Tag Archives: Return Of The Jedi

We’re wrapping up our Visual Guide updates from the first Walmart exclusive TVC Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary wave with the AT-ST Driver (VC192). Click below to have a look at the full guide page. Make sure to also check out our full review of this figure in our review database.

Up next for the Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary Walmart exclusive Visual Guide updates is The Vintage Collection’s Princess Leia (Endor) (VC191). Click below to access our full Visual Guide page, and click here to read our full review.

Our next round of Visual Guide updates features the Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary Walmart exclusives from The Vintage Collection. Click below to check out Paploo (VC190). Make sure to also check out our full review right here.

Those of you with an investigative spirit and eagle eyes may have noticed a major change in our vintage Kenner RDRs as we go through The Vintage Collection: The Ninety Six column. Chuck and I worked on developing a new template that more faithfully recreates the features, aesthetics, and imagery of the original Kenner cards while keeping its design in line with our proprietary Research Droids Reviews module. There is a happy medium to hit to get everything to look right, but we think we hit the mark. If you have some time, be sure to click through to the various STAR WARS reviews. We’re working behind the scenes to update the other collections as we speak.

Welcome to another entry in our The Vintage Collection: The Ninety Six column. Hasbro recently committed to collectors that they will be “focusing” on characters in The Vintage Collection that fall under “The Ninety Six” banner. If you’re new to this, it means that there needs a modern counterpart for every classic Kenner figure. Between 2020 and 2021, Hasbro’s made an admirable effort by focusing on these characters. But there is more work to be done, and we’ll figure out where we are step by step. Today we assess three versions of Boba Fett.

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Holy moly! The Prop Store YouTube channel posted a video by Phil Tippet that shows a clip of the pre-production animatics of the elaborated rancor scenes including some that never made their way to the final cut of Return Of The Jedi. You can also bid on the original videocassette of these scenes if you’re so inclined. Check it out!

That was something else when the out-of-production The Vintage Collection Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight) (VC175) showed up on Amazon for $12.99 a couple of days ago. The orders are arriving, and the shipping reports are all over the map. Especially my shipments for my 48-figure order. (more….)

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In case you missed them, we reviewed the latest figures from Hasbro’s The Vintage Collection including AT-ST Driver (VC192), Paploo (VC190), Princess Leia (Endor) (VC191), Scout Trooper (VC196) (Gaming Greats), Heavy Battle Droid (VC193) (Gaming Greats), and Shadow Stormtrooper (VC194) (Gaming Greats). If you need to catch up, click any image below to be taken to that RDR! Thank you for reading!

Princess Leia (Endor), Paploo, and Luke Skywalker (Endor – With Non-removable Helmet). Oh, and let’s not forget the upcoming Scout Trooper from the Gaming Greats line. Yet, the current Hasbro Star Wars team hasn’t announced the reissuing of the fantastic Toys R Us exclusive Speeder Bike vehicle from 2012’s SW [The Phantom Menace 3D] line look. Hasbro, it’s high time to get out this stunning Speeder Bike vehicle to the marketplace again. You’ve never placed it in The Vintage Collection packaging. Add in a pack-in Biker Scout figure in The Vintage Collection packaging, and you’ll make us all very happy collectors. Don’t screw this up for the 40th Anniversary of Return Of The Jedi.

Today we look at the Walmart exclusive The Vintage Collection AT-ST Driver figure. Hasbro nailed this one. You’re going to love it! See what’s new here! (more….)

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Today we look at the Walmart exclusive The Vintage Collection Paploo figure. What a joke! Hasbro slapped us all in the face with this one, and they should be embarrassed. It’s nothing more than Lumat in a different color and with different accessories. And this approach is bad when Paploo has distinct features from all other Ewoks. That’s just the beginning of this mess, however. (more….)

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Why aren’t you purchasing The Vintage Collection Lando Calrissian (Skiff Guard) (VC144)? Not only was it the highlight of 2019, but Hasbro also took the time to correct the base figure’s (the “sandstorm” version) many issues, including its shortness, incorrect colors, and finally placed it on gorgeous Kenner-inspired packaging where it belongs. It’s perfection. I don’t want to hear that you passed on this figure because of the missing skiff guard blaster. It’s currently only $7.99 at Walmart.com. Don’t wait for this to sell out and then buy it on eBay for $40 or $50! After this, they’re gone forever!

Thank the Maker! We have new 3.75-inch action figures to review. Let’s check out the Walmart exclusive The Vintage Collection Princess Leia (Endor) figure. Man, it’s almost perfect, and likely the last time we’ll ever get this figure again in this scale. If you don’t purchase this figure, you’re an idiot. It’s unreal how great the upgrades are here. (more….)

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Here’s another chance to pick up the TVC Boba Fett (186) figure. Go to the Other Sellers On Amazon to get the Amazon.com $12.99 price.

Tonight we are adding Boba Fett (VC186) to our Visual Guides, complete with Action Photography from contributors kingdomofweird, imperial_sock, and toysaretheway. Click below to check out our full guide page. We also have a full review of this figure right here.

