Lando Calrissian (Death Star Attack) - SW [S - P3] - Basic (’04 #21)

After the daring rescue of Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt, Calrissian became a General in the Alliance Forces. He volunteered to spearhead the starfighter attack on the second Death Star while Admiral Ackbar led the capital ships. When the Death Star proved operational, Ackbar was ready to retreat. Instead, Calrissian commanded the Alliance Fleet to engage the Imperial Fleet at point blank range, offering limited protection from the Death Star's massive superlaser weapon. Lando led the starfighters into the station's incomplete superstructure, striking the station's reactor core with a volley of concussion missiles that caused it to explode.

One of the final Kenner figures from the 1985 The Power Of The Force line was Lando Calrissian (General Pilot). It wasn’t until the Freeze Frame phase of the 1998 The Power Of The Force “2” line that Hasbro gave us our first modern update to this character. Just like so many other figures from that era, that particular Lando Calrissian figure suffered from bulky proportions and an exaggerated pose that didn’t resonate well with those who remember buying the 1985 figure in retail over a decade earlier. Hasbro made sure this version of Lando was updated for the Star Wars “Saga” final wave of figures and released it as Lando Calrissian (Death Star Attack). A fitting subtitle, but ultimately ambiguous in the long run, this 2004 iteration of Lando Calrissian (General Pilot) was warmly welcomed by collectors as it was a far cry from the 1998 release with a better likeness, excellent accessories and brilliant features. It’s important to preface this discussion however that while the figure looks great, it’s still limited with versatility and functionality.

Lando Calrissian (Death Star Attack) comes with only seven points of articulation, but the way the figure has been designed makes it feel like the proper amount of articulation has been added. This is a figure, that although typically should fit into the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, where in actuality is a standalone figure where multiple points of articulation is just not needed. Due to the hard plastic sculpt of the cape, you won’t be able to have Lando in a seated position while wearing it and even with the cape off the figure is a little bit too rigid to be functional in this manner. As a collector figure, and looking at it as a figure without “playability”, Lando Calrissian (Death Star Attack) looks pretty darn fantastic. He has a great likeness to Billy Dee Williams and has some added details that given him definition and texture. His bandolier is a separately sculpted piece and is functional in that it houses his blaster pistol when not in use. Both the cape and holster are fitted in nature and hang very closely to Lando’s body, something that is an important detail for us to make an action figure look good.

Lando Calrissian (Death Star Attack) greatest articulation point is his ball-jointed right elbow. And it’s the same arm that has his trigger finger hand in it. Because of this you can make Lando hold the blaster in very believable ways, when most of the rest of him has to remain static due to the limited articulation elsewhere. Overall, Lando Calrissian (Death Star Attack) is a tremendous update to the 1998 figure. Is it definitive? No, it absolutely isn’t. But you can’t fault this figure for how great it looks, especially when you compare it to what we received in the past. Part of the very final wave of the Star Wars “Saga” line, Lando Calrissian (Death Star Attack) is also a release in The Original Trilogy Collection line. As a result, production for this final Star Wars “Saga” wave has been held back and full run will not see release and instead be saved for the OTC line. Expect it to be one a highly sought after figure in the vintage-themed OTC line. Worthy of your consideration, Lando Calrissian (Death Star Attack) is a great sign of things to come in the future.