2010 SDCC: Hasbro The Vintage Collection In-Depth Report

We've got the full scoop on Hasbro's The Vintage Collection presented at SDCC! If you haven't seen our gallery yet, stop by and check out the pictures, then read our full in-depth report!

THE VINTAGE COLLECTION

BASIC FIGURES – MSRP $7.99

The Basic Figure line is the centerpiece of Hasbro's Star Wars line.  So it's only natural that we start there.  Hasbro revealed the first wave of this line in February at the New York International Toy Fair.  And with 2010 being the 30th Anniversary of the theatrical release of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK it made perfect sense for the first wave of this year's basic figure assortment to be themed around Episode 5.  And if you've been in a Toys R Us store over the past month it's very likely that you may have these figures in hand already.

Hasbro has also given us our first look at the Ultimate Galactic Hunt packaging for Vintage Collection basic figures.  Each figure that is part of the Ultimate Galactic Hunt will feature cardbacks with the STAR WARS logo and the grey border in silver foil instead of the light grey.  And based on photography of some of the UGH carded figures there may be some running changes that come with the UGH releases.

But what else is in store for fans of the basic figure line?  We got a glimpse of Wave 2, based on REVENGE OF THE SITH from some retailer solicitation imagery.  But Comic Con gives us the first opportunity to see this wave up close.  But even more significant, is that Hasbro has finally revealed the much anticipated RETURN OF THE JEDI wave. 

The REVENGE OF THE SITH wave is the next wave that will be released.  According to Hasbro this wave will be at retail towards the end of August.  And just what can collectors expect from this particular wave?

 VC12 – Darth Sidious – We first got a glimpse of Darth Sidious in some photos from Hasbro's Star Wars Q&A sessions.  This rendition of Darth Sidious is from his duel in the Senate with Yoda.  The figure has two seperate pieces of softgoods – a removable upper cloak and lower robe. The hood of the robe is molded plastic and is also removable.  Also included are a lightsaber and two Force lightning bolts.

 VC13 – Anakin Skywalker – Anakin is a major upgrade from previous REVENGE OF THE SITH releases of the ill-fated Jedi.  This version features a new head sculpt, an improved softgoods Jedi robe, lightsaber hilt and an ignited lightsaber.  This new Anakin is also reported to feature ball-jointed elbows, but the samples on display at Comic Con both have the Jedi robe on, and that makes visual verification of this impossible.  Additionally, it appears that the Ultimate Galactic Hunt version of Anakin will feature an alternate Dark Side head sculpt, complete with a different facial expression and Sith eyes.

 VC14 – Sandtrooper (Greatest Hits) – While the Sandtrooper does not fit in with the theme of this particular wave, it's no less notable than the other figures in this wave.  This release marks the first time that a Sandtrooper has been released on a Kenner style card, as there was no vintage Santrooper release during Kenner's tenure.  This figure is also a reissue, having been originally offered as a pack-in with the WalMart exclusive Dewback.

  VC15 – Clone Trooper (Greatest Hits) – Hasbro initially called this figure a Greatest Hits release, but there appear to be some things that are somewhat unique to this figure.  It appears to have been built from the 327th Star Corps Clone Trooper that was packed in the Gelagrub battle pack.  A few obvious changes have been made, and this is a Clone Trooper in clean phase II armor.

 VC16 – Obi-Wan Kenobi (Greatest Hits) – This figure is almost a straight re-release of 2006's TSC28 Obi-Wan Kenobi.  The only difference between that release and this one being the addition of the headset and the new cardback.

 VC17 – General Grievous – This version of General Grievous is based in large part on 2008's 08-25 General Grievous.  The base figure here is very much the same as the 2008 release.  The new addition is a cloth cloak that's much more true to the cloak worn by Grievous in REVENGE OF THE SITH.  And this cloak also feature pockets for Grievous's lightsaber trophies.

 VC18 – Magnaguard – This is one of the truly all-new sculpts for this wave.  The new Magnaguard features a softgoods cloak as well as the electrostaff weapon and a blaster.  It appears to be a significant upgrade on the 2005 ROTS Magnaguard figures.

 VC19 – Clone Commander Cody (Greatest Hits) – This figure is a reissue of the TLC RED 09-44 Commander Cody.  Additionally, this figure will be part of the Ultimate Galactic Hunt promotion.

Next up?  The RETURN OF THE JEDI wave!  As new characters from both A NEW HOPE and THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK begin to dwindle, ROTJ seems to be enjoying a resurgence of OT fan interest.  And Hasbro seems poised to deliver this wave in November of 2010.  So what's on tap for this wave on display at Hasbro's San Diego Comic Con booth?

