Star Wars POTF TIE Fighter (1995)

I had a Kenner Darth Vader TIE Fighter in the '80s which had lights and sounds, a feature sadly missing from this 1995 update. The Power of the Force TIE had added sculpt on the wings however- a definite improvement on the decals used on the original ship. You can find these used at relatively reasonable prices. There's a white version of this produced in 2003 as well (like Kenner's original 1979 TIE Fighter), they seem to be more rare.

I kind of had to get a Power of the Force TIE Fighter Pilot to fit in the cockpit and picked up a couple Stormtroopers and a Darth Vader to lord over them while I was at it. I wasn't into collecting in '95, so I never had any of these- they are cheap to acquire. For years I've seen these warming the pegs of reseller's shops- Kenner's production runs on this line must've been enormous.

I don't care much for Darth Vader's clunky plastic cape, and his lightsaber is way too long, but the Power of the Force figure line's "beefed up" styling is most effective on him. The mix of matte and shiny black throughout are nice ...

The Stormtroopers can be a little challenging to stand- I've ordered some bases to display mine. While not the iconic figure from 1978, these figures haver added neck and waist articulation and are far more affordable. While I had no figures from this '90s line and the original line is where I came from, I find these POTF figures charming.

I actually bought this TIE Fighter to display with some of the larger vintage Kenner Star Wars figures in my collection, using this Starship Wall Mount I bought from Galactic Collector on eBay...

More Later- May the Force Be with You!

Empire Strikes Back Bespin Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Lando Calrissian, IG-88

I sold the remaining childhood Kenner Star Wars figures I had six years ago, but the forthcoming 50th anniversary of Star Wars has stirred some nostalgia in me. The Empire Strikes Back might have made a bigger impression on me as I was a little older, and it's probably my favorite of the original trilogy for the same reasons as a lot of fans.

Bespin Han Solo

Not my childhood Bespin Han, but a clean sample from an eBay seller at a good price. The legs are a slightly different shade, and he didn't come with the original Bespin blaster, so I bought a reproduction DL-44 blaster, Han's actual sidearm. 

Bespin Luke Skywalker

Also not the same figure I had in 1980. I actually had a brown hair version, but this eBay sample has overall better/more even color and less paint loss. Again, I paid far less for a figure without accessories and bought repro weapons, including a gray DL-44 blaster just to make him my own. Probably my favorite Kenner Luke Skywalker figure, kinda on the lookout for another.

Retro Collection Lando Calrissian

Not a vintage figure, but a Hasbro reissue that looks very much like my 1980 Lando. I have a much deeper appreciation for the Bespin Cloud City figures like Lando, Lobot, and the Bespin Security Guard now, Lando the most colorful in his bright blue shirt. A complex character in the Star Wars Saga!

Retro Collection Empire Strikes Back IG-88 and Mandalorian IG-11 

I compulsively purchased a Retro Collection Mandalorian IG-11 around the same time as the IG-88. In fact, I felt I knew him better anyway, as we barely get but a passing glance of IG-88 in The Empire Strikes Back, but got a fully fleshed out character in IG-11 in The Mandalorian. I'd swear that one leg on both these figures is shorter than the other- they seem a little flimsy in general, to be frank. But they do like nice together.

More Later- May the Force Be with You!

Mego Disney Store Avengers 4pk (2026)

I'm pretty sure I only heard about the Mego Disney Store Avengers 4pk just a week or so before it dropped, mine arriving just five days after I ordered it online without incident. Some collectors reported receiving badly damaged boxes, but mine arrived unscathed. I think Mego adjusted their inventory numbers with the online giant after grossly miscalculating the initial Fantastic Four set, which left many fans without, present company included. In fact, you could still order last year's Spider-Man/Arch Enemies 4pk when I purchased the Avengers set (and still can as of writing this, though the Avengers set is sold out now). I hope we'll get another chance at the Fantastic Four set! Check out my YouTube Short:

I love the packaging and special edition gold coin, and while I've heard a lot of complaints about changes collectors wanted/didn't want, I'm actually thrilled with this set. Finding vintage figures of these characters in good condition can be a pricey endeavor, and I'd remind any of those '70s kids, they wouldn't have cared about any of that back in the day. They very much channel the spirit and aesthetic of '70s Mego!

 

Below, the new Mego Avengers with my ToyBiz Marvel Famous Covers Avengers:

Below, the Disney Store Capt. America and Hulk with vintage Mego Capt. America and Hulk, Thor with the 50th Anniversary WGSH Superman, and Iron Man with my Mego Ultraman...

Stan Lee and Spider-Man team up with the Avengers 

to fight the webslinger's terrible Arch Enemies!

Visit the Mego Museum's World's Greatest Superheroes Gallery

 to see the figures that started it all back in 1972!

More Later- Make Mine MEGO!

Mego Capt. America (1973)

I'm mostly sure I didn't have a Mego Captain America as a child in the '70s, in spite of the figure's long run from '73 to '82. I remember having Batman and Robin, Superman, Hulk, Spider-Man, Joker, and Penguin, but not Cap. I suspect this sample falls somewhere in the middle of his production run due to his Type 2 body construction, darker flesh tone and stitched belt. I bought a fabric star to replace the thin sticker the eBay seller had given him, and I suspect the sticker on the shield had also been replaced, but he's a good, clean sample.

Below, Captain America with my vintage Mego Spider-Man and Hulk...

Cap was a somewhat plain figure, bereft of the Mego "oven mitt" gloves and white bands around his biceps, but was a beloved figure. He also got standard issue Mego boots, like Superman, not the cuffed type he traditionally wore in the comics. Some later Mego characters were slightly more deluxe, but Cap stayed this more basic figure throughout his nine years or so of production.

Below, Mego Captain America with a couple other cloth-costumed Cap figures in my collection, the awesome 11.5" Disney Store Ultimate Series Capt. America and 9" ToyBiz Capt. America....

Visit the Mego Museum's World's Greatest Superheroes Gallery

 to see the figures that started it all back in 1972!

More Later- Make Mine MEGO!

12in. Kenner Obi-Wan Kenobi (1979)

Continuing with my 12" Kenner Star Wars collection, I present my 1979 Obi-Wan Kenobi, mentor to both Anakin and Luke Skywalker. Mine is a pretty good sample with only some wear to the belt buckle and a few loose stiches in his turtleneck. His paint is clean, robe in good shape and has his original yellow lightsaber. Obi-Wan was not among the larger Kenner figures in my childhood collection, so it's fun to have him as an adult!

From the year prior, Kenner's 3.75" Obi-Wan Kenobi, debuting in 1978. Neither are from my childhood collection and sport reproduction lightsabers, one a telescoping version! I feel like this figure doesn't get the love it deserves- I appreciate it more as an adult, especially the through-the-arm lightsaber design. Brilliant!

Below, Obi-Wan with the kitbash custom X-Wing Pilot Luke Skywalker...

Obi-Wan along with some of his other Kenner Star Wars friends: 

C-3PO, R2-D2, and Chewbacca...

...And finally, 12" Kenner Obi-Wan Kenobi with my 15" Kenner Darth Vader, a figure I did have as a child, and in my opinion, likely the best of this short-lived like of oversized figures. Now I can recreate the famous lightsaber battle from Star Wars that started it all! Be sure to check out the Toy Collector's Guide on Kenner's 12" Line, 1978-1980!

More Later- May the Force Be with You!