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The Avengers (2012) Loki figure from SH Figuarts first appeared in late 2018 in a display at Tokyo Comic Con. It has now been confirmed as a September 2020 release by Tamashii Nations, and Bluefin for US distribution. The figure is based on Loki from the original Avengers movie and includes parts specific to scenes in the movie. His horned helmet is a separate piece that fits over the supplied head. A second head shows Loki from the end of the movie with the face mask - with handcuffs and chains also included. Loki is armed with his staff, and also has the Tesseract. The Japanese RRP is 8800 Yen (£66). Expect to be paying circa £70-£75 when this is listed for pre-order in the UK. Checkout our blog page for more action figure news, reviews and store reports 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 figure, news, toys, reviews, action, figure, blog, checklist, collectors, sh figuarts, loki, tamashii nations, avengers

To celebrate #EarthDay, Hasbro have announced a restock of the Marvel Legends MCU Evolutions of Groot set on Hasbro Pulse. The Evolution of Groot set, released originally in 2017, was a Toys R Us Exclusive both here in the UK and in the US. The pack contains the full size Groot figure from Guardians of the Galaxy. This figure is a re-use of the original 2014 Build-A-Figure, but has a new smiling head. They managed to squeeze him in the standard box by removing his legs. Packed alongside adult Groot are a baby potted Groot - from the end credits of GOTG - and a baby Groot as seen in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2. The set can be pre-ordered now on Hasbro Pulse (US customers) and looks to be a Fan Channel exclusive elsewhere. It is tentatively down as a September 2020 release. From potted prodigy to towering tree-like humanoid, Groot uses powers of regeneration to become a legendary defender of intergalactic justice. Groot gets a growth sprout – er, spurt – with this Groot Evolution 3-pack from the Marvel Legends Series, featuring 3 Groot figures in 3 different sizes. Imagine giving the galaxy something to root for with the 9-inch Groot figure, modeled after Groot in his adult form. Then, pretend to meet Groot as just a sapling with the included 2 1-inch Groot figures, which stand as reminders that inside every tree there is…an even smaller tree. Featuring 3 Groot figures with movie-inspired design and detail, the Groot Evolution pack from the Marvel Legends Series is an epic addition to any collection of legendary heroes. Includes 3 Groot figures from the Marvel Legends Series Figures feature premium design and detail Imagine following Groot’s amazing journey from small tree, to big tree, to small tree Collect other Marvel Legends Series figures (each sold separately) Action figure size: 1 9-inch Groot, 1-inch potted Groot, and 1-inch Groot figure Checkout our blog page for more action figure news, reviews and store reports 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 figure, news, toys, reviews, action, figure, blog, checklist, collectors, marvel, legends, guardians of the galaxy, vol.2, groot, i am groot, baby groot, hasbro, hasbro pulse, earth day

The Heavy Battle Droid was released in April 2020 as part of the new Gaming Greats sub-line of the Star Wars Black Series. The Gaming Greats line is exclusive to Gamestop in the US, and via the Fan Channel worldwide. It brings new 6 inch characters from the various Star Wars video games media. Packaging 3/5 The Gaming Greats line follows the same design dimensions and layout as the Phase 3 packaging. There is a new cut in hexagonal insert to the side of the window that labels this as a Gaming Great release. This icon is repeated on the side spine - there is no numbering. The box highlight colours are individual to the figure, with the Heavy Battle Droid having a glossy bronze colour on the side spine, card backing and used for the Gregory Titus artwork. This all serves to give a very interesting packaging variant for MIB collectors. The choice of colour for the highlight colour is however perhaps too close to the colouring of the droid and he is a little lost inside the box. Like other video game releases we have the game icon on the front of the box just under the artwork. The Heavy Battle Droid is taken from EA's Battlefront 2. Of course outside of the video game medium, these logo's are not used on any other Black Series releases. Round the back of the box is a short bio in keeping with the Droid and the game. "Star Wars : Battlefront II features Heavy Battle Droids, modified B1 Battle Droids armed with heavy blaster rifles and shield emitters to deflect most incoming enemy fire" Paint & Sculpt 4/5 The