Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back - TAC - Commemorative Tin Collection (5 of 6)

Hasbro decided to open up the 30 (77-07) line with six general release Commemorative Tin Collection sets, one from each film, that encased four Star Wars action figures in quasi vintage Kenner packaging. Hasbro thought outside of the box quite a bit for these sets by including more than just straight repacks. Instead, they decided to refresh some of the already produced figures with some enhancements, and they repainted others. Hasbro understood the needs of the collector market strongly. By including more than just “straight repacks” would guarantee more interest than if if they had done the latter. And by retooling, or kit-bashing the figures already made, collectors could easily accept that they were getting something new with their hard earned dollars. In short, this approach guaranteed success. And the Commemorative Tin Collection multipacks were indeed successful. For $24.99, you got four Star Wars action figures, some refreshed in some fashion or another, and a collectors’ tin that housed them all together. Then Hasbro added in some retro-styled packaging (reminiscent of the clearance two-packs by Kenner in the mid eighties) which became the icing on the cake. What we’re trying to say here is that Hasbro produced quite a deal for collectors. There is value for your dollar.

The Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (5 of 6) set continues with the same approach as the others. Contained within it are something old, something new, something borrowed and even something blue, well brown in this case. Snowtrooper may be the most aggressively retooled figure in this set. Hasbro took 2003’s SW Snowtrooper (The Battle Of Hoth) (‘03 #19), retooled the torso so it could accommodate a ball-socket head joint at the neck post. And after adding, you guessed it, a clone head, Hasbro also included a removable Snowtrooper helmet for good measure. The Snowtrooper, actually a Snowtrooper Commander in this instance, has also been completely repainted. It is almost like getting an all-new figure here. Sadly, most collectors are probably looking to army the standard infantry Snowtroopers, so to get another “Snowtrooper Commander” again so soon is probably something that will be a relative letdown. Chewbacca is another figure that will interest collectors. Would you believe Hasbro has sculpted an all-new head for the fantastic 2004 VOTC Chewbacca figure to make it more Episode V specific? It is very close and similar to the VOTC head sculpt, but there are evident differences that exist between them. Chewbacca has also been give a “snowy” wash over his fur, but sadly they left most of the front of him undone.

Luke Skywalker and Han Solo may be the least interesting figures in the Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (5 of 6) set. But there are few things to note. Luke Skywalker is a repaint of 2004’s SW Luke Skywalker (Hoth Attack) (‘04 #03) figure. The battle-damage on the face (the bloody marks) has been removed to give him a pre-Wampa attack appearance, although the embellished cracks in his face from the scars are still notably visible. The rest of the figure has also received paint job updates, but the lack of articulation really doesn’t make this figure that any more enthralling. This was a figure that was meant to interact with an environmental display stand and since that is not included here it feel like Luke Skywalker is lacking a bit. The same goes for Han Solo. He has the least amount of paint operation changes, but he is a slightly different color than the running change "brown coat" figure released as 2003’s SW Han Solo (Hoth Rescue) (‘03 #13) figure. He doesn’t come with the sensor pack, but all of the other accessories from the original release are here. In summation, the Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (5 of 6) set gives us two “new” figures and two repaints. That is more than enough to satisfy our requirements for a purchase. It’s a deal. And to qualify, it’s a great deal.