Galactic Heroes: A Movie (as opposed to The Movie)

Next to the main action figure line, my favorite thing about the modern Star Wars endless ocean of toys is the Galactic Heroes line. If you don't collect it, allow me to give you a brief history.

1999-2001: Hasbro comes up with idea, unpainted prototypes leak to eBay. Company is hesitant to release any. A line of kiddie-friendly Jurassic Park Jr. toys is selling seemingly well, but they're a little bit smaller.

2002: First batch of "Playskool" Star Wars toys are released. 6 products in all, each include a vehicle or creature and an array of mini figures. Prices are awesome-- $6 got you 2 figures and 2 vehicles, $15 got you 3-4 figures and a big vehicle, and $30 got you the Falcon with 4 figures. The line ended before 2003 was up, but product was (un)sold through at least 2004.

2004: Line returns as a series of 2-packs and some repackaged vehicles, this time called "Galactic Heroes." The vehicles are basically dropped by the end of 2005 until reissues start in late 2007.

2008: Vehicles galore, a Slave Leia, Grand Moff Tarkin, and other bizarre choices make Galactic Heroes one of the most consistently interesting toy lines. I shot some of the vehicles-- the X-wing and the Darth Vader's TIE Fighter-- in the video below.



If you're a fan, Hasbro expanded the line to include Toy Box Heroes (Toy Story, 2008), Robot Heroes (Transformers, 2007-present), Combat Heroes (G.I. Joe, 2008), Superhero Squad (Marvel properties, 2006-present), and there will probably be more.

The most fascinating thing about the line to me is that from 2002-2008, the line has had a basically uniform look, however it appears the facial sculpting is going to start changing as Hasbro releases figures from The Clone Wars this Fall. Well, it was fun while it lasted, now it's going to look different. Still, it's a fantastic line.