R5-D4 - Jumbo Vintage Kenner Figures

Throughout the years, there have been very few accurate representations of R5-D4 by Hasbro in the basic figure line. At face value some sculpts have been amazing, but one detail, more often than not, is always left out. We are referring to the vertical red panels on the astromech droid’s posterior. If you look at the various modern action figure interpretations of him, you’ll notice he needs a little bit of color on the back of him. What makes this especially annoying is that it’s a major detail that the original 1979 Kenner didn’t miss. As you can imagine, after so many 3.75” releases of R5-D4, it’s especially comforting to see him again in one-sixth scale with this detail completely in place. R5-D4 was a Star Wars fan favorite action figure in the original Kenner line. He lasted throughout the line’s entire eight year run. We loved placing him in the Y-wing Fighter because he looked cooler than ever. And sometimes he had a slight edge over R2-D2 as far as design. Whether you like him or not, R5-D4 has sustained his positive image throughout the years quite easily.

So now we welcome R5-D4 into Gentle Giant Ltd.’s Jumbo Vintage Kenner Figures line. He comes to collectors a whole lot bigger, but all of the original elements are in place, from the decal that gives him his many bodily details, to the clicking sound made by rotating his dome. One of the most simply articulated of all the Kenner figures, R5-D4 comes with a mere three points of articulation. His aforementioned rotating dome is joined by two swivel legs at the “shoulder” pivot points. For reasons unknown, R5-D4 is a tad less white than the Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) Jumbo Vintage Kenner Figure. We looked at the 1979 and 1978 figures respectively and couldn’t find any difference between the two white plastics. This might end up being a small oversight by the folks at Gentle Giant. It’s really not drastic so please don’t think that they look like they are two different colors. R5-D4 is excellently painted and in perfect scale to the rets of the figures in the line. He looks exceptional next to the other 1979 Star Wars figures that were originally released alongside him back in the day.

Obviously the Jumbo Vintage Kenner Figures line is becoming increasingly nostalgic for more and more collectors. Gentle Giant Ltd. has released many of these figures at a time where the Hasbro line is in limbo and collectors, who are desperate to buy something new, are for the first time considering branching out with this line. Many of us are unable to process the demise of the Hasbro The Vintage Collection basic figure line (which went into indefinite hibernation at the end of 2012), so the Jumbo Vintage Kenner Figures line is the next best thing. It really is. The cost may be too great for most collectors and their size will quickly fill up shelf space. Ultimately this line won’t be for everyone. But we have to tell you that with each new release we purchase, the desire for more becomes greater and greater. We can’t wait for more releases that include The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi. But we won’t get too anxious and we will be sure to fully appreciate a fine release like R5-D4, who doesn’t get enough credit for his role in A New Hope. If it wasn’t for his malfunction, the Star Wars saga may have headed in a completely different direction (whether it was espionage or not).