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Aside from Black Widow, Diamond's Age of Ultron releases were met with let's say lukewarm enthusiasm from fans and collectors. With three figure slots, Diamond chose to release one new figure (Widow), one tweak (Hulk) and one repaint (Thor). Thor was released in August 2015 and arrives in the standard Diamond Packaging. The usual glorious art-work adorns the side and their is further images on the cardback with blurb about the character. Down to the right of the cardback are images of the other three Age of Ultron figures - although Black Widow is not an image of the figure but rather an action shot of Scarlett Johansson with a "not actual product" footnote. The grey scheme along with the continuing Avengers Initiative badge matches nicely to the Hulk which came out a few months earlier. It also matches the Ant-Man release and will also match the Widow packaging when she arrives in later August. Once unpacked you will find the Thor figure, with Mjolnir already in his right hand, and a base piece which we will talk about later. Thor is a straight up repaint of the 2013 Dark World Thor release. The figure stands an impressive 8" high and the sculpt is particularly strong and a better likeness than the original 2011 Thor figure from Diamond. The armour is nicely sculpted down the torso and into the chainmail legs and knee high boots. The arms are bare arms, and are suitably muscled for the God of Thunder, ending in bracers. The right hand is sculpted to hold Mjolnir and the left is open to bring the Thunder. The cloak flows nicely off the shoulders down to the floor and is sculpted in a relatively solid rubber/plastic. Articulation is always limited on Diamond figures, but that is not necessarily a bad thing as the figures can always get into a half decent display pose, and Thor is no different. Starting feet upwards there are ankle rockers to allow Thor to stand solidly. The knees bend, the thighs swivel and the hips are on a ball joint - despite this the legs can't really do much other than a neutral stance. Even with a bent knee, Thor can't kneel due to the solid rubber cloak. There is no waist joint, but there is a Torso joint which allows Thor to lean to either side to a small degree. The arms have the widest range of movement allowing Thor to hold his arms to a 90 degree position to his body with bicep swivel, elbow joints and wrist swivel. The only downside is the ability to get Thor's arm raised above his head in a Lightning summoning pose. The arm looks like it can do this, but it is blocked by the cloak. Paint on this figure is the only difference between this release and the Dark World Thor. However in this case I feel the head paint is much crisper and brings out a better likeness to Chris Hemsworth, The armour paint is however a little sloppier with some bleed on mine between the silver and the darker areas, and also on the bracers where the skin tone has bled onto the metal area of the bracer. I honestly prefer the silver trim on this armour to the Dark World gold, so for me I think this is the closest we have got to a true Avengers Thor in Diamond 7" scale - but to make it perfect I would have preferred the armoured arms. The base section is a hefty chunk of plastic and joins up with the Widow piece to make a diorama base which is obviously themed around the final battle on Age of Ultron. The piece contains various bits of debris, including what looks like sand-bags and ammo boxes. There are no peg holes, so Thor can stand anywhere on the base, and once Widow arrives we will update the gallery and this review to confirm how the full piece stacks up. So there he is, the 3rd Thor in the Marvel Select Cinematic Universe range. Yes, people will feel he is a wasted release - but if the economics of getting Widow (who will be the star of the 2015 figures) meant all Diamond could do were tweaks and repaints for the other slots, then I am happy with that. Dark World Thor scored a 4 out of 5 when I reviewed him, and there is nothing here to change that score. If you don't have a Thor yet, then this is the best one that is out there and like all Marvel Cinematic figures from Diamond I would pick him up now as the majority of prior releases are now seeing hefty prices on the secondary market.

So Age of Ultron has come and gone in cinema's and we are now finally starting to get Diamond's Age of Ultron Select figures in store. It has been over a year since we last had a Movie Select figure (Winter Soldier) and fans were hoping for big things from Age of Ultron. Sadly, and for whatever reasons, Diamond are giving us 3 figures from AoU and these are a simple repaint, a slight tweak and one new figure. There is no place for the likes of Scarlet Witch, Vision or even Ultron himself and according to DST no plans to return to AoU, or indeed any Marvel film, after the initial release. How much that has to do with a non-compete clause with Hasbro is not known. Coupled with what looks like a block on any Movie figures from X-Men, Deadpool or any of the Fox properties and with only one figure from Ant-Man (taking up a standard slot AND a Disney exclusive spot) it feels a bit of a low point for Marvel Movie Select collectors. In this review we are looking with the tweaked figure in the AoU series, that of The Hulk who has landed first (June 2015) ahead of Thor and Black Widow who are due in July. Hulk is an update to the 2012 sculpt that was released as part of the original Avengers wave. He comes in the usual Select oversized packaging which is now grey in theme, but still sports the Avengers Initiative logo. The side panel is a really nice illustration of Hulk, and the rear is made up of a large picture of the Hulk figure with some blurb from the film. The other two figures are shown on the rear panel, but interestingly Black Widow's picture is a shot of Scarlet Johannson and not the figure itself. Once unpacked you can't criticise DST for not going all out in terms of height and weight. Hulk is a real hefty piece and stands about 10" high, so well above the usual 7" human characters. There is no packed in accessories, or diorama piece and this is consistent with DST's usual approach on oversize figures. The sculpt is identical to the 2012 release other than some tweaking to the legs to represent Hulk's updated stretchy pants. The head, although not what I would have chosen in terms of expression, is nicely done and there is plenty of definition in the body such as muscle and veins. Both hands are sculpted into fists, but who would want anything different than letting Hulk SMASH! Articulation is OK, with a ball jointed head to allow Hulk to look left, right, up and down. The shoulders are ball jointed and Hulk can get his arms to a 90 degree angle to his body, ready to punch Thor. They can also be raised above his head in a smashing pose. Elbows are jointed and the wrists swivel There is a Torso joint to allow Hulk to pivot in the centre but no waist movement. The hips can move, but not far, and there is a thigh swivel. However, because of the trim on the new Hulk Pants you probably wont want to move the legs much as once the red trim is out of line it just looks odd. A knee joint allows for them to bend and ankle rockers allow's some give so Hulk can stand flat footed and with his weight you wont be knocking him down any time soon. Unlike most of my reviews I have left Paint till last as this is where there is a dramatic difference to the original 2012 release. Avengers Hulk was always a little dark in terms of the shade of green used on his skin and that meant that sculpted detail was also lost. This time the team at DST have lightened the green to a more screen accurate colour. Being lighter this allows for the muscle and vein definition to really stand out, and they have then also painted in extra details like Hulks man-boobs, chest and arm hair. The trunks are painted grey with a red trim which is done neatly enough. Up close the trunks have been dry-brushed almost, which doesn't look great, but at a distance it works. If I have one other criticism of the painting it is the fact that unlike the 2012 version, this time they chose not to paint his toe nails and that just feels like a detail missed to me. In terms of scoring I need to remove the emotion and disregard the fact this is probably an Age of Ultron figure few people wanted or needed. Taking him on his merits he is certainly improved since the 3 out of 5 I gave the 2012 release. The pants are more a design issue at the studio than anything else so I cant fault DST for simply replicating them. Where this figure has moved up a notch is the paint. which is certainly ten times better than the original and brings out much more detail in the sculpt. I am going to up Age of Ultron Hulk to a 4 out of 5.

