Star Wars POTF Imperial Gunner AFA Y80 (Kenner, 1985)....

Description

Star Wars POTF Imperial Gunner AFA Y80 (Kenner, 1985). From the Personal Collection of Jacob R. Miles III, a member of Kenner's original Star Wars engineering team, this example represents one of the highly sought-after Final 17 figures issued in the 1985 Power of the Force expansion. The Imperial Gunner, inspired by the Death Star crew seen operating the Empire's superlaser in A New Hope, translated a brief but visually distinctive screen role into a unique 3.75-inch figure during the closing phase of vintage production. Its all-black uniform and helmeted sculpt give it a stark presence within the lineup, and its release on the 92-back Power of the Force card situates it firmly within Kenner's final retail wave. Graded AFA 80 Y-NM with subgrades of C80 B85 F85. For collectors pursuing the Final 17, the Imperial Gunner remains a cornerstone of the 1985 assortment, and provenance tied directly to Kenner's original engineering era adds a compelling historical dimension to an already desirable late-release figure.

More Information: Jacob R. Miles III, often known within the industry as the "Prince of Play," is a veteran toy executive and former member of the original Kenner engineering team responsible for bringing Star Wars from screen to shelf in the late 1970s. Serving as a product liaison engineer during the line's formative years, he worked on the development and overseas manufacturing of the earliest Star Wars action figures and vehicles, including involvement in the engineering phase of the now-legendary rocket-firing Boba Fett prototype. Over a career spanning more than four decades with companies including Kenner, Hasbro, Tonka, and Sega, Miles has remained a respected voice in the toy industry; the pieces offered here come directly from his personal collection, representing the legacy of an individual who helped shape the modern action figure era.


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