Star Wars POTF2 – A Personal Journey
Back in 1995 the collector world was set on fire and the modern toy collector emerged from the ashes. Star Wars toys had returned from a significant hiatus and they were hot! How many of you guys remember finding that very first figure? Do you remember the store or month? I sure do and that very first purchase was at Service Merchandise. In the Mid Summer of 1995. I remember scoring Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, Obi-Wan, Darth Vader and a Stormtrooper at that store and the price was high, $5.99 I do believe. Service Merchandise was a lot higher than other retailers but hey, they got them first! I still needed to find Chewbacca and Han but those would come soon enough. Those few figures were opened and displayed promptly with my select comics.
Missing was C-3PO and Princess Leia. Those two alone fueled some mighty flames of war in trying to track them down. When they finally did hit (Roses of all stores by the way), it was magnificent. These figures were bulkier, uglier, and taller but they dripped with pure awesomeness. That first wave was so sweet. Star Wars was back and the line was an instant sell out. What followed was something even wilder.
Boba Fett, Luke X-Wing and Lando came out late in 1995 and all three were impossible to get. I do remember getting my Luke X-wing Pilot at a local comic shop. I paid $15 for him, over 3 times what his SRP was and I was okay with that. Boba Fett was a monster figure and add in the half circle variant, collecting really started to get expensive. I found mine at Wal-Mart and he was opened. Lando on the other hand was a nightmare. This fugly figure was hitting $60-80 on the secondary market. I do admit, I sold a few back on the day but I needed more funds to pay for this crazy hobby.
The 3rd wave hit in early 1996 and it featured Han Hoth, Luke Dagobah, Yoda and a Tie Pilot. Toys R Us came through with that wave but it took a large amount of dedication in hunting them down. At this point you could not find any of these figures at retail. Once a store got them, most sold out before even one hit the pegs. I remember waiting at the Toys R Us docks with other collectors hoping to score new toys. You would not believe the mayhem that followed when a brave employee threw us a box of figures. Lives were lost on several occasions and the blood, the blood was everywhere! Of course that did not happen but people did walk away ticked at times. The aftermarket was in full swing and if you were lucky, you could make some serious cash by selling extras. This of course brought the age of the modern scalper but we will save that topic for latter.
Hunting Star Wars toys down was thrilling. Most of the time you would come up empty but once you made a score, nothing could beat that feeling. The next release featured a new version of a POTF figure of Han in Carbonite. I fell in love with this figure! While Han still had that “roid” look, it was nice having a POTF issued figure in the new line. In fact, the last vintage figure I bought before the line hit in 1995 was a vintage Han in Carbonite. The other figure released in this wave was a Luke Jedi. Now Luke was an issue. You had the black vest and the tan vest variations. You also had the Luke Jedi Movie release figure to hunt down. This was the first time a figure was given out at a movie release. The Special Editions gave us the Movie Theater Luke and I paid dearly to have it. Yes I should have waited as the price is very normal now but hey, I was collecting the line.
The next release was a serious problem to score. Yes I am talking about the notorious Gold logo, red card figures of Luke Stormtrooper, Jawa 2pk, Hammerhead, R5-D4, Tusken Raider, Deathstar Gunner, Greedo and a Sandtrooper. All of these figures came out on a red card with a gold Star Wars logo. We had no idea but this was a transition wave. The line was getting a color change and the figures were moving over to Green cardbacks with holograms. No one really knew this was going to happen and no one realized how short-lived these figures would be on the red cardback. I talked with a few dealers who did mention that the line was transitioning to a new look but were unsure of all the details. As it turns out this was it. These figures became tough to get and prices shot up on the aftermarket. I know I paid plenty to have them but I did have a chance to get them a tad cheaper; I do wish I would have done that. I still prefer the look of these cards and the green backs did nothing for me personally. Even though I bought every release, I still loved the red.
