Leia (Hoth) - RC - Basic

The Star Wars Retro Collection is inspired by the 1980s STAR WARS figures and features original figure design and detailing! Continue your collection from the galaxy far, far away!

If you’re a longtime Star Wars collector that dates back to the vintage Kenner era, you remember that Kenner released multiple waves of figures in The Empire Strikes Back line. They released them in what is now established as three specific series: 1980 figures, 1981 figures, and 1982 figures. Each of these three series had a single assortment of figures or multiple assortments of figures. In an interesting move, Hasbro chose one action figure from the 1979 STAR WARS lineup, four figures from the 1980 THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK lineup, and one figure from the 1981 THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK lineup to put together the second wave of Retro Collection figures. Leia (Hoth) is the only figure from the second series of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK figures that was chosen for the commemorative collection of action figures. Leia (Hoth) is probably the best Episode V Princess Leia Organa action figure Hasbro could have chosen. After all, the on-screen character is mostly seen wearing this costume or a variation of it throughout the film. We’re partial to the Leia Organa (Bespin Gown) figure, but it isn’t nearly as memorable as the Hoth outfit is. It’s nice to see this figure again in its almost-original packaging almost four decades later. This line appeals to the “old” collectors, and that is a smart move on Hasbro’s part.

Leia (Hoth) is an interesting release in the Retro Collection. It’s an interesting addition to the line because the original vintage Kenner figure comes with quite a few variations, and it is difficult to know which version of Leia (Hoth Outfit) Hasbro used to produce this figure. We can guess, but it may be impossible to know 100% for sure. The 1981 ESB Leia (Hoth Outfit) figure came with two different head sculpts and two different torsos). To the best of our ability, it appears that Hasbro utilized the version that sports a rounder head and a torso with a smooth ranking badge over the figure’s left upper chest. Hasbro decided to move ahead with the “dark hair” version of the action figure. We honestly cannot recall which version came first. But there are more than two different hair color variations on the Kenner figure, so who knows what version the Retro Collection release is modeled after the most. Regardless, Leia (Hoth) is a faithful recreation of the 1981 figure. But thanks to modern paint operations, the facial features look completely different, and the likeness comes across as different as well. Leia (Hoth) came out very well, even if the figure doesn’t perfectly match the Kenner release. If Hasbro continues this line, we hope to see more “Hoth” figures join this one.

Another difference with Leia (Hoth) is the blaster. The Kenner version comes with a blue Leia blaster. But the Retro Collection version comes with a black blaster instead. On a more positive note, the hands are molded better in this wave of Retro Collection figures, and they all hold their weapons much better than the one from wave 1, or the STAR WARS collection of figures. A side by side comparison will prove to you that differences exist between the Retro Collection Leia (Hoth) figure and the Kenner Leia (Hoth Outfit) figure. We would have wished for the figure to come with light brown hair, but it is what it is. Another major difference is the card back reference image. Although Hasbro chose the correct frame of film for Leia (Hoth), Kenner did some significant “airbrushing” to the image (especially above Princess Leia’s head), where they blurred out the details of the Millennium Falcon’s interior. (See this in the side by side comparison image of the 2020 figure next to the 1981 figure.) Admittedly, we prefer the concentration of detail from the original image, but our inner-child wished they would recreate the “Photoshop of 1981” techniques instead. Hey, if the Power Droid can still come on a purple background, then Leia (Hoth) can come on a vastly changed card back as well.