Bantha Skull Q & A: Episode 3 - Part 2

Posted by Chris on 05/26/23 at 07:05 AM Category: Vintage Collection, Bantha Skull Q&A

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Okay, let's see if we can get to most of the remaining Episode 3 questions without needing to add a part 3.

The new Piett’s soft plastic lower shirt proves that if Hasbro eventually does an ANH Luke that they can do the same instead of a lower soft goods tunic. What say you guys? Piett can also sit very easily. I just think half plastic/half soft goods doesn’t look right. (Exception when it’s under soft plastics like VC175 Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker.) - John Miko

Chris: I don't know who you are, but let me say right off the bat that you're suspect. As to your question, first it's almost so hypothetical that it's hard for me to wrap my mind around. It's like asking me what life will be like on Mars when we teraform it. You're asking me about things so far out in the future that I don't even know if I'll be alive when they come to fruition. I'll put it this way: I know where you live. Some day in the distant future if we do get a new Episode IV Luke with a soft plastic lower tunic, and that figure can't sit in the landspeeder, I will rain blows down upon you like Frank Costanza when that guy took the last doll he was trying to buy for George.

Bret: It suddenly got very Facebooky in here, and it gives me agita. Based purely on Chris's response above, I definitely want a plastic lower tunic, and I might be okay if the figure can't fit in the landspeeder, you know, just for the beatings.

How many different colors was the modern era DV TIE Fighter cast in? I would like to have one of each color represented in my collection. From what I have found the POTF2 and SOTDS are cast in different colors than the rest so color-wise the other 5 releases (OTC, TSC, TAC, TLC blue & red) only differ in paint operations. Is this correct? - akcuda

Chris: You've managed to run into a history of the line question that, not only do I not know the answer to because I don't have any Darth Vader's TIE Fighters in my collection, but I also can't research it. It seems like the community wasn't very keen on documenting the various re-releases of that vehicle over time. All I can offer you is that Hasbro has traditionally bounced between the blue-gray of the actual models, and a straight gray to mimic how the TIEs appear on-screen. Checking HERE, it appears that the TSC version is the only one to opt for the straight gray casting, but I can't say for sure. Bret does own the SOTDS Trench Run version, so maybe he can shed some light, but I have to caution you that he's not dealing with a full set of rods and cones.

Bret: How dare you? And after we JUST went through Bantha Skull Sensitivity Training that specifically dedicated 3 powerpoint slides to rods and cones awareness in the workplace. Anyway, my rods and cones do suck. So I'm not the best person to answer this question. Nevertheless, I will fill the page with some words. The Darth Vader TIE Fighter is ultimately the vehicle that made me stop being a 100% completist. I'm not a fan of the vehicle, and after the POTF2 release, the OTC version was one of the very first items that I skipped. I don't recall if I drew a line in the sand, or if I just couldn't find it in stores, but I never got that 2004 version. For some odd reason, (maybe I found it on sale?) I did get the 3rd, which was from The Saga Collection. It's still in the package, not sure why. I then skipped the subsequent TAC, TLC (Blue), and TLC (Red) versions, but I did grab the SOTDS Trench Run set for the updated X-Wing. That was the 7th(!) release of essentially the same mold, each with it's own variations in paint, but not much else. So with the two opened ships I have in hand, (and doing my best to find some decent shots of all the other vehicles online), it seems to me that there could be 4 different shades of blue/gray: (I) POTF2, (II) OTC, (III) TSC, TAC, TLC(Blue), TLC(Red), and (IV) SOTDS. Take this with a big pile of salt, due to the aforementioned rods and cones.

