Collector Guide to Kenner/Hasbro Star Wars POTF2 Action Figures from 1995 to 1999

Editor’s note: Years ago, we published this collector’s guide and checklist to Star Wars action figures produced between 1995 to 1999 under the “Power of the Force” line, and we’re reprinting it here. This list likely has some errors or omissions, so please let us know if we need to make changes!

In 1995, Kenner relaunched the Star Wars toy line, which had a successful run in department store toy aisles from 1978 to 1985. Interest in Star Wars from collectors had waned during the late eighties and early nineties, but as the Star Wars generation grew up and had kids of their own, there was a demand for merchandise once again.

Kenner started out slowly in 1995, with the release of a handful of 3 3/4″ action figures of the core characters like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Darth Vader. Action figures in this small scale were the most popular of the original Star Wars toys during the initial run, and Kenner kept to the tradition, with updated sculpts of the characters. The response was so overwhelming that Kenner continued production of more characters, and began producing vehicles and some of the larger “beasts” featured in the films. While the figures and beasts featured new sculpts, the ships often used original molds from the vintage line.

The earliest waves of figures were criticized by many collectors for their stylized, “bulked-up” appearance, which many likened to “He-Man” sculpts. Later figures featured more realistic proportions and better likenesses.

The new line of toys quickly became one of the top brands in sales volume, with new figures being released every year. Collectors now differentiate between the toys released during the original films, with “vintage” (1978-1985) and “modern” (1995-present) figures. The modern line can be further broken down by certain lines. From 1995 to 1999, Kenner (which would become Hasbro after a buyout during this time) released toys and action figures under the “Power of the Force” brand, and issued dozens of characters from the classic trilogy. Because Kenner also issued vintage figures under the “Power of the Force” brand in 1985, collectors refer to the new figures as the “Power of the Force 2” (POTF2) line .

RED CARDS, GREEN CARDS, AND SHADOWS
Between 1995 and 1999, Hasbro issued “Power of the Force 2” figures on several different cardbacks and themes. At first, figures were sold on cards with a large red laser stripe behind the figure. This packaging became known as a “red card.” In 1996, the cardbacks were changed to feature a green stripe. Many green cards (and a few red cards) featured a holographic sticker placed over the photo of the character, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Star Wars. The stickers are easily removed, so having one (or not) on the card makes no difference in value. During the summer of 1996, Hasbro released a handful of figures based on “Shadows of the Empire,” a comic and novel-based story set between “The Empire Strikes Back” and Return of the Jedi.” These figures were issued on a card featuring a purple laser stripe and the “Shadows” logo. In 1997, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of Star Wars, Hasbro issued the green cards with holographic foil stickers overlaid on the character photo on the package.

FREEZE FRAME AND EXPANDED UNIVERSE
In 1998, Hasbro replaced the character photo on the green cardbacks with a “Freeze Frame,” which was a slide of a scene from one of the movies featuring the figure’s character. Collectors could mail away for a “slide viewer” that resembled Luke Skywalker’s binoculars from Star Wars. Soon after, the green cards would again change, as Hasbro would release nine characters from “Star Wars” comics and video games under the “Expanded Universe” brand. The cards would feature a “pop up” mini scene on the back of the card.

FLASHBACK
In late 1998, the green cards would again undergo a slight change as Hasbro issued the “Flashback” figure line. These figures were characters with ties to the upcoming “Episode I” film. A small frame with a convertible picture would show a character picture from the original trilogy that would change to a picture from “Episode I” with the pull of a tab.

COMMTECH
In early 1999, green cards would undergo a final change, this time featuring technology Hasbro would feature in their upcoming “Episode I” line. “Commtech” figures came with a figure stand with a “voice chip” that would quote lines the figure’s character said when a device was waved over it. Having figures “talk” was a cool gimmick, but the sound quality of the “Commtech stand” was not very good. Hasbro more than made up for that by releasing some fan-favorite characters with outstanding sculpts in this line.

RARE CARDS, EXCLUSIVES, AND OTHERS
In the POTF2 line, certain figures were issued on more than one style of packaging, but it rarely affects the current value of the figure. A few early figures, like Hammerhead and R5D4, were issued on a small number of red cards as Hasbro made the transition to green cards, and are worth more than their green card versions, which are far more common. Still other figures were released as “deluxe” figures, featuring extra equipment or accessories. Multiple packs of various characters were released at certain times. Hasbro also released some exclusive figures, including a “Jedi Luke Skywalker” figure only available at theaters showing “Return of the Jedi: Special Edition” in 1997. Several “mail-away” figures were also offered from various sources.

Kenner would end the “Power of the Force 2” line in early 1999, when they began issuing figures and toys under the new “Episode I” label, which featured all-new toys and packaging.

POWER OF THE FORCE 2 TOY LIST
Where available, items are linked to online retailers to purchase the item.

