Why I Collect & SWS OT Bracket

 With the VC currently is in the process of getting the 1st wave of the year shipped out, that being the Fan Channel Count Dooku wave, it is a slow time for VC collectors. Chris at BanthaSkull has been posting articles about figures that make him happy, and I decided to do something similar, but not just one figure for this post. There's also a story behind this set of figures: I'll talk about how the Empire Strikes Back bounty hunters brought me back into collecting after I considered getting out altogether.

But before I go into it, voting in the SWTVC March Madness Tournament resumes Monday, click on this link to vote: https://linktr.ee/swtvc

Back in 2010, I was in a difficult place both in my personal and collecting life. I had a relationship end, and I was looking to end collecting once I got the Solo Kids themed Legacy Collection wave. Well, I wasn't able to get that wave, as it never appeared in Toys R Us, which that wave was exclusive to. Yes, retail exclusive waves still suck, as you could never find them at TRU, and you still can't find them at Wal-Mart (Jedi Legend Black Series Ben Kenobi is the most recent Wally World exclusive to never appear in a WM near me, and its not just Hasbro, the McFarlane Knightfall Jean Paul Valley Batman also was a WM no show). But, I found I could easily recreate a favorite scene: the Bounty Hunters from The Empire Strikes Back!

Now in the above photo I have the newest Boba, even though it's from ROTJ, as I have the 2010 version of that figure in storage. Dengar was VC 1, and I quickly had Boba  then getting Zuckuss, Bossk, 4-LOM & IG-88 was easy! It also helped that they all hit within a calendar year too, and actually showed up in stores. But the thrill of the hunt, and chasing down these figures were fun, and I could get over the disappointment of missing out on the Jacen Solo wave, and an ex-girlfriend who called me a nerd for liking Star Wars while she had every piece of Twilight merchandise that was made at the time.  Not knocking Twilight, just saying those that call you out over collecting Star Wars figures often have stuff they collect too.

While all figures could use a modern update, I'm actually happy with them as they are. But, IG-88 needs an update. I can't move his legs at all, and his arms are sturdy enough to hold his weapons, but he got the job done for the photos. But he is the most in need of an update, and Hasbro has IG-11 which is perfect, just change the hands and paint him the right color, and add his strap, which I can't really fit anything in. And he had a blade accessory that has from time to time gone missing. As for the 2nd photo, I wanted to get Vader in at least one shot, and possibly Piett but barely had the room to get the Vader shot, and the hunters. So that's why there's no Piett. But, these figures are special to me, and I will never put them in storage.


OT BRACKET SWS TOURNAMENT



OT BRACKET

The OT is my favorite Trilogy, and now takes over as my primary source of collecting, since it's the one source "new" figures can be made for, and there's so many that have yet to be made. Now to explain my bracket: there is no ANH Luke or Han since they'll be in the SWTVC MM, so I went with Bespin Luke and Han. But mostly, I want more weirdo aliens. Here's the field of 16:

1. Tonnika Sisters
2. Hammerhead
3. Garindan (ANH, the snitch)
4. Greedo
5. Bespin Luke Skywalker
6. Bespin Han Solo
7. Home One Leia Organa
8. Chief Chirpa
9. FX-7
10. Sim Aloo (aka the Kenner Imperial Dignitary from ROTJ)
11. Ben Kenobi (ANH)
12. Oola
13. General Madine
14. General Lando
15. Wedge Antilles (ROTJ)
16. Jek Porkins

Deciding this is a coin flip, and the 30th Anniversary coin from Biggs Darklighter Tosche Station was my choice for the OT. Heads his image, Tales is the Rebel Alliance logo. Coin flip winner posted after the colon. Higher seed is Heads, lower seed is Tales.

Round 1 Matchups

1 Tonnika's vs 16 Porkins: Tonnika's

8 Chief Chirpa vs 9 FX-7: FX-7

5 Bespin Luke vs 12 Oola: Luke

4 Greedo vs 13 General Madine: Greedo

2 Hammerhead vs 15 Wedge: Wedge

7 Leia vs 10 Sim Aloo: Leia

3 Garindan vs 14 General Lando: Garindan

6 Bespin Han vs 11 Ben Kenobi: Ben Kenobi

Round 2 Matchups

1. Tonnika's vs 9 FX-7 l: Tonnika's
4 Greedo vs 5 Bespin Luke: Luke

7 Leia vs 15 Wedge: Leia

3 Garindan vs 11 Ben Kenobi: Garindan

Round 3 Matchups

1 Tonnika's vs 5 Luke: Luke

3 Garindan vs 7 Leia: Leia

OT BRACKET CHAMPIONSHIP

So it's come to this, brother and sister to advance to the Final Four, the winner to face their father on March 31st!

5 Bespin Luke vs 7 Home One Leia

Winner: Bespin Luke Skywalker

I swear this wasn't fixed! But an all new Bespin Luke is needed for the Vintage Collection as the old one is just...bad. Admittedly it was bad when it came out. But with the new barbell hips, and a removable right hand, he will need his lit and unlit lightsaber, blaster, and the medical pack he puts over his stump, and possibly a swappable bruised face as he gets messed up during the duel with Vader. Image is from an online search and wasn't created by me. Ideally, I would like to have the card image show Luke igniting his lightsaber as he gets ready to fight Vader.


Coin images from Rebelscum, Bespin Luke image from online image search. Thanks for reading! Please share this post on your social media accounts so I can get more readers!