Reek (Arena Battle Beast) - SW [S - P1] - Creatures

The Reek is a massive beast with three deadly horns protruding from his ferocious head. Often unleashed in the Geonosian gladiatorial arena, this bullish beast is more than a match for brave warriors and innocent captives unaware of their monstrous fate.

When Hasbro was transitioning the Power Of The Jedi line to the Star Wars “Saga” line, one of the first announcements of new toys coming out of Episode II beside the Sneak Preview figures was the Reek. But all we knew about this beast was that it was a creature in the new film. That’s all we really needed to know to get excited about it too. What we didn’t know however until the film was released in May 2002 was that this rhinoceros/triceratops hybrid looking creature was one of the Separatists’ main tools to kill the three main heroes, Anakin Skywalker specifically, in Roman-esque style in the Geonosian area. The Reek (Arena Battle Beast) was actually one of the finer additions to Attack Of The Clones. This beast looked menacing in the film and it looked equally realistic despite George Lucas utilizing CGI 100% to bring it to life. As one of the earliest products in the Star Wars “Saga” line, it’s also one of the best. Aside from some awkward “cuts” in the sculpt to work in the action features, the Reek (Arena Battle Beast) is pretty much a triumph everywhere else. And speaking of awkward, it has one uncomfortable action feature that we’re shocked to see Hasbro include here…. and it’s not because we have dirty minds, people. It’s just that some of us were raised with farm animals and we know what is what.

Let’s get the awkwardness out in the open first. Hasbro has printed on the box the following instructions: "Press button for attack sound, stomping attack and head-ramming action!" This button can be found on the underside of the Reek (Arena Battle Beast). But what Hasbro doesn’t explain is that you’re pressing the Reek’s penis in all actuality. Maybe he is roaring because he doesn’t like to be touched there. Some of us here were raised on farms and we know the anatomy of beasts of burden. Maybe the Reek (Arena Battle Beast) has been castrated (unlikely since it was so aggressive in the film), but it certainly has its remaining private parts and this is more than evident on the toy version. You probably didn't expect to get a response from a Reek by touching its wee-wee. We don’t mean for this review to sound worse and worse by the moment, but we can’t help commenting on what a bizarre decision this was by Hasbro to include such a strange application of the action feature in such a precarious spot. That being said, the Reek (Arena Battle Beast) is still a fantastic toy. It is so well sculpted and even more beautifully painted. The details in the leathery skin, and more specifically, the details in the facial structure of this creature will leave you dumbfounded. It almost makes you wish that Hasbro could achieve this level of detail on a very small 3.75” action figure. With simple four legged articulation, the Reek (Arena Battle Beast) also has a sliding hinge-jointed head for the action feature as well as a hinge-jointed front left foot for the same reason.

Hasbro has made plenty of accessories to complement the Reek (Arena Battle Beast) in other places in the line. Whether you’re utilizing the real metal chain from 2002’s SW [S - P1] Padmé Amidala (Arena Escape) ('02 #02), or the pillars from the Geonosis Battle Arena, you have plenty of options to help you recreate the Battle of Geonosis and the arena execution, even if things didn’t pan out the way the Separatists had hoped. Retailing for a fair $15, Hasbro seemingly could have charged $20 easily for this creature, if not a hair more. The $14.99 MSRP is extremely fair and in fact it feels like you’re really getting a bargain. Typically, a great sculpt and fair articulation for a toy this size easily warrants that price range, but Hasbro has also worked in action feature and electronics that just make this release all that more of a value for collectors. Again, we would have loved to see this released without any electronics, but the rest of the Reek (Arena Battle Beast) is so good that you’re destined to overlook its faults. With the release of the complementary Nexu Deluxe figure and the Acklay (Arena Battle Beast), collectors have some awesome creatures to fill up the beautiful Geonosis Battle Arena. These aren’t flawless, but they’re still excellent.