Radio Controlled Jawa Sandcrawler (SW)

Now, when it comes to detail and proportions, Kenner got it right on this Sandcrawler. The detailing is very, very close to the original prop, even if the scale is way off. If you were to make a Sandcrawler truly to scale with the figures, it would probably have to be at least 5 feet high and who knows how long.

Now, being the late 70’s, many of us can already guess how this remote control worked. No, it wasn’t sonic controlled like the special Landspeeder, but it was one of those one-button remotes. The Sandcrawler went forward in a straight line until you pushed the button, then it reversed in a curve. It was simple and effective. The remote just looked like a brown wand with some stickers.

You could put figures in the “cockpit” (Jawas, I’m sure), and in the main bay, which opened with a panel with built-in stairs. There was also a manual elevator you could put figures in and push them up to the main cargo area (like R2 getting sucked up in the movie).

Why should you own this vehicle? Five reasons:

1. Holy Hell, man - it’s one of only two Star Wars Kenner vehicles that were remote control. Get it!

2. As far as Sandcrawlers go, this is the best one. It helps that the other one is only a cardboard background.

3. Recreate the Jawa/stormtrooper misunderstanding. Or "slaughter" if that term fits better.

4. Hmm, I want a Star Wars thing with an elevator, but I can only have the Death Star Playset or this. What to choose, what to choose…

5. Scare the dog! Scare the baby!

Backstory:

Jawa Sandcrawlers were basically ore carriers (digger crawlers) abandoned by settlers after the mining proved to costly and inefficient. The Jawas adapted them for their own use and travel the Tatooine deserts looking for usable junk, spare parts, and other debris left behind by colonists or knocked out of orbit.

Want more? It's Wookieepedia article

127th in alphabetical order

Radar Laser Cannon (ESB)

One of the few small accessories to actually have screen time was the Radar Laser Cannon. You would have seen it with the Rebesl during the Hoth battle. You’ll notice it was absolutely ineffective against the AT-ATs, yet Kenner tried to get you to buy it!

The Cannon looked pretty similar to the movie version, and a button on the back of it caused it to “explode” when pressed. This feature was always nice when you were staging a toy battle, or for frustrating a sibling who had it. It came in both an ESB and ROTJ box. It also came with the Hoth Ice Planet Adventure Playset, which featured a cardboard AT-AT background and a white-molded base reused from the Land of the Jawas set.

Why should you own this accessory? Five reasons:

1. It’s a big gun – get it already.

2. The Hoth Rebel Soldiers need something to sit around and look busy at.

3. You know, it does have treads on the bottom, so you can pretend it’s a mini tank.

4. It’s small. It’s cheap. It goes anywhere!

5. One of the few things that can fit on your cubicle at work.

Backstory:

The Radar Laser Cannon was based on the 1.4 FD P-Tower Laser Cannon. Manufactured by Atgar SpaceDefense Corporation, it was capable of taking out an AT-ST in one shot. An AT-AT, however, not so much. It did not have little tank treads like the toy does.

It could shoot about 2-10 kilometers, but wore down its batteries after 8 shots if not hooked up to a generator. It was also sometimes tricky, because if just one of its 16 routers went out, the whole thing was useless.

Want more? Its Wookieepedia article

126th in alphabetical order

R5-D4 (SW 1978-79)

If you’ve played with the basic R2 figure, you’ve played with R5. Clicking head, two legs (BUT SHOULD HAVE THREE) – yeah, the whole bit. While the figure and name refer to a specific droid - the one that breaks down in the film - you can just use it as a generic astromech droid and put it in your Y-Wing socket.

R5 came on cardbacks for all three movies – the SW and ESB said “R5-D4,” the ROTJ card said “Arfive-Defour (R5-D4).” Some, like the one pictured, featured the mail-away offer for that rocket-shooting figure, Boba Fett. Of course they never made one that fired because he'd shoot your eye out, kid.

