Bespin Security Guard (Helder Spinoza) - TVC - Basic (VC233)

Bespin Security Guard (Helder Spinoza) is the best The Vintage Collection action figure of 2022, and we’re not even kidding. This figure satisfies a definitive version of a never-before-released vintage Kenner action figure from 1980 in the modern Star Wars Hasbro line. But it’s also genius what Hasbro did with existing parts to make Bespin Security Guard (Helder Spinoza) feel like its own unique figure. You have to look hard to see all of the reused parts, but the all-new elements help to camouflage the old to make it “new” again. Let’s do a micro-history lesson. The 1980 ESB Bespin Security Guard [A] figure and the person featured in the character photo are two different Wing Guards. The physical action figure is Helder Spinoza. And the character photo shows Pedar Solardo (who has a manufactured right arm in the reference image, by the way) that Hasbro has yet to produce as an action figure in the line. Here is Hasbro’s chance. We’re asking them to beat out a few more Cloud City Wing Guards or gather together four yet-to-be-made characters and sell it as an army-builder set. Please! Collectors should not take the Walmart-exclusive Bespin Security Guard (Helder Spinoza) lightly. Yes, you can pick at the black lines on the helmet or how the gold piping breaks when you articulate the torso, but this is an astonishing action figure, and we’re proud to count it a deserving part of The Vintage Collection. It’s wonderful to have a modern counterpart of this action figure after 42 years.

Bespin Security Guard (Helder Spinoza) is a kit-bashed figure that uses the arms of 2017’s TVC Lando Calrissian (VC139) figure and the legs of 2011’s/2020’s TVC General Lando Calrissian (VC47) figure. Again, Hasbro did a marvelous job of seamlessly working in this older tooling with the new parts to make a classic character like this as screen accurate as possible. The authenticity of the on-screen costume is very close and substantially better than the unforms Hasbro created for both the 2009 Legacy Collection Cloud City Wing Guard [Sergeant Edian] (BD50) and 2010 Legacy Collection Cloud City Wing Guard [Utris M’Toc] (BD50) figures. The latter have very wrinkly shirts and pants and takes away from the smooth and fitted material from which the uniforms are made. Hasbro got it right this time by using the fitted pants of General Lando Calrissian (VC47), and they work like a charm here. They used the arms of the Lando Calrissian figure from Solo: A Star Wars Story because that shirt has pronounced cuffs and ornamentation of the Bespin Security Guard costume. So while not a perfect match, it does the job by adding that needed cuff “texture” that represents the red sections of the shirt. The portrait, the torso, and the cod section are all-new parts here, and Hasbro ensured that they designed them to be in perfect proportions with the rest of the existing tools. They repainted the uniform in blue, and everything fell together beautifully. Collectors should adore what they see here.

Another new aspect of the figure is the new holster that hangs down the figure’s right side. It’s all-new too, and Hasbro worked it in as part of the cod section. It houses a stunning all-new Relby-k23 blaster pistol. Hasbro added black paint applications to the gun, something they’ve not done to date, so we give them credit for doing on this release. It’s a gorgeous blaster, but unfortunately, Hasbro used rubbery plastic, and the gun “crumbles” in your hand as you attempt to place it into the figure’s hands. It’s certainly frustrating, but with all the good on this figure, it’s a mild complaint in the grand scheme. This release is only the second time in the modern Hasbro Star Wars brand that they made the cap “permanent.” On this new figure, it’s a separate accessory and glued in place, not molded as part of the head. But it’s the same takeaway. The only other figure where the helmet is a “permanent” part of the figure is the Bespin Security Guard from 2001’s POTJ Carbon-Freezing Chamber playset. That figure was a leftover The Power Of The Force “2” figure released late and saved for this playset. Both the basic Bespin Guard (Cloud City Security) and the Legacy Collection figures have removable caps. That feature was lovely at the time, but let’s be honest. They never stayed on the figures’ heads and always looked big and wonky. Now we have a crucial part of the costume efficiently on the figure, and the figure is always consistent in the display, like your TVC Carbon-Freezing Chamber playset.

Despite all the reused parts, Bespin Security Guard (Helder Spinoza) poses gorgeously. The revised articulation system works incredibly well years after the fact, and the marriage of old and new show that they’re holding up well over time. It’s a shame that Hasbro didn’t update the figure to include “rocker” ankles. It feels like those would be critical for a “guard” character, but they made no new enhancements here. That’s our most significant issue with this figure, but we’re happy to overlook it because there is too much goodness here to complain. We’re thankful for Hasbro’s focus on The Ninety Six. We understand that many of these types of action figures will be retools, repaints, and kit-bashes. All of that is fine. But when Hasbro goes this far to make a character from the Original Trilogy that we honestly never thought would see the light of day (along with the Power Droid (VC167) and Lobot (VC223)), it’s a heartwarming gesture from Hasbro to see these action figures come to fruition. When they release action figures of this caliber, it makes us believe they care about the longtime collectors of Star Wars action figures and those who grew up with the Kenner line. But Hasbro MUST keep this momentum going. They cannot let it slow. There are still an alarming number of vintage Kenner action figures desperately needing a modern (and definitive) counterpart. We will buy them if they make them. It’s an unwritten contract. Bespin Security Guard (Helder Spinoza), a Walmart exclusive, has an MSRP of $13.99.

Special thanks to Alientek for sending us one of his mis-shipment samples for review.