Price Increases: Are We Getting Our Money's Worth?!

 I haven't talked much about the new price increases in any detail. And that's for several reasons: 1. Everyone has different reasons why they think prices are up (tariffs, labor, etc) and 2. I don't regularly deal in theories much on this blog. I may not be the first to cover something, but I strive to do it the best a rank amateur can do. And that's what I am, compared to the creative team of Chris and Nomad at BanthaSkull and Jayson at Yakface. But just because I'm an amateur, it doesn't stop me from saying what I think, although I do censor myself on those sites, and here to a point. But every now and then, I talk theories, and now is the time to step into that. 

The Black Series is up to $27.99. The Vintage Collection is up to $19.99. I've already admitted that the VC is at my maximum price, as far as regularly collecting. I'll never fully quit, BUT I'm more selective now on what I'm getting. But the questions that come with price increases come down to one thing: are we really getting our money's worth? I'm going to show why we are, and aren't, across the 2 major Star Wars collecting toy lines. Plus it gives me time to talk about the London reveals, in depth. Of course it's up to the individual collector to determine if what's being shown is a good value to them. 

THE BLACK SERIES 

The recent Black Series reveals were the highlight at London, and it has collectors talking. Especially with what these figures have coming with them, accessory wise. Another important addition to the line is added toe articulation. If you recall, a year or two ago (definitely a year ago) the Black Series lost the thigh swivel joints. 

1. Jedi Dooku 

The Sith Dooku came with his lightsaber hilt, wavy blade and regular blade and cloth cape. This new Dooku comes with an extra clean-shaven head. It isn't often that a Black Series figure has this. The Stranger aka Qimir has a swappable helmeted head to go with his unmasked one, and is the normal price. Now, in my opinion....this doesn't make me feel the new price is justified. Had he come with an extra pair of hands, then yes. But so far, the Black Series has a good start. 

2. Quinlan Vos 

We get a Clone Wars Quinlan, and while his VC TPM version came with a blaster and lightsaber, his Sixer version doesn't. Here, he only comes with his lightsaber hilt and 2 blades. While a great looking figure, he is NOT worth the $27.99 price. Now, if he has the toe articulation on his boots, maybe I could reconsider (this is a rumored new articulation point for all new Sixers going forward). He is a favorite character of mine, and if he came with a blaster and holster, like Jedi Dooku, I would feel better about paying that much for him. 

3. Kyle Katarn 

Full disclaimer: I'm pre-ordering Kyle. But do I feel that he's over priced? Yes. But, as he's one of my favorite Legends characters I can't pass him up, and his eventual VC counterpart as that Comic Pack Kyle is really aged at this point. 

4. Seventh Sister 

Now finally, a figure that justifies the price increase. Well, sort of. She's got 4 blades, her hilt, a 2 part helmet and mask, plus one of her personal probe/seeker droids. I can gripe about her needing to be in the VC first since she pursued the Ghost crew, but it's a moot point. I would feel better about getting this figure, from a value standpoint. I might get her in the future since she would complete my Rebels collection in the Sixer line. 

Black Series Overview 

This is the first time we get a look at new figures at the new price point, and my judgment is mixed. Of the 4, only 2 come close to justifying a $3 raise. I get that things aren't getting any cheaper, but there are some bonuses to this line that may soften the blow: adding articulation and some extras. 

But, another parallel toyline us offering a better value at $28.99 per figure. Nacelle Toys is making Star Trek figures, in the 7 inch (1/10 scale), and simply put: they're offering a lot of accessories per figure! 

Now THIS is what I'm talking about! Captain Sulu comes with different hands, a communicator, tricorder, a Wrath of Khan era Type 2 phaser, a Final Frontier/Undiscovered Country Type 2 phaser, and his tea set. The Romulan Commander has extra hands, a distuptor, and a bridge playset (they had 3 officers hovering over that console in Balance of Terror, one of my favorite Star Trek episodes, and the first to be released with digital upgrades). Spock comes with extra hands, a Type 2 phaser, communicator, tricorder, IDIC pendant, eye shield to prevent him from going mad seeing the Medusan ambassador, and a terminal to check out T'Pring and his sash and weapon when he fought Kirk in Amok Time. And that's just a couple. Year of Hell Janeway comes with her captains chair. Generations Kirk comes with a horse. Yes, he comes with a horse that he can ride! Generations is my least favorite Trek movie, but I'd consider getting a Kirk and Picard (they haven't announced a Generations Picard) just to recreate that scene. Not the one when Kirk dies because that was f*cking dumb to kill him off (and to kill off Picard's brother and nephew). But they're bringing Kirk back in the comics, so there's that. So far, it's borrowing from the Shatnerverse on how Kirk is brought back to life. My only knock on Picard Season 3 was that it didn't make the Shatnerverse Canon. Okay, rant over. The point is, Nacelle Toys is giving collectors the extras that Hasbro isn't giving Star Wars. 

THE VINTAGE COLLECTION 

The times they are a changing. That's all I'll say in the intro. 

1. Maul 

Maul is a straight repack of the Clone Wars Mandalore Maul, but on a Shadow Lord card for the new animated series. As a figure, it's average. Above the waist, it's excellent. But without barbell hips it's just not good enough to justify the $20 price, when you can get the CW Maul for $15 and cheaper. It's only an appeal to the carded collectors, and that's really it. 

