Weequay (ROTJ 1983-84)

That George Hamilton-like leathery skin and tan? It must be a Weequay! Seriously, no other figure so epitomizes a Hutt guard. Except maybe a Barada. Or a Nikto. Well, a Klaatu too. Oh yeah, Gamorrean Guard has “guard” in the name. Okay, so that theory is shot to hell.

Weequay is another Jabba palace regular, and more fodder for Luke and the gang’s escape from Jabba’s clutches. It comes with a force pike, the same one used to prod Luke off the end of the gangplank on the skiff. That was Weequay’s shining moment. Well, that, and screaming on the way down to the Sarlacc pit. Weequay only came on a ROTJ card.

Why should you own this figure? Five reasons:

1. When you make your Sarlacc pit, you’re going to need a lot of figure fodder.

2. That tan wrinkled skin, the raggedy braids. Clearly this figure is vying for your attention.

3. If you were one of the lucky few to actually own a toy Skiff, you needed Weequay just for that gangplank moment.

4. No Jabba diorama would be complete without him.

5. Your chance to practice getting that Sarlacc-plunge-scream juuuuuuuust right.

Backstory:

Weequays comes from the planet or Sriluur, a hostile desert planet, explaining their leathery skin and more hooded eyes. Because of Sriluur’s proximity to Hutt space, many Weequays hire themselves out as mercenaries to Hutt factions.

Weequay society is very tribal, and members can communicate through pheromones, but not to members of a different tribe. Members are often so into the tribe they simply refer to themselves as their race rather than by name. Males have hair, which they braid for every year they are off-planet, and females are usually bald. They had two gods, one of which was Quay the moon god. Their race’s name literally means “follower of Quay.”

Weequays are found throughout the galaxy – working for Hutts, as bounty hunters, or even as Jedi in the Clone Wars.

Want more? His Wookieepedia entry.

174th in alphabetical order

Warok (POTF 1985)

Oh good gravy there are a lot of Ewok figures! The worse thing is there are still more to post and we're already in the "W's!" Warok is simply another one of our fine furry friends, and he comes with a bow, a quiver slung over his shoulder, and a removable cowl. He only came on a POTF card with a coin, so he is still rarer and more collectible than some other more likable characters.

Why should you own this figure? Five reasons:

1. One of the few coin figures, so he’s simply more collectible.

2. No one can help hijack an AT-ST like Warok.

3. His name sounds like a He-Man figure or something. Hey, just saying.

4. Wow! A bow! A quiver! I’m an archer, so I must have this! (Disclaimer: I am not an archer.)

5. You have to populate that Ewok village with somebody.

Backstory:

Warok was one of the two Ewoks that helped Chewbacca hijack an AT-ST. He was also father to Teebo. Supposedly he was also one of the tribe’s best Glider pilots.

Want more? His Wookieepedia entry

173rd in alphabetical order

Wampa Snow Creature from HOTH (ESB 1980-82)

Another in Kenner’s line of monsters-that-tried-to-kill-Luke, the wampa is available by himself. This, in itself, is kind of lame. The wampa is not big, like the rancor. You cannot fit someone in its mouth, like the rancor. He has no accessories – well, neither does the rancor, but you can put someone in its mouth!

The “Wampa Snow Creature from HOTH” (or “Hoth Wampa” on later boxes) came in an ESB box, and featured spring loaded arms that could be pulled back to…swing. Presumably this was to knock Luke off his tauntaun. It sported short,stubby legs, which were neither fear-inspiring nor menacing. Due to the many different versions of the wampa prop (they tried stop-motion, a guy in a suit, a puppet, etc) Kenner might not have gotten this exactly right, and it may be more of a hybrid of body parts.

Why should you get this creature? Five reasons:

1. You’ve got the tauntaun. You’ve got Hoth Luke. Now get yourself a freakin’ wampa!

2. No one scars Luke like a wampa.

3. Your tauntaun numbers are getting out of hand. A predator helps control the population.

4. Best catcher on the baseball team. Look at those mitts!

5. Those dreamy vacant eyes.

Background:

Wampas were indigenous to Hoth, and fed mainly on tauntauns, but would eat other creatures as well. Mainly solitary hunters, they would only eat when hungry, but hunt and store prey in their cave (like Luke) for later consumption. Echo Base came under many attacks by these creatures, and there was even a deleted scene from ESB where C-3PO rips a warning sign off a wampa room, and some unaware snowtroopers run into it.

