At Hasbro's Star Wars panel, representatives provided the curious crowd of collectors information on the products shown in their Comic-Con booth (see starwars.com's Comic-Con 2005 slide show for images) and gave first looks at products coming later this year and into 2006.

Highlights for established lines include...

• The kid-friendly Force Battlers line will have 12 figures in 2005
• Attacktix series 2 will be available in September 2005, featuring 30 figures spanning the entire saga (including bounty hunters) with new attacks and abilities, like medical droids and other defensive-strategy techniques. Series 3 will come in January.
• The Galactic Heroes line-up will expand to include backpack danglers. Beyond the Yoda, Han Solo, Boba Fett and Luke Skywalker danglers already revealed at Celebration III, the line will include Darth Vader and the Mr. Potatohead-inspired "Darth Tader" in Galactic Hero form.
• The Evolutions assortment of action figure 3-packs will expand to include yellow and gray trooper repaint variations.
• There will be 12 new action figures in the 3 3/4" line for approximately in October
  • 57 -- Commander Bly
  • 58 -- Wookiee Commando with soft goods loin cloth
  • 59 -- Commander Gree
  • 60 -- Grievous bodyguard (white)
  • 61 -- Passel Argente -- mustard-colored outfit
  • 62 -- Cat Miin (Shu Mai's aide)
  • 63 -- Neimodian commander
  • 64 -- R4-P17
  • 65 -- Tactical Ops Trooper (501st)
  • 66 -- Plo Koon hologram
  • 67 -- Aayla Secura hologram
  • 68 -- Wookiee heavy gunner

Among the first-look offerings were a number of retailer exclusives coming this fall. The "Clone Attack on Coruscant" battle pack will be available at Target and will include five clonetrooper figures in a package that makes them appear to be riding a Republic Gunship into battle.

Also at Target will be three exclusive figures. Straight from their duel on Mustafar, lava-reflective lighting Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are specially painting to appear as they do in the lighting of the final fight of Episode III. Drawing a loud gasp of enthusiasm from the crowd is the new super-articulated stealth trooper, an expanded universe clone that is promised to the start of things to come.

In the spirit of the greatly sought-after Cinemacast Vader of the past, will be a Wal-Mart exclusive new Cinemacast Vader with a dynamic pose and an Episode III-inspired base.

Rounding out the exclusives in the formal presentation were two K-Mart exclusive battle packs, a Toys R Us exclusive Hoth battle pack and two droid 5-packs that will come from Entertainment Earth. The droids included in the later will include, R4-A22 (Dexter's diner), R2-A6, R2-M5, R2-C4 (3 from Ric Olie's starship), R2-X2 (Red 10's), R4-E1 (Bo Shek's), R2-Q2 (Biggs'), R3-T2 (Mos Eisley), R3-T6 (Death Star with clear dome), and R3-A2 (green droid on Hoth).

2006 will bring an exciting refresh of the 3 3/4" figure line with the "Saga Collection" and the return of silver-and-black packaging, amalgamated with some of the package design of the Episode III line. The line will feature collector-focused figures balancing core and minor characters with waves themed by common battles and settings. All figures will have bases and other surprises Hasbro promised to reveal later.

Shown in the presentation were three all-new sculpt figures from the first wave, themed around the Battle of Carkoon: Leia as Boussh, Han Solo in carbonite and Bib Fortuna. The second wave will be based on the Battle of Hoth.

Hasbro confirmed the end (or hiatus) of the 7-inch Unleashed line, but announced a new 2-inch line that will carry the spirit on Unleashed into a smaller scale with Unleashed Battle Packs. There will be four per pack with a suggested retail price of $9.99. While main characters will be included, 75% will be trooper builders to allow collectors to stage huge battles in small areas.

Not included in the presentation, but coerced by a clever question from a young collector, was the announcement of two figures themed as the "Separation of the Twins" available as Wal-Mart exclusives late in 2005. Packaged in a unique look partly between the Episode III look and the new "Saga Collection" look, there will be one pack with Obi-Wan Kenobi and baby Luke, and another with Bail Organa and baby Leia.