Few film franchises have a character list that starts with a dozen action figures and grows to hundreds of entries. The original 12 Kenner figures from 1978 defined the Star Wars toy market, while today’s official Databank catalogs over 500 canon characters. This article breaks down that journey: the classic figures, the most powerful Jedi, and what makes a character truly iconic.
Original Kenner figures (1978): 12 ·
Major canon characters: 100+ ·
Most powerful Jedi lists: 10 ·
Wikipedia list length: 500+ entries
Quick snapshot
- Kenner released 12 original figures in 1978 (The Toy Collector’s Guide, vintage toy history blog)
- Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Darth Vader are part of the Original 12 (The Toy Collector’s Guide)
- Only two Jedi (Luke and Obi-Wan) appear in the original 12 (The Toy Collector’s Guide)
- Exact top 10 list varies by source — no canonical ranking exists (Wikipedia’s Star Wars character list)
- Which character is “coolest” is subjective and shifts with fan polls (StarWars.com Databank)
- 1978: Kenner releases Original 12 figures (The Toy Collector’s Guide)
- 1999–2005: Prequel trilogy adds dozens of characters (Wikipedia’s Star Wars character list)
- New Disney+ series will continue to expand the character roster (StarWars.com Databank)
- Collector market keeps rare figures (e.g., vinyl cape Jawa) highly sought after (YouTube collector history)
The key facts table below summarizes the core data points on Star Wars character counts and collector milestones.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Original Kenner wave year | 1978 (The Toy Collector’s Guide) |
| Number of original figures | 12 (Galactic Collector, vintage toy database) |
| Top-ranked Jedi | Yoda (per multiple fan lists) |
| Most collected figure | Vinyl Cape Jawa (YouTube collector history) |
What are the original 12 Star Wars figures?
The 12 original Kenner action figures (1978)
Kenner’s 3.75‑inch line — commonly called the “First 12” — hit shelves in 1978 and included (Galactic Collector):
- Luke Skywalker
- Princess Leia
- R2‑D2
- Chewbacca
- Darth Vader
- C‑3PO
- Death Squad Commander
- Obi‑Wan Kenobi
- Han Solo
- Jawa
- Tusken Raider
- Sand People (later renamed Tuscan Raider in collector discussions)
Which characters were included in the first wave?
Kenner actually shipped the figures in waves. The first wave had six characters (The Toy Collector’s Guide): R2‑D2, C‑3PO, Chewbacca, Darth Vader, Princess Leia, and Luke Skywalker. The second wave added Han Solo, Jawa, Stormtrooper, Obi‑Wan Kenobi, and Boba Fett. A third wave in 1980 included Boba Fett and IG‑88.
The first wave deliberately covered the hero, villain, princess, droid, and Wookiee — a template for every Star Wars toy line since.
Who are the major characters in Star Wars?
Core heroes of the original trilogy
The major characters of the original trilogy are almost all present in the Original 12. Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo anchor the Rebel Alliance, while Darth Vader is the iconic antagonist (The Toy Collector’s Guide). Chewbacca, C‑3PO, and R2‑D2 complete the inner circle.
Key villains and Sith lords
Beyond Vader, the prequel and sequel trilogies introduced Emperor Palpatine, Darth Maul, Count Dooku, and Kylo Ren. The official StarWars.com Databank now lists hundreds of characters, but the original film’s cast remains the most culturally resonant.
Many “major” characters from later trilogies have limited toy representation compared to the Original 12, skewing collector perception of importance.
The implication: screen time and cultural footprint diverge sharply from toy-line presence.
What are the top 10 Star Wars characters?
Fan‑voted or critic‑ranked top 10 lists
Because the franchise includes more than 500 named characters (Wikipedia), any top 10 list is subjective. Common choices across multiple outlets include Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Yoda, Han Solo, Boba Fett, R2‑D2, Chewbacca, Obi‑Wan Kenobi, and the Emperor.
How top 10 lists vary by source
Pop‑culture sites like Consequence.net and Disney+ offer different rankings, but Vader consistently ranks #1. The StarWars.com Databank does not rank characters, reinforcing that “top 10” is a fan invention rather than an official classification.
What is the coolest Star Wars character?
Fan opinions on coolest character
Darth Vader is frequently cited as the coolest Star Wars character in fan polls, due to his design by Ralph McQuarrie, his voice by James Earl Jones, and his central role as the villain in the original trilogy. Boba Fett and Han Solo also rank high in fan surveys.
Criteria for ‘coolness’ in Star Wars
No official ranking exists for coolness — it is subjective and shifts across generations of fans. What one viewer finds intimidating (Vader), another finds charismatic (Han Solo) or mysterious (Boba Fett).
