Star Wars Large Size Action Figures - Part I [click here for Part II]
These days, Star Wars action figures are everywhere. With the release of the Special Edition movies in the 1990s came the biggest production of Star Wars merchandise the world had ever seen. Action figures were, and still are, there in 'force'. One of the most popular current figure lines is Hasbro's large 'Deluxe' action figure assortment, with well over 100 different character variants made so far, and collector demand still high. But where did it all begin? Let's hop into the Toyzine time machine and take the trip back...

When you're onto something really big... make it bigger. Or so the toy designers at Kenner thought in early 1978. Consumer demand for their 3 inch Star Wars action figure line was phenomenal, and the management was itching for newer and better ideas for figure related product. It was only a matter of time before the memory of great profits past (Kenner's mid 1970s 12 inch Six Million Dollar Man) steered the Star Wars merchandise bandwagon toward... "Large Size Action Figures". Although they are often referred to as the "12 inch Star Wars figures", they actually ranged from 8 inches high (little guys like R2D2 and the Jawa), up to a towering 15 inches for the likes of Chewbacca and IG-88, the bounty hunter droid. The only definitive "12" about this group is the number of different figures that Kenner produced from late 1978 until their untimely demise in 1980. But I digress...

Kenner was so enthusiastic about resurrecting the ghost of Steve Austin (profit wise, that is), that the initial release of their new "Large Size" range consisted of eleven, yes eleven, of a family which would sadly only ever amount to twelve. The buying public matched Kenner's enthusiasm dollar for dollar, and the large figures were welcomed, at least at the outset. After all, these guys (and gal... sorry Leia!) were good. Packaged in stark, imposing window boxes featuring the familiar silver and black Star Wars logo plus a large photo likeness of the character within, they attracted eager young rebels like flies to a dead womp rat. And because of the detailing possible on larger toys, character likeness were nothing short of exquisite. Human facial detail (they really look like the actors), finely manufactured clothing (although, for some unknown reason, Obi-Wan has blue high-cut, painted-on briefs, whereas none of the others do), and way cool accessories (the Rebel Alliance Medal of Honor for Han; a dangling shoulder plait of beaded Wookie scalps for Boba Fett; sixteen individual removable ammunition cartridges for Chewie's crossbow... need I continue?). In short, they were the best thing since sliced Bantha steaks.

So what went wrong? The future, as Kenner discovered, was a fickle old place. While public demand was high at first, interest in the "Large Size" range soon began to wane. After all, for the same price point as one of the big guys, a kid could buy seven or so small figures, one of their less expensive plastic vehicles, or maybe even a 3 inch figure playset. By hooking the buyers on their seemingly limitless small figure range, Kenner had unknowingly signed the guillotine order for their large figures. As a last gasp, the "Large Size Intergalactic Bounty Hunter" IG-88 was unleashed upon an apathetic audience in early 1980, with the highest retail price ever in the large figure line. Apart from the reappearance of Boba Fett in a box bearing "Empire Strikes Back" logos, IG-88 was alone, gathering dust on the toy store shelves like a turbo powered Hoovermatic. Lacking play value and outshone by their mini counterparts, buyer indifference had finally banished them to hyperspace. The "Large Size" Star Wars figure line was no more (addendum: I always found it amusing that the two bounty hunters were the last ones left... it's like they finally got lucky, wiped everyone out, picked up their cash from Vader... and then they aced him too!).

All of those negative sentiments are now forgotten. The Death Star has spun full circle... due to their great detail, their excellent character definition and their relatively limited production, the original "Large Size" figures are now in "Large Demand". With their original boxes and complete with their original accessories, they are your basic Star Wars collector's dream. Unboxed large figures, although less desirable are still popular with collectors if they are complete. This can be a big ask, especially when you consider some of the more heavily laden cast members (go on, have a look at Boba Fett's description on the Toltoy's Catalogue illustration... see what I mean?).

So scour the galaxy. Look in every waste pod in every passing Imperial Cruiser. Those original old big guys have gotta be out there somewhere...

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