Packaging - ***1/2
I’m really digging the retro package design here. The silver bars and lettering against the black background really stand out. I also like the new OTC logo design as well. The other thing that sets these cards apart is the photo art background used behind the blister. 

The back of the card is nicely executed as well and shows off some of the other figures in the series. While I like the new, sturdier bubble design, the large size of the blister really calls attention to the fact that a lot of these figures don’t have much in the way of accessories. Each figure is also packaged with a small color product pamphlet.

Sculpting - **
I do have to give Hasbro Kudos for not kit-bashing parts from the POTJ Bespin Escape Leia. This is indeed a new sculpt –just not a very exciting one. Hasbro has a really hard time capturing the likeness of Carrie Fisher. In the end most Leia figures end up either looking generic or doll-like. This one’s somewhere in between.
I like the wisps of hair done along the sides of the head very much, as well as the neck design, but the overall face sculpt is pretty blank. 

The body is pretty simplistic in comparison to the detailed work found on other figures out there. The pleats in the cape hang nicely, but look a little rough in spots. One thing that kind of bugs me is the way the cape is sculpted around Leia’s chest. Because of the way the cape’s sculpted, it almost looks like her bust flattens out on the sides. It just looks kind of weird from some angles, and could have been averted by a separately sculpted piece.

The hands are also a bit on the rough side as well, especially in comparison to the vintage-style OTC Leia.

Paint - ***
The one saving grace about this figure is the paint ops. While the solid red under-suit isn’t all that exciting, the cape detailing is definitely above par. In fact the ornate pattern seems wasted on this figure.

The face is pretty blank except for the big brown eyes and rosy cheeks that make her look a little doll-like.

There’s a little bleeding around the hairline and the wrists, but hey –we can’t all be perfect.

Articulation - *1/2
When the vintage Kenner figure is more articulated than the brand-new one, you know something’s wrong. Leia has five points of articulation: neck, shoulder, and elbow cuts.

This figure is a perfect example of sculpt impeding articulation. Due to the design of the cape, there simply is no way Hasbro could have included waist or leg articulation without making the figure look weird. Leia’s small, immobile feet do not go well with her top-heavy design. Therefore, this is one figure that’s going to be constantly using her stand. Once again, a separately sculpted cape could have aided in solving this problem.

The shoulder cuts are what they are. The elbow cuts are next to useless at best, and counterproductive at worst. The right one is at such a slight angle that very little variation is possible. The left one can be bent in a 90-degree angle, but due to the lack of wrist articulation, it obviously doesn’t do anything. 

Accessories - **
To be honest, there wasn’t much Leia could have been packaged with. So as per usual, Hasbro tosses in an Imperial Blaster. This is the same blaster found from the POTJ line onward. For some reason it’s been molded in silver instead of black, but that’s okay. At least it isn’t the bendy version that came with the recent T.I.E. Pilot.

Leia also comes with the same black stand found in other Hasbro releases. Due to the design of the figure, it’s necessary, but I would like to see a new, flat figure stand without the tabs on the sides.

One thing I would have really like to see here is a removable cape. The current sculpt design kills almost all possible articulation in this figure –something that could have been avoided by a separately sculpted cape. 

Durability/Quality - **
She’s quite a petite figure, which is in line scale-wise, but leaves Leia with some small legs, and tinier feet. While not articulated, they don’t feel solidly anchored either. 

Value - **
Even at the common $4.99 price tag, she doesn’t do it for me. Unfortunately, you’re probably going to spend more since the OTC figures haven’t been showing up in stores too frequently. 

Collectibles Time has her, and most of the other OTC figures in at $7.99.
Cloud City has her for $13.99 for C-9 cards, $12.99 for C-8/C-7 cards.
SWFigures has her in for $11.99.
Ebay should give me stock options for the amount of shilling I’ve done for them. 

Overall - **
Until recently only two figures remained exclusive to the vintage Kenner line (unless you want to get into specific Ewok characters, and not counting the Ewoks or Droids cartoon figures): the Cloud Car Pilot, and the Bespin Leia. Hasbro has finally produced both of these figures for the OTC line. Needless to say, a lot of us collectors and fans were waiting for these two to show up.

With Leia, it’s a lackluster affair. Her lack of articulation really hinders her poseablility as well as her basic ability to stand upright unaided. I’m sure you all know what my biggest complaint is by now, since I’ve been harping on it repeatedly –so here it is for the last time: the cape. A separately sculpted cape could have made all the difference in this figure. Hell, even if Hasbro has included wrist cuts, it would have been an improvement. Even though this figure is probably a must for many collectors, she doesn’t really stand out at all. She’s one of those figures that displays best still carded.

Of course Hasbro tends to have chronic problems with their female figures, although they’ve gotten a lot better at sculpt and design in recent years. Outside of the vintage-style Leia, there are only three other female figures in the entire Hasbro line from POTF 2 onwards that I’d gladly recommend for purchase: Aayla Secura, Asajj Ventress (non-animated), and Barriss Offee. While none of these are definitive figures by any means, they all have three things in common: decent accessories, good sculpts, and ball joints.
Hasbro does have another female figure in the works: a Padme Amidala from Episode 1. If the final figure looks as good as the preview shots, I might add another name to that list. Until then, skip this one unless you’re one of the complete-ist types.