sculpt is excellent for the Heavy Battle Droid, with good proportions and accuracy to the shape and build of the panels and the arm & legs. There is no obvious bulking up of the skeletal structure on the droid with the entire upper body connected to the hips by the same single point we see on screen. Paint work is two tone, matching what we see in Battlefront 2 from the Heavy Droid skin. The main body is a brown colouring with a grey arms and legs as well as a grey midsection. The paint is applied neatly, with further apps on top to create silver paint scratching and peeling. The Heavy Battle Droid is a repaint of the 2019 B1 Battle Droid release. The Gaming Greats line as a whole is a repaint/tweak line from the main range and with the Battle Droid sculpt now in Hasbro's arsenal, it will become a template for many more figures. The darker colouring variant paint app does make this version of the B1 look a lot better than the original which was cast in a single colour and had limited paint apps. Accessories 3/5 The Heavy Battle Droid has three separate weapons, which offers some level of army building if you wanted to go down that route. We start with the heavy blaster which essentially gives the figure its name. This Heavy Blaster is actually a First Order weapon, the FWMB-10, which in the Battlefront 2 game is used by Heavy Gunners of the First Order. It is a direct reuse from the 2017 First Order Stormtrooper set. It is cast in black plastic and retains the white highlights that all First Order weapons use. The blaster itself is tricky to slot into the droid hands, having been made for a First Order Stormtrooper. You have to angle the grip in sideways then spin it so the droids fingers take up the required firing positions. The top handle is articulated so it pivots back and forth - this slips into the left hand easily enough. Posing is OK, but the weight of the gun vs the relative skeleton form of the Battle Droid means it cant really support many poses without the aid of a stand. The obvious other issue is of course why Hasbro have chosen this gun, when the Heavy Droid should be using an E-5C? While this would have needed a new sculpt, it would keep the figure accurate to the game and more importantly the Clone Wars era. The inclusion of the First Order is related to the feature in game where you can equip other Heavy Blasters outside your characters era. If this was the only option for the figure I might have preferred them to move away from the game and to paint the panels of the blaster the dark brown to match the droid? Weapon two is a DLT-19 Heavy Blaster, previously released with the Sandtrooper figures and also with Dengar and 4-LOM among others. This blaster is cast in rey plastic with no other decor. It its easily into the hands, and being lighter is easier to pose with the droid not having as many stability issues. Once again we have another out of sync gun for the Clone Wars era Battle Droid as this is the weapon of choice for Imperial Heavy Gunners. But again, it can be equipped by the Battle Droid so the choice is justified to a degree. Weapon number three is the standard blaster rifle for B1 Battle Droids, the E-5. This is of course a re-pack from the original Battle Droid, and was also used with Padme Amidala. The weapon is well cast, but this version misses out on the dry brushing which added some additional detail to the original Battle Droid version. The fit for this one into our droids hands is good, with the ability for single hand posing as well as two hand grips. Again, it is not wholly accurate to the game - but is consistent with the Clone Wars era B1 droids, and works well for army building general troops in this colour scheme. When not in use the E-5 can plug into the droids main pack, as seen on screen. The backpack itself is removable and can be swapped out for the slimmer Command Droid aierals that are also included and have been repainted to the colour scheme of the droid. The pint apps on both are very good and neat, with further scratching on the larger backpack. Fitting of the two packs is tight and secure, with the aerial version leaving an exposed hole on the unused side. The full back pack is consistent to what we see in the game, but it is quite impressive the alternative was retained in the pack. While I cannot complain over the volume of accessories for our Heavy Droid, accuracy has gone awry on this release. I would have preferred a single - more accurate - weapon to the three we have. I'd also have perhaps liked to see some innovation with an effects piece in translucent blue that could clip to the weapon to recreate the shield option in game. Articulation 3/5 Joints on our B1 Battle Droid are unique to the