R5-D4 [1995, POTF2]

...with CONCEALED PHOTON MISSILE LAUNCHER.

WTF. Really, WTF? A concealed photon missile launcher? In a droid. In a droid that we saw for a few minutes in the first movie that broke down on Tatooine and never posed a risk to anyone? That droid?

I apologize for the quality of the graphic showing how the photon missile works, but you get the idea. Apparently, this made sense to someone, and that R5's continuity could be compromised in a way that R2-D2's couldn't. Instead of a faithful figure/collectible, R5 became a joke.

Five reasons to get this figure:

1. Get it because everyone else doesn't want it - so hipster.

2. For a full examination. What is going on here? What are those rods on the sides of its legs? What is going on!?

3. Admit it - with the vintage R2 you used to pretend he could shoot out the bottom. This is just a realization of that impulse.

4. A great accessory for desk wars.

5. Now, we droids will have revenge on our oppressors! Torpedo all Jawas!

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 intelligence. 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

R2-D2 [1995, POTF2]

...with Light-Pipe Eye Port and Retractable Leg!

Finally, an R2-D2 with a...Light-Eye Port! Okay, while the light-eye port thing is interesting, and re-used right away for the Jawa 2-pack, what we've really been waiting for is this punchline to a dirty joke - the third leg! Not only that, we get a retractable one. Up until now, if you wanted an R2 with a third leg your only choice was the Droid Factory that included one you could put together.

This is probably the most realistic and improved figure in the POTF2 line, because you can't make R2 overly muscular, and you can't give him an oversized gun. Kenner just had to suck it up.

Like many of the original figures in this line, R2's bio card only covers the events in Episode IV, giving the excuse to re-package him when the prequels came out.

Five reasons to get this figure:

1. The long-awaited, but never promised, third leg!

2. Light pipe! Oh, man, we are so going to do a bowl!

3. Retractable...oh, yeah.

4. So, with the light pipe, does this mean if I shine a laser in the top, will he look like he has heat vision?

5. The most accurate of the first wave - can't beat that right?

Backstory:

R2-D2's role in the Star Wars universe is a long one, and only he knows all because he never had his mind wiped. From his service on Naboo to his companionship to Luke Skywalker's ancestors, his is the most long-lived of the characters. His full Wookieepedia entry is here.

Princess Leia Organa [1995, POTF2]

...with "Laser" Pistol and Assault Rifle!

While adding the assault rifle empowers women and keeps up with Kenner adding guns to their new figures, it really isn't accurate. Kenner also didn't stay with this head mold for Leia after this figure, like they did with Luke and Han through several iterations. It might be because this was often referred to as the "monkey-faced" Leia.

Leia was one of the original 1995 figures to be released, being a main character, and has a full bio card. While the clothing seem accurate, he almost seem to have an extra cape - although this might be due to her having a shawl-like covering in the movie. This figure does not have a hood (a later one will).

Five reasons to get this figure:

1. Official Star Wars figure of the Planet of the Apes crossover.

2. With two guns Leia can come out a'blazin, Buffy-style!

3. With all that white, the new figure on top of wedding cakes everywhere.

4. Who else will get rescued from the Death Star playsets?

5. $1 from every purchase goes towards the Relocate-the-Surviving-Alderaans Fund.

Backstory:

Well, we see her born and adopted at the end of Revenge of the Sith, but you can see her full story at Wookieepedia here.

Momaw Nadon "Hammerhead" [1995, POTF2]

...with DOUBLE-BARRELED LASER CANNON.

It is interesting that Kenner gave a character - who had been written up as a pacifist (and much of his race) in the novels - a DOUBLE-BARRELED LASER CANNON. Of course, this just goes along with Kenner's bigger (more muscular figures) and more-guns policy when they restarted the line.

Other than the inclusion of an out-of-place accessory this Hammerhead is so much closer to what the character looked like that it isn't even funny. The head's an improvement, the hands, the feet, and the clothes no longer resemble the garishness that is known as clothes on the vintage line of Cantina aliens (have you seen Greedo and Snaggletooth?). We also see that with this wave the back now has a checklist - which becomes outdated in about a month.

