The Vintage Kenner figures and products do not hold up well when compared to Hasbro's modern toys and role play items. However, seeing them brings back nostalgic memories. Seeing toy stores in shopping malls having the figures on the racks, going to friend's houses and playing with the toys and the role playing items. Even when I take mine out of storage for annual physical checks (looking for loose limbs, any paint loss, etc) I get a feeling of comfort for simpler times. But, like many who have gotten back into the Vintage Kenner game, I have big holes in my collection, some are Holy Grails. I know I likely won't get them, but it would be nice if I did! In no particular order: Figures 1. General Lando. One of the last figures made, he is hard to find and worth a fortune on the secondary market. 2. Brown hair Luke (ANH & ESB). A 2-fer, later in the Kenner run they made brown haired Luke's from the 1st 2 films. Why? I have no idea. Yet. But they are also p...

Can Legends fans enjoy some Disney Canon stories? Simply put, yes. While overall I'm not a fan of Disney Canon, there have been some very good stories done. The current Marvel run of comics have had great stories, especially from Darth Vader's monthly series. The 1st 6 issues of the 1st Star Wars monthly, Skywalker Strikes is an incredible story with a shocking end at issue 1. The Lando mini series as well as the Han Solo mini series are fun reads. Shattered Empire is a 4 issue look at a post Endor galaxy with appearances by the main characters, even though Kes Dameron and Shara Bey (Poe Dameron's parents) are the main protagonists in that series. Some books have also been good. Timothy Zahn is nearly wrapping up his 2nd Thrawn Trilogy. Claudia Gray has written some of the best new books as well. Master And Apprentice is an incredible Qui-Gon & Obi-Wan adventure. Bloodline is one of the best ever Leia stories, and gives us a look at events leading up to Episode 7....

Prologue part 1 Rey Skywalker was walking down a corridor of an ancient Jedi Temple. From the High Republic Era, as Luke's Holocron had said. This was where he and Ben Solo first found The Knights of Ren. Finn, as well as several of her students were here as well. She could hear their voices as she walked the halls. So many artifacts...but then a cold sensation struck her. The students went silent. They felt it too. She heard a lightsaber ignite. "Finn, no!" She yelled as she raced to the main room in the temple. A woman in all black stood before them. Finn had activated his new blue bladed lightsaber. "LEAVE US ALONE!" He yelled, but the woman in black stretched out her fingers, which were like serpents, striking down the 4 younger students who came with them. Sensing the danger, Chewbacca came racing in, only to be struck down as well. Now it was just Finn and Rey left to confront the woman. Rey ignited her yellow bladed lightsaber. "We take her togethe...

Without the success of Heir to the Empire 30 years ago, Star Wars wouldn't have become a popular franchise once again. Without Legends success, Hasbro/Kenner wouldn't have brought the toys back in 1995 in there wasn't a movie or TV show coming out. Unlike the OT VC requests, these are in the order I think is needed. 1. Mara Jade (Vision of the Future cover outfit). Mara has a 3.75 Black Series figure, but all Mara figures have been in her "catsuit". The cover of VOTF had her in a green outfit that resembled her appearance as a Jedi. Besides, Mrs Skywalker deserves a new figure! 2. Rukh. Thrawn's Noghri bodyguard. I wouldn't mind if they based him off his appearance in Rebels, just make sure he has his knife to stab Thrawn with. 3. Joruus C'baoth. An insane Jedi Master would be a cool adversary. Make sure he has long hair and a long beard plus swappable lightning shooting hands. 4. Garm Bel Iblis. Why another Rebel General figure you may ...

