MAKE THE MAINS:  A New Hope

We've been discussing this a lot in the comments lately. The newly tooled figures that Hasbro is cranking out in 2022 are insanely, ridiculously good. Back in 2005 when I was happy to accept the predetermined poses that the swivel elbows on the General Veers figure afforded, I never dreamed we'd get a figure someday that could do THIS. The problem is that this creates a bit of a backwards situation. We have an incredible Mythrol figure for a secondary character, but don't have a decent figure of Episode IV Luke which is of galactic importance. It's like putting brand new windshield wipers on a busted windshield (that's a Christine reference, kids). This honestly frustrates me as a collector, especially considering how low risk the tooling investment would be for Hasbro. These must be 100% newly tooled figures.

We're going to go movie by movie for each of the core (or main) OT and PT characters that need to be brought up to modern standards for this #MakeTheMains feature, starting today with A New Hope. I'm going to break them down into Tier A and Tier B characters based on the how I view the retail prospects for each. Tier A characters are bonafide "bet the house" sellers, while Tier B have something about them that might make Hasbro pause before packing them three per case. Finally, I may have some honorable mentions for main characters that could be made definitive with partial tooling.

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Last 100% new tooling: 2004
Exists in Vintage Collection: No
Original 96: Yes
Original 96 alternate card opportunity: Yes
Notes: It's ridiculous that I feel like the community needs to beg for this. I honestly wish there was some way I could buy an equity stake in a definitive Episode IV Luke Skywalker. Fans who set up dioramas would need multiples: Lars Homestead, Cantina, Ben's Hut, Millennium Falcon. Finally, this would set itself up for multiple deluxe sets. One could come with extra Tatooine accessories and a moisture vaporator. Another could come with Death Star accessories.


Last 100% new tooling: 2004
Exists in Vintage Collection: No
Original 96: Yes
Original 96 alternate card opportunity: No
Notes: This one is equally as frustrating as Luke. To do this right it would need to come with two heads. One head with the hood down and one with the hood up. The only way the a "hood up" would work is if it's part of the head sculpt. Anything softoods or molded plastic over a regular head sculpt would look terrible due to the space needed for the Leia "buns". Since this figure would be so low on deco, if feels like this could be costed in. There seems to be building fan sentiment for a HasLab Death Star. Hasbro would be dealing with a pitchfork mob if that Death Star detention center were populated with the 2004 release.


Last 100% new tooling: 2004
Exists in Vintage Collection: No
Original 96: Yes
Original 96 alternate card opportunity: Yes
Notes: As with Luke, fans who set up dioramas would need several. I'd personally want two for the Falcon (cockpit and lounge), one for the Cantina, and one for Yavin. This could also serve as the buck for future Original Trilogy Han Solo figures. Lastly, a deluxe set with Death Star accessories and gloved hands is a possibility here.

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Last 100% new tooling: 2008
Exists in Vintage Collection: No
Original 96: Yes
Original 96 alternate card opportunity: Yes
Notes: Even though I would do moose stuff to get my hands on an all new definitive Episode IV Ben Kenobi, I do have to admit that an “old man figure” doesn't exactly put the "action" in "action figure.” But a definitive old man Ben figure does need some serious articulation to be posed correctly for the final duel with Vader. Sadly, the only figure that can come close to this is the preposed 5POA Obi-Wan Kenobi from 2017.


Last 100% new tooling: 2010
Exists in Vintage Collection: Yes *
Original 96: Yes
Original 96 alternate card opportunity: No
Notes: We don't so much need a 100% newly tooled C-3PO as we need one that's NOT VC06. And while that figure IS in the Vintage Collection, it's not on the debut episode card (hence the asterisk above). Protocol droids don't need all the modern articulation. The actual on-screen costumes don't articulate that well. I don't think the t-bar hips make sense on a protocol droid sculpt. We need a figure that is as articulated as VC06, but without the removable panels and perhaps scaled a little bit better. I know fans are partial to the BAD protocol droid mold, but that's not quite articulated enough. C-3PO needs ball jointed shoulders. It's critical for the nature of the character who frequently waves his arms in terror. But fans need to give up on the notion of it being vac metalized. That process does not work with articulated figures.

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Last 100% new tooling: 2012
Exists in Vintage Collection: Yes
Original 96: Yes
Original 96 alternate card opportunity: Yes
Notes: We absolutely do not need a 100% newly tooled figure here. We just need VC241 - Darth Vader (Dark Times) with a new upper torso to reflect the correct tabard placement over the shoulder armor in A New Hope. I would buy a case. Since an Episode IV accurate Vader already exists in the Vintage Collection with VC93, Hasbro could come up with a completely new card design. I don't know why Hasbro has been reluctant to do this for figures with Kenner counterparts. I think it would bring some excitement to the line. The Vintage Collection is supposed to be a living extension of the Kenner line and alternate cards are part of that tradition.

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