Updating POTF2: Empire / Jedi

Yesterday we looked at the POTF2 figures from A New Hope that refuse to go away. Today we look at the rest of the Original Trilogy...

It was a bit of a mess yesterday, but I kinda knew it would be. Good teamwork helped clarify some stuff, and I expect more of the same today from you people, so get to work!

Here's Part I, the discussion regarding POTF2 figures from A New Hope that remain on display because they have either not been updated, have a worthwhile accessory, or are arguably at least equal to their existing update.

I was going to do the same for Empire, but it seems there weren't any that I felt fit the criteria. That's a good thing, as it means Hasbro has at least made some incremental improvement to those figures over the years. But yesterday a good point was made in the comments: The Treadwell Droid, which originally was packed with Aunt Beru, was updated with new deco in 2006's TSC basic line as a pack-in with a Power Droid from Echo Base. As such, it's not just a minor paint deco, it could be construed to be a specific character, that is different from the Lars' droid on Tatooine. If I were to subscribe to that theory, I would need to keep the Beru version for Tatooine, as it's not replaced by the newer one from Hoth. But aside from that revelation, I don't have any other ESB figures that I need to display from POTF2, unless you guys have some ideas.

While we discuss potential options for ESB, we can move on to ROTJ, and there are quite a few holdovers that don't have improved versions, and I have these in my diorama displays until Hasbro does something about this injustice.



Almost the entirety of Jabba's Musical Entertainnment Entourage:
1. Sy Snootles
2. Joh Yowza
3. Max Rebo
4. Doda Bodonawieedo
5. Barquin D'an
6. Droopy McCool
7. Rystáll
8. Greeata
9. Lyn Me

The first six figures on the list were released as two packs. Then the 3 dancers were released as a cinema scene. In 2004, towards the end of The (blue) Saga line, Hasbro added Rappertunie to the bunch. During the great 2007 TAC run, Hasbro added half a drum with Umpass-Stay. Before rounding out the entire band with 2008's TLC Ak-Rev and the other half of the drum, Hasbro released the 9 POTF2 figures plus Rappertunie in a pair of 5-packs. These figures were given slightly different deco, but were close to being straight repacks. As such, I passed on them. I can't compare them side by side, but images I've seen make them look similar enough that I wouldn't consider the 2007 figures to be any kind of measurable upgrade. Until Hasbro offers modern resculpts of these figures, we're stuck with the POTF2 versions. It's possible, based largely (not solely) on the 096 crowd, it's possible Hasbro could update the original 3 band members, but it's seems there's an almost zero chance of any of the others being remade.

10. Anakin Skywalker Jedi Spirit
11. Yoda Jedi Spirit

These 2 figures came in a 3-pack cinema scene with Obi-Wan. Obi-wan was also released separately as a Frito-Lay giveaway (Star Wars used to be insane, eh?). Obi-Wan was later updated to a much nicer version in 2004's OTC line, but not the others. Anakin was eventually released as an all new figure with soft goods, but with the Special Special Edition with Hayden Christiansen's likeness. Sebastian Shaw was left in POTF2 form. My figure, as you can see, actually broke in two spots - neck and right arm - which are held together with Blu Tack. Yoda was also never revisited. The closest we get is a 2005 ROTS-era likeness that is a hologram, not a Force Ghost. The set was originally nice and consistent, but it's a complete mess right now, especially if you choose to display the Hayden version.

12. Anakin Skywalker - This is an odd figure, as it's pretty much a Hasbro construct. They created a non-spirit Sebastian Shaw Skywalker figure. It's a unique effort, but never existed in the films, so it's kind of just a random non-EU-canon figure. As such it will likely never be updated, and I'm fine with that. I don't really have a place for it anyway.