Why, oh why, should you own R5? Five reasons:

1. Light him on fire. When your dad asks what’s going on just say it’s a bad motivator.

2. You can still use him in the Y-Wing, just don’t fly it upside down.

3. If you were like me in my youthful ignorance, you could pretend that the figures bottom opening was actually either A) a thruster, or B) a big cannon.

4. You just can’t beat that decal detail.

5. You need a lot of droid figures for your Coming-Out Droid Cotillion.

Backstory:

R5 was built by the Industrial Automaton company. The R5 line was notorious for being low cost and low quality, and R5-D4 was no exception. He went from owner to owner before being sold to the Jawas and turned down by Luke and Uncle Owen because of his bad motivator.

R5 was stolen from the Jawas and sold to a member of the Rebel Alliance. He was refurbished to much better working condition and set in place in Mos Eisley for gathering inteliigence. A humorous short–story posed a different theory: that he could use the Force and foresaw that only R2 going with Luke would save the galaxy. He thus blew his own motivator.

In the movie Luke says, “This R2 unit has a bad motivator.” Whether Mark Hamill the actor, the character Luke, or the scriptwriter was mistaken is under debate.

Want more? His Wookieepedia article

125th in alphabetical order

Prune Face (ROTJ 1983-84)

Prune Face prefers the French pronunciation of his name: Prune Fasee. But seriously, Pruney is another blink-and-you'll miss him characters, shown in the Rebel conference room in The Return of the Jedi. Also, like many of the aliens introduced in the movies, the crew just called it what it looked like to keep the aliens straight - thus "Prune Face." Never mind that this probably infringed on copyright a bit with the Dick Tracy character of the same name. Although, I don't think anyone will mix them up.

Ole Pruney came with a rifle (which doesn't look particularly Star Wars-ish) and a cloth cape. He only came on an ROTJ card. Presumably he went with the Endor landing party since he was dressed for camoflauge, but you never see him down on the planet. Maybe the Ewoks ate him.

Why should you own this figure? Five reasons:

1. Eye patch. A grow-hair-on-your chest manly eyepatch!

2. If you own G.I Joes, you have an extra rifle you can use. It looks awfully Joe-ish doesn't it?

3. Pruney's face is very accurate to the character - it's his clothes that weren't quite right. Don't blame Kenner, though. They didn't have very good technology to imprint camoflauge on plastic yet.

4. Re-enact the scene where Prune Face splits off from the Rebels, and eventually marries and settles down with an Ewok princess. Hey, you didn't see him - it could have happened!

5. Re-enact the exciting scene where he ACTIVELY LISTENS to the Rebel BRIEFING. That's excitement!

Backstory:

Prune Face's real name was Orrimaarko, and his race Dressellian from the planet Dressel. He was recruited into the Alliance by the Bothans (often mentioned but never seen on screen) to fight subjugation of his homeworld by the Empire. He was on the Endor strike team during the events of ROTJ, and was a bit miffed when Han Solo was picked to lead rather than himself, who he deemed more qualified. No word on how he got the eyepatch though.

Want more? His full Wookieepedia article

124th in alphabetical order

Princess Leia Organa (in Combat Poncho) (ROTJ 1983-84)

I don’t know what changed from when this figure came out to when Luke Poncho came out, but it was enough to go from “combat” to “battle.” Maybe it’s a distinction in the Rebel forces – Leia’s more greenish poncho is stored in the COMBAT bin and Luke’s more brown one is in the BATTLE bin. Obviously, they did not call each other before loading on to the stolen imperial Shuttle.

Leia comes with the same blaster as the A-Wing Pilot, B-Wing Pilot, and AT-ST Driver, but molded in grey. Her helmet, unlike Luke’s, is removable, as well as the green poncho cinched to her waist with a utility belt. Maybe Leia needed that all-important removable helmet for her scene with Wicket.

Why should you own this figure? Five reasons:

1. Your one chance to start a Leia strip-tease.

2. This Leia blends in with your favorite planters.

3. The only Star Wars figure for Earth Day!

4. Yet another excuse for another Speeder Bike.

5. Man, no one wears a poncho better.

Backstory:

Her poncho is more for camouflage than “combat,” but Leia's full Wookieepedia entry is here.

