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HASBRO DISCUSSION
 During
the discussion in Room 2, Hasbro featured many new items for release
for the remainder of 2006 and first part of 2007. Many of the lines
featured numerous items, both repacks and new to the Star Wars
collecting world. Representative Derryl Depriest emphasized that
Hasbro has focused on a balance of all lines for collectors and
children, due to the success of last year’s ROTS line. The most
surprising of all of the new items released was the announcement of
22 additional SAGA figures slated for release beginning November
2006. Most of these figures range from new sculpts to new paint
decos. The first 3 of these figures were displayed at the Hasbro
booth and are numbered as follows:
#53 – Darth Maul-Sith Training
#54 – Chewbacca with C3PO
#55 – Kit Fisto-Clone Wars
The announcement of the remaining 19 figures, though shown on
slides, but not all displayed at the booth, include:
#56 – Holographic Commander Cody #66 – Yarael Poof
#57 – Clone Trooper – 442nd Siege Battalion #67 – Vader’s Astromech
Droid
#58 – R5-A1 Astromech Droid #68 – Padme Amidala – AOTC
#59 – Clone Trooper-5th Fleet Security Battle Damage
#60 – Clone Sargeant (AOTC Green Deco) #69 – Clone Trooper – Combat
#61 – Super Battle Droid – Kashyyyk Deco Engineer (Brown Deco)
#62 – Battle Droids – Kashyyyk Deco #70 – Kitik Keedk’ak
#63 – Holographic Obi Wan Kenobi #71 – Labria
#64 – Clone Commander (blue deco) #72 – Nabrun Leids/Kabe 2-pack
#65 – Kashyyyk Scout Trooper #73 – Aurra Sing (comic version)
#74 – Mace Windu’s Astromech Droid
Figures #71 through #74 have been announced to be Wal-Mart
exclusives!
3.75" HASBRO FIGURES
Eight waves are planned for next year, set to be released in
January. The new waves will include brand new, modern packaging with
a coin insert, reminiscent of the more recent POTF line. Sixty
unique coins will be randomly packaged with each figure. Four
figures were disclosed as part of next year’s line of basic figures.
To the delight of the crowd, it was announced that a Galactic
Marine, an Airborne Trooper (Utapau), Mustafar Lava Miner and the
Ralph McQuarrie Stormtrooper (revised deco) will kick off 2007. As
an added bonus, there will be a different McQuarrie concept figure
released with each wave.
3.75" COLLECTOR TIN 4-PACKS
There will be 7 Collector Tins with two 2-packs, or 4 total figures
per Tin. Each Tin will be from each of the six movies, with the 7th
to be a Wal-Mart exclusive Cantina Band Scene. Look for these to hit
shelves sometime in October 2006.
3.75" COMIC BOOK 2-PACKS
Dark Horse Comics introduces issues of a comic book reprint with 2
figures. After the initial Kir Kanos vs. Carnor Jax in September,
Issue 1 will include a Vader (Star reflection) with a Rebel Trooper
(red vest); Issue 2 will include a Stormtrooper with a removable
helmet and a Governor Tarkin in an all new paint deco; Issue 3 will
feature a Chewbacca and a Han in Stormtrooper disquise; Issue 4, on
which was briefly touched, will have a Luke Skywalker. Further down
the line, a Quinlan Vos and a Vilmarh Grahrk 2-pack will also be
released.
3.75" EXCLUSIVES
Target – Kit Fisto Starfighter, Rogue 2 Snowspeeder w/ Zev Senesca,
and Mace Windu’s Battle Squadron.
Wal-Mart – On September 12, for the release of the original
theatrical versions of Episodes IV, V, and VI on DVD, three DVD
3-packs will be offered. The double-bladed Darth Maul lightsaber is
scheduled for a December release. It will feature a Maul face paint
style deco and spring activated blades.
Toys R Us – Tie Fighter w/ Tie Pilot (September), Dagobah X-wing
(September), and Endor AT AT w/ Scout Trooper (flip up visor) and AT
AT driver (October)
Diamond/Previews – In late November, the Imperial Death Star
briefing room set will be released. Six officers & Darth Vader
Entertainment Earth/Hasbro online/Star Wars online – Republic
Commandos 7-pack (Scorch, Sev, Delta, Fixer, Sun Fac and 2 Geonosian
Warriors).
HasbroToyShop.com will be selling a 10-pack of protective clamshell
figure cases, which according to Hasbro will fit 99% of all figures
ever released. Look for these the latter part of this year.
