Tag Archives: The Empire Strikes Back

Let’s go back in time and check out the Jumbo Vintage Kenner Imperial Stormtrooper (Hoth Battle Gear) figure. It’s pretty darn awesome (more….)

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Sigh. I shouldn’t have walked away from Hasbro Pulse’s Fan Fest online event saying “Why does Hasbro hate The Vintage Collection collecting community so much? Why are they completely disengaged from its needs?” But I did. And between the sorry repacks confirmed, to the desperately needed repacks they’re dangling over our heads, I understand why people are fleeing from this scale left and right. The straw that broke the camel’s back for me was the announcement of the re-released Han Solo (Endor) figure. Does Hasbro store any record-keeping of their releases? Do they go to discount outlets? Do they have any indication of what fans want? (more….)

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That’s a wrap! We concluded our Research Droids Reviews on The Vintage Collection Wave 29, including the long-awaited Return Of The Jedi Boba Fett. If you missed any, be sure to catch up. The carded images are finally updated.

There is mixed reception with Princess Leia (Bespin Escape) (VC187) figure. But it’s not as bad as you think. Hasbro released the last version 20 YEARS ago. It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? This version has a lot of new tooling. See what Hasbro did! (more….)

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A breathtaking new video has popped up on YouTube, from May 21, 1980 — the day of The Empire Strikes Back’s release — of a Toys R Us featuring industry people as well as customers and employees talking about the Star Wars Kenner toy line. It is one of the most expansive and detailed videos I’ve seen from this time period in Star Wars collecting. I highly suggest checking it out. Special thanks to JTA reader Paul V. for the alert to this beautiful video. Seatbelt yourself in for some precious 1980 special effects! (more….)

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2020 has come and gone, and that’s good for many reasons, of course. But it’s bad for others. One reason in particular that it’s not good is because of how Hasbro treated The Vintage Collection for The Empire Strikes Back’s 40th Anniversary. (more….)

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Here’s the review to The Vintage Collection Carbon-Freezing Chamber playset. (more….)

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Check out our sneak peek of The Vintage Collection Carbon-Freezing Chamber playset, complete with the entire cast of The Empire Strikes Back, both modern and vintage Kenner, and a few cameo appearances, like Willrow Hood! The review is coming soon!

Today we revisit 4-LOM. 4-LOM wasn’t part of the Trilogo line. We’re showing one of the foreign Return Of The Jedi card back instead. 4-LOM was a late release in 1982 because it was first offered as the line’s mail-away figure that year. See the full card art and additional notes by revisiting 1982’s THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK 4-LOM figure HERE.

In 1984, new packaging for Star Wars figures was introduced for the European market. A cost containment initiative, the new packaging sported three languages of the Return Of The Jedi logo for a “one size fits all” approach. Although a “three-logo” design was created for The Power Of The Force line (as evidenced on some ‘boxed’ toys), it wasn’t carried over to the basic figure line’s card design. They continued to use the three Return Of The Jedi logos instead. Although the word “Trilogo” is found nowhere on the packaging, the term is universally adopted by all Star Wars collectors to describe this line of figures.

Today we revisit Zuckuss. Zuckuss has card art that’s nearly identical to the Kenner release. See the full Trilogo card art and additional notes by revisiting 1982’s THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Zuckuss figure HERE.

In 1984, new packaging for Star Wars figures was introduced for the European market. A cost containment initiative, the new packaging sported three languages of the Return Of The Jedi logo for a “one size fits all” approach. Although a “three-logo” design was created for The Power Of The Force line (as evidenced on some ‘boxed’ toys), it wasn’t carried over to the basic figure line’s card design. They continued to use the three Return Of The Jedi logos instead. Although the word “Trilogo” is found nowhere on the packaging, the term is universally adopted by all Star Wars collectors to describe this line of figures.

Today we revisit (Twin Pod) Cloud Car Pilot. It didn’t come in standard Trilogo packaging. Instead, it was packaged in what the collecting community deems as “Trilogo Hybrid” packaging. The card front is nearly identical to the Kenner Return Of The Jedi Cloud Car Pilot figure, while the back features the Trilogo logo and figure group shot. The review’s Collector Notes are updated with this information. See the full card art and additional notes by revisiting 1982’s THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (Twin Pod) Cloud Car Pilot figure HERE.

In 1984, new packaging for Star Wars figures was introduced for the European market. A cost containment initiative, the new packaging sported three languages of the Return Of The Jedi logo for a “one size fits all” approach. Although a “three-logo” design was created for The Power Of The Force line (as evidenced on some ‘boxed’ toys), it wasn’t carried over to the basic figure line’s card design. They continued to use the three Return Of The Jedi logos instead. Although the word “Trilogo” is found nowhere on the packaging, the term is universally adopted by all Star Wars collectors to describe this line of figures.

Today we revisit AT-AT Commander. AT-AT Commander has card art that’s nearly identical to the Kenner release. See the full Trilogo card art and additional notes by revisiting 1982’s THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK AT-AT Commander figure HERE.

In 1984, new packaging for Star Wars figures was introduced for the European market. A cost containment initiative, the new packaging sported three languages of the Return Of The Jedi logo for a “one size fits all” approach. Although a “three-logo” design was created for The Power Of The Force line (as evidenced on some ‘boxed’ toys), it wasn’t carried over to the basic figure line’s card design. They continued to use the three Return Of The Jedi logos instead. Although the word “Trilogo” is found nowhere on the packaging, the term is universally adopted by all Star Wars collectors to describe this line of figures.

Today we revisit Luke Skywalker (Hoth Battle Gear). Luke Skywalker (Hoth Battle Gear) is noticeably different than its Kenner counterpart. It looks as if the film-out was bleached it’s so light. See the full Trilogo card art and additional notes by revisiting 1982’s THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Luke Skywalker (Hoth Battle Gear) figure HERE.