Five reasons to own this figure:

1. Biggest gun to date in this line.

2. Hammerhead - who didn't have fond memories of this figure just because of the head?

3. Better clothes! No longer will it look like he is wearing Underoos!

4. Actually more alien looking than most of the figures you can get, especially these first ones.

5. The long-awaited Skyhopper is pictured on the back! You know, the one you got about 5 seconds glimpse of in Luke's house? What, you don't know what I'm talking about? What kind of fan are you!

Backstory:

Momaw Nadon was a high priest on his homeworld, but was exiled for revealing agricultural technology to the Empire (so they wouldn't bombard his planet). he spent most of this exile on Tatooine. For his full story click here.

Luke Skywalker in X-Wing Fighter Pilot Gear [1995, POTF2]

...With Lightsaber and Blaster Pistol!

So we have the Luke in X-Wing outfit - pretty expected since you can clearly see from the back that the X-Wing was one of the first vehicles to be re-released. He's still as buff as the first POTF2 Luke figures, his helmet is not removable, and he comes with a lightsaber. A little confusing, because the bio card on the back is about his run on the Death Star in the first movie, and he never uses a lightsaber in that, but...the little things.

Five reasons to get this figure:

1. For sticklers, the only figure to go in your X-Wing fighter.

2. Mascot to all highway workers (the orange, get it?).

3. The only time you will get a figure celebrating his killing of a million people at once (on the first Death Star - yeah, you don't think of all them do ya?).

4. So much more detailed than the old figure, but still orange.

5. For ASPCA lovers everywhere (orange is their official color). Don't worry, their gentler than PETA.

Backstory:

Done to death by now, but here is is entry in Wookieepedia.

Luke Skywalker in STORMTROOPER DISGUISE [1995, POTF2]

...with IMPERIAL ISSUE BLASTER.

Kenner decided to go right for the jugular and give us a popular "alternative" figure from the old line in fairly quick succession with the new. This Luke features everything you would expect from Stormtrooper disguise - the correct blaster and a removable helmet. This is kind of the companion piece to the Han in Stormtrooper disguise figure that was only available during these initial waves as a mail-away with Froot Loops (I never want to eat that cereal again by the way).

Luke's initial head still has not changed over from hulked-out Luke, but they didn't try to give him a huge gun this time. The bio-cards have been pared down by now to only include some data but not a story.

Five reason to get this figure:

1. Same torso and arms as a Stormtrooper figure, but the legs are molded in a different position. A DIFFERENT POSITION!

2. Re-enact "Aren't you a little short for a Stormtrooper?" with new Luke's physique: "Hell no! I'm pumping like mad!"

3. A loose Stormtrooper helmet! I can finally assemble that Ewok drumkit!

4. Best figure for use in the Death Star Escape and Detention Block Rescue playsets )yes, they really made these).

5. Finally, the helmet doubles as a stool for Luke - wait! No! Curse you non-bendable knees!

Backstory:

Done to death by now, but here is is entry in Wookieepedia.

Luke Skywalker in DAGOBAH FATIGUES [1995, POTF2]

...With Lightsaber and Blaster Pistol!

While he have dispensed with the ridiculously big guns with this Luke figure, we are still sportin' some other guns, if you know what I mean (muscles, if you don't).

It is interesting that Kenner chose to make a Luke in Dagobah fatigues in the undershirt and pants, rather than the "Bespin" Luke of the vintage line. I suppose to differentiate it a little more. No Yoda backpack included though. His bio card covers the events of ESB, including losing his hand and learning about his father. Later we do get a Bespin Luke with...take a deep breath...REMOVABLE HAND! But not this one.

Five reasons to get this figure:

1. Comes with Yoda backpack, wait, no, damnit!

2. Luke's sportin' those Dagobah biceps from Yoda's gym.

3. If you're a brown-lover, this figure has your name written on it.

4. Gives hope that the Dagobah POTF2 playset will come. [Didn't]

5. Tandem! Blaster! Saber! Saber! Blaster! Against...swamp life!

Backstory:

Well, the ESB part is on the back of the card (zoom for a closer look), but Luke's full bio (quite exhaustive) is on Wookieepedia right here.

Luke Skywalker [1995, POTF2]

...with Grappling Hook Blaster and Lightsaber!

