Return Of The Jedi Wave 1 (1983)
Anticipation mounted over the first four months of 1983 as what was supposedly the final sequel to Star Wars was being completed. Even without the Internet, rumors abounded: Jabba the Hutt would be seen at last, Luke and Darth Vader would engage in one final battle (and Yoda and Obi-Wan might help), and there would be a second Death Star.
The movie was, of course, Revenge Of The Jedi. Well, at least until George Lucas retitled it on the premise that the righteous Jedi Knights - not even the two remaining vestiges of the once-proud order - would never stoop to an act of revenge. So instead, it was time for the Return Of The Jedi. Kenner was on hand with its usual selection of pre-release toys.
Conspicuous by their absence from the first wave were Han Solo and Lando Calrissian - an extremely clever bit of marketing which cast doubt upon the fate of both characters for the majority of fans who hadn’t read the spoilers.
