Issue 61 : Saturday 2nd September, 2017
A pre-order has gone up on Big Bad Toy store for a 2018 MCU Black Panther 7" Select scale figure. Black Panther will come with a "Warriors fall" diorama base. This single listing all but confirms just one figure from the Black Panther movie. Diamond are likely holding slots for Infinity War. The release on BBTS is listed as February 2018. For those who know and collect MCU Select figures - this is probably ambitious. May-June is more realistic.
The king of Wakanda joins the Marvel Select action figure line! The first Marvel Studios film of 2018 takes us deeper into the world of the Black Panther, and now you can recreate the action of the movie with this 7-inch scale action figure of T'Challa! Packaged with a diorama of the movie's Warrior Falls, this figure comes packaged in the famous Select action figure packaging, with side-panel artwork for easy shelf reference. Sculpted by Gentle Giant!
Boss Fight Studios were at the New Jersey Comic Con to show off the next wave of their Bucky O'Hare Action Figures. Wave 2 will see the Bucky sculpt re-cycled and repainted as Stealth Mission Bucky in cool blue space suit. Astral Projection Jenny will also be reused with an opaque head sculpt and silver spacesuit. The brand new figure will be the introduction of Dead Eye Duck, Chief Gunner's Mate. The Dead-Eye figure was an unpainted prototype at the show. Pre-orders for all of wave 2 will go live in Autumn. If you are looking for these figures in the UK, including the first wave, then head over to our site partners Kapow Toys who are taking pre-orders for wave 1.
It has been confirmed that after selling the 6" Mattel 2016 Ghostbusters for ÂŁ3.99, Home Bargains have now stocked up with the original 1984 Mattel Ghostbusters at the same price. What is remarkable is that these 6" figures of Ray, Egon, Peter and Winston have never been released in the UK and there is surely going to be a scrabble from collectors to pick up a set at this bargain price.
Mezco have confirmed their One:12 Collective Homecoming Spider-Man 6" figure has gone up for pre-order for US collectors on the Mezco Website. The Homecoming figure won't be arriving until between June and September 2018, so you may have a whole year to wait before you can get your hands on Spidey in his "tech" suit from the Homecoming movie. The figure, using a new slimmer body style, comes with tailored suit and a display stand. There are two alternative heads - so three in total. And for hands there are seven different options to pose Spidey in various action shots. Also included are web effects and some clip in web wings. The figure will set you back $80 in the US, for UK customers you will be paying around £70-£80 when UK pre-orders finally go up.
"A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man who made his sensational debut in Captain America: Civil War, begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging super hero in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May, under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark. Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine – distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man – but when the Vulture emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened. Spider-Man Homecoming joins the One:12 collective. With a comprehensively detailed film-accurate outfit and unique character specific accessories. This figure also features a newly sculpted body to accurately reflect the slender, teenage frame of Spider-Man in the new movie. "
Diamond have confirmed their latest comic book Marvel Select 7" figure, Lady Deadpool, is now hitting stores. They also shared these packaged shots. This comic book based release includes Lady Deadpool complete with diorama base, Headpool and a raft of weapons. Lady Deadpool should be available now at all good comic book and action figure stores. If you want to order online, then please click through either image for the Amazon UK product page.
NECA have shared behind the scenes images from their upcoming Alien vs Predator Arcade Collection of 7" scale figures. The images look at the Arachnoid Xenomorph. In the tweet, from Randy Falk, is confirmation that these figures will be released before the end of 2017. There are 6 figures in the range so far - three Aliens and three Predators as we saw at SDCC 2017.
NECA have shared these teaser images as a #Prednesday tweet. The images indicate that NECA are now working on a new Predator figure of Dutch, as seen in the Capcom video game Alien vs Predator. The video game Major Dutch Schaefer was upgraded from his appearance in the original Predator movie, and now sports a large mechanical/weaponised arm. We await more details
NECA have also shared these new behind the scenes images of their upcoming Razor Claws Xenomorph Razor Claws is part of the Alien Vs Predator Video Game series and will be released later this year. So far announced in the series are three Aliens and three Predators. There is also a strong tease, as per the adjacent story, that the AvP Video Game Dutch figure will come at a later date.
NECA have teased this image of a new 7" scale Predator figure mask. Common consensus amongst fans at the moment is that this is the mask worn by Bad Blood in the Dark Horse comics, potentially meaning we are getting an Ultimate Bad Blood release? We await more details...