Okaaaaay. I remember Luke using a grappling hook on the Death Star - I believe from a Stormtrooper utility belt, but I don't remember a grappling hook blaster. I also don't remember Luke as quite so...buff.

The Luke figure eptiomizes the direction Kenner took when restarting the Star Wars line - more muscles, more guns. Later Lukes were trimmed down to be more realistic, but this one just came from a stint in San Quentin.

Five reasons to get this figure:

1. This guy really can pull the ears off a gundark.

2. No more Mister Nice Luke. He will make you bar let droids in.

3. Imagine the new scene - "But I wanted to go to Tosche Station to work on my glutes!"

4. That blue milk? Total protein shake.

5. Watch Luke's roid rage as the Jawas sell him a droid with a bad motivator.

Backstory:

While new Luke doesn't have a new story other than Kenner bulking up the figure, Luke has quite an extensive story here.

Been having problems...

...first I don't have access to my computer. Now Blogger is all glitchy, losing posts that I've already written up, creating multiple drafts when I only make one. For now things seem to be working fine again, cross my fingers.

Jawas [1995, POTF2]

...with GLOWING EYES AND IONIZATION BLASTERS

Finally, Kenner recognizes that we feel screwed when it comes to tiny figures (remember how small the vintage Jawa was?) and gives us a 2-pack! Not only that, but their eyes glow (if you put them under a light source - much like POTF2 R2-D2's "light pipe" feature worked. Bothe the little runts come with the same blasters they used on R2 in the movie - good for knocking out droids.

Five reasons to get this figure:

1. Two-for-one! A first in Kenner history! Pinch me! Ouch!

2. Glowing eyes! Does it work with lasers...ah! I'm blind!

3. Recreate the implausible scenario where Jawas just happen to have a perfect weapon for disabling a droid in the middle of the desert. How many random droids show up there anyway?

4. The last time I felt like I was getting this much for my money was when I got that Cobra figure from G.I. Joe and it came with a big rocket launcher.

5. A reason to use your figures in the sandbox - instant Tatooine!

Backstory:

Jawas are desert dwellers on the planet Tatooine, scavengers that use abandoned mining vehicles are their mobile transports and living places (sandcrawlers). For their full story, check out their Wookieepedia entry.

Han Solo in Carbonite [1995, POTF2]

...with Carbonite Freezing Chamber!

Well, technically, it's more of a storage unit. The actual freezing chamber was in Cloud City, but let's not get into semantics.

Carbonite Han, or CH as his friends call him, is a much better than the vintage figure (no thick neck), but still a little muscular. He comes with the aforementioned freezing chamber, and a blaster that he used in the escape from Jabba's barge (think, oh, the one he shot the Sarlacc tentacle with).

Five reasons to get this figure:

1. Commemorate Han's idleness!

2. The best accessory to Slave I you will ever get.

3. Puts out thoughts of the vintage ol' thick-neck.

4. Mascot for the blind - still manages to stage a breakout.

5. What they give out at the anniversary to Han's visit to Tattooine (they don't get many celebrities).

Backstory:

His backstory is very long and comes from many sources: his Wookiepedia entry.

#8 in the POTF2 line

Will have new post tomorrow...

...have some troubles on my end, but should resume new posts tomorrow!!

Han Solo in Hoth Gear [1995, POTF2]

...With Blaster Pistol and Assault Rifle!

Han in Hoth Gear is still pretty muscular, and he still includes an out-of-nowhere assault rifle, but at least this figure's colors are closer to the movie than the old figure (although many people still seem to debate the exact color of his uniform).

This figure is hood-down, but with head-wrap/visor/cap still on. Since then we've seen every iteration of down/up for this figure as possible. He is in a more "action" pose as well, rather than the straight-laced old figures.

Five reasons you should get this figure:

1. Hood-down! Totally different (eye-roll).

2. Assault rifle to snuggle with on those cold Hot nights.

3. A little powdered sugar, and it will look almost just like the photo on the card.

4. "Assault rifle" has an exclamation point! Can't think! Must get! Why am I shouting!

5. Han - covered up, but still smooth with the ladies.

Backstory:

Bio card has brief intro, and a bit about Empire Strikes Back to help explain the Hoth outfit. For his full entry, go to Wookieepedia.

