The Exclusive box set of Cassian Andor and B2EMO from the Disney+ Andor series was a Summer 2022 Convention release and followed suit with the previous 2-3 years by bringing collectors an upcoming figure in exclusive packaging with an exclusive part included - in this case the B2EMO droid. The packaging uses the Phase 4 closed box format of exclusives established in 2020 with Cad Bane and uses an outer sleeve and inner box - or in this case boxes - that can slide out like drawers. The front sleeve uses a two-tone black design with images of Cassian and B2EMO worked into the design as shadows. This is overlaid by a red-trimmed Black Series logo.
At each side is a tray that is shaped and sized exactly to the Galaxy Collection format inclusive of the angled side which contains artwork specific to the figure although it is not part of a wider montage. B2EMO sits to the right-hand side of the box with Cassian to the left. There are no windows to the figures and they are tied into the deep red box interior to keep them secure. The rear of Cassian’s box follows suit with the main line releases with some character details, but B2EMO’s side is left clear. While the box can be saved, you will have to cut or carefully stretch the cable ties to free the figures.
This is a new head sculpt for Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor with a longer unkempt hairstyle and a fuller beard. The likeness to Luna is good with photo-real decor applied and adding some realism to the eyes and the beard. The skin tone is glossy and that does detract a little from the overall look.
Cassian is presented the outfit we first see him wearing in the Andor series as he heads to Morlana One and this presents a number of different layers on the figure from a brown undershirt, blue outer shirt, green two-tone tunic, and an outer jacket in a gloss burgundy with brown trim that is executed as an outer rubberized plastic sleeve. Other paint decor includes a sculpted belt with painted gold buckles and some darker brown panels on the knees of Cassian’s trousers, and the same colour applied to his boots. All of these painted layers are neat and defined with no obvious issues.
Articulation is 19 points in total with Andor picking up the dual joint neckpiece and a pair of butterfly shoulders tucked away under the outer jacket. The joints are all designed to fit around the look of the figure and outfit, and are all pinless. Cassian can be posed in a number of different stances both dynamic and static depending on your display preferences. His sole accessory is the MW-20 Bryar pistol he inherited from his adoptive father Clem Andor. It fits into the right hand specifically where a trigger finger slots into place - it also will just about work in the left which is similar in terms of trigger finger design but not quite snug enough for a tight grip. Like most Black Series weapons of the current era, the gun is a metallic finish plastic and is unpainted in terms of any detail but the sculpt itself is crisp. There is no holster or any way of stowing the blaster under Cassian’s coat when not in use?
The Andor family droid, B2EMO is the exclusive element to the set. It is cast in red plastic with pitted wear and tear built into the sculpt. The two sets of drive wheels sit on either side of the main body with the treaded wheels painted in a dark grey - and somewhat messily if you look from underneath. One of the wheel covers is a construction yellow colour as seen on screen and weathering is applied over the top of all the wheeled sections.
The droid's main body is made up of a base, two central rings and the upper dome and these can extend outwards to when B2EMO is operating, or be folded back into a compressed mode when it is offline. These panels include some turquoise panels and stripes which are applied to look worn and scratched. There are also some painted exposed internal components around the upper central ring. Inside the body of B2EMO you can see the internal mechanisms cast in a grey but devoid of any paint with the exception of the droid's eyepiece which includes a very neatly executed dual red ring.
This 2022 exclusive release ticks quite a few positive boxes for collectors with a collectors feel to the packaging and in keeping with previous releases. It gives us a main character that is released exactly the same way as a general release while maintaining exclusivity with the inclusion of B2EMO. The set was also not overly difficult to obtain and at the time of writing is entering a period of price cutting making it even more desirable. Considering the reception for Andor, and B2EMO being the ‘signature’ droid of Season 1, I certainly am glad to have both figures in my collection and can happily dip out on the main release. I would say it is not worth the original RRP but now is a great time to buy, with prices falling below the £30 mark before the set disappears from retailers completely.
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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's 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 licences - 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...