Han Solo/Princess Leia - TFA - Two-Packs (Space)

Han Solo: Promised a hefty reward to help rescue Princess Leia from the Death Star, Han Solo is swept up in the Rebellion against the Empire.

Princess Leia: Determined to bring down the Empire, Princess Leia delivers top-secret plans for the Death Star to her Rebel allies.

Out of a brand new case of The Force Awakens Two-Packs sets, more than 50% of them are straight repacks (with the appearance of slightly repainted figures because of the calibrated machines – our best guess). It’s hard to say if Hasbro picked some of their greatest hits to re-release again. For sure, C1-10P “Chopper” was a no-brainer choice, and thankfully that one made it out, but figure sets like the Anakin Skywalker/Yoda, Clone Commander Cody/Obi-Wan Kenobi and this Han Solo/Princess Leia may have been better left off Hasbro’s “repack” list. To be completely fair and balanced here, the figures do look a whole lot better in The Force Awakens line than any previous line look. The paint operations are much tighter, but not yet completely perfect, and that is the main “thing” that makes or breaks these simply articulated action figures. With the Han Solo/Princess Leia set, we imagine this will continue to perform well at retail because it presents two young versions of the characters that will supposedly have major roles in The Force Awakens film. With updated paint operations and very attractive The Force Awakens packaging, we imagine the Han Solo/Princess Leia Two-Pack set will be some sort of strange highlight for new collectors.... and maybe even the old ones.

Han Solo is perhaps the better of the two figures included here. He has a great head sculpt. We didn’t notice this at the time, but it sort of resembles the head sculpt from 2015’s TBS [P2] Han Solo (#19) figure. Tragically, the head sculpt works significantly better for this five points of articulation version. Once again, sadly, his holster isn’t functioning. All he can do is hold out his pistol straight in the hope he will be able to shoot better than a Stormtrooper in this very basic manner. The paint operations are indeed cleaned up quite a bit. We wouldn’t go as far as saying they’re wonderful yet. Some may find his body shape slightly off and we may have to agree with you. He is still lean and athletic, but he does come across as having a rotund midsection, but just in the slightest way imaginable. It’s not enough for us to be a distraction or detractor, so we think others will overlook it too. It is a bit depressing when you cannot pose an action figure any which way you want to anymore. Han Solo will not work for those looking to make this rogue scoundrel accomplish any pose possible, but he will look good in a diorama setting, or some other scene you’re trying to configure. He looks good, and that’s all that may matter here.

While Han Solo is the better figure here, we have to admit Princess Leia is looking better than ever thanks to updated paint operations (especially in the face). The silhouette of the action figure is about the most perfect shape we have received of Princess Leia to date. And thanks to a more careful approach of the paint operations, this figure looks a whole lot better just a few months after its original release in the Rebels line to The Force Awakens line. We’re quite taken with the head sculpt in particular. Hasbro obviously paid careful (and clever) attention to her hairstyle. It seems they took some small liberties with the shape of her “star puffs” (only original Kenner collectors will understand what we mean by the use of this term), but they imitated her slight asymmetrical part (yes – her hairline is not dead-centered like assumed by many) quite well which really works to capture the style of Princess Leia perfectly. Each figure comes with screen inaccurate extra accessories, which we imagine were included here to pad the high $14.99 price point. With distribution still so thin and sporadic, this set (as well as the others) are briskly selling wherever they hit. Keep in mind this doesn’t mean they’re a roaring success; it’s just that the market is starved for new action figures.