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Vader is obsessed with finding the young Rebel who destroyed the Death Star, believing him to be the offspring of Anakin Skywalker.  Following up on a probe droid lead, Vader identifies the Rebel base on Hoth but arrives too late, as the last of the Rebels flee Echo Base.

Here at Comic Attack Saturdays are for Gotta Have It! Figure Edition. This time around we’re taking another dip into the Dark Side; taking a trip back through time to a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… with Star Wars Legacy Collection – Saga Legends: Darth Vader!

Product Line: Star Wars Legacy Collection: Saga Legends
Series: Wave 2 Revision 1 #SL06
Company: Hasbro
Released: 2009
Packaging: Blister Card Packaging
Where to Buy: Pretty much any department story with a toy department.
Price: US $6.00 (Wal-Mart)
Points of Articulation: 18
Height: 3 3/4 inches

Paint Job: I don’t have to tell you that Darth Vader is all black.  He is constructed of flat and glossy blacks.  The only things painted on him are the silver points on his mask, his chest doohickey, his belt buckle, and his belt doohickeys.  The top part of his shoulder armor, which looks like he may be wearing a dickey on the outside, looks to be painted alternately with black and dark gray paint.  Pretty much an easy figure as far as painting it goes…well, maybe not so much.  The tiny details of this chest doohickey are a little off.  The three red rectangles on the left, bleed red onto the space between them.

Sculpt: The sculpt for this version of the Dark Lord of the Sith is pretty excellent.  There is very fine detail on the mask, chest and belt doohickeys, and his sleeves and leggings of his uniform are very textured with lines and wrinkles.  He even has a plate that is, on its own, a piece away from the belt and legs.  Vader even has a peg hole in each of his boot heels.  He has one hand fairly closed, to hold his lightsaber or to choke you with the Force, and his other hand is left open.

Also, it’s not really part of this sculpt but it’s part of the overall appearance of Darth Vader, he has a cloth cape that fits around his neck with an elastic band.  The cape cannot be removed, though, because the silver rope that is put around his neck for dramatic appearance is not elastic.  Vader also has a cloth…umm…butt cape.  It’s not a skirt; it’s only around the rear half from the belt down, so it’s a butt cape.

Durability: At first, straight out of the box, his left arm popped off at the elbow, but it went back on and hasn’t been a problem since, so there won’t be any embarrassing pictures of him floating around on the Internet.  The elbow joints on these Star Wars figures are a little different than the average “hinge” type elbow joints that we’re all used to on action figures.  From the shoulder to elbow, is one piece cut diagonally at the elbow.  From the elbow to hand, is a piece cut diagonally at the elbow.  These two pieces fit together and rotate, but the wrist moves to compensate, so it never looks like an awkward arm.  It takes a little bit to get used to, but once you notice it looks retarded if you don’t adjust the wrist, adjusting of the wrist will become just as natural as breathing. HOOOOOOO PRRRRRRRRR.

Poseability: The poseability of this Darth Vader action figure, is okay.  Darth Vader doesn’t really do anything other than walk around and lightsaber fight…or choke people with his mind…or chill in a robotic ball with his helmet off, exposing his wrinkly, scarred, oogey-looking bald head.  So the poseability is fitting.  He is not capable of casual, life-like poses like his lackey Stormtroopers are and,  his cape and butt cape weigh him down in other non-standing poses.  If you have a Darth Vader action figure, you want him to look intimidating, menacing, and badass.  This figure has all of that happening.  Something interesting in his articulation points, is that his waist turns above the belt and below the belt, freely of each other.  Not even I can do that.  I tried.

Accessories: A red lightsaber.  It’s not really an accessory, it’s an essential.  What’s more, Darth Vader comes with BATTLE GEAR!, just as the front and back of the package proudly boasts.  The battle gear is conveniently stored in a little cardboard locker.  Inside the card board locker is the biggest load of crap that has ever been packaged with a Darth Vader action figure.  The locker’s contents are six (yes, SIX) guns of various shapes and sizes.  One looks like some kind of space age bazooka and one is the small hand blaster that the Scout Troopers use.  Now, when the hell has anybody seen Darth Vader fire a gun!?  It’s not a pretty sight.  It looks rather stupid.  To save Hasbro’s reputation, I have decided that this cardboard locker full of six guns, are merely things for Darth Vader to throw at Rebel scum with his mind.  That’s right!  Darth Vader comes with Force fodder!

What’s Awesome: The detail of this action figure is very nice.  I love it.  From the cape and butt cape being made of cloth, to the peepee protector plate that moves to compensate leg movement, nothing could be better.  Well, maybe a couple of things…

What Sucks: There are two features than are lacking in this Darth Vader action figure.  Features that I know are possible because I have other Darth Vader action figures that can do them.  They could have given this Darth Vader “Force Action” by putting a magnet in one of his hands and another magnet in the handle of his lightsaber.  They also could have made his helmet and mask removable.  Those two features would have made this one the ultimate 3 3/4 inch Darth Vader action figure.

Overall: 4.5 out of 5.  For what this Darth Vader action figure does have, I give him four and a half thumbs up.  It is a very cool figure.  You normally can’t go wrong with a Vader action figure, and this one is tops!  Star Wars Legacy Collection – Saga Legends: Darth Vader…gotta have it?  Yes!  He would make an excellent addition to your desk, shelf, entertainment center, dresser, birthday cake, or Comic Cave!

Did I do OK, Lord Vader, or are you going to choke me with your mind?

Aron White
aron@comicattack.net