Category Archives: Toyguide Updates

Toyguide Update: Darth Vader “Dark Contemplation” Mythos Statue

mythosVader_preview

The Yakface Toyguide updates resume today with a look at the Darth Vader “Dark Contemplation” Mythos Statue, the latest statue to be released from Sideshow’s Star Wars Mythos line.

PROS: While not perfect in its execution, the Vader Mythos statue is an amazing piece from concept to final production statue. It conveys a level of emotion and ambience  that few display pieces have on the market today. The sculpting is very well done, capturing the iconic costume in nearly every detail. And then there are the alternate head portraits. Sideshow’s crafters included both an “aged” likeness (reminiscent of Sebastian Shaw in Return of the Jedi) as well as a more youthful visage that is very close in its likeness to Hayden Christensen in Revenge of the Sith. These portrait are scary in their realism and almost appear to be made of flesh and bone. They, in and of themselves, are their own pieces of art.

CONS: Initial prototype imagery depicted Vader with a different pose for his right arm/fist and I think that would have improved the presentation even more than the production arm included. Also shown was an alternate arm revealing his cybernetic hand that too would have been great to have offered. Finally, the portraits revealing the human Anakin head are missing the breathing nozzles for the mask again as shown in the prototype.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this piece is worth adding to your collection.

You can also weigh in with your impressions on the figures we add to our toyguide on facebook and in our forums.

Toyguide Update: TRU Battle of Geonosis: Jedi Knights (2 of 2)

JediKnights2_preview

The Yakface Toyguide updates resume with our next entry for 2013 Vader Collection. Today, we take a look at the second of two Toys”R”Us exclusive Battle of Geonosis: Jedi Knights sets.

PROS: Like the first set we reviewed, this pack is loaded with Jedi that have never been produced before, including the iconic Sarrissa Jeng which is the highest new part count figure from either set. Again, all the Jedi here are 14 POA and have great paint apps (at least for my pack).

CONS: The same holds true for this set as the other pack, the TVC Phase I Clone Trooper sculpt for Commander Ponds would have been great. Paint app quality and consistency vary from set to set, most notably Sarrissa’s hair line so if you’re particular on your deco, you might want to compare sets to find the best representation.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this set is worth adding to your collection.

You can also weigh in with your impressions on the figures we add to our toyguide on facebook and in our forums.

Toyguide Update: Death Star Scanning Crew (Kmart Exclusive)

dscrew_preview

The Yakface Toyguide updates resume with our next entry for the Vintage Collection. Today, next take a look at one of three Kmart exclusives – the Death Star Scanning Crew set.

PROS: Hasbro again develops a great set of Vintage exclusives for the holiday season. A great army building set and nice to get another commissioned officer for the Imperial ranks – in black to boot! Articulation and deco is solid between the two figures and the new head for the officer is a welcome bonus. (Could this be Pol Treidum? – It would make sense to complement TK-421 in the other set.)

CONS: Availability is spotty as of now. Hasbro could/should retire those leg molds for that Imperial Officer due to the wonky knee and ankle joints. Accessories aren’t as astounding as the other set but still necessary to complete the package if you missed out on the prior equipment.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this set is worth adding to your collection.

You can also weigh in with your impressions on the figures we add to our toyguide on facebook and in our forums.

Toyguide Update: Imperial Scanning Crew (Kmart Exclusive)

imp_crew_preview

The Yakface Toyguide updates resume with our next entry for the Vintage Collection. Today, we take a look at one of three Kmart exclusives – the Imperial Scanning Crew set.

PROS: Finally! Hasbro has made good on their intentions to get that missing scanner box into collector’s hands. The accessory is the real star of this set as it has a ton of detail and little greebies that just feel “Star Wars” in nature plus it sits atop the scanning “cart” completing the equipment set. The figures are no slouches either as the Imperial Technican is a repaint of the TLC version, but with a new head sculpt. The Stormtrooper (TK-421) takes the VOTC version and refreshes it with the new style E-11 blaster (the one with the collapsible stock) and a new belt with grappling hook details and a removable comlink, which I fully expect will be lost/misplaced by many collectors over time.

CONS: Availability is spotty as of now and this one will surely be the tougher of the two crew sets to track down. The holster for the stormtrooper doesn’t hold the larger E-11 blaster sculpt without some major futzing.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this set is worth adding to your collection.

You can also weigh in with your impressions on the figures we add to our toyguide on facebook and in our forums.

Toyguide Update: TRU Battle of Geonosis: Jedi Knights (1 of 2)

JediKnights1_preview

The Yakface Toyguide updates resume with our next entry for 2013 Vader Collection. Today, we take a look at one of two Toys”R”Us exclusive Battle of Geonosis: Jedi Knights sets.

PROS: These sets pretty much came out of the blue as I don’t think that Hasbro ever “officially” announced them. All the Jedi figures included are debut characters as they’ve never been released before making these sets truly an anomaly. The Jedi themselves are 14 POA figures using bodies that meet and exceed most colllector’s expectations – again a rarity considering these are released in the 2013 Vader packaging which, until now, has been reserved for the limited articulation figures.