figure as ball joints are not used, and the figure has more traditional singular directional pivots in various locations. All in all there are 20 points of articulation. Head : jointed neck - top and bottom, jointed rear head piece Body : torso pivot joint Arms : pivot shoulder, bicep swivel, pivot elbow, wrist swivel, wrist joint Legs : pivot hips, single pivot joint knee, ankle rocker The articulation will get your droid into various poses including two handed weapon poses and marches. He will also fold down to his deactivated/travel position which is pretty cool. Articulation and stability has always been an issue with any B1 figure, specifically the ability to stand. It has plagued most of the 3.75 line as well as more recent larger figures like the Bandai Snap Figure Kit. This new version for 2020 does have sturdy feeling joints - particularly the hips, and is easier to stand in neutral poses than the predecessor. As stated the larger weapons do over balance him, and for more action orientated posing I would still recommend dropping him onto a stand - the one I used was a Protech Vintage Figure stand - and even with the stand the posing is awkward with the legs not wanting to hold the figure up straight. Summary It will be interesting to see how the Gaming Greats line develops. It does feel like a line destined for repaints only, and while this is not necassarily a bad thing - there does need to be some added value for collectors. In the case of this Droid, Hasbro threw in an arsenal of weaponns - but sadly that was then an issue when none of them were the one the Heavy Droid actually uses in game - they didn't even bother to recolour the First Order weapon to try and blend it in. The paint job is certainly superior to the original B release and the joints feel sturdier - although a stand is required for most poses outside a neutral stance, and an absolute must if you want him to wield that oversized First Order blaster. I do also like the subtle changes to the packaging and the varying colours for the box designs, although in this case the choice is so close to the original figure he is lost in the box for anyone displaying him in packaging (which am sure many will). Price is also a factor in my final score, wth the Gaming Greats being priced around £5 more than a standard figure. For this price I do want to see where the value is in the set for what is a repaint of an existing figure? Bearing all this in mind, I score the Gaming Greats Heavy Battle Droid 3 out of 5. See More Star Wars Black Series Figures 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, star wars, black series, gaming greats, battlefront, battle droid, heavy, separatists

Entertainment Earth have isted a new Super7 Toxic Crusader Glow in the Dark 6 inch action figure for pre-order. The original Toxie 6 inch figure from Super7 is due in June 2020. This revised version of the same sculpt is exclusive to Entertainment Earth and features two heads, a shield, a mop with the Stars & Stripes flag... and Blobbie. He is down for a July 2020 release, and will set you back $44.99 (£36.50 approx) plus shipping and taxes. Toxie is ready to clean up! And he'll do it while he glows in the dark! Exclusive based on the 1990s Toxic Crusaders cartoon and toy line. Comes with Blobbie, a flag map, an alternate head, a shield, and a bunch of accessories! Entertainment Earth Exclusive! Based on the hit 1990s cartoon and toy line, this awesome 6-inch scale Toxic Crusaders Glow in the Dark Toxie Deluxe 6-Inch Action Figure - Entertainment Earth Exclusive is ready clean up this town all day and all night. Complete with Blobbie, a flag map, an alternate head, a shield, and a whole suite of accessories, the glowing green mutant is here to save the world while also making it just a little bit cleaner… and brighter, because Toxie and his gear are cast in glow-in-the-dark green plastic! This is an exclusive, so it will sell fast. We suggest that you get your order in now so you don't miss out! Checkout our blog page for more action figure news, reviews and store reports 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 figure, news, toys, reviews, action, figure, blog, checklist, collectors, toxic crusaders. toxie, entertainment earth. exclusive. super7

The 3rd Series of NECA's Toony Terrors 6 inch line of action figures is due to ship in May 2020. Ahead of this, NECA have released images of the packaged figures and images of the cut out card segments that will be included with each figure. Series 3 is made up of Ash from The Evil Dead 2, Valak the Nun from the Conjuring Universe and Count Orlok from Nosferatu. Checkout our blog page for more action figure news, reviews and store reports 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 figure, news, toys, reviews, action, figure, blog, checklist, collectors, NECA, toony terrors, evil dead, ash, nosferatu, the nun, conjuring

