My Star Wars passion, like most of my generation, started with the 3.75-inch Kenner figures back in the late 70's and 80's and in fact, I had many of the toys before I ever saw the movies in full. In the mid to late 90's with a job and disposable income, my first full action figure collection as an adult began with the POTF2 figures and ran all the way through until Attack of the Clones. When I returned to Star Wars collecting in 2013 it was with the new and shiny Black Series 6-inch figures and while that has become a focus, I have always kept a close eye on the 3.75-inch line and it is a scale now collected by my son.
To celebrate May the 4th 2022 I have teamed up with Zavvi who have gifted us a couple of their newest Star Wars arrivals for us to photograph and review and this kicks off with the Star Wars Vintage Collection Mandalorian & Grogu from Maldo Kreis.
The Vintage Collection, so named because of its use of Kenner-inspired cardbacks, is making a comeback in a big way over the last couple of years and is now expanding beyond the original movies and into the new properties most notably The Mandalorian. This means that the Hasbro designers are now incorporating these new properties into the Kenner-inspired design as seen on the cardback for this Deluxe release with the Mandalorian logo repurposed into one similar to the 1980 Empire Strikes Back logo. The card also features the iconic silver tramline border and Kenner logo, and the cardback includes that checklist format kids of the 70's and 80's know so well.
The Vintage Collection appeals to collectors of both carded and loose figures and unlike the Black Series - which can be reboxed - you have an immediate choice to make with any Vintage Collection release and once it is un-carded there is no going back.
The Beskar Mandalorian is a re-use of the original single carded version that arrived in late 2020 / early 2021as part of Wave 30. The Maldo Kries version has had some updates though to bring it in line with Mando's Season 2 appearance. The right thigh armour is updated and now full Beskar, and a new knee pad is added to the left knee. Other details across the armour include the Mudhorn sigil on the right pauldron as well as the whistling birds' launcher on the left wrist and Amban Rifle ammunition around the right shin.
The cape is a plastic rather than soft goods and behind this, you will find the socket and strap to hold the Amban Rifle - although the rifle itself is not included in this set. The paint finish is impressive at this scale with a metallic shine to the silver of the Beskar and beneath this a number of colour shades for Mando's clothing. Because this is Mando as we see him when he has crashed on Maldo Kreis, the paintwork also features a snow & ice weathering effect applied sympathetically in strategic places across the boots, chest, helmet and around the tails of the cape.
As noted earlier, Mando does not feature his Amban Rifle as seen in earlier releases. He comes armed only with his blaster which is a silver cast piece with a painted brown grip. It fits neatly into his right hand where a trigger finger will slot into place. When not in use it can be holstered in the working holster at his right hip.
Mando features 16 points of articulation including an update to the ankles to a more traditional ankle rocker. He poses really well with the only real issue experienced at the shoulders where the pauldrons do prevent the arms from being lifted up too high.
As indicated by the name of the set, Grogu is included in the release as a second character figure. He is the same body as released in 2021 in the hover pram. The head sculpt presents Grogu with his ears now slightly down and a concerned look on his face., which is perfect for the scenario this set recreates. The paintwork is more or less the same as the first releases of Grogu with a green skin tone, some brown tone in the inner ears, black eyes and a two-tone sandy brown robe. Like Mando, some snow/ice weathering is added around the base of the figure.
Grogu is articulated across 5 joints in total. The head sits on a moveable ball joint, as do both shoulders as they plug into the main body. The wrists can then rotate within the sleeve. This doesn't allow for huge variation in poses, but there is some play there - particularly to help if you want Mando to pose holding Grogu.
The set also includes three Knobby Ice Spiders as found on Maldo Kreis and as featured in that action-packed final sequence before Mando is rescued by Trapper Wolf and Carson Teva. There are three Spiders included, starting with a large version that measures close to 3.75 inches in width from leg to leg. It stands about two inches high and comes with the large elongated pitted dome as well as the protruding mouthpiece underneath. Out of the eight legs, four are articulated on ball joints so you can have the spider walking or mounting up with the front legs preparing to strike. The paintwork is essentially a white base with a darker wash over the top.
The set then features two 'hatchling' spiders, both slightly different in terms of their leg positions. These are non-articulated and cast in a similar off-white to the larger spider but without any further paint application.
You also get a hatched egg to make up the set and this features a flat-based egg with open top flaps that are painted a green colour which also extends into the interior of the egg. In terms of a world-building experience, perhaps a few more of the smaller spiders and eggs would have allowed for more of a swarm around Mando & Grogu as they fought their way out.
The Spiders look like they will work just as well with the Black Series considering the varied sizes we see on Maldo Kreis, and vice versa that the larger Knobby Ice Spider coming with the 6-inch version of this set would do well as the giant Knobby Spider at 3.75-inch scale.
The beauty of the smaller 3.75-inch series figures is the environment options that you can build into the releases including larger monsters and scenes. The Maldo Kreis set possibly doesn't go as far as it could have with the size of the spider but does offer a scene-setting opportunity as well as a nice upgrade to the Mandalorian even with the snowy paint job. The Mando figure is well sculpted, painted and articulated while Grogu and the spiders are sufficient considering their smaller size - I just perhaps wished there were a few more of them.
Check out Zavvi if you want to add The Mandalorian & Grogu (Maldo Kries) to your collection.
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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...