Rex is reportedly coming with additional accessories for Hascon. In the box image we can see his dual blasters and then the standard clone issue blaster and blaster-rifle that has been packed with all clone releases. The best news for UK customers was that Forbidden Planet will be selling the Rex figure at their stand at MCM London Comic Con in October (27th to 29th). The figure will then be on sale via its stores and website after the UK convention.
Hasbro are re-releasing their limited articulation basic 6" figures in new The Last Jedi packaging. These have shown up at Walgreens in US for $6.99 each.
The upcoming Hascon exclusive Captain Rex has been fully revealed along with the Hascon packaging, which I must admit is a thing of beauty. The packaging follows the theme started in 2015 with the First Order Stormtrooper and was then repeated in 2016 with the Jyn Erso figure. The Rex packaging is a deep electric blue with black artwork and white Star Wars Black Series logo. The outer sleeve then slides off to reveal a black inner tray with blue backdrops into which sits Rex and his accessories.
Rey and The First Order Stormtrooper have been released in previous waves in 2015 and 2016. C3PO is a new addition and looks pretty impressive. There is also a new Captain Phasma figure. She does look a little undersized from the above image which is circulating online.
This Star Wars The Black Series pack, featuring one 6-inch-scale Captain Rex figure and 5 accessories is designed for ultimate collectability and display. Featuring authentic, true-to-story detail across multiple points of articulation, the Star Wars The Black Series Captain Rex figure and accessories pay tribute to the iconic leader of 501st division, serving the Republic under the command of Anakin Skywalker during the Clone Wars."
"Forbidden Planet are thrilled to announce that they will be retailing the Hasbro Convention Exclusive figure of Captain Rex from the Star Wars: Black Series range at MCM Comicon running 27th to 29th October at London's Excel Centre." Pricing has not been confirmed as yet. Considering the packaging and exclusivity we would estimate somewhere between ÂŁ29.99 and ÂŁ34.99 for Rex. Keep an eye on the Forbidden Planet blog for more details, or sign up to their newsletter emails.
If these follow suit to previous years, then UK customers can expect to see these in Aldi pre-Xmas. Head over to our Star Wars Black Series archive and click complementary ranges to find out more.
Medicom have released details of their 1/12 MAFEX Scarecrow from The Dark Knight. The Scarecrow comes with his masked head as well as an unmasked Jonathan Crane head which looks to be a pretty good likeness to actor Cillian Murphy. When the unmasked head is being worn, there is a second mask in the set which can be held in the hands. The other accessory for Scarecrow is his lighter. But that is not all with this set. You also get a head, hands and chest piece to convert your Dark Knight Batman to the Nightmare Batman we see in the Batman Begins nightmare gas scene.
Tamashii Nations have revealed images of their new Godzilla Monsterarts figure from the upcoming Netflix movie, Godzilla : Monster Planet. The new Godzilla figure will stand just over 6.5" high and looks to be at least 12" from head to tail. He will be fully articulated, including that monster tail. Godzilla is due for release in December 2017 in Japan, and in the US via Bluefin. The US RRP is $94.99. UK customers would need to find an importer and will be looking at circa £85 - £100.
Scarecrow is priced at 6800 yen (£49 / $63). He is due for release in May 2018.
Tamashii Nations have revealed their third Movie Realization Marvel figure following on from Spider-Man and Iron-Man. The Movie Realization range, which started with Star Wars, takes the characters we know so well and re imagines them in a Feudal Japan setting. Captain America will follow this theme as a very impressive Samurai inspired 6.8" figure. He will come with his shield and a Katana blade and sheath. The shield can be stowed away on Caps back when not in use. The star at the centre of the chest can also be removed and used as a throwing star. The figure is down for a January 2018 release as a Bandai Webstore exclusive, and via Bluefin in the US. That should mean obtaining him in the UK is a bit easier, and expect to pay around £80 We saw the Marvel Legends Deadpool figures at SDCC - with five figures announced. These comic book releases were clearly aimed to tie in to the Deadpool sequel from Fox in 2018 and included The Merc with the Mouth, Cable, Domino, Deathlok and X-23. Over at the Canada Expo it has now been confirmed that the Build-a-Figure for this wave will be Sasquatch. This image of the figure has been circulated. We now await full details of release and if this will be a smaller 5 figure wave, or if there are other surprises in store for Deadpool fans?
