Special Action Figure Set (Rebel Set) - TVC - Exclusives

This brave trio combines their skills in an attempt to save the Empire from Darth Vader's forces. Princess Leia is the strong-willed leader of the Rebellion forces. The Rebel Commander defends the Rebel base against the Empire on the ice world of Hoth. Medical droid 2-1B sees to Luke Skywalker's recovery in the Rebel's secret base.

We have become so predictable to Hasbro that they actually now how to develop exclusives and guarantee their sell-through. They must sit and think like collectors because the multipacks they cobble together are hard to pass by, especially when one thing inside of it makes it hard to ignore. Clearly to be the “stinker” of the latest assortment of Special Action Figure Set multipacks, the Rebel Set includes a repack of 2010’s TVC Leia (Hoth Outfit) (VC02) and a repack of 1997’s POTF2 2-1B Medic Droid? Did we really need to see either again so soon? 2-1B may have not been around in years, but we certainly didn’t need it resurrected from the dead, especially when there is an amazing Episode II specific Surgical Droid 2-1B that they could have simply retooled to be Episode V specific. Despite this, how did they ensure this multipack would succeed at retail?? How about by including the “running change” Hoth Rebel Soldier figure that was supposed to come out as a basic figure in 2009’s The Legacy Collection but didn’t see released until 2010’s SW [SOTDS] Defense of Hoth TARGET exclusive? Yes, that’s exactly how Hasbro has made this a must-have purchase for collectors. We still think they are missing the boat by not adding this figure into the basic figure lineup but at least they are making an effort and getting him out again to collectors. Interestingly, the Rebel Commander in this set appears to have repositioned legs and they are not as wide as the first time this figure was released. Also, the blaster rifle has a new paint job (or is painted for the first time) and other parts of the figure has minor color vaiances.

It’s kind of hard to swallow getting three figures for $19.99 when in 2008 (only a short time ago from the release of the Special Action Figure Sets multipacks) we got five figures for the same price. Keep in mind however that action figures have reached a whole new premium in quality and they really have never been made better. So, for three [nearly] super-articulated figures (after all, not all sets include figures with the full 14 points), this is a more-than-fair price. We’re not even calculating the nostalgic value of the packaging into this equation yet. But as you could imagine, that appreciates the value of these sets even further. For the Rebel Set, we think the inclusion of 2-1B was a bad move (whose only difference appears to be the black accordion joints on the thighs - they're a lighter black now), despite whether you like it or not. But thankfully the elusive “running change” Hoth Rebel Trooper (called Rebel Commander here) kind of forgives that bad decision. Little to no paint job differences exist between the original releases of these figures and the ones included in the three-packs. And in true vintage fashion, Hasbro choose not to over-accessorize the figures and just pack them with updates to the weapons they had in the vintage era. (They made an exception with Rebel Commander and he comes with two weapons.) A great Hoth-centrically themed grouping of figures, the Rebel Set may hold a special place in the hearts of lovers of The Empire Strikes Back.

If you check the various references available to collectors on the amazing Special Action Figure Set product line, you’ll see over a dozen styles that were produced during the vintage era. There are some really cool ones we hope Hasbro will replicate for us including the various Creature and Android sets. This would be an ideal time to update a Snaggletooth or the Power Droid and if they have to, include all-new sculpts of these action figures and make them exclusive to this exclusive program. There is a great deal of potential for the Special Action Figure set multipack line. Hasbro needs to change things up a little bit more however. We have been patient and now we own six sets that are essentially all repacks, save for the few updated paint jobs, and it’s time to make these truly important for collectors. (It still bugs us that Utris M’Toc was packed as the white Bespin Security Guard in the 9-pack from 2010.) But whatever direction they decide to take this line should it continue, we hope that they will keep the 1995-2000 The Powe Of The Force line figures out of the modern exclusives. They are out of scale and lack the articulation we desire and even if the sculpts look good, it’s a good bet they’ll be terribly out of scale to the rest of the figures in the line. We hope Hasbro will monitor this extra carefully and really bring us something to drool over in the future. It goes without saying that the Special Action Figure Set line is truly special, but we want to see extra special now.