MAIL-AWAYS
Mail away items are not planned, due to the problems with the Lucas
in Stormtrooper mail away figure. Design changes to the packaging
will determine when the next mail away figures, if any will be
offered.
VEHICLES
For a December release, the SaeSee Tiin Starfighter and a classic
white Tie Fighter w/ all new movie accurate single piece hatch. No
indication as to where these will be available.
I asked whether a Cloud Car or an AT-TE were being planned, to which
the reply was “as of right now, no, but we are exploring all
options.” Sorry Spice!
UNLEASHED 7" LINE
The only plans for this line this year are the repacks of the
Grievous and Boba Fett in the “Best Buy Vader” cylinder style of
packaging @ Target in September, and the Luke and Vader at Wal-Mart
in October. Hasbro has indicated that the success/failure of the
sales of these items will determine the future of this line. Based
on the reasons presented (high costs to produce, lower sales than
most other items, lower demand, etc.), it would appear that the
future seems bleak. No new sculpts are in production, nor are they
in the planning stages. Looks bad guys!
UNLEASHED BATTLE PACKS
Fall 2006 will have the Order 66 wave which will include four
4-packs. The Senate Chambers with Mace Windu, Saesee Tiin, Kit Fisto
and an Imperial Royal Guard; Another Chambers pack with Anakin,
Palpatine and two Imperial Royal Guards; Shocktrooper 4-pack; and
the 501st Legion 4-pack.
Beginning December 1st, three 10-packs of figures will be issued
called “Ultimate Battles”. Each 10-pack will feature at least 2
unique figures. These will be battle themed inspired with Geonosis,
Hoth and Kashyyyk. These will retail for $19.99.
GALACTIC HEROES
It appears that besides the 3 ¾” figures, the Galactic Heroes line
has had the most success and Hasbro has really beefed up this line
for the next year. Continuing the success of the two-packs, a Tie
Pilot w/ Wedge Antilles, Greedo w/ Han Solo, and an Obi Wan Kenobi
and Sandtrooper are planned for this year. Beginning in November,
the 2007 line, will kick off with a Darth Vader w/ Leia (Bespin
gown), Snowtrooper w/ Hoth Rebel Trooper, C-3PO w/ Chewy (C-3PO can
be disassembled, Chewy includes a net), and a Luke w/ Lando.
Similar to the Unleashed Battle Packs, Hasbro will be releasing four
10-packs for the holiday season, beginning around December 1st for
$19.99. These impressive 10-packs are packaged in a horseshoe shaped
box depicting four scenes from the films. Each 10-pack will feature
at least 2 unique figures (repaints and/or rescuplts). A Death Star
Escape pack w/ an exclusive Death Star Droid; Vader’s Bounty Hunters
w/ an exclusive Shadow Trooper; Jedi Vs. Sith w/ an exclusive Mace
Windu Clone Trooper; and a Geonosis Arena w/ exclusive Geonosian
Warrior and red OOM-9.
ROLE PLAY
Displayed in the Hasbro booth were the spring-activated Darth Vader
lightsaber as well as the Clone and Rebel Blasters w/ red laser
pointers. All are slated to retail for $19.99 with the Vader saber
to be released at the end of this year and the blasters for a Spring
’07 release.
TRANSFORMERS
In Fall of this year, the Millennium Falcon is scheduled to be
released. The two-part ship will have Han as one part and Chewbacca
as the second. Also for a later release will be a Vader Sith
Starfighter with the black deco and a new deco of the ARC-170 with
the tiger stripes and mouth identical to the new Clone Gunship.
TITANIUM SHIPS & FIGURES
Quite a few ships were displayed at the Booth this year. Items of
mention would include a blue Naboo fighter, Plo Koon starfighter, a
Correlian Cruiser, Ewok on Speeder Bike, Y-wing, Maul on Sith
Speeder, Sandtrooper on Dewback, Obi Wan’s Jedi Starfighter w/
docking station, AT-TE, AT-AT w/ Endor deco, AT-ST, Grievous
Starfighter, Padme’s Starship (ROTS), and the Blockade Runner.
Of course, there was no shortage of the Titanium figures as well.
Notables would be a Luke in Snowspeeder gear, C-3PO, Red Clone
Captain, Grievous, Clone Trooper (patina finish shown), Darth Maul,
Jango Fett and most impressively, an R2-D2 w/ Rocket Boosters over a
Super Battle Droid.
ARTOO POTATOO
If you can pick this up when you see it, do it! Hasbro has indicated
an extremely limited release of this item.
ATTACKTIX
Series 5 will be released this Fall.
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