Action Figure of the Day

Greedo [1995, POTF2]

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 12:06:00 +0000

...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.

EV-9D9 [POTF2]

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 03 Sep 2013 10:33:00 +0000

...with DATAPAD.

I used to be excited about the vintage version of this figure, but this one has left me a bit listless. While it may be an improvement over the old figure with coloring and detail, and it includes a datapad this time around, where's the lever? I want my lever! In the old figure there was a lever in the back of the head to move her mouth up and down (yes, check the literature, EV is a "she"). See my post on the vintage figure here. I miss that lever, and no amount of datapads is going to make up for it. Argh. Who makes a droid with such a big moving mouth? Who? Who!?

Five reasons to get this figure:

1. Nostalgia for the moving mouth. Sigh.

2. Datapad! Can't tell your droids from your bounty hunters with out a datapad!

3. That third eye. Oh yes, look closely, it's there, beckoning you to look - but you must not!

4. Fans of scarabs, this is as close as you're going to get with a SW figure.

5. Closely matches the hue of the Colonial flight suits on the rebooted Battlestar Galactica. Another sigh.

Backstory:

EV-9D9 actually worked in Cloud City during Lando's management. However, her sadomasochistic tendencies got the better of her and she systematically tortured many of the droids in Bespin. After her controller found out, she fled the system, but not before partially sabotaging the City as a distraction. She found her way to Jabba's palace and quickly climbed the ranks. She secretly built a room for her tortuous experiments and built droids that felt pain out of spare parts, even giving pain receptors to droids that didn't have them, for her own sick pleasure.

After finding out that Lando had infiltrated the palace, EV-9D9 thought that he and his droids (R2 an C-3PO) were there for her, although they were there for Han. Before she could implement any recourse, she was tracked down by one of the tortured droids from Bespin, which let loose her own creations on her.

Want more? The Wookieepedia article

Emperor's Royal Guard [POTF2]

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 09:04:00 +0000

...with FORCE PIKE.

"Ah, sir?"
"Yes, what is it guard?"
"You are the Emperor, and I want to do my best to protect you, but..."
"Yes, guard, spit it out!"
"Well, couldn't we have guns?"
"Absolutely not, royal guard! Guns are reserved for Death Star Gunners, who get a blaster and an assault rifle!"
"Why would they need any guns - they are manning cannons..."
"Do not question your Emperor!"

So, despite the fact that the highest guards for the Emperor have pikes and no guns (this is explained a bit in the Crimson Empire series from Dark Horse comics), the Guard looks kind of cool. All red, contrasting with the pervasive black in muck of the Imperial forces, and a kind of cloak of secrecy.

Five reasons to get this figure:

1. Peel back the layers to see what's underneath...OH MY GO-

2. Where else are you going to find a force pike?

3. Red is all the rage this season, according to my sources.

4. Cool Cylon-like helmet.

5. His right hand points! It points! You know what this means? Me either.

Backstory:

They were first formed as the Red Guard for the Republic Senate after Palpatine claimed rumors of corruption in the Senate. They later became the Emperor’s personal guard. They were handpicked from among the best stormtroopers, and underwent rigorous and grueling training. To keep in fighting form, some were always rotated out on combat missions, so some survived the destruction of the second Death Star. These remaining Guards were chronicled in the graphic novel series Crimson Empire, where they fought for supremacy. They also came back together to protect the clone Emperor in Dark Empire, but one of their own had sabotaged the Emperor’s clones so he would not live long.

Want more? Full article at Wookieepedia. Article just on force pikes.

Death Star Gunner [POTF2, 1995]

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 09:40:00 +0000

...with IMPERIAL BLASTER AND ASSAULT RIFLE.

Sheesh, all of these military types not only get the Imperial blaster, but a mother-puss-bucket assault rifle. Not A rifle, but an assault rifle.

So anyway, second line of the POTF2 figures comes out, and Kenner chooses to make a figure that looks best in a gunner chair on the Death Star, but doesn't make the gunner chair. Oh, well, still looks kind of cool.

