The 2013 Star Wars The Black Series Han Solo (A New Hope) is one of the most important figures in the entire Orange Wave — a release that helped define the identity, ambition, and long‑term direction of the Black Series. As the first 6‑inch Han Solo ever produced, this figure carried enormous weight. Han is not just a main character; he is one of the core pillars of the Original Trilogy, and his inclusion in the launch wave signaled that the Black Series was committed to delivering the saga’s most iconic heroes in premium form.

Han was chosen for the Orange Wave because he represented everything the Black Series needed to prove: expressive human likeness, layered costume sculpting, mixed textures, and a full accessory loadout that supported multiple scene configurations. Unlike armored characters or masked figures, Han required a convincing facial sculpt — something that early 6‑inch lines often struggled with. The success of this figure would determine whether collectors believed the Black Series could deliver human likenesses at a premium level.

This figure arrived at a time when the Black Series was still establishing its identity. Luke (X‑Wing) represented the hero archetype. Maul represented the villain. The Sandtrooper represented the army builder. R2‑D2 represented engineering ambition. Leia represented human sculpting challenges. And Greedo represented alien diversity. Han Solo completed the picture — the smuggler, the scoundrel, the reluctant hero, and one of the most beloved characters in the franchise.

Han’s inclusion also served a strategic purpose: he enabled the Cantina Duel. With Greedo in the same wave, collectors could recreate one of the most iconic scenes in A New Hope right out of the gate. This pairing demonstrated that the Black Series wasn’t just about individual characters — it was about building scenes, dioramas, and narrative displays. Han and Greedo together showed that the line was designed for world‑building, not just figure collecting.

The figure itself was ambitious for 2013. The head sculpt captured Harrison Ford’s likeness with early‑line realism, predating Photo Real but still recognisable. The costume sculpt included layered textures: the ribbed black vest, the smooth white shirt, the detailed belt buckles, and the holster rig with functional loops and straps. The articulation allowed for expressive blaster poses, relaxed smuggler stances, and cantina‑style negotiations.

One of the most important aspects of this release was the accessory loadout. Han included his signature DL‑44 blaster, a removable holster belt, and — crucially — a stormtrooper belt and blaster, allowing collectors to recreate his Death Star disguise. This made Han one of the most versatile figures in the Orange Wave, capable of representing multiple scenes and costume states from A New Hope. For a launch‑year figure, this level of versatility was rare.

Collectors immediately recognised the figure’s importance. Han became a foundational piece of early Black Series displays, anchoring Millennium Falcon crew setups, Cantina dioramas, and Rebel hero lineups. His silhouette — vest, boots, blaster — is one of the most iconic in Star Wars, and the figure captured that identity with surprising accuracy for 2013.

In the broader history of the Black Series, Han Solo (A New Hope) stands as a line‑defining human release — a figure that proved the Black Series could deliver expressive likenesses, layered costumes, and scene‑specific versatility. He wasn’t just part of the launch wave; he was a statement about the line’s commitment to the Original Trilogy and its most beloved characters.

Technical Details & Sculpt

• Portrait & Likeness:
  The head sculpt captures Harrison Ford’s facial structure with early‑line realism. While predating Photo Real, the likeness is recognisable, with defined hair sculpting and clean paint separation.

• Costume Sculpt:
  The black vest features ribbed texturing, while the white shirt includes subtle fabric folds. The holster rig is fully sculpted with functional loops and detailed buckles.

• Proportions:
  Han’s lean build and long‑legged silhouette match his OT appearance, avoiding the bulkiness seen in some early figures.

• Articulation:
  Includes:

  • ball‑jointed head and neck
  • hinged shoulders and elbows
  • torso articulation
  • double‑jointed knees
  • rocker ankles

  Supports blaster‑ready poses, relaxed stances, and cantina negotiations.

Accessories & Equipment

Han Solo includes:

• DL‑44 blaster — iconic sculpt with scope and ribbed barrel
• Stormtrooper belt — white belt with functional holster
• Stormtrooper blaster — compact E‑11 sculpt
• Removable holster belt — brown leather‑style rig with detailed buckles

These accessories allow Han to be displayed in multiple scene configurations, from the Cantina to the Death Star corridors.