Want more? Its Wookieepedia entry

172nd in alphabetical order

Walrusman (SW 1978-79)

Walrus Man is another poorly (many would say humorously) translated Cantina character into figure as far as clothing goes. This garish presentation wouldn’t be corrected until the updated figure in the 1990’s line. Sometimes it hurts my eyes just to look at it, like the tint on my TV is way out of whack. The figure has an, um, orange turtleneck, with blue arms and legs. It came with the same blaster that many of the Star Wars aliens came with, a Stormtrooper-issue model. Walrus Man came on the original Star Wars card, as well as ESB and ROTJ.

What always bothered me about this figure, other than the eye-straining colors, was that the card back wasn’t a photo but a photo-like picture. This character had real screen time and they couldn’t put a real photo on there? Really, I joke (Hasbro give me free stuff). Not only that, but the picture shows – glaringly – that the figure has the wrong clothing.

Why should you own this figure? Five reasons:

1. Common weaponry. Lose the figure and you’ve still got a gun that goes with a dozen other figures.

2. It is so damn funny. Orange turtleneck. Orange turtleneck!!!???

3. Again, no Cantina scene you make should be without him. After all, he gets his arm cut off.

4. Get enough of these and put them around a sleeping friend. When he wakes up convince him he’s having some kind of acid trip.

5. Finally, you have an excuse for ripping the arm off a figure – it happened in the film!

Backstory:

Like many of the aliens names from the original films, Walrus Man was more of nickname than anything else. In the mythos, his name is Ponda Baba and his race is Aqualish. Because of the mix-up in the original movie, where the standing Walrus Man has webbed hands and the severed arms has hairy fingers, the Star Wars universe says that there are two species of Aqualish, each having one of these traits. So, in actuality, Ponda is kind of a hybrid. It is also never explained why his is the only lightsaber wound that isn’t instantly cauterized.

Ponda Baba rescued Doctor Evazan (the other bad guy in the Cantina) from a bounty hunter and the two became partners. Eventually they ran into Luke and Obi-Wan, who cut off Ponda’s arm. Evazan made him a prosthetic arm which didn’t work, but he kept trying to make Ponda whole, even trying a mind transference device to another body. To this day they are probably both still alive.

Want more? His Wookieepedia entry

171st in alphabetical order

Vlix (Droids 1990's?)

The last of the Droids line! I know that I said previously that there were only 12 figures produced in the Droids line. While that is very much true for most purposes, in actuality there were 13. The last was Vlix, but it only came out in Brazil, and only years after the rest of the line. This figure was actually part of a second wave of Droids figures that were never produced, except, mysteriously, this figure. His accessory is a blaster rifle molded in black that is very close to the one with the Imperial Stormtrooper (Hoth Battle Gear).

Because of its one-country and delayed release (and scarcity at that) this is the rarest Star Wars action figure of them all. Forget the European-only released Yak Face, this is the one. Go ahead, I dare you to do a search on Ebay and find one. Even a loose authentic one is quite rare. The only theory that anyone has as to this figure's reason for being is that Kenner was trying to recoup costs associated with making the molds for these unproduced figures, so they sold one to Glasslite, who manufactures their figures in Brazil. Brazil also was the last holdout for the Sega Master System (a personal favorite of mine) where it continued on for years after other countries stopped getting new stuff for it.

Why should you get this figure? Five reasons:

1. Realistically – you can’t. Also, you probably couldn’t afford it if you could find it now.

2. Unless you’re Brazilian and living in the 1990’s, fugeddaboutit.

3. If you could own it, you would have the single most valuable Star Wars Kenner item.

4. Only 13 in the line, so why not own them all?

5. The best bodyguard in the entire SW universe...just kidding. General Grievous’ androids did a better job.

Backstory:

Vlix Oncard was bodyguard/head of security to the Fromm gang. He was friend to Tig Fromm, and served on the weapons satellite Trigon I before it was destroyed. He was taken in by Boba Fett for the bounty placed by Jabba the Hutt. His last name is a joke since the figure was so hard to find “on card.”

