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Welcome to our review of the Star Wars Black Series 6 inch Rebel Fleet Trooper. The Trooper was released in 2018 as part of Wave 18 of the red line (phase 3) packaging. The Rebel Fleet Trooper was first seen in A New Hope, but has gone on to appear in Rogue One and in Rebels and as a playable trooper in Battlefront II. Packaging 3/5 Packaging is standard Red Line design with gloss black box and red side spine and backing insert for the figure. The Trooper is number 69 in the line and is part of Wave 18 alongside Han Solo Bespin and Beckett. The artwork is impressive and actually matches the head sculpt on the figure. This artwork is repeated on the rear of the card along with a short bio about the Troopers in general. "Drawn from many homeworlds and species, Rebel troopers were the Alliance's front-line soldiers in the war against the Empire. They defended the Alliance's leaders on countless worlds and durig many operations, changing uniforms and tactics to meet each challenge." Our Trooper slides out from top or bottom flap the inner tray sits inside the red cardboard sleeve with the figure held in only by the tray itself - no awkward twisty ties. The helmet is packed off to the side and this is an odd choice considering the definitive look of the Trooper is with helmet on? Blaster and Death Star Plans sit under the helmet. Paint & Sculpt 4/5 The Rebel Fleet Trooper, like the Imperial counterpart, is a non-descript generic release. However, Hasbro have employed the face print technology and the base I think is one of the unnamed Rebel Fleet Troopers from the first scenes of A New Hope - he gets a few close up shots as they prepare to be boarded. Without a clear likeness to compare to I would say the features on the Trooper are excellent with a battle weary look to his face and intense eyes beneath a furrowed brow. Even the hair, which on normal trooper figures is a shaved head, is sculpted to be matted and messy, The outfit is made up of three distinct parts, starting with a plain blue collared shirt. Over this sits a separate black waistcoat piece, again single colour but with a lot of sculptural detail in the pockets, pouches and seams. We then have a set of grey trousers which look initially to be a single tone plastic. Mine however had some odd brown staining around the joints? Upon closer inspection I think there may be a very subtle brown wash to dirty these up a little. The trousers took into gloss black boots. The final part of the outfit is a belt - sculpted as part of the abdomen piece and mostly hidden by the waistcoat. A flexible rubbery plastic holster hangs off this on the figures right hip. Accessories 5/5 I am going to talk about the helmet as an accessory, although I was tempted to include it in paint and sculpt as it is the helmet that defines this figure as a Rebel Fleet Trooper. It is cast in a white hard plastic and this is smooth and rounded nicely like the prop. Sadly my figure had a defect right on the rim of the helmet - either where it was attached to a sprue or similar, or a factory error. I will put it down to battle damage. The black section is painted in a glossy black, this is neat and without concern. The aerieal section is added and paint silver. And we then have the all important semi-flexible chin strap glued inside and coloured black with a white chin piece. The fit is great, helped of course by the size of the helmet itself. The chin piece works brilliantly and the helmet, with some positioning, becomes part of the figure without looking clunky or oversized. Our Trooper is armed with a DH-17 carbine blaster, the same used on the Death Star Trooper and on the original Lando (Bespin). It is cast in black plastic which is slightly soft so can lead to some misshaping on the barrel in particular. Said barrel is painted in silver, as is the top part of the sights. The blaster is designed to fit in the Trooper's right hand where there is a flexible trigger finger to slot into the trigger. When not in use it can also be slid into the holster. The fit here is snug, without being too tight that we get paint rub - or too loose that it falls out. One genius addition to this figure is the Death Star Plans, making this as much a Rogue One release as A New Hope. The plans are cast in a hard white plastic that resembles a hard drive. There is a gold disc on the top with circular black lines - this appears to be a sticker. Around this disk and onto the reverse are some very intricate black lines and symbols. The plans fit into the left hand for the Trooper ready for him to pass off as soon as he can before Darth Vader cuts him to shreds. Articulation 3/5 Our Rebel Trooper comes with the standard 18 points of articulation. The key ones for me were those leg joints as I wanted my Rebel Trooper to kneel in firing position like they do in those first scenes of A New Hope. With a ball jointed hip, thigh swivel, double jointed knees and a solid ankle rocker I am pleased to say this is a pose the Trooper can achieve easily. The arms are jointed at the shoulder with a ball joint and new butterfly shoulder joints. They have a single rotating elbow, this bends to and just past 90 degrees - we still await the use of double jointed elbows consistently on Black Series figures, but this is one that might have benefitted for weapon posing. Our final joints are a ball jointed head, but without a pivot joint so we only really get rotation from the neck, no looking up and down - this is a shame for action poses as you can have him looking where he is firing. We finish with a stomach joint which rotates and leans on a ball joint, this helps somewhat in crouched and firing positions. Summary Like the Death Star Trooper, the Rebel Fleet Trooper is a nice variation from the armour troop types we have seen to date. The head is well sculpted and printed, even if the likeness is non-specific. The helmet works well, but the choice not to pack it on the figure in the box seems odd when that is the iconic look of the figure. There are a couple of niggles over paint blemishes and the helmet fault is a touch annoying. Articulation is fairly standard, but the basic neck peg makes the head hard to position. The decision to add the Death Star plans is inspired and makes this a release suitable for a few scenes in the Saga. I would not be adverse to see Hasbro re-use this body going forward in future waves, with a variant head each time to really pander to Army Builders. I score the Rebel Fleet Trooper a 4 out of 5.

