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The Unboxing Toy Convention takes place this weekend in Mexico City. At SDCC, Hasbro indicated they have more reveals to make at this event. This was mentioned specifically in both their Star Wars and Marvel Panel at SDCC. The Unboxing Toy Convention opens at 10am in Mexico, so we would expect the first news from 4pm on Saturday here in the UK The Hasbro Panel is scheduled for 4.30pm (10.30pm UK) on Saturday the 4th.

NECA have revealed the packaging for their Pennywise the clown from the 1990 IT mini-series. The figure should start hitting stores in the next few weeks.

Read on for our full review of the Marvel Legends 2017 Gamora figure from Guardians of the Galaxy 2. Original released in the Mantis BAF wave, Gamora would get a welcome repack in the Best of MCU European wave in early 2018 alongside selected Thor Ragnarok figures. Pros : Spectacular, flawless head sculpt and digital face print. Overall figure is well thought out with neat screen accurate touches Cons : The only drawback is the lack of double jointed elbows Gamora's 2nd Marvel Legend MCU figure arrived in the 2nd wave of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 figures, following figures of Star-Lord, Drax and Yondu in wave 1. The 2nd wave rounded out the team with Gamora accompanied by Nebula, Rocket with Baby Groot, another Star-Lord and a build-a-figure of Mantis. In order to build Mantis you would also need the comic book figures of Adam Warlock and Ex Nihilo. The packaging for the Mantis BAF wave shifted to a purple theme, with Gamora sharing the same box as Nebula with the box labelled as Daughters of Thanos. Gamora appeared on the right side art-work with Nebula on the left. Round the back we got images of the two figures side by side with a short bio text that talks about each sisters finding their path in the wake of their fathers rise to power. Under this sits the BAF checklist of 8 figures, the 8th - Deaths Head - was included without a BAF part. Gamora would get a 2018 re-release in a European best of MCU wave that combined the Guardians 2 releases with those from Thor Ragnarok. In this release the packaging uses the light blue design of the Ragnarok releases and Gamora is specifically names on the package. The BAF here changes to Gladiator Hulk, and Gamora is packed with Hulk's arm and hammer weapon. As usual the figure slides out in its inner tray. The cardboard backing tray continues the purple theme of the packaging with the Guardians Logo printed into this. Gamora sits in the plastic tray surrounded by a multitude of accessories and the leg of Mantis. Guardians Vol. 2 were the first MCU figures to make use of the digital face print technology. And what a way to launch this new technique and showcase what it can do for a figure. The likeness to Zoe Saldana (as Gamora) is sensational, it for me is bordering on Hot Toys level detail with those facial markings and those intensely realistic eyes. Tumbling around the face is Gamora's hair which is full of sculptural depth and detail and is then painted in a variating shade of dark red through to a bright red finish. The rest of the body is equally as good as the head with plenty of layers and details. This starts with an deep blue under suit. On this we have silver button detailing and you can also see the white shirt piece sticking out from under a tied belt piece. Over the top we have Gamora's long coat which is cast in a rubber brown plastic. The outside of the coat has black panel detail painted onto textured panelling on the coat and this continues down the arms. The inner lining of the coat around the flared tails is painted blue. If you follow the arm detail down to the elbows, then the jacket is rolled up and the arm moves to arm wraps and then the green skinned hands of Gamora, complete with individual rings and jewelry. Gamora is also wearing a belt which is part sculpted onto the waist and part separate piece. The secondary piece is again in a rubberised plastic and is low slung from the waist with a strap around Gamora's left thigh. The figure ends with black knee pads and black knee high boots, these are plain black in colour. The team at Hasbro have even replicated those shaped heels that Gamora wears in the film, while still retaining the figures stability. Articulation count is 16 points of articulation. As mentioned, Gamora stands perfectly well on those heeled boots with a robust ratcheted ankle rocker. Above this is a double jointed knee, thigh swivel and a ball jointed hip. Thanks to the rubberised coat and belt, movement is not restricted as the legs move - with these pieces flexing with the legs. The arms are ball jointed shoulders, but sadly only a single joint rotating elbow. This seems common in female figures and the reason for this could be cost saving, or it could be a physical issue with the slim arms on the female figures. The arms end with pivot rotating wrists. The final two joints are a torso joint just under the bust. This rotates to a degree either side, and the wider range of motion is more in the forward lean. We then have a ball joint and pivot head. Despite the hair piece the head still rotates pretty well and looks up and down with the hair flexing with this movement. Gamora comes with three accessories, starting with the retracted version of her sword. This is quite a soft sculpt in a plain grey plastic. Details can be made out but only really as textured around the hilt - a dark wash would have brought these out more. The hilt sits into either hand well enough. When not in use it is designed to sit into the holster on her belt. The holster is shaped specifically for the sword and based on the screen version which has no obvious clips or straps. This is cleverly realised by the team at Hasbro and in the main the hilt sits in really well - prone only to dropping out if you move the leg or handle the figure roughly. Of course of more use to Gamora as a weapon is the fully extended version of her sword. Like the hilt this is cast in grey plain plastic with the textured design around the hilt and various markings in the blade. Unlike the hilt there is some attempt to wash this and some silver dry brushing to enhance the sculpt. Once again this fits in either hand. Sadly with only single jointed elbows there is no opportunity for a double handed pose - or that iconic scene from the opening battle where she launches herself at the Obelisk with her sword above her head in both hands. "I guess we're both doing guns now". Gamora's third and final accessory is the hefty looking gun she starts with when facing down the Obelisk. This is a very intricate design and is crisply cast in a harder plastic. The gun is cast in grey with both a dark wash to bring out the lines and paneling, and a dry brush to give it a metallic finish. Like the sword this can be fit into either of Gamora's hands, but like the sword the elbows restrict the ability to cradle this in both hands. Gamora is a good a looking figure as you can find right now at this mid-range 6" scale. She looks spectacular, from the face print technology to the really well sculpted and shaped clothing down to the screen accurate details like those curved heels and the way the sword hilt hangs in the holster. There is one downside on the figure, those elbow joints. It is a shame that these aren't double jointed like most other Marvel Legend figures. This would have opened up her articulation to wield the sword and that gun to another level. That all being said, the arm articulation shouldn't detract from the figure and it is going to take some topping in future releases. I score Gamora a 5 out of 5.

Pros : really good head sculpt. Weathering on the clothing is subtle but effective. Cleverly designed gun hand despite the elongated fingers Cons : The blaster is a little non-descript Greedo arrived in the Black Series in the 2nd wave of the original "orange series" figures. The wave was very Han Solo orientated with a figure of Han himself alongside Boba Fett and Greedo. The fourth figure in the wave was the "Slave" Leia figure from the scenes in Jabba's palace. Greedo was #07 in the line and has not been re-released in single format. He was included in a Mexican 4-pack which was essentially the whole of wave 2 in a single box. He was also included in a Toys R Us exclusive set in the blue line series called "Cantina Showdown" here he was packed with Han, with the two of them posed in the box from that iconic scene around a cardboard cantina table. Alien sculpts have always been done well by Hasbro, and Greedo was one of the first few to showcase how impressive the 6" Black Scale could be. The head is a fantastic replication of the on screen costume from those prominent insectoid eyes to the reptilian texture of the skin. The head also carries those antenna and a ridge of hair / spines. While the sculpt is deep and full of detail, the paint is quite plain - but it doesnt need to be all singing and dancing as the depth of sculpt creates its own light and shadow on the head. Those eyes are painted to stand out with a gloss, almost metallic, purple finish. Greedo comes in his Cantina outfit made up of a flight suit, over which he wears a flight vest. The under suit is a very pale green finish with pale yellow panels up the arms and legs. The costume is then washed and weathered with dirt effects throughout the costume. The vest is cast in an orange rubbery plastic, and this is also weathered with a grey wash that has run into the seems and panels to add weathering. The vest can be removed if you wish, and under this there is a fully painted body. The gun belt is also an individual piece, and while it is similar to that used on Han Solo from Wave 2, it does have its own variances - most notably the fact it doesn't strap around Greedo's thigh. The belt is also cast in a rubberised plastic, this time brown. The silver buckle and panels are painted on top. These silver pieces demonstrate the only real paint fault on the figure as they bleed heavily up onto the belt. Greedo has 16 points of articulation. The head sits on a ball joint and can therefore rotate and tilt. Rather than a waist joint, a torso ball joint is built in a centimeter or so above the waist. The positioning of this really allows for some gun slinging poses, and I guess Hasbro were also considering if and how Greedo could sit down in a Cantina diorama. Talking of sitting, this is no problem for the legs with ball jointed hips, thigh swivel, double jointed knees and ankle rockers. The arms are a little less maneuverable with ball jointed shoulders and then only a single jointed elbow followed by wrist pivots. The sole accessory with your Rodian is his DT-12 blaster pistol. This is quite soft in its sculpt/cast with very little detail other than the basic shape. A heavy paint job doesn't help and the whole thing is smothered in silver rather than the more accurate brown grip