Black Lightning, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Supergirl, upcoming Titans) plus television series stars Caity Lotz (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow), Candice Patton (The Flash), Danielle Panabaker (The Flash), J.W. Cortes (Gotham), Russell Tovey (Freedom Fighters: The Ray) and others to be announced.

• DC comic book writers and artists such as DC Entertainment’s Jim Lee, Julie Benson, Shawna Benson, Shea Fontana, Agnes Garbowska, Tom King, Steve Orlando, Alice Randall, Oscar®-winning screenwriter John Ridley, Mark Russell, Mariko Tamaki and DC Entertainment’s Geoff Johns, the best-selling author of Rebirth and Doomsday Clock.

• Luminaries from media, politics and government service

• And more to be announced…

Highlights of the “DC in D.C.” event schedule include:

• Stars and producers from WBTV’s DC series Arrow, Black Lightning, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Gotham, Supergirl and Freedom Fighters: The Ray join comic book authors and artists from DC Entertainment for panel discussions and appearances that are open to the general public. Additional information about tickets for the five public panels will be released at www.DCinDC2018.com.

• Private, invitation-only world premiere of upcoming DCTV drama series Black Lightning, which debuts Tuesday, January 16, 2018, at 9/8c on The CW.

• Public sneak peek screening of Black Lightning, as well as the premiere screening of DC Universe animated movie Batman: Gotham By Gaslight, coming to Digital on January 23, 2018, and Blu-ray™/DVD on February 6, 2018, from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

• For additional info on “DC in D.C.,” please visit www.DCinDC2018.com, and follow us on Twitter at @warnerbrostv and @DCComics, hashtag: #DCinDC

“DC IN D.C.” EVENTS SCHEDULE

PLEASE NOTE: Participants are subject to change.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 12 — NEWSEUM

BATMAN: GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT PREMIERE SCREENING (18+)

6:30–9:15 p.m. Batman: Gotham By Gaslight Premiere Screening (For Mature Audiences 18+ Years of Age) — Warner Bros. Animation and DC Entertainment provide a new take on Batman as a steampunk Dark Knight hunts Jack the Ripper through the shadows of turn of the century Gotham City in this all-new animated feature available from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment January 23, 2018, on Digital and February 6, 2018, on Blu-ray and DVD. The premiere event is for mature audiences 18 years of age or older, will kick off with a cocktail reception and will be followed with a Q&A session with the film’s voice cast and producers.  Newseum Theatre

Inspired by the landmark one-shot Elseworlds tale by Brian Augustyn and Mike Mignola, Batman: Gotham By Gaslight takes place at the turn of the century as America’s continued industrial revolution is to be showcased at a World’s Fair hosted by Gotham City. But while the world prepares to witness the glittery glory of Gotham’s technological advances, there is a killer loose in the city’s darkest shadows. Preying on the city’s women, this killer is as precise as he is cruel. As Police Commissioner James Gordon (Scott Patterson – Gilmore Girls) tries to calm the fears of Gotham’s citizens regarding the butcher called Jack the Ripper, the masked vigilante Batman (Bruce Greenwood – American Crime Story) indulges in his own detective work — with the help of confident, capable Selina Kyle (Jennifer Carpenter – Dexter) — to stop the Ripper’s murderous spree. Witness a world in flames as the notorious serial killer’s controlled savagery meets the calculated stealth of the Dark Knight. Sam Register, Bruce Timm (Batman: The Killing Joke), Benjamin Melniker and Michael Uslan are executive producers.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 13 — NEWSEUM

10:00–10:45 a.m. The Art of the Matter: From Sketch to Screen — Just how do our favorite DC Super Heroes fly from the page to the screen? This behind-the-scenes look at the creative process provides an “origin story” of how some of DC’s greatest Super Heroes on the page have evolved into some of TV’s hottest Super Heroes on screens all over the world. Join executive producers Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter (Arrow, Black Lightning, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Supergirl, upcoming Titans), DC Entertainment’s Geoff Johns (Arrow, The Flash, Titans) and others as they trace the explosion of DC’s heroes — from ink panels to television and film screens worldwide. Additional panelists to be announced.  Newseum

11:00–11:45 a.m. The Many Shades of Heroism: DC Heroes Through the African-American Lens — 2018 will not only bring Black Lightning, a new African-American DC Super Hero to television screens (40 years after the electrifying hero was created), but also a new DC comic book from Oscar®-winning screenwriter John Ridley (12 Years a Slave) and more exciting storytelling featuring African-American characters. In this panel, Black Lightning star Cress Williams and executive producers Salim Akil & Mara Brock Akil will join the acclaimed John Ridley, author and comic book writer Alice Randall (The Wind Done Gone, Earth M), and Black Girl Nerds Editor-in-Chief Jamie Broadnax as they look beyond the super suit to the African-American men and women who are heroes to their community. Black Lightning premieres Tuesday, January 16, 2018, at 9/8c on The CW. Follow Black Lightning on Twitter at @blacklightning. Additional panelists to be announced.  Newseum

12:00 p.m.–12:45 p.m. Wonder Women — DC and Warner Bros. Pictures’ Wonder Woman took charge of screens in an unprecedented way last summer, toppling the cinematic patriarchy and paving the way for even more super women. DC has been flexing its power with female heroes on television screens for years, including kickass characters on Supergirl, The Flash, Arrow, Gotham and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. Join DC’s Legends of Tomorrow star Caity Lotz, The Flash stars Candice Patton and Danielle Panabaker, Berlanti Productions President Sarah Schechter (Arrow, Black Lightning, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Supergirl, upcoming Titans) plus DC writers and artists Julie Benson (Batgirl and the Birds of Prey), Shawna Benson (Batgirl and the Birds of Prey), Shea Fontana (Wonder Woman, DC Super Heroes), Agnes Garbowska (DC Super Hero Girls) and Mariko Tamaki (Supergirl: Being Super) for this super-powered panel. Supergirl and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow will rotate through The CW’s Monday 8/7c time period in 2018, offering fans 23 consecutive weeks of original episodes. Supergirl returns January 15 for four original episodes, after which DC’s Legends of Tomorrow runs from February 12–April 9. Supergirl then resumes April 16–June 18. Additional panelists to be announced.  Newseum

2:00–2:45 p.m. The Pride of DC: The Art of LGBTQ Inclusion — On December 8, history was made with the debut of Freedom Fighters: The Ray, a new animated series on CW Seed, the digital channel of The CW Network, that features the first gay Super Hero to lead a show. The series is produced by Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Animation and Blue Ribbon Content, the digital studio of the Warner Bros. Television Group. Join The Ray executive producer Greg Berlanti and voice star Russell Tovey for a wide-ranging discussion with DC writers Marguerite Bennett (Batwoman), Steve Orlando (Midnighter and Apollo) and Mark Russell (Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles) about inclusion for LGBTQ characters. Watch Freedom Fighters: The Ray here: www.cwseed.com/freedom-fighters-the-ray. Additional panelists to be announced.  Newseum

3:00–3:45 p.m. The Aftermath: Battle & Trauma in Comics — DC’s Batman author and former CIA counter-terrorism operations officer Tom King takes on Jack Kirby’s Mister Miracle in a new monthly comic book which focuses on a Super Hero who grapples with post-traumatic stress disorder, an issue not often seen in comics and tragically overlooked in the real world. King will be joined by Gotham recurring guest star J.W. Cortes (a 13-year Marine combat veteran and a police officer with New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority), additional comic book writer/artists and thought leaders for a candid conversation about the lasting effects of battlefield trauma. Additional panelists to be announced.  Newseum

6:30–8:15 p.m. Black Lightning Sneak Peek Screening — Cress Williams (Hart of Dixie, Friday Night Lights) stars as the title character in Black Lightning, a new television series based on the first African-American DC Super Hero to have his own stand-alone comic title. The series debuts Tuesday, January 16, 2018, at 9/8c on The CW, but fans can get a sneak peek during this public screening at the Newseum, preceded by a reception. In addition to Williams, China Anne McClain (House of Payne), Nafessa Williams (Twin Peaks), Christine Adams (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Marvin “Krondon” Jones III (Harry’s Law), Damon Gupton (Bates Motel, Criminal Minds) and James Remar (Gotham, Sex and the City) star. Based on the characters from DC, Black Lightning is from Berlanti Productions and Akil Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (Arrow, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Supergirl), Salim & Mara Brock Akil (Being Mary Jane, The Game, Girlfriends), and Sarah Schechter (Arrow, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Supergirl). The Black Lightning character was created by Tony Isabella with Trevor Von Eeden.  Newseum

SATURDAY, JANUARY 13

BLACK LIGHTNING WORLD PREMIERE — BY INVITATION ONLY

SMITHSONIAN’S NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY, AND

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE

Black Lightning Red Carpet Arrivals, Cocktail Reception, World Premiere Screening and Q&A — Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History – Warner Bros. Theater

Black Lightning Premiere Party — Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture

Directly following the screening, series stars Cress Williams (Hart of Dixie, Friday Night Lights), China Anne McClain (House of Payne), Nafessa Williams (Twin Peaks), Christine Adams (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Marvin “Krondon” Jones III (Harry’s Law), Damon Gupton (Bates Motel, Criminal Minds) and James Remar (Gotham, Sex and the City) will join executive producers Salim Akil & Mara Brock Akil (Being Mary Jane, The Game, Girlfriends) for an electrifying Q&A session about the series and its upcoming first season.

