Boba Fett (Prototype Armor) - TVC - Basic (VC61)

This limited edition figure depicts the first costume ever produced for Boba Fett. The all-white armor reflects the character's initial concept as a "super trooper" before he evolved into the bounty hunter he is today. This prototype design was unveiled on June 28, 1978 in a screen test shot and is being worn by the assistant film editor for The Empire Strikes Back. In the 20-minute screen test, the sound designer describes the myriad weapons and features on this armored uniform for George Lucas and the Star Wars crew. For the first time ever, we have created this special action figure to commemorate the birth of this favorite character from the Star Wars saga.

Hasbro continues to delight Star Wars collectors with each new release with fresh iterations of Boba Fett in action figure form. When we thought we had seen it all, Hasbro surprises us yet again with something that, while not entirely new, is a unique version of Boba Fett that fans have eagerly anticipated for years. The 2011 The Vintage Collection Boba Fett (Prototype Armor) mail-away exclusive, a repaint of a previously released figure, is a thrilling addition to any collection. While it may not be 100% accurate to the 1978 prototype, it’s still a lot of fun and a must-have for any Boba Fett enthusiast. Hasbro approached it with relative faithfulness to the prototype seen in that 20-minute video from June 28, 1978. Still, it isn’t 100% accurate, and these missed details will undoubtedly irritate some of the more decisive collectors out there. If you didn’t know better, you’d probably confuse this with the McQuarrie concept version of Boba Fett. After all, they’re similar in that they’re both white. Still, upon closer inspection, you’ll quickly realize how closely it resembles the final armor seen in The Empire Strikes Back, which is not much more than an unpainted white version. It still takes innovation to make an all-white figure look good. Technically, this is an Expanded Universe version of Boba Fett.

The Boba Fett (Prototype Armor) figure is a testament to Hasbro’s meticulous attention to detail and the magic to make existing parts feel new or fresh again. While it’s a kit-bashed figure, primarily utilizing the 2004 VOTC Boba Fett figure, it also includes the holster/belt combination from 2007’s TAC Animated Debut: Boba Fett (30 24) figure, adding a unique touch. The weaponry, replicated beautifully, is a standout feature. The guns match the weapons Boba Fett holds in the reference materials, a detail we’re thoroughly impressed with. The included cape, adorned with a few blue stars, adds a cool touch to the figure. They replicated the weaponry beautifully, but the prototype costume has no functioning holsters added. The guns that come with the action figure look precisely like the weapons Boba Fett is holding (or hanging from the outfit) from the stills available online. We must admit we’re thoroughly impressed with this attention to detail Hasbro included here. Hasbro tragically omitted the infamous Star Wars beach towel George Lucas and company used for the prototype armor. Some fans wanted to see this detail replicated, but we’re happy with what Hasbro has decided to include here. It isn’t perfect, but you likely will not care. The included cape only has a few blue stars, but it looks fabulous!

The 2004 VOTC Boba Fett is a standout figure, but we’re hopeful that future figures will incorporate more innovative features. In the meantime, this figure will suffice. Simultaneously, we’re resigned that it will age and become obsolete. We gather they are pretty proud of it, as evidenced by Hasbro’s consistent mold reuse. It thankfully doesn’t have a removable helmet (something that old-timers loathe), and it’s loaded with 23 points of articulation and can be situated nearly limitlessly for your posing needs. (There is an extra point of articulation in the movable rangefinder.) It looks good no matter how Hasbro paints it, and it’s been slightly tweaked and carried forward into The Vintage Collection as the Revenge Of The Jedi/Return Of The Jedi Boba Fett (VC09) figure. It’s a sure bet that Hasbro will never tire of making Boba Fett action figures. They truly have mastered the character’s presence in the basic figure line. But we would still like them to go one step further. If they can incorporate ball-jointed hips into the tooling, it will render it pretty close to perfect in our eyes. While we wait to see if this goes down, be sure you send away for it by the deadline. We weren’t initially interested in it, but it’s quickly become one of our favorites of this collector-focused lineup.