Lanco Calrissian, in his Jabba's Palace Skiff Guard disguise, was released in 2018 as part of Wave 19 of the Star Wars Black Series. Lando was a 3rd phase release in the red line packaging and was number 76 in the line.
Packaging 4/5
Lando's packaging, the phase 3 red spine box, remains unchanged for wave 19. Lando is number 76 in the 3rd phase packaging and is named full as Lando Calrissian, with the Skiff Guard text i brackets underneath. The illustration is very reminiscent of some of the looks Lando shoots his fellow heroes in the Jabba's palace scenes.
"Once a smooth-talking smuggler, Lando Calrissian changed from a get-rich-quick schemer to a selfless leader in the fight against the Empire. When his old friend Han was held captive in the palace of Jabba the Hutt, Lando joined Princess Leia in a mission to rescue him from certain demise."
Paint & Sculpt 4/5
This is the 2nd Billy Dee Williams sculpt in the Black Series and now uses the face print technology to capture a much better likeness than the first Cloud City release. The skin does look a little waxy, and the hair a little one dimensional being a single colour with no paint apps.
The costume is a pretty decent replication of the on screen outfit, with ornate metallic panels on the chest and shoulders. The skirt section is weathered really well to give a worn leather look - but everything else is left a single base colour. This does make the trousers in particular look a little bit too clean and bright.
Accessories 4/5
The Skiff Guard helmet is cast in a softer plastic and is a good fit over the head, albeit a little difficult to get the strap positioned around the chin area. With some tweaking the look can be achieved and you can then see Lando's eyes peering out from the "mouth" of the helmet.
The other accessory is the Vibro axe. This is cast in a grey plastic with no paint apps. Detail is soft in places, particularly around the blade - but in others quite crisp. It fits into either hand and can be held in a two handed grip.
Articulation 4/6
Articulation is very much standard on Lando for the Black Series line, with 16 points of articulation in total.
Head - ball joint with pivot
Body - mid-torso ball joint
Arms - ball joint shoulders, single jointed elbows, pivot wrist
Legs - ball joint hips, thigh swivel, single joint knee, ankle rocker
There are no obvious issues with the joints. All are tight and can move sufficiently to support a number of poses, including some action stances with the Vibro axe. The ankle rockers are tight and Lando stands perfectly well on his own.
Summary
Lando Skiff Guard is a much improved likeness on the previous Original Trilogy Lando and this new head and face print technology should also give us the Lando as Rebel General at some point in the future. The Skiff Guard outfit is well sculpted, if a little clean in the decor.
The helmet, which is make or break on a figure like this, works well without looking oversize. The only real issue is, like usual, the bland plastic looking weapon that is a wash away from looking far more impressive.
All things considered, Lando Skiff Guard is a solid release and I score it 4 out of 5.
