Kuiil - TVC - Basic (VC227)

Kuiil was one of the few characters produced in the 3.75-inch Retro Collection line before being available in The Vintage Collection. And coincidentally, Kuiil was the last character in the Retro Collection format needing a super-articulated update in The Vintage Collection. Hasbro outraged fans of The Mandalorian for this “oversight,” although many collectors believe it was all part of the plan. Whatever happens in the next Star Wars Entertainment, we hope that a Retro Collection counterpart doesn’t get released until Hasbro has them all checked off for The Vintage Collection first. Kuiil is interesting for a couple of reasons (compared to its Retro Collection namesake). Firstly, it’s the only character in the series with unique card art. And much to our chagrin, we’re disappointed that Hasbro didn’t give The Vintage Collection version the Retro Collection card instead. But that said, we also love the “running change” option. Producing alternate card backs was commonplace in the Kenner line, and it’s nice to see this throwback, whether intentional or otherwise, get implemented in the modern line too. No matter your position, most collectors will agree that it’s a joy to have Kuiil in the basic figure line, and it gives us hope on what Hasbro may bring forth for an Original Trilogy Ugnaught in the future. If Hasbro puts forth the effort they need to complete The Ninety Six; the sky is the limit.

Kuiil is an excellent action figure. We remember how excited we got for 2009’s TLC Ugnaught (BD 43) figure and how far it took the tooling of this short character. Well, Kuiil takes the tooling to unprecedented levels. Hasbro worked in an impressive 28 points of articulation. Kuiil also includes the new ball-socket hips, allowing for a smoother range of lower body movement. And lastly, Hasbro ensured Kuiil received “rocker” ankles to make those oh-so-tricky poses a breeze while displaying in your collection. The action figure is appropriately scaled. Dwarfed by IG-11 (VC206) and comparable to The Mandalorian (VC166), Kuiil is an expertly crafted action figure. The detail and design Hasbro worked into the tooling are noteworthy and give us hope about what they’ll do for future characters in the series. They could open the floodgates if they wanted to, and collectors who love the show hope they will. You’d think that Kuiil’s articulation wouldn’t be that meaningful with shorter extremities, but that’s not true at all. The figure’s articulation system is excellent, and you’re going to adore what you can do with this figure. Back to the Retro Collection figure for a moment, you’re going to be quite surprised at the color differences between it and The Vintage Collection Kuiil. Sure, the 5POA lines are simple, but look at the comparison image. It’s a bit surprising to see side by side.

Kuiil has an excellent portrait. You can see Nick Nolte’s resemblance like you can in the show. Hasbro faithfully recreated the features, and we’re impressed with how well they got translated into the figure. Kuiil comes with a gorgeous paint job. The costuming appears screen-accurate to us. And it shares many of the deco applications that The Black Series 6-inch figure has. Hasbro decided to be generous with accessories for Kuiil. They included a removable scarf, backpack, and a strapped blaster rifle. While they can be displayed separately or alone with the figure, we feel that Kuiil looks the best with all the accessories attached. They fit the character’s demeanor and traits well, and Kuiil feels a bit lost without them. Hasbro focused its 2021 efforts on The Mandalorian. There’s a wealth of “The Mandalorian” goodness out there now. Unfortunately, they didn’t have it ready out of the gate when Disney announced the series. Hopefully, they won’t falter with The Book Of Boba Fett. Disney Star Wars has seemingly learned that they need to focus on a male-dominated audience who love throwbacks and calls to George Lucas’ Original Trilogy. It’s the only way merchandising will succeed. Kuiil helps add to the diverse cast of characters from The Mandalorian. And we are interested to see who is next in line. There are many characters need to pack the Razor Crest. Hasbro better get hopping!