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What Is The Next Tonnika Sisters?

Posted by Chris on 09/17/25 at 07:05 AM Category: Vintage Collection

https://www.banthaskull.com/images/news/the_tonnikas.jpg

I've been haunted by the titular question ever since Chris and Jing posed it to Victoria during her Q&A at San Diego Comic Con:


Victoria's answer is basically "more Tonnikas" via the Retro Collection and Black Series, but I think the spirit of question is which character should be the next fan-favorite to be made. The reason the question haunts me is that I didn't have an immediate answer, and I always have an answer to such questions on tap (right or wrong). Whenever an OT Main gets made, I immediately have the next one in mind (Bespin Luke). The literal day the Barge HasLab campaign was launched, I was already foaming at the mouth for a Death Star. But the Tonnikas are so epic and unique, I couldn't immediately conjure up an answer.

First, we need to define what makes the Tonnika figures so special, and no, it is not because we were told we couldn't have them. If you remember, Hasbro told us to "stop" asking about them, which means they were being frequently requested before the official "no" came down. It might have caused some fans to ratchet up the heat for them, but the demand was already there. Here's the criteria that I came up with to define the "Tonnika factor", which of course is pronounced "Tawnikka factah":

  • Years of pent up demand: It can't be something like Frog Lady because the wait hasn't been long enough, but I have to admit, begrudgingly, she's probably a few years away from qualifying. This basically rules out all Disney Star Wars characters.
  • Frequency of demand: One, two or twenty fans clamoring for a figure does not count (that was actually the formula for some of the epic peg warmers in the line). It has to be something that is placing well on fan polls. I've been wanting a Yerka Mig for over a decade now, but I'm virtually on an island with that (which is why I don't campaign for it).
  • It must be a never before made figure: This chops the list down even further, and it practically rules out the PT as Hasbro already went incredibly deep on those figures. We're about to get our third Coleman Trebor for crying out loud.
Here are three options that I came up with going from lowest to highest Tonnika Factor.

Atheloe (or Ownellco)


Bret mentioned these two sharp dressers when he was speculating on the presumed upcoming Cantina 4-pack HERE. They are members of the Lutrillian species. There is a third on-screen Lutrillian in The Empire Strikes Back named Treva Horme. I believe Lutrillians are the only OT species that is repeated across multiple characters to never have an action figure during the entire 47 year history of the 3.75" Star Wars line. That gives Atheloe some serious Tonnika Factor points, but ultimately he fails in the frequency of demand category. Atheloe only placed 92nd in last year's Last Figure Standing. By comparison, Tzizvvt was 70th.

Fozec

Fozec

Okay. We're getting close. Very close. In fact, I would say close enough that Fozec does have enough Tonnika Factor points to qualify as a worthy successor. He appears in both Jabba's Palace and on the Barge, and he's not inconspicuous. Even as a kid, I thought Fozec would be a viable figure candidate, and I hardly noticed any of the background characters as a youngster. I didn't even know who Ephant Mon was when were voting on him in the Fans' Choice poll. Fozec does reasonably well in fan polls placing 30th in last year's Last Figure Standing, and was the 40th seed in this year's March Madness poll. He would be a worthy successor to the Tonnikas, but there is one better candidate, and some of you are not going to like it.

Pong Krell

Pong Krell

Pong Krell debuted in The Clone Wars in 2011, and I feel like some fans started asking for a figure almost immediately. Time has done nothing to abate that demand. Krell actually won March Mandess in 2024, and he placed 14th in last year's Last Figure standing. He might crack the top twelve finalists this year. He checks all the boxes. He's been frequently requested for years, and there has never been a figure which is amazing considering Hasbro went incredibly deep on the animated Clone Wars line. If you're discounting Krell because you don't personally want him as a figure, I need to remind you that some fans felt the same about the Tonnikas (and we heard about it ad nauseam as they bulldozed their way to the inaugural Last Figure Standing title). Given all these factors, I think Pong Krell is the logical choice as a buzz-worthy successor to the Tonnikas.



Let us know what you think in the comments, but keep in mind, we all have our personal "Tonnikas". Heck I would love dozens of figures that some fans have never heard of. I would think I died and went to heaven if Hasbro announced a Debnoli or a Bob Hudsol, but too many fans would have no clue who they are. So feel free to list your personal Glups that you feel would bring you the same excitement as the Tonnikas did for so many, but also let us know if we missed anything the meets the three criteria listed above.


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