Star Wars Follies: AyecaROMBA! - The Magnificent 17 Vintage Kenner Toy Review
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- Опубліковано 16 жов 2024
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In the latest installment of Star Wars Follies, RetroBlasting delves into the last vintage action figures of the Kenner Star Wars line - The Last 17!
#RetroBlasting #StarWars #Last17
As kids, my best friend and I called Imperial Dignitary "The Purple Pope" and we made him the Emperor's boss. He was super powerful with the Force in our childhood adventures.
Obscene Newg
Omg yes
These figures were before my time but that sounded like fun
😄
He died in the movie. Does that make him purple God?
It's not far from Lucas' heavy handed naming convention- Emperor PAPALtine, anyone?
I've always thought that the Imperial Dignitary was a strong addition to this line!
I wouldn't say strong, but I had no real problem with him. Sculpt was clunky, had no identity until Dark Horse's X-Wing comics, but he looked cool hanging with his peep the Emperor.
Ugly Troll Now I see. Thanks! Lol!
I own him sealed
Imperial Dignitary is my spirit animal!
Thats going to be my Halloween costume this year.
The Last 17 line including Yak Face was widely available in Australia, in fact most of them could be found in bargain bins for fifty cents in 1986, if only I knew then what we all know now!
That was pretty common in 80's/90's toylines. My understanding is that overseas distribution for final waves was often wider due to orders etc. lagging behind the domestic market.
I love the end of this video when Michael adds R2 to his collection just awesome! Still my favorite retroblasting video!
Anyone knows what song plays at the end?
satisfaction
Me too! Put a smile on my face
The end of this video gets me every time. I collected the Spider-Man Animated Series line back in the 90s and was only 1 figure short of the entire series on card. When "Web Trap" Spider-Man came in the mail from eBay I had the exact same feeling as Mike did.
I always wanted an Oola figure. The slave dancer in Jabba's palace. Green skin and tentacles, it would've been a fabulous figure. FABULOUS!
Marco Antonio But but but EWOKS MAKE MONEY -Kenner.
When I heard "Endor Luke," even though I knew better, it sounded like he was saying, "Indoor Luke," like it was the one Luke Sky Walker figure from the trilogy that never went outside.
The moon of indoor? How is a moon going to be indoors?
Kenneth Malone Yes, and indoor blasters! Lol!
I honestly thought he was saying "Indoor" too. It took me a minute to realize he was saying "Endor". I always thought those figures were called "Poncho Luke" and "Poncho Leia".
I bought Imperial dignitary of my own free will as a kid, and not out of completionist tendencies either. At 9, I thought the Emperor looked all pale and gross because he was some kind of non human alien, and I thought the pasty white robed characters in his throne room were representatives of that same race which is why I wanted him. Granted, I was wrong about my interpretation, and granted it was a crap figure (so was the Emperor), but I still chose to buy him for what I thought was a good reason.
Indeed, looking back at them, the Emperor figure really looked bad.
To be totally fair, I can't fault your logic. And yes, while we all love the emperor, the figure does kinda stink
18:27
RetroBlasting: The Emperor
Disney: I’m gonna pretend I didn’t see that.
I was gona comment the same thing 😂
The Dark Side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be… unnatural.
Mickey Mouse: Huh hah! That’ll explain it away!!!
I might sound weird but with all that music and when r2-D2 was placed in the collection it gives me tearful joys of great memories.
I still have several of my original ones, lost my R2 with pop up sensor scope though :-( if I ever get him back I'll think of this music as I put him with the rest of the figures
Klatu. Barada. Nicto. Why do those names seem so familiar? and why do I feel a sense of dread? Why do I feel that the Earth will stand still? And what does this have to do with the Necronomicon?
MrColuber it is in Evil dead
hi 😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😙😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😙😙😀😙😙😙😙😀😙😙😙😙😙😙😙😙😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀
That's the joke.
KLATU... BARADA... NI---*cough* (yes i do know that the names are originally from the day the earth stood still but i first heard them in evil dead 3)
It's originally names from Moby Dick
This is HILARIOUS!! I just realized Grand Moff Tarkin has just slightly less air time than the other antagonist VADER!! Why didn't they make him? they had old guys hello Ben Kenobi!! but this was a very cool video.
