Chris And Bret React To The May The Fourth Fan Stream Reveals

I wasn't expecting much from the livestream yesterday. We just had a mother load dropped on us two weeks ago for Celebration. I thought Hasbro would show us the repack and repaint slots for an upcoming wave or something of the like. We did get a repack, but it's an All Star. While I might have the occasional nitpick here or there, I'm actually 100% all in on these reveals (even though one was initially a pass that flipped to "buy" once I saw a specific item that was included). With that said, let's dive into it, shall we? - Chris

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Chris:

Now this is a figure I've been anticipating for a long time. A long time. Everyone's cryptic reaction to the name "Obi-Wan" in A New Hope set the hooks in me so bad as a kid that it set forth an unbroken Star Wars fandom that's soon to approach a half century. I've always loved that Ben's true name was reflected on the Kenner card, so I get an instant lift seeing it here. But I will say that along the lines of "Hasbro should fix Kenner mistakes", I wish the lightsaber on the card were blue. It would have popped so much.

The figure itself looks like a home run to me. The portrait is excellent. The soft goods lower robes will ensure that the lower body articulation is unencumbered. The elbow bend, might be an issue, but we shall see. I'm trilled that both hands are sculpted to hold the saber hilt. My biggest complaint with the BD34 - Obi-Wan Kenobi release is that the sculpted Force hand makes a two handed weapon grip impossible (and it's the wrong Force gesture, and on the wrong hand). It looks like the hood is sewn down. If so, I'm fine with that because it's more important that the figure looks aesthetically pleasing with the hood down. Perhaps a "hood up" version will be released on the Kenner alt card and I can get my blue saber fix.

I'm going to get stupid with this figure. I'll probably get two cases. I don't feel bad about hoarding in the easy-access preorder era, but everything OT and new seems to be selling out lately. So act quick. Otherwise I may drink your milkshake.

Bret:

I have a bunch of Ben Kenobi figures that I've amassed over years of collecting. They're mostly terrible, with the exception of the TLC version (one each of the basic carded figure and the Resurgence of the Jedi set). Usually I'd be dead set against an update to an existing character, but like all the ANH mains, this one is long overdue. Like so overdo that is just gross. I'm going to enjoy launching the many inferior Obi-Wans from my displays into the New Zealand wilderness and replacing them with this guy and then celebrating by snuggling with my Disney Sandcrawler. Oh wait...no that's someone else.

Anyway, the soft goods skirt decision is perfect. Im sure this will be an outstanding figure, but as Chris mentioned, I certainly hope the elbows go past 90. And the knees. I will buy at least one case of Old Ben

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Chris:

I have to give Hasbro mega-flowers for the Snowtrooper Commander. There is a decent amount of retooling that needs to take place to turn the base Snowtrooper into a Commander. In a world where we live with man-legs Dedra and muck-boots Aldani Andor, I figured Hasbro would just blow most of them off, but they didn't. They put the money and effort into every difference to include the boots, which I erroneously said were wrong in the commentary of the live stream. Hats off.

I'm a little bummed that the Sandtrooper is locked behind a 3-pack (for now). I want two orange pauldron Sandtroopers. There are two orange pauldron Sandtroopers at the road block, and two during the procession toward Docking Bay 94. I'm sure these 3-packs serve as pre-packs for future single carded figures, but I can't be guaranteed that Hasbro won't switch up the pauldron color if/when they do a carded release. So that means I have to buy two openers of this set to be safe. I'm stoked that they updated the ab plate to be Sandtrooper accurate. But this really reflects the Sandtroopers that were inserted for the SE with the white pouches on the belt. The Original Original Trilogy have shorter, black pouches. I'm okay with this. Hasbro, I need a bunch more black pauldron Sandtroopers, and a couple white pauldron ones too.

As for the Scout Trooper, I'm trilled the diaper crotch is gone, but this reminds me of the Battle Droids. Yes, the legs were a problem, but the arms are also a massive problem. We need center-hinged wrists with more neutrally sculpted hands for the Scout Trooper to be able properly interact with the Speeder Bike. Also, that mailbox holster on the ankle is jarring in 2025. Hasbro can we get one more tweak of this figure before you put it to bed?

As for the set, I'll be getting three. Two to open, and one to keep sealed. The packaging looks incredible on this one with the red background. It's screams "Stormtrooper".

