Hasbro's New Vintage Collection

This year saw the return of retro style Action Figure packaging.  The addition of foil stamped card backs and the inclusion of the prequels takes this line to a new level.  The first wave focuses on the Empire Stikes Back.  The most notable figure in this wave is a new version of Dack Ralter, never before sold as a single carded figure. 

The second wave takes us to Revenge of the Sith and includes a single figure from A New Hope, The Sandtrooper Sergeant.  The card back on this figure is particularly nice, especially the foil variant.  I however would have prefered to see the Sandtrooper Commander released instead.  The orange shoulderpads give that figure a really standout look.

Wave three which is due to be released later this month takes us back to Return of the Jedi with some of the nicest sculpts I think I've ever seen on a Star Wars 3 31/4 figure.  Admiral Akbar and the Gammorean Guard are the most impressive.  However I think I am most looking forward to seeing good ole Wedge Antilles on a vintage style card.

Wave Four will contain Attack of the Clones figures.  This being my least favorite of all six movies I have little interest in the wave.  Kit Fisto and Jango Fett do look very nice on their cards though.

Images of subsequent waves have not been released at this point.  There are rumors in the blogmosphere that there will be a Darth Vader sculpt with Lukes head from the Dagobah cave, and a Dr Evizan scuplt was being worked on at the Celebration.

I had the pleasure of speaking with the main Hasbro sculptor at Star Wars Celebration Five and got the opportunity to watch him working on an Aayla Secura headsculpt for an upcoming figure.  He was a lifelong Star Wars fan himself and played with the same Kenner Toys many of us did growing up.  Its nice to know that the line is in the hands of someone who shares the same passion for the figures as the collector's.