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Vintage Action Figures

Reviews of collectible action figures inspired by comic books, TV shows and movies from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s

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Vintage Star Wars (1977–1989)

Whilst George Lucas' surprise box office smash Star Wars movie may have reinvented the science fiction genre, the collection of Star Wars action figures also spawned its own sub-genre in the field.

Since the advent of the Star Wars prequel movies (which did not always thrill hard-core fans of the original series), the collection of Star Wars action figures has been subdivided into three distinct eras: Vintage (1977–1989), Neo-classic (1990–2000) and Prequels (1999–present). The vintage era covers the three original movies - Star Wars (aka A New Hope), The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

Vintage action figure collectors have targeted Star Wars figures for investment purposes for many years, but many more choose to focus on them because of sheer nostalgia and a real love for the series of movies. It may seem strange today when every cinema release is preceded by a huge merchandising campaign, but when the Star Wars action figures first came out, giving fans the opportunity to recreate scenes from the films and even invent adventures of their own at home, it was an entirely new movie merchandising concept!

With the release of the J. J. Abrams' directed Star Wars: The Force Awakens in December 2015, a new era of Star Wars movies begins with a trilogy of sequels. And with it, a brand new generation of action figure collectors...!

Logray, the Ewok Medicine Man

March 24, 2013

Logray the Ewok Medicine man

Few characters in the original Star Wars trilogy have divided fans more than the Ewoks, with those that love 'em on one side, and the rest of us, who would happily throttle the flea-bitten teddy bears, on the other! Unfortunately, they're rather hard to avoid in Return of the Jedi. I do confess, however, to actually rather liking this vintage Kenner figure of Logray, the Ewok Medicine Man - and not just because he looks like a sinister version of Garfield the cat! Logray is impressive as one … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Vintage Star Wars (1977–1989) Tagged With: Kenner, Logray, Return of the Jedi

Han Solo wraps up warm on Hoth!

January 25, 2013

Han Solo Hoth Outfit

One of the things you'll notice when flicking through the recent (and highly recommended) Star Wars: The Ultimate Action Figure Collection* coffee table guide is just how many pages are dedicated to everybody's favourite Star Wars rebel Han Solo. A whopping nine pages feature the man himself in all his various costume changes, including this vintage 3¾ inch Kenner version in his Hoth Outfit as modelled in the stunning opening sequence from Irvin Kershner's The Empire Strikes Back. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Vintage Star Wars (1977–1989) Tagged With: Han Solo, Kenner, The Empire Strikes Back

Don’t call me Prune Face!

January 2, 2013

Prune Face by Kenner

Many of the minor characters in the original Star Wars trilogy suddenly found themselves labelled with brand new politically-correct fancy names in the extended Star Wars Universe when complicated back stories were invented for even the smallest characters with only split-second screen time. Take good ole Prune Face here, for example, who we are now informed is a Dressellian resistance fighter from the planet Dressel whose real name is “Orrimaarko”. Still can't place him? Next time you're … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Vintage Star Wars (1977–1989) Tagged With: Kenner, Return of the Jedi

Nikto – Skiff Guard from ‘Return of the Jedi’

November 19, 2012

Nikto

One of the things that has made Kenner's ground breaking 3 ¾ inch Star Wars action figures so popular with fans of both the original movie trilogy and also vintage action figure collectors today is the company's unstinting attention to detail even with the most minor of characters in the Star Wars universe, some with the merest blink-and-you'll-miss-it split second of screen time! Nikto here, who was first released just in time for Christmas 1983 as part of the Sears Exclusive Jabba the Hutt … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Vintage Star Wars (1977–1989) Tagged With: Kenner, Return of the Jedi

Han Solo (in Trench Coat) tops best-dressed on planet Endor list for 1984!

August 28, 2012

Han Solo in Trench Coat

When Kenner launched their first Han Solo 3 ¾ inch action figure way back in 1977 they made one of the very few errors in the company's history, creating a likeness of Harrison Ford with a disproportionately small head. Eager to correct their mistake, the ensuing re-sculpt saw them err on the generous size with the new Han sporting a oddly large bonce. This, of course, is all grist to the mill for collectors who just love tracking down varieties. Alongside the legendary small and big-headed … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Vintage Star Wars (1977–1989) Tagged With: Han Solo, Kenner, Return of the Jedi

The Man in Black…Darth Vader!

June 26, 2012

Darth Vader

During 1978 to 1985 Kenner created over 100 action figures based on characters in the original Star Wars movie trilogy. These 3 ¾ inch Star Wars action figures became legendary and are enormously popular as collectibles even to this day. But for the fledgling collector, where to begin? Concentrating initially on the first twelve releases – known as “12-Back” figures because the original packaging cards featured a picture of all 12 characters in a row on the back of the card – is certainly a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Vintage Star Wars (1977–1989) Tagged With: Darth Vader, Kenner, Vintage Star Wars (1977–1989)

It’s Ol’ Blue Eyes himself…Squid Head!

April 9, 2012

Squid Head

If poor old Walrus Man was a rare example of a Kenner Star Wars action figure which saw the toy company cutting corners on movie-likeness accuracy in the design, their work on Squid Head shows just how good they could be when at the very top of their game. Making his first outing on the Return Of The Jedi 65 back cards in 1983, this may be a later figure in the Star Wars original trilogy figures, but he's certainly on my list of must-haves thanks to the sheer attention to detail. And if don't … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Vintage Star Wars (1977–1989) Tagged With: Kenner, ROTJ, Vintage Star Wars (1977–1989)

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Action figure search

Vintage Star Wars on eBay!

“Early Bird” Star Wars Figures

If Star Wars changed the way movies were made, then the Kenner Star Wars action figures reinvented the toy industry with the popularization of the small 3 ¾ inch action figure. Amazingly, however, in 1977 when the film was first released, the success of the film caught Kenner (and Palitoy in the UK) entirely by surprise and they were unable to produce any Star Wars action figures in time for Christmas, meaning they might well have missed out on the peak gift giving period! In what was undeniably an audacious move by Kenner, they created the very first of what would later become prized collectibles, when they pre-sold the so-called “early bird” certificate packages which were essentially empty boxes with an order card that could be redeemed for figures of either Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, R2-D2 or Chewbacca when they were ready. The kit also contained a cardboard fold-out which illustrated the first 12 figures which would be made available. True to their word, these “early bird” figures were the first figures Kenner then produced and posted out to customers who had ordered them.

Neo-classic (1990–2000)

Han Solo in Carbonite with Carbonite Block

Han Solo in Carbonite with Carbonite Block!

Nabrun Leids

Nabrun Leids – Cantina Alien

From Kenner to Hasbro

The figures were later released individually and just about any vintage Star Wars action figure still found in its original packaging sells for considerable sums nowadays. Loose figures are still readily available, however, and you'll find a large selection of Star Wars action figures on these pages. Budget obviously influences the choices any collector makes, but tracking down the 90 odd vintage Kenner Star Wars figures is a great place to start - whilst Hasbro continues to produce toys and merchandising for all six Star Wars films, the original Kenner or Palitoy items are arguably the most sought-after by serious collectors.

Prequels (1999–present)

Deluxe Darth Maul by Hasbro

Deluxe Darth Maul by Hasbro

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