Hot Toys ROTJ Emperor Palpatine

[Sardo Numspa]

I am now “unofficially” done with Hot Toys. I say unofficially because the only figure I “might” have interest in in Count Dooku but I will wait for production piece and then weigh if I want to pay its’ very heavy price tag.

That's a strong statement. We all know how tempting HT can be when they put out the right figure, and considering how many Star Wars characters are still to be made, I'd bet $$ that (outside of Dooku) this is not your last HT figure.

(I'm not suggesting I know you, your personal situation, or your motivations, I just like to gamble, and that sounds like a situation to bet on...)

 

[Bo Shrek]

That's a strong statement. We all know how tempting HT can be when they put out the right figure, and considering how many Star Wars characters are still to be made, I'd bet $$ that (outside of Dooku) this is not your last HT figure.

(I'm not suggesting I know you, your personal situation, or your motivations, I just like to gamble, and that sounds like a situation to bet on...)

Desire, temptation, anticipation are all traits of us collectors and I know inside I am always craving something (its who I am). Currently this collector “energy” is placed with Count Dooku (to by me time). What I have learned with the rising prices is that the price has outweighed the product as a result I have passed on many figures (Anakin, Obi, R2 Deluxe, Bespin Leia, Wolf Predator, Neo etc etc). Its a good thing actually. It basically means a Hot Toys purchase is a rare thing that might only occur once a year earning the $300 price tag.

 

[Hoody999]

I think at this point a lot of us Star Wars collectors have the main figures we need and are probably asking ourselves the same question. Sure I'd get more Star Wars figures but it all depends what HT make next. If it's just more versions of the big 3 I'll be fine waiting. And prequels are out for me.

 

[Wor-Gar]

This is where HT is murderous.... it will simply REMAKE the key figures with better sculpts, outfits, etc. Staring with Bespin Luke soon...

 

[Bo Shrek]

I think my desire for Count Dooku extends past SW and the desire for a high end representation of Christopher Lee and his body of work from Hammer Horror to LOTR. Even Tarkin (which I don’t own). Watch a handful of Hammer Horror films with Peter Cushing and come back to watch ANH and I swear you’ll say “Hey its Dr. Frankenstein”!!!!

 

[Wor-Gar]

Bo must get Tarkin.

Tarkin and Dooku will look cool together.

 

[pug205]

I picked up my Emperor yesterday (my second HT figure of the year). With no preorders or interests in other figures (due to high prices), I am now “unofficially” done with Hot Toys. I say unofficially because the only figure I “might” have interest in in Count Dooku but I will wait for production piece and then weigh if I want to pay its’ very heavy price tag.

I think you have claimed your latest HT purchase was your last with a possible exception for a couple of years now Bo.

Looking forward to your in hand Dooku pictures next year buddy

 

[Bo Shrek]

I think you have claimed your latest HT purchase was your last with a possible exception for a couple of years now Bo.

Looking forward to your in hand Dooku pictures next year buddy

My wife said the same thing!!

 

[dukefett]

This is where HT is murderous.... it will simply REMAKE the key figures with better sculpts, outfits, etc. Staring with Bespin Luke soon...

I can't see that happening for several years. Still got plenty of variations to give us before going back to the well. I kind of wish they'd just go in some order though. They pretty much knocked out A New Hope really fast and then now it's wavering from figures from every movie basically.

 

[SilverStar17]

They seem to be doing ESB and RotJ concurrently when it comes to the OT.

 

[rayeknor]

After Maul and one of the Lukes I'm done.

Still can't believe people say emperor has brown eyes still.. its just the shadow under his brows of doom.

 

[asgardianboy]

So I received the regular version of this guy earlier today and just had a chance to take him out for a bit. Straight out of the box and posed, no modifications, minimal futzing to the robe:

"In time, you will find that it is you who are mistaken. About a great, many, things."


I gotta say, I'm pretty impressed with him myself. The sculpt is very detailed with all the lines and wrinkles in his face. Eyes can indeed be more yellow though, and while the expression captures him quite well, it only does so from specific scenes and he has to be posed based on those specific screen shots when he had that expression, otherwise it just comes across as looking goofy to me if he's posed any other way. People have mentioned snipping the threads on the sides of the hood that hold it down to the robe, and while you'd probably get optimal results with the hood if you do so, I actually don't think it's really a necessity the way it was with TFA Kylo Ren. The edge of the hood has a wire and can be shaped to drape close to his head, and the bottom edge of the robe has a wire as well. I didn't put the cane in his hand so I'm not sure how that fits in his hand. Same with the lightning attachments.

All in all a good figure. The hands and the robe look a bit more poofy in the images than what they actually are when you look at it in person.