Abbreviations of packaging types on which toys were available:
RC: Red Card
GC: Green Card
SH: Shadows of the Empire Card
FF: Freeze Frame Card
EU: Expanded Universe Card
FB: Flashback Card
CT: Commtech Card

FIGURES (Listed alphabetically)
2-1B (GC)
4-LOM (GC)
8-D8 (FF)
Admiral Ackbar (GC, FF)
Admiral Motti (CT)
Anakin Skywalker – Return of the Jedi (FB)
ASP-7 (GC)
AT-AT Driver (FF)
AT-ST Driver (FF, GC) Freeze Frame version is very rare
Aunt Beru (FB)
Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi (RC, GC)
Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi Hooded (FB)
Bib Fortuna (GC)
Biggs Darklighter (FF)
Boba Fett (RC, GC, FF)
Bossk (GC)
C-3PO (RC, GC)
C-3PO (Removable Arm) (FB)
C-3PO (Bespin Removable Limbs & Net) (FF)
Captain Piett (FF)
Chewbacca (RC, GC)
Chewbacca as Boushh’s Bounty (FF)
Chewbacca – Bounty Hunter Disguise (SH)
Chewbacca – Hoth (FB)
Clone Emperor (EU)
Darktrooper (EU)
Darth Vader (RC, GC, FF)
Darth Vader – Flashback (FB)
Darth Vader Interrogation (CT)
Darth Vader Removable Helmet (FF)
Dash Rendar (SH)
Death Star Droid (FF)
Death Star Trooper (FF)
Death Star Gunner (RC, GC)
Dengar (GC)
Emperor (GC, FF)
Emperor Palpatine with Force Lightning (FB)
Emperor’s Royal Guard (GC, FF)
Endor Rebel Soldier (FF)
EV-9D9 (FF)
Ewoks – Wicket & Logray (FF)
Gamorrean Guard (FF)
Garindian (GC, FF) The Freeze Frame version is very rare.
Grand Admiral Thrawn (EU)
Grand Moff Tarkin (FF)
Greedo (RC, GC)
Greedo Cantina (CT)
Han Solo (RC, GC)
Han Solo Carbonite (RC, GC)
Han Solo Hoth (RC)
Han Solo Endor (GC)
Han Solo Bespin (FF)
Han Solo Cantina (CT)
Hoth Rebel Soldier (FF)
Imperial Sentinel (EU)
Ishi Tib (FF)
Jawas (RC, GC)
Jawa and Power Droid (CT)
Kyle Katarn (EU)
Lak Sivrak (FF)
Lando Calrissian (RC)
Lando Skiff Guard (GC, FF)
Lando in General’s Gear (FF)
Lobot (FF)
Luke Skywalker (RC)
Luke Skywalker Dagobah (RC)
Luke Skywalker Jedi Knight (RC, GC)
Luke Skywalker Stormtrooper (RC, GC)
Luke Skywalker X-Wing Pilot (RC, GC)
Luke Skywalker Hoth (GC)
Luke Skywalker Ceremonial (FF)
Luke Skywalker Bespin (FF)
Luke Skywalker Blast Shield Helmet (FF)
Luke Skywalker Imperial Guard Disguise (SH)
Luke Skywalker with Tatooine Floppy Hat (FB)
Luke Skywalker with T-16 (CT)
Luke Skywalker Dark Empire (EU)
Malakili – Rancor Keeper (FF)
Mara Jade (EU)
Momaw Nadon – Hammerhead (RC, GC)
Mon Mothma (FF)
Nien Numb (FF)
Orrimaarko – Prune Face (FF)
Ponda Baba – Walrus Man (GC)
Pote Snikin (FF)
Prince Xizor (SH)
Princess Leia Organa (RC, GC)
Princess Leia Organa Version 2 – New likeness (FF)
Princess Leia as Jabba’s Prisoner (FF)
Princess Leia Ceremonial Outfit (FB)
Princess Leia in Boushh Disguise (SH, GC)
Princess Leia Ewok Celebration (FF)
Princess Leia Hoth Outfit (FF)
Princess Leia Hooded (CT)
Princess Leia Dark Empire (EU)
R2-D2 (RC, GC)
R2-D2 with Tools (FF)
R2-D2 with launching lightsaber (FB)
R2-D2 with Holographic Leia (CT)
R5-D4 (RC, GC)
Ree Yees (FF)
Rebel Fleet Trooper (FF)
Saelt Marae – Yak Face (GC)
Snowtrooper (GC, FF)
Spacetrooper (EU)
Stormtrooper (RC, GC, FF)
Stormtrooper Battle Damage (CT)
Tatooine Stormtrooper – Sandtrooper (RC, GC, FF) The Freeze Frame version is very rare.
TIE Fighter Pilot (RC, GC, FF)
Tusken Raider (RC, GC)
Ugnaughts (FF)
Weequay (GC, FF) The Freeze Frame version is one of the hardest figures to find.
Wuher (CT)
Yoda (RC, GC)
Yoda with boiling pot (FB)
Zuckuss (FF)

EXCLUSIVE AND MAIL-AWAY FIGURES
B’omarr Monk (Fan Club Exclusive)
Cantina Band Member (Fan Club Exclusive)
Han Solo Stormtrooper (Kellogg’s Fruit Loops Mail-Away)
Jedi Luke Skywalker Theater Edition (GC, giveaway during showings of “Jedi” in 1997)
Kabe and Muftak (Fan Club Exclusive)
Obi-Wan Ghost (Frito Lay Mail-Away)
Oola and Salacious Crumb (Fan Club Exclusive)
Wuher (Fan Club Exclusive)

