JediDefender.com Forums
Collectibles => The Vintage Collection => Topic started by: Jeff on December 11, 2012, 12:06 PM
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Hasbro sends along word this morning that they will be re-releasing a number of Vintage Collection figures in early 2013 - check out the press releases below.
For the USA:
STAR WARS VINTAGE FIGURE LINE: U.S. REGION UPDATE
Great news, STAR WARS action figure fans! Hasbro will be re-issuing fan favorites from the popular VINTAGE line. We heard fans loud and clear, and as such only the best of the best characters from previously released waves will be featured in the revived line. The new series of VINTAGE figures will be available starting in early February 2013. Distribution of characters may vary by location and is not controlled by Hasbro, so please check your local retailer for your favorite characters around that time.
Characters to be featured in the line include the following in the U.S. market:
Episode I Darth Maul
Episode VI Luke Skywalker (Lightsaber Contruction) Deleted Scene figure
CW Anakin Skywalker
Episode IV Darth Vader
Episode V Luke Skywalker (Hoth Outfit)
Episode II Aayla Secura
EU Nom Anor
Episode III Clone Trooper (501st Legion)
Episode VI Kithaba (Skiff Guard)
Episode IV Dr. Evazan (Cantina Patron)
Episode VI Wedge Antilles
Episode II Barriss Offee (Jedi Padawan)
Episode V Han Solo (Bespin Outfit)
Episode IV Bom Vindin (Cantina Patron)
EU ARC Trooper Commander
Episode VI Logray (Ewok Medicine Man)
Episode VI Gamorrean Guard
Episode IV Rebel Fleet Trooper
Episode III Odd Ball (Clone Pilot)
Episode IV Grand Moff Tarkin
Episode VI Nikto (Skiff Guard)
EU Starkiller (Vaders Apprentice)
EU Shae Vizla (Old Republic Bounty Hunter)
And for the international markets:
The following characters will available in markets outside of the U.S.:
Wave 1
Episode II Aayla Secura
Episode III Clone Trooper (501st Legion)
Episode VI Kithaba (Skiff Guard)
Episode IV Dr. Evazan (Cantina Patron)
Episode VI Wedge Antilles
Episode II Barriss Offee (Jedi Padawan)
Episode V Han Solo (Bespin Outfit)
Episode IV Bom Vindin (Cantina Patron)
EU ARC Trooper Commander
Episode IV Rebel Fleet Trooper
Episode VI Gamorrean Guard
Episode VI Logray (Ewok Medicine Man)
Wave 2
Episode I Jar Jar Binks
Episode I Jar Jar Binks (Lost Line Look)
Episode II Clone Trooper Lieutenant
Episode II Clone Trooper Lieutenant (Lost Line Look)
Episode III Shocktrooper
Episode III Shocktrooper (Lost Line Look)
Episode IV Sandtrooper
Episode IV Sandtrooper (Lost Line Look)
Episode V Princess Leia (Bespin Outfit)
Episode V Princess Leia (Bespin Outfit) (Lost Line Look)
Episode VI Darth Vader
Episode VI Darth Vader (Lost Line Look)
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I guess by "Fan Favorite" they mean just re-shipping the bulk of Waves 4, 4.1, and 5 to the US accounts and then Waves 4 and 6 to the international accounts. :P
Was anyone really clamoring for more Bom Vimdin or Hoth Luke? ???
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These will just be re-shipments right? It's not like they're changing the packaging up or anything are they?
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Yawn...like jeff said, just call this rereleasing old product. I would have been more excited if the INC and ERG were in there
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These will just be re-shipments right? It's not like they're changing the packaging up or anything are they?
Nope, same releases and packaging as before.
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It's a disappointment that it isn't a true "Best of" assortment, but this is unexpected so kudos to Hasbro for keeping TVC in circulation for folks who missed out this year. I might pick up some additional 501st Clones, ARC Commanders, and Gam Guards if I see them.
Now hopefully Hasbro branches out and gets the Naboo fighter, green Clone tank, and some of the rarer deluxe sets (Scuba Clone, Anakin w/ fighter) into circulation as well.
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Yeah some of those are headscratchers, but I'll take more Fleet Troopers. He was findable, but not in any quantity, and never for long, so yeah I'll be cool with that at least. I'd like another Tarkin too, honestly. He's a figure who needs customized at this point, to me, but I never saw more than 2 and I wanted a carded one and loose one.