P.S. I am the same age as these guys. I was 14 in 85'. I pretty much had moved on from toys but to this day I STILL will go into a toy store and try to imagine what it was like to be the younger me. These toys represent that time before the real world, before girls (and then women), before money, before growing up.
I was in a Kay* Bee toy store (just like the video) and saw the remnants of the POTF toys, now marked down to $1.99...I say again $1 FRIGGIN 99. The figure was the Luke Battle Poncho. I remember the internal dialogue I had in my head "do I buy this"? your a F!@*ing teenager, teenagers don't buy Star Wars Toys!!" "BUT I really want it". I set the figure down and walked out proud of the ADULT decision I made...I have regretted that day ever since. I now own TWO OF THESE FRIGGIN FIGURES!!! I paid almost $300 for both. I still get sick thinking about that day in Kay Bee, however sickness gives way to elation that I finally have them and righted that wrong from long ago. I will complete my set... but I'm taking my time, I'm no longer in a hurry to grow up.
+Peter McElroy Thanks Peter for the kind words! - Michael
Oh, the KayBee days... now everything sucks...
I certainly can relate to your plight. I was a senior in HS in 1985 and since I didn't have luck with girls I stuck with toys, of course that could also been because I never gave up toys, comics or cartoons. ;) I remember those same bins, and going through that same process, but my dilemma was with competing toy lines. Toy collecting certainly caught me early, and I stuck with it for years. But the line I had the most interest in was GIJoe, it was my favorite. Between the toys and comics it had a big influence on me joining the Marines, because I thought Gung-Ho was the coolest. Heck the day my recruiter picked me up to take me to MEPS to be shipped out to boot camp which happened to be Christmas day 1985 I had just finished assembling my USS Flagg. Even in the Marines I kept collecting, the highlight being that while coming back from Parris Island we stopped at a KMart and there on the shelves was new Joes.. Leatherneck whose file name was Wendell, and Mainframe which had EGAs on his helmet and buckle, and a 3rd MarDiv patch on his arm. His significance was I was also to be a computer specialist and would also serve my time in 3rd MarDiv, in the Corps. Though my machine was big and green (IBM 4110), and even though they said it was portable you needed some really strong guys. It took the Ice Cream soldier for me to finally say no more. (As I picked up a Shipwreck from that assortment) Eventually the adulting thing would hit me, and I even found a girl. Then one day there was a need for money, and so I thought about it and decided to sell off everything; Comics, Toys,.. Star Wars, Masters of the Universe, Transformers, several odds and end figures, and my Joes. I regret doing that to this very day. Because in hindsight that emergency really wasn't that big of an emergency, and eventually that life crushing event happened anyway, and though it was a struggle I lived through it. All I hope now that all my toys and comics are in the hands of collectors who cherish them as much as I did. (One thing I did keep though was issue#21 of the GIJoe comic book, has to be one of the best written comics.)
I remember that day, too. I spotted that figure as I walked by, but I was looking for The Transformer's toys. Not finding what I was looking for, I stood there, just watching you, hiding behind an end cap display, hoping you wouldn't buy that Luke Battle Poncho that was in your hands. Oh, the joy and thrill I felt as you put it back in its place. I ran up to it, grabbed it, and when I got home I put it in a box, forgetting about it. Some years later, I was going through my stuff and found my Luke Battle Poncho! Looking at Ebay prices I though, "Woah! I gotta sell this guy! After all, I only paid $1.99 for him. Time to cash in! I ENDED UP SELLING IT TO THIS EBAY BUYER NAMED "Peter McElroy" COULD IT BE THE SAME GUY!?
Aye me too I remember the magic feeling going to big stores and seeing all the figures and vehicles and picking the ones I would get for birthday. I actually miss that feeling of amazement more than the missing pieces of my collection.
I was 14 in 1985. One day that year, I was in a Montgomery Ward or Elder-Beerman, walked down the toy aisles, and saw an entire wall of ALL SW up to 75% off price. Bought a pile of Last 17 for maybe .50 cents each, Lando, ImpDig, Romba, etc., all but HanCarb, Amanaman, and maybe LukeStorm, a bunch of Droids and Ewok stuff, ALL carded. Kept them till 1995, sold all for $65 each, and moved to the city. Oh my goodness if I had those now, I could freekn retire.
+×Edit- I love your videos. Keep up the great work!
