A Guide To Jabba The Hutt Action Figures For 3 3/4" Collectors

8/20/2024

Kenner and Hasbro have been making Jabba The Hutt action figures in the 3 3/4" Star Wars action figure lines since "Return of the Jedi" hit theaters in 1983. Over the decades, Jabba The Hutt has become one of the most iconic and infamous characters in the Star Wars universe, and his presence in various Star Wars media has led to the release of a total of 10 distinct Jabba The Hutt figures as of 2024.

These figures span a wide range of Star Wars entertainment, from his original appearance in "Return of the Jedi" to his role in "Episode I: The Phantom Menace" and even in "The Clone Wars" animated series. Each Jabba The Hutt figure in the 3 3/4" line offers something unique, reflecting the character's evolution and importance in the Star Wars saga.

The differences among these Jabba The Hutt figures is striking, not only do they differ in paint applications, but almost each release features unique sculpts that capture various aspects of Jabba The Hutt's menacing and grotesque persona. We have also seen differences in action features, accessories, and articulation, making each Jabba The Hutt figure a distinct piece of Star Wars history.

So, let's dive into the history of Jabba The Hutt in the world of 3 3/4" Star Wars action figures, exploring each release since 1983 and how they've captured the essence of this iconic character.

Jabba The Hutt Release Chronology:

• 1983: Jabba The Hutt (ROTJ, Kenner, incl. Salacious B. Crumb/Throne)
• 1997: Jabba The Hutt (ANH Special Edition, POTF2)
• 1999: Jabba The Hutt (Episode 1)
• 1999: Jabba The Hutt (ROTJ, POTF2)
• 2004: Jabba The Hutt (ROTJ, SAGA Series)
• 2009: Jabba The Hutt (The Clone Wars)
• 2010: Jabba The Hutt (ROTJ, Shadows Of The Dark Side)
• 2015: Jabba The Hutt (ROTJ, The Black Series 3 3/4")
• 2019: Jabba The Hutt (ROTJ, TVC, Sail Barge Pack-in)
• 2024: Jabba The Hutt (ROTJ, TVC, incl. 8D8 & Salacious B. Crumb)

Jabba The Hutt Overview

Jabba The Hutt Headsculpts

1983 JABBA THE HUTT (Kenner)

This version of Jabba The Hutt is by far the most charming and fun of all Jabba figures released to date. Kenner truly outdid themselves with this release, packaging Jabba The Hutt in a box set that includes not just the Hutt himself but also his infamous throne. The set comes complete with a Hookah pipe that includes a 3-piece bowl (top, bottom, and side), a side railing that plugs into the base, and even a Salacious Crumb figure to accompany the mighty Jabba The Hutt.

The throne is particularly impressive, featuring opening doors that reveal a hidden prison area. Inside, you’ll find various skeleton pieces, a lizard, four rat-like creatures, and a snake, adding to the ominous aura of Jabba The Hutt's lair. The doors are cleverly operated by turning the two outer cyclopean heads on the front of the throne, while the two cyclopean heads in the middle have holes in their mouths where a string, representing a prisoner chain, can be pulled through. This attention to detail makes the set one of the most interactive and engaging depictions of Jabba The Hutt.

The action feature on this particular Jabba The Hutt figure is found in his tail. When moved back and forth, the tail simultaneously moves the head left or right, bringing a lifelike quality to this otherwise static figure. In addition to the tail and head, both arms of Jabba The Hutt are articulated, allowing them to be moved up and down. The body is constructed from a hard-plastic shell, while the eyes are made from clear, see-through plastic with the eyeballs painted on the inside, giving Jabba The Hutt a piercing, lifelike stare.

Compared to other Jabba The Hutt figures produced in the 3 3/4" scale, this version stands out not only in terms of height but also in design. Unlike most other Jabba The Hutt figures, which feature tails positioned to the side, this version stands taller, adding to its imposing presence. It's also interesting to note that Kenner gave this Jabba The Hutt figure 3 fingers on the right hand and 4 on the left, a unique trait that sets it apart from others. All other Jabba The Hutt figures typically have 4 fingers on each hand, except for the 2010 release, which also features 3 fingers on both hands.

