Rocket-Firing "Boba Fett" Action Figure (L-Slot and J-Slot Prototypes)
Kenner, USA 1979In early 1979, Kenner added a special offer to their Star Wars action figures: mail in four proofs-of-purchase and they'd send you a free Boba Fett action figure with a "Rocket Firing Back Pack."
The proposed design involved a spring-loaded launcher traveling in a slot shaped like a backwards "L," so surviving prototypes of this version are known as "L-Slots."
By the time Kenner's mailaway offer was reaching stores, toymaker Mattel had recalled several Battlestar Galactica toys after several accidents—including one death—involved children choking on their missiles.
Kenner's engineers attempted to prevent accidents by redesigning the launcher so that it had to be pulled back before being released. Since the launcher slot now resembled the letter "J," these prototypes are known as "J-Slots."
Ultimately, the rocket-firing feature was scrapped, and the figures Kenner mailed out had the rocket permanently affixed.
Prototypes of the rocket-firing Boba Fett figure are extremely rare. Seen here are a standard L-Slot (which are typically unpainted)—and a standard J-Slot (which are typically painted).
From the collection of Steve Sansweet
Kenner, USA 1979In early 1979, Kenner added a special offer to their Star Wars action figures: mail in four proofs-of-purchase and they'd send you a free Boba Fett action figure with a "Rocket Firing Back Pack."
The proposed design involved a spring-loaded launcher traveling in a slot shaped like a backwards "L," so surviving prototypes of this version are known as "L-Slots."
By the time Kenner's mailaway offer was reaching stores, toymaker Mattel had recalled several Battlestar Galactica toys after several accidents—including one death—involved children choking on their missiles.
Kenner's engineers attempted to prevent accidents by redesigning the launcher so that it had to be pulled back before being released. Since the launcher slot now resembled the letter "J," these prototypes are known as "J-Slots."
Ultimately, the rocket-firing feature was scrapped, and the figures Kenner mailed out had the rocket permanently affixed.
Prototypes of the rocket-firing Boba Fett figure are extremely rare. Seen here are a standard L-Slot (which are typically unpainted)—and a standard J-Slot (which are typically painted).
From the collection of Steve Sansweet
Rocket-Firing "Boba Fett" Action Figure (L-Slot Prototype with Painted Torso)
Kenner, USA 1979This figure’s torso was painted black prior to the toy being assembled. We don’t know why it was painted, although some of the paint has been rubbed off, suggesting that it may have been created to test the paint. If you have a different idea, let us know!
From the collection of Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz
Kenner, USA 1979This figure’s torso was painted black prior to the toy being assembled. We don’t know why it was painted, although some of the paint has been rubbed off, suggesting that it may have been created to test the paint. If you have a different idea, let us know!
From the collection of Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz
"Get a Free Boba Fett Action Figure" Store Display
Kenner, USA 1979This sign was displayed in stores to explain the Boba Fett mailaway offer and to trumpet the release of eight other action figures. The figure pictured at center is a J-Slot rocket-firing version; a prototype version of this display listed a "removable rocket" as a third bullet point next to that photo.
From the collection of Gus Lopez
Kenner, USA 1979This sign was displayed in stores to explain the Boba Fett mailaway offer and to trumpet the release of eight other action figures. The figure pictured at center is a J-Slot rocket-firing version; a prototype version of this display listed a "removable rocket" as a third bullet point next to that photo.
From the collection of Gus Lopez
Star Wars "Chewbacca" Action Figure (20-back with Boba Fett Offer)
Kenner, USA 1979In 1979, the first 20 Star Wars action figures appeared on cardbacks offering a Boba Fett figure, complete with rocket-firing jet pack, free by mail with four proofs-of-purchase. Safety concerns resulted in all Boba Fett figures being shipped to kids with the rocket sonic-welded in place.
From the collection of Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz
Kenner, USA 1979In 1979, the first 20 Star Wars action figures appeared on cardbacks offering a Boba Fett figure, complete with rocket-firing jet pack, free by mail with four proofs-of-purchase. Safety concerns resulted in all Boba Fett figures being shipped to kids with the rocket sonic-welded in place.
From the collection of Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz
Battlestar Galactica"Cylon Raider" Vehicle
Mattel, USA 1978Four Battlestar Galactica toys will forever be a part of Star Wars toy history: the torpedo-firing feature of Mattel's Colonial Viper, Colonial Scarab, Colonial Stellar Probe, and Cylon Raider posed a choking hazard that caused a similar feature to be scrapped from Kenner's Boba Fett figure.
From the collection of Steve Sansweet
Mattel, USA 1978Four Battlestar Galactica toys will forever be a part of Star Wars toy history: the torpedo-firing feature of Mattel's Colonial Viper, Colonial Scarab, Colonial Stellar Probe, and Cylon Raider posed a choking hazard that caused a similar feature to be scrapped from Kenner's Boba Fett figure.
