Kylo Ren - Hasbro - Star Wars [Solo] (2018)

Ralph McQuarrie Concept Collection (2 of 2) - LC - Exclusives

Name: Ralph McQuarrie Concept Collection
Collection: Legacy Collection
Number: 2 of 2 (Toys R Us Exclusive)
Source: Expanded Universe (A New Hope Concept Art/The Empire Strikes Back Concept Art)
Availability: October 2009
License: Hasbro

The vivid imagination of conceptual artist Ralph McQuarrie brought to life the worlds and characters envisioned by George Lucas. McQuarrie's paintings and drawings were instrumental in the push to bring Lucas's space saga to the big screen. Creatures, planets, technology, and galaxies were shaped into existence under the visionary craftsmanship of the legendary R. McQuarrie.

2007 was all about Ralph McQuarrie and acknowledging him for basically created what Star Wars was going to look visually for us. Without his vision, Star Wars would have never turned out remotely close to what it is today and he should be revered for his contributions. Hasbro respectfully paid tribute to Ralph McQuarrie in the 30 (77-07) line when the world was celebrating the 30 year anniversary of Star Wars as a whole property by releasing an average of one figure in each new wave assortment that commemorated his accomplishment. Known as “Ralph McQuarrie Signature Series” concept figures, each was based on sketches or art that he presented to Lucas when trying to develop the final looks of the characters in the Star Wars films. Highly sought after, they were the first action figures to disappear from the assortments, likely because of the Expanded Universe relation, as well as their special colored packaging. When the 30 (77-07) line was all said and done, collectors immediately started suggesting that Hasbro should release a commemorative boxed set that would house all of the Signature Series figures. So after a couple years, that’s what Hasbro did. Released as the Ralph McQuarrie Concept Collection in the Legacy Collection line look, all 13 figures were re-released and split between two boxed sets and were give to Toys R Us as their Fall 2009 exclusives. As you can imagine, they weren’t free from controversy. Collectors had hoped that Hasbro would have included a “yet to be attempted/new” figure in each set to make it more sellable. But collectors ended up getting less. We’ll explain.

All of the figures have been slightly repainted in one form or another. Most of the repaints are incidental and not intentional. These figures have been produced almost three years after the originals. Some variances will undoubtedly exist. Some are more significant than others, but we will explain it all in detail. We feel that the Rebel Trooper has sustained a great upgrade. Do you recall how all of the Rebel Trooper (Ralph McQuarrie Signature Series) (30 60) figures had that freaky “looking up” infirmity to them? The whites of the yes drooped below the bottom of the eye socket and the pupils were at the top making his appear to always be looking upwards (or dead – we’re not so sure). Hasbro has now revisited the eye paint application on this figure and we’re happy to report that it’s a vast improvement. Interestingly, he now looks a lot like the Starkiller figure from the TAC Vader’s Secret Apprentice Evolutions set. The yellow bloodstripe detail on the uniform is now in a bolder yellow too. Starkiller Heo sadly comes without her lightsaber. She has also received a new dark brown wash on her boots and they’ve applied this to the brown/tan portions of her uniform as well. Luke Skywalker is complete. It’s a miracle. As a hard to acquire Celebration IV exclusive, it’s actually saving grace that this is one of the few figures 100% complete in this set. (It’s equally as sad…. we know.) Aside from his hair appearing a couple of shades differently, he is a pretty close match to the original release.

You will feel the pain for Darth Vader as much as you did for Boba Fett from the 1 of 2 set. What a terrible shame. Darth Vader is missing his alternate portrait and blaster pistol. There are really no noticeable paint differences on this version so you can breathe a sigh of relief if you’re into all different types of paint operations. Stormtrooper also gives us stomach pains. He is missing his beautifully sculpted shield and his blaster pistol. His large holster is noticeably missing something, which we feel is a travesty. The paint operations are definitely slightly different, but for the worse. The 30 (77-07) figure was much nicer. The Snowtrooper is a slight repaint of the original figure as well, but the good news is that he is totally complete as well. That’s the good news! For 13 figures (seven (7) in set 1 of 2 and six (6) in set 2 of 2), they average to $6.15 each. (That’s $39.99 times two divided by 13.) Had you purchased them all individually as they were released, they would have averaged to $8.15 each (two dollars more per figure). But with the missing accessories, is the savings really worth it? A great concept (no pun intended) but an ultimately failed attempt, the Ralph McQuarrie Concept Collection sets are controversial at best. Even if you missed these figures completely, we’d suggest picking them up individually so you get all of the parts.

Collector Notes

Ralph McQuarrie Concept Collection (2 of 2)

Assortment Number: 93473/93471

UPC: 653569453765

Retail: $39.99 USD

Market Value: Click here to check the latest prices based on listings.

