"A Jedi's goal is to defend life, not take it."
The Obi-Wan Kenobi Black Series release, based on his outfit worn on Jabiim during the events of the Disney+ series, was released in 2023 and was the third of what would be four Kenobi figures from the show. Jabiim Kenobi was a general release and packed into Wave 11 of the Galaxy Collection, a mixed wave that also included Tala and the 4th Sister from the show as well as Vel Sertha from Andor, and the Gaming Greats releases of Darth Malek and Bastilla Shan. The Wave was released during the plastic-free packaging era so the box does not feature a window and the figure and character are illustrated both via artwork and promotional shots of the figure itself. Obi-Wan Kenobi from Jabiim is number 11 in the Kenobi Galaxy Series following on from the Deluxe NED-B figure and preceding the 4th Sister from the same wave.
The Kenobi series essentially saw four key costumes for Obi-Wan - excluding any disguises - and of the four, there were two distinct styles that only really differentiated between each pairing in colour scheme. The first two releases from Kenobi were the earlier outfits in blue for Tibidon Station, and in the Wandering Jedi brown tones as he started his journey in the show. Jabiim Kenobi sees the outfit transition more from simple Desert Dweller to a look more aligned to the Jedi Order and similar in style to Obi-Wan's clothing from the Prequel series, at least in the tunic. The figure is reused with updated legs and some colour alternations for the fourth release titled ‘Jedi Legend’.
The figure is made up of an earth brown tunic with a white undershirt and brown belt complete with holster. The legs are the same as the first two Kenobi releases with dark brown trousers, lighter brown boots and a sandy-coloured wrap where the two meet. Each part is cast in the base colour with no extensive paint apps other than the belt, undershirt, and boots. Despite the state of Obi-Wan in the show by this point, there is no additional weathering or washes.
The head itself is new compared to the earlier 2022 release and is one of the best Ewan McGregor likenesses to date in the line complete with facial printing. I am less convinced about the colouring choice for the hair and beard with both sitting a few shades too light for the onscreen appearance. The robes over the top of the outfit are soft goods and use the very soft brown fabric seen on most Jedi. This hangs well enough but sits very stiff and flat and fails to replicate the heavy folds of a true Jedi robe. The hood is stitched so to sit over the head of the figure, but it still doesn’t quite sit naturally. The soft goods are removable easily enough and in a case of very much less is more, removing the sleeveless robe does enhance the look and feel of the figure.
Obi-Wan features a blaster, the same one he uses throughout the series while he rediscovers his link to the Force. This is reasonably well-detailed, and coloured in a bronze finish. It fits into Kenobi’s right hand where we have a flexible trigger finger. And when not in use it can be holstered away.
We also get Kenobi’s lightsaber with the usual removable translucent blue blade. The hilt is crisp in its detailing with silver, black and gold decor on the shaft. It also features a discreet plug that will slip into a corresponding socket around the back of Kenobi’s belt. We only get a single pair of hands with the figure and while they can hold both weapons, there is an odd look to the right hand when holding the lightsaber with the trigger finger pointing outward. We really need to start seeing a more aligned lightsaber-gripping hand on our Jedi characters, and where they use dual weapons and then give us dual hands. Obi-Wan is also known for his hand gestures when using the Force, and the figure fails to replicate any of these with two basic gripping hands all we have to work with.
Articulation is entirely pinless, with 19 points of articulation. These include, as far as I can make out, butterfly shoulders but the shape of the upper tunic doesn’t give these joints much scope for bringing the arms in for two-handed saber posing. Everything else works well enough and Kenobi has plenty of display options while holding most poses and having no stability issues.
I now have all four of the Obi-Wan figures from Kenobi, and each of them brings something to the display. This one is probably my favourite - once the soft goods are removed - as it presents Obi-Wan as a Jedi, but in a darker and grittier look than we perhaps saw him during the time of the Clone Wars. While the ‘Jedi Legend’ release takes the outfit one step further, that version is perhaps too light, clean, and tidy. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Jabiim) is another solid release without going the extra mile and is probably only going to suffer from a case of over-subscription of Kenobi figures in such a short space of time
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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...