The Vintage Collection: The Ninety Six - STAR WARS Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi
Welcome to another entry in our The Vintage Collection: The Ninety Six column. Hasbro recently committed collectors that they will be “focusing” on characters in The Vintage Collection that fall under “The Ninety Six” banner. If you’re new to this, it means that there needs a modern counterpart for every classic Kenner figure. Between 2020 and 2021, Hasbro’s made an admirable effort by focusing on these characters. But there is more work to be done, and we’ll figure out where we are step by step.
We’re right in alignment with Hasbro in our vintage Kenner database. There are 21 figures under the STAR WARS banner, 29 figures under THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK banner, 31 figures under the RETURN OF THE JEDI banner, and 15 figures under THE POWER OF THE FORCE banner. (Sy Snootles, Max Rebo, Droopy McCool, and Blue Snaggletooth bring the number to an even 100 figures.)
Read our assessment, and then be sure to add your thoughts to the comments. Let us know if you agree or disagree. If you’re a customizer, show us your custom definitive figure in the comments as well! Who knows? It might give Hasbro some ideas.
STAR WARS Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi
Is there a definitive modern counterpart to 1978’s SW Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi figure?
2009’s THE LEGACY COLLECTION Obi-Wan Kenobi (BD 34) is regarded as the closest placeholder.
Has Hasbro added this character’s card art and figure into THE VINTAGE COLLECTION?
No. To date, a Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi figure that meets this definition is only part of THE “VINTAGE” ORIGINAL TRILOGY COLLECTION line, a precursor to THE VINTAGE COLLECTION. Hasbro released 2004’s VOTC Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi, but it is obsolete by today’s standards.
Does THE VINTAGE COLLECTION release completely satisfy the modern counterpart to 1978’s SW Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi figure?
We’re still waiting for Hasbro to add this figure into THE VINTAGE COLLECTION. It’s still a big hole in our collections.
If Hasbro didn’t release the figure yet, do we have a near-definitive to definitive release of this character that can be added to THE VINTAGE COLLECTION with little updating?
Had they released 2009’s TLC Obi-Wan Kenobi (BD 34) figure in THE VINTAGE COLLECTION sometime between 2010 and 2013, yes. But by today’s standards, that figure requires updating, especially the head sculpt. The portrait from 2017’s TBS [P3] Obi-Wan Kenobi (02) Titanium Series figure or 2017’s SW [TLJ] Obi-Wan Kenobi Force Link figure would be excellent choices to update the figure. Or, they could create a new “from the ground up” version of Obi-Wan Kenobi utilizing the digital files of 2017’s TBS [P3] Obi-Wan Kenobi (32) figure.
What does Hasbro have to do so we can check off “Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi” from our Vintage Vs. Modern checklists?
There is very little Hasbro needs to do to get this figure in THE VINTAGE COLLECTION. Opinions will vary on how to do this. Many would ALSO love Hasbro to release this figure with the variant reference photo on the card art first used on the RETURN OF THE JEDI version of this figure.
The year and years elapsed (through 2021) since we last had this character in classic Kenner packaging?
2004’s VOTC Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi. 17 years ago.
1978’s SW Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi. 43 years ago.
 |
|
|
Related Links
3.75-inch Super-Articulated Battle Of Yavin Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi Hasbro Kenner Obi-Wan Kenobi Star Wars The Vintage Collection The Vintage Conversation
Previous Article: Visual Guide Update - Obi-Wan Kenobi - TBS (Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary)
Next Article: Review: Clone Pilot Hawk [The Clone Wars] - TBS6 [L50] - Target Exclusive
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-Click HERE to return to the home page-
Toy Reviews