Star Wars Power of the Force Action Figures

Like all the kids growing up in the 1970s, I was a fan of Star Wars. I perfectly remember when the original action figures came out. Sadly upon their release, they were almost impossible to find here in Canada. I still own all of my original Star Wars action figures. They are stored in two of these huge Darth Vader head cases.

Back in 1995, Kenner reintroduced the toy line and like most adults of that time who grew up watching Star Wars I bought them all. Not to play with them but just to own them. Fifteen years later I have decided that my three years old son should own them and have some fun. So last night I gave him is first three Star Wars action figures; Boba Fett, Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. I plan on giving him all the others once a week.

Needless to say he totally digs them!

Some quicks facts about the Kenner Star Wars action figures:

The Kenner toy company produced a line of Star Wars action figures based on prominent characters in the original Star Wars movie trilogy. Over 90 unique action figures were produced and sold from 1977 to 1985. Between 1977 and 1984, 300 million Star Wars action figures were sold; Kenner's success motivated creators of other action-adventure movies to market their own action figure line.

These plastic action figures were usually smaller than four inches and typically moved at five points on their bodies, but there were many differences and unique qualities in the individual figures that departed from these norms. Kenner's Star Wars action figures were produced along with vehicles and playsets based on the Star Wars movies. The action figures were typically sold in clear plastic packaging attached to product cards. The backs of the cards usually promoted (and sometimes enumerated) all available action figures, upcoming figures and related products. "12-back" cards promoted a line of 12 action figures, "20-back" cards promoted a line of 20 action figures, etc.

The toy line was reintroduced in 1995 and called 'Power of the Force' (called Power of the Force 2 in collecting circles to differentiate it from the original 1985 line). Kenner produced these figures as a subsidiary of Hasbro from 1995 through 1998 until its Cincinnati, Ohio office was closed in 1999. The remaining two years of the line (1999 and 2000) were produced and labeled as a Hasbro product, as they are done today (as of 2009).

Although Hasbro continues to produce a variety of toys relating to all six Star Wars films, the original Kenner toys are the most sought-after by collectors.