GRAND MOFF TARKIN Bigger
The Force Awakens The Black Series 6-Inch Figure
Item No.: Asst. B3834 No. E1202
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #63
Includes: IT-0 Interrogation Droid
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: April 2018
Appearances: Star Wars
Bio: An ambitious, ruthless proponent of military power, Wilhuff Tarkin became a favorite of Emperor Palpatine and rose rapidly through the Imperial ranks. (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: You need to get
Grand Moff Tarkin.
...oh I need to write more? Very well. Reusing arms and legs from Grand Admiral Thrawn, Tarkin makes good use of Hasbro's new facial printing technique to get an increasingly lifelike look on this Peter Cushing figure. The outfit is more grey than green, and just feels "right." The only things I don't love - the figure doesn't include the better-range elbows we got on New Han and New Lando, and there are pin holes in his pants that are a little unsightly. Otherwise? Exquisite. The new facial printing makes up for a lot, and if Hasbro reissued the first few years of main characters with the new face paint you'd buy them all over again. Seriously, who wouldn't throw down $20 for a revised Harrison Ford or Carrie Fisher?
26 meaningful points of articulation await you, but he's not going to sit. So far that isn't a problem, the lack of playsets or vehicles for figures means they're just going to stand around and look cool. Tarkin can be posed to look down at Leia, or posed gesturing to his crew. He's posed so he can hold a blaster, but includes no such weapon. He's even got separate trigger fingers if you're so inclined to give him a gun, but it's also kind of fascinating to think of what this means. For years we've been trained to expect almost every action figure has a gun or a sword - some weapon, anyway. Tarkin doesn't. He's a bad guy who's old, grey, and intimidating as Hell. He has an extra accessory, but it's almost a separate figure - the man himself has everything he needs to impose his vision of order right in that head of his. The likeness is stupendous, and while I assume Hasbro will have a better version in 20 years this i right up there with the high-end figures. Or rather, it's probably the best I could possibly imagine getting from an American toy company at any price, let alone about $20.
The bonus droid is a fine bonus, but it's not perfect. Comparing it to the movie prop, a lot of deco is missing - some of which is pretty significant. The tools are rounded off or generally altered, shortened, or simplified. The syringe is all silver now, with no clear. The tongs are loops. It's good enough, but if someone got a license for high-end 1:12-scale replica parts this is something that could benefit from a do-over with differing safety standards and budgets. I'm not saying it's worth $20, but it might be if you want perfection. As a bonus with a $20 figure, it has a clear stand and a jointed base for "posing." It's really good, but a few pennies of paint this could've been way cooler.
This is a figure for collectors, and you collectors are going to dig this. I'm sure it could be more perfect, but for the price point and overall quality I'm impressed. It's a real honest-to-goodness nearly perfect take on the character, and I'm glad he turned out well enough where I doubt any of us are going to demand a do-over. Pink slippers joke for SDCC goes here. Anyway, get one if you see it. Even if it's a few bucks extra, just get it.
Collector's Notes: I got mine from
Entertainment Earth.
--Adam Pawlus
Day 2,474: April 18, 2018
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