Editor’s Note:  This review has been updated with our second look at TVC…

Original Review:  Chris - 6/25/10 05:40 PM

When this figure was announced at Toy Fair, my reaction was mixed.  I felt the OTC figure was serviceable and wished the slot were used on a more deserving figure.  I was wrong.  This figure outclasses the OTC figure so badly that I am now angered at the sight of the OTC figure.  As it’s unclear if there is any cannon representation as to what the Cloud Car Pilot uniform should look like, it seems Hasbro had some creative leeway to work with.  They did well.  Once again, clean and crisp paint apps adorn a nicely sculpted figure.  This incarnation also features a working holster that does not look like a mailbox stuck to the figure’s hip.  14 points of articulation are nicely tucked into the sculpt.  Another must-have figure from the Vintage Collection’s inaugural wave.

Updated Review: Bret - 4/4/18. 07:05 AM

While brief, Chris pretty much covered everything in his review above.  The figure’s exact source material is still up for some debate, and since all we saw on screen was the head in the cockpit, there’s not much we can compare the design to.  It’s very 70’s, from the mustache, down to the uniform’s coloring and the pilot’s sneakers.  The figure was pretty much a necessity at the time, since Hasbro was releasing the Cloud Car itself, and the last pilot on the pegs was like a hundred years earlier.  As Chris mentioned, this TVC figure puts the hurt on the previous version, which seemed good at the time.  The only thing that figure has over this one is that it came with a communicator accessory.  While neat, it was tiny, and probably caused several heart attacks among the OCD collector subpopulation.  Actually, while I have no empirical data, I might suspect that the majority of collectors are OCD to some degree.  I used to keep a detailed spreadsheet of all my figures, and whenever I would misplace an accessory or some other piece, my life would grind to a halt until it was recovered.  My OTC pilot actually still has the communicator rubber banded to the figure’s hand.  I will not repeat the Great Hrchek Kal Fas Calamity of Aught Nine. The removable helmet fits nicely, and shows that Hasbro knew how to craft a non-idiot visor 5 years before they reared their banana-like selves in the TFA line.

Verdict:  No Action 

An outstanding figure in its own right, there would seem to be no reason to re-sculpt this figure.  Hasbro went about as far as necessary for the character, making this your definitive version for your collection.  The only thing that could possibly be done as a worthwhile improvement would be an alternate head sculpt, as the mustache makes army building these a bit silly.  The only explanation to give this a pass as an army builder would be that Cloud City mandated that its pilots have mustaches in honor of its suave Baron Administrator. Since the almost complete lack of meaningful appreciation in price on eBay wouldn’t bode well for a repack, it would seem that for now, we’re okay leaving this figure as is.  Hasbro did a great job with this figure, and has earned the right to move on to something else that the fans desire, like Ben Skywalker.

Verdict Guide:
Re-sculpt = The figure is not definitive, and a new version should be developed.
Re-issue = This version is definitive (or close enough), and shows sufficient secondary market demand to warrant a straight repack.
No Action = This release does not require new attention.