By VeVe Staff · August 13, 2025
Some toys just sit on a shelf, but Kenner’s vintage Star Wars figures kicked open the blast doors and brought the galaxy straight into our hands.
It is hard to talk about vintage Star Wars collectibles without celebrating Kenner, the company that boldly brought the galaxy far, far away into toy aisles in the late 1970s. When bigger toy makers passed on the Star Wars license, Kenner took a chance just before the first film’s release in May 1977 and changed the toy industry forever.
Known at the time for things like Easy-Bake Ovens, Kenner made the groundbreaking choice to create figures in a 3.75-inch scale instead of the standard 12-inch dolls of the era. That smaller size opened the door to an entire galaxy of to-scale vehicles, playsets, and accessories that kids could actually afford and play with.
Today, Kenner’s creations are considered the gold standard of movie merchandise, with many pieces including some of the rarest Star Wars collectibles ever made ranking among the most sought-after treasures in collecting history. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most iconic vintage releases.
This figure is the perfect example of why Star Wars collectibles can be so much fun, combining a classic movie moment with one of Kenner’s most creative designs.
One of the final action figures Kenner ever produced for the vintage line was Luke Skywalker in Stormtrooper disguise. Released in 1985’s Power of the Force (POTF) series (the post-Return of the Jedi last wave), this figure finally gave fans a toy of Luke in the Imperial Stormtrooper armor.
The figure came with a removable Stormtrooper helmet, an Imperial blaster rifle, and a collectible coin packed in.
Under the helmet is Luke’s head sculpt, allowing collectors to reenact the famous disguise moment.
Its status as the only main-hero-in-disguise figure made after 1983, and the novelty of that removable helmet, have cemented this Luke as a fan-favorite finale to Kenner’s run.
This version of Obi-Wan Kenobi feels like a farewell tour, a final salute to one of the most legendary Jedi Masters.
By 1985, “Old Ben” Kenobi had already been in the line since 1978, but Kenner gave him one last hurrah in the Power of the Force, or POTF, collection. The POTF Obi-Wan Kenobi was essentially a re-packaged version of the original figure, now issued on an updated card with a gold collector coin. For fans of vintage Star Wars collectibles, this release marks the end of an era.
In the earliest 1978 production run, Obi-Wan (like Luke and Vader) briefly featured an ultra-rare double-telescoping lightsaber that extended in two stages, but by the time of this POTF release only the standard one-piece saber was used.
Every vintage display feels more complete when the galaxy’s most loyal Wookiee is standing tall in your collection.
Chewbacca was part of the original gang of action figures that launched the entire Star Wars toy phenomenon. First available via the Early Bird kit in early 1978 and then on the classic 12-back card, the Wookiee co-pilot is a must-have for any vintage set of Star Wars collectibles.
He comes armed with his “Wookiee Bowcaster,” a distinctive crossbow-like blaster that was unique to Chewie.
Collectors will note that Chewie’s bowcaster accessory can be tricky to find, as its small removable bowpiece often went missing.
Despite the lack of variants, a vintage Chewbacca is essential, as Kenner’s notes put it, he’s the “faithful co-pilot of the Millennium Falcon and bestie to Han Solo,” and he has been part of Star Wars collecting lore from day one.
Few Star Wars collectibles capture the mystery and swagger of a character quite like Kenner’s towering 12-inch Boba Fett.
In 1979, fresh off his tantalizing debut in the Star Wars Holiday Special cartoon, Boba Fett was the hot new character, and Kenner gave him special treatment with a large-scale 12-inch figure. This was part of Kenner’s “Large Size Action Figures” line (basically 1/6 scale dolls), and Boba Fett ended up being the final figure released in that series.
The 12-inch Boba Fett is impressively detailed and accessorized: he came with his jetpack (rocket pack) with a removable missile, a brown cape, his laser rifle, and even a set of braided Wookiee scalp trophies over his shoulder.
Notably, Boba Fett was the last 12-inch Star Wars figure Kenner released, as the company shifted focus back to the more popular 3.75-inch scale thereafter.
Owning a vinyl cape Jawa is like holding one of the crown jewels of Star Wars collectibles history.
Among all vintage Star Wars figures, the Jawa with a vinyl cape is the stuff of legend, a rarity so famous that it’s considered a holy grail item.
Originally, Jawas (the scavengers from Tatooine) were released in 1978 with a tiny brown vinyl cloak similar to Obi-Wan’s and Vader’s capes.
However, because Jawas are so short in stature, parents felt a small figure with just a cheap vinyl cape didn’t seem worth the same price as a larger figure. Kenner quickly revised the design early in the production run, replacing the vinyl cape with a brown cloth robe to add more bulk and value.
That swift change means the vinyl-caped version was produced only for a very short time in 1978, making it extremely scarce.
For collectors, the vinyl cape Jawa is a crown jewel.
Princess Leia’s debut figure is a milestone in action figure history and remains a must-have centerpiece for any serious collection.
Her original action figure holds a special place as one of the first 12 Kenner figures ever made and one of the very first female action figures in any major toy line. Included in the Early Bird mail-away set and then sold on a 12-back card in 1978, Leia came dressed in her signature white gown from A New Hope, complete with a removable white vinyl cape or vest that simulates her hooded robe.
Unlike many other early figures, Princess Leia saw no major variants or alterations throughout her production run. She continued to be offered on Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi cards in the following years, but the actual figure stayed consistent.
For fans of vintage Star Wars collectibles, an original Leia is essential when assembling the classic cast. After all, what’s Luke or Han without Leia?
