Han Solo [Disguised As A Stormtrooper] - POTF2 [R/G] - Exclusives

In Star Wars, Han Solo disguised himself as a stormtrooper in order to rescue the beautiful Princess Leia from the Empire. Now Kelloggs Froot Loops cereal presents this unique, never-before-available Star Wars Han Solo action figure from Kenner. It's free with two proofs or purchase (UPC symbols) from bottom panels of 8 oz., 15 oz., or 19.7 oz. sizes of Kelloggs Froot Loops cereal along with this official Order Form.

It’s the figure that started it all. It’s the figure that completed a long-awaited duo and pair of heroes from the very first Star Wars film that took a decade to put together. And this toy was the catalyst for a band of collectors to join together creating a community to begin a long-running obsessive/compulsive hobby of collecting 3.75” Star Wars action figures. We’re of course talking about the Kellogg’s Froot Loops mail-away Han Solo [Disguised As A Stormtrooper] from Kenner’s The Power Of The Force “2” line. We’re enthralled that Kenner chose a food company to start up its dormant toy line a full decade later. It was very ambiguous too. In all honesty, this action figure has no proper name. Sure, you can easily figure it out, but it was simply described in bold lettering on the back of the Froot Loops box as “Star Wars Action Figure”. It was only in the description in the text (as well as the blatant photo) that the figure is Han Solo [Disguised As A Stormtrooper]. A truly “free” action figure, all you needed was two proofs of purchases from two boxes of Froot Loops with the offer on the box (which started arriving in the summer of 1995) along with the completed official Order Form (also on the box) and it started arriving in mailboxes about 90 days later.

The figure itself was a very exciting at the time of its reveal. Many of us were disappointed that Kenner never completed a Han Solo (In Stormtrooper Disguise) action figure back in the original vintage Kenner era. Rumors abound that he was on the shortlist to be made, but because the 1985 The Power Of The Force line was so short-lived, most of the plans for the line were scrapped. A decade later it appears that the Star Wars basic figure line is here and back with a vengeance, and we honestly couldn’t think of a better action figure than Han Solo [Disguised As A Stormtrooper] to re-launch the brand. This connects the vintage era to the modern era and the link which is this figure makes it almost feel seamless. Interestingly, Han Solo [Disguised As A Stormtrooper] showed Star Wars enthusiasts that a new approach was being taken for the action figures. Surely to match the current popular toy line of 1995, Kenner has given Han Solo [Disguised As A Stormtrooper] a bulkier and more muscular frame. It almost looks like a caricature of the actual character. We believe there will be a large dose of Star Wars fans that won’t be into this new look, and we’re not entirely crazy about it. But it is just so exciting to see new Star Wars toys that probably most are going to overlook it for a while.

Han Solo [Disguised As A Stormtrooper] comes with a removable helmet. The stormtrooper helmet accessory fits nicely over his head, but the likeness of the helmet isn’t too accurate to the actual stormtroopers in A New Hope. We’re a little bit disappointed by the aesthetics of it. Surprisingly, no E-11 blaster has been included, but this was not a decision of Kenner’s. Kellogg’s forbid a gun accessory to be included with any of their offers. Whether amorally driven or a “child safety” driven decision, it shows to us that maybe Kellogg’s wasn’t the best company for Kenner to partner with for the offer. Actually, bittersweet may be a better descriptor here. Certainly Kellogg’s has a huge part of the young potential Star Wars audience with their brand of foods, but to determine and deem what is safe or appropriate for children is a parent’s decision, not theirs. We digress. (Editor’s Note: A gun was actually produced, and we have learned from historical publications that the gun was included with 1998’s POTF2 [FF/TKC] Princess Leia Organa [All New Likeness] Freeze Frame figure.) This is a landmark figure, and probably the sole reason most of us don’t have a budget left for anything extraneous after our toys.