The Star Wars Action Figure Archive [Paperback]

Stephen Sansweet (Author)

Book Description

Imagine the Star Wars universe—Princess Leia, Han Solo, Yoda, and all the other characters—reproduced on a miniature scale. These are the immensely popular and eminently collectible action figures that Kenner Toys has produced for the past 20 years. Until now, there has never been a comprehensive book for the legions who collect these fantastic figures. Star Wars: The Action Figure Archive is the visual compendium they've been waiting for. This definitive reference covers the older Kenner action figures as well as the new Hasbro/Kenner line. Every full-color page features shots of the action figures, many with movie stills on which the figure was based, and showcases accessories and the original packaging. Captions enumerate different versions of the figures, providing the exhaustive information required by the serious collector. With over 2,000 color photos, this is the definitive tour of the Star Wars action figure galaxy.?

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Look no further for the ultimate Star Wars toy guide. Consummate collector Stephen J. Sansweet's Action Figure Archive is a completist's bible, with full-color photos and rich details about all the Hasbro/Kenner toys released from 1978 through 1997. Even if you can't afford (or find) all the action figures, vehicles, and playsets themselves, this book is a joy to browse, with big, well-laid-out pages that are jam-packed with film stills, toy detail shots, and information on the movies and their marketing machinery. It's all here: every version of popular characters like Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, along with more obscure, hard-to-find figures, card variants, international editions, accessory descriptions, and product mistakes. This is a crucial reference for serious collectors--and an unbelievably fun book for every Star Wars fan. --Therese Littleton

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Japanese

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (February 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811822796
• ISBN-13: 978-0811822794
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 9.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #128,940 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, March 28, 2003

By 

tonythetoyman (Arizona) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Star Wars Action Figure Archive (Paperback)

The best part is that this is a REFERENCE BOOK, not a price guide. Thus, it contains tons of TIMELESS information, but no bogus or outdated prices. I recently ordered and read seven price guides and reference books dealing with vintage Star Wars figures (and numerous other collectible figures), and this is by far the best of the bunch. It shows a picture of every vintage figure from numerous angles, it shows numerous figure variations, it shows EVERY card variations for EVERY figure, and it identifies the weapons and accessories that originally came with each figure. It also shows all vintage play sets and mail in promotions (though unfortunately it does not provide quite as much information about these). It also does a nice job covering early POTF figures, and more recent figures from the mid to late 90s. And, EVERYTHING IS IN FULL COLOR ON HIGH QUALITY PAPER! If you're looking for a price guide, this is not the book for you. But, if you are looking for an outstanding reference book dealing with vintage Star Wars action figures, you will not be disappointed with this book. In fact, I actually ordered a second copy for myself in case my first one gets damaged with use!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Action Figures In Action!, August 27, 2000

By 

Mike Galer - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Star Wars Action Figure Archive (Paperback)

Going all the away up to the end of 1998 and therefore missing all of the Episode One figures and new specialities such as the sail-barge skiff and Stormtrooper with blaster-rifle rack, this is nevertheless the ultimate figure guide. Forget the rest. Continuous fans (who kept the original figures from childhood) to lapsed fans (who had them all, but sold/gave them away) to new fans, this is for you, one and all. Figure histories, oddities, facts and figures, production runs, special campaigns, cards variations: I was extremely impressed with the book and its contents. Each figure gets full-colour treatment accompanied by stills from the various films (reproduced as "evidence") every detail is there: from equipment to weapons. I particularly liked the "rogues gallery" at the beginning where every figure in the original and the later ranges are reproduced in miniature to compare and contrast. This book will have been drooling over figures you desire or mourning over lost, once owned treasures. Get your wallet out now and check you credit limits. Once you get this book you will be hitting every Star Wars store you can find to buy (or re-buy) those essential figures. Would make a great present.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book is not a critique...., October 28, 1999

By 

J. O'Brien - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Star Wars Action Figure Archive (Paperback)

I was reading the reviews and it totally baffles me...this book is not a critique of action figures...of course it's BIASED...it was written by someone who has his paychecks signed by Lucas himself! But really what it comes down to, it that this is a book of beautifuly photographed TOYS. The reason that there isn't much text is because the PICTURES do most of the talking and that is just fine with me. Sitting on the coffee tables of some people are books of houses, buildings, paintings or whatever...I would be proud to display this book, it shows these little pieces of colored plastic as art.