Return of the Jedi

Yak Face Strikes Back: Rare £1.59 Star Wars Figure Sells for £3,200 at Hansons Auction

Retro-styled graphic with text reading “Vintage Star Wars Toy Sells for Over £3,000 at Auction” Title: Vintage Star Wars Toy Auction Graphic

Forget lightsabers and Millennium Falcon blueprints—true power in the galaxy lies in mint-condition plastic. A Star Wars action figure originally priced at just £1.59 in 1983 just sold for a whopping £3,200 at Hansons Auctioneers, proving once again that nostalgia can pay better than bitcoin. The figure in question? The legendary, blink-and-you’ll-miss-him background alien Yak Face, aka Saelt-Marae, from Return of the Jedi. You might not remember him—but your wallet should. From Wellingborough Attic to Galactic Gold The Yak Face figure was part of a 15-piece Palitoy figure haul found in a Wellingborough loft, where they’d been gathering dust since the ‘80s. All still sealed. All complete with original price tags. Together, they hammered in at £6,880, blowing past pre-sale estimates and making a pretty strong case for never throwing away childhood toys. And yes, that £1.59 sticker was still on the Yak Face packaging—a fact that may have boosted…

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Does Vader Know Leia is His Daughter?

Darth Vader standing on the bridge of his Star Destroyer, gazing out into the vastness of space with stars and cosmic nebulae stretching across the view.

The Star Wars universe is full of dramatic reveals, but perhaps none is quite as galaxy-shaking as the revelation that Darth Vader is not only Luke Skywalker’s father but also the father of Princess Leia Organa. For years, fans (oops, I said it) speculated on whether Vader knew about Leia’s true parentage during the events of the original trilogy. So, did the Dark Lord of the Sith ever realize that his own daughter was right under his nose, blasting Stormtroopers and sassing Imperial officers? The Early Years: Vader’s Blind Spot To understand why Vader didn’t sense Leia’s presence early on, you have to look at the timeline. In A New Hope, Leia is captured, interrogated, and even witnesses the destruction of her home planet, Alderaan. And yet, Vader seems blissfully unaware that the defiant senator standing before him is his flesh and blood. Awkward family reunion, huh? This oversight can…

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1981 Prequel Meeting to the Prequels

Huffington post in honor of the coming 30th anniversary of Return of the Jedi on May 25th, published an excerpt from the soon to be released (October), “The Making of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” by J.W. Rinzler. It was from a meeting held in the summer of 1981 which describes the prequels from the mind of George Lucas. It’s interesting to see how ideas changed and evolved between 1981 and 2005, in particular the birth and first two years of the twins including Yoda’s lightsaber skills. Also notice the keen eye on writer Lawrence Kasdan whose imagination helped Lucas evolve the vision right here in this meeting. He is also confirmed as a consultant for the upcoming 2015 Star Wars films. The preview of the book is direct from Huffington Post, the film images are added by me to coincide with the 1981 meeting. REVENGE OF THE JEDI…

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