Han Solo - LC - Basic (BD02)

Luke Skywalker and Han Solo subdue a couple of stormtroopers and steal their uniforms. With their faces hidden by the helmets, Luke and Han can now walk through the Imperial battle station and search for a way to escape.

Is it really possible that we didn’t get our first Han Solo (Stormtrooper Disguise) basic figure until 2009? Wow! That is not to say that Han Solo didn’t receive his fair share of releases in other places in the toy line including some appearances in the Comic Packs, miscellaneous multipacks, Cinema Scenes, and many other sub lines. But it wasn’t until The Legacy Collection that we got him on a single basic figure card back. Good things certainly come to those who wait, because this Han Solo figure is excellent and long overdue. It is nice to get a movie accurate version of him with super-articulation (and without blue washes). This makes for incredible authenticity to the film and proper scale and is something that is at the forefront of Hasbro’s minds in this modern era. Now he has been brought forth again into the red phase of the Legacy Collection lineup. We are extremely thankful for another chance to get this great figure because he is filled with detail. And while the parts to both Luke and Han are nothing new to the collective whole, the overall product is simply a pleasure. Even the Stormtrooper body that we're not crazy about seems to work better for Han Solo than other figures. Interesting how that works, isn't it?

Does the figure have small issues? Of course, but not enough to make us feel that it is inferior or not worthy of purchase. Although we are very happy to receive almost any figure with 23 points of articulation or more, many of these joints can be rendered useless if one point is inhibiting movement of all the others. For example, Han Solo’s legs are very close together, and though he has both knee and ankle joints, the width between his legs cannot be changed or altered width-wise due to the one range of motion swivel joints are capable of executing, Han can't be posed in many different ways unfortunately. Does this hinder the quality of the figure a little bit? Yes. Is it worth skipping over him because of this? No. The hip ball joints (as seen utilized on both 2008’s TAC Commander Gree (08 03) (and subsequent TLC reissues) and 2004’s VOTC Luke Skywalker (in addition to 2009’s TLC Luke Skywalker (BD 38) figure) are really necessary for the Stormtrooper/Clone Trooper sculpt (and those disguised in them too). We are really hoping that Hasbro will develop a template for both so that we can start getting the definitive versions of all in the near future. This clearly should not be cost-prohibitive to Hasbro, imagine how many extra troop builders collectors would buy if we had, say for example, a hip ball jointed Stormtrooper figure? Oh, we are drooling already! If this type of joint can be added into the super-articulated mold, it will make the ultimate figure. We beg Hasbro not to be penny wise and pound foolish here.

Han Solo has a really good head sculpt, simple but effective. The paint applications on different samples vary significantly so we recommend looking for one with well painted eyes and a well painted body glove that doesn’t bleed onto the white armor (or conversely, a black paint that is too faded). Just like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo’s functioning holster has also been modified to better accommodate his weapon. But again, we think Hasbro needs to revisit this in order to make it as functional as possible. His removable thermal detonator comes off very easily, but interestingly will stay in place fairly well too. The joints are pretty tight on our sample and it is nice that his waist stays in one place instead of flopping around like it has on others, including the VOTC Stormtrooper. His armor is very clean and he comes with the standard Imperial issue blaster. We tend to be picky about certain things, but Hasbro only “sometimes” listens to our pleas about perfecting action figure aesthetics. And it’s out of pure hope of change that we express what small issues Hasbro can resolve to guarantee us the definitive versions of the characters we love. In the meantime, Han Solo will be a worthy addition to your collection, and a necessary purchase if you are into the Droid Factory pack-ins. And if you have been waiting for a carded basic version of Han Solo (Stormtrooper Disguise), well, here is your chance. Go ahead, get him. He really is an excellent figure.