DEATH STAR COMPACTOR Star Wars

                                                                     Micro Collection Playset

One can argue that, when it was initially introduced in 1982, Kenner’s Micro Collection was designed to push Return Of The Jedi toys in a direction not explored with the first two Star Wars films. The line, which included only twelve pint-sized playsets and four vehicles, looked past figure articulation in order to provide fans with interactive environments, and in a lot of ways paved the way for the modern high-end collector market.

The Micro Collection was more the first legitimate Star Wars collectible and much less a toy, at least in the traditional sense. Even though most of the sets in the short-lived series featured special action features, it was truly designed as a display piece, and when introduced in 1982 the individual pieces sported a price much higher than comparable products in Kenner’s action figure line.

Each set featured a plastic playset or vehicle and an assortment of painted 1 1/4" scaled diecast figures. These figures were easy to damage and kids learned quickly to take care of their new mini Star Wars collection. While commercially the line was a failure, it did appeal to a certain demographic within the Star Wars collecting community, and many of the fans for this line can be found buying up Sideshow Collectibles, Gentle Giant, & Attukus statues and eFX (& formerly Master Replicas) replicas. The seed for the high-end collectible was planted by Kenner with the Micro Collection.

The Death Star Compactor set featured eight diecast figures and an interactive features that allowed collectors the ability to shuttle Luke and Han up the elevator to save Princess Leia, and then help them escape for the perils of the Trash Compactor, in accurate-ish recreations of the scenes in A New Hope. This set was one of two sets released based on the scenes set on the Death Star. It was packaged individually and in the Death Star World Action Playsets collected boxed set.

Had the line not been cancelled early, the Death Star sets would have been accompanied by the Emperor’s Throne Room as seen in Return Of The Jedi. In addition, the Bacta Chamber playset would have been produced for the Hoth World collection, the Torture Room would have been produced for the Bespin World collection, and Dagobah and Jabba’s Palace would have bridged the line to Return Of The Jedi.

















Year: 1982
Assortment #:93300
What’s In The Box?
  • Death Star Compactor (4 pieces)
  • Orange Trash Foam (31 pieces)
  • Luke Skywalker (In Stormtrooper Outfit)
  • Princess Leia Organa
  • Han Solo (In Stormtrooper Outfit)
  • Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi (A Fighting)
  • Darth Vader (A Fighting)
  • Stormtrooper (Injured)
  • Stormtrooper (Firing)
  • Stormtrooper (Attacking)
  • Sticker Sheet
  • Star Wars Toys Booklet
  • Revenge Of The Jedi Ashcan


  • Photography & Text by D. Martin Myatt


  • Back To Kenner
    NEW IN THE PHOTO ARCHIVE:
    Probe
    Droid
    Poll
    Now that you've had your first look at Hasbro's 2013 San Diego Comic-Con exclusive Black Series Boba Fett and Han Solo in Carbonite two pack, the Probe Droid is curious what you think of the set.
    I'm attending SDCC and will certainly get this awesome set!
    I'm attending SDCC but have no interest in this line.
    I'm not attending SDCC but hope to get this awesome set somehow.
    I'm not attending SDCC and have no interest in this line.
    I'm undecided but interested in seeing it added to the Photo Archive.
    I'm more vexed at why toy collecting news is suddenly exclusive to USA Today instead of a site I go to for my Star Wars news...
    Current Results