Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Action Figure Review: Dengar from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase III by Hasbro

    Recently I ended up with the newest series of figures from Star Wars: The Black Series and I think it is easily one of the best series of figures they've released yet. Today I'm checking out Dengar who may very well be the best figure in the series. In fact, Dengar could quite possibly be the best figure released in 2018. When I originally began collecting the Black Series I wasn't planning on going all in; my goal was to pick up cool figures I liked until I assembled the six bounty hunters from The Empire Strikes Back. Well, that plan changed, didn't it? Still, assembling the crew of bounty hunters has been my number one goal in this line and I'm glad to say I've accomplished it. It may be a week or more until I get around to reviewing Zuckuss but I now have him, I'm checking out Dengar today, and I've reviewed Boba Fett, Bossk, IG-88, and 4-LOM. It doesn't get any better than this, right? Let's check out Dengar and see why he's one of the best releases of 2018.



 The Facts:

Height: 6 inches

Articulation: Swivel/hinge ankles, double hinged knees, swivel thighs, balljointed hips, balljointed mid-torso, swivel/hinge shoulders, swivel/hinge elbows, swivel/hinge wrists, balljointed neck, and a balljointed head.

Accessories: Backpack, DLT-19 heavy blaster rifle, and DL-21 blaster pistol.

Non-Scalper Price: $20 dollars

 The Positives:


* Dengar is easily one of the best figures in the Black Series thanks to the impeccable design and sculpting. Heck, the paintwork is really strong, too. While Hasbro has done a really good job with most figures this year it's always interesting to see what figures end up being absolute knockouts. Who would have thought it would be Dengar, right? Maybe he is someone's favorite over at Hasbro?
 * That headsculpt is just aces and it really captures a great resemblance to the late Morris Bush who, interestingly enough, was in all three of the original trilogy films. Believe it! Yeah, he was Dengar in TESB but he also appeared as Dengar again briefly in Return of the Jedi at Jabba's palace and was Darth Vader in A New Hope. Yup! According to David Prowse, Bush filled in for him after the duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi and, thus, he is really the actor kicking Obi-Wan's cloak. What a cool fact, right?



* Dengar wears various bits and pieces of Imperial armor that has been repainted a very dark, somewhat metallic brown. The detail is incredible and I love that the chest armor even seems to be a separate piece from the rest of the torso.


* The leg and waist armor is superb as well. The weathering and chipped paint on the armor looks great.  I love the Sandtrooper greaves as well. The mixture of Stormtrooper, Sandtrooper, and Snowtrooper armor is really quite cool.

* Dengar is as well articulated as nearly any other figure in the line and each of those joints has a terrific range of motion. Factor in the newer styled balljointed neck and head, you're talking about a figure that can give off some very impressive, subtle expressions. This guy is easily one of my favorites to pick up and play around with.

* I love that Dengar carries a backpack with him. It makes him seem even more rugged and weathered and ready for a long job. The backpack looks awesome and you clearly see the bedroll, canteen, and coil of rope he carries around. The backpack not only fits securely on Dengar's back but the straps on the side tuck into the sides of his armor. It looks incredible!


* While the Imperial officers come with DL-21 blasters, Dengar comes with a DL-21 with heat dissipation vanes on the muzzle. It looks awesome and makes for a cool sidearm for Dengar.


* Dengar's belt has two large pouches, a belt buckle, and a holster for the DL-21. It's really detailed and the holster is functional.


* Dengar certainly includes his primary rifle, a DLT-19 heavy blaster rifle. The sculpt is solid (although we've seen it before) and Dengar can hold it really well in multiple poses.
 The Negatives:


* I really wish the DLT-19 had some weathering. Hasbro does a great job of painting some accessories but leaves others randomly barren of detail. This one could have used an extra bit of detail.
    Dengar is an Epic figure and is possibly the best Black Series release of 2018. This has been a seriously good year for this line Dengar shows what happens when the detail. paintwork, character likeness, and accessories fire on all cylinders. Dengar is probably my fourth favorite of the bounty hunters from the bridge of the Executor and I couldn't be happier with how he turned out. I'm really excited to hit the end of 2018 and take a look at the ten best figures of the year. Dengar definitely has a spot and might even take the top spot.



Who is your fourth favorite bounty hunter? Let me know in the comments below!