Immediately following the Q&A, guests are invited to Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture for the Black Lightning premiere party.

Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams) is a man wrestling with a secret. As the father of two daughters and principal of a charter high school that also serves as a safe haven for young people in a neighborhood overrun by gang violence, he is a hero to his community. Nine years ago, Pierce was a hero of a different sort. Gifted with the superhuman power to harness and control electricity, he used those powers to keep his hometown streets safe as the masked vigilante Black Lightning. However, after too many nights with his life on the line, and seeing the effects of the damage and loss that his alter ego was inflicting on his family, he left his Super Hero days behind and settled into being a principal and a dad. Choosing to help his city without using his superpowers, he watched his daughters Anissa (Nafessa Williams) and Jennifer (China Anne McClain) grow into strong young women, even though his marriage to their mother, Lynn (Christine Adams), suffered. Almost a decade later, Pierce’s crime-fighting days are long behind him…or so he thought. But with crime and corruption spreading like wildfire, and those he cares about in the crosshairs of the menacing local gang The One Hundred, Black Lightning returns — to save not only his family, but also the soul of his community.

Based on the characters from DC, Black Lightning is from Berlanti Productions and Akil Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (Arrow, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Supergirl), Salim & Mara Brock Akil, and Sarah Schechter (Arrow, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Supergirl). The Black Lightning character was created by Tony Isabella with Trevor Von Eeden. Black Lightning premieres Tuesday, January 16, 2018, at 9/8c on The CW. Become a fan of Black Lighting on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CWBlackLightning, and follow the show on Twitter @BlackLightning.

About the Newseum

The Newseum promotes, explains and defends free expression and the five freedoms of the First Amendment: religion, speech, press, assembly and petition. Headquartered on historic Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., the Newseum’s compelling, dynamic and engaging exhibits, programs and education initiatives help ensure that these fundamental freedoms remain strong and protected both today and for future generations. The Newseum Institute promotes the study, exploration and education of the challenges confronting freedom through its First Amendment Center and the Religious Freedom Center. The Newseum is a 501(c)(3) public charity funded by generous individuals, corporations and foundations, including the Freedom Forum. For more information, visit newseum.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Next year, at this time, there will be no Star Wars film for the studios to compete against. Thus a new saga will be introduced to audiences. From the novel "Mortal Engines", by Philip Reeves, comes the Peter Jackson produced film with the same title. Check out the synopsis and cast list below. As usual, we can expect a big push for the film come July at Comic-Con. #AFJ4LIFE

Synopsis: Thousands of years after civilization was destroyed by a cataclysmic event, humankind has adapted and a new way of living has evolved. Gigantic moving cities now roam the Earth, ruthlessly preying upon smaller traction towns. Tom Natsworthy (Robert Sheehan)—who hails from a Lower Tier of the great traction city of London—finds himself fighting for his own survival after he encounters the dangerous fugitive Hester Shaw (Hera Hilmar). Two opposites, whose paths should never have crossed, forge an unlikely alliance that is destined to change the course of the future.

Mortal Engines features: Hugo Weaving, Hera Hilmar, Robert Sheehan, Jihae, Ronan Raftery, Leila George, Patrick Malahide, Stephen Lang and is directed by Christian Rivers.

Mortal Engines opens December 14th, 2018.

I’m not a toy guy. I don’t buy toys.

I had action figures growing up. I liked the Mega Man and Dragon Ball Z figures and would have fun fighting my friends’ figures. As I got older that time passed, and I left them with all my other things at my parents, not having the heart to part with them completely and donate/sell them. (My favorites tucked into a shoebox bed because they were alive when I wasn’t looking and that seemed like the right thing to do.)

That is until Bob and MJ mentioned the Black Series Force Ghost Obi-Wan figure exclusive at Walgreens.

While I’m not a toy guy, I am a Star Wars guy (I saw The Last Jedi at 10 pm on Thursday. Biggest complaint: no Obi-Wan). I like Star Wars because of how huge its galaxy is. There is so much to know about. With the expanded universe (overwhelmingly expansive when I was considering jumping in) no longer being canon, I can feasibly consume all the Star Wars canon media and then keep up with it. The thought of delving into that galaxy far far away and all those lives lived in a world so unlike our own is exciting to me.

But, out of everything in Star Wars, Obi-Wan has always been my favorite character. I’m not sure what it is exactly, to be honest, but it has always been the case. I actually have an old Obi-Wan figure because of my father, who did collect some Star Wars and Star Trek toys, actually, let me open his. But, I was torn on whether to open up my wallet or not for this figure.

Me: Toys aren’t my thing.

Also me: But this is really cool.

Me: Do you really need this?

Also Me: They are going to sell out of them if you keep waiting.

Me: It’s $20.

Also me: But it’s Obi-Wan.

This debate went back and forth in my mind for a few days, until I eventually broke down and bought it. It was the last one at my Walgreens and in my experience, there is no such thing as luck.

I think there are two reasons why I eventually bought my first action figure as an adult.

1. The figure is honestly cool. Alec Guinness’s portrayal of Obi-Wan is captured in good detail with this figure. On top of that, you have the clear hands, blue fade on his robes, and the added blue-mesh cloak to give it the force ghost feel. It is a more elegant figure, for a more civilized age.

2. The passion of the junkies. It’s hard to be around so many passionate people and not catch that spirit. Hearing Bob and MJ geek out over figures they want and seeing the hundreds of posts a day from the junkies out there, it eventually wins you over. The force is strong here.

So, I did it. For the first time as an adult, I bought an action figure. I don’t think I could have chosen better than my favorite character from one of my favorite series. Now all I need is Obi-Wan to start showing up in Star Wars properties again. I’m looking at you, Disney. Make that Obi-Wan movie. Make him a playable character in Battlefront II, at least.

Until that happens, I’m off to the Dagobah system, let me know in the comments if you have this figure and what you think of it.

Hey! One last thing! Evan writes from a diner at the edge of the universe with surprisingly good wi-fi. Tweet at him @Indiecomicblog and look out for more of his Noob articles HERE on AFJ.

From all of us here at AFJ to Evan...

By Jarrett Kruse, MJ Ortiz, Bob Trate, and Evan Liss

Like so many holiday shoppers, we love waiting until the last minute and 2017 is no exception. That being said, with so many offerings for Junkies this year to get their mitts on, the AFJ team decided to collectively put together a can't miss list of what you can still purchase in time to get it under the tree or away from the fire of the menorah. So without much intro, let's just dive right in and see what the Junkie staff has picked for you guys to spend your hard earned dollars on. I went a little overboard with my picks in the hopes that someone sees it and buys me at least half of my choices. Doubtful, but I believe in holiday miracles!

JARRETT'S PICKS - FOR THE GRIZZLED JUNKIE VETERAN

This is my favorite time of year so I really wanted to dig in when putting this list together to cover the whole gamut of toys available for every level of Junkie. From as little as $20 up to the $300 level, collectively, the AFJ team tried to put together a master list for all level of Junkies and income brackets. Basically, there is something for everybody here so dig in, enjoy and get those orders in fast!

MATTEL VIEW-MASTER VR VIEWER STARTER PACK ($29.99)

The VIEW-MASTER baby!! The cornerstone of my childhood has returned for a 21st Century upgrade and I already ordered mine. When you think about it, the VIEW-MASTER we grew up with is the perfect childhood toy to be reinvented for the age of Virtual Reality. It is a full 360-degree VR experience, kid & Junkie friendly and includes 1 viewer, 1 preview reel & 1 phone adapter. So enjoy the 360-degree photospheres of this re-imagined classic as you view famous places, landmarks, nature & planets. You just download one of the Apps on your smartphone and with a few clicks of the lever, you are in a different world utilizing Google Cardboard technology that is compatible iOS and Android smartphones.