123rd in alphabetical order

Off topic: Trying to find name of 80's comic book

Off topic, but there was a comic book from the 1980's about a band of heroes from a Dungeons & Dragons-type universe breaking into our normal universe and ending up in a bowling alley. I want to say it was called "Paradise Lanes" or "Mystic Lanes" or something like that. Anyone have any information at all about it? Thanks!

Princess Leia Organa (Boushh Disguise) (ROTJ 1983-84)

Today's entry is Leia - wait for it - in bounty hunter Boushh disguise! Yes, for all you guys out there, this is a woman figure, but for figures back then this was pretty darn good. Of course, when we first saw this character in the movie, everyone was trying to figure out who it was, until she started to free Han - that made it pretty obvious before she took the helmet off. It was also a little hard to believe a character as short as this was holding Chewbacca at bay. I mean, really? I was once told a Wookiee would tear your arms off if they lost.

Five reasons that this figure is still cool (despite being a girl):

1. The helmet. Not only is it removable and Leia's head is still in proportion, but if you want to pretend it's the real Boushh, you can just leave the helmet on.

2. The helmet is packaged in a separate bubble on the card. It makes it look like it's floating above the figure's head, as if anointing her with a crown or some lofty purpose. Yeah, I know, weird reason, huh?

3. Blaster rifle. Holy cow - what other character carries a blaster that's as big as them? No wonder Han marries her later (in the novels)!

4. This figure just makes it cool for boys to actually own a woman doll, I mean, action figure.

Negative 1: No thermal detonator. Although the later release of this figure in the 1990's had a thermal detonator, it was permanently built into her hand. Oh, what a choking hazard we missed out on!

Backstory:

The novel and graphic novels Shadows of the Empire explained what happened in between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi (It was a big media blitz for LucasFilm at the time. Anyone remember it? Anyone?). A bounty hunter named Boushh was killed by the crime syndicate Black Sun (led by Xizor, a wannabe successor to the Emperor) after trying to embezzle funds. His killer happened to keep Boushh's uniform, which Leia took to wearing as a disguise in plot point of the story. She later used it to infiltrate Jabba's palace and do a poor, but well-intentioned attempt at saving Han - although it is unclear if this went according to plan or not with Luke coming and Lando already there.

Boushh was a member of a near-human race called Ubese, from Uba IV that often worked as mercenaries. Due to their secretive nature they often wore helmeted breathing masks, like the one in the film. Interesting tidbit: the same guy who did Leia's Boushh voice in ROTJ also did E.T.'s voice. No word though on why Boushh had to be spelled with two "H's." I mean, honestly, who does that?

Want more? Leia's Wookieepedia article. Boushh's Wookieepedia article.

122nd in alphabetical order

Princess Leia Organa (SW 1978-79)

Leia - the only human female action figure made from the whole freakin' trilogy - at least in the original 93 figure line. The Leia in white cape came on the original Star Wars 12-back card, and an ESB and ROTJ card. Her figure and card picture never changed with each release, however.

I don't know if it was true or not, but this figure's neck always seemed skinnier than the rest of the figures, which is probably why I had a couple with no heads after a while. She came with a skinny gun too, which must be modeled after the one she shot a stormtrooper with right at the beginning of the movie (on the blockade runner ship that also showed up in Revenge of the Sith). After that you see her firing stormtrooper-issue blasters, which always seemed a little big in her hands. Considering how petite she was, Natalie Portman was a good idea to play her mom.

Why should you own this figure? Five reasons:

1. Take off the cape and you have the beginnings of that 70's disco diorama you've been dreaming of.

2. Those buns. I mean, what is with those buns? Am I only the only guy who, while watching the first movie, thought at the end, "So that's what she looks like with the hair down. She's hotter than I thought!"

3. Her action figure looks a lot cheerier than her character in the first one. Jeez, did someone blow up your home planet or something?

