Figure of the Day: Day 38: Han Solo in Endor Gear

HAN SOLO in Endor Gear
Power of the Force Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 69570 No. 69621; No. 34515
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster Pistol, later releases have a Freeze Frame Action Slide
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99-$5.99 (POTF2); $19.99 (OTC multi-pack)
Availability: Spring 1997-1998; Fall 2004
Appearances: Primarily Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Han Solo commanded a strike force of freedom fighters whose mission it was to sabotage the Imperial shield generator protecting the new Death Star. However, a surprise visit from some of Endor's native Ewoks appears to present an uncalculated setback. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: This one was taken on the Millennium Falcon PC game that Hasbro put out in 1998-- basically, it was a Millennium Falcon playset you put on your PC keyboard.

Commentary: Some figures age gracefully, others do not. This is a "not." When the figure first came out, his typical-for-the-line sculpt and incorrectly colored blue pants were charming, although it took almost a year for the figure to be rereleased with the correct brown pants. The figure can't stand up, has a bad face sculpt, no holster, a goofy pose... there's really not much to say about this one. He's even got the wrong shirt on. It's one of a few instances where the vintage figure from 1984 was actually better, with an (arguably) more accurate sculpt and cloth trenchcoat. A better version of this figure was just released in 2006, with better articulation, the right shirt, a cloth coat, and a working holster. The only reason to buy this figure is to "collect them all" or because it's so cheap at some toy shows, it's essentially free. While great for its time, he's not much to speak of today.

Collector's Notes: Given lots of shots at retail, this figure sold fairly well and isn't really a terrible toy, it's just that as a collector, you're likely discriminating enough to know that Hasbro (then Kenner) can do better and not only have they done better, but they've ran laps around figures like this one. It really shows how far the modern line has come, and why so many newcomers consider the pre-1999 line to be "the old line" while some of us older folks hold that distinction for figures released prior to 1995 exclusively. Aside from the aforementioned pants variant, the figure was released on two unique cardbacks: with, and without a Freeze Frame Action Slide. The slide is not considered to be part of a "complete" figure.

Day 38: June 13, 2006