A Discussion About The Future Of The Deluxe Vintage Collection Line

Preface: “Deluxe offerings” and “build-up packs” are synonymous for the sake of this article.

I’m pumped for the “new” deluxe expression with a cardback and blister that was unveiled at SDCC with VC343 Cobb Vanth. They are also numbered as part of main line with what appears to be a new size card. Sorry OCD carded collectors, create a support group so the 50 of you who care too much can work through the card-size paradigm shift. I must admit though, I do wish these carded deluxe were on 6" x 9" cards like the VC162A Sith Trooper (Armory Pack) figure.


Let’s quickly highlight the few different forms and combinations of Vintage Collection Deluxe figures so far:

• Larger figures like Paz, Zeb, and Krrsantan
• Increased paint deco figures like Boba Fett and Sabine Wren
• Figures with more than the normal 2-4 accessories like Ahsoka Tano and Grogu, Luke and Grogu
• Figures that come with small world-building items like the Stormtrooper with e-web cannon, Tusken Warrior & Massiff
• The Fett family

When it comes to this expression, it would be great to get small world building items, meaningful additional accessories, or, a big hope of mine, an alternate head sculpt if the figure was already offered (like Krrsantan’s roaring expression). The ones I appreciate most come with small world building items, such as the Imperial Stormtrooper (Navarro Cantina) with e-web canon. Small world-building items provide diorama accessories that we may not always get, even if a play set is offered.

For example, how about a character debut Ewok that at one point was supposed to be part of the 2013 TVC multi-pack Ewok with Catapult as seen HERE and HERE. That is Brethupp, the “Dalmatian” Ewok:

Brethupp would come with 9 accessories that include his drum kit with 5 imperial helmets, drumsticks, and wood base. Shout out to customizer Ivo Domozetov for this amazing custom Brethrupp, and shout out to Jeff T for his drum kit that I printed out and painted. The new carded expression should be able to hold accommodate all of those accessories, while also offering us a never before made Ewok. Hasbro, if you do this, please also give us a new head sculpt pecific to the Brethrupp. Yup nub!

The next deluxe offerings I’d like would first have a regular mainline release. The are #MakeTheMains characters that many collectors have been wanting updated in definitive form including the Tuna himself: ROTS Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Both of their current figures are egregious. Obi-Wan’s figure is almost 20 years old (2005) and VC13 has the worst ever likenesses of Hayden Christensen. There are Anakin Skywalker 3D sculpts out there that are an exact match to the actor, and with what Hasbro has been churning out lately, these will both be uncanny resemblances of Ewan and Hayden. I’m aslo blown away at how photo real inkjet deco has brought even more realism to 3.75”. What a time to be alive.


When it comes to their deluxe offerings Hasbro should focus on their appearances later in the movie. It should be Anakin when he has turned to the Dark Side and is henceforth known as Darth Vader, and Obi-Wan when he must destroy that thing that Anakin has become. The duel at Mustafar needs definitive versions of our mains with all the bells and whistles from elbow range that bends beyond 90 degrees, to barbell hips, to rocker ankles. Full on Jedi articulation.

Here’s what I’d like to see from a deluxe offering for each character:

Darth Vader

• A sinister expression headsculpt with Sith eyes.
• Alternate hands. Glove hand with choking gesture and a non-glove hand with force gesture. Both with middle wrist joints (not side). Maybe a punching fist as well.
• A robe that’s not oversized and more form fitting to replicate the above film out.
• Unlit saber.
• Lava/smoldered worn deco.
• Pack in the lava panning droid he rides.

Obi-Wan

• Yelling/exerting expression head sculpt (like the S.H. Figuarts figure).
• 2 alternate left hands with the 2 finger point to replicate the Grievous duel and one to with a force gesture. Both with middle wrist joints (not side). Maybe a punching fist as well.
• A robe that’s not oversized! Hopefully it matches his specific robe color.
• Unlit saber.
• Lava/smoldered worn deco.
• Lava platform he rides during the duel.

These two offer value that not only justifies the deluxe price point, but also gives collectors a reason to purchase them after the main line releases. They are not just the repacked figures with a few accessories. They offer additional hands, a world-building accessory, and alternate head sculpts. These figures can be repacked in many different ways down the road so the alternate head sculpt and alternate hands would not be a one and done.

My apologies for a lengthy article and I’m curious to hear your thoughts!

John Miko is the creator and admin of the SW The Vintage Collection Facebook group, and publishes the Action Figure Collector Blog johnmiko.com. He can be found on Instagram at @thefarsideofendor.

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