Obi-Wan Kenobi - SW [Y/AOTC] - Movie Heroes (MH03)

Like all Jedi, Obi-Wan Kenobi uses the power of the Force to help him during battles or while carrying out his missions. But he also brings gear that can prove useful when he has to infiltrate a building undetected. A grappling hook launcher lets him climb up the side of a building or a sheer cliff quickly, bypassing guards posted at the entrances.

Wow. Is it just us or has the action figure selections gone to pot? A new line of action figures should be fresh and exciting, but Obi-Wan Kenobi (MH03) from the Star Wars [Yoda/Attack Of The Clones] Movie Heroes line is probably one of the most disappointing things we have seen in years. Originally released as 2003’s SW [S - P3] Obi-Wan Kenobi (Outlander Nightclub Encounter) (’03 #39) figure, Obi-Wan Kenobi has seen countless re-releases in the line. He was even added to the final Saga Legends line in the Star Wars [Shadow Of The Dark Side] line look. But here he is once again, a figure that is now a decade old and should have been retired a year after it was originally released. Such is the plight of the modern Star Wars collector. Although we know this figure goes back to 2003, it perhaps the most accurate to say that this is a slight repaint of the Obi-Wan Kenobi figure which was released in 2009’s LC Kamino Conflict Battle Packs set. This figure and that figure seem to look the most like each other. Also, the 2013 Movie Heroes version is an international exclusive. You won’t be finding this Hasbro figure peg-warming the shelves of the USA.

Obi-Wan Kenobi isn’t a great action figure. He is minimally articulated and this is something we can handle, but he doesn’t have a great sculpt to help counteract his other faults. Actually, we find this likeness of Obi-Wan Kenobi to be one of the worst attempts by Hasbro. On top of a much-too-high forehead, his face is squished and has a terribly annoying lean to his right which makes posing him a bit of a chore. To make things worse, he has his lightsaber hilt permanently sculpted to his left side. Why in the world must Hasbro insist on doing this to action figures in the modern line. Collectors would much rather see a fully lit lightsaber included instead and just forgo the novelty of having the hilt as a permanent “accessory”. Well, at least the collectors here feel that way. It’s actually a shame that Obi-Wan Kenobi didn’t come with both a fully lit lightsaber as well as an unlit lightsaber hilt. If you recall, he actually used it during his time in the Outlander Nightclub in Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones. The hilt does no good permanently at his side. As you know, we think that Hasbro missed the boat with this figure in 2003, it certainly shouldn’t have been reissued a decade later in 2013.

We also do not fully understand why they gave this figure hinge-jointed knees either. He doesn’t sit down anywhere within the walls of the Outlander Nightclub and by adding these articulation points Hasbro has created an unpleasant aesthetic with the figure. Then again, Hasbro is using this as a generic Episode II Obi-Wan Kenobi for the basic figure line. They’re not too worried about scene-specific details like we are. The legs in general are not sculpted that well. The bow out in an upside down “V” shape and prevent him from having proper posture. Sometimes less is more as evidenced by how the articulation has affected this particular action figure. Hasbro even got generous with adding two ball-jointed shoulders, but they do very little good in terms of how Obi-Wan Kenobi can utilize them. There are a lot of bells and whistles here that have all sacrificed the practicality of this action figure. Be that as it may, Obi-Wan Kenobi is a far cry for what collectors deem a definitive action figure to be. It’s nowhere close. Hasbro has expressed that they thought this action figure came out well, something that perplexes us still today. Then again, a whole lot perplexes us.