Let’s flow with a #StarWarsSaturday post from the archives. From The Phantom Menace line, it’s Gasgano!
This four-armed Xexto enjoys chatting it up with his peers before the big Boonta Eve pod race.
“..eh Gasgano doowa newpa Ord Petrovia!” I guess this translates to “Gasgano in the new Ord Pedrovia” … whatever that means. 😜
In The Phanton Menace novelization, Gasgano actually completed an undercard race ahead of the Boonta Eve Classic.
The Phantom Menace has now turned 26 years old this month, and I “figure” there’ll be a new Episode I figure to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 25+ years of The Phantom Menace!
Recommended music: Alan Silvestri – Doubleback (Extended Version)
On this #SomethingElseSunday, we’re celebrating 35 years of Back to the Future Part III, with this Playmobil Back to the Future Part III set!
Since NECA Toys never got around to making anything for BTTF Part III in their 1/12 scale action figure line, we had to go the Playmobil route to replicate a few scenes from the film. Thankfully, Playmobil released an advent calendar a few years ago that included a cardboard backdrop for the 1955 Pohatchee Drive-In Theater, along with Doc and Marty in their 1955 attire. For accessories, we’ve got extra tires and hardware for the Delorean, Doc’s pistol, a Western Union letter, and the framed picture of the pair from 1885.
Yes, today is the 48th anniversary of Star Wars, but today is also the 35th anniversary of Back to the Future Part III’s release in US theaters. Happy 35 years of BTTFIII!
We’re out in snowy Hoth during The Empire Strikes Back this #StarWarsSaturday. Today, from The Legacy Collection, it’s Han Solo!
After Luke escapes the wampa cave, he is out wandering in the elements due to have a meeting with the spirit of Obi-Wan. Neither droids nor any scanning instruments seem to be able to pick up a signal from Luke, including Han, who is out braving the weather on his tauntaun as well.
This version of Han Hoth came in the Recon Patrol 5-Pack with Chewie and three droids. While the figure came armed with a blaster and binoculars, I actually swapped those out for his handheld sensor here, which was included with “Hoth Rescue” Han five years earlier. The goggles and hood are not removable, but the head sculpt can’t be beat, so I really like this version of Han for scenes outside of Echo Base.
The Empire Strikes Back turned 45 years old this week! I “figure” there’ll be a new Episode V figure to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 45 years of ESB!
Recommended music: John Williams – Battle of the Heroes
On this #SomethingElseSunday, we’re celebrating 20 years of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith with this ROTS display.
Rather than focus on a single character or scene from the film, I’m simply giving you a look at the bulk of my Episode III figure collection with poster artwork for the recent 20th anniversary theatrical re-release. Maybe I’ll go one by one for the 25th anniversary. However, I’m dedicating most Star Wars Saturdays to The Empire Strikes Back this year.
Tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of Revenge of the Sith hitting theaters in the US. Happy 20 years of ROTS!
#RevengeOfTheSith20 #ROTS20
In case you’re wondering, the RetroMania show was a success for me. I was able to move a huge amount of toys from my collection into the homes of other Colorado toy collectors and fans this weekend!
We’re taking a break from The Empire Strikes Back this #StarWarsSaturday, and taking a look at Mon Mothma!
Even though the character had multiple lines of dialogue in Return of he Jedi in 1983, she did not receive an action figure until 1998 (yes, I realize there was a large hiatus following the vintage line to explain most of this gap).
Anyways, the Power of the Force 2 figure was accurately based on actress Caroline Blakiston from her scene briefing the Rebels on Home One. When the character returned for Revenge of the Sith in 2005, she received a figure right away in the ROTS figure line, this time meant to look like the new Mothma actor Genevieve O’Reilly.
The figure came with a baton and chunky-looking headdress, neither of which I care to keep track of for this loose collector. Unfortunately, the figure does not have as strong a likeness to O’Reilly, but it wasn’t as big of a deal as photo-real technology was not used on Hasbro figures at this time (especially in 3.75″ figures), and the character’s scenes from the novelization ended up on the cutting room floor.