#7 in the POTF2 line

Han Solo [1995, POTF2]

...With Heavy Assault Rifle and Blaster!

Can you feel it? That's Han! So pumped out now he makes cracks in the concrete when he strides! Do you see it? That's his pimped out blaster rifle! Never saw it before? Well see it now!

When Kenner reintroduced the Star Wars line, they made Han and Luke especially, shall we say, pumped? Also, Kenner decided to include a little extra non-canon weaponry. Why? To appeal to a generation of He-Man and G.I. Joe types, seemingly oblivious to the fact that nostalgia alone would make many people buy these again.

Han has a bio card that is fairly limited to Episode IV information, but that was probably how Lucasfilm wanted it for now.

Five reasons to get this figure:

1. Watch Han smash! Puny human tremble!

2. New Han can finally go hand-to-hand in a Chewy arm wrestling match.

3. New Han doesn't fly the Falcon. He throws it into space and jumps on!

4. Extra blaster is compensatory measure.

5. Bulging chest - oh my! Tight pants - oh my stars! (swoons)

Backstory:

Many, many Star Wars books, comics, movies have covered Han well, but to get his full story just read his lengthy Wookiepedia entry.

#6 in the POTF2 line

Greedo [1995, POTF2]

...with Rodian Blaster Rifle [no exclamation point on this one]

Coming in the second POTF2 wave was Greedo, the man who used to shoot first. He seems a little muscular in the chest, but Kenner did a much better job on his color scheme this time around, a better matching head, and more Rodian-like hands. He also comes with two guns - mainly to match (the gun he was in the movie with) and to more appeal to boys (another big freakin' gun!).

By the second wave Kenner probably realized the bio cards on the back were going to be hard to keep up with every figure, so we now have the basics, a larger photo, and no lengthy paragraph.

Five reasons you should buy this figure:

1. The best Star Wars figure to accent your St. Patrick's Day.

2. A little lighter fluid, a match, some proper supervision, and you can make your own version of Greedo to match his post-duel carcass.

3. Those dead glassy eyes! Couldn't you just lose yourself in them?

4. A spool of thread for a table, and you can recreate your favorite Greedo cantina scenes.

5. If you really want to collect all the bounty hunters, you need him (although he has been disavowed by all the reputable ones).

Backstory:
Apparently Greedo has been causing trouble since the Clone Wars, since he appeared in the series, and faced his end in Episode IV. If you want his full story (and who doesn't?), read his full Wookieepedia entry here.

#6 in the POTF2 line

Darth Vader [1995, POTF2]

...With Lightsaber and Removable Cape!

Pardon the exclamation marks on all of these, but they are on the package so what can I do?

Darth Vader is certainly a more robust figure than the original series. While his height has not been improved to be more to scale with the rest of the figures, he certainly seems more muscular (despite wearing a survival suit). Muscular was the trend with this new batch, though.

Like the Luke and Ben figures, Darth was originally packaged with a longer saber at first, which shrunk in later shipments when Kenner said "OMG! Look at the size of that thing!" The bio card on the back gives a fleeting mention to a confrontation with Obi-Wan, but no mention of Darth's exact injuries. However, I swear there was an earlier card that mentioned a "molten pit," but I can't seem to find mention of it anywhere. Maybe just my imagination.

Five reasons you should get this figure:
1. Dark Lord of the Sith! Hell yes you're getting this figure!

2. Last words on the bio card are "down the thermal exhaust port." Oh, yeah.

3. There's no Darth TIE fighter on the back of this card, but you know it's a-comin!

4. Fight Luke! Fight Obi-Wan! Fight fashion!

5. Obi-Wan needs a comeuppance, what with all the limb-slashing and whatnot.

Backstory:

Pretty well played out in the prequel trilogy, comics, books, video games, comic strips, yeah. To read his entire story, check out the Wookieepedia entry.

#5 in the POTF2 line.

Chewbacca [1995, POTF2]

...With Bowcaster and Heavy Blaster Rifle!

Chewbacca is a decent figure, and an improvement on the original, but where is the scale! In the movies he towers over humans. In the figure line he is more or less the same size.

