Remembering The Uzay Blue Stars

Based on our commissioned sales, I think it's safe to say that the user population here at Bantha Skull trends a little older. We're probably the only Entertainment Earth affiliate account that sold more Endor Han Solo figures than Hunter figures. For that reason, many of you at least know of the Uzay Blue Stars, but based on the comments in a recent article, some don't. I figured that was good reason for a rehash because, even if this is an old subject to you, it's still a fun one to discuss.

I've been mesmerized by the Uzay Blue Stars since the first time I set eyes on one. I was certain that first look came from Steve Sansweet's 1992 book Star Wars: From Concept to Screen to Collectible, but I just thumbed through my copy and there is nary a mention. So unfortunately, I don't know when my world was opened up to this bootleg. I just know that it came between 1993 and 1997 because I know where I was living at the time. My captivation surprises me because I don't do kitsch or ironic appreciation. I hate it, and bootlegs are firmly ensconced in that territory. Their collectibility usually stems from the fact that they are "laughably bad." Most of the Uzay figures qualify for that description as packaged products. The Blue Stars, however, blur the line a bit:


I won't deny that it's campy. It's obviously a recast of the vintage Kenner "Snowtrooper" (i.e. Imperial Stormtrooper (Hoth Battle Gear)) in blue with yellow highlights, but it's something I could envision Dave Filoni slipping into the background of an animated show. They've actually been canonized via a "wink" cameo in the novel Last Shot.

The bootlegs were made by the Turkish company SB Products in the mid to late eighties. The line gets its nickname from the text in the episode logo box which reads "Uzay Savaşçıları" and translates to "Space Warriors." The card images are my favorite part. Instead of featuring filmouts from the movies, SB Products often used photographs of the figures themselves in fantasy situations. My absolute favorite of these is the Death Star Gunner, which has the figure seated at a calculator. If that doesn't at least get a smirk out of you, you're dead inside. If you want to have some fun surfing the interwebs, check out the full Uzay line up at the Star Wars Collectors Archive.

The Blue Stars are the most sought after of the Uzay bootlegs. I can't find any recent sales data for carded samples, but I can show you a current asking price on Ebay HERE. I know of that seller, and in my experience they tend to try to set the market with their grail items. Even if they're at double the market, it's still a five-figure item. That's why, if Hasbro ever makes a new Snowtrooper figure, I think a Blue Star would make a great convention exclusive. There is no way SB Products has any rights to it.

---

comments powered by Disqus