CHEWBACCA The Empire Strikes Back
30th Anniversary Collection Commemorative Tin
Item No.: Asst. 87154 No. 87204
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 5 of 6
Includes: Bowcaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99-$29.99
Availability: Fall 2006+
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Constant companion and co-pilot to Han Solo, Chewbacca is left to struggle with the repairs to the Millennium Falcon while Solo risks his life out on the tundra, searching for Luke. (Taken from the figure's inner cardback.)

Image: Adam's toy shelves.

Commentary: This Chewbacca takes the ever-popular "Vintage" version from 2004 and adds a little white on his head (the back), his hands, and his feet, and that's about it. Aside from that, it's basically the same figure as the original release. This is a good thing. Most fans agree-- and this in and of itself should tell you something-- that the Vintage Chewbacca is one of the best Star Wars action figures ever made. The figure has multiple points of articulation in his torso, giving him a grand total of about 15 points of articulation. Rather than sculpt snow clumps like on the 1998 release, Hasbro wisely just added the snow through the painting process. This gives the illusion that parts of the figure were lightly dusted by snow, rather than the unpainted brown clumps in his fur from the 1998 release which gives the illusion of a Wookiee who needs to be potty trained still. As part of a pretty good gift set, this is a nice figure to add to your collection. Since it's the third Hoth-specific version of Han Solo's first mate, you might be able to skip it-- but it is the best version of him with snow, so if you're a picky fan, this is a good one to pick.

Collector's Notes: Packaged with repaints of Han Solo and Luke Skywalker in Hoth outfits along with a retooled Snowtrooper with removable helmet, this Chewie is part of one of the best gift sets Hasbro put out. Assuming, of course, you don't have the original versions of these figures. If you don't have a lot of Hoth figures, you owe it to yourself to score this set and enjoy it to its fullest extent. If you're a fan with dozens, hundreds, or a thousand figures in your collection, odds are these releases may not be new enough to warrant a purchase at full price. The tin boxed set containing these figures started shipping in 2006 and is now being phased out, so you may not see many of them in your adventures at retail.

Day 661: February 26, 2008