Bespin Security Guard (Isdam Edian) - TVC - Basic (VC239)

Do you believe we got both Kenner Bespin Security Guard figures updated for The Vintage Collection in one fell swoop via Hasbro, releasing them as Walmart exclusives? Sure, getting an exclusive from Walmart isn’t something that elates collectors, but the takeaway point here is that we got two characters that seemed unlikely candidates for the super-articulated 3.75-inch line, almost as if we’d never receive them. Before it was released, Helder Spinoza was one of a handful of characters that Hasbro NEVER updated in the modern line at any point. And if we’re fair, 2009’s LC Cloud City Wing Guard [Sergeant Edian] (BD50) was anything but screen-accurate. Many believe, with good reason, that Hasbro intended to initially release Bislav Merril before changing it to Sergeant Edian by changing the action figure’s skin color. Both Bespin Security Guards pushed the frozen Han Solo to Boba Fett’s Slave I, but for some reason, Hasbro thought it would make a better decision to release a modern update to a Kenner release. Unfortunately, the 2009 Legacy Collection action figure looks like Bislav Merril in blackface, and that’s tragic for many reasons, but also because we would have both characters now in a 3.75-inch scale had Hasbro gone with their first instinct or option. All that is moot today because Hasbro produced a gorgeous new Bespin Security Guard (Isdam Edian) action figure. It LOOKS LIKE the actor this time, and this kit-bashed figure looks better than ever thanks to Hasbro’s parts choices.

The 1982 ESB Bespin Security Guard [B] figure was a curious addition to the vintage Kenner line. Until then, Hasbro didn’t make two distinct personalities of the same character release. And they didn’t replicate this approach after it. Released in the final wave of The Empire Strikes Back figures in 1982, Kenner believed that providing some diversity in the basic figure line would help kids develop a widespread universe for their playtime. Now, 40 years later, we finally have a modern counterpart that comes close to definitive status in The Vintage Collection. It isn’t easy to classify Bespin Security Guard (Isdam Edian) as perfect because it’s not. For example, you can pick at the black lines on the helmet or how the gold piping breaks when you articulate the torso. But if you let these aesthetics go, you’re left with another astonishing action figure, and we’re proud to count it a deserving part of The Vintage Collection. Bespin Security Guard (Isdam Edian) is based on Bespin Security Guard (Helder Spinoza), which 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. This time, Hasbro tooled a beautiful new portrait with the likeness of Edian and then repainted the neck area and hands to match the character’s skin color. Hasbro did a marvelous job of seamlessly working in this older tooling with the new parts to make a classic character feel at home in the line.

The authenticity of the on-screen costume is very close and substantially better than the uniform Hasbro created for the 2009 Legacy Collection Cloud City Wing Guard [Sergeant Edian] (BD50) figure. The 2009 tooling has too many wrinkles throughout the costume, opposite the smooth and fitted material we see in the film. Hasbro got it right this time by using the fitted pants of the General Lando Calrissian (VC47) figure, and they’re a perfect fit for these characters. They also 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, another aspect of this figure that feels like a setback. The new holster houses a stunning all-new Relby-k23 blaster pistol. Hasbro added black paint applications to the gun, something they’ve not done to date. Despite all the reused parts, Bespin Security Guard (Isdam Edian) 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. We’ll continue to thank Hasbro for its focus on The Ninety Six. We understand that many of these types of action figures will be retooled, repainted, and kit-bashed. All of that is fine. We ask they continue to release these as soon as possible until done.