Want more? His Wookieepedia entry

170th in alphabetical order

Vehicle Maintenance Energizer (ESB)

OMG! OMG! OMG! The VME! The most exciting, versatile...ah forget it.

Yes, it did say “Toy” on the box as laid out above. I guess because they couldn’t exactly say “Vehicle” with this one. Wow. The Vehicle Maintenance Energizer. This was not officially a mini-rig, but one of the Hoth accessories that actually was in a movie. Well, it was on the Yavin base in the first movie, not shown in the Hoth base.

The top came up and could rotate all the way around. It also came with 8 tools that could be held in a standard figure’s hand, arguably the “hydrospanners” that Chewie's always using to fix the Falcon. When you closed the top you could store these tools inside it. However, most people that have these loose today probably lost all or most of these tools. It also has two black hoses with suction–cup ends to “attach” to vehicles and power them. The box showed Chewbacca working with it on Hoth, but this was probably due to his propensity for tooling around. Chances are good though, if they had one on Yavin they probably had one on Hoth. It came in both and ESB and ROTJ box.

Why should you own this, um, accessory? Five reasons:

1. Chewbacca finally has tools to fix something.

2. Fuel your X-Wing, even though you never thought of doing this before since they’re futuristic!

3. Have Chewie get mad at it and throw it at a generic Rebel Soldier.

4. Pretend it’s a giant Wookiee hookah.

5. Pretend it’s a brain transfer device. Okay, that’s just silly.

Backstory:

Nothing has really been written about this, other than it was simply used to supply energy to vehicles and maintain them. It is seen briefly in the first movie at the Rebel Yavin base, so it is presumed that they are used elsewhere as well for vehicles in the Star War universe.

Want more? Its Wookieepedia article (not much there)

169th in alphabetical order

Urgah Lady Gorneesh (Ewoks 1985)

Probably the most boring figure out of the Ewoks line, since she came with absolutely no accessories, and in the cartoon she was mainly relegated to staying in the Dulok camp. However, she is the only female from this line (of 6 figures), and one of the few females from the entire vintage line, period.

Why should you get this figure? Five reasons:

1. With only six figures, it’s pretty easy to collect this whole line (yes, I reused this one - again).

2. The closest to having a Tammy Faye action figure that you’ll come to. Except for Ebay.

3. You need someone to ride the king at every opportunity.

4. Every village needs a nag/hag.

5. They never released an Ewoks Kneesah figure, so this is about as girly as it gets.

Backstory:

Urgah was simply the queen of this particular tribe of Duloks (no word on exactly how many there were), and wife to King Gorneesh. She sported a nose ring, which was quite the thing in the 80’s I hear.

Want more? Her Wookieepedia entry

168th in alphabetical order

Uncle Gundy (Droids 1985)

Here we come to another in the Droids line – good for vehicles, so-so for figures. Today’s installment is Uncle Gundy, uncle to Jann Tosh. While this figure does come with probably the only uniquely molded accessory in the Droids line (I think it is a miner’s tool), it still shows off the atrocious use of purple present in this line as well. The purple boots are one thing, but the purple hat looks like something out of a Smurf cartoon viewed while taking acid and having the tint knob skewed. What? Don’t remember tint knobs? Ask your parents. At least his belt and vest are in blue.

Why should you own this figure? Five reasons:

1. So few in the Droids line - collect them all.

2. Your Uncle Morty might like a figure like him.

3. Have proof that someone with an actually less than perfect physique exists in Star Wars. Except for those mutilated cyborg folk. And the Rancor Keeper. And the Gamorrean Guards.

4. So few old people in Star Wars - collect them all!

5. Gundy? With a name like that it's gotta be goo...oh who am I kidding? This figure bites. Yo mama. And her dog. You know, your sister.

