2026 SWTVC March Madness

 It's that time of year as the SWTVC March Madness is in effect! Voting is open now, and the link to vote is here: 

https://linktr.ee/swtvc

From there you can click on the March Madness tab and select the 25 figured you want. The only rule is they have to be all newly tooled figuues. This isn't a normal way to start the year off on my blog; but with it being earlier to get the list in, and taking New Year's weekend off, let's go! I'll go from 25 (lowest preference) to 1st (highest preference). 

25. Throne Room Rey (Episode 8). I can't stand the movie, but wouldn't object to Rey being done from this scene. I mean, she's the most popular character Lucasfilm (from a movie perspective if you believe Lucasfilm rumors) has and is appearing in a new movie, right? Right?! 

24. Supreme Leader Kylo Ren (Episode 9). He needs the rebuilt helmet, unhelmeted head, lightsabers (lit and unlit) and he can also double as Ben Solo. 

23. Wrecker (Bad Batch). Since we only have S1 Hunter and Crosshair, we need S1 versions of the rest of Clone Force 99. 

22. Tech (Bad Batch). 

21. Echo (Bad Batch).

20. Omega (Bad Batch).

19. Ewok Village Leia. The Sixer version isn't a bad figure, but I can only imagine the card being from her reveal as the Ewoks get ready to cook Han over an open fire. 

18. Rystall. She made her debut in the ROTJ special edition, as a backup singer. 

17. Greeta. Same as above. Greedo might actually get a girlfriend. 

16. Lyn Mei. Same as above. Plus Boba Fett needs some arm candy. 

15. Fifth Brother (Rebels). He's lower because I have higher priorities. 

14. Seventh Sister (Rebels). Same as above. 

13. Baze Malbus (Rogue One). He's long overdue. 

12. Bodhi Rook (Rogue One). Another long overdue figure, and the end of my Disney Era requests.

11. Oola (ROTJ). She's scantily clad, and a Twi'Lek. Her last figure was in the 2010 Jabba pack, and could use an update. 

10. Slave Leia (ROTJ). Her last VC figure was covered up for the Sandstorm, and was a Legacy Collection repack. All new sculpt is needed. 

9. Rukh (HTTE). He can double for Rebels, but with Thrawn and Pellaeon in the VC, Rukh is needed for completion sake. 

8. Talon Karrde (HTTE). He's needed, since he can complete scenes with Thrawn and Pellaeon as well. 

7. Clone Luke Skywalker (LC). Luuke is needed now that we have C'baoth. He needs the lightsaber Luke lost on Bespin. Plus they can make a Bespin Luke by using the legs from this figure. Win/win! 

6. C-3PO. A new version is needed, and other protocol droids could be made from this new buck. 

5. R2-D2. If they can shrink down the Sixer version and give him the tools that one had, it could be the best VC figure of all time. How long have we wanted an R2 with all his tools?! 

4. Endor Leia Organa. The last release was terrible. I wouldn't mind a Hoth Leia, but this version needs her poncho, helmet and belt so she can double as a Home One Leia. 

3. Galen Marek 

The best thing about this figure, would be he could double as the dark side version. He needs his blue lightsabers instead of the Inquisitor one as shown in the art. The plus side is a new Imperial Gunner and TIE Fighter Pilot could be made using this buck. I'm tired of the battle damaged outfits for Galen. 

2. Ewok Village Luke Skywalker. 

The cheap way Hasbro could do this figure is repacking Light Cruiser Luke and cutting the tabbards. But, he needs an all new sculpt, and barbell hips. Plus he can pair with Ewok Village for that emotional reveal about their family. Luke wears his Jedi belt over his vest, and he also wears this outfit on Dagobah and Home One, which is why this Luke beats out Death Star II Luke this year. He needs his lightsaber and unlit hilt to attach on his belt. Plus if they make this, a Death Star II Luke wouldn't be too hard to make. 

1. Mara Jade (HTTE)

While I would love a non-catsuit wearing Mara, we need a catsuit wearing Mara to get Guri, so there's that. The Sixer Mara has a decent head sculpt, but just doesn't fit in right. A brand new sculpt for Mara is essential, and I would hope she comes with the Skywalker lightsaber but the precedent has been set with her 3.75 Black Series and Sixer figure coming with her purple bladed lightsaber, so she needs one or both. She also needs her blaster, and I liked the 3.75 Black Series option to put the holster on her hip or the small of her back. Yes, she won this last year, but I don't think Hasbro has her on their radar. She's tops on mine, and will be until she gets made in the VC. And her card image needs to be the one above. 

EXPLANATIONS ON CHOICES

No Prequel Era Figures: For the 1st time, I don't have any Prequel figures on my Top 25. We are getting an AOTC Padme, and a ROTS Obi-Wan to pair with the Anakin from the 3 pack. Plus with the Gunship HasLab shipping, there will be a lot of Prequel Era figures coming this year. So, for that reason, I chose no Prequel Era figures this year. 

No Cantina figures: With the Cantina 4 pack being revealed soon, I didn't want to put Bo Shek on my Top 25, to then have to go back and delete him from my Top 25 and figure out who else to put on. 

Consistent EU requests: I love the OG Thrawn Trilogy, and since we got the 3 pack, we need more! I was tempted to add some Dark Empire or Shadows of the Empire figures but there wasn't enough room. 

More women: Jabba's singers, Omega, Oola, Leia, Seventh Sister, Mara and Rey. 9 characters and 11 figures overall.  

No Imperial Officers. With the new tooling rule, I would have added Tarkin and Ozzel to the list, as well as black uniformed officers Praji from ANH and Renz from ROTJ (he's the one that says "You Rebel, scum!"). 

No Therm Scissorpunch?! While I think he would get made before my Rey and Kylo Ren figures, he'll probably be on enough lists to make the round of 64. He's my 26th ranked figure, as I need more Leia and Luke figures first. Plus Mara Jade. 

The obligatory Rey and Kylo. I have an intense dislike of the sequels, but from a toy perspective, some characters would make great figures. The only VC Kylo Ren figure we have is not good now. A swappable helmeted head to go with his unmasked head would be nice, as would having barbell hips. Rey from Episode 8 had a unique look, and her last VC figure isn't bad, I even ranked it on my VC Top 25 for 2025. I mean, she's supposed to have an upcoming movie, right? Right?! Despite my thoughts about the character, as a figure, the Throne Room Rey would be a good figure. 

THIS UPCOMING WEEKEND 

Fan Expo New Orleans is this weekend, and after taking last year off, I am going back. Hayden Christensen is going to be there, but the $200 autograph fee is way out of my range. I hope to find some decent figures, but honestly I'm there for the bootleg Blu Ray's. I'm hoping they have Droids, and the entire Kolchak movies and TV series, and maybe a Spider-Man animated series or 2. But on the figure side, if I can find a Kenner Dengar I'd be thrilled, since it would end my Kenner Era collecting. Until Hasbro makes a Retro Mara Jade and Thrawn.

Thanks for reading! Please be sure to vote for March Madness! Thanks to Chris and Nomad at BanthaSkull for allowing me to post this in the comments section (hopefully I can avoid Disqus spam detection)!