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One of the new Imperial Trooper types making a debut in the Solo movie was the Imperial Mudtrooper. Han himself was a Mudtrooper prior to abandoning his post after meeting Beckett and soon after, Chewbacca. Hasbro released the Han Solo Mudtrooper figure in 2019 as part of wave 20 and he was number 78 in the red lined boxed 3rd phase packaging. Packaging 4/5 The 3rd phase packaging is now so familiar to Black Series collectors, with this release of Han slotting into the standard packaging format - but with a very good Gregory Titus illustration of Han in his Mudtrooper helmet and armour. The figure is number 78 in the line and this sits on the gloss red right spine, with the character name also picked out in red on the box front and the left spine. Round the back we have a larger version of the Titus image and a short piece of text. "After getting kicked out of the Imperial Academy, Han Solo found himself dumped on Mimban as a mudtrooper. While there, Han met an Imperial prisoner named Chewbacca in an encounter that would change his life" Han comes out of the box in an inner tray that itself sits in the red backing tray. There are no ties or bands, the figure sits in place via the shaping of the tray. His breather mask sits to one side while the blaster rifle sits across the other. Paint & Sculpt 5/5 The figure, out of the box, is wearing the full imperial Mudtrooper helmet - and I was pleased to find that this is removable and there is a fully sculpted and face printed Alden Ehrenreich head underneath with a very good likeness and realism. It was also a surprise that this is not the same one as was used on the standard Han Solo release - the hair is flattened, to accommodate the helmet, and the expression is much grimmer. The costume, which we don't get long to examine on screen, is a brilliant mix of Imperial officer, Imperial snowtrooper and Imperial stormtrooper. While parts look familiar - like the chest plate which came with Veers - I don't think any parts are a direct re-use. The painting is good with a pleasing dirty look and splashes of mud and dirt on areas like the chest, arms and boots. The figure is finished with a cape that holds into place over the shoulders. It is a plastic piece and not soft goods. It is sculpted tattered and rugged and painted with a dried pale mud pattern up the side and round the base. It can be removed if you wish to give the figure a variant look. Accessories 4/5 The figure, once broken down, comes with 5 separate parts if you include the removable cloak. To achieve the various looks of the figure, Hasbro have cleverly broken down the figures to a removable helmet, removable goggles and a face mask piece - much more complex than a swap out head which must have been considered? The benefit this brings is the ability to have varying looks for the figure - Helmet on/off, mask on/off, goggles on/off/up. It also means that anyone wanting Mudtrooper "troops" for army building still get the parts they need. The helmet sits well on the head, we are no longer in the world where removable helmets look clunky and oversized. There is a bit of a nack to get the chin strap in place, but all in all it works. The goggles too are a separate piece so these can sit on the helmet, or be pulled down over the eyes to start to create the masked Mudtrooper. The breathing mask is a trickier proposition as it has to be plugged into two holes on the figures back and then pulled over the face and tucked up into the helmet. There are no holes or sockets, it kind of just hugs the helmet and face. It is also a two part construction with the black rubberised piping glued to the mask - ours arrived with that misaligned so I had to heat it up, break it and glue it back in place. You will need some patience to line up the mask, then add the goggles and then get the cloak back in place to complete the Mudtrooper look. The figure is armed with a E-10 Blaster Rifle, a weapon new to the line as far as I am aware. It is cast in a grey plastic and has some paint apps in silver dry brush to enhance the look. It fits into Han's right hand - a hand that comes with the flexi trigger finger, although it is tough to get that finger across and in place. Articulation 4/5 We get the usual 16 points of articulation with the Han Mudtrooper, giving him a good amount of posing options - including a stiff but workable two handed weapon pose. Head : ball joint pivot head Body : torso ball joint Arms : ball joint shoulders, single joint rotating elbows, pivot wrists Legs : ball joint hips, thigh swivels, double joint knees, ankle rockers Like a number of other armoured troopers, there is a clever trick with the shoulder armour which slides under the chest piece as the arms are raised so not to restrict movement. Summary The Han Solo Mudtrooper is a figure that delivers in all areas with a good sculpt, good accessories and a decent set of articulation. It has a depth of options with the various removable parts, but they do also serve as an area of frustration when fingers are trying to line up a helmet, goggles, breather mask and a cloak for display. The figure serves a 2nd purpose to allow collectors to buy it as a simple Mudtrooper for a Mimban or Imperial troop focused display - although I do suspect at some point we will see this re-released with a fixed masked Mudtrooper head, perhaps with some variant paints/weapons. I score the Han Solo Mudtrooper a very solid 4 out of 5. See More Star Wars Black Series Figures #TripleForceFriday #TripleForceFriday #StarWars #BlackSeries