4. Waaaaaay better than the first Leia in white cape figure that came out with the new line in the 90's, also called "monkey-face" Leia, and for good reason.

5. Pair her with the Han in Bespin outfit and you have the topper to your geek wedding cake. Let's just hope your wife doesn't get ticked.

Backstory:

Watch the end of Revenge of the Sith for the beginning. She's born, mom dies, she's adopted by Bail Organa and his wife, raised on Alderaan, served in the Senate, kidnapped in Star Wars IV (the first movie), planet blown up, kissed her brother (twice), found out Luke was her brother, fell in love with Han, was touched by Ewoks.

In the novels after the movies, her and Han have twins (Jaina and Jacen), then a third child (Anakin). She serves as president (or the legal equivalent) in the new galactic ruling body, and after she quits that she trains and becomes a full-fledged Jedi.

Want her full story? Check out her Wookieepedia article

121st in alphabetical order

Power Droid (SW 1977-79)

Saying “Gonk” and walking. That was the big scene for the Power Droid in the movie. A few different Power Droids are seen in the movies (well, in SW and ROTJ), but the model for the figure was probably the one in the Jawa sandcrawler.

This figure comes with nothing. It came on SW, ESB, and ROTJ cards. It could, possibly, rank right up there as the most boring vintage Star Wars figure to play with. Really. No accessories. Had almost no screen time. Was not pivotal – at all – to the plot. Boooooorrrrring. Still, I have to convince you:

Why should you get this figure? Five reasons:

1. Nothing says “gonk” like a Power Droid.

2. Surprise your manager with a Power Droid instead of an ink cartridge.

3. Mascot to the box manufacturers of the world.

4. Goes great with a Jawa sandcrawler.

5. Recreate a droid office party. The Power Droid is the guy no one talks to.

Backstory:

The model of the figure is most likely an EG-6, manufactured by Veril Line Systems. Other models in the films were the EG-4, and the GNK. They were basically walking batteries and served all sides. A Power Droid can be seen getting tortured in Jabba’s dungeon in ROTJ.

Want more? Its Wookieepedia article

120th in alphabetical order

PDT-8 Personnel Deployment Transport (ESB)

The PDT, or Personnel Deployment Transport, was one of the five mini-rigs made during ESB (there were more during ROTJ). These were smaller vehicles that could be purchased more easily than most of the larger vehicles that were actually in the movies. A way to give kids more play without gouging their piggy banks.

The PDT had a couple swiveling small lasers, two open figure compartments that had opening doors anyway, and two swiveling side engines. The engines actually seem pretty oversized for the vehicle, but I’m no designer.

Why should you own this mini-rig? Five reasons:

1. Small, white, sporty – like a VW Bug without the payments.

2. The picture on the package – what, are they going to put the droids in and blow the thing up? What are they watching? What's the big deal? Is it FX-7's driving test?

3. Looks much like that alien assassin’s ship from “The Last Starfighter.” Given that that movie came out in 1984, I would suspect they got a little inspiration from this toy. I smell laaaaawsuit!

4. The ridiculousness of an open-cockpit ship on Hoth? C’mon, get it just for that!

5. A sweet ride.

Backstory:

Since it is white and pictured with Hoth figures, presumably this was used by the Rebellion at Echo Base. This is still conceivable since there is much of the base never shown on film, and the galaxy is a big place. It could, theoretically exist in the Star Wars universe, even if we've never seen it used.

Wookieepedia article (not much else here)

119th in alphabetical order

Patrol Dewback (SW)

Green and with attitude - no, I'm not talking about the Incredible Hulk, I'm talking about the Patrol Dewback! This iguana-like creature was seen in the first movie while the stormtroopers were looking for the droids on Tatooine. Do you think riding the Dewback was the preferable job, or being on foot?

The dewback came with a removable saddle and harness. To put the figure in the "saddle" was really to put it in a collapsible panel on its back. The harness made it look like there were legs straddling the beast. Move the tail back and forth and the head would do the same.

