If you follow a lot of the Skylanders news and rumors, then there's a good chance that you've seen this picture by now.
If you check the Variants page here on SCL, you will see that there is no Crystal Clear Whirlwind listed. This obviously is not a new SWAP Force figure, so where did it come from?
There are a number of theories that have been brought up this week:
Theory #1
This is just a prototype figure.
While a number of prototypes (including variant prototypes) have been discovered over the years, they do not receive packaging until they are ready to ship.
Theory #2
This is a super-rare SSA variant that has not been found until now.
This is not the case. There was a time when not a single SSA figure could be found in stores. There is no way that every single copy of this variant has stayed hidden until this point.
Theory #3
This is a very well made custom figure.
While it has been proven that with enough time, patience, and expensive materials you can create high-quality custom, this is not the case. We have already seen more than one of these figures on eBay and Chris (our trusty source at Toys For Bob) has given us initial confirmation that this is a real figure.
Theory #4
This is a new variant (albeit an SSA variant) being released alongside SWAP Force.
This theory is most likely the truth.
Why Do I Believe Theory #4?
1) We already know that they decided to re-release Dino-Rang. This is not another SWAP Force figure, they are re-releasing Series 1 Dino-Rang. So we know that they are willing to reproduce old figures.
2) If you've played through SWAP Force, you know that Whirlwind is actually featured in one of the wintery levels. While we already have Polar Whirlwind, this Crystal (or Ice) variant fits in very nicely as well.
3) Chris from TFB has been researching variants all throughout the Giants release. To date, he has never been wrong. While we don't yet have specifics of this release, we do know that it is an official variant.
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With that being said, what are your thoughts? Do you like this move? Would you like to see more variants of older figures?
Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Just yesterday I was going through the Gamestop Powerup Rewards site, and I noticed they’re offering a Whirlwind SSA figure for 8,500 points. Picture looks like standard Whirlwind, but perhaps it’s related?
Might be the polar whirlwind that they had this past spring/early summer.
That is neat. I hope I can find one somewhere.
I wish they would rerelease the old castaways like ghost roaster, sunburn etc
i believe this to be fake OR a prototype regardless of who said what…here are my reasons:
1. all other variants are in groups of 3 or less, no more, examples,
SSA gold, SSA silver, SSA glow in the dark, SG glitter, SG metallic
purple, SF crystal green, etc.
2. only 1 has been seen on eBay and waaaay after SSA released; it
seems implausible that a variant could have stayed hidden this long and
that only 1 person sold it on eBay.
3. there is a clear stump smash that appears to have been a
prototype, this could certainly be the case for the SSA crystal clear
whirlwind.
thoughts? and/or any more evidence for either way?
Without seeing more of these pop up on a regular basis, it can be easy to doubt the validity of these claims. As for your concerns:
1) I do find it odd that this would make a fourth Crystal variant in the series. However, with VV taking the lead for this release, things could be changing.
2) There have actually been two Crystal Whirlwinds sold on eBay: http://bit.ly/1icXcLF and http://bit.ly/IlPejv
I do not think that this variant was created in 2011, I do believe it was made in 2013 but they chose to use the Series 1 Whirlwind. We already know they have re-released a number of SSA Adventure Packs and figures in the past few months, so why not include a new variant?
3) I am aware of the Crystal Prism Break and Crystal Stump Smash prototypes. The issue here is that they were never packaged.
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The main reason I think that we’re not seeing more Crystal Whirlwinds in the wild is that most stores don’t have shelf space for SSA figures anymore. They’re at a different price point so they actually have to make space for them. So even if they are getting new shipments of SSA figures they are sitting in the back of the stores collecting dust.
Most employees at the retail level do not know or care about Skylanders and therefore assume that only figures from the newest game need to be stocked.
It may take a while, but I do believe that we will see more Crystal Whirlwinds.
Today i found one…. And i going to sell it to the highest bidder…
Contact me if you want pictures or want to bid on the item..
Mail @ m a u s k e . N L