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