Week 11: Han Solo

As I was taking pictures of this loose figure, a realization hit me. I don't really like this figure much. After taking several minutes to get each figure to successfully hold his gun and the frustration that sets in when an inanimate object doesn't do what I want it to do made it more difficult than it should have been to take these pictures. Then I had to put them back in my loose figure display....dark colored guns and dark blue carpet....not fun. Not only that, but the other hand is worthless. The only thing I could think of that the left hand and arm would be good for is perhaps reenacting the scene in Grease where John Travolta and the rest of the T-Birds are singing "Go greased lightning.....etc" on top of a hot rod car. Then there is the head sculpts. Kenner felt shortly after the release of Han Solo that the head was two small, and it is slightly. However, they over-corrected it leaving Han looking like he is suffering from some genetic abnormalities or something. Kinda reminds me of the guidance counselor from South Park.....mmmmmmkay. 

Anyway, the original Han Solo figure like many of the early figures underwent a picture change in the middle of the ROTJ line (see pics). The new picture was also used on the Tri-logo card. 

Image above from www.12back.com 
 

I think the original picture is better myself. My carded example of this figure is a ESB 32 back. According to Kellerman's book, the Original Han Solo figure is known to have existed on the following:

Han Solo (small head) Original Picture

SW 12 Back A
SW 12 Back B
ESB 31 Back A

Han Solo (large head) Original Picture

SW 12 Back C
SW 20 Back A
SW 21 Back B
ESB 21 Back G w/Secret Figure offer
ESB 31 Back A
ESB 32 Back B
ESB 41 Back A w/Survival Kit offer
ESB 45 Back A w/Display Arena offer
ESB 47 Back A w/4-LOM offer
ROTJ 48 Back D
ROTJ 65 Back A

Han Solo (large head) New Picture

ROTJ 65 Back C w/Nien Nunb offer
ROTJ 77 Back A 
ROTJ 77 Back B w/Anakin offer

***The original Han Solo was not released on the POTF cardback. 

Again, I found some pics of a few foreign carded figures from over at www.toysrgus.com:

Clipper (Netherlands) 12 back Han Solo (small head):

Glasslite (Brazil) Han Solo (big head):

Popy (Japan) boxed Han Solo:

Loose variations: Other than the obvious small/large head variants, I dont really know of too many really. I do have two large head Hans that have noticeably different paint applications however the COO and Date are the same of both figures: G.M.G.F.I 1977 Hong Kong on the left thigh. 

1. Large head Han Solo with slightly different face sculpt and very dark brown hair. His pants are noticeably a flat black with no gloss to them at all. His hands are a pale fleshtone. Date and COO are slightly larger than the other figure. 

2. Large head Han Solo with brown hair. His pants are a glossy black and his hands are more a pinkish fleshtone color. Date and COO are slighly smaller than the other figure.

Small Head MOC: Could not find a completed auction for. I believe they are a bit more rare and would fetch a much higher price than the many large head examples out there.

Prices (Ebay completed auction search results):

Large Head MOC (non-graded):

-SW 12 Back: $250.00+
-SW 20 Back: $148.00
-ESB 21 Back: $90.99
-ESB 31 Back: $74.00
-ROTJ (new or old pic) under $75


Small Head loose/complete: $10+

Large Head loose/complete: $10 or less

Next week, we will look at the vintage Jawa. By far the best Jawa figure ever produced. 
 

 Thanks for reading!