In a spirit similar to Belma Buttons and Tovah McQueen, I give Hasbro a version of my own Reality Check because time is of the essence to do something important with the basic figure line. Let's all encourage them to act positively before they lose their way with it. It is only our goal to steer them back into the will of the Force (as well as into the hearts of collectors again) in this article and nothing more. Click through for more details.
Ever since the rumor mill went into full swing with Hasbro’s announcement that Spring 2013 would open up with repeat The Vintage Collection figures, many of us began “panicking” that something was awry and what this delay could mean to the new Legacy Collection “2” line. We even gave our own two cents. The concerns were valid because less than a week ago, Hasbro sent out an official statement explaining that it was indeed true that the Droid Factory/Legacy Collection line was dead in the water. Yes, the collection geared for "adults" was canned with two other lines still planned for the "kids". What gives? This actually caused more of an uproar and the collecting community began speculating on the fate of the figures already tooled, approved and we imagine manufactured that were planned for this line. Will ALL of the figures be available in another way? What about the Build A Droid figures? The "official memo" was an effort to do some damage control because confirmation leaked out much too soon that shouldn’t have, so HunterPR did their part to get the official statement out there.
While we have all had time to digest this disturbing turn of events, we have taken it upon ourselves provide some fact finding details for Hasbro in an effort to help them. Don’t interpret our altruism for condescension instead. We don’t know it all (that's a fact), but we do know what most of you and we want to see hanging on the pegs. It is our belief that the cancellation of the Droid Factory line is actually OK (if Hasbro is able to do something better). That’s what brings us to this article. We are going to encourage Hasbro to maybe not make an abrupt change in the line look just yet. There is a little time left to still milk an already great thing and they should take the opportunity to do this. This should explain why things maybe shouldn’t change for the foreseeable future. Actually, a lot has to change (um, can anyone say "distribution"?), but maybe not so much the way the figures come to us.
There is no better time than this instant to get The Vintage Collection back into full swing as if its demise was never planned. Forget about an all-new line look (minus droid parts). We don’t care about that. Let’s get all of those first few waves of figures packaged in The Vintage Collection packaging. Hasbro has stated that they want to ensure The Vintage Collection won’t lose its luster so it in order to preserve its appeal it needs to go away and be brought back at another time. That’s a bunch of bologna. Most collectors don’t even see the need for another line look for the collector-based figures. In fact, most collectors would not lose interest in The Vintage Collection line look for years or for how long Hasbro owns the license. Saying The Vintage Collection line look will lose its purpose or specialness is like saying puppies will no longer look cute or that your child no longer has value to you. It just doesn’t make sense.
The glorious silver and black card back accented with the colorful backgrounds, name plates and scene-specific reference shots will NEVER get tired looking. And Hasbro needs to accept this. Please don’t give us another “thematic” line look that tickles Lucasfilm’s (or now Disney’s) fancy. We don’t need Yoda (or Darth Maul or Captain Rex) on our Star Wars action figure packaging. In fact, it makes it look rather ugly. I still despise the Star Wars [The Phantom Menace 3D] packaging. I never liked it and I never will. The action figures look incredibly better loose instead of suspended in this packaging. It’s mind-boggling that Hasbro would seek another solution to bring us super-articulated figures than the only style collectors want to see them packaged in, and that would be unequivocally The Vintage Collection.
Since the Legacy Collection “2” line has already met its doom, let’s get The Vintage Collection back into full swing. We’re moments away from the Original Trilogy getting released in 3D now, so isn’t this a perfect time to keep The Vintage Collection going? Wouldn’t you want to have the three original Star Wars films in the theaters and the “original” complementary packaging in the stores concurrently? Is anyone out there with me on this? Quite honestly, 2010-2012 The Vintage Collection basic figure lineup was fantastic and we all have very little to complain about with regards to the character selection and the quality of the figures. (I am not including distribution here. I think you all know my thoughts on this loudly and clearly by now.) But the fact remains obviously that Hasbro couldn’t release EVERYTHING in this ‘original’ timeframe of the line's run and there are many action figures that need the classic TVC treatment. So now that there’s an opening to bring it back (thanks to the advent of the LC2 cancellation) and a reason to continue even further than first anticipated, why no get this ball rolling and make collectors extremely happy again?
Come on Hasbro. Dig in your heels and let’s get back to basics again. Use the beginning of 2013 (when the “greatest hits” waves get released) to plan out a strategy to keep TVC line running through the end of 2014. Master Yoda said be mindful of the future, but he also said to be aware of the here and now. You 'may' not have the opportunity to do this for us later, so can we prod you to jump on this now?! After that then of course get things in order for Episode VII. We don’t need pack-in premiums. We just want classic packaging for your awesome super-articulated figures. Get rid of the frills and give us what we desperately want. You have so many choices that will save you tooling costs yet you seem to turn a deaf ear on our (the collective population) wants and desires for the basic figures in The Vintage Collection line. So we’re going to try again. You know that JTA is always willing to give you our ideas to ensure a healthy dose of new The Vintage Collection figures. Here we go.
Please bring back The Vintage Collection in full swing through the end of 2014 and get these repackaged figures out to us in TVC packaging. (New sculpts and never before released figures are always welcomed as well.) These are only SOME suggestions that are blatantly waiting to be done. WE NEED THEM! AND WE WILL BUY THEM! (Just get them to retail, OK?)
