The Vintage Collection: The Ninety Six - STAR WARS Stormtrooper
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.
We’re right in alignment with Hasbro in our vintage Kenner database. 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 brings the number to an even 100 figures.)
Read our assessment, and then be sure to add your thoughts into the comments. Let us know if you agree or disagree. If you’re a customizer, show us your custom definitive figure in the comments as well! Who knows? It might give Hasbro some ideas.
STAR WARS Stormtrooper
Is there a definitive modern counterpart to 1978’s SW Stormtrooper figure?
2022’s THE VINTAGE COLLECTION Stormtrooper (VC231).
Has Hasbro added this character’s card art and figure into THE VINTAGE COLLECTION?
Yes. Throughout the years, Hasbro released many iterations of this character as an action figure, but always falling short of what collectors needed for their collections. Now that Hasbro finally placed this figure on a STAR WARS card, we have our definitive counterpart.
Does THE VINTAGE COLLECTION release completely satisfy the modern counterpart to 1978’s SW Stormtrooper figure?
Some will disagree, but the answer is yes. It is built upon a Rogue One Imperial Stormtrooper body with ribbed bodysuit and E-11 variation, but it’s pretty dang close otherwise. The first Stormtrooper on a vintage Kenner card was 2004’s VOTC Stormtrooper figure, but the packaging was based on RETURN OF THE JEDI. Then, the first release in THE VINTAGE COLLECTION was based on THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and subsequently release on variant RETURN OF THE JEDI/REVENGE OF THE JEDI card art, all under VC41. Hasbro retooled their best Stormtrooper sculpt to date, 2020’s TVC Imperial Stormtrooper (VC140) figure, to make the VC231 release.
If Hasbro didn’t release the figure yet, do we have a near-definitive to the definitive release of this character that can be added to THE VINTAGE COLLECTION with little updating?
We now have a definitive release of the Stormtrooper character in The Vintage Collection, complete on a STAR WARS card.
What does Hasbro have to do so we can check off “Stormtrooper” from our Vintage Vs. Modern checklists?
Hasbro can feel free to tweak this figure to get rid of all of its “Disney Star Wars” components, but until that happens, this is the definitive counterpart.
The year and years elapsed (through 2021) since we last had this character in classic Kenner packaging?
2022’s TVC Stormtrooper (VC231). (A New Hope variant). -1 year ago.
2020’s TVC Stormtrooper (VC171). (The Empire Strikes Back variant). 1 year ago.
2018’s TVC Imperial Stormtrooper (VC140). (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story variant). 2 years ago.
2011’s TVC Stormtrooper (VC41). (Return Of The Jedi/Revenge Of The Jedi variant). 10 years ago.
2011’s TVC Stormtrooper (VC41). (The Empire Strikes Back variant). 10 years ago.
2004’s VOTC Stormtrooper. (Return Of The Jedi variant). 17 years ago.
1978’s SW Stormtrooper. 43 years ago.
 |
|
|
Related Links
3.75-inch Super-Articulated Battle Of Yavin Galactic Empire Imperial Stormtrooper Star Wars Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope Stormtrooper The Vintage Collection The Vintage Conversation
Previous Article: Walmart The Vintage Collection Exclusives Availability
Next Article: Big Box And Hasbro: Purveyors Of Retail Exclusives, Or The Seven Deadly Sins?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-Click HERE to return to the home page-
Toy Reviews