Do you have any one specific character from each piece of new media that we haven't gotten that you'd like to see in the line? ie- TFA/TLJ/TROS; Mando, Boba Fett, Obi Wan, Andor - JarJarRen

Chris: My Fans' Choice vote for TFA/TLJ/TROS would be for Hasbro to never make another figure from TFA/TLJ/TROS. It's not due to ST hate. I neither like nor dislike the ST. It's firmly planted in "meh" territory for me. I have the same opinion of Attack of the Clones, but I want a lot of figures from that source. The reason I don't want figures from those films is that there is such a massive backlog of needed TVC figures that Hasbro needs to start ignoring some sources. I say the ST, and Solo should be those sources. We're never going to get representative collections for those movies, so I'd rather get nothing. Somehow too little is much worse than none. I absolutely love Andor, but it doesn't inspire me to curate a "toy" collection. I don't want a Michael Corleone or Captain Winters figure either. While I don't play with toys as an adult, the things I collect would have inspired me to play as a kid. As for the remaining three properties on your list, two of them make it very easy for me to cheat. For Mando it's EV-9D9, and for BoBF it's 8D8. I don't like the Obi-Wan series, but I would gladly take either of the heretofore unannounced Inquisitors.

Bret: To echo Chris, I also am motivated by my desire to world-build, and not have stand alone figures with little to no context, so that severely dulls my interest in ST figures. But if I had to answer, I'd probably be interested (to varying degrees) in these:

TFA: Helmet/No Helmet Kylo Ren (and then General Hux)
RO: Baze Malbus (and then Saw Gerrera)
TLJ: Rey in her gray outfit (and LT. Connix)
Solo: Mud Trooper (I'd like the "crew", though)
TROS: Poe in his casual outfit
Mando: Carson Teva (followed by Pelli Motto, and then Migs and his crew)
BOBF: Pyke Leader / Pyke soldiers (followed by the mayor's Majordomo)
Obi-Wan: Young Luke and Leia
JFO: Cal Kestis / Taron Malicos

And since they had appearances in Rebels, JFO, and Obi-Wan, I would love it if Hasbro gave us all the Inquisitors, now that we've gotten GI and Reva. In general, Rogue One, Mando, and JFO are my favorite sources. I'm very disappointed in the wasteland that is Hasbro's JFO, and I'd be willing to kickstart that world-building ASAP.

Aside from the obvious ANH versions, which version(s) of Luke, Han, and Leia deserve an all-new sculpt the most? - Wampa_Stompa

Chris:

Luke: Bespin
Han: Hoth
Leia: Ewok Village

Bret:

Luke: Bespin
Han: Hoth
Leia: Ewok Village

Now that we've been floored by the upcoming Jabba's Goons 4-pack, featuring Squidface, Velken Tezeri, Taym-Dren Garen and (for some reason) Ree Yees, what would your highest priority follow-up Jabba-themed 4-pack consist of? Just to make it a little more real, assume one figure is a repack like our trioptic friend. - Mister Skeezler

Chris: First, unless and until the current Jabba's Goons 4-pack completely sells out at full MSRP (something that seem exceedingly unlikely at this point), we are never going to see a follow up 4-pack. It's almost torture to even speculate about one, but you asked, so I shall answer. For the repack, I would go with the Weequay Skiff Master. It's the only TVC 1.0 skiff guard that has yet to be re-leased in TVC 2.0. For the new figures, I'd go with Shasa Tiel, Yotts Oren and Barada.

Bret: I like Chris's pack, but I'd lean more towards combatants (instead of Shasa Tiel), and new characters (instead of Barada, which yes, does need an update)
Repack: Weequay Skiff Master.
New: Window Weequay, Yotts Oren and Merc "Lebron Flop" Pilot.

Luthen Rael and the Fondor Haulcraft. Do you think we'll ever see them made in my lifetime in a 3.75" vintage or similar scale (come on 4.5")? I've got probably 30 years left considering my age- so before the 2050's? - Borticus Rex

Chris: Unless Luthen survives Andor season 2, and continues to make a big impact in other new media where his Fondor Haulcraft plays a major role like Mando's N1 or the Millennium Falcon in the OT, you'd have better luck finding a three-legged ballerina. Sincerely, Del Griffith.

