Darth Vader - SW [S - P3] - Exclusives

More than 25 years after we first saw the Star Destroyer enter the screen at the beginning of A New Hope, Star Wars continues to both inspire and entertain. Much more than just a series of films, Star Wars is a total experience. Essential components of that experience are the toys that we grew (and continue to grow) up with and the sense of community that brings us together to discuss, debate, and share all things Star Wars. It is with respect to the heritage of that experience that Hasbro offers this limited action figure to celebrate the dedication and enthusiasm of the fan community.

May the Force be with you!

Well into their third year, Hasbro tied up the “Silver Saga Edition” special releases with a final Darth Vader figure. A late release, it wasn’t until The Original Trilogy Collection was well into its peak that we saw this figure, a Toys R Us exclusive, finally get released. It was however still meant to represent the “silver” anniversary of Star Wars, and help fill a void that so many collectors felt by missing the obscure and elusive Darth Vader (2002 New York Toy Fair) exclusive. The reason another silver Darth Vader figure was chosen was because of that very reason. Too many collectors missed out on the 2002 release and desperately wanted to complete this sub-line with a silver Darth Vader. This was Hasbro’s answer to that. While approached in a completely different manner, 2004’s Toys R Us exclusive “Silver Saga Edition” Darth Vader figure did help collectors get a silver Darth Vader into their collections a whole lot more easily and cheaply. This was the way to do it, although, many collectors feel that missing out on the first version of Darth Vader was something that was much too painful to experience.

Darth Vader is really a different release altogether. The lightsaber isn’t permanently affixed to his hands. And his cape is removable. It appears to us that Hasbro was going for a true action figure type of release this time around instead of a micro monument or what-have-you. For us, we think this standard approach works out well here. Mostly based on 2000’s POTJ Darth Vader (Dagobah) figure, this time the figure has been give the head from the Darth Vader figure part of 2003’s SW [S - P2] Imperial Forces Toys R Us exclusive multipack which is based off of 2001’s POTJ Darth Vader (Emperor’s Wrath) figure. What sets the Imperial Forces Darth Vader figure apart from the 2001 POTJ Darth Vader (Emperor’s Wrath) figure is that the head sculpt has been retooled and cast in solid plastic (instead of being made up of multiple parts (for the see-through skull effect). This of course is being very technically, but it is accurate as well. The parts have been cobbled together beautifully to make an all-new Darth Vader figure (so to speak) and has been cast in metallic silver colored plastic. It looks shiny. It looks shimmery. And some collectors are going to love it.

Darth Vader was part of a big Fall promotion as the world was celebrating the Original Trilogy on DVD. Toys R Us graciously gave him away for FREE if you bought $19.99 worth of qualified Star Wars products. But Toys R Us marked Darth Vader with an MSRP of $9.99 for those that just wanted to buy him outright instead of worrying about other Star Wars merchandise to purchase as an alternate too. It was also revealed that Hasbro had no more plans for solid silver action figures that this would be the last. So many collectors jumped on board to ensure that they could grab the final figure in the “Silver Saga Edition” series to complete it. Admittedly, Darth Vader looks pretty good. The articulation is of course very limited, but the pose is pretty solid. We have noticed that Hasbro may have even slightly repositioned Darth Vader’s legs a big to allow for a better center of gravity. Maybe that isn’t so true, but the pose of the legs differs significantly from the original 2000 POTJ release. No matter how you feel about this sub-line of exclusive figures, there is no way anyone can criticize Hasbro for doing something special to commemorate the lasting power of Star Wars.