Help Us Hasbro…You’re Our Only Hope: The Star Wars 40th Anniversary Action Figures Are Here!
The premium Black Series figures are coming to a store shelf near you…we hope!
“This will be a day long remembered. It has seen the end of Kenobi, it will soon see the end of the Rebellion.” Darth Vader — Star Wars: A New Hope
It may be hard to believe, but Star Wars: A New Hope celebrates its 40th Anniversary this year. This commemoration will undoubtedly make many of the devoted fan base feel that little bit older as we reflect upon our first ever viewing on the film that started it all…
Nobody could have foretold that the little-known space movie would go on to open a sandbox of possibilities for us all to play in and let our imaginations run wild. Despite it not being regarded as the apex movie of the franchise, A New Hope will always hold a special place in our collective hearts and will always be credited as the film that redefined the landscape of movie making forever. Not only did it reinstall the sci-fi genre back into the mainstream of cinema, but it also served to thrust both its stars…and its director into the upper echelons of Hollywood royalty.
Thanks to the foresight of the legendary godfather of the saga George Lucas, the incredible characters were the first of their kind to be idolised in the form of the highly collectables plastic action figures manufactured by the incredible team at Kenner Toys. From Han Solo to Darth Vader and Chewbacca to C-3PO…every character was afforded the ultimate tribute by being cast in plastic for a devoted fan base to re-enact their favourite adventures set in a galaxy far, far away…
Many of these awesome figures were opened and played with…many were kept case fresh and in mint condition…but the Star Wars fans collected them with an unrivalled passion, a passion that every other franchise has tried to replicate on mass ever since. There are imitators and there are originators…and now, forty years after the movie’s initial release, it’s all starting again!
Forty years on…and it’s time to revert to our childhoods. To commemorate this incredible anniversary, the ardent action figure manufacturer Hasbro, have released the Star Wars: A New Hope 40th Anniversary 6” Black Series action figure collection.
The finest characters of the saga, once released in the Black Series range have been reissued inside the vintage six-inch packaging from 1977 for a whole new generation…and many old-school fans to embrace and collect. The first wave of these awesome new deluxe figures includes: Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Princess Leia Organa, our beloved Astromech droid R2-D2 and a special limited edition Star Wars Celebration exclusive figure of Luke Skywalker in his X-Wing Pilot attire.
These incredible and highly detailed figures were expected to be released in time to commemorate this year’s Star Wars Celebration event in Orlando Florida, but in recent weeks they have been discovered sat upon the shelves of Toys “R” Us stores worldwide. The rumours, that every store would only be in receipt of a limited number of boxes sent the fans into a delirium and the endless search began in earnest. Unfortunately, with characters like R2-D2 and Han Solo being restricted to only one per case, the hunt is going to be a test of endurance…one that will test the resolve of many a fan.
But are these commemorative figures worth all the drama attached to collecting them?
Indeed they are! Let’s take a closer look:
HAN SOLO:
LUKE SKYWALKER:
PRINCESS LEIA:
OBI-WAN KENOBI:
R2-D2:
Despite these figures being a straight repack from the traditional line of Black Series super articulated action figures, they appear to be well worth the effort. The retro packaging affords them a traditional appearance taken straight out of 1977 and will undoubtedly revert many fans back to their collecting roots. Han Solo especially looks stunning set against the backdrop of his traditional A New Hope backing card as does Princess Leia, but it’s R2-D2 that takes the limelight. The figure, originally released in the standard Black Series packaging has disappeared from the store shelves of late and has been sought by many a fan desperate to get their hands on the popular Astromech droid.
His reissue, will undoubtedly launch the fans into a pilgrimage of epic proportions leading to every toy retailer our high streets have to offer but the search is going to be an enduring one. And, with wave 2 scheduled for release later this summer, it will be a race against time to acquire him in a timely fashion. In wave 2, we have been promised a reissue for characters like Chewbacca, Stormtrooper, Jawa, C-3PO, Sand People and the legendary Darth Vader, all of which are once again repackaged in the stunning 40th Anniversary packaging.
DARTH VADER:
C-3PO:
CHEWBACCA:
JAWA AND STORMTROOPER:
THE SAND PEOPLE AND DEATH SQUAD COMMANDER:
The race is on to find these amazing figures and I wish you well on your hunt. I have been fortunate enough to have tracked down one of every figure from the range thus far but, my hunt is far from over. I now search for my second R2-D2, one that can be removed from its packaging and take his rightful place alongside C-3PO upon my mantle.
Hopefully, the force will be strong with me.
Until then…
I wish you the very best of luck in your quest and hope you can commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Star Wars: A New Hope in the finest of fashions…with a collection of stunning action figures and a big screen showing of the movie that started it all…
Happy hunting.
May The Force Be With You
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