Dan Who Review’s latest interview (10:20) with the Marvel team confirms more official details of Hasbro’s move to plastic-free packaging for the Marvel lines (and by extension Star Wars).

The past 24 hours have been rife with discussion on the advancing progress of Hasbro’s commitment to removing plastic from their packaging by the end of 2022. Yesterday’s Marvel Legends Livestream gave collectors their first official look at the redesigned packaging for several products that incorporate the windowless form factor. Star Wars Black Series collectors can expect something very similar to be implemented this year as well. Last year, we exclusively shared Hasbro-proposed designs for the Black Series and now sights are set on what will happen to the beloved Vintage Collection, Retro Collection and even the 6″ Kenner-style carded Black Series figures.

How do you keep the essence of a 44-year-old design without sending adult collectors (the true target audience) into fetal positions resulting in rage-quitting a line they’ve spent hundreds/thousands of dollars supporting through good times and in bad? I feel that for individual TVC figures, the classic Kenner card back and bubble combination is the signature feature of the line and part of the entire package in which many collectors showcase in their collections/displays. It is a look that other companies have emulated over the years for Star Wars and non-Star Wars products alike and provides perceptible continuity in the modern era of collecting.

We’ve already seen Hasbro wading into the plastic-free pool for the Vintage Collection with the deluxe/world-building packs and the army building 4 pks., but that brings us to the individual carded figures themselves. You can be sure that Disney/Lucasfilm’s Star Wars will not be seen as the sole holdout for Hasbro’s green initiative. Sadly, collectors should prepare themselves for the fact that the signature element of the Vintage Collection will undoubtedly be no more.

Will we see a mass exodus from Star Wars collecting over these changes or do more collectors see the packaging as (to borrow a phrase from Robo over at TheFwoosh) “the pretty garbage my toys come in”?

UPDATE: Hasbro currently has windowed (includes a cutout to see a portion of the figure) and windowless (solid, blind boxed) packaging for many of their lines including Fornite, Marvel Legends, Transformers, Power Rangers and more to come. Star Wars Vintage Collection, Retro Collection and Black Series will certainly be no different. But whatever the packaging style, there will be no plastic sheet or bubble in most cases.

Leave a comment below with your thoughts on the change.

DorksideToys is holding their annual New Years Sale with deep discounts on select Black Series, Vintage Collection and Marvel Legends items. Head on over to check out some great deals.

DorksideToys is currently running a clearance sale offering discounts on Star Wars (TVC and TBS), Marvel, and Transformers.

Head on over to check out the savings.

Note: if you have any spare Marvel Legends Iron Man hand reactor pulse blasts* laying about, they fit perfectly in the Heavy Infantry Mandalorian’s jet pack. (They also fit in his flamethrower barrel on his gauntlet but fix more loosely.) It’s a shame the figure didn’t come with them in the first place, but here is the next best thing if you are a multi-line collector like myself.

*These are from the recent Marvel Legends Invincible Iron Man which I purchased from DorksideToys.

Sponsor DorksideToys has launched their Black Friday sale with discounts on Black Series, Vintage Collection, Galaxy of Adventures Marvel Legends, Power Rangers, Transformers and more!

Jayson and Flyguy are back after 6 months to discuss our thoughts on 2018, what’s to come in 2019 and the latest news in collecting. We touch on our purchases for the past few months and dive into some of the rumors revealed lately. All this and more on the triumphant return of the Realm Recap!

UPDATE: MP3 audio file now available for download

DorksideToys has launched a new clearance sale on select Marvel, Star Wars and NECA products. Save up to 50%!

If you are a Balance Rewards member at Walgreens, head to your local store(s) to take advantage of the sale on 6″ Black Series figures. They are currently available for $12.99 each. For you multi-faceted collectors, the sale also applies to the 6″ Marvel Legends (great for scoring the new Black Panther wave).