Obi-Wan Kenobi has had a few releases to date in the Star Wars Black Series, most notably the much maligned blue line figure from 2014 a well as the Original Trilogy Obi-Wan, Force Ghost Obi-Wan and the more recent Clone Armour Obi-Wan from 2019. In wave 21 we have another version of Obi-Wan and this one takes us back to his beginnings as a Padawan from the Phantom Menace. This is the same Obi-Wan figure as was released as a San Diego Comic Con Exclusive in 2019 on a retro 1999 design Phantom Menace Card. The only difference is the lack of a force gesture hand which was omitted from this release. Packaging 4/5 Number 85 in the 3rd phase packaging, Obi-Wan is packed as usual in the black box with red cardback and trim. He is specifically named as "Obi-Wan Kenobi" with "Padawan" following the name in brackets. The illustration on the front of the box is a good likeness to the 1999 Ewan McGregor. The same image is repeated on the back of the box along with a very short bio text about Obi-Wan and his early years in the Jedi Temple. "Like all Jedi of his era, Obi-Wan Kenobi was raised in the Jedi Temple from a very young age. He first underwent training with Yoda, before being assigned to Master Qui-Gon Jinn in his teens." Paint & Sculpt 4/5 The head sculpt on Obi-Wan uses the face print technology and presents a very good likeness to Ewan McGregor. The skin is a little glossy, but the lips and eyes are very well printed and there is depth to the skin with shadowing around the nose and eyes. The hair is textured and painted well and Obi-Wan even gets his Padawan braids and rear ponytail. The body is not a direct re-use of the original Obi-Wan, and is screen accurate to the Phantom Menace. The robes are cast in a single plastic with no paint apps, and while a softer brown wash would have brought out the detail - on such a light cover it is not a huge problem. The belt is very well detailed with silver clasp and varying brown colours. Accessories 2/5 Obi-Wan is packed with his lightsaber, and this is not the one used on previous Obi-Wan figures but rather his original saber hilt that was lost on Naboo during his battle with Darth Maul - great attention to detail. Like all Black Series sabers the blade can be detached from the hilt and the hilt can be hung using a slot in Obi-Wan's belt if you wish. As we have mentioned, an alternative force gesture hand that was packed with the SDCC version of this Obi-Wan has been omitted by Hasbro - despite assurances originally that the figure would be identical. This is disappointing as the little gestures, as we saw on Qui-Gon, add real character to your poses. The other concern with Obi-Wan is why he wasn't given a soft goods robe option - it was included with Mace Windu from the previous wave? Like Qui-Gon, the lack of outer robes does restrict some display options. Articulation 4/5 Obi-Wan has the standard 19 points of articulation for a Black Series human character and is pretty mobile with some good poses open to him. He includes the new two joint neck articulation, where the neck is articulated at both top and bottom - removing the unsightly pivot. Head : ball joint neck base, ball joint neck top Body : ball joint torso Arms : ball joint shoulder, butterfly shoulder joint, single rotating elbow, pivot wrist Legs : ball joint hips, thigh split, double jointed knee, ankle rocker The only real restrictions are at the shoulders where the robes do extend a little and stop the shoulders going all the way up - and at the hips thanks to the skirt piece which is now all plastic and doesn't include soft goods like the previous Episode III Obi-Wan. The shoulder movement is somewhat aided by the new butterfly shoulder joints. Obi-Wan stands perfectly well on his own and can even hold some action stances ready for posing alongside his contemporaries like Qui-Gon Jinn and of course, Darth Maul! Summary I am pleased that prequel Obi-Wan Kenobi has got a revisit, albeit in his younger Padawan appearance. The figure and articulation are well executed, and the only issues are that of accessories - being deprived the hand that came with the SDCC set is disappointing, and I still can't quantify why some Jedi's like Mace Windu get soft goods robes and others don't. Like many figures, this release completes a diorama display for me - either alongside Qui-Gon on display or posed battling Darth Maul. I score the Obi-Wan Kenobi (Padawan) a 4 out of 5. See More Star Wars Black Series #TripleForceFriday #TripleForceFriday #StarWars #BlackSeries

The first Star Wars Black Series from Episode 9, The Rise of Skywalker, started to hit stores as of the 4th October 2019 - badged as Triple Force Friday. There was a base wave of 8 figures, including 4 from Episode 9. There were also a number of exclusives, including a new format of Carbonized figures - repainted and reboxed versions of the base figure with metalized paint job. Here we look at the Carbonized Sith Trooper. You can checkout the standard release here Packaging 4/5 The Carbonized packaging remains the same dimensions and base layout as the normal releases. On the Sith Trooper the colours are reversed and metalised. We have a deep metallic red for the box and a glossy foil black for the side spine and for the cardback which does make the figure stand out. Being metallic and foil the box will be more susceptible to damage and shelf ware, To indicate this as a special edition there is a circular insert in the packaging - it's not a sticker as we though it might be - which carries the word CARBONIZED and under it the various translations. There is a new addition to the front of the box in the Age 4+ white circle, this may be part of the new global packaging strategy. Unusually for an exclusive the figure remains numbered, and has the same #92 designation as the basic release. We still get the lined artwork of the Sith Trooper helmet and shoulders, and round the back a short write up. "In its ultimate push towards galactic conquest, the First order readies and army of elite soldiers that draw inspiration and power from a dark and ancient legacy." You can see the direct side by side comparison here with the base version. The numbering, character name and the back text are all identical - as is the illustration, just presented in grey on the basic release and in black on the Carbonized version. There is a stark contrast in card backs with the Carbonized trooper on sleek foil black which does make him stand out. The regular release is red on red which does leave him a little lost in the box. You will also notice in these side by side shots that the Carbonized Trooper is sold short on weapons, coming with one blaster and not two like the Regular version. Paint & Sculpt 3/5 The Sith Trooper is a new designation of Trooper, and while it looks very similar to previous First Order Stormtroopers it is a brand new sculpt throughout. The helmet and armour is more angular and is textured in places where the basic First Order Troopers are smooth. You have other new touches like the gubbins on the shoulder armour. The Carbonized figure is painted with a metallic finish paint, something that has always proved problematic for toy makers for a number of years. Our version was devoid of any serious chips hankfully, but I have seen plenty of images of damaged versions straight out the box. We do have some thinning of the paint covering around the armour plates, and the layers of paint is not even all over. There are also areas where the metallic red has sprayed into the black joints and it leaves it looking a bit messy. The benefit of the added paint on a trooper - these figures are usually cast in the base colour - is the depth and clarity it brings out in the sculpt, especially when lit and the light is bouncing around on this armour. Aside from the paint job, both Sith Troopers are identical in sculpt and construction. I may be controversial here but I find the Carbonized version looks mucky and too dark and on a side by side comparison