Hasbro's 6" 1/12 scale First Order Tie Fighter is likely to be one of those products that we as fans may end up wishing we'd never asked for. The Tie Fighter arrives in a giant box which mirrors the black and red design of the current phase 3 product for the Black Series. The front of the box has the Star Wars Black Series logo in the top left, and the grey-scale image of the Tie Fighter in the top right flashed with some red highlighting. The lower left and centre shows images of the product itself and to the right is a window in which sits the Special Forces Tie Fighter Pilot that is packed with the ship. The right side of the box is a block red colour, again mirroring the single figures. And it is stamped with an ominous 01 in black text, indicating Hasbro potentially have a series of larger vehicles planned for the Black Series line. Under the numbering is the First Order Tie Fighter wording, replicated in 3 other languages. The top panel of the box repeats the Black Series logo and then has an insert showing the inner cockpit of the fighter. The whole left side of the box is a grey scale line drawing of the Tie Pilot, again with the very subtle but effective use of red highlighting down the helmet. Round the back there is a panel to the left (as you look) that repeats the 01 numbering in bright red and then has a four language bio of the ship. The rest of the rear is made up of varying panels illustrating the ship from various angles. So let's crack the box open, and once inside you suddenly appreciate the size of the thing in front of you. The two wings are supplied separate and are in relation to the box are on their side. Under these you will find the cockpit wrapped in cardboard. Be careful not to discard the cockpit door or the two clip on aerial / gun arrays. The wings simply clip to either side of the cockpit, while the top aerial and lower gun also click into place. Finally the cockpit door needs to be clicked on - and that's it, your Tie Fighter is assembled. So how does it look? Well the detail is superb, none more so than in the cockpit itself which is filled with two seats and an array of gizmo's and controls. The whole thing feels and looks solid, and is a fair weight when held (flown round the room going nnnnnnnnnrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaw). The downside is that the wings are slightly misshapen, a common issue reported on most models. It's not massively noticeable, but up close you can see the warping. The paint is also a tad disappointing. In fact there isn't any as such just the red paint down the cockpit that identifies it as a Special Forces Tie Fighter. I would have loved to see some weathering and washes to bring out more detail but I appreciate that this thing was already a £170 RRP and more paint would equal more costs. The only other downside, and this may be only for fat handed people like me, is that it is really difficult to get the pilot - or indeed any figure - into the seats. The opening of the cockpit means that if you have larger hands you can't get your hand in to slot the pilot in place. Not sure how this could have been resolved, but it has caused me a degree of frustration and so far my pilot still hasn't got into his seat. The figure is a lot nicer in hand than I expected having not been a huge fan of the new Tie Fighter Pilot design from what I had seen on the 3.75" figure. I am not going to do a full review of the figure here, that will be done via the base version that is landing in wave 3. The pilot is essentially all black, but there is some variation in shading and finish from the armour vs the flight-suit. The First Order decals are nicely applied, but sadly on my version the red stripes on the helmet were a little rubbed. Articulation is OK, but the head is held in place by the stiff breathing pipe. The legs are also difficult to get into the seated position to get him into the seat. The pilot comes with one small gun, and unlike his Original Trilogy counterpart there is no holster to hold it in. The biggest (pun intended) issue anyone will have with this is the size. Even if you see the box you will ultimately be surprised at how big this thing is. And there is the problem, once you have it what do you do with it? Yes, lucky collectors with larger houses and dedicated collection rooms will be ok - but what about the rest of us who may be limited to a couple of Ikea cabinets? Don't get me wrong, I stood (virtually) alongside all those fans clamoring for bigger and better product for the Black Series and for those vehicles, but like many I am now sat here with a huge Tie Fighter sat next to me really wondering what to do now. If you haven't bought this yet, then I suggest you take a real good look at the full size of this beast before committing. Even the box, if you were going to keep it packaged, will take up a good 2ft x 2ft x 1ft and I doubt would even go through a lot of loft hatches. I was fine with the Speeder Bikes, Jabba, Tauntauns etc and would love Hasbro to go bigger from these to say the Sandspeeder or the Snowspeeder. Sadly I think that this scale has its restrictions and the larger ships like the Tie or indeed an X-Wing or AT-ST need to be for the super collectors only. Space is often more of a commodity than cash to collectors. £170 (or cheaper if you shop around) isn't a massive amount of money but the space that this Tie Fighter will take up in your collection room / house is massive and needs careful consideration. All that being said I am not going to let the size issue impact the scoring. Providing collectors are clear on the size then as a package, and at the £170 shelf price, I am going to score this a 4 out of 5. The only downsides to the model is the slight warping on the wings and the lack of paint applications.

