Star Wars and toys are practically synonymous. Sideshow Collectibles, a company that got its start making historical and military collectible figures, saw the potential in Star Wars and started creating incredibly detailed character figures in 2006. If you’ve never gotten your hands on one of their staggeringly well-crafted figures and statues, Insight Editions has the next best thing for you.
Star Wars: Collecting a Galaxy: The Art of Sideshow isn’t just a massive 350-page book that will look great on your coffee table. It’s an ode to Sideshow’s hardworking artists and sculptors, a peek inside the manufacturing process, a collection of stunning toy photography, and a love letter to Star Wars. And we have some exclusive preview images of the book to show you.
Insight Editions / Sideshow Collectibles
This massive tome walks the reader through the different lines of Sideshow’s Star Wars collectibles over the years. From the first sixth scale figures to premium format figures, to life-sized busts and figures, dioramas, and beyond, if there’s a Star Wars figure from Sideshow Collectibles you’ve ever dreamed about, chances are it’s in these pages.
As the years have passed, Sideshow’s level of detail, film accuracy, and articulation have only gotten better, as evidenced as you turn each page. Surprisingly, one of the most difficult aspects of figure fabrication at this high level is the clothing and fabric creation. The on-screen color of Rey’s pants in particular was a difficult one to match on her figure. For figures like Greedo and Boba Fett, every detail counted; each horizontal pleat on Greedo’s sleeves was stitched, and it took some tweaking to get the right material for the braids on the bounty hunter’s shoulder. You’ll also get an idea of what the figures look like underneath their clothes, which is both fascinating and a little bit weird.
Insight Editions / Sideshow Collectibles
If you’re either a Star Wars fan or a toy photography fan, this book is almost a no-brainer to add to your collection. You can spend hours poring through the pages, looking at the details on the figures that might even teach you something about Star Wars you didn’t know. We thought we knew everything about the galaxy far, far away, but did you know Jabba the Hutt has a tattoo on his forearm? (Go check Return of the Jedi. We’ll wait.) Sideshow Collectibles knew, and they re-created it in perfect detail!
Insight Editions / Sideshow Collectibles
The only negative thing we can say about The Art of Sideshow is that there are a few unfortunately noticeable typos that tend to catch the eye. But it’s a small quibble that doesn’t diminish the overall high quality of this beautiful book. Also, we have to warn you, if you thought you wanted to add a Sideshow figure to your collection before, you’re going to really want to pick up one (or more!) after you see all of the stunning work inside this tome.
Insight Editions / Sideshow Collectibles
Star Wars: Collecting a Galaxy: The Art of Sideshow is available for pre-orders now at a retail price of $75. You’ll find it on bookstore shelves on December 31, 2019.
All Images: Insight Editions / Sideshow Collectibles