Fortunately, the character’s scenes were included on the Episode III DVD which came out in November of 2005, and her story was fleshed out even more (with O’Reilly in the role) during The Clone Wars, Tales of the Jedi, Rebels, Rogue One, Ahsoka, and Andor, which concluded earlier this week.
Also, I recently discovered O’Reilly can be seen for a few frames of a group shot in ROTS, when Anakin and Palpatine return to Coruscant and are greeted by a group of politicians on the landing platform. Seriously, it was very difficult to find her in this scene. Also, this is still the only 3.75″ figure of O’Reilly to date. I sure hope an Andor version is in the works.
Revenge of the Sith turns 20 years old this week! I “figure” I’ll do one more Episode III post and get back to sharing a new Episode V figure here for the rest of the year. Happy 20 years of ROTS!
#RevengeOfTheSith20 #ROTS20
Just a reminder, if you’re in the Denver area, there is one more day to attend the Retromania Collectibles Show May 18th in Aurora! So stop by table 79 (or one of the other hundred tables) for some fun stuff!
Showing up this #StarWarsSaturday from the archives, from The Power of the Jedi line, it’s Shmi Skywalker!
Shmi comes with a little diagnostic tool and is still the only version of the character released in action figure form in the 25+ years since the film’s release.
“You can’t stop change any more than you can stop the suns from setting”
I “figure” there’ll be a new Episode I figure to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 25 years of The Phantom Menace!
So we’ve got time for one more #StarWarsSaturday post from the archives today. From the Discover the Force line, it’s Sebulba!
This Mos Espa version of Sebulba could be before or after the Boonta Eve pod race, as he pretty much looks the same in all his scenes. Available in the Mos Espa Arena battle pack the figure is also a repaint of a POTJ figure released 12 years earlier. He can hold his wrench and removable helmet/goggles, but where’s the fun in that?
I “figure” there’ll be a new Episode I figure to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 25 years of The Phantom Menace!
We’re still in the Wampa Cave this #StarWarsSaturday, and today from The Saga Collection, it’s the Wampa!
Despite being over two meters tall, the Wampa is able to sneak up on Luke during The Empire Strikes Back, kill his tauntaun, and drag Luke off to its cave to be a future meal.
This “Ultra” deluxe Hoth Attack version of the wampa includes an ice base that can attach to Luke’s ice base to create a set piece for your Hoth display. Besides the base, he also includes a large piece of meat on the bone (likely Luke’s tauntaun) and a removable arm (with a bit of visible blood deco) that can be popped on and off depending on whether a Jedi decides to fight back instead of becoming lunch.
Hasbro did put out an updated Wampa 14 years later that added some welcome articulation in the elbows, knees, and ankles, but I actually prefer the sculpt and look of this Saga version and the light yellow wash used to break up the bright white of the snow beast.
The Empire Strikes Back turns 45 years old this month! I “figure” there’ll be a new Episode V figure to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 45 years of ESB!
#EmpireStrikesBack45
Just a reminder, next Saturday I will NOT be in the wampa cave, I’ll be an exhibitor at the Retromania Collectibles Show May 17th & 18th in Aurora! So stop by table 79 (or one of the other hundred tables) for some fun stuff!
Recommended music: Danny Davis & The Nashville Brass – Go Speed Racer Go
And we’ve got one more #StarWarsSaturday post from the archives today. From the Discover the Force line, it’s Anakin Skywalker!
This Mos Espa version of Anakin is just after the Boonta Eve pod race, when he’s ready for some post-race trash-talking with Sebulba. Available in the Mos Espa Arena battle pack with C-3PO, a couple pit droids, and Sebulba, this Anakin is a repaint of the Anakin Skywalker (Mechanic) figure from Power Of The Jedi line released 12 years earlier. In addition to a wrench, the figure also features a nice removable helmet, so you can easily have another little Jake Lloyd likeness on your shelf.
He’s “the only human who can do it.”
I “figure” there’ll be a new Episode I figure to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 25 years of The Phantom Menace!
Recommended music: Years of our Youth – Mickey and the Roadster Racers
Here we go, this #StarWarsSaturday with a post from the archives. First, we’ve got the Disney Star Wars Character Mickey Mouse as Young Anakin Skywalker!
