Star Wars Follies: Blaster Masters - Vintage Kenner Toy Review

[@joeyretrofool7847]

All those little lost weapons are scattered in dump heaps, grass, dirt, mud, playgrounds, and under couch cushions all across the world.

[@maxbrandt6]

Or still hanging out in someones lower intestine, 34 years later!

[@Mister80Retro]

Max Brandt Wait I was like 4 years old when I first had these figures so they might still be in MY lower intestine! :O

[@GoldenSaddle]

Which means we can go hunting for them so we ca reuse them, sell or do what ever we want with them

[@nickmanzo8459]

Joey RetroFool not to mention in vacuum cleaner bags.

[@SniffHeinkel]

This is George Lucas's true legacy.

[@kommanderskombat3339]

I bought a bad condition 1979 xwing shook it around and like 10 storm trooper guns fell out lol

[@kc6053]

Thats cool man, thanks for sharing.

[@corvus1970]

So, basically, you hit the blaster jackpot? :D

[@jaintly]

I bought an old AT-AT for $5 and my 5 year old found a stormtrooper blaster inside the battery compartment!

[@kaaawasakiproductions]

Just came across this video tonight. Haven't seen it in a long time!! THIS is one of my favorite RetroBlasting vids of all time. Its perfect and fun!!!! Mahalo for the years of RetroBlasting!! Aloha!!

[@scaris9361]

I don’t think many figured this out but if you sent Kenner a letter letting them know you lost an accessory, and tell them the accessory and for what figure they would send you a replacement. If it was any of the blasters or sticks they had general accessory packs that had about 50 items in each pack. I even had the headset to the Ewok chief eaten by my puppy when I was a kid and they sent me back a replacement for that. I ended up with hundreds of extra weapons and accessories using this method a bunch of times over the years. They are all sitting in my parents basement to this day.

[@Jellycakelap]

5:30 Michael - The TIE Pilot and Bespin Pilot's sidearm is based on Greedo's film gun. OG Greedo was shipped with Han's Blaster the DL-44, Greedo's pistol is very close to this one. The other option? Kenner also freestyled when no word came from Lucasfilm. If you check that series 'Toys That Made Us' - some of the Kenner designers and sculptors talk that up. :)

[@easterbrooks7480]

Hey where was Greedo on this list?! He may not have shot first but he still is good at holding a blaster

[@overhearyou]

This is still one of my favorite vids to date. The comedy always has me chuckling. The Walrus Man snippet is gold.

[@bobafett1849]

Love that look of determination on Melinda's face at 3:06!

[@brycevo]

These blasters are really well made. They're detailed enough to get the point across

[@Miakel]

6:50 the stormtrooper description has to be the greatest thing i have ever heard on any KZbin video! Annoying Galactic Revolutionaries!

[@ncopictures7182]

1:34 Michael predicted Last Jedi confirmed.

[@stretchscreamers]

Oh yeah!

[@enterprisingcaptian875]

You know why Kenner designed the blasters hard to hold? They secretly wanted us kids to keep the figures in the package and display them. Kenner was VERY proud of their packaging!

[@stevenwalton8177]

I'm not surprised that Boba didn't make the list. However, I did think the original Hammerhead would've been on it. His hand had that "O" shape making the blaster almost impossible to drop, and more of a bend to the arm than most of the other figures, which made his shooting pose look more natural. :) I remember having the Darth Vader with the weird lightsaber, and my dad calling it "Vader's french-tickler". It was years until I understood the joke.lol

[@armoredknight8718]

In the rough and tumble early 80s..we used to use toothpicks and painted them correct colors to replace those noodle sabres they came with...anyone else do that?

[@teppest11]

***** I used lollypops sticks and used highlighters to add color

[@johnnietorch1598]

Armored Knight I remember using the odd colored toothpick. They also had colored plastic cocktail decoration swords you could buy in the supermarket for like 50 cents. My mother would let me buy them once in a while. They were slightly large for the figures, but a suitable replacement.

[@ryanbarker5217]

yep. i think it was some kind of mind link all kids back in the day shared. i'm sure the hole in luke's hand is all wallored out as a result....

[@maybeakron4367]

Yes

[@corvus1970]

1 toothpick + Testors paint = Replacement lightsaber on the cheap.

[@angelortega3122]

The Blaster that came with the Luke black Jedi outfit was the one that Han Solo used when he shot Sarlacc when it was trying to get ahold of Lando’ s leg

[@1701Tex]

BEST RETROBLAST EVAR! Seriously, this sets a high watermark for EVERY toy reviewer to try to shoot for. Good luck to 'em, but as Paladin said, "Man's reach should always exceed his grasp, or what's a Heaven for?" And YAYS to Kirby for video-bombing!

[@lordjs9726]

Cool. Melinda is a tough badass woman with that blaster.

