Hasbro to Re-Release POTF2 Figures: Collectors Revolt
Posted by: Big E 02.25.04 12:01am
In a bizarre move Hasbro announced in a post-Toy Fair press release that they would
re-release the entire 1995 Power of the Force 2 line of toys beginning in the fall
of 2004.

At the 2004 Toy Fair in New York City last week Hasbro previewed an Original Trilogy
Collection of toys that would coincide with the long-anticipated DVD release of the
original Star Wars Trilogy this September. The figures, a blend of re-releases and
newly sculpted figures was enough to bunch the panties of many a die hard collector,
but the press release coming out this Monday caught those same fans even more off
guard.

To cut down on production costs in 2004 and to allow the Hasbro team time to ramp up
for Episode 3, the OTC collection really isn't out of line, however, the reasoning
for re-releasing POTF2 figures is, well, just odd. In late 2003 the G.I. Joe team
at Hasbro began releasing reproduction figures for the 40th anniversary of that
esteemed line. The retail success spread through Hasbro, landing square in the lap
of the Star Wars Team. Since 1995 saw the debut of the modern Star Wars line, they
realized that 2005 is an incredible milestone; the 10th anniversary of the modern
Star Wars line.

"Not only is this 10 years of the modern Star Wars line, it's amazing to me that
this line has lasted longer than the original which lasted from about 1978 to 1984,"
stated Hasbro representative Sparky Dutton. He continued, "We decided that the fans
deserved something special, so we're re-releasing the POTF2 line on their original
cardbacks which will be marked as 'reproduction' on the back. They'll be packed in
a clamshell bubble with 10th Anniversary logos."

The re-release calls for several waves, starting in October 2004, running throughout
2005 until the entire 1995 line has been released. Although not confirmed, the
waves will come our approximately every 2 months and each wave will only ship once.
A price hasn't been set, but an anonymous source told this reporter that they will
have an MSRP of $7.99.

After the news hit the street, collector forums lit up with the backlash. "H*** NO!
No way will I be buying these figures. I mean, I have to still buy all the Episode
3 stuff," read a post from 'Yoda-man.' Most of the posts in that particular thread
echoed the sentiment. The only dissenting opinion came from a poster known as
'Magneticdozer.' "I just won't buy them. Like, all that's different is the
clamshell thing. Heh, 'clamshell.'"

This news was so devastating to the collector world that, although unconfirmed,
collecting site ArtoosNews.com has decided to close it's doors. E-mail to that
site's webmaster was not responded to in time for this writing.

Said Hasbro's Dutton, "Everything that's old is new again. The 90's saw the revival
of 80's toys, it's only logical that the 2000's would see the revival of the 90's
toys."

At that point we had to end our interview with Mr. Dutton as my cameraman
Pimp-slapped him. At press time a lawsuit is pending.