Chewbacca (McQuarrie Concept) - Mini Busts

Ralph McQuarrie's early designs of Chewbacca display a vast difference from that of the final version as seen in Star Wars: A New Hope. Designed initially as a wide-eyed, fanged creature having pointed ears, this mini bust explores a fascintaing look into the conceptual development of one of the most beloved characters in science fiction history.

As we all celebrated Star Wars’ 30th anniversary in 2007, many licenses decided it would be an appropriate time to introduce toys and collectibles based on the concept art of Ralph McQuarrie. Hasbro took this to an unprecedented level. They actually created a sub-series of specially packaged figures, one per each wave, that celebrated the legendary and timeless work of artist Ralph McQuarrie. What made this even more special was that Ralph McQuarrie himself was involved in the process and Hasbro utilized him as a consultant to make the action figures are best as they could be. They turned out splendidly and they are some of the finest Star Wars action figures our collections have seen to date. After 2007, the focus on the artwork of Ralph McQuarries fizzled quickly. But one license was committed to bring these brilliant concepts to the forefront of Star Wars collecting. That licensee was Gentle Giant Ltd. and the products they made, Star Wars Mini Busts, continued to showcase McQuarrie's flawless visions of the Star Wars universe through his stunning art.

Gentle Giant Ltd. has been fantastic at releasing at least one McQuarrie Concept Mini Bust each calendar year. For 2016, the Chewbacca (McQuarrie Concept) Mini Bust was next in line and we have to say it has instantly become one of our favorites. With so many of the McQuarrie Concept characters donning white outfits with very little transition, they can look bland over time. This doesn’t take away from their awesomeness of course, but sometimes collectors need color to make the hobby enjoyable. The Chewbacca (McQuarrie Concept) Mini Bust brings this color loudly and clearly to collectors. From his brightly colored yellow eyes to his rich brown fur, the Chewbacca (McQuarrie Concept) Mini Bust captures the perfect essence of the concept art created by Ralph McQuarries years ago in the mid seventies and now reinvented in a collectible polystone Mini Bust in three dimensions. There is almost nothing we can find to criticize about this piece and that makes us very happy collectors. There is so much wrong in the hobby today, it’s nice to see a high quality item like this fully meet our expectations.

The Chewbacca (McQuarrie Concept) Mini Bust is huge and weighty. There was a time when Gentle Giant’s Mini Busts felt very cheap and way too lightweight. These lower quality busts were also at risk of breaking very easily too. The Chewbacca (McQuarrie Concept) Mini Bust on the other hand feels sturdy and like a true high-end collectible. We’re very impressed with how beautiful it looks and how hefty it feels. With the higher MSRP Gentle Giant is setting for these collectibles, it feels good that their making them feel like you’re getting significantly better products. (We’re not justifying gouging collectors with the high prices, but at least Gentle Giant is making these collectibles better now.) The layers of paint the adorn the Chewbacca (McQuarrie Concept) Mini Bust are stunning. This Mini Bust hasn’t been hastily painted, There is not a single instance that this paint job was rushed. Just look at how precariously the paint on the eyes has been applied. Clearly no shortcuts were taken on this gorgeous piece. A 2016 San Diego Comic Con exclusive, the Chewbacca (McQuarrie Concept) Mini Bust is limited to a mere 400 pieces. It sold out almost instantly online when it went up for sale.