Review: Star Wars Black Series Lando Calrissian Skiff Guard, Return of the Jedi 40th Anniversary Series
- Mephitsu
- 5 hours ago
- 5 min read
"Just stick close to Chewie and Lando"
As Return of the Jedi celebrated its 40th Anniversary in 2023, Hasbro released a third set of Black Series anniversary figures from the original trilogy, carded rather than boxed, and using the original Kenner card artwork. The Return of the Jedi Anniversary series was spread over 3 waves, supplemented by further exclusive carded figures as well as a boxed pack of Jabba the Hutt.
Lando, in his Skiff Guard disguise, was first released in 2018, followed by an Archive release in 2022, just ahead of this 40th Anniversary Carded release from 2023. His cardback uses the same design and imagery as the original 1983 Kenner ROTJ card, including the tramline border and the use of the original green coloured figure backing panel and name plate. Hasbro has branded these with Kenner on the front rather than using their own logos, with the only new element vs the 1983 cards being the top left 40th Anniversary logo. Around the back of the card and there is a blended approach to the design with elements retained from the Kenner figures of 1983 but with the use of the modern Black Series logo as well as a checklist of the other 40th Anniversary figures, notably the other figures in this 2nd Wave of ROTJ Anniversary figures including the Deluxe Boba Fett, Biker Scout, Endor Han, Endor Leia and Wicket. As was the case back in 1983, the card cannot be opened without some level of damage, so these are aimed more at MOC collectors.
Lando is, as we find him during the events of Return of the Jedi, disguised as one of Jabba's Skiff Guards, an outfit that comprises of a simple pair of beige trousers and a ribbed upper tunic. Over this sits a skirt piece in a weathered leather finish, inclusive of a dark brown painted belt with a gun metal ring buckle. We also get a large hammered metal chest piece with corresponding shoulder armour all strapped via black sculpted straps that criss-cross over Lando’s back. The sleeves are a matt black, with the right arm featuring a similarly hammered metal wrist piece, while the legs are concluded with a pair of darker brown boots with painted silver buckles and a black sole.
The headsculpt is a strong likeness to Billy Dee Williams from 1983 with a sculpted moustache and a very serious look for Lando, enhanced by photo-real decor. The hair is kept quite simplistic, but it still has volume and also allows for Lando to wear the Skiff Guard helmet. This softer plastic piece includes a large leather brown dome piece with painted rivets, a black trim above the eyes and around the back, and the mouthguard, which is a complex horned design painted in bone ivory. The faceplate concludes with a gunmetal cage that sits over the mouth. The helmet sits in place, allowing the eyes to sit behind the open part of the helmet to look out.
This is all exactly as was released back in 2018, although you can see some clear paint updates. Most notable is a change in Lando’s skin tone, which for me gives the newer figure and improved likeness to what we see on screen. The armour panels and leather tunic elements also appear brighter, mainly due to a reduction in a weathering wash. This variation is minimal, but evident when the two figures are side by side and again, from a personal perspective, I prefer the older figure's body with its darker tones and more weathered appearance.
vs 2018 Phase 3 Release (right)
Lando’s other accessory is a Vibroaxe, another direct carry forward from the 2018 release. The axe is very well detailed across the various components, and the base grey is overlaid with a metallic silver finish around the blade, which does enhance it marginally from the older version. Lando can hold the weapon in either hand or both with sufficient hand grip space down the shaft of the weapon.
Articulation is of an older format, with pinned double-jointed knees an immediately obvious indication. We do have 17 points of articulation in total, and Skiff Guard Lando does benefit from some of the changes coming into play circa 2018, like the dual joint neck and expansive single-jointed elbows that do come closer to bending back on themselves. While there are no butterfly shoulders, the arms do have a good range for using with the weapon or recreating positions like Lando tipping his helmet forward to show Han who he was. There is also no real limitations from Lando’s armour, with the shoulder panels a softer plastic and hinged so they raise up with the arms themselves.
The 40th Anniversary release of Lando in Skiff Guard armour obviously made sense in terms of the Return of the Jedi celebration, but it did come perhaps too soon after the Archive release and offered nothing new on that version. It is an improvement on the original 2018 release in terms of facial decor and improved skin tone realism, but I still prefer the darker, more weathered armour and tunic of the original release. The Vibroaxe is one of my favourite accessories in the Star Wars universe, harking back to those original Kenner ROTJ figures armed with it, and the Black Series version does the weapon justice, and Lando’s articulation supports plenty of posing options with it in hand.
Keep Track of all the Star Wars Black Series figures from Hasbro at our comprehensive
If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports
About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...