Jabbas’s Palace (With Han Solo In Carbonite) - POTF2 [FB/CT] - 3-D Display Dioramas

As one of a species known to live for atleast one thousand years, Jabba the Hutt had plenty of time to build up his ill-gotten empire. No other crime lord lived in such luxurious, palatial surroundings, where his every need was immediately attended to by members of his court and a large collection of slaves. The repulsive, slug-like Hutt had his fingers in just about every unseemly activity known, from elaborate smuggling operations to his early days on Tatooine when gambling on Podraces was as big as the sport itself.

The 3-D Display Diorama sets were a welcomed inclusion to The Power Of The Force “2” [FlashBack/CommTech] in the late nineties. The Cantina At Mos Eisley (With Sandtrooper & Patrol Droid) set was a “repaint” of the mail-away version released a year prior. But when it came to the Jabba’s Palace (With Han Solo In Carbonite) set, Hasbro provided collectors with an all-new playset that was never-before-released. If there are two perfect environments which to pose a plethora of aliens and space pirates, it’s Chalmun’s Cantina and Jabba’s Palace. The fact that Hasbro decided to create an equal counterpart to the Cantina At Mos Eisley for Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi is a wonderful gift to collectors. It’s important to note that the Jabba’s Palace (With Han Solo In Carbonite) is much more challenging to assemble than the Cantina At Mos Eisley (With Sandtrooper & Patrol Droid) set. There are multiple pieces to attach to the main base, like a two-part dais for a Jabba The Hutt figure (which wasn’t available at the time of this playset’s release). The staircase to the platform where the Han Solo In Carbonite goes is also wonky. It isn’t easy to get the creases of the stairs so that they display correctly. And then there is a central tower that also doesn’t want to stay fully open when assembled. All of these uncooperative parts work against an ideal display of this playset.

The Jabba’s Palace (With Han Solo In Carbonite) 3-D Display Diorama features important details to Jabba’s lair. The staircase and platform to Jabba’s favorite decoration are to the far left. Hasbro added the mounted creature heads on the wall, but their lack of three-dimension makes them feel flat and out of place. Still, the detail around where the carbonite block hangs is quite movie-accurate. Down the stairs is an alcove that we’re not too sure what it’s supposed to represent. Perhaps it’s only meant to represent the stairwell from the outside to the main floor of Jabba’s Palace. But it’s a little confusing because it feels like a separate piece instead of a doorway into where Jabba’s retinue hangs out. Next to that is Jabba The Hutt’s dais. Behind the dais are a grill and additional scenery, as seen in the film. There are two windows there that show the red sunset sky in the background. It’s a colorful and adds brightness to an otherwise dark display. The last feature we find interesting is the inclusion of the grated floor, which features a furious rancor beast. It might have been better if Hasbro didn’t attempt to include “characters” in this 3-D Display Diorama. They don’t work well in an environmental display that does it most to appear three-dimensional. Two-dimensional drawings of living things don’t work too well here.

Like the Cantina A Mos Eisley (With Sandtrooper & Patrol Droid) 3-D Display Diorama, the Jabba’s Palace (With Han Solo In Carbonite) set comes with an exclusive (and unique) pack-in action figure. The Han Solo In Carbonite figure here is an outside-of-the-box departure for Hasbro. We’re quite impressed that they thought of this concept to include with this playset. Instead of the standard version we received in the past, like 1985’s POTF Han Solo (In Carbonite Chamber) and 1996’s POTF2 [R/G] Han Solo (In Carbonite Block) figures, this time we receive a “thawed” version of the character. The carbonite block features Han Solo’s indentation, while the action figure comes with a “wet head” appearance and a pair of binders (which aren’t screen-accurate for Return Of The Jedi). A kit-bashed figure, Han Solo In Carbonite utilizes the legs of the 1996 figure, but the rest of is all-new parts. Also unusual for this action figure is the inclusion of two additional points of articulation in the elbows. This extra movement allows you to bring the figure’s arms closer together to utilize the binders, and it works for posing the arms in the front or back of the figure. Admittedly, it’s a great interpretation of the on-screen character. Although imperfect, it may be the best Han Solo In Carbonite figure up to this point in the line. Retailing for $18.99, the price is high, but the display results are astounding.