Five reasons to get this figure:

1. Another Imperial dressed in black - collect them all!

2. Another Imperial for the Death Star II Emperor line-up - collect them all!

3. Another Imperial with a blaster and an assault rifle - collect, ah forget about it.

4. Cool helmet - especially for the Tour de France.

5. Re-enact his big scene: "Oh I hope they come to my hemisphere of the Death Star! Damnit - why are they going for the trench?"

Backstory:
As cool as the figure looks, in reality, Imperial Gunners are often the lesser-scoring recruits in the Imperial forces. The visor helmet provides little peripheral vision and makes them run into things. Their main function is to guard against the blinding light of the Death Star main gun. Although why you would design something like that where the guys sit that close to the laser is beyond me. It's a cruel joke, man.

Want more? Wookieepedia article on Gunners

Darth Vader [1995, POTF2]

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 31 Aug 2013 08:39:00 +0000

...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.

C-3PO [1995, POTF2]

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 17:39:00 +0000

...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.

Bossk [POTF2]

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 12:49:00 +0000

...with BLASTER RIFLE AND PISTOL.

In the green-packed waves of POTF2 figures, Kenner started blazing through the bounty hunters, and everyone's favorite Wookiee scalper was no exception. He includes his standard weapon and an additional blaster, which, being a bounty hunter, is just fine and not just due to Kenner's zeal for extra weapons in this line.

The figure itself is pretty well detailed, but could be a little taller, to be in scale with other human figures.

Five reasons to own this figure:

1. No one wears rolled-up sleeves in the SW universe like Bossk.

2. Can repeatedly use the phrase, "Like a Bossk!"

3. Own one of the few characters that is shown in Clone Wars and the main Trilogy. Wait - did I say few? I meant every-character-they-could-legitimately-say-lives-that-long.

4. Re-create his thrilling battle against other bounty hunters to get Solo! You don't know about that? Shut down the computer and pick up a book you troglodyte!

5. Perfect for that terrarium.

Backstory:

Bossk is a Trandoshan, who when born, ate his hatchmates. Quite the beginning. He went on to hunt Wookiees for the Empire (and sport) become a bounty hunter, and lead the Bounty Hunter's Guild (while fractioning it). He clashed and worked with other bounty hunters from time to time, including Zuckuss and Boba Fett. His last appearance was in a jail on a space station being attacked by the Yuuzhan Vong (a later antagonizing race). No word on if he survived.

Want more? His Wookieepedia article

Chewbacca [1995, POTF2]

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 00:48:00 +0000

...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!

Boba Fett [1995, POTF2]

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 20:43:00 +0000

...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.

Bespin Han Solo [POTF2]

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 02:39:00 +0000

...with HEAVY ASSAULT RIFLE AND BLASTER.

Again, Han was never seen in the movies with a heavy assault rifle, so this is a bit of license on Kenner's part.

This version of Han is still a bit muscular, otherwise the figure is pretty accurate. I find it hard to get excited about this figure though, because it is nothing spectacular, and they probably produced a zillion of these.

Five reasons to get this figure:

1. Han's best lady-catching attire.

2. Look at the picture of the figure without looking at the enlargement: if you wanted a Fonzie figure, there it is.

3. Recreate the talk with Luke on Hoth, and how Han goaded Luke's own sister into kissing him (hee, hee).

4. Recreate the shooting Darth Vader with a blaster in the dining room scene. Only this time with the rifle: "Deflect this!"

5. Can't be dodging asteroids in any other outfit.

Backstory:

Han was a youth growing up on Corellia and eventually joined the Imperial forces. After rescuing Chewbacca he left the Empire and went into gambling and smuggling. The rest, as they say, is history. Of course, after the movies he and Leia married, had 3 Jedi, and had many more adventures.

Want more? The Wookieepedia article

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

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 25 Aug 2013 13:33:00 +0000

...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.

#2 in POTF2 line

AT-ST Driver [POTF2]

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 25 Aug 2013 03:32:00 +0000

...with BLASTER RIFLE AND PISTOL.

Now here is a figure that warrants having that extra rifle in the cockpit. Wookiees and Ewoks beatin' on your hatch, yanking you up, tossing you like last week's garbage. Heck ya you need some personal firepower!

