A Collector's Guide to 3-3/4" Han Solo Figures

By Steve Pratt

 

The original Han Solo figure was produced in 1978, after the 1977 blockbuster hit, “Star Wars, A New Hope.”  After fans complained about the likeness of the figure, the head was changed to more closely resemble Han Solo.  These variations are known to collectors as the “small head”, and “big head” figures respectively.  Other than the head change these two versions are identical.  They came with one accessory, a blaster pistol.

 

 

In 1980, when “Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back” was released, a new toy line of Star Wars figures was released.  This line included Han Solo in Hoth outfit, and Han Solo in Bespin outfit.  Both included a blaster pistol.

 

 

In 1983, “Star Wars, Return of the Jedi” was released, along with another line of Star Wars action figures.  Only One Han Solo was released this time around, however there were two major variations with this one.  It is called, “Han Solo with trench coat.”  Variation number one is the painting of the eyes.  These are known as the plain eyes, and the “bug eyes” versions.  The other difference is noticed in the collar of the coat.  One is Camouflage like the rest of the coat, and the other is plain.  Both variations are otherwise identical, and included a blaster pistol.  The trench coat is removable, and was often lost and not included in used figures.  To help identify this, I have included a picture of what the figure looks like without his coat.

 

 

In 1985, the “Power of the Force” line was released.  With this line the extremely rare Han Solo in Carbonite Chamber was released.  He included a carbonite block, and a silver commemorative coin.  The coin was later released in a gold color, but is not as rare as the silver one that was included with the figure.  There were no variations in this figure, however many people mistake the numerous carbonite blocks that were made with this one.  The two easiest ways to identify the one that was included with this figure are 1)  The plastic is clear, and 2) the hands are not raised as they were in the movie, but lowered in the same manner as the figure.

 

 

The previously mentioned Action Figure lines are known to collectors as “vintage” figures.

 

In 1995, a new interest in the collector’s world, sparked the release of a new Star Wars toy line, called “Power of the Force 2,” or”POTF2.”  In the first wave of that year, July, Han Solo was released.  At that time, there was  a trend to make all Action figures muscular, and the POTF2 line unfortunately followed this trend.  These “buff” figures are known to collectors as the “Schwarzenegger” figures.  This version of Han Solo came with a blaster pistol, and a heavy assault rifle, even though Han Solo never used a heavy assault rifle like this in any of the films.

 

 

1996, wave 3, released in March of that year, gave us Han Solo in Hoth Gear.  The Only major variation of this figure is the orientation of the right hand.  First released open, before fans complained that he could not hold his gun in this hand.  The closed hand version was later released.  Both variations included a blaster pistol and a heavy assault rifle.

 

 

In wave 4 of 1996, released in June of that year, the new Han, “Han Solo in Carbonite Block” was released.  This figure included a carbonite block, and a heavy assault pistol.  This pistol is not the same as the blaster pistol, but identical to that of many of the skiff guard’s pistols.

 

 

Wave 8, of 1997, released in March of that year, gave us Han Solo in Endor Gear.  The two variations in this figure are the color of Han’s pants.  First released in blue, it was later changed to brown, to match the color he wore in the movie.  Both Versions included a blaster pistol.

 

 

Wave 10, released in September of 1997, brought us Bespin Han Solo.  As there are some other releases of this figure that closely resemble each other, they are not true variations, as they were released under different titles.  This Han came with a blaster pistol, and the mysterious heavy assault rifle.

 

 

In November of 1995, a mail away figure was offered from Fruit Loops cereal.  This figure was Han Solo in Storm Trooper Disguise.  It included a removable helmet but no weapon.  A slightly different sculpt of the figure was released in June of 1997 with a weapon, in the “Death Star Escape, Cinema Scene” 3 pack, with Luke and Chewbacca.  They are shown below respectively.

 

 

In June of 1996, the Deluxe Figure, Han Solo with Smuggler Flight Pack was released.  It included no weapon.

 

 

In August 1997, the Jabba the Hutt with Han Solo Beast Pack was released.  Slightly identical to the Wave 1, 1995 Han Solo, but not as muscular.  This Han solo included a blaster pistol.

