JTA Presents: Evolutions - Wicket W. Warrick

Welcome to another one of our JTA Presents: Evolutions features! Let’s check out how close or far we are from having an ideal Hasbro 3.75″ Wicket W. Warrick action figure. Have we arrived at definitive status yet? Weigh in and let us know what conclusion you’ll come to by clicking through and adding your two cents in the comments!

It goes without saying that Wicket W. Warrick is the most recognizable Ewok from Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi. And while this little teddy bear is continuously part of the basic figure line, many of his releases (or should we say re-releases) have been of the same sculpts. Throughout the many years of Star Wars’ existence, Kenner and Hasbro produced four unique sculpts. But half of them were released multiple times and used and reused to the point that collectors didn’t want to see them again. Thankfully, Hasbro made a rather excellent version of the figure that may stand the test of time.

Wicket W. Warrick from 1984’s Return Of The Jedi line

1984’s Return Of The Jedi Wicket W. Warrick is one of the most significant figures of the modern line. He’s short, he’s adorable, and he comes with removable parts. Wicket W. Warrick introduced the Star Wars community to the Ewok species, but he was only the third Ewok produced for the Return Of The Jedi line. Instead, Kenner made Chief Chirpa and Logray (Ewok Medicine Man) first which was an odd move since they were essentially backgrounded characters. But Wicket W. Warrick quickly became a priority for those who grew up with the line.

Wicket from 1998’s The Power Of The Force “2” [Green/Freeze Frame] Ewoks: Wicket & Logray two-pack.

The first modern version of Wicket came in a two-pack with Logray in The Power Of The Force “2” [Green/Freeze Frame] lineup. We were so happy to have our first modern Kenner Ewoks that we didn’t notice immediately how oversized and inaccurate the figure was to the onscreen character. To add salt into the wound, Kenner/Hasbro re-released this version of Wicket through 2007. It was a painful journey for most collectors. You can find this version of Wicket with various paint jobs, including brown detail to accent the threads in his cowl, and then an Ultimate Battle Packs set called The Battle Of Endor and released in the 30 (77-07) line colored him orange.

Wicket (VC27) from 2010’s The Vintage Collection line.

One of the best versions of Wicket is found in The Vintage Collection. Wicket is loaded with articulation, and it was squeezed into his tiny stature wonderfully. Wicket can achieve most poses you want. To make the figure sweeter, Hasbro added extra gear based on his appearance in the Ewoks cartoon in the mid-eighties which elated fans who grew up with the vintage Kenner line. Some complain that his coloring is a tad too dark, and others claim the extra articulation affects his aesthetics, but most are thrilled with The Vintage Collection Wicket (VC27) figure. And he likely will remain a favorite for the collecting community.

Wicket from 2015’s Rebels Wicket W. Warrick/Biker Scout (MS10) Mission Series set

With no expectation of anticipation at all, Hasbro squeezed another modern version of Wicket into the 2015 Rebels Mission Series line. The sculpt of this Wicket figure is astonishing, but the lack of articulation sets the quality of the figure back. With only four points of articulation, Wicket can’t do much, but between the stunning paint operations and beautiful sculpting, collectors aren’t so quick to dismiss this version of Wicket. We probably received all of the Wicket action figures we’ll ever need in our lifetime by this point, but it’s possible we’ll continue to see other Ewoks over time because they’re adored by collectors.

Wicket W. Warrick Group Shot

Questions for discussion:

1. In your opinion, do we have a definitive version of this figure?

2. If we don’t have a definitive version of this figure, should Hasbro tool a new figure from the ground up again, or should they tweak a current sculpt to perfect it instead?

3. If the figure ranks as definitive for you, do you want to see it repackaged in vintage Kenner packaging (The Vintage Collection) if it isn’t already?

4. Add any other points of note or interest in the comments about any of these versions of Wicket W. Warrick action figures.

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