1997 JABBA THE HUTT

This Jabba The Hutt figure was released as part of the Power Of The Force toy line in 1997, packaged alongside a Han Solo action figure. The design of this Jabba The Hutt is inspired by the new scene added to the Special Edition of the original Star Wars movie, making it a unique addition to the collection. 

One of the key features of this Jabba The Hutt figure is its action mechanism, found in the 2-piece tail. Similar to the vintage 1983 version, the tail movement causes the head to move back and forth, adding a dynamic element to the figure. Jabba The Hutt is sculpted in a forward-facing position with his tail extending backward, giving him a more imposing stance. 

In keeping with the design elements of the vintage 1983 Jabba The Hutt, this figure also features clear see-through plastic for the eyes, enhancing its lifelike appearance. The use of a hard-plastic shell for the body adds to the figure's durability, ensuring that Jabba The Hutt can withstand the rigors of any collector's display or playtime adventures. This combination of materials and design choices makes this 1997 release a faithful yet modernized representation of the original Jabba The Hutt figure, bridging the gap between the vintage and modern Star Wars toy lines.

For more information, please take a look at our POTF2 Jabba entry.

1999 JABBA THE HUTT

In 1999, Hasbro delighted Star Wars fans by releasing not one, but two Jabba The Hutt figures in the same year. One of these figures was the Episode f1 Jabba The Hutt, which came packed with a 2-headed announcer (Fode and Beed), a Chuba (which serves as the projectile), and a stand with a gong. This particular Jabba The Hutt is based on the memorable scene in "The Phantom Menace" where he bites the head off a Chuba and spits it at a gong to start the podrace, capturing a key moment from the film.

The action feature on this Jabba The Hutt figure is integrated into the right arm. When the arm is moved down, it triggers the projectile to shoot out of Jabba The Hutt's mouth, recreating the iconic scene from the movie. Unlike some previous versions, the tail on this figure is not movable, but the head and both arms are articulated, allowing for some degree of poseability.

Another unique aspect of this Jabba The Hutt figure is the material and design choices. It is the first Jabba The Hutt figure to feature eyes that are painted on, rather than using the clear see-through plastic that was common in earlier versions. The figure also utilizes a rubber, soft-plastic outer body, which gives Jabba The Hutt a more lifelike texture and appearance. These updates and innovations make this 1999 release a standout among the various Jabba The Hutt figures produced over the years, offering a fresh take on the character.

1999 JABBA THE HUTT "Glob"

This version of Jabba The Hutt marked the first return of a "Return of the Jedi"-based Jabba figure since the vintage release, which, by 1999, was a full 16 years earlier. The advancements in sculpting and painting techniques over that time period are immediately evident when comparing the two figures side-by-side. This updated Jabba The Hutt features a variety of skin tones, ranging from light brown to dark green, in stark contrast to the vintage version, which was limited to a single light green color. Another significant upgrade is the use of soft plastic for the body, replacing the hard-plastic shell used in the original vintage Jabba The Hutt figure from Kenner.

One possible reason Hasbro chose not to release this Jabba The Hutt figure with a throne environment could be tied to the Jabba's Palace 3D diorama, which had been released just a year earlier in 1998. The fold-out cardboard diorama depicted the interior of Jabba's Palace and included its own throne section, with ample room for Jabba The Hutt to sit, making an additional throne accessory perhaps redundant at the time.

The figure came packed with six small Chuba creatures that could be placed inside Jabba The Hutt's mouth, adding an interactive element to the play experience. In addition to the Chubas, Hasbro included a small plastic container filled with play gel, affectionately referred to as "glob." To use it, you would remove Jabba The Hutt's head, place the container inside the body, and then reattach the head. Once set up, squeezing Jabba The Hutt's head would cause the "glob" to ooze out of the mouth, giving the slug a convincingly slimy appearance that added a fun, tactile dimension to the figure.

2004 JABBA THE HUTT (SAGA Collection | Ultra Assortment)

This Jabba The Hutt figure was released five years after the "glob version," and it featured several notable improvements and changes. Although the body seemed slightly larger, it retained the same 1998 date stamp on the bottom as the previous "glob Jabba The Hutt." However, this version introduced an entirely new head sculpt, giving Jabba The Hutt a refreshed appearance. The body was still made of soft plastic, but it was significantly harder and sturdier than the "glob" version, providing a more solid feel to the figure.

