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Hasbro put out an inter
esting press release today: Hasbro to Phase Out Plastic from New Toy and Game Packaging. Before you freak out, the release says "it plans to begin phasing out plastic from new product packaging, including plastic elements like polybags, elastic bands, shrink wrap, window sheets and blister packs. The company’s ambition is to eliminate virtually all plastic in packaging for new products by the end of 2022."
I would take care to note the phrase "ambution is to eliminate virtually all" - so this doesn't mean that they're going to get rid of everything retro-related or that we're going to see 100% closed-box packages. We might see some changes, though, and it's hard to predict where toy packages might go. We've seen LEGO with its Bionicle cans around the turn of the century - a sturdy, reusable package you'd want to keep even if you open the toy - and blind bag/blind boxes on the other end.
After the mostly-plastic tubes of Galaxy of Adventure, it's certainly a change.
We've got options. Keeping small accessories safe and seeing action figure faces are indeed big concerns for the collectoratti, and of course we'll keep an eye on this evolving story.
If you missed it at Comic-Con, that's OK - there's over a dozen variants of the Darth Vader (Prototype Edition, The Retro Collection), the multi-colored nightmare for completists. This is the one I got. While the sculpting details are close to the original, they're not identical. I like it enough to keep him on my desk. Read on!
Filling a gap in the remakes of 12-backs, this Artoo-Deetoo (R2-D2, The Vintage Collection) gives you the package art you crave with the droid "bald spot" you hoped that Hasbro would fix this time. The dirt deco is cool, the build-a-droid mold is great, but is the Friar Tuck panel necessary? Read on!
Check out the Luke Skywalker (Crait, The Vintage Collection)! This cool figure is based on a sequence from The Last Jedi that was pretty spectacular - and odds are you won't be seeing it in too many stores these days. Is it worth tracking down? Read on!
Debuting at Star Wars Celebration this year, but also appearing in a box a couple of months ago, this Obi-Wan Kenobi (Padawan, The Black Series 6-Inch) is pretty great. The first prequel doesn't get a ot of toys, but this is a good one with an excellent portrait.... and sadly no cloth cloak accessory. Read on!
This is a good one. Ezra Bridger (The Black Series 6-Inch) brings you the Rebels character from his basic Season 1 look with his helmet and lightsaber! I hope you get one, it's a keeper. Read on!
Now with more dirt! BB-8 is no longer the baby in the world of droids, and this 2019 release from Galaxy's Edge shows signs of age. He's a bit dirtier now, but is otherwise quite similar to the 2015 release you may have on your desk or a shelf... or in a box in a closet by now. Should you upgrade? Read on!
Another new figure from Disney's Galaxy's Edge, the R2-D2 (Droid Depot, The Black Series 6-Inch) is a redeco! If you have an R2-D2 and are happy with it, this may not be necessary for you - but the wear and tear is unique to this figure. Is it worth the trip to Anaheim to get yours? Read on!
Ad: Pre-order the Star Wars The Retro Collection Action Figures Wave 1 Case! If you missed it earlier this year, the case brings you all six figures that were previously sold at Target. Luke, Han, Chewie, Leia, Darth Vader, and a Stormtrooper are all here, un-yellowed, carded, and mint on cards. Pre-order yours here.
They love pizza! These Porgs (Batuu, The Black Series 6-Inch) are exclusives at Galaxy's Edge in Anaheim right now - they're slightly different from previous Porgs in that one is a screaming Porg and the other is the sad-eyed Porg. There's limited articulation and they come in a box with 3 other figures - 1 of which is new, 2 of which are slightly different. Read on!
The coolest new thing Hasbro unveiled at Comic-Con this year - admittedly, it's a small pool from which to draw - was the Boba Fett Helmet which we were later told is coming in 2020. This high-end toy helmet will make you glad if you sold your 2010ish The Clone Wars model recently.
Jabba's palace in 6-inch scale, complete with a Rancor, and the Barge in 3 3/4-inch scale, were on display in full force! Packed with modern and classic figures as well as what we have been informed were custom figures, there's not a lot of new product here - but the diorama itself is pretty spectacular. Check it out!
So how was the Hasbro breakfast here in San Diego? Awesome. But for Star Wars? There's nothing you haven't already seen. Hasbro showed off its Hyper Real Darth Vader and Black Series X-Wing Helmet along with a couple of Comic-Con exclusives. We snapped a few photos, but you've seen these before. New reveals were promised in this afternoon's panel, so stay tuned for more!
Just different enough to make you mad... and it's better, too! This Galaxy's Edge C-3PO (Droid Depot, The Black Series 6-Inch) uses 4-LOM's arms to give you an all-gold C-3PO with jointed elbows. The previous versions were rather stiff - this is a big improvement. Read on!