Bret: No. But I'd like both.

This is a weird one but what would you think if Mattel took over the line? - Spawn

Chris: Tyler pretty much answered this in the comments, but I'd quit collecting 3.75" Star Wars figures. They simply do not produce the same quality of product. It would be a return of "anime eyes" and sub-premium articulation. Hasbro is simply the best mass market manufacturer of action figures on the planet. I would never want to see the line taken from them.

Bret: Same here. I'm not interested in starting over with a new company. I think that would be a nightmare across the board, and it's a classic example of "Be careful what you wish for." I'd stop collecting instantly. I don't even consider that Disney droid stuff to be legitimate 3.75" stuff (don't get me started on that Fakecrawler), let alone if the line left Hasbro altogether.

So far this year, TVC has been getting a lot of love from Hasbro, with a major showing at Star Wars Celebration, and almost weekly reveals during the Bring Home the Bounty campaign. Is this a sign that Hasbro is taking TVC more seriously or is this maybe a flash in the pan? - McBeard

Any sense on where TVC's popularity is growing in the world? 3.75" world-building scale has a lot to offer collectors with limited space and perhaps a bit less hobby money. - Blasko

Chris: I truly believe that TVC is continuing it's slow ascent from the bottom of the barrel in 2020. I don't know if the figures are now, or will ever be, as popular as TBS figures, but I do know that the scale allows Hasbro to sell bigger ticket items like Mando's N1. While you will hear hardcore TBS fans clamor for bigger items like starfighters and the such, anything other than figures have been varying degrees of disasters to the best of my knowledge. But just because TVC is still on the rise, it doesn't mean we can rest on our laurels. I think think one bad year could have this all snatched away at a moment's notice.

Bret: Yep. We've come a long way since the dark times of 2012-2017, but as Chris said, even with the return of TVC, it almost died in 2020. We live on the razor's edge, as one really bad move could kill the line entirely. But yes, I think it's been climbing since then, albeit slowly. I just hope it's not too slow that I will die before the necessary figures and toys from the OT enter my collection.

Do you think TVC has a scale problem? Bo-Katan is a good example of this. She's TINY and has a pea sized helmet. The Din Djarin/Axe Woves figures are a little too tall. As a result, they look like two different scales. They look more inline without their helmets, but something still feels off to me. Both figures will probably be retooled and repainted for years to come. Is this something Hasbro can fix before repainting all the different Mandalorians from season three? Am I the only one that has a problem with this?? - baaaadmotivator

Chris: So there has always been an element of this and it's due to shrinkage. Do you know about shrinkage, Elaine? I know somebody in the comments will be able to provide a better technical answer, but as far as I understand, figures always shrink after the injection molding cools. The problem is that they never know for sure how much a given item will shrink in advance. So it's a bit of a guessing game when creating the tooling. The end result is sometimes the production item is smaller or lager than intended.

Bret: I don’t personally feel it’s a widespread enough problem, so it doesn’t bother me. As long as Vader is tall and Leia is short, I’m good.

What can TVC collectors do to signal to Hasbro that we need more tooling? I feel like a lot of times that a new figure is tooled, we as a community let it rot on pegs.

Chris: Hasbro knows we need more tooling. The most solemn and sincere assurance I can give you is to swear on my father's grave. I don't take uttering that phrase lightly at all. I swear on my father's grave that the Hasbro Star Wars Brand Team is fully aware of how frustrated TVC fans are about the level of new tooling per year. So there is no need to signal that. What we need to do is show that it's worthwhile for Hasbro to keep increasing the TVC budget so we can get more tooling. We do that by supporting the line with our wallets. And we've been doing that as well. The problem is that we, as fans, lack patience. We're like the newbie stock market investor who expects every equity he buys to go up one or two points per day, and cash out rich a few months later. That's not how it works. It's a long game. If you look back over the past three years, we can definitely see the budget increasing, but one or two more newly tooled figures in a given year is hard to appreciate. However, when 2023 is in the books, if you compare it to 2020, I think you will see the gains we've made as a community.

