Yoda - TVC - Basic (VC218)

We sighed a lot when we reviewed the Cave Of Evil (Luke Skywalker/Yoda/Darth Vader) Special Action Figure Set. Now we’re sighing more heavily. Why must Hasbro always fail longtime collectors of The Vintage Collection with some of the essential characters in the line? Yoda is a staple of the Original Trilogy, and they treat the character poorly for any collector-focused line. And where the h-e-double hockey sticks is the snake? Why did it have to be "no snake"? Look at the awful 5POA The Black Series [Phase I] (and The Black Series [Phase II] re-release) Yoda. Boss Fight Studios designed a stellar uber-articulated version of Yoda based on the character’s appearance from The Empire Strikes Back. But Hasbro pulled the plug on the costs it would incur and stuck collectors with a 5POA version of the original blueprints. Before that, the first Yoda in The Vintage Collection (based on the Prequel Trilogy version of the character) came with “swelbows,” much to the chagrin of collectors everywhere. They then took the 2011 TVC Yoda (VC20) release and converted it into an Original Trilogy version, but they didn’t update it with ball-jointed elbows. Once again, they fell asleep at the wheel when they released it as a single carded figure. And since this is the last chance to check the figure off of our “The Ninety Six” list, we’re stuck with an inferior version of Yoda for The Vintage Collection. Is anyone else feeling upset in your stomach like us? We'll never get another chance again for a modern update to 1980's ESB Yoda figure.

When first released, we admit we were excited that Hasbro updated Yoda. But the excitement wore off quickly once we all faced the reality that Hasbro did nothing extra to make it definitive. Instead of designing an all-new figure (like we feel we deserve for this pivotal Star Wars character), Hasbro dusted off 2011’s TVC Yoda (VC20) figure. Then they repainted it, tooled a new portrait, and then took the soft goods and accessories from 2014’s TBS [P1] Yoda (#22) figure and completed it. The refusal to update Yoda’s “swelbows” is egregious. How lazy is this? Hasbro should be ashamed for not correcting the figure when they had the chance again and re-release it as a single-carded figure this time. For the re-release, Hasbro updated the paint operations to dull down the brighter green on the Cave Of Evil version. The head sculpt holds up well three years after its original release, and the Photo Real deco brings it to life. It’s one of the nicest likenesses of Yoda the 3.75” basic figure line has seen to date, so we’re thankful for that. Still, if Hasbro updated the elbows on Yoda, we would have an unequivocal definitive modern update of the character. We still need a perfected version of Yoda in the future, but it seems that opportunity has passed us.. Ultimately, because of what’s available on the market, this Yoda is the best modern definitive update to the 1980s ESB Yoda figure that we have now, as hard as it is to admit that.

However, what is nice to see is that we have this action figure on a replica of The Empire Strikes Back card. The figure looks lovely inside the package, and Hasbro arranged everything nicely inside its bubble. We feel that Hasbro didn’t choose a high-quality image of Yoda to use for their version of the character photo. Interestingly, Hasbro did not use the ORIGINAL character photo that Kenner used back in 1980. This Yoda is a frame or two different than the original four-decade-old image used for the classic action figure. You can see the differences in two areas: focusing on Yoda’s eyes and looking where the right ear hits the branch. Hasbro decided to add a bit more color this time around, and you’ll find that the original 1980 Kenner figure’s character photo is quite gray by comparison. This release isn’t the first time we have the “original” 1980 Kenner card art released in The Vintage Collection. In 2010 and into 2011, an error card of the VC20 Yoda figure slipped out to the marketplace in Canada, accidentally sporting a Return Of The Jedi entertainment logo and the film still from 1980. But they quickly updated the error with the change to Revenge Of The Sith graphics. This version promptly dried up. Here is your chance to have the correct figure on the right card. As a packaged release, Yoda is a fine release. But for those looking for a definitive update, this isn't it.