Collector’s Guide

Collecting Kenner Figures

The Star Wars question

No conversation about collecting Kenner figures can avoid Star Wars for long. The line ran from 1978 through 1985 across three film ranges – the original Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi – and produced dozens of figures, vehicles, and playsets. For collectors, the original Star Wars range is the holy grail, and within that range the earliest card backs – the 12-backs, named for the twelve figures pictured on the reverse –are the most sought-after of all.

Card condition dominates value in a way that’s more pronounced here than almost anywhere else in vintage toy collecting. An unpunched card (the hanging hole never used) in high grade with an intact bubble can be worth multiples of the same figure on a creased or punched card. The bubble itself matters too – shrinkage, yellowing, and lifting all affect value. Graded and encased examples from AFA (Action Figure Authority) command significant premiums among serious collectors, though many prefer to keep their figures raw and displayable.

Variants and running changes

Kenner made running changes throughout production that create a complex variant landscape. The most famous is the double-telescoping lightsaber on early Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and Ben Kenobi figures – a fragile two-piece extending mechanism that was quickly replaced with a simpler single-piece version. Double-telescoping examples in good condition are exceptionally rare and valuable. Beyond lightsabers, collectors track differences in limb colours, head sculpt variations, copyright stamp changes, and the vinyl-cape versus cloth-cape Jawa – one of the most famous variants in all of action figure collecting.

Beyond Star Wars

Super Powers figures (1984–1986) are an excellent entry point for collectors priced out of Star Wars. The line covered DC’s major heroes and villains with clever action features – squeeze the legs and the figure throws a punch or activates a power. Unpunched cards with vivid artwork are still findable at reasonable prices, and the line has a devoted following. The Real Ghostbusters offers similar accessibility with strong character recognition, while Silverhawks remains underappreciated and affordable relative to its quality.

Loose figures

Loose Kenner figures are generally affordable and make for a rewarding collecting focus in their own right. Completeness matters – check that all accessories are present, as small weapons and accessories are frequently missing. Limb discolouration (particularly yellowing on white or light-coloured plastic) is common and largely irreversible. Fading on painted details, particularly on faces, affects display quality and value. The tightest joints and brightest paint will always command the best prices.