Look, but don’t touch.

The POTF2, or Power of the Force 2, product line was a highly influential and nostalgic series of Star Wars action figures and merchandise released by Kenner (later Hasbro) in 1995. It marked the resurgence of Star Wars toys after a long hiatus since the original Kenner line in the 1980s. The POTF2 line  capitalized on the renewed interest in Star Wars following the release of the Special Edition films in theaters.

The Power of the Force 2 line played a significant role in revitalizing interest in Star Wars merchandise and collecting, setting the stage for the continued success of Star Wars toys and collectibles in the years to come.

This site attempts to catalog the first series of products released to the market.

Star Wars POTF2 Focused Collection

Starting in 1995 Kenner Star Wars released a new line called Power of the Force 2.  Whether you call them Red Card (saber color) or Orange Card (average color) this line would kick off a whole new generation of collectors.  This line hit the world by storm!  Many regions would receive their own printed packaging, while some countries opted for sticker additions to personalize it for their customers.  In any case, fans of Star Wars had a whole new world of merchandise to explore.

 

I purchased whatever I could afford up through 1999.  I realized with Hasbro taking over the reins this would not stop anytime soon.  Since there is no way to afford it all under normal circumstances, I decided to focus on the line that rekindled the fire of Star Wars for me.  POTF2, specifically Red/Orange Card.

 

You will find a few other things that I’ve loved along the way.  The Hamilton Plate collections, a portfolio of the websites I’ve built over the years, and a Vintage Tri-logo Restoration Project I worked on many years ago.  Enjoy your time here.  I hope you can kindle some nostalgia or just gain some knowledge about areas that we share.

10th Anniversary

This is a limited edition Hamilton Collection collector Star Wars plate 10th Anniversary Edition. This plate is a limited edition issue in the Star Wars Trilogy collection series. This plate is a collection that is produced on hard-fire porcelain in an edition limited to a maximum of 14 firing days and crafted to the exacting standards of Hamilton Company.

Sail Barge

Sail Barge | Morgan Weistling | 0724B | 1995

Red Five X-wing

Red Five X-wing | Sonia Hillios | 2909A | 1995

Progression of the POTF2 Line

The first launch was known as a red card.  The Star Wars logo and the character frame were in chrome.  A photo was used for the character panel.

The addition of Collection 1, marks a new direction in the line.  A small change was made moving from chrome detailing to gold.

The next update was a color change from a red lightsaber to a green one.  Still maintaining the original photo and also having the new gold border around it.

As the line developed this change only saw a holographic sticker added over the top of the photo.  Kenner/Hasbro hopes to spur on the variant collectors.

The final update saw big changes.  A 35mm slide was now in place of the photo location and Collection 1 changed to The Kenner Collection.  Also, for the first time, a Stand Up Bubble (SUB) was used.

Understanding the Nominclature

Datestamps

For the most part datestamps through the red card line follow a 4-digit code ex. (9526). The first two numbers are the year (95) and the second two are the week (26).  Use a website like Time & Date to determine when your figure was born.

Toward the end of the red card and flowing into the green card line the datestamps changed to 5-digits (82531). The first digit is the year (8) and the next three is the day (253). The last digit is the worker shift that packaged the product.*  For the red card line, I have only seen the number 1 for the last digit.

* Thanks to Pagano Anthony

Abbreviations

Abbreviation = Definition
SQ = Square Bubble
SUB = Stand Up Bubble, new packaging that allows the card to stand unassisted.
LS = Long Saber, typically 92mm or 93mm
SS/LT = Short Saber/Long Tray, it is referred to as the Transition Tray
SS = Short Saber, typically 72mm
SSS = Super Short Saber or an incomplete injection mold process at the factory that caused the saber to be shorter than intended
Tape = Weapons in the package have tape or do not
Holo = Holographic sticker in the character display
Wave = Noting a release of figures buy groups in the specified order
Variations = Items that make one figure different from another, saber lengths are often included in this term

Foreign Codes

.100 is French
.102 is English
.103 is Italian
.105 is Spanish

Additional Codes
.134 UK and first cards released in Europe
UK was changed to .102 and the rest of Europe changed to .164

Collectibles

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Earliest Datestamp

Darth Vader (9526)

Jun 25, 1995 - Jul 1, 1995

Latest Datestamp

Luke X-wing (82511)

September 10, 1998

“There has been an awakening, have you felt it? The dark side and the light.” – Snoke

Born in 1976, I grew up in a time of Star Wars.  Watching endless hours on VHS and playing with Star Wars and G.I. Joe figures to pass the time.  Fading away from the figures, like most, the turn of events that would occur as I go off to college would greatly affect my life for the next decades.