Who are the top 10 Jedi?
Most powerful Jedi in canon
Power rankings among Jedi are debated, but Yoda, Luke Skywalker, and Obi‑Wan Kenobi appear at the top of nearly every list. Only two of these — Luke and Obi‑Wan — appear in the Original 12 figures (The Toy Collector’s Guide).
Jedi ranked by power, wisdom, or legacy
A popular fan ranking from SuperNeox (2023) lists the ten most powerful Jedi as Yoda, Luke Skywalker, Obi‑Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Mace Windu, Qui‑Gon Jinn, Rey, Ahsoka Tano, Kanan Jarrus, and Ezra Bridger. While not official, this list reflects consensus among enthusiast communities.
The pattern: only two of the top 10 Jedi originated as action figures in the 1978 debut wave.
Who were all the characters in Star Wars?
Complete list vs. major characters
Wikipedia catalogs over 500 named Star Wars characters, spanning films, animated series, novels, and comics. The majority are minor or background figures, while fewer than 50 drive the main storylines across all trilogies.
How the Databank catalogs hundreds
StarWars.com’s official Databank serves as the canonical record, updating regularly with every new film and Disney+ series. It includes both major heroes and obscure droids, creatures, and side characters.
What is the most sought after Star Wars figure?
Rare Kenner action figures
The vinyl cape Jawa — one of the earliest Jawa figures — is widely considered the rarest and most valuable Star Wars toy (YouTube collector history). Other highly sought items include the double‑telescoping lightsaber Darth Vader and the blue‑snaggletooth figure.
Modern collector grails
While the Original 12 remain collectible, rare variants and pre‑production prototypes command the highest prices at auction. The Galactic Collector notes that first‑wave characters in original packaging can fetch thousands of dollars.
Timeline: how Star Wars characters expanded
- 1977: Star Wars released; first characters introduced.
- 1978: Kenner releases the 12 original action figures (The Toy Collector’s Guide).
- 1999–2005: Prequel trilogy adds dozens of characters (e.g., Qui‑Gon, Darth Maul, Padmé, young Anakin).
- 2015–2019: Sequel trilogy expands the cast with Rey, Finn, Kylo Ren, Poe, and many others.
- 2023: StarWars.com Databank lists hundreds of canon characters.
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Kenner produced 12 figures in 1978 (The Toy Collector’s Guide).
- Luke, Leia, Han, and Vader are major characters (The Toy Collector’s Guide).
- Yoda is typically ranked among top Jedi (multiple fan lists).
What remains unclear
- Exact “top 10” list varies by source and criteria (Wikipedia).
- Which character is “coolest” is subjective; no official ranking exists.
Quotes on the original figures
“The first wave of six figures was designed to cover the key characters from the film.”
— The Toy Collector’s Guide (vintage toy history blog)
“Kenner planned additional 12‑inch figures, including new versions of existing characters and Lando Calrissian, but the line ended before production.”
— The Toy Collector’s Guide (vintage toy history blog)
For collectors, the choice is clear: invest in the Original 12 figures for historical significance, or chase the modern canon characters that the Databank continues to add. Either way, the Star Wars character universe is richer now than at any point since 1978.
For a comprehensive look at one of the saga’s most revered Jedi, the Obi-Wan Kenobis biography offers an in-depth exploration of his life and legacy.
Frequently asked questions
How many original Star Wars action figures were there?
There were 12 original figures released by Kenner in 1978, commonly known as the “First 12.”
Who is the most powerful Jedi in Star Wars?
Yoda is most frequently cited as the most powerful Jedi by fan rankings, followed by Luke Skywalker and Obi‑Wan Kenobi.
What is the rarest Star Wars action figure?
The vinyl cape Jawa is widely considered the rarest and most valuable Star Wars action figure.
Which Star Wars character has the most screen time?
According to fan measurements, C‑3PO has the highest total screen time across all movies, followed by Darth Vader and the droids.
How often are new Star Wars characters added?
New characters are added with every film, Disney+ series, and major video game. The official Databank updates regularly.
Are the original 12 figures still sold?
Original vintage figures are available on the secondary market (eBay, collector shows) but are no longer produced. Replicas are sold in anniversary collections.
Can I find a list of all Star Wars characters online?
Yes. The StarWars.com Databank and Wikipedia both maintain extensive lists covering canon and Legends characters.
What made Darth Vader the most iconic character?
Vader’s design by Ralph McQuarrie, his voice by James Earl Jones, and his central role as the villain in the original trilogy solidified his iconic status.
Grace Campbell leads fact-checking, source verification and corrections at Australia Pulse.