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

Original Review:  Chris -10/29/2011 08:18 PM

Not reviewed at time of publication.

Updated Review: Chris / Verdict: Bret - 7/31/2018 07:05 AM

Editor’s Note:  This review is a slightly edited version of the review which was done for the re-released figure in the Walmart Black Series line

Hasbro has never made a prototype Boba Fett.  Not an accurate one that is.  For this mail away 3.75” figure, as well as the Walgreen’s Exclusive Black Series 6” figures, Hasbro decided to reuse the tooling from existing movie-based Boba Fett figures.  In the case of the 6” figure, it’s a straight repaint. Well, that’s not right!  There are some differences between the prototype and movie costumes. 

Ben Burtt introduces Boba Fett.

Let’s take a rundown of where this figure is not accurate to the true prototype armor.  First, Boba Fett’s iconic helmet dent is not present on the prototype helmet.  This was added later.  Next, the wookiee scalps were not present at this stage in the costume design (but were intended to be added).  Finally, the pistol with the shoulder stock was attached to the costume via a sling, and not a holster.  This is a case where we can forgive Hasbro for taking a degree of toyetic artistic license.  The holster makes for a better toy.  The last difference is a bit of a nitpick.  In Ben Burtt’s Boba Fett introduction video, the stabilizer fins on the rocket (then a grappling device) were in the up position, so that is thought of as another unique identifier for this armor.  But since those fins do retract, this figure cannot be criticized as inaccurate in this case.  The fins are just in the down position.  Sideshow Toys did release a truly accurate Prototype Armor Boba Fett.  If can be seen here in Jedi Temple Archives’ review.

This figure is largely based on 2004’s VOTC Episode VI Boba Fett.  Aside from the above mentioned discrepancies, that sculpt is fairly accurate to the source.  The lower torso was re-tooled to replicate the belts and pouches of the prototype armor, and to add the inaccurate, but more functional holster.  That VOTC sculpt was a revelation in 2004, and it is still perfectly passable thirteen years later.  It’s amazing that some of those VOTC figures remain definitive to this date.  The legs are still a great example of usable articulation with easily engageable ball joints at the knees and ankles. The ankles have some of the best range of motion we’ve seen at this scale without being “rocker” ankles.  The arms are somewhat limited, but it may be a case of form being prioritized over function.  The large, blocky gauntlets are inherently limiting as they get in the way.  The separately sculpted hoses running from the figure’s right gauntlet to the right upper arm are an amazing detail, but do limit the functionality somewhat.  The figure employs upper forearm swivels meaning that the hoses need to rotate as the right forearm rotates.  The attachment point on the upper arm is a separate piece which can indeed rotate in concert with the lower arm, but when the elbow is bent, it appears to limit this movement.  It almost feels like a degree of over engineering for the time.  If the gauntlet and upper arm attachment were fixed, and the wrist swiveled instead, it would offer better functionality without sacrificing aesthetic.  I’m sure Hasbro will go back to the Episode VI Boba Fett source at some point, so this would be a great area of improvement. 

The articulated range finder is perhaps one of the neatest aspects of the figure (thanks to it inheriting that feature from its 2004 ancestor).  It can be be lowered in front of the iconic t-visor as is demonstrated in the introduction video (embedded below).  Unlike previous releases, the range finder on this sample appeared to use a more rubbery plastic.  As a result it appears to curve and bend around the helmet in the up position.  It can be bent back to a perfectly straight alignment, but my sample tends to revert to have a slight curve.  Overall, this is still a very nice figure.  I’d personally prefer to live with the inaccuracies detailed above rather than have Hasbro invest any more tooling dollars in perfecting this off-screen version of Fett.  As the figure was originally sculpted to interact with the BlasTech EE-3 accessory, it doesn’t really interact perfectly with the included smaller side arms, but they are accurate to the costume.  All of this sums to a standard super articulated score of 7 out of 10.  The biggest problem with this Prototype Armor Boba Fett figure is that Hasbro insisted on making access somewhat difficult, as it was released as a mail-away figure, and stirred some controversy because it was a numbered main line figure, rather than separatley identified.

Verdict: No Action 

Can the sculpt be improved upon?  Sure.  Do we need it?  No.  This is a figure that we’ll have to classify as definitive because it’s good enough and literally NOBODY wants an updated sculpt.  Ebay values are only inflated for the carded version given the mail away aspect.  Loose samples of both this version and the basically identical Walmart Black Series repack can be had for nearly the original retail price.  We should be happy we have this character at all.  It’s a novelty, and there is never any need for Hasbro to do anything further.

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.