Rebel Set (2-1B/Leia (Hoth Outfit)/Rebel Commander) - TVC - Special Action Figure Sets

This brave trio combines their skills in an attempt to save the Empire from Darth Vader's forces. Princess Leia is the strong-willed leader of the Rebellion forces. The Rebel Commander defends the Rebel base against the Empire on the ice world of Hoth. Medical droid 2-1B sees to Luke Skywalker's recovery in the Rebel's secret base.

As collectors, we have become predictable to Hasbro. They know how to develop exclusives to pull at our heartstrings and guarantee their products’ sell-through. When it comes to the Special Action Figure Sets, they don’t have to think too hard about them since, conceptually, they existed years ago. However, choosing the modern counterparts is the real challenge. Sometimes, it feels like they don’t have our best interests in mind because they cobble together multipacks without upgrading characters needing desperate modernizing. The Rebel Set from the Special Action Figure Sets sub-line will be hailed as the “stinker” of the assortment. It includes a repack of 2010’s TVC Princess Leia Organa (Hoth) [Leia (Hoth Outfit)] (VC02) and a repack of 1997’s POTF2 [Red/Green] 2-1B Medic Droid. Did we need to see either of these figures again so soon? We certainly didn’t need to see 2-1B resurrected from the dead, especially when there is the fantastic 2008 TAC 2-1B (Surgical Droid) (08 06) figure that they could have retooled to be specific to The Empire Strikes Back. Despite this, how did they ensure this multipack would succeed at retail? That’s quickly answered. They included the “running change” Hoth Rebel Soldier figure that was supposed to come out as a basic figure in 2009’s The Legacy Collection, but Hasbro didn’t release it until 2010’s Star Wars [Shadow Of The Dark Side] Defense Of Hoth Target-exclusive set. Hasbro chose this figure to avert disaster because getting another chance at the Rebel Commander is worth it here.That said, we still feel they are missing the boat by not adding this figure into the basic figure lineup, but at least they are trying to get it out again to collectors.

Interestingly, the Rebel Commander in this set appears to have repositioned legs, and they are not as wide as the first time Hasbro released this figure. Also, the included blaster rifle has a new paint job, and other figure parts have minor color variances. Collectors are also complaining about paying $19.99 for three action figures when, in 2008 (only a short time after the release of the Special Action Figure Sets multipacks), we got five figures for the same price. Remember, however, that action figures have reached a whole new premium in quality and have never been made better. So, this is a more-than-fair price when most figures come super-articulated. After all, not all sets include figures with super-articulation. Then, we have to calculate the nostalgic value of the Kenner-inspired packaging into this equation. As you can imagine, that appreciates the value of these sets further. We think including 2-1B for the Rebel Set (whose only difference appears to be the “lighter black” thigh joints) was a wrong move. 2-1B may be a figure from the POTF2 era that aged well, but it’s still egregious to include it in a premium collectors’ line like The Vintage Collection. Thankfully, the elusive “running change” Hoth Rebel Trooper, Rebel Commander here, forgives that wrong decision. Little to no paint job differences exist between the original releases of these figures and the ones included in the three-packs. In true vintage fashion, Hasbro chooses not to over-accessorize the figures and packs them with updates to the weapons they had in the vintage era. They made an exception with the Rebel Commander, and the figure comes with two weapons.

A significant Hoth-centrically themed grouping of figures, the Rebel Set holds a special place in the hearts of those who adore The Empire Strikes Back. Check the various references available to collectors on the unique Special Action Figure Set product line. Kenner produced sixteen of them back in the day. Hasbro will hopefully replicate some highly sought-after ones for us. For example, we’d like to see Hasbro update a Snaggletooth and a Power Droid, and if they have to, include all-new sculpts of these action figures and make them solely for this exclusive program. There is great potential for the Special Action Figure Sets sub-line. Hasbro needs to change things up a little bit more, however. We have been patient, and now we own a half dozen sets that contain mostly repacked figures, save for the few updated paint operations. It’s time to make these truly “special” for collectors, and making them “special” includes new tooling. It still bugs us, for example, that Hasbro used Utris M’Toc to replace or serve as the modern counterpart to 1980’s ESB Bespin Security Guard in the nine-figure set released that launched this sub-line. But whatever direction they decide to take this line should it continue, we hope they will keep the 1995-2000 The Powe Of The Force line figures out of these modern exclusives. They are out of scale and lack the articulation we desire, and even if the tooling looks good, it’s a good bet they’ll look out of place with the rest of the figures in the line. We hope Hasbro will monitor this extra carefully and bring us something to drool over in the future. The Special Action Figure Set line is truly “special,” but we want to see “extra special” now.