Review : Darth Vader (Emperor's Wrath) Star Wars Black Series (Hasbro) Wave/Series : Walgreens (US) Exclusive 2015 Released : November 2015 Price : £29.99 (imported price average) Walgreens are emerging as a major player with their Hasbro exclusives. The Emperors Wrath Darth Vader is their 2nd Star Wars Black Series release after the Prototype Boba Fett and of course they have also carried a number of Hasbro Marvel Legend exclusives. UK fans have had to resort to importing this figure, which has not been offered for sale directly in the UK. Our review copy here is a Takara Tomy import from Japan. Box wise, the exclusive mirrors the usual Black Series releases with a gloss black design overlaid with grey lined Star Wars logo and a character portrait in the bottom right. The left hand spine is the bold red, but without any numbering . Round the back is a repeat of the grey scale artwork and a four language paragraph - and this doesn't just repeat the text on the original Vader figure, but instead talks about his final moments in Return of the Jedi. Out of the box and Vader stands an impressive 7 inches tall, putting him a good head higher than most of the other Black Series human characters. Essentially this is the same figure as released in phase 2, but with a different head option added. Everything about the body sculpt is nicely done with the textured arms and legs covered in glossy black armour and trimmed with silver panels. The belt is in place with its green and silver controls as is that iconic chest box. All of this is essentially cast in black plastic, but where paint applications are applied these are done quite crisply. The inner skirt and outer cloak have been done with soft goods, and the material flows really well on these with the cape sweeping out impressively tot he sides and behind Vader. The skirt extends up through the belt and to either side of the chest panel and terminates under the shoulder armour. The cloak is held by a real metal chain but is also stitched into the shoulder at either side. This feels like it fits better than the original, so whether there has been some tweaking? The right hand pops off at the wrist, a feature that is not advertised anywhere on the box. And under this is a clever socket that is disguised via paint applications to look like Vader's severed hand with green and red wires exposed. Vader is supplied with his light saber, which comes assembled in the box - but you can separate the hilt from the blade if you wish - there is however no option to hang the unlit hilt on Vader's belt. The light saber will fit cleanly into Vader's right hand. Articulation is identical to the original and being an older figure he retains some added extra's over the phase 3 figures. The head (which I will talk about in a moment) is on a ball joint and moves up, down and side to side. The ball jointed shoulders move fully out to the side and above the head, supported by the shoulder "pad" being a separate piece to the main shoulder armour. Elbows are a single joint with a rotation, and this means that two really key poses can be achieved. The first of these is the double handed light saber stance. The other requires the leg articulation to kick in, which it does with jointed hips that bend a full 90 degrees, and double jointed knees which can go out to 90 degrees and beyond. With the ankle rockers this means Vader can kneel, either on one knee or both knees - and as you can see by my images he can therefore kneel before the Emperor and (here is the other key pose) he can cradle his severed wrist in his hand while he waits for Luke to finish him. I have purposely left the helmet to the end, so let's look at this new part in depth. First off the sculpt is new, this isn't just the old head glued together as a solid piece. And it is a massive improvement! It fixes the droopy "sad" eyes that plagued the original and has a much slimmer and more angular profile around the cheeks and breather mask. The helmet swoops down better and there is a clearer definition between the face section and the helmet, where as the older figure it looked like the helmet was jammed down too tight. All of this is obviously great, but this is not a perfect new Vader as the helmet is not painted black (I suspect this will come) but is cast in a clear purple plastic. Under this translucence plastic you can make up the scared head of Anakin, with veins and scars easily visible through the helmet. With the translucent effect the eyes have been painted still, I think from behind, so are still dark and emotionless. As an "effect" however it doesn't quite work as you would really need to light the figure to see the detail clearly, and I'd have liked some kind of lightening effect that we could choose to use if we wished to show Vader mid attack by the Emperor. There is also the issue with any clear/translucent figure in that you can also see the inner workings - so around the Anakin head there is also a big rectangular panel - obviously some kind of sticky pad or similar used to assemble the head in the factory. Had this been a revised Vader with standard head, then I would tweak the score of the original figure up by one to a 4 out of 5. Instead, and as good as they've got the head and the translucent effect, it doesn't quite work or make sense - even Mini-Meph had to ask "what's happened to his head" and didn't make the connection. Had this been a 2-pack (or a double release that interconnects) with Palpatine and lightening effects then yes, it would have had better context. I score the Emperors Wrath Darth Vader a 3 out of 5. Buy from Amazon UK Buy from Amazon US

Review : Kylo Ren, Starkiller Bas Star Wars Black Series (Hasbro) Wave/Series : Kmart US exclusive 2015 Released : November 2015 Price : £29.99 (UK Import Price) The Starkiller Base version of Kylo Ren was announced, along with a raft of other exclusives, on Force Friday 2015 (4th September). The figure was due to be a Kmart exclusive in the US, but there was no details on a UK release. The figure soon showed up on pre-order from a number of UK specialist retailers, and although it's never hit the shelves in a UK store it is relatively easy to pick-up online. Although I am not going to go into any major detail, this review will discuss some plot elements of the Force Awakens in line with how the figure sits into that plot - so if you are yet to see Force Awakens, then please be warned and hit the back button if needed. Kylo arrives in an oversized Black Series box, about twice the width of a usual box and slightly deeper. The design remains the same with the black colour prominent throughout and the character depicted in grey line art on the front and on the back. The right hand side is bright red, but like all exclusives is not numbered and instead simply has the character name in smaller lettering. Round the back and the bio short and sweet explaining that Kylo is a "dark warrior strong with the force" Out of the box and you notice that the red backing card is not pure red like the other Phase 3 releases, but instead does have a silhouetted tree line design against it. This of course lines up with the scene in the forest on Starkiller base where we find this version of Ren in the film's finale. Kylo comes pre-posed in the box with his lit lightsaber in one hand, and the other extended outward apparently performing a force push. The figure is also packed already on the diorama base and the whole thing lifts out of the plastic tray and can go straight on display. Firstly, there is no real difference in sculpt or articulation between the original Kylo and this version. The figure looks really nice and the soft goods do work and then support the articulation, the lower part at least, which means Kylo can get into some good action poses - such as the one he arrives pre-posed in. The first key difference is the décor on the bottom of his outer cloak, which is now spotted in white. This is meant to be weathering from the snow covered forest he is standing within. Sadly it looks more like you've dipped the figure in icing sugar and the crisp almost straight line between weathering and no weathering isn't good and I would have preferred a graduated transition. I didn't expect the snow weathering to continue through to the boots and legs underneath, but fair play to Hasbro that it does. And actually this weathering looks much more natural and realistic. The next key difference is the left hand which was a gripping fist on the first figure, but has now been adjusted on this release to mimic the force push position. This works well, but does tie you into one particular pose for this Kylo as the hand looks odd in any other situation. Finally, the lightsaber on this Kylo does not have the joining piece between the cross guards and the main blade. I actually prefer this lightsaber to the original as its is cleaner and more defined. And of course you also get an unlit hilt which you can use if you wish - although it is much less effective, and also seems to signal the