Hasbro
Released February 2004
Reviewed by Adam Pawlus
Photography by Michael Sullenger
Reviewed on April 9, 2004
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There hasn't been an Imperial pilot in the regular assortments since the 1996 edition that stopped shipping in 1998. As such, I was happy to see the TIE Fighter Pilot (Battle of Yavin) with tons of new articulation, the smaller gun, and a brand new sculpt.

This pilot is made from completely new parts, but uses an existing gun and stand.

Sculpt/Articulation/Gimmicks/Paint

The original versions was so good, Hasbro used it with their exclusive TIE Bomber, TIE Interceptor, and TIE Fighter vehicles, but with new legs. Now that we have an all-new figure, we finally see what they're capable of doing with modern techniques when they put their minds to it.

Sometimes Hasbro can really surprise you, and with a figure like this, they have to. How can you improve on one of the best sculpts from the early days of the line? By making it a bazillion times better, of course!



I figured the helmet would be the most difficult part to revise, but apparently I was wrong. Dark red lenses, a band new sculpt with flexible hoses, and cleanly painted silver Imperial emblems make this the finest Imperial troop builder from Hasbro yet. The glossy finish really makes it look fantastic, and it's really hard to say much about it other than Hasbro probably decided to make a pilot so good, they'd never have an excuse to revise it down the road.

The sculpt is great. There are so many creases and folds in the uniform that the articulation melts right into the design, making those joints invisible from a very short distance. Some designs are better at hiding their joints than others, and this is definitely one of those that knows how to mask them. You can move the figure at the neck, shoulders, wrists, right elbow, hips, waist, and knees. The right arm can be moved so it can be straight or bent, although it does look a little funny when it's straight. The left arm looks like it should have a cut joint in the elbow from the front, but it doesn't. For those keeping track, the figure sports 11 joints.

The paint job for the figure is well done, but how can it not be? Being almsot entirely black with a few glossy spots, some silver accents, and a couple of switches, anything short of perfection would be a smear on Hasbro's ability to decorate a toy. Thankfully, our sample was as near-perfect as they come, and all the colors pop out on the black figure while not being too showy. If Hasbro ever makes a better version of this figure, I'll be amazed.

Accessories

This set includes a base and a gun.

The base is nothing new, so you know what to expect from the gunmetal grey rectangle with the Star Wars logo stamped on it. You probably have one or several. They're nice.

The gun is the same "new" gun we've seen since 2001 but cast in black plastic. It looks appropriate for the figure's scale, and suits him perfectly.

Packaging

For 2004, the late-2003 revision is still being employed. More of the same, folks.

Availability

Figure distribution in 2004 is random and spotty, but I've seen this figure around a few times. Keep your eyes peeled and you should be able to get one in no time.

Fin

It's hard to really amp up a figure like the TIE Pilot because it's a guy in a black suit and a helmet. Thankfully, Hasbro realized this and pulled out all the stops when making a new one. There's really nothing to dislike here aside from the fact both elbows aren't jointed, and that's being nitpicky. The design is sure to please fans of Imperial figures the world over. All you need now is a TIE Fighter for him, and at least one is coming later this year. If you believe the rumors, as many as three could be on the way, though.

Our regular sample was obtained from Entertainment Earth in March 2004.