and brushed silver barrel. Despite his elongated fingers, Hasbro have managed to sculpt a working gun holding hand for Greedo completed with extremely long trigger finger which slots into place on the DT-12 And when not in use the blaster sits neatly into the holster and stays in place. Greedo represents all that is good about the Black Series and he works really well in a number of display options - either the Cantina, or indeed adding background aliens to a Jabba's palace display. He doesn't need much in the way of accessories but a neater pistol would have been preferable. With that lovely Rodian head sculpt, weathered flight suit and accurate hands with cleverly designed gun hand and articulation I score Greedo a very impressive 4 out of 5 as a single release. #starwars #anewhope #blackseries #hasbro #greedo #bountyhunter #jabbathehutt #actionfigure #review

Pros : Excellent sculpt with good paint job and articulation. EE-3 Blaster RIfle is an exceptionally decorated accessory Cons : Cape does not hang too naturally. The smaller blaster pistol looks out of place against its counterpart I have a soft spot for the original Boba Fett release. It came in Wave 2 of the Black Series, very early in 2014 here in the UK. It was the figure that hooked me into the line and was my first purchase after resisting the likes of X-Wing Luke and Darth Maul up to this point. The first figure in any collection is special - but this one holds a dear place in my heart. Sentimentality aside, Fett is a brilliant figure - and arrived in the orange line as number #06. He is preceded by an exclusive version from SDCC and Celebration 2013, and we have an expanded review this release in our archive.covering Boba Fett stands dead on 6" tall and is nice weighty piece in hand. The helmet, the key to a good Mandalorian figures, is well proportioned and more importantly for Fett includes the trademark dent and a good paint decor with the gloss black visor trimmed then in burgundy and the green on the helmet with yellow markings. On top of this are a good level of weathering with silver scratches to show where the paint has worn off in one of Boba's many battles. Like the helmet, the armour too is well sculpted with the chest piece and shoulder armour moving down to arm gauntlets and knee armour. The undersuit is grey with washes to darken and weather this around the knees and ankles. A soft goods cloak hangs from the shoulder with a tan base material and a light brown stripe. This comes out ragged and frayed at the edges, but over time has seen little deterioration which is good. My one criticism of the cape is it hangs a little flat. The other details including soft plastic Wookiee braids hanging off the shoulder and the Mandalorian iconography applied as decals on the shoulder and again on the chest piece. Of course Boba also comes with his jet pack. This is cast in a green plastic and then painted with silver and black detailing and more of that silver battle damage. The backpack slots into a socket on Fett's back and holds in place well enough. Fett is articulated with 16 points of articulation. The legs carry 4 points each with ball jointed hips, a thigh swivel, double jointed knees and an ankle rocker. Because of his belt and various pouches you won't get Fett to do much more than wider action stances, but he does hold his posing very well. The arms are ball jointed at the shoulder with the shoulder armour withdrawing into the chest when the arms are raised, making the arm fully poseable. The elbows are single jointed with a rotation and the hands are a pivot swivel on the wrist. The final joints are on the truck of the figure, the first in the waist with a ball joint that will allow both rotation and some leaning motions. And we end with the head which is ball jointed with a good wide range of movement. The first of Boba's weapons are the Sacros K-11 Disintegrator Pistol. This is named on the box, and originates to the Holiday Special when Boba Fett uses the weapon to fire at pursuing Stormtroopers when he is trying to gain Chewbacca's trust. The cast of this is quite basic with very few details. It is cast in a red brown tone with silver barrel. The Pistol fits into either hand with both right and left hands having a flexible trigger finger. And when not in use the pistol slots into holster on the belt. While the K-11 was a pretty poor sculpt and decor, the other weapon is a masterpiece. The EE-3 Carbine Rifle is an exquisite cast - capturing the weapons proportions extremely well. The decor is then second to none with a brown stock with silver details. Cream handle, black barrel and dry brushed silver on the barrel end and the sights. The accuracy has to be applauded here also as the EE-3 is specifically the Empire Strikes Back version with slimmer barrel and more forward located sights - the weapon (prop) would be remodeled for its appearance in Return of the Jedi. Like the pistol, the rifle will fit in either hand with the trigger finger in place. The rotating elbow joints also facilitate a two handed weapon pose - crucial if you are replicating the posing with the other Bounty Hunters from Empire. Boba Fett remains a favourite in the Black Series, despite its age. It is a great sculpt with good decor and weathering and a good level of articulation. The soft goods may not hang quite right, and that blaster pistol is a little disappointing but these can be overlooked. I score the standard release Boba Fett a 4 out of 5.

