This is the Way: Plo Koon from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase III by Hasbro

 

   Since I just took a look at the Episode II version of Anakin Skywalker a couple days ago let's now take a look at another figure from the Episode II themed last full series of Star Wars: The Black Series Phase III figures. Today I'm checking out Plo Koon, the Jedi Master who had a pretty significant role in The Clone Wars but who didn't have a single line of dialogue in the Prequels despite appearing in all three films. Plo Koon is a Kel Dor (but not Keldor!) from the planet Dorin who fought in many battles during the Clone Wars, though he might be most well known to fans for being the Jedi who discovered a young Ahsoka Tano and brought her back to the Jedi Temple to train. Considering that the Black Series has been going for over 7 years now (I received my first series figures around the week that my daughter was born) it's surprising that Hasbro is just now getting around to so many Jedi figures. In years past Hasbro released as many Jedi as they could but for quite a few years they've largely avoided Prequel based figures. It's nice to see things loosening up, though, as we've received some great stuff from the Prequels and The Clone Wars lately. Let's take a look at Master Plo Koon after the break...

The Facts:

Height: 6 1/4ths inches

Articulation: Swivel/hinge ankles, double hinged knees, swivel thighs, ball jointed hips, ball jointed abdomen, butterfly pecs, swivel/ hinge shoulders, swivel/hinge elbows, swivel/hinge wrists, a balljointed neck, and a ball jointed head.

Accessories: Lightsaber (blade and hilt) and robe.

Non-Scalper Price: $20 dollars

The Positives:

* Before we get to the headsculpt (which is the best part of Plo Koon) we have to talk about his robes. Plo Koon reuses Mace Windu's body with a new head, new hands, and a new robe. Plo Koon's robe is a bit different than many of the Jedi robes as it fits over his head and around his neck, rather than just fitting over his arms and shoulders. It's a great looking garment and seems quite accurate to what we see in the films and on The Clone Wars. It's not easily removable as you'll have to pop off his head but, then again, there's not really a reason to remove it: Plo Koon even wore his robe on Geonosis in Attack of the Clones while the rest of the Jedi just wore their tunics, so he seems to always favor keeping it on.

* Plo Koon's headsculpt is amazing. The work on his head and its unusual anatomy is impressive. This is easily one of the best headsculpts we've seen this year from Hasbro in the Black Series and they've really been on a roll, so that's saying something. The work on his breathing mask and eye covers is impressive, too. This is some of the highest quality work I've seen on a 1/12th scale figure in recent memory for sure.

* I love Plo's cool hands! Those metal finger tips are incredibly cool!

* Since Plo Koon reuses Mace Windu's body he has all of the excellent articulation that Mace had including the "butterfly" shoulder joints. He's durable and lots of fun to pose. It's great to finally have a small group of Jedi now, isn't it? We really need some more, though. Aayla Secura, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Quinlan Vos, and Luminara Unduli are some of the highest on my wish list.

* Like any Jedi, Master Plo Koon comes with his lightsaber. It looks excellent with a translucent blade and a well painted hilt.

* Hey, guess what? The tip of the lightsaber blade doesn't feel as flimsy as most past saber blades. Furthermore, the new design on the tip makes it easier to remove and keeps the blade straighter in the hilt!

* Plo Koon reuses Mace Windu's body, which had a fantastic sculpt. The colors are redone and look quite nice, too. But there's a problem...

The Negatives:

* Plo Koon has a very different style of tunic underneath his robes (which he wears all the time as far as I can remember) that has a very unusual, high collar. Hasbro tried to fudge it by using the "non-removable" robe but it's clearly still incorrect.

   

   Plo Koon turned out to be a really impressive figure. The Attack of the Clones series of figures seemed kind of dull but this Jedi Master is definitely a high point. He's a Great and a 1/2 figure that really delivers despite the reused and inaccurate torso. I'm always surprised that Hasbro doesn't offer more Jedi but, then again, most of them wear shades of brown and carry a lightsaber, so there isn't a ton of variation. The various species represented in the Jedi Council at least help the figures stand out more. Plo Koon should stand out, though, and he's worth tracking down for sure. 

