Obi-Wan Kenobi - TVC - Basic (VC76)

This may come across as hypocritical since we raved about this figure when it got released in the Legacy Collection, but Obi-Wan Kenobi (VC75) is so “2009” it isn’t even funny anymore. This figure has the potential to be killer and for all intents and purposes it’s a great figure. But it’s time for Hasbro to play like big boys and girls and upgrade this version of Obi-Wan Kenobi to meet our most current stringent and demanding standards. The figure is in desperate need of an upgrade including an all-new head sculpt. The current head sculpt just isn’t holding up well (even after only a couple of short years from its original release). And it’s definitely time that hip articulation gets updated from swivel articulation to ball-jointed articulation. These are important upgrades that really need to see the light of day soon and we hope Hasbro doesn’t release this figure again until these changes are made. If Hasbro had to, they could forgo the new head sculpt and focus on the hips, because that is the greater issue for this figure. The legs are much to close together and trying to attain any worthy action pose is nearly futile. (We still want a new head sculpt so we should be clear on that.)

Other than the obvious issues, we are thrilled to see an Episode I version of Obi-Wan Kenobi get a spot in The Vintage Collection. (See, we told you we would sound hypocritical.) But we, along with many other collectors, are more excited to see an Episode I version of Obi-Wan Kenobi in the ultra cool The Vintage Collection line. It's all about the packaging here. Just like Qui-Gon Jinn (VC75), the reason to buy Obi-Wan Kenobi is solely for the awesome background this figure appears and not the figure itself. A straight repack of 2009’s LC Obi-Wan Kenobi (BD06), Hasbro has overstayed its welcome (as it currently is – it can be improved with a little thought) for the collecting community. We didn’t think that the head sculpt would grow “old” like it did only after two years, but it has and it's obvious. We can even think of better head sculpts from older toy lines that seem to possess more accurate likenesses of Obi-Wan Kenobi (as a Padawan). We'll go out on a limb and say that 2006’s TSC Obi-Wan Kenobi (SAGA 047) looks more like Ewan McGregor than this figure does. (Hey, that is our opinion so it doesn’t mean we’re right.) The rest of the figure however is very well detailed and brilliantly sculpted. It’s like the action figure has a great middle section stuck between poor legs (meaning the swivel hip joints) and an even poorer head sculpt.

Obi-Wan Kenobi is modestly accessorized with a lightsaber, communicator and soft-goods Jedi robe. Since Hasbro introduced us to this figure in 2009 they’ve only released one other time in 2011’s SW [SOTDS] Episode I: The Phantom Menace Blu-ray Release Commemorative Figure & Mini-Poster Collection multipack. This release in particular reminded us how much this version of Obi-Wan Kenobi is in need of an update. Nothing was changed at all for that figure’s release either which sort of makes things worse. (Actually, the only reason to buy the Blu-ray set was to get the exclusive tan Battle Droid. As you know, it’s the only way you can get that sculpt in that color now since Hasbro has developed an all-new Battle Droid for The Vintage Collection. We digress.) So once again we bring you back to the reality that The Vintage Collection’s Obi-Wan Kenobi (VC76) may just not be the figure you need for your collecting. Certainly not necessary for those that open their figures, Hasbro hasn’t done one blessed thing to this release to make it unique from the others. Still, there is something special about seeing an Episode I version of Obi-Wan Kenobi in The Vintage Collection packaging. But that is about the only selling point here.