In this instalment of Bantha Tracking, Dan and Jez explore the third issue of the Official Star Wars Fan Club Newsletter from July 1978.

This issue features an interview with Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill, as he shares memories of his experience working on Star Wars—including how a friend, who would later become an icon in his own right, told Mark about the part and encouraged him to audition. He also shares his thoughts on working with Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford, as well as his hopes for his future career and more.

We also take a look at this issues Q&A section, where Lucasfilm answers questions from fans eager to learn more about the galaxy far, far away.

Plus, we continue the previous episodes look at “Between the Script and the Projector” with Part Two of the article examining the journey after casting as competed through to the film arriving in cinemas on 25th May 1977.

Along with a complete audio presentation of issue 3 of the newsletter, join us as we continue our look at the history of early Star Wars fandom—one newsletter at a time.

This episode, Those Old Fossils begins a brand-new series exploring the pilots of the Millennium Falcon, and to kick things off we’re looking at ship itself- Kenner’s vintage Millennium Falcon from 1979.

Widely regarded as one of the most iconic vehicles in the original Star Wars toy line, the Falcon became the centrepiece of countless childhood collections and remains a cornerstone of vintage Star Wars collecting today.

Ron Salvatore from the Star Wars Collectors Archive returns to share his expertise on the toy’s development, design, play features, Zendaya and it's lasting appeal

The team explore what made the Falcon such a special release and why it continues to be one of the most beloved items in the Kenner range.

The discussion also covers international releases, packaging variations, current market prices, and related Falcon items, including the die-cast and Micro Collection versions, as well as where the Falcon featured beyond the toys.

Whether you owned one as a child or still have one proudly displayed on your shelf, this episode celebrates a true classic of the vintage Star Wars line.

In Episode 2 of Bantha Tracking, Dan and Jez explore the second issue of the Official Star Wars Fan Club Newsletter, capturing the excitement of Star Wars fandom in 1978.

Alongside a complete audio presentation of Newsletter Volume 1, Number 2, they discuss Star Wars’ 1978 Oscar wins, sequel developments, the “Name the Newsletter” competition as well as its prizes, cover the regular Q&A section, plus more. Join us as we continue to our look at how Lucasfilm connected with fans long before the internet, conventions, and social media.—one newsletter at a time.

In this episode of Those Old Fossils, Palitoy Pete, Martin, Dan and Jez are joined by Mark Andrews from Variant Villains turn their attention to two 1984 releases from the vintage Return of the Jedi line — the mighty Rancor and the Rancor Keeper.

The Rancor is one of the most distinctive and visually impressive creatures in the vintage Star Wars range, and the team explore why it has remained a popular piece for collectors more than forty years later. From childhood memories and play value to loose and boxed collecting, this episode is a celebration of one of Kenner’s most memorable creature releases.

Naturally, the conversation also turns to the Rancor Keeper. While the character is an essential part of Jabba’s palace, the figure itself has never exactly enjoyed the same legendary status as the beast it serves. The Fossils discuss whether this chunky fella deserves a little more appreciation than it usually receives.

Ron Salvatore from the SWCA returns with another fascinating segment, sharing his insights into the history and significance of both releases within the wider world of vintage Star Wars collecting.

Whether you’re a lifelong Rancor fan, or simply enjoy hearing vintage Star Wars enthusiasts debate the highs and lows of the Kenner line, this episode is packed with nostalgia, collecting chat, expert insight, and plenty of good-humoured Fossils discussion.

Following on from last years Committee on the First 12 action figures, the Committee returns to debate the final wave of vintage Star Wars action figures- the legendary Last 17.

Stuart, Martin, Dan, Pete and Jez each pick their top ten from Kenner’s 1985 wave of Star Wars figures, discussing the strengths and weaknesses of every contender before Stuart reveals the official Generation Skywalker ranking.

Listen to the full debate and countdown.

Generation Skywalker returns with a deep dive into one of the most nostalgic Star Wars toy lines of the modern era – Hasbro’s Retro Collection!

Join Stuart and Dan as they look back at the entire Retro Collection range of 115 figures and counting, from its debut in 2019 through to the latest wave in 2026. Inspired by the vintage Kenner line, the Retro Collection has both delighted and frustrated collectors with vintage-style figures and card backs with a healthy dose of nostalgia—that hasn’t always hit the mark.

In this episode, we discuss the evolution of the line from its beginnings to today. Our favourite waves, figures and card backs. The releases we think Hasbro absolutely nailed as well as the figures, design choices and decisions that left us scratching our head. Plus where we’d love to see the line go next.

We also dip into the Generation Skywalker archives to revisit a segment from Craig Spivey, who takes a very dim view of the Retro Collection card backs. Craig tears into their terrible design, the awful faux wear, the nasty big red sticker and the incredible amount of unnecessary text crammed on to the reverse of the card back- in 26 different languages.

Whether you’ve been collecting since Wave 1 or are just discovering the Retro Collection, this episode is packed with nostalgia, opinions and plenty of Star Wars collecting chat.

In this month’s Those Old Fossils, Palitoy Pete, Martin, and Dan turn their attention to one of Kenner’s most iconic vintage Star Wars releases — the Jabba the Hutt Playset.

The team also takes a closer look at Bib Fortuna, Jabba’s loyal Twi’lek majordomo, exploring the character’s role in Star Wars and the story behind his classic Kenner figure.

Jez drops in throughout the show to share his thoughts on both items, while Ron Salvatore delivers an impassioned deep dive into Jabba, discussing every aspect of the playset — from original concepts and prototypes to the question: is Jabba the Hutt actually an action figure? This sparks a lively debate amongst the team.

Mark Andrews joins Dan to share his passion for Bib Fortuna and also reveals that Frank’s Mews Baggie Guide has found a new home on the Variant Villains website — and is better than ever. From one of Kenner’s greatest playsets to one of Jabba’s most recognisable allies, this episode is packed with collecting stories, expert insights, in our continuing celebration of the vintage Star Wars collecting hobby.

Every journey has a beginning……

Bantha Tracking is an audio journey through the earliest official Star Wars fan publications.

Each episode brings an original issue of the Official Star Wars Fan Club Newsletter, Bantha Tracks to life, presenting an audio edition and hosts exploring its articles, news, interviews, rumours and behind-the-scenes stories in discussion.

Beginning this episode with the very first Official Star Wars Fan Club Newsletter from early 1978, we’ll follow the publication issue by issue as it evolves into Bantha Tracks and beyond, experiencing Star Wars as fans did at the time—waiting for the next film, discovering new characters, and learning the latest news directly from Lucasfilm.

Whether you’re a lifelong Star Wars fan, a collector of vintage memorabilia, or simply fascinated by the history of the franchise, Bantha Tracking offers a unique opportunity to rediscover these rare publications as they were originally read—and now, heard—one issue at a time.

Join Dan, Jez and some bloke called Alan as we begin the trail with Newsletter Volume 1, Number 1