Archives: Dengar

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Paint it Brown.

Paint it Brown. (Vintage Dengar, Vintage 4-LOM)

Paint it Brown. (Vintage Dengar, Vintage 4-LOM)

I seem to recall back in 1980 that the vintage Dengar action figures suffered lengthy stays lingering in retail toy aisles. Alongside his brothers the Lobots and the Bespin Security Guards, Dengar was a peg warmer.

First off, nobody knew of him. With his screen time totaling about .08 seconds, one could forgive even an avid fan for not making the positive ID. Second, he wasn’t much to brag about in terms of a ‘look’. Paunchy, drably colored, and armored in an array of junk and soiled linens, Dengar was not exactly giving Boba Fett’s hot appeal much competition.

But decades come and decades crumble, and Dengar’s still here. I’ve come not only to really appreciate him as an adult collector but might even go so far as to say he’s in my Top 10 vintage figures. I mean, just look at that twisted and beautiful face!

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Dirty Deeds.

Dirty Deeds. (Vintage Bossk, Vintage Boba Fett, Vintage Dengar)

Dirty Deeds. (Vintage Bossk, Vintage Boba Fett, Vintage Dengar)

This photo raises the question: can little plastic guys under 4 inches tall command fear and respect from literally anyone that crosses their path? Not sure about you, but I’d say the answer remarkably is ‘yes’.

See you at Comic Con!

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In For A Pound.

In For A Pound. (Vintage Death Squad Commanders, Vintage Dengar)

In For A Pound. (Vintage Death Squad Commanders, Vintage Dengar)

Little bit of an issue with Dengar. For me he’s the poster boy of the barely-seen characters from the Empire Strikes Back that were made into toys for little reason other than snatching dollars from me and my brethren — the Star Wars Action Figure Maniacs.

Even as a snot-nosed 10-year-old kid I knew this vaguely to be true. Sure, I bought Dengar. But I remember being puzzled as to who he actually was. I’d seen the movie, but could not possibly place him in the story. Unfortunately there were quite a few more toys that fit this description, and attempting to fit them all happily within Star Wars playtime was a bit irritating.

But time heals everything. History has smiled on the Bounty Hunters. And Dengar, with his chubby tummy, his fetid wraps, and his junkyard knapsack, is loved.

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