Star Wars Action Figures

The Star Wars action figures released in Canada closely mirrored their American counterparts in layout for the initial release, save for the bilingual text. Later versions sported the French "La Guerre des Etoiles" logo on the front as well as the English "Star Wars" logo, which was exclusive to Canada. Canada had several different cardback versions which are shown below.


Action Figures & Cardbacks: 12-Backs    18-Backs    20-Backs    Action Figure Release List

Featured Action Figures:  Vinyl Caped Jawa    Standard Kenner 3-Pack Design Article

Special Action Figure Sets: Kenner 3-Pack Sets    Sears 12-Pack Set    Sears 9-Pack Set

Large Size Action Figures    Large Size 'Electronic Rocket Firing' Boba Fett



Star Wars 12-Backs:


There are four different versions of the Canadian 12-back action figure cards. The initial card layout was identical to the American layout, except for the bilingual text and the absence of the Collector's Action Stand mail-in offer. Canada's first mail-in offer would be the Boba Fett mail-in offer that appeared on the 20-back cards. Canada never received the Collector's Action Stand mail-in offer.

Darth Vader CSW12A
Canadian 12A Cardback (CSW12A):

The first Canadian 12-back showed the first 12 action figures in illustrated form along with the X-Wing Fighter, TIE Fighter and the Landspeeder on the reverse.


AlsoDouble Telescoping Lightsaber shown were the instructions on how to operate the telescoping lightsabers that came with the Luke Skywalker, Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi and Darth Vader action figures. The Canadian 12A card shows the "double telescoping" lightsaber in illustrated form.


Note that, although the character was named "Sand People" on the reverse of the American 12-backs, the Canadian 12-backs named the character "Tusken Raider" on the card reverse. The front nameplate of the actual figure appeared as "Sand People" however on the Canadian releases. This continued throughout the entire run of the Canadian 12-backs. The original Kenner USA 12-back cardback design originally named the character "Tusken Raider" on the back which was provided to Kenner Canada to create the Canadian 12-back card for the character. Kenner USA updated the character's name before being released, while Kenner Canada did not update their cardback before release.

Tusken Raider Description

The 12-backs were available at Canadian retail starting in February 1978. The Canadian 12A and 12B action figures can be found in comparatively more numbers than the Canadian 12C and 12D action figures below.





Chewbacca CSW12B
Canadian 12B Cardback (CSW12B):

The second Canadian 12-back showed the first 12 action figures in illustrated form along with the X-Wing Fighter, TIE Fighter and the Landspeeder on the reverse.


Also shown were the instructions on how to operate the telescoping lightsabers that came with the Luke Skywalker, Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi and Darth Vader action figures. The Canadian 12B card now shows the regular telescoping lightsaber in illustrated form. A yellow "extension" has been added in the lightsaber illustration to coincide with the fixed tip length of the lightsabers.

Regular Telescoping Lightsaber



Luke Skywalker CSW12C

Canadian 12C Cardback (CSW12C):

The third Canadian 12-back was the first version to showcase the "La Guerre des Etoiles" (French for Star Wars) logo on the front of the card. This was done in 1978 in order to comply with bilingualism laws in Canada. The Star Wars logo appears only in English on the front and reverse of the Canadian 12A and 12B cardbacks. This was in violation of the bilingualism laws in Canada, so the French logo was added on the front. This particular card format sports an error of sorts on the reverse. Both See-Threepio's and Artoo-Detoo's names have been changed from their phonetic spellings to their more common spellings in the French area of the action figure's descriptions.