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2zkjDvv

MCFARLANE TOYS STRANGER THINGS CHIEF HOPPER & ELEVEN ($17.99 EACH)

There is not much of a hotter property out there than STRANGER THINGS so I was very excited to hear that McFarlane Toys had taken the reigns. I have never been much of a WALKING DEAD guy so I wanted to see what they could do with another go to TV staple. Junkies have been mopping up the first two figures in the series off of pegs since the start of December and I can't wait for the 10" deluxe Demigorgon coming soon.

AFJ ELEVEN PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2BsZ0M2

AFJ HOPPER PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2kgdjjQ

DC COMICS DESIGNER SERIES SUPERMAN & BATMAN BY LEE BERMEJO ($23.99 EACH)

If there was one line that I was super-bummed was canceled in 2017, it was most definitely the DC DESIGNER SERIES by one of my favorite artists, Lee Bermejo. The good news is that you can still purchase the flagship Batman & Superman figures for the time being while Lex Luthor and I think it was Green Lantern too. Anyway, bottom line, the line was canceled and these are the remnants left over and they are some of my favorites of 2017. Easily the best Batman & Superman figures at this price point available for the holidays.

AFJ SUPERMAN PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2CBTJSR

AFJ BATMAN PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2kfkWnz

NECA ROBOCOP VS. TERMINATOR ENDOCOP & TERMINATOR DOG ACTION FIGURE 2-PACK ($29.99)

I put this set in my December Pre-Order list and although you won't receive it until January, the 1992 Dark Horse comic book inspired set written and drawn by legends Frank Miller & Walt Simonson. The 7-inch scale action figure 2-pack contains the EndoCop and Terminator Dog both sporting between 20 and 25 points of articulation. Naturally, the EndoCop comes with the signature Auto 9 pistol accessory and NECA never spares us with awesome packaging to boot.

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2BIZOQH

MEZCO PREVIEWS EXCLUSIVE ONE:12 COLLECTIVE STEALTH DEATHSTROKE ($80)

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2CC4ch7

HOT TOYS COMMANDO JOHN MATRIX 1/6 SCALE ACTION FIGURE ($229.99)

Before he said, "Come with me if you want to live," Ah-Nuld was the baddest COMMANDO in the history of the military. I remember my Dad giving me and my brother a choice between seeing Chuck Norris' INVASION U.S.A or COMMANDO, we chose the latter and to this day it is still one of my favorite action flicks. Not just 80's action flicks but ALL action flicks. Since it is HOT TOYS, this baby has more firepower than I can even comprehend. I am not even going to paste everything that you get with this figure because you will be reading for a full 20 minutes. All I know is that I need this figure in my life!

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2CHHiF7

PLAYMOBIL GHOSTBUSTERS FIREHOUSE PLAYSET ($69.99)

I would have killed for this 30+ years ago as I attempted to make my own Proton Pack with moldy knick-knacks from my parent's attic. Now, kids can reenact their favorite scenes from the original 1984 GHOSTBUSTERS Firehouse Playset from PLAYMOBIL. The set comes with Egon, Ray, Janine & Louis along with the legendary Library Ghost.

While the ECTO-1 is sold separately, this is still an awesome set if you are looking to introduce your little ones to the original GHOSTBUSTERS films and the old school characters. Use the garage park when you pick up the ECTO-1 (let's face it, if you buy this, you're gonna pick up the ECTO-1!) and you can even lock up all of the ghosts in the Ghost Containment Unit. The set is packed with wall to wall accessories for hunting down all of NYC's ghosts and the set includes a detachable proton pack and later, a ghost trap & a PKE meter. A great gift!

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2CYVNW4

DST MARVEL SELECT SPIDER-GWEN ACTION FIGURE ($22.99)

It is hard to remember a new MARVEL character that has such a meteoric rise in popularity among the Junkieverse. Well just in time for the holidays is the newly minted, Jean St. Jean sculpted SPIDER-GWEN from the ever-expanding Spider-Verse. Standing approximately 6 & 3/4 inches, Gwen comes with interchangeable raised and lowered hoods (nice touch!), various interchangeable hands and a sculpted diorama base with a detailed fallen robot. As always with MARVEL SELECT, we get the awesome display ready signature Select packaging with side panel artwork. A must-have!

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2BubsyT

TOYS R US EXCLUSIVE MARVEL SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING OFFICIAL MOVIE EDITION STREAMING SPIDER DRONE ($89.99)

I have been a Webhead for as long as I can remember so when I got the word a couple of years ago that Spider-Man was finally going to be officially entering the MCU, I was ecstatic. That being said, SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING was my favorite MARVEL film of the year from the casting, direction to the amazing costume design. Now, TOYS R US has unveiled the Official Movie Edition Spider-Drone, a fully functional replica of Spidey's drone from the Washington Monument scene. The drone has streaming capabilities, a voice feedback controller and is powered by Sky Viper flight firmware with state of the art tech that makes the drone stable and easy to control. Using the Spider-Drone and its optical surveillance Wi-Fi camera to see and record live streaming video on your smartphone. It is even equipped with unique spider design and inverted motors just like in the film. Using the cutting edge tech of Viper Flight 5 with Flight Assist features like Auto Hover and Auto Land, this is a super fun gift for both kids and adults just getting on the drone bandwagon. And it is now marked down from $119.99 to $89.99 so buy it now before they sell out!

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2BgfeMP

RADIO FLYER STAR WARS LUKE SKYWALKER'S LANDSPEEDER ($249.99)

I walked past this display at SDCC this past summer and in my whole life, I was never so jealous that I was not still 4 years old and a max weight of 130 pounds. Modeled after the hottest ride on Tattooine from EPISODE IV, Luke Skywalker's Landspeeder is brought to life by none other than RADIO FLYER. This baby fits up to two passengers, an interactive dashboard with lights and real STAR WARS movie sounds and gets up to 5 MPH. It also goes in reverse at 2 MPH and is equipped with a rechargeable 12 Volt battery and charger. As if that was not enough, TOYS R US just knocked the price down from $500 to $249.99!

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2oMTZMX

HASBRO STRANGER THINGS OUIJA BOARD ($19.99)

AFJ is not responsible if you decide to summon the DEMOGORGON after having too much eggnog!! HASBRO GAMING has a real winner on their hands here with this awesome STRANGER THINGS edition of the classic OUIJA board. The board is made up to look like Joyce's Christmas light communication device with Will from Season 1 so if there is ever a time of year to converse with the Upside Down, it is now!

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://amzn.to/2BzrLI4

NERF N-STRIKE ELITE TERRASCOUT REMOTE CONTROL DRONE BLASTER ($199.99)

I would have won a lot more Army battles as a kid if I had this beast on my side! This is the Cadillac of all things NERF in the brand's history via HASBRO. The ELITE TERRASCOUT delivers the ultimate in blaster performance for your NERF battles. Heck, I may get one of these instead of a home security system to ward off possible intruders and have some fun with the UPS & FedEx carriers!

Kids (and adults) can record battles with this RC drone featuring a live video feed to view "out of sight" targets with the LCD screen on the controller. NERF enthusiasts can even plan out their battlefield attacks to locate targets in advance before launching a hail of darts in their direction. The best part of this piece is that you can record your battles using the onboard camera all operated via the included controller and then share on social media. You can shoot one dart at a time or unleash Hell and deluge your opponents with an up to 18 dart all-out assault!
AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2BgcHhY

LITTLEBITS STAR WARS DROID INVENTOR KIT ($99.99)

Okay so Papa Junkie emailed me specifically about this item and although sold out right now on Amazon, it will be back in stock on the 22nd just in time for holiday delivery. This is a 6-time award winning set from upstart LITTLEBITS and includes a complete Droid Kit filled with all the electronic blocks, Droid parts, 9V battery and of course, a free App. The set included over 16 missions built into the App so that kids (and big kids like me) can teach their Droid new skills for your respective galaxy. This is the Cadillac of Droid building kits that I have been waiting for since '83 so act fast and get yours now!

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://amzn.to/2BNg0QT

BANDAI TAMASHII NATIONS IRON MAN MARK 3 MANGA REALIZATION ACTION FIGURE ($79.99)

Mama & Papa Junkie got me into this line last year and I have been a die hard fan since. Who knew that mashing up MARVEL with Feudal Japanese warriors could be so awesome looking? It is all about the craftsmanship of these pieces, each figure carefully sculpted as envisioned by the legendary Takayuki Takeya. A Samurai Iron Man is probably the one suit that Tony Stark has not thought of yet but here it is standing 7" tall equipped with two types of optional hands, a katana, and a jetpack. High-tech STARK armor rendered as ancient samurai armor--I love it!

