Barbecue's Bonfire: The "Not Half Bad Toy Run and I Review the Ghostbusters 2016 Trailer" Edition

Wow! This installment of Barbecue's Bonfire quickly grew into a monster of a task, particularly because I wound up doing a pretty thorough review of the Ghostbusters 2016 trailer. Of course, I also detail the results of a recent toy run, offer some brief reviews of Forever Evil and one of the tie-in titles, and praise Mauro Ranallo for being an incredible commentator on Smackdown. Check out this and more after the break...

Action Figure Review: Luke Skywalker and Wampa from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase II by Hasbro

 As I'm writing this review it is really cold outside. Really cold! I guess that's the perfect time to write about Wampas, huh? Today I'm looking at one of the two packs from Phase II of Star Wars: The Black Series: Luke Skywalker and Wampa! Yup, Luke decked out in the cold weather gear he wore on Hoth has been packaged together with the Wampa who scarred his face, ate his Tauntaun, and hung him upside down in a block of ice. That sounds like a great arrangement for Luke, huh? Of course, the Wampa is packaged with the guy who cut off his arm, so it's not like this arrangement worked out too well for either character. Let's take a closer look at these two, shall we? Join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Anakin Skywalker from Star Wars: The Black Series by Hasbro

 Since my little one is getting into Star Wars pretty heavily, we've been watching through Rebels and all of the films. Well, all except Revenge of the Sith. It has some pretty intense moments in it that she's ready to process yet. While Hayden Christensen's acting in Episode II has become the stuff of legend, I really think he did a great job in Episode III. Honestly, watch The Clone Wars and then pop in Episode III and I think you'll be more pleased with what Christensen did with the character. I still get chills when he yells "I hate you!" at Obi-Wan. Of course, this review isn't really about Episode III or Hayden Christensen's acting: It's about an Anakin Skywalker action figure from Star Wars: The Black Series by Hasbro. While the Phase I Revenge of the Sith Obi-Wan Kenobi turned out to be a massive pegwarmer (my local Walgreens still has three on the pegs), Anakin was a figure that few collectors even found on shelves. At this point he's one of the most expensive figures on the aftermarket, so I was fortunate to pick him up in a trade. Is he a worthwhile purchase for those of you wanting to go back and pay the big bucks for this guy? Read on and find out after the break...

Action Figure Review: Resistance Trooper from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase III by Hasbro

  Sometimes, despite being a really good figure, a figure just seems a bit boring. That's how I feel about the Resistance Trooper. He's a good figure but there's just something about him that seems a bit...dull maybe? I'm not sure if it's the coloring or the costume design itself, but I find it hard to get enthused about this guy. There's something about him that just doesn't scream Star Wars to me. Anyways, it's a shame because Hasbro did a pretty nice job on this figure. The guy portrayed here is not only in the Visual Dictionary for The Force Awakens but he also appears in other tie-in items such as various coloring books. Seriously, my two year old has an Episode VII coloring book and I've colored this guy once or twice. It is cool, though, that Hasbro gave us a figure of an actual actor from the film as I'm sure someday he'll have a cool backstory of and role of his own. This is Star Wars, after all. Ready for a closer look at the someday "soon to to be famous and have an extensive backstory" Resistance Trooper? Then join me after the break...

Check Out the Confirmed Epic Podcast #40: Fuller House

 I wasn't around to take part in this episode, but the Reel Brad Bell, Andrew "There's a Snake in my Boot" Stokes, and Everett Harn of the GWW got together to talk about a variety of things, particularly the Netflix exclusive Fuller House. Visit The Epic Review and listen to episode 40 of the Confirmed Epic Podcast Episode! I'm listening to it right now!

Action Figure Review: Chewbacca from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase III by Hasbro

 So, does anyone find it strange that we are over two months out past the release of The Force Awakens with Toy Fair 2016 also having come and gone and we still haven't seen any figures of Leia or Luke from the new film? I mean, I know that Luke didn't have much screen time but Hasbro has made far plenty of figures of characters from The Force Awakens had far less and were far less significant. In fact, it was really bizarre that Hasbro even waited until after the film's debut to release any figures of Han Solo. We did did one member of the legacy cast in the first series of The Black Series figures released back on Force Friday, though: Chewbacca! I held off on picking this guy up for awhile but finally snagged him for a good price. Ready for a look at the newest version of everyone's favorite Wookie? Then join me after the break...

Action Figure Review: Han Solo and Tauntaun from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase II by Hasbro

  It's time for another Star Wars: The Black Series review! As I'm working to get caught up on this line, today I'm checking out another of the Phase II two-packs, this one featuring Captain Han Solo with the Tauntaun he rides on Hoth. Since the scenes on Hoth tend to be some of the best loved in the entire Star Wars saga, it was probably a good idea that Hasbro released them to try and gain a bit more traction for the deluxe sets. I'm not sure that I ever saw these sit on shelves the way I did the Jabba the Hutt set, although they haven't set the secondary market on fire yet. Recently I've reclaimed my POTF2 12 inch Tauntaun from my parent's house and my little two-year old plays with both that Tauntaun and a big stuffed Tauntaun I bought her sometime last year. This one, though? This one is all mine. Ready for a closer look at these two? Then join me after the break...