Hasbro had a surprise or two up their sleeves with today’s Fan First Wednesday Livestream. Click on through for the highlights…
NEW PREORDERS/REVEALS
BLACK SERIES ARCHIVE – WAVE 1 – 2022
C-3PO / Dengar / Emperor Palpatine / Lando Calrissian (Skiff Guard)
Hasbro showcased these 4 Archive releases last year during a previous livestream as Pipeline Reveals. The deal is getting worse for Lando (Skiff Guard) especially as his previous release can be picked up online now for at least $5 cheaper than what he’ll be going for tomorrow, not to mention his recent pegwarmer status in both the Black Series and Vintage Collection lines. The most solid pic of the 4, in my opinion is Dengar but The Emperor is a solid choice considering the aftermarket price of the Amazon exclusive version. C-3PO too was available a couple times in the past 2-3 years via Amazon (with Chewbacca), Target with Babu Frik, and in the Disney Parks/ShopDisney Droid Depot set. Some of you may still have dusty boxes of him at your local Walgreens if you’re “lucky”.
BLACK SERIES (EXCLUSIVE)
Nightbrother Archer (Gaming Greats) – GameStop
Hasbro revealed the next Black Series (Gaming Greats) figure, capitalizing once again on those dated Maul legs as well as giving a fresh coat of paint to the shirtless “apprentice” Maul upper body, creating the Nightbrother Archer – a companion piece to the Nightbrother Warrior which has had its fair share of preorder issues with GameStop as of late. Hopefully it doesn’t suffer the same fate.
VINTAGE COLLECTION
501st Clone Trooper (The Clone Wars) / Yoda (The Empire Strikes Back)
Another former Pipeline Reveal, the 501st Clone Trooper gets a new head (borrowed from The Bad Batch 4pk – we’re all still waiting for BTW) and a fresh new cardback featuring artwork and callout from The Clone Wars. Trooper builders, set your wallets to “empty”. The 501 Clone Trooper joined with Yoda (also officially shown) complete wave 10 of TVC.
All of the above will be available for preorder on Feb 10 at 1pm ET.
Pipeline Reveals
VINTAGE COLLECTION
Anakin Skywalker (AOTC) / Mandalorian Commando (TCW)
Previously available in the 2014 Black Series line, Anakin Skywalker from Attack of the Clones gets Photo Real update for 2022 and a first time release on a Vintage card – cross a name off a list somewhere. Also making a debut is the Mandalorian Commando from The Clone Wars. It’s tough keeping all these TCW Mandos straight as we’re getting a bunch in future waves but it’s sure to use some recycling of parts and will essentially be a repaint by the time it’s released.
BLACK SERIES
Aayla Secura / Maul (TCW S7) / Saw Gerrera
Long rumored but finally confirmed, Aayla Secura joins the Jedi ranks of Black Series in time for the 20th Anniversary of Attack of the Clones. You’d think with such a milestone, Hasbro will lean into that a lot more considering there are only two Black Series figures in the new packaging – so far. Darth Maul from The Clone Wars Season 7 has been a major hole in the line since the release of Ahsoka from the same season. TVC collectors were treated to him last year with thunderous applause but according to Hasbro, it will be 2023 before the 6″ version will face off against Ahsoka again on our shelves. Finally, the rumored Saw Gerrera from Rogue One was also confirmed via the Hasbro team, although they didn’t mention the fact that he will be a Deluxe release.
BLACK SERIES ARCHIVE – WAVE 2 – 2022
Han Solo (TFA) / Chewbacca / Grand Moff Tarkin / Leia as Boushh
Black Series Archive reveals were unsurprising save for one as Han Solo returns from the dead as his figure from The Force Awakens will be added to the line. The interesting thing about this is that there was a rare gray hair version that was intended as a running change when he first debuted, not too many collectors acquired/wanted? one but now is the chance. Photo Real will undoubtedly do wonders for that sculpt. Chewbacca makes a comeback as well but this time from his original A New Hope design – most collectors will pass on this one since there are so many in our collections already – newcomers though will surely buy him, right? I don’t know, it’s unwise to pegwarm a Wookiee. Grand Moff Tarkin was a great release back in his first issue, but there is room for improvement in the form of Photo Real and with last year’s Rogue One anniversary, he may be in the forefront of newer collector’s minds. Finally, we return to Jabba’s Palace (didn’t we just left that awful place on TBOBF?) with Princess Leia Organa (Boushh Disguise) – the sculpting tech may be a bit dated on this re-issue but the Photo Real will certainly spruce up that lifeless face.
VINTAGE COLLECTION
Jabba’s Bib Fortuna’s Boba Fett’s Palace Playset
Hasbro surprised pretty much everyone with this Haslab-level item (with a price to match) for the Vintage Collection. Boba Fett’s Palace from The Book of Boba Fett is a large, amazingly detailed playset featuring 50 plus accessories, including a rolling dais, rotisserie/spit, throne and much, much more. The set even includes a carded portly Bib Fortuna with classic Kenner staff accessory. Here’s the rub: it is a Hasbro Pulse exclusive in the U.S., Canada and U.K. (for now) and costs $230.00. As you can imagine, the denizens (collectors) let out a groan with the price reveal, but since this isn’t a Haslab item, you won’t be dropping that kind of cash and waiting a year, you’ll be able to preorder this on Feb. 10 and pay for it when it ships next year. What’s another preorder? You are keeping track of them all, right? Right???
Lastly, Hasbro clarified/confused some last details for upcoming preorders. The Target exclusive Black Series Mandalorian with Grogu (Arvala-7) aka Muddy Mando, “will not go up for preorder but be available for immediate purchase on March 27”??? Haven’t a lot of us been trying to purchase this — and succeeding — for the past two weeks with orders already arriving? It’s clear there is some disconnect between the marketing team and what’s actually happening at retail. Shocking.
Also, the team stated that the new wave 32 of the Black Series with Ahsoka, The Client, Death Watch Mandalorian, Echo and Omega would be going up for preorder this Thursday – with a Spring 2023 release date?! Collectors in across the Midwest have been buying them at Target all week — and where is wave 31 at retail???
Hopefully you’ve enjoyed this rundown of Fan First Wednesday and have success in your preorders on Thursday and we thank you in advance for supporting our sponsors and affiliates via the links we provide.