Beside each of these two figures' names in the English descriptions, their sizes are given only in Imperial, while the Metric size has been left out (the standard system of measurement in Canada is the Metric system). As well, the double silver bar that surrounds the action figure descriptions is solid all around the border with the Kenner logo placed on top of the border. Again, the cardback showed the first 12 action figures in illustrated form along with the X-Wing Fighter, TIE Fighter and the Landspeeder on the reverse. Also shown were the instructions on how to operate the telescoping lightsabers that came with the Luke Skywalker, Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi and Darth Vader action figures. The Canadian 12C card shows the regular telescoping lightsaber in illustrated form. The "La Guerre des Etoiles" logo on the front has a "block" black border that surrounds the logo itself. It appears that only the first four released action figures, namely, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa, R2-D2 and Chewbacca, had the "block" logo on the front of the card.

C-3PO SpellingR2-D2 Spelling
See-Threepio Imperial Size Only Artoo Detoo Imperial Size Only






Death Squad Commander CSW12D
Canadian 12D Cardback (CSW12D):

The fourth Canadian 12-back was the second version to showcase the "La Guerre des Etoiles" (French for Star Wars) logo on the front of the card. This particular card format corrects the error of the previous cardback (CSW12C) on the reverse. See-Threepio's and Artoo-Detoo's sizes are now given in Imperial and Metric. As well, the double silver bar that surrounds the action figure descriptions has been split at the bottom of the border to accomodate the Kenner logo.


Once again, the cardback showed the first 12 action figures in illustrated form along with the X-Wing Fighter, TIE Fighter and the Landspeeder on the reverse. Also shown were the instructions on how to operate the telescoping lightsabers which, oddly enough, is shown in the incorrect "double-telescoping" version.


The pyramid "La Guerre des Etoiles" logo on the front has a "formed" black border that surrounds the logo itself. Only the last eight released action figures appeared on this card; namely, Darth Vader, Stormtrooper, Death Squad Commander, Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi, Han Solo, C-3PO, Jawa and the Sand People.

See-Threepio Imperial and Metric SizesArtoo-Detoo Imperial and Metric Sizes





Star Wars 18-Backs:

Walking Wind Up R2-D2 CSW18

The only "action figure" to appear on an 18-back in Canada was the Wind-Up Walking R2-D2 that was imported from the Takara company of Japan. Hammerhead and R5-D4 were left off the reverse of the card in order to showcase the Land of the Jawas playset and the Action Figure Collector's Case.


The cardback that the action figure was released on was designed in-house at Irwin Toy - Kenner Canada.












Star Wars 20-Backs:


There are four different versions of the Canadian 20-back action figure cards. The general card layout was identical to the American layout, except for the bilingual text. The English Star Wars logo appeared on the front of the card, while the French logo appeared on the reverse. This type of logo placement was to continue (in various fashions) throughout the rest of the action figure releases in Canada until the cessation of the line.

Greedo CSW20A
Canadian 20A Cardback (CSW20A):

The first Canadian 20-back showed the 20 action figures in photographed form along with the Star Wars Collector's Case and prototype versions of the Patrol Dewback, the Land of the Jawas playset and the Creature Cantina playset on the reverse.


Notice that the Droid Factory is absent from the card unlike its American counterpart. Four of the 8 new figures were released on this cardback. The white price sticker area on the top left of the card front is present on this format.









Jawa CSW20B
Canadian 20B Cardback (CSW20B):

The second Canadian 20-back showed the 20 action figures in photographed form along with the Star Wars Collector's Case, the prototype version of the Patrol Dewback, and production versions of the Land of the Jawas playset and the Creature Cantina playset on the reverse.


Notice that the Droid Factory is still absent from the card unlike its American counterpart. The 12 older figures as well as the some of the 8 newer figures were released on this card. The white price sticker area on the top left of the card front has been removed from this format.







Power Droid CSW20C
Canadian 20C Cardback (CSW20C):

The third Canadian 20-back showed the 20 action figures in photographed form along with Canada's first mail-in offer: the Boba Fett action figure, as well as production versions of the Land of the Jawas playset and the Creature Cantina playset.


