Review of Boba Fett Deluxe Edition
Star Wars Sixth Scale Action Figure

Introduction

There is no other character in any film with less screen time that has gotten more attention than Boba Fett. One could argue that it's a missed opportunity - how has there never been a Fett movie? How has he never been the main feature? Or one could argue that his continued notoriety comes from his mystery, his elusiveness...and that they already almost killed off his special something something in that pit on Tatooine.

George might have tried but he didn't destroy what made Boba Fett special. Fans still love him, still hope he's alive, and that he'll reappear at some point in the new franchise. Knowing Disney, I'd be surprised if they don't find a way...

Hot Toys is bringing us yet another sixth scale version, this time from the fateful scene in Return of the Jedi. This is the 'deluxe' edition, which means he comes with a larger, diorama stye base and a decent number of accessories. There's also a regular release of just the figure, without the diorama base and jet flames.

This deluxe guy is currently shipping, and will run you around $260 at full retail. The regular edition is also available for $235.

Packaging - ***
This is pretty standard stuff for the Hot Toys Star Wars license. Considering the price point and the 'deluxe' moniker, I was a little disappointed that they went with the standard shoe box design.  It's all collector friendly, and the interior cover art over the double layer of plastic trays is quite attractive, but it's nothing new or unique.

On the plus side, the protective plastic wraps on the hands and feet slipped right off without the need for cutting or tearing.

Sculpting - ***1/2
It hasn't been all that long since Hot Toys gave us the exceptional quarter scale Fett, and this sixth scale version has many similarities.

The armor looks great, and the chest pieces wrap around the puffy outfit better than on the quarter scale release. There's some other issues, like placement of the pieces, but more on that in the Outfit section.

There's a ton of wear and damage, since we're pretty far into Boba's career here. It all looks tremendously realistic, and the tiny sculpted details, especially on the gauntlets and pack, are amazing.

The helmet does look a smidge small to me, but that might just be perception.  The length of the rangefinder arm or stalk seems about right this time, just a little shorter than on the quarter scale in relation to the helmet.

He stands about 12 1/2 inches tall, fitting in perfectly with the rest of the series.  The various hands are sculpted to work with the accessories, and swap easily.

Paint - ****
Another outstanding paint job!  There's more wear and damage represented here than on some Fett releases, so collectors may not find that to their personal tastes. However, what's here is very realistic and life-like, and does add quite a bit of visual appeal to the final look.

The paint also improves and works with the sculpted damage, going hand in hand to create the best overall effect.

That's not all there is to the paint though.  Small details are done with clean lines and sharp edges, and insignia, identifiers, and ornamental work are just about perfect all around.

This is a darker look, certainly than the Sideshow version released last in this scale. Again, that's going to be a personal taste situation, since depending on the lighting in any particular scene in the film, the colors were lighter or darker.  I like the look, since the darker color seems a bit more realistic and impressive to me - lighter coloring looks cheap to my eye - but your mileage may vary.

Articulation - ***1/2
The underlying TrueType is less restricted than you might imagine by the padded torso, and even the legs have a very good range of movement.  The armor and jumpsuit can be a little restrictive, particularly in the shoulders, hips, and waist, but as you can see in the post below, you can still get deep bends in the legs and raise the arms fairly high.

That doesn't mean it's not still somewhat tight, but this type of cloth outfit is less likely to have issues with permanent stretching or damage from holding poses long term.

The rangefinder arm is articulated of course, and drops down to about the right spot in front of the eyes.  While it's not a pose I ever use, it's still one that always needs to be possible. Also in the category of 'minor articulation that's cool to have' is the jet nozzles on the pack, which can turn back and forth. And don't miss out on the thin wire that runs around the outside edge of the cape, easily the most useful of these minor articulation points.  You can put the cape in any number of flying, flipping, blowing poses.

I did have one particular issue that's likely to be mine alone, and hopefully isn't indicative of any larger quality control problem. The right elbow is very loose, and has a tough time maintaining some poses.  This is a bit unusual with a TrueType, so I'm hopeful that it's a one off sort of problem.

Accessories - ***1/2
This is a 'deluxe' edition, and yet I felt it didn't quite earned the name when it comes to this category.

What makes it deluxe is the pit base of course, with the gaping maw of the Sarlacc complete with Special Edition tentacles and beak. These extras might annoy the die hard Original Trilogy fans, but they do make the base (and scene) a lot more interesting.

The tentacles screw into the base, and are solid but rubbery, very posable in a million ways. The metal flying support rod also screws into the base, but I'd take a little care with posing it or the tentacles without holding the lower half. It felt like you could damage the connections if you tried bending them without some additional support.

While the base could be a little wider and deeper at the bottom, it still looks great and works quite well. The metal support rod actually blends in, thanks to its similarity to the tentacles.  You should have no trouble finding a final pose for Boba...or is it?

He has several extra hands as well, and they all swap quite easily.  There's the set of fists he comes wearing, along with a relaxed grip right and left, a gun grip right, a gun barrel grip left, and one additional specialty gripping left that can work with other accessories and gesture poses.

Boba always has his tools, and the four are included here with instructions on which goes in which pocket. Of course he also has his blaster, with a fairly accurate ROJ sculpt and paint job.

His jet pack is a separate piece of course, and you can display him with or without it.  It has a magnet that helps keep it in place, but it's really held on his back by two hangers.  More about these hangers in the Outfit section.