I am leaning towards the look of the regular release which is crisper and more defined. Imperial and First Order Troopers do not where metallic armour, except of course Phasma, and the metallic version might make a good looking figure but it is not looking all that accurate to the on screen Trooper. Accessories 3/5 Our Carbonized Sith Trooper comes with a single weapon. This is a new blaster rifle and includes a chunkier barrel, and a sort of mini sights on top. It is cast in grey with parts picked out in the same metallic red colouring. The end of the barrel and sites are picked out in silver. It fits into the Trooper's right hand, but the fit is not overly snug when you bring the trigger finger into play. It seems to tip the blaster too much and then the bottom grip can be lost. Takes a bit of teasing into place. What is cool is the continuation of the holstering function. The Sith Trooper has a slot in his right thigh into which a panel on the gun slot for holstering. It is a pity that the 2nd blaster included in the standard release is not included with the Carbonized version. The larger blaster rifle is packed with both Carbonized and Standard versions of the Sith Trooper. The only difference is the red paint on the blaster which is darker metallic on the Carbonized version. Articulation 4/5 The Sith Trooper has 18 points of articulation. While this is a full new body, it does have some of the same articulation issues as other armoured troopers. But the weapon posing is helped by the inclusion of the new butterfly shoulder joints. Head : pivot ball joint neck Body : torso ball joint Arms : ball joint shoulder, butterfly shoulder joint, single joint rotating elbow, pivot wrist Legs : ball joint hip, thigh swivel, double joint knees, ankle rocker The shoulders cannot raise more than a few degrees as the shoulder armour hits the chest armour and blocks the movement. The head will rotate but can't seem to look up or down, it moves that way but springs back to the starting position. The torso joint is more maneuverable. Leg joints are much better and the legs can move fully into wider stances and even kneeling positions are possible with the double joint knees. The figure stands perfectly well. Summary The Carbonized figure is a nice exclusive variant, but perhaps more suited to be kept boxed. As this is an Amazon exclusive I suspect that may be tricky in that a lot of the boxes are arriving damaged. The paint job is OK, but a bit too metallic and dark for me and uneven in places. I suspect flaking will occur too if it is handled too much. I also feel a little sold short by getting only one blaster vs the two in the standard release. I score the Amazon Exclusive Carbonized Sith Trooper a 3 out of 5. See More Star Wars Black Series Figures Buy from Amazon UK Buy from Amazon US

The first Star Wars Black Series from Episode 9, The Rise of Skywalker, started to hit stores as of the 4th October 2019 - badged as Triple Force Friday. There was a base wave of 8 figures, including 4 from Episode 9. One of these was the Sith Trooper, a figure that had been released as a San Diego Exclusive in July in special packaging and with additional weapons. The first wave was also available as First Editions in special white boxes. You can checkout the Exclusive Carbonized release here Packaging 4/5 The Sith Trooper is available in numerous packaging options including the Carbonized Exclusive which we will compare against as we go through the review. It also comes in the White First Edition box, but the contents and figure in this version are identical to the one we are reviewing. The usual phase 3 packaging designs apply with the black box, red spine and red backing card. There is a new addition to the front of the box in the Age 4+ white circle, this may be part of the new global packaging strategy. Our Sith Trooper is number 92 in the phase 3 packaging. The character is illustrated with the usual Gregory Titus the lined artwork of the Sith Trooper helmet and shoulders, and round the back of the box is a short write up. "In its ultimate push towards galactic conquest, the First order readies and army of elite soldiers that draw inspiration and power from a dark and ancient legacy." Like other red figures - Praetorian and Imperial Guards - the Sith Trooper does get lost in the packaging against a very similar red coloured background You can see the direct side by side comparison here with the Carbonized version. The numbering, character name and the back text are all identical - as is the illustration, just presented in grey on the basic release and in black on the Carbonized version. There is a stark contrast in card backs with the Carbonized trooper on sleek foil black which does make him stand out. The regular release is red on red which does leave him a little lost in the box as mentioned above. You will also notice in these side by side shots that the Carbonized Trooper is sold short on weapons, coming with one blaster and not two like the Regular version. Paint & Sculpt 4/5 The Sith Trooper is a new designation of Trooper, and while it looks very similar to previous First Order Stormtroopers it is a brand new sculpt throughout. The helmet and armour is more angular and is textured in places where the basic First Order Troopers are smooth. You have other new touches like the gubbins on the shoulder armour. The standard release is cast in the red armour plastic with black added where required. There are no other colours on the figure but where black has been painted to define the visor or the panel indications, the application is very neat. The finish on the figure is good and I prefer it over the Carbonized version, it could just do with being slightly glosier and perhaps have some variations of red to define different parts of the armour. Aside from the paint job, both Sith Troopers are identical in sculpt and construction. I may be controversial here but I find the Carbonized version looks mucky and too dark and on a side by side comparison I am still leaning towards the look of the regular release which is crisper and more defined. Accessories 4/5 The Sith Trooper is armed with two weapons. The first is a new blaster rifle and includes a chunkier barrel, and a sort of mini sights on top. It is cast in grey with parts picked out in the same red colouring as the figure - its just a bit duller being painted on over dark grey. The end of the barrel and sites are picked out in silver. It fits into the Trooper's right hand, but the fit is not overly snug when you bring the trigger finger into play. It seems to tip the blaster too much and then the bottom grip can be lost. Takes a bit of teasing into place. The second weapon is a smaller blaster, again cast in a dark grey with red highlighted panels. This is a much better fit into the right hand. What is cool for both of these weapons is the continuation of the holstering function. The Sith Trooper has a slot in his right thigh into which a panel on the gun slot for holstering. The larger blaster rifle is packed with both Carbonized and Standard versions of the Sith Trooper. The only difference is the red paint on the blaster which is darker metallic on the Carbonized version. Articulation 4/5 The Sith Trooper has 18 points of articulation. While this is a full new body, it does have some of the same articulation issues as other armoured troopers. But the weapon posing is helped by the inclusion of the new butterfly shoulder joints. Head : pivot ball joint neck Body : torso ball joint Arms : ball joint shoulder, butterfly shoulder joint, single joint rotating elbow, pivot wrist Legs : ball joint hip, thigh swivel, double joint knees, ankle rocker The shoulders cannot raise more than a few degrees as the shoulder armour hits the chest armour and blocks the movement. The head will rotate but can't seem to look up or down, it moves that way but springs back to the starting position. The torso joint is more maneuverable. Leg joints are much better and the legs can move fully into wider stances and even kneeling positions are possible with the double joint knees. The figure stands perfectly well. Summary The Sith Trooper is the poster Trooper for Episode 9 and its a great launch figure, even with the multiple versions. This basic version is cheaper than the Exclusives, but still boasts more accessories than the Carbonized version along with the same sculpt and articulation. I think the paint job on the standard version is more figure friendly than the metallic red of the Carbonized version and looks nicer on display and possibly more accurate to the on screen Trooper. I score the Sith Trooper a 4 out of 5. See More Star Wars Black Series Figures

