Original Review by Chris, 10/15/14

I’m not a huge fan of highly scene specific figures unless that figure represents a particularly iconic scene, is part of a legitimate wardrobe change or can be “deconfigured” to represent a generic version of the character.  The Black Series Bepsin confrontation Darth Vader is a good example of the latter.  It can be set up to deflect Solo’s flurry of blaster bolts or can be displayed more neutrally by virtue of an interchangeable hand.  Tweaking the wardrobe accessories on an existing figure (or kitbash) to eek out a cheap re-release of a core character wearies me.  That is where I found myself with this Han Solo figure.  I have never felt enthusiasm for it, and it’s dated articulation has only lessened my appreciation of it.

I don’t get the value of a Millennium Falcon gunner Han Solo figure period.  It makes no sense outside of the context of a Millennium Falcon vehicle.  Is anyone compelled to display this on a shelf absent of the vehicle?  But if displayed in it’s proper setting manning the Faclon’s quad lasers, it’s out of view.  What value could this have to a collection? This figure was re-released as a pack-in with the Legacy Collection “Big” Millennium Falcon which I could actually understand, if it were a good figure, but it’s not.  Rather than re-release the fan favorite VOTC Han Solo, Hasbro essentially detuned it by creating new tooling to eliminate the ankles and replace the ball jointed elbows with swivel ones.  Tooling must be really cheap or ball joints must be really expensive to explain this one.  The swivel joints are highly frustrating because the only effective post seems to be thrusting the elbows straight out as if Solo were doing a Vaudeville dance.  Granted I can almost guarantee that slapstick happy Harrison Ford did that on set, but where’s the on-screen support for it, Hasbro?

As alluded to in the open, there are no options to configure this figure as a generic smuggler outfit Han Solo.  The headset and its tether are permanently sculpted to the head of the figure.  The tether is detachable from the back of the belt, but why?  What good does that do when you can’t likewise removed the headset from Solo’s cranium?  It would only make sense if at some point this figure was intended to come with swappable heads which would have added some decent display value even if you were stuck with a gloved Solo figure.  At least then you could display the figure (drum role) OUTSIDE the Falcon as he defends her against baseless “piece of junk” accusations.  Sadly the only legit usage for this figure is tucked in the dark recesses of either Falcon release.

One final gripe is that the DL-44 blaster can only be balanced in the figure’s right hand.  In no way, shape or form does the figure “grip” the accessory.  There is enough atmospheric disruption from blinking your eye to cause the blaster to tumble from the figure’s hand, but at least it can be holstered.  Once again the maddening genius of the included collector coir rears its ugly head as that is the only compelling reason to have purchased this figure ever let alone today.  5 out of 10.

Updated Review by Bret 9/6/19

While I agree with Chris re: the dated articulation (which made this figure subpar even upon release, let alone today), I strongly disagree on the usefulness of the figure.  While a dual purpose, or “two-for” figure (like the Bespin Vader Chris mentioned, or the sandstorm Lando) would be preferable, I still enjoy scene specific figures.  Han wore this outfit, with the gloves and the headset, in the film during an iconic scene, so he should exist.  Sure, hiding it in its “proper” place in the gunner seat inside your Millennium Falcon vehicle would sound pointless, you can still display him in that tried and true Falcon Gunner Station from POTF2.  But even if the figure had no context, it’s still cool that it exists.  That argument doesn’t work for recent ST figures (or any Disney media sourced figure, actually), because there are almost companion figures, let alone vehicles or set pieces, that have been made for collectors.  So essentially, almost all figures from these sources pretty much just stand around uselessly.  But as an OT main character with a specific look, this Han Solo figure definitely should have been made.  It’s just too bad it’s a fairly poor figure.  Nevertheless, you can still display him in his gunner seat.  Probably no upgrade is necessary, unless, to Chris’s point, a basic ANH Han Solo is made soon, and it could come with a headset accessory and switch out gloved hands.  That would be awesome.  I’m going to leave the score at a 5, even though I feel better about the figure than Chris did.