Posts from the 'Friends' Category

Chewbacca Redux.

Chewbacca Redux. (Vintage Chewbacca, Vintage General Lando Calrissian)

Chewbacca Redux. (Vintage Chewbacca, Vintage General Lando Calrissian)

This is an evolving process. And looking back it seems that some early photos from last year were shorted by a lack of experience or imagination on my part. Mea culpa! So of course when the opportunity arises I like to take another shot at the ones that are really crying out for revision.

This is undoubtedly one of those situations. Today Chewie and Lando (an epic pairing) finally get some respect after suffering so long in total darkness. Sorry guys, I’ve been really busy.

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Koona Chuta, Solo?

Koona Chuta, Solo? (Vintage Han Solo, Vintage Greedo)

Koona Chuta, Solo? (Vintage Han Solo, Vintage Greedo)

It wouldn’t take much to convince me that Han Solo rates best-in-class among the original 12 Star Wars action figures. Kenner succeeded on so many levels here. Dashing good looks. A blaster arm bent for quick draw in a duel. Excellent detail in both sculpt and paint from head to toe.

At least that’s the way it began.

By the time Empire Strikes Back was released, (and for reasons that utterly escape me) Kenner scrapped the original sculpt you see here and revised smuggler Han Solo with a strange, disproportionately large, not-altogether-flattering new head.

Hey, living with a bounty on your head is tough enough. But to wake up one day completely disfigured? It’s just too much to bare.

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The Automatic.

The Automatic. (Vintage 2-1B, Vintage C-3PO)

The Automatic. (Vintage 2-1B, Vintage C-3PO)

Thirty years ago the 2-1B action figure didn’t present a lot of game for me. That character in the Empire Strikes Back only had one or two spoken lines and his main gig was poking at dead Tauntauns and a near-dead Luke Skywalker. Kind of horrifying actually.

Now (much as I’ve done with all 2nd-, 3rd- and 4th-string action figures) I’ve forgiven 2-1B all shortcomings and granted him unconditional rad toy status. His feats of medical derring-do are celebrated here in one of my personal favorite pics to date. Sock it to ’em One-bee!

This is the last post for 2009. Thanks to everyone for making this a really fun first year.

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Hammerhead.

Hammerhead. (Vintage Hammerhead)

Hammerhead. (Vintage Hammerhead)

Most of the time with these pics I like finding the right selection of figures, typically in groups of 2 or 3. The interplay creates either agitation or harmony in the frame, and a new narrative starts to spill out. That’s exciting. And then other times its just one expressive character that refuses to share the light.

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On Endor Redux.

On Endor Redux. (Vintage Han Solo (in Trench Coat), Vintage Princess Leia Organa (in Combat Poncho))

On Endor Redux. (Vintage Han Solo (in Trench Coat), Vintage Princess Leia Organa (in Combat Poncho))


This is a satisfying re-shoot of a recent and badly rushed attempt to capture the vintage Endor Han and Leia action figures doing their thing. Phew! I feel much better now.

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