Kenner's Star Wars: The Power of the Force vintage toy line debuted in 1985, two years after the 1983 theatrical release of Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. This line followed Kenner's enormously successful Star Wars trilogy line but failed to generate renewed commercial interest at a time when the Star Wars brand was fading in popularity. Kenner did not produce another line based on the original Star Wars characters until 1995's The Power of the Force collection under the ownership of Hasbro.
Development[]
Following the 1983 theatrical release of Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi and the conclusion of the Star Wars original trilogy, Kenner was faced with the challenge of a Star Wars brand that was fading in popularity with no new films forthcoming. To try and resurrect fan interest in Star Wars toys, Kenner introduced a new overall brand concept in its 1985 The Power of the Force line, which featured aluminum character coins packaged with each action figure. The line re-released, with a new packaging logo, several figures previously available through Kenner's first three original trilogy product lines, including many released near the end of the Return of the Jedi line.[1][1]
Although Star Wars author Stephen J. Sansweet notes in his 1999 book Star Wars: The Action Figure Archive that Kenner's The Power of the Force line began in 1985,[1] he later stated in his 2012 book Star Wars: The Ultimate Action Figure Collection that the line began in 1984.[4] In fact, the first five figures of The Power of the Force line were date-stamped in 1984 but were not officially released until 1985.[2] The toys were sold at the same time as the Droids and Ewoks toy lines based on two animated series that started airing in the same year.
Continuity[]
As with Kenner's previous toy lines, many action figures based on background characters from Return of the Jedi did not have proper names, leading Kenner to use nicknames used during the film's production. Many of them would later receive proper names in the works of the Expanded Universe, including "Yak Face" (Saelt-Marae) and "Imperial Dignitary" (Sim Aloo). The Yak Face figure was never released in the United States and is considered to be rare.[5]
Though most of the line featured toys based on the films, a few original items were produced. To avoid the high cost of creating large vehicles for the line, small Mini-Rig vehicles that did not originate in the films were created for previous toy lines. The Power of the Force introduced even smaller Body-Rig vehicles. Vehicles based on two of these—the Imperial Sniper and the One-Man Sand Skimmer—appeared in the Star Wars: Droids animated series. The toys debuted the same year as the series, though the cartoon had its own separate concurrent toy line.[6]
Reception[]
The Power of the Force failed to recapture the popularity of Kenner's original Star Wars line and was not renewed for a second series.[1] Kenner presented a plan for a proposed continuation of the line, known as The Epic Continues, but it was rejected by Lucasfilm.[7] From 1977 to 1985, Kenner's vintage Star Wars toy lines[4] sold more than 250 million action figures, but with Star Wars fan interest descending to an all-time low by the end of the 1980s,[1] Kenner was ultimately absorbed by Hasbro Inc. in 1991. After a ten-year hiatus, Kenner, under Hasbro ownership, released a new The Power of the Force line in 1995,[4] which helped to rekindle modern-day Star Wars popularity.[1]
Table of action figures[]
The table below takes information as given on the cards with which each action figure debuted. After the debut of an action figure, details in the packaging, the shape of the action figure, and the name of the action figure were subject to change. No one characteristic (name, shape, or product number) completely defines the list, rather all the characteristics taken together form a clear list.