Arguably one of the coolest characters to come out of the Prequel trilogy, Mace Windu is a welcome addition to the Black Series. As the Hasbro team continue their prequel focus, we have a Mace Windu Jedi figure to add to our displays alongside the Battle Droids, Padme and General Grievous. Released in wave 20, 2019, Mace is number 82 in the 3rd phase releases. Packaging 3/5 Mace sits in the standard packaging, with quite a sterile image of him illustrated in the bottom right corner. While it is not a bad likeness of Samuel L. Jackson, it lacks the intensity of Mace - something around the eyes and brow is not quite right. He is number 82 in the line, as per the bold red side spine. Round the back we get the same glum looking illustration of Mace Windu along with a short background piece about the character. "A grim Jedi Master with an amethyst-bladed lightsaber, Mace Windu was the champion of the Jedi Order, with little tolerance for the failings of the Senate, the arguments of politicians, or the opinions of rebellious Jedi." The figure slides out in an inner tray, and while there are no ties as such - his sleeves and robe are tucked through slits in the plastic. Be careful when pulling him out that the robes are not damaged. His lightsaber accessory sits to the side of the figure. Paint & Sculpt 3/5 The figure likeness uses the face print technology and delivers a good representation of a prequel era 1999-2005 Samuel L. Jackson - we have to remember that as he was a lot younger than we see him now in the Marvel movies. Unlike the packaging illustration, the sculpt has captured that intensive look and the brow area. The Jedi robes are quite simple and not reused as far as I can see from any of the previous Jedi figures - Mace has his own build and proportions. The inner robes are all sculpted with the lower skirt a rubbery material to allow the legs to move. They are all painted in single colours, with no washes or effects. The tunic is perhaps a shade or two lighter than what we see on screen. Everything round the front of the figure is neat and detailed including studs and clasps on the belt picked out in silver. As you move round the side there is less attention to detail with quite a bit of paint bleed and unpainted parts on the same belt that was done so well at the front. The outer robes are soft goods - something Hasbro are sticking with for the Black Series. Like more recent releases the material is much better at 6 inch scale and does flow and sit a little better. The hood is still a big issue as it sits up too much and doesn't work at all when pulled up over the head. Mace arguably looks better when the robes are ditched and we get his Geonosis arena look. Accessories 3/5 Mace has a single accessory - his lightsaber. This is a new hilt sculpt and for something so small carries a fair put of painted and sculpted detail. The blade, a translucent purple, can be clicked in and out of the hilt so you can choose to have Mace wield his saber ignited or not. The saber hilt fits into either hand. Unlike other Jedi figures, there is no place to stash the saber hilt when not held - it doesn't plug into or hang on the belt Articulation 4/5 Mace Windu rocks up with the standard 18 points of articulation. The arms are a little restricted by way of the shoulder robes that extend out some way and block upward movement. But this is offset a little with the new butterfly shoulder joints. The skirt section, while flexible also blocks some leg poses. Head : ball joint pivot head Body : torso ball joint Arms : ball joint shoulders, butterfly shoulder joint, single joint rotating elbows, pivot wrists Legs : ball joint hips, thigh swivels, double joint knees, ankle rockers As a Jedi I'd have loved to get Mace into a two handed weapon poses - as we see when he faces down Jango Fett. With single jointed elbows and huge ballooning sleeves this is just about possible, but doesn't look to great. Mace stands OK most of the time, but the ratchets and shape of his ankle rocker does make this a bit frustrating and his feet are blocked by the shape of the boots and it often causes him to lean back on his heels and then fall over. Summary Mace Windu is a solid addition to the Black Series and the prequel era figures. Everything is delivered well, but the figure boasts nothing truly spectacular with basic paint job, basic articulation and another frustrating soft goods robe that doesn't quite sit how you want it to. I score the Star Wars Black Series Mace Windu an above average 3 out of 5. See More Star Wars Black Series figures #TripleForceFriday #TripleForceFriday #StarWars #BlackSeries

Triple Force Friday took place on the 4th of October 2019 and was the global product release for items from the three big Star Wars properties arriving in late 2019 - Episode 9, The Rise of Skywalker, The Mandalorian and the new EA videogame Jedi Fallen Order. In the Star Wars Black Series, Wave 22 landed on Force Friday and within the 8 figure wave were two figures from the EA game - the Second Sister, and the main playable character Cal Kestis. Packaging 4/5 Many thought that Triple Force Friday would see the end of the phase 3 Black Series packaging, but the red and black continued through and will now last until at least the end of 2019. Cal Kestis arrives in this standard packaging - and is also available in a First Edition box where the black is substituted for white to create a stark contrast boxed variant. The figure follows all the usual principles with a nice Gregory Titus artwork on the front capturing the likeness of Cal Kestis and his droid BD-1. The box is named only as Cal Kestis, no mention of the little droid on the packaging. Cal is 93 in the line. One thing of note that does differ from the norm is the use of the Jedi Fallen Order logo at the bottom right next to the Hasbro logo. Most Black Series figures never clarify the source film or show the figure is from, but in the case of this figure - and the previous EA Battlefront figures - it seems some part of the licencing agreement with EA dictates the inclusion of the game logo. Round the back of the pack we have a short background piece that gives nothing away for the game ahead of its release. BD-1 does get a credit in this segment. "A Jedi Padawan during the Clone Wars, Cal Kestis narrowly escaped the horrors of Order 66 and was forced into hiding. Together with his explorer droid BD-1, he embarks on a journey to rebuild the Jedi Order while evading the terrifying Imperial Inquisitorius." Paint & Sculpt 4/5 Unlike other figures that have translated from the animated page/screen, the likeness for Cal Kestis did not have to be extrapolated into a natural real life sculpt, the game is already photo realistic in its cut scenes and of course the team can also use the original actor for Cal, Cameron Monaghan, for reference. This gives the figure a good identity and a good match to the character on screen. It is photo realistic and you can see subtle tones on the skin and the eyes. The costume is one of the many that Cal will wear in the game - and I suspect we may get more variants/exclusives of Cal if he sells well enough. The design is very "Star Wars" and is more of a smuggler/scoundrel look with a few Jedi elements thrown in. There are lots of details