I remember going into K Mart and just seeing piles of Ewoks and Admiral Ackbar toys for 50 cents. I bought one of the Ewoks, I don't know their names but it was one of the ones in this video. He was on a ROTJ card though, I never owned a POTF figure.
By the time POTF came out SW was outdated. I didn't like a lot of the ROTJ toys and GI Joe were just superior from a playability standpoint. In 1985 I was into MASK, GI Joe, Voltron, Transformers, and Robotech.
I remember going into Toys R US around 1987 and in the discount aisle there were all kinds of Star Wars toys dirt cheap but I was just over it.
I remember this huge advertised sale at Toyworld as a kid. “All Star Wars figures, $1.99 each” (aud). But when we got there all they had was literally 500-600 admiral Ackbar’s and 300-400 Emperor’s. Every kids dream... not :(
In hindsight I wish I had have bought 10 of each and left them on the card.
I'm not surprised Anakin didn't come with any accessories. He's not holding anything in that scene with Obi-Wan and Yoda so it makes sense.
He comes with an accessory...his smile!
Lol
he should have had a magic crystal or vader helmet ☺
I could just imagine what would happen if they made his hand with the ability to hold a blaster. Someone doing photos for toys would have Anakin holding that blaster on a vehicle box or a store display. 😄
He should’ve had a face swap.
Ya know Michael, your Star Wars Follies videos are probably the only UA-cam videos I can re-watch every so often. It's not just that the Kenner Star Wars line was the focal point of my childhood. I can relate to these videos so well because you are articulating many of the same thoughts I've had about the line through the years. I love how angry you get about things like Kenner's bad choices, especially the Imperial Dignitary! hahaha You make me laugh. But you also nail the feeling these toys bring to us, at the end of this video in particular. For some reason they really warm the heart of us collectors of a certain age! I, too, have kept all my old figures and toys, but never really felt the need even as an adult toy collector to collect any of the stuff I didn't get as the line was ending and my interest waning. I'm good with what I had back then. Anyhoo, keep up the great work! Shout out to Melinda for giving me one last LOL at the end! :D
Technically, they dropped basic C-3PO and R2-D2 and replaced them with the Removable Limbs and Sensorscope.
They're updates to the first releases.
I would prefer a sensor/Para scope r2 and limbs removable 3po than the standard versions of no gimic at all. I like the 2006 echo base r2 d2 action figure and potf 2 removable limbs remake c-3po. Don't disagree to agree that I don't enjoy the no action gimic at all I do love them but I prefer the ones with gimic action.
Awesome video.
I used to collect starwars figures when I was younger until a guy who was doing work on our house stole about 10 of them from me. Yak Face, Luke in Jedi, Boba Fett, Reeyees, Anakin etc. I was so upset that I didnt want to look at any of my figures anymore. I ended up selling every one I had except for Han in Carbonite (carded). Now I think my scars have healed enough and I'm ready to start buying everything back again. Your videos have been a major part in that change of heart and I thank you for getting me into the old Kenner line again. I know I'll pay twice or maybe 3 times as much for everything, but half the fun of collecting is in the hunt itself.
LoL, your experience with the Anakin Skywalker figure made me think about how I still occasionally joke with my mom about the Emperor mail-away figure we sent for back in the day and never got (you hear about letters being delivered 20 years late after being found behind something at the Post Office)...also the Anakin figure sort of looks like Bill Clinton.
That skiff is really cool though. In all the movies, Jabba's tatooine thieves den was my favorite. It was like a Treasure Island style pirate's hideout used in so much pulp fiction. The giant floating skiff and the smaller skiffs were just a big pirate ship with its boats for forays to islands on an ocean of sand. And of course walking the plank was the most obvious nod to pirate tropes. I never had the skiff, so I used some of my generic boat toys and dug a hole lined with sticks to recreate the Sarlacc pit. In my version, everyone except Boba and Weequay ended up in the pit.
I had that Sarlacc board game though.
Loved all these figures and had most of them because I was still young when they came out. Imperial Dignitary was mysterious and cool, like was part of whatever temple the bad guys were commanding
This is one of my favorite Retroblasting episodes. I’ve watched this episode dozens of times. Listening to Michael talk about his love of Star Wars helps me when I get in my slump of collecting vintage Star Wars. When he says his love for SW always brings him back. I love the nostalgia of it all. Thank you Michael
Just watched again in 2023.
Still one of my favorite videos from any channel.