From the collection of Steve Sansweet
Star Wars"Boba Fett" Action Figure (21-Back Version)
Kenner, USA 1979Though this package marked the debut of Boba Fett as a carded figure, many die-hard Star Wars action figure fans had already been sent the same toy in a plain white box as part of Kenner's legendary mailaway offer.
From the collection of Duncan Jenkins
Kenner, USA 1979Though this package marked the debut of Boba Fett as a carded figure, many die-hard Star Wars action figure fans had already been sent the same toy in a plain white box as part of Kenner's legendary mailaway offer.
From the collection of Duncan Jenkins
The Empire Strikes Back "Boba Fett" Action Figure
Popy, Japan 1980In Japan, toymaker Popy offered Kenner's Star Wars action figures packaged uniquely in boxes. Today, collecting all 15 is difficult, with Boba Fett typically the most difficult to acquire.
From the collection of Steve Sansweet
Popy, Japan 1980In Japan, toymaker Popy offered Kenner's Star Wars action figures packaged uniquely in boxes. Today, collecting all 15 is difficult, with Boba Fett typically the most difficult to acquire.
From the collection of Steve Sansweet
Star Wars "Boba Fett" Large Size Action Figure
Kenner, USA 1979Like all of Kenner's vintage Boba Fett figures, this toy is based on photos of the prototype Boba Fett costume rather than the outfit seen in The Empire Strikes Back. Only two new Empire figures were released in this scale before the line was cancelled: Boba Fett and IG-88.
From the collection of Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz
Kenner, USA 1979Like all of Kenner's vintage Boba Fett figures, this toy is based on photos of the prototype Boba Fett costume rather than the outfit seen in The Empire Strikes Back. Only two new Empire figures were released in this scale before the line was cancelled: Boba Fett and IG-88.
From the collection of Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz
Boba Fett Large Size Action Figure with Alternate Deco (Unused Concept)
Kenner, USA c.1979; Painter: Tom TroyKenner designer Tom Troy hand-painted this figure as part of a presentation to consider more realistic paint applications for the company's Large Size Action Figure line. Troy was still using Kenner's photos of the prototype costume for reference. The rocket is an early prototype version.
From the collection of Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz
Kenner, USA c.1979; Painter: Tom TroyKenner designer Tom Troy hand-painted this figure as part of a presentation to consider more realistic paint applications for the company's Large Size Action Figure line. Troy was still using Kenner's photos of the prototype costume for reference. The rocket is an early prototype version.
From the collection of Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz
Micro Collection "Boba Fett" Diecast Figure (From Bespin Freeze Chamber Action Playset)
Kenner, USA 1982Like all of Kenner's Boba Fett figures, this figure from the Bespin Freeze Chamber Action Playset was based on a prototype costume.
From the collection of Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz
Kenner, USA 1982Like all of Kenner's Boba Fett figures, this figure from the Bespin Freeze Chamber Action Playset was based on a prototype costume.
From the collection of Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz
Micro Collection "Boba Fett" Diecast Figure 4-Up Silicon Mold (Prototype)
Kenner, USA c.1982Micro Collection figures were sculpted at four times their final size; the silicon mold here is part of the preproduction process.
From the collection of Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz
Kenner, USA c.1982Micro Collection figures were sculpted at four times their final size; the silicon mold here is part of the preproduction process.
From the collection of Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz
"Boba Fett" Costume & Mask—Action Figure Version
Ben Cooper, USA 1979This 1979 Halloween costume demonstrates the popularity of Kenner's Boba Fett action figure: The Empire Strikes Back wouldn't be out for six months, so kids that wore this likely knew Fett only from the toy, and it's the early kit-bashed version from the mailaway offer that's depicted here.
From the collection of Duncan Jenkins
Ben Cooper, USA 1979This 1979 Halloween costume demonstrates the popularity of Kenner's Boba Fett action figure: The Empire Strikes Back wouldn't be out for six months, so kids that wore this likely knew Fett only from the toy, and it's the early kit-bashed version from the mailaway offer that's depicted here.
From the collection of Duncan Jenkins
Kubrick "Boba Fett" Figure (Medicom Toy Exhibition Exclusive)
Medicom, Japan 2003Most Kubrick figures were sold in boxes, but a few were released on cards as exclusive items. This was the first carded Star Wars Kubrick, released to 100–150 invited guests at a party prior to a special Medicom exhibition at Tokyo's Aoyama BAPE Gallery.
From the collection of Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz
Medicom, Japan 2003Most Kubrick figures were sold in boxes, but a few were released on cards as exclusive items. This was the first carded Star Wars Kubrick, released to 100–150 invited guests at a party prior to a special Medicom exhibition at Tokyo's Aoyama BAPE Gallery.
