Star Wars The Black Series Jedi Temple Guard Action Figure

Happy Star Wars Day!  Been excited to show off the Star Wars Black Series Jedi Temple Guard.  He's so cool and was really fun to take photos of.

There is lots of detail on these figures from the markings, mask, armor, sleeves, belt, robes, boots and a double-sided lightsaber.  The second robe underneath the outer robe hanging from his waist is made from cloth.

The heads have almost no movement due to the plastic robe piece.  It's a shame.   A cloth piece there would have been nice and allowed some flexibility.

The look from the back is fine.  No issues here.

Jedi Temple Guards were charged with protecting the Jedi Temple.  They were overwhelmed after Order 66 by Anakin Skywalker and the 501st Legion.  During the animated The Clone Wars, while in the Temple, we see Kanan Jarrus have a vision which shows the Grand Inquisitor was actually a Temple Guard.  One of The Clone Wars' writers, Henry Gilroy, has also stated the Grand Inquisitor, as a Temple Guard, led some of them away during Order 66 and killed them himself as he betrayed the Jedi.

Animated clips of the Jedi Temple Guard from The Clones Wars and Rebels can be seen here.  They are also seen in Old Republic video game footage here.  They never make a live action appearance.

Excited to add this guy to my Black Series collection.  The Jedi Temple Guard may not be as well-known as many characters, but I do believe he has a great look.  I'd love to see him in live action at some point.  The youngest grandson, whose 9th birthday is today, really enjoys his look as well.

Star Wars The Black Series Imperial Praetorian Guard Action Figure

We'll do some Star Wars action figure love today.  This Black Series Imperial Praetorian Guard have a cool look.  Maybe it's the red armor or the cool weapons and vibe but there is something about them.  A good addition to the Black Series line of figures.

This Praetorian Guard is designed to resemble the guards seen in Star Wars: The Mandalorian but are also seen in Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi protecting Supreme Leader Snoke.  The first iteration of these guards is the Imperial Royal Guards who protect Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi.  That's where I got hooked on the look and coolness of these specialized guards.

This guy is pretty straightforward. They come with a glaive and a chain whip I believe.  It is called a sword in the action figure description but that is not a sword.

Overall, I'm happy with the figure.  The robe is cloth.  They are fairly poseable.  Has cool weapons.  The helmet is reminiscent of Clone Troopers.  

This guy is fun and I'm glad I got the opportunity to show him off.  The red also goes along with the day.  I hope everyone has a good Valentine's Day.

  

2025 Favorite Cards and Action Figure

 

These favorite cards posts are one I look forward to every year.  This Eric Dickerson card takes top honors this year.  I really like the colors, the photo, it's a simple design, and the great look at Dickerson's eyes and goggles.  In June I posted this card and other Dickerson cards I got in a Eric Dickerson card lot on eBay.  There are a few good-looking cards in the lot.

This Giannis was close behind.  I thought this 2021-2022 Donruss card did a great job with the photo and subtle design elements making it feel like a show.  It was posted in March.

This 1992 Pro Set Racing card is one of Jeff Gordon's first cards and a big reason I picked up some packs to open.  It's very simple but a card I like.  This one was also posted in March.  

Cards found in this post are cards I posted in 2025.  I'll show of my favorite from each sport and non-sport as well as my favorite action figure.  Why I like them or choose them can be random and it doesn't matter if they are old or new.  

This cool looking card is from a 2024 Upper Deck Marvel Studios Series 2 Cinematic blaster that I also posted in March.  I like the retro lunchbox vibe, and the colors and design really work for me.  I like it.

This 2025 Topps Elly De La Cruz I showed off in August has a nice photo and framing.  A really good use of the horizontal cards from Topps.

This 2022-2023 Upper Deck Trevor Moore was in a June post.  I didn't post much hockey this year, but I kept coming back to this card.  It's the intensity of the bench players that really draws me in here.  Good job Upper Deck.

This Topps Chrome Rhea Ripley was posted in February.  Ripley is very photogenic, and this made for an easy pick.

This Baylan Skoll figure looks really good.  I posted him in May along with Shin Hati, both of the Ahsoka series.  He really captures the actor's looks and is a great addition to the collection.

These are so much fun. Everyone have a fun and safe New Year's Eve!

Star Wars The Black Series Ki-Adi-Mundi, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones Action Figure

Ki-Adi-Mundi was on the Jedi Council during the prequels.  One of the things I really enjoyed about the prequels was getting to see all the different Jedi and I enjoy collecting them.  Ki-Adi-Mundi was a Jedi Master and member of the Jedi Council.

