Boba Fett (Prototype Armor) - TBS [P4] - Six Inch Figures (TESB04)

Before he put on the Mandalorian armor, this bounty hunter was initially envisioned as a “super trooper” in all-white. This figure captures the beginning of a character that's become a legend... Boba Fett.

The current Hasbro Star Wars line isn’t much more than repacks and repaints these days, so the inclusion of Boba Fett (Prototype Armor) shouldn’t surprise anyone. First released as a Walgreens exclusive in 2014, under The Black Series [Phase II] lineup, it now gets a second shelf life as an overpriced Amazon exclusive and with a “creamier” paint job than previously. Boba Fett is an action figure that will always sell well, but with the antiquated buck used and its limited articulation, this is an action figure that will serve collectors best by staying inside of the packaging. You know what this figure offers, so there is no need to purchase a new version or open it up unless you’re a glutton for Hasbro’s punishment. Boba Fett (Prototype Armor) admittedly feels “refreshed” in the latest line look, and for reasons unknown, Hasbro sourced it to The Empire Strikes Back. Maybe they decided it’s time to play catch-up because so few characters are sourced to the Original Trilogy.

If you compare the costume from Episode V to the prototype costume, you will find some significant differences between the two. Plus, we would have loved to see a Star Wars towel used as the cape accessory to fully drive home the point that this costume was made with “things around the house” and not necessarily parts from a special effects workshop instead. If you can put away your disappointment that there are no newly tooled parts here, you may be pretty happy with the final product. Boba Fett (Prototype Armor) is a fantastic action figure visually, but practically it stinks. You still cannot bend the figure’s hips as the sculpt still has limitations thanks to the storage pockets that fall at the thighs. The paint job, albeit simple, is beautifully applied. This time, the figure has a “creamier” color, almost off-white. We had always hoped that Hasbro would find ways to bang out every last version of Boba Fett utilizing this sculpt, but sadly it’s aging badly now.

Boba Fett (Prototype Armor) has the same accessories as the regular release but is differently colored. The jetpack looks incredible in white and affixes to the figure flawlessly. The smaller gun fits beautifully into the functioning holster, and the more significant weapon fits nicely into both hands, though we notice it gets warped from the pressure, so it may not be an ideal fit. As you know, the rangefinder isn’t articulated, and for us, this move still flabbergasts us no matter how many times we think about it. The enhanced articulation of all the figures in the 6-inch range is astounding. You can position most figures in ways most of us probably never anticipated were possible. But those that don’t still look marvelous, and Boba Fett (Prototype Armor) continues that trend. Sure, you may want the Wookiee scalps removed, and you probably will wish that the rocket had those extra prongs. Yes, Hasbro missed critical enhancements, and they’re desperately needed here. But you likely can overlook the figure’s faults because it looks great, especially in the revised packaging.