Chewbacca was also included in the Early Bird Kit, and is one of the few figures (Ben Kenobi, Vader, & Stormtrooper) that had no name changes, or changes made to the figure over the run of the line from 1978-85. He has only 4 articulation points (4 POA) as his head cannot move. His bandloier strap is painted white but over time it fades away, his eyes are blue, and I some cases doesn't fade over time. He comes with his bowcaster weapon that he won't fire onscreen in A New Hope. But what stands out is the detail of the sculpting of his fur. It was incredible even in 1978, and it still holds up well, even by today's standards! As I mentioned, there were no name changes or other additions or subtractions made to Chewbacca during this time. His card was the same for all 3 movies, but would later get a new card image for Return of the Jedi showing an actual scene from the movie. He's also the tallest figure of the Vintage Kenner line, just slightly taller than Darth...

When it comes to Star Wars toys, the OT is where it's at. They sell. A lot. But while a lot has been made, there is still more to go. One day, Hasbro will (maybe) finish off the original Kenner 96. Some of these are original 96, others were not offered originally. For the record, these figures are from the original 3 films, and comics that take place in this time. Also, these figures have yet to be in the modern Vintage Collection. 1. C-3P0 with removable limbs. One we need for the old 96, but a Black Series version was done as an exclusive. Just make sure he has a pack that Chewie can carry! 2. Hammerhead. My favorite Cantina alien. Hasbro made a decent buck back in the Saga Legends for the Clone Wars micro series Jedi of his species and it could be used here. 3. General Veers. He's the only competent officer Vader has. Plus he was the image on the Imperial Officer card in the Kenner days. 4. Tonnika Sisters. They have been requested for years, and are the 2 women wh...

A Certain Point Of View What Yoda Really Meant When He Said: “Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.” Another interpretation, from a certain point of view  ;) Don't worry about something, or someone you fear losing. People come and go in this life. You can either live your life, or you can live other people's lives for them. If you do the latter, are you really helping? Once you lose your fear of loss, you will find your path will have fewer obstacles in it. Besides, if you spend your whole life worrying about things you cannot control, is that really living?!

4th Worst Black Series: Leia Organa (Episode 7) Okay. Where to begin with this figure?! Once again Hasbro gave us a Legacy character in an outfit they are in for only 20 seconds of screen time and this is how Leia is dressed when Rey goes off to find Luke. No blaster or other accessory comes with her either. But what makes this figure bad is the head sculpt. It looks NOTHING like Carrie Fisher! Now if Joan Crawford played Leia, yeah. That being said, this almost made my worst figure list. However you can make this a New Republic Senator Leia by putting on a younger Leia head (you may have to glue it on). For that, it dropped from 1st to 4th. So it fails upward. https://www.jedibusiness.com/figureDetails.aspx?id=4774 Honorable Mention Best Black Series: Praetorian Guard I am no fan of the sequels, but when they make great Star Wars toys, it should be acknowledged. This is a great figure! While there are other guards with different helmets and weapons, this more generic version ...

In the current wave of stories, the  fans is simple: is it Canon? This may seem like a pointless question but given how some events (Kanan The Last Padawan comic mini series) have been "retconned" on screen (The Bad Batch premiere episode) it is a legitimate question. In this case, what was shown onscreen contradicted a comic series that had come out 3-4 years prior to the show that showed a different way how Depa Bilaba had been killed and how Kanan went on the run with Clone Force 99 being nowhere in sight. Or was it told from a certain point of view?! Aside from that, we saw the trailer for Star Wars: Visions. Simply put, it looks amazing! The anime styles, the different stories, it all looks great! But is it Canon? No. And that's just fine by me. As a fan who prefers mostly Legends over Disney Canon (some Disney Canon stories are not that bad), I welcome this. If only it means we get some Legends stories (fingers crossed! 🤞) adapted. Whether it is or isn...

I will NOT include Clone Wars since that is another topic, one I'll cover later on. Just from the 3 films. These have never been on VC cards, and some don't need a lot. In order of preference. 1. Count Dooku. Take the Evolutions buck and a new photo real head sculpt and we have a perfect Dooku. Hard to believe he hasn't been on a Kenner card. 2. Ki Adi-Mundi. Besides Yoda and Mace Windu he has more screen time than any Jedi not named Obi-Wan and Anakin. He had lines in TPM & ROTS. Plus he's an alien, which makes him a must have. 3. Padme Amidala (Factory Chase). They have this figure already, she just needs a new head sculpt. Doesn't the secret Mrs Skywalker deserve a good VC figure?! 4. Captain Typho. Padme's bodyguard in the last 2 films. He has a few lines, and they have a good Legacy figure of him already. 5. Bail Organa (birth of the twins). They have a version of this figure already. But Bail needs a new sculpt because the old one just ...

