Darth Vader - TBS [P4] - Six Inch Figures (OWK02)

Obi-Wan Kenobi is set years after the dramatic events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith where Kenobi faced the corruption of his friend and Jedi apprentice, Anakin Skywalker turned Sith Lord Darth Vader.

A new Disney+ series with Darth Vader means a new basic figure line with another Darth Vader. It’s just how it works with Hasbro and Lucasfilm. The Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ series brings together popular characters of ages past and reintroduces them with new ones to paint a new story in between the events of the Prequel Trilogy and the Original Trilogy. But with so many near-definitive or definitive versions of Darth Vader action figures under Hasbro’s belt, it goes without saying that collectors should expect them to consistently re-release them as needed to support the current media at hand. Hasbro returned to their 2017 lineup for Darth Vader and chose the version from the Legacy Pack. They changed how the soft goods hang on the figure’s upper body, repainted it to give it more of an Episode III vibe, and then packaged it in The Black Series [Phase IV] action figure line with a new Obi-Wan Kenobi entertainment logo. There isn’t much new to write about this figure, other than it’s nice to see it again available. Darth Vader should remain a constant in the Hasbro Star Wars line, and it was an ample opportunity to include it in the line’s latest assortment and refresh it a little to support the Disney+ media.

In 2017, Darth Vader was an all-new figure, and after a couple of releases, it remains a viable action figure for the line. Originally based on the character’s appearance from A New Hope (and likely Rogue One, too), Darth Vader brought a semblance to The Black Series 6” line that wasn’t present in previous versions. The figure is streamlined, tall, imposing, and athletic, all crucial details missing from older versions. The soft goods components’ draping is contained, has beautiful flowing characteristics, and sits nicely on the figure in many poses. The deco is about as perfect as possible, but Darth Vader is typically an easy character to paint as an action figure. Overall, you’re left with a product that stands apart from the previous failed attempts in The Black Series 6-inch line. In a half-decade, Darth Vader is aging well. Not one part of the figure appears outdated, in our opinion, and it shows the impact excellent design and careful planning make in the longevity of an action figure. Darth Vader confronts his old master in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, and it appears that Hasbro captured all of the necessary details to make this action figure screen accurate to the new media.

Darth Vader comes loaded with 27 points of articulation. As you know by now, a figure with this many points of articulation has incredible flexibility in your collection. What’s more, Darth Vader’s joints and nice and tight, and the figure doesn’t move from its position once you situate it there. Darth Vader comes with a hilt and a detachable red lightsaber blade. And the nice part is that his hilt has a hook where you can hang it on the left side of the belt. This feature was forever overlooked in the 3.75-inch scaled line, so 6-inch collectors should count themselves fortunate with this added feature. Hasbro also updated the blade, thank goodness. Previously, lightsaber blades were much too lax and thin. But we noticed that Darth Vader’s lightsaber blade is thicker and more rigid. We’re glad they’re sticking with this trend. Darth Vader comes in the new standard 6-inch packaging. Hasbro chose a cobalt blue to color code the Obi-Wan Kenobi entertainment logo. It works well and is an attractive addition to the rainbow of sources added to this lineup. It would have been nice if Hasbro added some exclusive accessories with this release of Darth Vader, but this one is a cost-saving measure for the latest case assortment. And it’s terrific they got this assortment out timely.