Best Hasbro action figure of Vader, thus far?

Hey everyone!

I just purchased a delux Vader, and have now also secured a 500th Vader figure. I added them to my list of other vader figures - Dagobah spirit vader and POTF2 Vader (With torture droid).

I was looking at these figures and I decided that I liked the delux vader (ROTS), and 500th Vader - in what was a close race for my Vader supreme action figure.

I then wondered about all the other figures produced of these classic SW villian/protagonist, all the variations (coloured lights on chest and belt consoles, red-tinted lenses, silver collar and shoulder pads, poses, lightsabers, extras, etc...)

And I began to wonder if there is one particular Vader figure that people most adore, or feel is considerably accurate to the onscreen character's look.

I love 500th Vader for all the extra scenery - the chair, console, crance lowering helmet, as well as the sculpt of the seated figure.

I like the rebuild element of Delux ROTS Vader, and I like the look of this, the initial incantation of the consummate character known as...

DARTH VADER!

What do people think is the best hasbro released Vader thus far?

I would be intrigued to hear which sculpts are favourites and which are not, of Darth Vader.

Your comments would be much appreciated

 

Well whaddayaknow, the one... the only... Kevin Bacon! Welcome to the boards mr. Bacon! Always a pleasure to meet a celebrity

So far, my favourite Vader has to be the OTC Vintage style one. I obtained it a couple of days ago and just like many of the VOTC figures, this one looks excellent. Besides this one I only have the vintage Vader, but that was produced by Kenner, not Hasbro .

The 500th and Deluxe Vader also look very good and the sceneries sure make those item complete, I guess. A big plus for the Deluxe is that you can also combine the table with Crispy Anakin (#50).

I also have a POTF2 Vader, which looks horrible. Then again, most of the POTF2 figures do. Way to buffed, but that is well known I believe.

 

Cheers! Thanks for your welcome!

The vintage OTC Vader does look cool. I have been thinking about picking up this figure online - the vintage line has been quite appealing, in general, as well.

I also have my original Kenner Vader figure, with black vinyl cape and lightsaber - that was always a fantastic toy to own. I remember unwrapping it as a christmas present one summer gone by - I felt like the luckiest kid on the block - as probably all the other kids did who also got Star Wars toys that christmas.

Vader has always appealed for some reason - the armour and helmet are very distinct, and I always found Vader to look more mysterious and threatening, rather than all-out terrifying, in terms of his mystique, presence and visual impact.

So the POTF2 vader gets an initial thumbs down for its buffness - I also don't appreciate the over-the-top steroidal look of Vader from this line. It was a shame that so many POTF figures were all pumped up like sausages on a grill. It made my laugh to think that Vader might have just gotten back from his personal gym, and was still glowing from the workout!

May I recommend 500th Vader - Initially, I wasn't going to get this figure, but upon closer inspection, I thankfully changed my mind. The figure is extremely iconic, raising and lowering the helmet onto Vaders head is fantastic and fun to do, and the meditation chamber displays and consoles sweeten the deal, so to speak.

Worth every penny, I would say!

 

I just got the Anakin/Vader Evolutions pack the other day and the Vader included in that set is excellent.

The detailing and articulation are fantastic and extremely accurate. His chest plate, belt, and other displays are very vibrant and well done which particularly pleased me...as did the head sculpt under the mask. There are only really two downsides to the figure...the helmet doesn't snap or lock into place (it looks fine on, but can come off too easily) and his right hand is in a choking grip (which is great, but means his lightsaber has to go in his left hand).

He's also a pretty good value because for $20 you not only get an excellent Vader but also two very fine Anakin figures as well. When you figure that in cost per figure we're talking about VOTC quality figures for just over six and a half bucks each.

 

I'd forgotten completely about the Evolutions Vader/Anakin!

That will be a cool set to obtain! Would it be safe to say that it may well be the definitive Vader/Anakin set?

 

I think it would be safe to say that Kevin...while it's possible that that set doesn't have the absolute best Vader (the VOTC & 500th both give it a run for that title) it definitely includes the two best Anakin figures we will probably ever get.

The set isn't without it's minor issues...but it's still a very solid deal and three absolutely excellent figures.

 

The evolutions figures are amazing, haven't taken them out of the pack yet but they look well articulated and are amazingly detailed. Havne't taken my 500th vader out yet either, but he appears to be well articulated. The Revenge figure, is not good, lol, he can only hold the one pose ... lame. Are you talking just 3 3/4 figures? Cause the Ultimate Villain Vader looks pretty sweet, as do the two Unleashed ones.

 

My favorite is the 500th Vader. I love the meditation chamber and the packaging is great. (Being able to raise and lower the helmet without opening the packaging is a nice feature.)

I have yet to see the Evolution set in person, but I am very impressed by the photos I've seen on Rebelscum.com. Incredible attention to detail.

As far as other lines go, I love the newest Vader Unleashed. Again, incredible attention to detail. The way his cape billows after him is a nice touch.

 

The 500th Vader is awesome. I also really like the C III talking Vader.

 

I just discovered something interesting with my delux ROTS rebuild vader figure - my Vader's got two left feet!!!!!!!