Black Series 2nd Best & 3rd Worst 3rd Worst Starkiller Han Solo I'm not doing Disney Trilogy hate, but this figure is pointless. Just like the upcoming 4th worst figure. Here, we see Han in an outfit he wears for all of 10 seconds onscreen. Han in a winter coat is not needed or wanted, unless it's Hoth Han. No, we should have gotten his main look from Episode 7. Instead the 3.75 inch toy line got Han's main look in the 5 POA line. Had this figure had been Han's main look instead, it might have made my best list. Plus they could have reused the buck for an updated Bespin Han Solo. https://www.jedibusiness.com/figureDetails.aspx?id=4773 2nd Best Darth Plagueis I love Sith Lord figures. Sidious, Malak, Revan, Nihilus, Bane, Maul, Tyrannus, Malgus, Krayt & Vader. They are awesome. Plus, Jedi need enemies to fight. Plagueis is from Legends as we have no idea what he looks like in new Canon. He's a Muun, so he is thin and tall. He comes with a ...

Retro Solo This will be short, sweet, and to the point! 1. Han Solo. As seen at the end of the movie, the main outfit we see him in. Hopefully they figure out a way for his holster to store his blaster. 2. Chewbacca. Nuff said! 3. Lando Calrissian. He should be in his yellow shirt, as seen when first recruited. 4. L3-37. Yes my favorite part was seeing L3 get blown to bits. Removable limbs and head are a must! 5. Tobias Beckett. Han's mentor, he needs his dual pistols and use the vinyl cape as his coat. 6. Val. Beckett's partner in every way. Not enough Retro female figures, she's needed! 7. Rio Durant. This multi-limbed individual would be tough to pull off in Retro. Not likely to be made, but it would be neat to see him! 8. Qi'ra. She should come in her Kessel outfit. Give her a blaster and she's all set! 9. Dryden Vos. I doubt they could do a color change feature but I'd be happy if his head was sculpted in his "angry" look....

A new segment I'll do weekly where I analyze a quote from my own point of view. What Yoda Really Meant When He Said.... “Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force. Mourn them do not. Miss them do not. Attachment leads to jealously. The shadow of greed, that is.” What I interpret this is isn't as literal as many think it is. Remember what Obi-Wan told Luke on Dagobah about a certain point of view...well here is my take. From my own point of view. We lose people in our lives. One day, those closest to us will die. We cannot stop that from happening. The comfort we have when they go is that they are at a better place, and one day, we will see them again. That covers the 1st 2 sentences. Yoda doesn't mean to literally not mourn, or miss them. We are emotional beings. We have feelings. There is a time to mourn, and to remember. But to dwell on that isn't something a Jedi should do, no matter how powerful a Jedi you ...

Kenner 1978 Luke Skywalker One of the first Star Wars action figures ever released was Luke Skywalker. Luke was part of a special "Early Bird" package that Kenner sent out for Christmas 1977 and would be delivered to homes in the spring of 1978. Luke is a relatively simple sculpt, but for 1977-78 this was the best sculpting. There are some details on his pants and belt that are well done, and follow into the next films toy versions. Luke only comes with his telescoping yellow lightsaber. The Early Bird Luke, and the 1st release of Luke have the rare double telescoping lightsaber (Ben & Vader had this too). If you have any of those on card, you can safely retire or buy a nice car. They are worth a LOT!! Sadly, Luke cannot hold a blaster in his free hand so if you wanted to recreate movie scenes, imagination must be used. There are figure variants, I mentioned one earlier with the lightsaber. The other is brown hair, which is worth a bit more than the standard blonde...