end of Hasbro using inserted blades like we saw on other Jedi characters in Phase 1 and 2. The selling point of this set has always been the diorama base which is apparently one half of a larger diorama and will link up to another figure/piece in the future. Having seen TFA you have to assume this will be a Rey with lightsaber. The base is actually pretty poor in terms of detail, it is quite slim and a lot of it is lost under the folds of the skirt. I would have liked to see a bigger piece with much more detail than a slab of white and blue plastic. The nice part of the base is that the feet don't simply slot into a peg, they actually sink into the base. This both secures the figure and also makes Kylo look like he has sunk a couple of inches into the snow. All in all Kylo is just as good a figure as he was in Wave 1, and I am sure we will see him again in future waves perhaps sans cloak or more likely sans helmet. This figure has an improved lightsaber and the bonus of an unlit hilt - it is however very specific to the film with the snow weathering. If you want one definitive Kylo for your display, then this may not be the one to get because of this specific décor. And in real terms the base and weathering do not warrant the extra £10 or so you will have to pay for this version. It is also difficult to justify buying this without knowing what the 2nd half of this diorama will look like, or even if it will come to market. I scored the original Kylo a 3 out of 5 and I am not sure this version does enough extra to change that - with any new parts (base, lightsaber) being neutralised by the price hike. Buy from Amazon UK Buy from Amazon US

This review may be a lot shorter than you might be expecting. The main reason is that this new 4 figure box set is essentially a repeat of 4 figures we have had before. To that end, I won't be repeating a full review of each figure, but I will link in to earlier reviews if you want a run down of the figure (click on the header for each figure to go to a corresponding review). This review will then concentrate on the key tweaks in this box-set as well as showcasing the set in our image gallery. Firstly, looking at the box, and this is a quite different piece than any we have seen previously in the Black Series. Essentially the size is that of 2 standard boxes side by side, and then 2 deep. There are no windows, with the front of the box taken up fully with grey scale artwork of the 4 contained characters. The Black Series logo is slotted in top an centre, and along the bottom of the front panel are the names of each of the four figures. These are in red text and in dual language. The right hand side of the box uses the red panel we now are familiar with on the 2015 releases. There are no numbers, but instead four symbols representing the Republic (2 of), Empire and finally the First Order. The left hand side has a repeat of the Black Series logo and the word TROOPER as a shadow writing on the black background. The Top has a similar design with the Black series Logo and head shots of the First Order Troopers. The rear panel repeats the logo and Republic, Imperial and First Order symbols. There is then four text panels, each covering the four troopers contained in the box and with a short paragraph about each - that is then repeated in four languages. The box doesn't finish there though as if you go to the left hand panel there are two velcro tabs, and once undone the box folds out on itself to reveal the Troopers within. It is this inner display with windows that MIB collectors will no doubt display, with each figure presented as it would be on a single release with grey-scale character art, red character name and the widow displaying the figure itself against a stark red background. My only criticism is that opening the box does start to cause creasing on the red right panel and I am not sure how robust the box will be over time. The box opens well enough and you can open at the top of bottom of each half. Once open a double tray slides out with the red cardboard background and an inner plastic tray. Clonetrooper Mark 1 (Clone Commander, Yellow) There are no differences in this figure vs the three that have come before other than paint application. The Yellow trim represents a Clone Commander, and that is applied neatly against the white of the armour. The figure comes with the Clone Rifle and smaller blaster, both of which have additional white paint panels added vs the original Clone Phase 1 Trooper. The only other noticeable difference is on the rear of the Commander where the back pack has been painted in plack in the recessed areas - this looks a lot nicer. The figure is thankfully the shinier white, and not the duller finish we saw on the Green Clone Sergeant. Clonetrooper Mark 2 The only real new sculpt of the set is the helmet of the Phase 2 clone as seen in Revenge of the Sith. This is still a probable tweak on the Commander Cody bucket, but it is about time we saw this helmet version hit the Black Series. The figure itself is quite plain, using the same body as the Mark 1 - and sharing the same issues with the odd patch of paint bleed and the painted elbows and knees showing a different finish to the rest of the armour. The weapons included are again the Clone Rifle and Blaster - and for some reason we are back to plain black with this figure. The main excitement from this figure is the potential for the future as we now have a good selection of Clone Parts to start getting Arc troopers, Commanders and various legions like the 501st or Shock Troopers. StormTrooper (Oily) I am really not sure what to make of this figure. He is obviously made to look battle damaged, but it looks more like he has been playing paintball. He comes packed with same weaponry as the 2014 release. Now I do have an issue with this figure in that he is massively warped at the arms which stick out at odd angles. The joints feel very rubbery vs the original troopers. My view is that you can't get enough Stormtroopers and I would have simply dropped in a basic version - or perhaps thought out of the box and done an orange pauldron version as seen recently in Rebels? First Order Stormtrooper Officer We have had this First Order trooper so very recently, both as SDCC exclusive and then within wave 1 of the Force Awakens figures. All this one adds to that release is the Orange Pauldron, which is the same one used on the Snowtrooper officer - albeit maybe a different shade of orange. Like the Stormtrooper, but weirdly not with either Clones, the First Order Officer is really poor quality. The immediate issue is that the arms and legs are very soft and at weird angles which make him really difficult to stand. There is then a very obvious shade different in the chest plate which is more off white on this version vs the original trooper. The painted white knee pads and belt are also going towards a cream. Had I not bought this direct from Amazon then with this and the Oily Stormtrooper being so poor I would have worried I'd bought a cheap knock off. In Summary None of these figures are a real wow, but then again none really offend all to much and as a set you can see the logic. The quality concerns on the two Stormtroopers may be isolated and will frustrate when you compare to the original releases. Marking this set comes down to price. So far, this set has only been available via the US Amazon site. They have been shipping to UK however, and once delivery and customs are added the set will come in around £75 for UK collectors. At that price then this set is good value. However, UK sites who are looking to import this are starting to quote circa £100 which makes this £25 per figure, and for tweaks and repaints it starts to look less appealing. If you can get this anywhere near £80, then this gets a 3 out of 5 score as a set. The Clones would score 4 out of 5, I really like these - where as the Stormtroopers would get a 2 out of 5 as the quality is really low and that Stormtrooper paint job is just bizarre. The set will bolster your troops, and will look really nice in a MIB display. The biggest positives to take from this have to be that Mk2 Clone lid which will open lots of doors going forward - if you like Clone variants of course...

