Star Wars ReAction Figures – Yes or No?
Last week I wrote about my desire to see Funko/Super7 turn their ReAction Figure eye to the Star Wars brand, specifically focusing on unproduced Kenner prototypes and action figures of characters that appeared in the “Expanded Universe” of the late seventies and early eighties. (See “Wanted: Star Wars ReAction Figures”.) Not surprisingly, the post quickly became the most visited page at battlegrip.com for 2014 (hey, it’s still early in the year) but what did surprise me was the response to the idea from one of our battlegrip.com readers.
“But to me, Kenner Star Wars is done, with the rocket-firing Boba Fett from a few years back being the “absolute final†one.”
_RZ_ (blog) has a lot more to say than that — don’t miss his lengthy comment — but it was the idea of the Kenner Star Wars series being “done” that really stood out. I agree, but I hadn’t even considered the idea that suggesting Star Wars ReAction Figures — new Star Wars action figures (and maybe even vehicles) produced in the vintage Kenner style — would reopen the classic Kenner Star Wars Collection series for some collectors. But yeah, stopping to read _RZ_’s comment makes me see his point of view.
But I don’t agree that a Star Wars ReAction series would somehow reopen the doors to the Kenner toy line of the seventies and eighties. Logos, dates, and various other minor markings would make it clear that these are modern, retro-style action figures and shouldn’t confuse things any or make any collectors of the vintage toys feel they must buy these new figures. And I doubt Funko/Super7 would achieve anywhere near the level of success Kenner saw in the seventies.
“In 1978, the first full year that Kenner offered Star Wars toys, it sold 42,322,500 of them for a total of more than $100 million, making it the most successful movie-related toy line up to then”
But maybe I’m wrong. Maybe a majority of collectors of the vintage toys would see a Star Wars ReAction line as “must own” additions to the old Kenner Star Wars Collection. That would be wonderful for Funko/Super7 if it were true — hell, if that were true it might even spur Hasbro to attack the idea on their own — but than I stop and ask myself one very small question that throws the entire idea of Star Wars ReAction toys under the mental bus:
Just how many people collect vintage Kenner Star Wars toys?
How Do You Vote?
So between my post — “Wanted: Star Wars ReAction Figures” — and _RZ_’s excellent comment to that post, I think everyone should have enough information to form an opinion on the idea of a Star Wars ReAction line. Is this an idea you would get behind and support, or would you rather it die immediately and new Star Wars action figures continue to follow modern design standards?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject, because my heart tells me I’d love to see this happen . . . and my brain keeps saying the idea is completely unworkable. But there are days when I simply have to tell my brain to switch off and allow myself to get on with the fun. It’s probably a very good thing I’m not working at Funko or Super7 because I’d be bringing this idea up at every single meeting.
Even if it’s unrealistic and unlikely.
It would certainly rile some collectors, much in the same way Takara’s Fort Max reissue did. With the Alien figures it made sense as it was creating something a bit special, so Star Wars would have to do the same, by creating products that were rare, or didn’t quite make it to the shelves. Otherwise you’re just recreating the largest mass market movie toy line the world has ever seen, which seems somewhat absurd, especially while the toy line is, technically, still going (albeit in a more modern form).
@bighatdino – To be clear, I don’t mean releasing the toys Kenner made. I’m talking about either unproduced prototypes/concepts and/or characters from the Marvel comics that were never action figures.
I say no. I realize there are a lot of concepts that never saw fruition but the core characters would essentially be the existing vintage line released in 78.
@Stratos – We never got a Han in Stormtrooper disguise, or Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen, so it’s toys like that I would want to see in a Star Wars ReAction series.
I’d love to see Star Wars Re-Action figures. For me, the characters selected would need to be ones not featured in the original Kenner form. Whether that’s characters produced by Hasbro, or never seen before doesn’t matter to me. Alternate versions of the main characters would be interesting too, though I think Hasbro has pretty much hit on all of them by now.
The figures wouldn’t be for everyone, but then R.A. figs aren’t for everybody to begin with.
@Jay – Absolutely would have to be never-produced toys to work. But imagine a Tarkin in the Kenner style!
Hey thanks so much for the shout-out Phillip! I love your site so much and check in every day. Always something awesome to see or think about!
Also to clarify about my rambling comment, I would of course buy these toys if they made them. I love the idea, especially Chewbacca’s family! I only worry they wouldn’t be able to stop at just the unmade characters.
I agree! According to reaction there is a buttload of stuff waiting to be announced at ToyFair. I would love for them to do Kenner type SW again!
@Hobgoblin238 – I’m going to try to get time at NYTF next month to chat with the Funko staff and beg for Star Wars ReAction figures. I can only try!