Thankfully, this Mickey comes with a backpack AND a removable helmet so he can show Sebulba his serious face, and that he will not be intimidated.😄
I “figure” there’ll be a new Episode I figure to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 25 years of The Phantom Menace!
And we’ve got one more #StarWarsSaturday post from the archives today. From The Phantom Menace line, it’s Anakin Skywalker!
This Tatooine version was the first “little Annie” figure from The Phantom Menace line. Before its release, the only “Anakin Skywalker” figure ever produced was in 1985 for the vintage Kenner Power Of The Force line, and this was based on Sebastian Shaw’s force ghost seen at the end of Return of the Jedi. Now, there are over a dozen versions of just this young Anakin alone.
I “figure” there’ll be a new Episode I figure to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 25 years of The Phantom Menace!
Let’s leave Echo Base this #StarWarsSaturday for the Wampa Cave. From The Saga Collection, it’s Luke Skywalker!
During The Empire Strikes Back, Luke is attacked by the wampa, who then drags Luke off to his cave and somehow uses its hot breath to melt ice around Luke’s legs, coat part of Luke’s body in saliva, and sticks Luke into the ice ceiling of the cave. This never really made sense to me, but anyway, Luke wakes up upside down with his feet stuck in the icy ceiling.
This “Hoth Attack” version of Luke recreates the scene by including his bloodied face and an icy base. A separate “Ultra” deluxe version of the wampa includes the base that attaches to Luke’s ice piece to truly hold him upside down in your display. Luke comes with his goggles (which are too big and fall off) and his lightsaber for play outside of the ceiling. His scarf has full rotation, so you can pose him right-side up or hanging. The biggest drawback to this 2004 release is the articulation. While Hasbro included joints in the neck, shoulders, waist, and hips, they forgot the knees and elbows. Beyond wielding his lightsaber against his furry captor, poseable limbs would make a big difference when Luke is hanging in the cave.
Next week: THE WAMPA!
The Empire Strikes Back turns 45 years old this month! I “figure” there’ll be a new Episode V figure to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 45 years of ESB!
Recommended music: Kylo Walker – Duel of the Fates Trance Remix
Here’s another #StarWarsSaturday post from the archives today, from The Phantom Menace line, it’s 12″ Electronic Talking Darth Maul!
While I don’t normally collect 1/6 scale or too many action figures in this size, this is still an excellent toy 25 years later. Maul comes with button-activated dialogue from the film, as well as grunts and action sounds based on movement. He has decent articulation and soft goods for the price point, and the 16″ double-bladed lightsaber will be a menace to your Pizza Hut character cups.😄
Why more Star Wars today, you ask? Because TPM hit theaters in the USA 25 (now 26) years ago this month!
I “figure” there’ll be a new Episode I figure to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 25 years of The Phantom Menace!
Tonight, we’re still in Echo Base with another #StarWarsSaturday from The Empire Strikes Back. From The Saga Collection, it’s Bren Derlin!
Do you recognize that mustachioed Major who commands that the shield doors be closed for the night while Han was still out in the frigid conditions of Hoth searching for Luke? Well, it’s none other than John Ratzenberger, who you likely recognize as Cliff Clavin, the Boston barfly and postal worker from the long-running TV series, Cheers.
Ratzenberger never traveled to Finse, Norway, along with many other Rebel Troopers to shoot his scenes as they all took place inside Echo Base and were filmed on sets in London.
The Major Derlin figure was first released in 2006 during the Saga Collection, then was given a slight repaint the following year (pictured) for an ultimate battle pack in The 30th Anniversary Collection. For this Battle of Hoth set, he was no longer named, just labeled as “Rebel Officer.” The figure is a pretty good likeness of the character, and the hat is molded onto the head, as he never needs to set it down to order a drink from Sam, Coach, or Woody. 😛 The swivel elbow articulation feels a bit dated now, but he can successfully put his hands behind his back when breaking the news to Leia.
“Your Highness, there’s nothing more we can do tonight. The shield doors must be closed.” – Bren Derlin [Leia nods] “Close the doors.” – Derlin
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