Review: Star Wars Black Series Zeb Orrelios (New Republic Pilot) from The Mandalorian and Grogu, Deluxe First Edition release
- Mephitsu
- 2 minutes ago
- 6 min read
"I like this kid."
The 2026 movie, The Mandalorian and Grogu, arrived to mixed reviews but included several fan favourites in its lineup, including the return of Garazeb Orrelios, the Lasat first introduced in Star Wars Rebels and then teased in live action in Season 3 of The Mandalorian. With Zeb’s big-screen debut came his second Star Wars Black Series release, adding to the existing Rebels figure from 2020, with Zeb as a New Republic Pilot.
Like the first Zeb release, the 2026 version is a Deluxe release due to Zeb’s height and bulk. It was part of the second batch of The Mandalorian and Grogu figures, arriving in late Summer 2026. Like the first wave, this second set of releases came in both standard ‘black’ packaging and in special ‘white’ First Edition packaging. In the US these were shared as exclusives between Walmart and Target. Here in the UK, the white First Edition packaging could be found at Forbidden Planet stores.
The special edition releases change the matt black box to a glossier white finish with a cut-in silver foil circular badge to the top right of the window that confirms this as a First Edition release. The accent colour is used on the text and the artwork, and is meant to be the same as the standard release, although I found Zeb’s colouring on the side art to be more blue and less purple than the rest of the releases I’d unpacked to date. Zeb, in either packaging, is number 07 in the line, with the artwork connecting to the exclusive Imperial Remnant Stormtrooper on one side, and onward to the Imperial Remnant Snowtrooper on the other. This image of Zeb in his New Republic flightsuit has him side on and smirking towards the camera, with his bo-rifle to the side and leaning against his shoulder.
The back of the box repeats the image next to the text, which remains non-character-specific and gives only a rudimentary overview of the movie’s plot. Inside the packaging, the card back behind the main tray is colour-coded to the blue on the box and incorporates a starscape with a planet hanging at the back.
Zeb arrives in his blue New Republic pilot uniform, the most predominant outfit seen in the movie and used when he is flying Mando around in his U-Wing, or in the Razor Crest. The figure is new throughout and proportionally lives up to the Deluxe billing, standing a good head taller than a standard human-size release. The flight suit itself is cast in dark blue plastic and in compound parts which terminate at the arm sleeves and just below the knees with silver-painted ribbed sealing bands. Above the left knee is an ammo pouch in a white finish with silver ammo, and above this are the flight belt and harness straps, also in an off-white plastic with silver buckles.
The flak vest is an individual piece over the top of Zeb’s chest, and features details like the New Republic insignia to the top left as a decal. Under this is Aurubesh text that apparently translates as “Pull to Inflate”. On top of the flak vest is the chest box. This is grey in colour with black trim and a central panel above which are clean, crisp blue, white and silver buttons. The black tubing that comes from the base of this is a softer plastic, and it flows down and connects to a socket on Zeb’s knee.
The Lasat arms and legs are a purple fur-textured plastic, translating to a pinkish finish on the palms of Zeb’s hands and on the soles of his feet. The head is similarly coloured, but with the only fur being the trimmed beard and sideburns picked out in grey against the purple skin. Zeb’s eyes are coloured, likely photo-real printed, in green, while the inner ears, like the hands & feet, transition from the purple to a pink tone.
A second head is included, allowing Zeb two different expressions. The first is the jovial, smirking Zeb, while the second head inverts the mouth to a scowl and gives Zeb a more intense and angry expression. Both are good likenesses to the CGI on screen and provide the variety that very expressive characters like Zeb need, allowing the smiling Zeb to gesture to Mando or Grogu, while an angry Zeb can then be posed wielding his weapon in battle.
That weapon is Zeb’s bo-rifle, and this is included in the set as two different configurations of the same weapon. The shorter of the two is the rifle configuration, cast in a gunmetal silver with gold trim and two hinged handles in a brown colour. These handles pivot out from the rifle up to 90 degrees and allow Zeb to hold and aim the rifle in one or both hands.
The second option for the weapon is the extended bo-staff, which fully extends the piece, while using the same gunmetal colour, gold trim, and hinged central handles. The extended staff stands as tall as Zeb, and again fits into either or both hands for melee fighting stances.
Articulation is built around the unique Lasat physiology, with 20 points of articulation in total. Starting with the legs, the Lasat inverted ankle is replicated with a rocker above the splayed four-toed feet, and a second ankle joint a bit further up, halfway to the knee. The knee itself is a standard joint with rotation, with the leg then concluding with a hip joint. While the inverted ankle requires some work to get everything in the right place for stable posing, Zeb is hugely stable once positioned and can move from neutral stances to broader battle positions.
The torso is jointed at the waist with a ball joint, with the same joint between waist and torso and hidden behind the vest. These are quite springy, but allow rotation of the upper body and some degree of ab-crunch or backward lean. The arms start with butterfly shoulders, and then down to 90-degree pivot elbows and ball-joint wrists, which are a little less mobile in terms of bend to the body, but that bend can be achieved at any position. The articulation concludes with a double-joint neck that gives the broad head some level of movement, although much of it is blocked as the head buts up against the flak vest.
The New Republic Pilot Zeb is an exceptional release, ticking every box that collectors would want to see in terms of sculpt, proportions, likeness, decor, accessories, and articulation. The alternative head sculpts create different looks through subtle changes to the mouth and eyes, while the two configurations of his weapon allow Zeb to be battling the Imperial Remnant. But he looks just as good posed without any weapons, chatting with Mando or reporting in to Colonel Ward.
After first seeing the movie I did preferred the casual gear Zeb wore when he and Mando headed off to Shakari to hunt Commander Coin, but now I have this figure in hand I am very much sold on why Hasbro and Lucasfilm approved this look and while I hope the other version does get a release, having this New Republic era Zeb on display along with Colonel Ward, Mando, and Grogu - with more on the way.
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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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