Backstory:

Gundy (Tosh?) was a miner on the planet Tyne’s Horky. He specifically mined nergon-14, an unstable substance used in Imperial proton torpedos. After his nephew, Jann Tosh, bought droids C-3PO and R2 (and another that turned out to be alien Kez-Iban) he was caught in a cave-in. The alien Kez-Iban rescued him, and eventually turned out to be a deposed prince. He and his cohorts had a run in with a criminal, who they ran off the planet. The criminal left behind a valuable mine, however, which made Gundy a rich man.

Want more? His Wookieepedia entry

167th in alphabetical order

Ugnaught (ESB 1980-82)

The Ugnaught was one of those background characters that enjoyed a little foreground action, but not much. The figure reflects this with a tote kit/bag as an accessory, and a removable apron. That’s it. It came on both ESB and ROTJ cards, and the aprons came in light purple, blue, and even green. The apron in the movie, however, was just blue.

Why should you get this figure? Five reasons:

1. He’s so cute – he’s like Babe!

2. Recreate the Wookiee-on-Ugnaught action!

3. Someone needs to man the Bespin playset, even if it is only made of paper.

4. Yo’ mama’s an Ugnaught! Yeah, that’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout.

5. No one does carbon freezing like an Ugnaught.

Backstory:

Ugnaughts were either from Umgul or Bespin, but originated on Gentes. When Cloud City was originally built (a looooong time before ESB) many Ugnaughts were recruited to build and maintain it. Many of their descendants still lived on Bespin. When the Empire came many fled, some were enslaved, and some formed a resistance, sabotaging Cloud City until the Rebellion came to free the city.

Ugnaughts are typically dwarf-sized, and live to about 200 years. These are the little guys Chewbacca fought with to get C-3PO’s limbs back.

Want more? Their Wookieepedia article

166th in alphabetical order

2-1B (ESB 1980-82)

2-1B is probably as exciting as a medical droid can get. He comes with a medical staff (no, not a team of people, a hand-held staff), and his own blue and translucent body. He has a hose that connects (and if you try, you can disconnect this) from his “mouth” to the left side of his torso. This probably makes little sense on a robot, but, whatever!

2-1B came on two different ESB cards (one says “2-1B” and the other says “Two-Onebee (2-1B)”) and an ROTJ card which has the latter name plate.

Why should you own this figure? Five reasons:

1. Those deep eyes..wait, it doesn’t really have eyes! Aaaagh! Kill it!

2. Shove that medical staff through the eye socket of any figure and claim it’s for the sake of medicine.

3. Luke needs a lot of patching up – who else is going to do it?

4. No one else can stand to be around FX-7.

5. Recreate his pleasant soothing on-screen voice.

Backstory:

2-1B was developed by the Geentech Corporation and built by Industrial Automation. Precursors to his design can be seen fixing Anakin in Revenge of the Sith. One of his earliest assignments was healing people on a planet under Imperial control. Basically he cleaned up the harm done by the Empire. Impressed with his skill, the Governor of the planet took 2-1B as his personal physician. When the Governor was assassinated by a Rebel, 2-1B was put into service for the Alliance, finding his way to the Hoth Echo base where he treated Luke Skywalker. When Hoth was evacuated 2-1B was taken aboard a ship and found his way to the medical frigate Redemption, where he gave Luke a new cybernetic hand. He was later assigned to a Mon Calamari ship where he served until at least the Battle of Endor.

Want more? His Wookieepedia entry

165th in alphabetical order

Twin-Pod Cloud Car (ESB)

Have you ever seen a more stunning vision of orangish-red? The Twin-Pod Cloud Car is a marvel of crimson engineering, and one of those few vehicles that seemed a little "off" if you didn't actually have more than one figure in it.

The Cloud Car is a rather sedate vehicle compared to others - no moving parts, no obvious guns, no playset-like bigness. It's like a flying peapod. The picture on the box is humorous because it is open to interpretation. Are the guards chastising Luke for stealing a Cloud Car? Is the crumbly white stuff it's on supposed to be ice, as in Hoth, or did Kenner take the name literally and mean it to be a cloud? To top it off, where's the Cloud Car pilot? They made one - was it not in time to get on the box?