Nice work Michael.👍👍
Oh man, your episodes are getting better and better, this was hilarious. I appreciate the information and humor in this video.
These were my figures. In Sweden, these were the figures that were coming out when I got into the toys, so I have a ton of these, including Yak Face. Still have them too.
I always wanted them to make rebel soldiers, the ones you see at the start of ANH that the storm troopers are fighting. I like the Imperial dignitary figure. It gives me ( as a child ) another villain figure instead of every play time being Vader / Emperor . My final figure I bought was the Blue Snaggletooth.
I have the full range but not all variants as I think as long as you have one of each you have the full collection but the Blue Snaggletooth is the cherry on top.
The rebel soldiers would have been awesome. The rebels needed some cannon fodder, and I think the only rebel cannon fodder figure is the rebel commando from Endor. Imperial Dignitary is just a bad decision, he’s barely in the movie and has absolutely no consequence to the plot. Kenner should have gone for a more recognizable villain who had more consequence to the plot. You’re entitled to your opinion, of course.
The shot with Melinda saying "Camel Toe" at the end was hillarious
It's sad because by Jedi, Wedge had solidified himself as a pretty prominent secondary character...probably the most prominent of the non main protagonists.
Michael and melinda you guys did it again! great video and very informative. i still believe you guys are the best retro vintage toy channel on youtube and i will be a subber for life! the time and effort you guys put into your retroblasting videos is well worth the wait everytime and i can't wait to see what you guys do in the future! Go RetroBlasting!
To be honest, I actually liked the idea of extra ewoks, for my custom ewok village. 4 just didn't do it justice. Also, Arvel Crynyd was my favourite of the lot. Sweet video btw.
I saw them once growing up at a Gee bees dept store they were an entire end cap But I'm sure my reaction was ....new star wars?
as I was running to see the newest Gi.Joe or Sectaurs or something,,
I think the love for them is the romance of the one that got away..
Ok Retroblasting, I have seen some great videos about Kenner Toys but your videos on M.A.S,K, and yellow lightsabers and crappy stick accessories are the best ever...until now.
This Last 17 video is the greatest video EVER MADE about Kenner action figures!
Michael and Melinda and anyone else involved should know you guys are hitting it out of the park. Keep up the great work!
I really love your commentary! Great work.
Oh my God! Such flashbacks I'm having! You are so right about the Imperial Dignitary! I remember an entire clearance bin being filled only with Imperial Dignitaries. But here in Europe they were sold on TriLogo cards. Anyway, I remember digging through that clearence bin in hope of finding some other figure, but no. Only Imperial Dignitaries, and I remember thinking they looked sooooo boring!
this is a great edited and written episode. Funny opening, cool stylish with the voiceover parts... I love it. thanks and greetings from Germany
I got the feels watching you finally unwrap that R2-D2. Great vid.
Imperial dignitary was cool. A mysterious character in film that you could make up all sorts of scenarios for!
Here officer, here!
I remember seeing "Collect all 62" on those coins and thinking; How? Though I did buy a couple of them, my main focus was on GIJoe by that time.
I used my Imperial Dignitary as a new Sith. After the fall of the Emperor this guy took over the Imperial Forces and continued the war with the Rebels. I had stories of how he escaped the Death Star and everything.
This is possibly your best video to date. Informative and funny but always well made. I have to admit I'm not a Star Wars figure fan (I miss the elbow and knee articulation) but seeing that last few minutes sure makes the toy collectors in all of us give a unified silent hurrah.
I REALLY enjoyed the video, the insights and the humor. Good work Michael!
Really enjoyed your video, it brought back so many happy memories, Thank you….Kenner Star Wars figures were my favourite toys as a kid and they got more playtime than any others... In the UK they were not called Power Of The Force, they were on ROJ cards and came with no coin…..I remember vividly, way back in 1985, my late mom taking me to the toy store to buy figures for my birthday…The shop had a whole back wall devoted to Star Wars…I got 5 of the 15 (Imperial gunner, Annoman, Luke Stormtrooper, Luma, EV99) and got lots of play out of them…I think i was the only one in my year still playing with Star Wars and i was the only kid in school to have any of the new figures….Within two months of them coming out, the toy store phased them out….I was devastated to find the figure wall at the toy shop was gone….replaced with Transformers, Zoids, He-man and….Rambo: Force OF Freedom….My childhood died that day.
