Updating POTJ: Part VI

It's my turn to bat, but couldn't come up with anything better than...another POTJ entry!

This is Part VI of Power of the Jedi Survivors. This entry looks at 4 vehicles from POTJ.

Rules: Figures and Toys from the POTJ line that haven't been updated/replaced by more modern versions.

For reference, here are all the previous entries in this series that should have been cancelled a few episodes ago, but someone wrote a nice email to management so we're keeping it going:

POTF2: ANH
POTF2: ESB/ROTJ
POTF2: EU
POTF2: Vehicles/Playsets/More Part I
POTF2: Vehicles/Playsets/More Part II
EP1: Collection 1
EP1: Collection 2
EP1: Collection 3
EP1: Vehicles, Playsets, and More PART I
EP1: Vehicles, Playsets, and More PART II
EP1: Vehicles, Playsets, and More PART III
POTJ Part I
POTJ Part II
POTJ Part III
POTJ Part IV
POTJ Part V



All 4 of these are still pretty solid. One was an update to a previous POTF2 release, two were firsts in the modern line, and one was never before made by either Kenner or Hasbro. As for the overall vehicle footprint from POTJ, these are 4 of only 5 vehicles released in the line look. The 5th vehicle was a set consisting of the Kenner/POTF2-era AT-ST and Speederbike. That one has been mercilessly put to rest, but the others are still kicking.

1. Luke Skywalker's Snowspeeder:

not reviewed at this time

This vehicle was probably the least exciting of this group, but was still pretty cool. Going against it was that it had already been released in POTF2, so it wasn't quite as awesome of a release. But it did have some nice changes that made it worth picking up even if you had the earlier version. This one was specifically meant to be Luke Skywalker's ride, and Hasbro didn't just slap the name on the box and call it a day. They weathered the hull of the ship with a lot of carbon scoring and burn marks. Also, the front of the clear canopy has a sticker with a shattered glass pattern. And then not only that, but it came with Luke Skywalker as well as his gunner, Dak Prescott. Now, the figures were terrible, no way around that. Hasbro had updated Luke in his regular X-Wing duds for POTJ, but not the cold weather version, so they were stuck with it as a pack in. They gave Dak a new headsculpt (looks just like him...) and altered the paint on the helmet and the figure a bit. It was the first time Dak was ever in the line, and that was welcome at the time. One other note, Hasbro resculpted the rear harpoon gun to be more movie accurate/realistic, rather than the giant "toy" cannon from the POTF2 release. So it was a small gesture that further indicated that POTJ was a true collector line. I currently use this version as the crashed snow speeder under the AT-AT's foot, even though there are better snowspeeders that came later.

2. TIE Interceptor:

not reviewed at this time

Unlike the snowspeeder, the TIE Interceptor was new to the "modern" line, having existed back in the Kenner days, but not released at all during the POTF2 era. So while it wasn't blowing minds, it was awesome to have it available again. A few interesting notes about the vehicle: First, it predated the SAGA TIE Fighter from 2002, which, as we had just noted in the throwback review the other day, was important historically because it resculpted the cockpit by ditching the old Kenner battery box. So since that was still a year+ away, this TIE Interceptor maintained the battery box (or "flight grip"). It also came with a pilot, which was updated from the original POTF2 version, by providing hinged knee articulation that allows for range of motion that far exceeds that of TVC's Shoretrooper. The joke was on Hasbro, though, as the cockpit didn't actually have a seat, so even with the knee joints, the figure would still sit with legs fully extended straight out like a schmuck. Regardless of these sub-par features, the Interceptor was a welcome addition to the modern line. It has been tweaked and repainted a few times over the years, but there's really no reason for me to toss this one.

3. B-Wing Fighter:

not reviewed at this time

Like the TIE Interceptor, the B-Wing was new to the modern line, but was an update to the existing Kenner version. The electronics were removed, of course, which was the style at the time. But the biggest thing was the excellent paint wash done to the hull of the ship. I don't believe there was really anything quite like it before, and it was really ahead of its time. It looked used and battle worn. Included was a "Sullustan Pilot", which also was a high-grade paint update to the existing Ten Numb POTF2 Cinema Scene figure. No idea why Hasbro opted to not name the character on the box, but they did what they did. My biggest problem with the B-Wing is that it's hard to display in flight mode. I'd love it if Hasbro made clear flight stands available that would work with their various ships, just like they did with Slave I. The B-Wing is awesome when the wings are deployed, but less impressive when "parked." The vehicle was retooled and repainted a couple of times, but like the vehicles above, this one is perfectly cromulent in your modern collection.

4. TIE Bomber:

not reviewed at this time

This was one of the first times that I can remember being legitimately excited about a new release. It was in my early days of collecting, as I had only started with the Episode I line. By the time POTJ was in full swing, I had already successfully acquired the rest of the POTF2 line (via Ebay and with the help of the Great Toys R Us Warehouse Blowout of 2000). I was always fascinated by the TIE Bomber, and as much as I knew of such things when I was 7, I think it was the ship I most wish was a real thing back in the Kenner days. When I found out about this TIE Bomber, I was stunned it was going to be a reality. So this was truly never-before-made. The sculpt is great, and it has a neat bomb dropping feature. This marked the first time that any TIE Fighter had working ordnance. Of course, Hasbro repainted and released it a few times, before providing an excellent update to the bomb feature and cockpit about 10 years later. Again, while it's been improved a bit, it's certainly far from obsolete, and still works nicely in one's current collection.

While none of these 4 vehicles are the best versions that exist, they do stand up well. There is always some chatter about redoing these for TVC. I'm not really a fan of Hasbro dedicating resources to updating any of them, although I'm sure they would do a nice job. I think these are excellent, and in particular, I will always love the TIE Bomber.

Well, that's a wrap on POTJ survivors. It's unlikely I'm going to continue into the blue SAGA line because I think there's just too much to cover. But you never know. Always in motion, is the future.

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