Chewbacca looks a bit like Bigfoot in this new version, but if you look at the beefed-up versions of Han and Luke, you can see what they were doing in the chest region there.

Chewy also has a bio card, as all the first wave of figures did in the return, and it covers the events in Star Wars: A New Hope, and a tiny bit about being rescued by Han and oweing a life-debt. Nothing, however, about his treetop home, growling kids and wife, or Life Day.

Five reasons why you should buy this figure:
1. Look at the back of the card - the Millennium Falcon needs a co-pilot.

2. Recreate all the exciting scenes from the Star Wars Holiday Special - like the first 20 minutes of nothing but Wookiee utterances!

3. Those droids aren't going to pull their own arms off.

4. Large gun!

5. Bowcaster! Pew! Pew!

Backstory:

Wookiees are longer-lived than humans, so expect Chewbacca to surface even more than he already has during the Clone Wars. For his full story, check out his Wookieepedia entry. Want to know about bowcasters? There's an entry for that too!

#4 in the POTF2 line.

C-3PO [1995, POTF2]

...with Realistic metalized Body!

While the new C-3PO does not have the grey half-leg, he does sport a rather shiny exterior, and is not overly muscular like others in this new line. Of course, had he been overly muscular to begin with, Anthony Daniels would have had a much better time fitting into the suit.

C-3PO does not come with any accessories, as might be expected. He has no major variations (except maybe on the card itself). His bio card starts with the events in Star Wars, Episode IV, but does not conflict with info from the prequels, simply because it does not mention his history that far back.

Five reasons you should get this figure:
1. Foil a daylight robbery - "Ah, my eyes! So shiny!"

2. Now with rotating waist you can finally re-enact that famous console-touching scene!

3. A new generation of C-3PO to wear the shine off of!

4. The on figure you don't feel very guilty beating on.

5. Always the easiest to find, in stores and at home.

Backstory:

While his bio card simply starts at his service on the Tantive IV, the prequels have fleshed this out to his improbable creation by Anakin Skywalker, and his kidnapping from the Lars farm to Geonosis and convenient memory wipe. His full story can be seen here on Wookieepedia.

#3 in the POTF2 line.

Boba Fett [1995, POTF2]

...with Sawed-Off Blaster Rifle and Jet Pack!

Boba was kind of the second wave after the first release of the major characters (shown on the back of the package), and one of the more impressive updates from the original line. You see all the bumps and scrapes, the weapon is actually a sawed-off blaster rather than a stock gun, jet pack comes off, and you can see the wookiee braids. However, he is still a littl more muscular like the new Han and Luke (didn't want to be left out).

Hi bio card is kept vague about his past, "few facts are known about the man called Boba Fett," probably because they never saw The Clone Wars, so it is still applicable.

Five reasons why you should get this figure:
1. C'mon, really? It's Boba-freaking Fett!

2. Finally, visual accompaniment to your wookieescalp fetish.

3. Yes! The jet pack fires...I mean, is removable.

4. No one wears "scuffed-up" quite like Boba.

5. Re-enact the never-done scene where Boba confronts Jango's ghost with the help of his therapist.

Backstory:

As more episodes of The Clone Wars progress, more of Boba's young life is seen, especially his antagonism towards Mace Windu (what, mad about your dad's decapitation crybaby?). For all that is known about him, check out his full bio with sources at Wookieepedia.

Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi [1995, POTF2]

...with Lightsaber and Removable Cloak!

In 1995, 12 years after the release of the last movie, and 2 years before the Special Editions would be released, Kenner decided to start their line of Star Wars action figure anew. The new line is considered "Power of the Force 2" because they retained the POTF logo.

The line started with the core characters, old Obi-Wan, Darth, Luke, Han, C-3PO, R2, Leia, Chewy, Stormtrooper. More waves successfully followed and here we are 16 years later and the production of Star Wars figures has not stopped once (although it has long stopped being under the POTF2 line).

Obi-Wan came first with a "long saber" variation (the lightsaber reached the top of the package, versus the one you see here) and later with the length you see here - one of many phallic intentions in Kenner's new line.

Keep in mind that the prequels did not come out until 4 years after this line debuted, so Obi-Wan is completely based on the original trilogy, but his back-of-the-card bio is kept intentionally vague about his younger years so it still applies.