From the collection of Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz
Kubrick Boba Fett Collection "Rocket Firing Boba Fett (J-Slot Version)" Chase Figure
Medicom, Japan 2009These three figures were part of Medicom's nine-figure Boba Fett collection, with one of the two rocket-firing chase figures randomly replacing the "Vintage Toy" version in some boxes.
From the collection of Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz
Medicom, Japan 2009These three figures were part of Medicom's nine-figure Boba Fett collection, with one of the two rocket-firing chase figures randomly replacing the "Vintage Toy" version in some boxes.
From the collection of Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz
Kubrick Boba Fett Collection "Rocket Firing Boba Fett (L-Slot Version)" Chase Figure
Medicom, Japan 2009These three figures were part of Medicom's nine-figure Boba Fett collection, with one of the two rocket-firing chase figures randomly replacing the "Vintage Toy" version in some boxes.
From the collection of Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz
Medicom, Japan 2009These three figures were part of Medicom's nine-figure Boba Fett collection, with one of the two rocket-firing chase figures randomly replacing the "Vintage Toy" version in some boxes.
From the collection of Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz
Kubrick Boba Fett Collection "Boba Fett (Vintage Toy)" Figure
Medicom, Japan 2009These three figures were part of Medicom's nine-figure Boba Fett collection, with one of the two rocket-firing chase figures randomly replacing the "Vintage Toy" version in some boxes.
From the collection of Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz
Medicom, Japan 2009These three figures were part of Medicom's nine-figure Boba Fett collection, with one of the two rocket-firing chase figures randomly replacing the "Vintage Toy" version in some boxes.
From the collection of Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz
400% Size Kubrick "Boba Fett" Figure (Bounty Hunter Exclusive)
Medicom, Japan 2005Though the figure here depicts Boba Fett's actual prototype armor rather than Kenner's classic interpretation of it, the packaging pays clear tribute to the vintage Large Size Action Figure box.
From the collection of Steve Sansweet
Medicom, Japan 2005Though the figure here depicts Boba Fett's actual prototype armor rather than Kenner's classic interpretation of it, the packaging pays clear tribute to the vintage Large Size Action Figure box.
From the collection of Steve Sansweet
The Vintage Collection VCP03 Star Wars "Boba Fett" Action Figure (Mailaway Figure)
Hasbro, USA 2010This was the first official vintage-look Boba Fett released with a firing rocket. Since the 1979 design still presents a choking hazard, the modern version comes with a non-firing rocket that mimics the original look as well as a firing rocket that's a completely different shape.
From the collection of Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz
Hasbro, USA 2010This was the first official vintage-look Boba Fett released with a firing rocket. Since the 1979 design still presents a choking hazard, the modern version comes with a non-firing rocket that mimics the original look as well as a firing rocket that's a completely different shape.
From the collection of Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz
The Empire Strikes Back Retro Collection "Boba Fett" Action Figure
Hasbro, USA 2020"The first two waves of Hasbro's modern Retro collection figures delivered reproductions of vintage Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back action figures, although a pair of new figures designed with vintage styling were packed in with board games.
From the collection of Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz
Hasbro, USA 2020"The first two waves of Hasbro's modern Retro collection figures delivered reproductions of vintage Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back action figures, although a pair of new figures designed with vintage styling were packed in with board games.
From the collection of Lisa Stevens & Vic Wertz
"Boba Fett (First Shot)" Jumbo Action Figure (Premier Guild Exclusive)
Gentle Giant, USA 2013Gentle Giant went to great lengths with their jumbo version of the legendary rocket-firing Boba Fett, even packaging it inside a Kenner-style white mailer box. The big mistake: it's an unpainted J-Slot design, while all of the known unpainted vintage rocket-firing prototypes are L-Slots.
From the collection of Steve Sansweet
Gentle Giant, USA 2013Gentle Giant went to great lengths with their jumbo version of the legendary rocket-firing Boba Fett, even packaging it inside a Kenner-style white mailer box. The big mistake: it's an unpainted J-Slot design, while all of the known unpainted vintage rocket-firing prototypes are L-Slots.
From the collection of Steve Sansweet
Super Shogun "Boba Fett Kenner Version" Action Figure (Celebration Anaheim 2015 Exclusive)
Super7/Funko, USA 2015Toymakers Funko and Super7 collaborated to create this vintage-styled Shogun Warrior–inspired Boba Fett toy. Fett and the Shoguns share some history: Mattel's Shogun Warrior toy line popular in the late 1970s came to an end partly due to safety concerns with rocket-firing features.
From the collection of Steve Sansweet
Super7/Funko, USA 2015Toymakers Funko and Super7 collaborated to create this vintage-styled Shogun Warrior–inspired Boba Fett toy. Fett and the Shoguns share some history: Mattel's Shogun Warrior toy line popular in the late 1970s came to an end partly due to safety concerns with rocket-firing features.
From the collection of Steve Sansweet