A fantastic video Michael... I caught it on my lunch break and couldn/t watch it thru...Was excited get home to finish it...I was 12 in 1985, and I honestly don't remember these as a kid, but I admittedly had moved on to GI Joe and gobots...I'm kinda of glad I don't have a sentimental attachment to them...because boy, they command a price
Love the new Star Wars Follies but this is still my favourite...
Thank you for this wonderful video, our childhood memories always pull us back to what we love the most. As for my vintage star wars figures collecting goes, Yak face will complete my collection. 👍
Retroblasting aced it again! Thank you so much, i really enjoyed it. I luckily collected all the original Kenner SW figures before I got out of the SW collecting/playing in 1986. However, I never got blue Snaggletooth, the non smiling empire Lando and low cut neck Bespin Leia variations. I'm not sure if I want to get those figure variations , as they are not included in my childhood memories, thus serving little purpose other than completing a lineup fueled by my urge to "have it all"
Looking forward to your next video!
Wow, I LOVED the video and I learned a few new things I didn't already know about the Last 17! Thank you for the very interesting facts and thank you for the hilariously awesome video! I'm a younger collector, so I collect modern Star Wars toys, BUT, I also collect vintage Kenner Star Wars toys as well because there is no denying the quality that went into those figures. I simply love both eras in Star Wars toy history, because I just simply love Star Wars. Still have about 12 out of the 17 to go, but I'll get there one day! Again, loved the video and may the force be with you guys :)
I did not foresee such a sentimental ending to this video.
Almost made me tear up a little.
Guys I absolutely loved this video!! Simply awesome! It brought a tear to my eye when u added R2 to the collection after so many years! Bravo retroblasting!
"He was an extra stormtrooper -- can never have too many of those."
Hear, hear! I have 8 stormtroopers (not counting Luke as a stormtrooper), and I still cannot get enough of them!
Mine are from the Rebels TV show, though....
+Chris Wuebbolt Can't blame you, those Stormtroopers aren't half bad
I know I say this every time but awesome video. I was 11 in 1985 and had moved on from SW to GIJoe after getting the main ROTJ figures in 83-84. I never owned a POTF figure or coin and didn't know much about them until now. I finally got my 'holy grail' figure, a carded pre-1980 Ben Kenobi figure. It is a great feeling to finally get that one figure you have been missing for so long. Can't wait for the next video !
I have no memory of these toys from childhood at all despite being six or seven when they came out. I had moved on, like you guys. Then in the early 90's when I started collecting again, learning about the existence of these figures was exciting due to pure novelty. It is probably common for collectors who share that experience to not critique them as children's playthings.
This is one of my favorite videos. Thanks!
This video was the best yet, very informative. Loved every second and can't wait for more!
I came across your review on The Real GhostBusters on UA-cam by chance. Since then, I've been hooked on your critiques ever since. Great, great series.
This has to be the best Star Wars Follies episode.
YakFace is the bomb! How much did you get yours for? Great video as always! :D
I spent £210 😂
Great episode once again! My brother and I love the show. We don't talk a lot anymore due to life and family. But we actually take time out of our day to talk about your videos "thanks". The ending was awesome I've totally had those moments!
Love this video - when those coins came out I was in scouts. It inspired me to go for the coin collecting merit badge. I gave my coins and old product booklets to another UA-camr for a vid a couple years ago - and then found a book of SW coins I forgot I had! I think Endor Luke was my last figure purchase too, unless it was the droids figures. These days, it’s all about The Vintage Collection !
I think “goofy as all getup” is one of my favourite phrases ever! 😂😂😂
I come back to this video every 6 months or so and he’s still right about the last 17 every time 🤣🤣🤣
Love this video, the task for completing a collection has always been a dream to me.. literally for YEARS! No matter how hard I've tried, I've never made it.
It would have been really fantastic for you to get all those figures at last!
great,interesting video guys! I really enjoy all the background facts, keep up the good work! :)
Superb video, clearly incredibly passionate about the kenner line - my dad thought it was a good idea for me to sell my entire collection back in the day, something that I still have sweaty nightmares about. Alas I've spent the last 30 years buying it all back. All displayed in my office in cabinets - they make me smile as I work - George Lucas is the man!!!! a sci-fi Tolkien genius if you will.
What an emotional ending. You have made me see my own Star Wars collection now with a whole new set of eyes. Love you, man.