Bret: The Hasbro brand team knows what they are doing. The biggest frustration for me as a member of this community is reading comments from people who assume the Brand Team are idiots. They are talented and experienced, but they also do listen to our feedback and do their best to integrate it into the line. However, they are not the Deciders. The brand team answers to their bosses, who answer to their bosses. They also take direction and input from Disney and LFL, as well as giant retail partners and shareholders. So when we think we know better, we almost never do. We have no access to confidential and proprietary data that informs Hasbro as to what they need to do to make money. So when a few collectors scream that Shirtless Kylo Ren is a no-brainer, I have to assume the Brand Team is doing what they can within the constraints they operate to give us what we want. To answer the actual question, I have full confidence that the Team knows we want more tooling, and I know that if they could, they would sculpt 50 new TVC figures each year.

Have the TVC troop builder packs been successful? And would more alien/creature packs be viable in the near future: Jawas, Mon Calamari Officers, Ewoks, Mando Quarren, Klatooinian Raiders?

Chris: I have no way of knowing that empirically, but circumstantially, I suspect they are doing well. My evidence is that Hasbro seems to engage with fans at conventions about the expression. If it weren't doing well, I don't think they would be so engaged. I would happily take everything on your list with the possible exception of the Jawas. The Mon Cal Officers is the one that has me most interested.

Bret: I would guess they do well. Interesting, the “lamest” sets are currently marked down from $42 to $30 at ShopDisney. The Phase I clones actually are now sold out, but the Death Troopers and Echo Base Troopers are still available. The latter was only “lame” because they chose the wrong trooper type to army build, but the set had great execution. As for aliens, Hasbro is about to give it a go with the Tuskens. I’d love to see Mon Cal officers. My dream item would be four packs of civilians, with accessories like goggles, hats, backpacks, bags, bundles, and shawls to mix and match. They could do that with various classic species like humans, Rodians, Quarren, Twi-Leks, etc. I’d spend hundreds on those so I could army build civilians. Of course, that would also kill TVC for good.

With the deluxe format we seem to be getting either
A) A figure that’s apparently too big/detailed to include with its accessories on a standard card (like Paz Viszla)

OR

B) A figure that is a “build-up” pack appearing as standard version in mainline and Deluxe exclusive with a ton of extra accessories or a Dino-dog e.g Luke Jedi Academy with Grogu and frog-food

Question: Do you prefer formats A or B and can you suggest 1 item for each category that you desperately want to see? - AqualishDoug

Chris: As with Michael Bolton, I celebrate the entire catalog. I like both formats, but I wish the build-up packs didn't come with figures that were announced five minutes ago as single carded releases. It makes no sense. As for what I'd like to see, in the "too big" category it would be Amanaman (who can be worked onto a card later for the 096 crowd). For the build-up, it would have to wait until a definitive Episode IV Luke is made. Then I'd want a deluxe version with all the doodads (poncho, hat, long rifle, T-16 model, macrobinoculars, Death Star belt, blast helmet, yadda yadda yadda).

Bret: I like both, but am also frustrated with the near simultaneous announcements of the basic figure. Like Chris, I agree this is the perfect format for an Ultimate Tatooine Luke, so we don’t go down the old road of 20 incremental releases with a different accessory. As for the large figure, since I already mentioned my desire to see the entire Inquisitorius, it would be a good way to get the Dowutin Ninth Sister from JFO.

The Imperial Shuttle is in need of a Major Overhaul....we have now seen it multiple times in the Mandalorian, as well as in Obi Wan and Andor TV Shows....what are the Chances that we get a New Bigger Imperial Shuttle to go with all our TVC figures? - Lord Toys

Chris: I give it a fighting chance because of the repeated inclusion of Lambda-class T-4a shuttle in new media, but something that big would never be retail viable. It would have to be relegated to HasLab, and the price would probably make your eyebrows migrate to the back of your head. It's been known to happen.

