Confessions of a ‘Star Wars’ Collector: Giving in to My Inner Kid

Well, Dear Reader, I did it. I gave in to the inner teenager that resides inside this very middle-aged screenwriter/blogger/commentator and film reviewer and just did it.

I just went to Amazon and ordered one of the priciest Star Wars collectibles I’ve ever bought: Hasbro’s new Star Wars The Black Series Snowspeeder with Dak Ralter vehicle from this year’s Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back 40th Anniversary collection.

I wasn’t planning on getting this version of the Rebel Alliance’s T-47 Snowspeeder, which is a modified version of Incom’s T-47 airspeeder that has been adapted for use in cold climates such as those on the remote ice world of Hoth. After all, I still have my original Kenner Rebel Armored Snowspeeder (for 3.75-inch scale figures); it’s a bit old-looking but it’s one of the few Kenner vehicles that survived two hurricane strikes and a score of unforeseen accidents that whittled my collection to a fraction of what it once was.

I have a plethora of reasons why I shouldn’t buy this new Snowspeeder with Dak Ralter. I really do.

• It’s just one more Star Wars collectible to find a place for in a house that’s not entirely mine
• It’s not exactly cheap. With the addition of a Luke Skywalker (Snowspeeder Pilot) figure (sold separately), this “giving in to temptation” is going to cost me $159.04, including state and local sales taxes
• It’s not a life-or-death essential item, unlike, say, a couple of bags of groceries

But I’ve been collecting Star Wars action figures, vehicles, and other collectibles since I was 15. It’s hard to not buy something as cool as this new version of the Snowspeeder, which is upsized for the 6-inch action figures (and is thus bigger and perhaps even more detailed than my original Rebel Armored Snowspeeder from four decades ago.

So, yes, I did indeed succumb to temptation. I’ve passed up on buying many cool action figures and vehicles, mainly because I am middle-aged and have many adult responsibilities now, such as paying a certain share of the house’s bills. Plus, as I’ve said many times in my reviews of Star Wars The Black Series figures, it’s not like I have unlimited display or even storage space here.

I ordered my Snowspeeder with Dak Ralter and the appropriate Luke Skywalker (Snowspeeder Pilot) action figure just under an hour ago. Amazon has confirmed my order, and my stuff will get here on Wednesday.

I can’t wait! I’m so excited. In this weird and troubling year of the novel COVID-19 pandemic and a Presidential election that may forever shape the destiny of the United States (and by extension, the world), it’s small joys like this that keep me relatively sane and content.