In 2020, Hasbro announced a new packaging format for the Star Wars Black Series. This Phase 4 packaging would be called the Galaxy Collection. This new format would group figures by movie or series - and would launch with two waves. Wave 1 was a mixed wave, while a 2nd wave would be a special release for Rebels. It would finally complete the Ghost crew with the release of Zeb as a Deluxe figure. It would also repack the previous Rebels figures, updating those who predated face printing to an improved decor. In this review we will be taking a look at the re-released Sabine Wren.
Packaging 3.5
Sabine is packed in the new for 2020 Galaxy Collection (Phase 4) packaging. It retains the exact same dimensions as the previous box but now has a cut in angled side spine on the right hand side. Here we have character specific artwork with a specific colour hue running through it which is unique to Rebels. The artwork links in to previous and future releases and allows boxed collectors to display these at an angle to create a large montage of images. The image for Sabine shows her without her helmet and with a blaster raised in her hand. The illustration has realised Sabine in a real life setting and not the animated version we see in Rebels. . Above her head on the panel is an illustration of Concord Dawn, tying in with one of Sabine's story arcs.
The purple hue for rebels continues throughout the box with a purple stripe running under the window on the front, where it is confirmed this is a Star Wars Rebels release. Under this is the character name, also in purple. The stripe then continues round the left hand side where it angles upward and continues onto the back of the box where it provides a divider between the lower legal and safety text to the figure details above. The new figures still have a numbering system, which is now specific to the source material. Sabine is REB 06 and this numbering designation sits on the box reverse within the purple border stripe. Above this is another zoomed in version of the Hera artwork and some top line background text in 4 languages. Like Hera, the text is very much written in the past tense which I do not like and it certainly is not in line with the way the synopsis has been written for the first few figures in the wave.
"Sabine Wren was a Mandalorian warrior, explosive expert and talented graffiti artist - qualities that came in handy as one of the first to rebel against the Empire"
The shape of the new packaging dictates the need for quite a lot of sealing tape on the top flap and the straight left hand spine - this does look messy against the duller black of the new box. It is easiest to extract Sabine via the base flap which is only held in with one piece of tape. The innards of the box slide out complete, including the window front which is part of the inner tray. Hera is set against a plain grey neutral card back - there is no re-use of the purple here and this grey is consistent on all Galaxy Collection releases.
The figure, blasters, paint sprayer and helmet are held into the inner tray purely by the way it is shaped, there are no ties or straps to cut through or untangle and nothing is taped into place.
Paint & Sculpt 3.5
Sabine, like her box art, has been translated from an animated style to a real world setting. The face print decor technology is in use here, but there is no actual actor to photo and apply to the figure. That leaves us with an impression of Sabine which is a little better than the old painted faces, but not full photo real finish. The skin tone and definition is good, as are the lips - while the eyes. are not brilliant and are still rimmed in black paint like the older eye application. Sabine's hair is sculpted with her fringe sweeping across her forehead and it is coloured in purple at the back and orange at the front. The transition of this is quite basic and stark, and we also have an issue with the painting of the hair at the back not fully completed, leaving skin tone exposed.
The costume, the one Sabine wears in Season 1, is hugely detailed and includes a wide range of paint apps. We have a checkerboard on one pauldron, with a wolfs head decal on the other. The chest piece features the Phoenix Rebels logo and other designs - while the lower arm bracers and shin armour has a spray paint finish. Everything is neatly applied and the level of colours and finishes is impressive for a Black Series figure.
This is truly a figure of two halves and the score reflects that, although broken down further I'd score the head a 2.5 and the body at least 4.5 if not top marks.
This is the same Sabine figure as released in 2016 and the same head sculpt. As this new version is not true photo real in my opinion, it is actually quite difficult to choose which of the two is the better version. While both are brilliantly executed in terms of body and costume - the 2016 version has more subtle hair definition of the two colours, brighter lip stick and darker eyes. It does however lack a more natural skin tone and shading.
