The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Pack-In Figure
Item No.: No. G0360
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Carded The Armorer, Forge playset, anvil with alternate heads, Cabinet of Dr. Mon Calimari
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $59.99
Availability: November 2024
Appearances: The Mandalorian
Bio: This set includes several accessories ideal for play and display, like the Armorer’s forging materials and a selection of her finished helmets – plus a Grogu figure! (Taken from the Hasbro product page copy.)
Image: Adam's photo lab.
Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!
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Commentary: Does anyone need another Grogu? Probably - after his introduction on the show, I envisioned Hasbro switching the entire line over to support him - to make "The Child" in numerous poses as a collectible, non-articulated figure and sold with dang near everybody - The Client, Mando, etc. - instead of a coin or other gimmick. I still think it would have been a good idea - for a babbling puppet with only one shirt, they've found tons of ways to make him as a toy. This one sports a unique addition to his costume - beskar armor, which goes under his robes.
At about 3/4-inches tall, this is clearly not worthy of being sold as an individually packaged figure, but we've seen a few of them. In this case, he's packed with a $60 playset, which includes a carded figure (let's say a $17 value) alongside a chunk of cave, a Mythosaur skull, some tools, and absolutely no paint. If anything, the figure is a modern collectible - as is the Armorer - while the playset itself feels more like a throwback to something in Kenner's MicroCollection. It's actually kind of amazing, and I'd recommend the entire set to anybody who's all-in on 3 3/4-inch as a scale, just be sure to steal the playset and give it to your Retro figures.
The Grogu figure itself is about as good as the other ones. Tiny black eyes, big green ears with a pink interior, teensy green hands, and a brown unzipped robe gives you a clear view of what's going on underneath. The Armorer built him a plate of armor with a partially visible mudhorn signet, and a tiny bit of chainmail visible just below his head. It's tiny, it's subtle, it's the kind of thing where you might be left asking yourself how many of this character you own... and why. The tiny arms move well given the size, and the head turns - but there are no foot peg holes, and no real way to interact with the playset beyond standing near it.
It's easy to crack jokes, but the figure is impressive - his wrists are jointed. That's a minor miracle. But would we as collectors be any worse off if our dozenth or so Grogu was a non-articulated, painted figure that maybe helped to bring this set's price down a few bucks? I love articulation when it adds to the play value, but as he can't really do much other than stand or turn his head anyway, I don't benefit from the moving parts. It's a well-designed figure and the designers should be proud of their craftsmanship, but as a toy, it offers nothing to give you a better time than you would have with your existing figures.
At $60 it's a little tough to recommend this set, because it feels like the playset part should cap out at around $20, the bonus heads aren't much of an accessory, and the carded figure is worth about $17. For $45-$50, I think it would be a pretty good item. At $60, it's for a certain kind of completist only, or for the Kenner-crazed fanatic who would probably just as easily have paid $60 for a fan-made version of the playset to go with those figures. Grogu doesn't do much other than look cool, and everything about this set looks pretty cool - you just have to get past the fact that the figures feel like 21st century designs while the playset comes from the finest plastic forges that 1982 had to offer.
Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse.
--Adam Pawlus
Day 3,209: January 23, 2025
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