2012's first wave of action figures in Hasbro's
The Vintage Collection includes 12 figures from
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. While the line has featured every other movie in the saga, plus the Expanded Universe, this film has been missing, obviously because Hasbro wanted to wait until they could do something special. They say "all good things come to those who wait", and that's certainly true in this case.
The Phantom Menace in 3-DIn case you didn't know,
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace is coming back to the big screen in February 2012, but this time in 3D! Fans can now see the adventures of the Jedi on Naboo, Tatooine, & Coruscant as the heroes and villains literally fly off the screen and into the hearts of a whole new generation of fans.
Wave Schedule ChangesWhen the 3D movie was officially announced, Hasbro decided to alter the release schedule for this line. Every character based on
Episode I was held back, and a few filler "kit-bashed" waves were created to take its place. This caused quite a lot of shifting around in the line over the past few years, which allowed for some interesting figures to be added that may not have been considered originally. But now that the wave is here, I think you will find it's been worth the long wait!
Darth Maul contestThis wave also includes the official 2012 contest entry form for a life-sized Darth Maul statue, singed by George Lucas himself! Much like the two previous Boba Fett figure offers, the sticker can be removed without harming the front of the cards. You do not need the entry form to enter the contest, but it certainly doesn't hurt!
Anyway, onto the reviews!
VC75: Qui-Gon Jinn:
   | Although the bulk of this wave is made up of all-new figures, this is not one of them.
This is not to say that Qui-Gon is a bad figure. On the contrary, it's the best version that Hasbro has done to date. The figure includes super-articulation and soft goods, and the deco is pretty simplistic, due to the lack of weathering. The head sculpt is a few years old now, and it would be nice to get a new one. This is the same weapon from the first Qui-Gon Jinn figure from 1999...it's time for an update! A newly-sculpted lightsaber would be a nice addition, as well as the inclusion of a lightsaber in the "off" mode that could be plugged into the belt.
This figure was included as part of "The Jedi Legacy" Evolutions set, repainted in the "Tatooine Desert Ambush" Battle Pack (which was also included with the Mailaway Eopie in the Legacy Collection), and finally as part of the Episode I Blu-ray Commemorative Collection set. So it's really only "new to you" if you missed out on any of those releases, or if you want the spiffy cardback.
It should also be noted that this same exact figure will be available with a different accessory (but not the robe) in the upcoming "Movie Heroes" line. |
VC76: Obi-Wan Kenobi:
   | Much like his Jedi Master, this figure of Obi-Wan Kenobi is also nothing new. This is the same exact figure that was released in the Legacy Collection, only he now includes a Comlink. You cannot hang the comlink on the belt however, and once again, it would have been nice to get an "off" version of the lightsaber.
Once again, this IS the best version of the Jedi Padawan that has been made to date, but if you've been collecting for a few years at least...chances are you have this figure already. This figure was also available in the Episode I Blu-ray Commemorative Collection set, although without the comlink.
Also, this same exact version of Obi-Wan will be available with a different accessory (but not the robe) in the upcoming "Movie Heroes" line. PLUS, the Class I Fleet Vehicles will get him too. So, you have options! |
VC77: Ratts Tyerell & Pit Droid:
   | Now, this set is a fun one! Originally revealed at Toy Fair 2009, the little podracer kept getting delayed and pushed back...until now. And now Ratts Tyerell comes with a Pit Droid!
Since he's such a small figure, you would think there's not a lot of articulation added on this figure, but there actually IS! The shoulders are ball-hinged joints, the forearms swivel, and the waist turns as well. He even has removable goggles and a blaster that barely fits into his hand. The deco is nicely detailed, and the sculpting is top-notch, although I admit it would be nice to see him with his mouth wide open. Perhaps one day, we might see the rest of the Tyerell family at some point? Fingers crossed....
Since he's small and Hasbro likes to double-up on smaller figures, Ratts comes complete with a Pit Droid "accessory", now sporting an all-new deco! It's a good thing Hasbro recreated all-new tools for the Saga Legends release back in 2007, because that's the same body used here...and look, it came in handy! |
VC78: Battle Droid:
   | Here's a figure that has seen MANY versions over the years, and usually with various deco changes. While Hasbro has said that this is an all-new version, it feels familiar. Also, the folding feature is not new, although admittedly it has been over a decade since that figure was released.
One of the many complaints all Battle Droid figures have gotten is the fact that the legs will not support the body, and they will bend and warp over time, causing the figure to fall down. It remains to be seen if that will happen here, but without a display base to support him, it's likely.
The sculpt is good, the folding feature works nicely, and I do like the fact that this droid comes with both the backpack and the antenna, so if you are so inclined, you can add a little variety to your ranks. The deco is nicely weathered over the body....except for the head and backpack for some reason, which is odd.
Overall, after being able to get 2-for-1 deals on Battle Droids in the Saga Legends line, it's tough to justify getting an army of these guys individually. Although that will probably change after the movie comes out...or if we learn that Hasbro is going to make an MTT (whichever comes first!) |
VC79: Darth Sidious:
   | NOW WE'RE TALKING! Here's a great update of a figure that was pretty much just a statue with arms. Using the arms of the figure from The Sith Evolutions set and the legs from the ROTS figure, Hasbro added a new torso and accessories to create the definitive Darth Sidious. It's about time, too...I mean, this guy IS "The Phantom Menace" after all!
Sidious also comes with a brand-new head sculpt, which makes him appear younger than he did onscreen as Palpatine, so perhaps the inspiration for this figure is from an earlier appearance (can a Darth Plagueis figure be in the works?).