This two pack was revealed on Force Friday, turning up in the Argos Star Wars brochure for the event and revealed as a UK Argos Exclusive, and due in November. It would later to go on to be confirmed as a US Exclusive in Target, and also be put up for sale by a number of independents who would order direct from China. Roll on 2-months to the 3rd of November and stocks hit the UK and I was luck enough to pick this up on day of release. The pack is named "Escape from Destiny", although this isn't denoted on the box, only on the Argos website HERE. What the name means is unclear, and until the film is released we will be left to ponder. The box is essentially double the size of a normal Black Series box and other than that is identical in design. The black trimmed front holds a dual line drawing of Poe and the Storm Trooper. The sides are both red, but without the numbering system we see on the standard releases. On the reverse the bio's are split into two. Poe's bio is word for word identical to his wave 2 pilot release, while the Storm Trooper text is a new paragraph and details this Trooper's role as Riot Control. Out of the box and the figures are presented in the usual perspex inner tray and backed off by that bright red background. I will start with the Storm Trooper first, and essentially this is the same model that was first released as an SDCC exclusive, and then released in wave 1 of the Force Awakens figures. Without going over old ground I would recommend you hop over to my original review HERE and once done press the back button and carry on with the rest of the review - see you soon. The differences on this Trooper are basically the accessories. As a bonus he still comes with both weapons that the standard version is packed with. This means that if you aren't a fan of the riot gear you can simply tool him up as a standard trooper. The shield comes ready strapped to the arm, and although it would probably come off with some wriggling and a bit of force I have left mine alone for now. The shield is a solid accessory, shaped and decorated on the front with 4 spike studs and a triangular panel which may or may not be a viewing slot. Round the back the two arm straps sit neatly on the troopers left hand and with the articulation of the arms the shield can be positioned in a number of poses. The baton is a slight disappointment. First off it doesn't fit easily into the right hand as the hand grip is too big, that leaves the baton falling out easily. I am not sure why an alternative hand couldn't have been swapped out or the handle simply made a tad thicker. The other issue for me is the baton just looks odd. I am sure it is screen accurate, but it kind of looks like some kind of futuristic hedge trimmer. The final gripe that I want to throw in here is the joints on this Storm Trooper are wildly loose vs the original wave 1 figure. Out of the box the ankle joints were flapping around, so much that this is one of the few 6 inch figures I have had to drop onto a stand for support. On to Poe Dameron, and he is of course a bit of a rehash of previous parts, but again obviously relevant to a scene in the film. The head sculpt was a big issue with the original Poe figure (SEE HERE) or rather the paint applications on top of the sculpt made him look nothing like the character. This one is painted much better, and you can start to see the sculpt is not a bad attempt. He still doesn't photograph very well and looks a tad glossy in our gallery, but I think most collectors will be much happier with this Poe. The inner shirt looks very "Han Solo" ish and I wonder if this will one day make a come back in a Carbonite Han. The jacket is a re-use of the one that came on wave 1 Finn. Obviously this is either the same jacket (will have to wait till December) or a uniform jacket for the Resistance. The insignia and red panel are crisp and painted neatly and I prefer the wash and slightly duller paint job on this coat vs the Finn version. The trousers I think may be the same as those coming with the wave 3 Resistance Trooper. These are painted really well and we do get some weathering and paint effects to dirty up Poe a little. The figure comes with another new type of weapon, a larger rifle of similar design to that packed with wave 1 Finn. This is cast in a silver gun metal plastic and has some bronze dry brush to weather it up. Like the other resistance weapons we have seen so far, they do look overly clunky and large - again probably more to do with the film than the sculpt. The other accessory is the X-Wing helmet which is the same sculpt and design as wave 2 Poe. This time it is a white and blue design, and much more reminiscent of the Original Trilogy helmet, in fact it comes with a nice rebel decal on the visor section. All the paint apps on the helmet are neat and well finished, but the fact remains this is over-sized to get it to fit on Poe's head, and therefore looks odd when worn. The visor doesn't quite come down over the eyes, and the rear of the helmet looks massive and bulbous. As I said in the original Poe review, I would have preferred a swap-able helmeted head. Articulation is pretty standard on Poe with ball jointed head, articulated shoulders, swivel and jointed elbows and pegged wrists. There is a torso joint nicely hidden beneath the jacket and the hips do allow for Poe to sit down if needed if they ever decide to give him a 1/12 scale X-wing. Knees are double jointed and the figure finishes with ankle rockers and unlike his box companion he stands really well. So is this set worth it at the £39.99 RRP. Well in reality this is two 6 inch figures for £20 each. It is also a good exclusive choice in that it contains an army builder and a tweaked figure which obviously hasn't cost a lot of money to develop vs a brand new figure. It would have been nice to see some stickered or branded exclusivity on the box for MIB collectors. And with this being Argos MIB collectors will also have to contend with those box stickers. The "floppy" Storm Trooper is a shame, and I hope this was isolated to my box (let us know via our Facebook page).Poe's head sculpt and paint is an improvement, but still not what we expect for a "collectors range", although the jacket and trouser paint applications are much better with more depth than figures in wave 1 in particular which were very flat in colour. I am going to score this pack as a 3 out of 5. It's not going to blow anyone away, but it also does a job and gives us our 2nd version of Poe and a variant Storm Trooper without taking up any wave slots. It will be interesting to see if this sells out at its £40 price and if Argos will judge it a success and work with Hasbro on more exclusives. It will also be interesting to see how the name of the box set fits within the film, which we will find out in December.

Rewind to Force Friday, 4th September 2015, and an absolute avalanche of Star Wars 6" Black Series exclusives were revealed. One that stood out was the Entertainment Earth Imperial Forces 4-pack, and after a couple of months wait - this has finally arrived at Mephitsu Towers for review and entry into our Archives. The first thing that will frustrate Mint in Box collectors is that this is yet another size and type of box to fit into your collection. The nearest comparison to this box would be the Amazon Exclusive Evolution of the Stormtroopers - but where as the Amazon box folds in on itself with 2 figures per side, this one is simply a flat box with four windows and in my opinion would display much better. The box itself is the same height as a single boxed figure, but it is not quite the same length as four boxes together. Again this means it won't stack or line up with a collection of other MIB Black Series figures. The design principle remains the same as the other releases, with a black box and overlaid with grey lined artwork of each character cut into a triangular section under each window. The character name is picked out in bold red text, and in dual language. The top of the box front also holds the Star Wars logo. One interesting point is that each window seems to be printed with some black hatching around the guns - this is something we haven't seen (or I haven't noticed) on other releases, and am not sure why it is there or what value it adds? The exclusive nature of the box is marked with a simple yellow Entertainment Earth sticker in the top right corner. The right hand side of the box follows the red side panel theme. It is unnumbered, and instead of naming the set it lists the four figures the box contains. Round the back and the rear is split into four panels, one for each figure, which contains a brief sentence or two about each character in four languages. Underneath each of these is another very feint grey lined drawing of the character. The box opens at either side, and the whole inner tray slides out as one piece of perspex and behind this is a full length red background cardboard piece. Like the Amazon 4-pack, there is nothing new in this box in terms of figure sculpt and articulation. The only differences are in paint applications. I am therefore not going to full review each figure, but rather provide an initial link to the corresponding initial release review if you want a more detailed look at the figure, once done hit "back" and I will then talk a little about the differences and my impression of each figure. Sandtrooper, White Pauldron (Sergeant) Personally, I was a little disappointed when I saw the White pauldron Sandtrooper was part of this set. I was kind of hoping we would see this in a deluxe box with a Dewback at some point. That being said, it does nicely wrap up the Sandtrooper variants from A New Hope and uses what is still arguably the best figure sculpt we have had in the series to date. By using the 