 

 

In 1998, The Princess Leia Collection was released.  There were 4 in all, and each included a Leia figure, with cloth clothes rather than molded clothes, and a companion figure.  The Bespin Leia came with a Bespin Han Solo with a cloth Jacket, and a blaster pistol.

 

 

Also in 1998, the Mynock Hunt Cinema Scene 3 pack was released.  It included a version of the Bespin Han, Leia, Chewbacca and a Mynock.  Included with Han was a blaster pistol, and a breathing mask.

 

 

The Millennium Minted Coin Collection figure line was released in 1998.  Anong these was the Bespin Han Solo.  These figures were extremely detailed, and came with a special display stand and gold colored coin.  Han came with his blaster pistol.

 

 

Wave 2 in 1998 included the Han Solo with Falcon Gunner Station.  This figure is basically the “A New Hope” outfit with gloves and a radio headset.  This figure is similar to and often confused with one released with the CD ROM playset.  The main difference is the non-jointed knees.

 

 

Wave 4, in 1998 included the Tauntaun with Han Solo Creature Assortment.  This Han Solo is wearing Hoth Gear, but has his hood up.  This figure has jointed knees and includes a blaster pistol.

 

 

In September of 1998 the Millennium Falcon CD Rom Playset was released.  It came with a model of the Millennium Falcon’s cockpit that could attach to your computer, and with the CD Rom, could let you pilot the Millennium Falcon.  This included a figure of Han similar to the Falcon Gunner Station Han, but with jointed knees.

 

 

Jabba’s Palace Diorama, released in February of 1999, included an all new likeness Han Solo figure.  This figure had a completely new molded head, and included an empty carbonite block, and binders.

 

 

Cantina Han Solo was released with wave 29 in August of 1999.  It included a CommTech chip, which when placed in a reader can play sound clips from the movie.  It was also the first Han figure that came with a blaster pistol that could be placed in his holster.

 

 

In 2000, “The Power of the Force 2” line was replaced with the much anticipated “Power of the Jedi (POTJ)” line, which targeted sales to collectors rather than children.  As a result figures had more detail than before.

 

Bespin Capture Han Solo, released in 2001, was the first Han figure in the POTJ series.  It came with a blaster pistol, and a pair of binders.  It was also the first Bespin Han figure to have the correct color jacket.

 

 

Han Solo - Death Star Escape was also released in 2001.  Not to be confused with the Death Star Escape cinema scene 3 pack, this figure portrayed Han in his “A New Hope” outfit, with a Stormtrooper belt and included a Stortrooper rifle.

 

 

The 25th Anniversary two pack with Chewbacca was released in 2002 to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Star Wars.  It included a blaster pistol.  It was also titled Death Star Escape, probably to confuse novice collectors.

 

 

Released in June of 2002 under the new “Star Wars Saga” line, The Endor Raid figure with quick draw action portrayed Han in his “Return of the Jedi” outfit.  It included a blaster pistol, and two proton grenades, like those used to destroy the shield generator in “Return of the Jedi.” 

 

 

In January of 2003, the Walmart exclusive Trash Compactor Scene 2 pack was released.  It came with Luke and the Trash compactor creature.  Han is dressed in storm trooper armor, and includes a storm trooper blaster rifle.

 

 

 

In April of 2003, the Hoth Rescue Han Solo was released.  He came with a blaster pistol, face mask, portable scanner, and Luke's lightsaber.

 

 

 

Two other Carbonite blocks were released with the Slave 1 ship.  They were made from the same mold, but molded in different colors.  The vintage Slave 1 came with the carbonite molded in black, and the POTF2 Slave 1 came with the carbonite block molded in gray.

 

 

Custom Figures

 

The following are some custom figures I have made, and were not released.

 

Vintage Hoth Han Solo with hood down.

 

 

Hoth Han Solo with hood down, and hat off.

 

 

Hoth Han solo with hood down, and color corrected coat.

 

 

Return of the Jedi Han Solo

 

 

General Han Solo from the novel, "Solo Command"