In 1978, Kenner not only released one of the most impactful toy lines of the century with their 3 3/4″ line of action figures, but also released a small line of Large Scale Action Figures which appealed to the collectors of yesteryear who grew up collecting 12″ GI Joe figures.
The Star Wars line featured 11 characters with the Droids both showing up as JC Penney exclusives in ’78 before being released everywhere in ’79. Most international affiliates of Kenner who created product typically released identical toys with the exception of Lily Ledy. Not only did they release all new sculpts of each character but they also offered an Artoo that was simply an enlargement of the original 3 3/4″ Artoo and released a Tusken Raider that would never available anywhere else.
Boba Fett saw a release ahead of The Empire Strikes Back in 1979 in Star Wars packaging but would see a package update in 1980 for the theatrical release. There was only one new figure released for Episode V, IG-88, who would go on to become the most rare Large Scale Action Figure of the bunch.
Star Wars Checklist
Large Scale Action Figures ————
1978
- Chewbacca
- Darth Vader
- Luke Skywalker
- Princess Leia Organa
1979
- Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi
- Boba Fett
- Han Solo
- Jawa
- Stormtrooper
Exclusives ———————————-
JC Penney
- Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2)
- See-Threepio (C-3PO)
Lily Ledy (Mexico)
- Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2)
- Darth Vader
- Han Solo
- Jawa
- Luke Skywalker
- Princess Leia Organa
- Tusken Raider
The Empire Strikes Back Checklist
Large Scale Action Figures ———–
1980
- Boba Fett
- Chewbacca*
- Darth Vader*
- IG-88
- Stormtrooper*