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It seems that a lot of our patrons, peers, and punters have been all but nailing the coffin shut and giving up the ghost on a line that isn't about to die quietly. Living in a city that was burnt to ash, yet thrives today with the motto "Resurgens", this hard-knuckled hunter has faith in the fortitude of the foundation that the entire Star Wars toy empire is built upon (i.e. the films). Alliteration? It's Toy Fair. So the Legacy/Build-A-Droid run of the "realistic" figures has ended, but this is a blessing in disguise, as a brief hiatus will be rewarded with a new retro-cool Classic Star Wars inspired Vintage Resurrection line, as well as one massive mamma-jamma of a vehicle (the AT-AT). Start saving your money now. At long last (after years of refusal) collectors are being treated to a thoroughly modern Bespin Cloud Car. We movie buffs will also be treated to an all-new Snowspeeder from Hoth (which may or may not see additional release—as rumored—featuring pack-ins like Wedge Antilles and his wingman Wes Janson as store exclusives).
You can check out Hasbro's entire media presentation right here, and marvel at the volume and quality of this year's offerings. (Gobsmacked doesn't even begin to describe it all.)Getting back-to-basics, Hasbro is reviving the retro-packaging style from the Kenner era, and the reigning champs of the Boys' Toys aisles have thrown down the gauntlet. Hasbro is ready to duke it out for collector dollars. Every figure will be worthy of its place on that vaunted packaging. Let this serve as notice: This is a now or never chance; collectors (the bulk of our audience) have the power to send a message to Hasbro with cash on the nail. Hasbro has made it clear that they are laying out some of their tastiest offerings, and they want to see collectors back and buying like there's no tomorrow. (Hopefully that whole "recession" business will have cleared up by then.)
After all these years Hasbro is going to make good on the Rocket-Firing Boba Fett promised to us during the Kenner era. Collect five Vintage Resurrection figures, throw in a check for shipping and handling, and the dream will be real! (The retro-Boba Fett mailaway will be a boon to collecting all on its own.)The Vintage Resurrection will run for two(+) years, and replace the Build-A-Droid segment. Figures in the Vintage Resurrection will branch out from the Original Trilogy to include figures from the Prequel Trilogy (and potentially the Expanded Universe). The first wave will be from The Empire Strikes Back (and timed nicely with the arrival of the AT-AT Walker). The four initial waves are expected to deliver new product every six weeks. There will be 27 figures initially, and ten figures will be Greatest Hits.
Galactic Heroes, our little line that could, will see its first massive vehicle, an AT-AT all its own. The figures will continue to thrive at retail with key characters re-released, and the introduction of great characters like the ARF Trooper, Republic Commandos, Aurra Sing and the new bad boy Cad Bane.
The Clone Wars is/are hardly over. More and more additions to the line will fill retail coffers (@ $6.99/per) while the "film-based" segment of the action figure line is on hiatus. We've got 31 new figures, plus vehicles and more, coming our way. It will be interesting to see if collectors sit on their wallets to save money for the "back end" of the year, or if collectors are going to find room in their hearts for the Clone Troopers, Jedi, and Confederates who populate The Clone Wars. The Revenge of the Sith Swamp Speeder is a rocking piece, and the Confederacy Gunship (as seen in the Battle of Kashyyyk) will be a fantastic addition to your arsenal. The remote control Hailfire Droid vehicle? Yowza!
Hunters prepare yourselves for thunder in the toy aisles. If you thought 2010 was going to be a "light" year, the Hasbro Star Wars battalion is going to stomp through, and the Force is definitely with them. Make sure to check out our complete image gallery from today's presentation.