[@gdzofficial]

Love this miniseries inside RetroBlasting!

[@edwinsmith-jones6205]

Despite not being sold with one, Han Carbonite's hand was perfectly sculpted to hold a smuggler blaster. As it's based upon the MG-42, the handle on the front the Snowtrooper rifle could be a over simplified representation of a bipod? Kenner really upped their game for the R.O.T.J. blasters, the sculpting detail of the Palace & Biker Scout pistol were miles ahead of anything they'd previously produced, the Endor blaster was practically screen accurate. The rebel pilots both having Endor blasters is perfectly plausible as they, and the AT-ST crew, would only need carry a small sidearm for personal defence. The Imperial Gunners hand, as illustrated on the Droids A-Wing packaging, was clearly designed to hold an Imperial blaster.

[@edwinsmith-jones6205]

I've noticed that some figures hold weapons they weren't issued with better than the ones they did come with. For instance the Rebel Commanders grip on a smuggler blaster is nigh on perfect.

[@jacckus4354]

Great video retro blasting

[@611_hornet5]

"Hi, I'm Ian McCollum and today on Forgotten Weapons we're taking a look at some of the principal blasters used by both sides during the Galactic Civil War."

[@johnnietorch1598]

So sad to think how I lost 90% of those weapons...

[@kc6053]

My cousin was the same had them for like 5 minutes then ether lost or thrown in the bottom of his toy box never to be seen again.

[@theCAPOSHOW]

But so happy the memories are

[@camcordernonsense5264]

I Can't stop watching this video.

[@bobjordan69]

I love your exasperation with the yellow lightsaber 😂👌

[@rogertaylor9435]

I never ever understood the yellow light sabres. In 1978 i was lucky enough to have been bought two Obi wan's so i was able to replace the yellow sabre, which i did with speed.Let us know if you ever discover why they picked this colour choice, and keep these great videos coming

[@AniW2x4]

Roger Taylor Chinese promotional posters.

[@teetoys76]

Toothpicks or cocktail olive swords were great stand ins for many a lost saber .

[@OneEyedJack1970]

I've used those many times.

[@jakeandzack5763]

1:35 "A Jedi's weapon deserves more respect."

[@michaelwoodward5787]

When I was a kid I would put rubber bands around their waists to act like a holster . Worked great.

[@80sfreak42]

I bought some used on ebay from the 80s...the b wing pilot had one

[@sizoromero2269]

Love your shows, keep em coming 👌

[@Wolf459]

Superb SFX! Great job!

[@davidq.5488]

As kids we figured the Biker Scout's grip was aiming left because of the Speeder Bike chase scene in ROTJ; 2 bikes side by side, and he's shooting Luke & Leia on his left. Recognize thr Lazer Tag cameo @ 2:45. Late to the channel,, but GREAT VIDEO TY!

[@LaughItupFuzzball70]

Most Enjoyable Guys! Really great work and as always very informative! Fantastic. Cheers Fuzz.

[@daschyt2225]

Never tire of watching these SWF videos. Can never stop from cracking up @8:40 😂😂

[@Wario7793]

Very informative (I even learned a few things) and fun video!

[@thegreathaven]

Your star wars videos's are always the best! ahah

[@timx8872]

When Ponda Baba snarls at Luke, the translation is “Out of my way human excrement “.

[@Jedi3671]

Love this video!!! Fantastic stuff guys!

[@twotonedearly]

One thing Kenner should have done was take a page from Mattel's book and make a weapons pack like Mattel did for MOTU. Could have helped replaced lost blasters or lightsabers if they would have done that.

[@michaelholly4866]

Kenner had two accessory sets with extra guns, back packs, masks, and grappling hook belts in their Empire Strikes Back line.

[@maxbrandt6]

"A decent blaster hand." I'm adding that phrase to my personal lexicon!

[@shannonedge9386]

I love the Follies videos! Yes I am to also confused by the blasters as I have many myself.

[@Cavillier1970]

Mike I gota tell you the other night I watched this and even though I've seen this video before, I was LOL like I inhaled laughing gas when you got to Walrusman and "You got somethin' to say...." Today I was at work and it was SHITTY with our customers trashing the 2 T-Shirt tables, and kids running around they were a raiding party. I admit it was getting to me BIG TIME, then I thought about how you sounded at that part and I started LOL outloud. Thanks for helping get through a rough one bubba.

[@maddwoba]

Fantastic vid!--We were just talking about this the other day--haha--Thanks for sharing

[@torque91]

I finally got Lando General Pilot yesterday and he absolutely refuses to hold his palace blaster!! If he had a working holster, I would stick it in there, but the holster is just molded into his chest.

[@ZombieSlayersNation]

The lightsaber part was the best!