This is actually the first Dengar toy I've reviewed on the site. For more figures from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase III, check out the following:

442nd Siege Battalion Clone Trooper, 212th Attack Battalion Utapau Trooper, Coruscant Guard ---(Phase II), and 501st Legion Clone Trooper 4 pack
4-LOM
Admiral Ackbar and First Order Officer
Admiral Piett
Ahsoka Tano 
AT-AT Pilot 
Baze Malbus
C-3PO
C-3PO (Resistance Base) 
Captain Cassian Andor (Eadu) 
Captain Phasma
Captain Phasma (Quicksilver Baton)
Captain Poe Dameron
Chewbacca (Target Exclusive)
Chewbacca (The Force Awakens)
Chirrut Imwe 
Clone Captain Rex (HasCon Exclusive)
Clone Commander Gree
Clone Commander Wolffe 
Constable Zuvio
Darth Revan 
Darth Vader (Emperor's Wrath)
Death Star Trooper
Dewback/ Sandtrooper
Director Krennic 
DJ (Canto Bight)
Elite Praetorian Guard
Elite Praetorian Guard (with Heavy Blade)
Enfys Nest's Swoop Bike/ Enfys Nest
Finn (First Order Disguise)
Finn (FN-2187)
Finn (Jakku)
First Order Flametrooper
First Order General Hux
First Order Snowtrooper
First Order Snowtrooper Officer
First Order Special Forces TIE Fighter
First Order Stormtrooper
First Order Stormtrooper Executioner 
First Order Stormtrooper (with Gear)
First Order TIE Fighter Pilot
Gamorrean Guard
General Leia Organa
General Veers
Grand Admiral Thrawn (SDCC Exclusive)
Grand Moff Tarkin 
Guardians of Evil 4-Pack
Guavian Enforcer
Han Solo (Exogorth Escape)
Han Solo (Solo)
Han Solo (The Force Awakens)
Hera Syndulla
Imperial AT-ACT Driver
Imperial Death Trooper
Imperial Death Trooper, Captain Cassian Andor, and Sergeant Jyn Erso (Jedha) 3 pack
Imperial Hovertank Pilot 
Imperial Shock Trooper 
Imperial Royal Guard 
Inferno Squad Agent
Jaina Solo (Legends)
Jango Fett
K-2SO
Kanan Jarrus
Kylo Ren 
Kylo Ren (SDCC 2016)
Kylo Ren (The Last Jedi) 
Kylo Ren (Starkiller Base)
Kylo Ren (Throne Room) 
Lando Calrissian (Solo)
Lando Calrissian (The Empire Strikes Back)
Luke Skywalker 
Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master) 
Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master)- Ahch-To Island
Maz Kanata 
Moloch
Obi-Wan Kenobi (Force Spirit)
Obi-Wan Kenobi (SDCC 2016)
Phase 1 Clone Trooper Commander, Phase II Clone Trooper, Imperial Stormtrooper, and First Order ---Stormtrooper Officer four pack
Poe Dameron
Poe Dameron and First Order Riot Control Stormtrooper
Porgs 
Princess Leia (Bespin Escape)
Princess Leia Organa 
Qi'ra (Corellia)
Qui-Gon Jinn
R2-A3, R5-K6, and R2-F2
Range Trooper
Rebel Trooper
Red Squadron (R2-D2, R5-D8, and R2-X2)
Resistance Tech Rose
Resistance Trooper
Rey (Island Journey)
Rey (Jakku) & BB-8 
Rey (Jedi Training)
Rey (Jedi Training)- Crait
Rey (Starkiller Base) 
Rey's Speeder (Jakku)
Sabine Wren
Sandtrooper Sergeant, Crimson Stormtrooper, Lieutenant OXIXO, and R2-Q5
Scarif Stormtrooper
Scarif Stormtrooper Squad Leader 
Sergeant Jyn Erso (Eadu)
Sergeant Jyn Erso (Jedha)
Snowtrooper 
Stormtrooper (Mimban)
Stormtrooper (With Blast Accessories)
Supreme Leader Snoke (Throne Room)
Tobias Beckett
Tusken Raider 
X-34 Landspeeder & Luke Skywalker (SDCC Exclusive) 
X-Wing Pilot Asty 

4 comments:

  1. Also grabbed the "archive" (carded) version of that guy for a cool price, and it's a really solid figure - lots of details, some great weapons and accessories, and it's just a fantastic rendition of the mean and tough looking bounty hunter. My only qualm is, I find it's a pain in the arse to get him to stand up properly, especially with the backpack on. Maybe the figure is a bit too hefty for those small feet - whatsoever, I wish they would have included a stand with those Black Series figures (I kind of have the same problem with Vice Admiral Holdo, she stands up better than Dengar, but she tends to fall all the time..).

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    Replies
    1. I've been buying the EBBCO black base stands from Amazon in bulk and they work well with most Black Series figures as well as G.I. Joe Classified, DC Universe Classics, ReAction figures, and most Marvel Legends. They're pretty affordable at $23for a pack of 50. Might solve your woes if you have access to them!

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  2. Hey, sounds great, I will check if they are available on amazon France.. Thanks for the tip, Barb !

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