I first got my hands on the first wave of six inch scale Black Series figures at SDCC in 2013. I way overpaid for a Darth Maul and X-Wing Luke. Five years and dozens of figures later, I’m still in love with the six inch scale Black Series line from Hasbro. Since San Diego Comic-Con usually has a host of amazing action figure news reveals, and with the show just a month away, my mind is churning with hopes of cool new Black Series figures. Click through to read my Top 5 most wanted!
I’m sure whatever Hasbro has on hand to show at SDCC was decided long ago, so this type of article must elicit laughs or a couple eye-rolls from the powers at Hasbro, but I love thinking about this stuff.
As usual with the top 5, I like to start off with some runners up. My first runners up are a group of characters who were a huge part of the vintage collection that has been completely untapped in the 6-inch scale line…EWOKS!
These furry little murder bears were instrumental in the fall of the empire, they had their own TV show, two TV movies, and have recently been featured in a special(terrifying) mode in Battlefront II. It’s time! If I were to guess, I’d say Wicket would be the first of one or two, but I’d love Chirpa, Romba, Teebo, Chukha-Trok, Kneesa, and Logray. Heck, make every vintage or modern Ewok toy in Black Series form and I’ll buy ’em.
Now that the Empire Strikes Back bounty hunters are all scheduled for release, I’d love to see Hasbro turn to the prequel era hunters for more figures. I see a lot of love out there for Zam, Aurra, and Cad Bane, but personally my favorite prequel hunters were the Kyuzo Embo and the Zabrak Sugi. They featured in a few episodes, working both sides of the conflict in true Bounty Hunter fashion. Highsinger continues the robotic hunter tradition of IG-88 and 4-LOM and sports an interesting fan-headed design. To be honest, I threw the Snivvian hunter Sinrich in there because he dresses like Captain EO and do not expect to ever see it in figure form, but I’d buy it.
5. I’m starting off my list proper with an old favorite from the EU, Jaxxon! Jaxxon really seems tailor made to appeal to me. The design, of course, is absurd as he’s a giant green bunny in a space suit. Though you have to admit, it’s fairly tame by Star Wars standards which includes many designs that are based on animals wearing a space suit.
Jaxxon also has nostalgia on his side big time as he hails from some of the earliest Expanded Universe tales that riffed on the plot of (ripped off?) The Seven Samurai. I do like Star Wars takes on Samurai movies quite a bit.
Plus, he’s back in action in comics and was shown as a background extra in a Forces of Destiny Cartoon. It’s Jaxxon’s time, baby. It would be interesting to see how they execute a Jaxxon in the Black Series. I think it would be a challenge akin to adding the Rebels crew or Jaina Solo to the line and I’d say they have a lot of latitude to play with the design.
4. Bodhi Rook
Remember Rogue One? In the Star Wars media blitz of the new era, I’d forgive if you didn’t. It’s still one of my favorite Star Wars movies and I have an almost complete team of Rogues on my Black Series shelf, but I’m missing that key ingredient. Bodhi drives the plot of that story, and in a way is the heart of that group. I really enjoyed his regular guy standing up to the system story arc. I’d like him to come with removeable goggles, a removeable flack vest, and that back pack he uses at the end of the movie.
3. Hammer Head (Momaw Nadon)
Sure, I read the old Tales from the Mos Eisley cantina book and can summarize Hammerhead’s story therein, but my main motivation for this choice is the Vintage action figure. He was a pretty out-there looking creature and a fun toy that featured into many of the sand box adventures I planned for my old figures. Plus, the Hammerhead species (Ithorian) has become a classic, well known group in the lore of Star Wars.
2. Nien Nunb
Have I mentioned that I loved this effusive little Sullustan? Maybe once or twice he’s featured on a list here at Fwoosh. Maybe. Co-Piloting the Falcon through the Death Star II should be enough to earn Nien a black series figure, but he’s also one of the few characters to make the leap to the sequel trilogy and one of the even fewer resistance characters to survive the events of The Last Jedi.
I also saw some very interesting news that Nien will show up at the new Disneyland Star Wars theme park. Apparently they even hunted down the original voice actor so he could provide new lines for his role there. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again, I need all the Lando sidekicks in Black Series form. L3 is coming, but I need Shriv, Lobot, and Nien Nunb too!
- Ezra, Zeb, or Chopper
Look, I don’t expect to see all three of these guys at SDCC (that would be great!) but I really want to see at SDCC that Hasbro is still in the Rebels team completing business! Since the end of the show and the lack of Rebels news at last year’s SDCC or this year’s Toy Fair, I’m starting to wonder if completing the team is still on the agenda. I’m hoping that the 18 month break between new features will allow some time for some Rebels catch up.
The Disney parks released a smaller scale Chopper that has all the features I’d like to see in the Black Series Chopper, specifically removeable, articulated arms and a swapable rocket booster. Where Hasbro could beat Disney is in scale, detail and a grungy paint job.
For Zeb, it’s really important to me that we can pose him with two different versions of his Bo Rifle. Whether that’s accomplished through an articulated accessory or two different accessories doesn’t matter to me.
Finally, for Ezra I’d like to see season 1 version with his staple gun style saber, his episode one back pack and one of those AT-DP trooper helmets he would often wear.
Well, that’s my wish list, what’s your top five? Please comment below or join the discussion on the forums!
