Ewok Assault Catapult - TVC - Exclusives

The Ewoks help a Rebel strike team capture the shield generator that is protecting the second Death Star from attack.

The Vintage Collection basic figure line may have come to a halt, but that hasn’t prevented Hasbro from developing some wonderful The Vintage Collection retail exclusives to keep collectors interested in the line. Kmart has been a long-running winner as they’ve picked up some of the best exclusives that money can buy. It’s rare now to get 3.75” figure exclusives, but in just a few short years they’ve managed to secure no less than five sets. Someone high up in the company must be a big fan of Return Of The Jedi because 60% of those multipacks are based on the Battle of Endor. Before we digress too much, Kmart has picked up the Ewok Assault Catapult set. Vaguely based on the original accessory from the vintage Kenner line, Hasbro has put this concept on steroids for the modern collecting era by including two premium collector-oriented action figures along with it and miraculously kept the MSRP about the same exact cost as what the two pack-in action figures would cost you had they been released separately as basic figures. (This is why we can never swallow Hasbro’s many “cost containment” arguments. This makes them look like they cry “Wolf!” all the time.) Anyway, collectors should prepare themselves to welcome Chubbray and Stemzee to their Ewok collections. The figures aren’t revolutionary and the paint applications are averagely good, so you probably shouldn’t expect to be fully wowed by what’s inside of the box. The most impressive aspect of this set is the actual Ewok Assault Catapult.

Hardly any new ground is broken with either of them. In fact, they're almost 100% inverses of each other. Hasbro simply took 2011’s TVC Logray (Ewok Medicine Man) (VC55) and Nho’Apakk from 2009’s LC Ewoks (BD18) two-pack and switched portraits, repainted them and called it a day. It may seem lazy and it very well may be, but do we really expect Hasbro to give us all-new sculpts every time a new Ewok is due to be released? No, this is exactly what we enjoy seeing. Hasbro has an uncanny ability to make old look new again, and that’s precisely what we have here. Chubbray utilizes the body of Nho’Apakk and the head of Logray (Ewok Medicine Man). He has been painted in a color scheme that is quite reminiscent of Warok from 2009’s LC Battle For Endor Battle Packs set. He comes with a repainted cowl that was the alternate one for Kneesa in 2012’s SW [TPM 3D] Ewok Pack, a Toys R Us exclusive. Stemzee on the other hand utilizes the opposite parts of Chubbray. Stemzee is Logray (Ewok Medicine Man) with the head of Nho’Apakk. Hasbro also decided to reuse the cowl from Nanta, also from 2012’s SW [TPM 3D] Ewok Pack. Both Chubbray and Stemzee have been repainted and have distinguishing marks that make them unique from any other Ewok action figure we have encountered in the past. Chubbray has a white patch over his right eye and Stemzee has multiple off-center/off-beat stripes running throughout his fur. The deco is simple and much of Stemzee looks like Logray (Ewok Medicine Man) for obvious reasons, but we’re still happy with the way they turned out.

The Ewok Assault Catapult is an all-new accessory. It’s been beautifully done and for the first time screen accurate. It has awesome functionality and does what it’s supposed too. You can really wind back the sling and you can really feel the pressure in the “bowing wood” and this authenticity alone is just brilliant as far as we’re concerned. Hasbro also utilized a rubbery plastic material to cast the boulders. They look exactly like the rocks from the film. Hasbro took the time to sculpt them and paint them so that they too would come across as authentic. We’re very impressed with these details. The Ewok Assault Catapult has awesome wooden detailing and the paint job is excellent as well. You’ll see evidence of dirt and moss throughout the body of it. It just looks fantastic. So let’s talk about the disappointment here. And it’s a big one. A spotted Ewok was to originally be included in this set and for reasons unknown, much to the chagrin of Ewok lovers, Hasbro axed that particular character and gave collectors Chubbray instead. It was a very unique take on an Ewok and quite frankly we’re very disappointed that there are no current plans to release that character to collectors. It’s a very big deal that Hasbro canceled that Ewok, but at least he was replaced with another cool Ewok. But now that evidence exists that Hasbro had this figure in motion, collectors will be waiting for the day he sees release. We don’t think it was a cost issue. After all, Chubbray has a digitally applied silk-screened marking for his eye patch. The same could have been done for the spotted Ewok. The Ewok Assault Catapult is a pleasant surprise. Make it a mission to secure this wonderful set for your collection!