Pros : It's Hawkeye! And we have many of them to choose from. Uniform is well designed including the texturingdon't Cons : lacklustre paint job on head and hair. Quiver is too large and doesn't sit right. Bow clunky to hold and draw. Ugly torso joint. Avengers Hawkeye was first released as a "true" Marvel Legend in the 2016 European "Hulkbuster" wave. The wave repacked and re-released a number of MCU figures alongside a darker red version of the Age of Ultron Hulkbuster. The packaging carried the Age of Ultron logo, and while this Hawkeye could be an AoU release it is more accurately the Hawkeye we saw in the original 2012 Avengers movie especially when we look at the quiver later on. In fact the bulk of the figure is a re-use of a 6" figure released by Hasbro as a Walmart exclusive. That version was wearing sunglasses and it also had a silver shield logo on the chest - the re-release has lost both these elements. The packaging is a deep red theme and carries a red hue image of Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye on the two spines. Round the back is an image of the figure against a deep red backdrop. Under here is a checklist of the Euro Hulkbuster, Hawkeye is number 6 and comes with the Hulkbuster waist section. Hawkeye is clipped into the inner tray with his quiver and bow to one side. Underneath the accessories is the Hulkbuster part. The inner tray sits in an outer cardboard tray that forms the cardback, and printed onto this feintly is the Avengers "A" logo. The likeness to Jeremy Renner on the figure is passable. It is consistent with the level of likeness Hasbro was getting circa 2015/6 before it launched the face print technology. The face lacks any paint aside fro the eyes, not even the lips are painted and remain skin toned. The hair is shaped well for Hawkeye as seen in Avengers but is a single brown tone that is too light. The whole head also suffers from an ugly neck line in the way the head has been cut up and under the ears. The outfit is realised pretty well with a textured effect built into the top section that itself is then segmented between black and burgundy. The circular logo on the chest used to hold a silver SHIELD logo, it is now blank and therefore more accurate to Avengers where the logo was visible only as a shiny logo on a matt black circular section. Like the head the arms are cast in a skin tone, with no further enhancements to bring out the musculature. The strapping and gloves are neatly painted on top with no obvious bleed. The trousers are plain black although the boots, knee pads and thigh straps are painted in a glossier black to differentiate them. There is also silver buckles painted on the straps. The figure does suffer a little from the body shape being determined by the articulation. Clint therefore gets very rounded hips, thin knees and a very slim waist that is even slimmer than some of the female figures. These all however do work to make a highly articulated figure with 18 points of articulation. The head is ball jointed with full movement, and the same ball joint is applied at the chest. While the chest joint does give a good range of movement, it also suffers from a large gap in most positions. The arms are ball jointed at the shoulder, followed by a bicep swivel. Elbows are double jointed and fold back almost on themselves. The arms then terminate with pivot wrists. The legs work in a similar fashion with ball jointed hips, thigh swivel, double jointed knees and ankle rockers. The ankles and legs do seem a little loose and Hawkeye is not the easiest to stand and pose - and I have had to drop him onto a stand in my cabinet. Hawkeye comes with his quiver and a bow. The quiver, as we saw earlier, arrives separately then plugs into a hole on the back. For me it is oversized for the figure and it also doesn't sit flush against the body leaving it floating off the back, The bow is cast in a black plastic with no paint apps. The bow is designed to fit into Hawkeyes right hand and the bow string then drawn by his left hand. The two hands are shaped as such but it is not easy to have Hawkeye hold the bow securely for any length of time. The bow string is still cast plastic, so although there is some movement it can't be drawn as such - so even with the brilliant arm articulation a bow drawn pose is still restricted by the bow string itself. I'd much rather have seen Hasbro