Medicom have released promotional images of three of their 1/12 MAFEX Justice League figures. We start with Batman who will be packed with two face portraits - one neutral, one grimacing - these may be clip in mouth pieces rather than a full head alternative. The cape is soft goods and can be posed with an internal wire armature. Batman is armed with a couple of mean looking guns, a canister and three batarangs. He is priced at 6800 yen (£49 / $63). He is due for release in March 2018.
The Flash is looking pretty impressive and comes with two head options one masked and one unmasked. There does not appear to be any other accessories. For some reason Flash is also priced higher than Batman and Superman. He has an RRP of 7800 Yen (£56 / $72)
Superman will also come with two facial expressions - neutral and angry and also gets a poseable soft goods cloak. He will also be priced at 6800 yen (£49 / $63) and is scheduled for release in March 2018.
Wave 12 will be swiftly followed by Wave 13. This 8 figure case will bring us General Leia, Captain Poe Dameron, Finn in First Order Uniform and the Praetorian Guard from The Last Jedi. We will also get a repack of Kylo Ren (who I guarantee will peg warm). Maz Kanata was only announced in July, but she should be on shelves soon with Wave 13. The other two slots are made up of re-packs of the AT-AT driver and Snowtrooper. Initially this seems an odd choice, but checkout the Centre Piece collection where these two Hoth figures will fit into the diorama alongside the Snowspeeder Pilot Luke Skywalker. Wave 13 has been showing up in the Far East with the odd find in US. UK independents and larger retailer like Forbidden Planet and Amazon are expecting stocks in later September / October.
By the time we hit midnight on the 1st of September, most of the figures contained in the first wave of 6” The Last Jedi Black Series had been leaked one way or another. The new cases have moved to eight figures, and this first wave (wave 12 in the phase 3 packaging) was a good mix of Last Jedi (Rey, Luke & Kylo) and saga figures. This first wave was in relative abundance come Force Friday in both the UK and US. For UK customers Toys R Us and Smyths were your two choices. Luke was the early chase figure, followed by Hera. With being packed two per case the Darth Vader was plentiful, as was Kylo Ren and that repacked Stormtrooper.
While our focus at the Archives is 6” figures, it would be remiss of me to mention the 3.75” offering for Force Friday. The basic range of figures was split into two waves of 5 figures. The first wave was on shelves in Toys R Us and Tesco for Friday, availability in Asda and Sainsbury's was hit and miss. Toys R Us also had the more desireable second wave including Luke Skywalker and Rose. This wave will be the more sought after as you can see peg warmers like Poe & Finn clogging up the shelves and preventing re-orders. In terms of vehicles, only the Ski-Speeder seemed to hit shelves in UK. We eagerly await the new Tie Fighter, Rathtar and Police Speeder.
Most collectors had their eye on the two new vehicles in the Black Series range. Following on from the 2015 Tie Fighter (#01), the Landspeeder from A New Hope would be #02 in the vehicle releases and would come with a tweaked version of A New Hope Luke. We had seen a deluxe version of this at San Diego as an exclusive, but many collectors were hanging on for this basic version. #03 was the Speeder used by Rey in The Force Awakens, and this came with a tweaked Rey figure - complete with scavenger head gear and adjusted soft good robes so she can ride the speeder. Sadly neither Speeder hit UK mainstream stores for Force Friday. There was some stock in the independents and these sold very quickly. More stock should be due later in September. The price on these sets remains restrictive at ÂŁ70, quite a considerable jump from the last similar size set (Tauntaun and Wampa) which were around ÂŁ44.
These sets look to be one we should be patient with. I am interested to see if Toys R Us and Smyths go after these - particularly as Toys R Us looked to get burned with the Tie Fighter and had to discount deeply to clear it off shelves? If they do hit the highstreet then the Xmas vouchers and discounts may make these more palatable.
The Centrepiece collection was announced alongside the 40th Anniversary releases. These sets go back to the Unleashed era for Hasbro and include a diorama base with a static 6” scaled figure in action pose. The first set is from A New Hope and includes a dynamically posed Vader as he enters the Tantive IV. The second set from The Empire Strikes Back has Luke Skywalker in PIlot Gear fighting his way over an AT-AT leg. The two sets include foot pegs to add standard Black Series figures to the set - makes sense now why the Stormtrooper, AT-AT Driver and Snowtrooper have been repacked in the Autumn 2017 waves. These sets were on sale in US for Force Friday at $50 Sadly there were none in the UK on 1st September, with a lot of stores doing a pre-order. Again the price vs the US RRP is quite steep, with most stores wanting around £70 for these - I guess we have Brexit to thank for that. You can order from Amazon in the US and have these shipped to UK - you will end up paying less doing it that way, but run risk of damage as they are shipped over the Atlantic. Even with shipping and import tax, these will cost you just £55 from the US.
