My Reaction To The Celebration Europe 2023 Vintage Collection Reveals

I'm not going to get into repack of Nien Nunb, so he's not in the list below. Even though Ree-Yees is also a repack, I'll have to bring him up in the context of the set in which he's included. For everything else, LET'S GO!

---

I'm tempted to say "no words" as an expression. The opposite is actually true. I have too many words! With the addition to Velken Tezeri, we have Completed the Crew for the Prisoner Skiff. This is so utterly satisfying. It's like getting the final nagging achievement in a video game. But it doesn't stop there. We get Taym Dren-garen (a.k.a. the man who shot Luke Skywalker). Velken and Taym were the top two priorities in our Skiff Guard Missing In Action Feature. Now we get to update that list, which is getting shorter and shorter. Keep 'em coming, Hasbro.

We get two never before made Original Trilogy figures in this set. That in and of itself is a pinch me moment. We are 45 years into the Star Wars action figure line, so getting one never before made OT figure is a unicorn. Getting two in one pack feels like cheating. BUT IT STILL KEEPS GETTING BETTER. We get a much needed 096 update with Tessek (a.k.a. Squid Head). Obviously Ree-Yees is included to help shoulder some of the cost. This, combined with the higher per figure cost, is the toll we have to pay if we want to get obscure, lower production volume figures. It's a toll I am gladly going to pay (four times over if I can).


You know something monumental was shown if the reveal of a 100% new TVC-quality vehicle is the second most exciting thing coming out of the presentation. From the second Din's modified N1 showed up in The Book of Boba Fett, there was a hue and cry from the fans to get it into the line. Hasbro did not disappoint. I can't get over the detail on this thing. The body panels look slightly wavy, and the paint appears to give the impression of swirl marks. This exactly evokes a work-in-progress hot rod that has had the paint sanded off with a rotary sander. My only minor gripe is the pack-in figure. Hasbro has now firewalled the season 2 Mando behind an expensive exclusive multipack and an expensive vehicle. I wish this were a mainline figure because I'd like to get a few more, and I'd prefer the pack in figure to be Peli Motto. Peli wouldn't have to be newly tooled. A new head on the Resistance Tech Rose with the body cast in red would be close enough for me.


I worry about this one. If a Krrsantan figure came out somewhat contemporaneously with his on-screen time, we all would have been euphoric. But I have a feeling that this $28 deluxe figure is coming out long after its viable market window. This could be a Kuiil situation brewing. Don't get me wrong. It's a hulking Wookiee, and the figure looks amazing. I'm definitely all in, but I buy pretty much everything, so that's not saying much. I'm worried that the more casual fans are going to pass on an expensive figure of a character who is rapidly moving into the rear view of the general pop culture consciousness (not a lot of people read comics).


I'm happy to get an update to Moff Jerjerrod, but I also would have been fine riding out my collecting days with the TSC 40 - Moff Jerjerrod figure (especially since I painted the hands on my figure black to mimic gloves). Nonetheless, I'm pleased to see the new Imperial Officer mold being put back to immediate use. The only issue I have is that I'm really not digging that removable hat. These officers remind me of Toad from the Mario Brothers universe.

---

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Let's take the last part first. We're finally getting an all new Darth Revan after Hasbro cancelled the re-release of 2007's TAC 30-34 Darth Revan due to fan backlash. That re-release was supposed to occur in 2019. This demonstrates what a rare commodity 100% newly tooled figures are nowadays. It took Hasbro four years to be able to finally slot that figure back in. It's why I hate seeing those scarce tooling dollars being squandered on duds like Vel Sartha (#NewLando).

Moving on, I know that a lot of fans feel like Count Dooku is the biggest omission from the Vintage Collection. I'd say that Thrawn was an even bigger omission, so it's great to see him slotted in. I will be buying extras of this one. Krennic is a "finally" moment. Rogue One's OT adjacency gives it evergreen status, so getting that movie's big bad is welcome news indeed. Pre Viszla was in my Top 25 for this year's March Madness, so another win for Milosh! This figure will pair perfectly with VC201 - Darth Maul (Mandalore). Finally, there's the Grand Inquisitor. I'm now of the opinion that the Obi-Wan series is trash, especially after seeing the greatness of Andor, but I love the Inquisitorious, so bring 'em on!

---

comments powered by Disqus