While my love affair with vintage Kenner Star Wars action figures burns ever strong, I confess to the odd flirtation with newer figures from the Neo-classic era (1990–2000) when they are particularly good. I’m not a huge fan of Hasbro’s 1990s Star Wars revamp (rather unimaginatively named Power of the Force 2 to distinguish it from the earlier 1980s Power of the Force series, famous for its cardbacks with special collector’s coins), but one simply can’t have too many Han Solo action figures! I was thrilled to dig out this 1996 figure from a bargain bin the other day.
Han Solo
May the Force be with you this Christmas!
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….Chewbacca, with Han Solo along for the ride, is heading back home for Life Day, the Wookie equivalent of Christmas. Don’t remember this from the movies? Believe it or not, this scene was actually filmed! But not for the big screen. The Star Wars Holiday Special was televised at the height of Star Wars mania in 1978. Directed by Steve Binder of the Elvis 68 Comeback Special fame, the Christmas television special took the now legendary characters from the Star Wars universe and combined them with all the Christmas trimmings of an old fashioned television variety show! Sounds great, right?
Han Solo wraps up warm on Hoth!
One of the things you’ll notice when flicking through the recent (and highly recommended) Star Wars: The Ultimate Action Figure Collection* coffee table guide is just how many pages are dedicated to everybody’s favourite Star Wars rebel Han Solo. A whopping nine pages feature the man himself in all his various costume changes, including this vintage 3¾ inch Kenner version in his Hoth Outfit as modelled in the stunning opening sequence from Irvin Kershner’s The Empire Strikes Back.
Han Solo (in Trench Coat) tops best-dressed on planet Endor list for 1984!
When Kenner launched their first Han Solo 3 ¾ inch action figure way back in 1977 they made one of the very few errors in the company’s history, creating a likeness of Harrison Ford with a disproportionately small head. Eager to correct their mistake, the ensuing re-sculpt saw them err on the generous size with the new Han sporting a oddly large bonce. This, of course, is all grist to the mill for collectors who just love tracking down varieties.
Alongside the legendary small and big-headed Han Solo action figures, Kenner released several versions of our swashbuckling Star Wars hero over the years. This version in a camouflage trench coat as he appeared on the planet Endor in Return of the Jedi, the final movie in the original trilogy, is another opportunity for collectors to chase down the different variations.
Star Wars Variations: Han Solo on Bespin
The Internet has been abuzz with news of the Blu-ray edition
of the original Star Wars trilogy which hit stores world wide recently, so I thought I’d stick with another vintage Star Wars action figure this post. Of course, I use the term “original” trilogy with some caution – as is well known, George Lucas has continued to mess with tweak the movies with every re-release to the exasperation of many fans
. Probably the most controversial change occurred in the 1997 Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition version of the cantina scene in Episode IV: A New Hope, when Han Solo shoots and kills Greedo. In the new version, Greedo is shown as firing first as Han dodges the shot only to return fire and kill his opponent.
Han Solo: Two heads are better than one!
Without wanting to seem mono-thematic here at Vintage Action Figures, last week’s look at Indiana Jones made me want to take a closer look at another Harrison Ford action figure – indeed, not one but TWO figures: the big and small head varieties of Han Solo. When in 1978 kids could finally get their hands on Kenner’s 3 ¾ inch Star Wars action figures (with 1977 stamped on the back) the Han Solo figure complete with Rebel Blaster proved enormously popular. Let’s face it, not only was he the coolest character in the movie, Harrison Ford who played Han Solo so charismatically in the movie, was the only cast member who went on to become a superstar. Soon after its release, the powers that be at Kenner looked at the original figure and decided that Han needed some work and in an unprecedented move for those days, chose to re-sculpt the head. And so the mother of all Star Wars action figure variations was born.