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VARIATION HISTORY
CARD FRONT
There are 14 different card and/or sticker variations for the Bend-Ems line.
They have been broken into three sections: 8-Back, 12-Back and 20-Back.
Click on each picture to get detailed information about each card style variation.
8-Back Variations
8A Card Style:
Small Text, Product Number Over Name
Here is a picture of the original card style.
The "designers" at JusToys had an outline of the trading card printed on the front
and also printed the "Bonus Trading Card Inside" blurb.
It amazes me that this made it to production, since you CAN'T SEE either design once the figure and trading card are mounted.
This is why they added a sticker on the bubble.
The card says "Limited Edition" which refers to the trading card not the figure.
8A Card Style
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8A Card Style:
Small Text, Product Number Over Name
Here is Stormtrooper on the 8A Card Style.
You can see the product number above the name on the card, as well as a small piece of the printed "Bonus Trading Card Inside" blurb.
8A Card Style
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8B Card Style:
Small Text, Product Number In Bottom
Here is Stormtrooper on the 8B Card Style.
This design removes the trading card outline and printed "Bonus Trading Card Inside" blurb.
The product number is moved to the bottom corner.
The card still says "Limited Edition".
8B Card Style
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8C Card Style:
Small Text, LETC Sticker
Here is Stormtrooper on the 8C Card Style.
This design has a sticker with "Limited Edition Trading Card" (LETC) placed over the "Limited Edition" wording.
This change was made since the original text was confusing as to what was actually limited.
8C Card Style
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8E Card Style:
Large Text, No Trading Card
Here is Stormtrooper on the 8E Card Style.
This design removes the LETC starburst from the card, and the Trading Card is no longer part of the package.
8E Card Style
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8F Card Style:
Large Text, LETC Sticker
Here is Stormtrooper on the 8F Card Style.
The Trading Card is back which means the LETC starburst is back as well.
The LETC starburst is a sticker placed on the card.
8F Card Style
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12-Back Variations
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12A-F Card Style:
Fitted Bubble, No Topps Sticker on Bubble
Here is C-3PO (Silver Leg) on the 12A-F Card Style.
This design is similar to 12A except the Topps Sticker has been removed from the bubble.
It has an import sticker on the back and was only released overseas.
Topps trading card "O", Death Star II, appears to be the only trading card included with this card style.
12A-F Card Style
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12B Card Style:
Square Bubble, Topps Sticker on Bubble
Here is C-3PO (Silver Leg) on the 12B Card Style.
The fitted bubble has been replaced with a square "stand-up" bubble.
12B Card Style
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12C Card Style:
Square Bubble, No Topps Sticker on Bubble
Here is C-3PO (Silver Leg) on the 12C Card Style.
This design is similar to 12A except the Topps Sticker has been removed from the bubble.
12C Card Style
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20-Back Variations
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20B Card Style:
Fitted Bubble, No Topps Sticker on Bubble
Here is Emperor's Royal Guard on the 20B Card Style.
This design is similar to 20A except the Topps Sticker has been removed from the bubble.
Only two figures, Emperor's Royal Guard and Tusken Raider, have been found with this card style.
20B Card Style
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20B-F Card Style:
Fitted Bubble, No Topps Sticker on Bubble
Here is Emperor's Royal Guard on the 20B-F Card Style.
This design is similar to 20B except it has an import sticker on the back. It was only released overseas.
Topps trading card "O", Death Star II, appears to be the only trading card included with this card style with one notable exception, Boba Fett.
Many figures only released on 20C square bubble versions in the US, were released on 20B-F in Europe including Bib Fortuna, Boba Fett, Gamorrean Guard, and Lando Calrissian.
20B-F Card Style
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20C Card Style:
Square Bubble, No Topps Sticker on Bubble
Here is Emperor's Royal Guard on the 20C Card Style.
The fitted bubble has been replaced with a square "stand-up" bubble.
20C Card Style
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CARD BACK
There are 6 different card back types for the Bend-Ems line.
They have been broken into three sections: 8-Back, 12-Back and 20-Back.
Click on each picture to get detailed information about each card style variation.
8-Back Blue and 8-Back Purple
8-Back Card Style: Blue
This is the first version of the cardback, and it is called an 8-Back since there are 8 character photos shown on the card.
Variations 8A, 8B and 8C all had the blue background.
8-Back Card Style: Blue
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8-Back Card Style: Purple
Starting with card style 8D, the background color was changed to purple.
Variations 8D, 8E and 8F all had the purple background.
In addition to the color change, Yoda was moved down a little and Chewbacca's picture was completely changed.
8-Back Card Style: Purple
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Chewbacca Comparison: 8-Back Blue and 8-Back Purple
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12-Back and 12-Back "Foreign"
12-Back Card Style
The 12-Back card is similar to the 8-Back purple version, but it adds four more characters:
- The Emperor
- Wicket, the Ewok
- Obi Wan Kenobi
- Han Solo
All four of these characters also shipped on certain 8-Back cards.
In addition, the picture of Chewbacca has been flipped.
Variations 12A, 12B and 12C all had the this cardback.
12-Back Card Style
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12-Back Card Style: Foreign
This card style is exactly the same as the other 12-Back card, but it has a foreign import sticker on it.
The sticker has an address in the UK on it, but shipped throughout many European countries.
