Showing posts with label Wedge Antilles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wedge Antilles. Show all posts

Thursday, July 30, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,367: Wedge Antilles (The Retro Collection)

WEDGE ANTILLES
Kenner Debut

The Retro Collection Target Exclusive 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure Set
Item No.:
No. G2554
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: DL-44 blaster pistol
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $64.99
Availability: July 2026
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Rediscover the classics with The Star Wars Retro Collection - inspired by the Kenner originals! (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:
Originality is the art of concealing your source, and something seemed off about Wedge Antilles right away. I don't love this one. It looked familiar - but not like the 1979 X-Wing Luke or the 2020 Snowspeeder Luke [FOTD #2,698]. When I went into my ship room to see how Wedge fit in X-Wings and Y-Wings (just perfectly, even with the bulky helmet) I walked by my 2015 Saga Legends X-Wing Luke [FOTD #2,123], and there it was. Hasbro ripped off their own modern sculpt, rather than ripping off their previous real and faux retro sculpts. It certainly looks as if the sculptor cheated on the assignment for this one.

When I see this figure out of the corner of my eye, it reminds me of 1998 Biggs Darklighter - it's just not a first-gen flavored sculpt but it absolutely is very functional, can use his gear, and fit in old ships perfectly. It is a good toy figure, even if it does not look like a legitimate 1980s toy figure. I think they did a better job capturing the vibes with Snowspeeder Luke. If Wedge's sculpted torso detail was toned down a bit I could buy this 2026 Wedge as something that might have come out around 1984. Having said that, it feels amazing - the legs and arms swing perfectly, and the butt area isn't weirdly squared-off like some retro figures. It isn't a perfect Kenner figure sculpt, but I really do appreciate how it feels in my hands.


Wedge has very short arms, with fingers that more or less stop at the bottom of the torso. The level of vest and chest detail is much higher than any Kenner-era (or previous Retro) pilot figure, with many more vest ribs anything of that era. The torso doesn't really match the limbs stylistically - the level of detail on the boots, pants, arms, and gloves is much lower but generally in line with most of the best of Hasbro's retro modern figures. They're just very short. It's also worth noting that Wedge's helmet fits perfectly on that 2015 Luke - and vice-versa. I wouldn't be at all surprised if this sculptor used the CAD files for Luke as a starting point for Wedge, and just sort of didn't finish refining it.

Wedge retains details Kenner-era pilots lacked. While they did edit out the pockets on his pants, he does have the code tubes and shoulder pockets, same as 2015 Saga Legends Luke. Wedge has the same dube, the same basic straps (pushed up a bit on the legs, but same on the torso), plus the same tube on the lower left of the body. The chest computer has many of the same switches and buttons, just fudged a bit or moved slightly. He even has that often-ignored buckle on the back of his vest, same as 2015 Pilot Luke - the Kenner and Retro ones didn't have that.

Deco is more 1990s and 2000s than 1980s or 1970s. The previous Kenner/Retro pilots had black, not gray, chest computers and straps with white leg straps. The A-Wing and B-Wing pilots eschewed painting the leg straps completely, and if Hasbro's going for a 1980s vibe I wish they did that here too. The head sculpt is good in the "1980s removable helmet pinhead" sense, so no notes there. It was painted well, and sculpted appropriately. Painting the gloves made sense, but all of Hasbro's 1980s Rebel Pilots had bare hands - no gloves. Wedge feels more like a 1990s or 2015 figure, sculpted by someone who was probably on a deadline and painted by someone who didn't look at the previous four Rebel Pilots in this style. I don't think it's asking a lot for someone to look at Google and ask "how did they do this in the olden times?"

Wedge has two sensible accessories. The helmet was painted with an appropriate level of detail, including a yellow visor and some big green stripes on top - this is the right choice. I would have been happy if they cut out the visor, and I find the shape of the helmet odd. X-Wing and Snowspeeder Luke figures had helmets that bent inward toward the neck, while Wedge's flares out. It doesn't match and it looks too big for his head. The blaster is interesting. Cast in Kenner blue, it's a completely new digital sculpt with an appropriate level of detail. The lines on the grip are a little higher, and the cuts on the scope, the barrel, and the greeblies all seem to be a better depth. They're sharper, not as fuzzy or rounded as the scanned-in blasters of previous figures. Having said that, it's a little undercooked. One side of the blaster body is missing detail found in Kenner/Retro blasters, and the grip lines seem unfinished - like they should extend a bit more. I would have liked the area in front of the trigger to be more squared-off like the prop, but that's just a matter of taste really. As a new design, inspired by the old design, it's pretty neat. Nobody's going to be fooled into thinking this is the original.