Luke Skywalker (from 2009’s LC Resurgence Of The Jedi Battle Packs)
Princess Leia Organa - One of the few ALL NEW figures we are requesting on a Star Wars card back. PLEASE!
R2-D2 (from 2009’s LC Resurgence Of The Jedi Battle Packs)
Chewbacca (from 2005’s TSC Early Bird Figures exclusive)
C-3PO (please use the U-3PO Build A Droid Sculpt, vac-metalize it and put on a Star Wars card back).
Stormtrooper (please use the clean white Sandtrooper sculpt, change the belt and fill in the slot on his back for we have a non-removable helmet Stormtrooper without a hole in his back)
Obi-Wan Kenobi (from 2009’s LC Resurgence Of The Jedi Battle Packs)
Greedo (please reissue 2010’s SW [SOTDS] Saga Legends figure with the updated paint job. We would like this figure on the resized TVC packaging now.)
Snaggletooth (from 2012’s TVC Special Action Figure Set on a Star Wars card)
REISSUE: Ponda Baba (Walrus Man)
RELEASE: Momaw Nadon on a Star Wars card. (We know this sculpt is approved and ready to go, so please release it this way first?)
R5-D4 (Please repaint 2006’s TSC R5-D4 figure and remember to add the red paint detail on his backside.)
Power Droid (please repaint the figure from 2012’s TVC Special Action Figure Set in the colors of the droid from Lars homestead)
Boba Fett (please rerelease 2004’s VOTC Boba Fett with the alternate card back image from ROTJ)
Blue Snaggleooth (PLEASE repaint the Snaggletooth figure from 2012’s TVC Special Action Figure Set to give us an update to this figure.)
Princess Leia (Bespin Gown) (Please rerelease this figure with the alternate card back.)
FX-7 (REALLY? Why hasn’t this been rereleased yet? Please issue the updated figure from 2010’s TVC Special Action Figure set on a TVC card back.)
REISSUE: Rebel Soldier (Echo Base Battle Gear) – a no-brainer Hasbro!
Luke Skywalker (Bespin Fatigues) – please reissue 2010 TVC figure with alternate card back.
Han Solo (Hoth Gear) – You have enough parts now to give us one “ultimate” version of this character with all matching parts, head sculpts and accessories. Give it all to us in one package!)
Lando Calrissian – PLEASE JUST GIVE US AN ALL-NEW SCULPT (or reissue 2004 VOTC figure with ball-jointed elbows)
Bespin Security Guard (mustache) – Again, why don’t we have this figure yet? Just give the 2009 LC figure a new head sculpt please.
Ugnaught – You have two excellent sculpts now. Pick one and reissue on a TVC card back. Thank you.
RELEASE: Lobot the all-new on a The Empire Strikes Back card. (We know this sculpt is approved and ready to go, so please release it this way first?)
Rebel Commander – please release the 2009 TLC Hoth Rebel Trooper (any variety) on a TESB card back.
AT-AT Driver – Please glue the helmet on the 2009 LC figure and release on a TESB card back.
2-1B – Please slightly retool the 2008 TAC figure to make it TESB specific.
Luke Skywalker (Hoth Outfit) – Create a new head sculpt (with scarf hanging down) and rerelease on a TESB card back.
Zuckuss – Please release 2009’s LC Zuckuss on a TESB card back.
Chief Chirpa – Please release 2006’s TSC Chief Chirpa on a ROTJ card back.
Ree-Yees – It is our educated guess that this figure was due for the last wave of TVC. Maybe just get him out now?
Lando Calrissian (Skiff Guard Disguise) – you should be able to figure out how to do this quite easily, Hasbro. The figure should have come this way originally.
The Emperor – One of the few ALL NEW figures we are requesting on a ROTJ card back. PLEASE!
Teebo – Please release the one from the 2012 SW [TPM 3D] multipack with the original head sculpt. You report to Disney now. Show them how awesome that rejected Lucasfilm head sculpt is please!
AT-ST Driver – please pick either one from the Endor AT-ST Crew Special Action Figure set.
Rancor Keeper – please release 2009’s LC Malakili on a ROTJ card back.
Paploo - please release 2009’s LC Paploo on a ROTJ card back.
Luke Skywalker (Battle Poncho) – Please take 2010’s TVC Luke Skywalker (Endor Capture) figure with the accessories from 2009’s LC Battle For Endor Battle Packs figure and release on a ROTJ card back
Romba – please release 2007’s TAC Romba figure on a ROTJ card back.
Luke Skywalker (In Stormtrooper Disguise) – Please take 2009’s TLC figure, change the head sculpt and release on a Star Wars card.
Warok – please release the figure from 2009’s LC Battle For Endor Battle Packs figure and release on a ROTJ card back
A-wing Pilot – you have a “cancelled” A-wing pilot figure ready to go. Please put this on a ROTJ card back.
Yak Face – One of the few ALL NEW figures we are requesting on a ROTJ card back. PLEASE!
And naysayers hush here, but I also want Hasbro to release Yarna d'al' Gargana and R1-G4 both with enhanced paint operations in The Vintage Collection packaging too! There are others too!