The Dewback only came in a Star Wars logo box, but also came out with a "Collector Series" emblem in 1983. The box is hilarious, like a keystone cops caper. Luke and the gang are conspicuously hiding out, and peeking, behind a sand dune. All the stormtroopers are looking in the same direction - directly away from the gang.

After the Special Editions of the original films, where a CG Dewback was inserted in the original, the figure was re-released with a Sandtrooper with bendable knees, and the Dewback had a more lithe physique.

Why should you own this figure? Five reasons:

1. Basically, it's like having your own iguana, without having to worry about it pooping on your shoulder. Or moving.

2. Freak out your own iguana. If you have an iguana. You freak.

3. How many riding animals can you get for your original figures? It was pretty much a tauntaun and this.

4. Humiliate your stormtroopers - "Who gets to march behind the Dewback today?"

5. Give the dewback the respect it deserves - let it languish in your trunk for 20 years until your forget what in the hell it is.

Backstory:

Dewbacks, native to Tatooine, got their names from the dew that would accumulate on their backs overnight. In packs of 2-5 they would lick each others' back in the morning. Many Tatooine inhabitants used these animals as packs animals and as food sources. They usually came in green, but could also have shades of red , brown, gray, and blue. Dewbacks were cold blooded, and thus very sluggish if still active at night. Their use as domesticated animals was often because of their ability to rebel sand fleas, unlike the hairy Tatooine bantha.

Want more? Its Wookieepedia article

118th in alphabetical order

Paploo (ROTJ 1983-84)

Yes, eventually I had to post another Ewok. Like I’ve mentioned in previous posts, and I’ll reiterate here, small figures like this cheesed kids like me. I just felt like it was less bang for the buck, you know? At least give us a large accessory to make up for the figures, um, shortcomings. A spear, a bow – no. Paploo comes with a ‘battle staff’ which looks suspiciously like a walking stick or a crutch.

Paploo came on either an ROTJ card with Anakin offer (the ghost-of-Anakin figure was a mail-away before he was carded) or a POTF card. The photo on the card was actually of another Ewok, Romba. In the Ewoks animated series the characters Teebo and Paploo got mixed around, so they had each others names. When will people ever learn that all Ewoks do not look alike – this is an urban myth!

Why should you get this furry figure? Five reasons:

1. Recreate the scene where he steals the speederbike (yes, it was this Ewok), except this time he tragically runs into a tree.

2. That Ewok Village playset needs all the Ewoks you can get, or else it might as well be a Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves playset, and we wouldn’t want that.

3. The fur was more realistic than that slicked-down Chewbacca figure.

4. With only 8 Ewok figures in the original line, you have to get them all for the playset, the Glider, the Catapult, and the Ewok Battle Wagon. Crap, they had a lot of vehicles!

5. Paploo vs. Jawa. Two little guys enter, only one makes it out alive.

Backstory:

As mentioned in my top 5 list, Paploo was the Ewok that stole the speederbike and distracted the Imperials. How such a primitive creature figured out how to start, let alone drive a speederbike is beyond me. I don’t think I could even drive Harley-Davidson and I have a clue! Paploo also temporarily replaced Chief Chirpa when they thought the village was cursed because of the arrival of the Imperials.

In ROTJ Paploo was played by Kenny Baker, who played R2-D2, and was scheduled to play Wicket. However, he was sick the first days of shooting, so Warwick Davis took his place. You may have also seen Kenny Baker as Fidget in the movie Time Bandits.

Want more? His Wookieepedia article

117th in alphabetical order

Nikto (ROTJ 1983-84)

Nikto was another of Jabba’s many generic bodyguards during the events of ROTJ, although it should be noted that Nikto is the name of the species and not an individual. There were at least three distinct ones during the events of the movie, and the figure is based on only one.

Nikto came with the same “battle staff” that Barada and Yak Face (not released in the U.S.) came with. He also came on both an ROTJ card and a POTF card (rarer), which seems like kind of a cheat for Kenner since there were probably more deserving characters for the POTF line than this one.

