JediDefender.com Forums
Collectibles => Past Hasbro 3.75" Lines => The Legacy Collection => Topic started by: Brian on March 17, 2009, 09:58 AM
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I don't know how many of you read Star Wars Insider anymore, but the last issue (107) had a feature about the process of making a Star Wars figure. Within the article, Hasbro discusses how it makes up its waves, and mentions that a typical wave of eight figures might include up to three "A-rated" characters (which are produced in greater numbers). They go on to say that there are only 12 A-rated characters in the entire Saga (from Hasbro's viewpoint), and mention some that are or are not included on that list. It also appears to depend on which version of the character it is. For example, both Jedi Luke Skywalker and X-Wing Pilot Luke Skywalker are considered "As", while farmboy Luke is not. Others they mentioned as A's are Jango and Boba Fett, and R2-D2. Some figures that are not considered A's are Han Solo (surprising, but apparently due to lack of kid interest), C-3PO, and Princess Leia. Anyways, I just thought it was interesting, and was wondering which other characters you think make up the list of 12. I would think figures like Anakin and Obi-Wan are certainly included (at least their ROTS versions), as well as Vader and probably some sort of clonetrooper. Which characters do you think make their cut?
1. Jedi Luke Skywalker
2. X-Wing Luke Skywalker
3. Jango Fett
4. Boba Fett
5. R2-D2
6. ?
7. ?
8. ?
9. ?
10. ?
11. ?
12. ?
Hasbro's A-list seems to really be made up of figures that have kid appeal, and that they can sell year round (they specifically mention the upcoming Jedi Luke being one that can be continually packed in throughout the year). Others that could maybe make the cut, going by this criteria, could possibly be Darth Maul, General Grievous, Yoda, Chewie?, and as mentioned Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Vader.
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Vader is the one that leaps to mind immediately. I would agree that a generic clone trooper would make that list as well. As for the others, if Han doesn't make the list, then I'm stumped. Jedi Luke though? Then how come they haven't made a good one yet?
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Vader is a no-brainer. That leaves six more. I'd say the list looks something like this:
-Anakin Skywalker (ROTS)
-Obi-Wan Kenobi (ROTS)
-Yoda
-General Grievous
-Clone Trooper
-Stormtrooper
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Vader is a no-brainer. That leaves six more. I'd say the list looks something like this:
-Anakin Skywalker (ROTS)
-Obi-Wan Kenobi (ROTS)
-Yoda
-General Grievous
-Clone Trooper
-Stormtrooper
I think that's probably close to the mark. Vader has got to be on there - that's the first one I thought of too. Anakin and Obi-Wan seem right, I'd say Stormtrooper as well. For the remaining three, I'd say these:
- R2-D2 (always a kid favorite)
- Clone Trooper AOTC
- Clone Trooper ROTS
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I wonder if the repaints of the AOTC and ROTS clones get lumped in with the plain clones for the purposes of this ranking. I'm just thinking that to a kid, they might not care all that much if the clone has yellow stripes on his arms, he's still a cool clone.
I think the list that's been compiled is pretty much exactly what I'd expect as A class characters. Except Han that is, he wears a reasonably similar outfit through out the whole OT (I know there are differences, but to a kid Cantina Han would look fine at the Ewok Celebration...), so I figure he'd be popular, also since he was the character my brothers wanted to be, not Luke.
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1. Jedi Luke Skywalker
2. X-Wing Luke Skywalker (though I don't agree with this one at all)
3. Jango Fett (Ditto here)
4. Boba Fett
5. R2-D2
6. Obi-wan Kenobi (more specifically ROTS)
7. Anakin Skywalker (more specifically ROTS)
8. Clone Trooper (ROTS)
9. Clone Trooper (AOTC)
10. Stormtrooper
11. Yoda
12. ICMG....no seriously. No? Okay then, Chewbacca of maybe the Emperor. I really can't believe Han isn't in this category.
Hasbro's A-list seems to really be made up of figures that have kid appeal, and that they can sell year round (they specifically mention the upcoming Jedi Luke being one that can be continually packed in throughout the year). Others that could maybe make the cut, going by this criteria, could possibly be Darth Maul, General Grievous, Yoda, Chewie?, and as mentioned Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Vader.
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I was surprised that Han wasn't included on the list as well, but maybe the younger generation doesn't care as much about the OT characters at this point (at least, if they don't have SW fans for parents). I figure the overall list probably skews more towards prequel characters, since that is what we see most often in the Legends assortments and repacks aplenty. I'm actually sort of surprised two Lukes make the list here, and that certain ones are preferred over the others. I think in the vintage days, the "farmboy" Luke is the one you wanted the most - maybe until Jedi came out anyways.
Its funny, as often as we used to make fun of the Commtech Han Solo getting repackaged, I think that - while a very good figure - that ROTS Pilot Obi-Wan has probably come close to passing that one by. That figure is pretty much always on the pegs, year round. Not that I mind though. To me, that is an example of the perfect type of figure to keep out there for kids and/or new collectors. The "ultimate" version of a main character - those are the types I'd like to see get repackaged. Same with the Anakin Skywalker Evolutions figures, VOTC Han/Luke/Leia/Chewie, the super articulated troops, etc.
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To be honest my son and his cousins do not seem that excited about Han either. They all range from 3-8 years old. They tend to recognize more characters from the prequels like Anakin, young Kenobi, clonetroopers, Grievous, Jango, Padme, Yoda w/ lightsaber, Jedi Knights, Ahsoka, Darth Maul, etc. Of course they know Vader, Luke, and Boba Fett, but seem to be into those characters more so. Of course it could be from the Clone Wars show and see more of those characters.
