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Review: Star Wars Black Series Mandalorian Shriek-Hawk Trainers from The Mandalorian


"Paz Vizsla, enjoin the Shriek-hawk Training team to accompany you."


The Mandalorian Shriek-Hawk trainers were introduced in The Mandalorian Season 3 as part of the Children of the Watch. They appeared in a number of episodes, starting with The Apostate and were named as Shriek-Hawk Training Team Mandalorians in The Foundling. They would go on to be present on Navarro to battle the Pirate gang and then in the events to retake Mandalore.


While on-screen there are four members in the team, Hasbro announced three in the Star Wars Black Series as Autumn 2024 releases. One would be a single boxed release, with the other pairing packed into a two pack release - all three sold exclusively at Target in the US and via the Fan Channel here in the UK and elsewhere. They began shipping in late October 2024.

The 2-pack uses the new packaging design for the Galaxy Collection with a fully squared-off box that is the same height and depth as a single release, but with an expanded width to accommodate both figures. The same black base colour of the box is accented in the deep orange colour assigned to The Mandalorian collection - with the same colour tones used on the side art. The two packs are not numbered and are not part of the wider montage that the side art combines to make, with the art for the Shriek-Hawk Trainers showing both of the included characters on a split illustration. 

On the back is a short piece of background for the Shriek-Hawks and the Trainers who lead them and their role in using Jet Packs to fly into battle and on rescue missions. Inside the figures sit in the usual plastic tray against a new coloured card backdrop which is a new addition to this latest Galaxy Collection format - and this is not just a flat colour it includes background art with sunlight breaking through clouds. 

Our first Shriek-Hawk trainer uses the existing female Mandalorian body, most recently used on the Mandalorian Nite Owl, as a base with added parts to create the look as seen on screen. The base torso is sky blue in colour with a chest plate of green and orange creating a similar overall scheme to Boba Fett. The shoulder pauldrons are cream on the right and blue on the left with the latter carrying the Shriek-Hawk symbol as a grey decal. Further down the gauntlets also vary in colour with orange on the right and a new piece sculpted for this figure on the left in a burgundy finish with silver-painted weaponry. The belt incorporates a skirt piece - also in blue - with the belt painted in browns with gold buckle and inclusive of a right-sided holster. The legs are grey with brown painted panels at either side of the thigh, alternatively coloured knee panels and similarly variant shin armour one cream and one silver. 

The helmet is that of Bo-Katan and it is glued in place over what I can assume is an unpainted Bo-Katan head. It uses a deep blue base with silver trim around the owl visor and with a single silver stripe with black trim extended up and over the dome of the helmet. The helmet still features a poseable range Finder, and a final loose-fitting neck scarf piece in a green/brown has been added around the neck to finish off the look. The female Shriek-Hawk comes with a jetpack - the same as included with Bo-Katan - with a green overall finish inlaid with cream panels, an orange central section and silver thrusters and rocket. 

Her companion, a make Shriek-Hawk Trainer uses the Mandalorian Privateer as a base but features changed-out parts with a brand-new chest plate, a new belt and a new left gauntlet with similar weaponry to this counterpart. The second Trainer has a muted brown colour scheme with a dull brown over most of the inner suit and darker browns on the chest and the right side pauldron which carries the Shriek-Hawk decal symbol. Colours are overlaid to the brown by way of burgundy down the right-hand gauntlet, belt and holster, and the right side thigh armour. The right leg finishes with burgundy boots but with a green armour panel. On the left, the pauldron is a drab green, with bright orange gauntlet and grey tones on the thigh armour. 

The male Shriek-Hawk Trainer includes a helmet also taken straight off the Privateer but fixed in place over an unpainted head. The range finder remains in place but is cut off - which initially makes it look broken, but this is the intended finish. The helmet is a deep blue with grey trim and gloss black visor. His jet pack is turquoise in colour with lighter green panels and silver rocket and thrusters. The thrusters are poseable and can be pivoted around the joint in which they sit. 

Both Shriek-Hawks use similar weaponry. Both come with a basic WESTAR-35 Mandalorian Blaster with the female Shriek-Hawk Trainer using the existing mould in grey with a black-painted grip. This fits into her right trigger hand and also into her holster when not in use. The Male Shriek-Hawk has a newer version of the WESTSAR-35 with a chunkier finish - and while its similar to that used by the Mandalorian Loyalist and Super Commando it seems to be a new sculpt with different features and components. Again, it fits into the right trigger hand or the holster slung diagonally on the front of the belt.

Both Mandalorians also then come with a larger weapon, the Deathwatch Rifle Blaster as originally included with the Deathwatch Mandalorian. Both of these blasters are identical cast in black and with a gold trim included down the length of the barrel. These are designed to fit into the right trigger hand on both figures with the left hands shaped to cup the secondary grip at the front of the weapon for a two handed firing position.

Articulation for the Shriek-Hawk Trainers is similar with 19 points in total on both figures, all pinless. The upper arms are mobile enough for the weapon posing, with the shoulder joint not restricted by the pauldrons which withdraw under the chest armour as the shoulder joints are moved on our female Mando, and hinged pauldrons on the male that flex up and out when his arms are moved. Both Shriek-Hawks have a good range of leg movement, with the flexible skirt on our female Shriek-Hawk having little impact on the movement of the legs. Both stand securely once posed.

The two-pack further extends our Mandalorian Covert and with Children of the Watch troopers that vary from the very blue Nite Owls and Privateers we have had so far. While both figures re-use plenty of parts, there are new additions to make both figures individual and I do like the scarf and skirt sections used on the female figure to add a more ragged look to the Mandalorian armour. Both figures are well painted with plenty of colour variation across the armour, but without any weathering or battle damage which is perhaps a miss considering the history of these Mandalorians. Price-wise, it is good to see these 2-packs coming in at a reduced total compared to two single releases, and for £44.99  (lower if you shop around) they are a nice addition to a Mandalorian display - while also being easy enough to skip for those concentrating only on the main characters or mainline numbered boxes.




Keep Track of all the Star Wars Black Series figures from Hasbro at our comprehensive




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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...

 

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