Sign up for our newsletter for the latest news and updates!

Vintage The Empire Strikes Back Action Figures

The Empire Strikes Back Action Figures were released in 1980 and were based on the second movie, or Episode V, of the Star Wars saga and as such are considered original Vintage Star Wars action figures.

There were either 27 or 29 The Empire Strikes Back Action Figures depending on whether you consider C-3PO with removable limbs and R2-D2 with an extendable periscope feature to be new and distinct figures rather than variants of their 1977 originals. 

The Best + Biggest Action Figure Database in the World!!

  • 60,000+ Action Figures
  • Release Dates
  • Checklists
  • Video Library
  • eBooks + Guides
  • Historical $$ Values

Learn more (click)

Recent updates

A Collapsible Table:

The original Empire Strikes Back action figures consisted of 29 carded figures.

The first wave of 20  were displayed with the original 21 on a 41-back card.

All of the original Star Warsaction figure line got their own new Empire cards, whether they were in the movie or not. 

The remaining nine, in the second wave,  turned up on the later 48-back cards.

It should really have been 50 but Kenner omitted the more basic versions of Artoo and Threepio from the back to avoid confusion, even though they did get released on Empire cards in the first wave before being effectively replaced on shelves for the remainder of Empire and then Jedi  by their periscope and removable limb-sporting successors. 

Notably Zuckuss the insectoid bounty hunter ended up with the wrong name of his similarly insectoid droid bounty hunting partner 4-LOM and vice versa. 

Three creatures for collectors to add to these are the Wampa ice creature, the Imperial Probe Droid and of course the faithful and comfortable Tauntaun. 

All the original Star Wars figures were re-released with Empire Strikes Back cards, nineteen were reissued with Return of the Jedi cards and six made it to the fourth line which was called The Power of the Force. 

As for The Empire Strikes Back Action Figures twenty seven of them were reissued on Jedi cards and two (3PO and Yoda) were in the Power of the Force.

This level of re-carding figures and keeping every one available on shelves as long as possible maintained kids ever-growing collections and helped give even the most obscure characters a level of early geek cache. 

The Empire Strikes Back Action Figures: Wave 1

1.       Luke Skywalker (Bespin Fatigues) [Blonde/Sandy Hair]

2.       Leia Organa (Bespin Gown) [Flesh Collar/Turtle-neck]

3.       Han Solo (Hoth Outfit)

4.       Bossk

5.       IG-88 [Grey/Metallic]

6.       Rebel Soldier

7.       FX-7

8.       Imperial Stormtrooper (Hoth Battle Gear)

9.       Lando Calrissian [Standard Face/White eyes and teeth]

10.   Bespin Security Guard (White) [Medium/Long Moustache]

11.   Yoda [Orange/Brown Snake]

12.   Leia (Hoth Outfit) [Dark Brown/Reddish Brown Hair]

13.   Rebel Commander

14.   AT-AT Driver [Scarlet/True Red Logo]

15.   2-1B

16.   Imperial Commander

17.   Ugnaut [Lavender/Green/Blue Apron]

18.   Lobot

19.   Dengar

20.   Han Solo (Bespin Outfit)

BosskBossk
IG-88IG-88
Rebel SoldierRebel Soldier
FX-7FX-7
Imperial StormtrooperImperial Stormtrooper
Lando CalrissianLando Calrissian
Bespin Security Guard (white)Bespin Security Guard (white)
YodaYoda
Leia Hoth OutfitLeia Hoth Outfit
Rebel CommanderRebel Commander
At-At DriverAt-At Driver
2-1B2-1B
Imperial CommanderImperial Commander
UgnaughtUgnaught
LobotLobot
DengarDengar
Han Solo Bespin OutfitHan Solo Bespin Outfit

The Empire Strikes Back Action Figures: Wave 2

R2-D2R2-D2
Luke Skywalker Hoth GearLuke Skywalker Hoth Gear
AT-AT CommanderAT-AT Commander
Cloud Car PilotCloud Car Pilot
Bespin Security Guard (black)Bespin Security Guard (black)
4-Lom (see note below)4-Lom (see note below)
Zuckass (see note below)Zuckuss (see note below)
Imperial TIE Fighter PilotImperial TIE Fighter Pilot
4-Lom labelled Zuckass4-Lom labelled Zuckass
Zuckuss labelled 4-LomZuckuss labelled 4-Lom

Variants from now on are less well-known than those earlier gaffs and most involve slightly different colour details.  