Rebel Trooper (RMQ008)

McQuarrie's sketches of Rebel troopers show the distinct headgear and simple uniforms that articulate the intensity of the Rebel Alliance forces.

Status: Rebel Trooper (RMQ008) is a repaint of 2007's TAC Concept Rebel Trooper (Ralph McQuarrie Signature Series) (30 60) figure.

Articulation Count: 18 points (12 areas of articulation)

Articulation Details: ball-socket head (1), ball-jointed left shoulder (2), ball-jointed right shoulder (2), ball-jointed left elbow (2), ball-jointed right shoulder (2), swivel left wrist (1), swivel right wrist (1), swivel waist (1), swivel left hip (1), swivel right hip (1), ball-jointed left knee (2), ball-jointed right knee (2)

Accessory Count: 4

Accessory Details: clamshell helmet (2 parts), removable chest armor, blaster pistol

Date Stamp: 2007

Starkiller Hero (RMQ009)

This concept painting of a young woman is one of the early explorations into whether "Starkiller" would be male or female.

Status: Starkiller Hero (RMQ009) is a repaint of 2007's TAC Concept Starkiller Hero (Ralph McQuarrie Signature Series) (30 37) figure. For this release, Starkiller Hero comes without her lightsaber accessories (hilt and blade).

Articulation Count: 16 points (12 areas of articulation)

Articulation Details: ball-socket head (1), ball-jointed left shoulder (2), ball-jointed right shoulder (2), swivel left elbow (1), swivel right elbow (1), swivel left glove (1), swivel right glove (1), swivel waist (1), swivel left hip (1), swivel right hip (1), ball-jointed left knee (2), ball-jointed right knee (2)

Accessory Count: 4

Accessory Details: removable goggles/helmet combination, removable backpack/breathing mask combination, removable macrobinoculars/backpack combination, blaster pistol

Date Stamp: 2007

Luke Skywalker (RMQ010)

In this painting, Luke Skywalker wears an oxygen tank and breathing mask as he engages Darth Vader in a lightsaber duel.

Status: Luke Skywalker (RMQ10) is a repaint of 2007's TAC Concept Luke Skywalker (Ralph McQuarrie Signature Series) San Diego Comic Con exclusive figure.

Articulation Count: 20 points (14 areas of articulation)

Articulation Details: ball-socket head (1), ball-jointed left shoulder (2), ball-jointed right shoulder (2), swivel left elbow (1), swivel right elbow (1), swivel left wrist (1), swivel right wrist (1), swivel waist (1), swivel left hip (1), swivel right hip (1), ball-jointed left knee (2), ball-jointed right knee (2), ball-jointed left ankle (2), ball-jointed right ankle (2)

Accessory Count: 4

Accessory Details: blaster pistol, lightsaber hilt, lightsaber blade, removable goggles/breathing mask/oxygent tank combination

Date Stamp: 2007

Darth Vader (RMQ011)

Ralph McQuarrie's concept drawing of Vader boarding the Tantive IV was based on the idea that Vader would fly through space to reach the ship.

Status: Darth Vader (RMQ011) is a slight repaint of 2007's TAC Concept Darth Vader (Ralph McQuarrie Signature Series) (30 28) figure. For this release, Darth Vader comes without the interchangeable portrait and blaster pistol accessories.

Articulation Count: 20 points (14 areas of articulation)

Articulation Details: ball-socket head (1), ball-jointed left shoulder (2), ball-jointed right shoulder (2), swivel left elbow (1), swivel right elbow (1), swivel left forearm (1), swivel right forearm (1), swivel waist (1), swivel left hip (1), swivel right hip (1), ball-jointed left knee (2), ball-jointed right elbow (2), ball-jointed left ankle (2), ball-jointed right ankle (2)

Accessory Count: 2

Accessory Details: lightsaber, removable soft-goods cape

Date Stamp: 2007

Stormtrooper (RMQ012)

The Imperial soldier in this conceptual art from A New Hope is unusual because he holds a lightsaber, the weapon of the Jedi.

Status: Stormtrooper (RMQ012) is a slight repaint of 2007's TAC Concept Stormtrooper (Ralph McQuarrie Signature Series) (30 09) figure. For this release, the Stormtrooper is missing his shield and blaster pistol accessories.

Articulation Count: 10 points (8 areas of articulation)

Articulation Details: swivel head (1), ball-jointed left shoulder (2), ball-jointed right shoulder (2), swivel left elbow (1), swivel left wrist (1), swivel waist (1), swivel left hip (1), swivel right hip (1)

Accessory Count: 1

Accessory Details: lightsaber

Date Stamp: 2003