Awesome video. I grew up as a kid in uk and we only got these on trilogo cards. Like everyone else, i had moved on. When i into collecting in the 90s i still kinda overlooked these, but just gave in this year and got them all. Opportunities missed for sure, but still vintage star wars.
I like toys as much as the next guy but I didn't think I could be so touched from a video like this. Great job!
Bravo Zulu sir!!!
You have tapped into my love of collecting and laid it bare with the last moments of this video.
You hit the nail on the head each time, but this video was powerful and to the the heart of the kid in me. . .
You sir are a king among collectors!!!
All hail retroblasting!!!!
The SW "deaths" montage was the best!
I just re-re-re-...-re-watched this video, and it's still one of my favorites from your channel!
In 85 when I was 11, KayBee Toys had a POTF display with all these figures in it. I would walk by it every time without paying it too much mind. I remember saying “wow, I wish they had released a Luke Stormtrooper back in 1978.” I was also interested in the Han in Carbonite, but I never pulled the trigger on any of them, like many of you!
I never leave UA-cam comments. However, I love RetroBlasting so much. And I see that you guys actually read these, so I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate these episodes. . I can't even tell you how many times I've watched each video over and over! Mostly the Star Wars episodes, but I've watched all the others too. You guys are doing a phenomenal job, keep up the great work!
Matthew Hitch Thank you, Matthew. Your kind words couldn't have come at a better time. Really nice to read this after the experiences I've had today elsewhere on UA-cam. We have four new Star Wars Follies that will arrive quarterly this year and even more big cartoon/toy features as well on the way! Stick with us and keep in touch!
***** You are most welcome. My guess, is that your experiences on UA-cam today, is why I choose to avoid the comments section, haha. Anyway, I look forward to all of the new upcoming stuff! Thanks again for of the work you guys put into these videos and sharing your amazing collection with us! You have a small legion of fans here in Toronto!
Matthew Hitch Melinda and I love Canada. In fact, we are trying to move to Washington State just to get a little closer to that kind of geography. Nice to know that we have some friends in the great north!
***** Yay for you guys, Washington is nice! And it's close to BC. My wife's brother lives in Vancouver. It's beautiful. I'm actually from Indiana, but I've lived in Toronto for the past decade or so. A work colleague, who is also a fan of Star Wars, or the 80s in general, turned me onto your videos. We've watched them over and over at work. Which may speak to the production level of our office, haha.
I love how you ended this video... that was so touching for me... both of you truly have the gift of screenwriting, Michael and Melinda... :)
I can not put into words how fantastic this video is.
Another good video. I didn't know that one of the A-Wing Pilots in ROTJ was a woman! In my mind, it seemed like everything went downhill after Return Of The Jedi- as the focus shifted away from the main characters and seriousness to pre-school like with The Ewoks (Ewok movies, cartoon, toy line) and Droids (cartoon and toy line). I do remember in 1984 most of the ROTJ items were on sale or clearance. The last Star Wars item I received when I was a kid was in 1985- The Ewok Glider, an item that I didn't ask for as I was not a fan of the Ewoks at all. I don't have much memory of the POTF line as I didn't have any, but I I do remember the coins and not liking the title Power Of The Force. By the time 1985 came around, I had moved on to G.I. Joe, Thundercats, Voltron and MOTU.
Over the last few months, I've kept seeing the term "Last 17", so I thank you for giving the significance behind that and the many hours it took to make this video.
This video is great from start to finish. Tearing up on the dignitary was hilarious !
Incredible video as usual.
*1)* I can't stand youtube videos with long intros. I always have to fast-forward them. Yours is the only one I watch every time 'cause that song rocks. Perfectly '80s, and it gets you excited for a new retroblasting.
*2)* Haha, it sounded so real when you said "Yeah, I can see that. " walking away from the mangled Darth Vader, like he's an annoying house guest.
*3)* I don't follow the hardcore collecting scene very much so I was surprised to hear that people like these figures.
Just going from my memory, I was like, "Isn't that the wave with all the old men in robes and microcephalic Luke as a Stormtrooper?!"
*4)* Hahaha, "He's Barada!" Dancing with Gung Ho and Disco Rainbow Buck Rogers, cracked me up.
*5)* At least with the first Ewoks, you had a little cute one, a generic adult and two with helmets made of dead animal parts. These 4 are just more interchangeable generic Ewoks.
