Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,352: Sabine Wren (The Black Series)

SABINE WREN Season One Armor
The Force Awakens The Black Series 6-Inch Figure
Item No.: Asst. B3834 No. B9882
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #33
Includes: Two blasters, helmet, paint sprayer
Action Feature: Removable helmet, articulated rangefinder, working holsters
Retail: $19.99
Availability: November 2016
Appearances: Star Wars: Rebels

Bio: Sabine Wren was a Mandalorian warrior, explosives expert, and talented graffiti artist - qualities that came in handy as one of the first to rebel against the Empire. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  Hasbro's really killing it with the "realistic" 6-inch Star Wars Rebels figures.  I don't know why they didn't do Sabine Wren earlier, because I don't know which fan of the franchise - even one who doesn't watch the show - wouldn't go for a Mandalorian Rebel artist warrior ex-Imperial.  As characters go, she's a multi-hyphenate in a world of archetypes.  On the show itself she's cooler on paper as they don't give her a heck of a lot of screen time, but I could say that about much of the main cast.  At least she has skills, desires, and interests beyond "something bad happened to my family" and "the Empire burned my house down."   Seriously, when have we ever really seen someone in Star Wars on the big or small screen with a hobby?   It's rare.

Her hair and armor are a big part of who she is, as this is a character with color who seems designed by someone who used to live in Phoenix.  (The bird logo, the purple and orange hair recalls the Phoenix Suns basketball team.)   Rather than cop out,  Hasbro ponied up the pennies on paint here.  The right shoulder has a checkerboard pattern, the left has a wolf.  Her chest armor is covered in stripes and the aforementioned Phoenix design, while her gloves and boots have paint splatter that - in a rarity on toys - is meant to represent paint splatter.  It's very convincing.    There's a lot of grey under all the purple and orange, but multiple shades of it break up the figure nicely.

I think it should go without saying, this is one of my favorite action figures out of Hasbro in recent years.  It's great.

The "realistic" version of the figure gives her a decent skin tone and face sculpt, although the biceps seem a little ill-defined due to the color.  Or sculpt.  Or both.  The face is expressive with a nice smirk, and of course you can hide the whole thing under a very tight helmet.  It fits, but I don't know if it will cause paint rub with frequent use.  I advise caution, or buying two figures just in case.  You wouldn't want to rub off the orange streak... or purple, for that matter.   The helmet itself looks cool although the dark purple border around the visor doesn't contrast from the purple plastic that makes up the rest of the helmet.  There are little sculpted scuffs too, which is a nice textural addition.

Her blasters are slightly weathered and slip in  her holsters or wrists without a problem.  The paint sprayer can sit in the holster, sort of, and comes undecorated.  She can also hold her helmet in her hands, and you can move its rangefinder with your fingers.   In other words, this figure is better than Boba Fett.

Based on my stats, you guys are mostly interested in Rebels stuff now.   Based on your comments and emails, you are not.  You are a confusing bunch.  I'd say old or new fans would be well-served to buy this one, mostly because there's nothing else quite like it.  I love the original trilogy movie stuff, but the Rebels stuff is far better than I'd imagined in this scale.  We've got Kanan already, Hera is on the way, I can't wait for them to finish the Ghost crew.   It might not ever happen, but I hope it does - Hasbro really delivered the goods with this one. 

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.  

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,352: March 15, 2017