Phil Reed from battlegrip.com has launched a new Kickstarter campaign, and this time, he sets his sights on Star Wars!
About this project
I love books. Over the last few years I’ve used Kickstarter to produce four hardcover books about toys, and each time the supporters have been wonderful to work with and have made it possible for the books to be top quality and wonderfully printed. I’ve had so much fun creating books about toys that I’m doing it again. Universe Expanded is for all of you who have an interest in the Kenner Star Wars Expanded Universe subline of 1998.
Layout work in progress. The pages are constructed in InDesign CC and feature photos, scans, and my own thoughts on each figure and vehicle in the line.
96-Page Hardcover Book
Universe Expanded will follow the same physical format as my two recent books about action figure marketing — Each Sold Separately (Kickstarter page) and Action Figures Not Included(Kickstarter page) — because holding those finished books in my hands felt very rewarding. The landscape format, hardcover binding, and colors in those two books were all wonderful and I look forward to shelving the finished copy of Universe Expanded right beside those books.
In addition to photos of the toys I’m also scanning in old magazine articles, snapping screenshots where appropriate, and touching on the figures and vehicles in the larger Star Wars universe.
What’s Inside?
The snapshots showing the book in progress give you an idea of what you can expect, but rather than leave any questions I thought it best to list all twelve of the 1998 Expanded Universe toys that will be featured in the finished book.
Nine carded action figures:
Luke Skywalker (From the Dark Empire comic series.)
Imperial Sentinel (From the Dark Empire comic series.)
Grand Admiral Thrawn (From the Heir to the Empire comic adaptation.)
Leia Organa Solo (From the Dark Empire comic series.)
Clone Emperor (From the Dark Empire comic series.)
Mara Jade (From the Heir to the Empire comic adaptation.)
Kyle Katarn (From the Dark Forces video game.)
Spacetrooper (From the Heir to the Empire comic adaptation.)
Dark Trooper (From the Dark Forces video game.)
Three boxed vehicles (with action figures):
Expanded Universe Cloud Car (Ralph McQuarrie concept art.)
Expanded Universe Speeder Bike (Joe Johnston concept art.)
I purchased sealed copies of all twelve toys so that I could snap packaging shots and then open each one. Working from freshly-opened toys means that I don’t have to worry about years of abuse affecting the toys. Fortunately, many of the late nineties Kenner Star Warsaction figures and vehicles are still relatively inexpensive and easy to find these days.