Before Star Wars collectibles filled toy shelves, this comic brought the galaxy far, far away to life for fans on paper.
Not all key Star Wars collectibles are toys, and one of the most significant early pieces of Star Wars memorabilia is Marvel Comics’ Star Wars #1, the first issue of the Star Wars comic series.
Issue #1 was the start of Marvel’s six-issue adaptation of the original film (scripted by Roy Thomas with art by Howard Chaykin), and as such, it features the first comic appearances of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Darth Vader, and more. The cover itself is dynamic and now iconic: a wildly off-model Luke brandishing a lightsaber, with Leia, Chewbacca, and Darth Vader in the background, and a bold banner proclaiming “Marvel’s Official Adaptation of the Motion Picture!”
For collectors, Star Wars #1 carries several interesting facets. First, there were multiple printings and price variants. The standard first print had a 30¢ cover price, but Marvel experimented with a rare 35¢ price variant that was distributed only in a few test cities such as Memphis and Toledo.
Only about 1,500 copies of this 35¢ first printing exist, making it extremely rare.
This little red-domed astromech may have had only a few seconds of screen time, but he’s carved out a loyal place in the hearts of Star Wars collectibles fans.
R5-D4 may have had only a brief cameo in Star Wars: A New Hope — he’s the squat red-and-white astromech droid Uncle Owen nearly bought before R2-D2, the one that infamously blows his motivator — but Kenner immortalized him in plastic as part of the second wave of figures.
The figure itself is a charming little droid, basically the same body as R2-D2’s toy but with a red conical head and different decals. In fact, R5-D4 shares some parts with the R2 figure; he has two legs (no third leg included) and a head that you can rotate. Rotating the head produces a clicking sound thanks to an internal mechanism, just like the R2-D2 toy.
Overall, R5-D4 is considered a classic Kenner droid — maybe not as famous as R2-D2, but an essential supporting character in any A New Hope toy display. He also came packaged in the Sears exclusive Droid Factory playset with a different, all-white head, but the carded R5-D4 is the one fans recognize.
Few pieces from the vintage line spark more debates among fans than the “small head” versus “big head” Han Solo.
The original Han Solo action figure, released on the first Star Wars card in 1978, has become almost as legendary as the scruffy-looking smuggler himself, in part because of a famous variation that continues to intrigue collectors. The Kenner Han Solo figure features Han in his classic A New Hope outfit: black vest, white shirt, blue pants with the Corellian bloodstripe down the sides, and a sculpted gunbelt. He originally came with a small black blaster pistol, often called the “smuggler blaster” by collectors.
The big talking point is Han’s head sculpt. Early in production, Kenner released Han with a relatively small head, a narrower and more normal-proportioned sculpt that arguably looked more like Harrison Ford. Soon after, Kenner re-sculpted Han with a larger, bulkier head, possibly thinking the first version looked undersized on the body. This “big head” Han has a wider face and puffier hair. The change happened during the 1978 run, meaning both versions made it out to stores on Star Wars cards.
For fans building a complete lineup of vintage Star Wars collectibles, Han Solo is non-negotiable — and ideally, you’d have one of each head type to cover both iconic variations.
For countless kids in the late 1970s, nothing topped the thrill of seeing a Millennium Falcon box under the tree.
Kenner’s Millennium Falcon, first released around 1979, remains one of the most iconic and impressive Star Wars vehicle toys ever made. This sizable plastic starship, measuring nearly 2.5 feet long, was both a vehicle and a playset, packed with features that brought the magic of the films to life. Kenner meticulously recreated the Falcon’s details at the 3.75-inch figure scale, including the circular saucer shape with its forward mandibles, the top-mounted turret cannon, and the distinctive cockpit that could seat two figures, usually Han and Chewie, side by side.
The design of the toy remained the same through its releases, which is a testament to how well executed it was from the start. Today, a complete vintage Millennium Falcon is a treasure for collectors. Finding one with all its parts, such as the dejarik table, smuggling cover, radar dish, ramp struts, gun chair, and that little training remote ball, which often went missing, can be challenging but is very rewarding. Loose, well-loved Falcons are relatively common because so many were sold, but boxed examples in great condition can be quite expensive.
Few vintage Star Wars collectibles feel as instantly powerful as holding the original Darth Vader in your hand.
Clad in black and radiating menace, the Darth Vader action figure was a cornerstone of Kenner’s original 1978 figure line, bringing the galaxy’s ultimate villain to life in 3.75-inch form. The figure debuted on the 12-back card and became an immediate bestseller, which was no surprise since every kid wanted the dark lord to face off against their Luke Skywalker.
In early production, the lightsaber design had two pieces, with an inner slide that extended the blade length, but very few of these double-telescoping sabers ever reached store shelves. Kenner quickly switched to a simpler single-piece extendable blade.
What makes this Darth Vader so enduring is how well it captures the character’s iconic look with minimal elements. The vinyl cape, when draped over the figure, gives him that unmistakable silhouette with helmet, mask, and sweeping black cloak. Kids could recreate lightsaber duels by extending his red blade and pitting him against Obi-Wan or Luke. Kenner even featured a striking cardback photo of Vader wielding his lightsaber, which surely helped boost sales.
For many collectors, holding this vintage Vader evokes the thrill of Star Wars’ original release and the timeless appeal of one of cinema’s greatest villains. As a piece of toy history, Darth Vader is indispensable.
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Many of the iconic characters featured in this list are available today in stunning digital format, complete with limited editions, premium 3D models, and interactive animations.
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From Luke Skywalker to Darth Vader, these digital collectibles let you experience Star Wars like never before.
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