Bounty Hunters (30th Anniversary Exclusive) [4-LOM/Zuckuss] - TVC - Multipacks

While 4-LOM and Zuckuss are now quite well-known to fans, their proper names were initially a topic of considerable debate. When Kenner first produced the figures, the names somehow got reversed. But since these two bounty hunters were not identified in the film, the switch was not immediately noticed. When the mix-up as finally caught and corrected in 1989, Zuckuss and 4-LOM finally got their rightful identities. In this exclusive set, we are paying homage to the first appearance of these bounty hunters that puzzled so many for years, with replica of the original packaging-switched names and all!

The Vintage Collection is here! And a convention exclusive is the opeining number! Hasbro gave us sweet teases of vintage figures in 2004, 2006 and 2007. But nothing will excite collectors more than The Vintage Collection because this will be the very first Star Wars line that will take both Original and Prequel Trilogy characters from the films (as well as the Expanded Universe) and place them on the beloved vintage card backs. Probably the only thing that will draw those who have left the hobby back into collecting, The Vintage Collection may just be the most promising basic figure collection ever. But let’s be honest, do we really want our action figures in any other packaging? We certainly don’t and we think this gesture from Hasbro is long overdue. Late is ALWAYS better than never and we don’t mean to come across as ungrateful, but we hope the line succeeds well past the two year time frame Hasbro has given it. This line must do well and it is our hopes that sales exceed Hasbro’s projections so we can see this line look remain as The Vintage Collection for a very long time. Hasbro came up with a very clever exclusive to kick off the line and it is clearly a nod to collectors. They have taken two previously released super-articulated figures and created a very special package that will joggle some of the finest memories collectors have of the classic vintage line of action figures. Back in 1982, 4-LOM and Zuckuss were released with each other’s name reversed. Hasbro thought it would be a cool idea to release this figures again in special foiled packaging and with their original incorrect name. And it is quite a cool idea indeed. What’s more, the figures, which are 2007’s TAC 4-LOM (30 41) and 2009’s LC Zuckuss (BD54), have been repainted to match the same colors of the 1982 vintage figures.

This means that Zuckuss (now 4-LOM again) has been cast in a very light tan with a dark brown chest plate and 4-LOM (now Zuckuss again) has been cast in a shiny dark gray with a bright silver midsection. The nostalgia is so heart warming that we can barely contain our excitement for it. First released in April 2010 as a Jedi Con exclusive in Germany, this set will also be released in August 2010 as a Celebration V exclusive for American collectors and fans. This will certainly be a hot exclusive and we believe many will be trying to get their hands on this truly remarkable set. This isn’t the first time Hasbro has given us nods to their original vintage line “mistakes”. Most recently in 2008’s The Legacy Collection, Hasbro created the MB-RA-7 Build A Droid as a direct nod to their vintage Death Star Droid action figure. There was no MB-RA-7 in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Hasbro released this Build A Droid as a nod to Matt Busch, from his "How to Draw STAR WARS" articles for STAR WARS KIDS Magazine where he named the silver/chrome protocol droid MB-RA-7 simply by putting his initials in front of RA-7. And who could forget the 2004 K-mart exclusive Mos Eisley Cantina (Scene 2) with Zutton (also known as Blue Snaggletooth). That figure was directly inspired from the error Sears exclusive Kenner figure from 1979. Hasbro knows we eat this stuff up and it is nice to get more homage paid to the vintage line in this fashion. The Bounty Hunters (30th Anniversary Exclusive) [4-LOM/Zuckuss] exclusive set does exactly the same thing. And we have been treated to some really premium packaging in addition to some awesome “inaccurate” action figures! As a set of figures that really need to be appreciate din the spirit they were released, this is not a set for those of you who need movie-accurate authenticity. This is all about the action figures’ history and roots.

4-LOM (really Zuckuss) is a repaint of 2009’s Legacy Collection Zuckuss (BD54). For this release, the figure has been cast in a very light tan color and his breathing apparatus and chest plate has been cast in a very dark brown. Whit the efforts have been clearly made to mimic the original vintage figure, not even it was cast in such a light color. But Hasbro did their best to match the soft-goods for the lower portion of the figure’s robe and just one touch jettisons you back to 1982. It isn’t an exact match, but it is certainly close enough to activate some precious memories. Zuckuss (really 4-LOM) is a repaint of 2007’s TAC 4-LOM (30 41) figure. This figure has been colored to perfectly match the original vintage figure and their striking resemblance to each other is quite stunning. Zuckuss almost looks like a super-articulated version of the 1982 vintage figure. Overall, we congratulate Hasbro on their efforts with these figures because they have really done a very fine job! You already know the packaging is probably the best part of this whole set and Hasbro accented them in a silver foil to show the exclusivity of the figures inside. Also, the figures have their own individual numbers. 4-LOM is designated as VCP01 and Zuckuss is designated as VCP02. We’re not entirely sure what the “P” stands for, but it is bizarre that exclusives are getting collection numbers like this. It’s not unprecedented, but it certainly doesn’t happen that often. The box the figures are displayed in packaging that open like a book and each side is a window box for each figure and then that box is housed in a very nice slipcase and each figure. It is stunningly beautiful packaging and it was very hard for us to open our only set of this. This set definitely whets our appetite for The Vintage Collection that will be released in August 2010. And we hope Hasbro makes more vintage-inspired figures like these two. We recommend Walrusman with flippers, Hammerhead with a turquoise shell and Greedo with a ribbed suit and green boots. Oh man, what a time to be a Star Wars collector! We are in for some very exciting things ahead!