do a similar job as done by DCC with their Arrow figures and add an elasticated string bow. With work some neat action poses are possible. My favourites include the "about to draw an arrow" pose with the left hand bent back and over the quiver. Hawkeye as a figure does some things really well, and others very poorly. It has a real good range of articulation, but feels very awkward to pose and have stand still. The articulation also fouls the look of the figure with big gap around joints like the head and waist. The bow doesn't work like it should and the quiver is perhaps 20-30% too big for the figure. That being said, this is still arguably the best Hawkeye you can get for your Avengers MCU display. I'd hope he gets a revisit in a future wave or perhaps in one of the do-over box sets they are releasing. For now, this version gets a just below average 2 out of 5 from me. #marvel #legends #avengers #hasbro #hawkeye #actionfigures #mcu #walmart #bestof

Mezco's One:12 Collective Netflix Daredevil figure is up for pre-order on the  Mezco site for US collectors. The figure will ship in the first quarter of 2019. The US price is $80 with a $20 non refundable deposit due when the pre-order is placed. Daredevil will come with two head options, multiple hand options and his billy clubs - these will fit into a working thigh holster. A display stand will also be included. Matt Murdock is the Daredevil; lawyer by day, vigilante by night. The One:12 Collective Daredevil features two interchangeable head portraits capturing Matt Murdock’s unforgiving nature as portrayed by Charlie Cox. Outfitted in the body armor used in the show, the Man Without Fear comes complete with his signature Billy Clubs that can be used separately or joined together. Both Billy Clubs fit neatly into the holster on his thigh. Blinded by a chemical spill in a freak accident, Matt Murdock was given superhuman senses that enable him to see the world in a unique way. Upholding the law through the judicial system during the day at night Murdock stalks the streets of Hell’s Kitchen delivering vigilante justice as Daredevil, the Man Without Fear. THE ONE:12 COLLECTIVE DAREDEVIL FIGURE FEATURES: One:12 Collective body with over 28 points of articulation Two (2) head portraits Hand painted authentic detailing Approximately 17cm tall Six (6) interchangeable hands One (1) pair of fists (L&R) One (1) pair of Billy Club holding hands (L&R) One (1) pair of posing hands (L&R) COSTUME: Fitted suit with body armor detail Combat gloves Thigh holster for Billy Clubs Mid-calf work boots ACCESSORIES: One (1) set of Billy Clubs One (1) One:12 Collective display base with logo One (1) One:12 Collective adjustable display post Each One:12 Collective Daredevil figure is packaged in a collector friendly box, designed with collectors in mind.

After their reveal at San Diego 2018, Diamond Select have confirmed the full details for their 7" Select "Kelvin Universe" Star Trek figures. Kirk (Chris Pine) and Spock (Zachary Quinto) will arrive in very late 2018 / early 2019. They are based on their JJ Abrahms "Kelvin Timeline" appearances. Each figure has 16 points of articulation as well as accessories. There is a transporter pad base for each figure which interconnect for a wider display. They will come in the standard Select figure packaging complete with side art panel. Since J.J. Abrams debuted his new Star Trek universe (the “Kelvin Timeline”) in 2009, fans have asked for a screen-accurate, 7” scale, fully articulated line of toys. Now, DST has brought the new timeline to the world of Select action figures! These screen-accurate figures of Kirk and Spock capture the costumes and faces of the new movies, and each features approximately 16 points of articulation, as well as multiple accessories and connecting transporter pads. Packaged in display-ready Select action figure packaging with side-panel artwork for shelf reference.

NECA have released clearer images of the packaging for their Fugitive Predator from the upcoming 2018 Predator movie. The box art was seen at San Diego, but looks even better in these glamour shots. The figure has also gone onto the NECA release schedule for an August 27th release. This will be the US street data and will coincide with the launching of NECA products into Brick & Mortar Target stores in the states. UK customers would expect to see this mid to late September.

