GARVEN DREIS Red Leader The Legacy Collection Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87752 No. 87781
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, helmet, additional figures and transport vehicle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: Spring 2009
Appearances: Star Wars
Bio: Garven Dreis commands a Rebel fighter squadron during the Battle of Yavin. Capable and respected, Dreis is referred to as "Red Leader" by those under his command. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)
Image: Adam's back yard.
Commentary: Arguably Hasbro's best execution of the Battle Pack concept as far as collectors are concerned, the "Scramble on Yavin" set was, in many markets, more than a little hard to find. Garven Dreis is the least interesting part of the set, which includes an awesome astromech repaint and a top-notch newly sculpted Rebel tech figure. Rather than fix the sculpt for whatever reason, Hasbro just took the "Vintage" X-Wing Pilot Luke body, changed the deco slightly, and slapped on a new head. Sure, it looks good by itself, but next to other pilots he does seem a little on the short side. Again, a great argument not to put your pilots in a lineup together. With the traditional 14 points of super-articulation, the figure should meet most of your demands for a good pilot. The legs are a little stiff, but you can cram him in an X-Wing with little problem. The helmet detail and head sculpt are excellent, and really the only "new" aspects of this figure. Still, we've bought more with less, am I right guys?
Collector's Notes: According to the information online at the time, this item shipped one per box for one round of assortments. So if you saw a place swimming in the Clone Wars Jabba set, it's possible you missed one of these-- although I will say I did find a good number of them in the wild in early 2010, so all you really gotta do is waste several days across two states to find it. There was a pretty swell Red Leader X-Wing sold as a Toys "R" Us exclusive for the fairly low price of $30 a few years ago, and this Battle Pack augments it nicely. Actually, I'd say it's a required companion piece for it. At press time Hasbro has stated they do not plan to rerelease this set or these figures, but if you complain enough, I think we'll get lucky eventually. And honestly, hopefully they'll give Garven a new taller torso-- he's the only one in the set I'd like to see changed in some way.
--Adam Pawlus
Day 1,291: May 26, 2010
4 comments:
I have to feed your love for the Phoenix area here, Adam; that's where I found this guy's set in the wild while visiting my Dad for a week. I too had always been lucky with Phoenix. I hope for the sake of those collectors who couldn't get one that this set, in whole or in pieces, sees the light of day again (and ditto for the build-a-darktrooper).
I have two jobs- one where I regularly travel to about four different districts in my region and the other where I work at a toy store. I NEVER found this set.
I was lucky enough to find only one of these, and I still had to put his head on a taller pilot body. He just didn't look right next to Biggs & Luke, who he was taller than in the special edition. The helmet & head was just about right, so hopefully Hasbro will eventually release him on a card with a different body.
Saw the set just once, when Wal-Mart had raised their prices above other stores. So I didn't get the set.
Never saw it again.
Yet that Grub set is everywhere.
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