Chewbacca/Han Solo - TAC - Comic Packs (No. 04)

Collectors starting chomping at the bit when Hasbro announced the Chewbacca/Han Solo Comic Packs set based on Marvel Comics’ Star Wars #2 comic book. We really didn’t care much that we were getting action figures in funky colors, but because we got one step closer to a movie accurate version of Han Solo in stormtrooper disguise. (Editor’s Note: The Legacy Collection brought collectors this figure finally in 2009 as BD 31.) And while the first pressings of this Comic Packs set had Han Solo donning blue stormtrooper armor, Hasbro cleaned it up with subsequent releases almost making it movie accurate. (But the helmet still came with red details just pushing out of definitive status. So close!) The two-pack is nothing to rave about that much. Any pairing of Han Solo and Chewbacca are ultimately cool, but Hasbro seemingly thought they could squeak by an older 2001 figure and make it modern. Unfortunately it didn’t really work this way. This Comic Packs set has its moments, but you’ll likely only be interested in 50% of it 50% of the time, if you catch our drift.

Hasbro dug out the 2001 POTJ Chewbacca (Millennium Falcon Mechanic) and tried to make it fit in the 30 (77-07) line. (Interestingly Hasbro etched a 2005 date stamp on the bottom of his foot.) Still, it fails terribly. Not only is Chewbacca much too lanky, he comes with extremely limited and prepositioned articulation that does nothing for the figure at all. The legs are sculpted in a “foot forward” motion and makes balancing it quite a task. And we’re not even certain that Hasbro nailed the color of Chewy’s fur from the comics onto the action figure with much accuracy at all. Chewbacca in Marvel Comics’ Star Wars series is very bulky and looks more like a sasquatch than a Wookiee. So a super tall and thin interpretation of him for this Comic Packs set just doesn’t really work that well. Despite the figure not being terrific, we can appreciate the paint job Hasbro has given it. There are multiple shades of brown and tan and it appears if Hasbro gave it a nice final wash as well. But it’s wasted on this sculpt. Great paint jobs can certainly enhance any action figure, but who really wants an action figure with this limited articulation.

Han Solo is actually quite good for an action figure. He feels a bit too short for a smuggler in stormtrooper disguise, but Hasbro used some of their best catalogue parts to bring us a well constructed kit-bashed figure. Unfortunately, they're not entirely compatible with each other. He borrows parts from 2004’s VOTC Han Solo and Stormtrooper figures and the legs from 2006’s TSC Sandtrooper (SAGA 037) figure with a newly revised torso. The figure is loaded with premium ball-jointed articulation which should elate collectors of all types. The ball-jointed torso is a little loose on our sample and it is sometimes hard to get Han Solo to stay in an upright and erect position. The legs from the 2006 TSC Sandtrooper (SAGA 037) figure are positioned much too closely together, so the included ball-jointed knees and swivel hips are nearly rendered useless as a result. And one last issue we take with the figure is that his hands are sculpted in a way where it’s very difficult to insert/place a weapon in them. Still, it’s wonderful to have an updated version of Han Solo in stormtrooper disguise. This set is a deal as far as cost goes, but you may want to wait until Han Solo comes by himself. (Editor's Note: Special thanks to Jayson Krebsbach from Yakface.com for the reference images. Editing by Jedi Temple Archives.)