THE MANDALORIAN (Prototype Edition, Kenner Style)
The Retro Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: No. F6981
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Amban Phase-Pulse Rifle, Pistol
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: April 2023
Appearances: The Mandalorian
Bio: This Mandalorian figure is inspired by the colorful prototypes that enable the development team to look past the deco and focus on the sculpt, analyze mold alignment, and adjust for quality. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)
Image: Adam's photo lab.
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Commentary: I would have bought more of
The Mandalorian (Prototype Edition) were it not for the price... and that the Kenner blue blasters in mine seem to be pre-stressed. (I hate that.) They really did a bang-up job making them look like the classic accessories, and that's a big selling point. The figure has a new gray cape, and his body parts are in purple, orange, green, blue, yellow, and red like the other figures in this series. Is it essential? No - but Hasbro of the past decade has been striking a real blow against completism with new sub-collections like Carbonized figures, Credit Collection, and other unique deco sub-lines that are going to be thrilling for some and redundant for others. It's nice to have options - they can have a complete set of something without taking up a floor of a house. As far as I know, these prototype figures were made in up to six different colors if you're looking to get a full set of variants. There is no deco or paint, so they must be pretty cheap to make too.
If you like the idea of this thing, you simply must get one - the gimmick of Kenner blue blasters was enough to get me to want more than one, but the price and stressing makes it hard to buy one just to steal his blasters to give the regular figure. The colors are great - it pops nicely and you can see the sculpted detail. The good news is that you can see the ridges, pouches, and boots quite clearly while the bad news is that it does highlight the new Retro figures don't quite have the depth or sharpness of actual real old (ancient) Kenner figures. It also proves that the Mandalorian would look awesome in any of a number of bright colors - I'd have bought an orange "fire armor" one, a purple "night mission" one, or any of a number of weird colors if they were done under the pretense of a silly Batman-esque Kenner-ish "mission suit." But for now, I'll just have to be content with a limb of each color. It looks neat, and stands out among the rows of browns, blacks, and whites that make up most figure costumes.
Because I am a shameless Kenner fanatic, I bought one - but because $90 for the set of 6 is a lot of money, I bought only one. I'd recommend one or two if you can find them at a decent price, mostly because it's a silly twist on a serious hobby. Also, it doesn't take up a lot of room - which matters more and more as this hobby is a stone's throw away from completing yet another decade. It stands, it sits, it more or less holds the blasters just fine - but the cape may get in the way if you don't remove it. At least he's sturdy on a shelf or desk - mine has been here for months and hasn't fallen over, and I can't say the same about most of my super-poseable figures of various scales.
Collector's Notes: I got mine at Target.
--Adam Pawlus
Day 3,062: September 7, 2023
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