Darth Vader has been unleashed. 

He’s been Unleashed before (note the capital ‘U’).  Starting in 2002, Hasbro released a series of what were essentially 7 inch statues.  They were sculpted in dynamic action poses that “unleashed” the essence of the character.  The reason these were done as statues is because coaxing that much expression out of the poseable action figure line, which then was almost exclusively the 3.75” scale for Star Wars, simply could not be done.  Fast forward to 2022, and Hasbro said, “DON’T TELL ME WHAT I CAN’T DO!”  There is never again a need for statuary when poseable action figures are this well articulated and capable of seemingly endless dynamic poses.

The notion of anyone calling something “important” with respect to an adult collectible makes me want to throw up in my mouth a bit.  Collecting in the pop culture realm is the most unimportant, trivial of pastimes.  Sure it’s fun, and we are exceedingly passionate about it, but it is of no great import.  Needless to say, I’m setting you up for the flip.  This is an important figure.  Emperor Palpatine was the uber villain manipulating the chess board throughout the entire Skywalker Saga.  Luke was the hero.  But Vader IS Star Wars. He is the franchise’s most valuable character, which is why Lucasfilm seems to never stray too far away.  When the modern line was relaunched in 1995, it was done so with Vader’s portrait in the upper left of every single card.  Despite this, it’s been nine years since the last time there was a 100% newly tooled Darth Vader, and that figure has essentially been forgotten (you can see the gallery HERE and the re-release HERE).  It was critical that, after all this time, Hasbro completely nailed this release.  And they absolutely did.

I could have honestly gone on forever posing and photographing this figure, and part of me feels that I cut the process short.  There’s an expression in my line of business that goes, “sometimes you have to shoot the developer to get the software out the door.”  Well, I had to metaphorically shoot the photographer in this instance, so I could get the review published.  If I didn’t, this gallery would be 500 images long and released some time around Christmas (note:  at the time of this publication, it’s July).  Still, I feel bad that I left some poses on the table.  This figure can do more than what is shown above.  It’s not just that it has every speck of modern articulation to include rocker ankles and the new “G.I. Joe” style hips, but also how effortlessly and unencumbered that articulation works.  I was a little worried by the fact that the shoulders are now under the upper chest armor.  I thought this would impeded the range of motion of the arms upwards, but that armor is made of pliable and easily movable plastic.  I just wouldn’t leave the figure posed with its arms above its head because I fear the bend of the plastic would become permanent.

Perhaps the most impactful point of articulation is the barbell neck joint.  With the exception of the aforementioned 2013 sculpt, Vader figures have been saddled with swivel necks.  So much expression of the character comes from the angle of the head, especially when Vader is towering over someone and tilts his head downward.  Those posing options have finally been unlocked for the Sith Lord, but the expressiveness does not end with the articulation.  A pair of swappable hands have also been included.  This takes the figure totally over the top.  The left hand can be swapped for a balled up fist which can be waved menacingly, or tucked into the figure’s hip as Vader is wont to do in the films.  I’m not sure what the intent of the secondary right hand is.  I can’t tell if it’s a Force choke hand or a pointing hand.  It works well for the latter, and I am as thrilled that this Dark Times Vader can strike the pose seen in image 21 above as I am all the dueling poses.

It should be noted that the base hands are both sculpted to grip the saber, and this is any Vader figure’s first job.  Vader must be able to engage in a two-handed-weapon-grip, or hold the saber in either hand.  With any saber-dueling figure, the baseline should be hands that are sculpted to grip the hilt.  Alternately sculpted hands on the duelists should only be done as swappable hands.  If that can’t be costed, stick to the baseline.  This should be the new standard.

This Dark Times Vader is instantly in contention for the best figure in the history of the line.  It is as 10 out of 10 as 10 out of 10 gets.  The modern figures are so incredibly good that is shines an ever harsher light on the fact that the figures we currently have for the four main A New Hope heroes are woefully out of date!  Luke, Leia, Ben and Han should all be upgraded to figures of this quality.  I don’t get what the hold up is.  These sculpts would be a safer bet than the Harlem Globetrotters versus the Washington Generals.  Certainly a safer bet than Mythrol (too soon?).

The only negative thing I can say about this Vader figure is that I wish it was sourced to Episode V/VI.  I pray that Hasbro has plans to retool this to finally, and at long last, give us a definitive Episode V/VI Vader.  Oh, and VC93 is starting to look pretty dated.  New Vaders all around!

The Dark Vader (Dark Times) sample above as well as the featured Obi-Wan Kenobi (Wandering Jedi) and Reva figures were provided by our own Darth Dre.