Why should you get this figure? Five reasons:
1. Relive the famous line "Where did you dig up that old fossil?" by burying him in the sandbox to be discovered later (by you or the neighborhood cat).

2. Get the long and short saber variations to compare post and pre-Viagra Ben.

3. Removable cloak!? Finally a chance to see what's underneath! Oh...more brown clothes.

4. Renact his final duel with Darth Vader! Power tools needed to get all the clothes off though.

5. No worry about losing a flimsy vinyl cape! New worry about losing translucent blue accessory!

Backstory:

We've seen him covered in numerous books, movies, comics, etcetera. To read his full story (even that stuff you'd have to read from young reader editions), check out the Wookieepedia article here.

#1 in POTF2 line

1995 figures to debut tomorrow!

Tomorrow I will start the first wave of the 1995 figures when they first made their resurgence around the release of the Stars Special Editions in the theaters.

Zuckuss (ESB 1980-82)

Zuckuss’s actual name is 4-LOM, since he is the droid and Zuckuss is the alien bounty hunter. This was mixed up in the original Kenner line (as stated in my last post) but corrected in subsequent lines and literature. The figure has a gun-metal gray finish, but the actual character is more of a navy blue with orange rusty highlights.

Zuckuss came with a rather large blaster rifle, and his body was very similar to C-3PO’s, aside from his insectoid head. He came on ESB and ROTJ cardbacks.

Why should you own this figure? Five reasons:

1. As stated before, you must have all the bounty hunters. This is a coolness imperative.

2. He just looks like a badass with those glaring bug eyes.

3. Droids with guns are cool. Death Star Droid? Not so much.

4. Create your own scene where you finally figure who is the better droid bounty hunter: Zuckuss or IG-88?

5. All your non-geek friends will wonder who in the hell this is. All your geek friends will simply appreciate you for it.

Backstory:

4-LOM (as I will now correctly call him) was built by Industrial Automaton, who ripped off many of its design elements from Cybot Galactica’s 3PO series. 4-LOM’s earliest posting was on a luxury liner working as a cabin steward. Eventually, he came to the conclusion that the best way to protect passenger’s valuables was to take them himself. After modifying his own programming, he made crime more enjoyable, and after falling into the employ of Jabba the Hutt, started work as a bounty hunter.

He partnered with Zuckuss many time on bounties, the two becoming friends. After the Battle of Hoth, the two became Rebels for awhile, but eventually went back to bounty hunting after being almost destroyed by Boba Fett.

Want more? His Wookieepedia entry

181st in alphabetical order

Y-Wing Fighter Vehicle (ROTJ)

"And the last shall be first..."

The Y-Wing was one of the first vehicles introduced (in the battle against the first Death Star), but a toy didn't come out until Return of the Jedi. Because of that, you've got Admiral Ackbar in the cockpit, and Lando dinkin' around looking at the back of the thing on the box. Okay, while Kenner didn't always know how to set up a good photo for their toys, the vehicle itself is still pretty cool.

How cool? Five reasons cool:

1. Top-mounted-swivel guns. While in the Star Wars universe these were actually electronic-neutralizing ion cannons, you could just pretend they were destructive blasters.

2. You still had two front-mounted cannons!

3. The cockpit can fit your Luke in X-Wing outfit nicely (because the original line didn't have anyone else in the orange jumpsuits). The X-Wing pilots and Y-Wing pilots wore the same uniform.

4. It fits an astromech droid, unlike the X-Wing toy. You are still limited to only R2-D2 or R5-D4, but still, that's pretty cool.

5. The bottom-mounted proton torpedo could be dropped on your younger brother, or actually used for real purposes.

Backstory:

The Y-Wing (technical name: BTL Y-Wing Starfighter) was a good bomber, and a good partner to the X-Wing fighter. A Y-Wing has two laser cannons, two ion cannons, and two proton torpedo bays. Unlike the X-Wing, the Y-Wing could immobilize ships with its ion cannons. They were in use for quite awhile, fighting in both battles on the Death Stars. Y-Wings were largely replaced by the newer B-Wing fighter that were faster and had many of the same functions.

