AAYLA SECURA is a milestone
The Black Series 2020 Line Look Red Attack of the Clones Packaging
Item No.: Asst. E8908 No. F4355
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #03 - Attack of the Clones
Includes: Lightsaber
Action Feature: Removable blade, hilt plugs in belt
Retail: $24.99
Availability: December 2022
Appearances: Attack of the Clones
Bio: A cunning warrior and Jedi Knight during the rise of the Clone Wars, Aayla fought on many battlefields. A master of the emotional detachment necessary in the Jedi Order, she tried to pass on what she learned. (Taken from the 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: Day #3,000! Why? Somehow we're still going and I blame the last three years. As much as I wish I was saving something special for the occasion, I just grabbed the next figure in a case by my desk and it's a good one.
Aayla Secura brings the prequel character - who started as a comic character - to 6-inch plastic life. Sure you've got a bunch of 3 3/4-inch ones, but now you can buy her again! I am unsure if she uses old parts - I couldn't match her pants to any of the figures I had out, but the double-jointed knees have been phased out over the last few years. I assume that means this design may have been sitting on deck at Hasbro for a while before finally making it out late in 2022.
After hearing fans say "well at least the sequels aren't the prequels," I think I'm pretty comfortable in saying that the last three outings with George Lucas at the helm were better movies with better designs. (Granted, this wasn't one of his - check out those comics!) Ms. Secura was cast in brown and blue, with parts of her headgear molded in brown rather than settling on being merely painted parts. I dig it. Her sleeve and top are also molded in brown, her boots are a different shade of brown, plus they swivel! I love that they made use of her outfit when determining articulation, as she has a mid-torso joint that looks like it belongs there. Most of her hip joints are masked by the clothing, and many of the arm joints are integrated nicely. Her head sculpt is expressive with a good amount of paint to bring her to life. This means the outfit is mostly flat brown paint with sculpted texture, and while a little more paint could bring out that detail nobody is probably ready to pay for it.
With shifting budgets, we've seen figures range from pretty good to pretty adequate. What Hasbro gave us here is good - but it would've been nice to have some robes or a little something more here. It's just the figure and a lightsaber - and it's a good figure, with a nice lightsaber, and everything fits together nicely. At $25 you won't be too disappointed, but we're probably one price increase from people throwing up their arms and bailing on anyone who isn't a personal favorite. While I would love alternate hands or some gear to make me think I got my $25 worth, I don't think I can stomach another price hike.
I assume this is going to be the finest overall Aayla Secura figure we may ever get under $50. I'd recommend her for Twi'lek fans and anyone wanting more prequel-era Jedi Knights, but you won't get a lot of gear here and I doubt you'll be thrilled. You'll be happy - the execution here is excellent as the best Aayla Secura Hasbro was likely to give us. I assume she won't linger on shelves too much, so snag her if you see her.
Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.
--Adam Pawlus
Day 3,000: February 2, 2023
3 comments:
Congrats on 3,000. I admire your tenacity. Once upon a time I toyed with the idea of drawing every Star Wars figure I owned and didn't make it to a dozen so I appreciate what you've managed to do here.
I don't think any guys would display her with the robe on anyway ;)
3,000! Amazing.
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