'May the 4th' Hasbro Star Wars Fan First Livestream, Black Series Collection Reveals

On the eve of Star War Day 2023, Hasbro hosted a May the 4th themed Star Wars Fan First Livestream, revealing a raft of new figures - all of which are live for pre-order as of May 4th.

There are a number of new exclusives to look forward to, starting with a new Fives ARC Trooper figure from The Clone Wars. He wasn't mentioned in the live stream itself, but was included in the UK press release and is a UK Fan Channel exclusive - and potentially a retailer exclusive in the US, possibly Walmart as is Jesse. Fives is lited as an Autumn 2023 release.

The Gaming Greats line will then expand further with the official reveals of two figures previously announced via the Pipeline reveals. General Grievous will be a Battle Damaged variant based on the Battlefront video games and comes complete with all four light sabers. While Darth Malgus is plucked from the Old Republic and features his lightsaber and removable breathing mask. Malgus will be released in the Autumn and is a general Fan Channel release. Grievous will arrive in Winter 2023 and is a Gamestop US exclusive, and sold via the Fan Channel in the UK and other territories.

The reveals then moved onto general releases with confirmation that the recently released Return of the Jedi 40th Anniversary figures of Wicket and Chewbacca will be repacked into the main Galaxy Collection as part of the ROTJ collection. They are joined in a wave by three new Clone Wars figures. We have a Magna Guard, a generic Mark II Clone Trooper with a removable helmet, and a new Padawan Ahsoka Tano figure that does seem to have taken some inspiration in sculpting from a younger Rosario Dawson.

These five new figures are Winter 2023 releases and we think they will be part of Wave 12 of the Galaxy Collection alongside the previously announced Omega from Bad Batch (awaiting confirmation).

The final figure fully revealed was the new Mandalorian, again as promised via pipeline announcements. He is based on his Book of Boba Fett appearance on the Glavis Ringworld so will come in BOBF packaging. He includes a jetpack, knife, dark saber, and blaster. He will also feature a soft goods robe. He is confirmed as being the 4th figure in the Book of Boba Fett themed Wave (Wave 14 we think) and will arrive in Spring 2024 along with the Pyke Soldier, Tusken Raider Chieftain, and Cad Bane

There was also a Black Series roleplay reveal, Axe Woves Mandalorian helmet coming Winter 2023.

As always the stream finished with some pipeline news. There will be another Wave of Archive figures (Wave 8) and this will include re-releases for Bo-Katan Kryze, Luke X-Wing Pilot, Darth Vader from A New Hope, and an Imperial Stormtrooper using the newer body. We know from the panel that Darth Vader will get some tweaks to make him more screen accurate.

There were then general pipeline reveals with a repack confirmed for Paz Viszla, and Greef Karga's R4 unit as seen in The Mandalorian - this will be a Walmart exclusive. The Phantom Menace will also get some more figures with little Anakin and an Episode I Padme - we assume this is the Theed Palace battle figure based on the image they used. The pipeline reveals closed with the confirmation of a Carson Teva X-Wing Pilot helmet in the roleplay series.

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STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES ARC TROOPER FIVES

(HASBRO/Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: £27.99 / Available: Autumn 2023)

STAR WARS fans and collectors can imagine scenes from the STAR WARS galaxy with this premium 6-inch STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES ARC TROOPER FIVES figure, inspired by the character’s appearance in STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS animated series. Fives trained with Domino Squad on Kamino before being stationed at the Rishi Moon outpost. While on Kamino for medical testing, he discovered a terrifying secret about the clone’s origins. Fans and collectors can display this fully articulated figure featuring premium detail and multiple points of articulation in their collection. Includes figure and 4 series-inspired accessories including 2 blaster accessories.

STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES DARTH MALGUS

(HASBRO/Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: £33.99 / Available: Autumn 2023)

STAR WARS fans and collectors can imagine scenes from the STAR WARS galaxy with this premium deluxe 6-inch DARTH MALGUS figure, inspired by the character in the STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC video game. A legendary Sith Lord, Darth Malgus emerges from hiding with a mysterious plan that could secure his legacy in the annals of the Sith. Fans and collectors can display this fully articulated figure featuring premium detail and multiple points of articulation in their collection. Includes figure and 2 entertainment-inspired accessories including a Lightsaber.

STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES GAMING GREATS GENERAL GRIEVOUS (BATTLE DAMAGED)

(HASBRO/Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: £33.99 / Available: Winter 2023)

STAR WARS fans and collectors can imagine scenes from the STAR WARS galaxy with this premium 6-inch STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES GAMING GREATS GENERAL GRIEVOUS (BATTLE DAMAGED) figure, inspired by the character’s appearance in STAR WARS: BATTLEFRONT II video game. Kaleesh cyborg General Grievous was a brilliant Separatist military strategist whose mere presence caused unease amongst his enemies. Fans and collectors can display this fully articulated figure featuring premium detail and multiple points of articulation in their collection. Includes figure and 4 Lightsaber accessory.

STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES WICKET

(HASBRO/Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: £24.99 / Available: Winter 2023)

STAR WARS fans and collectors can imagine scenes from the STAR WARS galaxy with this premium 6-inch STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES WICKET figure, inspired by the character’s appearance in STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI. Wicket was the brave young Ewok who willingly joined the Rebellion and aided in the battle against the Empire on the forest moon of Endor. Fans and collectors can display this fully articulated figure featuring premium detail and multiple points of articulation in their collection. Includes figure and 5 entertainment-inspired accessories including two club accessories and a bow accessory.

STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES CHEWBACCA

(HASBRO/Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: £24.99 / Available: Winter 2023)

STAR WARS fans and collectors can imagine scenes from the STAR WARS galaxy with this premium 6-inch STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES CHEWBACCA figure, inspired by the character’s appearance in STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI. To rescue Han Solo from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt, Leia Organa hatches a plan to disguise herself as a bounty hunter – with Chewbacca as her captive. Fans and collectors can display this fully articulated figure featuring premium detail and multiple points of articulation in their collection. Includes figure and bowcaster accessory.

STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES AHSOKA TANO (PADAWAN)

(HASBRO/Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: £24.99 / Available: Winter 2023)

STAR WARS fans and collectors can imagine scenes from the STAR WARS galaxy with this premium 6-inch STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES AHSOKA TANO (PADAWAN) figure, inspired by the character’s appearance in STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS animated series. Ahsoka Tano, a young Togruta, was the Padawan learner to Anakin Skywalker and a hero of the Clone Wars. Fans and collectors can display this fully articulated figure featuring premium detail and multiple points of articulation in their collection. Includes figure and her 2 signature Lightsaber accessories.

STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES PHASE II CLONE TROOPER

(HASBRO/Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: £24.99 / Available: Winter 2023)

STAR WARS  fans and collectors can imagine scenes from the STAR WARS galaxy with this premium 6-inch STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES PHASE II CLONE TROOPER figure, inspired by the character’s appearance in STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS animated series. Improvements to clone armor and equipment were made throughout the Clone Wars; by its final battles, nearly all clones had switched to improved “Phase II” armor. Fans and collectors can display this fully articulated figure featuring premium detail and multiple points of articulation in their collection. Includes figure and blaster accessory.

STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES MAGNAGUARD

(HASBRO/Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: £24.99 / Available: Winter 2023)

STAR WARS  fans and collectors can imagine scenes from the STAR WARS galaxy with this premium 6-inch STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES MAGNAGUARD figure, inspired by the character’s appearance in STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS animated series. MagnaGuards, implacable droids who guarded key Separatist leaders, proved tough opponents for the Jedi with their deadly electrostaffs. They could even keep fighting after losing limbs or heads. Fans and collectors can display this fully articulated figure featuring premium detail and multiple points of articulation in their collection. Includes figure and electrostaff with purple lightning FX accessory.

STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES THE MANDALORIAN (GLAVIS RINGWORLD)

(HASBRO/Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: £24.99 / Available: Spring 2024)

STAR WARS  fans and collectors can imagine scenes from the STAR WARS galaxy with this premium 6-inch STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES THE MANDALORIAN (GLAVIS RINGWORLD) figure, inspired by the character’s appearance in STAR WARS: THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT live-action series. After entrusting Luke Skywalker with Grogu’s care, The Mandalorian – known to few as Din Djarin – sets off to learn more about the origins of his people. Fans and collectors can display this fully articulated figure featuring premium detail and multiple points of articulation in their collection. Includes figure and 4 entertainment-inspired accessories, including a Darksaber accessory.

STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES AXE WOVES PREMIUM ELECTRONIC HELMET

(HASBRO/Ages 14 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: £139.99/Available: Winter 2023)

A skilled warrior and privateer, Axe Woves travels the galaxy as a Mandalorian mercenary. STAR WARS fans and collectors can imagine scenes from the biggest battles and missions in the STAR WARS galaxy with this premium roleplay, AXE WOVES PREMIUM ELECTRONIC HELMET, inspired by the STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN live-action series. Features premium deco, realistic detail, series-inspired design and drop-down rangefinder that activates with the press of a button, lighting up LEDs that flash in a “hunting” pattern as well as an LED-illuminated heads-up display. [Requires 1x AAA battery – not included]

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About Me : As a child of the '70s and '80s I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force), and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licenses - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who, and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK-focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...

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