around the figure with the straps and buckles down to the left hand glove, tools hanging off the back of the belt, silver panels on the trousers and boots and a couple of canisters on the left arm that scream of Imperial Officer. Everything is painted neatly, but there is one issue around the right elbow. The right arm is bare from the elbow downwards and the lower arm is cast in a skin tone. Where the joint for the elbow slots in, the centre bit has had to be painted and these two colours don't quite match - and even worse this bit starts to flake and peel the moment the arm is bent. I am going to look at BD-1 as a character and not an accessory. He is tiny, one of the smallest characters released to date in the Black Series line. He is cast in white plastic with painted red and yellow panel details as well silver strips and eye lenses. He could potentially do with a wash to bring out more detail considering his size, but all in all this is a good inclusion in the pack considering BD-1's role in the game. A word of warning, be careful of BD-1's two antenna, they are not the usual softer plastic and are quite brittle. ne of mine broke shortly after these images were taken. Accessories 3/5 Cal comes with a lightsaber, and this is a brand new design and quite unusual in its length and design with a cut out blade emitter. It is cast in grey with no other paint apps. It fits in either hand and the figure can just about get a two handed pose out of the elbow and shoulder joints. The blade is removable and is cast in blue translucent plastic. This clips in and out OK, but it is a bit more difficult to align as the slot is hidden within that large blade emitter and cover. Despite all the belts and gizmo's, there is no where to hang the saber on Cal's person. Articulation 4/5 Cal has the standard 18 points of articulation, with a particularly mobile torso joint under the vest, and the new shoulder butterfly joints. Both of which really add to the posing options and fighting stances Head : ball joint pivot neck Body : ball joint torso Arms : ball joint shoulder, butterfly shoulder joint, single rotating elbows, pivot wrists Legs : ball joint hips, thigh swivel, double jointed knees, ankle rockers Cal can do plenty of action stances, including kneeling thanks to the double jointed knees. There is loads of scope for display and all the joints are tight and secure, and Cal stands really well. BD-1 is also articulated, and even at his size he boasts 5 points of articulation. The head sits on a ball joint, not just a pivot, and can rotate and tilt to adds some expression. The legs are then plugged in on a ball joint into the body and then hinged at the knees. Being a ball joint at the hip the legs can move on both axis, allowing the legs to be spread out if needed. The bad news is the ability for BD-1 to sit on Cal's shoulder as we see in the game. There is no socket or ridge or clever engineered piece to get BD-1 to perch securely. Even with some experimentation of leg position I could not get BD-1 to sit until I cheated and employed some blu tac. It's not the end of the world, but with the way this droid operates it would have been a neat feature. Summary Cal Kestis is a great figure that benefits from a great design that is sympathetic to the source material and the timeline positioning between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. Cal reminds me a little of Kyle Katarn - a Jedi, but with the look of a smuggler. Kind of crossing Han with Luke. The figure ticks most boxes - good sculpt, good paint, decent accessories and solid articulation. There are only a couple of faults to speak of. The first being that elbow paint which does stand out. And the second the issue with BD-1 and his inability to be perched on Cal's shoulder. I love all aspects of Star Wars and am so pleased we are getting new designs and stories branching off from the main story. And of course what is clever about Fallen Order and The Mandalorian is their close links with the original trilogy and its designs. I look forward to picking up more Fallen Order figures, particularly that Purge Trooper to complement Cal on my display I score Cal Kestis a solid 4 out of 5. See More Star Wars Black Series Figures

The Star Wars Black Series Knight of Ren was released in March 2020 as part of Wave 24 of the Star Wars Black Series (3rd Phase Packaging). He is number 105 in the line and represents Vicrul, the first of the Knights of Ren to make it into 6 inch figure form. Other figures in Wave 24 are Count Dooku, Zorii Bliss, Clone Commander Bly and the Sith Jet Trooper. Packaging 4/5 The Knight of Ren arrives in the usual phase 3 packaging and is number 105 in the line. What is strange is that each of the Knights of Ren are named via visual guides for The Rise of Skywalker and supporting comics - this is actually Vicrul, but Hasbro have simply named him as Knight of Ren, which is the credit he got in the movie? Hopefully going forward Hasbro will go name specific on any future members of the Knights. The illustration of Vicrul is a side on view of his hemet and part of his shoulder and chest. The is repeated on the back of the box alongside a very vague - and also not character specific - piece of text. "An enclave of masked warriors wielding distinct weapons for ranged and close quarters combat, the Knights of Ren are elite, fearsome enforcers of Kylo Ren." Paint & Sculpt 4/5 Vicrul's helmet is well recreated in 6 inch scale. It is cast in a glossy black plastic with painted segmented silver visor and face plate. The rear skirt of the helmet is also painted in a duller brown grey colour which adds some variation. After this the rest of the body is cast in black plastic. The robes carry the reptilian scale texture we see on screen and particularly in the reference guides. There is some interesting detail in the wrist bracers, but this is lost without them being painted and that is a shame. Paint apps on the body are essentially a silver painted belt buckle and then sporadic weathering with a mud/sand colouration. The boots are very heavily painted - perhaps a tad too much and then the effect stops. It picks back up on the back of the skirt section and then jumps up to the right side of the torso and up onto the left shoulder. It's not the worst weathering in the world but would have been better toned back a bit and covering more of the body Accessories 5/5 Wave 24 weaponry has been hit (Zorii Bliss) and miss (Bly) so far with paint effects - and thankfully Vicrul is another example of weaponry done very well by Hasbro. Up first is his blaster pistol which is very accurate to the reference pictures in terms of the various parts and components. It is cast in a dark plastic with painted silver over the top and a brown grip. This slots into Vicrul's right hand where there is a flexible trigger finger that slots as usual into the trigger. When not in use there is a holster of sorts on the figure's right hip. This is an unusual design with two fitted loops - but again this is accurate to the character. The blaster does not slot in from the top as per usual, the top loop is too small. Instead you slot the bulk of the blaster in the bottom part then flick the top part over the back piece to hold it in place. Vicrul also comes with his Scythe. This vibro-weapon is cast in dark plastic but is fully painted with silver blade, silver hilt and brown wrappings on the grip. It fits into either hand, although watch out for the trigger finger which can look a bit odd sticking up while holding the scythe. Articulation 4/5 Vicrul has 19 points of articulation, with the new joint in the neck that articulates at the base of the neck rather than having a pivot. This makes the head just as mobile as the previous option, but without the unsightly neck pivot. He also gets the new butterfly joints in the shoulders, which really supports weapon posing with both hands. Head : ball joint neck, ball joint neck base Body : ball joint waist Arms : ball