Want more? Its Wookieepedia entry

180th in alphabetical order

Yoda (ESB 1980-82)

Yoda, like the Ewoks that succeeded him, was a figure released a little later during the ESB line to preserve the surprise of the character. Oh, and for all of you who, for some reason, are reading this site and have not seen The Empire Strikes Back: Vader is Luke's father.

For a little guy, Yoda had several variations. First, he came in slightly different shades of green. Hmm, Yoda, Kermit - both green. Second, his cane went from one shade of brown to a darker one. Third (and fourth I guess), his snake went from orange to brown, and also got sculpted slightly differently.

Card variations include ESB, two ROTJ cards (one had the original ESB background photo, the other had more of a profile shot), and a POTF card. Starting with the ROTJ card the name changed from "Yoda" to "Yoda The Jedi Master." Hmph, building an ego, big shot? Next thing you know he'll be showing off his lightsaber or something. He also comes with a utility belt - not the cool Batman kind, but a little belt that has what looks like a little pouch, a pan flute, and that little light he fought R2 over. Oh, there's also his cloth robe. Jeez, this guy has a lot of stuff.

Why should you own this figure? Five reasons:

1. Yoda, frickin' Jedi Master, dawg.

2. The figure is the only time you will see Yoda smile. In the movies he's always harshin' Luke's buzz.

3. Re-enact the R2 / Yoda featherweight bout! In this corner, a scrappy little tin head! In the other corner, a guy who can lift an X-Wing and land it on your head!

4. He's got his own playset - who else is going to levitate those containers? Luke? I don't think so.

5. Create the always dreamed-about-but-never-realized Yoda versus Salacious Crumb Ulitmate Fighting Challenge, winner take all!

Backstory:

Yoda left his home planet (never revealed, nor his race - even though we see another of his race in Episode I) almost 900 years before the Battle of Yavin. He crash-landed with a human friend on a swampy planet (possibly Dagobah) where a Jedi Master revealed them both to be Force-sensitive and trained them. They were rescued after their training.

About 100 years later Yoda started training his first student, and was a teacher and master since that time. Yoda became a member of the ruling Jedi Council, and in Episode I through III saw the rise of Anakin to Vader, and barely avoided detection, escaping to Dagobah during the Jedi purge. He was found later by Anakin's son Luke, who he trained before passing away, and becoming one with the Force.

Want more? His Wookieepedia entry

179th in alphabetical order

Yak Face (POTF 1985)

Yak Face – you know him, you love him. Well, you probably don’t actually know him since he is only briefly seen on Jabba’s Sand Barge and he is a nonsentient piece of plastic, but you have to love the challenge of getting a figure like this. Yak Face was going to be the 93^rd figure in the line, but with declining sales the line was stopped at 92. However, Yak Face was still released in Europe, Canada, and Australia, just never in the U.S. So, it is naturally a little rare.

Yak face comes with the same battle staff as Barada, and only comes on a POTF card. Oh, and did I not mention it only came…not in the U.S.? Kenner bastards! I mean, c’mon! What kid didn’t want a Yak Face after seeing his pivotal 5 seconds in the film? Anyway, you had to get this figure while you could, because when word got out that the line was done – well, you can guess that the rest were snatched up. This is still not the rarest Star Wars figure, however. That honor goes to Vlix.

When Saelt-Marae as he was now called was re-released in the 90's line, is was rather anti-climactic. Yes, you couldn't find this character during the old line, but the new one clogged up the shelves big-time.

Why should you get this figure? Five reasons:

1. There was not a more phallic looking figure in the Kenner line.

2. That faux-fur collar? Who’s he kidding?

3. Rarest figure in the POTF line (well, debatable. Rarest figure only run in the POTF line).

4. Debate with your friends if it is more of a Yak Face, or a Camel Face.

5. Speaking of which, the closest match to Joe Camel you'll get.

Backstory:

Yak Face's real name was Saelt-Marae, a Yarkora and long-lived at that. He spent 200 years alone just wooing his mate. He was a con man and often an informant for both sides of the Galactic Civil War. He was an informant for Jabba and managed to escape the Sand Barge (and steal a few secrets) before it blew up.

Want more? His Wookieepedia article

178th in alphabetical order