McFarlane Toys have released details of their 7 inch scale Variant Batman figure from Detective Comics #1000. The figure is a repaint of the released Detective Comics Batman, but instead of the black and grey outfit, the Dark Knight is now sporting the blue and grey variant. As well as recolouring, the variant has a revised Bat symbol on his chest as an homage to the classic Batman. This variant retains the same accessories of a Grapnel Launcher and Batarang. He will also include the collectible art card and display stand. The figure is down for a May 2020 release. As a child, Bruce Wayne watched as his parents were brutally killed in Gotham City’s Crime Alley. Traumatized by their deaths, he devoted his life to becoming the world’s greatest weapon against crime—the Batman! To become the ultimate vigilante, the Dark Knight disciplined his mind and body to reach the pinnacle of mental and physical superiority. He’s a master detective and an expert martial artist, but his greatest weapon is his mind. Batman has a plan for every occasion, as well as high-tech weapons, gadgets, and vehicles to assist him in his relentless pursuit of justice! Product Features Batman figure based on the DC Rebirth Comic Batman accessories include Grapnel Launcher and Batarang Included collectable art card with DC Rebirth Batman artwork on the front, and character biography on the back Showcases a different Bat Emblem on his chest as homage to the Classic Batman Collect all additional DC Rebirth Figures; Superman and Harley Quinn as well as other McFarlane Toys DC Multiverse figures. Figures sold separately. Checkout our blog page for more action figure news, reviews and store reports 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 figure, news, toys, reviews, action, figure, blog, checklist, collectors, dc, multiverse, mcfarlane, batman, detective comics

The Star Wars Black Series Gaming Greats Shadow Stormtrooper has gone up for pre-order at Gamestop stores, including Gamestop in the Republic of Ireland. The figure will ship apparently as of the 18th of May 2020 from Gamestop. Sadly, there is no shipping options into UK. This 18th of May date quoted is the same for the other Gaming Greats figures of Revan, Battledroid and the Stormtrooper Commander. Revan and the Droid have of course already been circulated by the Fan Channel in the UK - with the same expected for the two Stormtroopers in due course. Checkout our blog page for more action figure news, reviews and store reports 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 figure, news, toys, reviews, action, figure, blog, checklist, collectors, star wars, black series, gaming greats, gamestop, stormtrooper, battledroid

Super7 have shared new mock-up images for their Thundercats Ultimates Series 3 figures. The packaging will feature a slipcover in black, with red Thundercats symbol. Beneath this sits the figure and accessories displayed in a black box with red trim. Checkout our blog page for more action figure news, reviews and store reports 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 figure, news, toys, reviews, action, figure, blog, checklist, collectors, thundercats, series7

Hasbro Pulse have announced #FanFirstFriday, the sharing of New product news with Hasbro fans via their social channels. The first reveal was the carded images of three new Star Wars Vintage collection 3 75 inch figures. The Hasbro team shared some snippets for each figure, including the fact that the original Vintage Power Droid figure was not screen accurate to the card and this release will be the first time a movie accurate Gonk Droid has come on this card. Commander Wolffe has had special artwork drawn up for his Clone Wars cardback. K-2SO is a debut in the Vintage line and the first Rogue One figure for over a year.

In 2019 Hasbro confirmed that the European Autumn Conventions would get an Exclusive Black Series release. The figure was an early release of the Yavin Ceremony Luke Skywalker, in a comic book inspired display box and with accessories based on the Skywalker Strikes comicbook series by Marvel Comics. The figure was available at conventions in London, Paris, Barcelona and Lucca. It was sold in the US via Hasbro Pulse and other online retailers. Packaging 4/5 The packaging for the exclusive set follows a similar basis as previous exclusives with an opening display box. Rather than a solid colour scheme like the white of the First Order Trooper or the red of the recent Sith Trooper - the set uses the cover artwork from the Skywalker Strikes