If kids were dying to get a whole village of Ewoks, I never once met one. We wanted Biker Scouts and a Darth Vader with removable mask, i.e. - wicked cool stuff.
*6)* Imperial. Dignitary. So lame it almost makes eggheaded General Madine look cool. And they didn't even try to get the gaunt, skull-like face of the actor which would have made it at least a little alien-like.
Nope, more OLD MAN ADVENTURES. To Bureaucracy, and beyoooond!
*7)* Awesome kind of emotional ending. Only a collector could understand. Things like that are funny, you strive to get something for so long, when you get it, it's all over...feeling a loss because of what you gained. Weird.
Thanks for all the work you guys put into these. Awesome.
Seriously i get it stuck in my head alot ;p
Very well said, Axen! I just wonder if anyone from Kenner who made those decisions back in '85 will ever see this video and understand how many children they truly let down with their lazy marketing.
Thank you for introducing me to “Skiffing in Style”. Can’t wait to watch Jedi again and now sing this in my head.
In dec 1991 I graduated from undergraduate college, and in 1992 decided to go retro and experience my favorite childhood toys, and bought most of the original action figures, except the 8 from this set that I don't have. I have occasionally looked at my now 23 year old to get list, but ever finished my collection. This will be a 2015 resolution!
I have all of the original bubblegum trading cards, though not all of the stickers.
Around 1992 I had the opportunity to get the majority of the original marvel sw comics. I wish I hadn't passed on this!
I remember going to Toys R Us in 85' and seeing the POTF figures taking up a fair amount of wall space on the action figure aisle.I gave them a quick look over and went back to whatever else it was I went there to buy.Looking back I wish I did buy them,but at the time my interest in Star Wars figures had wained.I just started building up my vintage collection with the figures that I didnt buy back when I was a kid,mainly from ROTJ.Right now my budget wont afford me buying POTF figures,but maybe someday.
This was a spectacular video Mike & Mel. Thanks for all the hard work. I half expected the Star Wars music where Luke is staring at the twin setting suns at the end of the video. Oh and BTW I LOVE the First Blood poster in your living room guys! Too bad you didnt feature it in the First Blood videos.
I'm holding to the theory that some in charge had been snortin alot of blow. remember this was the 80s, would explain alot w/ not only toy manufactores.
I only remember buying one new Star Wars figure as a kid. It was about 86/87 and had a coin for sure. It was an ewok it was one of the darker ones. I thought it was wicket.
That was the exact same feeling I had when I got the last figure, I have the box for months before I open it. Thanks for a great video ❤️
The Dignitary worked if you had the Imperial Shuttle - which I did.
I probably would have been annoyed, if that hadn't been the case!
As for the Ewoks - same again - you needed the Ewok Village. There were only so many Chief Chirpas 'without head gear' that you could have running around!
I grew up with the vintage collection/Legacy.I didn't really start getting figures until I was 6 but I liked Star Wars since I was (no idea,but since I was born,my brothers were big fans and showed me it and I loved it.
Just watched this again for the first time since I originally saw it and I have to say, you nail every single point. It's true, all of it! Especially that feeling of completing the collection after all those years. Killer, man.
Oh and I noticed something on that box btw... you used to live in Silverlake??
or is that a fake address hahaha I'm confused
Starlight, Star Bright Court. Nice "The Last Start Fighter" reference.
Ahhhhh... another RB video! A nice detailed one about Star Wars toys! All the bad things went away for 26 minutes...
Funny thing about this line for me is, I kinda missed the original waves of Star Wars figs for New Hope and Empire (except one or two), so the only waves I really remember being in stores were the Jedi ones and these, and just because of how old I was at the time I was only able to buy some carded Star Wars figs myself with pocket money when the Jedi lines were pegwarming in '84-'86 (this is the UK, which was behind the US for this stuff). As a result, I can recall getting Stormtrooper Luke, Light Sabre R2, General Lando, Endor Luke, and Yak Face brand new. I honestly thought they might be knock-offs at the time because they didn't say the movies name on the card, and because things like Stormtrooper Luke seemed like an old concept to be releasing at that time. I was still happy with them though. Last figure I ever bought on card was Skiff Guard Lando circa '88, I think Stormtrooper Luke was not long before. Last figure I ever saw in store on card was Ree-Yees. Happy days.