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2B2oQXg

WOWWEE FINGERLINGS ($TBD)

These are a little out of my wheelhouse but like Hesh from THE SOPRANOS, I know a hit when I see one and FINGERLINGS are a hit! Many are comparing them to last year's HATCHIMALS craze (still a formidable line this season btw) but FINGERLINGS have caught fire as the holidays have drawn closer. I have no AFJ PURCHASE LINK to provide because everybody is seemingly sold out of these cute little monkeys and the secondary market is seeing majorly high money transactions being made to ensure that these are under the tree in time for Santa.

AFJ OFFICIAL FINGERLINGS LINK: https://www.fingerlings.com/

"With Fingerlings, fun is always close at hand. Literally! These miniature baby monkeys cling to your fingers and go where you go. They’re full of hugs, love and mischief—all they need is your care and attention. They react to sound, motion and touch, make fun little monkey noises, and move in ways that will make you squeal with delight. Friendship really is at your fingertips!" - Fingerlings.com

NECA PREDATOR 30th ANNIVERSARY JUNGLE DEMON 1/4 SCALE FIGURE ($124.99)

Another monster addition from NECA in their landmark 1:4 scale line from the PREDATOR series. I can't believe that the Ah-Nuld classic is already 30 years old but NECA is sure doing right by them with these brilliantly stylized and articulation figures. The JUNGLE DEMON PREDATOR stands an impressive 20-inches tall and is fully posable with retractable wrist blades and a dope looking articulated shoulder cannon. And here's the kicker, this baby is equipped with LED effects to simulate the iconic yellow glowing eyes and phasing effect from the John McTiernan classic. NEED!!

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2yZ5MHL

NAMCO TINY ARCADE CLASSIC GAMES ($19.99 EACH)

There is no doubt that 80's nostalgia is at its peak and I am totally cool with that because it was my favorite era. I have heard many talented Junkies over the years that create beautiful custom displays ask if anyone produced mini-classic Arcade style games as backdrops. Well, Junkies, our voice has been heard! NAMCO has made this dope looking classic mini-replicas of the full size backlit cabinet games that measure only 3-inches tall! A must-have for my personal shelves with great detail for just $19.99 apiece.

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2Bh3WI2

DC COLLECTIBLES BATMAN BAT SIGNAL PROP REPLICA ($249.99)

Actor Pat Hingle said it best as Commissioner Gordon at the end of Tim Burton's '89 BATMAN, "He gave us a signal!" Emblazon your own Bat-Signal across the sky with this monster featuring the Nolan Trilogy crest of the Dark Knight. The Prop Replica measures a giant 12 3/4" tall by 9" long by 8" deep. It can be powered via USB port with a handy cord included along with 3X "AA" batteries when not plugged into the port. Seeing this at Toy Fair was a real treat but it was impossible for me to make the exit with it, it is just that big!

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2oM2fN3

SPINMASTER STAR WARS HERO DROID BB-8 ($149.99)

This little droid that could was the absolute hit of Toy Fair 2017 and now you can own one of your own. The video that we took of the demo was far and away AFJ's most viewed clip of the year on our bustling Facebook page. This little Astromech droid has one big personality, so much so that MJ lost it when it practically started humping my leg during SPINMASTER's demonstration. The user can engage BB-8 using voice commands and even request it to roll into action. Set him to guard mode, sleep mode and get ready to take on the First Order. The "Follow Me" mode is pretty cool to impress the kids with as it will literally roll after you as you walk. It has complete 360-degree R/C movement and stands 19" tall with the antenna extended. Throw in lights and sounds and this is a no-brainer for your Jedi in Training this season.

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://amzn.to/2BzoxUZ

NECA 1/4 SCALE MARVEL DOCTOR STRANGE ACTION FIGURE ($99.99)

I really cannot stress what an awesome bargain the Quarter-Scale NECA figures are for your hard earned Junkie dollars. Now, we are given Benedict Cumberpatch's DOCTOR STRANGE in full 1/4 scale (Astral Projection sold separately!) for just under a C-note. An absolute bargain for the collector in your life and personally, DOCTOR STRANGE is one of my top 5 MARVEL movies to date so I am really hyped up for this one. It won't ship until January but that's barely two weeks away. Here is what the figure comes with: Sorcerer Supremely poseable with over 25 points of articulation wearing a detailed fabric Cloak of Levitation with an inner wire armature for maximum posing. The figure also includes the Eye of Agamotto, the Doc's signature Sling Ring and a pair of alternate hands. He has come to bargain!

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2BJ1nOD

HASBRO STAR WARS THE BLACK SERIES 6-INCH ACTION FIGURE WAVE 14 CASE ($174.99)

If you are an AFJ regular, you know that the STAR WARS BLACK SERIES from HASBRO is one of the most sought-after action figure lines since its debut less than 5 years ago. So why drive all around trying to get all eight figures in the newest wave when you can get a fresh, sealed case from our pals at EntertainmentEarth? The articulation and detail Junkies crave are all there and bonus, this case comes with the coveted EXTENDED UNIVERSE JAINA SOLO figure that is already fetching up to $50 alone on the secondary market. Purchase a case now and be a Jedi among Junkies.

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2oMKe1b

DIAMOND SELECT PULP FICTION SERIES 1 ($68.99)

I remember walking out of the movie theater as a freshman in college in 1994 in a complete daze at what I had just watched. It was cinematic history; a film like nothing I had ever seen before throwing all of my intro to film classes teaching students classic three-act film structure on its head. Leave it to the wizards at DIAMOND SELECT to finally release the figures that Junkies so richly deserve at an absolute bargain. Be the first on your block to pick up Marsellus Wallace, Butch Coolidge & Jules Winnfield as they were meant to look in action figure form.

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2kOo6hH

NECA SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING 1/4 SCALE ACTION FIGURE ($99.99)

Yes, it is another pick from the New Jersey-based NECA TOYS! As I mentioned earlier, I am a sucker for their Quarter-Scale line because you are really getting the most bang for your buck at the highest quality. The figure based on the hit film features over 30 points of articulation and comes with 5 pairs of hands and interchangeable eye lenses. An absolute must have that ships right after the New Year so put something aside next Monday that you don't want and make shelf space for NECA's new Spidey!

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2jQwjox

MJ'S PICKS - FOR THE JUNKIE'S LITTLE ONES

PLAYMATES BEN 10 RUSTBUCKET DELUXE TRANSFORMING VEHICLE PLAYSET ($62.99)

This is a must-have for every Ben 10 Fan out there. I know my 5-year-old son will get hours worth of playtime with this one. Also to be really honest so will I! The iconic vehicle from kids staple BEN 10 transforms into a giant 3-level playset that stands over 2 feet tall. It has tons of features and accessories like the Alien-Vator, Alien Transformation Chamber, grabbing claw, extending bumper and winch, plasma cannon and more!

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2D9y4Cz

STAR WARS GALACTIC HEROES BB-8 ADVENTURE BASE PLAYSET ($84.99)

Now, this is another one to start bringing the little guy over to the Dark Side of the STAR WARS world with me. It seems the big thing over the last few years is playsets that double as a larger figure as well. For a father of a son who has way too many playsets and action figures the ability to close them up and store them neatly is a big win. With that aside, this is a nice size playset that comes with a few figures and a great price. This is also at all major shopping outlets and is perfect for a last minute gift.

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2kmschq

LEGO STAR WARS COMPLETE SAGA (PRICE VARIES)

This is a present that I have already downloaded on my sons iPad. For Christmas, Santa is going to unlock all the levels which I believe is less than 5 bucks all tolled. This is partially a bribery present because my son has been refusing to watch all the STAR WARS movies with me. However, after only 15 minutes of play time with the LEGO game, not only is he invested in the characters, but he has been begging to watch all the movies. This is a great and fast idea for the little one in your life because it offers endless hours of playtime and replayability as you progress through the game. It is also something that can be sent digitally in case you cannot get the physical copy yourself.

SPHERO SPIDER-MAN INTERACTIVE ENABLED SUPERHERO ($149.99)

Now I will say this is a bit on the pricey side and, to be honest, you can probably buy a whole system for your child at this price point. However, if your child is a webhead like mine giving him the ability to have Spider-Man as his best friend, there is not a cost I would not pay. This amazing piece of technology comes with its own IOS app, tells jokes, stories and will even go into "guard mode" Spidey-Sensing any villains in its presence. Though I have a feeling that Dad “me” will be setting off this alarm on a constant basis, I do know this is something he will love for a very long time.

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2yZnpqY

HASBRO DESPICABLE ME 3 OPERATION GAME ($23.99)

No holiday is complete without a few board games for the little Junkie in your life. For me, my son is obsessed with the Minions and just imagining the sound bite that will be played with you shock the patient is making me giggle a little while I write this. When I was a kid I owned a few different versions of OPERATION and would enjoy them over and over again. Anything easy that you can play with your kid without hours of set up is a slam dunk for me!

