Saga Legends Luke Skywalker, Disney Rebels Darth Vader, Retro Collection Emperor Palpatine

I've mostly collected 3.75" Star Wars figures that are vintage, Retro Collection, or POTF 2, but I couldn't resist this Sage Legends Jedi Luke Skywalker in all his appropriate attire for his confrontation with Emperor Palpatine. I also found the Emperor on eBay loose/uncarded- another Retro Collection figure that looks just like the figure I had in the '80s. I loved the design of Darth Vader in Star Wars: Rebels, so I decided to include him in this post as well.

Like the Retro Collection Dark Times Vader, this Star Wars Rebels Vader has red lenses...

Below, Power of the Force2 Vader, Stan Solo Vader w/removable helmet, Star Wars Rebels Vader, Retro Collection Dark Times Vader, Retro Collection Classic Vader, and 1978 Vader with repro telescoping lightsaber...

And finally, Luke removes his father's helmet to look upon his face before dying, just like in Return of the Jedi! Thanks to Stan Solo's fantastic Vader with removable helmet, we can relive that famous scene of redemption!

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3.75in. Darth Vader Figures

There was non-stop hatred poured onto Hasbro's 3.75" Star Wars Retro Collection, but it allowed me to have some of the figures from my childhood again without paying exorbitant prices for vintage figures, among those being the Retro Collection Darth Vader, pictured below on the right next to my vintage Kenner Darth Vader, which I outfitted with a reproduction telescoping red lightsaber!

 

There have been a lot of complaints in particular about this Retro Collection/Obi-Wan Kenobi "Dark Times" Darth Vader, but I personally liked him a lot. Are the eyes too red, does the cape cover too much at the neckline, is the waist-skirt molded onto the leg sculpt a little clunky? I don't know, but I'm fond of him! In spite of criticism aimed at this figure, I feel it's a decent spiritual successor to the updated features present in the line later on with Return of the Jedi, including a soft goods cape and separate lightsaber accessory like Jedi Luke came with. 

And last, but far from least, my Stan Solo Darth Vader with removable helmet. Kenner never gave us an updated Darth Vader in the years they produced 3.75" Star Wars figures- we had several Princess Leia and Han Solo figures, more of Luke Skywalker, and even R2-D2 and C-3PO got new parts, but never a new Darth Vader throughout the entire line. The fit of the helmet works seamlessly and Anakin's scarred head and simple eye treatment really mimic Kenner's style, and his cloth cape and waist-skirt really make him feel deluxe! Stan Solo has produced some of the 3.75" Star Wars figures of our dreams and Dath Vader is at the top of the list.

Before I go, some classic Kenner Star Wars goodness: my vintage Kenner Darth Vader, Imperial Commander and Death Star Droid with my vintage Kenner Star Wars Stormtroopers and Retro Collection Death Squad Commander.

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Cardboard Galaxy Death Star, More Kenner Star Wars Figures

I've purchased a few of these background dioramas from Cardboard Galaxy, but this Death Star Playset Multilevel Display is by far the largest and most complex. The sidewalls are of a thinner stock than the corrugated second and third level floor inserts, and though I feel the set could be improved by having a taller first and second level, I had no initial problems posing figures on it. I'm pretty sure the illustrations are scans form the '78 Kenner Death Star playset, which was a far more expensive option. I had that playset, and this taps that nostalgia I had for it.

I also recently found a Kenner Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi on eBay without Ben's cape and both the figures' lightsabers. I've been picking up assorted repro blasters and sabers on eBay, and decided to give both a telescoping lightsaber, Ben with a yellow version in honor of him always shown in product photography wielding this color as opposed to blue- the true color of his saber in the movie. I found a cheap repro cape form another seller, though I'm not crazy for its overly glossy vinyl. This Ben has a leg substantially shorter than other, which makes posing a challenge.

Below, my vintage Darth Vader with my Retro Collection Vader, and my latest Obi-Wan with my other two vintage Ben Kenobis, one with a telescoping blue lightsaber...

This is not my childhood Power Droid, but another vintage Kenner figure found on eBay in far better shape. He fits right in with the retro-futuristic interior of this diorama. I also found another Death Star Droid on eBay- a figure I didn't have as a child but always liked.

And finally, an Imperial Commander found on eBay for a great price in great shape. I fit him with a gray repro imperial blaster, and he fills out my Imperial Squad with the Death Squad Commander and Stormtroopers.

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Star Wars Retro Collection: 10 of First 12

 I've only acquired ten of the first twelve Kenner Star Wars figures released again in Hasbro's Retro Collection, but this post will cover the first twelve figures released by Kenner in 1978 - the remaining two I actually have vintage samples of. I had every one of these figures as a child, and though I sold off or gifted them all since, I've had fun rediscovering them as an adult. There were a lot of complaints about how Hasbro's Retro Collection were distributed and released, beginning in 2019, but I'm just glad to have a few.

I only recently acquired these three Stormtroopers, all vintage samples. Two are stamped Hong Kong, the other China. According to Perplexity.AI, the Hong Kong are considered among the first production runs of this figure, Chinese Stormtroopers having been produced later as Kenner's outsourcing throughout Asia broadened.

Below, Kenner's original Stormtroopers and Darth Vader with their later 

Power of the Force line Stormtroopers and Darth Vader from 1995...

Kenner's Death Squad Commander was a somewhat odd choice for Keener to include in the original twelve, but he has his own thing going on and fills out the troop lineup nicely....

My vintage Obi-Wan Kenobi can finally do battle with my Retro Darth Vader ...!

I actually have two vintage Obi-Wan Kenobi figures, both outfitted with replica lightsabers, one the coveted telescoping model ...

It's been a while since I've had a 3.75" Princess Leia in my hands! 

She can now load the Death Star plans into R2-D2 while C-3PO looks on ...

Luke Skywalker was a coveted figure in my youth- having a clean Retro Collection sample is fun! The Bespin Luke figure took his place in 1980, followed by Jedi Luke Skywalker in 1983, but Farmboy Luke was my first in 1978!

The Retro Collection Chewbacca and Han Solo look just like I remember them in 1978! You can probably see some putty holding Han's blaster in the picture below- sadly, he cannot hold his weapon at all. Really unfortunate! Regardless, they'll handle Greedo and Walrus Man easily with their smuggler's swagger!

And last, but certainly not last, the Tusken Raider and Jawa, mysterious inhabitants of Tatooine. Both captured my imagination seeing Star Wars for the first time in the '70s!

When returning to collecting actions as an adult several years ago, 3.75" Star Wars figures were oddly not my main point of interest, though they occupied a lot of my play time as a child. But with the 50th anniversary quickly approaching, I was reminded how much Star Wars meant to us '70s kids and it's fun to have this classic lineup once again!

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Blokees Champion Class Darth Vader

I had such a great time building the Blokees Luke Skywalker and Han Solo in Stormtrooper Disguise, that I had to circle back and scoop up the Champion Class Darth Vader- a magnificent looking and well-articulated model with lots of extra hand options and even an alternate "swooshing" lightsaber blade.

There were just a few less parts than the Luke and Han Stormtrooper Blokees I put together, 90 to be exact, but now that I'm familiar with their build, assembly went relatively quick. I found the process engaging and enjoyable.

And finally, Vader with my Luke Skywalker and Han Solo in Stormtrooper Disguise...

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