In a short period of time, I’ve rebuilt my Kenner Star Wars collection from its humble new beginnings. Y got me an Ikea Billy bookcase for my birthday, which I used to display most of it now. The remainder is on my desk–on display or still boxed until I assemble the models.
I was going to write that this is my fourth Star Wars collection, but on reflection, I’ve always held onto something that connected me to the saga even if the collection’s size changed over time–shrinking as small as just two Kenner action figures of Yoda and R2-D2 28 years ago and growing as large as my collection in Atlanta two years later.
I like having my collection right next to me while I do my work at home. I can glance over and feel renewed or get lost in a memory conjured by these joyful plastic artifacts–part transmedia storytelling and part nostalgia.
Below are photos of each shelf or part of my Star Wars collection:
I put Boba Fett’s Slave I and Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon on the top shelf. They are displayed in flight mode using LEGO-built stands.
On the shelf below, a complete Y-Wing with working sound and canon turret and complete bomb rises above Luke Skywalker’s Battle Damaged X-Wing also with working sound and electronic light.
Below the vehicles, one shelf is devoted to The Empire Strikes Back (1980) with the Rebel Command Center playset with its three action figures: Luke Skywalker (Hoth), AT-AT Commander, and R2-D2 with Sensorscope; Tauntaun with Open Belly and Han Solo (Hoth); the six bounty hunters: Dengar, 4-LOM, Boba Fett, Zuckuss, IG-88, and Boskk; and Dagobah Action Playset with Luke (Bespin), R2-D2 with Sensorscope, Yoda with Orange Snake, and Obiwan Kenobi.
The middle shelf is focused on the first act of Return of the Jedi (1983): an unopened Sy Snootles and the Rebo Band Action Figure Set, Boba Fett, Rancor Monster, Rancor Keeper, Han Solo in Carbonite (TVC), Boussh, R2-D2 with Pop-Up Lightsaber (Stan Solo), Yakface (Retro Collection), Amanaman (Stan Solo), Squidhead, 2x Gamorean Guard, Bib Fortuna, Jabba the Hutt Playset, Slave Leia (Stan Solo), Ree-Yees, Klaatu, Tatooine Skiff (Hasbro 2000 re-issue), Nikto, Weequay, Lando Calrissian (Skiff Guard Disguise), Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker (Jedi), and Han Solo with Big Head customized with white shirt, brown pants, and yellow Corellian bloodstripe.
The next shelf features a Mos Eisley diorama from Star Wars (1977). The background on the left is the Hasbro re-issue of Kenner’s Cantina Adventure Set. C-3PO and R2-D2’s escape pod from Kenner’s Land of the Jawas playset is on the far right behind a Sandperson. The exterior setting also features 2 x Stormtroopers, 3 x Jawas, R5-D4, Power Droid, R2-D2 (Retro Collection), C-3PO (Retro Collection), and CZ-3 (Retro Collection). On the right side is the Kenner Creature Cantina Playset, which is populated by Luke Skywalker (Retro Collection), Walrusman, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Retro Collection), Greedo, Han Solo, and Snaggletooth.
The next to bottom shelf has a lot of modern Star Wars action figures and playsets with a few Kenner and Retro Collection action figures. The Emperor’s Throne Room (TVC) is a clever playset that is a throwback to Kenner’s cardboard playsets. It unfolds to reveal the action panorama of the final duel between Luke and Vader before the Emperor meets his end with Vader’s act of redemption. It includes an Emperor action figure, but I also have the “angry” Emperor action figure. In front of it is the Kenner Emperor action figure in baggie with mail-away box. I have TVC action figures of Darth Vader from Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and The Return of the Jedi (helmet removed and Emperor’s Wrath). There are several versions of R2-D2 (I learned that the one in the back with the white dome is from this comic book set). The other loose action figures include: Vader and Luke dueling at the end of ROTJ; Retro Collection Vader and Obi-Wan from the Disney+ series; farmboy Luke holding his father’s lightsaber; TVC Han (Bespin), Leia (Hoth), 2 x C-3PO, Lando, Luke (Bespin), and Obi-Wan; and on the raised stand, Kenner C-3PO with removable limbs and Retro Collection Han (Bespin), Leia (Hoth), Lando, Death Squad Commander, and Leia (ANH).
The bottom shelf holds the original box for the Kenner Y-Wing on the next-to-top shelf, Retro Collection boxes with some unopened figures inside, LEGO minifigures of Boba Fett, Leia (Hoth), Han (Bespin), C-3PO, and Chewbacca, and TVC Boba Fett (ROTJ and Kenner colors–carded) and 3 x Stormtroopers (ANH carded and 2 loose).
On my desk, I have a completed Bandai 1/144 Millennium Falcon and a LEGO 75375 Millennium Falcon. There’s also three boxed Bandai Millennium Falcon models in the box: 1:350 Bandai Spirits 015 ESB Millennium Falcon, 1:144 Bandai Rise of Skywalker Millennium Falcon, and 1:72 Bandai Perfect Grade ANH Millennium Falcon.
Below are close-up photos of some of my favorites in the collection.
