Monday, March 9, 2015

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,118: Sabine Wren (Star Wars Rebels Mission Series)


SABINE WREN and Stormtrooper
Star Wars Rebels Mission Series
Item No.:
Asst. A5228 No. A8930
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #MS08
Includes: Twin pistols, Stormtrooper figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: January 2015
Appearances: Star Wars Rebels

Bio: A crew member on The Ghost freighter, Sabine Wren uses her skill with gadgets and explosive to cause trouble for the Empire's Stormtroopers. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Commentary: And we're back! Bottlenecks in supply were created by a late Hasbro launch and compounded by a dock worker slowdown that lasted a couple of months, but now lots of figures are showing up including multiple waves of Saga Legends and of course Mission Series.  This Sabine Wren and Stormtrooper 2-pack was manufactured back in October of last year, if that puts into perspective how long it took to make it to store shelves (although some were unloaded earlier and showed up very late in January).

She's good! Not great, but good.   The figure's nature demands more accessories and paint than most, and you can tell this was a bit of a shortcut.  It's a "close enough" release - things like her checkerboard shoulder armor, glossy visor, removable helmet, paint-splattered gloves, and other things didn't make the cut at the two-for-$10 price point and the end result is a much simpler figure.  Her skin is also more than a little pale, and while there's really no excuse for that part, well, there it is.   She does have twin working holsters and a Rebel paint symbol on her armor, so it's not a total loss.  The figure feels like the primer coat version, and customizers will undoubtedly turn this figure into something beautiful. In terms of deco, I'd say she gets whatever the low mark is for passing while still being more or less authentic. Heck, maybe so will Hasbro for San Diego Comic-Con, as they seem keen on plussing up figures with added deco or accessories. 

Beyond that, it's a pretty good figure.   Clearly pressured to make something cheap (because, seriously, it's not an expensive figure) you get 5 joints and no removable helmet. A nice touch is you can see some of her hair peek out of the back of the helmet.  The joints all move nicely and freely, plus she can sit without any problems.  She fits right in to the Phantom's seats with no problems, and the guns fit perfectly into her hands or holsters.   From an engineering perspective, there's nothing wrong here - it's just a good, solid, petite figure.  And it's a Mandalorian!  The rangefinder isn't jointed, but given the budget limitations involved in selling two figures for ten bucks in 2015 I can't complain too much.

Each blaster is designed for her smaller hands and the holsters.  The guns are a little boxy, but they fit - there is no looseness in the grip, and the holsters aren't excessively tight either.  They did a really nice job here, I just wish they had the budget for some more paint and an unhelmeted face.  If Hasbro is reading, please consider a $10-$15 version with a helmet, more deco, and maybe some paint cans.  (Or just give us a customized TIE Fighter and throw the figure in for good measure.)

Collector's Notes: I got this from Entertainment Earth.  Sabine started appearing in stores late in January and early in February, and may be online right now.  The companion Stormtrooper figure is the same as the other releases save for the date stamp, identifying it as being manufactured around October of 2014.  Sabine has no date stamp.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 2,118: March 9, 2015

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