joint shoulder, butterfly shoulder joint, single joint rotating elbows, wrist pivot Legs : ball joint hips, thigh swivel, single joint rotating knees, ankle rockers The shaping of the elbows and elbow joint is a little odd. And while it works, it looks a little strange when straightened. The arms move sufficiently for weapon posing and action shots. The iconic Scythe over the shoulder we see on the cover of the Rise of Skywalker Visual Guide can be recreated, and looks great. Leg positioning is good, although the skirt and single joint knees won't allow much past wider action stances and posing. Ankle rockers work well and are tight and the figure stands with no problem. Summary Vicrul is a stunning looking sculpt that has some basic paint work and with a few extra touches he could be spectacular. The weathering needs refinement and some variation in textures, particularly where the sculpt shows it could be (wrist bracers) would really set this figure off. Articulation is good, and Vicrul can achieve most of the pose you would want him to achieve, including the pose from the Visual Guide. It still remains odd that Hasbro should name the figure simply "Knight of Ren" when each of the Knights has been named in various additional media. I score Vicrul the Knight of Ren a solid 4 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, hasbro, rise of skywalker, knights of ren, vicrul

Count Dooku was released in 2020 as part of Wave 24 of the Star Wars Black Series (Phase 3 packaging). Dooku was number 107 in the line and was accompanied in the wave by Zorii Bliss, Knight of Ren, Commander Bly and a Sith Jet Trooper. Packaging 4/5 There is something about dark robed figures that fits so well in the red and black packaging for Black Series - and like Vader and Palpatine before him, Count Dooku looks suitably menacing against the deep red backdrop. The illustration is similarly menacing, capturing an intense eyed Christopher Lee with his lightsaber ignited. The image is repeated on the back of the box along with a short bio for the Count. "Count Dooku was a menacing Sith Lord and central figure in the Clone Wars. Once a Jedi he became disillusioned with the Jedi Order and thirsted for greater power." I have badged this figure as an Attack of the Clones release, but he would of course fit just as well in Revenge of the Sith or even The Clone Wars. Paint & Sculpt 5/5 The face print technology has brought the Star Wars Black Series a long way in terms of figure likeness, and Dooku is perhaps one of the greatest so far with a perfect likeness in 6 inch scale to the late, great, Christopher Lee. Both the sculpt and decor work in harmony, and it is the intense eyes that stare out from under that furrowed brow that make the head so spectacular. The costume, in comparison, is quite plain - but screen accurate to the Counts appearance on screen. The tunic is a dark brown with a lighter brown painted belt with silver detail around the clip for his lightsaber. The trousers are the same tone of brown, with the knee high boots in gloss black. The cape is a soft goods tailored cloak, with a darker brown outer layer and a lighter brown inner section. At first I thought it removable, but the chain clasp is fixed to the figure and prevents easy removal. The chain clasp is perhaps the only bit of the decor that could have been improved with a more metallic finish or at least a black wash to bring out the detail on each clasp. Accessories 5/5 Dooku is armed with his curved blade lightsaber. This is cast in a silver plastic and is shaped beautifully, down to the curved outer blade cover. It is cast in black and then painted silver over the top with some of the black left as detailing on the grip. There is even a recatngle or red near the handle. Like all sabers in the Black Series, the blade is removable. And Dooku get two blades to go with his saber hilt. The first is a standard red translucent Sith blade. The second is a debut for the line with a motion blurred blade to simulate a sweeping action of the Count's blade. Both blades can be clipped into place on the hilt. While I like the premise of the sweeping blade, I am not overly sold on the final look of it on display. I do applaud the innovation of trying to add new things to the line, and it would be great to see more of these with saber wielding figures. The saber hilt fits into either of the Count's hands and when not in use it can be hung on his belt by means of a small peg on the saber and a corresponding hole in the belt. The only notable absence from Dooku as an accessory is Force Lightning, a weapon he employed as much as his saber. Having this as a further accessory would have pushed Dooku towards perfection as a Black Series release. The hands on Dooku do not seem to come off easily and I was reluctant to force them - ruling out using the hands from Deluxe Palpatine. (There are some options - see our Figure Hack at the end of the review for an option to rectify this?) Articulation 5/5 The Count comes with a total of 19 points of articulation. He gets the new butterfly shoulder joints and the new neck configuration with joints at both the top and base of the neck - which therefore removes the need for the unsightly pivot in the neck itself - a great advancement for the line. Head : ball joint neck, ball joint neck base Body : ball joint waist Arms : ball joint shoulders, butterfly shoulders, single joint rotating elbows, wrist pivot Legs : ball joint hips, thigh swivel, single joint rotating knees, ankle rockers The beauty of Dooku in the film is his movement, and the figure can recreate most of these sweeping saber poses and gestures. The cloak sweeps and hangs in line with the movement, and looks great. Dooku has full movement with the arms, up to and including a neutral two handed saber pose. He can also kneel - although Dooku would never kneel unless forced too.... Summary Count Dooku is as good as the Black Series gets at the moment. He is a beautiful looking figure with a nailed on sculpt and face print detailing. His costume is sleek and screen accurate, and the soft goods work well. Accessories are great, with the trial of a new dynamic light saber blurring blade - although the lack of Force Lightning is still a minor miss. Articulation is great, with the new neck joint option retaining movement while removing the unsightly neck pivot. I find very little to be negative about, and score the Star Wars Black Series Count Dooku a top score of 5 out of 5. See More Star Wars Black Series Figures Figure Hack As mentioned above, the biggest issue with the Dooku figure is the lack of Force Lightning - a weapon he employed in battle. I can confirm, with a bit of work, that the lightning effects from Marvel Legends can be used for Dooku. The one I have hear was taken from a Thor Infinity War figure and it just about wraps around Dooku's hand and sits in his grip. It's not quite as impressive as the lightning that comes with Emperor Palpatine, but it does a job if you want to go for the Force Lightning look. 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, count dooku, attack of the clones, revenge of the sith, the clone wars, darth tyrannus, count of serenno, hasbro

