Star Wars Return of the Jedi Nikto Original Packaging Artwork (Kenner, 1984)....

Description

Star Wars Return of the Jedi Nikto Original Packaging Artwork (Kenner, 1984). As one of Jabba the Hutt's henchmen, Nikto likely didn't live through the great battle that took the life of his boss and many cohorts in the desert of Tatooine. His last job as a skiff guard ended above a hungry Sarlacc Pit. This 1984 Kenner Star Wars Return Of The Jedi Nikto packaging artwork is recognizable for its hand painted rendering of the film's iconic Sarlacc pit scene, which is woven seamlessly into the blister card's background using the photoart process.
While Nikto's packaging artwork is one of the best from the grouping of 12 Return of the Jedi action figures released the same year, it's most memorable appearance was on the package for Kenner's 1984/85 Power Of The Force line. As very limited release in Australia, this version of this artwork was famously published on a card with a Warok action figure coin and remains the rarest production item from the entire Power Of The Force series. For Kenner's sub-licensees in Europe, the Tri-Logo package version featured a full view of the artwork, without the tight cropping that was used on the Kenner version.
The 15.5 by 12.5 inch artwork was created using the photo art mixed media process. Kenner's Star Wars design firm applied paint to an original print to alter it using an airbrush and regular bristles. Approximately half of the blister card's background was added this way, including a portion that extends beyond the border of the photographic print. Other areas of the card were subtlety shaded or highlighted, included Nikto's shoulders, head, face, chest and tunic.
With less than 100 different card backs made for the entire regular figure line, each surviving one is a precious piece of cinematic and toy history. It's a rare thing to be able to hold a piece of that history in your hand and even rarer to have it as a part of a personal collection.
This artwork comes with a Certificate of Authenticity by Collectible Investment Brokerage (CIB) which has been authenticated and signed by Tom Derby.

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