Star Trek: The Next Generation 1992 (Playmates)
In 1992, The Next Generation show was a huge success, bringing Star Trek back to audiences in a big way. The Galoob Toy Company had previously created an unsuccessful Next Generation line in 1988, and the Star Trek license was up for grabs. Enter the Playmates toy company. They began a very successful eight year run of incredibly well-done action figures and accessories in 1992. For its initial release, Playmates produced a series of ten different figures from The Next Generation, as well as roleplaying accessories and a vehicle.
For more information about the 1992 waves of Star Trek products, see bottom of page for a complete summary.
Star Trek The Next Generation (1992): Figures
For their initial release of Star Trek action figures, Playmates focused on the current show of the time, The Next Generation. Playmates released ten figures in total, with six of them being crew members and four aliens. All figures came with tons of accessories, along with poseable action bases.
Borg
Market Value:
Carded $8 – $15
Loose $2 – $4
Borg
Accessories: Action Base, Mechanical Arm, Plasmic Laser, Cutting Arm, Shield Generator Coils x 6
Years Released: 1992
Scarcity Factor: Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: The Borg are a race of humanoids that conquer others worlds to “assimilate” their inhabitants, then be added to the Borg collective. They were among the main antagonists of the Federation in the series. The Borg figure came with the several accessories and an action base.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Market Value:
Carded $12 – $20
Loose $4 – $7
Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Accessories: Action Base, Phaser, Tricorder w/ Holster, View Screen, PADD, Captain’s Log Booklet
Years Released: 1992
Scarcity Factor: Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: Captain Jean-Luc Picard was portrayed by Patrick Stewart in the Next Generation television series, and was of course, the Commanding Officer of the Enterprise. The sculpting on the figure was a pretty good likeness of Patrick Stewart. Picard came with the several accessories and an action base.
Commander William Riker
Market Value:
Carded $12 – $20
Loose $4 – $7
Commander William Riker
Accessories: Action Base, Phaser, Tricorder w/ Holster, U.V. Source, Field Kit w/ Analyzer
Years Released: 1992
Scarcity Factor: Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: Commander William Riker was portrayed by Jonathan Frakes in the Next Generation television series, and was the second in command of the Enterprise. The likeness on the figure was a solid likeness of Jonathan Frakes. Riker comes with the several accessories and an action base.
Ferengi
Market Value:
Carded $8 – $15
Loose $2 – $4
Ferengi
Accessories: Action Base, Energy Whip, Hand Blaster, Ferengi Rifle, Dilithium Crystals
Years Released: 1992
Scarcity Factor: Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: The Ferengi are a race of troll looking aliens who were the main antagonists of the United Federation of Planets early in the series. Eventually they were replaced with the Romulans and Borg as the main threats. The Ferengi figure came with the several accessories and an action base.
Gowron The Klingon
Market Value:
Carded $12 – $20
Loose $4 – $7
Gowron The Klingon
Accessories: Action Base, Ceremonial Club, Klingon Disruptor w/ Holster, Targ, Pain Stick
Years Released: 1992
Scarcity Factor: Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: Gowron was portrayed by Robert O’Reilly in the Star Trek universe, and was Chancellor of the Klingon Empire. He was a traditionalist and believed in the old Klingon war ways, which included marking the Federation as enemies. Gowron came with several accessories and an action base.
Lieutenant Commander Data
Market Value:
Carded $12 – $20
Loose $4 – $7
Lieutenant Commander Data
Accessories: Action Base, Phaser, Diagnostic Unit w/ Monitor, Tricorder w/ Holster, Access Panels
Years Released: 1992
Scarcity Factor: Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: Lieutenant Commander Data was portrayed by Brent Spiner in the Next Generation television series, and served as the Second Officer of the Enterprise. The likeness on the figure was fantastic and came with a couple of different color variations. Data comes with several accessories and an action base.
Lieutenant Commander Deanna Troi
Market Value:
Carded $8 – $15
Loose $2 – $4
Lieutenant Commander Deanna Troi
Accessories: Action Base, Tricorder, PADD, Portable Computer Gear, Monitor
Years Released: 1992
Scarcity Factor: Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: Lieutenant Commander Deanna Troi was portrayed by Marina Sirtis in the Next Generation series, and was the ship’s Counselor. The likeness on the figure was fantastic, and she came dressed in a lavender jump suit. Deanna came with several accessories and an action base.
Lieutenant Commander Geordi LaForge
Market Value:
Carded $12 – $20
Loose $4 – $7
Lieutenant Commander Geordi LaForge
Accessories: Action Base, Phaser, Tricorder w/ Holster, Engineering Tools, Dilithium Crystals, Away Team Gear, V.I.S.O.R. (first release only)
Years Released: 1992
Scarcity Factor: Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: Lieutenant Geordi LaForge was portrayed by LeVar Burton in the Next Generation television series, and served as the Chief Engineer of the Enterprise. The likeness on the figure was fantastic and the visor was actually removable. Geordi comes with several accessories and an action base.
Lieutenant Worf
Market Value:
Carded $12 – $20
Loose $3 – $5
Lieutenant Worf
Accessories: Action Base, Hand Phaser, Tricorder w/ Holster, Bat’leth, Sword, Combat Blade
Years Released: 1992
Scarcity Factor: Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: Lieutenant Worf was portrayed by Michael Dorn in the Next Generation television series, and served as a Bridge Officer, then Security Chief aboard the Enterprise. The likeness on the figure was fantastic and the sash was not removable. Worf came with several accessories and an action base.