Taskmaster was released in March 2020 as part of the Black Widow Movie MCU wave of Marvel Legends figures. The wave included other MCU figures of Black Widow, Red Guardian and Yelena Belova. There were also comic book figures of The Winter Soldier, Crossbones and Spymaster. The overall build-a-figure (BAF) was Crimson Dynamo, also comic book based. Packaging 4/5 After seeing the very striking designs used on the Red Guardian and Yelena Belova - with the Cold War era illustrations and colour schemes - it is disappointing in a way to see Taskmaster in a more traditional design box. It still carries the Black Widow movie logo over the character name - but the side art has reverted to a more standard image of Taskmaster on a white backdrop. Another image is used on the back with Taskmaster in a more dynamic action pose and to the side of this a very brief piece of text that stays away from any spoilers. "Taskmaster is armed with the ability to mimic an enemy's every move." The same BAF checklist is used as we saw on the other figures with a breakdown of the Crimson Dynamo parts. There is no BAF part with Taskmaster Paint & Sculpt 4/5 Taskmaster is sculpted with his hood up, so while the mask underneath is impressive it is difficult to get a clearer look at the full design and sculpt. The face section we can see has glossy black lenses for the eyes and a silver metallic colouring for the rest with sculpted nose and mouth which does - in a way - start to give the look of a skull. The hood is not removable sadly, while it is an individual piece it is either glued or plugged into the head and I am not sure what damage separating it would do. I fully expect a second release for Taskmaster after the movie releases, with hood down. The outfit is a very modern tactical armour with chest panels, shoulder and wrist protection and a tactical belt with holster (none working). The body is cast in a dark blue, with the orange and metallic blue painted over the top. The paint work is very neat with crisp lines between the corresponding colours. The only error on my figure was a small speck of silver that had dripped onto one arm. Whatever you think of the onscreen design, it seems Hasbro have got it spot on this time round with a well proportioned and striking looking figure that is very different from the darker muted villains, quite often garbed in in green, we've seen to date. Accessories 5/5 It is clear when you open up Taskmaster why a BAF was not included. The inner tray is absolutely overflowing with accessories. We start with a pair of fisted hands that come fitted to the figure. These allow Taskmaster hand to hand combat posing. And if fists aren't your thing, then the second pair of hands are a set of claws. These are a direct reuse from the Erik Killmonger Black Panther figure, now cast in blue plastic rather than black. We also have a third set of hands to use on Taskmaster, a set of gripping hand which are required to wield his weaponry. All of the hands pop in and out without issue. The first weapon we have for Taskmaster is his compound bow, and a solitary arrow. I though the bow may be one of Hawkeye's, but it appears to be a new design. The bow is cast in grey with painted orange ends to the bow. Hasbro are sticking with the fixed "string" in a thicker plastic. The arrow is also cast in grey, but has no paint apps. It is also a little bit warped at the head. The bow fits into either hand, with the right hand more suited to drawing the arrow - which matches what we see on screen. The right hand has a trigger finger (it may be a reuse from somewhere) and you can just about slot the arrow into the gap between trigger finger and hand for a firing pose. There is no quiver, or practical storage for the single arrow. Taskmaster then has some melee weaponry int he shape of his shield and a sword. The shield is quite small, smaller than I expected. This seems to be the case on screen vs Red Guardians shield, but I think Hasbro might have gone too small. It is cast in grey with the three spokes painted in orange. The Shield uses the clip/handle design we've seen on Red Guardian and on very early Captain America figures. With the handle out, Taskmaster can hold the shield in either hand. Or you can swap to the clip and clip it onto either wrist - this makes for better posing as the shield is flat to the arm and in a more natural position. The sword is the final accessory, cast again in black plastic with an orange painted edge to the blade - and sadly on mine some orange paint splashed where it shouldn't be. The sword fits again into ether hand, but the grip is quite loose and it can slip out too easily if you dont straighten it up fully in the palm. While I am not complaining over the amount of accessories and hand options, a final extra hand to grip the sword tightly would have been appreciated. Articulation 5/5 Taskmaster has a total of 19 points of articulation. The head is the most restricted of the joint due to the hood piece, while the head can turn it does squash the hood as you turn and gets harder the further you turn it round. Any up and down motion is lost as the hood holds the head in the same horizontal position - and if you do force the head to look down, this opens up a big gap at the back as the hood rises off the shoulder piece. Arms are very mobile thanks to full articulation, and little blockage. The shoulder panels withdraw into the chest as the arms raise and the elbows bend back on themselves for some great fighting poses with any of the weapons - including bow drawing. The legs too have full motion, with Taskmaster able to kneel and sit. There are some dynamic poses available in normal circumstances - and stick this guy on a flight stand and the possibilities open up even more. All the joints are stiff, ratcheted as needed and Taskmaster stands perfectly well on his own. Summary There is very little to complain about with Taskmaster. He has a great sculpt, good paint job, excellent articulation and a very comprehensive array of accessories. A lot will boil down to how much you like the design for the MCU Taskmaster, and the only real gripe beyond this is the hood section. It would have been nice to have had an option similar to Ghost with both hood up and down options. It is a pity for boxed collectors that Hasbro veered away from the designs used on the other figures and Taskmaster is a little out of place with the other boxes from the line. I score the MCU Taskmaster a very high 4 out of 5. See More MCU Marvel Legend 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, marvel, legends, black widow, taskmaster, hasbro, crimson dynamo baf wave

I've just managed to complete the PS4 version of Jedi : Fallen Order! Slow, I know, but with a young son in the house my video game time is very limited. With the game completed (and plenty of time on my hands) it got me thinking about the other Star Wars Black Series 6 inch figures I would want from the game. The Easy Ones The first set of figures are the ones that Hasbro could easily give us via re-paints and tweaks of existing figures. In the main these would include the various Imperial Troopers. With sculpts already in place for the general Imperial Stormtroopers and the Scout Troopers - Hasbro would need to just add in some pauldrons and new electro-baton weapons to come up with some Trooper variants for Fallen Order. There is also the option of re-releasing K-2SO as a generic Imperial Enforcer Droid and perhaps a re-coloured Imperial R2 unit. The flashback scenes also provide some scope for Clone Trooper 13th "Iron" Battalion variants. And on the subject of Storm & Clone Troopers. I wonder if the Flame Trooper we see in the game would be another possible tweaked release - using parts from both the Imperial Snowtrooper and Phase 2 Clone Trooper - with a new helmet of course, which itself may have uses for other Clone Wars era figures. Purge Troopers are one of the highlights of the game for me, and while we've had one with the red pauldron - there is a need for more, particularly as the one we've had was a limited exclusive. Repack the existing sculpt with electric batons (shared with the Scout Trooper variant) and/or the electrostaff and you'd have the makings of a nice squad to go with your Second Sister. Talking of the Second Sister, she is crying out for an unmasked Trilla head and I hope Hasbro may consider this in the future with a face print sculpt of actor Elizabeth Grullon. I would certainly double dip on the 2nd Sister if there was an unmasked version. I would also support a re-release (to a degree) of Cal Kestis. I would be very happy if they could make this a Deluxe release and include various lightsaber hilts and coloured blades as well as some variant soft goods ponchos and different