Obi-Wan Kenobi (Jedi Master) [Episode IV] - Order Of The Jedi - 1:6 Scale Figures

Dismissed by toiling moisture farmers and dusty locals as nothing more than a crazy old hermit, Ben Kenobi resides in reflective solitude in his hut near the edge of Tatooine's Jundland Wastes. The gentle old wizard, however, is far more than he seems. Among the last of his kind, Ben Kenobi is in fact Obi-Wan Kenobi, a Jedi Knight of the Old Republic from the days before the rise of the evil Empire.

An age ago, when Obi-Wan was counted among the most esteemed of Jedi Masters, his promising pupil Anakin Skywalker was rumored to be the chosen one, whom prophecy had said would bring balance to the Force. To Obi-Wan, Anakin was a brother and friend. Despite their contrasting styles and philosophies, they fought side by side, an undefeatable partnership, in the Clone Wars to preserve the Republic.

But, seduced by power and manipulated through fear of loss, Anakin fell into the grip of the Dark Side, becoming an agent of evil in the Sith Lord Palpatine's plot to enslave the Galaxy. Obi-Wan, having witnessed the fall of his friend, the betrayal of the Jedi and the destruction of everything he had known and loved, was forced to confront Anakin Skywalker - now Darth Vader- in a fateful duel upon the lava world of Mustafar. Despite Vader's hate-fed power, Obi-Wan overcame his adversary and turned his back upon the maimed and defeated Vader, little more than a burned char of the friend he once knew, to go into exile himself.

For decades now, from his lonely desert retreat, old Obi-Wan has watched the Empire spread inexorably across space. Under the rule of the self-proclaimed Emperor Palpatine and his machine-sustained apprentice, the disfigured Vader, dark times have befallen the Galaxy. Yet hope comes in the form of the child that Obi-Wan has watched over all these years. Young Luke Skywalker, the son of Anakin, growing up on his uncle's moisture farm, feels the call of adventure in his blood, though he is oblivious to the fate that awaits him or the truth of the father he never knew.

The past weighs heavily upon Obi-Wan as he watches Luke grow. In the boy he sees a last hope for the Jedi and a chance to redeem his own failure with his former student, Darth Vader. When Luke is attacked by Sand People, Obi-Wan comes to his rescue and, during his recovery at the hermitage, stirs the spirit of adventure in the boy's heart. Deep within Luke, the flame of the Force, so strong among the Skywalkers, is kindled and ignited, beckoning him to a future greater than any he could have possibly imagined.

Together Obi-Wan and his new pupil embark upon a desperate mission to deliver secret data to the Rebel Alliance and rescue Princess Leia, captured by the Empire. It is in the pursuit of this last great quest that Obi-Wan finally meets his former padawan again and confronts what has become of him- the masked and terrifying Darth Vader- now a fully fledged Sith Lord and more machine than man. Standing against the sinister Dark Lord, Obi-Wan buys time for Luke and the Princess to escape, and as he and his opponent duel he seals the encounter left unfinished when he walked away all those decades ago on Mustafar. In this battle there is no loss for Obi-Wan, for in death he attains a power Vader could never comprehend, and in sacrificing himself for Luke he sets in motion the next step in the boy's journey to become a Jedi, and is at last one with the Force himself.

We have said this for ages now, and we’ll continue to do so. No matter the licensee, collectible interpretations of Obi-Wan Kenobi (based on his appearance in A New Hope) typically turn out better than average. This certainly applies to Obi-Wan Kenobi (Jedi Master) [Episode IV] from Sideshow Collectibles proud Order Of The Jedi 1:6 Scale Figure line. The likeness is excellent. Pretty much every last feature of the demure Jedi Master has been captured here, but the real charm is found in the clothing and accessories. Sideshow Collectibles has mastered the art of good tailoring and the research the accessories that accompany these figures extensively so that accuracy and realism take precedence. A great likeness in the portrait, a well-fitted costume and the perfect accessories are a recipe for success, and Sideshow Collectibles has proven time and again why they have stolen the show when it comes to 1:6 Scale Figures. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Jedi Master) [Episode IV] is a staple character in the Star Wars saga. Sideshow Collectibles has show this particular 12” approach to Obi-Wan Kenobi with great respect. The details here are incredible. This long-awaited character should meet the expectations of all who purchase him. And if they don’t, well, maybe they are collectors who just can’t appreciate a small work of art when they see one. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Jedi Master) [Episode IV] is absolutely a stand out piece in the quickly growing Order Of The Jedi sub-line of their popular 1:6 Scale Figures line. It should garner great praise from all that encounter it.

Obi-Wan Kenobi (Jedi Master) [Episode IV] truly has an authentic likeness. His expression is pensive and his aged skin shows the signs of his stressful career as a Jedi. The wrinkles etched underneath his eyes and on his forehead tell a great deal of this powerful Jedi Master’s exploits during the Clone Wars and his time hiding on Tatooine. We honestly couldn’t have asked for a better interpretation. But that’s not all. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Jedi Master) [Episode IV] has layer after layer of clothing. His costume alone is utterly impressive. A hooded Jedi robe overlays on top of a kimono-styled short and pants. There is also a separately fabricated undershirt too. A real leather belt holds pouches and metal details like a lightsaber clip. His boots are sculpted in plastic but display and amazing amount of detail. There is so much to take in that a few minutes here and there will never be enough time. He comes with a lightsaber hilt, but he also comes with a fully lit lightsaber (with blue blade). Sideshow can expertly craft the hardware, but when it comes with the special effects of the blade, there leaves a lot to be desired. The blades are too thin and they’re oddly colored, almost too pale. Sideshow has also included an array of interchangeable hands for variety. While we appreciate the inclusion of these, the attachment points are so difficult to install into the wrists that it makes changing them very frustrating. Also, the material that Sideshow uses to cast the accessories is terribly brittle. Breakages happen all the time with them and they are much too delicate for the harder plastic of the hands that hold them.

Perhaps the most unexpected accessory included in the training remote with separate stand and base. Because it was something that was used by Luke, we’re surprised that Sideshow didn’t reserve it for that figure instead. Still, it’s a very nice accessory and of course we’re happy to have. It just feels ever so slightly out of place, even though it came from Obi-Wan Kenobi in the film. The Sideshow Exclusive for Obi-Wan Kenobi (Jedi Master) [Episode IV] is a Holographic Leia Transmission. Again, this effort is very much appreciated, but it becomes impractical as a standalone piece. This hologram should have come with the table from his abode. We understand that this would translate into a higher price for the figure, but we would have gladly paid it to make the Holographic Leia Transmission more meaningful. Seriously, what is the point of a small piece of blue plastic? It seems silly in retrospect and it feels hardly worth the effort to track down the more expensive Sideshow Exclusive version of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Jedi Master) [Episode IV]. Overall, we’re very thrilled with how this figure ended up turning out. The likeness alone is reason enough to purchase this 1:6 Scale Figure. But please remember that the costuming, accessories, and everything else that comes along with him are equally impressive as well. We hope that Sideshow Collectibles keeps the trend up for making excellent 12” figures for Star Wars collectors. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Jedi Master) [Episode IV] should help prove this is true loudly and clearly.