[@FatherAxeKeeper]

I always thought Walrusman had more of a nutsack mouth. Anyway great video as always!

[@paxphanithasack953]

Father AxeKeeper ii

[@bobjordan69]

Or a butt

[@CuteFluff8]

The epic toss! 😱😱😱

[@jdbrown55]

Oh, I don't remember that. I guess I should check that video again. Thanks for reminding me.

[@tomwatson7817]

Really surprised you did not do a top 10 holders and show Greedo and Hammerhead.

[@johnnyblaze4172]

Ha, all of my action figures had handmade holsters for their pistols. It was an intricate and detailed acquired skill. They were usually made from black electrical tape, and they would function very well.

[@shockwave7513]

Rewatching this. A while ago an old friend gave me a small case that had a bunch of old Joe's and some loose accessories. Among them was the Imperial blaster, so I gave it to my sole surviving childhood Star Wars toy, Boba Fett, and the Smuggler's Blaster, so I went and got me a Han Solo for it, the Bespin Han as that's my favorite look for him. I became aware that it was the wrong gun for that figure, probably from one of your videos (maybe this one!), but as you said, that's his gun, and I don't care if it's wrong! As an aside, it's funny that you have Endor Han on your list of figures that hold their gun well, because the new Hasbro retro version doesn't! It holds it at a funny angle, and not very well at all.

[@subseeker]

Such an awesome work, keep'em coming! :-)

[@shermaneagles5903]

best one yet👍 now I know what some of the blasters came from in the films

[@Mister80Retro]

This is a great informational video considering as a kid I remember taking the figure and weapon out of the packaging and then 8 seconds later, the weapon was gone forever. So I don't even remember what any of them looked like

[@rustyblades2566]

My vote for best action figure that can hold a blaster goes to Greedo. The blaster was going nowhere once placed in his hand. 6:34....technically Luke Skywalker was a Southpaw because Mark Hamill is.

[@gusbaker4u]

what was up with the little candle wicks sticking out of the end of the old lightsabers anyway?

[@tylerkrae5596]

They were meant to be retractable.

[@jonathanduplantis1403]

@@tylerkrae5596 why the weird tips on end

[@wheeljack0]

Im starting to collect the old line again, i will use this video for reference.

[@waxelso]

and now i have to check my IG-88 figure to make sure he has the right gun... damn you retroblasting!

[@bowlsmaclean3910]

Greedo's gun hand was stellar as well. No special mention?

[@TheNightBadger]

Hold on a second... surely one of the last blasters Kenner made was the Biker Scout one? That was one of my favourites! Always hated the thin Jedi gun... but loved the 'Bespin' one (nice trivia on it being a Star Wars Rebel blaster - must be why I liked it). Really great vid as always!

[@MarkDemeo]

i have to say this was one of your best vids ever,entertaining as always.here is a thought you maybe right about bespin han b ecause bespin luke comes with the right blaster,also the cloud car blaster reminds me of something from buck rogers.

[@lordofmodbury]

Can’t believe what you said about walrus man! He’s one of the best! 😛

[@alaws6364]

DUDE I FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT MY FAVORITE STAR WARS CHARACTER!

[@TheNightBadger]

Aah... makes sense. As a kid I was sure that the Biker Scout gun also came with Boushh Leia, maybe because I hated the fact that everyone had sticks (another of your topics...). Can't wait for your video on Hasbro!

[@ChrisKaliber]

When I was a kid I had Hoth figure. I don't remember if it was Luke or just a Hoth trooper. Anyway his weapon grip was SO THICK I would get a headache trying to make it fit into the guys hand. I still never solved the problem and still remember it.

[@CuteFluff8]

“Go figure..” 💁🏼‍♀️ 🤣🤣 Pun yes please

[@oildalejones567]

Just checking. I love your work.

[@Slikkerheleberna]

The Kenner death squad commander for some reason holds the smuggler pistol really good.

[@gavinhames7500]

what about greedo for the gun holding?

[@deadaccountlol9189]

Gavin Hames Totally (Kinda ironic nowadays)

[@johnnyblaze4172]

Ha, all of my action figures had hand made holsters for their pistols. It was an intricate and detailed acquired skill. I would make them out of different colored electrical tape. And they would function very well.

[@DarthIllusive1]

What about hammer head grip holding too!!????

[@retroblasting]

Umm...It's called a Top 10 List. It's subjective. So, make you're own Top 10 list and include him. Problem solved.

[@retroblasting]

You're taking it rudely, but that wasn't my intent. I get a lot of people who feel like my omission of something is a personal slight. I was just trying to put it in context and say "Hey, my opinion isn't the be-all-end-all." I apologize for coming across rudely. That certainly wasn't what I wanted to accomplish.

[@temazros6112]

What about Bossk's Relby-v10 mortar gun?