There's a set of jet exhaust flames which can be fit neatly into the pack. They are particularly useful for posing with the Pit base (and only come with the Deluxe version), as Fett attempts his escape. I wasn't a fan however, since I thought they looked out of place with the cape. You may like them however, and it's nice to get them as another option.

Finally, for those without the space or inclination to use the pit diorama, there's a standard grate-like base with a crotch support and name plate.  If you've been using the same base with the other Hot Toys Star Wars figures in your collection, this will allow you some consistency.

Outfit - ***
The overall outfit looks great, with the beautiful armor attached to the padded jumpsuit. Some of the armor, like the knee pads and gauntlets, are removable, but for the most part things are permanently attached, not to be removed.

The cape looks great, with some weathering and damage, although it's not particularly consistent.  The cloth is fairly clean, but there's some burned sections, nicely scorched. One of the issues with the jumpsuit is that it's extremely clean, unlike the armor. It's a bit of a visual dichotomy, but not a big issue to me. That's because the armor is more permanent, whereas Boba would regular replace the cloth suit.

Another big plus is the length of the tubes on his right arm, which are plenty long enough to stay inside the sleeve in just about any pose.

However, I do take issue with the wookie braids, which look way too clean. They look exactly like what they are, nylon. The super clean look bugs me, and is my biggest general issue with the outfit.

Another major issue that pulls the score down slightly for me is the alignment of the chest pieces.  While I suspect the loose hanger is a one off, from what I've seen of other photos the alignment issue is pretty consistent.  The various pieces aren't properly spaced or applied, and again, considering the price point I expect better. It was far better on the 1/4 scale version, and while you can rationalize the look (they will move around in relation to each other depending on the pose), it's still something I expect right.

There are a couple other minor issues, like the low knee pads (you can adjust them a bit, but it's tricky), but the overall look is fantastic. I did have one issue that's just mine, but it's important to note to hopefully avoid it yourself. I had one of the two small hangers on the back, which are used to hold the pack, come loose and fall out.  I was able to repair it, but whenever pieces break or fall apart right out of the package is a big negative.  Considering the price point, I don't want to repair anything right out of the box.

Fun Factor - ****
While there's a few nits to pick, this is one fun figure for all ages.  Obviously, there are things that can break if not handled properly, but I felt he was even sturdier than the 1/4 release.  With the addition of the pit, you'll have a ton of ways to pose and re-pose him, keeping the interest in this figure alive for quite some time to come.

Value - **
This guy's expensive, no matter how you cut it. The regular version is $235, well above the $220 average we've seen lately, and while the costume is clearly complex, he doesn't have a ton of extras.  The deluxe version is another $35, and that's actually a better overall deal than the basic figure. Considering the sculpt, size and usefulness, the diorama is worth the extra cost...but that doesn't mean the figure itself is really worth the initial $235.

Things to Watch Out For -
I mentioned this earlier, but it's worth repeating - take care bending the support and tentacles when they are screwed into the base. Place your hand near the bottom to provide additional support and to avoid damaging the area where they screw in.

I also had my own problems with one of the hangers, so pay attention to them. You'd hate to have one come loose and fall out unbeknownst to you, and not be able to find it later.

Overall - ***1/2
This figure is, as expected, another winner for Hot Toys.  Great paint, excellent sculpting, and that certain something that's hard to define but which gives their figures that extra bit of realism. If you don't already own a sixth scale Fett, get this one, and you won't be disappointed.

If you're already coughing up the $235, I'd go the extra $35 and grab the deluxe as well.  The additional money isn't bad considering the quality of the pit itself.

However, if you're reading this review, it's unlikely you don't already have a sixth scale Fett. There's been plenty of releases from plenty of companies, some great, some not.  The most recent was from Sideshow, and was an excellent figure.  If you already have that one, does picking this one up make sense?

That's going to be a very personal call.  I will say that this one IS better, but whether it's enough to upgrade is difficult to say. If you go for the pit, you have a bigger incentive, since this gives you a whole different set of display options, but if you're only looking to get the basic figure, the argument is less compelling.

Perhaps the best argument is simply this - every Hot Toys release has a certain look and feel to it that makes it unmistakeably theirs. Mixing figures from multiple companies is tricky at best, and while the Sideshow version is sweet, if you're going with Hot Toys for the majority of the new releases, this version will simply fit in better overall.

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ***
Sculpting - ***1/2
Paint - ****
Articulation - ***1/2
Accessories - ***1/2
Outfit - ***
Fun Factor - ****
Value - **
Overall - ***1/2

Where to Buy 
Online options include these site sponsors:

- Sideshow has the regular version for $235, and the deluxe for $260.

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
As I mentioned, Hot Toys just did a 1/4 scale Boba Fett at the end of last year. There's been a couple Premium Format Boba Fett statues from Sideshow, like this one, as well as several sixth scale figures including this one from Sideshow, and a version from Medicom.

Hot Toys has done their share of other sixth scale Star Wars already, including Princess Leia, the FO Snowtroopers, Kylo Ren, and the First Order Stormtrooper. Other Hot Toys Star Wars figures include the recent Darth Vader, C-3PO, Tatooine Luke Skywalker, Luke in his Stormtrooper Disguise, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Han and Chewbacca from ANH. If you'd like a bit more of a regular Stormtrooper, they've done him as well, along with a Blackhole version. Sidseshow has helped out this year with the Original Trilogy, with their Hoth Han, Hoth Luke, Tauntaun, Speederbike, and Scout Trooper.

You should also hit the Search Reviews page, in case any other applicable reviews were done after this one was published.

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