We knew it was going to happen. As soon as The Book of Boba Fett launched, I knew Hasbro/Disney would repackage the Vintage Collection Slave 1 with new branding. Along with the new packaging, it would keep its new “safe for all ages” name of “Boba Fett’s Starship.’ Is that not the catchiest name? I cannot wait for the Millenium Falcon to be rechristened to “Han’s Space Freighter.”
During this week’s SDCC announcements, Hasbro listed the reissued Slave 1 on Hasbro Plus for pre-order. Expected out on April 1st [HA!] 2023, the giant toy is essentially the same as the one we saw in stores only a few months ago. From what I can tell, the vehicle has been repainted a bit, giving it a dustier look. However, all the play features of the toy are still precisely the same. There are multiple compartments, a rotating flight deck, extending loading ramp, spring-loaded canons, and rotating wings.
The price has certainly gone up. Hasbro is expecting you to shell out $199 for something that was $50 less expensive last year, and the only difference is you get an unarmored Boba Fett figure. Yeah, that’s right. In addition, you’ll receive a $10-$15 action figure and a name change for all that extra money. Woo. Sign me up.
All the other accessories match the previously released toy:
- Clear vehicle stand
- Sonic mines
- Escape pod
Thankfully you can still order the appropriately named Slave 1 from the Big Bad Toy Store for only $149.99. This version comes with the same ship, and Han is encased in carbonite. The box is based on the original Kenner version of Slave 1 from the early ’80s when The Empire Strikes Back toyline was in stores.
I know what Disney is doing. To the Mouse, Star Wars is only a tool to make money. To that faceless corporation, it is not the life’s work of a storyteller. So, to make the product as appealing as possible, any and all things that could be objectionable to any demographic with a disposable income need to be squashed. We saw it with Slave Leia, and Slave 1 is just another victim of it. It’s only a matter of time before more subjects, names, and characters in George Lucas’s Galaxy Far, Far Away get modified. Disney needs to make a product so bland that it can appeal to everyone except those who kept the Star Wars franchise alive through the highs and lows.
Let us know what you think about the price hike and renaming in the comments section below.
[Source: Hasbro Pulse]
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