Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 445: Bespin Han Solo

Bespin HAN SOLO
Power of the Force Collection 1
Item No.:
Asst. 69570 No. 69719
Number: n/a
Includes: Pistol, Rifle, later a Freeze Frame Action Slide
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Summer 1997
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Lando Calrissian, former owner of the Millennium Falcon, welcomes his old friend and rival Han Solo to Cloud City. Unbeknowst to Solo, Lando is leading the Rebels into an Imperial trap set by Darth Vader. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' computer desk.

Commentary: At the time of his release, people were nuts for Bespin Han Solo, and rightly so-- it was a good figure. Six points of articulation, a slimmed-down, less actiony pose (this is relative to the 1995 figure, of course) and an extra gun were great bonuses for this nicely designed action figure. The detail was on par with the rest of the line, if not slightly better, and significantly better than figures from the previous couple of waves. Of course, in 2007, this doesn't mean much-- it doesn't look a lot like Harrison Ford, it's still a little too beefy, and his legs are a tad too muscular. Still, the figure can sit, and it's obviously Han Solo. Obviously to me, anyway, it's a decent figure but not what you'd call definitive.

Collector's Notes: Bespin Han Solo was released in the same cases as the famous Leia as Jabba's Prisoner, just a few weeks after the Rebel Fleet Trooper-- and what a difference they made! These figures, while primitive by today's standards, were light years ahead of that poor trooper. Han Solo's jacket was black because, according to a source I had at Galoob at the time, Lucasfilm insisted Han Solo wears black. (This is why the MicroMachines and Action Fleet figures from Hoth and Bespin were also black.) The figure was sold for almost a year and a half. A new, improved version came out in Power of the Jedi and a "torture rack" version is coming this Fall.


Day 445: July 25, 2007

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