Bom Vimdin, Hoth Luke, even Wedge (he's out in bulk at 5 Below, and not moving as well as Wicket, Gammie, or even some of the repack army builders)... bad choices.
Nice to see Hasbro note that they can't control the distribution of this stuff too, and basically making SURE you see it's the retailers fault if you can't find what you want of this stuff next year.
What I don't get is, why would retail get any of it next year when they seemingly didn't want it this year? A whole line separate of the main line right next to it again?
Anyway, yeah, some better choices could've been made. INC and Royal Guard and Republic Trooper all would've made my list of wants. Evazan, RFT, Vizla, Malgus would also make my list.
To the "No" list I'd add CW Ani even though he's good. Save him for future re-releases in the regular line on other packaging since Ani sells and he's a good figure from a kid-oriented base. Saber construction Luke I saw more than any figure from that wave. E1 Maul? Really? You'd consider releasing ANY of those Wave 1 figures, again? Like Ani, save him for re-release as filler for new waves on new cards.
Likewise, I saw Barriss Offee often. I saw ROTS 501st Clone more than any from his wave. Saw Logray a lot. I still have an "Oddball" up at K-mart that's going nowhere.
Narrow it down, add a few like the INC, and maybe double up on him and other army builders, and you'd make more people happy I think.
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Anyway, yeah, some better choices could've been made.
That's just it, I don't really see any "choices" being made. I see Hasbro dumping their excess stock of Waves 4, 4.1, 5, and 6 on us and calling them "fan favorites!" ::)
If you go to EE and look up the case packs for those waves, the list you get will be 95% the same as Hasbro's list there. I think the only one you're missing is Qui-Gon and I won't be surprised if he hits the pegs with these too because of that.
To make it even sadder, this is the THIRD try at re-releasing some of these. They made a whole big deal this year about how great it was that they were giving us "fan favorite" 2010 Wave 7 and Gammie again in 2012. Now we get the same wave again in 2013 too? Bom Vimdin is not that popular.
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I know people are clamboring for ERG and the Republic Trooper, but then that makes it upsetting that Hasbro said this wave was only available online. Ehh, whatever.
Maybe the big announcement is the Tonnika Sisters, or the OT Lars relatives.
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You can maybe say that Hasbro is doing us a favor by getting these cases to market but they have actually hit, and are hitting more now with the holidays approaching; I've actually found these cases at retail now.
I think the reason that Hasbro is getting retail to take them is probably because, in that news that's coming, we're going to find out that the BaD line is getting pushed until fall to tie in with the 3D releases better. Then they carry it over through 2014 which leads them into the 2015 new movie line without having to do any packaging change in 2014.
If they get to plan the 2014 line now, push the 2013 stuff until end of the year, that also frees them up about mid-way through 2013 to start working on the 2015 movie lines.
E...
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On the bright side, lots of people who weren't able to get Shae or Starkiller will seemingly get another chance. Kithaba will probably be the red headband version as well. Too bad some of us already spent a hefty chunk of change tracking these down on the secondary market. :P
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All that is happening here is Hasbro is leaving the SKU alive and any store that orders will get these 3 leftover stock cases. Instead of giving them to the discount stores like they have been. But I do I think that there will be a real "Best Of" wave released later in the year. Most likely just the Online wave with the Bastila wave and INC replacing the four Walmart figures.
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So basically they're phasing out the E1 heavy cases then, is what you're saying Jeff, and they'll just leave these cases around to order till a later point, and like E and others mentioned, BAD later in the year?
That's ok I guess and kinda what I was thinking was going on, except I hadn't looked at it in the perspective of all the E1 heavy cases are basically closed out there. Could be a nice long break of toy buying in 2013 too. :-X I can't say I'd be upset at that.
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Yeah - if this means that for the first half of 2013 all that I'll have to worry about is the Movie Heroes and Clone Wars releases and the Vintage packaged AT-AT (that has yet to surface), I'm okay with that.
