Vintage Kenner Boba Fett (1979) :
This figure featured a very nice sculpt for its day. However, it lacked the weathering, articulation, and fine costume details that we take for granted today. It is nice to see the return of this sculpt as a special offer figure of the current 2010 Vintage collection line.
POTF 2 Boba Fett (1995 -various releases):
The Power of the Force 2 line launched a new line of STAR WARS action figures after a re-newed interest in the saga during the mid- 1990’s. This Boba Fett figure was one of the characters that everyone hailed as a “grand improvement” over the vintage Kenner version. I respectfully disagreed.
Yes, there was added detailing and weathering to his costume which was missing before, but to my eyes, this figure was actually a considerable step backward from resembling the on-screen character. At the time, I took to referring to him as “Bulky Fett” since the figure was far too barrel-chested and hulking to resemble the lithe and sleekly-built on-screen character . The figure’s collar armor was so thick and bulky, that he suffered from a sort of “football shoulder pad / no-neck syndrome”
The overall body proportions of this figure were completely off. And in one aspect or another, these mis-matched anatomical proportions have been a problem that have plagued Boba Fett figures right up until the most recent sculpts.
POTJ Boba Fett 300th Figure Special Edition : (2001)
This figure moved a lot closer to Boba Fett’s proper on-screen Episode V appearance. The trouble was, he was a pre-posed figure with a bare minimum amount articulation. I DO have a lot of admiration for the EXCELLENT utility belt sculpt, and the beautifully-detailed wrist gauntlet weapons (the BEST from any Boba Fett Figure) . The backpack was especially nice too (with adjustable rocket nozzels, and removable concussion rocket. Plus the backpack was made from sturdy ABS plastic (versus the soft rubbery PVC plastic of previous releases). This allows the rocket pack’s sculpt details to be much sharper and for the accessory to maintain its shape. I was also VERY happy to see the laser rifle that appeared in The Empire Strikes Back used as this figure’s pack-in (versus the different configuration from Jedi)
Aside from the pre-posing and lack of articulation, I do wish the paint had been more neatly applied in some areas. Also, the basic size proportions and shape of Boba Fett’s helmet were not yet quite correct…
SAGA I Boba Fett Pit of Carkoon (2003)
I thought this version of Fett was a bit too brightly colored in its paint deco… even if it was to represent Fett’s more colorful outfit from Return of the Jedi. The paint was much neater this time around So I really did appreciate that. The figures pper body was still too bulky and the lower extremities were still too small. There was an oddly articulated right knee that looked something like a cabinet hinge. The sculpted plastic side-cape was somewhat inadequate. And the (non-removable) backpack was painted in rainbow colors. Once again, the backpack was molded in sturdy ABS plastic and held its shape nicely.
Overall, I thought this was probably the most anatomically disproportioned Fett since POTF 2!.
On the plus side, (in my view) this figure boasted the neatest, cleanest, and sharpest sculpt of Fett’s helmet. I loved the neatness and razor-sharpness of the clean t-visor. I also thought this helmet was the nicest size we had seen from all previous Fetts . The face of the helmet was virtually perfect, but the shape of the helmet profile was The profile shape was still a bit off (overly narrow at the crown and wide at the base). The flip-down rangefinder was too soft and warped its shape too easily.
Vintage Original Trilogy Collection Boba Fett: (2004)
Kudos for first super-articulated Fett we have ever had. Once again, this figure represented the more colorful Episode VI costume design. I’m sorry to say the body proportions sculpt continued to suffer: The upper body was still far too bulky… arms and hands were oversized ! Shoulder and elbow ball joints were bulbous. Lower body (pelvis and legs) were proportionately very undersized, and the legs were proportionately too short. The helmet sculpt took a step backward in terms of shape accuracy and sculpt sharpness (not nearly as sharp a sculpt as SAGA I helmet , and the helmet profile was even more incorrect than before).
Admittedly, the presentation of soft-goods cape was very nice this time around (beautifully deco’ed and cleanly folded for the perfect drape upon the figure). The backpack went back to being soft rubbery plastic, with no working/moving parts. This was a disappointment and a surprise, especially in lieu of the fact that Boba actually employed the use of his rocket pack in Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.
This figure featured some very nice, clean, smooth sculpts of the torso and crotch armor sections.
SAGA 2 Boba Fett Battle of Carkoon: (2006)
This Hasbro kit-bash combined the over-sized, awkwardly-posed upper body of the SAGA I “Pit of Carkoon” figure with the under-sized, un-even, overly wide-stanced legs of the VOTC Fett.
The result was a somewhat un-balanced (looking AND standing) figure.
Legacy Evolutions / 2010 Vintage Collection Boba Fett
This most recent action figure of Boba Fett presents the bounty hunter’s costume in the colors and details as they appeared in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.
While the big bulbous shoulders from the VOTC Fett have been reduced, the over-sized elbow joints are still a problem. “Gorilla’ arms and hands are still oversized. Narrow stance of the figure is inappropriate, making the character seem even more top-heavy and awkwardly off balance (like if he could easily topple over).
There is an undersized Boba head sculpt underneath a removable helmet. The Ironic thing about this head sculpt is the fact that despite how anatomically under-sized it is, it still too large for the undersized helmet. In fact, the nose of this head sculpt actually bulges through the soft helmet when worn, warping its shape terribly. Rangefinder articulation offered in previous helmets has been taken away here.
The Rocketpack has lost all of the articulated parts from previous Fett backpack releases (like removable rocket cone, or adjustable rocket nozzels).
The paint and sculpt of this figure seem a bit sloppy to me (flash plastic and mold release evident on inner gauntlets and arms. Shoulder armor is warped (giving this figure the football shoulder pad syndrome again. The braided wookie scalps molded to the shoulder armor is a feature left over from the POTF 2 days. And it has GOT… TO… GO!!! The torso armor plates actually look roughly sculpted… not smooth at all.
The soft goods side cape is far too long and made of a fabric that is heavier than it should be.
On the plus side: This figure offers a decent sculpt of the utility belt side pouches, and the pants pockets . The Laser rifle pack-in (re-used sculpt from POTJ Fett ) is a welcome return. It is now detailed with more paint AND it is actually molded to be sturdier than before. With some minimal tweaks, it can be worked into an accurate representation of the rifle seen on screen.