It’s February 8th 2020 and I’m watching this for the 10th time . Still my favorite video . The rant about the dignitary and the “ all of these guys “ line when the sail barge blows up is just classic lol
I used to use the B-Wing pilot as Wedge and the A-Wing pilot as Dack!
I had all the figures except Anakin & Yakface. I never lost any sleep over Yakface, but I always chased that elusive Anakin.
This was a highly enjoyable video. I just finally completed my vintage line with the last 13 or so back in the winter of this year. Funny enough, pop up lightsaber R2 was my last as well. It's kind of bittersweet to complete a collection 30 years in the making. I guess my Cousin and I were strange, because we were just as excited to see those figures like Imperial Dignitary as we were to see the characters like Han and Luke. Every trip to the toy store was an adventure, and ANY new Star Wars figure was fantastic. I do see the terrible decision making now in retrospect, but I still love all of these figures the same.
i have to say i almost got misty eyed watching you open your R2,i don't think there is any way i could wait so long to open it. The POTF line definatly has misses but also some hits as well. it would be nice to have all of the kenner figures but a couple like yak face and the dignatary just hold no intrest,maybe if it came down to it and was the last ones,but even then i would have to think about it. This is another great feature video,i thank you again.
Wow! I have a bunch of these guys. At least 5. I had no idea they were rare or special. Plus, I mail ordered the A wing from Sears because it was so hard to get, but it was my all time favorite space ship and I just had to have it.
I'm a huge star wars fan and currently a toy collector. I recently bought vintage 1978 12 inch luke skywalker and princess leia. I did some research and found out the line was a flop because the smaller action figures were the better choice. will you ever do a video on this line? I think this line is forgotten and needs to be recognized being part of the vintage star wars by kenner. I actually preferred the 12 inch line because they hare more detailed then the smaller action figures.
The fact the Emperors "guidence counselor" got a figure, is amazing enough. Game over
Yet another awesome video! Very informative, guys! Can't wait for your next vid!
This video gave me some ideas for collecting vintage Star Wars figures
Great video! I especially loved the ending very heart felt.
Sometime in early-mid 90s I hung around a friend's (who had just opened a comic book) shop and one day he received a box with some of these "last 17" figures, still carded. As far as I could tell, some of these figures never made it to regular retail outlets back in the 80s, because I don't recall ever hearing about an Anakin Skywalker figure. In that box on that fine day, we found about 5 of those in perfect condition. However I never acquired one since I wasn't really into Star Wars at the time, and I knew the guy would greatly overprice these figures due to rarity (back then) and collectability. I do recall Something akin to asking $200 to $400 for any individual figure from that series, which was way over my budget in those days, plus I only really wanted that Anakin Shaw figure for nostalgic reasons (redemed Vader and all that). Thanks for a great video!
I think Lumat was the last one I had in that Star Wars line. It was the version without the coin. I don't think I knew about the R2-D2 with the lightsaber. I did always wonder, how did carbonite Han fit into the carbonite? Was there a door on the back, was it see-through? I guess I could Google it.
I did do a search earlier, trying to find anything regarding that, and I found nothing. Thank you for solving a 30 year old dilemma. Now back to figuring out how the IG88 assassin droid ended up in the Ugnaught's scrap pile.
thank you so much i really enjoyed the show very funny and a wonderful trip down memory lane i grew up starwars and had the toys unfortunetly a house fire destroyed our home when i was seven and i lost my beloved collection i never got to collect the toys i loved so much again but now in my fifties and my children are grown i beleave its time to strat again so thank you for all your very informitive info
Good luck in rebuilding your collection
NEVER saw this novelty coin figure line AT ALL until years later. And the coin crap reminds me of the gimmicks that we got from comic companies during the Vile 90s (collector's card enclosed, die--cut, holo-foil cover, pog included...BANG!)
The last Star Wars toy I got (until Mace Windu) preceded the madness of all that by a year--the Biker Scout pistol, in the Summer of 84. Save for the annoying orange emitter, it looked too cool to pass up. A tough little weapon, it survived Katrina and still looks good as a Zap Gun prop for the Space Opera Library.
And what's the very appropriate music playing during the unboxing?
GREAT VIDEO, as we've come to expect from RetroBlasting.
Tex
(Imperial Dignitary? G'awn!)
PS - 25:19 Thanks for the Kirby appearance!
Seeing a collection getting completed was priceless , one day I will finish mine too !