Mark the date, Thursday the 26th of September! StarWars.com have announced that they will be live streaming, via Youtube, on the 26th and revealing all the products we can expect to buy on Triple Force Friday (4th October 2019). The stream will be hosted by Warwick Davis and will feature the cast of Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker, Fallen Jedi and The Mandalorian as they unveil new product featuring their characters. For UK collectors, the time you need is 7pm and you need to go to the Star Wars Youtube channel. You can read the full press release below and see a sneak peak in the video below.... Lucasfilm and stars from across the Star Wars saga will be unveiling the next generation of products from a galaxy far, far away — and we would be honored if you would join us. Tune into YouTube.com/StarWars on Thursday, September 26, at 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET for a special livestream event based at Pinewood Studios in London, the famed shooting location of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Via live and recorded vignettes, generations of Star Wars icons will reveal new products in advance of their roll out on Triple Force Friday, October 4, all inspired by a trio of the year’s biggest Star Wars releases: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: The highly-anticipated final installment of the Skywalker Saga, which hits theaters December 20 The Mandalorian: The first-ever Star Wars live-action series, which will debut in the US on November 12 exclusively on Disney+, the Walt Disney Company’s new streaming service Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order: A brand-new action adventure game from Respawn, releasing November 15 The livestream celebration will feature appearances from Daisy Ridley (Rey), John Boyega (Finn), Oscar Isaac (Poe), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian), Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca), Keri Russell (Zorii), Naomi Ackie (Jannah), Kelly Marie Tran (Rose), Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian), Gina Carano (Cara Dune in The Mandalorian), and Cameron Monaghan (Cal Kestis in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order). Livestream viewers also will be treated to the worldwide premiere of a new trailer for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, along with other special surprises from across the Star Wars galaxy. Warwick Davis, a beloved Star Wars actor known for his role as the Ewok “Wicket” in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, will serve as host during the livestream event at Pinewood Studios, while Anthony Carboni (The Star Wars Show) will helm the recorded product reveals. Fans can join the conversation on social using Triple #ForceFriday. Stay tuned to StarWars.com for more on Triple Force Friday!

Super7 have shared some new images and details about their first wave of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 7 inch scale Ultimate figures. The wave is made up of Raphael, Splinter, a Foot Soldier and Baxter Stockman. The figures go up for pre-order on the 1st of October for a month only, closing on the 31st. The pre-orders are due to ship in 2020. "Cowabunga, dudes! Super7 is proud to announce the debut of the Ultimate Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Each 7-inch articulated deluxe TMNT action figure is lavishly painted and features a massive cache of weapons and interchangeable accessories. The figures will come in deluxe packaging designed for this new series. The Ultimate Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Wave 1 features: Raphael! Splinter! Foot Soldier! Baxter Stockman! The TMNT Ultimates are a made-to-order release and the pre-order opens next Tuesday (10/1) and will close on 10/31. For all the details visit: https://super7.com/blogs/news/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-ultimate-figures"

