Hasbro follows up its full size Rogue One wearable Black Series Imperial Stormtrooper helmet I previously covered here - with a full size reproduction of the Return of the Jedi helmet of Darth Vader.
The news was announced earlier this year at the Hasbro Hascon event with pricing details to be revealed closer to launch.
Whats so special about the Return of the Jedi Helmet? (ROTJ)
Okay so here's where things get super geeky, the sculpts for Vader's helmet are different in the original trilogy , each movie has a different variation in the design from Star Wars: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. To that point the the prequel trilogy also introduced a totally different sculpt to that of the original trilogy as well (flatter eye lenses smoother, less pronounced brow-line and more flared helmet hood).
Star Wars Prequel helmet on the left - Original Trilogy on the right.
The Vader
helmet from 1977’s Star Wars, was
sculpted by Brian Muir ( he also sculpted Vader's helmet for Rogue One) and the helmet was asymmetrical, with a red tint to the
eyes that you’ll notice in certain scenes from when Vader is on Bail Organa's ship,Tantive IV. The
helmet design in The Empire Strikes Back got rid of the red eyes and the more
pronounced sinister brow over the eye lenses with its pronounced widows peak.
In Return of the Jedi, Vader’s helmet is considerably more glossier and reflective, something that is clearly evident when he exits his shuttle on the Death Star at the begining of ROTJ. For the most part the design is relatively consistent with that of the design in Empire albeit a slightly flatter more condensed profile for the Jedi design. In ESB and ROTJ the neck of the helmet was actually a gun metal silver as was the left cheek segment and side flashes, black was merely limited to the main face area. The helmet for Return of the Jedi underwent a redesign which would allow for the grand reveal as to how Vader actually wore the helmet in 3 pieces, this added even more tension and drama during the unmasking scene with Luke at the film’s climatic end.
In Return of the Jedi, Vader’s helmet is considerably more glossier and reflective, something that is clearly evident when he exits his shuttle on the Death Star at the begining of ROTJ. For the most part the design is relatively consistent with that of the design in Empire albeit a slightly flatter more condensed profile for the Jedi design. In ESB and ROTJ the neck of the helmet was actually a gun metal silver as was the left cheek segment and side flashes, black was merely limited to the main face area. The helmet for Return of the Jedi underwent a redesign which would allow for the grand reveal as to how Vader actually wore the helmet in 3 pieces, this added even more tension and drama during the unmasking scene with Luke at the film’s climatic end.
Its this 3 piece segmented helmet design that draws the main appeal for the Black Series version coming in 2018.
Shiny Happy People - A glossy Darth Vader.
Luke removes his fathers helmet in the climatic ROTJ scene.
Three sections make up the Black Series Vader helmet as true to the movie.
Stunning attention to detail is sure to be a winner for collectors.
The Hasbro Black Series 3 piece Vader helmet was revealed at Hascon
The Black Series helmet provides a more affordable collectible to a broader range of fans but die hard prop makers and collectors will always aim for specific helmet molds and pieces (Don Post and EFX) that prop sculptors or movie auctions provide. Anovos, the costume collectible specialist also provides a complete Vader costume and helmet also available in segments but the finish is more in line with movie prop materials than the mass produced plastic Hasbro offering but interestingly Anovos only created a 2 piece helmet.
Above: The Anovos Vader Helmet.
Above: The Anovos version - note that the neck piece is all connected to the facemask.
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