The first exclusive of Force Friday, for the UK at least, was one we were already aware of - the Toys R Us Clone Commander Gree. Gree was announced at Toy Fairy 2017 and has sneaked out to a few Toys R Us stores in the US ahead of his official 1st September launch date. There had been some scaremongering that Gree would not get a UK release, mainly through replies from Toys R Us UK. We had nothing to worry about though as Toys R Us stores were stocked with Commander Gree on Force Friday. It seems a third wave of Last Jedi Black Series 6" figures is incoming around November time. Pre-orders have gone up on Forbidden Planet for two previously unannounced figures. The first is a single box release of Snoke in his soft goods golden robes. This appears to be the same figure as is in the throne set. Snoke has also gone up on Amazon UK for pre-order
There is a premium to pay though for his extensive Paint Apps as he is priced at ÂŁ27.99 - time to search out those ÂŁ5 off vouchers if you are a Gold Card member. We picked up Clone Commander Gree on Force Friday, and you can read our full review at the end of the issue.
The second is the new character of Rose who is a Resistance Technician. Rose comes with a Resistance Blaster rifle and a communicator. It seems the Fans Choice Jaina Solo will also join this 14th wave of the Black Series 3rd Phase. Jaina can be pre-ordered now at Forbidden Planet. Expect more stores to follow suit in due course.
A Star Wars Commander Gree 6" action figure from the Black Series that features premium deco across multiple points of articulation. Kids and collectors alike can imagine the biggest battles and missions in the Star Wars saga with figures from The Black Series! With exquisite features and decoration, this series embodies the quality and realism that Star Wars devotees love. Clone Commander Gree, designation 1004, led the Elite Corps of clone troopers during the Clone Wars. He saw deployments on such heated battlefronts as Kashyyyk. Though a faithful commander who carried out the Jedi's orders, Gree was ultimately loyal to the Republic.
Within the vast amount of rumours and leaks for Star Wars Force Friday II was talk of a Gamestop (US) Exclusive 4 figure set titled "The Guardians of Evil". It was presumed that this would be a multi-figure set of the new Praetorian Guards from The Last Jedi, each with a different weapon. However, it has now been confirmed that this 4 figure set is akin to the Evolution of the Stormtrooper set, and contains four versions of "Guards" from the various Star Wars eras.
The First Order Stormtrooper Executioner seems a pretty big visual character from The Last Jedi and is making an appearance in most sizes and ranges - including Hot Toys, Disney Elite and a number of Hasbro releases. The 6” version is exclusive to Target in the US. UK pre-order has gone up at Forbidden Planet, and a number of other independent retailers.
The set will include a Senate Guard (blue) from the prequel era complete with rifle. An Emperor's Royal Guard from the Return of the Jedi - this one is a direct repack. There is then a black Shadow Guard from The Force Unleashed. And the set is rounded out by the new Praetorian Guard from The Last Jedi - this one has a variant weapon and helmet to the Wave 13 release. While exclusive to Gamestop - the promotional blurb does state this item will also be sold in Disney stores - that leaves some hope for UK customers to get this at a price similar to the US. If not, you can order now from a number of independents starting at £115
STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES 6-INCH FIRST ORDER STORMTROOPER EXECUTIONER FIGURE (Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Suggested Retail Price: $19.99/Available: Fall 2017) Dispense final justice to those who feign loyalty to the First Order with this premium figure from THE BLACK SERIES! Imagine recreating scenes like the ones from STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI in 6-inch scale with exceptional detail and articulation. Includes character-inspired axe accessory. Available exclusively at Target.
(Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Suggested Retail Price: $79.99/Available: Fall 2017) Assemble an army of faceless guards from across the STAR WARS universe! Each 6-inch scale THE BLACK SERIES figure in this elite 4-pack features premium detail and multiple points of articulation. Characters include EMPEROR’S ROYAL GUARD, ELITE PRAETORIAN GUARD (with double blade), EMPEROR’S SHADOW GUARD, and SENATE GUARD. Includes four figures and four accessories. Available exclusively at Barnes & Noble, Gamestop, and Disney Stores.
Kylo Ren and Throne Room is one of three sets from The Last Jedi that include Environmental features and that are spread between different retailers in the US. Kylo Ren comes with his helmet and lightsaber and a diorama base with pegs that we assume is from Snokes Throne Room - a prominent location in the movie if the various figures are anything to go by.
