Original Review by Chris: 10/11/2014

The Concept Han Solo is where I admit to getting confused with the state of the script when the sketches and paintings were made. One thing is clear when looking at the group paintings.  At this point in the development of the story, the main protagonist, who would become Luke, is still a female character.  I assume the characters of Luke and Leia are amalgamated into the female Starkiller Hero.  Repeat: “assume.”  Please don’t yell at me if I’m wrong.  Another thing is also apparent when looking at the concept artwork from this point in the script.  Obi-Wan Kenobi is nowhere to be seen.  Just like it seems the Skywalker twins were rolled into the Starkiller character, it likewise seems that at this point, Han Solo was performing double duty and also assuming the responsibilities of old Ben.  If you think my conclusion is entirely based on the inclusion of the lightsaber and the beard, I only have one thing to say:  NO!

For the most part I like this figure.  Despite lacking ankle joints, the wider stance provides enough stability that you can eek out a few action poses by engaging the ball jointed knees.  That wide stance might be a little reminiscent in a bad way of the POTF2 era, but I think it works in this case.  It lends a swashbuckling dynamism to the character which I think is perfect considering that Star Wars is largely a collection of Lucas’ influences, some of which were pop culture.  Surely he culled some inspiration from Alan Swann’s performance in Captain from Tortuga.  I love the accessory count on the figure which includes a blaster, lightsaber hilt and lit lightsaber.  The blaster is stowed in a working holster, but instead of using a peg to secure the hilt to the belt as we see today, there is a rather large clamp on the figure’s belt that receives the hilt. It is perfectly perpendicular with the figure’s leg and could cause the hilt to create an unintended illusion.  I will leave it there.

The cape and chest harness are one solid plastic piece.  I do not like how this particular apparatus works.  The cape is heavy and is not perfectly balanced.  It has a tendency to tip to our right when facing the figure.  Because it is one continuous piece with the chest harness, it forces that piece of equipment to tilt.  Also, when engaging the arms, it can cause the entire piece to rise up off the figure’s shoulders giving the impression that the entire complex is levitating.  Fortunately, you can remove this piece and the detailing and sculpt of the torso are still perfectly viable for display.  Even without ankle articulation and the slight wonkiness of the cape, the Concept Han Solo is still a decent figure.  A soft goods cape and a little more articulation would make it great, but it is what it is, and for me that’s an 8 out of 10.

Updated Review by Chris: 01/15/2020

What idiot wrote that largely glowing review? This figure stinks!  Okay, that’s harsh.  It doesn’t stink, but five plus years down the road, the age of the tooling, or lack thereof, is starting to show.  We live in a wonderful modern world with flying cars and figures that have ball jointed everything.  So not only does the lack of ankles show up even more, but the swivel joints at the hips and wrists seem dated - particularly the hips. That wide stance I gleefully accepted back when the Patriots only had three Super Bowls now seems like a forced posing choice.  No sir, I don’t like that.  The plastic cape is also annoying with its permanently windswept sculpt.  Thank goodness plastic capes aren’t a thing anymore.

What’s that?  Plastic capes are back?!?  KHAAAAAAAAN!

Anywho, the passing years compel me to downgrade this figure to a 7.  I’m calling the figure close enough to definitive for a Concept Han Solo, but what I really mean is “good enough”.  Even though there are things that could be done better today, it would be a waste.  This is the only Concept Han Solo we need.