Storm Collectibles, in conjunction with Bluefin Distributors, will be bringing three 1/12 scale exclusive figures to New York Comic Con 2019 from their Mortal Kombat and Tekken licences. From Mortal Kombat we have Smoke - who we assume will get a standard release at some point either as a recolour of this Cyber Ninja figure, or in his more traditional ninja grey outfit. 4x Pairs of Interchangeable Hands 2x Smoke Effects 4x Bombs 1x Spear 1x Bomb Dropping Rig Also from MK is a "Blood Edition" of Scorpion. This is the standard release, but with added Blood Splatter. 2x Interchangeable Masks 4x Pairs of Interchangeable Hands 3x Blood Effects 1x Axe 1x Scorpion Spear And from Tekken is the "Final Battle" version of Kazuya Mishima. Mishima has already had two versions in the Storm 6 inch line, and this version - like Scorpion - is a bloodied paint effect on top of the basic release. 3x Interchangeable Heads 4x Pairs of Interchangeable Hands 1x ightning Effects 1x Eye Laser Beam Al the figures should be on sale at NYCC via the Bluefin booth. They will also be selling first releases of their Mortal Kombat Cyrax figure and Street Fighter Cammy at the booth if you want first dibs on these before they hit retail. "New York Comic Con is just two weeks away and we’re excited to announce three exclusives from Storm Collectibles we’ll have available at our booth. We hope you have your fighting stick hands ready for Bloody Scorpion, Cyber Ninja Smoke, and Kazuya Mishima. Additionally, Cyrax and Cammy are coming first to market at NYCC, giving attendees the chance to pick up these figures before anyone else. That's right folks. This is happening! Who's ready? Check out the figures, accessories, and pricing below. Quantities are limited so head over to Booth #1520 sooner rather than later. "

NECA have shared the final packaged images of their 8 inch Decker action figure from Night Breed. Decker will come with sculpted head and articulated body and then tailored soft goods clothing. He will be packed with his Briefcase and assorted blades and weapons. He is due to start shipping 15th October to retailers.

Medicom have released the images for their MAFEX Chucky action figure. Chucky comes with three head options and is armed with a ruler, two knives, a hammer and baseball bat. There is also a swap out hand option to give him his bloodied stump with inserted blade. Chucky has soft goods dungarees with the rest of the figure sculpted and painted as normal. He will stand about 5 inches high. The MAFEX Chucky is scheduled for a June 2020 release.

Medicom have released images of their new 1/12 MAFEX Black Manta figure from Aquaman. Black Manta will come with his arm blade as well as a sword blade accessory. There are also clip on FX parts for his backpack to give a flight effect. He is scheduled for a June 2020 release.

The Entertainer have slashed the price of three of their current Star Wars Black Series items by use of a voucher for online purchases The Stormtrooper with blast FX, Rey on Crait and Kylo in Throne Room sets can all now be purchased online for £9.99 each using voucher STAR80. The voucher is valid until 7th October 2019, see The Entertainer website for T+C's. Click here to go to the deal page - this is an affiliate link so we earn a small commission if you use this link at no cost to you. The sets will be delivered, with delivery starting at £3.99. Or you can arrange a Click & Collect, for free but you need to take your order to £10 or more. It is unclear if these prices will filter down to on shelf prices in stores.

