Sorry about the weak sauce content today.  Sometimes weak content is even lamer than no content.  Yesterday I received this Darth Vader figure from Amazon.  The figure is identical to the one that was packed with the Journey of Anakin Skywalker 3-pack last summer.  The only difference is in the packaging.  This is VC385, and it comes on its own cardback.  Unlike its pack-mate Anakin Skywalker sourced to The Clone Wars Microseries, this one is a straight repack with no differences.  That Anakin figure was the same base figure as VC347 Anakin Skywalker, but it included a unique soft goods cape accessory.  The other figure in the set is pre-armored “Darth Vader”, specifically sourced to the World Between Worlds from Ahsoka.  The only difference between that source and the Mustafar source is the telltale red lightsaber.  I would think that a blue-sabered version from the end of ROTS would be coming soon on a cardback, and probably more likely, a non-Sith eyed version of Anakin from earlier in the film as well.  This one seems no different, but it’s a chance for carded collectors, or for those that missed the 3-pack, to acquire this figure.

Below you will find our review of the figure which was published as part of the Journey of Anakin Skywalker set.

[Reprinted text follows.]

This is another figure we’ve basically seen already.  It’s the VC280 Darth Vader (Death Star II) figure, which Chris gave a 9/10.  This figure has an all new helmet, with the translucent armor and skull underneath.  It looks great, and is a little less “icy” than seen in the PR photos.  While it’s specific to a few moments while Vader is grabbing and tossing Palpatine, the helmet sculpt is an improvement over the 3 pieces from VC280 that don’t quite fit perfectly together.

It maintains the lightsaber and hilt accessories, but also includes two Sith lightning effects.  Interestingly, both are just recast from an existing figure, VC115.  This time, the plastic is very light a flexible, but also a lighter shade of blue.  The original effects were a more stiff plastic, and a deeper blue.  I like this version better.

VC280 even had the removable hand, so this feature isn’t new, but it is very well executed.  My only real complaint about the figure is the same one Chris noted for VC280.  The cape is ridiculously large.  They could probably cut about 60% of the fabric, and it might still be too big.  It’s wild and difficult to tame when posing, but if you fold it over itself and tuck the excess under the arms and behind the figure, it could reduce the absurdity factor.

In the gallery, I showed the 4 “Emperor’s Wrath” releases and how they compare in helmet/lightning effects, as well as the removable hand feature.  I think this figure outdoes all of them nicely, and becomes the definitive version that captures this moment.  9/10.