Considering the immense popularity of the Fortnite video game it was inevitable that someone would do a tie up and produce Fortnite figures and merchandise. It seems that McFarlane are the ones who will be taking on that challenge in partnership with Epic Games. The McFarlane / Epic partnership will be producing 7" Action Figures from the Fortnite game as well as "high end accessories". We should see the first figures in Autumn 2018. As yet there are no images or details, other than the press release as follows... “The Fortnite brand has taken on global status and continues to grow each day. The game, with its sense of skill and irreverent fun, now has hundreds of character options to choose from, which is a tremendous blueprint for making any successful toy and action figure line,” said Todd McFarlane, CEO and Founder of McFarlane Toys. “The developer’s art team at Epic Games wants to bring that same attitude into the creation of their toys, and everyone here at McFarlane Toys will be doing all we can to bring Fortnite fans the very best products,” said McFarlane. “With such a deep and visually interesting library to choose from, I have no doubt that we will be able to showcase both current and ‘classic’ looks from the Fortnite franchise. After talking with some of the top creators at Epic Games, I’m delighted they are as stoked about our partnership to make cool toys as we are!” Donald Mustard, Worldwide Creative Director of Epic Games commented: “We’ve been fans of Todd and McFarlane Toys for years and years, and it’s been a dream come true to have an opportunity to collaborate with them. I’ve seen some of the prototypes and they’re so sweet… I think players are just going to be blown away.” Launching in Fall 2018, the collection will be available for purchase from mass retail stores. Fortnite is the action building game from Epic Games that lets you drop into a massive 100-player PVP Battle Royale or team up with friends in a co-op campaign to Save The World against a horde of monsters. Craft and loot in giant worlds where no two games are ever the same. Fortnite™ Battle Royale is free and available on PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS, and soon, Android.

Pros : Well sculpted and painted Boba Fett figure with good articulation. EE-3 Blaster Rifle is one of best weapons created in the line. Cons : Exclusive set making it hard / expensive to add to your Black Series Collection. The K-11 pistol looks out of place in the set. One of the first releases of the Star Wars 6" Black Series from Hasbro was an exclusive set released at San Diego Comic Con in July 2013. The set remains one of the most sought after sets on the market. The Boba Fett and Han in Carbonite set took the upcoming Boba Fett figure, who would be single released in Wave 2, and added in an exclusive Han in Carbonite block. The Han piece remains exclusive to this day, although there is an extensive secondary market of casts of this piece. The figures were packed into a presentation which was a sleek black affair with a Mandalorian helmet design built into the cover. There was a slip on sleeve on which we first saw the Black Series logo and the grey lined artwork. Around the back was a shot of Boba Fett on Bespin taken from the Empire Strikes Back, but converted to Greyscale. Above this sits a very short bio explaining how "the notorious bounty hunter Boba Fett prepares to deliver the carbon-frozen Han Solo to Jabba the Hutt". The sleeve and rear of box are trimmed with a green line trim. This would move to orange on the standard releases and this colouring has never been repeated in the line. After sliding off the sleeve the box lids slides off to reveal the figures underneath. Boba and Han sit into individual trays with Boba's accessories to his right. Each accessory has its own shaped tray and around this are printed some very nice technical diagrams and labels. All the parts are attached into the box with very subtle elasticated ties. These can be removed and the figures taken out without damaging the packaging The first tray containing the figures lifts out to reveal a second tray underneath holding a three piece display stand. Beneath this is the inner decoration of the box. This carries more of that Boba Fett blueprint type artwork in grey lined - an impressive addition considering this segment of the box will rarely be seen. If we also look back at the cover piece we lifted off to reveal the figures, there is a large Star Wars Black Series logo printed on the inner of the lid. Boba Fett stands dead on 6" tall and is nice weighty piece in hand. The helmet, the key to a good Mandalorian figures, is well proportioned and more importantly for Fett includes the trademark dent and a good paint decor with the gloss black visor trimmed then in burgundy and the green on the helmet with yellow markings. On top of this are a good level of weathering with silver scratches to show where the paint has worn off in one of Boba's many battles. Like the helmet, the armour too is well sculpted with the chest piece and shoulder armour moving down to arm gauntlets and knee armour. The undersuit is grey with washes to darken and weather this around the knees and ankles. A soft goods cloak hangs from the shoulder with a tan base material and a light brown stripe. This comes out ragged and frayed at the edges, but over time has seen little