OPINION:  The Next Vintage Collection HasLab Should Be Prequel Trilogy Focused

This will be the last of my HasLab articles for this season. There are more things I want to discuss, but I don't want the content to get too one-note here. Next week we'll return to reviews of Clone Captain Commanders, and articles about wrist hinges, SDCC exclusives, and lycanthropic Cantina Patrons. The last thing is only HasLab adjacent. So this will be my last go at the subject for a while (at least a week).

One of the challenges Hasbro faces is keeping all the factions of their fanbase engaged. This line can't afford to lose any customers. I wasn't pushing for A New Hope #MakeTheMains just because it aligned with my personal wants. I was pushing for it because I could see from our comments that the line was about to face a big off ramping of customers if the source didn't get some attention, and because I was convinced the figures would be retail successes, which is equally as important. I absolutely will not advocate for anything that I think might perform poorly as a mass release without clearly noting it. When I wrote about my genuine want for a White Witch HasLab, I repeatedly stated that it would probably be a terrible idea. Conversely, if something isn't on my personal want list, but I think it will sell well, I will support it. I'm now team Pong Krell after his showing in last year's March Madness.

My allegiance is to democracy the 3.75" scale and seeing it take its rightful place as the standard for Star Wars.

I've repeatedly said that #MakeTheMains starts with A New Hope, but it doesn't end there. When I ranked the #MakeTheMains, I said that Revenge of the Sith was the next most critical source after Episode IV. The PT in general needs some attention in the line, and that includes HasLab. We've had two HasLabs from the OT, one from new media and one from animation. The PT needs its shot at glory. There is a problem, however. As with the OT, so many of the viable candidates have already been done, just as scaled down toys. Unfortunately, that restricts the market because the "good enough" crowd will be satisfied with the previous versions. I don't see a slam dunk PT candidate, but that doesn't mean Hasbro shouldn't try. Here are three options I think Hasbro could consider.

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Whenever fans start ideating PT HasLabs, a better-scaled Republic Gunship always rockets to the forefront. The LAAT is definitely the most iconic vehicle from the Prequel era. A better-scaled one could be loaded up with Clones and Jedi to anchor a great diorama. However, as mentioned above, one already exists in the line, and a number of fans will be satisfied with that. Additionally, there is no pack-in figure(s), like the Tonnikas, that could be used to pull in backers. The logical pack-in would simply be a Clone Pilot on the new Clone Trooper buck. Not exactly a once in a lifetime opportunity like Brea and Senni. The flip side is that the main line ecosystem to support a Gunship would be legendary. It could be used as motivation to update core PT Jedi like Mace Windu, Ki-Adi-Mundi and Shaak Ti.

The only other thing is that it could be a case of "I think they know not for what they ask." The existing under-scaled Gunship already takes up a lot of space volumetrically. A bigger, better-scaled version would require a coffee table to display.

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This has a lot going for it. It's the center of not one, but two massive action pieces with the attempted execution and then the kickoff of the Battle of Geonosis. The pack-in figures could be updates to the secondary Jedi whose older figures go for a bloody fortune on the secondary market like Sarrissa Jeng, the Rodian Jedi, and the saber-tossing Nicanas Tassu. The mainline ecosystem would then be those core PT Jedi mentioned above. It has a lot going for it in those respects.

But then...again, it's already been done as part of the Episode II line, and it's a playset. As I discussed yesterday, play sets present more challenges than vehicles.

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I personally feel like this one is a winner. Yes, the ETA-2 fighter has been done before, but it's iconic-enough, and hero-based enough to warrant the current "studio model" upgrade treatment that Hasbro has been giving the vehicles lately. It would also be a new concept for HasLabs in that you'd get two individually boxed items as part of the deal. The pack-in figures would obviously be 100% newly tooled Episode III Anakin and Obi-Wan figures, but with unique heads that have the pilot headset sculpted on. Then main line could have the standard releases of those two figures. If Hasbro could do for the ETA-2 what it did for Mando's N1, complete with flight stands, I think it would be amazing. HasLabs have a lower production run, so I'd expect $300 for the pair. I'd be in for it. Plus the tooling would have repaint opportunities.

I know a lot of fans will say that this should be a regular retail release, but that ignores the fact the retailers haven't exactly been lining up for vehicles lately. I'd rather get them via HasLab than wait years. The other downside is that the mainline ecosystem wouldn't be nearly as strong as the other two options.

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Update: Ugh. I totally meant to have this on the list, but forgot. Randy reminded me in the comments. Strike what I said above, this is the real winner, in my opinion. Now I have to make a hot fix to the article. This won't go well.

Even though it has the challenges of a play set, it has never been done before. The pack-ins would include a much needed red-robed Palpatine, an all new Agen Kolar and an all new Saesee Tiin. The latter two need updates, but would probably struggle at retail (they have in the past). The main line ecosystem would be a home run. We could get all new updates to Mace Windu, Kit Fisto, and most importantly, Anakin Skywalker. This would be the one I'd be most excited about.

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Those are the ones I can think of. I'm sure there are others you'd like to see. Let us know in the comments. Also, perhaps you don't want a PT HasLab at all, so let us know that, as well.

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