Friday September 1st, 2017 marked the launch of all the new STAR WARS merchandise for the upcoming release of The Last Jedi. The line I'm always most interested in continues to be the 3.75" basic figure line, even if they only have 5 Points of Articulation. This is the scale that built the STAR WARS toy phenomenon; it allows for a great variety of characters and is the perfect scale for all manner of vehicles. Hasbro pulled out all the stops and released eleven different figures in the first two assortments of The Last Jedi line, nine of which seem to be all new sculpts. Today I'm going to give you the run down and take a quick look at all the figures released.
I love the look of the new PACKAGING. The stark contrast between the white and red is really effective and looks great. Each blister card has a really nice image of the character and all the figures are shown off really well. The big selling point this time around is the new Force Link system, similar to the Commtech Chip system from the Episode 1 days. There isn't a whole lot of character customization on the back of the cards, but lots of information about the Force Link and the starter set.
Both the SCULPTING and PAINT work has gotten an excellent upgrade. The paint is ten times better this time around than it has been for a long time. It's especially noticeable on characters like Rey, Rose, and Poe for sure. That's a character who had notoriously bad paint jobs, this time he looks great. The likeness needs a little tweaking but it's a step up from last time for sure. Everything is a whole lot cleaner and more precise, and the eyes on a lot of the characters are really impressive.
Luke Skywalker Jedi Master, the figure we've waited nearly two years for, looks gorgeous. I am so glad to finally add him to my collection. Rey and Finn look great in their new costumes, both of which strongly call back to their The Force Awakens looks. Paige and Rose look great, I really like the sculpt on Rose's coveralls, and Paige has a little respirator that hooks into her helmet which is a nice little touch. Chewbacca actually looks to be mostly a whole new sculpt, this time around the fur has some nice added definition. At first glance I thought C-3PO was complete reuse but there looks to be enough little tweaks that time may be at least a partial new sculpt. Poe is also mostly reuse, although he does have a new head sculpt.
General Hux is an all new sculpt, this time his coat is a separate piece which is much improved from the first release. It's hard to tell but the Stormtrooper seems to be mostly new, it's not a straight repack. This time he's rocking the slightly updated helmet sculpt and is in more of a dynamic pose. He's also more glossy this time around. Kylo Ren looks great in his new costume and cape, and the head sculpt looks great with the nice big scar running across his face.
ARTICULATION wise, most of these guys are 5 POA. Most. Poe is actually rocking a pair of swivel wrists. I haven't found any more hidden joints, but Hasbro did say at SDCC that they were starting to add a few more points here and there. All the articulation that is there though works really well, especially the great ball jointed necks.
There is an interesting trade off happening between Sculpt and Articulation. Some of the sculpted detail, especially on Finn and Rose, would absolutely be lost adding in all sorts of different joints at the hips, knees, and elbows. It's a tricky debate, because these figures have a really nice clean and solid look to them. I have a feeling we'll end up somewhere in between in the long run. Like I said, I'm happy either way, just as long as they're still in the 3.75" scale. There's a heritage there that I don't want to lose.
Most of the figures come with a handful of great ACCESSORIES, the exceptions being Luke and C-3PO who unfortunately have nothing. The real winners in my opinion are Rey, Hux, and Chewbacca. Rey has her blaster, lightsaber, and staff, while Hux comes with a blaster and a mouse droid. The most coveted accessory in the bunch has to be the little Porg that comes with Chewie. Those weird little cat birds are going to steal the show. Finn comes with a resistance blaster rifle, and Rose comes with a variation of that blaster as well as a little repair tool. Paige and Poe are both armed with blasters and their helmets, and Kylo Ren has his lightsaber.
All these figures are equipped with the new Force Link feature, something I was a little worried about at first. Luckily it looks to be only a little chip in the bottom of their foot with a little blue symbol painted on top. I'm very happy that it wasn't intrusive, and I'm also glad it wasn't a big over sized piece of plastic junk that I'd have to find a place for.
OVERALL, these figures are a great addition to the sequel trilogy toy assortment. Hasbro has really stepped up their game when it comes to paint, making me feel at ease when ordering figures online. I absolutely cannot wait for more, and December 15th can't come fast enough!
Comparisons:
The Force Awakens vs The Last Jedi
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