2. Emperor's Wrath Darth Vader 

I got this figure in the Anakin Skywalker 3 pack, but admittedly that card is impressive! Vader has a couple extras: the lightning effect, the severed right hand, extra right hand and lightsaber. If I still went after carded Mains, I would have gotten him. But because of the 3 pack, I skipped this one. I'm saving my review of this figure at a later time. 

3. Qimir aka The Stranger

That second picture is giving me nightmares. Now I'll be the first to admit I never saw the Acolyte, and I wouldn't even buy the ripped off Blu Ray's of the show. So I can't really say if this is an onscreen accurate look to Qimir. Personally, I would have been happy with re-using Joruus C'baoth's buck and slap a new head and helmet, paint the outfit black and call it a day. But gone are the thigh swivels. While Qimir comes with a swappable head, 2 lightsabers, a cloth robe and an unlit hilt, at $20 we also get reduced articulation. Not quite a $20 value, but close. Did I preorder one? Yes. He's a red blade after all. Plus I could use the head for Darth Revan, possibly. 

4. Shaak Ti

I can't tell if Shaak Ti is an all new sculpt, but I can say is it doesn't look like Hasbro skipped out on the paint apps, especially on her face. She's a very good looking figure, and has plenty of soft goods so her articulation shouldn't be hindered. If the working theory on the price rise is that it's partially because of rising labor, this figure appears to justify it. Of course in hand, that opinion could change. See my review on Darktrooper Gideon. And yes, I pre-ordered this figure. 

5. Padme Amidala 

This is the version of Padme I have been waiting for since VC 2.0 launched. Her Legacy Collection figure isn't bad, but it's dated. The good news is she has thigh swivels. Her wrists appear to be swivel in the gun hand, but her other one looks like it could possibly be ball jointed, or it was just pulled out while attempting to hold an accessory. Either way, it's still a figure I want, and the last of the Prequel Mains I need carded, as I'm sticking to AOTC figures to keep carded, with Darth Maul from TPM being the exception. I got 2, but I'd love to get a 3rd to attempt a Leia custom. But is she worth $20? Sadly, no. 

Vintage Collection Overview

Only Shaak Ti and the Stranger justify the price increase. Now granted, these are the first figures released on the new price point. The good thing for VC fans is 3 out of the 5 are almost all new sculpts (Padme, Stranger and Shaak Ti could be all new, partial or kitbash). 60% of the figures being new sculpts gives me hope, but it should be noted the most of the Black Series figures revealed are 100% new sculpts, with maybe Jedi Dooku being a lone exception as a partially tooled figure. If Hasbro offers this type of assortment all year long, it's a very good thing for VC collectors. But, it could also be an outlier. However with a new Padme, we could get a new Anakin and Obi-Wan, Super Battle Droid, and maybe 1 or 2 newly tooled Jedi. But Hasbro also needs to throw a bigger bone to collectors. Especially on repacked figures. Add a new accessory, if possible. The Stranger shows a good precedent, and for those wanting a Supreme Leader Kylo Ren/Ben Solo, to quote Din Djarin: this is the way. 

Now when it comes to SA 3.75 inch AKA 1/18 scale there isn't much out there. Hiya Toys is doing 3.75 SA figures from the 2009 Star Trek movie, but they only come with a phaser, communicator and belt to store both. Joytoy, however has a couple, plus a vehicle for one franchise that is insanely popular. 

I have no clue who this dude is, and no word on how much it costs. But Hasbro should take note. He's got extra hands, and head, plus display stands and weapons. This is neat, but I have zero clue on the source. The next one, I think everyone will know the source. 

Joytoy is also doing TMNT, and this is Metalhead. Extra hands, display stand, weapons and other essential bits. Again, no clue on the price though. But it comes with a lot, and it's showing what happens when a company puts something extra into a product. But you've got to see the Turtle Van....

Now this is podracing! A spare tire?! Gas can?! Traffic cones?! Rockets?! I mean this is amazing! Again, I don't know the cost, but I do know this thing is LOADED! While I think some vehicles don't need to be all new, if they do make them all new, put some extras like this. The closest thing we've had to something new like this as a non HasLab vehicle release was Poe's X-Wing from Episode 9, and it finally came with a ladder. It is what it is. 

Photo credits: 

Black Series and VC from Hasbro PR, through Yakface and BanthaSkull. Joytoy images from Joytoy through Preternia. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Black Series holds some value in the price increase as a little extra is being shown. At least for Jedi/Sith. Let's see how upcoming Troopers or Mandalorians (with the M & G movie they're inevitable) before making a full judgement. While the VC doesn't quite have the extras, it's good to see paint apps make a comeback, and getting only 2 repacks is good because we get 3 new figures. So, that's my summary. But don't think this is a bad time for the VC. If the ratio holds, 2026 could be every bit as exciting as 2025 has been. Of course we'll probably not buy as much as we used to. But don't forget the first rule of collecting: buy what you can afford. 

Thanks for reading! A special thanks to Chris and Nomad at BanthaSkull for allowing me to post this link in the comments section! Please share this link on your social media accounts so I can get more readers! 

Sneak preview: a Rodian, 2 sisters and a certain pilot and co-pilot along with a hermit. That's my plan for the rest of the year. Hard to believe it's November!