We’re about a year and a half out from the Retro Collection Return Of The Jedi figures, so that means that Hasbro is planning the assortment as we speak. What six candidates do you want to see realized in this assortment of 5POA action figures? We think we’ve picked the 12 most popular characters, but you may have different feelings about this. Let us know in the comments! If you need some help recalling the original Kenner RETURN OF THE JEDI figures, click HERE.

The Vintage Collection Admiral Ackbar (VC22) re-released figure looks pretty good, albeit a little too dark. Unfortunately, Hasbro didn’t correct the color of the nameplate and figure backer. (NOTE: This gallery is incomplete. Only the new figure is shown. We will update the gallery at a later date and post an update.) Check out this excellently updated figure in our RDRs now! There’s more difference here than you may realize.

The Vintage Collection Han Solo (Endor [In Trench Coat)]) (VC62) figure is a frustrating release. But, we have to give Hasbro credit. They made this figure look as good as it likely ever will unless they tool a new figure. The Photo Real updating is excellent, and the new color of the trench coat is great. But Hasbro changed a long-running name on this figure which will upset Kenner purists. It has many other enhancements as well. We took the time to break it all down for you by producing an all-new 80-image gallery complete with all versions (2006, 2011, and 2021) featured, comparison shots, diorama shots, and a breakdown of what separates the two releases in the Collector Notes. Check out this excellently updated figure in our RDRs now! There’s more difference here than you may realize.

The Vintage Collection Emperor’s Royal Guard (VC105) has never looked better. And it has more than just a couple of enhancements. The Photo Real on this figure is excellent. And the new soft goods are perfection with newly fitted proportions and new beautiful drape. Hasbro also updated the red color of the figure. The subtle orange hue is now gone. We took the time to break it all down for you by producing an all-new 84-image gallery complete with both versions (2012 and 2021) featured, comparison shots, and a breakdown of what separates the two releases in the Collector Notes. Check out this excellently updated figure in our RDRs now! There’s more difference here than you may realize.

Sigh. I shouldn’t have walked away from Hasbro Pulse’s Fan Fest online event saying “Why does Hasbro hate The Vintage Collection collecting community so much? Why are they completely disengaged from its needs?” But I did. And between the sorry repacks confirmed, to the desperately needed repacks they’re dangling over our heads, I understand why people are fleeing from this scale left and right. The straw that broke the camel’s back for me was the announcement of the re-released Han Solo (Endor) figure. Does Hasbro store any record-keeping of their releases? Do they go to discount outlets? Do they have any indication of what fans want? (more….)

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After Hasbro followed JTA’s advice and updated The Vintage Collection Boba Fett figure from Return Of The Jedi, they mentioned that some units in the earliest production run would feature the original and abominable card art (seen below) featuring the orange nameplate and figure backer and a zoomed-in image of the on-screen character. To date, no units have appeared for sale or arrived at retail. Was Hasbro incorrect, or are they forthcoming from a FILO method of distribution?

That’s a wrap! We concluded our Research Droids Reviews on The Vintage Collection Wave 29, including the long-awaited Return Of The Jedi Boba Fett. If you missed any, be sure to catch up. The carded images are finally updated.

After getting to spend some quality time with my new The Vintage Collection Boba Fett figure from Return Of The Jedi, I noticed two details I missed earlier, although one might be a defect on my sample. The first is that Boba Fett’s head sits a double ball-socket joint, but the point here is that it’s a geodesic sphere, something we first saw on The Black Series [Phase I] Darth Vader (#26) figure. Also, Hasbro tooled a partial head, including a chin, and the lower sides of the jaw. Then I was playing with the jet pack and noticed it splits in half and has an interior that is sculpted as well. But again, this might be a defect on my sample. Check out both images by clicking below, and see even more images of this fantastic figure RIGHT HERE in our Research Droids Reviews! Please leave any comments on our Boba Fett RDR page!

Wow. If Hasbro didn’t do anything right for The Vintage Collection for the rest of 2021 (which is likely at this point), we probably won’t care. Boba Fett (VC186), based on the character’s appearance from Return Of The Jedi, is the best 3.75″ super-articulated action figure of the year. It’s that good. 177 TVC figures separate the first ROTJ Boba Fett from this one, so we waited a LONG TIME for this update. Oh, and it has one tiny issue. Do you know what it is? Check out the rough gallery and the final review. Some updated images coming soon!! (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 12!

Christmas 1983 was one of the greatest years for Star Wars toys. The Return Of The Jedi line included some of the most incredible Star Wars toys ever produced by Kenner. As we quickly approach the 40th Anniversary of the film, we’re going to offer some suggestions for you to produce for us to relive those wonderful days of old. Our next suggestion is The Vintage Collection Sy Snootles And The Max Rebo Band. Kener didn’t release these characters separately in the basic figure line. Instead, they created a special multipack so young kids could acquire the band in one fell swoop. We’re thinking this method would be best for the modern line as well. Either in a specially-boxed multipack or a Special Action Figure Set, we hope Hasbro gives us Sy Snootles And The Max Rebo Band in The Vintage Collection (and all based on the original version of the band, NOT the Special Edtion) for the 40th Anniversary. We should also note that Hasbro must include a puppet version of Sy Snootles!) Special thanks to JTA reader Joey P. for the mock-up artwork!