Hasbro was in an odd pickle with Star Wars at Toy Fair this year. There is a ton of upcoming product, but it simply could not be shown to us. Whether it be from Episode IX or The Mandalorian, it’s all top secret right now. The majority of what Hasbro was able to show us had already been announced previously.
The standout exception, however, was the new Vintage line. Featuring six of the original 12 Kenner figures, these toys have been reproduced as faithfully as possible, even with Kenner’s flaws as Hasbro put it. The packaging is done up to look worn and carries a large red circle declaring them to be the Vintage Collection.
Then came the most exciting announcement of the presentation. Hasbro is doing an all-new figure in the Kenner style, the first figure to be done in that style since 1986. At long last, collectors will be able to get a Kenner inspired Grand Moff Tarkin. He would be sold exclusively with the Escape from Death Star game reissue, but that’s totally worth it. Finally, Tarkin has joined us.
The regular vintage collection will see a new Jabba’s Palace playset and a skiff which is in scale to the Jabba’s Sail Barge released through Haslab.
We’ll also be seeing the final of Jabba’s guards to finish off our dioramas.
Although Hasbro couldn’t show us anything from the upcoming film or TV series, it did have a whole new concept to show off called Hyper Real. This new style of figure utilizes a stainless steel endoskeleton covered in material to provide a seamless action figure.
It’s an interesting concept, but upon touching Vaders rubberized covering, I foresee problems down the road with it becoming tacky and eventually rotting. We’ll just have to see how Hasbro addresses this if at all.
2019 is also the 20th anniversary of Episode I, and to celebrate, Hasbro will release exclusive Black Series figures of Kenobi and Maul at Celebration in Chicago which come on reproductions of the 1999 packaging.
Overall this wasn’t the most exciting year for Star Wars at Toy Fair, but it was also understandable due to what is to come in the fall and winter.