Why should you get this figure? Five reasons:
1. The whole Klaatu, Barada, Nikto thing (see below).

2. If you’re lucky enough to get the Tatooine Skiff (very rare), than you have to get this figure.

3. That Sarlacc Pitt isn’t going to feed itself you know.

4. Necessary for your Jabba diorama for 1st grade show and tell.

5. Necessary for the Jabba diorama you try to hide from potential girlfriends.

Backstory:

Niktos are from the planet Kintan, which was bombarded by radiation from a nearby dying star. This caused more rapid evolution than normal, so there are at least 5 genetically-compatible subspecies existing on the planet. They all have the leathery skin and little facial muscles in common however.

About 25,000 years before the Battle of Yavin, the Hutts discovered the Niktos, living in fear because of the rise of a cult. The Hutts eradicated the cult, earning the loyalty of the Niktos. For the next 25,000 years the Niktos had little involvement in the galaxy as a whole because of their dedication to the Hutts, including Jabba who employed several up until his death.

Nikto's name came from the phrase "Klaatu barada nikto" said in the movie The Day the Earth Stood Still.

Want more? His Wookieepedia entry

116th in alphabetical order

Nien Nunb (ROTJ 1983-84)

Nien Nunb is one of those figure no one seems to know what to do with. Do I take Han and Chewbacca out of the seats of the Millennium Falcon and put Lando and Nien in, or do I let it be? If not, what else do I do with him? Have him celebrate in the Ewok Village afterwards?

Nien came with a blaster pistol - the same one as the Imperial TIE Fighter Pilot. He only came on an ROTJ card, since he really wasn't POTF-worthy. He has no problem fitting into the cockpit of the Falcon, mainly because it was built for a Wookiee. Nien was originally offered as a mail-away, but like all the other mail-aways from the original line he was eventually put on his own card.

Why should you get this figure? Five reasons:

1. Make up your own subtitles for what he says to Lando: "Your general's cape really shows your feminine side."

2. Re-create the scenes where he keeps telling people he's not related to the other Sullustan in the Rebellion.

3. That blue vest so accentuates that red jumpsuit.

4. He's got balls for adjusting Chewie's seat.

5. At least he didn't start wearing clothing he found in the Falcon right away, like Lando did at the end of ESB.

Backstory:

Nien worked for the SoruSuub corporation until they joined with the Empire, then he began stealing and smuggling from them. He eventually hooked up with Lando, who later brought him into the Rebllion riding shotgun in the Falcon while making the run on the second Death Star. His home planet is Sullust, and he has one sister named Aril. Lando later had him runnign spice operations on Kessel.

In ROTJ, he was actually a puppet, and not a small person in a costume. That's why he was so articulated. He was voiced by a student from Kenya who just used his native language of Haya.

His full Wookieepedia entry

115th in alphabetical order

MTV-7 Multi Terrain Vehicle (ESB)

MTV, eh? The release of the MTV-7 was in 1981. MTV the network started August 1, 1981. Coincidence? Who copied who? The world may never know, but I do know this: the MTV-7 has as much relevance to music as the other MTV does today. Go ahead – try to find a video on there.

MTV stands for “multi-terrain vehicle.” Pretty generic, but it is a nifty little mini-rig from ESB. It is a one-man (or woman – sorry Leia) cockpit with a rotating blaster on the front, two roller wheels and springs that allow you to lower and raise the cockpit in relation to the ground. If you pushed it down and let go fast you could make it jump a little bit.

Realistically, the “tires” would be pretty crappy on real snow and ice, but it’s a toy so I’ll let that slide. It was a cute little vehicle (yeah, you want all your Star Wars toys to be cute) and cheap, so enjoy!

Why should you buy this vehicle? Five reasons:

1. Cheap mini-rig – extra vehicles for you to play with.

2. The closest SW vehicle to a monster truck. Enjoy, redneck sci-fi fans!

3. Give a snowtrooper a break – this is the only vehicle they let him drive.

4. The only SW vehicle that can do push-ups.

5. One of the SW vehicles you’ll let your younger siblings use (you keep the good ones hidden).

Backstory:

Not in any of the movies, but wholly created by Kenner, the MTV-7 does show up in some of the material written about Blizzard Force, an elite Imperial cold-climate squad.