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2D9lhAa

EVAN'S PICKS - FOR THE JUNKIE GAMERS

So, you’ve decked the halls, but you forgot a gift for a gamer friend or family member. It can be tough figuring out what a gamer has or doesn’t have in their collection. But, fear not! AFJ and I have your back, with my list of last-minute gifts you can pick up for gamers.

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA - ART AND ARTIFACTS BY NINTENDO

Voted Game of the Year at the Video Game Awards and Polygon, The Legend of Zelda – Breath of the wild took the gaming scene by storm. With an open-world concept, Breath of the Wild brought something new to a franchise that has been producing quality games for over 30 years. This art book, with 427 pages of goodness, would be perfect for any Legend of Zelda fan.

Where you can get it: Barnes and Nobles, Target, and Amazon.

OVERWATCH ANTHOLOGY - VOLUME ONE

Voted Game of the Year last year, Overwatch is still going strong with over 35 million players. This game is incredibly easy to like, and not just for the exciting, fast-paced gameplay. The game has 26 unique characters with there own extensive backstories. One avenue for these stories (they don’t really appear in the game) is the animated shorts created by Blizzard, but now there is a new one: the Overwatch Anthology. Originally published online for free, these comics are now printed into a beautiful hardcover book, and is a must-have for any fans of the game.

Where you can get it: Barnes and Nobles, Best Buy, and Amazon.

DARK SOULS: THE BREATH OF ANDOLUS

Coming out earlier this year, Dark Souls 3 consumed a lot of gamers’ time. With truly difficult bosses and, well, everything, this game is used as a comparison for every other difficult game out there. Dark Souls has a huge following of devoted fans and anyone of them would enjoy this comic. I say that with confidence because I have given this book as a gift before to a Dark Souls fan and he loved it.

Where you can get it: Barnes and Nobles, Larger comic shop, and Amazon.

POP! TEES: CUPHEAD - CUPHEAD DEVIL MR. DICE

Considered the “Dark Souls of Platformers,” Cuphead is one of the hardest games I have ever played, but it is also one of the most beautiful and fun. Rendered in a rubber hose style of animation, popular in the early Disney era, Cuphead is a work of art, and anyone who has put their blood, sweat, tears into this game (and there are a lot of tears) would love to show off that art on their shirt.

Where you can get it: GameStop.

STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT II - INFERNO SQUAD (THE NOVEL) 

Though the game has been getting mixed reviews (and I am being kind), the Star Wars books have been excellent so far. I have put this book on my own Christmas list because, from what I have played of the Battlefront II campaign, I want to know as much as I can about these characters. In addition, this story takes place directly after the events of Rogue One, and as a Star Wars fan, I want to know the Empire’s reaction to that outside of what we know happens in a New Hope.

Where you can get it: Barnes and Nobles, Target (with an exclusive cover), and Amazon.

*BONUS*: When in doubt, grab your gamer friend/relative a Steam gift card. $20 is enough for someone to have a lot of fun on Steam. You can’t go wrong with that, and they are available anywhere gift cards are sold. Trust me, I am speaking from experience.

Now you have some last-minute gift ideas for the gamers in your life! Have Fun, Good Game, and let me know if you want any of these gifts! Happy Holidays!

BOB'S PICKS - FOR THE JUNKIE LADIES

I was asked to tackle a different type of holiday gift guide here Junkies. It is well known here at AFJ HQ that I have the coolest/ geekiest wife. She loves toys, comics, and above all movies (she even plays W.O.W., but let’s not go there). So from that angle, what are some really cool gifts you can give the Junkie Lady who you think has everything?

TALES OF THE BATMAN: ALAN BRENNERT AND/ OR ALES OF THE BATMAN: LEN WEIN

First up, either one or both of these hardcover Batman collections would be a great gift. With the passing of Len Wein, early this year, I stumbled across his Batman collection. A fantastic way to celebrate the work of the man who brought to us so many great characters. The second Batman book is the collected work of Alan Brennert. Here you will find my personal favorite Batman Elseworld story, "Batman: Holy Terror". Trust me you’ll love it, as Bruce Wayne lives his normal life as a priest and patrols Gotham at night as Batman. Oh, and Gotham resides in an America that is still under the British Empire.

Where would you find them? Barnes and Noble is a good place to start, however, a solid comic book shop should have one or both.

THE DARK CRYSTAL: THE ULTIMATE VISUAL HISTORY

The Dark Crystal will be returning to Netflix in 2018 in The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. For the Dark Crystal fan, there is no better book than Caseen Gaines’ intimate look at what into the conception and production of the original film. Check out our review of the ultimate visual history HERE.

Where would you find it? Barnes and Noble is a good place to start, however, a solid comic book shop should have one.

WOMEN’S STAR WARS R2-D2 SANTA UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER

My Mrs. has supplied me with a Christmas sweater every year for the past 5 years. She has now ventured into the realm of Ugly Christmas Star Wars Sweaters! When this year’s arrived, I noticed that she seemed severely bummed out that she didn’t have one. Well low and behold, Target (I’ve also seen it at GameStop) have a fairly tasteful, not completely hideous, ugly sweater!

A FUNKO PORG POP!

In all honesty, you can’t go wrong with getting anyone a Funko Pop! With that being said, mark the holiday and the year of The Last Jedi, with what I refer to as a Space Penguin (the Porg), for your significant other. As you can see, from the image, there is a plethora to choose from now. I would try and get one of the new “flocked” ones.

The best place to pick one? Hot Topic and Barnes and Noble. Those two chain stores carry more Pops! than anyone else. Order it here for Entertainment Earth http://bit.ly/EE_Porg

THE ART OF STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI

If they are a Star Wars fan, like you, then you probably going crazy with all the new stuff that is in stores.  You probably also have an embargo on buying because it is the holidays. "The Art of Star Wars: The Last Jedi" arrived in stores on December 15th. Trust me, they will be at every bookstore. Now you have a book you both can sit down and flip through on the cold nights in January.

There you have it, Junkies. We tried to tackle a few different things that were outside the realm of toys. We know as you do that finding action figures is tough enough, so this allotment of last minute gift ideas should help you in shopping quest. From all of us here at AFJ, Happy Holidays to you and yours! #AFJ4LIFE

It is hard to believe that it was already 9 months ago when I first spoke with Grammy Award-winning comedy producer Brian Volk-Weiss about NETFLIX's new 8-part series THE TOYS THAT MADE US. However, Weiss is one seriously busy guy but I knew if the Junkieverse stayed diligent and patient, we would eventually hook up on the phone and get the inside scoop on the show that has all toy collectors buzzing. It was pure kismet that we were able to schedule something for the week of the big debut of the new show on NETFLIX that will be binge-ready by the time this interview goes up.

First off, if there ever was a qualified Junkie at the helm on a project like this, it most definitely is Brian. After 10 minutes of talking, it felt like that old opening SEINFELD bit (before they cut them in Season 8), where Jerry is on stage regaling what it is like to make a friend as a kid as opposed to adulthood. If you remember, Jerry goes on to say if there is someone standing on my front lawn, "they are my friend, that's my friend. You like cherry soda? I like cherry soda! We'll be best friends!" If talking to Brian was an 80's sitcom, at some point that classic dream sequence where the screen starts to get all shaky going to the past would have come up. It was just like talking to a regular AFJ member, except this one has a whole lot of clout in Hollywood. Enough so to produce what will hopefully be the start of the go-to streaming series for all Action Figure Junkies.

At first, I tried to use one of those transcription Apps that take your voice memos and transcribe them into written text. After $15 of wasted App purchases, as it turns out, I am so happy that I did it old school and spent 6 hours transcribing it all manually because it was a real stroll down memory lane. I am my worst critic but after finishing this piece, I was genuinely happy. In a very rare moment, I even said to my folks and business partner, "This interview and this show, THE TOYS THAT MADE US, is what makes all of the hard work and long hours of building AFJ worth it." I hope you guys enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed talking to Brian about his dream project.

JARRETT KRUSE: First, off Brian, thank you for taking the time to talk to AFJ. I know that you have a tremendous background in comedy but you originally came to Hollywood with a geekier sort of intent. Tell us about that before we dive into THE TOYS THAT MADE US.

BVW: I was inspired by STAR WARS, the way millions of other people were. I always say, "if it weren't for STAR WARS, I would be a lawyer or a doctor in Queens, NY like my whole family." I saw STAR WARS and I didn't know this word at the time, but basically from my point of view as a kid, I would now label it that I thought I was watching a documentary. I was so young when I saw it that I left the theater and said to my Mom, "I want to join the Rebellion! I want to fly an X-Wing!" And my Mom was like, "You know its a movie?" but I didn't get it.