The 2nd set is a Toys R Us exclusive and includes Rey with a diorama piece from Crait, a planet in The Last Jedi. Rey uses parts from the Wave 12 release, but has soft goods robes for a more premium feel. We await to see if this release will hit Toys R Us across the World or just in the US.
All three sets come in an enclosed box, with a hinged opening flap that opens to show the figure inside - similar to how last year's Obi-Wan and Kylo exclusive was packed. Kylo Ren is exclusive to Walmart. While this could mean he turns up in Asda stores in the UK, we aren’t so sure considering the nature of the release and the price
STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES 6-INCH KYLO REN in Throne Room (Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Suggested Retail Price: $34.99/Available: Fall 2017) Imagine commanding First Order missions from the Throne Room with THE BLACK SERIES KYLO REN figure! This 6-inch scale figure is carefully detailed to look like the dark warrior from STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI featuring impressive detail, multiple points of articulation, and premium fabric costuming. Comes with a Throne Room base inspired by one of the locations in the film, allowing collectors to easily recreate their favorite STAR WARS moments. Includes figure, stand, and four accessories. Available exclusively at Walmart.
STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES 6-INCH REY on Crait (Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Suggested Retail Price: $34.99/Available: Fall 2017) Imagine training in the art of the Jedi with this elite set from THE BLACK SERIES! The 6-inch scale REY (Jedi Training) figure is carefully detailed to look like the young hero from STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI with impressive detail, multiple points of articulation, and premium fabric costuming. Comes with a Crait stand inspired by one of the locations in the film, allowing collectors to easily recreate their favorite STAR WARS moments. Includes figure, stand, and four accessories. Available exclusively at Toys “R” Us.
The final set of the trio is Luke Skywalker on a diagram of Ahch-To Island. He will be exclusive to Target in the US - and that means he could theoretically be ordered for shipping to UK - but the p&p and potential import costs will be high. The figure includes a spare robotic hand and like Rey comes with more premium soft goods. There is still no lightsaber included (plot point?) and no Porg’s - which may be a good or bad thing. In the US each of these sets has a RRP of $34.99 (that just £27). However, the price to UK independents is a lot more restrictive and therefore where these have been put up for sale the UK price is closer to £45 and a lot of independents are choosing not to carry these.
For anyone building an Army of First Order Stormtroopers - look no further than this exclusive from Amazon. The exclusive boxed set contains a standard 6" Black Series Stormtrooper. And around this is packed a wealth of accessories to customise your trooper. There is the Riot control gear we saw in the Force Awakens. What looks to be a Snowtrooper backpack, some binoculars, pistol, a pouch and a pike. But for me it is the inclusion of the Heavy Weapon and vest that is most impressive, you can therefore replicate the Heavy Weapon Trooper from Force Awakens, or just use the gun as a floor standing blaster.
STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES 6-INCH LUKE SKYWALKER (Jedi Master) on Ahch-To Island (Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Suggested Retail Price: $34.99/Available: Fall 2017) This 6-inch scale figure is carefully detailed to look like the Jedi Master from STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI featuring impressive detail, multiple points of articulation, and premium fabric costuming. Comes with an Ahch-To Island base inspired by one of the locations in the film, allowing collectors to easily recreate their favorite STAR WARS moments. Includes figure, stand, and two accessories. Available exclusively at Target.
The set has a US price of $34.99 - and the US site WILL ship to UK. At time of posting you will be looking at circa £40 including delivery and import fees. The set is released in December. Well worth placing a pre-order now and cancelling without penalty if the set becomes available in the UK. Click any of the images. STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES 6-INCH FIRST ORDER STORMTROOPER WITH GEAR FIGURE (Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Suggested Retail Price: $34.99/Available: Fall 2017) The iconic trooper from STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI comes to an impressive 6-inch scale! Equipped with sleek armor and weapons, this screen-accurate figure features premium deco and multiple points of articulation. Includes eight highly detailed accessories. Available exclusively at Amazon.
Walgreens have carried a few Star Wars Black Series figures over the years - and in Autumn 2017 they will be adding a new one in the shape of this Force Ghost Obi-Wan Kenobi.
