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Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: The Emperor (The Retro Collection). It's very similar to the originals, which, oddly, are pretty cheap on eBay. The 2023 reissue has smoothed out the textures on the robes and the wrinkles on the hands and face are less wrinkly. If you have an open original you probably don't need the reissue, which looks incredibly similar to the genuine article unless you squint. Read on!
Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Lando Calrissian (Skiff Guard, The Retro Collection). It's not as good as the original - the level of detail is a lot lower, and the eyes on mine are a little weird - but in a shelf, wearing a helmet, near an old Jabba, he still looks cool. Why the details are so soft, I don't know - but some slight variations in color will make it even more clear that this isn't the figure you've owned since 1983. Read on!
Today Hasbro (and Yahoo) revealed 7 of 8 previously announced Star Wars: The Retro Collection Kenner-style action figures from The Book of Boba Fett. Check them out in: 'Mandalorian' and 'Boba Fett' go retro for latest action figure lineup (exclusive). The whole wave - or at least we've seen - is pretty excellent with what seems to be three existing sculpts with deco/accessory changes, four newly sculpted figures, and one missing.
Not shown was a new Luke Jedi figure - maybe they'll just repackage the old one. (It's what Kenner would have done!) New figure reveals today include Krrsantan, Fennec Shand, Boba Fett, Cad Bane, Grogu, a Tusken Raider, and The Mandalorian. There isn't a new vinyl cape in the bunch, but it appears Grogu just has a new accessory - the blue training backpack - and Mando may be the same as the 2022 version, but with the 2021 Moff Gideon Darksaber accessory. You be the judge.
While not Star Wars, this one probably crosses over with those of you who are 40 or older, and love Kenner-style figures. Hasbro's Steve Evans posted on Instagram that their nifty Marvel Legends Retro 375 line is "resting." A lot of lines have years-long hiatuses - Zoids disappeared for almost 20 years (and barely reappeared), Indiana Jones took a nap for over a decade, so all is not without hope.
As there are no plans to release any more, you can probably afford to go back and buy the entire line somewhat cheaply Various lots and collections on eBay have been ranging from an average of $4-$10 per figure in some cases (this is how I got a lot of mine), so I'd recommend checking them out if you're into this sort of thing. The packaging has a thicker cardstock and better overal art than the Star Wars line, and while the figures share a ton of parts they're still pretty excellent.
I've been posting weekly reviews of them over at 16bit.com because I thought they were neat. This week is Wolverine!
The Instagram Post in question is embedded after the break.
Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Luke Skywalker (Snowspeeder, Prototype Edition - Purple Head, The Retro Collection). If you don't remember getting one in 1982, that's because it's based on a 2020 release that came with a board game. It's pretty good - I particularly like the fact it comes with a new color of Kenner lightsaber! Well, some of them do - depending on which variant you get. I hear this delayed figure is alrady being marked down at select Targets, so happy hunting. Read on!
While peeking around on Amazon I saw a bunch of The Retro Collection figures for around $5-$8 - and I'd pretty much recommend them all at under $8. Boba Fett (Morak) is spectacular, but the super cheap $4.99 Fifth Brother Inquisitor is probably the best-engineered figure from Obi-Wan Kenobi. It'll make you old Kenner kids happy. And yes, these are affiliate links, it is possible we may get a few pennies if you click and buy something from Amazon.
Hasbro posted its latest Star Wars Fanstream Wednesday morning. There's a lot to take in, and I have a checklist of all the new names for pipeline reveals and actual reveals (and the embedded video) after the jump. So if you want The Black Series and The Vintage Collection, read more. But the most important thing are the Kenner-style The Retro Collection figures! A new The Book of Boba Fett wave was revealed in name only, and it looks like one heck of a wave.
