Now That Droids Cards Are Part Of TVC, Can POTF ‘85 Be Far Behind?

Prior to 1985, Kenner used the movie logos to refresh the Star Wars line look, keeping in mind that A New Hope was still simply named Star Wars when the first 21 figures were produced. Star Wars would not become A New Hope until its theatrical rerelease in 1981. At that point, Kenner had already switched to the Empire Strikes Back line look. When Kenner needed a package refresh in 1985, there was no new media from which to source a logo. Instead, they created the movie agnostic Power of the Force card, which is commonly referred to as "POTF '85" in collecting circles.

I will be honest, I don't love of the aesthetics of the POTF '85 card. The large film out from the standard vintage card is reduced to a smaller window, and, to be honest, the logo is a tad gaudy. It was definitely a precursor to the busy logo featured on cards when Power of the Force returned in 1995 (commonly referred to as "POTF2" in collecting circles). Regardless of my feelings about the appeal of the POTF '85 card, they are iconic. They are legendary. They have immediate collector recognition due to the fact that they are among the rarest of the vintage Kenner figures. The phrase "Last 17", erroneously used to refer to the figures that debuted in POTF '85, immediately pricks up collectors' ears. It's the reason that Hasbro included Yak Face on a reproduction POTF '85 card as a perk for backing the Sail Barge, and sales immediately took off. While I'm not a huge fan of the aesthetics, the history of this line look thrills me. They have collecting juice!

For that reason, fans have been patiently waiting for Hasbro to follow up on that POTF '85 Yak Face replica, but that presented a problem. There is a cost to make nice things. Lower productions runs, new card designs and collector coins all have to be paid for. The Droids figures announced yesterday presumably establish that premium as $16. I personally feel like a like a line of repacks on POTF '85 cards would do exceedingly well at that price point. There are a host of characters, that originally debuted in POTF '85, that are ready to go today:

Luke Skywalker (Stormtrooper)

Han Solo (Carbonite)

Kithaba (Skiff Guard) (mistakenly named Barada in the Kenner line)

Death Star Gunner

General Lando Calrissian (wouldn't need a wide release)

A-Wing Pilot

Luke Skywalker (in Battle Poncho) (to be released)

And I will give you one more deep cut for historians of the Kenner line. Grand Moff Tarkin was originally planed for the 1986 Star Wars line up, but the line got the axe. Rereleasing VC98 - Grand Moff Tarkin with a less green uniform and perhaps a redo of the soft goods lower tunic on a POTF '85 card would go over like gangbusters!

Finally, if you want to know why using "Last 17" as a synonym for "POTF '85 debut" is wrong, just watch Randy's review of the Kenner Yak Face figure:

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