I told myself I wasn't going to get it because I don't need super scene-specific variants in my collection. Then I came across a lone Duel's End Vader at TRU. Is it overpriced? Oh my god.. SO much. 43 dollars before tax.
Did I buy it? You already know I did.
I mean.. it's so Hasbro. It's improved in some ways, but in other ways you're just like 'why couldn't you fix this glaringly obvious issue that has existed for as long as Black Series has existed?' I love that they finally gave him vertical wrist hinges. I love that he kept the butterfly joints (although I wish they had more range). I love that the elbows have lots of range. The new helmet/face sculpt is phenomenal.
But STILL that goddamn massive cape and super-long robes. Why? Why can't they put together a new pattern for the softgoods so he's not fucking DROWNING in them? Who at Hasbro is responsible for consistently saying this doesn't need to be updated when, from what I can tell, it's basically been the most consistent complaint about Vader since the first Vader, and has been brought up with every single Vader release in this line.
I do like that they added all the damage on the softgoods, though. That's a nice touch. If they could get the softgoods to a point where they're actually scaled to the damn figure, and get those butterfly joints a tiny bit more range in both directions, Hasbro could easily be cranking out some truly excellent Vader figures rather than just 'pretty good.'
Ironically, YESTERDAY I passed up Black Krrsantan at EB because he's 45 dollars and I thought that was just too damn much for what you get. Then I went and bought a 50% re-use Vader for 43 dollars. Fuckin' sucker, I tell ya'.
I'll have to wait for a sale for Black K. Just way too much coming out right now. But I do want him. He looks really good.
My dad got the Vintage Sabine. And we compared. How the F does the Vintage one get thigh swivels and Black series doesn't? And they get a lightsaber and an unlit hilt, while we get broken blades and rubbery plastic. I would say at least the Vintage one helmet is also absurdly huge. But it at least fits on the figures head... honestly, they can male it so much easier on themselves if they would just use the same mold for both figures and digitally rescale it. Choose the best one, and then just pump it out for both sizes.
Hasbro has stated on multiple occasions that they do share assets between TVC and TBS when appropriate, but they cannot just “scale up” or “scale down” a figure due to the differences in tolerances of each scale. Joints have to be designed differently, thickness of helmets are different at different scales in the case of TVC Sabine. They made it as thin as the manufacturer allowed, but it just didn’t work for the size of the figure, etc. etc.
I came out of the episode wondering more about that Ezra "Tython" figure. If that's really based on him in show, I guess it's from season two in the future? I don't remember him cutting his hair, shaving his beard, changing his outfit, and going to Tython last night. but to be honest, I was pretty stoned lol
Because the figure says "Lothal" and is based on the hologram puck Sabine has in the first episode.
Yes, you are freaking out, man.
I really wish Hasbro would just include a separate masked head sculpt instead of the overlay mask piece for the head. It rarely ever fits properly on any figures I have.
I know they have done multiple heads before for the vintage line but have they done it for any Black series figs?
Yes. Episode 3 Anakin, 2-Pack Yoda, deluxe Palpatine and most recently, Starkiller. Maybe more I’m forgetting.
I am going to need a whole slew of Ahsoka figures...
Bohemian Ezra
Thrawn
Enoch
Morgan 2.0 with the Blade of Talzin
Any variety of Night Troopers
Duel's End Vader has been going in and out of stock for shipping at Target all morning, usually for extended periods when it's in stock. If you're after it I recommend refreshing the page this morning until you see it in stock. As of the moment I'm posting this it is in stock, but as I said it keeps going in and out.
Got shipping for 1 of my Duel's End Vaders, but still waiting for the second to ship. Placed another order, just in case. Figure even if the new one ships, I can cancel the old one and finally stop getting the authorizations on my card.
Got Spirit Qui-Gon yesterday. Not an essential figure, per se, but a fun one. I'm all aboard the Star Wars Hype Train after the Ahsoka finale, so I'm sure that's helping my enjoyment. I'll admit, I do kinda wish I'd gotten the Force Spirit 3 pack now. I already have Yoda and Ben, but of course I want that Anakin. Something tells me we'll see a solo release of it in the not too distant future. Have the few in the Royal Guard pack from a few years back. Any others?
Oooh, and just as I typed this, I got payment confirmation for Jabba. He's been the biggest, slimiest omission from my display for ages now. I'll be so glad to have him! But that makes it official- I definitely need a new shelf for my Black Series.
I also got payment confirmation for Jabba yesterday.
Star Wars Team:
"We know you want new figures and new molds. But, Picture this, The same figures you bought for the last 3 years...CLEAR!
BBTS has these for $28.99. Pulse has them for $34.99.
One of those has to be the wrong price, right?
I get not wanting these. I don't get denigrating Hasbro for even offering them. They look pretty cool as holograms. I respect these a LOT more than the other recolored lines like Carbonized, Credit Collection, etc. I don't even get why anyone would want the Carbonized or Credit lines, but this one I get.