Wookieepedia entry (short)

114th in alphabetical order

MLC-3 Mobile Laser Cannon (ESB)

The MLC-3 is supposed to stand for “Mobile Laser Cannon” and was one of Kenner’s many mini-rigs. It maneuvers on treads (wheels) and has two laser cannons that move in tandem, up and down. The cockpit has a transparent bubble to see through. Basically, it looks like a small, white tank.

Why should you own this vehicle? Five reasons:

1. C’mon – how many tanks can you get from the Star Wars universe?

2. Small, cheap, fits a figure.

3. Two large-ish guns! Yeah!

4. With that bubble, looks a lot like some retro-future design that would look great as a decoration.

5. Could double as a G.I. Joe tank for Snow Job.

Backstory:

Never seen in the films (because Kenner made it up) but it can probably be considered part of the Star Wars universe. It did appear in an issue of the Marvel Star Wars comic. However, vehicles like this would usually have repulsorlifts instead of treads, and “laser cannons” are being generous. Guns this small in the SW universe are usually blasters, and lasers are usually on larger things. It could also be taken as just a lower tech vehicle that the Rebels had to work with.

Its Wookieepedia entry

113th in alphabetical entry

Millennium Falcon Spaceship (SW)

The Millennium Falcon was one of the first “OH MY GOD MOM AND DAD I HAVE TO HAVE THAT” Star Wars toys. It was a vehicle, but because of its size it was also a playset. Most kids really need both hands to fly it too – they need friends to “attack” it with TIE Fighters.

This vehicle had it all – let us count the ways:
- a lowering ramp
- lowering struts
- the top cover and cockpit cover came off to play inside it
- the cockpit still fit two figures in it alone (yeah, I know, in the film it seats 4)
- top quad guns with a connected gunner’s chair
- rotating radar dish
- electronic sounds (not really movie authentic, but SOUNDS!)
- a Jedi training ball
- smuggler panels to hide figures in
- an actual dejarik table (the space chess thing)

I originally got the Falcon from a garage sale, and despite some missing pieces (everyone seems to lose the Jedi training ball) I deemed it awesome.

The Falcon came out in SW, ESB, and ROTJ boxes, each time changing the picture to something relevant. On the SW box, it was surrounded by stormtroopers. On the ESB box (which dropped “Spaceship” from the name) it was a Cloud City scene with appropriate figures. On the ROTJ box it appears to be on Tatooine with characters from Jabba’s. It also has Nien Nunb strangely enough. The Tatooine scene may be referring to a deleted scene where the gang made it back to the Falcon during a sandstorm on Tatooine.

This year, due to the old mold breaking, Hasbro redid the Falcon for it's newest release. It is now $200 retail (someplace like Target sells it for $150.00) and the sucker is awesome. Not only do they fix it so the passenger compartments are in the right place (instead if where the engine is supposed to be), but it even has a med-bay - Fix Luke's severed hand! It is 30% larger and comes with Han and Chewie! Check out this video tour of it here.

Why should you own this vehicle? Five reasons:

1. All those cool features listed above.

2. It is the ultimate showpiece: everyone recognizes what you have displayed, you don’t have to explain it.

3. It’s the Falcon, man. It made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs!

4. You can fly the thing, or just have Chewbacca fix it with tools from the Vehicle Maintenance Energizer.

5. Vehicle and playset. Ooooh, yeah.

Backstory:

The Falcon started life as a Correlian Engineering Corporation built YT-1300 stock light freighter. It was about 60 years old by the Battle of Yavin, even appearing in Revenge of the Sith (in the scene where they crash land on Coruscant). It was damaged sometime after and was heavily rebuilt by an enterprising technician. It was stolen by a pirate, and eventually won in a sabacc tournament by Lando Calrissian about five years before the Battle of Yavin. Later, Han Solo won it from Lando in another game of sabacc, and used it for smuggling. He was boarded by Imperials shortly before the Battle of Yavin and had to jettison his cargo for Jabba the Hutt. It was instrumental in the Battle of Yavin and the destruction of Death Star II.

