These “Original 96” Figures Need All New Sculpts

Before we discuss the figures that need new sculpts, we first have to re-establish what we believe the requirements are to satisfy Original 96 status. In order for a Vintage Collection figure to check the "Ninety Six" box, it must meet the following two requirements:

1. It must have a VC number. This rules out figures that were released in the Vintage Original Trilogy Collection and Vintage The Saga Collection subsets.
2. The figure must appear on its debut card. This means that Boba Fett, C-3PO and the Stormtrooper have not yet met the Vintage Collection "Ninety Six" requirements.

The second rule is our rule. We don't know if Hasbro is operating under this same assumption.

Hasbro's decision to re-release the 2007 Endor Leia as a Vintage Collection "Ninety Six" was met with some controversy. Hasbro might be likewise tempted to use older sculpts for the following O96's, but these figure need all new sculpts.

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Luke Skywalker (Farmboy)

Hasbro might be tempted to rerelease the Luke Skywalker figure from the TLC Resurgence of the Jedi Battle Pack. That figure is super articulated and even has ball jointed hips, but it fool's gold articulation. The lower tunic greatly minimizes the range of motion of the legs. The chunky elbow joints have poor range of motion. This is too key of a figure not not get 100% right.

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Princess Leia (Episode IV)

Hasbro might be tempted to re-release the Vintage Original Trilogy Collection Princess Leia. Not only does that figure lack ankle joints, it also has swivel elbows. The knee joints also annoyingly hyperextend. The figure is even difficult to stand, and lacks peg holes in the feet, so you can't even use a figure stand to display it. As with Luke, this O96 figure needs to be 100% definitive.

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Ben Kenobi (Episode IV)

I know a lot of you still love the BD34 - Obi-Wan Kenobi figure, but you're wrong. That figure has a fatal flaw. The "Force hand", which is actually an Episode 2 gesture, prevents the figure from holding the sable in both hands. Kenobi's duel with Vader was explicitly choreographed to employ a two handed fighting style. As with Luke, the chunky elbow joints also limit the range of motion of the arms. There's enough that need to be redone to just "go for it" and give us a modern articulation Obi-Wan Kenobi figure. And let's hope the robes aren't ridiculous.

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Boba Fett (Episode V)

My detest for the Evolutions based VC09 - Boba Fett figure should be well documented by now. It stinks. Hasbro needs to release Boba Fett on the debut Star Wars card. Hasbro has an all new and definitive Episode VI based Boba Fett that can be retooled for Episode V. LET'S MAKE THIS PICTURE!

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Han Solo (Episode IV)

Once again, I know a lot of you love your VOTC Han Solo figure. Once again, a lot of you are wrong. Take it off the shelf and take a good look at it. The head is almost Kenner-esque in its vagaries. The waist is anemic. Hold it up next to the VC124 - Han Solo figure and tell me Hasbro couldn't blow the VOTC figure out of the water today.

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Snowtrooper

This is the one I'm most worried about. The VTSC figure definitely appears to be up to Vintage Collection standards when looking at it on a spreadsheet. It's super articulated with ball joints at the most critical locations, but the arms and hands simply don't hold up to modern standards. The only reason the figure achieves a two-handed-weapon-grip is because the included E-11 blaster complies and curves into a slight "c-shape". Hasbro did and amazing job with the VC140 - Stormtrooper figure. The Snowtrooper deserves to be on that level.

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