13. "Arvyl Crynyd" - This figure came in an ROTJ cinema scene with Ten Nunb and Wedge Antilles. Ten and Wedge have both been updated. But before we ask for an update to this figure, it's all wrong. While Hasbro created a version of Anakin listed above, they created a monster with this one. It's wrong on all counts. First of all, it's most definitely not Arvyl Crynyd. That guy was properly done and released in TAC with his A-Wing. The consensus is that this guy is meant to be Gureni "There's...too many of them" Telsij, but even then, the markings on the helmet are all wrong, as is the odd red/pink flight suit, which should be gray. So in the end, this figure is just a mess. I could yeet it into MAKMCSWF's back yard wilderness, but I feel it's the only representation of Telsij in the line, so I'll keep him in my displays. I wouldn't mind if Hasbro did a proper one, when they get around to pumping out some new pilots.

14. Ishi Tibb - Yeah. This figure needs to go, like yesterday. As we've discussed recently, the inclusion of several compelling Ishi Tibb characters in Skeleton Crew could help us get the much needed update.
[The relative brevity of this entry should not be construed as a lack of interest; to the contrary it is due to the frustration with Hasbro’s incomprehensible audacity to deprive us of a modern Ishi Tibb/Shasa Tiel.]

15. Mon Mothma - Same as above, but with more urgency. Mon was given a newer figure in the ROTS line, but much like Owen and Beru, she is her younger, PT-era self, and doesn’t replace her original POTF2 version. With Mon Mothma's near ubiquitous appearances across various media (including ROTS, TCW, Rebels, Andor (a co-starring role), ROTJ, and Ahsoka), we should have multiples of her. However, we also probably can agree that she wouldn't exactly fly off the shelves. So I would say she definitely needs figures for Andor, ROTJ (this update), and Ahsoka as some kind of terrible-selling convention exclusive 3-pack.

16. Ewok Leia - Here's another one that we've had to live with for a while. I'm going to admit I kind of dig this figure, because for the time, it was so well done. It was part of subset of Leia 2-packs, in which her 4 versions were given premium treatment. I believe I'd probably put this in my top 5 POTF2-era figures. But of course, that doesn't mean I love it, nor do I feel we should have to endure it in our collections in perpetuity. We need a modern update.

17. Han Carbonate - Here's a unique figure because this is the only version of the carbon block that captures its look after Han is thawed out. We've got the regular version (about 37 times over), and we have the glowy/melty version. Not sure how useful this is to most people, but it's definitely unique. The Han figure is terrible, and also has been redone a million times, but I do get a kick out of his very worried/confused expression. That was actually well done!

18. 8D8 - What can I say about this character that hasn't already been said recently? Hasbro FINALLY gave us a an "update", but the infamous lack of articulation renders it only marginally superior to this version from 25 years prior. Sure, the sculpt is better, no doubt. But it's not 25 years better. This one was pretty decent for the time, and served us well for a longwhile before we started to think we needed a new one. And while both figures have limited articulation, at least the POTF2 version has a bent elbow so he can do his job of pulling the branding iron lever. That's really why we're here. I'm not going to argue that you should display this 8D8 over the TVC version, but the branding iron is a must have accessory that has never been revisited. I'm going to move on before I get mad.

19. EV-9D9 - And here we're at one of my favorite POTF2 figures to discuss. Mostly it's because it would seem to be Chris's #1 most wanted update for the entire 3.75" line, at least by the way he won't stop talking about it. But the thing that really gets me is that I think the Kenner figure might actually be better, and that's almost a war crime. It has an articulated jaw...BY GOD, AN ARTICULATED JAW! So one might have the Kenner version in their display of modern figures, and one might have made the conscious decision to skip the POTF2 version (although one might want it for the control panel). It's one thing to have a figure like Sim Aloo in your Emperor's Arrival diorama because there is no modern analog (which is annoying in and of itself), but for a modern figure (even one from POTF2) to suffer the indignity of being passed over for its Kenner predecessor is just embarrassing. Hasbro, please address this ASAP. For Chris.

Okay, so ROTJ was pretty big, while ESB has (possibly) been put to bed. Let us know your thoughts on the matter.

Tomorrow we'll take a look at EU figures.

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