Target will get another "Prototype" figure, this time it's The Mandalorian (the vinyl cape one) - but what makes it interesting is "Kenner blue" accessories. That's a selling point. The new wave of new characters includes Boba Fett (Desert/Nomad), Mando (new), Grogu (new), Luke Skywalker (Jedi, "refresh"), Fennec Shand, Cad Bane, Krrsantan, and a Tusken Raider. That's eight new or newish figures, and no droids, but at least we get some aliens that might be fun.
If we cannot be free, at least we can be cheap. Amazon has Star Wars Retro Collection Boba Fett (Morak) Toy 3.75-Inch-Scale The Mandalorian Collectible Action Figures on sale for $5.49 which, adjusted for inflation, is still a preposterously cheap price.
Heck, $5.49 shipped is a pretty good price just to steal his blaster for your old Boba Fett figures.
This is one of my favorite figures out of Hasbro in recent years, and I'd say if you still buy from Amazon it's worth their selling it too cheaply for you to get one. Click here to check availability.
Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: IG-88 (and Dengar, The Retro Collection). The droid shares parts with Hasbro's Kenner's IG-11, which means it's a much less sharp release than the original from the 1980s. However, the orange paint is much more generous - so at a distance, this is the one that looks better. If you get close, you'll see a lot of the sculpted lines aren't quite as impressive as an actual old IG-88 though. Even if you have an original, this is a variant that's arguably interesting enough to pick up.
Via Trash Compactor on Etsy: Panna Dragon (from the Holiday Special) - 3D Printed - Original Design by JLCreationsByJay. It's big! You can fit retro/vintage figures, or Vintage figures in there! The good news is that it's a big, cartoony creature based on the classic Star Wars Holiday Special design. The bad news is that assembly and paint are required. And it's expensive. And shipping isn't cheap.
Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Dengar (and IG-88, The Retro Collection). His details are not as sharp as the original at all, but he can hold his blaster straight this time. That's arguably a big improvement in this Amazon exclusive figure set. The skin tone is somewhere in between the peachy and yellowy old faces you may have seen, with what feels like rock-solid construction and freely moving joints. Other than the fuzzy sculpted detail, Hasbro did a real good job here and the Kenner-style paint job turned out really well. And yes we have comparison photos with the originals. Read on!
Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Boba Fett (and Bossk, The Retro Collection). It's a rerelease of a remake, with a couple of subtle differences that may just be batch variations - but hey, he holds his gun better, isn't that worth a look? Also Amazon has him in stock as I write this, but you came to know if it's any good. Read on for the full review!
Via the Star Wars Galactic Hunter Figure of the Day Blog: Bossk (and Boba Fett, The Retro Collection). He's just different enough to make you happy? He looks a teeny tiny bit different from the original 1980s toy, but has a retooled hand to better hold his blaster and a few minor paint masks changes. The sculpt is less detailed (like all reissues so far), but he'll probably make you happy if you want a figure that hasn't beheld the ravages of age. Read on!
Ad - Complete the set! Star Wars Retro Collection Special Bounty Hunters 2-Pack Boba Fett & Bossk Toys 3.75-Inch-Scale The Empire Strikes Back Figures (Amazon Exclusive) (F5562) are remakes of two figures from 1982, recreated, for $27.99 and due in April. This set completes the six-figure mini-collection of Kenner Bounty Hunters. New Star Wars The Black Series Carbonized Collection Emperor’s Royal Guard & TIE Pilot, Star Wars: Return of The Jedi 6-Inch Action Figures (Amazon Exclusive) are also live for $69.99 for the two figures. As these are Amazon affiliate links, we may get a comission as a percentage of the sale prices of any items you may purchase.
Just like Boba Fett and Bossk, Amazon has shipped Star Wars Retro Collection Special Bounty Hunters 2-Pack Dengar & IG-88 Toys 3.75-Inch-Scale Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Figures (Amazon Exclusive),F5561 early. These remakes of Kenner action figures from 1980 and 1981 are starting to be delivered as early as today. New orders are still open if you missed them. As these are Amazon affiliate links, we may get a comission as a percentage of the sale prices of any items you may purchase.