I'm sure 2015 is going to be an expensive year so anything that helps to make 2013 and 2014 a less-expensive year is a GOOD thing. :-\
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Like others have mentioned, looks more like a case dump than "fan favorites", but oh well. Some nice figures in there, and it is great for anyone who is still looking for those. I may pick up an extra here or there (like RFTs or something), but I'm pretty happy with what I have from these waves already. Plus, although some of them are a bit higher priced, I think the majority of these are available on Amazon right now as well. Nice to get them out to retail too.
If it does lead to a delay in BAD, I guess I'd be ok with that too. I could use the break to save up for future stuff (or fill in other things I've been wanting to track down - like the original vintage line for me). It is just another one of those weird decisions we've seen from the SW lines lately. All of a sudden, last minute, they're throwing these out there again without much rhyme or reason to it. If they wanted to get "hard to find collector favorites" out there again, why not just release this last (online exclusive) wave to retail instead. I'm sure people would be happy to find more Royal Guards, etc. on the pegs at their local store. I'm sure there is a reason for it (they have lots of these cases left around, and they are pushing them out there again), but again, just a strange decision in a way.
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This looks to me like the Discounters of the world were not prepared to take on the crazy number of cases that wound up stuck in the distribution system. So, Hasbro will be offering these assortments in greater numbers through brick & mortar retail. I just couldn't see TJ Maxx, 5 Below, Big Lots and others taking on all of that stock that wound up sitting in warehouses. It's too big of an inventory position for them, so Hasbro probably had to find another angle. Witness this press release. ::)
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The whole "Fan Favorite Re-Issues" spin by Hasbro is hilarious. As if they really give a hoot about fans...
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If they'd at least mixed up the assortments yeah, but like Jeff pointed out... It's cases already established, and some nobody wants. Lame.
Now will the retailers even buy them? Retail didn't want this stuff last year.
I'm at least glad the Fleet Trooper's listed. I want more and couldn't find them.
No INC's is a huge disappointment, but imagine THAT case coming out. That was a particularly large **** sandwich of an assortment. So was Wave 2, as much as I'd love more of the A-Winger and Cracken. ::)
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Now will the retailers even buy them? Retail didn't want this stuff last year.
Someone pointed out to me that this may have already started... this could be the reason that TRU/Walmart have suddenly been getting in those Red Bandana Kithaba cases the last couple weeks.
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Yeah. The absence of the Imperial Naval Commander and Emporer's Royal Guard are pretty glaring if you're going to call this wave "Fan Favorites".
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The whole "Fan Favorite Re-Issues" spin by Hasbro is hilarious. As if they really give a hoot about fans...
It's typical corporate BS spin, but the honest alternatives ("Star Wars: The Leftover Collection" or "We Screwed Up, Big Time Assortments") probably wouldn't sell the product too well. :D
I've said this on a few other sites, so I'll say it here as well. Maybe, just maybe, if these TVC "favorites" sell well Hasbro might do additional production runs for rarities from 2010 and 2011, as well as the online wave army builders.
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I think this "recalibration" of what was originally to be the hiatus of TVC at the end of 2012 can be an indication of something we've seen before with the Saga (SWS) line's "Hall of Fame" assortment, a majority of the OTC line, and the "Greatest Battles" and "Heroes & Villains" assortments for the TSC line. Those were all stop-gaps for the lead up to EIII merchandise glut and the kick off of TAC which had a sizable marketing push.
I think with the announcement of more films and the acceleration of the 3D releases, a ton of Hasbro's resources are going to have to go to the development of all new product for Episode VII and to ensure that the distribution issues of the past few years get worked out of the system. I expect we will see very little "new" product until later in 2013-14 and even then, the "new" stuff will be old stuff in new packaging (a la Movie Heroes) with a few new sculpts and repaints sprinkled in.
Just a theory.
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So what you're saying is that 2014 could essentially be the 10th Anniversary OTC line - 7 new figures and 33 repacks on OT-themed cards! :-X
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At $10 a pop still? I sure hope not. Otherwise, loadsa money saved on my end. :-\ Could be a long hiatus from collecting.
Then again... hmmm...
Always eye Sideshow stuff and don't buy. Just admire from afar. Lego too. My life could change dramatically in terms of the crap I have to collect all my dust I spread around.
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I could see Hasbro basically punt in 2014 but I hope not. If they do let the VC figures ride until the middle of 2013 and then roll out the new BaD figures we've seen, they could use late 2013 and 2014 to do a couple of waves of OT and PT characters from their parking lot to sort of clear them out to concentrate on Sequel Trilogy figures from there on out.
