Back in January 2014 (and then MANY updated reports after that), Jedi Temple Archives had the privilege to reveal to the Star Wars collecting community that we would see a return of The Vintage Collection (from a certain point of view). Our sources back then informed us that a few select characters from The Vintage Collection line would be re-released (in new TBS packaging), including the highly sought after Republic Trooper (the planned-yet-cancelled case assortment can be seen HERE). Ultimately, that figure never saw release at retail anywhere despite production samples showing up online. Well, now to our complete shock, the figure has finally been released. You know that Italian subscription thingy for The Black Series figures? They've just added the Republic Trooper #31 into the mix. Here is the first commercially available release of this figure! We may never understand why Hasbro cancelled this from The Black Series [Phase I] lineup but now you have a chance to secure one. Special thanks to JTA reader Andrea for this awesome news. If you're a completist, this one may be hard to track down!

Hi Paul,
It's me, Andrea from Italy.
Look what was available today with the italian Black series subscription. Should this figure even exist?
I never saw it listed in JTA visual guide and I read an article that this figure was announced and then cancelled.
Is it true? Then this news could be shocking! The Hasbro gift to poor italian collectors that always get only a fraction of their catalogue in stores :-D

Bye,
Andrea