Saga's Head Variants: The Officer and the Rebel

Ishi Tib

New Recruit
<CENTER>HOW STRONG IS THE HEAD-ACHE ?
HEAD VARIATIONS
</CENTER>

Nope, there isn't a Doctor in the house, nor any one of us is a certified nurse but the question arises among collectors today, even if we are not part of the medical field. The cause? Hasbro's new head variants. Are you getting a headache trying to locate them?

Two assortments, two figures, four different head sculpts; add to that the previous head sculpts of these same figures we'll end up then with, three assortments, two figures, six different head sculpts ... Just the thought is painstaking, but a reality nevertheless.

The Rebel Fleet Trooper and the Imperial Officer, both previous POTJ releases are seeing updated versions for the Saga line. As it is known, only the heads are new sculpts, while the rest of their bodies and accessories remain the same.

If you are an army builder, indeed these figures will nicely compliment your diorama by offering diversity. You'll now have a total of three head styles for each character along with their superb articulation, allowing for each one to be posed differently while maintaining authenticity and aesthetics.


<CENTER>REBEL FLEET TROOPER
HEAD DIFFERENCES
</CENTER>

We won't go into much detailed describing this figure since as it was mentioned, the POTJ release (which I'm sure 99% of us have by now) is just the same as the Saga update, except for the head. Let's instead, describe the head sculpt and other info about the figure.

The differences between both heads are easily detectable. The light red haired Trooper has sideburns which can be easily seen coming out from the sides of the helmet's strap. Also his eyes and nose appear to be slightly smaller than his counterpart. The eyebrows, sideburns and hairline showing behind his neck are definitely not black but light red.

The black haired Trooper, does not have sideburns and his eyes and nose are slightly bigger than the brown hair version. His eyebrows are longer and more defined than his counterpart and black hair can be easily detected on the back of his head.


<CENTER>WHICH VERSION WAS FIRST RELEASED? </CENTER>

Both figures appear to have been produced at same dates. For instance, both of my versions have the stamped date: 23181 and the other ones I've seen correspond with the same production digits.

Apparently, the light red haired Trooper version seems to be the harder one to find. Collectors are finding the black haired Trooper much easier and according to the info I've gathered, thanks to the help of several online retailers as well as Bothan informants, this is how their release has been taken place:

First cases received with the number # 84861001V contained only light red haired versions, while cases received in second shipments, still having the same case number, offer both versions of the hair. But in either instance, once a case is opened you will find either two (2) light red haired Troopers or two (2) black haired ones. So far, both versions are not being offered within a same case.

There is a second case with the number 84861001X and although this assortment is offering both versions as well, the black haired version seems to be more consistent with them. When ordering large quantities of this case number, the Black hair Trooper is found in two out of three cases while the light red hair version is found in one. Still both head variants are not offered within a same case; you either get two black haired Troopers or two light red haired ones, depending on your luck.


<CENTER>FIGURE INFORMATION </CENTER>

NAME OF FIGURE: Rebel Fleet Trooper "Tantive IV Defender"
DIGITS: PN 6108686300
FIGURE NUMBER: #54 for '02
COLLECTION NUMBER: 2
ACCESSORIES: Blaster pistol



<CENTER>IMPERIAL OFFICER
HEAD DIFFERENCES
</CENTER>

The differences are very noticeable between the two heads, offering a significant contrast when compared one another. The brown haired Officer's head is considerably smaller than the previous POTJ and new Saga brothers. The shape of his face is oval with a pointy jaw and chin and, of course, most noticeable is the dark brown color of his hair.

The blonde haired version has a larger head than both, previous POTJ and new Saga brothers. His face is long with a square jaw and there's an expression of satisfaction in it. The overall look of the head sculpt is very Nordic, having very blonde, yellow hair. This is one figure which, due to his look and color of the uniform, throws you back to W.W.II and the horrific Gestapo; after all the uniforms are inspired by the old German outfit.

Just to avoid any confusion, both brown and blonde haired versions present sideburns.


<CENTER>WHICH VERSION WAS FIRST RELEASED? </CENTER>

The brown haired Officer was released first. The assortment containing the SP-4 and JN-66 Droids wave with the number 84861001V offered the Officer short-packed, one to a case. The stamped production number on my brown haired I.O shows 23301 I haven't seen other cards to compare dates but higher stamped numbers, surely exist. This particular version is also showing in Aayla Secura assortment with the number 84861001X and it is also short-packed.

The blonde haired version of this figure was not offered in previous assortment and it wasn't until recently that it became part of the Aayla Secura wave, thus making it a bit difficult to find since this assortment hasn't been out for long and hasn't seen enough distribution ... not yet. The figure shares the assortment with the brown haired version. Some cases contain one brown hair Officer while others offer his blonde version.

Unscrupulous sellers are having this version up for bids on eBAY as a "rare" find but, pay no attention to their instigating words, trying to awake one's impulsive buying behavior and offering the figure at ridiculous prices close to $20.00 sometimes more. This version will slowly filter into stores as more of the new assortments are received. It is a matter of distribution, not production.


<CENTER>FIGURE INFORMATION </CENTER>

NAME OF FIGURE: Imperial Officer, A New Hope
DIGITS: PN 6108686400
FIGURE NUMBER: #55 for '02
COLLECTION NUMBER: 2
ACCESSORIES: Blaster Gun


<CENTER>CASE ASSORTMENTS </CENTER>

Here are the assortments where the Troopers and the Officers can be found:


<CENTER>First Case: Asst # 84861001V</CENTER>
  • Padme Amidala™ (Droid Factory Chase) 2 x
  • Tusken Raider™ (Tatooine™ Camp Ambush) 2 x
  • SP-4™ & JN-66™ (Jedi™ Analysis Droids) 1 x
  • Rebel Trooper™ (Tantive IV™ Defender) Light Red or Black Haired 2 x
  • Imperial™ Officer (A New Hope) Brown Hair Version Only 1 x
  • Teebo™ 2 x
  • Eeth Koth™ 2 x


<CENTER>Second Case: Asst # 84861001X</CENTER>
  • Padme Amidala™ (Droid Factory Chase) 2 x
  • Tusken Raider™ (Tatooine™ Camp Ambush) 2 x
  • SP-4™ & JN-66™ (Jedi™ Analysis Droids) 1 x
  • Rebel Trooper™ (Tantive IV™ Defender) Light Red or Black Haired 2 x
  • Imperial™ Officer (A New Hope) Brown or Blonde version 1 x
  • Lamu Su™ (with Clone Child) 1 x
  • Aayla Secura™ (Twilek Jedi™) 1 x
  • Barriss Offee™ (Luminara's Padawan™) 1 x


Take a look now at the detailed pictures of the Officer and the Rebel and feel free to share your comments and opinions with us. We'd love to hear what you think. Enjoy!

<CENTER>Ishi Tib</CENTER
 

Ishi Tib

New Recruit
RFT #1
 

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