coloured BD-1 droids - matching the customisation we see in the game. A bit harder.... Some figures will of course require a lot more work - essentially being sculpted from the ground up. This list for me would include the 9th Sister as a deluxe release, as well as figures of Merrin, Greeze Dritus and Cere Junda. I could go deeper, but for now the main crew of the Mantis and the "secondary" Inquisitor would be a good start. Ripe for More? Fallen Order may also be the avenue to get us a Saw Gerrera figure, his look not being wildly different from Rogue One. Hasbro could pack two heads - or even give us two versions of Saw in the line for completists. The game gives us a wealth of other options if we as fans want Hasbro to go that deep. I liked Sorc Tormo and some of his Bounty Hunters were pretty cool looking. Ena Kordova is another option as is Jaro Tapol - who could share parts with a Black Series Zeb figure. I also liked Prauf and there is of course an Abednedo sculpt in circulation from Ello Asty. Who would you choose? If you had your way, would you want more figures based on Jedi : Fallen Order and who would you choose for release? Sign in and leave your comments here, or let us know via Facebook or Twitter 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, hasbro, black series, jedi, fallen order, cal kestis

Diamond Select Toys unveiled their new 7 inch Lord of the Rings Select line at Toy Fair 2020 with six figures planned over 3 waves - with the ability to build a Sauron figure if you collect all 6. The first wave has gone up for pre-orders and with that has come the first promo images of Gimli and Legolas. From The Lord of the Rings saga, the epic Select Series begins with the original odd couple, the dwarf Gimli and the elf Legolas! Each 7-inch scale figure features 16 points of articulation, detailed sculpting, and a full range of accessories. Each comes packaged in a full-color window box with hangtag, and also comes with a piece of Sauron - collect the whole line to build the 13-inch villain! Product Features 7 inch scale (17.78cm) Made of plastic First in The Lord of the Rings Select Series 16 Points of articulation Detailed sculpting Sauron build pieces Collect the whole line to build the 13-inch villain The initial images for Gimli look great. He is listed as coming with a single weapon which we assume is his axe. Legolas looks a little bit out of proportion. He comes with unspecified weapons too - with only an arrow pictures with the promotional image. We'd hope he includes his bow as well as his blades and it would be nice for Diamond to confirm this before we commit to pre-orders. Diamond have shared an image of Sauron - the BAF - but it is not clear how much of this is a digital sculpt rather than the actual figure. This first wave is down for a September 2020 release. 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, diamond select toys, lord of the rings, fellowship of the ring, legolas, gimli, sauron

The Doctor Who 5.5 inch scale Reconnaissance Dalek, from the 2019 New Years Day episode Revolution, was released in March 2020 and is part of a four figure general release wave - the first wide spread wave release since the last Toys R Us figures. The Dalek is packed alongside figures of Graham O'Brien, the Judoon Captain and the 13th Doctor. Packaging 3/5 This new 2020 wave comes with new packaging, albeit using the same design principles and colours as the more recent B&M releases. We have a shaped blister card with the new series Doctor Who logo atop. The backing for the figure is the grey lined artwork of the TARDIS and this wraps around the right hand of the blister. The Dalek blister is deeper than other figures and therefore we get to see the double doors of the TARDIS in this side insert along with the blue call for assistance panel. The character name is also wrapped inside the blister at the base of the figure and names the figure as Reconnaissance Dalek. There is no episode sub heading, instead the sub heading is "Action Figure (5.5"/14cm Scale"). There is a red insert above the character name that confirms the figure comes with a Dalek Mutant Accessory. The back of the card carries no bio's or story details or text of any kind. Instead we get a checklist of the other releases in the wave via images of each of them - and a look at the 13th Doctor TARDIS that has been released at the same time. The packaging is not "collector friendly" in a number of factors. It has to be ripped to open the figure, so there is no option to repack the figure once opened. The card is designed to be hung, but the stick on hanging tab is very weak and comes off easily. And if you then wanted to display on a shelf in packaging, the card is shaped so it doesn't sit straight and actually leans forward and to one side. Paint & Sculpt 4/5 The Dalek stands about the same height as the standard Character New Series Dalek, but this is a brand new sculpt to recreate the scrap built Recon Dalek from Resolution. I wasn't a huge fan of the on screen look, but I applaud the accuracy of the figure to the prop with the various panels and rivets all captured in the sculpt. The paint work is a deep bronze rust finish with painted silver dry brushing and panelling on top. There is a red behind the neck rings, which would look brilliant lit up, and some blue on the eye piece. The one criticism is the claw arm which arrive very bent and is not easy to shape back to straight having been so thick. The way it is stuck into the inner packaging wouldn't help the shaping and it is worth trying to see how bad this is before you buy if you have the opportunity to choose your Recon Dalek off the shelf. Accessories 4/5 The Dale comes with a Dalek Mutant, and this is a brilliant new feature that we have not really seen before - the closed perhaps being the old Mutant Reveal Dalek. The Dalek Mutant accessory is cast in a very rubbery plastic, but it still carries a fair bit of detail with the brain-like texture around the central body and the ridges on the tentacles. Paint work is a bit slap-dash with blues an greens added on the grey rubber body. It took me a few moments to open up the Dalek body - a feature I knew about from the original press release, yet is not mentioned anywhere on the box. The front panel above the gun and arm is on a hinge and pulls downward to open an aperture in the body. The fit and engineering is very good and the panel is seamless when closed. You can now see why the Mutant is a rubbery body, as the idea is to stuff it into this panel and either have it all the way in or emerging from the Dalek casing. Articulation 4/5 The Recon Dalek follows the usual level of articulation with an articulated eye stalk, gun arm and claw arm. The eye moves horizontally up and down, while the gun and claw are on ball sockets so have a wider range of movement. The head and neck can then swivel 360 degrees. And as an added movement to the normal Daleks we have a rotating midsection - as seen in the episode. The Dalek can be moved with three wheels on the base, two fixed at the back and a rotating central front wheel. Summary The Recon Dalek, out of all the figures in the wave, is the only one to be a completely brand new sculpt throughout - and regardless of your views of the design, the figure replicates this really well. The paint job is solid and the articulation as you would expect on a Dalek. The addition of the Mutant is a nice touch, and the ability to insert it into the Dalek body is both a great display feature, and a great play feature for the kids. The price, £12.99, is pretty decent value for money in the current market for a 5.5 inch figure, and all in all I score the Doctor Who Reconnaissance Dalek from Character a solid 4 out of 5. See More Doctor Who 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 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, doctor who, dr who, dalek, TARDIS, reconnaissance, character options, character toys, 13th doctor, dalek mutant