While not pictured on the back of the figure's own card, the AT-ST was one of the first vehicles produced in the new line, so, naturally, they had to come out with the pilot. Probably one of the less exciting uniforms in the Imperial army, but there you have it.

Five reason to buy this figure:

1. Natural pairing: have the vehicle, need the pilot.

2. Commemorate ROTJ's director, Richard Marquand's, spectacular performance as an AT-ST pilot.

3. Recreate Return of the Jedi, but this time an Ewok gets a blaster in their face.

4. Army builder - have him line up in your "meet the Emperor" scene.

5. Closest figure to a Spaceballs henchman you'll find.

Backstory:

AT-ST Drivers wore very light armor compared to their AT-AT counterpart. Funny, considering the AT-AT was already more armored than an AT-ST. They carried standard equipment, such as a blaster, rifle, grenades, thermal detonators, flares, comlinks, and spare ammo. The helmets and goggles were also standard, but many chose not to wear the goggles.

Interesting side note: ROTJ’s director, Richard Marquand, was one of the AT-ST Drivers beaten down by Chewbacca and the Ewoks and the person pictured on the card.

Want more? Its Wookieepedia article.

ASP-7 Droid [POTF2]

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 12:43:00 +0000

...with SPACEPORT SUPPLY RODS.

Don't recognize the ASP-7? That's because, until the release of the Special Editions that added a longer Mos Eisley scene, it didn't exist. Now, you can clearly see one picking up rods (chuckle). In fact, they make no bones about it - look at the package: "From the newly-created footage in The Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition." I use to be excited by something like this, now I just think "They're just printing more money!"

While it's an okay droid figure, I just felt it was never fleshed out like others. Where are some wires? Where are the knobs?

Five reasons to own this figure:

1. The only way to get Star Wars supply rods. Really, where is our accessory pack just for these?

2. Nice and creepy- no eyes, just a slit.

3. Cylon alert! Slit for eyes. Insert your own oscillating red LED for the full effect.

4. "From the newly created footage!" Come on, you have to buy it just for the laugh factor.

5. Did I mention supply rods? SUPPLY RODS!

Backstory:

The ASP-7 is apparently a worker droid, but other materials also mention that the ASP-7 model is used as a trainer for Darth Vader's lightsaber practice.

Want it's full story? Go here.

Zuckuss (ESB 1980-82)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 08:40:00 +0000

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

Yak Face (POTF 1985)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 21 Aug 2013 12:59:00 +0000

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

Yoda (ESB 1980-82)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 08:14:00 +0000

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

X-Wing Fighter (SW)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 19 Aug 2013 11:14:00 +0000

Ah, the X-Wing Fighter! If you played with Star Wars figures and had one vehicle, chances are it was this one. And chances are, if you still have it today, you've lost the wing guns. That's okay, someone is always selling spares on Ebay.

The X-Wing is one of the first Star Wars vehicles to come out, evidenced by the "12-back" cards from the first figures that advertised it. Although not truly to scale (the nose is stubby and it is a little too small compared to the figures - if you look at the movie) no kid really noticed. They were just excited to have something to fly around the room and shoot at things.

The X-Wing featured wings that could open (press down R2's head) and close (move the blue toggle switch next to R2) and electronic shooting noises and light (other blue button next to R2). Of course, toy technology being what it was, the noises weren't movie-authentic, but then again, what kid truly cared? The front landing skid could be put down or up, and the cockpit could be opened or closed to accommodate one figure. Unfortunately, Luke in X-Wing outfit was the only X-Wing pilot made in the original line. There wasn't even a Wedge until the new line, and he starred in all three movies!

The initial X-Wing was molded in white, but in subsequent releases for ESB and ROTJ, it was molded in gray and included battle-damage decals. The black wing guns could be taken off to simulate it getting damaged or whatever scenario your little mind could imagine.

Why should you get this vehicle? Five reasons:

1. It's the X-Wing! You get a TIE Fighter and you're all set for one hell of a dogfight.

2. The first vehicle-designed figure came out for THIS vehicle. Hell, the TIE pilot didn't even come out until ESB.

3. Yes, it sucked that you couldn't put your R2 figure in the socket, but you just had to love pressing that head to make the wings go up and down. Up and down. Up and down.

