Return of the Jedi Cards to Collect
With the release of Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi in 1983, movie fans got a finale for the initial Star Wars trilogy, and collectors got a new set of Topps cards. It was the end of an era for the franchise—the first era—but still only the beginning of what was to come. These five cards represent some of the best for collectors from the original 1983 Topps Star Wars Return of the Jedi set.
1983 Topps Star Wars Return of the Jedi Cards
1983 Topps Star Wars Return of the Jedi #120 Lightsaber Battle
The initial Star Wars trilogy builds to Luke Skywalker’s duel with Darth Vader on the Death Star II. That fight is rendered on this card from the 1983 Topp Star Wars Return of the Jedi set, which shows Luke’s newly crafted green lightsaber clashing with his father’s red blade in the Emperor’s throne room.
1983 Topps Star Wars Return of the Jedi #116 Facing the Emperor
The Emperor himself doesn’t appear on the front of this card, which instead shows Luke and Darth Vader as they stand before the evil Sith Lord. However, an artistic rendering of the Emperor on the back shows him curiously standing fully upright.
1983 Topps Star Wars Return of the Jedi #57 The Emperor
Emperor Palpatine is seen on this card descending the ramp of his Imperial shuttle. Of course, he wouldn’t reveal the Palpatine name to fans until years later when Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace premiered. In Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, he’s known simply as the Emperor.
1983 Topps Star Wars Return of the Jedi #14 Jabba the Hutt
Jabba the Hutt is mentioned in the very first Star Wars film and was originally meant to appear there as well, albeit in a human form. Ultimately, the galactic gangster was cut from the film and made his onscreen debut two movies later as the giant slug we’ve all come to know and loathe. His rookie card describes him as “the absolute ruler of the galactic underworld.”
1983 Topps Star Wars Return of the Jedi #9 The New Death Star
The Death Star II got its own Topps rookie card in the 1983 Return of the Jedi set, showing the battle station in construction over the forest moon of Endor. The card also shows an Imperial Star Destroyer, a Lamba-class shuttle, and four TIE fighters.
