Famed Toy Collector Reveals How He Survived on a Deserted Island

We once again take a break from our 31 Days to a Better Toy Collection Challenge to complete this weeks homework assignment from The League of Extraordinary Bloggers.

This weeks assignment:

You are stranded for 10 years on a deserted island. You can take with you the following:
One food item (in a never-ending supply), one movie, one game, and one pop culture character.

Rocket Firing Boba Fett! Rocket Firing Boba Fett! Where?

Who is Boba Fett? Boba Fett is...

• A fearsome interplanetary bounty hunter.
• A threat to the Rebel Alliance, especially Han Solo!
• A new character in "Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back"
• Was introduced in the November 1978 Star Wars television special, "A Wookie Holiday." He pretended to befriend Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, C-3PO and R2-D2 while secretly plotting with Darth Vader to trap the rebel alliance.

This is all according to the blister card Boba Fett was originally released on. This all came to be known as true when The Empire Strikes Back was released, but the version of Boba Fett that was released was not how he was originally intended.

Originally, Boba Fett was released in the 2nd wave of Star Wars action figures before the release of Empire. He was offered as one of Kenner's famous proof of purchase mail away promotions and was announced that he would have a rocket firing feature. Unfortunately, do to a lawsuit filed against Mattel after a child choked on Battlestar Galactica toy with a similar rocket firing feature, Kenner quickly revised the Boba Fett action figure to have the rocket permanently affixed to Boba's jet pack.

For those who received there original Boba Fett in the mail, a note to consumers read:

Originally our STAR WARS Boba Fett action figure was designed to have a spring launched rocket. The launcher has been from the product for safety reasons. If you are dissatisfied with the product, please return it to us and we will replace it with any STAR WARS mini-action figure of your choice, Thank you for your support.

Now 33 years later, Hasbro has released the mold of the original Boba Fett action figure and this time it has the rocket firing mechanism as it was originally intended. The cool was that Hasbro released the figure as a proof of purchase mail away offer. Just like it was back in 1979.
I have began the search for items on my 10 Star Wars toys I want to add to my collection and the Rocket Firing Boba Fett was number ten on the list. I was able to pick this one up for $27 on eBay. For me, picking this up on eBay was the better way to go. Originally to aquire one of these it required 6 proof of purchase to be mailed to Hasbro and even with shipping, it still was cheaper for me to just buy it directly.

I promptly put mine in a acrylic case to keep it safe and sound.

It so cool to have this in my collection, but it baffles me why it is not considered a hazard today as it was 33 years ago.

Now they just need to come out with a flying jet pack version. Of course, I created my own flying version by attaching several bottle rockets to my original Boba Fett years ago. Now that was cool.

About the author: John Sholtz is an avid toy collector and the interim editor of the Batcave Toy Room due to the abrupt death of Bruce Wayne. Learn more about him here and connect with him on Twitter at, Facebook, Google+ and Linkedin.

Tomorrow At The Batcave Toy Room: He's Worth A Lot To Me

Vinatge Kenner Darth Vader and Boba Fett

About the author: John Sholtz is an avid toy collector and the interim editor of the Batcave Toy Room due to the abrupt death of Bruce Wayne. Learn more about him here and connect with him on Twitter at, Facebook, Google+ and Linkedin.

Vintage Slave I from Kenner 1981-1983

He's all yours bounty hunter. Actually, this sweet ride, the Slave I, is technically all mine, but who's going to argue with the galaxies most fearsome bounty hunter. Kenner released Boba Fett's ship as part of the second wave of toys from their Empire Strikes Back line. The second wave of toys from the fifth movie (or second, depending on your point of view) of the Star Wars films in my opinion was the best. Not only because of this ship, but it also included the awesome AT-AT in that wave as well.

Slave I did not have any electronic features such as lights or sounds like other vehicles in the toy line, but it did have some cool features here and there.

It had a prisoner detention unit or as Boba Fett said in the movie "Put Captain Solo in the cargo hold."

A rear loading ramp to board the ship. Watch your head (If you're a Fett or a clone that is).

No lights or electronic sounds for the cannons, but they do make a clicking sound.

Wings are gravity operated. So, they move as the ship does and can be trigger lock to be held in the position you want them to be in while in flight.

Best of all, Slave I came with a carbonite frozen Han Solo. This was my absolute favorite part of the toy (there I go with freezing fetish again). My dream collectible next to a 1966 replica Batmobile is the frozen Han Solo replica, but since it's $5,000 so this minature version will do for now.

All and in all, Kenner did a great job at the time of re-creating Boba Fett's ship and holds some great memories from my childhood.

Remembering Star Wars Large Size Action Figures

I have never owned any of the large size 12 inch Star Wars figures, but they have always been on my wish list. I guess I just never got around to picking any up or just could never find complete figures without paying an arm and a leg.

I do have some 12 inch figures from Mego though. I have a Superman (the Christopher Reeve version), Magnetic Robin, and Spiderman. I'll get around to posting those eventually.

Reis over Geek Orthodox picked up a sweet 12 inch (sorry 15 inch) Darth Vader at the Emerald City Comic-Con this past week and inspired me to look into starting my large size figure collection.

The 12 inch line from Kenner sadly didn't last long, but here's a look at the commercials I remember seeing while watching cartoons on Saturday morning.





Boba Fett is the best.

For more Star Wars toys check us out.

Toy Fair 2010 Reveals Vintage Style Boba Fett with Firing Rocket

Every dream of owning a vintage "rocket firing" Boba Fett action figure? Well, that dream is now going to be a reality without costing you your life savings.

Hasbro announced at this years Toy Fair they will be releasing a "rocket firing" vintage style Boba Fett.

The "rocketing firing" Boba Fett is one of the most sought after prototypes. Originally, Kenner had intended to produce the original Boba Fett action figure with a removable rocket that could be fired from his backpack.

Prior to production Kenner decided to abandon the mechanism for safety reasons. It felt a child might swallow the rocket or go the way of Ralphie from 'A Christmas Story', "You'll shoot your eye out kid."

Boba Fett was first offered as a mail in offer. Just send in 4 proof of purchases from four other figures and Boba Fett was yours. The original promotion for the action figures described the figure as coming with the firing rocket, but when he came in the mail it was without the rocket.

A note was included explaining the spring-launched rocket was removed for safety reasons. You can see an example of how the figure came along with the note below.



Not only is Hasbro offering the vintage figure, but doing it the way it was originally done back in 1979, by way of mail in offer. This time though it will cost you five proof of purchases, but it's worth it to actually get the rocket firing mechanism this time.

Here's a look at the new figure with photos from Jedi Insider. Looks just like the original. How cool is this.









The figure will come with two rockets, a long firing version and a shorter non-firing version.

It's a great year for being a toy collector!

For more vintage Star Wars toys check us out.