Chris’s Top 10 Vintage Collection Figures Of 2024

It is my strongly held opinion that 2024 has been a rough year for the Vintage Collection on many levels. Compiling last year's Top 10 list was an exercise in deciding which figures would get snubbed. This year it was a challenge trying to come up with ten figures worthy of inclusion. But this isn't the time to gripe about what's gone wrong this year. It's time to celebrate what went right.

As I do every year, I need to remind you that this list is highly subjective. This isn't a technical ranking of the ten best executed figures of the year. It's a combination of the two. Being well executed helps, but if I'm not all that thrilled about adding that figure to my collection, it's not enough to land it on my list alone. Conversely, if there's a figure that I desperately want for my collection, but the execution disappoints in some way, it's going to slide down the list (probably unfairly).

We'll start off with my lone honorable mention this year, and then go in descending order. LET'S GO!

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Okay, yes, it's a little weird that a repack from 2022 is an honorable mention for the best figures if 2024, but this is the greatest repack ever. This 2024 re-release of the Stormtrooper is the best selling figure of all time through our Entertainment Earth affiliate link. Moreover, the Stormtrooper is the most frequently mentioned candidate for "figures that should always be in stock" among the fanbase. The fact that it is sitting in-stock on Amazon (shipped and sold) HERE is just awesome. We'd all prefer that they were always available at brick and mortar, but that paradigm for adult collectible toys is dying. Having been able to order a Stormtrooper off Amazon whenever I want for the past several months is just awesome. I've been adding one whenever I make an order. They are also in stock at Entertainment Earth HERE (sponsored). Use code BANTHA at check out for 10% off in stock items.

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This entry was originally Jod Na Nawood. For honest and true it was. I even made the image and everything. You can see it HERE. But as I was writing the entry, I was overwhelmed by how I couldn't possibly care less that the Jod figure exists. Maybe I'll appreciate it someday if Skeleton Crew ends up being an epic series AND we get the companion figures I consider important (read: not the kids). But as it stands right now, Jod will find his way into a drawer somewhere with my Acolyte figures.

Instead, I pivoted to a figure that I'm thrilled to have in my collection. Figures based on VC241 - Darth Vader (Dark Times) are the classic case of "born on third base.” This Episode IV Vader starts off excellent, but it has one flaw that I can't look past that lands it at the bottom of the list (and almost off it). The glossy upper tabard is a real bummer.

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Captain Rex is far too important of a character for all his previous releases to have been misfires. Fortunately for him, he's not an OT character, so when Hasbro swings and misses, they're not afraid to take another cut (poor Endor Han weeps in the corner). Thankfully, Hasbro finally got a Captain Rex figure right with this release. It would be higher, but the fact that this is now the third Rex in TVC 2.0 saps a little of my enthusiasm.

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And now we begin a string of "they should be much higher" entries. There was long-standing pent up demand for Cobb Vanth after he debuted in season 2 of The Mandalorian. Hasbro could have issued a half measure by releasing an un-armored Vanth from the Book of Boba Fett, so it's commendable they went straight to the "big dog" armored version from Mos Pelgo.

But unfortunately, even though this "Mandalorian Armor" Vanth was released in TVC at TBS pricing, we didn't get all of the paint applications that the TBS version did. Those missing apps are why this figure is so far down on my list. I regret giving it a 9 in the review. It should have been an 8. This figure is currently on sale for $13 at Target, and it's still not moving. Our hobby isn't in great shape, friends.

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This should have been number one. This should have been number one so hard that the next entry would be forced to start at number six because nothing else deserved to be anywhere near its orbit. This Princess Leia is the figure I am happiest about adding to my collection, but I can't rank it very highly. I need it to do more, but the plastic skirt precludes it from doing so. It looks amazing, but I'm a "function before form" kind of guy.

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Once again, Count Dooku should be up much higher on my list. He should be two. Of course, if Leia earned her rightful one spot, he would have to be six based on the rules above, so maybe this is right. I think I just made myself go crosseyed.

Anyway, the poor range of motion of the elbows is what keeps this figure from climbing the ranks in my opinion. I was so excited about posing this Dooku in the distinctive way he holds his saber to address his opponent before battle. It's the second best combat address in the Saga to Kebobi's overhead deuces. The hinged wrists would have made Dooku's address possible if the elbows bent beyond ninety degress, but they don't even come close.

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The Phase I Clone Trooper is the "Stormtrooper figure" of the PT in my opion. It's a true army builder. Due to the distinctive organizational markings of the Phase II clones, I'm loathe to go too deep into the army building except for the 501st and 212th.

I'm thrilled I can finally relegate all my "skinny" Clones to the "obsolete" bin. There's no reason to put a governor on my army building of this Clone Trooper, and as as mentioned with the Stormtrooper, it's great that they're readily available from online retailers. Whenever I need a collecting dopamine drip, I can just order one up. That's neato, gang.

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It stinks that this figure was relegated to the deluxe line, but man did Hasbro nail it. Even the oversized holsters weren't so glaring once it was in hand. This release functions like a dream, and does all the stuff a Jango needs to do. I only wish Hasbro would get us the Kamino backpack somehow someway.

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These next three figures are really 1A, B and C. I could randomize the order if I wanted to, and I would be fine with the results. The reasons for favoring the other two are minor. This Sabine is perfect. The paint apps are stunning and the poseability is amazing. One nitpicky reason to slide Sabine down the roster a tick is that we just got the Ahsoka version last year, so it doesn't have the newness factor of the next two.

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Another perfect figure. The fighting poses that can be achieved are insane. This Zeb stays perfectly balanced even in extreme dueling crouches. The figure looks like it's loaded up and coiled waiting to pounce for the knockout blow like a vintage Mike Tyson. Zeb never cracked my personal Top 25 because, well, my lists are the domain of the OT, PT, video games and publishing. I wouldn't have shed a tear for myself if I went to the happy hunting ground, and Hasbro had never made a Zeb figure (although I would have been sad for the community). But now that Hasbro has made him, I'm very glad he's in my collection.

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As I said, objectively, there's not much that separates the top 3 figures on my list this year. I'm not exaggerating at all. If this weren't a subjective list, I would have had a three way tie at the top. Subjectively, when things are equal, the tie goes to the figure that primarily interacts with a lightsaber. In my collecting world view, there is nothing more gratifying than when a saber-wielding figure can be dynamically posed. I've been in love with this Kanan release from the second I opened it and started posing it out.

Take everything I said about my prior demand from Zeb and apply it to Kanan (though Kanan is my favorite Rebels character). Despite that, this will remain one of my favorites in the line for a long time. Hera topped my list last year, and now Kanan this year. I need to see what Hasbro can do with a Jacen figure.

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Good God, these annual Top 10 articles take forever. Nomad roused me from my slumber for some content today, and I foolishly decided this would be it. I'm now almost five and a half hours into it. I'm going to punch him in the side of the head the next time I see him. Anyway, post your Top 10 below if you'd like.

Also, I demand Bret post his Top 10 article.

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