deterioration which is good. My one criticism of the cape is it hangs a little flat. The other details including soft plastic Wookiee braids hanging off the shoulder and the Mandalorian iconography applied as decals on the shoulder and again on the chest piece. Of course Boba also comes with his jet pack. This is cast in a green plastic and then painted with silver and black detailing and more of that silver battle damage. The backpack slots into a socket on Fett's back and holds in place well enough. Fett is articulated with 16 points of articulation. The legs carry 4 points each with ball jointed hips, a thigh swivel, double jointed knees and an ankle rocker. Because of his belt and various pouches you won't get Fett to do much more than wider action stances, but he does hold his posing very well. The arms are ball jointed at the shoulder with the shoulder armour withdrawing into the chest when the arms are raised, making the arm fully poseable. The elbows are single jointed with a rotation and the hands are a pivot swivel on the wrist. The final joints are on the truck of the figure, the first in the waist with a ball joint that will allow both rotation and some leaning motions. And we end with the head which is ball jointed with a good wide range of movement. The first of Boba's weapons are the Sacros K-11 Disintegrator Pistol. This is named on the box, and originates to the Holiday Special when Boba Fett uses the weapon to fire at pursuing Stormtroopers when he is trying to gain Chewbacca's trust. The cast of this is quite basic with very few details. It is cast in a red brown tone with silver barrel. The Pistol fits into either hand with both right and left hands having a flexible trigger finger. And when not in use the pistol slots into holster on the belt. While the K-11 was a pretty poor sculpt and decor, the other weapon is a masterpiece. The EE-3 Carbine Rifle is an exquisite cast - capturing the weapons proportions extremely well. The decor is then second to none with a brown stock with silver details. Cream handle, black barrel and dry brushed silver on the barrel end and the sights. The accuracy has to be applauded here also as the EE-3 is specifically the Empire Strikes Back version with slimmer barrel and more forward located sights - the weapon (prop) would be remodeled for its appearance in Return of the Jedi. Like the pistol, the rifle will fit in either hand with the trigger finger in place. The rotating elbow joints also facilitate a two handed weapon pose - crucial if you are replicating the procession out of Bespin with the Han in Carbonite floating alongside. Moving onto the Carbonite accessory, this is a hollow piece which is quite light. In order to display the piece you need to tackle the stand first which is engineered to do two difference jobs. We start with the upright position and to do this the stand is clipped together and then around the base of the Carbonite block. A peg then fits into the lower of two holes on the reverse. NB. Our Set is a European release so is printed on the reverse with the large CE mark. This set went to Celebration 2013 as an exclusive also, and was picked up by a few Far East retailers like Robot Kingdom. Round the front and the look of the Carbonite panel is spot on. Han is instantly recognisable with that fixed grimace in place. Down each sides are the various controls panels with silver buttons on some of them and a green display panel on the top right section. The Carbonite piece is cast in grey, but dark grey washes and silver dry brushing brings out the detail and makes it look pretty screen accurate for a 6" Toy. The block can also be displayed in a horizontal position, the way Boba took it out of Bespin escorted by Stormtroopers. The stand now has to be connected to the oval base piece, and then the clip and plug fit at the top of the block - giving it a repulsor-lifting effect. It is clever engineering that allows one stand to do the same job with the Carbonite panel, although I suspect for most collectors the upright display will take preference - and here maybe the preference would be for it to sit at a full right angle as though hung on a wall rather than the backward lean. When we put the two pieces together the beauty of the set is enhanced as this is the start of a fantastic Empire Strikes Back diorama. I am surprised that after all this time, Hasbro have not re-released the Carbonite block as a tweaked piece. It would fit really well in a Jabba's Palace diorama or with a Jabba's Palace Han? While I appreciate the need for exclusives, this is one of those that seems to frustrate fans as it is a key piece of Star Wars lore locked up at a hefty price tag and very limited numbers. While scoring the set I will work on the original RRP which was $44.99 at SDCC and circa £45 in Europe. For that you get a full Boba Fett figure and accessories, and a well realised Carbonite block and stand. For this price the set is easily a 4 out of 5, with the only gripes around the way the soft goods cloak hangs and that blaster pistol that looks like its from a completely different line when put alongside the EE-3 rifle. #StarWars #Blackseries #empirestrikesback #bobafett #sdcc

Checkout our friends over at Marvel Legends UK as they take a look at the band new Marvel Studios The First Ten Years set of Pepper Pots, Hot-Rod Iron-Man Mk 22 and the Mandarin.