Bib Fortuna - OTC - Basic (OTC #31)

Bib Fortuna screens those who try to enter the palace of Jabba the Hutt, checking to see why they want to see the crime lord. He has worked for the Hutt for decades, until he is tricked into allowing Rebel hero Luke Skywalker inside. When the Rebels are freed at the Great Pit of Carkoon, Bib escapes from the sail barge before it is destroyed.

Hasbro often has things sprung upon them that required them to play catch-up at a speed that just isn’t possible. Thankfully, Hasbro got everything on track with the relatively sudden announcement that the Original Trilogy of Star Wars was going to be released in their original and Special Edition versions for the very first time on DVD. They put the 2004 Star Wars “saga” line on hold and whipped up a “greatest hits” collection of sorts with along with all-new sculpts to bring collectors The Original Trilogy Collection. Sadly, because they didn’t have sufficient notice to plan a grand collection of action figures for collectors, they dug deep into their archives to bring the most popular and recognizable Star Wars characters into the line while still making them relevant for today. On some of their oldest sculpts they gave completely new paint jobs making them shine all over again. One such figure was 1997’s POTF2 Bib Fortuna. Obsolete by most standards, the 2004 OTC Bib Fortuna may not have all of the articulation you’ll desire, but the updated paint job is something to embrace and perhaps celebrate.

Bib Fortuna comes with a brand new paint job. Updated with accuracy outside as well as inside the robes, the updated 2004 paint job brings Bib Fortuna closer in screen accuracy to the actual character. The updated paint scheme given to the portrait is impressive. Bib now sports a gray ashen color head with piercing red eyes. The head is general has a smoothness not attained on the 1997 version. The updates are impressive to say the least. His outer robe, while still too chunky, has also been updated. But it’s been updated for worse and not better. Hasbro actually made a mistake in the paint application. The teal colored inner robes stop suddenly three-quarters of the way down and Hasbro has filled in the rest with black which is the color of the outer robes. Oh well. Not everything can be perfected. What’s frustrating is that they got it right the first time this sculpt was released so we’re disappointed since they’ve enhanced other aspects to satisfying levels. With some force, Bib Fortuna’s head is removable and his outer robes are removable. It’s when you remove them that you’ll notice just how much work went into repainting his body. They really did a nice job here.

Bib Fortuna still comes with the same weapon he did from 1997. By 2004’s standards the weapon is severely outdated. It’s too chunky and too juvenile, but since the sculpt is circa late 90s, perhaps that’s the only reason Hasbro decided to keep the same weapon. Perhaps the thing that is going to interest collectors of 2004 product when the content originated in 1997 is the gorgeous packaging. A classic looking black and silver packaging with the vintage Kenner name plate are a powerful selling point. But Bib Fortuna stands in front of a diorama of Jabba the Hutt on his throne. It looks fantastic. As you probably already know by now, the characters in The Original Trilogy Collection are split into two categories: the Rebel Alliance or the Evil Empire. Either guilty by association of just default, Bib Fortuna has been classified under the “Evil Empire” red color, although no mention of the Empire is described in his bio. There might not be enough newness brought to the table here to persuade you to purchase this refreshed version of Bib Fortuna, but we think Hasbro did a fine job here. Next time they better go a little further for us.