Romulan
Market Value:
Carded $12 – $20
Loose $4 – $7
Romulan
Accessories: Action Base, Phaser Rifle, Disruptor Pistol, Romulan PADD
Years Released: 1992
Scarcity Factor: Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: The Romulans are a race of among the power races in the Star Trek universe, and also just happen to be distant cousins of the Vulcans. They are usually at odds with the Federation. The Romulan figure came with several accessories and an action base.
Star Trek The Next Generation (1992): Accessories
No accessories were produced to be used for the 3.75 Inch Star Trek line, but Playmates did produce three roleplaying items, with the Phaser, Tricorder and Personal Communicator.
Personal Communicator
Market Value:
Boxed $12 – $20
Loose $5 – $8
Personal Communicator
Accessories: Technical Blueprint
Years Released: 1992
Scarcity Factor: Easily found on secondary market
Notes: The communicators in The Next Generation were drastically different than the ones used in the original series and movies. Instead of the super cool flip-phone type, they were now almost like a pin that goes on your shirt. The boxes are numbered and labeled as collector’s edition.
Phaser
Market Value:
Boxed $25 – $35
Loose $8 – $15
Phaser
Accessories: Technical Blueprint
Years Released: 1992
Scarcity Factor: Easily found on secondary market
Notes: The phasers used in The Next Generation were drastically different than the ones used in the original series and movies. It had a futuristic remote control type of look to it, and the roleplay version by Playmates certainly captured the likeness of the re-designed weapon very well. Each box was numbered as a collector’s edition.
Tricorder
Market Value:
Boxed $30 – $45
Loose $10 – $15
Tricorder
Accessories: Technical Blueprint
Years Released: 1992
Scarcity Factor: Easily found on secondary market
Notes: The Tricorders used in Next Generation were drastically different than the ones used in the original series and movies. It had a more futuristic look to it and didn’t look like cassette players like the original series. The roleplay version by Playmates certainly captured the likeness of the re-designed item very well. Each box was numbered as a collector’s edition.
Star Trek The Next Generation (1992) : Playsets
Playmates did not release any playsets for their Star Trek The Next Generation action figure line in 1992, as part of their first wave of products.
Star Trek The Next Generation (1992) : Vehicles
Playmates released one new vehicle, designed for the 3.75 inch Next Generation line, with the Shuttlecraft Goddard from the Enterprise.
Shuttlecraft Goddard
Market Value:
Boxed $35 – $50
Loose $12 – $18
Shuttlecraft Goddard
Accessories: Thrusters, Phaser, Cockpit Hatch, Cargo Hatch, Cargo Pallet, Technical Blueprint
Years Released: 1992
Scarcity Factor: Not hard to find, but getting tougher each year
Notes: The Shuttlecraft Goddard was one of the shuttles aboard the Enterprise. It was featured in a couple of episodes and eventually given to Captain Montgomery Scott. This version of it had to be shrunk down in size due to making it more economical to produce, but it was still 13 inches long and much more accurate looking than the Galoob version of the Galileo from 1988. The shuttle could fit up to three figures inside and was capable of two different sounds. The boxes are numbered and labeled as a collector’s edition.
The Star Trek: The Next Generation television show was a huge success and brought Star Trek back to audiences in a big way. It seemed only natural that a new toy line would be released for it, and it was in 1988 by the Galoob Toy Company. It turned out to be a disappointing line to say the least, and Next Generation toys ceased to exist before the second season was even released. Star Trek toys had not had the best track record since Mego’s glory days in the early to mid 1970’s. After Mego’s failed attempt at marketing toys based on Star Trek The Motion Picture in 1979, ERTL’s failed attempt with Star Trek III in 1984, and now Galoob’s disappointing effort, the Star Trek toy brand was in limbo. Enter the Playmates toy company. Playmates had been around had been around since 1966, and had MASSIVE success with their new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toy line. Now Playmates had turned their attention towards a dormant Star Trek franchise for another shot. The Next Generation television series was a success from the very beginning, but it gained mega status as the show went on. Playmates realized Star Trek already had a huge fan base, so with the right design, production lines and marketing, they felt they could turn around the bad luck that been plaguing Star Trek toys since the late 1970’s. They were absolutely correct, because in 1992, Playmates would begin a very successful eight year run of some incredibly well-done, and fun action figures and accessories.
For its initial release of Star Trek products, Playmates produced a series of ten different action figures based on The Star Trek: The Next Generation television series, as well as several roleplaying accessories and a vehicle. The figures were designed as 4.5″ tall, which allowed Playmates to pay more attention to likenesses and details than the standard 3.75″ format at the time. The first wave consisted of Captain Jean-Luc Picard; Commander Will Riker; Lieutenant Commander Data; Lieutenant Commander Geordi LaForge; Lieutenant Worf; Lieutenant Commander Deanna Troi; A generic Ferengi; a generic Romulan; a Borg; and finally Gowron the Klingon. For roleplaying, Playmates produced three accessories, including a regular Phaser, Tricorder, and Personal Communicator. Each box was numbered and released as a collector’s edition. One vehicle was released for the first wave as well, which was the Shuttlecraft Goddard.
The packaging for the 4.5 Inch line of Star Trek The Next Generation figures was very attractive and definitely eye catching. It featured the classic Star Trek Next Generation logo across the top of the card in big bold blue letters, which was set onto an illustration of the Enterprise flying forward. The Enterprise rendering went across the top of the card in a very well done die-cut way. The figure was centered on the card in a classic blister pack format. To the right of each figure and inside the blister bubble were all the accessories and action bases for each figure. There was a ton of different colors all over the card, which really made the packaging pop. The card backs featured head shots of each character’s action figure, as well various accessories and ships that were available for the wave. Overall, this was an example of some beautifully done packaging for Playmate’s first Star Trek effort, and the TLC given to the design definitely showed in a big way.
1992 Card Back
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