The new red Praetorian Guards are the bodyguards of Supreme Leader Snoke. And it looks like we won't be short of them in the 6" Black Series. We will get a standard version in Wave 13, and a variant in the Guardians of Evil 4-pack. This third variant is, like the Wave 13 release, an Elite. he comes with more streamlined helmet and two weapon options - a sword and heavy blade - the box quotes the heavy blade on the packaging. The Elite Praetorian Guard is exclusive to Amazon and will be priced in US at $19.99 according to the blurb. However, the figure has gone up at $24.99 on the US site - albeit with a price guarantee should the price fall. The figure will ship to UK and with p&p and import charges you will be paying approx ÂŁ28.
Using the existing sculpt from last year, the figure is now cast in translucent blue shaded plastic and comes with a similarly shaded cloak. The figure represents Obi-Wan as he appeared to Luke on Hoth and again at the end of Return of the Jedi. As it is not pictured, nor accurate to either scene, the lightsaber originally packed with Obi-Wan is likely excluded from this release. The packaging takes a swerve away from Phase 3 for this release and goes with an electric blue colour scheme on the black box. Walgreens exclusives haven't been the easiest to obtain outside the US. And this one is going to be a premium price via the independents expect to pay circa ÂŁ35 STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES 6-INCH OBI-WAN KENOBI (Force Ghost) FIGURE (Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Suggested Retail Price: $19.99/Available: Fall 2017) Even after his untimely demise, OBI-WAN KENOBI remains a mentor to those strong with the Force. This 6-inch scale THE BLACK SERIES figure features articulated movement and is based on the Force Ghost as seen in the films. Available exclusively at Walgreens.
STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES 6-INCH ELITE PRAETORIAN GUARD FIGURE (Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Suggested Retail Price: $19.99/Available: Fall 2017) Collectors can defend the SUPREME LEADER SNOKE with this premium 6-inch scale figure from THE BLACK SERIES. Featuring authentic detail and incredible articulation, this loyal crimson-clad guard is carefully designed to look like the iconic protector from STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI. Includes heavy blade accessory. Available exclusively at Amazon.
Gamestop will be carrying an exclusive 6" Supreme Leader Snoke complete with his Throne. Snoke will boast soft goods golden robes and can be seated in the Throne environment. The figure won't be available for Force Friday, and will arrive later in Autumn 2017. He is priced at $35 in the US. UK customers can order direct from Gamestop once pre-orders go up, but will pay import tax. The figure is available via UK independents, but at a premium of around £45-£50.
STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES 6-INCH SUPREME LEADER SNOKE FIGURE & THRONE (Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Suggested Retail Price: $34.99/Available: Fall 2017) Sitting atop an evil regime as SUPREME LEADER SNOKE of the First Order, this 6-inch scale THE BLACK SERIES figure boasts premium quality and impressive articulation. Comes with movie-inspired throne and accessory. Available exclusively at Gamestop.
Toys R Us were obviously not satisfied with exclusives of Gree and Rey, as they have this 2-pack upcoming also. The 2-pack is made up of Admiral Ackbar and a generic First Order Officer. Both figures come with an appropriate blaster. The Canadian price was $69.99 which is well over double the $29.99 price of Canadian single figures. UK customers (assuming it gets a UK release) should brace themselves for a £50 price tag. US will likely come in around £45.
STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES 6-INCH ADMIRAL ACKBAR & FIRST ORDER OFFICER FIGURE 2-PACK (Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Suggested Retail Price: $39.99/Available: Fall 2017) Choose a side in the Galactic Civil War! Fight for the Resistance as ADMIRAL ACKBAR or defend the Dark Side with FIRST ORDER OFFICER. Each 6-inch scale THE BLACK SERIES figure features extensive articulation and movie-accurate detail. Includes two figures and two accessories. Available exclusively at Toys “R” Us.
Despite deep discounts on previous releases, Disney stores are going hard again on their 6.5"diecast Elite range of figures for The Last Jedi. We had seen leaks for the Praetorian Guard and the Executioner Stormtrooper - but Disney Store are going much bigger than that with 12 figures being released. We will be getting figures of Luke Skywalker, Rey, Kylo Ren, Phasma, Finn and Poe Dameron. The previous 2-pack of C-3PO and R2-D2 is split so each figure gets a single release. BB8 will come alongside Resistance Tech Rose. Chewbacca will come with two of the contentious Porgs and the figures are rounded off with the previously seen Executioner Stormtrooper and Praetorian Guard The US price is $26.95 on these. In the UK these are ÂŁ21.99
First up is Rey & Kylo Ren. Rey will come in her Jedi Training gear, complete with lightsaber. Kylo Ren will come unmasked with his revised costume for TLJ including his helmet.
