Power Droid - TVC - Basic (VC167)

Added: July 22nd 2020
Category: Vintage Collection, The
Reviewer: Paul Harrison
Score:

Name: Power Droid
Collection: The Vintage Collection
Number: VC167
Source: A New Hope
Availability: August 2020
License: Hasbro

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Celebrate the legacy of Star Wars, the action-and-adventure-packed space saga from a galaxy far, far away, with this collection of premium, highly-detailed 3.75-inch scale figures and vehicles. (Each sold sepaartely. Subject to availability.)

Do you remember when Hasbro released 2010’s TVC Wooof (VC24) figure? Do you also remember doing the math to figure out it took them 27 years to bring us a modern counterpart of the classic 1983 ROTJ Klaatu Kenner action figure? Well, Hasbro broke that record with 2020’s TVC Power Droid (VC167) figure. Collectors waited an astounding four decades plus to get this long-awaited figure into the basic figure line. It's not like they didn't try. Throughout the years, Hasbro released a few other 3.75” Power Droid action figures. One Power Droid character is based on the one seen in the Jawa Sandcrawler. 1999’s POT2 [FB/CT] Jawa And "Gonk" Droid set is this character. Another example of this character was seen within the walls of Echo Base, and Hasbro designed the 2006 TSC Power Droid (SAGA 014) two-pack. Some others arrived throughout the years too. But this is the first time they’ve made a modern counterpart to the classic 1979 SW Power Droid figure. It almost doesn’t feel real that they’ve produced it. You may or may not know that this particular Power Droid is exclusive to the Lars’ homestead. You can see the droid “gonking” in the background as Aunt Beru communicates with Luke Skywalker to remind him to ensure if Uncle Owen gets a translator droid, to be sure that it speaks Bocce. Although we only see the unnamed EG-6 droid in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, it's probably safe to assume that the Lars owned the droid in their younger years, perhaps during Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones era. Whatever the case, we’re proud to admit that Hasbro knocked this long-awaited action figure out of the park, and it’s already a cherished addition to the Star Wars toy line, especially as an incumbent in The Vintage Collection.

Hasbro came pretty close to giving us a modern counterpart to the 1979 SW Power Droid in 2012, but there was no way collectors would accept the color of it as a definitive modern counterpart. If you recall, they released an all-new sculpt of a Power Droid in the TARGET exclusive Droid Set, part of the Special Action Figure Set lineup. Although the Power Droid in that set is tan, it was all-new tooling and contained a feature never before introduced for the character. The “lid” was removable, and inside, you could see the inner-workings of the Power Droid. Hasbro instituted the same approach here. Although representing a different on-screen character, the Power Droid is a revised sculpt of that 2012 release, with a newly reworked outer shell to make it specific to the character we see at the Lars homestead. There are many EG-6 units throughout the Star Wars galaxy, and now we finally have the one that was the basis of our very first released in the late seventies. The all-new Power Droid is beautiful. Hasbro kept all of the components of the original figure intact here. We’re thrilled they didn’t give the character a specific name. You’ll find “Power Droid” emblazoned in the pink “name pill” that identifies the character. Also, Hasbro kept the funky discotheque elements faithful to the original release, including a bright purple wash, and red and blue floodlights coming from the side. What's more, Hasbro packaged the figure in the same direction as its vintage counterpart (facing your right), clearly a nod to longtime collectors. As you know, the card art of the Power Droid is based on a character from the Sandcrawler. But the action figure is based on a different droid. These “errors” were commonplace for Kenner back in the day. We’re happy that Hasbro didn’t update the card art to reflect the true character, but a running change may be helpful to see one day.

The specifics etched inside of the Power Droid is nothing short of impressive. You should be used to this level of tooling by now, but it’s terrific to see Hasbro continually giving the most straightforward action figures some high-level details. The Power Droid character isn’t known for its movement. It’s mostly a background prop in the film and doesn’t do anything noteworthy but provide scenery. Were it not one of the original Kenner 96, Hasbro would never have made this figure. Despite its relevance in the modern Star Wars line or its simple articulation, we’re thrilled to see this character added into The Vintage Collection. We truly believed that this current figure was hopeless, that we’d never see it released in the Hasbro line ever. For years, Hasbro ignored the last half-dozen or so characters for one reason or another, no matter how much JTA begged them. Perhaps they believed they introduced this character in the basic figure line. We know that it greatly perplexed us when they released the tan Power Droid in the exclusive three-pack. It remains a confusing decision, and we don’t understand why Hasbro didn’t at least paint it blue and give it some additional details to replicate the 1979 release. No matter how you see the Power Droid, it’s a great figure, and a fine addition to The Vintage Collection lineup. We’re getting close and closer to finishing the original classic Kenner line. We imagine that not all collectors will be interested in the Power Droid, but for those that have been collecting for 40+ years at this point, it’s sweet victory. Hasbro needs to hear from the collecting community how important it is to finish the original vintage Kenner line as soon as possible. Let them know how much you appreciate this figure, so more will come.

Collector Notes

Power Droid

Status: Power Droid is a retool, rework, and repaint of the Power Droid figure from 2012's TVC Droid Set (Special Action Figure Set) TARGET exclusive multipack. This time Hasbro sculpted an all-new lid and gave the figure a completely new paint job to replicate the EG-6 droid seen at the Lars homestead in A New Hope.

Articulation Count: 8 points (4 areas of articulation)

Articulation Details: ball-jointed left hip (2), ball-jointed right hip (2), ball-jointed left ankle (2), ball-jointed right ankle (2)

Accessory Count: 1

Accessory Details: removable lid

Date Stamp: N/A

Assortment Number: E9393/E7763

UPC: 5010993736850

Retail: $12.99 USD

Market Value: Click here to check the latest prices based on Click here to check the market value on eBay! listings.



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