HASBRO:  DO NOT Release These O96 Figures Without Updating Them

The "Original 96" project has been a blessing and a curse. It's a blessing because we get counterparts to the original ninety six Kenner Star Wars figures in the Vintage Collection. It's a curse because Hasbro has taken the easy way out a few times and re-released figures that are over a decade old just to check a box. We've probably missed our last opportunity to get a definitive Endor Leia because of this. There are some important O96 Imperial troopers that have yet to be released in the numbered Vintage Collection. They each have existing sculpts that are ostensibly "modern". They are super articulated with ball joints in the critical areas, yet they are decidedly subpar in 2022. Despite this, Hasbro is going to be tempted to re-release these inferior sculpts. We have one thing to say that:



Hasbro, You've seen the blowback over the low-effort Black Series Black Krrsantan figure. If the following old sculpts are revived in the Vintage Collection as a path of least O96 resistance, expect that outrage to the power of never happy TVC collectors! It's better to wait years for a new sculpt than come in under the bar on these army builders.

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The opening act of The Empire Strikes Back is considered by many to be the best act in the entire cinematic history of Star Wars. I personally prefer the opening act of Jedi, but the Hoth battle is a very close 1B. Watching Empire for the first time was a thrill because it introduced us to the first ever Stormtrooper variant. It's now canonically known as the "Cold Weather Assault Stormtrooper", but it's colloquially referred to as the Snowtrooper. While not as prolific as the standard Stormtrooper, fans definitely build Snowtrooper armies. The last time Hasbro has revisited this figure was in 2007 and there is absolutely no way that sculpt is worthy of the modern Vintage Collection. In fact, I thought that figure was disappointing even in 2007. It's can't perform a true "two-handed-weapon-grip" (THWG). Second, it has an odd and limiting wide stance. This figure would be a homerun with modern "Jedi Level articulation" (JLA) and a non-removable helmet.

Verdict: Requires a brand new sculpt

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I'm beginning to sense a pattern with the Original Trilogy. Each new movie meant a new Stormtrooper toy class. Episode VI introduced us to the Scout Trooper or Biker Scout on the forrest moon of Endor. A lot of fans who trace their roots back to the the 80's consider the Biker Scout their favorite figure from the vintage Kenner lineup. The current super articulated Scout Troopers dates back to the 2006 Vintage Saga Collection release. That tooling was updated slightly for 2012's Speeder Bike with Scout Trooper, and the pack-in figure was re-rereleased as 2013's Black Series 3.75" #07 - Biker Scout. Hasbro, you like this sculpt way way, way way, way way, (deep inhale) way way more than the fans do as evidenced by the fact that you used it for the Gaming Greats VC196 - Scout Trooper. That was okay for a secondary source such as Jedi Fallen Order, but if this mold is used for the O96 Biker Scout, I promise you the excrement will hit the rotating blade cooling device with hard core fans. Weird stance. Ridiculous wide grip. Limited range of motion ball joints. No rocker ankles. This leads to one conclusion.

Verdict: Requires a brand new sculpt

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Okay, this one is a lot more forgiving than the previous two. First of all, the AT-AT Driver doesn't need all the bells and whistles of modern articulation. The average fan isn't going to place their walker pilots in some sort of dynamic combat pose like they would with the Snowtrooper and Scout Trooper. This means that most of 2007's BD49 - AT-AT Driver could be reused for an O96 Vintage Collection AT-AT Driver. It would be a waste of tooling dollars to go completely back to scratch with this figure for which things like ball jointed hips and rocker ankles simply aren't necessary. I mean, I wouldn't turn them down, but I'd hate to see it take the place of something much more needed. But there is a major problem with that 2007 release. That removable helmet has got to:



It looks terrible. The sculpt isn't crisp. The paint makes it look like the helmet is smeared with clown makeup, and the proportions are off.

Verdict: Retool with a new non-removable helmet

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