Are Collectors Killing The Vintage Collection?

It would be grossly inaccurate to suggest that The Vintage Collection collectors are complacent. After all, it is a small miracle that the line returned in 2018 after a half decade of dormancy in the Hasbro vault. For nearly two decades, most of us took the 3.75” Star Wars line for granted. During the golden years of the hobby (roughly 2006-2012), we knew not how well we had it. In that era, it was hard to anticipate a time when the line would be all but dead. Thankfully, The Vintage Collection eventually returned with much fanfare and excitement. Many of us hoped for a return to form, and despite some wonderful things that have happened in the last few years, things are a far cry from the expansive releases we were once accustomed to. However, despite the slow drip of infrequent releases, questionable refresh waves, and a distribution situation that is perhaps worse than it has ever been for this scale, we remain a demanding bunch. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. After all, we know the Star Wars films and the toy line so well that we can identify the details that even Hasbro sometimes misses. If card art is wrong, we call it out. When we see an incorrect paint app, or an inaccurate accessory, we take notice. Some of us prefer the functionality of soft goods while others appreciate the accurate look of plastic. If we believe a better tooling of a character exists, we question why a lesser one may have been released instead. These are all concerns worthy of discussion, and they are indicative of an active and lively collector audience. But do they do more harm than good?



If we look to the source material for our favorite hobby, we know the story of Anakin Skywalker’s rise and fall. Born a good little lad on Tatooine, Anakin was pure of heart. As he grew up, he wanted to realize his potential. He wanted to save his mother and his wife. But in pursuing these things, he made the fear-based decisions that paved his way to hell. What does that have to do with The Vintage Collection? Let’s connect it.



We all want The Vintage Collection to succeed. After many fought and lobbied so hard for it to finally return, the last thing anyone wants is for it to go back into the vault (which I hear may be located on Bothan-Five from The Mandalorian “The Prisoner” episode). How The Vintage Collection could be more successful, however, is a conversation for which we each have our own ideas. Some of us believe the priority should be completing the Original 96. Others would prefer to see the most critical characters remade and brought to 2021 standards. Then there are some who believe the focus should be on current or more recent entertainment. And through all this, our nitpicks and criticisms surface. We tell Hasbro they screwed up card art and complain about celebratory logos. We make a fuss about a figure not having rocker ankles when it functions just fine without them. We question why they elected to throw an army builder into a playset when a superior version can be pre-ordered through the fan channels to our hearts content. We get upset when we have to wait a year to get a figure of a character from The Mandalorian, when sometimes that delay may have resulted in a better product. Not to mention, we get up in arms about the things we want, when in fact, we have received some things that just five years ago would have been unimaginable: the Khetanna, Saelt-Marae, Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight), Power Droid, Din Djarin, Boba Fett (Return of the Jedi), the Imperial Troop Transport, the Tatooine Skiff, etc. These are all little miracles that are a direct result of The Vintage Collection even being a thing over the past few years. Could we be better off? Of course! But we could also be far, far worse off.



What if the demands we place on Hasbro for The Vintage Collection are doing more harm than good? In our self-righteous beliefs in what the line is supposed to be, what if we are having the adverse effect on something that we already took for granted once before? The things collectors want out of The Vintage Collection all come from a place of passion and good intent. However, in 2021, perhaps Hasbro is doing what it can to keep the line out of the vault. As Qi-ra tells Han in Solo, everyone serves someone. The folks creating these incredible playthings, as well as the ones who are the public face of the brand, have their own bosses too. Perhaps we should give them a bit of a break, lest we end up as Anakin and begin destroying the thing we are seeking to save.



Yes, I’d personally love to see the upcoming Endor Leia with a brand new sculpt. I don’t love how most of the Rogue One figures have avocado green name pills and background colors. I still don’t get why the Rebel Trooper that comes with the Tantive IV corridor didn’t get a new head, thus ruining my head cannon of how repainted figures coming on the same cards is supposed to work. But at the end of the day, these are just details, and The Vintage Collection endures. Let’s not lose sight of that. Let’s #FightForTVC where it counts by continuing to demonstrate the demand that exists for the line. Let’s keep pushing for Hasbro to complete the Original 96 and update the “Big 3” in their A New Hope outfits. I also believe we win when everyone gets something they love out of The Vintage Collection, so let’s push for a more balanced line representing (to the varying degrees) all aspects of the Star Wars universe. And if you would be so kind, let’s fight a certain set of twins. (And I don’t mean of the Skywalker variety.)

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