As previously reported, Hasbro has been planning to bring back the classic Kenner look and feel to the
Star Wars brand, and since this year is the 30th anniversary of
The Empire Strikes Back, what better time to do it?
Unless you've been living in a cave on a swamp planet, you already know... Vintage is back!
The first wave features characters from
The Empire Strikes Back (as it should be, don't you agree?), and we've got a new report breaking down each figure in the wave. Read on for the full report.
"Free" Boba Fett Offer:
On each card (see photos below) in this wave, there's a "Free" Boba Fett Offer sticker. Of course it's not really "free"....you need 5 UPCs, the offciical certificate, and a check or money order for $6.99 to get your Vintage-style Boba Fett figure that FINALLY fires a rocket out of his backpack!
However, there are some purists that may not want to have the stickers on their cards. Well, you are in luck! Hasbro has made the stickers so they can be removed without damaging the cards. The stickers, however....they will most likely get ripped, wrinkled, cut, etc. But if you are handy with a knife (kids, get your parents' pesmission!), then you can remove the stickers without too much damage to them.
Since the starburst is pointy, it's pretty easy to find a place to slide the blade of the knife underneath it and pry it upwards. Go slow, or else you may rip the sticker. Do this to a few points that are near each other and then you should be able to get a grip on one side. Then just peel the sticker off, and adhere it to something, like maybe the plastic bubble the figure is in? (oh, and HOW COOL is it that these are the "coffin-style" bubbles?)
VC01: Dengar:
 | Leading off this large wave is the final bounty hunter to get the Super-Articulated treatment...Dengar! This cool figure not only comes armed with his signature rifle and backpack, but he now includes a working holster to store his blaster. An interesting addition to this figure is the removable codpiece.
Overall, the new version is quite an improvement over all previous versions.
  |
VC02: Leia (Hoth Outfit):
| Here's a figure that's long overdue...and really a welcome addition to the line. The POTJ "Cloud City Escape" figure back in 2000 was one of the first figures to set the standard for scale in the Star Wars line, and this figure indeed follows that format. While she does lack ankle joints, her articulation is on par with most modern-day figures. The blaster is really too big to fit into her dainty little hands, but you can make it work.
  |
VC03: Han Solo (Echo Base Outfit):
 | Kudos to Hasbro for bringing in a never-before-made outfit into this first wave. While nearly every fan would rather see a new Bespin Han Solo figure, it a safe bet that we'll see that eventually. This "kit-bashed" figure isn't totally accurate in terms of detail, but there's still a lot to like here. Look for the inevitable blue repaint sometime down the road. ;)
  |
VC04: Luke Skywalker (Bespin Fatigues):
 | Pictures won't do this figure justice (although I'm certainly going to try!)....it really is a great toy. Although there was a Luke Skywalker (Bespin Fatigues) figure made in 2007, there were a number of issues with it, so Hasbro went back the drawing board and came up with something really great. The shoulder joints do a great job of hiding the hinge, the face sculpt is great, and the addition of the ball-hinged hips really allow for some dynamic poses that every Jedi needs!
  |
VC05: AT-AT Commander:
 | While modern-day fans like to have each and every character named, there's something cool about this generic officer. While this figure is based on Captain Needa, there's been a lot of changes made, including the removable armor (which is different than General Veers), and a new rank cylinder underneath.
  |
VC06: See-Threepio (C-3PO):
 | I can only assume this was once slated to be an Attack of the Clones version of C-3PO, since there was a version similar to this back in the Star Wars "Saga" line. While it's an interesting feature to add the removable coverings to this figure, it's also an odd choice, since of course we never saw C-3PO's inner workings in this fashion during TESB....plus the fact that this figure is considerably smaller than everyone else (except Leia), this is more like "Kid 3PO".
  |
VC07: Dak Ralter:
| In all honesty, this is just a new head sculpt on the same Snowspeeder Pilot figure we've seen before, but since there has never been a single-carded Dak Ralter figure before, that someone makes it more exciting. Plus, you're going to need someone to man the harpoon gun in the new Snowspeeder!
  |
VC08: Darth Vader:
| This figure was planned for release in The Legacy Collection way back in 2008, but the helmet didn't come out as Hasbro had hoped, so they kept the concept alive with this version. The head is removable and the helmet builds around it. Making this one cool figure...even down to the original Sebastian Shaw likeness. ;)
  |
VC09: Boba Fett:
 | Proving that Hasbro is not afraid to keep on trying until they get it right....here's the 4th version of the Evolutions Boba Fett figure. This one now has the finer deco details down, and in a surprise move, even the weapons have gotten new colors!
  |
VC10: 4-LOM:
 | The only TRUE "Greatest Hits" repack in this wave, 4-LOM ("el-oh-em") is a straight repack of the 2007 figure. But since that figure was truly outstanding, it's great to see him back again....and getting his name right on the classic card!
  |
VC11: (Twin Pod) Cloud Car Pilot:
 | The final figure in this wave, but not in popularity. Plan to pick up at least two of these guys this year, because SOMEONE has to fly that new Cloud Car! This super-articulated figure includes a blast and a removable helmet. I miss the commlink a little bit, but it's nice to see an all-new figure included in this line!
  |
Stay tuned for more updates later tonight on the official
Rebelscum.com Facebook page as I head back into the studio for more photos of this debut wave!
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
 Cloud Car Pilot)
 Cloud Car Pilot)
