Like a phoenix rising out of Arizona, Hasbro Pulse seems to have one once more.   The oft-dormant fan site had a bit of a push at the Hasbro Toy Fair press event, and now the Hasbro Pulse Instagram Feed announced a new The Vintage Collection Klaatu (Skiff Guard) action figure render.  

This is the first new version of this figure in this costume since the 1990s, updating one of the original Kenner action figures of old to the modern "super articulated" era in time for Hasbro's new Sail Barge - now with over 1,600 supporters.  And of course I have a lot more to say about this.

Klaatu is a remake, but it's easy to ignore what a big deal he is.   Since the release of The Force Awakens, we've received very few new-sculpted 3 3/4-inch figures specifically from the pre-Disney era of Star Wars.   Off the top of my head, this would include Obi-Wan Kenobi (2017), Darth Vader (2017), Probe Droid (2017), and the forthcoming Yak Face (2019.)   The last completely new Original Trilogy-era character to get a new action figure that comes to mind is 2015's Mosep Bineed.

Hasbro doing the Sail Barge - even if it doesn't get fully supported - is a huge step.  But let us not forget to remind them that Hasbro (and Kenner from 1995 to the present) still haven't remade the original 1980s Imperial Digniatary, the mustache Bespin Security Guard, the 1979 Power Droid, the grey Death Squad Commander from 1978, an original 1983 puppet version of Sy Snootles, or more Kennery versions of 1979's Hammerhead, Greedo, Snaggletooth, and Walrus Man to name a few.

Hasbro's license for Star Wars (as far as we all know) goes to 2020 - which means that Hasbro may be interested in finishing the "original 92" action figures by 2020.   In the coming months we will be banging this drum loudly and I hope you join me in signal boosting in forums or on your fan sites in hopes that Hasbro will deliver what we all came here for way back in 1995 and still don't have.  We also still hope Hasbro continues to make figures for us for years to come, but at this point it seems clear that Hasbro may well have forgotten or deliberately avoided making crucial modern updates to the original 1978-1985 action figure line.   (And yes we know there are more than 92, but with the droids and Rebo band it gets complicated in how fans count.)

We would also love to see Vlix, Jord Dusat, Sise Fromm, Tig Fromm, Thall Joben, Kea Moll, Duloks, and anybody else from the cartoons - but let's get those 92 started Hasbro.  Because I know I'll be bringing it up in conversation at every fan event, and I encourage all of you dear readers to please politely do the same in any interactions that you have with the beloved toymaker's friendly and patient employees.