A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

Star Wars: A 7.5-billion-dollar franchise. Since 1977, Star Wars has ruled the galaxy. With books, toys, novelties, video games, tv series, and of course the movies, Star Wars has inspired millions. Here is a list of some of the coolest Star Wars Merch from my childhood.

Star Wars Logo that reads "Star Wars the Best Of..." in yellow on a black background

Star Wars CommTech Toys

I can’t even begin to explain how much fun I had with these toys when I was a youngling. These were true collector’s items for any kid. Each figure comes with an extra item (like a weapon, tool, or robe) and a small chip that you can plug into a device known as the CommTech Reader to make the characters talk! I’ll tell you one thing: when I discovered Bookmans sold these, I was beyond excited. Took me straight back to my childhood.

 

New Canon Books: Lost Stars by Claudia Gray

When Disney announced there was going to be a completely new canon with the Star Wars novel adaptations, I was a bit weary. I adored the older books and have spent countless hours reading and re-reading the Thrawn Trilogy by Timothy Zahn. It is, in my opinion, one of the greatest trilogies in the Star Wars universe. As I started diving into the New Canon, I couldn’t put the books down. Lost Stars by Claudia Gray was outstanding!

MARVEL Epic Collection: Star Wars The Newspaper Strips

“Classic Tales, straight from the funny pages.” In 1979, you could find Star Wars comic strips in the Sunday paper. These amazing comics showcased your favorite characters from the Original Trilogy like Han Solo, Chewbacca, R2-D2, Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader. The best part about these is that they take place in-between episodes, so all the content is different from the films! I got a kick out of reading through some of these which became readily-available by the time I was a teen.

 

 

Funko Pop Star Wars Toys

Funko POP! outdid themselves when they released their Star Wars Pops. These are some of my favorites from the Movie Moments collection. All from the original trilogy, these Pops featured scenes like Escape Pod Landing with C-3PO and R2-D2, the classic Cloud City Duel with Luke and Vader, and the Cantina Faceoff with Han Solo and Greedo. Feeling nostalgic, anyone?

 

Star Wars: Battlefront 2 (for the PlayStation 2, of course)

The Force is very strong in this one. I absolutely adore this game. Star Wars: Battlefront 2 is still just as exciting to me as it was 13 years ago when it was first released. This multiplayer game was filled with so many different missions including ones for both the Empire and the Republic. You can choose your side! Throughout the game, you have the option to play as a multitude of different characters including Clones, Jedi, Bounty Hunters, Heroes, and even the infamous Darth Vader!

Want to get your hands on some of this fantastic Star Wars Merch? Give your local Bookmans a call and see what we have in stock or just stop by and geek out with us! Bookmans East is celebrating May the 4th! Stop by in costume (adults, kids, and pets) and enter into winning some Bookmans Trade Credit!

What are your favorite parts of the Star Wars franchise? Let us know in the comments below!