And she bought me this book, which I still have, which was kind of like the kids book of the making of STAR WARS. I saw the X-Wing's and instead of being 80 feet wide, they were really just little models, and C-3PO with his head off showing Anthony Daniels and that was basically it from that moment on; I wanted to be in show business. So I came out here originally wanting to be a director but learned very quickly, about a year at the most, that what I had perceived as being a director was actually part of the director's job that I had done when I had made student films was actually producing. I really enjoyed just the producing aspect and did not enjoy the professional setting of what a director actually does. So I was like, "I'm gonna be a producer," and it will be 20 years in July.

JK: I have done lots of research on THE TOYS THAT MADE US since I first heard about the project back in March when we first touched base. You have worked extensively with NETFLIX over the years with major A-List comedy heavyweights but #TTTMU is a whole different beast. How did you sell the idea of a docu-series about toys to them?

BVW: You know one thing that I want to give you props for; you were literally the first person to reach out to us so I want to thank you for that. And second of all, also because you were the first person to reach out, I want to say that I appreciate your patience because as you know we weren't able to talk to you for a long time. So I just wanted to give you props and thank you for that.

I mean basically, you kind of hit the nail on the head, I have been producing stand-up comedy for NETFLIX for a long, long time. You know, about 5, 6 years and I know a lot of the people that work there. And to be honest, I really just kept bugging them. You know I tried to sell the show to other companies for years, at least 5 years, maybe more. I came really close a couple of times to selling the shows to other networks and didn't and finally what I call my "polite bugging" went on for years.

Brian and his crew on location across the globe!

Dolph will break you if you don't watch THE TOYS THAT MADE US on NETFLIX!

The original C-3PO from KENNER in sunny Cincinnati, OH from the legendary hands of Jim Swearingen.

#TTTMU got a chance to interview Roger Sweet, the Mattel designer who created the prototypes that birthed Masters Of The Universe, came up with the name He-Man, and worked on the line throughout its 80s heyday!

The voice of Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen.

NECA head honcho Randy Falk.

Junkies, 2018 is going to be a stellar year... for Disney. Not only are there 3 MCU movies coming out, there are also three X-Men movies arriving. Yes, that means six, Marvel movies all owned by Disney. Obviously, this was not planned and most likely will never, ever, happen again. The AFJ braintrust sat down and (heavily) debated the which 18 movies are likely to the best of the best for 2018. Now obviously, we are leaving a few titles out of list. Why? Quite frankly, Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom looks like more of the same. Venom, with Tom Hardy, is a just a monumental cash grab by Sony Pictures. However, Sony's Miles Morales Spider-Man movie, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse looks like a step in the right direction. Yet, if you take that film and Venom into account, there are actually eight movies with Marvel characters in them this year. Without a doubt 2018 is going to be a wild ride, a ride that also includes the return of Disney's Incredibles. #AFJ4LIFE

THE BLACK PANTHER

Release Date: February 16th
Toy Companies: Hasbro, Funko, Mezco Toyz, Diamond Select, Marvel Select, Walt Disney, Sideshow Collectibles/ Hot Toys
Junkie Verdict: The trailer for Avengers: Infinity War looks to be heavily set in Wakanda (home to the Black Panther), making this a bigger must for us Junkies. As usual with any Marvel/ Disney movie, there will be more than enough toys to go around.

ANNIHILATION

Release Date: February 23rd
Toy Companies: Funko (?), NECA (?)
Junkie Verdict: Director Alex Garland got our attention with Ex Machina (2014), and this just feels like a natural progression on similar sci-fi themes we have seen in the past. As for toys? Who knows that we will see.

TOMB RAIDER

Release Date: March 16th
Toy Companies: Funko (?)
Junkie Verdict: This is a much-disputed film here at Junkie HQ. Half of us want to see a reboot, the other half thinks it will be 90 minutes of her leaping out the danger. We shall see come March.

PACIFIC RIM: UPRISING

Release Date: March 23rd
Toy Companies: NECA, Funko (?), Sideshow Collectibles/ Hot Toys (?)
Junkie Verdict: The first one was a solid Kaiju vs Jaeger film, however with Guillermo del Toro not at the helm, we hope that Steven S. DeKnight can bring the thrills. NECA delivered toys for the original. I’m sure they will return with the new Jaegers. 

READY PLAYER ONE

Release Date: March 30th
Toy Companies: Funko (?)
Junkie Verdict: This property is ripe for anyone of the top brands that all the Junkies love. However, most of us already own the toys that will be featured in this film. Expect Funko renditions of the avatars of the lead actors.

A QUIET PLACE

Release Date: April 6th
Toy Companies: Funko (?)
Junkie Verdict: Not really something that is going to lend itself to a toy line. Well, it might as we have not seen the creatures yet. With that being said, this film knocked Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom off our top 18. Why? This looks awesome. JWFK looks like more of what we have seen before.

THE NEW MUTANTS

Release Date: April 13th
Toy Companies: Hasbro (?), Funko (?)/ Marvel Select (?), Walt Disney (?), Sideshow Collectibles/ Hot Toys (?)
Junkie Verdict: It is to be horror movie Junkies, so they say. It will also be the first FOX X-Men movie to be released under the new Disney ownership. Is it too soon to see a full barrage toys after the merger?

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR

Release Date: May 4th
Toy Companies: Hasbro, Funko, Mezco Toyz, Diamond Select, Marvel Select, Walt Disney, Sideshow Collectibles/ Hot Toys
Junkie Verdict: Junkies, do you know what a billion dollar movie looks like? This is it and if it doesn’t make a billion it is a failure.

SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY

Release Date: May 25th
Toy Companies: Hasbro, Funko, Diamond Select, Walt Disney, Sideshow Collectibles/ Hot Toys
Junkie Verdict: Will this be another juggernaut for Disney? Regardless of whether or not Ron Howard can save the day, expect to see more Star Wars toys everywhere.

DEADPOOL 2

Release Date: June 1st
Toy Companies: Hasbro, Funko, Diamond Select, Marvel Select, Sideshow Collectibles/ Hot Toys
Junkie Verdict: The second FOX X-men movie to emerge after the Disney purchase. There will be more toys than ever we surmise. 

INCREDIBLES 2

Release Date: June 15th
Toy Companies: Funko, Walt Disney
Junkie Verdict: Finally! Brad Bird has put the band back together and delivered the one PIXAR-Disney sequel fans have been crying for years!

ANT-MAN AND THE WASP
Release Date: July 6th
Toy Companies: Hasbro, Funko, Diamond Select, Marvel Select, Sideshow Collectibles/ Hot Toys
Junkie Verdict: Marvel and Disney already have a solid first 6 months in 2018. The sequel to Ant-Man could just be the cherry on top.

ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL

Release Date: July 20th
Toy Companies: Funko (?)
Junkie Verdict: The first trailer did not really garner a lot of fans. Yes, we read your comments, those eyes are weird. However, the combined might of James Cameron (the screenwriter) and Robert Rodriguez (directing) is enough to warrant our attention.

THE PREDATOR
Release Date: August 3rd
Toy Companies: NECA, Funko, Sideshow Collectibles/ Hot Toys
Junkie Verdict: We’re in. How could we not be? Hopefully, it is the return of the beast!

X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX
Release Date: November 2nd
Toy Companies: Hasbro (?), Funko (?), Diamond Select (?), Marvel Select (?), Walt Disney (?), Sideshow Collectibles/ Hot Toys (?)
Junkie Verdict: The last official Disney/ Marvel movies of 2018. Well, the ones they completely own the rights to. Hopefully, April’s The New Mutants will have ties to this film. Have you bought stock in Marvel or Disney yet? They are obviously going to have a very good year.

FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD

Release Date: November 16th
Toy Companies: Funko
Junkie Verdict: There were not a lot of toys for the first one, outside of the Funko POPs we picked up. We are all in on this franchise regardless how many toys they make.

SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE

Release Date: December 14th
Toy Companies: Hasbro, Funko, Diamond Select, Marvel Select, Sideshow Collectibles/ Hot Toys
Junkie Verdict: An animated Spider-Man and one that features Miles Morales, done. Take my money! Will the non-Miles Morales fans turn out is the real question. Don’t expect too many official Hasbro tie-ins but we’ll see plenty of comic book likeness on the shelves.

AQUAMAN
Release Date: December 21st
Toy Companies: Mattel, DC Collectibles, Funko, Sideshow Collectibles/ Hot Toys
Junkie Verdict: The last chance for DC Comics and Warner Brothers? Perhaps stand-alone films are the way to go, for right now. The December release date may not help its box office if word of mouth is bad. We are still interested enough to see if there is still any hope left in the DCEU.

