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Since there are a few folks around here who still add these figures to their collections, here's a look at the first of 'em...
Star Wars 30th Anniversary Collection
WAVE ONE Figures 01 - 09
At last, the new collection of basic figures celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Star Wars is arriving in stores. Featuring a radical departure in cardbacks and the return of an old pack-in, the line starts as many of the Hasbro lines have...with hold-overs from the previous collection, new figures featuring interesting characters, worthy re-issues and the start of a new sub-collection that should thrill older collectors all year...
The collection starts with something old and something new....it's an album to collect the new pack-ins: coins depicting the character featured as the figure. This concept was introduced to Star Wars figures in the "final" Star Wars figure collection back the the Eighties, the original "Power of the Force". It's an inspired nod to nostalgia (it is an anniversary after all!) to revisit it now.
The album is nicely done...heavy cardboard stock covered with a laminated glossy paper that folds out to feature a handsome mural depicting the entire saga. The photos are well-chosen and the mural is a nicely balanced collection of all the main characters in the saga (although I did notice the interesting omission of Jar Jar in the "Episode One" portion). The cut-outs for the coins are numbered 1 - 60 for the figures, plus 20 "blanks" for extras & "chase" coins and it is durable and sturdy.
The album is packed with the carded figure number one...Darth Vader. He is a re-issue of the figure collectors have seen a lot over the last couple of years...it's a good figure, but I hope it is "retired" for awhile after this. The set is reasonably priced...just about $3.00 more than the average carded figure, and while being a practical and fun way to keep the coin collection in order, makes a great backdrop for a collection.
Before moving on to the rest of this assortment, a word on the new cardbacks. They feature a new, dynamic design for Star Wars...die-cut cards with lots of points and corners that feature striking bold graphics and artist's renderings of the characters on the front along with well-done character bios and a list of the other figures in the wave. The bubbles are flat again for easy stacking, with a slight re-enforced ridge to help prevent easy crushing. Now the sad part...these die-cut cards LOOK great but with all of those edges, it's guaranteed that MIC collectors are in for some headaches trying to find these without dinged and bent corners and edges. Shelf-time on these will NOT be kind...
Now on to the rest of the figures:
02 Galactic Marine - at first glance this looks like a repainted, cobbled together of Snow Trooper & clone parts, but it's actually a new figure featuring good articulation. The maroon paint scheme seems a little intense compared to their onscreen appearance and it doesn't quite match the color used on their Commander (Bacara), but they make a good addition to the ranks..
03 Mustafar Lava Miner - Hasbro continues it's much-appreciated great care in rendering a "background" character with fantastic detailing, well-done (and well-hidden) articulation allowing a variety of poses and a great, scene-specific accessory. Well done, Hasbro! Now can we get that "floating" platform as an accessory some day?
04 R2-D2 - It must be hard for Hasbro to come up with ways to keep offering us this central character and keeping it fresh and fun. This version succeeds quite well. Utilizing the retractable-leg body with the best detailing, they've added better looking jets and a scene-specific stand that works with the SBD figure. The paint scheme is a little overboard, but it's a solid figure that should provide kids with some fun and collectors with an interesting display piece...
05 Obi-Wan Kenobi - the first real "kit-bash" of this new collection, this is a cloak-free version of the popular "pilot" version featuring a new head sculpt that has already picked up some unflattering nick-names on some discussion boards. Suffice to say, it doesn't look that bad, especially with the "breather" accessory in place. This is the weakest release in this wave...an obvious effort at just keeping a core character in release without a lot of effort.
06 Mace Windu - I'll get this out of the way first...this is the BEST version of this character as a figure yet. Styled after the great "Pilot Obi-Wan" from the ROTS line, this figure features great, well-hidden articulation, one of the best rendered cloth cloaks ever on this scale of figure, and a great, easily removable lighting accessory for the saber. While many head sculpts of this character over the years have been overly dramatic, this one features a stern, but neutral expression that looks good. My only nit with the head is it's design prevents it from looking down...taking away the chance to have the figure posed with even more of that Windu attitude...but this is a very minor nit...don't let this excellent version of this character go by...
