Editor’s Note:  The Photo Real update review follows the original review.

Original Review:  Chris - 8/2/18 07:05 AM

If you complain about the existence of product in the 5POA mainline, whether they be figures, vehicles or play sets, you will get no support from me.  Those products are not meant for you.  You are not hurt because they exist.  Those products are not in place of something better.  In this day and age, that “something better” lacks brick and mortar viability.  However, when a product is released in the collector line that you have no interest in, complain away.  I have your back.  In that case the product is literally bumping something else out of the way.  When the “Revenge of the Jedi” chase/gimmick cards were announced, all but the Rebel Commando were repacks (or so we thought).  Six of them took up new numbered slots meaning something else was bumped out.  This Han Solo was the most egregious of them since the figure had already been released in the Vintage Saga Collection.  It didn’t check off any collecting boxes. 

But alas, this figure is not a straight repack of that VTSC Han Solo in trench coat figure.  The figure is taken from the Shield Generator Assault Battle Pack and the soft goods trench coat has been updated.  I figured out these differences all on my own.  In no way did I have to consult Paul Harrison’s review of this figure on Jedi Temple Archives to determine that.  In case you count yourself among the 76% of the internet that is sarcasm-immune, the truth is I had no idea that this figure was updated from the 2006 figure at the time of release.  As such I never acquired it when it was in stores.  Bummer.  So do you need it?  That depends.  It’s essentially a much improved head sculpt and a slightly improved trench coat.  The headsculpt much more accurately depicts Harrison Ford, in my opinion, and the camouflage detail on the trench coat is more well-defined.  The camouflage is more vague and subtle on the 2006 release.  I personally find those compelling reasons to seek out this upgrade, especially for the headsculpt.

What about the rest of the figure?  It’s less than ideal.  It’s basically a repaint of 2004’s VOTC Han Solo. Despite what you think, that figure stinks compared to current offerings.  Hasbro had not yet refined the whole holster belt deal 14 years ago, and in order to accommodate it, the figure is rendered with the equivalent of an 18” waist.  This is compounded by a barrel torso.  If the belt is removed, the disparity between the width of the lower body and upper body is comical.  The right hand is in a standard c-grip instead of today’s more familiar floating trigger finger sculpt.  This means that the DL-44 blaster accessory, which is on the small side, cannot have an enclosed trigger guard.  Another aspect that was not yet refined in 2004 is embedding the ball joints into the sculpt.  The knee joints are prominent and easily hyper extend.  This can make posing the figure difficult.  This figure is passable, but earns only 6 out of 10 in 2018.

This figure could be greatly improved with modern articulation, but, for whatever reason, “trench coat” Han never seems to sell well despite the fact this figure represents Han for over half the film.  For that reason Hasbro should not prioritize it.  The figure does carry a moderate premium on the secondary market, but If you need this figure it can be reasonably acquired.  Just make sure to get this improved VC62 version.

Updated Review (For Photo Real release): Chris - 5/18/21 07:05 AM

So there are three significant changes to this figure from the first release.  The first is on the card.  Hasbro, who has been far too closely mimicking the Kenner cards lately, decided to abandon that practice with this figure for reasons unknown.  The Kenner card was Han Solo (in Trench Coat). The Vintage The Saga Collection and original VC62 releases were Han Solo (in Trench Coat).  This Photo Real update is Han Solo (Endor). [insert the “I don’t know” gesture clipart]

The next change is to that trench coat which is no longer acknowledge on the pill. It’s all new.  The material is no longer the natural fabric of the previous two releases. It’s a little like the material you’d find on a wind breaker jacket.  This material miniaturizes better than the natural fabrics of the previous two releases, both in terms of aesthetics and drape. The color and camo pattern are different and more accurate to the source, but with respect to the color, it might be a bit of an overcorrection.  The brown of the previous releases is not accurate. This update is almost a cold putty color, but perhaps it should have retained a little color warmth.  But again, it appears closer to the source than the prior renditions:

The final significant change is with the Photo Real paint applications to the head sculpt.  The eyes are a marked improvement, and much more lifelike, but those lips.  Oh Lord, those lips.  For whatever reason, the paint mask is out of scale with the sculpt of the lips.  They are far too big.  The end result looks exactly like the way Family Guy draws an adult Jonathan Lipnicki:

The bottom line is that if you’re obsessive compulsive like me, you’re going to want this figure for the updated trench coat, and you’ll hunt for one with hopefully better facial paint applications. We need an all new Han Endor though.