It has many modifications, including jamming equipment and faster engines. Armaments include a hidden laser, a top and bottom quad laser cannon, and concussion missile launchers (which took out the second Death Star). The Falcon is still serving as primary transport for Solo and family in the novels.

Full Wookieepedia entry here.

112th in alphabetical order

Lumat (ROTJ 1983-84)

Lumat, just like Warok (what do you mean all Ewoks look alike? What are you racist?), came with a bow, a quiver, and a cowl. He also came on both ROTJ and POTF cards. By this time I don’t think I need to tell you which one is rarer. He was not a prominent Ewok in the movies, so I can’t just say “he was the one who…” It doesn’t really matter with Star Wars figures, however, since many of the characters made into figures did not have any lines, or were on screen for about 15 seconds.

Why should you get this figure? Five reasons:

1. Own a piece of history as they change his origin! (see the Wookieepedia entry)

2. Too many Ewok things, so few Ewoks to man them.

3. Your girlfriend likes the Ewoks. Your girlfriend sucks.

4. Relive the harrowing moment when Lumat discovers his stormtrooper bloodlust!

5. You’ve got serious Ewok fever, and it can only be quenched with…Lumat!

Backstory:

Lumat was the chief woodcutter for the Ewok tribe. In the movies he was just one of many background characters. The Customizable Card Game now shows Lumat as a different Ewok, with stripes. No word yet on if this figure will ever be redone in the new line, and if it will be the original grey or stripes. Do we really care?

His Wookieepedia entry.

111th in alphabetical order

Luke Skywalker: X-Wing Pilot (SW 1978-79)

That orange jumpsuit, those beady eyes, it could only be…Luke? The X-Wing outfit was the first costume change we get to see of a character, but Luke’s face is quite generic - it could be most other X-Wing pilots. His eyes remind me of a lot of old comic strips, like Little Orphan Annie. Beady little eyes.

Luke comes with the same blaster pistol that Han came with, and his uniform which actually has quite a few good details from the original movie costume. This figure came on SW, ESB, ROTJ, and POTF cards. For the ESB card it was renamed to Luke Skywalker: (X-Wing Pilot); for ROTJ and POTF it was Luke Skywalker (X-Wing Fighter Pilot). Big distinctions here.

Why should you own this figure? Five reasons:

1. If you were a stickler like me, this was the only figure that could fly your X-Wing.

2. Those eyes. Like the old Shazam! comics or something. Creepy.

3. No other figure besides Walrus Man gives you quite the orange as this one.

4. Recreate that scene where the X-Wing cockpit flies open mid-flight and Luke spills out to his death in space. Oh, wait, that was just in my living room.

5. Recreate the other scene where Luke switches off his targeting computer:

“Luke, you’ve switched off your targeting computer. What the f*** are you doing?”

“It’s okay, I’m alright.”

“What? What are you talking about? Look, I’m on a planet about to be f***ing blown up! Do you want that? Huh, do you want me vaporized?”

“I’m going in.”

“Listen you hayseed – I’ve been in the Rebellion longer than you. You show me some respect!”

“I’ve got one on my tail!”

“I don’t care if there’s a giant space slug with your leg in its mouth – you switch your f***ing computer on right now!”

“Torpedos away!”

“You son of a…”

Backstory:

X-Wing pilots have a long and varied history of wearing orange, ever since Lance Lightloafer designed one during the third season of Galactic Project Runway. But seriously, the designers on the original film put together uniforms that looked pilot-like. I just wish they had made a different uniform for Y-Wing pilots – new figure! If you want Luke’s backstory, here's his Wookieepedia entry. Here's the entry on the X-Wing.

110th in alphabetical order