The variation 12A-F represents this card style.
12-Back Card Style: Foreign
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Chewbacca Comparison: 8-Back Purple and 12-Back
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20-Back, 20-Back "Foreign", and 20-Back "Corrected"
20-Back Card Style
The 20-Back shows pictures of the actual toys rather than characters from the movies.
It also shows the Darth Vader Collecting Case.
In the Fan Club section, collectibles is misspelled twice as "collectables".
Variations 20A, 20B and 20C all had the this cardback.
20-Back Card Style
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20-Back Card Style: Foreign
This card style is exactly the same as the original 20-Back card, but it has a foreign import sticker on it.
The sticker has an address in the UK on it, but shipped throughout many European countries.
The variation 20B-F represents this card style.
20-Back Card Style: Foreign
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Alternate 20-Back Photography
This picture was taken from a Justoys catalog.
As you can see, the placement of many of the figures has changed.
Alternate 20-Back Photography
Alternate 20-Back Photography
This picture was taken from a foreign multipack.
It is very close to the regular 20-Back except for a few minor changes.
Tusken Raider and The Emperor have been switched. In addition, the font is white instead of black. Finally, a few of the poses are slightly different.
Alternate 20-Back Photography
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FIGURE CHANGES
There are four major changes to various figures in the line.
The first two are sculpting changes and the other two are name variations on the card.
Han Solo
Han Solo: Version 1, 12A Card Style
There were a number of changes made to Han Solo.
The head sculpt is completely different. The face is smaller and rounder, and the hair is shorter.
The second version adds pockets to the vest, and the boots are now a glossy black rather than a dull black.
Finally, a "Bend-Ems"
logo has been placed on the figure's lower back.
The transition took place on 12-Back card styles.
Version 1, 12A Card Style
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Han Solo: Version 2, 12A Card Style
There were a number of changes made to Han Solo.
The head sculpt is completely different. The face is smaller and rounder, and the hair is shorter.
The second version adds pockets to the vest, and the boots are now a glossy black rather than a dull black.
Finally, a "Bend-Ems"
logo has been placed on the figure's lower back.
The transition took place on 12-Back card styles.
Version 2, 12A Card Style
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Han Solo:
Loose Comparison
There were a number of changes made to Han Solo.
The head sculpt is completely different. The face is smaller and rounder, and the hair is shorter.
The second version adds pockets to the vest, and the boots are now a glossy black rather than a dull black.
Finally, a "Bend-Ems"
logo has been placed on the figure's lower back.
Han Solo: Loose Comparison
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C-3PO
C-3PO: Version 1,
8F Card Style
There were a number of changes made to C-3PO.
The most noticeable is the change to a silver right leg.
In addition, the second version of C-3PO is much darker than the first.
Finally, a "Bend-Ems" logo was added to the back of the figure's left leg.
The transition took place on 8-Back and 12-Back card styles.
Version 1, 8F Card Style
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C-3PO: Version 2,
8F Card Style
There were a number of changes made to C-3PO.
The most noticeable is the change to a silver right leg.
In addition, the second version of C-3PO is much darker than the first.
Finally, a "Bend-Ems" logo was added to the back of the figure's left leg.
The transition took place on 8-Back and 12-Back card styles.
Version 2, 8F Card Style
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C-3PO:
Loose Comparison
There were a number of changes made to C-3PO.
The most noticeable is the change to a silver right leg.
In addition, the second version of C-3PO is much darker than the first.
Finally, a "Bend-Ems" logo was added to the back of the figure's left leg.
C-3PO: Loose Comparison
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Obi Wan Kenobi and Wicket
Obi Wan Kenobi:
12C Card Style
The folks at Justoys just couldn't get it right.
They produced Obi-Wan Kenobi without the dash between "Obi" and "Wan". Seems easily correctable, but they never did fix it on the character's name plate.
They even moved the name around on the 20-Back; putting the "Wan" on the first line with "Obi", but the dash is no where to be seen.
They did finally correct the spelling, but only on the back of the 20D card stlye.
This version shipped on 8-Back and 12-Back card styles.
Obi Wan Kenobi, Han Solo, and R2-D2 are the only figures that shipped on 8-Back, 12-Back and 20-Back.
12C Card Style
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Obi Wan Kenobi:
20C Card Style
The folks at Justoys just couldn't get it right.
They produced Obi-Wan Kenobi without the dash between "Obi" and "Wan". Seems easily correctable, but they never did fix it on the character's name plate.
They even moved the name around on the 20-Back; putting the "Wan" on the first line with "Obi".
They did finally correct the spelling, but only on the back of the 20D card stlye.
This version shipped on the 20C card style.
Obi Wan Kenobi, Han Solo, and R2-D2 are the only figures that shipped on 8-Back, 12-Back and 20-Back.
20C Card Style
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Wicket, an Ewok:
8F Card Style
The first version of the Wicket card had the text "an Ewok".
This was later changed to "the Ewok" on 12-Back card styles.
Wicket, an Ewok only shipped on 8F card style.
8F Card Style
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Wicket, the Ewok:
12A Card Style
The first version of the Wicket card had the text "an Ewok".
This was later changed to "the Ewok" on 12-Back card styles.
Wicket, the Ewok only shipped on 12-Back card style.
12A Card Style
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