Hasbro Star Wars 500TH Figure Darth Vader

While it’s easy to admire the moviemaking craftsmanship of director George Lucas as the Star Wars series evolved from a comparatively low budget 1970’s sci-fi picture to a massive sprawling epic of 21st century light and magic, one must also pay heed to Lucas’s business acumen. Way back in Star Wars’ early days, Lucas managed to secure a significant percentage of revenue in what was then a tiny industry: toys and action figures. The windfall allowed him to create the, pardon the pun, empire he rules today. For the 500th action figure in the Star Wars franchise, we have been given the series’ central figure: Darth Vader. He is impressively articulated and sits in his isolation chamber where his menacing helmet is lowered onto his scarred body. It’s a somber figure and would be hard to really play with in the classical sense but its hard to imagine anything more collectible. --Charlie Williams