And to support the First Order are the Praetorian Guards. SH Figuarts will give us three versions (the same three as Hasbro's 6") released between October and December.
Kylo will be released in November while Rey arrives a month later in December. These should come in around ÂŁ50-ÂŁ60 here in UK once they've been imported.
It looks like all three versions will come with a sword and whip. There is then a variation of the larger weapons from double swords, bladed spear and double bladed staff.
We also wait to see if Bluefin (US Distributor) have anything extra to add to these sets for US release as they do with the Marvel releases.
Next up for the First Order are figures of the Executioner (due October), Captain Phasma (due September) and a First Order Stormtrooper (due September). The Stormtrooper will come with three pauldron options so you can choose your own commander or just go with a standard grunt. All three have slightly changed armour/helmets from their initial appearance in The Force Awakens.
There is also an intriguing graphic from SH Figuarts where the releases above are spread from September to December, with each month having a different BB8 version next to it. Apparently if you purchase both releases each month you will get a bonus BB unit figure - it is not clear if this is only via the SH Figuarts webstore, or if there is some kind of mail away.
The second is a re-release of Phasma, but as she will appear in The Last Jedi. That means new weapons - but the promo images also look like a more sleeker version of the armour.
Bandai have confirmed two new figure kit releases from the Last Jedi. First up is that Executioner Stormtrooper. The kit will include the full weaponry of the Executioner, and includes optional parts to vary your finish. This means you can build it with the black or white shoulder guards and arm him with the large axe type weapon, or standard First Order weapons. He will be released in September - but as per current licensing agreements can only be sold inside Japan. You will have to find someone to import this to US, UK or elsewhere. Price in UK once imported will likely be around ÂŁ25-ÂŁ30 initially.
Finally we get a new double pack of droids and now Bandai are finally pairing C3PO with R2-D2. This kit will be released in December.
While not a Last Jedi release, Tamashii Nations have revealed the promotional images of their next Star Wars Movie Realization releases Darth Maul and the Shadow Trooper The range is inspired by Feudal Japan, and Maul is no exception with his Samurai inspired robes and fearsome mask. He will come with a double bladed weapon with red blades. He is being released in November 2017 and will be priced at 9504 yen - that works out to ÂŁ67 or $86.
The Shadowtrooper uses the existing Stormtrooper sculpt but now in a gloss black. He comes with 18th century inspired blaster, sword, sheath and throwing knives. He will be arriving in stores in December 2017.
Review : Clone Commander Gree Star Wars Black Series (Hasbro) Wave/Series : Toys R Us Exclusive Released : September 2017 Price : ÂŁ27.99
Round the back of the box we find the Star Wars Black Series logo and a larger version of the front artwork. Over the top of this is a short paragraph that confirms Gree's designation and his deployment to Kashyyyk in the Clone Wars. This text is repeated in three other languages. the multi-lingual text continues into the various warnings across the bottom third of the box reverse.
Force Friday II, 1st September 2017, and we have had a wealth of Star Wars Black Series releases & exclusives unveiled as we build up to the release of The Last Jedi. The only exclusive on UK shelves come the 1st of September was at Toys R Us and it was the highly anticipated Clone Commander Gree from The Revenge of the Sith. Gree is exclusive to Toys R Us and is being sold Worldwide. He is priced at a higher RRP than normal Black Series due to the quantity of paint applications that Hasbro have used on the figure - we will see how impressive this is as we work through our review.
While we said earlier that Gree follows the standard phase 3 packaging, there is a further running change that has come into play for all the Force Friday releases. If you compare the Star Wars Black Series logo on the front of the box to any earlier releases you can see it is a much brighter and bolder grey, almost white. You access Gree via the top or bottom flap, both of which are sealed with a short length of tape. The entire inner red tray slides out with Gree and his accessories sitting in a clear plastic tray. There are no fiddly ties or bands but the inner tray is tight fitting so if you do remove the figure and want to return him later for display be careful not to crease or crack the plastic. Gree continues the Phase 3 packaging design which will continue for The Last Jedi. The box is a gloss black with Star Wars Black Series logo front and centre and the character name in red at the bottom alongside a grey lined image of Gree. In between is the window through which you can see Gree against that deep red background - surrounded by his weaponry and binoculars. The right spine is gloss red with the character name at the top. There is no numbering system as Gree is an exclusive. The other spine has the character name repeated in red text and a cut off larger version in a faint grey against the black of the box.
