DARTH VADER packaging variation, also reads Anakin SkywalkerThe Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 97568 No. 20820
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC17
Includes: Lightsaber, hilt, cloak
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: August 2010
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith
Bio: Celebrate the legendary Star Wars saga that changed the universe forever! This collection brings to life the incredible story of good versus evil that captured our imagination and took us to a galaxy far, far away. Iconic Star Wars heroes and villains are captured with incredible detail and premium features to commemorate each epic tale in the Star Wars saga. May the Fore be with you! (Taken from the figure's packaging. There is no bio.)
Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.
Commentary: At Comic-Con Hasbro was talking about its new "Vintage" line when a fan raised his hand and asked why this Anakin Skywalker figure wasn't named Darth Vader on the packaging. A quick correction later, and Hasbro made this vintage figure with both names-- giving it multiple packaging variations. This makes the figure much more interesting than it actually is. Well, maybe that's unfair-- but this figure is part of an ongoing evolution of figures since 2005, where it was released as "Evolutions" Anakin Skywalker. In 2008, Hasbro retooled it with new lateral movement hip joints, and now in 2010 Hasbro also added ball-jointed elbows and a brand new, disheveled, mean-looking head with Sith eyes. Wow! It's significantly different from the first releases which were a little more heroic, but this one is unquestionably the sweaty, psycho Darth Vader of the Mustafar duel. With 14 points of articulation, I'd say it's a required purchase for fans of the character as it has the best articulation of any Revenge of the Sith Anakin and a top-notch head sculpt. The cloth part of the lower robes help him look good while posing his legs for battle, and the cloak is a nice bonus but at this point almost every cloth cloak Hasbro has made sucks. (And yet the 1983 Kenner Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker was fine. How does this work?)
Get it if you can! He should be long gone from retail but if you trip over one, he's worth snagging.
Collector's Notes: At least three packaging variants exist. There's "Anakin Skywalker", a foil border card with "Anakin Skywalker," and another one named "Darth Vader." In addition to this, Hasbro handed out an unpunched foil card (without the figure, or a UPC on the back) as a promotional item at Star Wars Celebration V in 2010.
--Adam Pawlus
Day 1,590: July 19, 2011
Is the figure in the Darth Vader package the same? If so, this figure is a peg warmer in SE Massachusetts. I've passed it up many times, but if it is as nice as you say, Adam, I will pick it up.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I love this site. I have just returned to collecting this line of figures after a long (LOOONG) absence, and your site is one of the ones that is really fueling the flames of my interest in this line, as well as depleting my wallet!
"May the Fore be with you!"
ReplyDelete...said the Jedi before swinging his Lightputter.