Top 10 Series: Neo Star Wars Toys (Action Figures)
Hello ladies and gentlemen.
I’m back with my continuing Top 10 series and this time we start it in 1995. Remember that time when Kenner decided to start making new Star Wars toys after a 10 year drought. And us adults who enjoyed them as a child tried to (in vain) re-capture our youth.
Well this is my top ten for the action figures in what I call the neo line. One thing about this series, Kenner really got it right with variety and finally giving characters some respect. Let us begin.
10. Aunt Beru with Service Droid (POTF 2)
Wait! Aunt Beru!? Are you kidding me!? No I am not fellow collectors, I like the Aunt Beru figure.
I just thought it was nice that Aunt Beru finally got her own figure and a little recognition in the real world.
Sure there are probably much cooler ones out there, but it was time that she got some respect. Even Uncle Owen* really hasn’t received a figure release yet, but Aunt Beru got her long awaited recognition.
* - True, he was part of 3 pack but that doesn’t really count.
09. R2-D2 (POTF 2)
Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. What’s so cool about this initial R2-D2 figure? They’ve made dozens since that one, Artoo’s that must be cooler than that intial release. The reason I like it? The reason I feel it’s just perfect? That third leg.
No fooling around this time with figure, Kenner gave Artoo his third leg and that made him simple, yet effective.
08. C-3P0 (POTF 2)
The reason behind this figure being on my list is more or less the same as R2-D2. The vintage Threepio’s always had arms that hung down next to his body. But this sculpt was perfect, the arms were just right and the initial scarcity of the figure made people want him more.
I like things simple and Threepio looks good.
07. Sandtrooper (POTF 2)
It’s funny that in the vintage line they released a number of Stormtrooper designs but never the Sandtrooper. They made the regular Stormtrooper, and a Hoth Snowtrooper, an AT-AT Driver and Biker Scout. And let us not forget the TIE-Pilot as well. But strangely enough Kenner left the Sandtrooper off their original line inventory. Never understood why.
The Sandtrooper was such a cool look and yet no one thought to make one ’til this point? It was nice to see him, especially that shoulder armour and backpack. The “dirt” was a nice touch and one of the good things about the new Kenner line, the used look in some of the toys.
It took a few years but the Sandtrooper finally got his due.
06. Jek Porkins (POTJ)
Porkins is one of those rebel characters you just love. He was a good pilot who didn’t know when to quit and quickly became a casualty in the climatic Death Star battle in Episode IV.
Well after a long time waiting the big guy finally got an action figure and this started the new sculpts of separate helmets which made the pilots to follow so cool.
You keep holding it Porkins.
05. Bespin Luke Skywalker with Removable Hand (POTF 2)
I imagine that no one in 1980-81 thought of making a Bespin Luke with a removable hand. Kids might take it the wrong way or something.
But here we are years later and we’ve got a Luke who’s also an amputee.
And that was a cool feature, but not as cool as…
04. Darth Vader with Removable Helmet (POTF 2)
Finally!
A Darth Vader figure with a helmet that came off and showed us the scarred Anakin Skywalker underneath. Ever since we caught a glimpse of him in ESB, we’ve always wanted a figure to accommodate this.
When Anakin was saved and asked to see Luke with his own eyes, fans have wanted an action figure that commemorated that movie moment.
And here it is, with a kudos to the toymakers who made the helmet so good that it looks like a regular Vader figure.
03. Princess Leia Organa as Jabba’s Prisoner (POTF 2)
I assumed most boys dreamed of Princess Leia in the metal bikini and I can’t imagine Kenner actually making a figure so scandalous. But here it is and it’s quite benign I think.
Kenner did a good job and now it seems more of a novelty.
The boys have grown up and now we just want a good variety and this figure made a fine piece to the collection.
02. Grand Moff Tarkin (POTF 2)
Well, well, well, it’s about time! It’s hard to imagine that Tarkin was never made into a figure until this release, but it’s true. Peter Cushing made a memorable character and Star Wars villain and for some reason Kenner neglected him all this time.
Part of the campaign for this figure is that Kenner admitted that Tarkin up to that point was never made into a figure. Says so on the package. Now that oversight has been fixed and a nice action figure is the result.
Tarkin rules!
01. B’omarr Monk (Mail-In Exclusive)
This mail-in exclusive sadly never received a box, but it’s a cool figure. The B’omarr Monk may only be a brief cameo in Return of the Jedi, but it made a lasting impression.
This cool little guy with the spider legs and disembodied brain in a jar is a nice piece to anyone’s collection and my personal favourite of an entirely new line of figures.
The good thing about Kenner in this new line, they didn’t shy away from the obscure characters and tried to make a wide range of figures that encompassed the entire Star Wars saga. And that’s why I enjoyed collecting them again and this time I left them in their boxes.
Too bad I was too young to appreciate that lesson when I was five.
I bid adieu,
your Origami reporter,
L.Manly
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