The addition of both versions of the lightsaber is a welcome touch, and the hilt can be plugged into the belt. This is easily one of the top 5 figures in this wave. |
VC80: Anakin Skywalker (Jedi Padawan):
   | Here's another much-needed upgrade to a figure that is long-overdue...and then some! Young Anakin Skywalker only wore his Jedi Padawan outfit at the very end of the film, but we now know that all younglings undergo training with practice remote droids and helmets.
Once again we see the smaller figures get some extra bonus here, with extra offscreen accessories to allow fans to re-create his training. Therefore, this Anakin figure is clearly based on the Expanded Universe. Anakin includes both versions of his lightsaber (not screen-accurate, of course), an oversized training helmet, the remote droid, and a display stand.
Despite he small size, this figure is super-articulated. The deco is simple, although my pet peeve of not being able to match the inner hinges of the ankles really stands out here, which is a shame. |
VC81: Ben Quadinaros & Otoga-222:
   | After years of campaigning for this figure, there's no doubt that Kyle Newman is overjoyed to see him finally made! (I can in fact tell you that he iS!) And what a figure it is!
Although the design of the character is pretty much a big face with limbs, the articulation is still there. The hips, ankles, shoulders, elbows are all ball-hinged, and Ben even comes with a cool blaster for keeping away those mean-spirited podracers! As an added bonus, Pit Droid Otoga-222 is back.
The details on the sculpting of this Ben Quadinaros figure is stunning. One drawback is that the feet are much too small to have holes in them, so it's quite tricky to find the right balance to get this figure to stand up. Hopefully, Ben's ill-fated podracer will be made so he can sit in the cockpit! |
VC82: Daultay Dofine:
   | Once again, Hasbro proves that even the minor background characters in Star Wars can be turned into great action figures. Just take a look at this Neimoidian figure: super articulated, detailed sculpting, nice clean deco, and what is probably the best ever use of soft goods on a figure in this scale!
The soft goods are attached to the figure, with plastic robes over them, as well as a removable ceremonial hat. The addition of the blaster isn't really necessary, but it's easily set aside or given to another figure.
This figure also goes a long way to generate interest in new upgrades for other Neimoidians, and that's not an easy task! |
VC83: Naboo Royal Guard:
   | Here's another figure that has long been in need of an upgrade. The original Naboo Royal Guard was based on a specific photo and while it looked great posed aiming at the droid army, it looked quite odd when it wasn't.
That's all changed now, and the new version is very detailed and super-articulated. The deco is simple, enough, and the details on the sculpting nicely match the uniform worn by the protectors of Naboo.
One somewhat confusing aspect for this figure is the inclusion of the "Character Debut" sticker. This makes no sense, since of course, there has been a figure made of this character already. So, either the numbering was messed up at the factory and the sticker was meant for the next figure in the lineup, or else it is referring to the trooper with the rainbow helmet. The original was much more blended than this one. |
VC84: Queen Amidala (Post Senate):
   | Finally, the Episode I wardrobe is complete! This "post senate" dress of Queen Amidala is the final outfit from the film to be turned into an action figure!
Much like previous figures, the detailed dress is incredibly elaborate, and therefore would be quite a challenge to reproduce in this scale with soft goods, so Hasbro stuck with the plastic route. The lower body is not articulated, and really it doesn't need to be. The upper body however, is. This gives the odd-looking long-sleeves effect that makes the figure look silly if the arms are raised.
As an added bonus, this figure includes a small blaster. It's not really needed, but it's easy enough to just put it aside. |
VC85: Quinlan Vos (Mos Espa):
   | One of my personal favorite characters from Dark Horse's Republic comic series, Quinlan Vos was also the #1 Fans' Choice Figure from 2006. However, Hasbro already had plans for a figure based on Vos, so the title was passed down to Darth Revan.
While there have been 2 Vos figures in the much-missed Comic Packs line, the traditional Jedi outfit that we fans actually voted for has never been made. We're now one step closer with this latest figure, which is based on Vos' appearance in the film. (I also love that "Badoo Bok" can be seen in the background on the card!) The only thing missing is a Jedi robe, but he didn't wear one in the film, so there's no need for one here. (Although it's easy to just borrow one from another Jedi figure.)
This figure really pulls out all the stops too, with super-articulation (ball-hinged hips!), very detailed sculpt, great deco, and both versions of his lightsaber, plus a blaster keeping with Vos' "Jedi with a gun" tradition from the comics. If you only buy one figure in this wave, buy Ben Quadrinaros. If you only buy two, then buy Ben and Darth Maul. But if you only buy three....consider adding Vos to your collection. |
VC86: Darth Maul (Ultimate):
  
| The final figure in this wave is the "ultimate edition" of Darth Maul. We're going to see a LOT of this character in 2012, and, oddly enough, this is the figure that fans have been asking for since he made the finals in the 2006 Fans' Choice Poll.
Once again, Hasbro pulled out all the stops with this figure, with super-articulation (ball-hinged hips!), a detailed sculpt, and soft goods. The robe is tattered, which is a nice effect, since the sands of Tatooine can be harsh. The accessories included are his scanners and both versions of his lightsaber, and the ignited version can even be separated! Maul also comes with a plastic hood, which actually sits a little higher than it should, because it's sitting on a crown of horns!
Speaking of Maul's horns, they are much bigger than previous figures. One thing to note: the belt is assembled backwards and will need to be turned around to be accurate. |
Stay tuned for the official Photo Archive updates featuring the tenth wave from
The Vintage Collection!
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