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'06 | #45 Darth Vader - Return of the Jedi (Reviewed 11-23-2006) 

Includes:
• Lightsaber
• Removable Hand
• Removable Lightning Effect
• Base 

Click thumbnail for large image Spice: I have never made my feelings a secret regarding the multitude of Darth Vader figures that have been cranked out over the past eleven years. I really do feel like Hasbro has saturated the market, and it could be quite a toss up about what version of the Lord of the Sith would reign supreme. (No pun intended to the costume guys!) However once in a while between the usual black fill-in, they can slip in an occasional surprise and give us a little something different than we've seen before. There is no question about this being the same mold as the Power of the Jedi mold, but they added just a bit more to it this round.

Click thumbnail for large image The fact that the Emperor's Wrath wasn't one of the more common of the Power of the Jedi figures, you can almost call this rehash justified in some sad way. For new collectors this is a great way to play catch up, so that could be the positive side of the equation. The figure has several articulation flaws, as I do not like the way there is no movement in the left elbow or wrist, yet they thought enough to make the limb appear translucent. Another thing that really can be annoying is the way the bend on the cape seems to make standing the figure up quite a chore.

Click thumbnail for large image One point I always try to make to Hasbro is if they do go out and put an old product in a new wrapper, at least try to improve it a little bit. One thing that they did that almost makes it worth the money was the additional detail put into the removable hand. Even though it takes a little bit of patience and seems to be very flimsy and fragile, when you do get the hand off the right arm it is quite a treat. They even took the time to detail the stub of the hand with black and red connections! However this is only overshadowed by the inaccuracy it adds to the figure. Anyone who saw Return of the Jedi would remember the cut was clean, as Luke was clearly in rage. Aside from that, this might be the best overall version of the electrocuted Vader.

Spice - Overall it's just not enough to make me say spend your seven plus dollars. I won't even get into  the more than three dollar plus a gallon fuel cost for the Dewback!  I just think they could be putting better figures out on the market instead of another Darth Vader.

(Figure '06 | #045, Asst. No. 86960, Item No. 85770, Backing Card P/N 6495803900, Window Insert P/N 6597270000) 

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