comic book for the cover and is even designed like a book. the leaves include some greyed images from the comic book while the spine is black with a solid yellow Rebel symbol and the "Skywalker Strikes" sub-title. The back of the box has more artwork direct from the comic book pages as well as a short bio that positions the premise of the Skywalker Strikes story. "LUKE SKYWALKER AND THE RAGTAG REBELS OPPOSING THE GALACTIC EMPIRE ARE FRESH OFF THEIR BIGGEST VICTORY SO FAR - THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MASSIVE DEATH STAR, BUT THE EMPIRE IS NOT TOPPLED YET! WHEN A REBEL ASSAULT GOES WRONG, HAN AND LEIA MUST THINK FAST TO MAKE THEIR ESCAPE - WHEN LUKE COMES FACE-TO-FACE WITH DARTH VADER! IN THE EXPLOSIVE AFTERMATH, A HUMBLED LUKE RETURNS TO TATOOINE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS MENTOR, OBI-WAN KENOBI" The box is well designed and looks brilliant. It is however prone to damage, the spine in particular where it folds when the box is opened. The figure and all the accessories inside are held in with elasticated ties which can't be easily removed if you want to unpack the figure and the box him back up. Paint & Sculpt 4/5 The figure is the same one that comes in Wave 23 as Yavin Ceremony Luke Skywalker. This does make sense as Luke wears the same costume in the first part of the Skywalker Strikes storyline as he faces off against Vader on Cymoon 1. The head sculpt is new and is a good likeness to the 1977 Mark Hamill, although the neck is a little short and gives him a hunched look. The face print tech works well and the figure comes with the bright blue eyes and the shaded skin tones. The costume is well executed with the Corellian style trousers and knee high boots - complete with yellow stripes. Luke is then wearing his black shirt and the yellow jacket which is a cast piece and then painted down the him and with the black insignia on the chest. As we will see in the accessory section, Luke can also wear his blast shield helmet to give the figure an adjusted look. Everything is painted well apart from the boots, they seem to have been wet when it went in the box and the brown is showing through rubbed patches of brown. As we will see in the accessory section, Luke can also wear his blast shield helmet to give the figure an adjusted. The costume does change in the comic to the plain black shirt while Luke is training with the remote and with the blast shield helmet. And then a brown longer coat when he arrives on Tatooine. Considering the price of the set, it would have been brilliant had Hasbro gone with swap out arms and one or more of these options also included? Accessories 4/5 The power of exclusive sets like this one is the large number of accessories Hasbro tend to throw in which won't necessarily appear elsewhere. It is worth noting to begin with that the Yavin Medal is NOT included in this set. It will be packed with the standard release, and that feels a bit off from Hasbro when this is meant to be a deluxe version of the base release. We start in this set with the grey case that Luke finds on Tatooine at Obi-Wan's house, this later turns out to contain Ben Kenobi's journal - and we get this journal too. Both are weathered on the front - but not all over. The case is hinged and opens up to allow the journal to be held inside. Luke is armed with a Defender Sporting Blaster Pistol. This is cast in black with painted silver barrel tip and another silver panel on top of the weapon at the grip end. The blaster fits into the gun toting hand that Luke comes with, and the trigger finger slots into place. When not in use the blaster slips into the working holster. You un-clip the soft strap, slide the blaster in, and then replace the strap. Luke also includes his lightsaber. This is not one of the original sabers from the X-Wing or Farmboy Lukes as the hook on the hilt has lost. It appears to be a re-use of one of the more modern Sabre's that came with Rey. As usual the hilt separates from the translucent blue blade, and the click in and out works well and is secure. The hilt has good paint apps with black and gold detailing on the silver grip. Sadly, Luke only comes with the one gun toting hand - and while this will hold the saber, it looks a bit odd (same issue as the Jedi Knight Luke) with the trigger finger sticking out. Again, considering the price of the set an alternative right hand would have been nice. The final set of accessories are the blast shield helmet, training remote and a blast FX piece. The helmet looks to be re-purposed from the original X-Wing helmet, you can see the slots inside where the chin strap used to go and the blast shield piece is an added section. The helmet is really well