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*
![Enlarge Photo!](https://www.battlegrip.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/d01-450x294.jpg)
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.
![Enlarge Photo!](https://www.battlegrip.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/d02-450x337.jpg)
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.
![Enlarge Photo!](https://www.battlegrip.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/d03-450x223.jpg)
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.
![Enlarge Image!](https://www.battlegrip.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/dashrendarpainting-450x283.jpg)
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.
![Enlarge Photo!](https://www.battlegrip.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/d04-450x550.jpg)
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.
![Enlarge Photo!](https://www.battlegrip.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/d05-450x318.jpg)
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.
![Enlarge Photo!](https://www.battlegrip.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/d06-450x315.jpg)
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.