This may not be the newest thing on shelves, but it just has started to pop up around here. Well back that up a little bit – way back, and I’m talking like a couple of months, I saw 1 through 4 of the 6 car set. I assume these ship in cases of 8, and there on the shelves were numbers 1 through 4, represented twice each. Weird right? I thought so. Especially since it took so long to locate the remaining 2.
For those of you who may be unaware, the Real Riders series is a premium line of 1:64 scale vehicles from Hot Wheels, typically showcasing some sort of pop culture art on the vehicles. Superficially they resemble any regular $0.99 car, but these are more like $5. The paints used are “nicer” and more vibrant and typically much more detailed (some of this depends on the artwork being used). The bodies are much heavier and denser; I’m not sure if different metals are used or if simply more metal(s) is used. The wheels are also made of rubber (in lieu of plastic) for good measure and as an indicator of quality.
Note: I have no idea how Hot Wheels officially defines their Real Riders line. These are just general observations and assumptions that these are “For the Adult Collector” (as stated on the back).
One of the most striking things about these vehicles is the cards they’re printed on. They’re thicker, slick, a little glossy, and typically a beautiful, larger showcase of the artwork presented on the vehicles themselves. I’m actually tempted not to open these! Hot Wheels releases several sets of these throughout the year – you probably still see a lot of the Ralph McQuarrie Star Wars art right now, and you may remember the “Women of Marvel” series and “The Beatles” series from earlier this year. Typically these things do sell out pretty quick because of their collectibility…I’m a little bewildered myself as to why the McQuarrie stuff has stayed on shelves so long.
This Bounty Hunter Series features classic depictions of the 6 bounty hunters gathered on the Executor during The Empire Strikes Back, whom Vader (and/or the Emperor) have apparently contracted to hunt down the Millennium Falcon, Han Solo, and his companions – specifically Luke Skywalker. The “challenge” is that Vader wants them alive; “no disintegrations,” as he specifically looks in Boba’s direction. Despite the few frames in which these bounty hunters are featured, they have gained strong fan followings and rich mythologies of varying degrees of canonicity.
The Bounty Hunters assembled in The Empire Strikes Back, with Vader on the far left. L to R: Dengar, IG-88, Boba Fett, Bossk, 4-LOM, & Zuckuss.
So why does such a brief scene warrant this level of recognition? It’s a good question, and a good answer worth exploring. I probably wouldn’t go so far as to say that everyone who’s ever seen Episode V remembers this scene, but I would venture to say that even casual fans can vaguely recollect “that scene where Vader talks to those weirdos including Boba Fett about capturing Han, Luke, etc. Fans might remember “the guy with the bandaged head” or “the lizard thing” or “I think that’s a droid…?” It’s a very visually engaging scene and its brevity only adds to the mystery. Even if you aren’t familiar with the term “bounty hunter” or didn’t pick up on the fact that that’s what this cadre was, their striking appearance lets us know that these aren’t your typical Empire fare. They’re about as far from the sterile, orderly, uniformity of the Empire as you can get – Fett and Dengar with their tattered and asymmetrical armor, Bossk’s absolutely primal appearance, IG-88’s seemingly ramshackle and piecemeal composition, and the insectoid-meets-scuba-gear outfits of 4-LOM and Zuckuss.
I wouldn’t so much call this a “scene” as a would a “moment,” but it’s incredible how inspiring this quick clip of 6 characters (5 of which we’ve yet to see on the big screen for a second time!) has become. It is a symbol of just how inefficient the Empire is at dealing with true dissidents? Or perhaps a greater commentary on the state of galaxy whereby bounty hunting is so lucrative that it appeals to such a diverse array of “beings”? Or perhaps it speaks to a moral compass that most of the galaxy is blind to/uninterested in? After all, a true “bounty hunter” isn’t exactly “good” or “bad,” they’re just after the dough (or credits, or whatever)….which isn’t so far off from where Han is (and Chewy) when we first see him in Episode IV, though he’s instead softened down to “smuggler.” In fact, I think that somewhere in the expanded literature Bossk teams up with some combination of our typical “good guys” for some greater cause.
There’s no telling where Disney will take Star Wars, and somehow I’m not sure that bounty hunters will be in the near future (unless it’s in the form of some kinda watered down kids show). However, I think this would make a great concept for one of their “anthology” films. Maybe nothing too in-depth to start with, but perhaps a 2 – 2.5 hour film comprised of 5 vignettes following our bounty hunters before and/or after their brief meeting on the Executor. (Now before you go screaming, “yo Cubes, there are 6 bounty hunters on the ship!” yes, you’re right, but Zuckuss and 4-LOM were always treated as a team.) The brunt of all of this mystique and speculation falls on Boba Fett, but honestly I’m much more interested in how the rest of them got their start. I mean we may not have all the details of Boba’s existence, but with Jango’s story and that of the clones told back in Episode II, I think it’s pretty easy to fill in the gaps.
Boba Fett
IG-88
4-LOM
Bossk
Zuckuss
Dengar
Here’s a rundown of the vehicles:
- 1 / 6 – Boba Fett – 60s Ford Econline Pickup
- 2 / 6 – Bossk – Deco Delivery
- 3 / 6 – IG-88 – ’70 Chevelle Delivery
- 4 / 6 – Zuckuss – Chevy Silverado Off Road
- 5 / 6 – 4-LOM – ’64 GMC Panel
- 6 / 6 – Dengar – Ford Transit Supervan
I’m not 100% enthused about these old and eccentric vehicle designs, but hey, most of them work well with the artwork (save perhaps for Zuckuus) and I love the slick, high quality finish. Do I wish these guys had gotten more individualized treatment….yes. But I’m also happy that Hot Wheels even took the time to address this memorable scene and all the potential it contains.
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