Author Archives: Paul

Welcome to another entry in our The Vintage Collection: The Ninety Six column. Hasbro recently made a commitment to 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 for every classic Kenner figure, there needs a modern counterpart. 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 brings the number to an even 100 figures.)

Read our assessment, and then be sure to add your thoughts into 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.

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Welcome to our new column entitled The Vintage Collection: The Ninety Six. Hasbro recently made a commitment to 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 for every classic Kenner figure, there needs a modern counterpart. 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 brings the number to an even 100 figures.)

Read our assessment, and then be sure to add your thoughts into 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.

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We’re about a year and a half out from the Retro Collection Return Of The Jedi figures, so that means that Hasbro is planning the assortment as we speak. What six candidates do you want to see realized in this assortment of 5POA action figures? We think we’ve picked the 12 most popular characters, but you may have different feelings about this. Let us know in the comments! If you need some help recalling the original Kenner RETURN OF THE JEDI figures, click HERE.

We conclude The Mandalorian wave of Retro Collection action figures by looking at Moff Gideon. They resurrected an old Kenner accessory for this release. Check it out! (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 12!

The Retro Collection’s third was is based on The Mandalorian. One of the nicer releases is Greef Karga, which has a feature we saw on a 1980 The Empire Strikes Back figure from long ago. Check it out! (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 12!

The Retro Collection’s third was is based on The Mandalorian. It includes The Child and it’s adorable. Check it out! (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 12!

Hasbro did collectors of The Vintage Collection no favors with the announcement of the Death Star Droid. It STILL doesn’t reflect the modern counterpart of the on-screen character, because, well, it’s a modern counterpart to the Kenner figure only. (more….)

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JTA reader Lewis C. found The Mandalorian Greef Karga on clearance for $5.00. How many of you are still waiting for your orders to be fulfilled?

Hasbro’s The Vintage Collection presentation today was disappointing. I don’t know anyone who can find complete satisfaction in what was offered today. The ONLY saving grace is the Tusken Raider which has new tooling to forgive its past sins, but we’ve been complaining about that for a decade and a half too. But the new announcements are entirely problematic. (more….)

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The Retro Collection’s third line was is based on The Mandalorian. It also gives us our first 3.75-inch Kuiil. How backward is that?. Check it out! (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 12!

The Retro Collection’s third was is based on The Mandalorian. And it gives us our first 3.75-inch IG-11. How backward is that?. Check it out! (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 12!

I was eager to see what y local Walmart and Target stores would put out for May 1, as it appeared many items were “register locked” until that day. While I found absolutely nothing at Target, I did find something new at Walmart. I couldn’t believe my eyes! (more….)

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The Incinerator Trooper is back in stock, two per order. Special thanks to JTA reader John C for the alert!

Thank the Maker Hasbro didn’t have enough time to cancel the Cara Dune Retro Collection figure. It’s an excellent release! (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 12!

Today, we begin The Mandalorian Retro Collection figures. Let’s begin with The Mandalorian. Check it out! (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 12!

We finish up looking at the final Kenner collection of Star Wars action figures: the 1985 Ewoks line today. Let’s conclude Logray (Ewok Medicine Man). Check it out! (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 12!

The Vintage Collection Admiral Ackbar (VC22) re-released figure looks pretty good, albeit a little too dark. Unfortunately, Hasbro didn’t correct the color of the nameplate and figure backer. (NOTE: This gallery is incomplete. Only the new figure is shown. We will update the gallery at a later date and post an update.) Check out this excellently updated figure in our RDRs now! There’s more difference here than you may realize.

Not even toys are exempt from politics it seems. As you know, Hasbro plans to phase out all plastic packaging by the end of 2022. They make that bold statement, but then they qualify later as “wherever possible.” But the question begs to be asked. “Will this have any future impact on The Vintage Collection?” At the moment, The Black Series 6″ packaging could easily transition to an environmentally friendly packaging style, but this isn’t true for TVC. PackWorld.com has an excellent article on this matter. Interestingly, none of the partnered brands are mentioned specifically to receive any packaging changes, but who knows if that will change? While we sure anything helps with unwanted plastic waste, it’s ironic that Hasbro’s whole existence is based on producing environmentally harmful products: plastic toys.

We continue looking at the final Kenner collection of Star Wars action figures: the 1985 Ewoks line. Let’s move ahead with the Ewoks characters now! Check out Wicket W. Warrick. Check it out! (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 12!

The Vintage Collection Han Solo (Endor [In Trench Coat)]) (VC62) figure is a frustrating release. But, we have to give Hasbro credit. They made this figure look as good as it likely ever will unless they tool a new figure. The Photo Real updating is excellent, and the new color of the trench coat is great. But Hasbro changed a long-running name on this figure which will upset Kenner purists. It has many other enhancements as well. We took the time to break it all down for you by producing an all-new 80-image gallery complete with all versions (2006, 2011, and 2021) featured, comparison shots, diorama shots, and a breakdown of what separates the two releases in the Collector Notes. Check out this excellently updated figure in our RDRs now! There’s more difference here than you may realize.

We continue our look at the final Kenner collection of Star Wars action figures: the 1985 Ewoks line. Let’s move ahead with King Gorneesh. Check it out! (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 12!

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TVC Boba Fett [ROTJ] can be ordered at Amazon for $12.99. (Look under OTHER SELLERS.)

The Vintage Collection Luke Skywalker (Hoth [Outfit]) (VC95) still needs new tooling, but the re-release is a major update. It looks good thanks to Photo Real updating and fixing matching elbow joints in the arms. It has many other enhancements as well. We took the time to break it all down for you by producing an all-new 108-image gallery complete with both versions (2012 and 2021) featured, comparison shots, diorama shots, and a breakdown of what separates the two releases in the Collector Notes. Check out this excellently updated figure in our RDRs now! There’s more difference here than you may realize.

Ra-ra-ah-ah-ah. Roma Roma-ma. Urgah, “Ooh la-la.” Want your bad romance. We continue our look at the final Kenner collection of Star Wars action figures: the 1985 Ewoks line. Let’s move ahead with “Lady Urgah” or Urgah Lady Gorneesh. Check it out! (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 12!

The Vintage Collection Emperor’s Royal Guard (VC105) has never looked better. And it has more than just a couple of enhancements. The Photo Real on this figure is excellent. And the new soft goods are perfection with newly fitted proportions and new beautiful drape. Hasbro also updated the red color of the figure. The subtle orange hue is now gone. We took the time to break it all down for you by producing an all-new 84-image gallery complete with both versions (2012 and 2021) featured, comparison shots, and a breakdown of what separates the two releases in the Collector Notes. Check out this excellently updated figure in our RDRs now! There’s more difference here than you may realize.