Rocket Firing Boba Fett Prototype

Overview

Approximately 100 of these prototypes were made at Kenner.

The prototype was not mailed out. See our listing for the one people got in the mail.

According to "The History of Kenner's Rocket Firing Boba Fett" panel at Star Wars Celebration 2022, they think there are about 70 L-slots and about 30 J-slots. Not all of them are accounted for. Watch the panel on YouTube.

These were never sold to the public.

Two major versions exist: an L-slot rocket firing mechanism and a J-slot mechanism, based on the backwards shape of those letters.

Almost all of the prototypes are unpainted, blue/grey figures. One version is known to have yellow legs.

The L-slot missiles have 4 distinctive "ribs," whereas the J-slot version has 8 distinctive ribs. Since this projectile separated from the figure, it's not necessarily paired with every prototype; some were lost.

None of the figures have a copyright stamp on the leg, like the regular release of this figure (which did not have a working, firing rocket).

Each prototype figure was loose, however, one painted version was shown carded at a Toy Fair expo.

Tomart's Action Figure Digest #20 has an authoritative write-up on the further back story.

Many bootlegs exist, often cheaply available online. Sometimes written as rocket-firing.

Auction Sale Values

In July 2016, an L-slot with authentic 4-sided missile (AFA authenticated and encased on 12/12/03) sold for $19,632 (£15,000) at auction via Vectis.

In March 2018, an L-slot with an AFA grading of 85 sold for $86,383.47 at auction via Hake's Americana and Collectibles.

In November 2018, an L-slot with an AFA grading of 90 sold for a "best offer" of supposedly $145,000 (on a $185,000 asking price) via eBay thru seller k95zt01. The insight comes from collectors on The Imperial Commissary group on Facebook.

In April 2019, an L-slot with no firing mechanism reportedly sold for $95,000 via The Rebel Hideout: Vintage Star Wars Collector's Corner on Facebook.

In July 2019, an L-slot sold for $112,926 via Hake's Americana and Collectibles.

On November 7, 2019, a J-slot sold for $185,850 via Hake's Americana and Collectibles.

In March 2020, an L-slot sold via Propstore for $87,500.

On September 24, 2020, an L-slot with no firing mechanism sold for $62,239.24 via Hake's.

On June 30, 2021, an L-slot with AFA 85 NM+ status sold for $165,200 via Hake's.

On March 16, 2022, a J-slot with AFA 50 VG status sold for $204,435 via Hake's.

On June 3, 2022, an L-slot with AFA 80+ sold for $236,000 via Hake's.

On July 27, 2022, an L-slot with AFA 85 sold for $136,290 via Hake's.

On July 26, 2023, an L-slot with AFA 75+ and no rocket sold for $99,297 at Hake's.

In April 2024, there was an eBay listing (no longer available) for a J-slot AFA 85, asking for $220,000. But the seller ended the auction on May 2, possibly due to no buyers.

In May 2024, a hand-painted L-slot with AFA 60 sold for $525,000 via Heritage, who says this is the highest for any Star Wars action figure at auction to date. Record Setting

In August 2024, a J-slot with AFA 85+ sold for $1,342,000 at Goldin. Record Setting

On November 20, 2024, an L-slot with AFA 85 sold for $114,224 at Hake's.

Ending in early December 2024, a hand-painted alternative paint scheme L-slot with AFA 80 is up for auction at Heritage.

Links

* Rocket Firing Boba Fett (L-Slot Version) First Shot (TheSWCA.com)
* J-Slot Boba Fett (TheSWCA.com)
* Rocket Fett analysis by Chris Georgoulias (12Back.com)