Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,150: Krrsantan (The Retro Collection)

KRRSANTAN Meet the Newbacca
The Retro Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. F6874 No. F8568
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Heavy Blaster
Action Feature: Removable armor
Retail: $11.99
Availability: December 2023
Appearances: Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett

Bio: The Star Wars Retro Collection features design and detailing inspired by the original 1970s Star Wars figures and features original figure design and detailing! Continue your collection from a galaxy far, far away. (Stolen from the marketing copy. Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: I'm very slowly opening the 2023 retro Kenner figures like Krrsantan, mostly because I don't have high hopes for a lot more of these. I wrote the bulk of this a couple of months ago. Seeing 2022 figures dumped at Ollie's and Ross, with new old-style Kenner original trilogy figures in generally short supply, the Retro format seems to have the product development deck stacked against it. At least it's interesting while it lasts, however long it lasts. This particular figure seems to riff on the original 1978 Chewbacca, but with some elements that move forward in time a bit. He's a little wider, a little taler, and a lot beefier... and thanks to his removable armor, he may serve as the basis for a lot of custom figures in the future.

Sometimes simple is best, and in this case I think it works. It's worth noting that The Black Series and The Vintage Collection Krrsantan figures based on The Book of Boba Fett were each "deluxe" releases. I would argue there's nothing at all deluxe about the 6-inch one, but at least both The Vintage Collection figures have a lot of gear in the box - not enough to make it worth 50-100% more, but it's something. This one is just a basic figure. I like basic if it means basic prices.

The fur sculpting is a lot like the original Chewbacca, with a wider stance and arms that spread out a little more. He won't easily fit in an original Millennium Falcon cockpit or a standard slot in a Kenner carry case, or an AST-5 or MLC-3. He's barely taller than the original Kenner Chewie, closer in height to Yak Face and about 50% wider. It's very clearly a riff on the 1978 sculpting with this fur pattern, rather than going for a post-Return of the Jedi look like the Ewoks. Love them or hate them, they had a lot more detail and a v-crotch that may or may not have worked better here. He will, however, stand around and look cool. I plopped him near my Jabba's Palace stuff and he looks like he belongs, thanks to a nice angry mouth and knuckle dusters.

This is a figure where we're probably being overcharged a bit, but at least it's fair relative to other figures. Sabine got four accessories and tons of paint. Krrsantan got armor, a blaster, and very little paint. You can see some on his knuckles, nose, eyes, belt, and beard. As I write this he's standing next to Yak Face and Sabine on my desk, and is the simplest by far. I would have liked to have seem slightly better eye paint and improved fur texture, but I can't argue he doesn't match Chewbacca.

He fits in with the general aesthetic of the old Kenner figure line, but much like the Obi-Wan Kenobi line it's plain to see it doesn't match a specific time period. The figure itself feels like 1978, the removable armor feels like 1982's Zuckuss harness (or Dagobah backpack), and the hands seem more modern in that one of them isn't useless. I think it's good to have hands that can hold weapons, but I would have loved one of them to be a fist - like the original Gamorrean Guard - so he could punch other guys with his knuckle dusters. His pose is also pretty basic. It would be nice to have a little flair in his arms or maybe a bit of a bend to his knees, but I can't say I don't appreciate the jointed neck. That's something I wish Kenner did back in the day, and Hasbro achieved Krrsantan as a pretty good figure that does what Retro tends to shine at - the bare minimum. There's no white highlights in the fur, there's no extraneous parts. It's a Wookiee, a blaster, and a shirt. That's all you needed to have fun in the 1980s, and considering he's the only Hasbro Krrsantan under $27 you don't have a cheaper option.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth. At press time I have still not seen him sold at any major retailer brick-and-mortar locations.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,150: July 2, 2024