Category Archives: May the 4th Be With You

Happy Star Wars Day! May the Black Series be with you!

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Back in Black!

In 2013, Hasbro began releasing their highly anticipated line of Star Wars action figures known as the “Black Series”. The first wave of 6 inch figures proved highly poseable due to their large number of articulation points. Great attention was made to detail and paint applications, both in the figures and the accessories, along with the stylish window boxes which housed each figure, giving the brand a unique style that differed from previous incarnations of Star Wars packaging.

Indeed, the Black Series was firmly aimed at the adult collector rather than children, and with its no-nonsense, no thrills, black is black identity, many of the range sold out shortly after their appearance.

TVTA is pleased to present its thus far collection of Black Series 6 inch figures. Enjoy the pics. Happy Star Wars Day!

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May The Fourth Be With You – let’s have a blast(er)!

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Stormtrooper blaster 1996 Hasbro

Happy Star Wars Day, vintage mates! The 4th of May is the annual holiday celebration of the Star Wars franchise, known as: May The Fourth Be With You – which is a play on the expression ‘may the force be with you’. TVTA always makes a post on this day, usually showing off some Star Wars collectables or print advertising. This year we take a look at some Star Wars blasters, both big and small, direct from the collection of TVTA!

Boba Fett blaster 2009 Hasbro

Below: The Imperial Gunnery exclusive replica blasters.

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May the 4th Be With You!

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Greetings vintage mates! This is a big hello from a galaxy far, far away, as TVTA emerges from its hiatus to bring you a special Star Wars post and wish you a happy Star Wars Day and May The Fourth Be With You!

It has long been a tradition at TVTA to celebrate the 4th of May (the internationally-recognised Star Wars celebration day, and a play on the expression ‘May The Force Be With You’), and no evil Empire is going to stop me enjoying this year at TVTA, hiatus or not!

Recycling the Force

Alas, I don’t have enough space credits just yet to upgrade my plan to be able to present you with new Star Wars image delights (of which I have a-plenty), but be rest assured there is enough galactic goodness in my archives to help make this day a very special Star Wars Day indeed!

Believing the hype!

My good WP blogging mate and fellow Star Wars fan Julie over at Darkside Creative made an excellent post recently posing the question: How did you become a Star Wars fan?

For me, it all started with the toys before I even saw the first film, namely Kenner and Palitoy 3.75 inch action figures, along with the iconic Landspeeder vehicle and my prized toy back then – a Palitoy Battle-Damaged X-Wing Fighter complete with Luke X-Wing Pilot.

Later came a vintage Japanese Takara Transforming X-Wing Fighter and a 7 inch die cast Darth Vader complete with a Chewbacca bowcaster (was the Dark Lord of the Sith not content with only a lightsaber?).

Later still came an addictive collection of modern-era The Black Series 6 inch figures (of which a separate post will be demanded at some point).

So, as you may have already guessed, this year’s May The Fourth Be With You post is dedicated to Star Wars toys! No sushi. No chirashi. No comic books. Just wonderful vintage and modern toys!

Enjoy, and MTFBWY always!

May The Fourth Be With You – making a pandemic run in less than 12 parsecs

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Happy Star Wars Day!

I’m dedicating this year’s May The 4th Be With You to our dear Covid 19 and the evil pandemic empire… Grrr!

We haven’t missed a May The 4th in a long time at TVTA, and no frightening us with sorcerer’s ways and sad devotion to ancient religions is gonna stop us now (cough, cough – sorry Lord Vader).

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May The Fourth Be With You Peter Mayhew

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Palitoy Chewbacca Bandolier offer. Return of the Jedi N°28, 1984. UK.

Happy Star Wars Day!

I’m dedicating this year’s May The 4th Be With You post to actor Peter Mayhew, who passed away on the 30th April 2019, aged 74. Peter Mayhew was famous for playing the role of fearless Wookiee, Chewbacca, in the original Star Wars trilogy films. Mayhew also appeared in the Holiday Special, Revenge of the Sith, and The Force Awakens. In later films, due to declining health, he acted as a consultant for the character.

Peter Mayhew. Image: Lucasfilm.

For me, Chewbacca is one of the standout heroes from the Star Wars universe; physical, imposing, frightening, yet with a deep sense of loyalty to his friends and the rebel fight. I’ll never get over the impact upon hearing Chewie cry out in pain at the death of his dear friend, Han Solo, in The Force Awakens. Powerful stuff.

As for Peter Mayhew who played Chewbacca, I’ve only ever heard the very best sentiments of his warmth, friendliness and humanity over the years, from both his fellow actors and the fans who adored him and were lucky enough to meet him. Mayhew wrote two books aimed at young readers: Growing Up Giant, about how being different is a strength rather than a weakness, and an anti-bullying book for children My Favorite Giant.

Rest in peace Peter Mayhew, thanks for all your good work, and we’ll always let the Wookiee win!