4. Electronic action! A light! Bitchin' flame decals, I mean, battle-damage decals!

5. Even though the emphasis was on the wing-guns, they still managed to add the torpedo-launchers as a detail on the underside. Yeah, I didn't notice this either for quite awhile after having it.

Backstory:

The Incom T-65 X-Wing was a versatile fighter for the Rebel Alliance (all the designers for it defected to the Rebellion rather than let the designs fall to the Empire). Precursor fighters can be seen in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, in the opening battle. Unlike TIE fighters, X-Wings possessed both shields and a hyperdrive (for quick hit-and-run sorties), and proton torpedo launchers. It also had a socket for astromech droids to help with navigation and ship operations. The X-like wings could be closed or locked open (s-foils, short for "stability" or "strike" foils) for various maneuvers. Variations of the X-Wing were in operation for quite a while, and, of course, was the vehicle instrumental in destroying both Death Stars.

Want more? Its Wookieepedia article

177th in alphabetical order

Wicket W. Warrick (Ewoks 1985)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 10:13:00 +0000

Both the Ewoks and Droids cartoon series of figures continued the inclusion of coins with the figures. The characters that were duplicated from the Star Wars line had different coins that depicted their cartoon image rather than their movie appearance. The figures were also, obviously, cartoonish in nature rather than their movie appearance, and Wicket was no exception.

Cartoon Wicket, like his ROTJ counterpart, just comes with a spear, and some kind of hairy kewpie doll look on his face.

Why should you own this figure? Five reasons:

1. With only six figures, it’s pretty easy to collect this whole line.

2. Have a pretend fight with Wicket vs. his evil, cartoonish clone.

3. There were 4 bad guys in this line, and only two good guys. You need Wicket to try and make things right.

4. Look at those big eyes! The creep factor alone is worth getting it.

5. It’s either this or go back to collecting all 101 Smurfs.

Backstory:

Well, I just talked about him in the last post, but if you want more: His Wookieepedia entry

176th in alphabetical order

Wicket W. Warrick (ROTJ 1983-84)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 17 Aug 2013 09:12:00 +0000

Wicket is, in my humble opinion, the worst deal for your money in the history of Star Wars figures. Why? It is the smallest, and for an accessory we just get the one little spear he poked Leia with (not in the Biblical sense). If you picked this card up by the back you might not even realize it had a figure attached – that’s how small it is. This is the only figure that needed a magnifying glass instead of a coin in the POTF line.

Wicket, the Ewok that inexplicably comes with three names, came on an ROTJ and a POTF card. The ROTJ card came in two variations: spear on right and spear on left.

Why should you own this figure? Five reasons:

1. Despite its miniscule size, its arms and legs are still articulated.

2. It is a very accurate figure compared to the character.

3. Your dog chewed your other figures, but he swallowed this one. Wait, is that a plus?

4. Finally, a figure that can fit in your “fifth” jeans pocket. And get lost in there.

5. When you rigged the Ewok catapult for full launch capability, Wicket went the farthest.

Backstory:

Wicket Wystri Warrick was born to Deej (father) and Shodu (mother) in Bright Tree Village. His close friends were Kneesaa, Teebo, and Latara. He was probably about 12 years old when Empire built the second death star over his home planet of Endor. Prior to that time he had many adventures with his friends in the wilds of Endor (as shown in the Ewok animated series and the two Ewok movies). During ROTJ he befriended Leia and helped the Rebellion defeat the Empire. After ROTJ Wicket eventually married Kneesaa and succeeded Chief Chirpa as head of the village.

In the movie he was played by Warwick Davis, who went on to play him in the two Ewok movies. He also starred in another Lucas film, Willow. Wicket was originally supposed to be played by Kenny Baker, but he was sick that day. Baker then played Paploo, the one that stole the speeder bike.

Want more? His Wookieepedia entry

175th in alphabetical order

Weequay (ROTJ 1983-84)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 19:12:00 +0000

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)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 20:11:00 +0000

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)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 07:18:00 +0000

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)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 09:17:00 +0000

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?)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 09:16:00 +0000

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 1980-82)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 11 Aug 2013 09:13:00 +0000

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. Although it looks like that one from that "Stargate" episode, hmm...

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