STAR WARS: POWER OF THE FORCE - Slave Girl Leia

By: Dan Cziraky
Date: Tuesday, May 29, 2001

STAR WARS: THE POWER OF THE FORCE (Kenner/Hasbro)

Back in 1983, when Return of the Jedi toys were hitting the shelves, collectors were hopefully wondering, 'Will Kenner make a 'Slave Girl Leia' action figure?' Yes, Carrie Fisher in her space bikini had toy geeks drooling after that first day at the box-office. Alas, it didn't happen. At least, not until 1998, when Kenner finally released a 'Princess Leia as Jabba's Prisoner' figure as part of the Power of the Force II line (side-stepping the politically incorrect term of 'slave girl' in the process, too). Collectors went nuts, hording as many of these already-rare figures as they could get their greedy lil' paws on. Just this past year, however, Hasbro began clearing out the warehouses in anticipation of Episode I toys. Suddenly, two-year-old overstocked figuresincluding 'Princess Leia as Jabba's Prisoner'were hitting the stores at $3-$4! Sure, this drove down the figure's secondary market value, but finally got them out there in enough quantity so that casual collectors could snag them at a price in their budget range. Then can still be found, in diminishing quantities, at Toys 'R' Us and Kay-Bee Toys.

The collectibility of 'Slave Girl Leia'as fans still call herwasn't limited to the 3-3/4-inch arena, however. For Christmas 1998, Hasbro and FAO Schwarz offered an exclusive, 12-inch Princess Leia Collection two-pack, 'Princess Leia Organa and R2-D2 as Jabba's Prisoners.' Packaged in an impressive, fold-out window box, the 12-inch Leia was outfitted in her dancing girl costume, while R2 had his drink dispensing apparatus from Jabba's sail barge. The Leia figure had the usual seven points of articulation, with plastic halter top and waistplate, see-through skirt with gold trim, cloth boots, and neck chain. R2 had six points of articulation, retractable third leg, and articulation in the arm of his drink dispenser. Once again, this sexy incarnation of everyone's favorite, brother-kissing space opera heroine was making collectors froth at the mouth worse than an Ugnaught in heat! The two-pack originally went for $75 in the FAO Schwarz catalog, and had been going for as much as $200 in secondary marketsuntil Kay-Bee Toys snatched up the overstock and marked them down to $30 earlier this year! Some stores still have them in stock.


Just this past year, as part of the last Power of the Force II 'Action Collection' series of 12-inch figures, Hasbro released 'Princess Leia with Chain,' yet another 'Slave Girl Leia' 12-incher. This one has had a bit of tinkering, however. It now has plastic boots; a thicker material replaced the flimsy, see-though skirt; the face has a better resemblance to Carrie Fisher, the waistplates have been permanently attached to the torso (which somewhat restricts articulation at the hips), and the body has been reshaped, looking less like a fashion doll and more natural. Although released in late 1999, this figure can still be spotted in stores, retailing around $20 at Toys 'R' Us. Of course, various online sources are selling all three 'Slave Girl Leia' figures at prices that vary quite a bit.

Thanks to the Internet, rumor has it that Hasbro is now planning a 12-inch two-pack of the next-most sought after female in the Star Wars roster, 'Oola the Dancing Girl.' Done in 1998 as a 3-3/4-inch exclusive for the Official Star Wars Fan Club, along with Jabba's court jester, 'Salacious Crumb,' rumors are circulating far and wide that a 12-inch 'Oola & Salacious Crumb' two-pack is on the boards for 2001-02. Toy geeks, start those salivary glands!