The Cloud Car has two cockpits for figures, built-in guns (look closely on the fuselage, they're there), and landing struts that come down. However, it is unclear from other sources whether the Car floated on repulsorlifts when it was at rest and the struts may have just been something for the toy.

Why should you own this vehicle? Five reasons:

1. If you own the Cloud Car Pilot you must, or else his existence is for naught.

2. You have to own something that dared fire a warning shot by the Millennium Falcon.

3. That color! Where else can you see that besides the Maximillian robot from The Black Hole?

4. Probably the easiest Star Wars vehicle to hold - like having a built-in handle.

5. There's something strangely phallic about it...

Backstory:

The Storm IV Twin-Pod Cloud Car was built by Bespin Motors right in Cloud City. This explains the coloring, since it was made for atmospheric defense, and the color blends in nicely with Bespin clouds. It has central ion engine block for thrust, and mainly repulsorlifts for maneuverability. After the Empire occupied Bespin, the Cloud Car was sold to outside markets, and its design was also copied by other markets. It sported two small, but powerful, blaster cannons, and the twin cockpits allowed for a pilot and a gunner.

Want more? Its Wookieepedia article

164th in alphabetical order

Turret & Probot Playset (ESB)

The Turret & Probot Playset is really best used in conjunction with an AT-AT...even thought this gun did squat to the AT-ATs in the movie. However, the gun is nifty because you can fit one person in the turret, and another in the top manning the gun. The Probot was also unique to this set, and sat on a perilously-balanced platform. When an adjacent dais was turned (presumably with a Chewbacca or Han figure on it), like a figure was firing, the Probot would fall down. This was not as cool as in the movie where it all but disintegrated, but it's a start.

The playset only came in an ESB box, and included the base with moving figure round, pedestal for Probot, Probot, and laser cannon turret. The name on the package changed from Turret/Probot to Turret & Probot.

Why should you get this playset? Five reasons:

1. The only place you could get a Probot.

2. Only place you could get this Hoth laser turret.

3. Get an M80 and really recreate the scene where the Probot self-destructs.

4. Well, the turret didn't work on an AT-AT, but maybe it did on an AT-ST. Blow those mothers away!

5. The base of the playset doubles as Superman's Fortress of Solitude.

Backstory:

The turret is a DF .9 anti-infantry battery, built by Golan Arms. It can shoot 16 km, (most effective at 3) and usually required a personnel of three to operate: gunner, targeter, and powerer, I mean, power technician. It was effective against AT-STs, but very effective against ground troops.

A Probot, or probe droid, does exactly what its name implies - it probes, explores. The one that found out the Rebels on Hoth was specifially a Viper Probe Droid, built by Arakyd Industries. It had six manipulator arms and retractable sensors. Some built for the Empire also included blasters. It hovers on repulsor lifts and can travel up to 40 kph over most terrain. It is delivered to its target planet through a single-use hyperspace pod.

Want more? The Wookiepedia article on the turret. On the Probot.

163rd in alphabetical order

Tri-Pod Laser Cannon Toy (ESB)

The Tri-Pod Laser Cannon was kind of one of the first "mini-rigs" that came out, beginning in the Empire Strikes Back wave. I say "kind of" because this, the Vehicle Maintenance Energizer, and the Radar Laser Cannon are usually not considered mini-rigs. Mini-rigs are 'technically' only considered to be small, one-figure vehicles that never actually appeared in the movies. Well, that, and the fact that their boxes said "mini-rig" on them. The Tri-Pod Laser did show up in the movies.

This was released on an ESB box and later an ROTJ box. The box accurately depicted both how the accessory was used, and how it was used in the movie, unlike many other accessories/vehicles. The power unit attached to the cannon actually opened up and you could put weapons or small accessories inside. This was a departure from the movie, but hell, it's a toy.

Why should you own it? Five reasons:

1. BFG. It's a Big F***ING Gun.

2. You get a helmeted Snowtrooper - already looking cool - behind this thing, and you have something ultra-cool, like a Jerry Bruckheimer explosion-filled movie.

3. In a pinch you can use this with your G.I. Joe figures too. Or give it to the Cobras - surprise me.

4. If your parents were against gun violence, this was the last toy they would get you. Which, of course, made it the first one you wanted to get.

