The Second Sister, from the 2019 EA video game Jedi Fallen Order, was released on the 4th October 2019 - Triple Force Friday. Two versions were released, a standard version in wave 22 and this Exclusive Carbonized version with special metallic packaging and paint job. In the UK this figure was exclusive to Diamond Comic Distributors and in the US it was exclusive to Gamestop.
We compare the standard and carbonized editions through this review, but you can click through for the full general release review.
Packaging 4/5
The Carbonized version uses the same layout and design as the Wave 22 version. The black is replaced with a metallic graphite grey and the red side spine with a darker metallic red. The number, 95, remains the same. There is one difference on the front of the box with an insert built into the packaging to the right of the window that identifies this as a Carbonized release.
The character is named as The Second Sister Inquisitor, adding her role within the Empire to the character name. She is illustrated, as usual, with Gregory Titus art work of her sleek helmet. And under this is the logo for EA's Jedi Fallen Order. While no other Black Series releases carry any form of logo for the movie or series in which they appear, we assume the inclusion of this logo is part of the licencing agreement between Lucasfilm, Hasbro and EA. The artwork and logo's do look more pronounced on the Carbonized box. Being metallic the box is more prone to marks, dings and shelf wear so if you are keeping it boxed then treat it carefully.
The logo is repeated on the back of the box along with a larger version of the Titus artwork and a very short piece of non spoilery text about the Second Sister.
"A vengeful warrior of the Empire tasked with tracking down Jedi survivors, the Second Sister Inquisitor is driven by her all encompassing hatred of the Order."
While the other Carbonized figures had a metallic backing card for the figure, the Second Sister has the same red as the main line figure with no metallic tint. The figure is also packed with the cape slid through the plastic tray and out the back. Removing it is tricky as it drags the cape through a relatively sharp plastic edge and if you are not careful your do risk scratching the inner red paint work or the two Imperial shoulder decals.
The standard Second Sister arrives in the Phase 3 black packaging with red side spine and figure backdrop. Apart from the circular insert and the colours, the boxes are identical in dimensions, wording and layout.
Paint & Sculpt 3/5
The Second Sister is an imposing figure out of the box, with a brilliant recreation of that angular and menacing helmet she dons in the game. The helmet is cast in a gloss black plastic with a graphite metallic shading over the top.
The body borrows elements from Imperial Officers and includes a tunic, long sleeved gloves and boots. The body is cast in a dark grey with a brushed steel finish and is highlighted with a red stripe down the arms and legs and with silver panels on the chest section. The boots and gloves are a darker metallic graphite to match the helmet.
The Inquisitor wears a skirt section which is cast as a separate piece in a softer plastic. This includes a belt with bright silver buckle. Like the rest of the body, this skirt has a metallic finish and comes with a red trim. This is where the painting gets messy as the line is poorly painted with the red bleeding over the moulded line where the colour should stop and makes the whole hem section look patchy.
The Second Sister also comes with a full length cape. This is cast in a softer plastic rather than soft goods. It is cast in black with the red lining painted. The lining is metallic red while the outer cape area remains black and is no different to the standard release. Again this line between red and black is messy, but is hidden more than the skirt by the way the cape wraps around the figure. The cape is finished by two Imperial logos on each shoulder - applied as decals - and very poorly too with lots of white missing and both sides looking sloppy.
The cape sits on the figures shoulders with two plugs on the cape sitting into two sockets on the figures shoulder.
The paint difference between both Second Sister versions is clear on these side to side images. The Carbonized version has clear metallic shading across everything bar the cloak. The standard version does appear to have neater decals.
The figure looks great with the full line up of Carbonized Exclusives - from right to left, The Mandalorian, The Second Sister, Sith Trooper and First Order Jet Trooper.
Accessories 3/5
If you choose to display your Second Sister without her cape - most likely for more dynamic poses - then you will find two small shoulder segments included in the set for this configuration. Each gloss black piece slots into the same holes as used by the cape, hiding the hole and finishing the shoulders. With these in place the Inquisitor is just as imposing.
There is a problem though, in that the fit on these shoulder segments is poor. They do not stay in position very well - popping out with the slightest of arm movement or when the figure is moved or posing. It is all very frustrating after a while, and I would imagine many collectors will simply leave the figure displayed in her cape. Why Hasbro couldn't have dispensed with this particularly fiddly setup and simply glued these pieces in place and then given her a soft good cape as has been done with recent figures such as the new Palpatine, Mace Windu and the Jawa from the same wave?
There is no difference in the shoulder pieces between the Carbonized and Standard releases. This is a shame as to match the rest of the outfit the Carbonized figure shoulders should be metallic graphite grey.
The more traditional accessory is the Inquisitors weapon. This is the circular mounted double lightsaber, as previously seen in Star Wars Rebels. The hilt is cast in black with silver detail added around the rim of the circle and the two emitters. Red paint has been added to the centre piece to represent switches or lights. There is no belt socket or hook to hang the saber hilt when not in use.
Like all Black Series sabers, the Inquisitors weapon has blades that can be removed allowing you to display the figure with just the hilt, or with one or both blades lit. Each blade is cast in a harder translucent red plastic with a plug on the end that snaps into the hilt.
The standard version did have poor fitting blades for the lightsaber. They appear much more straight and secure on the Carbonized version - although I appreciate that may simply be individual variances out of the factory.
For those who are wondering, there is no belt socket or hook to hang the saber hilt when not in use. Oddly, the figure has a trigger finger hand for her right hand, as though she should be holding a blaster rather than a saber. The left hand is more of a traditional saber hand. I wonder if either the figure was going to come with blaster at some point, or if the hand is reused from another female figure that I cannot as yet put my finger on. Both hands are difficult to prize open to get the saber hilt posed, the left more so than the right.
The standard saber has a darker silver ring and slightly darker blades. These blades are poor fitting and sag away from the main body. The Carbonize dual saber is a much nicer piece.
Articulation 4/5
Our Second Sister is well articulated and is quite poseable once her cape has been removed - with 16 points of articulation in total.
Head : ball joint pivot neck
Body : waist ball joint
Arms : ball joint shoulder, single rotating elbow, wrist pivot
Legs : ball joint hips, thigh swivel, double joint knees, ankle rocker
I had an issue on the standard release with fused ankle rockers, and the Carbonized version has the identical problem as they arrived fused. Like the standard release, she had to have a hot water bath to get them moving. Each joint, once freed, has a full range of motion - the legs being a little restricted by the skirt, but not by much.
The waist feels like a ball joint more than just a swivel, but it seems to be restricted somehow and while it can lean forward and backward it doesn't hold the position and springs back to neutral?
She would benefit from double jointed elbows for fighting poses, but that is something not really offered in the Black Series line, and what we do get does work for a number of lightsaber poses. As I talked about earlier, the biggest frustration when posing without the cape will be those shoulder panels pinging off in every direction at the slightest movement.
Summary
The Second Sister is a good looking figure, well sculpted but poorly painted - particularly as the figure is predominantly cast in her final colouration and the messy red is about the only colour applied on the whole body. The cape works, but the shoulder panels for the uncloaked version are frustrating.
The Carbonized version offers a more exclusive box design, but the finish on the figure remains poor and like most of the figures who have had the Carbonized treatment, I prefer the more screen accurate standard release.
While articulation is standard, the waist is restricted somehow and with only single joint elbows weapons posing is not as great as it could be.
I score the Second Sister, Carbonized Exclusive from Jedi Fallen Order, a 3 out of 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, hasbro, star wars, black series, second sister, carbonized, exclusive, jedi, fallen order