Chewbacca - TBS [P2] - Basic (#11)

Added: April 12th 2015
Category: Black Series [Phase II], The
Reviewer: Paul Harrison
Score:

Name: Chewbacca
Collection: The Black Series [Phase II]
Number: #11
Scale: 3¾"
Source: A New Hope
Availability: May 2015
License: Hasbro

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Chewbacca stands with his friends Han Solo and Luke Skywalker at a ceremony to recognize the Rebel victory at the Battle of Yavin.

It’s borderline shocking, but we have a new definitive modern update to 1978’s vintage Kenner Star Wars Chewbacca. We know, we know, we know. How much better could Hasbro actually do after the Chewbacca figure from 2005’s TSC Early Bird Figures mail-away Walmart exclusive? Actually, they done this with flying colors. It is with each successive release of The Black Series 3.75” and 6” figures as well as the Saga Legends and Mission Series lines that we truly believe that Hasbro is working from the same digital files to create these characters, regardless of how they are approached with articulation and deco. If you seriously compare characters in the same outfits across multiple scales and formats, you’ll start seeing the trend (as clearly as day no less). Such is true for The Black Series Chewbacca (#11) figure (in 3.75” scale). Sure, the body is from the all-too-familiar 2004 VOTC Chewbacca figure, but if you check out the head sculpt you’ll notice immediately that its exactly the same as The Black Series 6” Chewbacca (#04) figure, just smaller of course. This is a very good thing because the head sculpt looks better smaller than larger thus making this the best Chewbacca action figure, based on A New Hope, available on the market today. As you know, a Yavin ceremony Princess Leia Organa figure was meant to compliment this figure, in the hopes that Chewbacca would finally get his long deserved medal, but as fate would have it she has been canceled (postponed for those that cannot handle the word “canceled”) from original The Black Series assortments, so our beloved Wookiee will have to wait a while longer.

Interestingly, we don’t see where the medal would sit. Hasbro has explained that an area has been beveled into Chewbacca, albeit slightly, in order for the medal to lay flatly against his fur. But we see no sign of this whatsoever. This isn’t a complaint of course, because any unnatural aesthetic would ruin an otherwise great figure for us. So we’re sort of happy this didn’t “come to pass” so to speak. We just find it odd that although it was specifically mentioned that there would be a “spot” for the medal to rest that we see nothing out of the ordinary in the new head sculpt. If you look at new action figures in remotely the same light as we do, you’ll probably immediately notice that Chewbacca is much lighter than most previous versions utilizing the 2004 VOTC Chewbacca sculpt. We would probably agree that it’s a little too light for the onscreen character, but we’re very pleased that Hasbro went this route instead of a too dark paint job. We have a comparison shot of the 2005 TSC Early Bird Figures Chewbacca next to this new version. You can see how much more the lighter paint applications do for the character than the darker ones. Chewbacca looks less weighted down, lighter and brighter. Yet he retains that incomparable and confident Wookiee stature from regardless of the lighter color palette. We love the open mouth roar (that you can’t hear emanating from his mouth) in the head sculpt. Other versions of Chewbacca with his mouth closed don’t always look right. Again, it’s a miniature replica of the head sculpt from 2014’s TBS [P2] Chewbacca (#04) figure. And it looks perfect on this release.

Our personal wish for this Chewbacca figure that didn’t come to pass would have been the inclusion of ball-jointed hips. But then Hasbro would probably need to retool the figure from scratch. The way the legs are now, it is difficult to pose Chewbacca in a ton of unique action poses. The legs are just too close together. You can absolutely get some cool poses, but the options aren’t limitless which is something we like to see in all action figures. There are some other things that Hasbro has put in place here that work really well, whether or not they were intentional. For example, his satchel has been posed in a much softer plastic. While not good in the case of accessories, a softer satchel does a world of good for Chewbacca. It bends when you pose the figure and doesn’t inhibit the full range of movement you’re trying to achieve. This is great news! And to us it looks like it has been slightly repositioned to hang a bit away from his body, which also really helps in the way you can position this Chewbacca figure. The bowcaster is a bit of letdown with this release. Hasbro casted it in a light gray plastic and then called it a day. It has no paint operations at all. You’ll need to dig out your older Chewbacca figures and replace this weapon. Trust us, by replacing it with an older bowcaster only makes this new version of Chewbacca even better. We’re truly impressed with this Chewbacca figure. The multiple use of different light brown color looks gorgeous and just adds to making this the best Chewbacca from A New Hope ever. If you pass on this figure, you’re only shooting yourself in the foot.

Collector Notes

Chewbacca

Status: Chewbacca is a retool and subsequent repaint of 2004's VOTC Chewbacca figure. This time the figure has an all-new beautiful portrait which has clearly been digitally derived from 2014's TBS [P2] Chewbacca (#04) 6" figure. This is the best Chewbacca figure based on A New Hope Hasbro has ever produced to date.

Articulation Count: 25 points (15 areas of articulation)

Articulation Details: swivel head (1), ball-jointed left shoulder (2), ball-jointed right shoulder (2), ball-jointed left elbow (2), ball-jointed right elbow (2), swivel left wrist (1), swivel right wrist (1), ball-jointed torso (2), ball-jointed mid-section (2), swivel left hip (1), swivel right hip (1), ball-jointed left knee (2), ball-jointed right knee (2), ball-jointed left ankle (2), ball-jointed right ankle (2)

Accessory Count: 2

Accessory Details: bowcaster (2 parts)

Date Stamp: 2004

Assortment Number: A9111/A5077

UPC: 630509251810

Retail: $12.99 USD

Market Value: Click here to check the latest prices based on Click here to check the market value on eBay! listings.



 

The Black Series [Phase II] Wave 2 (Wave 7)
Darth Vader (Dagobah Test) (#07)
Stormtrooper (#08)

Captain Rex (#09)
Jon "Dutch" Vander (Gold Squadron Rebel Pilot) (#10)
Chewbacca (#11)
Clone Commander Wolffe (#12)
Clone Commander Doom (#13)
Imperial Navy Commander (#14)

 


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