FIGURE MULTI-PACKS
Cantina Aliens: Labria, Nabrun Leids, Takeel
Cantina Showdown: Dr. Evazan, Ponda Baba, Obi-Wan Kenobi
Death Star Escape: Han Solo Stormtrooper, Luke Skywalker Stormtrooper, Chewbacca
Final Jedi Duel: Emperor, Darth Vader, Jedi Luke Skywalker
Jabba’s Dancers: Rystall, Greeata, Lyn Me
Jabba’s Skiff Guards: Klaatu, Barada, Nikto
Jedi Spirits: Yoda, Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi
Mynock Hunt: Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia
Purchase of the Droids: Luke Skywalker, C-3PO, Uncle Owen Lars
Rebel Pilots: Ten Numb, Wedge Antilles, Arvel Crynyd
Shadows of the Empire: Boba Fett & IG-88
Shadows of the Empire: Darth Vader and Prince Xizor

COMPLETE GALAXY (Figure inside planet)
Yoda & Dagobah
Darth Vader & Death Star
Ewok and Endor
Luke Skywalker and Tatooine

FIGURES INCLUDED WITH OTHER ITEMS
Wedge (included with Millennium Falcon Figure Case)
Scanning Crew Member (included with Millennium Falcon Figure Case)
Darth Vader with Removable Helmet Top (included with Escape the Death Star Game)
Luke Skywalker Trash Compactor (included with Escape the Death Star Game)

DELUXE FIGURES (Figures with large accessories)
Boba Fett Deluxe Rocketpack (GC)
Han Solo Deluxe Smuggler Pack (RC)
Hoth Rebel Soldier Deluxe with Cannon (GC)
Probot (GC)
Stormtrooper Deluxe Crowd Control (RC)

ELECTRONIC FIGURES
Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi with light-up saber (GC)
Darth Vader with light-up saber (GC)
Jedi Luke Skywalker with light-up saber (GC)
Emperor Palpatine with force lightning (GC)
R2-D2 with lights and sounds (GC)

EPIC FORCE FIGURES (larger scale, posed figure on a base)
Bespin Luke Skywalker
Boba Fett
C-3PO
Darth Vader
Bespin Leia
Stormtrooper
Three pack: Han Solo, Chewbacca, Ben Kenobi

GUNNER STATIONS (figure in a cockpit)
Han Solo in Millennium Falcon (GC)
Luke Skywalker in Millennium Falcon (GC)
Darth Vader in TIE Fighter (GC)

PRINCESS LEIA TWO-PACKS
Bespin Princess Leia and Bespin Han Solo (GC)
Ceremonial Princess Leia and Ceremonial Luke Skywalker (GC)
Princess Leia and R2-D2 (GC)
Princess Leia Ewok Celebration and Wicket the Ewok (GC)

MAX REBO BAND PAIRS
Barquin D’an and Droopy McCool (GC)
Joh Yowza and Sy Snootles (GC)
Max Rebo and Doda Bodonawieedo (GC)

MILLENNIUM COIN FIGURES (Figures on a stand with a coin)
Bespin Han Solo
C-3PO
Chewbacca
Emperor
Endor Luke Skywalker
Endor Princess Leia
Snowtrooper

CREATURES
Bantha with Tusken Raider figure
Dewback with Sandtrooper figure
Rancor with Luke Skywalker figure
Ronto with Jawa figure

PLAYSETS
Death Star Escape (RC)
Detention Block Rescue (RC)
Cantina Pop Up Playset (U.S. Fan Club Exclusive)
Cantina Pop Up with Sandtrooper figure (GC, retail version of the Fan Club version)
Endor Attack (GC)
Hoth Battle (GC)
Jabba’s Palace with Han in Carbonite figure (GC)
Millennium Falcon CD Rom Playset (GC)

VEHICLES AND SHIPS
A Wing Fighter with Pilot Figure
Airspeeder with Pilot figure (EU)
AT-ST Scout Walker
AT-AT Walker with AT-AT Commander and AT-AT Driver figures
Boba Fett’s Slave I
Cloud Car Concept with pilot figure (EU)
Cruisemissle Trooper
Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter
Dash Rendar’s Outrider
Landspeeder
Luke Skywalker’s T-16 Skyhopper
Millennium Falcon
Power Racing Speeder Bike
Snowspeeder
Speeder Bike Concept with pilot figure (EU)
Speeder Bike with Biker Scout figure
Speeder Bike with Endor Luke figure
Speeder Bike with Endor Leia figure
Swoop Vehicle
Tatooine Skiff with Jedi Luke Skywalker
TIE Fighter
X Wing Fighter
X Wing Fighter FX (with lights and sounds)
Y Wing Fighter with Y Wing Pilot figure

OTHER
Classic Edition Four Pack: Recasts of the 1970’s vintage figures of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Darth Vader.
Freeze Frame Folder
Freeze Frame Viewer (Luke’s Electrobinoculars)