41 b back

ESB 41 B Back


Release Date:
1981
Carded Availability:
  • The Empire Strikes Back
Force fact:

    The 41 B Back changed only at the bottom where Vehicles and Playsets replaced the Survival Kit offer. The Darth Vader Case, Dagobah, Slave 1 and the Twin Pod are the new items featured with the X-Wing, Tie Fighter and Millennium Falcon. As seen before the new items are in prototype form.
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41 a back

ESB 41 A Back

Release Date:
1981
Carded Availability:
  • The Empire Strikes Back
Force fact:

    The 41 A Back continues the colored boxes but with the Survival Kit offer. I have to say this is my all time favorite card back. Loved it as a kid and loved the offer as well. This back shows the Kenner marketing genius at its best. Brilliantly added was the Collect All 41! line that showed us everyone available and even made to date!
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32 b back

ESB 32 B Back


Release Date:
1981
Carded Availability:
  • The Empire Strikes Back
Force fact:

    The 32 B Back is the same as the 32 A in terms of figures and has the same toys at the bottom but the pictures for the Star Destroyer and Hoth Ice Planet are different than before.
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32 a back

ESB 32 A Back


Release Date:
1981
Carded Availability:
  • The Empire Strikes Back
Force fact:

    The 32 A Back is identical to the 31 A Back except for the addition of Yoda and the inclusion of the Imperial Attack Base at the bottom.
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32 c back

ESB 32 C Back


Release Date:
1981
Carded Availability:
  • The Empire Strikes Back
Force fact:

    This back is included even though I am not certain it was ever released beyond prototype phase. This would be a 32 C with a Survival Kit offer sticker on the back. As with the 31 C John Kellerman is the only person I know who has had this piece and I have never seen another, either carded figure or simple a card back so I think it was not a production item. But it is included here for completeness sake. No photo other than John’s have come across my desk.
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31 c back

ESB 31 C Back

Release Date:

1981
Carded Availability:

  • The Empire Strikes Back
    • Force fact:
      This back is included even though I am not certain it was ever released beyond prototype phase. This would be a 31 C with a Survival Kit offer sticker on the back. John Kellerman is the only person I know who has had this piece and I have never seen another, either carded figure or simple a card back so I think it was not a production item. But it is included here for completeness sake. No photo other than John’s have come across my desk.

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31 b back

ESB 31 B Back


Release Date:
1981
Carded Availability:
  • The Empire Strikes Back
Force fact:

    The 31 B is very much like its predecessor but the bottom vehicles and playsets shown are all new ESB releases. Note the toys at the bottom are all prototypes.
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31 a back

ESB 31 A Back


Date Stamp:
1981
Carded Availability:
  • The Empire Strikes Back
Force fact:

    This release began the epic run of the figures in little boxes on the back, the coolest look made by Kenner. The 31 A shows the first 10 figures of the Empire line with the first new vehicle, the Rebel Armored Snowspeeder shown at bottom.
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21 c back

ESB 21 C Back


Release Date:
1980
Carded Availability:
  • The Empire Strikes Back
Force fact:

    This final 21 Back release is similar in that it is a circular extended offer as seen before. However this version reveals the SECRET ACTION FIGURE identity as Bossk! Yes the secret figure is Bossk. This is the one and only time the figure offer was a secret. Any before any comedians send any messages I am aware this is the front of the card. I did not have a figure with this offer conveniently placed on the back so this picture shows the correct sticker variation.
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21 b back

ESB 21 B Back


Release Date:
1980
Carded Availability:
  • The Empire Strikes Back
Force fact:

    The second ESB release is so similar to the lunacy of the SW 20/21 Backs, it has the extended offer rectangular sticker on the back. Only one more of these variants to go but the next one is actually very different and exciting!
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