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

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