If this were the first sculpt from the 2019 reboot, I'd grouse "it's a good first attempt, let's see how they do later." Last year's new figures were generally better, although the Rebel Fleet Trooper and Luke grew on me a bit. I'll be curious to see if Wedge does, but as first impressions go I would say a) Hasbro tried too hard, and b) Kenner was not beyond reusing molds when it suited them. In this case I think I would've preferred the Luke body with a new head, or at least this body with the Luke-style of deco.

Packaging Notes: I would say the 2026 packaging is easily the best packaging of The Retro Collection's entire eight year run to date. The front of the cards lack the faux weathering, and now feature a low-tack sticker that you can remove easily and apply to your phone case. I would give the card fronts an A+ in terms of template revisions and execution. Sure, you have the choke warning and yes, now you have the obnoxious 4+ circle for age rating, but that's not going away until they stop making multi-lingual packaging. The back of the packaging is as likely as good as it gets. Over half tof th cardback is hideous, multi-lingual legalese - which I wish they could just leave on the box as the figures are not labeled for individual sale - but you do get a 1979-style 3x2 figure grid showing the wave. That's a plus! I hope they do something similar next year to showcase multiple items. I love an upsell, but if you've bought everything in one set it is a little less useful. Charming, sure.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Target. It was on shelf, they did not fulfill my pre-order yet.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,367: July 30, 2026

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,638: Wedge Antilles (The Black Series 6-Inch)

WEDGE ANTILLES Luke with New Head
The Black Series 6-Inch Action Figure
Item No.:
Asst. E4071 No. E6058
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #102
Includes: Helmet, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: October 2019
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: A talented young rebel pilot from Corellia, Wedge Antilles survived the attack on the first Death Star to become a respected veteran of Rogue Squadron.   (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: Can you believe Hasbro gave us Wedge Antilles before a second Cantina alien? I'm stunned.   The figure is a reasonably clever rehash of Luke Skywalker [FOTD #2,553] that mostly works.  Denis Lawson is actually an inch shorter than Mark Hamill, so the body reuse makes a lot of sense.  For my sake I would have loved to have seen a new jumpsuit, but I suppose a photo-realistic Wedge is better on an old body than Biggs on a short body.  What I'm saying is that this is good enough and I assume may have been made as a hint as to the next movie's casting.

If you bought Luke, you know what to expect.  The body is pretty much the same, which means some of the switches on the chest box don't quite match the color reference of the movies.  (Or at least, they don't match the photos I'm looking at from Return of the Jedi.)  Also odd, we never saw Denis Lawson with his helmet off in the original Star Wars, so here he has his ears covered by his hair.  In Return of the Jedi, he has two haircuts - you can see his ears in the briefing.  During the Endor party, his ears are slightly more covered but not completely covered.  Does that mean Disney/Hasbro/Lucasfilm had reference of Mr. Lawson that we've never seen?  Possibly!  All I can say is that this isn't authentic to any reference materials I have at my disposal - but since the helmet covered his hair in that first movie, I don't know that it's necessarily incorrect.

The helmet looks great and fits nicely, and the pistol is a tight fit in his hand.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm also fairly confident we've never seen Wedge with a blaster - but this blaster is consistent with most of his previous 3 3/4-inch releases.

When it comes to classic characters, Hasbro has had a good eye for keeping the 6-inch line's authenticity.  I am hesitant to say this is a perfect figure - I'm amazed we got it, but since it's just a new head they could just as easily have made it as an exclusive for a retailer.  The worst I can say about it is that it's good enough - the new parts are excellent, and the execution is nothing short of perfectly fine.  I would have loved to see what a new body would look like, but given the size requirements there's no reason for Hasbro to invest tens (or hundreds) of thousands of dollars on completely new figure molds.   Get it and push your nostalgia buttons, while also considering that this could well be a hint as to a The Rise of Skywalker cameo as has been hinted/rumored/confirmed depending on who you ask.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth

--Adam Pawlus


Day 2,638: November 14, 2019

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,095: Wedge Antilles (The Black Series 2014)