2013 Santrooper sculpt, you do get the double articulated elbows which have been dropped on the later 2015 Force Awakens figures. You also get the backpack and all three weapons that have been packed with the Orange & Black versions. The weathering is just as strong on this figure although there seems to be some odd orange eye liner under each eye of the helmet which I think is meant to be a build up of sand. My one gripe is that the white paint on the Pauldron isn't overly crisp at the edges, but you can probably put that down to the harsh Tatooine sand-storms. All in all, this figure is really good and a worthy inclusion. Crimson Stormtrooper OK, so I admit I had to go and have a look round Google to understand the origin of this figure. On the rear of the box it talks about these being Special Forces troopers who are trained to work in Volcanic areas, and my Google searches turned these up as more commonly known as Magma Troopers and possibly drafted from the Emperor's Royal Guard, hence the Red Armour. The Magma Troopers were taken from the Expanded Universe - the same EU that has apparently been turned to Legends by Disney? So all that aside, this is still a nice figure - utilising the Wave 3 Stormtrooper sculpt and again retaining that double elbow articulation. He comes with a standard issue blaster and rifle and with a working holster for the blaster. The red is really well done, and is much nicer and deeper in tone when you have it in hand vs any photo you may have seen of this figure, including mine. It is also neatly applied without any discolouration between armour and joints that we have seen on the white troopers. I do like this figure. In fact I like it much more in hand than I did when I originally saw the set. I do however think I need more than one to display to distinguish them as a Special Forces squad. As much as I am liking the Magma Trooper, I do still believe there were better options to fill this slot in the box. A tweaked Shadow Trooper for example would have fit really well on display with the previous Shadow Squadron release, or perhaps even a tweaked White Stormtrooper with 501st blue markings - that would have been brilliant. Lieutenant Oxixo Now, I think Oxixo is the biggest let down in this set. Again, I had to Google who Oxixo actually was and it turned out he is a creation of Hasbro, originally used in the 3.75" Star Wars line in a Battle over Endor set. Oxixo was meant to be a pilot who fought in the Battle of Endor. Oxixo is a very simple variation of the original Tie Fighter Pilot. And to be fair, there is very little variation to speak of. The key difference is a silver panel on the helmet into which is a series of zero's. There is also one extra silver line on the chest box. This is too lazy for my liking. Collectors are paying a lot of money for this set, more so in most cases than 4 single figures due to the premium most retailers are putting on this to make a profit after ordering from EE. For this investment I want a better figure than a Tie Fighter Pilot and a silver stripe. If a Tie Fighter Pilot was the direction, why not go for something more EU like Baron Fel with his white vest and straps, and red piping to the uniform? Or even a Rebels Baron Valon Rudor with his greyer uniform and red pin striping. Oxixo is supplied with his E11 blaster, and that annoying holster that doesn't look right unless you hide it round the back. Articulation is identical, and the figure still suffers from a lack of stability and is very difficult to stand naturally. R2-Q5, Imperial Astromech I am really surprised it has taken so long for Hasbro to give us another R2 unit having had the R2 sculpt since 2013. R2-Q5 is an Imperial R2 unit, and appeared briefly in Return of the Jedi aboard the 2nd Death Star. Like many fleeting characters in the Star Wars films, he was given a bigger role in a number of Expanded Universe publications including thwarting IG88A's infiltration of the 2nd Death Star, and acting as a messenger for the Emperor himself. R2-Q5 is presented in this box set in a sleek black finish, with orange panels and details. Sadly, most of these panels are not crisply painted and there is a soft look to the edges. There is also lots of detail missing which could have been brought out with some subtle dry-brushing in a gun metal paint. The big miss is to not include all the accessories (except maybe the lightsaber) that came with the original R2-D2 release. Granted R2-Q5 was never seen using rocket boosters or the scanner attachments, but am sure he has them and it would have been nice to give fans the option. All the panels on the dome open, but are useless without anything to slot into them. The panels do also open on the front, and within each of these is the laser welder and computer connection. Like it's wave 1 counterpart, this R2 unit retains the two or three logged stance - the third leg being wound down using the dome. I have absolutely no problem with multiple R2 units, it's par for the course with any Star Wars line. But when we get them, they should be crisper in the finish and be stacked with either accessories or some other feature to make up for their diminutive size. In a box set of this type and price, R2-Q2 unfortunately doesn't offer good value and is a bit of a let down. In Summary Now I have this set in hand, it is definitely a box of two distinct halves. The Sandtrooper is the stand out figure, even though his inclusion feels like we may have lost an opportunity somewhere down the line for a Dewback. The Magma Trooper looks awesome, and I assume was chosen for his looks. As pretty as he is, he is still very niche and I have the niggle that there were better options. The Tie Pilot Oxixo is a lazy repaint, and could and should have been so much more... Baron Fel for example. And the R2-Q5 is quite poorly executed close up and let down with a lack of all those awesome R2 unit accessories we originally saw in wave with R2-D2. All in all this will come down to cost, and if you can get this set for sub £70 then you will be happy to have some niche variants to expand your Imperial forces. Anything over £70-£75 and it doesn't feel like value for money, considering for the same price you could buy four new single figures. I have no idea if EE wanted a 4-pack, or even specifically asked for the format and the figures included. You have to feel like they got the raw deal vs the Amazon 4-pack and may have been better going down the route of a single figure like Kmart, Walmart and Walgreens. Considering everything, and assuming that the price on this should sit around £75 (anything more is not value for money), then I score this set a 3 out of 5. It has merits, but on the whole feels like a wasted opportunity for what could have been some awesome EU based figures.

One of the things The Force Awakens seems to be doing so well is evolving the various Imperial Storm Trooper types into the First Order troops of 30 years later. I love the basic Storm Trooper upgrade and am really pleased that the Snow Trooper has been given the same treatment. We will be getting the basic Snow Trooper from the Force Awakens in a later wave, but Toys R Us have picked up the Snow Trooper Officer as an exclusive. The Snow Trooper Officer arrives in the standard Black Series Red & Black box, but with a few changes to the standard releases. First off there is no number on the red panel or on the reverse, this is replaced simply by the Character name repeated four times in four different languages. Toys R Us have also added a silver disc to the front of the box which is emboss stamped as exclusive with the R from the Toys R Us logo in the centre. This is a nice point of difference for MIB collectors, and I hope perhaps the other exclusives follow a similar design. Once unpacked you are presented with the Trooper itself, a blaster and a back pack. The Trooper stands 6" tall so is comparable to the standard First Order Trooper. The helmet is reminiscent of the Empire Strikes Back Snow Troopers with its swept back section, but the face plate has been updated to the ipod age and is very sleek down to what we assume are two breathing apparatus. The eye visor is reduced to a very thin black strip directly between the head piece and the front face plate. The helmet on mine had another couple of dings, like the ones I found on Phasma, which is disappointing. There is also a visible seam on the helmet where it has been cast as two pieces and then joined. That being said the helmet is nicely decorated with the breathing valves painted silver, and some black decals or panels either side of the chin and across the rear of the helmet. The point of difference on this figure vs the standard release is the addition of the Officer Pauldron, an idea taken from the Sand Troopers in A New Hope, expanded upon to a degree in Revenge of the Sith & Clone Wars and established recently in Rebels. The Pauldron is case it a black softer plastic and is a seperate piece which slots over the neck before the head is added. The