{"id":25828,"date":"2013-11-17T23:56:22","date_gmt":"2013-11-18T05:56:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=25828"},"modified":"2013-11-17T23:56:57","modified_gmt":"2013-11-18T05:56:57","slug":"star-wars-black-08-han-solo-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.itsalltrue.net\/?p=25828","title":{"rendered":"Star Wars Black #08
Han Solo Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a> I\u2019m still having some camera issues, so my apologies for a couple of the pics not being quite up to standard, but I\u2019m out of time and I\u2019m going to run with them. During Top Ten Week, I snagged the second wave of Star Wars Black Series from BBTS. I\u2019m still conflicted on Star Wars Black as a whole. I enjoy Star Wars, but not to the extent that I need every Tom, Dick, & Greedo adorning my shelves. <\/p>\n

I want to see this line thrive. I love this scale and I want to see just how far Hasbro can take Star Wars at this scale (and maybe G.I. Joe someday\u2026 just sayin\u2019), but I am going to have to draw line. The problem is that I\u2019ve already crisscrossed it so many times with the first eight figures! Take Han Solo as an example. I definitely don\u2019t need multiple Solos. Heck, it even doesn\u2019t make sense if you think about it. Multiple Solos. <\/p>\n

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But which version of Han Solo I would need? This first one is certainly a good choice. Han as we first meet him (well, maybe before we meet him, but hold that thought). I think though, that I\u2019m partial, strangely, to a Bespin Han Solo with the full jacket. But is that something this line will even do? I think that\u2019s the rub with The Black Series. We know roughly a dozen of the figures so far. We don\u2019t know the extent that the line can sprawl. We don\u2019t know how deep into character versions can go (or how deep the collectors want it to; it seems 6\u201d collectors might prefer more characters to more versions).<\/p>\n

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So for now, this is my Han Solo if I want one in six-inch. Fair enough. Luckily, it\u2019s a character with a few flaws, but is overall another solid outing in what\u2019s turning into a great twelfth-scale line. <\/p>\n

From the neck down, the figure has an excellent sculpt. This is New Hope Han Solo and it more or less screams it from every fold, seam, and sculpted stitch. I\u2019ve said it multiple times, but Hasbro has really learned from their time with Marvel Legends. It\u2019s made Star Wars Black a line that is knocking figures out of the park right out of the gate. Aesthetically, this is an iconic figure, no doubt. <\/p>\n

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Now, it\u2019s not quite perfect and that\u2019s mostly above the shoulders. The neck is just a tad too tall and that\u2019s going to bother different collectors to varying degrees. It bothers me quite a bit, but I think it\u2019s largely because everything else is down so well \u2013 it\u2019s like missing a touchdown by inches or arriving just a few minutes too late. I take stock in all they got right, but they\u2019re so close to getting it all right, that I\u2019m getting hung up. <\/p>\n

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The head sculpt itself is similarly close, but while I have to nitpick the neck as an unfortunate mistake, I can\u2019t really say much about the head sculpt. Harrison Ford is just\u2026 nearly impossible. Even my Hot Toys Indiana Jones \u2013 Hot Toys \u2013 wasn\u2019t quite able to get the likeness. It\u2019s just tough. I\u2019m kinda curious to see if Han Solo returns to the silver screen in new films, and gets a figure, if Gentle Giant can scan Harrison Ford and just nail it, or if even that technology still can\u2019t quite pin him down. Continue to Page 2…<\/a><\/p>\n

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That said, the likeness is at least recognizably Harrison Ford. There are some angles where the likeness perfectly comes into focus which is why I\u2019m not going to knock it for that. It does seem a little too young though. Ford was in his mid-30s for A New Hope and the head sculpt just strikes me as younger, almost like we\u2019re getting a Han figure from a few years before he met up with Luke. <\/p>\n

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The paintwork on the figure is particularly sharp. Most of the figure is molded in the appropriate color, but the paint is used where and needed and Black seems to have a much appreciated high QC consistency when it comes to paint work. The red stripes are sharp as are the belts and buckles. There is a little bit of extra paint on his chest, but it\u2019s negligible. The gloves are a bit fuzzy overall and the only real area where the paint could be considered lacking. <\/p>\n

Articulation is another area where I think Hasbro\u2019s ML experience has paid off. Han has a ball-jointed neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, and inverted ankles, double-hinged knees, and a great \u201cab crunch\u201d with fantastic range. As an example, Han can sit up nicely or slouch if you want him too (now if we just had something for him to sit in\u2026). <\/p>\n

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Another where this Han Solo shines is accessories. Since this is essentially A New Hope Han, Hasbro covered the bases with multiple accessories to pick up a few of Han\u2019s looks from the movies. Most notably, there are the alternate, gloved hands as well as two belts: his classic belt and a Stormtrooper belt. They swap out easy enough (though getting the leg strap on his regular belt around the foot can be tricky) and both contain a holster for the two weapons Han comes packaged with: his traditional blaster and a Stormtrooper blaster. All the pieces are well sculpted and painted where needed, the two guns also perfectly fit in Han\u2019s right hand, right down to the index finger going over the trigger. A nice, and always welcome, touch. <\/p>\n

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Overall, I guess the simplest way to sum up is to say that Star Wars Black is still probably on pace to be a serious contender for line of the year for 2013. The sculpting, articulation, and paint going into each release has been on the high end even if there\u2019s been a hiccup here or there. The truth of it may be that Hasbro could\u2019ve phoned in this line and gotten some praise, but they\u2019re keeping me hooked by doing everything but. The figures are solid (they got me to spend money on Greedo\u2026 I\u2019m still at a loss) and when they come with as many accessories as Han, that\u2019s just icing on the cake. I\u2019m still itching for an ESB Han because I\u2019m weird like that, but the ANH Han presented here will keep me happy until the line (hopefully) reaches that point. <\/p>\n

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For more Star Wars Black reviews, check out our
\n Star Wars Black Collector’s Guide<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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