UK. Starburst. 1980.

What Can You Get A Wookiee for Christmas (When He Already Owns A Comb?). 7inch vinyl record. 1980. RSO records.

Planet of the Hoojibs. 7 inch vinyl record. Buena Vista Records. 1983.

The Star Wars Book of Masks. Random House. 1983. Mask #2. Chewbacca.

In other Star Wars Day news…

Here’s a new ad I picked up recently, for the Droids and Ewoks cartoon series on VHS.

Star Wars Ewoks and Droids on VHS. 1988. UK.

More Ewoks?

Star Comics. 1985. US.

Just a few more Ewoks?

Ewok Village Play Set. France. 1985.

One last Ewok…

Logray, Medicine Man action figure. 1983. From the collection of TVTA.

And finally, a TVTA May the 4th tradition…

Will this post be sushi-free?

Not on your nelly!

May The Sushi also Be With You!

Admiral Ackbar sushi set. Image eBay.

Happy Star Wars Day!

Post updated with two Chewbacca records.

Happy Star Wars Day

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May The Fourth Be With You!

Star Wars Weekly. 1978.

This year TVTA encourages you to fill those blank spaces on your 1970s bedroom wall by cutting out your free pin-ups – courtesy of those nice Marvel artists at British publication Star Wars Weekly (time machine, bedroom wall, pocket money and newsagents required).

Star Wars Weekly was a UK Marvel comic run which covered the original trilogy films during the late 70s and early 80s. The comics featured Star Wars and non-Star Wars stories, competitions, articles, and in some issues a pin-up poster known as an Action Pin-up, Collector’s Pin-up, or Pin-Up Special.

The following are scans of the pin-ups I found in my pile. Happy Star Wars Day 🙂

Star Wars Weekly. 1978.

Star Wars Weekly. 1979.

Star Wars Weekly. 1978.

Star Wars Weekly. 1978.

Star Wars Weekly. 1978.

Star Wars Weekly. 1978.

Star Wars Weekly. 1978.

The Empire Strikes Back Editions

While I don’t have a complete collection of Star Wars Weekly, the pin-ups featured in early copies of the series all seem to be drawings. By the time The Empire Strikes Back made it to publication the art pin-ups look to have been replaced by photographs.     

Star Wars Weekly. The Empire Strikes Back. 1980.

The Return of the Jedi Editions

I don’t have many of the Return of the Jedi series yet so can’t comment if art or photos were used during that run. Edit September 2018: I recently acquired some ROTJ Weekly issues and found three of what appear to be photo pin-ups – though these differ from the ESB ones as there is no mention of ‘pin-up’ on the images.

Droids. ROTJ N°41. 1984.

And this just in… a superb colour art print of Obi Wan found in ROTJ N°83! Like the photo examples above, there is no ‘pin-up’ in the wording.

Obi Wan. ROTJ N°83. 1985.

That’s all for this year. I’ll add more pin-ups here as and when I find them. Thank you for covering over hideous 70s bedroom wallpaper patterns with us 🙂

This post is a sushi-free post.

Hee hee, actually it’s not. May The Sushi also Be With You!

Photo and creation by the talented Mr Oki

Post updated September 2018 with new images.

Never Mind The Adverts… May The Fourth Be With You!

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In this special 8th edition of the series Never Mind The Adverts… TVTA celebrates the annual ‘May The Fourth Be With You’ celebration of all things Star Wars!

We’ll be taking a look at Kenner’s vintage Star Wars Action Display Stand, a vintage Japanese bootleg model kit of the X-Wing Fighter, plus Greedo and White Armor Boba Fett from the modern Black Series line.

Happy Star Wars day!

Kenner Star Wars Action Display Stand for the first 12 figures

Just about as iconic as you can get regarding the first wave of vintage Star Wars toys, this 1979 display stand was designed for the first twelve action figures. The figures are attached to pegs on a revolving disc that can be turned manually to move the characters back and forth. The stand was available as a US mail away and special offer from some of the larger stores.

Bootleg model kit, Star Warrior X Space Fighter. Crown, Japan. Circa 1980

The Star Warrior X Space Fighter is an unlicensed X-Wing Fighter model kit made by the Japanese Crown company. The box artwork employs several images based on recognisable Star Wars properties such as the Death Star, a TIE Fighter and the X-Wing Fighter. The box side panels suggest other Crown kits available in the range like an R2-D2-type character and two ships resembling the Millenium Falcon.

Like other vintage Star Wars bootleg toys from back in the day, this item somehow managed to slip the radar of George Lucas and his legal team!

Black Series 6″ Greedo and White Armor Prototype Boba Fett figures

I’m not a collector of modern Star Wars toys, but the 6 inch Black Series figures have become a bit addictive …

That’s all, folks – until next May 4, thanks for looking, happy Star Wars day, and May The Fourth Be With You!