Carbonite Chamber Collector’s Pack - TVC - Exclusives

Celebrate 35 years of Star Wars in 2012 as we recreate a "lost" packaging line look that was created, contemplated... and put aside in favor of Kenner's classic black-and-silver Star Wars design. For the first time ever, we're bringing this line look out of the Kenner archives and treating you to a glimpse of what might have been. The same creative team who designed the black-and-silver look also developed this design as one of several options to be considered for the line. In this lost line look, they created high-tech imagery incorporating a signature Star Wars vehicle and an epic space theme. What might have been, what was and what is: It all captures our imaginations, just as the Star Wars saga captures our imaginations today, tomorrow and always!

Each year, with hands on our hips cocked with attitude, we wait for Hasbro to impress us with their latest and greatest Comic Con exclusive. Sometimes we roll our eyes and other times we start drooling uncontrollably. Back in the days when exclusives were simply one basic figure or some derivation of a Deluxe set, Hasbro in recent years has gone above and beyond to bring more and more impressive offerings. While recent exclusives like the Revenge Of The Jedi [Death Star II] multipack are utterly amazing, the availability, like the Star Wars line in general, did not come close to meeting demand and as a collective group we became very angry. (We may even have some residual anger.) So here we are in 2012 with this year’s exclusive, The Vintage Collection’s Carbonite Chamber Collector’s Pack – this name appears no where but in Hasbro’s press release on it for your information. The set is another amazing effort on Hasbro’s part. Trust us when we say that you’re going to want it. The center of the inspiration for this set (literally and figuratively) is the Jar Jar Binks (in carbonite) figure. Calling it a figure is a stretch, but it’s relevant to Star Wars aficionados because it was born out of fans’ chagrin for this slapstick figure. Still, George Lucas found the concept and images of it very endearing and commissioned to have it developed into a “prop” where it sits today at Industrial Light & Magic. The “action figure” comes apart in two pieces and has a ton of detail you may not expect. It is a complete miniature replica of that prop at ILM. Every detail is here and it’s quite stunning. What’s even more impressive is the detail Hasbro gave the back of the carbonite block. The best part is the nail hole so you have the flexibility to hang it on your own wall at home or in the office to permanently encase this “disaster” (said affectionately – don’t call us Jar Jar haters) of a character in your own collection. What’s more, the included Jar Jar Binks basic figure (Episode I) interacts with it very nicely and you can recreate Jar Jar Binks thawing out. What more could you possibly want?!

The six other carded figures in this set are pre-release versions of wave 15 of The Vintage Collection in very special packaging. Jar Jar Binks, Clone Trooper Lieutenant, Shock Trooper, Sandtrooper, Princess Leia and Darth Vader are brought together for the first time in their “chase” packaging. The decision to use chase packaging here is another clever move on Hasbro’s part. They actually dug very deeply into the original Kenner archives and came across early packaging design concepts for the original Kenner basic figure line. Surprisingly modern and futuristically cool, the packaging is a nod to something that wasn’t available to our eyes until now and we have to say that this is a gift unto itself. If you grew up with the vintage Kenner line, you know that plenty of urban legends exist about potential figures releases and abandoned concepts and toys. So to see visual proof of what could have been is especially enticing and most “vintage” collectors should find this a pure joy to indulge themselves. Obviously ahead of their time, we are so thankful that the black-and-silver design was chosen in favor of it because of its timelessness and appeal even if they had no idea the impact it would have on collectors’ psyches throughout the years. But we have to say that the packaging looks phenomenal in this SDCC set. Housed in a replica carbonite chamber, the seventh figure, Jar Jar Binks (in carbonite) is set in the center of the packaging to drive home the fact that Jar Jar Binks has just been recently encapsulated in carbonite.... forever? Interestingly, all but Jar Jar Binks (the sole figure in this set to come in standard The Vintage Collection packaging) will be available at retail in both standard The Vintage Collection and what Hasbro is referring to as the “Lost Line Look” packaging. Cool! This is sure to be a bone of contention for some collectors as they’ll probably want the frozen Jar Jar Binks, but hopefully Hasbro will make this SDCC exclusive a little bit more widely available this year. One can only hope.

We’ll be going through every figure in greater detail in their respective reviews, but we’ll go through some quick points now. Jar Jar Binks (EP101) is a retool of the Movie Heroes figure. Hasbro updated a lot of parts which makes this version almost "all-new" as far as we're concerned. Coming with 15 points of articulation, the noteworthy detail here is that he comes with a ball-jointed neck and well as a ball-socket head. This gives Jar Jar a nice range of motion. Both the Clone Trooper Lieutenant (EP202) and the Shock Trooper (EP303) are both designed from the base 2011 TVC Clone Trooper (VC45) figure body and they each have their corresponding phase I and phase II helmets. They are also painted in their respective color flashes of course. They look nice overall, but people still won’t be happy about the oversized helmet of the Shock Trooper. The Sandtrooper (EP404) is simply amazing. Based on the Imperial Sandtrooper from 2009’s LC Dewback With Imperial Sandtrooper Walmart exclusive (also repackaged as 2010’s TVC Sandtrooper (VC14) figure). However, Hasbro gave him an all-new portrait and a paint job that is just absolutely perfect. It’s neither too dirty nor bright sterling white and clean. You will be very happy. We should note that he comes with an all-new folding stock blaster, something we’re very impressed to see in this scale. (Check out our photo gallery for more.) Princess Leia (EP505) is another long-awaited and incredible action figure. Worried how the soft-goods would turn out, you can rest easy knowing that Hasbro treated us right here. They are removable long with her color which gives the figure nice versatility. Darth Vader (EP606) is another long-awaited update. Last seen in The Saga Collection as Darth Vader (SAGA 045), Hasbro utilizes the Evolutions sculpt last seen used for 2010’s TVC Darth Vader (VC08) figure, this is Darth Vader at the hands of the Emperor’s wrath. The skull inside the helmet is absolutely creepy and a work of art. You’re going to love it! The Carbonite Chamber Collector’s Pack is such a perfect collectible. We love how Hasbro paid homage to the carbonite freezing chamber from Episode V, and it’s nice to get seven figures at once for a relatively reasonable price! Put this on your wish list!