decorated with the rebel symbols; red, yellow and grey stripes and the hatched yellow/black panels. It is also weathered well with brown patches around the helmet to dirty it up and make it look worn. The helmet is a very snug fit on the figures head, and I would be worried about paint rub on the hair if you are putting the helmet on or taking it off regularly. The training remote is also well decorated. It uses a white base with red around each of the blaster sections. The remote is then also weathered with more brown dry-brushing. The remote sits onto a stand via a hole on its base, this clear upright piece then slots into a base section. The stand and base use a ball joint type connection and this means the remote can be posed on the base and isn't restricted to one upright location. The FX piece is designed to clip onto the lightsaber and look like a deflected blast. I wasn't sure about the colouring at first, but if you check the comic these deflections are orange so it is accurate to the source material. Articulation 3/5 Luke arrives with 17 points of articulation, 1 more than a standard Black Series release. This is down to the neck articulation update with a joint at the base of the neck as well as the top, removing the need for an unsightly pivot in the neck. Head : ball joint neck, ball joint neck base Body : torso ball joint Arms : ball joint shoulder, single rotating elbow, wrist pivot Legs : ball joint hips, thigh swivel, double joint knees, ankle rockers The arms are fine for weapon posing as Luke only needs to be firing his Sporting Blaster with a single hand at any one time. When we bring the lightsaber into play the arms are a bit restricted with two handed poses - although some good ones can be achieved to line up to the training remote. You would assume the leg articulation is much better with the double jointed knees, and this is true for kneeling poses. However, the hips seem to be locked and cant swing out into a seating position or for kneeling on one knee, that leaves wider stances the only other alternative. Luke does stand well with solid ankle rockers. Using the posing options on the remote you can setup a good action shot with the training remote firing at Luke. The base of the remote can be angled depending on where you want to position it. The FX piece can then be slid anywhere on the blade of the saber. Summary Skywalker Strikes is a good premise for an exclusive, taking a figure that fans can buy anyway at a later stage and making the packaging and some of the accessories the exclusive. In this case it is a bit of a kicker that Hasbro did not include the Yavin medal in this set, leaving a need to still buy the base release even if you've forked out for this one. The accessories you do get in the set are all well done, I love the idea of Ben Kenobi's diary and the blast FX helmet and training remote are very well done. I would have liked at least one extra hand so when holding his saber the figure isn't sticking his trigger finger up in the air. The figure itself is well made, well sculpted and well painted and is articulated the same as any other Black Series release, although the hips are a little odd? In the end the set comes down to value for money. At £39.99 RRP here in the UK, we have a set that is twice the price of a standard release - and for that extra £20 we have a handful of accessories more and a very nice box. Taking everything into account, including that price tag, I score Skywalker Strikes Exclusive a 4 out of 5. See More Star Wars Black Series Figures Figure Hacks One sequence in the Skywalker Strikes comicbook saw Luke take to a Speeder Bike to battle the Imperials. I am pleased to say that this Black Series version will sit fairly well atop a Black Series Speeder Bike if you want to recreate these scenes. The hips, which as I mentioned above are a bit elasticated, will resist the seated position but by having Luke grip at least one of the handlebars he should stay in position. The major issue is that Luke's feet won't quite line up to the footplates, but some tweaking with the pose can mask that a little. The Blast Helmet and Training Remote did first appear in Episode 4 when Luke was first reaching out to the force on the Millennium Falcon. If you want to recreate this scene you will be pleased to know the Blast Helmet does fit the Farmboy Luke, and actually looks pretty impressive. The Blast Helmet markings are made as seen in the comics and are not the same as the ones on the helmet Luke wears on the Falcon when training with Obi-Wan - but if you don't mind a bit of inaccuracy then it works. I wonder if Hasbro have this figure in mind for a future release, perhaps an archive release or a retailer exclusive.