We are coming up fast on Triple Force Friday 4th October 2019 - the release date for all the merchandising products for Star Wars Episode 9, The Rise of Skywalker, The Mandalorian and the Fallen Jedi EA video game. Taking a look at the Star Wars Black Series 6 inch figures, here is what we know so far. There will be a wave releasing on the 4th October which contains 8 new Black Series figures in the standard phase 4 packaging. From Rise of Skywalker we have Rey and D-0, Supreme Leader Kylo Ren, First Order Stormtrooper and Sith Trooper. The Stormtrooper looks to be a newer body using the one that was painted gold in the Disney Park sets for Commander Pyre. From The Mandalorian we have the title character, and at this stage (although not confirmed) we are expecting the Offworld Jawa to be from the Disney+ show. Fallen Jedi is represented by the main playable character, Jedi Cal Kestis and his droid BD-1 and the Imperial Inquisitor Second Sister. Numbering for this wave has been confirmed as follows #90 Supreme Leader Kylo Ren #91 Rey and D-0 #92 Sith Trooper #93 Cal Kestis and BD-1 #94 The Mandalorian #95 Second Sister #96 Off-World Jawa #97 First Order Stormtrooper At this stage we have been unable to confirm if any of these will physically be on UK store shelves come the 4th of October - but they should go up for order via the independent stockists at midnight on the 4th and out for delivery soon after. We then have the same entire wave which will be released in White Box packaging. These are being called the "First Edition" figures and while the Stormtrooper has been listed on Amazon in Germany, the others found have been in the American continent (Puerto Rico to be precise). These are the same figures, repacked in a white black series box, apart from the colour the other difference is a circular insert stating that these are the First Edition figures. And the colour box variants don't stop there. We have now had confirmation of a third version of The Mandalorian who is coming in a metallic copper/bronze box and is being called "the Carbonised Graphite edition". Info seems to indicate this is Target Exclusive and should be for The Mandalorian figure only - not the full wave (although that may change). It is unclear if the figure itself features a metallic finish to the armour, which would make this a full variant - and not just a packaging variant. In a similar vein there is also a 3rd edition of the Second Sister in a metallic gunmetal box that is called "the Graphite edition". This again is the same figure sculpt as far as we can tell, just in exclusive packaging and potentially with a variant metallic finish. At this point we are unclear if this is the Gamestop US Exclusive version that will come with the release of the Fallen Jedi game if you pre-order that bundle, or another figure. Image shared by @R1VALOS And it seems we have a 2nd wave of Black Series to look forward to, with some of these also being Carbonized into an exclusive. This First Order Jet Trooper is listed on eBay. The figure is in a white box and has the circular carbonized label, so is likely to be a further exclusive. The figure is numbered as #99 and will therefore be a standard release also in the usual packaging - most likely as part of a 2nd wave of Rise of Skywalker figures. Our final news, the latest to be confirmed, is a 9th figure potentially for release on Triple Force Friday. This is a Luke Skywalker Jedi Knight figure, and he is packed in the usual packaging with no numbering - making him a store exclusive. At this point the info is pointing to a Disney Store or Parks exclusive based on where the leaked figure was found - but there is other info indicating it is a Walmart figure. We expect more leaks and news as we head to Triple Force Friday and then we will have some news rounds up on and after the day itself - hopefully with some reviews also. Other rumours knocking about - mainly via the brilliant Yakface.com - including - new C-3PO figure in a 2-pack with another Rise of Skywalker character, Babu Fink? - metallic boxed version of the Sith Trooper - Rocket Sith Trooper release - IG11 Droid from The Mandalorian release - Fallen Jedi Purge Trooper release - may be another option for the Gamestop Exclusive

A new Star Wars Black Series Rise of Skywalker leak as a First Order Jet Trooper is listed on eBay. The figure is in a white box and has the circular carbonized label, so is likely to be a further exclusive. The figure is numbered as #99 and will therefore be a standard release also in the usual packaging - most likely as part of a 2nd wave of Rise of Skywalker figures.

It looks like Hasbro have gone variant packaging crazy with the Triple Force Friday Black Series figures. We have standard packaging and white First Edition packaging already leaked - as well as a Graphite version of the Second Sister. We now have a Carbonized variant of The Mandalorian, found in a Target store in the US - images shared on Instagram by Toyshiz. The packaging is now a metallic bronze/copper colour - and has a circular insert labelling this as The Carbonized Edition. Numbering - #94 - remains the same as does the rear text. At this stage it is unclear if the figure features a metallic decor, the pictures are not clear enough. We can now assume that exclusives for Force Friday are themed around this "metallic box look" and along with the Graphite Second Sister (Gamestop) there are probably more to be revealed.

It seems Lanard Toys have another Jumanji The Next Level set coming out along with all the Jumanji packs we shared a week or so ago. The Ultimate Collection box set includes a Rhino, Wolf and Buzzard as well as a 3.75 inch Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson action figure. He has a jeep to drive, a jeep that is a repaint of an existing Lanard Toys sculpt from the "Corps" range of figures. The Jumanji sets from Lanard are exclusive to Walmart in the US. As yet there is no details for any UK distribution - but Smyths would seem likely considering they already stock Lanard Corps toys and previous licences like Rampage.