SABINE WREN The Live-Action One
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Deluxe Action Figure
Item No.: No. F6881
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, helmet, bag, paint tool, hilt, Lothcat 2 blasters
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $27.99
Availability: November 2023
Appearances: Star Wars: Ahsoka
Bio: Sabine Wren was a Force-sensitive human female Mandalorian warrior and revolutionary leader during the Galactic Civil War against the Galactic Empire, and later a Jedi during the early years of the New Republic. (Taken from Wookieepedia, packaging has no bio.)
Image: Adam's photo lab.
Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!
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Commentary: If money is no object, then this
Sabine Wren deluxe figure is pretty good. For the price of $27.99, this 3 3/4-inch is $3 more than the 6-inch version. What does this smaller one have going for it? Hasbro knows you'll probably pay it - also a Lothcat sidekick and a paint accessory, plus a bag. Does that make it worth $11 more than a basic
Vintage figure, or $3 more than a better-looking 6-inch one? Or $15 more than a
Retro one? I'd say no. But that's not what I'm supposed to do when I review a figure - I'm supposed to tell you if it's good or not, but I want to give you some unsolicited context anyway. This figure did not get wide distribution in 2023, showing up fairly few places - and despite that, she pegwarmed hard at Target. (I also saw her in-stock on Amazon.) For that reason, there may be demand even with the high price - when Hasbro says "you can't have it," fans respond "but I want it!"
She's pretty great. The
Retro one lacks the bag or kitty, and some of the paint applications - so I can't argue that Hasbro did a mostly great job here. Her pistols fit in the holsters and have the blue and yellow highlights. The Ezra lightsaber is included, both full and just as a hilt. There's a satchel, a helmet, and a bag. The latter two accessories, I have notes - everything else is just superb. As you can see in the pictures, she has a sizable helmet that's too big. Given we've seen Bo-Katan Kryze's head as an alternate head, or just tighter helmets in general, this sort of thing just isn't OK after Hasbro (and Kenner) put four decades in removable helmets, especially at this price. Deluxe Boba Fett had two bonus Stormtrooper heads in addition to a helmet - the budget is there. Also, the bag is just a wasted opportunity for play and storage. It would be great if it had indentations on the back to store the paint gun or the spare lightsaber hilt, just so it served a function beyond "hangs there." There's nothing wrong with the accessory, but I do feel there's a lack of imagination and innovation. There's no surprise - it does what it's supposed to do, it looks how it's supposed to look, but you won't be pleasantly surprised by any of it. (Kudos, though, to putting a lot in the box. I just take away more points when there's a botched helmet or head.)
What will be a big selling point for many is the Lothcat. You get a little kitty with a jointed neck and some nice striping, painted eyes, and creamy brown on the back. It's cute, and on par with/better than the average Grogu figure. I don't think it would be missed had Hasbro left it out and cut the price by a buck, but when it comes to accessories? They can sell a figure. I've bought Playmobil sets just because they had a dumpster, or a chainsaw, and I have no doubt that a cute kitty with beady eyes will sell some people on Sabine who would have otherwise purchased Retro or Black figures.
But we haven't even talked about the figure herself! She's good. Articulation is on par with the better figures from The Vintage Collection, as she has a good center of gravity and doesn't necessarily tip over when you type. She has no problems holding all of her gear, which is a good thing. It's a little ridiculous to see her all geared up with both lightsabers and the giant helmet, but for those of us who bristle at storing figures apart from a figure display it's handy. The painted armor looks great, but it's not perfect. For $28 I want perfect. The lights are missing from the gauntlet, the "white" or very light gray on the helmet and armor are a few shades too dark. The head is very nice, with a purple "wig" and a likeness I assume may also be preproduction. But I could be wrong. The hair could also stand to be a few shades darker, but at least it looks like her. Hasbro could take this figure, remove some accessories, update the deco, and sell it as a cat-less, bag-free basic figure too. I think people would be excited do get her on a regular cardback.
If you can get this figure for a price you think is fair - be it $27.99 or on clearance - it's pretty decent, but becomes even better if it's on sale. (It was, at Target around Chrismtas.) The helmet isn't good, but everything else is perfectly nice. At $17 or less, I'd say it's essential. I appreciate that we got it somewhat close to the release of the show, but I would also like to start being annoying and demand Hasbro be allowed to have these things ready in time to launch with - or before - the show, mostly because fans can buy the figure before the show changes their minds.
Collector's Notes: I got mine from Target
.
--Adam Pawlus
Day 3,104: February 1, 2024
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