There Is Another…Anniversary In 2025

Posted by Chris on 02/19/24 at 07:05 AM Category: Vintage Collection

Vintage Collection fans have been eyeing 2025 as the 20th anniversary of Episode III, and for good reason. With respect to TVC, the PT has been treated like nuclear waste for the most part. Until the upcoming Count Dooku figure, newly tooled PT-era figures had to slip into the line under a different banner (and even still, Dooku had to be relegated to Fan Chanel). The PT needs some definite attention in the line, headlined by a 100% newly toooled Episode III Anakin Skywalker. But 2025 is also the 40th anniversary of an absolute legend in the collecting community. The Power of the Force line look debuted in 1985.

I have long been obsessed with the 1985 product despite the fact that I didn't collect it as a kid. I've actually figured out why that is, but that's the subject of a different article. Today we're here to talk about honoring the POTF '85 line look in the modern Vintage Collection. Hasbro has covered all of the '85 line looks in the modern line. We have three Droids figures, two Ewoks figures, but only one Power of the Force reproduction to date:

You may recall that the braintrust of Mr. Nomadscout and other guy actually proposed that POTF Yak Face as a pack-in for the Sail Barge HERE. As much as we'd like to take credit for it coming to fruition, it's 100% confirmed that Hasbro was planning to include the POTF Yak Face with the Sail Barge long before that article was written (and it was proposed by the once again Design Director of the Star Wars brand team). As we know, the Sail Barge backing took off on a hockey stick trajectory as the POTF Yak was announced. There's definite collecting heat behind the POTF '85 line look which is assuredly due to the extreme collectibility of the vintage product.

It would be a shame if 2025 came and went without honoring the iconic Power of the Force brand in some way, preferable via a store or other type of exclusive that does not take away from the main line product. In other words, something that can be ignored by the fans who don't care about packaging, but can be embraced by those of us who do. In addition to the aforementioned Yak Face, here are the other figures that debuted on the Power of the Force 1985 line look with the collector coins:

Amanaman
Anakin Skywalker (mail away, but carded debut is POTF)
A-Wing Pilot
Barada (* figure is actually Kithaba)
EV-9D9
Han Solo (in Carbonite)
Imperial Dignitary

Imperial Gunner

Lando Calrissian (General Pilot)

Luke Skywalker (in Battle Poncho)

Luke Skywalker (Imperial Stormtrooper Outfit)

R2-D2 (with pop-up lightsaber)

Romba
Warok

The bolded entries already exist in the Vintage Collection. Obviously, what I'm suggesting as an exclusive means that 100% newly tooled figures would not work. It would have to be repacks, and, at best, minor retools. Of the bold items above, I would immediately eliminate BAR2-D2 and Lando General as repack candidates. The mold for the former doesn't hold up anymore, and the latter has already received too much retail sunlight through three releases. I would also eliminate Luke in Battle Poncho. The 2021 version on an episode card is currently piling up at discount retailers for pennies on the dollar. Fortunately, some other figures were repacked in the 1985 line which could be used as candidates for what I'm proposing. Here's what I see as viable:

Gamorrean Guard: As with Yak Face, this is another vintage grail having only been released in Australia. Plus, the Gamorrean Gaurd needs to get back out on the market, period.
Luke Skywalker (Imperial Stormtrooper Outfit): I would argue this has also reached grail status.
Imperial Gunner: This would need a little tooling bucks for a better scaled helemet.
Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight): I think the POTF '85 Jedi Knight Luke is one of the best looking carded figures ever. Add to that the fact that VC175 NEVER met demand, and you have something that is ripe for a repack. Sink a few more tooling bucks into rocker ankles, and you have a home run.

Thoughts?