Chewie, we’re home.
It gave you chills, didn’t it? Right in the feels, yeah? It’s okay to admit it because seeing Han Solo and Chewbacca back together in action is the stuff that fanboy dreams are made of, and we are going to get our chance this December. Now, a lot of the initial marketing for Episode VII has focused on the new characters, and that is understandable, so as the marketing goes, thus goes the action figure character choices. Chewie is the lone Original Trilogy character in the first Black Series assortment, and seeing how he is right there with Obi-Wan as my favorite Star Wars character, I am glad to have him.
Do you have the original Black Series Chewbacca figure? If you do, you are going to know a lot about this new version. Now, that being said, I find this figure to be a marked improvement over the first one, but most of that is opinion on aesthetics, not figure quality. I think the first figure is great in terms of sculpt, articulation, and engineering, but there are some changes to this figure from the first that are more in line with how I always picture Chewie.
To start, this figure borrows the entire base body from the original. The sculpt and articulation are identical, so anything you liked from the first will still be here, but the same goes if there is anything you don’t care for. Personally, I think the base body is very nice and, for the most part, the articulation works well. Chewie is a big walking carpet and I like how he has been captured, especially with the lanky nature. The fur can make some articulation and joints look a bit segmented, like on the torso, but aside from wanting a little more range in the arms, I am satisfied with the body. This new version has a slightly lighter paint deco, so that is the first real difference.
The biggest difference, though, comes in the all-new head sculpt, and this new version is the primary reason why I like this version better. First of all, this sculpt is not a “screaming” moment, it is more passive, like how Chewie is presented most of the time. Hey, there is nothing at all wrong with a kickass battle cry Wookiee, but for most instances, this new version will work better for me. Additionally, Chewie’s fur is more full on this version, so it transitions better to the body in terms of shape, and it is not as tall either, so it brings him down to a height that I think is more appropriate, especially in comparison to Han. Oh, and the eyes are painted much better on this one, with no sign of crossing whatsoever.
Finally, both of Chewbac’s accessories are slightly different from the OT version. His bowcaster is a new sculpt and is slightly chunkier than the first version. I think the first one is probably more accurate, but this one stays together better, so it might be a wash. Additionally, the Wookiee purse is new, and the strap is shorter with a flatter pouch. This one is going to come down to aesthetic preference because one is not necessarily better than the other. Personally, I will be using the new figure, old purse, and old bowcaster to build my perfect Wookiee, so I am happy to make a hodgepodge.
I am anxious to meet the new characters, but I am totally stoked to see Chewbacca. And Han. And Luke. And Leia. And the rest back in action. It is a long wait until December, but as long as I keep getting new figures and superior upgrades like Chewie here, I will be kept happy until we get there.
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