Bret: I don’t know if I have the square footage to devote to an update of a ship I already own that is the best example of a space suck in the entire Saga. It’s a small passenger pod with enormous wings. I have no place to put that, beyond an Emperor’s arrival diorama (that I already have) in which it serves as a backdrop to the parade of figures. I’m already struggling with these Ghost rumors. I don’t want a new Imperial Shuttle.

Do you think they will ever release R5-D4 - WITHOUT stripes on it's back - on the correct packaging, i.e. Disney World Star Tours packaging circa 1990? (See attached pic for Proof) Also do you think this is the reference they have been looking at? - Yes, I know the answer, but after all the hubbub over the back stripes I couldn't believe this pic I found in a family photo album. - Duke Skyfarter

Chris: I would like to take the first part first. I can virtually guarantee it. As far as the photo, oh...my...god. Mind blown.

Bret: LOL. We collectors are the absolute worst.

Rather than just go with "Kids don't care about this" what are some ways Hasbro (not Disney) can get more kids interested in 3.75" Action figures? - Gold Leader

Chris: You can ask questions, but I will not be hemmed in on the answers, dagnabbit. Give it up, man. Kids aren't coming back to 3.75". The economics don't make sense especially when it comes to the vehicles. Even for dumbed down vehicles in the 3.75" scale, they would probably cost $50 today. Parents aren't going to go for that, nor are they going to go for ridiculously cheapened vehicles to chase a price point. The last time Hasbro did that, vehicles were reduced to little more than the quality of vacuformed Halloween masks. Everyone, kids and collectors alike, rejected them. So let me share a little advice from Forgetting Sarah Marshall:

Bret: I think it would be worth a shot to add some kid-friendly features into the line. Like arms that slash if you squeeze the figure’s legs. Or NERF launching projectiles on ships. Or how about figures with Play Doh parts so kids could destroy them and rebuild them. Or maybe even bringing back those talking chips from Episode I, but with some tech upgrades. Or, let’s just reduce the articulation and then sculpt the figures to match their animation sources. This is gold!

1. Would you like to see mini rigs make a comeback? And would you like to see the original ones get made again? - Coleman Miller

Is there a chance that we could get mini-rigs or mini-rig-like vehicles in the future? What is the future of vehicles in The Vintage Collection? Are we stuck with high-priced "collector grade" vehicles from here on out? - Stormtrooper53

Chris: To Coleman Miller, maybe and maybe. Mini rigs are kitschy, and kitsch is a dangerous and slippery slope. I would want ones that could easily pass for "on-screen" instead of "just off-screen". The vintage Vehicle Energizer would be a good one to try in TVC (and I'm not sure if the Vehicle Energizer was officially a mini rig). Despite being included in Visions recently, the MTV-7 is a silly vehicle. I've always thought so, even when I owned one as a kid. I think that would be a dangerous one to try today, but the CAP-2 always felt authentic to me for some reason. Of course, the Desert Sail Skiff was in Droids, so I'd do crimes to get one in TVC.

To Stormtrooper53, even if mini rigs did come back, I think they still need to be TVC quality, so it depends on what you consider "high-priced". Considering that some figures now stretch to $28, I don't think any vehicle Hasbro makes going forward will have a price point much lower than the current Speeder Bike.

Bret: I HATE the idea of the Kenner mini-rigs being modernized in TVC, even though I loved them as a kid. It’s on screen, or bust. That said, I’d love more speeders and cars, as long as they’re on screen. Did I mention they need to be on screen?

Do you think the interest in a Haslab Ghost will be for the vehicle itself, or for the figures it contains?

