The Vintage Collection: The Ninety Six - RETURN OF THE JEDI Rebel Commando
Welcome to another entry in our The Vintage Collection: The Ninety Six column. Hasbro recently committed to collectors that they will be “focusing” on characters in The Vintage Collection that fall under “The Ninety Six” banner. If you’re new to this, it means that there needs a modern counterpart for every classic Kenner figure. Between 2020 and 2021, Hasbro’s made an admirable effort by focusing on these characters. But there is more work to be done, and we’ll figure out where we are step by step. Today we assess Rebel Commando.
Just a few notes: We’re right in alignment with Hasbro in our vintage Kenner database with the count. There are 21 figures under the STAR WARS banner, 29 figures under THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK banner, 31 figures under the RETURN OF THE JEDI banner, and 15 figures under THE POWER OF THE FORCE banner. (Sy Snootles, Max Rebo, Droopy McCool, and Blue Snaggletooth bring the number to an even 100 figures.)
Read our assessment, and then please add your thoughts to the comments. Let us know if you agree or disagree. If you’re a customizer, show us your definitive custom figure in the comments as well! Who knows? It might give Hasbro some ideas.
RETURN OF THE JEDI Rebel Commando
Is there a definitive modern counterpart to 1983’s ROTJ Rebel Commando?
2010’s/2011’s TVC Rebel Commando (VC26) is generally regarded as the closest placeholder.
Has Hasbro added this character’s card art and action figure into THE VINTAGE COLLECTION? And is it definitive?
The answer is yes and no. The Rebel Commando is a problematic figure to assess. While we’d love to check the figure off our lists since Hasbro already issued the character in THE VINTAGE COLLECTION line with the proper character photo, the action figure isn’t based on the 1983 ROTJ Rebel Commando Kenner figure. So, we technically don’t have a modern super-articulated version of the character in THE VINTAGE COLLECTION.
Does THE VINTAGE COLLECTION release completely satisfy the modern counterpart to 1983’s RETURN OF THE JEDI Rebel Commando figure?
As far as the card art is concerned, yes. But Hasbro would need to design a modern version of the Rebel Commando action figure wearing a solid green outfit and hard backpack to match 1983’s ROTJ Rebel Commando figure.
If Hasbro didn’t release the figure yet, do we have a near-definitive or definitive release of this character that can be added to THE VINTAGE COLLECTION as a straight repack, repaint, or with little retooling to update it?
The last basic carded figure that came close to the 1983 ROT Rebel Commando is 1998’s THE POWER OF THE FORCE “2” [THE KENNER COLLECTION/FREEZE FRAME] Endor Rebel Soldier. But by today’s standards, that figure is sorely out of date. Unless they can salvage tooling from other figures, we suggest Hasbro develops an all-new Rebel Commando figure from the ground up.
What does Hasbro have to do so we can check off “Rebel Commando” from our Vintage Vs. Modern checklists?
Hasbro needs to design an all-new Rebel Commando figure based on 1983’s ROTJ Rebel Commando figure.
The year and years elapsed (through 2021) since we last had this character in classic Kenner-styled packaging (vintage or modern)?
2011’s TVC Rebel Commando (VC26). 10 years ago. [Revenge Of The Jedi variant]
2010’s TVC Rebel Commando (VC26). 11 years ago. [Return Of The Jedi variant]
1983’s ROTJ Rebel Commando. 38 years ago.
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Related Links
3.75-inch Super-Articulated Battle Of Endor Endor Rebel Soldier Hasbro Kenner Rebel Alliance Rebel Commando Return Of The Jedi Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi The Vintage Collection The Vintage Conversation
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