Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,584: Han Solo (Mimban, The Black Series 6-Inch)

HAN SOLO (Mimban)
The Force Awakens The Black Series 6-Inch Figure
Item No.: Asst. B3834 No. E4069
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #78
Includes: Cape, helmet, goggles, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: March 2019
Appearances: Solo: A Star Wars Story

Bio: After getting kicked out of the Imperial Academy, Han Solo found himself dumped on Mimban as a mudtrooper.  While there, Han met an Imperial prisoner named Chewbacca in an encounter that would change his life. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  I am kind of amazed by how good the Solo: A Star Wars story figures mostly were.   None of them (save of the 3 3/4-inch Han heads) seemed particularly off, and this particular Han Solo - most likely just my sample - has a bum elbow.  I can't get the right elbow to bend.  I'm not crazy about that, but assuming it's just mine?  This is a very nice figure. I'm kind of amazed we got this figure given how most movies are ignored a year after their theatrical release, and I'm probably going to try to do some surgery on that elbow to see if it helps.  Hasbro did a great job with this one, and so far it seems to be one of their better overall figures from the new movies.  You get great paint, an awesome costume, a wonderful and almost eerie likeness, plus tons of removable costume elements.  Short of two bending elbows, what else could you ask for?

I like how Hasbro made it so it can do double duty as Han or a generic trooper.  The head looks a lot more like Alden Ehrenreich thanks to the face paint,  which looks darker but not dirtier.   The armor is covered in grime, with painted gloves and beat-up armor.  Articulation is more or less par for the course, and you can even have him pulling down his removable mask.

As accessories go, this one is bonkers.  The figure's armor has hose hook-ups for the face mask. You can put his helmet on, and the goggles can be on the helmet or over the eyes.  The blaster looks great too, but there's no holster or anything special for it.  On top of all of that, the cape can drape over buckles on the shoulders. 

Obviously, get one or two if you have the chance.  It's a nice trooper figure and I don't know if Hasbro will crank out repaints or not.  I hope they give it some thought. 

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.  

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,584: May 9, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,547: Han Solo (Mimban, Solo: A Star Wars Story line look)

HAN SOLO Mimban
Solo: A Star Wars Story Force Link 2.0 6-Figure Gift Set - Target Exclusive
Item No.:   No. E2827 (also sold later individually as Asst. E0323 No. E2772
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, cape, mask, 5 more figures
Action Feature: Most of Han's head gear is removable. Don't lose it.
Retail: $44.99
Availability: September 2018
Appearances: Solo: A Star Wars Story

Bio: From gleaming cities to the muddy terrain of Mimban, Imperial forces protect and serve the Empire.  Their versatile training and equipment allows for them to be employed in a wide variety of environments against Rebel forces and others disloyal to the aims of the Empire.   (Taken from the set's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  While the single-carded figure is shortpacked, Han Solo (Mimban) hit Target stores as part of a 6-pack first.  Unless you are a packaging completist, this might save you some hassle.   The figure is pretty much the same as the Mudtrooper [FOTD #2,532] with some different deco and less glue.  This version of Han has 7 points of articulation, as Hasbro gave him wrists to best use his blaster.  The blaster is also slightly different - there's an added grip on the front of it.  It's a different mold!

With the same armor as before, let's pay attention to the head.  Those goggles can be moved up or removed, and you can pull down the breathing mask.   This lets you see Han underneath, or you can keep him wrapped up to use as a generic trooper - it's nice to have options.    Han has a red band on his arm to indicate his rank, but is otherwise visually very similar to the unnamed Mimban Stormtrooper from the boxed set.   He stands, he can hold his gun, and he looks pretty good.  For fans of Imperial stuff, you're going to want this.

While he doesn't look much like Alden, he looks a lot like a trooper.  That has to count for something. I assume he'll be in decent demand since the single figure is shortpacked, and the boxed set is in pretty ample supply thanks to it not being cheap.   I'd recommend this one if you liked the movie or Imperial stuff, or you could just get the Glyos DSG STS Commando.  Heck, get one of those too.


Force Link 2.0 Notes: "Han Solo reporting for duty!"   "Weapons locked and loaded."  "Let's give these guys some blaster fire!"  "C'mon, let's get moving!"  "Aaaaagh!"  Blaster sounds. The voice is a pretty bad soundalike.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Target.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,547: January 1, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,532: Stormtrooper (Mimban, a.k.a. Mudtrooper, Solo: A Star Wars Story line look)

STORMTROOPER (Mimban)
Solo: A Star Wars Story Force Link 2.0 6-Figure Gift Set - Target Exclusive
Item No.:   No. E2827
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, 5 more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $44.99
Availability: September 2018
Appearances: Solo: A Star Wars Story

Bio: From gleaming cities to the muddy terrain of Mimban, Imperial forces protect and serve the Empire.  Their versatile training and equipment allows for them to be employed in a wide variety of environments against Rebel forces and others disloyal to the aims of the Empire.   (Taken from the set's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  I know it can be hard to advocate for paying full price on an expensive exclusive, but with Solo Hasbro has done a pretty swell job. Most of the toys are smart reused of molds, with unique deco and tiny changes that make re-buying another trooper somewhat interesting.  Hasbro is getting a fair amount of use out of this Mimban Stormtrooper, which is also Han Solo in this set and will be sold as Han Solo individually later.   The deco is different, and the helmet is glued down so you can't see it's Han under the barely-different mask.  The shoulder band rank marks are different, but they're two spins on the same tooling that are different enough to be worthwhile.

The head under the helmet has painted hair, but eyes and other details remain unpainted.  Without a flashlight, you'll probably never notice since the helmet looks nice and is affixed in place.     This "stormtrooper" has no problems standing, sporting 7 points of articulation and a pose that works.  The wrists rotate to better hold the unpainted blaster, and there's mud on the boots.   The armor is similar to General Veers', maintaining a level of continuity between the brass and the soon-to-be-dead cannon fodder by adding the helmet.  It's some poor schmuck who probably isn't going to be doing a whole heck of a lot after he dies face-down in the muck.   Oh, fate.  You are cruel.

The helmet and mask don't seem to be glued down completely straight, which is annoying.  It's a good figure otherwise, with a cape that plugs into the shoulders and a helmet that plugs into the back of the armor.  I like the colors, I like the detail, and it's decent.  You may find more impressive figures with more articulation, but sometimes you get one like this that gets the job done.  Maybe we'll see super-articulated versions later, but Hasbro delivered a pretty good set for a price I would call acceptable.  $7.50 per is slightly better than individual figures, but it's not a bargain - it's certainly good enough.  That seems to be the theme of this set.  Grab it if you can, especially if it's on sale - get two then.

Force Link 2.0 Notes: "Troopers, to me!" (I think.)  "Prepare to engage." "For the glory of the Empire!"  "I need covering fire." Blaster sounds.  The voice is a soundalike of some random dude.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Target.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,532: November 8, 2018