2009 SDCC: Hasbro Comic 2-Packs In-Depth Report

Our guy Nick has a full report on what you can expect from Hasbro's Comic 2-packs line of figures...

Report by Nick LaBate

Hasbro had a number of their expanded universe comic 2-packs on display.  Some of what we saw had been shown at Toy Fair this past February.  But there were some never before seen sets that Hasbro gave Comic Con attendees a chance to see for the first time.

REPUBLIC #65 – Tholme & T’ra Saa – These two Jedi Masters were prominently featured towards the end of the run of Dark Horse’s REPUBLIC title.  Tholme was Quinlan Vos’s Jedi Master.  And T’ra Saa has seen action in titles ranging from REPUBLIC to the current LEGACY title. 

MARVEL Star Wars:  Early Adventures #3 – Stormtrooper & Blackhole hologram – This set is derived from the Marvel comics era, and features the first appearance of Stormtroopers in black armor.  These troopers reported to a dark side user who was code named Blackhole.  This set features a droid that projects a hologram of Blackhole, and one of his black deco Stormtroopers.

REPUBLIC #83 – Clone Commander & Clone Trooper – This issue follows a group of Clone Troopers as they attempt to hunt down Quinlan Vos after they have been issued Order 66.  The Clone Commander is similar to other ROTS era Clone Commanders, while the trooper is a paint variant of the much reissued Kashyyyk trooper.

ROUTINE VALOR – Clone Lieutenant & Clone Trooper – Both of these troopers feature the orange  markings of Commander Cody’s 212th Attack Battalion.  The comic in which they appear was part of Free Comic Book Day.  Commander Cody leads his troopers to take a Seperatist objective, and many of his troops are lost in the process.  And eventually these two troops are lost as well.

TALES OF THE JEDI #6 – Ulic Qel-Droma & Exar Kun – These legendary Jedi are at long last immortalized in plastic.  Exar Kun features his trademark double bladed lightsaber and a softgoods cloak.  And both Jedi are fairly true to their comic appearances.


Hasbro also went on to explain the change in the comic 2-pack lineup.  They have expressed some serious enthusiasm with the comic 2-pack line, and have wanted to add a great deal of detail and articulation to the figures in this line.  However, doing so has led to increased costs in getting the 2-packs from the design stage to production, and eventually retail.  And with that in mind, Hasbro had to retool some of the comic 2-pack line.  And part of what they’ve done to average down the costs across the comic 2-pack line is by offering some sets that include repaints.  Witness the Stormtrooper with Blackhole, or both sets that feature 2 Clone Troopers each.  Less expensive sets like these have enabled Hasbro to do sets with the Yuuzhan Vong, or Exar Kun & Ulic Qel-Droma.  Sets that had been previously pictured with  figures like the Noghri & Ralracheen had to be slid back in the schedule because of these cost considerations, but will probably be released some time in 2010.

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