JTA Special Report: Where Are We Now? Vintage Updates

It is quite a bit of fun to see how far the modern line has come along, isn't it? Jedi Temple Archives decided to analyze just how many of the vintage figures have been updated in the modern line (and more importantly, which ones have not). Can we all work together to get Hasbro to knock out the last few in 2010, whether they are basic figures or included in multipacks? We hope so, but while we wait anxiously to find out, click through to read our commentary and see whether your own opinions match ours or if your points of view are different. Click HERE to read our latest special report!

Where Are We Now? 2010 And Beyond –
An Action Figure Space Odyssey!

By Paul Harrison
Graphic Design by Chuck Paskovics

1995. This is when it all (re)started. The Star Wars figure line was born again into a newly invigorated collection called The Power Of The Force “2”. Ten years before, its ancestor line had called it quits and we all went a decade with nothing new. And depending upon what type of personality you have, this was a very grueling wait or a nice reprieve. The summer of 2010 will mark the 15th anniversary of the modern line and in retrospect, we all have bought more figures in 15 years than we would probably ever expect to accumulate in a lifetime. And we are still always content to add more. The line has seen lots of Johnny-come-latelys, scalpers, whiners, those who rejoice and just all-around great and hardcore fans. It has been quite a journey and even though we are nearly 15 years into this hobby as of the end of 2009, the original line still has yet to be fully updated. Purists are dying for the day when this feat will be completed and the line comes full circle. We will obviously just need to develop a little more patience until this goal is reached. (It's the nature of the beast - or sickness depending upon your own point of view.) And vintage collectors know when they will be all set and at ease so they can feel like their collections are complete (when all the vintage are updated). Were it not for all the collectors who grew up with this stuff, one would wonder just how successful the Hasbro line would have been when it restarted in 1995. Fans like us should indeed at least be partially credited for jump-starting the line and creating some new stimulus for it taking off stronger than ever the second time around. If Hasbro didn’t feel our passion and see our dollars, they may have let the line die a long time ago. But after all this time, vintage collectors still keep pestering Hasbro about when the original figures will all be tackled and updated into the modern line. Apparently, Star Wars IS forever!

With that in mind, a list follows about what vintage figures have been realized in the modern line thus far, and what figures are still missing in action, no pun intended. Although there will be differences in opinion, this is merely our take on the current situation. You may feel that some on our list already have been tackled and/or may not yet be the definitive version of that character. And we may be inclined to agree or disagree with you. But for all intents and purposes, this is meant to be a "rough" guide as to where we are in the line despite us thinking it is actually quite accurate. Our executive decision qualifying a figure as definitive is simply our own opinion and we have nothing to really gauge it against except for our own individual opinions. Who knows, we could be off or we could be right on the money. And only you can be the final decider on what constitutes a definitive modern update for your collections. To the best of our ability, we have picked the “most” definitive figure to date. It may not have the best likeness or be perfectly in scale with the others, but at least we have it in some form. Again, this is all qualitative, but we think our final list has educated guesswork. And we think it's a great time to process where the line is and where it may be going for 2010. For the line has certainly brought us an incredible collection of figures thus far.

For example, yes, we have received two POTJ Bespin Security Guard figures, one from the Carbon-Freeze playset, and the other a basic figure from the main line, but these are not of the same ethnicity as the vintage ones, so the mustachioed Bespin Guard still ranks as "due us". Although Rebel Soldier came close with 2006’s TSC Major Bren Derlin, the costume does not perfectly match the outfit of the vintage figure. (And these costumes were seen in TESB), so this one is due. Hasbro cried wolf on us with Klaatu, also known as Wooof in 2009. This figure was originally due to come in the ROTJ wave at the end of 2009, but he is now confirmed for 2010. He gets put on this list simply for the fact that he wasn't released in 2009. And this special report is based on all product released through December 31, 2009. Ah, we are indeed getting a Nikto figure (this one replaced Wooof) at the end of 2009, but this is still NOT the costume of the vintage figure. We need Nikto with the blue shirt, grey chest armor and grey pants! Co’mon Hasbro, please!  (Does anyone out there know this character’s true name?) We almost had Lumat in the 30th Anniversary Collection. But at last minute, he was quickly re-colored and renamed as Graak. So Hasbro has the mold all ready, here is hoping Lumat is not too far down the line to be entered in our collections. We have previously received the computer-generated version of Sy Snootles, but we want the original puppet version immortalized in plastic. Enough said here. We have received many incarnations of Barada in the modern line and these are all true representations of him. And this is great. But we need his distant relative Kithaba, the red-pant green Nikto forever immortalized in the elusive vintage POTF 1985 line. Interestingly, Hasbro used the correct image of the figure on the packaging, but the figure was based off of Kithaba, the victim being pulled into the Sarlacc by its tentacles. Hasbro had a penchant for misnaming their figures during the vintage line, and the “Barada” figure of 1985 is another one of these. Please Hasbro, next time you make Barada, please turn him into Kithaba! We have also received two Imperial Dignitary figures in the 2003 Star Wars line. But we are still in need of the vintage Imperial Dignitary known as Sim Aloo. He has even been a candidate in the Fans’ Choice polls and is one of the few never tackled since then!

Please find below below a very light-hearted attempt to summarize and show what we have received so far and what should be coming next (but not exactly when). Hasbro has hinted that it is an unofficial goal of theirs to complete all the vintage figures. Well, Hasbro, we tried to make it easy for you. Here is what you need to focus on for 2010 and beyond. Please make the longtime hardcore collectors happy? The vintage line revolutionized the toy industry. Let's show it the respect it deserves and update all of the figures that make up this cherished line. We are so close with less than a dozen figures needing consideration. And many of you out there (including us) want that gray suited Death Star Trooper too. And even more of you want to see that Lars' Homestead Power Droid with green body and extra details (which seems to be the droid the vintage figure was modeled after). So do we. And we even want to see all the POTF2 figures updated as well. The line has come so far and we want all the vintage figures updated with the current technology. You've heard our pleas, so please satiate our whining. After checking this out, let us know your thoughts about it and what you think will be the next ones released. What tops your list first to complete the line? When the line does get completely updated, it will be a day long remembered. We here at Jedi Temple Archives hope that the remaining ones get announced at Toy Fair in February, although it is clear that no one will see new basic figures until the end of the summer. (Ugh, can this really be happening, especially in an anniversary year? It's completely torturous to make us wait that long if you ask us, but then again, we need to learn that Hasbro likes heavy product release Fall seasons. At best, we have months to save up for when the floodgates open up!

We hope everyone enjoys this special report.

Be sure to stop by our Research Droids Reviews too where you can check out our opinions on many of the modern counterparts featured in this special report.

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