Given the recent firestorm over the 'where's the female figures Hasbro?' question that came out of the JTA TF Q&A, I feel compelled - why I don't know, because I absolutely don't have the time in my day to stop and ponder the inequities facing adults with disposable income - to comment on the reaction to the possibility Ceremony Leia is cancelled today. I suppose it's my concern with where the hobby is headed. I've collected SW and SW toys since I was 3 years old. I'm 40 now. I'm like a lot of people that care about this mythology and these toys enough to have it be part of my entire life. I said before regarding the Q&A that women in SW is a problem with the brand itself. As a writer of fiction, as an avid reader and cinephile, I advocate for better female representation in media, especially Hollywood. I advocate for it in SW. My initial reaction to the TFA cast announcement was the same as a large number of people - wow, there's one girl. Hasbro can always do better by female figures - still waiting on Dorme, Satine and Night Sisters, FYI Hasbro - but what percentage of female characters in SW media get figures? Without being very scientific about it, I'd wager it's a much, much higher percentage than the number of women in SW vis-a-vis men.
I love my hobby, I love enthusiasm, but I don't like the rampant negativity or inattention to the facts that breeds undue speculation and further negativity. In all likelihood, this figure is not in wave 8. But before we attack Hasbro again for what it isn't doing re: female figures, and pile on a controversy that was created by the people currently piling on, can we:
1) Confirm with Hasbro that the figure is delayed/cancelled/whatever before saying it is? I understand that since 1995 most of this hobby has been rumors (and totally BS ones) but with the Toy Fair debacle, the hobby veered blindly into a cultural issue where speculation has no place. Debating a real, serious issue like female representation in media demands you have context and facts.
2) Understand that this is one of FOUR 3 3/4 inch Leia figures that will be available this year alone. When was the last time, outside of the Princess Leia collection back in '98, that this ever happened? Never, that's when. That doesn't take into consideration the Leia(s) we'll see from TFA this fall, of which we can be assured. These four OT Leia figures also comprise a group of 6 total female figures that are/will be available this spring/summer, including Sabine and Hera. When was the last time that happened? It could be it did with one of the prequels, not sure, but when you step back and take a look at the boy's aisle today, that's pretty uncommon if not unheard of. Most of these figures are in a segment of the line aimed directly at kids and not collectors.
3) Since The Black Series / Saga Legends lines launched in 2013, there have been 11 female figures including the ones mentioned above. Someone correct me if I've left any out.
4) This is all in addition to the Boushh Leia in the 6 inch range due soon. Now that wave was pulled for solicitation recently, but I'm thinking that has more to do (maybe Wave 8 does too) with the fact that there's this little movie called The Force Awakens coming out and Hasbro is running up against itself with product dropping 9/4. It's March, basically April, and we're looking at A LOT of TBS having a very limited shelf life before retail moves on. That sucks for the figures in these waves, and not just Leia.
I don't know. I think this is much ado about nothing, but I dislike strongly the type of internet 'post and it's journalism!' mentality that is currently running rampant through this hobby. 99% of this I shrug off because it's my hobby and I like my hobby, mostly, but lately I feel something has changed. Perspective is always healthy, especially when it comes to TOYS, and anyways. My two cents.