u/__PLANET_HUNTER__

If there’s one Hot Toys release I’ve been anticipating the most since I’ve been collecting, it’s this guy. I had been clamoring for Hot Toys to make him and had a feeling they would for the 20th and sure enough. Revenge of the Sith is my favorite film ever and this is my favorite Vader costume design, no question about it, so this one’s super special.

Now I won’t lie and say it’s perfect, cause it’s not. There are several inaccuracies, and for me it’s namely the chest armor vertical width, it’s way too wide, and the helmet proportions, the dome could’ve been slightly larger combined with the smaller mask. I also would’ve liked the chain to be a longer and heavier piece so it can rest lower on the armor like it should.

But gripes aside, it looks sooo freaking good. It’s so imposing and looks so real in person. Just an edgy, badass design. I’m overjoyed I finally have the ROTS Vader suit in my collection and the last Prequels main villain. I guess the best really was saved for last! Can’t wait to recreate the ROTS promo images and pair him next to my custom ROTS Emperor Palpatine!

So I ended up getting two MMS805 sets. One to use as the Chancellor and the other to recreate his final “Emperor” look in Revenge of the Sith, the black robe + brooch with the gray under tunic, which I feel is his ultimate, definitive design. Essentially, I took the brooch and gray tunic from the ROTJ set and added it to the new robe/figure. I was hoping Hot Toys would announce a proper release (and it could still happen of course), but I said eff it, I’ll just do it myself for now lol.

I wanted this look since it’s what I think of mostly when he’s wearing the black robe, and not when he throws on the black robe over the red which is incredibly scene specific. Cause to me, the MMS805 is basically just the Chancellor version plus the robe to recreate that exact, brief look, but I don’t think I’d display him like that beyond pics. But that’s why I got a second copy so I can have the Chancellor and Emperor looks represented full-time. And more importantly, now he’s ready to screen-accurately pair alongside the upcoming ROTS Vader ;) I know most people don’t care for that, but I’m stickler for that type of stuff so it was a must.

Anyway, just beyond stoked with how he turned out!! He’s got serious presence and the entire ensemble is classic.

Bonus pics at the end of all the main looks from ROTS, and ofc, comparing the scene specific “black robe over red robes” look vs the Emperor look. Honestly, it worked out nicely. Now I’ve got nice differentiation between all three main ROTS looks and can display all three sculpts at one time.

I’ve been wanting a Hot Toys Bespin Han ever since I started collecting years ago, so this one’s special. Super happy to finally have my favorite OT character in the collection. What a phenomenal portrait and sculpt overall, just wish the hair was more accurate to how it looks in ESB, but the ANH-esque styling doesn’t detract much, if at all. The costume design speaks for itself, with the iconic navy jacket, such a classic silhouette and presence. Love it!!

Doesn’t even include Blitzway Anakin 1/4 and other 1/6 figures I’m considering 😅

The teeth look so good on the new Aliens Warrior. I hope HT fixes it for the Big Chap…..

What I take issue with the most is how on the BC, the canines are the same exact size as the incisors in the front so it looks weird, and the back molars are also missing on the bottom. Both of these things are corrected with the new Warrior alien (and Scorched alien).

Bottom left: edit with corrected teeth and more exposed gums.

Also, personal preference, I wish the Big Chap also had a foggy dome over the prop accurate translucent dome, and a blush tint. The Warrior looks great and I wish the BC got the same treatment.

Sculpt softened which is to be expected but I actually think it’s better than the proto. But the rest looks very toyish and the vest is either one size too small or the jacket is one size too big. It didn’t seem that off to me in the proto. Also, when he wears the blue vest, the jacket is supposed to be zipped up, we knew this from the proto but I wish it was a functional zipper, but I still think it’ll look off with the vest on.

Wish they had done the blue parka look instead with the heavier snow pants.

Also, in most of the pics, the body proportions look off too. This one’s definitely gonna need a good futz.

I prefer when Hot Toys nails figures out the box, but at times, they drop the ball and require mods to achieve a higher level of accuracy and quality.

Some of the mods are subtle like swapping things around or upgrading eyeballs, and some require an entire sculpt replacement like Begins Batman and Raimi Spidey – who also got a top to bottom complete restoration top to bottom. I just like enhancing stock HT figures that really need it and creating new character designs like Operation Knightfall Vader and Bespin Escape Leia.

Or altering the stock, branded movie design to a preferred movie look like what I did with ROTJ Vader to TESB and DMTNT Jack to “AWE” where I got rid of certain pieces and swapped them out to be more accurate to what I desire.

On the other hand, I’ve noticed my INART figures don’t really require mods and I’m pretty satisfied with them out the box. INART really is on another level.

Bonus pic at the end, the Toystay sculpt + stock HT MMS661 body compared to the fully commissioned figure.

Been seeing a lot of chatter saying it doesn’t look like Cailee Spaeny’s Rain. IMO, the likeness is improved from the prototype where it was too “Daisy Ridley-like”. The eyes are a more accurate shape now, it just suffers due to the big bug eyes and the thin eyebrows, which is typical with downgraded final sculpts. The hair strands have fused together and the teeth show more now.

I also think she’s less muscly and the shirt neck opening is a bit larger which I like. And ofc, the official Reebok branding on the stompers. All in all, I think it’s better than the proto despite the typical downgrade. Really excited to get her in and can’t wait for the Aliens 40th. Would love Prometheus figures too one day.