Questions for November 23, 2005
Q&A Archive

Just a quick note to wish everyone in the US and abroad celebrating the holiday a Happy Thanksgiving, and for those that are not, I hope you have a great weekend!

On with the show:

1
Hey, do you know if the vintage style super articulated Boba Fett will be re-released in the future? I found one at Toys ‘R’ Us when it first came out, and then never saw it again. I don't understand why they're re-releasing the OTC Pit of Carkoon version where you push down the sorry excuse for a missile, and the spring inside makes his arm pop up. The articulation on that figure is awful, yet it's been in about seven different package variations, including the 2006 saga collection! -Sam G. in FL

I’d like to think Hasbro will eventually get around to releasing the VOTC Fett in ESB colors, but there’s certainly been no word on that yet. They have the mold already, there’s definitely interest in this figure, and it makes good money sense; should be a no brainer. I wouldn’t expect it in the same packaging, but I don’t think we’ve seen the last of this figure yet.

As for why Hasbro would use the Pit of Carkoon Fett instead, it’s most likely because of cost. Between the two, the Super-A figure probably costs more than the Carkoon Fett. At the lower price point ($5 for the basic figure as opposed to $10 for the VOTC), it just makes more sense to use the less costly figure. It does look like Hasbro “touched-up” the new Saga Collection Fett; hopefully they have addressed the obvious shortcomings you mentioned.


2
I want to see if you can answer a puzzling question that's been nagging me since Clone Wars [I think you mean Attack of the Clones]. In Clone Wars [Attack of the Clones], when they first showed the clones in Kamino, the clones looked like princess Amidalas' bodyguard captain Typhoo, rather than Jango Fett as they were supposed to. Then in Episode III, the clones did look like Jango Fett, any ideas? -Kliford

At the point where we see the Clones in AOTC, they appear to be ‘younger’ versions of Jango Fett, not quite the adult we see portrayed by Temuera Morrison. After a few more years under their belts, and by the time we get to Revenge of the Sith, the clone forces have matured to the point where they start to resemble Jango more closely.


3
Hasbro's Electronic Lightsabers flew so hot off store shelves in 2005. What of 2006? Master Replicas made a buzz with the Emperor's golden lightsaber. Hasbro didn't produce Palpatine's yet, but can, and with 2 paint versions just like the Qui-Gon / Jedi sabers Hasbro made. Another great & golden saber (already made by Rubies & Master Replicas) is yet another graceful & golden saber owned by Mace Windu. Hasbro sold Mace's first really dull, very gray, real ugly lightsaber. Yet not Mace's new golden lightsaber so graceful & eloquent in its design. My question is, will Hasbro make new Electronic Lightsabers for 2006? Particularly, these 2 golden lightsabers that can sit well next to the golden painted "Ultimate Make-your-Own Lightsaber" Hasbro made? I think 2006 is a golden opportunity to keep selling these highly demanded hot cakes so golden in more ways than one. -Christian

Considering how well the Electronic Lightsaber assortment has sold over the last few years, I think we’ll definitely see more in 2006. Hasbro has stated that Palpatine’s saber is a serious consideration for the line, but that Windu’s Episode II and III saber is not likely. I guess they feel Mace Windu is more of a background character and not central to the story… At least not central enough to warrant a second version of his weapon. I’d like to think that as well as the line has sold anything they put on the shelf would be bought, but what do I know. Other than that there really haven’t been any rumors of ‘new’ lightsabers. I assume what we’ll see next year will for the most part be repackaged versions of what’s already available. One saber I’d really like to see offered would be a single bladed version of the Episode I Maul saber. Either cut the original hilt in half (and have it connect much like MR is doing), or leave the long hilt with a single light up blade (as he fought on Tatooine with Qui-Gon).


4
I bought two Utapau Shadow Troopers at Target and notice that one figure had the gray paint scheme on top of the chest and that the other one was just plain black. Are these just mistakes? Maybe QA miss this particular figure?

So far it appears to be mistake or error; it doesn’t sound like something Hasbro would necessarily ‘alter,’ so I wouldn’t be inclined to consider it a variation. More likely than not, this is probably just a figure QC (Quality Control) missed.


