For some time, we’ve been providing code names via our Master List for upcoming product for the Black Series and Vintage Collection products. Recently we’ve noticed that some figures have started to double up on the code names in order to further mask their identities from prying eyes until they are officially announced. TBS has been doing it and now it appears matters are worse and TVC is employing the tactic as well. Read on for my theory that may impact the number of figures coming for TVC in the near future.
March is a big month for sports and it looks like Hasbro will continue to play their game – pitting their champs against one another for collectors’ attention (and money). To recap, March started out with a home run with the launch of preorders for the new 6″ Black Series Wrecker figure and on Monday of this week, we saw them kick a field goal with the preorders for the reworked TVC Endor Leia, Paploo, and AT-ST Driver. It was a relatively easy score — keeping the season ticket holders happy — despite the continued use of that dilapidated Walmart stadium. Nextweek soon I hear we’ll get a pre(order)-game for four new (previously rumored) 6″ Black Series “LFL50” figures: “BASKETBALL”, “FOOTBALL“, “SOCCER” and “BASEBALL” ahead of more new products at the Fan FestHome Opener on April 9.
Kaia Boutique in Quebec, Canada has posted the first in-hand look at the upcoming assortment of Retro Collection figures for The Mandalorian. We also get an idea of what the upcoming TVC cardbacks for IG-11 and Kuiil will look like since Retro Collection and Vintage Collection share reference images.
Hasbro Pulse Fan Fest is a front row seat to engaging brand panels, behind-the-scenes content, product reveals, and exciting interactivity, all in celebration of the people that inspire us to do what we do every day: our Fans. The schedule is filled with exciting brand panels that will offer fans exclusive news and opportunities to secure their favorite products before anyone else*, as well as special guest appearances, product giveaways, and more! This event will be hosted by SYFY Wire on-air correspondent, writer, and producer, Jackie Jennings, and available to watch exclusively on Hasbro Pulse YouTube.
*Hasbro Star Wars items excluded from early access
In order to prepare yourselves for their release on Monday, here are the 3 Walmart links for the new TVC figures for Paploo, Princess Leia (Endor) and the AT-ST Driver.
Based on some searching last night, I have been able to determine that cases of the Walmart Exclusive TVC Paploo “Oval” figure have arrived in the U.S. Hopefully this means the other two (Endor Leia and AT-ST Driver) are not too far behind and they will be up for order soon.
UPDATE: preorder for new TVC items will launch on March 15 at 1pm ET – thanks to Chad R. For the alert.
Another code name for the Vintage Collection has sprouted from the internet and this one joins the bouquet of other flower-themed code names we posted last month. “Daffodil” is currently showing that it has arrived at a Hasbro Distribution in the U.S. No word as to when it may be announced or if it is an exclusive release, but it is likely.
The addition of “Daffodil” increases the total of unannounced TVC figures (with discovered code names) to 15 and our Master List has been updated to include this new figure.
Tonight I received 3 new code names from a source for upcoming figures for the Vintage Collection designated as “Rectangle”, “Square” and “Triangle”. As you may recall from early in February, we we able to determine that the 3 new Walmart exclusive figure for Paploo, Endor Leia and AT-ST Driver also had shape-themed names (“Oval”, “Octagon”, “Circle”). Could these new three also be Walmart exclusives AND be part of the “Finish the 96” campaign? Time will tell, but they are currently not in Walmart’s system. We’ll update as we learn more info.
Yesterday as part of the Fan Celebration event, Hasbro revealed the official images for the upcoming TVC figures for IG-11 from The Mandalorian and Lando Calrissian from The Empire Strikes Back and both look fantastic! Look for these figures later this year with two figures from Return of the Jedi.
Yesterday I managed to score most of the new wave of Vintage Collection figures at aTarget here in Minnesota. I took some new images of the Princess Leia (Bespin Escape) figure to show that not all is lost with this figure. Straight out of the package, her braids are malformed and pressed against her head. After submerging her head in hot water for a few seconds, the plastic returns to its intended shape and looks much better. Click on through to check out a few more images.
