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Review: Star Wars Retro Collection The Mandalorian (Beskar) from The Mandalorian

  • Writer: Mephitsu
    Mephitsu
  • 1 day ago
  • 3 min read
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“This is the Way”


After establishing the Retro Collection with two waves of replica figures from the original Kenner line, Hasbro began to expand the Retro series into newer Star Wars projects with Retro-inspired figures from newer properties like The Mandalorian, Kenobi, and The Book of Boba Fett. 


When I started to stray into Retro Collection as an extension of my Kenner collection, I did say I would only focus on Retro releases from the Original Trilogy. Since then, my resolve has softened, and I have been picking up a handful of figures that I like rather than going out all completist for the Retro Collection. The first of these is the Retro Collection release of The Mandalorian (Beskar).

The Mandalorian releases utilise the same retro-inspired cards, switching out the logo to a 1980s-inspired version of The Mandalorian logo, complete with its own silver tramline surround. The photo, a screenshot from The Mandalorian, sits next to the figure bubble with an orange backing card behind the figure blister. The Retro Collection sticker remains in place, but can be removed with care, as does the faux card wear and feathering that is part of the card print. There is no attempt on the rear of the card to replicate the older Kenner visual checklists, with the back a solid chunk of text and the only checklist in text with some other figures from The Mandalorian referenced. 

In hand, the figure is replicating Mando’s Beskar armour with a brown base body and painted silver armoured parts. While the first Mando release used a Kenner-inspired vinyl cape, this Beskar version moves to soft goods with a lightweight brown cloak around Mando’s neck and hanging loose over his back and shoulder. 

Round the back of the figure, and partly covered initially by the cape, is Mando’s jetpack. This is part of the torso sculpt, painted in silver. 

Mando has five points of articulation, with simple single-rotation joints at the neck, shoulders, and hips. This allows Mando to sit if you want to have him pilot one of the original Kenner ships or Speeder Bikes. The arms can be extended, allowing them to field one or both of the included weapons.

Those weapons include Mando’s blaster and his larger Amban Phase Rifle. These are both cast in black and while they are recognizable as the weapons we see in the show, but they still reflect the style and relative simplicity of the original Kenner weapons. The weapons fit in either of the basic clawed grip hands.

The Retro Collection Beskar Mando ticks the right boxes in terms of replicating the style and aesthetics of the original Kenner figures, while remaining true to the source material. Yes, it lacks the memories attached to the original trilogy figures released by Kenner, but alongside them, it doesn’t lack significantly out of place, and allows fans of that style of figure to expand their collection further. I do suspect the fact this figure, and most of those aligned to the newer Disney+ properties, is still available at retail at significantly reduced prices is a good indication of where fans priorities lie with the Retro Collection and it is unlikely we will see many any more single releases in the future, letting them focus on box sets - with those from the Original Trilogy appearing to be the most sought after.




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About Me : As a child of the '70s and '80s 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 licenses - 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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