Our final Top Pre-Orders list for 2017 is here! I know those holiday bills are stacking up but it’s almost 2018 and time to start a new collection wise. Lots of new goodies to pre-order for the stuff that you are not so thrilled with what was under the tree. Just act natural, say “thank you,” and put it aside to return and replace with one of these 20 awesome new items. For the sake of getting this piece up before the New Year, we decided to just list all 20 in random order. Each has an AFJ PURCHASE LINK next to the description!

BLITZWAY ECTO-1 GHOSTBUSTERS 1984 ECTO-1 1:6 SCALE VEHICLE ($1599.99)

This is the closest that you will ever get to owning your own GHOSTBUSTERS ECTO-1! Courtesy of BLITZWAY, I spent over an hour just taking in this beautiful piece of toy engineering earlier this year at San Diego Comic-Con. To be honest, I think it has more options than the original 1959 CADILLAC MILLER-METEOR AMBULANCE on which the iconic transport for the NYC-based GHOSTBUSTERS is based on. The good news/bad news is that it will not be released until 2019 meaning that you will have a full calendar year to save up for this beast! Or you can choose to skip a mortgage payment.

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2mP5dzt

BANDAI JAPAN S.H. FIGUARTS STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI LUKE SKYWALKER EXCLUSIVE ($99.99)

While I still feel like I need to watch THE LAST JEDI 200-300 more times to fully break down EPISODE 8, there is no denying that Director Rian Johnson’s vision received a mixed bag of reviews from critics and fans alike. However, there is no denying the utter coolness of the look and feel of the 8th film installment in the Skywalker family saga. Seeing this Dark Luke Exclusive from BANDAI JAPAN’s S.H. FIGUARTS will make you forgive any issues that you may have had with the newest adventure of the Galaxy’s most dysfunctional family!

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2DLSz8H

DC MULTIVERSE DC COMICS MULTIVERSE 6-INCH ACTION FIGURE WAVE 8 BAF CLAYFACE ($167.99)

Can new packaging save the spiraling out of control mass-market line from MATTEL that represents DC COMICS? After an abysmal showing at the domestic box office, the JUSTICE LEAGUE figures didn’t exactly fly off of the pegs. Now, MATTEL has decided to mix up their $19.99 flagship with a new, sleek look for their packaging. Although I am excited about the CLAYFACE BAF, I am non-plussed at what is included in the wave but am hoping for the best! The case includes:
8 individually packaged figures:
2x Martian Manhunter ( Supergirl TV
2x Superman (Rebirth)
2x Batwoman (Rebirth)
1x Green Lantern (Jessica Cruz)
1x Two-Face (Rebirth)

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2kQIJKK

NECA ALIENS ULTIMATE ALIENS WARRIOR 1986 7-INCH ACTION FIGURE SET ($49.99)

NECA knows their ALIENS merchandise and continue to lead the charge with new merchandise from the storied franchise. Now, they have a crazy good looking 2-pack coming of both the Blue & Brown Alien complete with added articulation and a load of extras. Plus, each Alien comes with a facehugger, chest bursted and egg accessory with both figures standing a whopping 9-inches tall. What a deal for $49.99!

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2kTCpCD

FUNKO POP! VINYLS ROYALS DIANA PRINCESS OF WALES (REGULAR & CHASE, $10.99) 

FUNKO’s IPO may have been the worst debut in 17 years on the New York Stock Exchange but that has not stopped devout Junkies from buying their POP! Vinyls. And with the announcement of Prince Harry’s pending nuptials coming up in May, Americans have become swept up in Royal Fever. God knows I’d rather follow the British Royals than The Kardashian’s any day of the week! Now, FUNKO is releasing a line of The Royals including a beautiful posthumous POP! of Princess Diana which I am willing to bet is going to garner major bucks among American fans looking to honor the late People’s Princess.

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2zpWYej

MEZCO ONE:12 COLLECTIVE JUSTICE LEAGUE TACTICAL SUIT BATMAN ($80)

MEZCO had another banner year in 2017, quietly leading an army of Junkies to set their alarm clocks once or twice a month to have a shot to purchase one of their coveted pre-orders. For any costume that I did not like on the silver screen, MEZCO managed to make their ONE:12 interpretation irresistible to Junkies. I was adamant that the Tactical Suit Batman in JUSTICE LEAGUE looked too similar to WATCHMEN’s “The Nite Owl,” then I saw this figure and as if under a trance, placed my order with zero hesitation. This one is going to be hot and comes with more extras than can fill a Batcave!

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2C1vD7B

KOTOBUKIYA GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT ArtFX+ STATUE ($109.99)

GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT was my first introduction to DC COMICS’ ELSEWORLDS series and all these years later, it still holds up. Now, finally, the artisans at KOTOBUKIYA have put together a beautiful 1/10 scale piece from the 19th Century when The Dark Knight goes toe to toe with Jack the Ripper. KOTOBUKIYA spares no expense with this beautiful piece from their storied ArtFX+ line recreating Batman in brilliantly stylized detail.

AFJ PURCHASE DETAIL: http://bit.ly/2C27YRR

DID ROGER MOORE JAMES BOND 1/6 SCALE FIGURE ($224.99)

Although we lost Sir Roger Moore in 2017, that did not stop high-end toymaker DID from producing a brilliant one-sixth scale figure standing close to a foot tall. And check out that likeness! Definitely one of the best that I have seen from this top-shelf toy maker. Sir Roger played the iconic Secret Agent from 1973 to 1985 receiving worldwide recognition as ladykiller Bond before moving on to become a global goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. This museum quality figure is officially licensed by Roger Moore’s family based on a photograph by Terry O’Neill and includes a slew of extras, a highly articulated body and enough goodies to pass an MI-6 entry exam.

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2l9frqq

DST MARVEL SELECT BLACK PANTHER MOVIE ACTION FIGURE ($22.99)

The buzz over MARVEL STUDIOS first feature film of 2018 is as plentiful as Wakandan Vibranium. That is to say that it is rare and valuable for a movie being released in the normally theatrical wasteland that is February of any calendar year usually is. However, Junkies are counting down until Friday, February 16th when just by happenstance is a few hours before TOY FAIR 2018 begins! Talk about perfect timing! DST’s MARVEL SELECT line has long been a personal favorite of mine and like I tell any new Junkie looking to get into MARVEL collecting, there is simply no better bang for your buck than their flagship line. This 7-inch iteration of King T’Challa is going to be a hot item, not just for the figure but for the awesome diorama featuring the films Warrior Falls. Sculpted by industry legends GENTLE GIANT,  along with the instantly recognizable Select action figure packaging replete with side-panel artwork for easy shelf-reference and you’ve got a home run.

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2Bw9hYc

DIAMOND SELECT’S BATMAN CLASSIC 1966 TV SERIES BATGIRL BUST BANK ($19.99)

It is almost two years already since prolific sculptor and toy industry rock star Jean St. Jean invited me up to his New Jersey studio where I sat in awe for close 6 hours. I had forgotten to ask if JSJ had animals of any kind as I have a severe cat allergy and the same with about half of the dogs I encounter. Despite the studio being cleaner than Doctor Strange’s operating room, I knew something was in the air and my eyes started to shut like Apollo Creed’s in ROCKY II. However, even if my throat closed up, there was no way I was going to squander the opportunity of taking in Jean’s wide and varied studio, his works in progress and trying to keep track of how many items I did not even realize he designed that I owned. Basically, it was awe-inspiring and the chameleon that is JSJ is back in 2018 with a gorgeous 7-inch vinyl bank in the likeness of the late Yvonne Craig aka Barbara Gordon/BATGIRL! For under $20, this work of art by JSJ is a must own conversation starter for any kid like me that fell in love with Yvonne the first time she appeared onscreen back in the day in that skintight purple suit.

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2BKxVsj

IRON STUDIOS SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING VULTURE BATTLE DIORAMA SERIES 1:10 SCALE STATUE ($199.99)

IRON STUDIOS had a big year and they are starting 2018 strong with an impressive SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING 1:10 Scale Statue of my favorite comic book movie villain of the year, Michael Keaton’s Vulture! I really dig these Battle Diorama Series from distributor BLUEFIN BRANDS based on original 3D references from the film, this impressive polystone statue stands almost 9” tall with a massive 26.4” wingspan including a display base with hand-painted details.

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2BKkAjz

HASBRO STAR WARS THE BLACK SERIES REY FORCE FX LIGHTSABER ($149.99) 

We waiting just under two years to see what color lightsaber Rey would be wielding in this holiday season's THE LAST JEDI and the light blue seems to be a big hit with STAR WARS Junkies. The Jedi Training Rey Force FX Lightsaber from HASBRO’s wildly popular STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES is now ready for you to own. A true-to-story replica of Rey’s iconic blue lightsaber from EPISODE 8, the authentically designed saber is complemented by a real metal hilt and a clear display for the ultimate in collectibility displays.

