Why Hasbro Will NEVER "Finish The 96"

 Ever since the Vintage Collection came in 2010, many collectors on collecting websites (and website owners) hoped that Hasbro would give us modern versions of all 96 Kenner figures on the classic style cards. The early waves didn't disappoint. In time new figures came and then the Prequels got in on the action. Then the 2012 Phantom Menace wave happened. It slowly trickled into retail and then clogged pegs in toy stores and retail outlets. Hasbro also made the decision to no longer make super articulated 3.75 inch figures and instead go to 5 POA because they claimed they got letters and emails about kids breaking their toys (personally I think this was a bot attack but that's my 1 cent opinion). The real reason was they wanted their upcoming 6 inch line to be the standard bearer. I won't go into the 3.75 inch Black Series but when the VC came back in 2018, the hopes of the Kenner 96 being completed began again. But I'm going to tell you why this isn't going to happen.

What collectors don't realize is back in the 1980's there was only the original 3 movies. Droids and Ewoks got their own lines. So there was no competition for for toy pegs. Back in 1995 there were still only the orginal trilogy when POTF2 debuted, and in less than 3 years Hasbro managed to release more toys than Kenner did in 7 years. Now go forward to 2010. By then there had been a new trilogy, so more figures from that new trilogy needed to be made.  Some figures checked the boxes, but in 2012 it all came to an end.

Fast forward to the line return in 2018. By then there was 2 movies made for the new trilogy, plus 2 stand alone movies. Those figures took spots from the Orginal 96. Then more TV shows: Mandalorian, Book of Boba Fett, Bad Batch all have VC figures. Contrary to collector opinion, Hasbro is making the VC just like they would now if they had all these new movies and shows to choose from back then. Now lately Wal-Mart took the slack out of the O96 checklist, but we got the same Endor Leia (albeit with a good new head sculpt). Probably the only way the O96 get done is repacking older figures as retail exclusives. That will disappoint collectors who want better and more improved versions of characters like Tatooine Luke and Tantive IV Leia from A New Hope.

But Hasbro is in a Catch 22. There are new products for shows like Bad Batch, Book of Boba Fett & The Mandalorian to make. Collectors want those judging by the grumbling over the lack of Bad Batch figures plus Mandalorian characters who are highly requested. Luke and Leia from their 1st appearance doesn't exactly move Hasbro's meters. How could they use the parts from those new molds to make new figures? That's why I think we could get a new Han Solo, easily. That mold could make a Yavin 4 Han, then add a jacket for Bespin and Old Man Han, then use the new Yavin 4 Han and paint his pants brown and add a trench coat for Endor Han, all using the same mold for the body, but adding new headsculpts. But Hasbro sees these figures as obstacles from getting Mando characters on shelves that fans and collectors want. Just using Mando as an example. But now environment decisions by Hasbro are going to change the look of this line.

The plastic bubbles that 3.75 inch Star Wars toys have had since 1978-1985 & from 1995-present, will likely be gone. Will it be a cardboard box attached to a Kenner style card? Who knows. Given the blowback on Marvel and Transformers they likely won't announce packaging changes until the wave it happens arrives. I've already done a blog post on that so I won't repeat it (but do read it please!). The point is the clock is ticking, and with only so many slots open now due to inflation and supply chain issues, the window is closing. The sooner collectors accept the O96 won't happen, the better their moods can be. But it isn't Hasbro's fault, collectors want a lot of the new stuff, but the old stuff is what started things. Now that Hasbro is making great new products they are the victim of their own success. Collectors and fans want the new stuff, too. In the end, nobody will be "happy". But is there really such a thing as a happy collector?! Another post for another time, LOL!