When Star Wars got a second life in the mid to late 90’s I was onboard and collected almost every Power of the Force figures because those were my Star Wars toys… After you read my Top 5 stick around to read Michael Carlson from The Awesome 80’s Pod favorite Star Wars figures.

5. Hoth Rebel Soldier

Generic rebel fig that I could be used anywhere in the galaxy not just Hoth. The removable backpack is a good touch as well.

4. Grand Moff Tarkin

Peter Cushing having his own figure meant using him for Hammer Horror bookings. He faced the Universal Monsters from the Ghostbusters line.

3. Darth Vader

The first handful of characters I received Vader was one of them, he was just menacing. Prop his arm up and he could force choke anyone.

2. Rebel Fleet Trooper

Just like the Hoth soldier I could make this trooper join the Force or turn to the dark side. I enjoyed the background characters a lot more than the main cast.

1. Bossk

The coolest reptilian in the galaxy. When it comes to bounty hunters, keep your Boba Fett and give me Bossk any day. When he first showed up in The Empire Strikes Back I hope to see more of him but didn’t. He became my chase figure for a long time but when that time came and I found him, take my money!

Now a word from Michael Carlson…

All of my life adults have been telling me to grow up. To me there is a fine line between being childish and childlike, a line between being irresponsible and just seeing the wonder and joy in the world. To me the wonder and nostalgia of childhood is encapsulated in 3 3/4 inch action figures from the early 1980s, I.e. G.I. Joe and Star Wars.

Since I became a homeowner I have multiple times in my head rationalized some of my childlike collections. Ahhh Hell! there are plenty of old guys into train sets and remote control so forgive me for preaching to the choir. F-those people who don’t get the joy of others and get all superior and judgy. If you spend time judging people for anything you are wasting your life.

I was asked to give a list of my favorite Star Wars figures from the Power of the Force line from the 90s. Some figure critics judge and write the early figures off as being too WWE shaped. For the time the G. I. Joes, the Marvel and D.C. figures plus the WWE figures all had that V-shaped upper body that was cool. It may give boys unrealistic ideas about the kind of workouts they need to do but that was the style.

5. C-3PO with cargo net

Just the memories of being a kid and taking the 80 version apart makes me like this figure. I’m transported to Cloud City there are Ugnaughts everywhere and Goldenrod is being carried around in a bag, I just love it.

4. Chewbacca as Boushh’s Bounty

Chewbacca, acting as a prisoner, and Princess Leia, disguised as the bounty hunter Boussh, infiltrate Jabba’s Palace. As a figure you could use it either for the Death Star Cell Bock transfer or the imprisoned Jabba‘s Palace scene. To me though what makes him great is the hair. He just looks messy, and just watching as the original trilogy progressed and seeing Chewy’s costume just get better and better. I love it. Chewbacca, acting as a prisoner, and Princess Leia, disguised as the bounty hunter Boussh, infiltrate Jabba’s Palace.

3. Leia in Boushh Disguise

I was unable to purchase this figure in the Power of the Force box and I was only able to find it in the Shadows of the Empire box. I just love the visual of the costume and figure and her holding the thermal detonator. She is so badass!Princess Leia Organa disguised as Bounty Hunter Boushh was released on different cardbacks in the Shadows Of The Empire and Power Of The Force 2 toy lines.

2. Bespin Luke Skywalker

Luke’s face had great sculpting! To me when I was pretending to be Luke this is the Luke in my mind I was. Fighting Vader, training with Yoda, going on that adventure.

1. Han Solo Stormtrooper

This Han Solo as Stormtrooper was a mail-away exclusive through Kelloggs in late 1995 through 1996. To me this was my first of the series and I couldn’t help but think about early childhood when I sent away for The G.I. Joe, William the Refrigerator Perry figure and the Anakin Skywalker. This is what collecting figures is all about.

I did want to give an honorable mention to the Power of the Force flashback series. The Aunt Beru, Hoth Chewbacca, floppy hat Luke, and Yoda with fun accessories. Great ones that I just don’t love are the Bib Fortuna, Biggs Darklighter, Han Solo in Carbonite, also the one I have out and about it on my desk is the Han Solo from the Power of the Force Commtech Series.

For my figures at the time I spent more money than is reasonable but I loved it every step of the way…I was a very happy addict and owning over 90% of the entire line. As a child every time I would run around the corner of a hallway I expected a group of storm troopers to be there. Every time I climbed a ladder I was climbing a ladder inside the falcon to shoot at Tie-fighters. But, these figures were not my figures even though I had the receipt. My figures we sold at a series of garage sales. I was piecing out my childhood one IP at a time. One garage sale, there goes the He-Men, six more months there go the Transformers, the Star Wars…the G. I. Joes. From 1995-99 there was no question with every paycheck I was going to set aside a portion to just buy action figures. Specifically 80s G.I. Joes and 90s Star Wars was my main focus with my 80s ethos going through my mind. I’m a big Goonies fan and the scene where Mouth is it at the old Lost Garden Wishing Well collecting coins he says something. “This is my wish my dream and it didn’t come true and I’m taking it back I’m taking em all back”, that was my mantra. Who is anyone to tell you what you like isn’t awesome regardless of what it is, and I was getting them all back. To me my dream was to stay young forever and feel like I’m riding Falcor from The Never Ending Story, and these 3 3/4 inch figures do that for me.