The line did change over to green cardbacks and it stayed this way for quite a while. I know most fans got tired of the green but this line also gave us Freeze Frames and Collections 1, 2 and 3. Oh I so remember hunting down all these variations. Who else remembers the struggles in acquiring a Freeze Frame Weequay? Also most people remember how Kenner used to re-release figures on different movie cardbacks. We had the same issue with POTF2 as well. You could have 3 or 4 of the same figure on different versions of the cardback. With hologram, without hologram, red, freeze frame and so forth. This made collecting fun but frustrating at times. For me, this was a start of an amazing journey into collecting Star Wars toys. I made a ton of friends and built up a large collection that I still add to today. Thank you Kenner for an amazing time and thank you Hasbro for keeping the flame lit. I do have one more story to tell from the POTF2 days:
I remember an old friend, Mike, who I spent many a day’s hunting toys with. We made a point to hunt as often as we could and have fun in the process. We both were very competitive and taunting often came with scoring toys first. He would hit the aisle running and I swear, this guy managed to scan the entire ail before I could register what I saw. Mike was a master at snagging toys first. I recal a time when we found a case of figures at a Wal-Mart that was anciently put on clearance. Once we found the box, I took just ONE out to scan and everyone from the group saw that price of $1.97. I turned around and the only thing left was a few pieces of tissue slowly falling to the floor. Mike along with 2 other friends cleaned that box out in under 2 seconds. luckily for this guy, the store had more cases but that is just an example of why Star Wars POTF2 was so much fun to hunt. There are so many fond, funny and wonderful memories hunting these toys with friends. It’s impossible to sell some of these figures due to the stories behind them. The competitiveness and comradely brought life long friendships.
Below is a list of all the POTF2 figures released.
This line had a few sublines such as Shadows of the Empire, Freeze Frames, Commtech, Expanded Universe and Flashback. Also there were a few card transitions such as Red to green and Holograph. The basic figures stayed true to card design with Commtech and Flashback changing just a tad. This line ran from 1995-2000.
Basic Figures
__ 2-1B Medical Droid
__ 4-LOM
__ 8D8
__ Admiral Ackbar
__ Admiral Motti
__ ASP-7 Droid
__ AT-AT Driver
__ AT-ST Driver
__ Anakin Skywalker
__ Aunt Beru
__ Biggs Darklighter
__ Bib Fortuna
__ Boba Fett
__ Bossk
__ Captain Piett
__ C-3PO
__ C-3PO with removable limbs
__ C-3PO with desert worn deco
__ Chewbacca
__ Chewbacca (Boushh’s Bounty)
__ Chewbacca (Hoth Deco)
__ Darktrooper
__ Darth Vader
__ Darth Vader (double cape)
__ Darth Vader (Interrogation Droid)
__ Darth Vader (removable helmet)
__ Death Star Droid
__ Death Star Gunner
__ Death Star Trooper
__ Dengar
__ Emperor Palpatine
__ Emperor Palpatine (lightning bolts & legs)
__ Emperor Palpatine (Clone)
__ Endor Rebel Commando
__ EV-9D9 Droid
__ Ewoks (Wicket & Logray)
__ Gamorrean Guard
__ Garindan
__ Grand Admiral Thrawn
__ Grand Moff Tarkin
__ Greedo
__ Greedo (Cantina)
__ Han Solo
__ Han Solo (Bespin Outfit)
__ Han Solo (Cantina)
__ Han Solo (Carbonite Chamber)
__ Han Solo (Endor Gear)
__ Han Solo (Hoth Gear)
__ Hoth Rebel Soldier
__ Imperial Sentinel
__ Ishi Tib
__ Jawa with GONK Droid
__ Jawas
__ Kyle Katarn
__ Lak Sivrak
__ Lando Calrissian
__ Lando Calrissian (General/pilot)
__ Lando Calrissian (Skiff Guard)
__ Lobot
__ Luke Skywalker
__ Luke Skywalker (Bespin Outfit)
__ Luke Skywalker (Blast Shield Helmet)
__ Luke Skywalker (Ceremonial Outfit)
__ Luke Skywalker (Dagobah Fatigues)
__ Luke Skywalker (Dark Empire Comics)
__ Luke Skywalker (Floppy hat)
__ Luke Skywalker (Hoth Gear)
__ Luke Skywalker (Imperial Stormtrooper)
__ Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight)
__ Luke Skywalker (Tatooine, with T-16 Skyhopper accessory)
__ Luke Skywalker (X-Wing Pilot)
__ Malakili (Rancor Keeper)
__ Mara Jade
__ Mon Mothma
__ Nien Nunb
__ Momaw Nadon “Hammerhead”
__ Obi-Wan Kenobi
__ Obi-Wan Kenobi (hood up, dueling pose)
__ Orrimaarko (Prune Face)
__ Ponda Baba
__ Pote Snitkin
__ Princess Leia Organa
__ Princess Leia Organa (new likeness, new pose)
__ Princess Leia Organa (Sporting Blaster, new sculpt)
__ Princess Leia Organa (Ceremonial Dress)
__ Princess Leia Organa (Dark Empire Comics)
__ Princess Leia Organa (Endor Celebration Dress)
__ Princess Leia Organa (Hoth Outfit)
__ Princess Leia Organa (Jabba’s Prisoner)
__ R2-D2
__ R2-D2 with datalink accessories
__ R2-D2 with launching lightsaber
__ R2-D2 with Princess Leia Hologram
__ R5-D4
__ Rebel Fleet Trooper
__ Ree-Yees
__ Royal Guard
__ Saelt-Marae (Yak Face)
__ Sandtrooper (aka Tatooine Stormtrooper)
__ Snowtrooper
__ Spacetrooper
__ Stormtrooper
__ Stormtrooper (Blaster damage and added articulation)
__ TIE Fighter Pilot
__ Tusken Raider
__ Ugnaughts
__ Weequay
__ Wuher
__ Yoda
__ Yoda (hair, cane, boiling pot)
__ Zuckuss
Deluxe Figures
__ Boba Fett with Missile Firing Backpack
__ Crowd Control Stormtrooper
__ Han Solo with Smuggler’s Flight Pack
__ Hoth Rebel Soldier with Anti-Vehicle Laser Cannon
__ Imperial Snowtrooper with E-Web Heavy Repeating Cannon
__ Luke Skywalker with Desert Sport Skiff
__ Probot
Cinema Scenes
__ Cantina Aliens [Takeel, Nabrun Leids, Labria]
__ Cantina Showdown [Dr. Evazan, Ponda Baba, Obi-Wan Kenobi]
__ Death Star Escape [Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo]
__ Final Jedi Duel [Luke Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine, Darth Vader]
__ Jabba’s Dancers [Greeata, Lyn-Me, Rystall]
__ Jabba’s Guards [Klaatu, Barada, Nikto]
__ Jedi Spirits [Anakin Skywalker, Ben Kenobi, Yoda]
__ Mynock Hunt [Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, Mynock]
__ Purchase of the Droids [Luke Skywalker, C-3PO, Uncle Owen]
__ Rebel Pilots [Wedge Antilles, Ten Nunb, Arvel Crynyd]
Creature Sets
__ Bantha (with Tusken Raider)
__ Dewback (with Sandtrooper)
__ Jabba the Hutt (with Han Solo)
__ Rancor (with Jedi Luke)
__ Ronto (with Jawa)
__ Tauntaun (with Han Hoth)
__ Tauntaun (with Luke Hoth)
__ Wampa (with Luke Hoth)
Electronic Power F/X
__ Darth Vader
__ Emperor Palpatine
__ Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight)
__ Obi-Wan Kenobi
__ R2-D2
Complete Galaxy
__ Dagobah with Yoda
__ Death Star with Darth Vader
__ Endor with Ewok on Glider
__ Tatooine with Luke Skywalker
Gunner Stations
__ Darth’s TIE Fighter with Darth Vader
__ Millennium Falcon with Han Solo
__ Millennium Falcon with Luke Skywalker
Princess Leia Collection
__ Leia Organa & R2-D2
__ Leia Organa Ceremonial Dress & Ceremonial Luke Skywalker
__ Leia Organa Bespin Gown & Bespin Han Solo
__ Leia Organa Endor Dress & Ewok
Millennium Minted Coins
__ C-3PO
__ Chewbacca
__ Emperor Palpatine
__ Han Solo (Bespin Outfit)
__ Luke Skywalker (Endor Poncho)
__ Princess Leia Organa (Endor Poncho)
__ Snowtrooper
Max Rebo Band Pairs
__ Barquin D’an & Droopy McCool
__ Joh Yowza & Sy Snootles
__ Max Rebo & Doda Bodonawieedo
Shadows of the Empire
Chewbacca (In Bounty Hunter Disguise)
__ Dash Rendar
__ Leia (In Boushh Disguise)
__ Luke Skywalker (In Imperial Guard Disguise)
__ Prince Xizor
Multipacks
__ Boba Fett vs. IG-88
__ Prince Xizor vs. Darth Vader