CONS (Update): This set really would have been a knockout if Hasbro were to have utilized the TVC Phase I Clone Trooper sculpt for Captain Deviss. The original (03/50) figure is nice, but it pales in comparison to the newer figure. Some collectors seem to balk at the $40 price point but for a set of exclusive, first release figures, I feel the price is fair. It appears that there is a factory error with 2 of the figures in this set. Full details are provided in the Yak Facts section of the toyguide entry. (Thanks to the Guardian for the hands heads-up.)

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this figure is worth adding to your collection.

You can also weigh in with your impressions on the figures we add to our toyguide on facebook and in our forums.

Toyguide Update: TBS #05 Luke Skywalker

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The Yakface Toyguide updates resume with our next entry for wave 1 in the The Black Series 3-3/4″ line. Today, we take a look at Luke Skywalker (#05).

PROS: Hasbro has revisited a much maligned attempt from 2007 and improved upon it greatly with an excellent head sculpt and deco (no more chocolate pudding hair!), and screen accurate accessories with the proper blaster and lightsaber. The articulation isn’t any better from the previous version but the other improvements made up for it in spades.

CONS: It there was any one nit to pick, I would say that the jacket is too pale in comparison to the screen used wardrobe.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this figure is worth adding to your collection.

You can also weigh in with your impressions on the figures we add to our toyguide on facebook and in our forums.

Toyguide Update: TBS #11 Luminara Unduli

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The Yakface Toyguide updates resume with our last entry for wave 2 in the The Black Series 3-3/4″ line. Today, we take a look at Luminara Unduli (#11).

PROS: Surprisingly, this figure is only a slight improvement over previous versions. The articulation is ample and the sculpt and deco are very nice making for decent display piece.,

CONS: On the whole, I find it a terrible “toy”. The headdress limits poseability of the arms so when you raise them, it forces the headdress to lift off of the head. The soft goods cloak is prone to additional fraying and shedding of fibers. The soft goods are too long making free standing the figure a chore at times.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this figure is worth adding to your collection.

You can also weigh in with your impressions on the figures we add to our toyguide on facebook and in our forums.

Toyguide Update: TBS #10 Pablo-Jill

TBS10_preview

The Yakface Toyguide updates resume with our next entry in the The Black Series 3-3/4″ line. Today, we take a look at Pablo-Jill (#10).

PROS: Pablo-Jill was a highlight figure released during the transitional wave of OTC figures, and now we get the first refresh for this character in nearly a decade. The result? A stout figure that is loaded with articulation, bringing it up to today’s standards (and expectations) for Jedi figures. The complete package makes for an impressive figure and again, the highlight of the wave.

CONS: None really to speak of other than the omission of a lightsaber hilt accessory to be worn on the figure’s belt (as there is a provided hole in it.)

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this piece is worth adding to your collection.

You can also weigh in with your impressions on the figures we add to our toyguide on facebook and in our forums.

Toyguide Update: TBS #12 41st Elite Corps Clone Trooper

tbs12_preview

The Yakface Toyguide updates resume with our next entry in the The Black Series 3-3/4″ line. Today, we take a look at the 41st Elite Corps Clone Trooper (#12).

PROS: Not a lot of good things can be said here. Sure it’s super articulated and it serves as diorama filler but then things turn south quickly.

CONS: What is wrong with thee? Let me count the ways. In addition to the proportionally oversized helmet, virtually everything about this figure’s color scheme is wrong. There are so many deco omissions – top to bottom – it’s hard to fathom how it passed QC. Hopefully Hasbro keeps to their word and issues a revision.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this piece is worth adding to your collection.

You can also weigh in with your impressions on the figures we add to our toyguide on facebook and in our forums.

Toyguide Update: TBS #13 Stormtrooper

TBS13_preview

The Yakface Toyguide updates resume with our next entry in the The Black Series 3-3/4″ line. Today, we take a look at the Stormtrooper (#13).

PROS: Although army building isn’t much of a thing anymore with today’s figure prices, this Stormtrooper is a pretty decent version if you were so inclined. The figure uses the ultra-articulated body (the one with ball-jointed hips) and includes the newer E-11 blaster sculpt that features the collapsible stock. For good measure, Hasbro included a second blaster rifle for additional display/play options.

CONS: From the samples I have, there seems to be varying degrees of paint app quality from figure to figure – most notably on the helmet. Also, since this uses the Sandtrooper mold, the slot to accept the backpack is still present which may be a distraction, but only if you are really looking at the figure from behind. Lastly this figure includes a holster (cannibalized from the TAC20 Stormtrooper) but due to the bulkier design of the E-11 blaster, it doesn’t fit in the holster very well.

Head to the toyguide for the full image gallery and to judge for yourself whether this piece is worth adding to your collection.

You can also weigh in with your impressions on the figures we add to our toyguide on facebook and in our forums.