The paint application on this Jabba The Hutt figure was also enhanced, offering more vibrant colors and greater detail, particularly around the facial area. The inclusion of slobber around the mouth added to the realism, and the stronger paint application brought out more intricate details. Interestingly, this is the only Jabba The Hutt figure that Hasbro gave eyelashes, adding a unique touch to the character's appearance.

Hasbro maintained the same 3 points of articulation for this figure, allowing the head and both arms to be moved, while the tail remained static. Despite the limited articulation, Hasbro compensated by including a variety of new accessories. Jabba The Hutt was given a newly designed railing, along with an updated Hookah pipe and a 2-piece bowl. The bowl, while almost the same size as the vintage version, featured a newly sculpted design with a more detailed pattern. The railing was also a new sculpt, larger than the vintage version, and boasted far more details in both sculpt and paint application. Unlike the vintage Kenner railing, which needed to be plugged into the base, this new railing was a stand-alone accessory, offering greater versatility.

One of the most interesting features of this Jabba The Hutt figure was the removable tongue, which could be plugged into a small hole in the mouth. If collectors chose not to use the tongue, the Hookah pipe could be inserted into the mouth instead, adding a layer of customization to the figure. Despite all these enhancements, this Jabba The Hutt figure still felt somewhat unfinished due to the absence of a throne, leaving some collectors longing for a more complete representation of the iconic character.

2009 Jabba The Hutt (The Clone Wars)

The Clone Wars Jabba The Hutt was released in 2009 and stands out as the most distinguished looking of all the Jabba figures released to date. Sculpted with an animated look to faithfully replicate the appearance of Jabba The Hutt in the Clone Wars cartoon TV show, this version is both the smallest and one of the most articulated Jabba figure available. Hasbro equipped this figure with ball-jointed shoulders, ball-jointed elbows, swivel wrists, and a swivel head, making it one of the most poseable Jabba The Hutt figures ever produced. Remarkably, this figure is even capable of holding a small blaster, adding a playful yet menacing detail to the character.

By pushing in the mouth, collectors can reveal a nicely detailed open mouth (this is the only action feature in Jabba). For this release, Hasbro re-used the railing, Hookah pipe, and bowl from the 2004 Ultra Jabba The Hutt, though there are subtle differences in paint. The paint application for the Clone Wars version is slightly darker, giving it a unique appearance that distinguishes it from the previously released version.

Jabba has an interesting paint application, if you turn his head forward the paint deco on the head matches the lower body, however when you turn the head sideways the paint application looks off.

For more information, please take a look at our Clone Wars Jabba entry.

2010 JABBA THE HUTT

This Jabba The Hutt figure was released in August/September 2010 as a Walmart exclusive, marking a significant moment for collectors. For the first time since 1983, Hasbro released a full Jabba The Hutt set that included a newly sculpted throne. In addition to the throne, the set featured a new Oola action figure, a new Salacious Crumb figure, and even pillows for the throne, adding a touch of world-building to the diorama. Hasbro also re-used the previously released railing and Hookah pipe from the 2004 Ultra Jabba The Hutt and 2009 Clone Wars Jabba, but they repainted these accessories and updated the copyright to 2010.

The Jabba The Hutt figure itself was entirely new, featuring a wire in the tail that allowed for easy repositioning, a feature that added a new level of interactivity and customization. The throne, while shorter in height and length than the vintage Kenner 1983 version, was deeper, providing Jabba with more room to sprawl out, better capturing the character's imposing presence. Although the prison area underneath the throne was omitted, the addition of detailed "stone" patterns on the throne’s surface offered a visually appealing texture that matched the movie more accurately.

Another update in this set was the throne's cyclops heads. The throne now featured six cyclopses—four in the front and two on the sides—compared to only four in the vintage version. Each cyclops head was adorned with rings, just as seen in Return Of The Jedi, enhancing the set's screen accuracy. It's also worth noting that Hasbro gave this version of Jabba The Hutt three fingers on each hand, a departure from the other released versions, which typically had four fingers (except the vintage version, which had three on the right hand and four on the left).