My figure comes with two left boots, both shaped for the left foot and both with the copyright 2005 LFL writing on the sole. Has anyone else got figures with this anomaly/variation/mispackaging? Where is Vader's legendary right boot?

I discovered it when looking at the figure on the table and realising that something didn't quite look right about his feet, but there it was - two left feet - no wonder he has trouble dancing with Padme!

I must admit that I still like this toy. Granted, he is not very articulate, and the pose is kinda limited - some wrist and elbow joint features would have accentuated this figure substantially - on the other hand, it makes this Vader feel more vintage by its limited mobility, even a little akward, which seems to suit the mood of Vader as he makes his first steps within the armour, after discovering Padme is dead (In that scene Vader does seem rather Frankinstein in his movements - akward and difficult.

Also the cape features are not the best they could be - perhaps a soft-goods cape and skirt would help this figure live up to its potential to a greater degree.

 

There are a lot of really good Vader figures out there. Its a toss up really. VOTC Vader is great, 500th Vader is great, and the Evolutions figure is great, even the ROTS Vader is pretty darn good. All have excellent articulation, nice soft goods, and good likenesses.

Rebelscum has an nice side by side comparison of all 4. Evolutions takes it IMO.

Edit: Here is the order for the pic:
VOTC Darth Vader | 500th Figure Darth Vader | ROTS Darth Vader III-11 | EVOLUTIONS Darth Vader (Evil Sith Lord)

 

Cheers Weezer - thanks for the pic!
It is interesting to see the comparisons.

 

Vader on the operating table is a hell of a figure.

I also like the Vader with the interrigation droid and the Vader with the removable helmet from the POTF2 line.

 

Interregation droid POTF2 Vader is a fanastic figure! I love how Vaders arms are posed. The droid is cool too!

I was impressed with many of the POTF2 figures, including Leia with sporting blaster and the stormtrooper figure.

Wish that line were still going...

Even the green and black packaging of that range was appealing. They came with the commtech chip, if I remember rightly.

One thing I have always wished Hasbro would produce would be a Mcquarrie-concept Vader action figure, to go with the fan's choice McQuarrie-style trooper. A whole action figure range based on McQuarrie's concepts would be fantastic!

 

My favorite Vaders are the interrogation droid commtech Vader figure, and the Evolutions set Vader. The commtech Vader was brilliant in it's simplicity, and is an excellent piece of work. Sure, he didn't have a saber, but how often in the original films did Vader actually use his weapon? The Evolutions Vader was very very excellent too. I bought the set for the Anakins, but the Vader figure mesmerized me...the range of poses he could be placed in was a first for me...my only complaint about him as the slight lack of detail to his face under the helmet...not quite as detailed as the first POTF Vader w/removeable helmet or the saber throwing Vader that came out not too long ago.

As for the question about the Evolutions Anakins being the definitive ones, I would say no doubt about it. They are far and away better than any others in either EII or EIII releases of the figures, and the complete lack of action features and presence of fine articulation makes them much, much better than any other Anakins...not to mention they look a helluva lot more like the actor than the ones before.

 

Just opened my Evolutions pack. That puts the operating table Vader to shame! At leaat the one in the Evolution pack has arms that can bend. The Vader on the Operating Table is stiff. Plus he looks too char-broiled! Ha Ha!

Just picked up the 500th Vader today too. Pretty sweet, don't want to open him though. It doesn't look like he does anything.

 

Actually 500th Vader does quite a lot...he's well articulated has a second hand that can hold a lightsaber (both of which are packed away out of sight in the package).

 

yes, he does!

 

Best Looking: Darth Vader (Bespin Duel)

I like it due to the classic pose that you can create with the lightsaber held down and his left hand reaching out...just captures the essence of the moment from "The Empire Strikes Back"

My Favorite: Darth Vader (Dagobah)

Just the fact that you can see the eyes through the lenses of the mask does it for me.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^ I agree completely! The dagobah Vader is FANTASTIC!

A ROTJ vader with ultra-shiny armour would be a cool concept to see produced. How Vader looked at the beginning of ROTJ - very glossy, very shiny, not at all matte.

 

In my opinion the Evolutions Vader looks the best, but the Celebration 3 Vader has the cool effect of James Earl Jones talking. So if I have to choose the best Vader it goes to the C3.

 

He looks stupid when you stand him up, his legs are far too wide. I kept mine sitting in the chair and maybe everyone once in a while I'll pose him "walking" out of the chamber.

 

Can someone post a photo of this ROTS deluxe Vader and the Dagobah one please.

 

For me the Evolutions Vader is the best one. VOTC and 500th are great, but neither has ball joints at the elbows... which is very important. Plus the removable helmet doesn't look bad at all when on Vader's head. Also, he has ball-jointed knees and ankles.

 

In the past 8 years, my favorite still has to be the first Vader w/removable helmet. sure, he may not move and pose like the others, but to me he stands as a testament of what the new Hasbro Star Wars figures could achieve in making figures of characters we had not seen yet.

The VOTC vader is a close second, mainly because of that vintage packaging and cloth cape.

The Dagobah Vader is also great, in terms of special features (though the plastic tab on his neck has snapped so it can't stay in place). My mental goal for a long time has been to havea lineup of Anakin's evolution to Vader and through redemption.