I believe this is the first action figure Plo Koon I've reviewed on the site. For more figures from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase III check out the following:

0-0-0 (Triple Zero)
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 
Anakin Skywalker (Padawan)
AT-AT Pilot 
Battle Droid
Baze Malbus
Boba Fett (Carbonized)
BT-1 (Beetee)
C-3PO
C-3PO & Babu Frik
C-3PO (Resistance Base) 
Cal Kestis
Captain Cassian Andor (Eadu) 
Captain Phasma
Captain Phasma (Quicksilver Baton)
Captain Poe Dameron
Cara Dune
Chewbacca (Target Exclusive)
Chewbacca (The Force Awakens)
Chewbacca & C-3PO
The Child
Chirrut Imwe 
Chopper (C1-10P)
Clone Captain Rex (HasCon Exclusive)
Clone Commander Bly
Clone Commander Gree
Clone Commander Fox
Clone Commander Obi-Wan Kenobi
Clone Commander Wolffe 
Constable Zuvio
Count Dooku
Darth Revan 
Darth Vader (Emperor's Wrath)
Death Star Trooper
Dengar
Dewback/ Sandtrooper
Director Krennic 
DJ (Canto Bight)
DJ R-3X
Doctor Aphra
Dryden Vos
Elite Praetorian Guard
Elite Praetorian Guard (with Heavy Blade)
Emperor Papatine and Throne
Enfys Nest's Swoop Bike/ Enfys Nest
Ezra Bridger
Finn (First Order Disguise)
Finn (FN-2187)
Finn (Jakku)
First Order Flametrooper
First Order General Hux
First Order Jet Trooper
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 Grievous
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 (Mimban)
Han Solo (Solo)
Han Solo (The Force Awakens)
Heavy Battle Droid
Heavy Infantry Mandalorian
Hera Syndulla
IG-11
Imperial AT-ACT Driver
Imperial Death Trooper
Imperial Death Trooper, Captain Cassian Andor, and Sergeant Jyn Erso (Jedha) 3 pack
Imperial Hovertank Pilot 
Imperial Jumptrooper
Imperial Patrol Trooper
Imperial Probe Droid
Imperial Shock Trooper 
Imperial Royal Guard 
Inferno Squad Agent
Jaina Solo (Legends)
Jango Fett
Jango Fett (Star Wars: Bounty Hunter)
Jannah
Jedi Knight Revan
K-2SO
Kanan Jarrus
Knight of Ren (Vicrul)
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 (Death Star Escape)
Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight)
Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master) 
Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master)- Ahch-To Island
Luke Skywalker (Skyalker Strikes)
Luke Skywalker (Yavin Ceremony)
Mace Windu
Maz Kanata 
Moloch
Obi-Wan Kenobi (Force Spirit)
Obi-Wan Kenobi (Padawan) 
Obi-Wan Kenobi (SDCC 2016) 
Offworld Jawa
Padme Amidala
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)
Purge Stormtrooper
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 & D-O
Rey (Island Journey)
Rey (Jakku) & BB-8 
Rey (Jedi Training)
Rey (Jedi Training)- Crait
Rey (Starkiller Base) 
Rey's Speeder (Jakku)
Rio Durant
Sabine Wren
Sandtrooper Sergeant, Crimson Stormtrooper, Lieutenant OXIXO, and R2-Q5
Scarif Stormtrooper
Scarif Stormtrooper Squad Leader 
Scout Trooper
Second Sister Inquisitor
Sergeant Jyn Erso (Eadu)
Sergeant Jyn Erso (Jedha)
Shadow Stormtrooper
Sith Trooper
Snowtrooper 
Stormtrooper (Mimban)
Stormtrooper (With Blast Accessories)
Supreme Leader Snoke (Throne Room)
Tobias Beckett
Tusken Raider 
Val (Vandor)
Vice Admiral Holdo
Wedge Antilles
X-34 Landspeeder & Luke Skywalker (SDCC Exclusive) 
X-Wing Pilot Asty 
Yoda (Force Spirit)
Zorii Bliss
Zuckuss