Doctor Evazan [Dr. Evazan (Cantina Patron)] - TVC - Basic (VC57)

He’s a wanted man who has the death sentence on twelve systems. Still, you’ll be more than happy to harbor the character as a fugitive in your own Star Wars collection because Dr. Evazan (Cantina Patron) is an action figure that will make you grin from ear to ear, if not shed a held-back tear or two. Some core Star Wars characters must get released as part of The Vintage Collection. These characters comprise main characters or standout background characters that never received billing in the vintage Kenner line. Grand Moff Tarkin, Sandtrooper, Uncle Owen, Aunt Beru, and Doctor Evazan make up this wanted list. Hasbro is abiding by our wishes. A definitive update to Dr. Cornelius Evazan was a long time coming in the Star Wars basic figure line. Released for the first time as a basic figure in any Star Wars line, the figure now comes with new card art, character photo, and name. Sure, we’ve seen paltry versions of the character show up in Cinema Scenes, Screen Scenes, and other exclusive sets between 1997 and 2002, however, all of those versions were from The Power Of The Force school of technology or were insignificant updates of that figure. None of those versions came close to giving us a remotely accurate version of Doctor Evazan. All these releases led up to the events of 2012 and now is the perfect time for an update. For the 2025 release, collectors also get treated to Photo Real technology and some improved/corrected parts. Technology caught up with art, and we’re getting the best action figures of all time now. Doctor Evazan is a perfect example of how wonderful it is to be an action figure in this era, and as collectors, we couldn’t be happier to be Star Wars collectors.

The wait for Doctor Evazan/Dr. Evazan (Cantina Patron) was grueling and magnified by the fact that Hasbro delayed the figure in the 2011 lineup. The wave the figure was part of was supposed to follow wave 7 of The Vintage Collection, but announcements of the Revenge Of The Jedi wave started popping up without any mention of this highly desired wave. Only God knows what happened exactly. We have heard one excuse after another. Excuses ranging from the figure were held back due to distribution needing extra time to catch up (yeah, whatever) to production delays (yeah, whatever); it probably doesn’t matter why they were delayed as torturous as it was. It’s only essential that these long-awaited figures finally make it out to the public. The figures that make up the wave that Doctor Evazan/Dr. Evazan (Cantina Patron) still utilizes the same card art of the 2010/2011 The Vintage Collection line look. A large picture of the figure gets paired with some historical references, and if the figure was never released as a basic figure before, then a still from the film has been put in the same space. We prefer this style of card back art because when The Vintage Collection changed its look a little bit beginning in 2012, all of the card backs looked identical to each other, and it was nearly impossible to tell them apart without looking for the figure’s VC number. Hasbro replicated this card style in 2024; we love the colorful backgrounds. We digress. Seeing Doctor Evazan/Dr. Evazan (Cantina Patron) is fantastic on a “vintage-styled” card for the first time. We all get a second chance with updated artwork and new paint operations for 2025. It’s so beautiful that you may want to have a box of tissues with you when you take in all the glory of it. And it’s lovely to see this figure available again.

We’ve talked about the character in A New Hope, the figure’s history in the modern Star Wars line, and its packaging. So what about the darn figure? Well, you probably already know how we feel about that. Doctor Evazan/Dr. Evazan (Cantina Patron) is everything we wanted to see for this character. Gorgeous sculpting, brilliant design, and near-perfect paint operations are wholly responsible for setting this figure above many others. The darker colors this time seem to work in the figure’s favor since the cantina has dim lighting and dark overtones. Our eyes became instantly drawn to Doctor Evazan’s/Dr. Evazan’s hands. To refer to these puppies as “man hands” couldn’t be more perfect. Doctor Evazan/Dr. Evazan has very large extremities, and while you may be inclined to believe they are oversized, you’d be wrong. They are responsible for bringing out this figure’s cranky personality and antagonistic tendencies. Hasbro’s sculptors also did an incredible job on the portrait. And don’t forget about the variation in the figures from 2012. The updated version has red paint applied to the facial scar, and the former has no red paint. Doctor Evazan/Dr. Evazan (Cantina Patron) comes complete with the blaster the character wielded in front of Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Unfortunately, that’s the only accessory paired with the figure inside the package. It would have been lovely if Hasbro added one or two drinking glasses alongside the figure. The addition is short but very sweet. Doctor Evazan/Dr. Evazan (Cantina Patron) is an absolute must-have action figure. It works just as well in 2025 as it did in 2012. Hasbro waited for the perfect time to release and re-release this character in the collector-favorite The Vintage Collection line. We personally couldn’t be thrilled over this core Star Wars character appearing in Kenner packaging. Besides, who will keep your Ponda Baba (Walrus Man) (VC70) figure company?

Editor's Note: Hasbro re-released The Vintage Collection Doctor Evazan/Dr. Evazan (Cantina Patron) (VC57) figure in April 2025 with a significant number of changes. Updates include: (1) new darker paint operations/deco and new Photo Real application, (2) half-toning wash and other details like body hair (3) matching ankle joints, (4) refreshed 2025 packaging (5) updated character photo, and (6) different placement of action figure and accessories in bubble

Review Status Update: The original publication date of this review is April 25, 2012. It was subsequently updated with a new Photo Gallery and revised General Analysis and republished on April 25, 2025 after Hasbro reissued the figure.