07 Airborne Trooper - Like the Marine, this one looks pretty close to a kit-bash, but the superb treatment, including the unique helmet and accessories make him stand out. The one thing about his bandolier and satchel however...they severely limit this figure's posing opportunities...no "on one knee helping a fallen comrade" poses here. But the idea of pressing the pistol into the reverse side of the satchel is inspired. One interesting observation...standing him next to Cody in a display shows how "short" Cody is as a figure. The Airborne trooper is a welcome additon to any "Utapau" inspired clone display...
08 Super Battle Droid - this was a character that needed re-visiting as a figure...the earlier versions featured weak plastic that warped easily and would not stand along with a limited sculpt. This new version addresses some of the issues...better, harder grade plastic allow this version to stand unassisted. The torso now features a little more articulation, as do the arms...the gun-hands now swivel to look more movie-accurate. The figure's sculpt is sharper and more detailed, as is the paint application...black highlights better accent the ridges and surfaces of the droids' body. This version also features snap-on "flames" to re-create the confrontation scene with R2D2 and also connects to that figure's stand to complete the scene. A worthy remake of a great army builder...
09 McQuarrie Signature Series Concept Stormtrooper - This waves ends with a bang...the re-release of a fan-favorite that got a short shift on it's first go-around. Many collectors were unable to secure this interesting figure but now, not only is it back (featuring an updated and more contrasting paint scheme), but it heralds the introduction of a new sub-theme in this year's line....figures based on the amazing concept art that started the saga by the great Ralph McQuarrie. Each wave this year will feature a different classic character rendered in this unique style. The cardbacks are also unique...a grid-pattern backs the logo and McQuarries' portrait graces the back of the card while his concept art is featured on the front. It's a great acknowledgment to both the artist and the life-long fans of the saga...bravo, Hasbro.
Enjoy the anniversary...and happy hunting!
Star Wars 30th Anniversary Collection
WAVE ONE Figures 01 - 09
At last, the new collection of basic figures celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Star Wars is arriving in stores. Featuring a radical departure in cardbacks and the return of an old pack-in, the line starts as many of the Hasbro lines have...with hold-overs from the previous collection, new figures featuring interesting characters, worthy re-issues and the start of a new sub-collection that should thrill older collectors all year...
The collection starts with something old and something new....it's an album to collect the new pack-ins: coins depicting the character featured as the figure. This concept was introduced to Star Wars figures in the "final" Star Wars figure collection back the the Eighties, the original "Power of the Force". It's an inspired nod to nostalgia (it is an anniversary after all!) to revisit it now.
The album is nicely done...heavy cardboard stock covered with a laminated glossy paper that folds out to feature a handsome mural depicting the entire saga. The photos are well-chosen and the mural is a nicely balanced collection of all the main characters in the saga (although I did notice the interesting omission of Jar Jar in the "Episode One" portion). The cut-outs for the coins are numbered 1 - 60 for the figures, plus 20 "blanks" for extras & "chase" coins and it is durable and sturdy.
The album is packed with the carded figure number one...Darth Vader. He is a re-issue of the figure collectors have seen a lot over the last couple of years...it's a good figure, but I hope it is "retired" for awhile after this. The set is reasonably priced...just about $3.00 more than the average carded figure, and while being a practical and fun way to keep the coin collection in order, makes a great backdrop for a collection.
Before moving on to the rest of this assortment, a word on the new cardbacks. They feature a new, dynamic design for Star Wars...die-cut cards with lots of points and corners that feature striking bold graphics and artist's renderings of the characters on the front along with well-done character bios and a list of the other figures in the wave. The bubbles are flat again for easy stacking, with a slight re-enforced ridge to help prevent easy crushing. Now the sad part...these die-cut cards LOOK great but with all of those edges, it's guaranteed that MIC collectors are in for some headaches trying to find these without dinged and bent corners and edges. Shelf-time on these will NOT be kind...