Due to a last minute change where Boba Fett's rocket firing mechanism was permanently sealed inside the backpack, a black sticker covers the illustration of the rocket firing mechanism on the card's reverse (the sticker with the production Boba Fett action figure seen below was also available on the CSW20C cardback). The expiration date for the Boba Fett offer is 5/30/79 in both English and French. Also, the title caption on the bottom half is printed in white.






Hammerhead CSW20D
Canadian 20D Cardback (CSW20D):

The fourth Canadian 20-back is essentially the same as the CSW20C cardback. It showed the 20 action figures in photographed form along with Canada's first mail-in offer: the Boba Fett action figure, as well as production versions of the Land of the Jawas playset and the Creature Cantina playset, but Boba Fett's rocket firing mechanism illustration has now been covered with a yellow photograph sticker of the production Boba Fett action figure (the black sticker seen above was also available on the CSW20D cardback).


There is also a printing error of sorts on the CSW20D cardback. The Boba Fett offer's expiration date has changed in English to 5/31/79, but in French, it is 6/30/79. The title caption on the bottom half is printed in yellow.





Villains 3-Pack (Series I)Villains 3-Pack (Series II)Creatures 3-PackDroids 3-Pack

Kenner 3-Pack Sets:


Kenner Canada produced a number of 3-pack sets for the more upscale department stores in Canada such as Simpsons (who incidentally was a co-owner of Sears during the early part of the Star Wars trilogy). Like their American counterparts, these 3-packs are extremely difficult to find. The Series I Villains 3-Pack image is courtesy of Patrick O. The remaining images are courtesy of Tomart's.



Sears Canada 1979 12-Pack Set (Front) Sears Canada 1979 12-Pack Set (Back)

1979 Sears Canada 12-Pack Set:


The first multipack to be issued by Sears during the 1979 holiday season was comprised of the twelve original figures released the previous year in 1978. All twelve of this particular set's figures came on 20-back cards. The figures were neatly packaged inside a colourful box created by Kenner Canada especially for Sears. This set was only available in 1979 through the Sears Christmas Wishbook. The action figure group image on the box was the same image found on the chipboard Death Star box.


  • 1979 12-Pack Set:  
  • Luke Skywalker (original), Princess Leia (original), Han Solo, Chewbacca, Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi, C-3PO, R2-D2, Darth Vader, Stormtrooper, Death Squad Commander, Jawa, Sand People


    Sears Canada 1979 9-Pack Set (Front) Sears Canada 1979 9-Pack Set (Back)

    1979 Sears Canada 9-Pack Set:


    The second multipack to be issued by Sears during the 1979 holiday season was comprised of the nine new figures for 1979. All nine of this particular set's figures came on 20-back cards - including Boba Fett. Boba Fett's debut in Canada in 1979 was on a 20-back; not on a 21-back as it first appeared in the U.S.. The figures were neatly packaged inside a colourful box created by Kenner Canada especially for Sears. The box showed a group picture of all 9 figures as well as the Land of the Jawas playset and the SW Action Figure Collector's Case. This set was only available in 1979 through the Sears Christmas Wishbook.


  • 1979 9-Pack Set:
  • Luke Skywalker (X-Wing Pilot), Death Star Droid, Snaggletooth, Walrusman, Greedo, Hammerhead, Power Droid, R5-D4, Boba Fett



    Star Wars Large Size Figures:


    The large size (or 12 inch) figures made in 1978 for the Star Wars line did not sell well in Canada, due mainly to its incompatible scale format with other items in the line. As a result, the line was halted quickly in Canada with Boba Fett being the last figure made.


    IG-88 was never available in Canada in Canadian packaging, although the in-pack catalogues of the ESB-era show it as an upcoming release. Like other Canadian items, the large size figures in Canadian boxes are extremely difficult to find. The Canadian large size Boba Fett also has some interesting history behind it. Read all about it here.

    Large Size Han SoloLarge Size Han Solo (Back)Large Size Boba FettLarge Size Boba Fett (Back)