Pauldron will see use again in the upcoming Amazon 4-pack where it will be included on a standard Storm Trooper - time will tell if this is the exact same piece or if a new one is moulded per trooper type? The orange is a lot darker than that used on the Sand Trooper, it almost looks red in some lights, and is painted very neatly into the panel with a uniform black trim left round the outside. Unlike the Flame Trooper, which borrows a lot of parts from the standard First Order Trooper, the Snow Trooper is made up of completely new armour pieces that are exclusive to the Snow Trooper designation. The chest piece is a rounded piece broken only by a recessed control panel or access panel of sorts - which again is an element taken directly from the Original Trilogy Snow Trooper The chest armour sits overlaps a similar piece that extends down the back of the figure into which there is the socket to attach the back pack. The back pack again is based on the Imperial Snow Trooper design and sits neatly into the socket to complete the figure. Both shoulders have a smooth shoulder pad and a set of bracers that cover the whole forearm. Around the waist of the figure is a utility belt, from which also flows the skirt which is another familiar element. The skirt, like the under clothing, are a slighly matt finish vs the glossier armour which allows for some variance in colour and finish on what is essentially a white figure. The skirt also has two ribbed panels built in at either side which break up the smooth design and add some texture. Under the skirt is an armoured cod piece and then what appear to be a quilted/insulated pair of trousers go down to some boots. For an entirely white figure, the paint is well applied with the various black panels picked out with no splash or paint bleed and with decals all picked out neatly on the chest area. Articulation starts of ever so slightly disappointingly as the head is pretty much fixed in position due to the rear of the helmet and the pauldron. Things look up at the shoulders which use the method of sliding the shoulder armour into the torso when the arms are raised. That means the the Snow Trooper can get the arms out to the side, although not a full 90 degrees. The elbows rotate and bend, and at a push a two handed weapon pose can be achieved - although a larger rifle would be required. The Torso is jointed under the chest armour so can be tweaked to either side. The legs are held back by the skirt to a degree, but the skirt has a degree of flexibility so the legs can get into a running or kneeling position thanks to ball jointed hips, thigh swivels and double jointed knees. The feet are jointed but held pretty much in place by the overhang of the boot covers - not that this figure needs much tweaking to stand up, he is pretty stable at all times. The blaster is not the standard First Order Storm Trooper issue, but is the same larger version that Phasma carries. It is cast in what looks to be black plastic, with white trim painted on top with some parts picked out in silver - very neatly done. So not a lot wrong with the figure? Well no, not really. The only negative I have mentioned is a bit of blocked articulation and the slight defects in the helmet. Without looking like I am becoming a TFA fan-boy with not a bad word to say (I can assure you I am not), this is my third 5 out of 5 figure from TFA so far. I also look forward to adding a squad of regular troopers behind this officer AND (no pressure Hasbro) hopefully seeing them release an Original Trilogy Snow Trooper into the range. If you can find this figure - then don't hesitate, pick him up now as we have no idea how exclusive or rather limited this chap will be.

The First Order Tie Fighter Pilot, in it's basic version, is number 11 in Phase 3 of the Star Wars Black Series 6 inch range. It is also packed in with the 6" scale Tie Fighter, albeit the Special Forces version with his red helmet markings. The Tie Pilot is part of Wave 3 of Phase 3, arriving with the Resistance Trooper and then repacks of Rey/BB8, Finn, Stormtrooper and Kylo Ren. We have looked at enough of the Red & Black Phase 3 boxes to know them inside out, so let's get straight to the figure. The new First Order Tie Pilot design hasn't grabbed me as much as the Original version, and in the box and in most images he doesn't show off all the little details in his costume & armour. It is only in hand and close up that you appreciate the figure and it's intricate design. Starting with the helmet, and like the OT version this draws a lot from the standard Storm Trooper helmet. Onto this are bolted some kind of visor, which is sculpted onto the forehead, as well as the breathing pipe at one side of the mask which snakes down into the chest unit. The chest armour and shoulder armour are directly taken from the First Order Trooper whilst everything else in the torso is a more lightweight flight suit. This is all painted in black, but there is a clear definition from the armour parts and the helmet to the flight suit, and it is this change in texture and shade that adds a real visual distinction to an otherwise all black figure. The chest box sits neatly on top of the chest armour, and as mentioned connects with the breathing pipe that comes from the helmet. It is quite clever that Hasbro have made the pipe flexible to a degree so you can still rotate the head of the figure and the pipe bends with it. Reports are that the paint on the Special Forces version may have made this feature a tad more brittle - so do move the head with caution. The chest box is painted "OK" but a couple of the buttons are a bit sloppy. It is also interesting that the blue & grey buttons are in a different combination on the Special Forces version - this could be deliberate, but you would assume it's more likely a factory error. The Pilot is equipped with a utility belt and then with flight straps hanging to either side similar to what we saw on the X-Wing suits from the Original Trilogy. The flight trousers are sculpted as cloth and are the duller shade and they finish in a set of boots which return to the high gloss finish. Outside of the chest box, the only other paint applications are the decals on either shoulder depicting the First Order logo. Of course the Special Forces Pilot also comes with the red striped helmet and some extra silver trims, sadly this is all a tad messy to be honest and doesn't seem to sit well on a high gloss finish. Articulation was better on the standard version to the one packed with the Tie Fighter. The shoulder armour withdraws nicely under the chest piece and allows the arms to get out to say 70 degrees, and coupled with the elbow bend you can get him into a firing position or into a piloting position with hands on the controls. The head, as we mention, does move but is held back by how far that breathing pipe will bend and I certainly worry about the longevity of the pipe itself. The lower half is made up of hip joints, thigh swivels, double jointed knees and an ankle rocker. This does allow the Pilot to get into sitting positions and of course then fit into the 6" Tie Fighter itself, either front or rear seat. As I say, the Special Forces version was a little stiffer but just needs working around and perhaps a little heating. Sadly both figures suffer from being very difficult to stand. The feet don't seem to be right and I almost thought they were the wrong way round at first. The ankle joints are also quite loose and therefore the figure does have a tendency to flop forward. You can solve this with a wider stance and a twist of the thigh swivel outwards, or just drop them on a stand. Only one accessory is included - and with this figure I am not sure what else could be packed in, so this is fine. The pistol is small and fits in the hand perfectly well and even has some paint application with silver trim either side. I kind of wanted a holster, even though I have no idea if they have them in the film, but then again the holster on the OT version did spoil the look - so I guess Hasbro can't win. When it comes to scoring, I am going to score this as the standard release only. I think the paint variations on an all black figure are very clever, and in the main any decals and trim is neatly done. The helmet articulation worries me, so am not sure if a more flexible pipe was possible. I am glad he can sit well enough, but it is a shame that there seems to be an inherent issue with standing naturally which is plaguing a number of the more recent figures. All of this adds up to a 4 out of 5 for me with just a couple of niggles vs otherwise a very solid figure, and one that I think will do well in terms of Army Building and of course to fill that 2nd seat in the Tie Fighter PLEASE CLICK HERE to read the Tie Fighter review