In 1984, new packaging for Star Wars figures was introduced for the European market. A cost containment initiative, the new packaging sported three languages of the Return Of The Jedi logo for a “one size fits all” approach. Although a “three-logo” design was created for The Power Of The Force line (as evidenced on some ‘boxed’ toys), it wasn’t carried over to the basic figure line’s card design. They continued to use the three Return Of The Jedi logos instead. Although the word “Trilogo” is found nowhere on the packaging, the term is universally adopted by all Star Wars collectors to describe this line of figures.

Today we revisit C-3PO (Removable Limbs). C-3PO (Removable Limbs) doesn’t vary all that much fro the original Kenner release. Eventually, the name of the figure was changed to See-Threepio (C-3PO) (With Removable Limbs), but that took some time. See the full Trilogo card art and additional notes by revisiting 1982’s THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK C-3PO (Removable Limbs) figure HERE.

In 1984, new packaging for Star Wars figures was introduced for the European market. A cost containment initiative, the new packaging sported three languages of the Return Of The Jedi logo for a “one size fits all” approach. Although a “three-logo” design was created for The Power Of The Force line (as evidenced on some ‘boxed’ toys), it wasn’t carried over to the basic figure line’s card design. They continued to use the three Return Of The Jedi logos instead. Although the word “Trilogo” is found nowhere on the packaging, the term is universally adopted by all Star Wars collectors to describe this line of figures.

Today we revisit ARTOO-DETOO (R2-D2). ARTOO-DETOO (R2-D2) has an interesting Trilogo card back. C-3PO was repositioned, and both characters received a strong orange wash over them. Eventually, the name of the figure was changed to Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) (with Sensorscope), but that took some time. See the full Trilogo card art and additional notes by revisiting 1982’s THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK ARTOO-DETOO (R2-D2) figure HERE.

You saw our The Pathway To The Vintage Collection Special Report published on August 6th. Now we’re finishing up revisiting the figures that set The Vintage Collection in motion. We’ve reached the final wave of figures. Luke Skywalker (Bespin Fatigues) made collectors happy in 2007, but time has not been kind. We updated the figure in our newly updated review, complete with new text and photos and Visual Guide.

You saw our The Pathway To The Vintage Collection Special Report published on August 6th. Now we’re finishing up revisiting the figures that set The Vintage Collection in motion. We’ve reached the final wave of figures. Imperial Stormtrooper (Hoth Battle Gear) was excellent for the time but has since aged out. How many of you bought this figure by the dozens? We updated the figure in our newly updated review, complete with new text and photos and Visual Guide.

You saw our The Pathway To The Vintage Collection Special Report published on August 6th. Now we’re finishing up revisiting the figures that set The Vintage Collection in motion. We’ve reached the final wave of figures. Bossk (Bounty Hunter) was released as a permanently definitive action figure. it still is fabulous today. We updated the figure in our newly updated review, complete with new text and photos and Visual Guide.

You saw our The Pathway To The Vintage Collection Special Report published on August 6th. Now we’re finishing up revisiting the figures that set The Vintage Collection in motion. We’ve reached the final wave of figures. Han Solo (Hoth Outfit) was a significant update to the character in 2007. We updated the figure in our newly updated review, complete with new text and photos and Visual Guide.

In 1984, new packaging for Star Wars figures was introduced for the European market. A cost containment initiative, the new packaging sported three languages of the Return Of The Jedi logo for a “one size fits all” approach. Although a “three-logo” design was created for The Power Of The Force line (as evidenced on some ‘boxed’ toys), it wasn’t carried over to the basic figure line’s card design. They continued to use the three Return Of The Jedi logos instead. Although the word “Trilogo” is found nowhere on the packaging, the term is universally adopted by all Star Wars collectors to describe this line of figures.

Today we revisit Rebel Commander. Rebel Commander’s Trilogo card art features a new crop of the film-out image See the full card art and additional notes by revisiting 1981’s THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Rebel Commander figure HERE.

In 1984, new packaging for Star Wars figures was introduced for the European market. A cost containment initiative, the new packaging sported three languages of the Return Of The Jedi logo for a “one size fits all” approach. Although a “three-logo” design was created for The Power Of The Force line (as evidenced on some ‘boxed’ toys), it wasn’t carried over to the basic figure line’s card design. They continued to use the three Return Of The Jedi logos instead. Although the word “Trilogo” is found nowhere on the packaging, the term is universally adopted by all Star Wars collectors to describe this line of figures.

Today we revisit Leia (Hoth Outfit). Leia (Hoth Outfit)’s Trilogo card art features an alternate image used nowhere else in the classic toy line. Finding a high-resolution version of it is next to impossible as well. It’s one of the rarest film-out images in the Lucasfilm archives. They also changed the character’s name to Princess Leia Organa (Hoth Outfit). See the full card art and additional notes by revisiting 1981’s THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK Leia (Hoth Outfit) figure HERE.

Chewbacca is our next The Empire Strikes Back 40th Anniversary Visual Guide update. Click below for our full Visual Guide. We also have our full review of this figure posted in our review database right here.

Up next for our The Empire Strikes Back 40th Anniversary Visual Guide updates is Boba Fett. Click below to check out our Visual Guide for the latest release of this figure, and make sure to stop by our full review for additional details and photos.

The best-looking 6″ version of Chewbacca is part of the 40th Anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back. This is a must-have figure for your collection. (more….)

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Let’s take a look at the next wave of The Empire Strikes Back 40th Anniversary figures. Up first is the retooled Darth Vader. Click below to check out the Visual Guide page. You can also read our full review of this figure in our review database.