Accessories 4.0
Sabine has four key accessories, starting with her twin Westar-35 blasters. These are the same as 2016 and are cast in grey with a silver dry brush over the top. They are Mandalorian in their design and have limited detailing on the actual model, the accessory mirrors this. The blasters fit in either of Sabine's hands - with both left and right given trigger fingers for posing.
When not in use the blaster will fit into the holsters on Sabine's belt. The fit is snug and the blasters are held tight while not being overly at risk of paint rub or getting stuck and damaging the soft plastic belt and holster.
The 2nd accessory is Sabine's paint sprayer, the tool of a good artist for spraying Imperial Tie Fighters or even giving your droid a makeover. The piece is cast in grey plastic with no paint apps. The nozzle is clearly defined as are buttons or selectors down one side.
Like the blasters, this piece fits in either hand. You will see the trigger finger on the hands does not have a place to go with this tool so it can stick out a little when posing. While not designed to go in the holster, it can be slotted in the top piece if you want to keep it with the figure assuming she is posed with a blaster in hand.
The final piece is Sabine's Mandalorian Helmet. This is cast in a softer rubber and is well shaped and defined with the recogniseable T-shaped visor and the rangefinder piece that actually articulates and can be swung down over the visor.
The helmet is cast in purple with the grey cheek panels painted. There is then a lighter purple used around the visor and up as a design to the side. I would have preferred to see a better variation of purple so these painted designs can be seen. I would also argue here that in this re-release it may have been nice to give Sabine a variant helmet paint job considering she had many during the duration of Rebels.
The helmet fit over the head is very very tight, and I've already seen a bit of paint rub on the hair from just having this on and off a couple of times for photos. Considering the helmet is oversized in the show it would not have been an issue to be a bit larger.
As with the comparisons below, it is identical to the 2016 helmet with perhaps a slight variance in the grey which is a touch lighter on the older helmet.
Articulation 3.5
Sabine has the standard 16 points of articulation, with no variance to what was released in 2016.
Head : ball joint neck with pivot
Body : ball joint torso
Arms : ball joint shoulder, single joint rotating elbow, wrist pivot
Legs : ball joint hips, thigh swivel, double joint knees, ankle rocker
The upper articulation is wire ranging and even with a single elbow joint, Sabine can reach up and adjust her rangefinder on her helmet or cross her arms if you wish. As you raise the arms, the shoulder Pauldrons do move over the torso and do not provide a blockage - although take them arms all the way up and they do start to warp.
The legs are fully mobile and Sabine can kneel and sit as well as undertake a number of action stances or dynamic poses - more so with a stand. My original Sabine had trouble standing and a warped left leg, this issue has not presented itself on the new version.
I have no issues with any of the joints in terms of their security or strength.
Summary
Like most of the Rebels wave, this is essentially a repacked figure with a slight tweak to the face paint. I can't call it a full facial decor application, as there are elements on Sabine that look painted and there are arguments the original figure presents better in some ways. There was an opportunity here to tweak all of the Rebels figures, and Sabine in particular could have been given a paint job overhaul to one of her other designs. What we do get, even if its a do-over, has to be appreciated considering the various paint applications and designs used across her armour.
The box design is new, and they are growing on me in terms of how you could display these in box and the wider artwork that will grow as you collect more figures. I also appreciate the separation of various Star Wars films and shows so collectors can focus and display a boxed collection in its entirety from one movie/show or from the entire Star Wars Universe.
Sabine Wren is worth getting if you want the box art, out of all the Rebels figures she is however the least improved in terms of paint from her previous incarnation and if you have that one you may feel this one is an addition you do not need.
I score Sabine Wren (2020) a total of 3.5
action figures, reviews, review, articulation, star wars, black series, galaxy collection, rebels, zeb, ezra, kanan, hera, chopper, ahsoka, hasbro