Review – Star Wars Jumbo Vintage Bossk
What happens when classic Kenner Star Wars action figures are digitally scanned, re-mastered, and output at a significantly larger size? I may not know what happens to the average person, but if you’re me then you find yourself with over twenty vintage action figures in a greatly-increased size . . . and several more on pre-order. I know that some out there shake their heads and marvel at “why” someone would be buying these, but I’m here to say that the entire Star Wars Jumbo Vintage series (Amazon.com search*) is awesome and, in a collection, is stunning and fun.
Just Like Others in the Line
The Jumbo Bossk* is exactly what you expect it to be: the 1980 action figure 12-inches tall. It looks exactly like the classic toy, but once you hold it in your hands you can instantly tell that it’s nothing like the original. Classic Kenner five-point articulation, the sculpt exactly as I remember it, great colors . . . truly, the only difference is the size.
The best way to tell you why I am loving this line so very much is to let you see the progression of purchases and thoughts. Just check my earlier reviews to see how this sickness in my head came into existence.
- Blue Snaggletooth review here
- C-3PO review here
- Boba Fett review here
- Hammerhead review here
- Snaggletooth review at DoomKick
- Gamorrean Guard review here
- Chewbacca review here
I Need More Bounty Hunters
Jumbo Bossk* joins Boba Fett (review here) and now I’ve got to wait for their companions. IG-88 (last mentioned here) will be here any moment, but I have to wait even longer for 4-LOM, Zuckuss, and Dengar. Waiting sucks! Maybe Gentle Giant (website, Twitter) will expand our options even more and release a special edition of Boba Fett that includes a frozen Han Solo action figure. After all, I do have blue prototype Boba Fett so variants are not unheard of in the line. I just want that frozen Han Solo, though, so I’d have to find a home for a second Fett. (Or would it technically be third? Bah. Details.)
A Few Scuffs
The paint isn’t flawless and my Jumbo Bossk* has a few spots where scuffs or scratches have marred the paint apps. But these are minimal and considering that the entire collection is displayed high — on shelving so the figures almost touch the ceiling — the few imperfections aren’t even all that noticeable. Hmmmm. Now my brain is wondering when Gentle Giant will produce variants of these in which the toys are intentionally mistreated; a Bossk with worn paint and some rough plastic would look way more like my own action figure from thirty years ago; that guy took some beatings in play.
Closing Thoughts
I continue to love the Star Wars Jumbo Vintage series (Amazon.com search*) and this figure follows perfectly in the path that all of the earlier releases in the series have set. A big representation of the original, more art toy than toy, this Jumbo Bossk* is for those like me who want to display larger-than-life representations of childhood.
Great stuff. Now if we can only convince Gentle Giant to license G.I. Joe or Transformers and apply the same treatment to those classic lines. Just imagine a vintage Blowtorch at 12-inches or the original Transformers Cosmos toy at 12-inches. That would be insanely fun.
I think Bossk might be the best figure in this line yet. The colors are just really, really impressive and vibrant. He’s quite tempting!
Don’t do it! If you buy one you’ll soon find yourself chasing down more. And those early releases in the line are getting tough to find.
I still need a Jawa.
Deffinatly not my cup of tea, as you pointed out, this line isn’t exactly for everyone.
What impresses me is that these things exist. From the size, scanning, manufacturing etc etc, stuff like this just doesn’t happen anymore.
I’m also amazed at how many of the toys have been released. And we’re even getting an upsized Wampa!
Damnit, so tempting. So far I’ve got Greedo and Boba. Makes me think I need to build a bounty hunter gang. Now if they just made IG-88…
They made IG-88. Mine arrived right before I left on a trip this week. I’ll be opening IG-88 this coming weekend.