Review – Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire Dash Rendar
It was the absence of Han — frozen in carbonite — that partly led to the creation of the Han-ish character, Dash Rendar. “We definitely wanted to have a swashbuckler guy,” (Howard) Roffman remembers, “but there was also a story needed for him. It was kind of inconceivable that Leia would embark on what she’s doing, in terms of infiltrating [Xizor’s organization] Black Sun and trying to help Luke, without having somebody to watch over him. That is the basic role Dash plays in this, though it becomes a much more complicated role.
— “In The Beginning . . .,” Bob Woods interview with Lucasfilm VP of Licensing Howard Roffman, Star Wars Galaxy Magazine #7*
Kenner’s 1996 Dash Rendar action figure (Amazon.com search*) was one of several toys released for Lucasfilm’s big Shadows of the Empire push. Set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, the Shadows of the Empire* tells us what happens as the heroes search for Han Solo. And, not surpringly, the story created several new characters, vehicles, and locations for the Star Wars universe.
Articulation
Dash Rendar* features the Kenner basic five points of articulation plus a waist swivel, and the pre-posed legs cause problems when trying the stand the action figure without a stand or base. I wish Kenner would have chosen more neutral positions for the legs because what is here requires a stand or you simply have to accept that the toy will fall over a lot of the time.
Character Design
Dash Rendar* has a very nineties-like character design, which is a little unusual considering how many other Star Wars characters feel timeless. I think it’s a combination of the padded and plate armor that makes me think this design feels a bit locked in the nineties, but the backpack/rifle combo — identified as a “Heavy Weapons Pack” — no doubt contributes to the feel.
I don’t think it’s just my mind, though. Consider the above painting — taken from Star Wars: The Essential Reader’s Companion* — and look at how Dash is so much overly loaded and designed compared to Han Solo. Give Dash Rendar* some thigh pouches and tiny feet and you’ve got your Rob Liefeld Star Wars in action.
Preparing for the Future
I have to admit that Dash Rendar* isn’t the best of the Star Wars characters or action figures. The character feels forced — which it was, if that quote from Howard Roffman is read by a cynic — and the figure exists for only one purpose: to pilot his spaceship, the Outrider.
So I can freely admit that the only reason I recently ordered the toy was so that I could have it at hand when I opened Dash Rendar’s Outrider* toy. You see, my own Outrider left the collection about a decade ago so I was forced online to find another . . . and at $20 (including shipping) for a boxed Outrider I felt lucky. So this entire review exists solely to lay the path for another review . . .
Keep your eyes open for the Outrider.
My Outrider flew out the door quite a few years back too. Always been meaning to replace it. Never cared much for Dash as a character, but I think the figure more than got the job done. I have a lot of nostalgia for the Expanded Universe POTF2 figures.
@figurefanzero – I can fully admit it’s nothing but nostalgia driving these reviews of Kenner Star Wars figures from the nineties. But nostalgia is a great thing, right? And yeah, the figure does just fine.
Love the Outrider, although I bought it out of a misplaced sense of guilt after having crashed it dozens of times in the game!
@googum – Don’t crash!!!
I nearly bought a Dash Rendar today based solely on the nostalgia I felt from this article. I ultimately passed solely because I’m trying not to fall down the 3.75″ hole again.
What’s Dash standing next to there in that last pic?
@Poe – That’s from an Ultarama Display — http://www.rebelscum.com/ultarama.asp — and I can report that it’s a pretty neat display system. I just wish they locked together and held better. The taller you go the weaker the whole contraption gets.