Everywhere I go people seem more excited to get a TVC Rebels crew out of it than getting the actual ship. Even though nothing guarantees we WOULD get a crew with it save for likely Rebels "repaints" of what is obviously being tooled to come in an Ahsoka line - Ezra, Hera, Sabine, Zeb.

Is there a good chance a $600 bigger-than-the-BMF (remember, it will probably fit the shuttle vehicle inside) Ghost is even going to fund? - ShipGirlLover

Chris: I think the two are inextricable. One begets the other. I personally have zero interest in either the Ghost or the crew in isolation, but combining the two might get me to break out the credit card. As far as funding, I think the $600 you spitballed overshoots the runway a bit. I would have a lot of confidence at $500, but $600 causes me to make the "I dunno" face. You know the face.

Bret: I think the ship is just too big. As mentioned, it would need to fit the shuttle, which I have. It’s not tiny. It’s huge compared to the little escape pod that comes with the BMF. So I’d have to find a place to put it. The Barge holds like 30+ figures. This thing would hold 5. It’s another space suck, not unlike the aforementioned Imperial Shuttle. I’d rather get just the figures, and then pay for the inevitable repaints and variants. I’m amazed at how many people are dying for this, but I think it’s a real risk at $600, which sounds like a possible price point. Even $500 is tough.

You ever plan on adding more "Site Features"? - Fire KK Make SW Great Again!

Chris: No

Bret: Yes

Which figure do you think has the highest probability of ever seeing production: A definitive, SA C-3PO w/ vac-metal finish on a proper ANH card, or an all-new 'Hutt-slayer' Leia w/ "real feel" skin, similar to Aayla Secura from the first Saga Collection? - TWOWANBEE

Chris: 3PO wins that race in a landslide, but don't expect a vac-metal finish in main line.

Bret: 3PO wins that race 100 out of 100 times.

My question is, given the resurgence of 3.75 SA and all it took to get us here (and all of BS's many years-long efforts to bring about same) do you ever feel disheartened by the desire for a return of 5POA by so many collectors? And do you think (or fear) Hasbro might attempt to bring it back, or do you think modern Retro is the only 5POA line from here on out? - Grand Admiral Tom

Chris: Disheartened and exasperated. 5POA destroyed the 3.75" scale, and about this, there is no debate. The thing about which I keep cautioning the community is that once collectors offramp, they are usually gone from the hobby forever. It's extremely rare that they come back. Go back to any article on this site prior to 2015 when 5POA took over main line and look at the names of the commenters. The Venn diagram of our user base pre and post 2015 is two circles more separated than Uma Thurman's eyes. This community never learns that the stove is hot no matter how many times it gets burned. For those of you who like 5POA, please understand that the vast majority of collectors do not, and we can't afford to lose that customer base. It will sink the whole thing. Regarding the second part, yes, I think Retro will be the only 5POA line going forward.

Bret: 5POA almost got me to quit the hobby. When Hasbro started dumbing down the figures at around the time of the Great TPM3D Debacle of 2012, I almost lost touch with collecting, and I was an avid completist who stalked stores at open. I’m not sure which upsets me more, when people say they want 5POA back, when they say they want animated styling, or when they say 6” and 3.75” can coexist peacefully. On the topic of 5POA, there’s a complete disconnect with reality because some collectors look back at the releases from TFA thru Solo, and assume that it was great we had 5POA because those figures would not have existed otherwise, and since TVC new tooling is so limited now, a return of 5POA would help fill in the blanks. It makes me want to scream into the void. If the collector-grade line was healthy at the time, we would have had almost everything that was unique to 5POA. So I don’t look at 5POA as giving me Beckett, Val, and Rio, I look at 5POA is sucking resources and preventing those figures from existing in SA form.

What do we need to get the massive numbers of PT generation collectors currently involved in TBS and LEGO into the world of 3.75 ?

Chris: Re-release Anakin's yellow Episode III Jedi Starfighter along side a definitive Episode III Anakin figure. It's that easy. Like the classic song Baby on Board, it writes itself.

