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Review |
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| Sculpt: |
| Based on early concept design from 1976 of George Lucas' THE STAR WARS script. The most-referenced image for this is the concept painting by Original Trilogy designer Ralph McQuarrie of the "Famous Five"--R2-D2, C-3PO, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and a female version of Luke Skywalker, with Darth Vader's disembodied looming in the background. Early in the scripting process, Lucas had considered switching the genders of hero "Deak Starkiller" and the sister he would rescue from the clutches of the Galactic Empire. While "Deak Starkiller" eventually became Luke Skywalker, the female hero version sort of dissapated. Only the concept sketches by McQuarrie and other artists remains. It's an all-new sculpt, except for the lightsaber: this is recycled from the Concept Luke Skywalker figure. While the oxygen tank is similar in style to the Concept Luke's, it's an all-new sculpt, too. As a 3-D realization of a concept art piece, this sculpt rates an outstanding 9 out of 10. |
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| Paint: |
| As in the original painting, the Starkiller Hero wears a costume of purple and light brown. This is the primary color scheme of the figure. The head is molded in light flesh, with a sandy blonde paint app for the head and eyebrows. The lips are a light red, and the eyes are brown ... even though they're blue in the concept art. The arms are molded in light lavender. The gloved hands are molded the same light flesh as the head, and painted light brown. The torso, pelvis, lower jacket, and legs are molded in light brown. There is a light flesh paint app to the neck. The lower jacket has the belt and holster for the blaster, and these are painted a cocoa brown, with silver decos. The boots, jacket, and gloves have been given a medium brown wash to bring out sculpted details. The flight harness is molded in light brown, then given a medium brown paint app, with a silver paint app to the macro-binoculars and buckles. The helmet is light brown, with silver and white decos. The oxygen tank and mask is molded in light brown, with silver and black paint apps. The lightsaber is molded in translucent blue, with silver and black paint apps. The blaster is molded in black, with no paint apps. A very involved coloring for such a small figure: 9/10. |
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| Articulation: |
| Ball-jointed neck, shoulders, and knees. Planer-cut shoulders, waist, wrists, and hips, with angle-cut elbows. A figure this small might not have easily lent itself to ball-jointed elbows for that extra level of articulation, but it's still highly poseable, and can even use a two-handed grip on its lightsaber: 8.5/10. |
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| Accessories: |
| Starkiller Hero comes with a lightsaber with removable blade, a blaster pistol, removable helmet, removable air tank, removable flight vest, and a collectible coin: 9/10. |
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| Packaging: |
| The Thirtieth Anniversary Collection card is basically rectangular, but with several die cut wedges that make it the most serious departure from the basic card design in the modern line. The McQuarrie Signature Series card art features light blue accents and lettering on the front and on the card insert, with the art that inspired the figure enclosed on the front. The reverse of the card features a portrait of Mr. McQuarrie, with text explaining his pivotal role in realizing STAR WARS creator George Lucas' unique characters. The collection number and figure's name are also on the card insert ("Starkiller Hero" being #37): 9/10. |
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| Availability: |
| As of this writing, the figure has been appearing at retail for over three months. It sold out instantly on initial release, and still is a huge seller with collectors. Finding these on the pegs at retail remains a rarity. It's also available at most online sources, although it sells out quickly there, too: 7.5/10. |
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| Conclusion: |
| Starkiller Hero is the 30th Anniversary Collection main line's answer to the exclusive Concept Luke. Many fans, though, see it more as a sort-of Concept Princess Leia. As nicely sculpted as it is, and loaded with accessories, there's little room for complaint (other than its scarcity, of course): 8.7/10. |
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