In 2020, the Star Wars Black Series launched a sub-line based around the Disney Parks Galaxy's Edge. This single line of figures was to be sold as an exclusive in Target stores in the US and as Fan Channel product elsewhere in the world. A lot of the Gaming Greats figures were taken from the 2019 multi-pack sets, but there were some new characters including Hondo Ohnaka's droid, R5-P8.
The Galaxy's Edge figures were obviously designed before the release of the new Phase 4 angled side packaging, so remain in what is essentially a Phase 3 box. This remains gloss black in base colour with the silvery Star Wars Black Series logo atop the window. Like other exclusives, such as the Carbonized line or Gaming Greats, an insert is now cut into the window that carries the Galaxy's Edge logo.
The accent colours on the packaging is an earthy brown and this is used on the character name. The left hand side spine is redesigned fully with the brown Galaxy's edge box at the top with white text and a hatched line underneath. There is then an actual dirt design down the rest of the spine which carries the character name and a faction logo at the base. The R5-P8 I am reviewing carries the Rebel/Resistance symbol.
The box uses Gregory Titus artwork of the droid both front and back, and also has the usual background text on the reverse.
"R5-P8 is Hondo Ohnaka's most capable astromech and serves as an automated repair mechanic on Hondo's many starships. This sassy droid calls Hondo out on occasion, always keeping the pirate on his toes"
While the accent colour of the side spine is brown, this has not been used on the backing card behind the figure. This is a very dark gloss black with thin lines running through the design. Hondo is very lost in the packaging and would have looked much better against a more contrasting background colour like the brown.
3.5
While R5-P8 has appeared in The Clone Wars series, this droid is specifically based on his appearance at Galaxy's Edge, where he sits as part of the pre-show before the Smugglers Run ride along side an animatronic of his boss Hondo. This means that if you are hoping for the upper weapon we see mounted on his turret in his Clone Wars appearances, you may be disappointed.
R5-P8 uses the existing Astromech body and sculpt, with the same R5 head unit as used in the original R5-D4 and subsequent units. This body unit has been criticised as being undersized since its debut, and that remains the case - although so far into the line it would likely be divisive if Hasbro were to change this.
The base colour for our droid is off white with a cream dome, and with pink/red panels across the main body, around the neck piece and down the legs. To recreate his worn look, R5-P8 base body is weathered heavily. His trademark "teeth" are applied as a decal just under the three eye pieces. The top aerial is painted black, and is cast in a more malleable plastic so it is not easy to break.
4.0
The figure comes with no accessories at all. While I do appreciate that R5-P8 is based on the Galaxy's Edge appearance, it could not have been beyond the realm of possibility to include a removable blaster accessory that plugs into the top of his dome.
N/A
All Astromech Droids released to date come with the same level of articulation. The legs are jointed at the body and with a further pivot at the "ankle" so the feet can be posed for standing straight or for angling in a travel position.
The dome rotates and in doing so the lower central travel leg extends or contracts from the main body. This additional leg also includes a pivot on the foot section for straightening into the ground. This mechanism works well, but links the dome position to the additional leg - so you have to use the counter-clockwise click to position the dome into the position you want without opening the leg.
All three legs are fitted with rollers for pushing the droids along the ground.
R5-P8 retains the manipulator arms in the main body. The two long panel down each side of centre are hinged to open. Inside are arms that swing out from a top fixed position. On the right is the interface arm and on the left is the grasping arm claw. Both pieces are cast in a similar red colour to match the other parts of the droid body.
These are a little tricky to engage due to their size and location, and those with fat fingers like myself may need some assistance from a paperclip or similar to extend them outward.
3.5
Like the Gaming Greats line, the Galaxy's Edge figures are best viewed as a complimentary line to the main Black Series - bringing us more obscure characters. Although in the main these will be repaints and tweaks rather than brand new characters.
R5-P8 is a perfect example of this, with a full repaint of the existing R5 unit to match Hondo's droid, and the only disappointment is the lack of going just a couple of steps further and giving us a blaster mount for the dome, which would allow the release to represent both the Galaxy's Edge and Clone Wars appearances.
What we get is a good comparison piece to the Galaxy's Edge Hondo, with a good level of décor and weathering to create the worn and battered look that Galaxy's Edge is meant to evoke. I am still not a fan of the packaging for this line, it is too dark for me, and I hope that if this line continues into 2021 that they move over to the Phase 4 angled box.
I score the Galaxy's Edge R5-P8 a total score of 3.5
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...
action figures, reviews, review, articulation, star wars. black series, galaxys edge, commander pyre, first order, resistance