In hand Gree stands dead on 6" tall and the variety of paint and colouring is impressive from the off - we will look at that later. Be careful as you handle Gree coming out of the pack as he has an aerial in his backpack which comes fitted, but is actually a loose piece. It doesn't stay in too well so there is a danger it can be lost if you're not careful It is worth noting that Gree is not a direct use of the existing Clone Trooper sculpt we have seen in previous releases - there are a couple of significant changes.
The helmet arms and groin area are all re-uses of the standard Mark 2 Clone figure. Both legs are essentially reuses also, although the left leg has had an extra holster and strap sculpted on the thigh. The belt remains a separate piece, but is identical to all previous releases. The chest piece is brand new. This incorporates strapping that run down like braces. To the back there is a small backpack into which the aerial sits. There is also a second cylindrical canister that sits above the belt and that is attached to the back of the figure.
Articulation is standard fare for an armoured Black Series trooper. The head rotates, but despite being on a ball joint it has very limited forward or backward movement. The arms can't raise much as the shoulder panels physically block the upward movement. They do rotate though and are helped with a bicep swivel and the retention of a double jointed elbow. The hands are pegged at the wrist, so these rotate and pivot. A torso joint sits under the chest and allows the torso to swivel independently of the legs. The legs themselves are ball jointed hips, but again these are held in place with the thigh armour. You can get wider stances and a degree of crouching but not much else. The knees are double jointed and feel ratcheted so are pretty stiff. Sadly the ankle rockers are not as robust and these are a weak spot and can prove troublesome for getting Gree standing up.
The sculpt of the Mk2 clone trooper is pretty spot on and it is nice to see Hasbro re-using this with additional parts and colouring to boost collectors Clone collections. Everything on Gree is smooth and rounded like armour should be. As you inspect the figure you can now see the various layers and applications of paint that has caused the figure to have a higher RRP than normal. The helmet boasts a silver face plate with gloss green visor. There is then a lighter shade of green on the cheek panels and a darker stripe on the dome, trimmed again in silver. There is white around the ears and black trims on these, the nose and round the forehead. All in all that's about 7 different colour on the helmet alone. From the helmet the paint gets even more insane. The upper arms, shoulders and chest are a relatively plain dark green with dark grey and black details. The edges are "weathered" in silver with some green splashing on top. The belt is another shade of darker green with brown splodges applied in places to represent mud. The forearms, groin and upper thigh armour has a very detailed camouflage pattern incorporating two shades of green and one of brown. There is then a further application of green and brown on this to represent mud and weathering. The boots are the plainest part of the figure in a gloss grey.
Accessory number one is the DC-15S blaster. This uses the existing sculpt from all previous Clone releases but is now cast in a grey plastic not the original black. There are no paint applications on the blaster. The gun fits into the right hand of Gree naturally and the trigger finger slots into the trigger of the fun. If you want the left hand can hold the blaster as well. The DC-15S can also be held in a two handed cradle thanks to those double jointed elbows and the bicep swivel. Gree can also hold the weapon out straight in a pretty decent shooting position.
Gree is also armed with the larger DC-15A blaster rifle. Again this is an identical cast to the other troopers, and again is cast in grey plastic with no paint applications. Being longer this weapon suits a two-handed pose and Gree holds this pose really well
As an exclusive release, Gree fits the bill perfectly in that he takes an existing sculpt - tweaks it slightly and gives us a more niche figure than perhaps the main range could sustain under usual RRP. While the price is higher, you have to say value for money is provided with the paint applications alone. But you also get three accessories, two more than most Black Series figures currently. I can't really fault Gree as a figure. He is well articulated thanks to the older style arms and those double jointed elbows. He is well painted ad there were no paint errors or bleeds on the figure I reviewed. If you were being picky you'd ask for some weathering on the guns - but I can live without that (or add it myself).
Gree's third accessory is the Electrobinoculars. These are the ones he is using on Kashyyyk in Revenge of the Sith as he surveys the battlefield with Master Yoda. This is a new accessory for the 6" range as these differ to the ones that came with the Tatooine Luke Skywalker. The Electrobinoculars are a little softer in sculpt than other accessories, cast in a cream plastic. They do hold some detail and are painted with the same dark green and a black visor. While the articulation doesn't quite let Gree hold these against his helmet visor, it gets pretty close and gives Gree a bit more variation in terms of posing him with your other clones.
With no immediate negatives to speak of, my only concern with Gree is those ankle joints which may present an issue in the future. This is a minor issue though and not enough to stop me awarding Clone Commander Gree a 5 out of 5 score.
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