[@josephlytle1436]

I think it would have been funny if broken vader was behind him when he threw the lightsaber, and that was how vader lost one of his arms XD!

[@kidbach]

entertaining and informative as always Mike. * roarin round of applause * at the beginning of the video you like a James Bond villain the way your hands are clasped. p.s. forgot to tell you about the comments about Daitarn video this is Derrick, the smart-alecky, yet oh so clever commenter from your fb page. BAZINGA!!!

[@danoliver8804]

Those old stormtrooper weapon were old British Army SMG. Used carry one when I was in the forces. 😂

[@cmsahe]

I had my vintage collection stored away for decades! No I'm enjoying it and buying the missing accesories from eBay :D

[@dondee500k]

Oh, the memories. :)

[@nickmanzo8459]

If I’m being perfectly honest, I still have most of my toys’ weapons, what I mostly lost were the robes, the camo jackets, coats, and stuff like that.

[@YodaPagoda]

I'll say that I had the Millennium Falcon in 1980...but who was the pilot? You've got it...Walrus Man. My brother supplied Hammer Head as a co-pilot, but his thick tree trunk legs wouldn't fit into the seat.

[@BruceKenobi]

Wonderful video, but I get the impression that Kenner was a bit mediocre when it came to the first line of SW Vintage Action Figures, like they sacrificed detail and "blaster correctness" for the sake of getting the figures in the market (that playability argument doesn't stick, because in the 80's the figures were a lot better and still playable!).

[@jayparks6266]

BruceKenobi actually I believe there’s a documentary about those very factors I know it had details about SW first line and how they couldn’t get them out in there in time for the holidays due to high demands just look up Star Wars documentary and it may show up on youtube

[@ybrix101]

Greedo also had a good grip on his piece.

[@wuzionekenobi4011]

chewie and han are home YAY!!!!

[@toybugcarl]

You never touched base on the jawa blasters. They were pretty close to the movie design but they were so small and I lost both of my jawas guns in the grass. Sigh. This was a cool presentation. I still have the first collectors case with all my figures.

[@ZombieSlayersNation]

HAHA this is freaking hilarious as always man!!! Great JOB!

[@michaelshoemaker4399]

Fantastic video as always! Your AfterEffects skilz are really put to good use here. Was that a Buck Rogers figure about to get double tapped by the stormtrooper? ;-)

[@sgzartan]

I agree with the guns being hard to hold in their hands. I liked the look of the At-At Drivers gun though.

[@philv2529]

I credit Todd MacFarlane with the increased standards of articulation and detail when he started MacFarlane toys (originally Todd Toys). He was the first one to do it although I could be wrong.

[@teetoys76]

Tattooine Bone Thug !!! lol !!! I could be reading comics , playing guitar , opening new figure's , building models , going out on a date, or just playing Rogue Squadron for the umpteenth time on my Wii . But NO !!!! I'm enjoying some RB vids .

[@baillergeaux]

I always disliked when vintage figures held their weapons in a goofy way, so I understand your video and the rest of its features. I'm a huge G.I.Joe fan and collector but if there is something I always found the weakest point of that amazing line, is the goofy way many figures hold their weapons. 1982 Cobra Commander (amazing figure) is a good example of this, among many other great figures. With many of them you couldn't really naturally aim with their wapons to the place they were looking at!

[@murlhaggard]

absolutely slammin!

[@SweetJimmyNetwork]

As a kid I liked the Aliens. So Walrus man was a favorite.

[@davymartini64]

I still can't find my storm troopers blaster, the search still continues...

[@sgzartan]

great video!

[@henryfuller7742]

What about the rebel commando blaster(a280c)

[@c0l1n_m45]

8:47 For some reason I have never seen the subtle facial expressions that Ponda Baba makes when confronting Luke, is this a special edition change? If so which version because I have never known about this since in the special edition I have he has a straight face the whole time. Strange.

[@angelortega3122]

Hello I believe there was a Stormtrooper that came with the long rifle like the one he carried in A New Hope when they boarded the Millennium Falcon.

[@michaelholly4866]

you are probably thinking of the Snow trooper. He came with a large long rifle with a grip under the barrel.

[@stevemcq.9911]

I always wanted the bowcaster for Chewie. Why did Kenner made such a unusual weapon for Han`s buddy? A bow-blaster would have been so cool.

[@elchichosantana6410]

Walrus man made a cameo in Toy Story 4 with Kenobi

[@Tarquin23]

You do realise you’re the first to throw Luke’s lightsaber over your right shoulder casually - Lucasfilm were watching you during the production of The Last Jedi ...

[@SniffHeinkel]

"Walrus Man knows how to hold a gat. The infamous Catinia butt mouth isn't messing around when he decides to burn you down. Walrus Man is a Tatooine bone thug."