• Home
  • TV & Movies
    • Star Wars
    • Battlestar Galactica (1978)
    • Indiana Jones
    • Star Trek
    • Planet of the Apes
    • The Real Ghostbusters
    • The Six Million Dollar Man
    • Universal Monsters
    • Doctor Who
  • Comic Book Heroes
    • Kenner Super Powers
    • Mattel Secret Wars
    • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
    • The Uncanny X-Men
    • Spider-Man
    • Batman
    • Superman
    • The Incredible Hulk
  • Mego
  • MOTU
  • G.I. Joe
  • Transformers
  • Wrestling

Vintage Action Figures

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

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

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...!

Goo Goo G’Joob…It’s Pink-tusked Walrus Man!

March 21, 2012

Walrusman

Whilst almost all of Kenner's 3 ¾ inch Star Wars action figures were pretty accurate movie-likenesses by the standards of the day, Walrus Man here – later revealed as being called Ponda Baba when secondary characters were issued with colorful back stories too - stands out from the crowd as being one of the least like his movie counterpart. Walrus Man's screen time may be brief, but it is certainly a memorable moment when Obi-Wan Kenobi slices off his arm with his light saber during the famous … [Read more...]

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

Star Wars Variations: Sand People aka Tusken Raider

February 8, 2012

Sand People aka Tusken Raider

George Lucas just can't stop meddling with those Star Wars movies! Star Wars: Episode One - The Phantom Menace will be hitting cinema screens all over the world AGAIN this weekend - only this time in 3D. The 2D version was already bad enough, so I think I'll pass on that one...Instead, let's take a look back at a vintage Kenner Sand People action figure from the original trilogy, indeed from the very first Star Wars movie, which is nowadays known as the rather less catchy Star Wars Episode IV: A … [Read more...]

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

You better watch out…Darth Vader is coming to town!

December 21, 2011

Holiday Edition Darth Vader

'Tis the season to be jolly, so here's a look back at Hasbro's Holiday Edition Darth Vader action figure that was a StarWarsShop.com exclusive back in 2005. Essentially the same figure with eight points of articulation which had been issued as part of the Original Trilogy Collection in 2004 and earlier still as part of the Toys 'R' Us Star Wars Saga multipacks in 2003, this Darth Vader had one major difference which you may just have spotted – a head-to-toe Santa-style coat of red paint! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Latest News, Vintage Star Wars (1977–1989) Tagged With: Christmas, Darth Vader, Hasbro, Vintage Star Wars (1977–1989)

Star Wars Variations: Han Solo on Bespin

September 23, 2011

Han Solo on Bespin

The Internet has been abuzz with news of the Blu-ray edition of the original Star Wars trilogy which hit stores world wide recently, so I thought I'd stick with another vintage Star Wars action figure this post. Of course, I use the term “original” trilogy with some caution - as is well known, George Lucas has continued to mess with tweak the movies with every re-release to the exasperation of many fans. Probably the most controversial change occurred in the 1997 Star Wars Trilogy Special … [Read more...]

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

Star Wars Variations: Emperor’s Royal Guard

September 18, 2011

Emperor's Royal Guard

Whilst thinking about today's post I noticed that this blog has been rather light on vintage Star Wars action figures for a couple of months, so lets correct that situation right away with a look back at an absolute gem – the Emperor's Royal Guard. First appearing in 1983 on 65-back cards in conjunction with the release of Return of the Jedi, the Emperor's Royal Guard illustrates the attention to detail Kenner dedicated to each and every character in their 3 ¾ inch Star Wars series and is as … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Vintage Star Wars (1977–1989) Tagged With: Emperor's Royal Guard, Kenner, Vintage Star Wars (1977–1989)

Star Wars Variations: C-3PO (Removable Limbs)

June 10, 2011

Star Wars Variations: C-3PO Removable Limbs

I mentioned in an earlier post that I have recently been re-watching the original Star Wars Trilogy again on DVD. The Empire Strikes Back inspired me to dig out one of Kenner's major Star Wars 3 ¾ inch action figure variations, the C-3PO (or See-Threepio) Removable Limbs version, and display him just as he appears in the movie – disassembled and slung into a harness carried on Chewbacca's back. Remember the scene when Chewie is trying to fix 3PO? Oh, my! What have you done? I'm BACKWARDS. You … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Vintage Star Wars (1977–1989) Tagged With: C-3PO, Kenner, Vintage Star Wars (1977–1989)

Star Wars Variations: Black Bespin Security Guard

May 17, 2011

Black Bespin Security Guard

By the time that this classic 3 ¾-inch Star Wars action figure variation came out – first on a tie-in card for The Empire Strikes Back and then repackaged for The Return of the Jedi – it was already clear that toy manufacturers Kenner were happily set on helping kids re-enact all three movies using the entire cast, down to the smallest walk-on role! I actually watched The Empire Strikes Back again a few weeks ago on DVD and must have blinked at the wrong moment, because I could barely remember … [Read more...]

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

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • Next Page »

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

Recent Posts

  • Ghostbusters Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man …signed by Sigourney Weaver!
  • It’s Clobberin’ Time with The Thing by Mego!
  • Up, up and away! Comic version 12-inch Superman by Mego
  • Remembering Princess Leia Organa
  • Indiana Jones, the daring archaeologist and world adventurer of the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark!
  • Stunning C-3PO sixth scale figure by Sideshow Collectibles
  • It’s Alive! The Monster Frankenstein from Mego’s Mad Monster Series
  • Wonder Woman the Amazing Amazon – Kenner Super Powers
  • Grrr…it’s Grizzlor! The Hairy Henchman of the Evil Horde
  • Ming the Merciless – The evil emperor of Mongo by Mego

Archives

Copyright © 2009-2023 · VintageActionFigures.net · All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. Comments are owned by the Poster and opinions expressed are those of the Poster and do not necessarily represent the views of VintageActionFigures.net · Please read our Privacy Policy, GDPR Compliance Statement, Affiliate Disclosure and Cookies Policy - We know...Zzzz!!