5. Goes great with your Millennium Falcon play scene. Did I say play scene? I meant historical diorama.

Backstory:

Barely anything is written on the Tri-Pod, but if you watch The Empire Strikes Back, right before the Falcon takes off from Hoth, there are Snowtroopers setting one of these up to hit the Falcon. Now, I would think that in the time it took them to set it up a few of them could have rushed the Falcon and done some damage. Of course, I haven't trained at an Imperial academy, so what do I know. If I believed everything I saw, I would think that to be a good Cobra soldier you have to run while firing and screaming "Cobraaaaaaaaa" the whole way.

Want more? Its Wookieepedia article (it's really called an E-Web Heavy repeating Blaster)

162nd in alphabetical order

Tig Fromm (Droids 1985)

Here, froggy, froggy, froggy. Here froggy, froggy , froggy. Oh, wait a second – this is an action figure. Instead of being a little more diverse, Kenner chose to make another member of the Fromm family. Like all the Droids figures (and Ewoks for that matter) he came with a gold coin with his likeness. He also came with an accessory that, inexplicably, is the same “medical” baton that came with 2-1B. A gun might have made a more appropriate choice for a gangster, but what do I know? I keep wanting to spell his first name with two “g’s” as well. Must be the “Fromm” with two “m’s.”

Why should you get this figure? Five reasons:

1. In case you lose 2-1B’s accessory.

2. For the frog lovers of the world.

3. For anyone with a coincidental last name of Fromm.

4. That retro-future jumpsuit – oh yeah!

5. To complement your Fromm collection.

Backstory:

Tig was the son of Sise, thus heir to a powerful crime family. He was an annoo-dat, but controlled the family’s operations on the planet of Ingo. He was obsessed with using technology to further his family’s power, but his attempts failed. He was the one who began construction of the powerful weapons satellite Trigon I, which would have enabled him to take over all the other gangs. However, through the Annoo Resistance (and some hapless droids and speeder racers) the satellite was destroyed. In trying to blow up the racers’ speeder with a thermal detonator, he failed, and instead blew up Boba Fett’s speeder. Boba Fett then turned him, his father, and his bodyguard into Jabba for a reward.

Want more? His Wookieepedia article

161st in alphabetical order

TIE Interceptor Vehicle (ROTJ)

What is cooler than the color-corrected TIE Fighter? A frickin’ TIE Interceptor beeyitch! The interceptor was first introduced in Return of the Jedi as an updated TIE Fighter. Not only is it faster, but like the X-Wing, it sports lasers on each wing tip. But get this – when you’re flying it around with your buddy who has an X-Wing you also have the two chin guns still! You have 6 lasers to his four! Of course, he can always counter with the proton torpedo launchers, since TIEs don’t have those. Or shields. Or a hyperdrive.

All in all, the Interceptor is a much cooler looking TIE Fighter, with angled cross-cut panels, more guns, and a sleeker look. It also has the same button to press for electronic sounds as the original TIE (the cockpit was the same mold as the original TIE). This puppy came out only in ROTJ packaging, and inexplicably shows a Stormtrooper piloting the thing rather than a TIE Pilot. Kenner, WTF?

Why should you get this vehicle? Five reasons:

1. So much cooler than your older brother’s TIE fighter. No, you can’t play with it Chet!

2. More guns!

3. Accurate coloring!

4. It just plain looks faster.

5. Lights up!

Backstory:

The TIE/IN starfighter, or TIE Interceptor, is a successor of the original TIE. Eventually the Empire would have replaced all their normal TIEs with these. Later, as the remnants of the Empire began to run out of people, shields would be added to preserve equipment and pilots.

The TIE/In was built by Sienar Fleet Systems under contract with the Empire. To improve on the TIE, they ramped up the engines, and put lasers on all four of the wing tips. They also removed the center panel to improve pilot visibility, and angled the wings to cut down on profile. The development of the TIE/In was the reason the Rebellion developed the comparably fast A-Wing fighter.

