Q and A of the Day: Day 47
Date: January 21, 2014 at 09:47 AM ET
Topic: Q&A of the Day


Welcome to our next Q and A of the Day post! This column will be published daily, weekly, monthly, or just based on how many questions I get emailed – but no more than one a day. Feel free to send in your questions and I will put them in the queue. Click through for Q and A of the Day: Day 47. Topic: What do you anticipate for 2014 and more on EU figures



Q: Hi JTA and Paul. I have just gotten into collecting Star Wars about four to five months ago In that short time I have a massed a fairly decent amount of figures and vehicles. I'm very proud of my small, but awesome collection. So I've been researching, and searching through the visual guides for targets I want to add to my collection. The more I search, the more brokenhearted I am about the figures I missed over the last 2-3 years, bummer. I am a fan of OT, PT, and EU. What kind of year do you think 2014 will be? Banner or bummer? I would almost guess you have answered this before but, why won't Hasbro make anymore EU figures? The reason I ask about EU figures is-

1. Judging buy ebay prices on figures such as Shae Vizla, or Darth Revan, which I know some is lack of supply, but some of it is seer desire for those types of figures. Fresh new figures are great, how many Vaders and Obi's do you really need, or want to buy every year?

2. I have loved Star Wars movies, ever since my first exposure to them as a 6 year old back in 85ish. But more recently, say the last 10 years or so, I was a huge gamer. I played Jedi Academy, Jedi outcast, KOTOR I and II. Those games had a giant impact on my SW universe, more so then PT movies impacted me, which I still really liked. I think the growth of the story, characters, environments and such is always exciting. That's why I'm wondering Hasbro is reluctant to produce more EU.

Thank you for your time. (-Eric - The Force Shall Free Me)

A: Hi Eric – Over the years, the Expanded Universe has held a stronger place in my heart. I went from obligatory buyer to active seeker and I have to admit that many of the Expanded Universe action figures have become some of the crowning moments of the entire modern line from Hasbro. I especially loved Comic Packs. Sadly, as some of the greatest Comic Packs of all time saw release, Hasbro had decided to can the line, much to their own fault (bad case assortments, incessant repackaging, et. al.) The later Comic Packs go for ridiculous premiums, and it seems Hasbro would have a lot to gain by even releasing a separate EU sub-line of action figures, much like they did in 1998 to help many collectors pick up these much adored action figures. Hasbro however has always released anything related to the Expanded Universe in moderation, and they’re shy about re-releasing them, so we don’t remain hopeful that many will have secondary opportunities to pick these figures up. I believe firmly that this isn’t the greatest example, but when Hasbro re-released 2010’s LC Spacetrooper (BD58) in the 2011 SW [SOTDS] Saga Legends line, the figure didn’t sell that well (in my area), and by the time that line was getting clearanced out at retail, I was able to find about half a dozen of them for less than $3 each. If this is a testament to what Hasbro’s stats show regarding this figure, you can bet this will get interpreted as there’s not a market to support the re-release of EU figures. (That doesn’t mean we agree with Hasbro if that’s what they see, but that might be a way they view it.)

I cannot and will not predict what will happen in 2014. I am gun-shy to get excited about anything frankly because 2012 (just because of the TVC distribution debacle – there were excellent products), and 2013 (an overall debacle in general) have shaped up to be the worst years yet in Hasbro’s long line of delivering stellar modern Star Wars toys. With the direction action figures are now taking (five points of articulation), there will be less and less that I will need to collect. I have already been padding my Sideshow Collectible budget with transferred Hasbro credits, because they aren’t making what I want. As someone who spent hundreds of dollars on a single toy run from 2005-2011, I can tell you that I may have spent a total of a couple hundred dollars at retail in the last two and a half years, if that. (I did rely on online purchases for most figures.) I also generally attend Toy Fair without any preconceived notions, but I have to say that my energy has dissipated this year. I am slightly fearful for what we’re going to hear. I miss the days of 60 or 75 figure collections. I really do. I miss simple repaints and necessary repacks in new packaging. That looks like it has gone forever. I like being constantly stimulated as a collector. I need for Hasbro to hold my interest. They haven’t been doing a good job of that lately. This is my passion. I want to support this, so Hasbro needs to let me support it. If not, I need to move elsewhere.

Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker will be released constantly for as long as Hasbro holds the license. As overwhelming as that may be, it’s needed because they are the most popular characters in the Star Wars saga and they for the most part sell. I can see the PT versions of Anakin taking a break, because he is beginning to peg-warm now, but key and core characters must remain mainstays in the line. But they certainly can continue to supplement the line with less known characters from books, comics and video games. I was going to direct your attention to eBay to stalk figures you’re interested in buying, but after a few cursory searches, I was alarmed to see the prices of many of the recent figures from the last five years. They're almost unattainable at this point. It’s not only proof that these figures were released in lower numbers generally, but it also shows that there is still an interest to acquire them. I wish Hasbro would check the aftermarket more often, because if they did, they’d see there’s a huge need to fill the gaps of so many collections. But they seem more preoccupied with tooling a whole new line of action figures with five points of articulation. I sense a disturbance in the Force over this.

Your interest in gaming shows the need for a continued Expanded Universe line, and I can tell you as a non-gamer that many collectors get excited for these figures too. I remember like it was yesterday when Hasbro announced The Force Unleashed wave in the 30 (77-07). I didn’t know anything about the characters, but I knew I couldn’t wait to buy them all. After a delay, they finally were released in 2008 and met every expectation I had for them (and they still are seven of the finest action figures they’ve ever produced). I am pro-EU and it should remain a part of the Star Wars line forever. And Hasbro needs to re-release the many that people are still trying to acquire for their collections. It’s common sense.







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