The Resistance Trooper is the 10th single release in the new phase 3 Black Series packaging, and as with all the Phase 3 releases to date is taken from The Force Awakens. He forms part of Wave 3 alongside the First Order Tie Fighter Pilot, and then re-packs of Rey/BB8, Finn, Stormtrooper and Kylo Ren. The box is the standard fare or Black with grey lined artwork, and some short wording on the rear explaining the Troopers role within the Resistance and their struggle against the First Order. The irony here is the wording that states that the Resistance Trooper is "well equipped" yet out of the box he comes with a rifle only - no other accessories or equipment. The design of the trooper is pretty basic and therefore he isn't the most dynamic of figures. Starting at the boots, these are nicely detailed with four individual straps. The trousers are plain and without any detail save a sculpted seam down the outer side of the leg. The overcoat is a similar design to those we have seen on Finn and the exclusive Poe Dameron, although this version is a little longer and is fastened on the figure. The coat is nicely sculpted with some decent folds of the cloth and various seams and pockets. The coat is then overlaid with a kind of double side ammo strap, and you kind of expect to turn the figure round to find a backpack - but there isn't one. The crowning glory is the helmet, which at first I didn't like as it was all a bit "Halo". However the helmet is made so that the bottom half of the face plate lifts up to show the face of the trooper within. The look of the figure switches so much when the face-plate is raised and all of a sudden you can see loads of elements of the old Rebel Endor troopers in the helmet design. Beneath the face-plate is a human face, complete with mustache and his eyes are protected by a pair of opaque eye shields. I have said for some time now that the paint applications do seem to be improving slowly the more we get into Phase 3. On the Trooper the boots and trousers are quite plain, but when we get to the jacket there is obviously some level of wash applied to bring out the detail and to weather it and "dirty it up". The helmet has a couple of decals like the white strips on the forehead area, and the circular decals in both grey, and one in a olive green, to the sides. The helmet is a green base colour, but with a browner dry-brush on top that stops it looking too new. The skin tones are a little shiny for my liking, not sure if this intentional to make the trooper look sweaty? My big concern on painting is that on my figure one leg is a glossy brown and the other dull? Am not sure which of these is meant to be the actual factory finish - either would have done as long as they matched. Articulation is a tail of two halves. The head is really well done and can range up down and left and right. The arms move directly out to a 90 degree angle and can rotate up above the figures head - I even got him in a "captured" pose by using the elbow bend and rotation to get the hands behind his head. The elbow joints also allow the figure to hold his rifle easily in a two handed pose. The legs on the other hand are a frustration. The first issue is that the skirt is not flexible enough to get the figure into a seated or one knee kneeling position. Even with the double jointed knee, the skirt leaves you able to do a weird kind of sliding kneel or a double kneed kneel. The other issue is stability - with the figure really difficult to stand due to rather odd feet position. I have noticed on the last few figure's I have received that the ankle and feet position haven't been great and are quite loose. Unlike the first two waves, that makes these new figures relatively hard to stand unless you move to a wider stance or drop them onto a supporting stand of some kind. The final gripe on the Resistance Trooper is the accessory. As I mentioned at the top I kind of think one gun is a bit of a cheat for a "well equipped" Resistance Fighter - but when that gun is so cheap looking it could have come out of a £1 shop soldier figure you kind of feel cheated. The gun sculpt is too soft, lacks any detail and definition and isn't even painted in any way - even a black wash would have made it look much better. The Resistance Trooper is a safe release. It isn't spectacular, but is interesting enough and with an Army Build option to stop it warming pegs too much - although if they repack it any time soon that may change. It will be interesting to see if the demand for him increases or reduces when collectors have seen the film? The figure has issues. The gun looks rubbish, the figure can't stand too well and can't kneel in an all action pose due to the skirt. My figure also has issues with factory paint applications and that is worrying when I though Hasbro had tightened up on this. All of that considered and the Resistance Trooper is a 2 out of 5 for me.

Like the Guavian Enforcer, Constable Zuvio is an unknown character ahead of the Force Awakens release in December 2015. The only info we have about him is taken from the blurb on the back of his wave 2 box, where he is numbered as #098 in the TFA 6" range and is quoted to be "a vigilant law officer" Zuvio is a relatively short figure at just 5 1/4" high, yet like the Guavian before him - he is a pleasantly surprising figure in how well he has been executed. Zuvio's head is obviously something new, he is not an Alien we have seen before in any of the other movies - that we know of. The majority of Zuvio's head is wrapped in bandages, and these are nicely sculpted and painted in a mix of green and beige paint that gives them a worn and stained appearance. Zuvio has piercing yellow eyes that shine out from behind the bandages and his skin tone is pinkish and again picked out well with a nice combination of an almost peach base coat with pinker highlights. The hat is interesting, as there is more to it than it looks when you see Zuvio in the box. Spin the figure round and there are some mechanical components at the rear of the hat with some wiring and controls that then come round to two large components that could be described as over-sized bluetooth ear pieces? The hat has been sculpted with a pitted texture and then like the rest of the head has been nicely distressed. It has initially been painted in a red and green contrasting paint job but is then heavily dry brushed with a silver paint to indicate wearing of the paint at the edges and across some of the pitted areas. The Red/Green theme continues down into a shoulder piece that covers both shoulders and around the neck area. Fans are already grasping at straws that the Red & Green scheme used is reminiscent of Boba Fett, but I expect this is pure coincidence. The remainder of the body is essentially a smock which flows down from the shoulder armour and hangs down to Zuvio's knees. The outfit itself is sculpted with a cloth texture and is also dirtied up, particularly towards the bottom area near the knees. Either arm ends in a red bracer, again heavily scratched and weathered, and a pair of grey gloves. Trousers are sculpted under the smock and are a paler beige than the outfit and could be a little too clean compared to the weathering on the rest of the figure. Zuvio is finished off with a pair of wrapped boots, using the same bandage design and paint job we found on his head. The overall paint job is only spoiled with a minor bleed of the shoulder armour onto the smock, but in the main its really impressive and shows what Hasbro could have done with Rey to weather her a bit better. Zuvio is provided in the box with a large back pack which is painted in silver and then dirtied up. In stead of just plugging into the slot on the rear body, there are also 3 other slots around the back where the straps fit, making the backpack look much more realistic as you can see the straps disappearing under the tunic area. Zuvio's weapon is some form of Force Pike, it looks a little like the ones that the Weequay guards used in Return of the Jedi. This pike is well painted with a silver blade, a couple of shades of brown, a gun metal segment and a black strap. The pike fits neatly into either hand, and due to the arm articulation can be held in two hands in a offensive stance of sorts. Articulation starts with a ball jointed head, and Zuvio can look to both sides (he can rotate his head fully if you feel the need) and has some up and down movement. The Arms are on ball joints that withdraw under the armour, so they are not restricted and allow Zuvio to get his arms out to near enough 90 degrees to the body and they can then swivel. The elbows are again the joint with swivel we have seen on all TFA figures so far and there is a further joint in the wrist, but this is rendered fairly ineffective due to the bracers. There is leg articulation at the hips but you won't really use this as the lower half of the smock restricts all movement at the hip. The knees are double jointed and there is then a pivot in the ankle. Zuvio is as good as they have come so far, there isn't really anything you can fault him on as an Action Figure at the £20 price point - in fact the only gripe through the whole review was a sliver of paint bleed. I am going to award him a 5 out of 5 score.