Hasbro’s Classy And Annoying Problem With The Vintage Collection

This article started life as a different animal. When the Cantina launched I said that the total package was so epic, that I could consider retiring from the hobby after 2025. This was inclusive of its pipelines of 100% new figures of Episode IV Luke, Han, and Ben. That one presentation crossed 40% of my personal top 10 list off in one fell swoop. So I started coming up with my realistic bucket list of figures I'd need to consider my collecting journey complete. I didn't even include figures like a new Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru because I can't envision them getting done in a world where we have to wait over a year for Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati. But man, I could imagine how sweet Owen and Beru would look on a pair of Episode IV double racetrack cards. We need Toys R Us back.

My bucket list started with a vehicle, Darth Vader's TIE Advanced x1, and then I quickly dove into the figures. Going through just the #MakeTheMains figures for Episodes I - VI, there are over two years worth of new tooling. Given other priorities, that would equate to about a decade worth of real time to accomplish. It makes me a little sad that I will definitely be retiring from the hobby with some serious unfinished business. But for right now:


Of course, this exercise made me realize that the #MakeTheMains can't be considered cold content. That wasn't a set it and forget it exercise. The process of documenting the needed updates to core characters started just over two years ago. The march of progress is relentless. Figures that were deemed "good enough" two years ago are now starting to slip by the wayside in light of recent offerings such as VC318 - Kanan Jarrus and the deluxe Garazeb "Zeb" Orrelios. Those are two of the best figures of all time, in my opinion. And this is where some of you are going to cringe (and you assuredly saw this coming from the lead-in mage).

In light of that Kanan Jarrus, I no longer think that VC175 - Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight) is definitive. That tooling dates back to 2010. It doesn't have barbell hips, thigh swivels, rocker ankles or a barbell neck. It's simply too important of a figure to leave in that state. Moreover, black clad Luke Skywalker figures always sell. Hasbro even gave us two different Death Star II Lukes in successive years in 2009 and 2010. Even VC298 - Luke Skywalker (Jedi Academy) sold through despite having a near simultaneous deluxe release, and being less than a year removed from the very similar VC264 - Luke Skywalker (Imperial Light Cruiser). I repeat: black clad Lukes always sell.

The vintage Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight) figure is my absolutely favorite Kenner figure:



A quick side note, the above is why I will still add graded CAS figures to my collection. I think the CAS presentation of the Luke Jedi is superior with the cloak to the side versus AFA which places the cloak behind the figure. A 100% new Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight) would be an amazing figure and an absolute sales juggernaut. VC175 underserved the market. There is a decent amount of unmet demand for any Vintage Collection Jedi Luke. Carded samples of VC175 consistently sell for $25 and higher on Ebay.

A new Jedi Luke won't crack my top 10 for Last Figure Standing, but it will make my top 25 for March Madness. To complete the office place movie memes:

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