“If you are really doing this, I want to help.”
Maaaaaan, can it be December yet? I am so hyped for the release of Rogue One, I can barely stand it. Sure, I was excited for Episode VII too, but everything I currently know about Rogue One, from the story to the characters, appeals to me on so many levels. Sure, I have to keep myself in check so the hype and expectation does not run away from me, but things like Force Friday certainly don’t help to quell the excitement. The timed release of new Star Wars merchandise is already in a pattern in its second year, and it is easy to follow, so since there are Star Wars movies scheduled into the next decade at this point, I am pretty sure Force Friday is here to stay.
Like most Star Wars fans, I walked away from the Force Friday with plenty of new items for my collection, and, most importantly to me, the first series of the Rogue One Black Series figures. You have seen looks at the Tank Driver, K-2SO, and the Death Troopers already, but in terms of interest in character, Cassian Andor was the figure I was anticipating the most. Sure, K-2SO is an AMAZING figure, and Rogue One is offering up a heaping helping of new troopers, but Cassian Andor looks to be one of the main protagonists of the movie, so in terms of the story canon, he and Jyn Erso are likely to have biggest impact from this first wave.
Within the laundry list of things I am looking forward to with R1 is the background and actual fleshing out of the Rebel Alliance at a character level. Shows like Rebels have helped, but In the Original Trilogy we only caught glimpses of characters like General Dodonna, Biggs Darklighter, and General Madine, and while others like Admiral Ackbar have been fleshed out a bit more, we still have not really gotten to know the long-standing members of the Rebel Alliance outside of Leia and Bail Organa. However, Rogue One looks to give us even more background (in a film) on familiar characters, like my dear Mon Mothma, and show us a host of new personalities who have been fighting the evil Empire for nearly twenty years between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope.
In the small amount of information already out there, Captain Cassian Andor is already being touted as Rogue One’s experienced Rebel Intelligence Officer who is directly responsible for recruiting Jyn Erso for the mission to steal the plans to the Death Star. Pragmatic and by-the-book, he will (likely) provide a centering point for the more brash and reckless Erso. Additionally, it looks like he will be positioned (possibly by someone as high up as Mon Mothma) to monitor Erso, but in a small moment from the latest trailer (quoted at the opening), it looks like he is going to go all-in with Jyn (her apparent campaign slogan) and be a pivotal piece of the mission.
Not that there was really any doubt about Andor’s importance to the R1 story, but the fact that he already has two Star Wars Black Series figures lined up certainly helps to bolster the assumption. While the upcoming Target-exclusive pack presents Cassian in (what I am guessing) the outfit he wears for most of the film, this first series of SWB features him in his Eadu togs. The helmet, goggles, and heavy coat seems to match what Jyn is wearing in credit (Eadu) for her K-Mart figure, so I am willing to bet that at least one pivotal moment (if not THE pivotal moment) occurs in that locale, and that the weather is likely volatile. While I am currently leaning toward the three-pack Cassian as my default figure for the display, the Eadu outfit is definitely more interesting, and Hasbro has done a good job realizing the look in plastic.
Covert missions for the Rebel Alliance can take you to diverse locations within the galaxy, and sometimes, well, you need to pack accordingly. Cassian is outfitted in his heavy coat for his exploits on Eadu, and if you think this getup provides more than a passing resemblance to Han Solo’s Hoth gear, you are not alone. So Eadu looks to be cold and snowy, or rainy at the very least, and despite the heavy parka, this figure still retains a lot of its intended functionality. One thing you can (generally) not argue with when it comes to the Black Series is that the sculpts are well done. Sure, some are more successful than others, but Andor’s outfit has a lot of little sculpted details, and it makes for an interesting figure.
The coat definitely takes center stage and looks to have all of the details and epaulets worked into the movie costume. Furthermore, while it is long and bulky, Hasbro did a nice job with the materials so the coat doesn’t actually inhibit nearly as much of the articulation as I originally suspected. The hood is actually a part of the jacket itself and it is presented down, unlike Han’s Hoth coat where the hood was removable, so I am willing to bet that Cassian is seen mostly with the hood down in the movie. The sleeved arms a puffier due to the jacket, but something I noticed with this figure, and it seems to be common to the lion’s share of these new R1 SWB offerings, is that the range of movement in the elbows, and even more importantly, the wrists, is a lot greater than most of the other recent Black Series figures. Cassian can hold his weapons in an expressive and convincing manner even in the jacket, so I really appreciate this improved functionality.
Speaking of accessories, Captain Andor here technically comes with two accessories, both of them blasters, but you could probably push that to three, if you count the hat. So I am I going to do just that because, frankly, I think it is the most interesting one out of all of them. The two blasters are pretty standard-issue in their looks for someone in the Star Wars universe. The first is a little pistol that fits into his leg holster, and again, it recalls Han Solo. This one is missing the sight, but otherwise, it looks pretty similar, and it is a nice piece. I actually prefer the included rifle, though, especially for this particular look for Cassian. You can see the similarities to the standard-issue Imperial rifle, so the continuity matches not only to the galaxy at large, but the time frame of this movie to the Original Trilogy.
The hat and goggles piece is actually really, really nice, both in sculpted detail, but also in functionality. I am not sure I have seen a production still or sequence from R1 with Cassian wearing this helmet yet, but I am sure we will at some point. It is complementary to the one included with the K-Mart Jyn, and it definitely has a Hoth vibe to it. The goggles are sculpted on (bummer), but the hat itself fits the figure really well, and without being too big or cartoonish to accommodate the functionality. It really is a great piece that allows you to change up your display options for the figure. Personally, I am not committed to one look over the other (hat on or off) at this point, but I am sure seeing the actual movie will likely influence that. Crazy, right?
Finally, if you have read any of my SWB reviews, you know what is coming. That being said, I made the commitment to raise this issue until it is corrected. The paint on the face of this figure, or lack thereof, does the overall piece a great injustice. Like most Black Series figures since series two, the paint applications on Cassian’s face are sparse, and those that are there, are pretty simplistic, and almost cartoon-like in their appearance. I am POSITVE the sculpt is there, and that the likeness to Diego Luna is in the sculpt, but the paint not only doesn’t help it, it hinders it. Hasbro, please, I am not asking for the Mona Lisa here, but PLEASE get back to how you were painting faces in the first wave of SWB. I promise it will make all the difference in the world, and would take these figures to the premier level in terms of collector figures. I know I am harping on this, but it is important, and the potential is there; I just want these figures to be as good as they can be.
Cassian might not be as flashy as K-2SO and the Death Troopers in design, but from a character standpoint, I have a feeling he is going to be VERY important in Rogue One. I am very anxious to meet him and learn about his history and what ultimately happens to him (gulp), but I cannot really comment on that right now. I can say that I really dig this figure overall, and while he feels completely familiar in terms of look and design, he definitely brings some unique points to the shelf. Again, my only real nitpick is the paint on the face, so add him to that long list, but I hope I can find a kind soul to fix this for me. I cannot wait to get more SWB R1 figures at this point, and hopefully there will be a steady supply to satiate me until the release of the movie. Oh, and if you have not picked him up yet, he can still be had at both Amazon and BBTS.