 VCTBD – Admiral Ackbar – The last new Admiral Ackbar was release in the POTF2 era.  That's well over 10 years ago.  And Hasbro has delivered a new figure that captures Ackbar's likeness incredibly well.  Visible from the outset are ball jointed elbows, shoulders and knees.  As for accessories, included are the good Admiral's tactical display and a callback to the  vintage days:  a pointer that's very reminiscent of the staff that was included with the Kenner vintage Admiral Ackbar.

 VCTBD – Gamorrean Guard – A new Gamorrean Guard has been on the wishlist of many a collector over the past 5+ years.  Here Hasbro delivers a figure that is interesting at the very least.  The articulation appears to be well concealed, with elbow and knee articulation visible to the naked eye. And the head sculpt seems dead-on.  This Gamorrean also appears to be very well armed, with at least 3 different weapons.  The one point of curiosity?  While this Gamorrean Guard seems quite massive, he does not seem to be quite as rotund as one might expect.

 VCTBD – Luke Skywalker – This figure is a bit of a curiosity for many, for it was only last year that Hasbro released a Jedi Luke figure after much hoping by collectors.  But it seems that even Hasbro was acutely aware of the shortcomings of the TLC RED 09-16 Luke Skywalker figure, because they went back to the drawing board.  This version of Luke seems based in some part on the 2009 figure.  But this new figure features a new headsculpt and increased articulation.

 VCTBD – R2-D2 – With this figure Hasbro appears to be trying to take on R2-D2's “swiss army knife” adaptability.  Most readily apparent is the bar accessory which sits atop R2's dome, and the serving arm.  But wait, there's more!  There's also a sensorscope, as well as Luke's lightsaber which come out of the dome.  And on the front panel there's a swing-out door with R2's computer slicing probe.  Not to be left out, there's also the retractable center leg.

 VCTBD – Rebel Commando – While army building in the Star Wars collecting universe has been largely centered around Imperial and Republic troops, Hasbro seems to be catching on that there are also fans of the Rebel forces.  And those fans have a desire to fill the Rebel ranks with new figures.  The Rebel Commando delivers here.  The Rebel Commando is largely a new figure, but re-uses the lower body of 2009's TLC RED 09-20 Major Panno.  The new Commando also features a removable helmet, softgoods trenchcoat, blaster rifle and blaster pistol with holster.

 VCTBD – Wedge Antilles – As Red Leader in the space battle of Endor, Wedge leads the Rebel fighter squadrons in their attack on the second dreaded Death Star.  This Wedge figure will mark the first time that Hasbro has issued Wedge as a mainline basic figure.  This figure appears to be based in large part on the VOTC Luke Skywalker.  And this figure may be a straight reissue of the Wedge figure that was packed with 2009's Target exclusive Red 2 X-Wing.

 VCTBD – Wicket – This little Ewok has had a place in the heart of many a ROTJ fan since 1983.  And as Hasbro has revisited Ewoks over the years there have been many calls for a resculpt of Wicket W. Warrick.  A modern era Wicket was first offered in the POTF2 line, and that figure was also reissued in 2004's OTC line.  But as Hasbro has improved the sculpting and articulation of Ewoks over the past few years many a collector had been waiting for a new Wicket.  This new version is single packed unlike most Ewoks offered in the more recent releases.  It's got the articulation that collectors have grown accustomed to in Ewoks.  And there's also 2 headdresses packed in.  One is the familiar ROTJ version, and the other is a nod to fans of the Ewok cartoons.  Wicket also includes his trademark spear. Just watch where you point that thing!

 VCTBD – Wooof – Cross one off from your list of Kenner vintage figures that Hasbro has not yet produced, because this new Wooof figure does just that. Offered originally in the Kenner era as Klaatu, this one has been a long time coming.  This new Wooof is well outfitted, with a removable helmet and bandolier, and he's armed with a vibroblade and a blaster with holster.  And when it comes to articulation, this figure features ball jointed shoulders, elbows and knees.

 VCTBD – Yoda – This figure is a bit of a curiosity.  When it was described by Hasbro the Q&A sessions, they said it was Yoda with a hover chair.  That made many collectors think that it might be a reissue of a 2003 Saga figure that fit that description.  But this figure is significantly different.  It seems to be based far more on the 30AC 07-32 Yoda with Kybuck.  The deco though is pure REVENGE OF THE SITH , with Yoda holding back the Force lightning ball as seen in his duel in the Senate with Darth Sidious.  Yoda also includes his cane and a softgoods robe.

So is that all?  For now, that's all of The Vintage Collection's basic figure line that Hasbro cares to show.  There does seem to be some disappointment among fans who had hoped to see the basic figures of Vintage Collection Wave 4 (ATTACK OF THE CLONES).  But rest assured, Comic Con is FAR from over!  Hasbro will be holding their panel discussion on Friday and will no doubt reveal more in their presentation.  So stay tuned!

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