The easier approach, of course, would be just to re-pack a lot of crap in 2014 and basically not do any new tooling. If they put out the right characters it could work, but I don't trust them to do that, they'll keep Maul, Vader, Luke, Obi-Wan and Anakin in the mix, and we really don't need any more of them, basically, ever. Or at least until they've had a good break.
Jeff might be onto something though, about the figures that have recently started showing up at WM and TRU again. This plan may already be in motion and that's why we're seeing them. I guess it's always possible that Hasbro worked with the retailers, said they'd hold onto the new stuff and maybe gave them a deal on the VC stuff so they'd take them. Might be better for Hasbro to cut a deal with the big 3 retailers rather than cutting a deal with the Five Below, TJ Maxx/Marshalls, Ross type stores.
"Fan favorite" is definitely marketing spin but really, there are some good characters in those cases. Some good army builders, Vizla, Tarkin, Anakin, Luke...they're good figures and from reading the forums, it seems like there is still room in the market for more. Lot of people haven't seen some of these and even though they've been online, you have to think that there are still collectors out there not on the forums and that don't order online and they've probably not haid their fill of these yet.
E...
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Could this be a way for Hasbro to keep the pegs stocked until they can actually ship a real "fan favorite" wave that they are working on? If they don't have anything to ship, the stores will fill the pegs with something else and then when they offer them the "fan favorite" wave, the stores won't have anywhere to put it so they won't order. Kind of like what they do when they release a repaint wave.
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Yeah. The absence of the Imperial Naval Commander and Emporer's Royal Guard are pretty glaring if you're going to call this wave "Fan Favorites".
And Darth Malgus and Echo Base Trooper
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Yeah. The absence of the Imperial Naval Commander and Emporer's Royal Guard are pretty glaring if you're going to call this wave "Fan Favorites".
And Darth Malgus and Echo Base Trooper
These are all must re-issues. Bastila Shan as well.
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Yeah. The absence of the Imperial Naval Commander and Emporer's Royal Guard are pretty glaring if you're going to call this wave "Fan Favorites".
And Darth Malgus and Echo Base Trooper
These are all must re-issues. Bastila Shan as well.
Excellent additions to the list of the unrepresented. It just goes to show that this is a case dump by Hasbro, and not what they're calling it.
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Hey! It's "fan-favorites" for the kiddies now, not us adult collectors. :-*
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I can't wait for the next announcement, as Hasbro deals with the glut of product it has sitting around...
"Great news, STAR WARS action figure fans! Hasbro will be re-issuing fan favorites from the extraordinarily popular Phantom Menace wave! We heard fans loud and clear, and as such only the best of the best characters from the Phantom Menace wave will be featured in the revived line. The new series of VINTAGE figures will be available starting in early February 2013, and will fill the pegs until the end of time as we know it. Distribution of characters may vary by location and is not controlled by Hasbro, but rest assured every retailer will be clogged to the gills with all your favorite Phantom Menace characters forever!"
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Get your Qui-Gon, Naboo Soldier and assorted pod racers while you can (which is forever).
Honestly, I don't actively collect anymore, but I do check every time I go into a department store, and I have never seen it as bad as it is now. I wanted to grab a Bespin Han, and never saw it, so I am kind of glad he's returning, but I would rather hear that 5 Below is getting these things since I feel that a SW figure is worth $5, not $10. I got out when those prices shot up to $8 arouund RotS.
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Yeah, I have been anticipating picking up some of the Aayla/Tarkin Wave @ 5 Below for awhile now...I would much rather go that route.
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What an insult. Who honestly thinks this was a good idea? Shove that crap on Hasbro Toy Shop and it will eventually sell. I don't know why upset since this is more money for me to save (or spend on LEGO) but I guess I'm just itching to see something NEW on the shelves.
