Cloud City Playset (ESB)

Cloud City was another one of the Sears exclusives (see Rebel Command Adventure Set, Cantina Adventure Set, and The Jabba the Hutt Dungeon) and, like the other playsets, a very cheap toy. Cheap as in quality. The playset was nothing more than a 3-D backdrop with depictions of Han’s torture chair, a Cloud City-scape, and the Carbonite chamber. It came with four figures, Bespin Han, Dengar, Ugnaught, and Lobot. By the way, Dengar was never shown in Cloud City. There were also plastic pegs to insert into the set so figures could be held in place.

Why should you get this set? Five reasons:

1. God knows you need more cardboard crap.

2. The only time you’ll get your Carbonite chamber. Take that, cocky Han Solo!

3. Finally, something for your Ugnaughts to do.

4. Another four figures in one shot!

5. Spring-load the base of the Carbonite chamber so you can make Bespin Luke shoot out. Yeah, that’s not a big waste of your time or anything.

Backstory:

Cloud City was built by the Incom Corporation about 2,000 years before the first SW movie took place. It was primarily built for the refining of Tibanna gas which was in abundance on Bespin, and was used in hyperdrive engines.

Cloud City has 392 levels, with factories, luxury casinos and hotels, the refineries, housing, local government offices, and the many repulsorlifts that keep the City aloft. The City has passed hands many, many times, during the Clone Wars, during a Sabacc game (where Lando won it), during the time of the Empire and later on.

Want more? Wookieepedia article

34th in alphabetical order

Cloud Car Pilot (ESB 1980-82)

Let’s face it, if you didn’t have a Twin-Pod Cloud Car (notice - it will be much farther down the alphabet), you probably didn’t have a lot of use for this figure. If you did have a Car, you wanted two of this figure (frickin’ Twin!). The figure is based on the pilot shown in the cockpit of the model used for the movie. A pilot was never actually shown in Cloud City. Go ahead and watch it again – I’ll wait here.

The Pilot came with the same blaster pistol as the TIE Pilot, so they must have the same wholesaler. He also came with…catch your breath…a commlink! Often mentioned but never accessorized until now! Whew! The figure came out on both ESB and ROTJ cards, and, as you'll notice from the pciture, an offer for a mail-away Ackbar.

Why should you own this figure? Five reasons:

1. Gave you hope that you would own a Cloud Car some day.

2. Gave you hope that you would get another one just like it – “But Dad, the Car needs two Pilots!”

3. Only commlink ever made – at least in the vintage line.

4. Official Star Wars figure of the Tour de France.

5. Official Star Wars figure of accountants (the commlink looks just like a calculator – get it?).

Backstory:

There is no real backstory on the Car pilots, but since the Car was produced on Bespin for Bespin atmospheric use, it is presumable that the pilots were hired/recruited in Cloud City, trained, and sent out to patrol the City. For more info, check out the Twin-Pod Cloud Car entry.

Want more? Wookieepedia article

33 in alphabetical order

Chief Chirpa (ROTJ 1983-84)

Hey, we had to get to the Ewoks sometime. After all, there were eight figures - yes eight figures - in the original line, as well as a playset and at least 3 vehicle/accessories dedicated to them (4 if you include a speeder bike). Chirpa came on a ROTJ card only. Side note: on early ROTJ figures, the Ewoks were often blacked out to conceal the "surprise" until the movie came out.

Chief Chirpa is just one of fuzzy little Stormtrooper-killing machines. Yes, they had clubs and crude spears, yet somehow they took out trained soldiers with blasters and battle armor. Maybe one of them watched Imperial manuevers secretly and trained from that, kind of like Splinter from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. They obviously knew enough to take down a few AT-STs, including one from a deleted scene.

Why should you own this figure? Five reasons:

1. He's the chief. Do you get She's the Sheriff figures and not get Suzanne Somers?

2. In all seriousness, the figure is molded pretty accurately to what the character was, from the hood to the command staff (shout-out to Admiral Ackbar!).

3. There is a whole frickin' Ewok playset - someone has to be in charge.

4. Those dark, dark eyes that you can just lose yourself in.

5. "Yub nub!" Those two words strike fear in the heart of any stormtroo, no, ha-ha, tee-hee, I just can't say it.

Backstory:

Much of the Ewoks cartoons can, and often are, taken as canon, but we know that the Chief had a wife (Ra-Lee) and two daughters, Kneesaa and Asha. The two Ewok Adventure movies are often considered canon as well, since they could have happened before the events in ROTJ - just pretend that the evil witch is using the Force to create illusions instead of "magic."

Chirpa's reign saw the arrival of the Imperials, and the Ewoks alliance with the Rebels. Not much has been said about the Ewoks post-ROTJ, but presumably they settled into a more peaceful existence, and some of their tribe have been known to travel the stars in the novels.

Want more? His Wookieepedia article

32nd in alphabetical order

Chewbacca Bandolier Strap (ROTJ)

You're such a geek, you want to wear your Star Wars heart on your sleeve. Wel,l how about your chest? Yes, you've got it, the Chewbacca Bandolier Strap, which conveniently carries your figures where any bully or two-bit thief can rip them right off your person!

The Strap is a loving sort-of, kind-of, re-creation of Chewbacca's bandolier, but made to carry your action figures. Even Chewbacca's two compartments that say "Return of the Jedi" for your weapons and accessories are on here. Oh, wait, Chewbacca's real bandolier probably didn't say that. Chewbacca probably wouldn't have approved of some grinning 5 year-old wearing it either.

Why should you get the strap? Five reasons:

1. Using your hands to carry your figures is just so damn inconvenient, and using your mouth just leaves a plasticky taste.

2. The foam holding your figures in won't wear out for at least, um, right about now.

3. Two compartments for your guns, command batons, and loose limbs!

4. That blonde kid on the box will be sent back to the orphanage if not enough are sold.

5. Does it really matter which figure holder you get? None of them seem to fit those fat guys, Rancor Keeper and Gamorrean Guard, anyway.

Backstory:

Yes, there's a backstory. Okay, there's really not a backstory. In the movie Chewbacca's bandolier was a belt of power cells for his bowcaster, and possibly other blaster weapons.


Full story? Wookieepedia article on Chewbacca

31st in alphabetical order