Anyway I would maybe add Maul and Chewbacca to the A list.
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I was just listening to a collector-focused ForceCast with Derryl DePriest, and he was asked which are the "12", and listed the following:
Darth Vader
R2-D2
Yoda
Clonetroopers
Stormtroopers
Jango/Boba Fett (same slot)
Luke Skywalker (anything but Farmboy)
Qui Gon Jinn
Darth Maul
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Anakin Skywalker
There seems to be one missing (he listed off the top of his head), unless you count both the Fetts seperately (he said they occupy the same "slot"). Sort of surprised to see Qui Gon on there, and not someone like Han/Chewie.
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Yeah Qui Gon does seem an odd choice, especially since "A" characters are supposed to be the anchor characters within a wave and Qui Gon really hasn't appeared too often of late (he was in an evolution pack and is an exclusive with an Eopie later this year, but when else has he been shipping lately?)
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That last time I can think of was in the TAC EI Commemorative Tin Set.
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Since he was talking off the top of his head, I bet he got Qui-Gon wrong. All the others we see 3-4 times as often as Qui-Gon, who doesn't even come out every second year.
I bet the real list drops Qui-Gon, and adds chewie & Han.
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They specifically talked about QGJ a long time and he mentioned how "you might be surprised to know QGJ is on the A List of figures, blah blah blah", so I don't think he got QGJ wrong actually.
I'm shocked myself since the Evo version was really the first new one in ages, but whatever.
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If I recall it was in an issue of Star Wars Insider that I first heard of Hasbro's A, B, etc. logic to character selection and IIRC they said that Han and Chewie weren't A characters.
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My Guess based on the waves we see.....
1. Jedi Luke Skywalker
2. X-Wing Luke Skywalker
3. Jango Fett
4. Boba Fett
5. R2-D2
6. Obi-Wan (Prequel ROTS)
7. Anakin (ROTS)
8. Darth Vader
9. Yoda
10. Clone Trooper
11. Male alien Jedi (Plo, Sae, Kit)
12. Battle Droids
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That's very interesting if Qui-Gon is on that list. Maybe we are misunderstanding what the entire "A-list" means, since I think there was at least one 3 year stretch when we didn't see a single Qui-Gon, wasn't there? And I'm not sure a year has gone by when Han wasn't made, or C-3PO for that matter. Maybe there's actually something tied in with the movies here, and Qui-Gon & Darth Maul are the "A-listers" for TPM, but lower ranked in overall release strategies.
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Listening to the ForceCast just now, it definitely sounds like Qui-Gon makes the "A List" cut with Maul because there's not much else from TPM that kids liked. Also has to do with all those 8-12 year olds who watched TPM and are now 18-22 year old collectors.
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Listening to the ForceCast just now, it definitely sounds like Qui-Gon makes the "A List" cut with Maul because there's not much else from TPM that kids liked. Also has to do with all those 8-12 year olds who watched TPM and are now 18-22 year old collectors.
(http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/midi/froehlich/a010.gif)
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Yeah, this "list" was originally mentioned a couple issues back in Insider - and although I don't know that they mentioned Chewie, they did specifically say that "you'd be surprised to know that Han isn't on the 'A list'". I think that the reason sited was he wasn't as popular with kids, which is surprising to me (although they do seem a little more into prequel/CW era stuff overall). It did sound like when they say things like "the hero figures are selling well", they are talking about others (Han/Chewie) outside the "A list".
Like Jeff mentioned, it pretty much sounded like "well, since the lightsaber battle was the only good thing about TPM, a lot of kids like Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Maul" :P. Like everyone has mentioned though, for Qui Gon being so A-list, he sure hasn't gotten many releases. The very nice Evolutions figure is making it back out in the mail away this year, but I'm surprised it wasn't put into Saga Legends yet if he is so high profile to them.
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I also thought it was funny how they mentioned Luke was "A list", aside from the Tatooine version. I mean, I guess I can understand how the Pilot and Jedi versions would be more popular (and even Bespin/Hoth) - but to me the Tatooine/Farmboy Luke Skywalker is the most "iconic" look for him (although I think I like Bespin the best personally). This may be one of the reasons why we haven't seen the VOTC version re-released (although I thought it could have been a good fit in the Falcon battle pack). I'd still like to get another extra or two of that figure, waiting on a re-release in Legends or somewhere. I'm thinking it might be "saved" for a Death Star Escape Luke at some point, similar to what we're going to see with the VOTC Han Solo.
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I also thought it was funny how they mentioned Luke was "A list", aside from the Tatooine version. I mean, I guess I can understand how the Pilot and Jedi versions would be more popular (and even Bespin/Hoth) - but to me the Tatooine/Farmboy Luke Skywalker is the most "iconic" look for him (although I think I like Bespin the best personally). This may be one of the reasons why we haven't seen the VOTC version re-released (although I thought it could have been a good fit in the Falcon battle pack). I'd still like to get another extra or two of that figure, waiting on a re-release in Legends or somewhere. I'm thinking it might be "saved" for a Death Star Escape Luke at some point, similar to what we're going to see with the VOTC Han Solo.
I wonder if the "A list" in part is built from Hasbro's own perceptions. If that is the case it might explain why Tatooine Luke is not considered "A list" material, going back to the days of the fan lashback from all the Tatooine Luke sculpts that plagued the world from 95 thru 99.
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Yet Farmboy Luke has probably had the most releases of any Luke I would guess. Or so it would seem.