How Hasbro Can Finally Give Us Sim Aloo

For years, collectors have hammered Hasbro about finishing the Original 96 in The Vintage Collection. Thankfully, Hasbro has acknowledged those demands by being vocal about their intent to work towards completing those characters who first appeared in the original Kenner Star Wars line. When a new O96 figure is announced, they make sure to state that it crosses another release off that list. One of the more notable O96 characters that collectors often ask for is Sim Aloo.

One of Emperor Palpatine’s Imperial Dignitaries (who are most likely there for the daily tea parties), Sim Aloo first appeared in the 1985 Star Wars The Power of the Force line. Since then, he has been as mysterious as the other shadowy Imperial Dignitaries we don’t really get to see onscreen. (Even the Tonnika Sisters received more screen time.) In the modern line, we have seen two dignitaries surface. The “Saga” line, which ran from 2002-2004, saw the release of Janus Greejatus and Kren Blista-Vanee. Neither were particularly hot sellers, though they fared quite a bit better than POTF2 Hoth Han. Couple that with the real possibility that no one outside of Star Wars collectors know what a Sim Aloo is, Hasbro has been reluctant to grant us our wish of owning this intergalactic Hugh Hefner. [Editor's note: I believe Sim Aloo is an old wooden ship.] [Real Editor’s Note: What sorcery is this? I do not believe that nonsense about a wooden ship. “Sim Aloo” is obviously a New Zealand colloquialism meant to convey a desire to mate with a kiwi.]

But I believe I have a solution that would be mutually beneficial, and enable us to avoid any unpleasant confrontation…

In 2019, Hasbro released the Jabba’s Palace Adventure Set. It retailed for $50 and came packed with not one, but two The Vintage Collection figures which checked off names on the O96 list. While the set eventually backlogged at some Walmart locations (where it was exclusive), it initially sold out as quickly as it appeared. Since then, Hasbro has kept this format steady. Last year, collectors received the Carbon-Freezing Chamber, which contained a carded Stormtrooper, and this year, we got the Tantive IV Corridor, which came with a Rebel Fleet Trooper. (I hear Chris uses the Carbon-Freezing Chamber in his yard next to some rocks.). [Real Editor’s Note: What’s happening right now?] While nothing further has been announced at this moment in time, it would not be unwise to believe more “playsets” might be coming. And if so, let’s keep the momentum going with the Emperor’s Throne Room playset.



Naturally, the Emperor’s Throne Room would come equipped with a platform, some stairs, the throne, the cool space window, and one of those round things that Luke and Vader have to dance around during their duel. Buy another couple sets to expand the diorama to the sides so that it appears similar to how it did in the film. It is here where sweet sweet Sim Aloo comes into play. Since these sets don’t seem to get picked up by retail anymore, and because you would eliminate the fear of the figure clogging up pegs (which we know wouldn’t happen anyway at the current rate), Sim Aloo would be the pack-in figure for the Emperor’s Throne Room. Plus, collectors who want an emaciated purple-bathrobed grandpa to open would have to buy it twice, and possibly three or more times in order to get an extra figure to hang on the wall and build out their diorama. (This isn’t anything many collectors aren’t already doing with the current sets.)

Sim Aloo remains a critical component of the “Finish the 96” campaign for The Vintage Collection. You never finish the O96 unless you make Sim Aloo. If Hasbro is concerned about the visage of one of the Emperor’s beauticians scaring off wee children in the toy aisle, their concerns can be put to rest by packing him into the Emperor’s Throne Room playset. Collectors get a cool playset and Uncle Sim, and Hasbro wins by selling us the same toy multiple times over.

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