5
What are the chances of the Evolutions line continuing? How cool would an Evolutions pack featuring the different phases of Luke, Han, or Leia from Ep.4 - 6, or a deluxe pack featuring Obi-Wan from Ep. 1 - 4! It could even work for C-3PO from Ep. 1 - 3! -Jason D.

At this point the chances do not look good. We haven’t seen or heard anything that indicates Hasbro plans to continue this line, as is anyway… There are some ‘Evolutions/VOTC’ style figures listed for 2006, but it doesn’t sound like they’ll be in the 3-pack format. As popular as this line has been I would hope Hasbro might consider a few follow up sets, but if nothing was planned we may not hear about those until later next year.


6
I was just wondering why the regular yellow Clone Trooper to Stormtrooper Evolutions set does not come with a belt and on the photo archives, it lists the clone commander having waist articulation, but when you remove the skirt, there is no sign of an articulated waist, why is that?

I guess for some reason Hasbro didn’t think we would want to have the option of turning the Commander into one of his own troops. That, or they just didn’t think about that option until the first set was already in production and just decided to include it with the second edition. For now it’s a mystery, but we’ll be sure to ask about it the next chance we get.

I gonna assume you’re referring to this image here? Not sure what to tell you about the Clone Commander, seems like we added a detail that wasn’t quite there… I’ll let Dan know right away and we’ll get that fixed up. Thanks for letting us know.


7
I was wondering if you could tell me if you have a source to find Star Cases that will fit the Celebration III Darth Vader figure. I know I can buy them on eBay for enormous amounts of money, but I was hoping there was a generic one that will fit this particular figure. Can you help? -Doug C.

Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t believe a Star Case was ever made to accommodate the Celebration III Vader. It doesn’t make much sense to produce a case like that for a solitary figure, especially considering an ‘official’ case was offered (optional) at the time the figure was sold. As for any of the standard Star Cases, I don’t think any of them are deep enough to hold this figure. Again, someone correct me if I’m wrong…


8
How long do you think it will be for Hasbro to show us pics of the battle of Coruscant wave?

Seeing as they appear to have skipped right over that wave, based on our information, I would think Hasbro could post pictures at any time. Stay tuned, as soon as images are posted, we’ll be sure to make note of it in our news.


9
I saw the picture of the new Shock Trooper Unleashed today and I wanted to know if it’s just me or does the helmet look like its too long? It looks stretched and awkward to me, personally. Especially compared to the artistic rendering on the packaging. And on another Unleashed note. Rebel Scum said that Best Buy was sold out of Darth Vader Unleashed, but in Huntsville, AL there is at least 10 or 15 of them in door when you first walk in. Oh, and regardless of what you heard, shirt and shoes are required. Even in the Alabama location. -Kristen D.

The Unleashed line isn’t really supposed to be a movie accurate line; it’s based more on artistic interpretation than anything else. For this reason some of the sculpts can be a little ‘left’ of what one might imagine they should be. You could be absolutely right, the head sculpt could be slightly elongated, but in the greater scheme of things it’s probably not that way by mistake.

Most of the reports we’ve received indicate the figure has sold out at many Best Buy stores, but obviously in your case some are still around. Our bad if we made it sound like it was completely sold out, but if you’re still looking for one it’s definitely time to start shopping.

…good to know the folks in Alabama are adhering to the proper dress code.

10
I'm a really big fan of the Unleashed series, and I'm pleased to see that they'll be coming back. I'm also a fan of the artwork on the cardbacks. I was wondering if there's any way of getting that artwork in, say, print-form? -Greg

Hasbro handed out some Unleashed proof cards at Comic Con 2004, but aside from that nothing has been made available, maybe a few print ads if you don’t mind the splashy text… It’s too bad really; the artwork is beautiful and certainly deserves to be featured in some other way. To help promote the line, if that’s what it needs to gain more popularity, I’d really like to see Hasbro hand out posters at next years conventions, or more proof cards. A different poster for each day, give us a chance to build a little collection over the course of the weekend… Not a terrible idea, right? Then again, Hasbro is in the toy business, who knows if they could even offer the posters. Well I guess the bottom line is nothing is available, nor does it look like there are plans to make them so. For now we’ll just have to cross our fingers and hope someone on the inside recognizes the fact that there are fans out here that would love to get their hands on this artwork.


Until next time...


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