Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,910: B5-SL

B5-SL Mystery Crate
Droid Factory Single Droid Action Figure
Item No.: ???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: Crate package/stand
Action Feature: Comes apart
Retail: $14.99
Availability: January 2022
Appearances: Galaxy's Edge

 
Bio: B5-SL was a BB-series astromech droid with a black sensor and blue and brown paneling. Like all BB-series units manufactured by Industrial Automaton, it stood 0.67 meters tall. During First Order's occupation of the planet Batuu in 34 ABY, B5-SL spent time in a caged area of the Droid Depot in Batuu's Black Spire Outpost while the depot's owner, Mubo, ran a diagnostic scan on the droid. (Stolen from Wookieepedia. Packaging has no copy and no Star Wars logo.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Weight in sealed package: 110 grams.

Commentary: With a tough to read name sticker, B5-SL is a blue BB-8 redeco. Is it worth $15? No. But you know what droid completism is like. Or at least you used to, there are probably five or so you don't have and can't get at the very least thanks to Disney making some of these guys impossible to get. This one is just absurdly difficult to get, so I begrudgingly suggest it's worth getting.

In 2020 Hasbro put out some swell droid 2-packs for $10, including a blue BB-9E redeco that was pretty nice - for that reason, I can't say this is a great deal. But it is a nice figure, with lots of dirty grime over the blue and coloring that recalls a faded, buried old R2-D2 action figure. Our roly-poly blue buddy has a big blue eye I absolutely love, plus silver highlights that mostly match the theme park robot. You'll notice some panels and elements that don't quite match... which is a shame, given there was no shortage of available reference material. The figure uses the heavier Disney body with the heavy weighted ball inside the 2-part shell, with a dome on top complete with hat hole. You know what to expect here.

The figure's value is entirely placed on deco. If you want more droids in various colors, it's worthwhile because there aren't any others that look quite like him. The dirty wash looks great, the blues may remind you of well-loved and faded pants, plus the big blue eye is a distinctive change from the usually black orb. I like the blue band around the top and the blue 5 o'clock shadow around the face too. It's just a cute little guy.

I am glad this figure exists, but I would rather it be in a gift set or in some non-concealed packaging so you could get one if you want one. It's kind of cruel to do at a theme park, but at least if you get one you can go home happy knowing you don't have a similar or identical droid at home. You can, however, be angry Hasbro didn't make it in a 2 for $10 bundle at Target. It is what it is, and it's OK enough to not get too fussy about either way. The last few years have been a repaint-heavy market for Hasbro and Disney in this scale, so let your love of color be your guide as to if your wallet gets opened or not.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Shannon who got them from Disneyland. Thanks Shannon!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,910: March 24, 2022