Rebelscum.com: Classic Kenner Ree-Yees Action Figure

REE-YEES

Source:
(Return of the Jedi)

Date Stamp: 1983

Release Date: 1983

Carded Availability:
Return of the Jedi
Tri-Logo

Assortment No. : 70800

Retail: $2.99

Weapons and Accessories:

Ree-Yees Rifle

Point of Interest:
This figure first appeared on the Return Of The Jedi 65 back card.

Comments: A lot of Expanded Universe enthusiasts might try arguing that Ree-Yees was nothing but a lush that hung out a Jabba’s palace for all the free hooch, and judging by the way he was always swaying about unbalanced, it’s hard to disagree. But consider this: The poor guy had three eyes, so his depth perception would have been screwy. Maybe if someone had figured this out when he was in grade school, he would have been given corrective glasses and become a lawyer or something instead of a lush that hung out a Jabba’s palace for all the free hooch…

Major Variations: Though all vintage figures have minor variations, the Ree-Yees figure does have a major variation worth noting. This figure was moulded both with flesh coloured and brown coloured arms. Due to this moulding variation, the two versions went through different spray ops. The Flesh coloured arms had brown paint applied to the sleeves, while the Brown Moulded arms had “flesh” coloured paint applied to the hands.

Subsequently, the legs also share a moulding colour variation, that to date appear to coincide with the arm variations. In all examples found, the legs on the Flesh Moulded arms figure were moulded in gray with brown spray ops. The Brown Moulded arms, on the other hand, all appear to be moulded in brown with gray spray ops. It is important to note that there is a chance that these variations could be mismatched, but as of yet, an example of such a thing has not surfaced.

Thus far, all examples found of the Flesh Moulded arms version were produced in Taiwan, where the Brown Moulded arms all appear to have originated in Hong Kong.

The Taiwanese version has also shown up with a spray op variation on the boots. In most cases the boots are painted green, but examples with light brown boots do turn up from time to time. Though subject to regional availability, the Light Brown boots version tends to be the more scarce of the two.

Text & Photography by D. Martin Myatt.

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