Want more? Its Wookiepeedia article

160th in alphabetical order

TIE Fighter (SW)

This comes a while after the post on the TIE pilot because it was listed as "Imperial" TIE Fighter Pilot, so that was back in the I's. Although the Fighter came before the pilot, one movie before to be exact. So I guess the egg came before the chicken – or something like that.

The TIE fighter came in all three boxes, SW, ESB, and ROTJ. However, it initially (and I’m sure many of you can attest to this) came in white. By the time of the ROTJ release, though, the color was changed to more of a navy blue, in keeping with the real color of the ship in the movies. The ROTJ release also came with “battle damage” decals, just like the ROTJ release of the X-Wing. Other changes:
-SW release said “TIE Fighter
-ESB release said “Imperial TIE Fighter” (is there any other kind?)
-ROTJ release said “ ‘Battle-Damaged’ Imperial TIE Fighter Vehicle” (got all that?)

The cockpit opened at the top for one figure. Unfortunately, if you turned it upside-down that figure often fell out (It’s outerspace! Make a locking hatch!). A little light on the front lit up red when you pressed the back panel, which also housed the battery for the light and sound. Two buttons on either side of the cockpit made the wings pop off. Wear it down enough and the wings were pretty hard to keep on. The black stripes of the solar panels had to be applied with decals.

Why should you own this vehicle? Five reasons:

1. Frickin’ pop-off wings! No longer do you have to manually destroy your toys!

2. Promotes eco-friendliness with those big solar panels.

3. You can have some nice dogfights – even solo – against an X-Wing.

4. Starting with the first wave of figures, this and the X-Wing were the only vehicles you could fight with. Not like that pacifist landspeeder!

5. The Empire is really pushing toward these over the X-Wings. What could go wrong?

Backstory:
Technically called a TIE/IN Starfighter, they were built by Sienar Fleet Systems, and became a symbol of the Empire’s effectiveness. TIE actually stands for Twin Ion Engine, it means of propulsion (although this explanation never appears on a box from the original Kenner line). It had two powerful lasers below the front of the cockpit.

To increase speed and efficiency, the TIE lacks a hyperdrive and life-support, so pilots had to wear space suits and TIEs had to be in some sort of carrier ship from system to system. It did have an ejection seat, but was not often used to the likelihood of getting destroyed in the craft, and the little time a pilot could survive in their suit alone. The TIE evolved from earlier starfighter designs, some seen in Revenge of the Sith.

For the movies, the TIE fighter was actually inspired by the bow tie shape. They were mainly white in the first movie because blue screen techniques couldn’t have them too blue. This is also why R2’s blue panels always appeared black when in space. By ESB and ROTJ technology had caught up so the FX teams could make them a more navy blue.

Want more? Its Wookieepedia article

159th in alphabetical order

Thall Joben (Droids 1985)

Another frickin’ mohawk! What is going on here? One day I’m going to meet the people who designed the characters for this series and find out they were all punk rock fans or something. In addition to the Mohawk – and accompanying long hair in back – Thall came with a standard Stormtrooper rifle, molded in black. He also had no sleeve on his left arm, which is in keeping with the cartoon. However, this is never explained, so I’ll chalk it up to another punk rock band influence…or something.

Why should you get this figure? Five reasons:

1. Punk rock mascot.

2. Only one of twelve in the line anyway.

3. The closest Star Wars figure to a Road Warrior reject you’ll ever find.

4. A favorite of red heads.

5. Someone needs to pilot the speeder, the White Witch. What? They never made a vehicle of that? Then screw this.

Backstory:

Thall Joben was a speeder racer and native of Beheboth. One day he and his friend Jord Dusat were taking a speeder for a spin when they found the two droids in the desert (heard that before). Since they needed an astromech droid for their new speeder they became the droids’ new owners. They also went to close to a secret base of the Fromm gang, who tried to kill them. Through a series of events he stole the weapons satellite that the Fromm gang were building, and used it to get back his captured friends (but not before the guidance system was changed, destroying it). Sise Fromm tried to have him killed in the Boonta race, but the assassin he hired, Boba Fett, failed to do so. He later got a job with the Zebulon Dak Speeder Corporation.

Want more? His Wookieepedia article

158th in alphabetical order