The Yavin Ceremony Luke Skywalker is number 100 in the phase 3 red and black releases which started in 2015 when The Force Awakens was released. The figure base is shared with the Skywalker Strikes exclusive - but there are variances in packaging and accessories. He was released in wave 23, the last for 2019, along with Wedge Antilles from A New Hope as well as new figures from the Rise of Skywalker - Jannah and the Jet Trooper - and Cara Dune from The Mandalorian. Packaging 3/5 Luke Skywalker, Yavin Ceremony, arrives in the black box with red side spine and figure cardback. The figure is number 100 in the phase 3 packaging and this means a resizing of the numbers on the red side spine to accommodate the 3-digits. The figure is subtitled as "Yavin Ceremony" to differentiate this release from the other Luke Skywalker figures Gregory Titus provides the artwork for the front and back of the box which shows Luke in his Yavin Ceremony outfit looking wistful. He seems to be wearing his medal, but the image cuts off - which is a shame considering that is the key selling point of the figure. The rear image is blown up, but further clipped so we only get the head alongside some basic text. "On Yavin 4, the Rebels hold a ceremony to award the heroes who bravely fought to destroy the Death Star. Luke Skywalker receives his medal for bravery from Princess Leia" The Luke Skywalker Yavin Ceremony release, the number 100 in the Phase 3 packaging, was released with a couple of pretty embarrassing spelling errors on the box. This included an extra W in Skywalker on the front of the box and to even out the extra letter they then went and missed a Y on the spelling on the reverse and on the large text that sits on the black left hand side spine. Future runs will likely be corrected, but it is unlikely this packaging error will carry much value as it was released in volume. It is a disappointing error for box collectors that figure 100 will carry such as typo. Paint & Sculpt 4/5 It is worth starting with the fact that this is the identical figure as was released early in 2019 as an Exclusive called Skywalker Strikes. That version was accessorised to represent the comic book appearance that would directly follow on from the ending of A New Hope. The head sculpt for Yavin Luke is new for 2019 and is a good likeness to the 1977 Mark Hamill, although the neck is a little short and gives him a hunched look. The face print tech works well and the figure comes with the bright blue eyes and the shaded skin tones. The standard version has a less intense face print, with more natural shading and a less glossy head - making it, in my eyes, superior to the exclusive. On the flip side the Exclusive version does have a lighter and better coloured hair piece. The costume is well executed with the Corellian style trousers and knee high boots - complete with yellow stripes. Luke is then wearing his black shirt and the yellow jacket which is a cast piece and then painted down the him and with the black insignia on the chest. Everything is coloured and painted well with no obvious errors. Accessories 3/5 The Yavin Medal is a new piece and while it was originally photos in the Exclusive set, it was held back to differentiate between the two releases - and so we'd buy both. It is cast in a softer beige plastic with the gold of the medal painted - front and back. It is shaped to fit over Luke's head and rest against his chest. It can be removed if you wish. Luke is armed with a Defender Sporting Blaster Pistol. This is cast in black with painted silver barrel tip and another silver panel on top of the weapon at the grip end. The blaster is identical to the one in the Exclusive release. The blaster fits into the gun toting hand that Luke comes with, and the trigger finger slots into place. When not in use the blaster slips into the working holster. You unclip the soft strap, slide the blaster in, and then replace the strap. There is no lightsaber for Luke in this release. Articulation 3/5 Luke arrives with 17 points of articulation, 1 more than a standard Black Series release. This is down to the neck articulation update with a joint at the base of the neck as well as the top, removing the need for an unsightly pivot in the neck. Head : ball joint neck, ball joint neck base Body : torso ball joint Arms : ball joint shoulder, single rotating elbow, wrist pivot Legs : ball joint hips, thigh swivel, double joint knees, ankle rockers The arms are fully mobile and are fine for weapon posing as Luke only needs to be firing his Sporting Blaster with a single hand at any one time. He can also pose as though clasping his hands behind his back, as seen in the Yavin 4 ceremony. You would assume the leg articulation would work well considering the joints - including those double jointed knees - and this is true for kneeling poses. However, the hips seem to be locked and cant swing out into a seating position or for kneeling on one knee, that leaves wider stances the only other alternative. The same issue exists on the Exclusive Luke and therefore it must be a design issue with the leg shape on all the figures. Luke does stand well with solid ankle rockers. Summary The Yavin Ceremony Luke Skywalker is a perfectly good release of an iconic character in a pretty iconic, albeit short lived outfit. The sculpt is good - a big improvement for Luke figures and one I hope may get recycled into the Archive Series for figures like Farmboy Luke? Articulation is OK, but the figure does suffer with some odd springy issue with the hips which prevent some posing of the legs. The key to this figure is the accessories. If you bought the Skywalker Strikes Exclusive then you will be missing the Yavin Medal that this one brings - and that is unusual as Hasbro normally throw everything at the Exclusive (Thrawn, First Order Troopers) but make it so you don't need to buy the standard if you don't want to. I score the wave 23 Luke Skywalker Yavin Ceremony a 3 out of 5. See More Star Wars Black Series Figures