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2kR7DKh

NECA TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES BABY TURTLES 1:4 SCALE ACTION FIGURE 4-PACK ($49.99)

One of NECA’s go-to licenses is most definitely Eastman & Laird’s iconic TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES. Every time I think the NJ-based toy company has tapped the sewer dry, they seem to find another original and wildly clever way to honor NYC’s four most famous sewer-dwelling reptiles. This time it is via the now (wait for it) 28-year-old original live-action film from 1990 when the gang was just little baby turtles, tiny, but ready to train with their master Splinter. These hyper-detailed poseable figures each stand 4-inches tall perfectly scaling them with NECA’s $99.99 1/4 scale figures—another brilliant cross-promotion from Randy and his team. The set is ready to go with the aforementioned 4 baby turtles, a pizza box, 4 slices of pizza, a bag of corn chips. For just under fifty clams, this is a must have set especially if you have the already released larger iterations. Pre-order your set today Junkies!

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2DHpfjJ

DST MARVEL GALLERY NETFLIX PUNISHER SEASON 1 STATUE ($39.99) 

NETFLIX’s Season 1 of THE PUNISHER was a bonafide smash for the streaming monster service starring actor Jon Bernthal. I really dig DIAMOND SELECT’s still relatively new MARVEL GALLERY line that comes in at just $39.99 per piece. These display ready pieces come in beautiful packaging and measure in at 9-inches as a PVC diorama giving it a great 360-degree look. So the view is different from each angle with New Yorker Frank Castle crashing backward through a brick wall as he takes aim at multiple targets. It is really a clever and original looking line and not only do you get the digital likeness of Bernthal, you get a masterfully sculpted piece of figure architecture from industry veteran Rocco Tartamella. A terrific gift for those starting 2018 with a score to settle!

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2prXV5Z

DST THE CW FLASH TV SERIES GALLERY STATUE ($39.99)

First off, I am a huge fan of The CW’s FLASH TV show and have been since the show premiered. Frankly, even if it were not a DC show, I think it is one of the best ensemble dramas currently on weekly TV. I was always a casual FLASH comic book reader when I had a weekly pull list but The CW show really got me very involved into the entire Scarlet Speedster canon because as a huge time travel buff, I had no idea how much the Speed Force had to do with altering timelines and such so suddenly, I was catching up on classic FLASH trade paperbacks to learn more about the character.

To say I was disappointed with Warner Bros. big screen interpretation of Barry Allen and Ezra Miller’s goofy portrayal of Central City’s Fastest Man Alive in JUSTICE LEAGUE is an understatement. I thought that the casting was off after seeing Miller in last year’s super serious FANTASTIC BEASTS & WHERE TO FIND THEM. Instead of giving Miller any depth as Barry Allen/The Flash, it seemed like WB tried to make a big screen version carbon copy of Grant Gustin’s accessible and affable Barry Allen. Long story short, I love the TV show and think it deserves a larger audience so anytime AFJ can promote a new item from the TV show, I make sure to put in some real time and effort. It is just a coincidence that this happens to be another Gallery Statue from our pals at DIAMOND SELECT on our pre-order list. Sculpted by Cortes Studios, this 9-inch PVC diorama shows THE FLASH screeching to a halt with the energy of the Speed Force crackling off of him,

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2BMxTQs

PLAYMATES CLASSIC BLACK LION, RED LION, YELLOW LION, GREEN LION & BLUE LION (SOLD SEPARATELY, $35.99 & $79.99)

VOLTRON has returned Junkies! I can’t wait to get my mitts on these two sets and although I am not crazy about the way PLAYMATES is selling these (BLACK LION is sold for $35.99 & the RED, YELLOW, GREEN & BLUE LIONS are sold for $79.99). I was looking forward to the old school style box with all five Lions in one big box of styrofoam for easy storage. To be honest I’m just happy to have a new 21st Century VOLTRON! Here are the AFJ PRE-ORDER LINKS FOR THE BLACK LION AND THE OTHER FOUR:

BLACK LION: http://bit.ly/2D7kkYk

RED LION, YELLOW LION, GREEN LION & BLUE LION: http://bit.ly/2D7kkYk

‪ROBOCOP MAFEX ACTION FIGURE ($94.99)

“Dead or alive, you’re coming with me!” ROBOCOP turns 31 in 2018 but I think that this new piece from MAFEX will have been worth the wait. While there seems to be a lot of confusion lately as to the size of MAFEX figures, the standard seems to be 6.3” across the board. I know it might sound like s hefty price for a figure of that stature, MAFEX makes sure that you get a lot of bang for your buck in the form of extras and accessories. The future of Detroit Law Enforcement never looked so good in this new figure that comes with a virtual Santa bag of extras and accessories ranging from:

• interchangeable hands
• 3 interchangeablelower faces
• damaged helmet
• Damaged chestplate
• Signaturw Auto 9 Weapon
• muzzle flash effect part
• posable figure hands and more!

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2C11SRM

‪DIAMOND SELECT PACIFIC RIM 2 GYPSY AVENGER SELECT ACTION FIGURE ($22.99)

John Boyega is red hot right now coming off of THE LAST JEDI and he will start off 2018 with the sequel PACIFIC RIM: UPRISING. While the figures from NECA seemed to have done pretty well for the first movie, I was surprised to hear that DIAMOND SELECT picked up the license for the action figures for the sequel. However, the more I thought about it, DST’s oversized packaging may just be the perfect fit for these giant 250 foot tall Jaeger’s & Kaiju’s. The lead Jaeger from the upcoming sequel known as the GYPSY AVENGER joins the DST line known as “Robot Spirits” standing close to 7-inches tall and highly articulated for dynamic posing. To top it off, the new figures come with an array of new weapons and accessories including optional forearms, hands, a chain sword and a gravity sling. I don’t know what that is but it sounds cool!

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2l693zT

‪MEZCO ONE:12 COLLECTIVE THOR: RAGNAROK GLADIATOR HULK ACTION FIGURE ($125.00)

The ONE:12 COLLECTIVE meets HULK’s best MCU look ever? Sign this Junkie up! Although a solid $45 extra than a normal ONE:12 COLLECTIVE figure from MEZCO, this is like the Mercedes SL of Mez’s flagship line. Since Banner’s size is so outlandish in the third THOR film, I feel like MEZCO made the right call in scaling their GLADIATOR HULK way up so that the display friendly line of figures will all fall in line with Bruce Banner’s has overactive gamma rays. The big green guy is equipped with over 28 points of articulation built on a specially designed ONE:12 COLLECTIVE body and comes equipped with the spiked battle axe and war maul and a crested helmet that is permanently affixed to his second head.

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2D9fQAo

STAR ACE PULP FICTION VINCENT VEGA 1/6 SCALE FIGURE ($219.99)

STAR ACE is the new 1/6 scale figure company on the block and not one but two of their new pieces made our Top 20 list. Let’s face it, you can’t have Vincent without Jules and vice versa so I had to include both of the worlds greatest fictional hitmen based on Quentin Tarantino’s magnum opus. Both figures stand at about a foot tall each and both come with enough extras to compact the accessories at Monster Joe’s Truck & Tow as long as you have Winston a Wolf around to assist you with quick body disposal. Below are the complete contents for both Vincent & Jules and between the two figures, there are enough extras to fill up all of Marsellus Wallace’s Soul!

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2l6Y4Gq

Box Contents
* Vincent Vega figure
* 5 Interchangeable hands
* Pair of open hands
* Right hand for holding gun
* Right hand for holding cigarette
* Left hand for carrying the briefcase
* White Shirt
* Black Trousers
* Black Tie
* Black Suit Coat
* Pair of black shoes
* White T-Shirt (Casual wear)
* Blue Shorts (Casual wear)
* Pair of feet with sandals
* Gun
* Earring
* Lit cigarette
* Briefcase
* Figure stand
* Plastic stand with waist clip

STAR ACE PULP FICTION JULES WINNFIELD 1/6 SCALE FIGURE ($217.99)

AFJ PURCHASE LINK: http://bit.ly/2BubyTJ

Box Contents
* Jules Winnfield figure
* 5 interchangeable hands including
* Pair of open hands
* Right hand for holding gun
* Left hand for holding cheeseburger
* Left hand for holding the soft drink cup
* White Shirt
* Black Trousers
* Black Tie
* Black Suit Coat
* White T-Shirt (Casual wear)
* Blue Shorts (Casual wear)
* Pair of black shoes
* Pair of feet with sandals
* Gun
* Cheeseburger
* Soft Drink cup with straw
* Gold bracelet
* Plastic stand with waist clip