WEDGE ANTILLES Hoth Redux
The Black Series 3 3/4-Inch Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. A5077 No. A5633
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: Black Series #29
Includes: Helmet, blaster pistol, blaster rifle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $10.99
Availability: August 2014
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: This Rebel pilot and friend of Luke Skywalker battles Imperial forces who are attaching Echo Base on the ice planet Hoth.  (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Commentary: A new Wedge Antilles, so soon?  Wonderful!  This one is pretty good too - Hasbro took the 2009 Legacy Luke Skywalker Snowspeeder Pilot body, and gave it a new head and Dak Ralter's accessories from 2010.  It's pretty great - the hands are more or less specific to Luke having a lightsaber or a grappling hook, but at least the deco is nice and again, more or less based on Dak's control chest buttons.

The sculpt is good, but it's nothing you haven't bought before minus the new head.  His helmet fits nicely, and he can hold his weapons.  The unique angles do make them look a little silly in his left hand, the small blaster looks especially ridiculous.  One problem I thin is unique to mine is a big square plastic peg jutting out from the lower leg - I'd cut it off, but it's grey plastic painted orange and that would look worse than leaving it there.  Once the paint goes, it's going to look terrible - did any of you have this problem?

The head sculpt is good - appropriately Wedge-y, and it's molded in flesh color with a painted flight cap.  As a carded figure, it's beautiful and the 14 points of articulation are about normal for this line these days.  Overall I'd say it's good - there's very little messy paint, just a bad dab around the eye I might try to scrape off.  The painted button on the glove is a nice touch.  I won't say this is the best Wedge figure ever... but let's face it, if it isn't, it's a close #2.  Get it if you can, and then get him a Snowspeeder to sit in.  He will fit.

Collector's Notes: These are available online right now and I got mine at Entertainment Earth.  I have not seen it in stores yet.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 2,095: August 19, 2014

Friday, February 17, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,743: Wedge Antilles

WEDGE ANTILLES X-Wing Pack-In
The Legacy Collection Target Exclusive
Item No.:
No. 87847
Number: n/a
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Includes: X-Wing, Astromech droid, helmet, ladders
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $49.99, part of a set
Availability: August 2009
Appearances: Primarily Star Wars

Bio: The X-Wing Fighter has become the symbol of the Rebellion. Swift, reliable and highly responsive in battle, this rugged craft is capable of absorbing plenty of damage in combat. X-Wings have flown in all the major battles against the Empire and are the preferred fighters of Rebel pilots. In the bustling Alliance hangars, X-Wings are prepared for another battle with Imperial fighters, as pilots and technicians check engines, instruments and weapons. Once Alliance pilot, Wedge Antilles, flew an X-Wing in the Battle of Yavin as Red Two and as Red Leader in the Battle of Endor. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: I am not at a point where I cannot say with absolutely certainty if this Wedge Antilles figure is the best-- I think it may be. The fairly scarce Vintage release is shorter, but has an arguably superior head sculpt. But an inferior torso. What's a collector to do, other than buy them all? As far as best bang for the buck goes, this one doesn't disappoint, but its higher secondary market price is now kind of a drag. The figure is based on a variation of the Vintage X-Wing Luke Pilot sculpt, with a longer torso and, of course, Wedge's head. The head is Wedgey, although it could be more so. You basically know what to expect from this body type-- it stands well, can sit and fit in an X-wing, but has those annoying straps which get in the way of sitting.

I really appreciate that Hasbro used this torso rather than reuse Luke's again, mostly because the lightsaber belt hole is an eyesore. The shoulders are a little wonky, but the figure still looks good and for the loose collector, is probably one of your better options for the price. Particularly because it also includes an X-Wing and an Astromech Droid, and because even though it's much cheaper than it was, the Vintage one is still too dang much.

Collector's Notes: While it sort of rotted on the shelves, that can only mean one thing: it's expensive on eBay. Now it's closer to $90 or $100, which isn't bad considering you get a big huge X-Wing, two figures, and some ladders. Granted, I was complaining about paying $50 back in 2009, but I guess inflation and the grim reality of what things sell for at the Toys R Us makes this an interesting set for the price. If you can get it for under $70, you should. For $100, well, I can't say I'd suggest jumping on it, but I do like this figure slightly more than the 2011 Vintage figure due to the height and torso issues. Generally speaking, though, either is great-- do whatever your wallet says makes the most sense. (Or both.)

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,743: February 17, 2012