Dengar (ESB 1980-82)

Maybe Dengar wasn't the most glamorous of figures. Maybe he didn't have as much play value. But damnit - look at him! He's a man's man. He doesn't care if you've been out on the trail pushing cattle and you haven't showered in 8 days. He's been there, man.

Dengar, obviously known as one of the bounty hunters summoned by Vader to hunt down Han Solo and the bunch in The Empire Strikes Back.

Why do you want this figure? Five reasons:

1. That scowl. You can just imagine that the galactic Time-Life series "Bounty Hunters," says he once shot a man for snoring too loud.

2. He doesn't need fancy equipment - he's got scavenged armor from a snowtrooper and sandtrooper.

3. He's got the guts to wear said armor in an Imperial star destroyer in front of the second-in-charge Imperial Dark Lord.

4. He's got a big laser rifle. I hear the ladies like that.

5. He's a bounty hunter - you need all of them.

This figure came on an Empire Strikes Back card and later a Return of the Jedi card (in the U.S.). Although he had a little more screen time than some flash-in-the-pan characters, he never had a coin like that cocky Amanaman!

Backstory:

Dengar once was an acquaintance/rival of Solo's on Corellia when they were younger. In a swoop bike race (see the Wookieepedia if you don't know that reference) Han flashed Dengar with his burners, scarring him for life. Dengar thought it was on purpose and set about getting his revenge on Solo - Episode VI was originally named "Revenge of Dengar: You Know, That One Bounty Hunter You Saw For 10 Seconds in The Empire Strikes Back." Dengar jumped at the Empire's offer to hunt down Solo. In the course of doing so, Dengar fell in love with some native woman and settled down. He also mellowed out and forgave Han a bit.

His backstory is actually much more extensive, involving Imperial cybernetic implants and service to the Empire after his swoop crash. He later defected and became a bounty hunter, was recaptured by the Empire and given a choice of death or hunt for them. He was also occasionally recruited by the Rebellion, and only really knew emotions again (he was kind of emotionless because of his implants) when the Aruzan woman Manaroo shared her feelings with him cybernetically. This all happened in the novels, so let's just pretend he's still a mysterious Marlboro Man - without all the smoke (the Empire went smoke-free after it was found that it was almost impossible to wash out of Vader's cape).

Full story? Wookieepedia article

44th in alphabetical order

Death Star Space Station (SW)

You thought getting an AT-AT was cool (okay, technically that came after this one)? Well IN-YOUR-FACE! I’ve got a Death Star! Can I tell you how cool this is? I can, but you really have to experience it for the coolness to settle into your pores and take hold. Tell me Ben, what does this marvelous (dare I say, rad?) playset have to offer us? Let us count the ways, from the bottom to the top:

1. The bottom level has a trash compacter that really compacts with:

1a. “Garbage” (collapsible foam squares)

1b. A dianoga (one-eyed trash compacter monster)!

2. The second level has a trap door into the trash compactor and…

2a. Monitors and control panels.

3. Third level has a walkway and collapsible bridge for Luke and Leia to swing across with a rope!

4. Fourth level: a turbolaser to blast those pesky rebel fighters out of the sky!

5. Last, but not least, a working elevator to all floors – with a tractor beam control tower at the top! The elevator door even works! Okay, okay, must breathe. Too…much…excitement.

If you were in England, Europe, or Australia, you could suck it because your Death Star playsets were entirely different and made of cardboard. USA! USA! Seriously, though, I always feel bad when I hear about things like this. Why not give them the same quality product I had? I’ve seen those cardboard Death Stars – they are not pretty.

Why should you own this set? I just gave you a TON of frickin’ reasons!

Backstory:

The concept for the Death Star began with an idea for an expeditionary moon, but when told to Tarkin, it eventually formed into a weapons platform. Plans for it were seen as far back as Episode II, when they were moved to prevent the Jedi from getting them. The final design work was done in the Maw Installation, an isolated Imperial laboratory, by a brain trust. The first Death Star was 160 km in diameter, and had countless turbolasers and tractor beams for defense, as well as its main weapon, the super laser. When Luke blew it up, there were an estimated 1,000,000 Imperials crewing it. Heavy.

Want more? Wookieepedia article on the first Death Star

Wookieepedia article on the dianoga

43rd in alphabetical order

Death Star Droid (SW 1978-79)

Seen in the first movie in both the Jawa Sandcrawler and the Death Star (the Death Star one is black), this droid is one of the more listless figures of the original line. At least the one from the 1990’s line had a mouse droid with it.

It came with no accessories, and had a shiny metallic finish and a bug-like head. It was released on cards from all three movies.

Why should you own this figure? Five reasons:

1. If you own the Sandcrawler you need to fill it with as much useless junk as possible, including this figure.

2. A more bureaucratic droid I have never seen.

3. If you have a headless one, and a bodiless C-3PO, they pretty much match.

4. The shiny metallic finish is kind of cool, until you play with it too much and you see the original plastic.

5. Oh, I give up. This figure was booooooring.

Backstory:

This droid’s official designation is the RA-7 protocol droid. They were fairly useless droids, but the Imperial Security Bureau used them to spy on other Imperials. Their limited use, however, caused many an RA-7 to be disposed of or “lost” by many an Imperial Commander – which is probably why one was in a Jawa Sandcrawler. There were so many aboard the first Death Star that they earned the nickname “Death Star Droid.” The similarity in body to C-3PO probably relates back to the first film’s limited budget.

Want more? Wookieepedia article

42nd in alphabetical order

Death Squad / Star Destroyer Commander (SW 1978-79); X-mas!

Going back again to the original "line of 12" today, we take a look at the Death Squad Commander. This fig came out on cardbacks for all three movies. Soon after being released on the ESB card, his name was changed to Star Destroyer Commander, mainly due to comparions with Nazi Germany "death squads." However, this did not stop Kenner or George Lucas from ever changing the name of the "stormtroopers."

The person on the cardback has a gray uniform, but most of these type of characters in the film had black uniforms. This fact was changed for the re-release of this character in the 1990's line. He includes a standard blaster (must be Imperial issue since the stormtroopers came with it, of course Hammerhead came with it too. Hmm.)

Why should you get this figure? My five reasons:

1. Two words: army builder. You know, one of those characters there were a lot of in the film. Get 20 and line them down the halls of your custom-bult Death Star interior (built in your mom's basement) or the Kenner Death Star Playset.

2. That helmet. If you look in the photos, the helmet slopes down like one of those fancy bike helmets. However, the figure seems to have a half-sphere on his head. Perfect for creating your Spaceballs army.

3. That uniform. Chicks dig uniforms. You could also modify this figure to be in most any situation that calls for someone with a uniform.

4. He has a blaster - a common one. If you ever lose it on another figure, you can easily replace it with this one or take one from another figure. Sorry, Hammerhead.

5. How else are you going to observe the chain of command on your Star Destroyer or Death Star Playset? Death Star gunners aren't going to order themselves to fire that turbolaser.

Backstory:

Not much backstory to this guy, just another cog in the Imperial machine. Just one in a million Imperials. Literally. Since that is about how many died in the first Death Star explosion.

Want more? Wookieepedia article on Star Wars Commanders

41st in alphabetical order