Episode I Darth Maul
Episode VI Luke Skywalker (Lightsaber Contruction) Deleted Scene figure
CW Anakin Skywalker
Episode IV Darth Vader
Episode V Luke Skywalker (Hoth Outfit)
Episode II Aayla Secura
EU Nom Anor
Episode III Clone Trooper (501st Legion)
Episode VI Kithaba (Skiff Guard)
Episode IV Dr. Evazan (Cantina Patron)
Episode VI Wedge Antilles
Episode II Barriss Offee (Jedi Padawan)
Episode V Han Solo (Bespin Outfit)
Episode IV Bom Vindin (Cantina Patron)
EU ARC Trooper Commander
Episode VI Logray (Ewok Medicine Man)
Episode VI Gamorrean Guard
Episode IV Rebel Fleet Trooper
Episode III Odd Ball (Clone Pilot)
Episode IV Grand Moff Tarkin
Episode VI Nikto (Skiff Guard)
EU Starkiller (Vaders Apprentice)
EU Shae Vizla (Old Republic Bounty Hunter)
Like Jeff said, I got most of these figures from a Wave 4 case, and the others (Tarkin) I got off Amazon. Here's what a better, and actual "Best of Vintage" case would/should look like:
Gammorean Guard (2010)
Han Solo (Bespin 2011)
ARC Trooper (EU 2011)
Rebel Fleet Trooper (ANH 2011)
Wedge Antilles (ROTJ 2011)
Ponda Baba (ANH 2011)
Echo Base Deck Officer (ESB 2011)
Bastilla Shan (EU 2011)
Luke Skywalker (Hoth 2012)
Aayla Secura (ROTS 2012)
EU Nom Anor (EU 2012)
Kithaba (ROTJ 2012) (red bandanna only)
Dr. Evazan (ANH 2012)
Grand Moff Tarkin (ANH 2012)
Nikto (ROTJ 2012)
Starkiller (Vaders Apprentice) (EU 2012)
Shae Vizla (Old Republic Bounty Hunter) (EU 2012)
And any non-DTF repack from Wave 16
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Thing is, and as has been pointed out, you can tell by the figure list that Hasbro's just sending out cases that already exist... Not making up new assortments or cherry picking existing cases and making up new ones. That's just not gonna happen. This is obviously, at this point, "We had a lot of this and can't take a bath on it if we can avoid it".
I wouldn't count on 5 Below getting every wave you want... They're still getting waves from 2010. They're probably going to get relegated to really just the even older waves. 2012 stuff I'd expect to stay with the big retailers for the time being I guess, except perhaps the first 3 waves.
Those may surface at a discounter because Hasbro, judging by the release info, knows those 3 are poison at retail... At $5, they may fly off the pegs. I mean, I'd buy Lil Ani's and Naboo Guards and stuff at $5. And obviously the new ones from 2 and 3 would do fine at $5. But yeah I wouldn't count on Wave 4 onward showing up at a discounter at this point.
Now... Bastilla Shan Wave or other older waves? Maybe. They seem to be off the table at this point for the big retailers, which could mean they don't honestly have many of those around, or perhaps they do and are just waiting to move them to a discounter. The Endor wave was definitely a surprise... It was also an XMas time wave as I recall... maybe there was just more of that wave.
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I'll be curious to see how this pans out, and if it turns into an opportunity for Hasbro to hit other 'fan favorites.' I expect what's going to happen is Hasbro is moving the BAD stuff to fall of next year to coincide with the 3D releases. Once they moved the movie dates, it didn't make sense to front load 2013 with such AOTC heavy toys. They will need to fill that gap somehow and this apparently is it, though as some are saying, we already have these toys, by and large. If it extends into other figs like the Navy Trooper, who I don't have an opener of, then great.
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I'd love to find the Naboo guard at 5-Below. I would build a squad of those guys at $5/per.
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What is even more funny about these "fan favorites" is that most are shipping with the "Win a lifesize Darth Maul" promotion sticker - which expired about 4 mo. ago. ::) :P
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I was just messing with some of the Nikto's and Weequay's that have been made in the past few years. It's too bad some of the Weequay's didn't make this assortmanet because there are some pretty decent Kitbashes that can be done with between most of the Nikto and Weequays. Just swapping heads and hands.
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I was just messing with some of the Nikto's and Weequay's that have been made in the past few years. It's too bad some of the Weequay's didn't make this assortmanet because there are some pretty decent Kitbashes that can be done with between most of the Nikto and Weequays. Just swapping heads and hands.
Kithaba and Nikto Jedi head's swap out decently, Kithaba's head being a bit tight on Nikto (I'll never remember his name). I haven't tried their hands, because I only have one of each figure.