Tuesday, December 4, 2018

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

 I'm getting ready to chastise Hasbro two times, but for completely different reasons. First: Darn it, Hasbro! Why in the world was Rio Durant not released as part of the initial line up of toys for the Solo product debut? Seriously, Hasbro: You should have had characters like Rio, L3-37, Tobias Beckett, Dryden Vos, and Qi'ra in the outfit she actually wears for most of the film ready for the film's release. What the heck? Now, for the second chastisement: Darn it, Hasbro! How am I supposed to make a list of the ten best Star Wars figures of 2018 when you keep putting out better and better figures? Rio Durant is another figure could easily be one of the best of the year. Discover why this Ardennian is one of the best Black Series figures yet released after the break...



 The Facts:

Height: 4 7/8ths inches

Articulation: Swivel/hinge ankles, swivel/hinge knees, balljointed hips, balljointed waist, balljointed mid-torso joint, swivel/hinge shoulders (x4), bicep swivels, swivel/hinge elbows (x4), swivel/hinge wrists (x4), and a double balljointed head.

Accessories: Two blasters and goggles.

Non-Scalper Price: $20 dollars
 The Positives:


* Dang, Rio looks great, doesn't he? Rio Durant is the first Ardennian we've met in the Star Wars galaxy and Hasbro did a great job of capturing the character's likeness. He's short and decked out in pilot's gear. With four arms, chest straps, a wired headset, and a holster, Rio feels like a very substantial figure who is loaded with sculpted detail.


 * The headsculpt is quite good. It's accurate and captures Rio's likeness well, particularly his wrinkly skin and his eyes. I wish he were a bit more expressive and had more visible hair on his face, but the likeness is solid. He also has an earpiece in his left ear that is attached via a cord to his vest. The earpiece is removable and can be positioned up and down, however.



 * Rio's harness is quite detailed. It's a separate piece and features lots of detailed paint applications. I'm really digging it as well as the flight-suit details underneath.


* Here's a quick shot of Rio Durant's arms. Again, as an Ardennian, Rio has four arms. He kind of reminds me of Deadeye Duck from Bucky O'Hare! Anyways, not only are his sleeves really detailed but hi arms are insanely well articulated.


* While he is smaller than most figures in the line Rio Durant actually has more articulation, particularly due his multiple arms and inclusion of a balljointed waist. He is insanely fun to play with and looks great in multiple poses!

 * I'm a sucker for goggles and this most recent series of Star Wars: The Black Series figures has a few figures with removable goggles. Rio has some great oversized goggles with translucent red lenses. They are meant to be displayed on the fiugre's forehead bit, with a little finagling, you can position them over Rio's eyes as well.

* Not only does Rio Durant have four hands but he also has interesting hand-like feet. They're well articulated and he can stand well on them. What else is there to ask for, right?


* Rio includes a SE-14r light repeating blaster. It's a really nicely sculpted version of one of my favorite Star Wars pistols and Rio Durant looks awesome wielding it.


*  I'm not sure what model of blaster this is that Rio's toting but I like the design. It's really cool and has a great vibe to it.



* Last, but not least, Rio has a belt with a functional holster to store his blaster. It's quite detailed and looks fantastic.
   Man, Rio Durant is another homerun for this line, right? Awesome articulation, incredible sculpting and paint, lots of cool detail, and two blasters. While I wish Hasbro had figures of the main crew ready for retail when Solo first came out, that doesn't at all negate the fact that they did an amazing job with this one. Rio Durant is confirmed Epic and is absolutely going to be on my top ten Black Series figures of 2018 list. Probably. To be honest, Hasbro just keeps cranking out better and better figures in this line so it's tough to say who will make it on there. Rio has a pretty awesome shot, though.


This is the first action figure of Rio Durant I've reviewed on the site. For more Star Wars: The Black Series figures, 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
Dengar
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 Patrol Trooper
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) 
L3-37
Lando Calrissian (Solo)
Lando Calrissian (The Empire Strikes Back)
Lando Calrissian (Skiff Guard)
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 
Princess Leia Organa (Hoth)
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 

13 comments:

  1. Definitely want this guy, Val and L3. And Dryden Vos when he comes out. Now if only Hasbro will give us Aemon Gremm or another one of Vos' guards...

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    Replies
    1. I'm waiting to get Dryden, too. I had him, mudtrooper Han, and Holdo preordered through Amazon but they cancelled all the preorders due to the dates changing. Solo had some fantastic character design and Aemon Gremm is a great one. Heck, I'd love some of the Pykes too. They were fantastic. And the Cloud Riders. Those were solid designs. Man, had this been ten years ago we could probably have counted on getting these from Hasbro.

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    2. Yeah, Enfys' team were all pretty badass designs. I'd kill for one each of them, plus Gremm and a generic army builder guard from Dryden's yacht. Much like Rogue One, Solo has so much untapped figure potential. And, dang it, Hasbro, where's my Master Codebreaker?!

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    3. I'm still waiting for Sidon Ithano from TFA. That's one of my most wanted figures.

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    4. OMG I would pass up all the recent Black Series for a Sidon Ithano! I love that design.

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    5. I'd completely forgotten about Ithano! Yeah, he and Quiggold need 6" figures stat!

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    6. Yeah, those guys are definitely my most wanted figures from TFA.

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  2. Seems unlikely at least we got the full solo team

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    Replies
    1. True, but we can hope. Since Hasbro still has Solo figures coming out (which were only announced a few months back) maybe they're happier with the sales of these than we know (or they were further along in production). While the Force Awakens was the most expansive line, which makes sense, I think the Solo line is probably the second most expansive of the new films thus far. We really do need a new Qi'ra though.

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  3. I've been dying for this figure since the Solo trailer. Hope I find him soon!

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    Replies
    1. I picked him up from Hasbro Toy Shop back near the end of October. Keep looking!

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