  • Luke again has his blonde or sandy hair.
  • Leia has either a flesh-coloured collar or a turtleneck to her Bespin dress.
  • Leia in her Hoth outfit also had either brown or reddish brown hair.
  • The Hoth Rebel Commander, Cloud Car Pilot, AT-AT Commander and Lobot all have slight variations in skin tone, ranging from fleshy to very pale. Lobot with the fleshy face has round dots on his belt rather than circles.
  • Spanish Dengar has slightly darker armour.
  • Bounty  hunting droid IG-88 was presented in either grey or metallic plastic.
  • A variation on Lando Calrissian has white eyes and teeth details added.
  • The white Bespin security guard has a regular or a long moustache.
  • Bossk has slight variations in his skin tone.
  • The AT-AT Driver had two different shades of Imperial logo, either true red or scarlet.
  • The Imperial Commander sports either a slightly more skinny or round head.
  • The Ugnaught has either a lavender, a green or a blue apron with variations in the thickness of the cords used to tie them.
  • There was a version of the Snowtrooper given away with issue 150 of a German comic called YPS (or PBP in Spanish). It can be identified by its circular skirt slots, occasionally better detailing and also occasionally a gun from Action Force which was the European G.I. Joe.
  • One of the more well-known is Yoda with either a brown or orange snake. He also had various skin tones and stick colours throughout his release.
  •  

BUY VINTAGE STAR WARS ACTION FIGURES

More Star Wars Pages

This guide is a complete guide to the Vintage Kenner Star Wars Action Figures from the New Hope line to the Power of the Force line.

This guide includes a full gallery of ALL the figures as well as tips on how to spot fake and repro figures.

The listing also includes information on all the variants and the rarest figures and how to spot them.

This guide also includes FREE LIFETIME UPDATES!

ONLY $7.99

Even More Star Wars Pages .....

Star Wars Resource Pages

Rebelscum

The Imperial Gunnery

Vintage Star Wars Variants

Vintage and Modern Action Figures for Sale

    The AFR Action Figure Store
  • Worldwide Delivery
  • Multiple Currencies
  • Special offers
  • Monthly Sales
  • Customer Loyalty Prog

SHOP NOW SPEACIAL DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE ----->>

Recent Articles

  1. Mego Star Trek Action Figures: A Look Back at the Iconic Toy Line

    Feb 01, 23 12:37 AM

    Star Trek Logo
    Mego’s first Star Trek Action Figures were released as far back as 1974, pre-Star Wars, and were based primarily on the live-action TV series [ read more ]

    Read More

  2. Baseball Action Figures: A History of Sports Figures

    Jan 23, 23 11:08 PM

    Johnny Hero 01
    The very first baseball action figures were similar in design and look to Hasbro's popular GI Joe figure with interchangeable uniforms and a generic look

    Read More

  3. NHL Action Figures Guide

    Jan 15, 23 10:53 PM

    NHL Logo
    NHL Action Figures: A Look at the History and Evolution of These Collectible Miniature Hockey Players

    Read More

  4. NBA Basketball Action Figures Guide

    Jan 15, 23 09:07 PM

    nba-logo.jpg
    In 1986 Pat McInally, while browsing through the toy aisles of a local store saw rows of toys featuring super-heroes, but none based on sports heroes

    Read More

  5. NFL Action Figures Guide

    Jan 15, 23 09:06 PM

    NFL Action Team Mates
    As sales of sport trading cards continue to drop alarmingly sales of NFL action figures continues to grow despite the current economic crisis [Read more]

    Read More

  6. The Mattel Toy Company Story

    Dec 26, 22 02:58 AM

    Mattel Logo
    Mattel is one of the biggest toy manufacturers in the world and was founded in 1945 by

    Read More

  7. The Justice League of America

    Dec 20, 22 01:17 AM

    JLA Logo
    The Justice League of America or JLA is a fictional superhero team that, as well as striking fear into villains around the world [ READ MORE ]

    Read More

  8. The NECA Toy Company

    Dec 13, 22 02:41 AM

    Neca Logo 1
    The NECA Toy Company or the National Entertainment Collectables Association are a toy manufacturer based in New Jersey...[read more]

    Read More

PLEASE NOTE: All prices and values quoted on this site were correct at the time of publication based on the average value across several online and offline auction sites etc. The prices quoted ARE NOT an offer or solicitation to buy any figures at these prices.

Share the Love!

Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.
var l = window.location.href, d = document; document.write('<form action="#"><div style="text-align:center"><textarea cols="50" rows="2" onclick="this.select();"><a href="'+l+'">'+d.title+'</a></textarea></div></form>');

All trademarks and registered trademarks, whether or not so identified, are acknowledged to be the property of their respective owners. The use of a trademark does not imply that such use has been authorised, endorsed or sponsored by the trademark owner.