Our Thoughts On Steve Evans Departing the Hasbro Star Wars Team

Three days ago, Steve Evans announced on Instagram that he will be leaving the Star Wars team. Steve wrote:

To say I have loved every single minute working on Star Wars for the past 5 years would be a massive Death Star-sized understatement. But I have recently decided to take on a new role at Hasbro as Creative Director, Consumer Products. Which means I will now be spending my days with Optimus Prime, Applejack and other new friends. I feel it important to take a moment here to say THANK YOU to all of you. It truly has been an honor to be part of this incredible community, and I will forever look back at this chapter of my career with the utmost pride and fondness. It truly has been a childhood dream come true for me to be part of Star Wars toys, but I am excited for this new opportunity ahead! So...Until we meet again. MTFBWY

We've been remiss in addressing this news to this point, but it's not due to indifference. We're working on something big behind the scenes here at Bantha Skull, which has left our resources for providing content a little thin, so we didn't have the time to sufficiently report this. Bantha Skull certainly isn't the oldest kid on the fan site block, but we've been at this for a decade. Additionally, our bona fides in this hobby date back to its inception. In that capacity, we can state without any equivocation that Steve's level of fan community outreach and accessibility has been unparalleled. If Steve's successor is half as engaged with the fan base, we will be well served. I know it's fashionable to be cynical on these here interwebs, but you won't find that here. I believe Steve was 100% genuine in that capacity (more on that later).

Now if you're thinking, "If Steve is such a fan's fan, then why don't I have a super articulated 3.75" Brea Tonnika with 500 accessories for $9.99?" you have to remember that Hasbro is a publicly traded company with an $11 billion market cap. Whomever we interact with from the brand team is going to have a boss and a boss's boss and a boss's boss's boss. They can't just snap their fingers and make all our wishes come true. Anyone who is an employee, especially a customer facing one, should be able to understand this.

I will personally forever be in Steve's debt for his role in bringing us the Sail Barge. I consider the announcement of the Barge at Toy Fair 2018 to be my single greatest moment in the hobby. I will cherish that memory forever. After the presentation, the attendees were invited down to the showroom. I was still in mild "did I die and go to heaven" disbelief. In the commotion and buzz of the Star Wars room, I locked eyes with Steve, doing my best to give him a "wow" expression. He said to me, "How did we do?" I replied, "I'm a grown man in my forties, and I have goose bumps." Steve's facial expression instantly turned into one of genuine appreciation and replied, "Aw, that's why we do it."

I know it was a "you had to be there" moment, so you'll have to take my word for it, but that sort of sincerity can't be faked. If you want to be cynical, that's your choice. I want to thank Steve for his time on the Star Wars brand team, and wish him well in his future endeavors. MTFBWY indeed, sir.

In the meantime, here is my treasured memento from that Toy Fair:

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