| "Wave" | Debut package card | Action figure | Product no. | Debut year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | 92-Back "Power of the Force" | Luke Skywalker (in Battle Poncho) | No. 93710 | 1985 |
| M | 92-Back "Power of the Force" | Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) with pop-up Lightsaber | No. 93720 | 1985 |
| M | 92-Back "Power of the Force" | Romba | No. 93730 | 1985 |
| M | 92-Back "Power of the Force" | Amanaman | No. 93740 | 1985 |
| M | 92-Back "Power of the Force" | Barada | No. 93750 | 1985 |
| M | 92-Back "Power of the Force" | Imperial Gunner | No. 93760 | 1985 |
| M | 92-Back "Power of the Force" | Han Solo (in Carbonite Chamber) | No. 93770 | 1985 |
| M | 92-Back "Power of the Force" | Luke Skywalker (Imperial Stormtrooper Outfit) | No. 93780 | 1985 |
| M | 92-Back "Power of the Force" | Anakin Skywalker | No. 93790 | 1985 |
| M | 92-Back "Power of the Force" | EV-9D9 | No. 93800 | 1985 |
| M | 92-Back "Power of the Force" | Warok | No. 93810 | 1985 |
| M | 92-Back "Power of the Force" | Lando Calrissian (General Pilot) | No. 93820 | 1985 |
| M | 92-Back "Power of the Force" | A-Wing Pilot | No. 93830 | 1985 |
| M | 92-Back "Power of the Force" | Imperial Dignitary | No. 93850 | 1985 |
| N | 93-Back "Power of the Force" (Not in U.S.) | Yak Face | No. 93840 | 1985 |
Appearances[]
| Characters | Organisms | Droid models | Events | Locations |
| Organizations and titles | Sentient species | Vehicles and vessels | Weapons and technology | Miscellanea |
Characters
|
Droid models
Locations
|
Organizations and titles
|
Sentient species
Vehicles and vessels
  Kenner's Security Scout toy
|
Weapons and technology
Miscellanea
Sources[]
"Scouting the Galaxy: Merchandise Mysteries… and Menace!" — Star Wars Insider 24- "Scouting the Galaxy: Droids, Ewoks and the Mysterious Vlix (And the Truth about 4-LOM and Zuckuss!)" — Star Wars Insider 27
- "Scouting the Galaxy" — Star Wars Insider 28
- "Galactic Bazaar: On-Line With Gus(to)" — Star Wars Galaxy Magazine 8
- "Galactic Bazaar: Vader Rules Collectibles" — Star Wars Galaxy Magazine 11
- "Galactic Bazaar: Leia Rules" — Star Wars Galaxy Magazine 12
- "Galactic Bazaar: Fantastic Fans" — Star Wars Galaxy Magazine 13
- "Star Wars Stuff: Rescued from the Trash Heap of History" — Star Wars Galaxy Collector 2
- "Around the Galaxy" — Star Wars Galaxy Collector 3
- "An Elegant Toy" — Star Wars Galaxy Collector 3
- "Fantastic Fans: The Empire Strikes Bock" — Star Wars Galaxy Collector 3
- "Star Wars Stuff: Mini Catalogs Reveal Maximum Treasures" — Star Wars Galaxy Collector 4
- "Collectors' Comlink" — Star Wars Galaxy Collector 4
- Star Wars: The Action Figure Archive
- "You've Never Heard of the Millennium Falcon?" — Star Wars Galaxy Collector 5
- "Collectors' Comlink" — Star Wars Galaxy Collector 6
- "Mexican Stand Off" — Star Wars Galaxy Collector 8
- Vintage U.S. Power of the Force in the StarWars.com Cargo Bay (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Star Wars: The Ultimate Action Figure Collection
- "Boba's Bounty" — Star Wars Insider Special Edition 2014
- "Only You Can Decide... You, and Star Wars Toys!" — Star Wars Insider Special Edition 2022
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Star Wars: The Action Figure Archive
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kenner Vintage Star Wars Photo Archive
- ↑ Jedi Temple Archives Vintage Visual Guide
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Star Wars: The Ultimate Action Figure Collection
- ↑
Tessek, Sim Aloo, Pagetti Rook... Kenner Action Names Sold Separately! on StarWars.com (backup link)
- ↑ Offscreen, but Not Forgotten: Mini-Rigs, Body-Rigs, and Other Kenner Vehicles on StarWars.com (backup link)
- ↑
"Galactic Bazaar: Tales of Phantom Toys" — Star Wars Galaxy Magazine 2
External links[]
- Kenner Star Wars Collection Vintage Catalogues on The Vintage Studio Store (archived from the original on May 8, 2021)
- The Original Collection 1977-1985 Photo Archive on Rebelscum.com (archived from the original on December 6, 2021)
- Vintage Visual Guide on Jedi Temple Archives (archived from the original on June 24, 2021)