Bret:

I was all over the place on this one during the reveal. At first, I was struck by how awesome the set looked. It just screamed, "Buy lots!" Upon closer inspection, there are issues with the figures included. The sand trooper looks great, especially since Hasbro actually did a new abdominal plate. That's kind of amazing. It comes with 3 different weapons, which is also amazing. This one comes with the E-11, T-21, and DLT-19. But my problem is that Sandtroopers have a 4th weapon, the RT-97C. According to Wookieepedia (Legends) it is described thusly:

Until 2008 this heavy blaster had not received an official canon designation in any Star Wars reference material, and was simply referred to by fans as the 'MG-15'. It was finally termed the "BlasTech RT-97C" in the Star Wars Blueprints: The Ultimate Collection (DK Books, 2008). The name references the artists of the blueprints Chris Reiff and Chris Trevas, and the year they first met - R(eiff)T(revas)-(19)97C(hris).

So explain this to me: HOW DOES THE FIGURE NOT COME WITH A WEAPON THAT WAS NAMED AFTER ONE OF THE HASBRO PRODUCT DESIGNERS? To add insult to injury, the stupid out of scale series of blackness nonsense figure comes with this weapon.

But then I felt less annoyed, because the two troopers that carry the RT-97C have black pauldrons, so let's hope Hasbro corrects this when the inevitable variants are released. Also, note to Hasbro: Gray pauldrons are not a thing. Don't make them, please.

Anyway, I could barely get past all that, but the Snowtrooper officer looks to be darn near perfect, with the appropriate effort put into all the required uniform variations.

Same cannot be said with the Biker Scout. It's a half measure, just like the upcoming Battle Droids (as Chris pointed out). They really needed to redo the hands, which look like they are POTF2-styled. I recently expressed that the Biker Scout is my most wanted army builder figure (Sandtrooper is a distant second) because of how much bang for my buck it will get. I need a bunch them to replace the masses of inferior versions I have in Endor, the DSII, and wherever else they are sprinkled in.

I will pick up 1-2 sets, which should satisfy what I need until the pauldron variants and scout hand updates are released.

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Chris:

Darthmadonna made a comment in the livestream post that pretty much summed up my initial feelings on this set. In general, I don't like kitsch in the Vintage Collection. For the most part, this set blurs the line between Retro and Vintage too much for my liking. What's the one exception where I tolerate kitsch in TVC? It's with the vintage Kenner grails, and this set has a big one with Blue Snaggletooth. I've been asking for a TVC Blue Snag for a long time, and in exactly this type of expression. I said it should be an exclusive that doesn't impede main line. Check and check. Also, a number of fans have been asking for Kenner colors on the other cantina aliens. I'm likewise happy those fans can get that itch scratched without impacting main line. I'll be getting three of this set since I'm a sick puppy. One to keep sealed. One so I can display the carded Blue Snag, and one in case I get a wild hair across my cheeks to open a set.

Bret:

I hate and love this set. I hate it for the kitsch factor. I want no part of that stuff, just like I wanted no part of the Boba Fett variants that were offered a couple of years ago. I have no place in my collection for such nonsense. HOWEVER - I ended up finding a place for the Fetts; they serve as background members of The Tribe. Likewise, I will find a place for these guys - perhaps in the streets of Mos Eisley. Or maybe some other random locations where common citizens are needed like Navarro, the Coruscant Night Club, or Mos Espa. While not the intent, it can be viewed as a 4-pack of randos - which would only be surpassed in greatness by a 4-pack of Randys. So I love it also.

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Chris:

Stormtroopers should always be available. So says the community. So says Hasbro with this refresh. As Fenson pointed on in the comments, the black band on the helmet appears to be slightly arched, and a little higher than on the previous releases of VC231 (previous release on the right):


Is this an attempt to mimic the "stunt" helmet, or is it just a mistake in the paint mask. If it's the former, it probably should have gotten a new number. Regardless, it probably warrants a few purchases, and I dig the new card. I'll get a smattering.

Bret:

Great re-release. Probably the most logical one ever. I certainly agree that I'd rather see new hips on this figure, but i'm okay for now. That update will come at some point. I'll pick up one or two, as I already have enough VC231's to keep me happy for a while. But it's good that it's available. Hopefully it finds its way to retail shelves, where it belongs in perpetuity.

Overall, I thought it was a decent livestream, and I'll be looking forward to my purchases tomorrow.

Also, please note that Banthaskull faces imminent civil war that may tear it apart over the next two weeks:

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There you have it. That's what we think we think about yesterday's reveals. You guys have been giving your opinions since the stream started, but feel free to leave them again below. Also, everything goes up for preorder at 1PM ET tomorrow. Ben and the Stormtrooper will be on Entertainment Earth, and the multi-packs will be heading to Pulse. We will have the EE links posted here at 1PM. If you plan to order from EE, using our links really helps out the site.

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