In addition to the wire in the tail, Hasbro provided Jabba The Hutt with ball-jointed shoulders, ball-jointed elbows, and a swivel head, offering a greater range of motion and posing possibilities. This set, with its attention to detail and newly sculpted elements, represented a comprehensive and faithful homage to Jabba The Hutt as seen in "Return of the Jedi," making it a must-have for any serious Star Wars collector at the time.

For more information look here: Jabba The Hutt review.

2015 Black Series 3.75" Jabba The Hutt

This Jabba The Hutt set was initially sold at the Toys'R'Us/Entertainment Earth booth at San Diego Comic-Con 2015 before being made available at regular Toys'R'Us stores across the United States. The Jabba figure is clearly based on the Black Series 6" Jabba The Hutt, with the distinctive white drool markings setting it apart from previous versions.

In this version, the tail and body of Jabba The Hutt are static, but collectors can swivel Jabba The Hutt's head, and move the arms at the shoulders, elbows, and wrists, providing some flexibility in posing the figure. This 3 3/4" Black Series version offers a nice upgrade to the previously released Jabba The Hutt figures based on "Return of the Jedi," it looks more detailed and accurately proportionate.

Despite being part of a stunning multipack that included a Rancor monster, Luke Jedi, Slave Leia, a Gamorrean Guard, and C-3PO, this set unfortunately did not include a throne for Jabba The Hutt to sit on. The absence of a throne might have been disappointing for some collectors, but the figure itself remains a standout piece.

2019 JABBA THE HUTT

This Vintage Collection Jabba The Hutt figure was exclusively available with Hasbro's impressive Sail Barge vehicle in 2019, making it a prized addition for collectors. The figure is a repaint of the 2015 Jabba The Hutt from the 3 3/4" Black Series toyline, which is an excellent choice since that version is widely regarded as the most accurate Jabba The Hutt figure available for 3 3/4" collectors.

The inclusion of this meticulously detailed Jabba The Hutt with the Sail Barge was a brilliant move by Hasbro, as it perfectly complements the grandeur of the vehicle. The repaint highlights subtle features, bringing out even more realism in Jabba The Hutt's appearance, ensuring that it stands out as a centerpiece in any collection. The slightly goofy looking drool on Jabba's mouth is gone for this release. For those who managed to acquire this set, it represents the pinnacle of Jabba The Hutt collectibles, blending the rich details of the figure with

This Vintage Collection Jabba The Hutt figure was exclusively available with Hasbro's impressive Sail Barge vehicle, making it a prized addition for collectors. The figure is a repaint of the 2015 Jabba The Hutt from the 3 3/4" Black Series toyline, which is an excellent choice since that version is widely regarded as the most accurate Jabba The Hutt figure available for 3 3/4" collectors.

2024 JABBA THE HUTT

This Vintage Collection Jabba The Hutt figure was exclusively available through HasbroPulse.com in 2024. For this release, Hasbro went all out, including not only Jabba The Hutt but also a mini carded Salacious B. Crumb and a newly sculpted and carded version of the torture droid 8D8, along with a throne, drinkware, the hookah pipe, a frog and various pillows in different sizes.

This version of Jabba marks the third time that this particular sculpt was utilized by Hasbro, it first came out in 2015 and was then repainted and packed-in with the Sail Barge in 2019.

Even though the paint application on Jabba's throat looks unusually bloody, it can still be considered the ultimate Jabba The Hutt collection piece in the 3 3/4" scale. The combination of the Kenner inspired packaging, the figure itself, the accessories, the additional single carded figures exclusive to this set, and the throne create a complete and immersive experience for collectors who would like to build out a diorama of the crime boss at home

So, there you have it ...

Jabba The Hutt action figures since 1983 ... all of them different, all of them charming with their own cool features and looks. The most accomplished Jabba The Hutt figures released are either the 1983 vintage Jabba from Kenner, or the 41 years later released 2024 HasbroPulse.com exclusive Jabba, simply because they were sculpted nicely and included the throne, extra figures and accessories.