Bret: Cancel TBS and funnel the budget into TVC, and update 5-8 PT figures, one vehicle, and one playset per year.

Hasbro squandered the license for Jurassic (World) the line was pitiful. Mattel have since made it flourish, it drowns the Toy aisles, and while doesn't rival the quality of TVC.. its on its heals with vast improvements over recent years, and fully articulated creatures at reasonable prices.

First, with the merger, could we see items sublined to Mattel I.e. creatures to get back into TVC.

Second, could Mattel learn a thing or two too bring the quality up on there product (humans) and if so, one day win the star wars license away from Hasbro and actually mass produce the stuff as it should be. - mic windu

Chris: Huh? There is no merger. It's a licensing agreement to co-brand some things. Each company will be able to make non-infringing products of the other company's IP (Transformers Hot Wheels as one example). I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

Bret: I collect only Hasbro Star Wars 3.75” items. I don’t care or know anything about Mattel or Jurassic Park. Also, see my response above about Hasbro. They know what they are doing, even if we few who want specific 3.75” Star Wars items would steer the company into bankruptcy. Having shelves flooded with product isn’t necessarily a good thing.

Two things -

First a series of modular death star diorama scenes that all fit together to make a giant death star set - like 6-8 scenes they could probably get $50 a piece for them and have us all inevitably on the hook for about $400

Second 5-6 diorama scenes that could all go together to make the cantina. They could make these $50 each too- and make them so if you just get one of each you make a nice little cantina but if you buy several of some (like the tantive hallway) you could make a much bigger more accurate cantina (like if you bought several seating alcoves but not the han greedo alcove).

Both of these would sell to the mom/grandma gifting demo and would be like crack to the geekdads and the rest of us turbo nerds that can't get enough of this stuff. - Borticus Rex

Chris: These are all statements and not questions. I now have to assume this is CJ's sock account.

Bret: I think we went over this in the previous part. I have no idea how Hasbro would market separately sold pieces of a bigger diorama. It seems like it’s a terrible idea that would lead to disaster.

Do you think a brand new sculpted Darth Vader TIE Fighter needs to be done by Hasbro, with all bells and whistles as they say, such as a correct size cockpit interior with the triangle 'thing' in the window, proper scaled sculpted wings and newly sculpted ship 'body'.

None of the 1997 retracting missile launcher gimmicks, undervalued cockpit and re-tooled 1979 Kenner wings? - Madame Truthsayer

Chris: Does it need to be done? No. None of this needs to be done, but if Hasbro does want to bring the iconic Darth Vader's TIE Advanced X1 into the Vintage Collection, it should be done with all the care and attention that was shown toward the Razor Crest and the upcoming Mando's N1.

Bret: Man, I just wrote how the Vader TIE releases ended my completism. I would have to say that an all new Vader TIE would be near the bottom of my list of wants. But if Hasbro did want it for TVC, Hasbro would have to upgrade it and it would cost $100. No thanks.

Do you think there will come a point where we get more PT love in TVC? Feels like lots of collectors grew up with the PT, and it’s aging like a fine wine due to Disney’s poor offerings! - The Newt

Chris: I love Fig Newtons. Are you related? Anyway, yes I do. TVC 2.0 is now in it's sixth year, and we haven't had a single newly tooled PT figure in all that time. I only have one response to Hasbro about that:

We are very overdue for some PT love in TVC 2.0.

Bret: I guess we’re probably going to see some Phase I clones soon, based on the new buck, so at a minimum, there’s likely that. Maybe Hasbro could do a Jedi buck, and pump out some repaints and updates without breaking the bank. I’d love to see an all new Nute and Rune. I know people want an all new Dooku, but I’d probably be happy with a partial tool on that one. We do need a new Theed Battle Padme. Anyway, yeah, Hasbro should get on that.

YES! We did it! No part 3.