Extremely well looking for unfutzed. The fit is almost human.

Deluxe Palps arrived! There's a lot of detail in the head sculpt and hands my camera just can't pick up. It looks WAY better in person. Especially with the lighting, it really comes to life.

The throne fits awkwardly in the detolf and the way Palps sits in it destroys the illusion. Wish I didn't get the deluxe, oh well!

Lightsaber looks tiny. Huge hands.

I got my deluxe and boy is the box huge. I stretched my budget and although the chair is really nice it doesn't make for a great display inside the Detolf. I think I could have skipped and gotten the regular version. Personally, I am big on poses and I prefer the look of Sidious standing instead of seated. I do agree that some of the hands(not all) appear quite large but it is not a deal breaker by any means. I would have loved to get a pair of Royal guards with Sidious seated on his throne, but since I really can't spend that kind of money I am happy with having him standing alone or perhaps with Vader in a future posing setup. Forgive my photos as they aren't a high-end SLR and are just taken with my phone.

Head and Clothing
The head-sculpt is remarkably well done, but the eyes should have been more sith-yellow and not the light hazel brown that they are. Otherwise it still is a great looking figure. The rope is very nice material which matches the movie but the sleeves appear to be slightly restricted and short as it requires extra futzing to cover the wrist ball joints when posing. The undergarments are well done but to be honest, these will almost always be hidden and I couldn't care less if he was wearing underwear under the rope for display purposes. The hood is well done and I appreciate the wire as to allow futzing it into a good weight like draping look. The boots are of a nice suede-like material and have a really good ankle movement.

Accessories
I am pleased with the look and material used for the cane, it really looks like a dark evil obsidian material and fits decently in 2 of the hands provided. The lighting is also a great effect as I have not seen it this well done in any figure before and to top it off the joints are stiff enough that it doesn't droop down when they are attached, of course, time will tell how they hold up but, I likely don't plan on using them in my display. I have wired my throne chair to USB power as with all my figures who have led features and overall I am pleased that Hot Toys finally started using proper batteries for their bigger pieces. The chair itself is a large piece and has a good weight to it.

The LEDs are bright and the added white LEDs above the head area are a great addition IMO. With the figure seated I was able to get the shoes angled toward the ground and it was not a huge issue as part of the clothing covers it anyways. A bit of futzing allows a good look without it looking really bad. The lightsaber is nicely designed although I don't have a Luke in my collection and I may never get one as I am very selective in what I can add to my collection. I am happy with the rectangle stands and hope that Hot Toys continues using these so that the figures match.

Thanks for your review buddy. Great pics and great insight.

I picked up my Emperor yesterday (my second HT figure of the year). With no preorders or interests in other figures (due to high prices), I am now “unofficially” done with Hot Toys. I say unofficially because the only figure I “might” have interest in in Count Dooku but I will wait for production piece and then weigh if I want to pay its’ very heavy price tag.

Lucky you... :-(

Desire, temptation, anticipation are all traits of us collectors and I know inside I am always craving something (its who I am). Currently this collector “energy” is placed with Count Dooku (to by me time). What I have learned with the rising prices is that the price has outweighed the product as a result I have passed on many figures (Anakin, Obi, R2 Deluxe, Bespin Leia, Wolf Predator, Neo etc etc). Its a good thing actually. It basically means a Hot Toys purchase is a rare thing that might only occur once a year earning the $300 price tag.

That is extremely spot-on. I begin to think there is a bubble forming. You'd better buy what you love and won't need to re-sell. Value of figs will have to go down harshly the moment people realize the money they are shelling out like nothing. It has happened with HT Disney SW crap. It seems figs from that segment are no longer wanted after TLJ.

I am dying to get what I have always dreamt of owning/enjoying, then dial way down my efforts, both in time and money. Down to nil, if possible.

 

[Creighton]

After Maul and one of the Lukes I'm done.

Still can't believe people say emperor has brown eyes still.. its just the shadow under his brows of doom.

View attachment 437123

Yes, but I wanted this.

 

[DarkChocobi]

Nice Sith eyes

 

[rayeknor]

View attachment 437155

Yes, but I wanted this.

Yep, they could gone that extra mile imho.

 

[davejames]

Yup, that makes all the difference. Even with a bright light shown on them, the HT eyes don't look nearly as good as that.

 

[Wor-Gar]

View attachment 437155

Yes, but I wanted this.

So much better.

 

[rayeknor]

Dark side Anakins eyes kinda look like that shop, bright but not illuminated. Defo a better solution as far as sith eyes go.

 

[Hydeous]

Has the emperor’s looks aged since the rots?

 

[matrix69]

View attachment 437179