It was 2016 when Hasbro brought us the first animated Rebels character to life with the release of Kanan Jarrus, soon followed by Sabine Wren. Hera and Ahsoka followed in 2017 as did Grand Admiral Thrawn. We've then had a two year wait to add the next members of our Ghost crew, and its two together as wave 21 in 2019 brings us Ezra Bridger and Chopper. Packaging 3/5 Ezra is packed in the usual phase 3 black box packaging and he is number 83 in the phase so far. Following suit with nearly all Black Series releases, the character name is simply that - "Ezra Bridger" - with no sub-label on the show he is from or even a Rebels TV show logo. One of the difficulties in bringing animated characters into a realistic line like the Black Series is imagining their real world counterparts, and while the figure in the box looks pretty good the exterior illustration is - for me at least - quite wide of the mark and shows Ezra as older than he appears in the first couple of seasons on which this release is based. The same illustration is repeated on the rear of the box with a short background text - again not referencing the source material as such, but quoting the background of Ezra from the show. "Growing up, Ezra learned to trust no one and to rely on his street smarts - and subconscious Force abilities - to survive. This all changes with his introduction to the crew of the Ghost, a small band of rebels fighting back against the Empire. Ezra comes to believe in their cause, and sees that he can help change the galaxy for the better." Paint & Sculpt 4/5 As we said above, the difficulty with any of the animated or illustrated characters like Ezra is the translation to a real world equivalent. It is therefore difficult to say if the Ezra sculpt is a good one. What we can say is that it is well executed using the face print technology and does look lie a real person and not an animated character. I suspect the sculptor has borrowed some of the look from Ezra's voice actor, Taylor Grey, and I am happy with that link. Ezra's outfit is based on the one seen in the first and second seasons of Rebels, an orange flight suit over which we have a a belt and holster, armour to his right leg and a coat which carries the pheonix squadron logo on the back. The costume is really detailed when you start to examine it, with the ripped trousers on the left leg, the green fingerless gloves and the wrist communicator on the left arm. Everything is painted well, and while there are no applications of depth such as dry brushing or weathering for example, the figure doesn't look out of place with any other Black Series figure - a testament to the realism of the final product. Scale wise, and the Ezra figure reaches Kanan's shoulder which is accurate to the show - while Chopper reaches Ezra's waist. Ezra is a touch shorter than Hera and Sabine. I am pleased the Hasbro team have stuck with the early Rebels seasons looks for all the characters and not mixed and matched as we go along. All we need now is Zeb.... Accessories 4/5 Ezra comes with the Imperial Cadet training helmet which is cast n glossy bright white plastic. Over this are applied the various red panels, the black of the visor and the mouthpiece. The helmet is cast in a softer plastic and it fits over Ezra's head snugly for an alternative look for this Rebel. It is a pity we haven't been given the more striking Sabine painted version of the helmet as seen in Gathering Forces (Season 1) and then beyond. We also have Ezra's lightsaber / blaster. This duo weapon is made up of the hilt and a removable blue translucent blade. The lightsaber hilt is cast in a silver plastic with blue and black paint applications over the top. It fits into Ezra;s right hand, and when not in use can be hung and clipped to a space on the utility belt. Articulation 4/5 Ezra, despite being a smaller figure base, still weighs in with a strong articulation count of 17 points. This is one more than the standard articulation for a Black Series figure with the addition of a two part neck articulation which joints the neck top and bottom and removes the unsightly pivot. This doesn't work overly well for Ezra as the bottom joint is held in place by his collar but I am glad to see the back of the neck pivot. Head : ball joint neck, ball joint neck base 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 All the joints work well apart from the ankle rockers and this makes Ezra difficult to stand. For some reason the rocker is blocked at the flattest part of the foot by the sculpt of the trousers on the left leg. This makes balancing Ezra on both feet a challenge - not impossible, but frustrating at times. Summary Ezra Bridger is a solid release with a good level of detail to his outfit and sculpt. The accessories work well and the articulation is also strong once you bypass that funny ankle rocker and put him on a stand for stability in posing. Ezra Bridger take us one step closer to a full Ghost crew from Rebels, which can only be a good thing. I score Ezra a 4 out of 5. See More Star Wars Black Series Figures #TripleForceFriday #TripleForceFriday #StarWars #BlackSeries