Now on to the rest of the figures:
02 Galactic Marine - at first glance this looks like a repainted, cobbled together of Snow Trooper & clone parts, but it's actually a new figure featuring good articulation. The maroon paint scheme seems a little intense compared to their onscreen appearance and it doesn't quite match the color used on their Commander (Bacara), but they make a good addition to the ranks..
03 Mustafar Lava Miner - Hasbro continues it's much-appreciated great care in rendering a "background" character with fantastic detailing, well-done (and well-hidden) articulation allowing a variety of poses and a great, scene-specific accessory. Well done, Hasbro! Now can we get that "floating" platform as an accessory some day?
04 R2-D2 - It must be hard for Hasbro to come up with ways to keep offering us this central character and keeping it fresh and fun. This version succeeds quite well. Utilizing the retractable-leg body with the best detailing, they've added better looking jets and a scene-specific stand that works with the SBD figure. The paint scheme is a little overboard, but it's a solid figure that should provide kids with some fun and collectors with an interesting display piece...
05 Obi-Wan Kenobi - the first real "kit-bash" of this new collection, this is a cloak-free version of the popular "pilot" version featuring a new head sculpt that has already picked up some unflattering nick-names on some discussion boards. Suffice to say, it doesn't look that bad, especially with the "breather" accessory in place. This is the weakest release in this wave...an obvious effort at just keeping a core character in release without a lot of effort.
06 Mace Windu - I'll get this out of the way first...this is the BEST version of this character as a figure yet. Styled after the great "Pilot Obi-Wan" from the ROTS line, this figure features great, well-hidden articulation, one of the best rendered cloth cloaks ever on this scale of figure, and a great, easily removable lighting accessory for the saber. While many head sculpts of this character over the years have been overly dramatic, this one features a stern, but neutral expression that looks good. My only nit with the head is it's design prevents it from looking down...taking away the chance to have the figure posed with even more of that Windu attitude...but this is a very minor nit...don't let this excellent version of this character go by...
07 Airborne Trooper - Like the Marine, this one looks pretty close to a kit-bash, but the superb treatment, including the unique helmet and accessories make him stand out. The one thing about his bandolier and satchel however...they severely limit this figure's posing opportunities...no "on one knee helping a fallen comrade" poses here. But the idea of pressing the pistol into the reverse side of the satchel is inspired. One interesting observation...standing him next to Cody in a display shows how "short" Cody is as a figure. The Airborne trooper is a welcome additon to any "Utapau" inspired clone display...
08 Super Battle Droid - this was a character that needed re-visiting as a figure...the earlier versions featured weak plastic that warped easily and would not stand along with a limited sculpt. This new version addresses some of the issues...better, harder grade plastic allow this version to stand unassisted. The torso now features a little more articulation, as do the arms...the gun-hands now swivel to look more movie-accurate. The figure's sculpt is sharper and more detailed, as is the paint application...black highlights better accent the ridges and surfaces of the droids' body. This version also features snap-on "flames" to re-create the confrontation scene with R2D2 and also connects to that figure's stand to complete the scene. A worthy remake of a great army builder...
09 McQuarrie Signature Series Concept Stormtrooper - This waves ends with a bang...the re-release of a fan-favorite that got a short shift on it's first go-around. Many collectors were unable to secure this interesting figure but now, not only is it back (featuring an updated and more contrasting paint scheme), but it heralds the introduction of a new sub-theme in this year's line....figures based on the amazing concept art that started the saga by the great Ralph McQuarrie. Each wave this year will feature a different classic character rendered in this unique style. The cardbacks are also unique...a grid-pattern backs the logo and McQuarries' portrait graces the back of the card while his concept art is featured on the front. It's a great acknowledgment to both the artist and the life-long fans of the saga...bravo, Hasbro.
Enjoy the anniversary...and happy hunting!
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hopefully this won't be too hard to collect.
