4-LOM - TVC - Basic (VC10)

What more can anyone say of a previously-released Hasbro action figure everyone seemed to enjoy that's now carried-forward into The Vintage Collection three years later? Well, that's the sentiment we have for 4-LOM, the bounty hunter from The Empire Strikes Back, a figure now receiving quite a bit of attention as a Star Wars collectible recently. It's not that 4-LOM is perfect. It's not. But it's fantastic to see the character finally placed in vintage Kennerstyled packaging for the first time since 1982's ESB Zuckuss figure. We're confident everyone will concede that the real reason one would repurchase 4-LOM in 2010 is for the packaging. And mint-on-card collectors have a reason to rejoice. This release certifies the first time that 4-LOM appears on a vintage-styled Kenner card with the correct name. What's so particularly interesting about this release is that on the back of the figure's card, there is a picture of an old vintage Zuckuss (the old 4-LOM) with a caption that says "4-LOM (1980-1982)". We know the classic Kenner Zuckuss figure didn't come out until 1982, but it makes a bold statement that Hasbro produced this figure's card without confusing or messing things up in the modern line. So, unless you keep your figures in the packaging, you may be able to skip over 4-LOM. Of course, we wouldn't recommend doing that.

4-LOM is a very slight repaint of 2007's TAC 4-LOM (30 41) action figure, and we know collectors will disagree with that sentiment. But there are color differences, especially on the figure's photoreceptors. For The Vintage Collection release, these "eyes" are a bit darker green. This difference is barely noticeable unless you are looking for it. Also, you are likely well aware of how there is a light-orange rusty wash throughout the figure. Well, this time around, the torso has less of it, and the final result makes 4-LOM look a little shinier throughout this section. The red insignia on the left breast armor is also darker, making it look a little more hidden than the 30 (77-07) version. There are some variances in the way Hasbro painted the arms too. However, it may not be enough to document it as a definite change. But other than that, the two figures are identical. There is not enough difference to prevent a collector from picking up another 4-LOM action figure for a slightly different paint job. There is nothing enticingly different here. We consider a change like this to be "new enough," and hence we purchased it for our collections. How could anyone pass on the packaging? The paint job is in no way as dramatic as the revised Boba Fett, so we'd advise you not to expect to look at this figure and think what a difference it is from the original.

You can expect more straight-packed/slightly repainted action figures like 4-LOM to make their way into the basic figure line. So, expect some refreshed repacks. Hasbro gave us enough forewarning that repacks and repaints are necessary for the line's health, and we shouldn't consider these surprises or unexpected additions as we move ahead in this collector-focused line. While we think Hasbro should spend time reviewing all of the "repacks" to see if any paint enhancements would improve them, many will not need any new or updated. Collectors want perfect action figures. We hope Hasbro does their due diligence. Then again, it seems as if Hasbro may not be too interested in taking this route. 4-LOM may not need much updating, but 2009's LC Clone Commander Cody (BD44), also part of The Vintage Collection as Clone Commander Cody (VC19), needs significant updates to be considered a definitive release. We hope Hasbro is listening to the collecting community because all of us are recommending things that will make these action figures better. It's our opinion that these figures should endure a little tweaking to make them the best they can be for the collecting community. 4-LOM will require an all-new sculpt of significant retooling to be definitive. But, for now, it's a joy to see this bounty hunter affixed to a Kenner card back. An action figure release like this is a beautiful way to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back.