This figure is a representation of him during the Clone Wars in which he made multiple appearances during the animated Clone Wars series.  His robes aren't cloth, but I do like his Jedi attire which includes some nice detail.

He looks good from the back as well.

Overall, this is a good figure.  I'm not sure how popular Ki-Adi-Mund is.  I know he's shown negatively a few times across the timeline including the prequels and during The Acolyte series.  Still, he has a unique look that always piqued my interest.

The grandson isn't a huge fan of the alien Jedi from the movies and series for some reason.  Though he's a big fan of Obi-Wan, Anakin and Kylo Ren.

A fun figure to post and round out the end of the year.  I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

Star Wars Black Series Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati

 

Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati are figures from Ahsoka television series.   These are both excellent characters, so I jumped on the figures when they were released.

I think this is a great figure.  The detail is really good.  It looks like the actor. I like how his armor looks.  Just so good.

Shin Hati's figure isn't bad, but it seems to suffer when next to the Baylan Skoll figure. The face doesn't look near as good comparatively.

 Baylan Skoll is a former Jedi Knight who now serves the remnants of the Empire, specifically the witch Morgan Elsbeth as she tries to bring back Grand Admiral Thrawn.

Shin Hati is Skoll's apprentice.

The backs of each are fine.  No issues here.

While I do like the Baylan figure more, I'm overall happy with both of these figures.  The actor playing Skoll has sadly passed, and his character was recast.  Still, I'm excited for season two of Ahsoka which is rumored to be released next year.

McFarlane Tim Duncan Figure

I tend to share McFarlane's DC action figures more than I ever do their sports figures but I do love their sports figures just as much.  This Tim Duncan figure was released in 2002.  I'm a Duncan fan like so many others.  He's called The Big Fundamental.  He wasn't flashy but everything he did, he did amazingly well.

    We see a classic Spurs look here.  Duncan's arms and head will move though there really isn't much you can do with his arms that makes him look right.

The back is good again showing the look we're used to.  I took the grandsons to I Had That in Belleville, IL during the Christmas timeframe.  Found Duncan for under $20.  He is used and not in perfect condition, but I had to have it.  You can see a few imperfections on the back of his jersey.

The base is fine with Duncan's name and the Spurs logo.  I don't get why they face opposing directions though in the end it really doesn't matter.

You can see I move his head here, but it doesn't look right.  I think that since they have enough detail on the neck area, which is great, that it just doesn't work well when you turn the head.

There are other McFarlane Tim Duncan figures.  While Timmy dribbling isn't a look I think of when I think of him, I probably won't chase the others.  You can see a Tim Duncan shirt in the background.  I bought that after watching the amazing 2013 Spurs-Heat NBA Finals on TV with my sisters while visiting them in Texas.

An outside shot just for a little different look.  NBA Playoffs start next week so this felt like a fun post leading up to those.  

2023 Favorite Cards and Action Figure

I really enjoy doing these Favorite Card posts.   My only criteria for these are that I posted them on the blog in 2024.  They can be old, new, doesn't matter.  And why they are my favorite can be very random.  #1 this year goes to Carlos Correa on this 2020 Big League Baseball card.  The photo is what does it for me.  Only thing that could make it better is having the catcher involved but this one is still my favorite of 2024. That post is here.

This Kyle Petty card was so close to taking the top spot.  Mello Yellow, the hair, the colors.  It screams early nineties, and I love it.  This was part of a 2024 Donruss NASCAR post found here.

The photo, determination and focus of KAT, framing, design and colors really work for me on this card.  The 2022-2023 Hoops post can be found here.

Howie Long has a great football look to him.  That flat top is the icing on the cake.  Seeing him talking with baseball great George Brett in this photo is just too cool.  Combined with one of the all-time great designs this really is a great looking card.  The post can be found here.

This Jaws 2 card really does a good job of capturing the spirit of the Jaws movies. The design is nice, but it really is the artwork depicting a scene from the movie.  Watching the movie, you imagine the shark doing just what you see here in those frantic moments.  The post is here.

For the first time I didn't have any hockey or wrestling posts.  Just a casualty of budgets and focusing funds on other cards and collectibles.  But I am going to show off my favorite action figure from the year - this great looking McFarlane Alan Scott Green Lantern Platinum Edition Figure.  I'm a big Alan Scott fan and couldn't be happier with this figure.  Hoping to post enough action figures next year to have their own "favorite post".  The Alan Scott post with more photos of him are here.

I posted more on the blog this year than I ever have in years past.  I'm hoping to focus my collecting this next year, but I'll keep posting lots about cards and randomness.  Thanks to everyone who comes to my little world on the interwebs.  Have a safe and Happy New Year!