Without much new coming out from Disney over the past year or two, Hasbro has been having to go back to the OT, the ST, and the Legends canon/ Expanded Universe for inspiration. I'm A-OK with that as I've ended up with quite a few characters in the Black Series who I've wanted since the line started. Dash Rendar? We got him! Now I'm getting the chance to own another character who I've looked forward to in the Black Series for over a decade: Kyle Katarn! Kyle Katarn was originally the protagonist of the 1995 video game Star Wars: Dark Forces but quickly became an incredibly popular character in the Expanded Universe back in the days before it was relegated to "Legends" status. He starred in multiple video games, novels, and comic books and while Kyle hasn't made his return to the current official canon yet, he's still a prominent character for most of us who grew up during the height of the EU (Expanded Universe, not European Union). Star Wars: Dark Forces impressed me so much that it's one of the few PC games I've ever owned. I've always hated gaming on a PC but I wanted it so bad that I added it to my Christmas list when I was in 6th grade. From the beginning of that game, Kyle Katarn impressed me. I loved the idea of this guy who did the sneaky and off the books stuff for the Rebellion (a group who was already all about subterfuge and sabotage) and the game was incredibly fun and far more impressive than Doom on the SNES and Curse of the Catacombs, the only First Person Shooters I had played at that time. While this figure is based on Kyle's appearance in later projects, especially Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II, it's still a figure of the original man who stole the Death Star plans (I will admit, though, that Rogue One is the far better story, however, and one of the best Star Wars films of them all). Ready to check out Kyle Katarn? Then join me after the break...
Height: 6 inches
Articulation: Swivel/hinge ankles, swivel/hinge knees, thigh swivels, ball jointed hips, ball jointed waist, swivel/hinge shoulders w/ lateral "butterfly" joints, swivel right shoulder pads, swivel/ hinge elbows, balljointed wrists, balljointed neck, and a barbell jointed head.
Accessories: Bryar Pistol, lightsaber, standard blade, and swinging blade.
Non-Scalper Price: $28 dollars
* Here's a quick shot of the new Black Series version of Kyle Katarn (left) and my 1990s Kenner Star Wars: Expanded Universe Kyle Katarn (right). Kenner's version is something of a blending of Kyle from both Dark Forces games as he has the beard of the JK:DF2 character but is wearing the armor of the DF1 character. Kenner even added a beard to the Dark Forces image of Kyle Katarn on the package!
* Kyle Katarn isn't really dressed in any crazy elaborate outfit. He's very classic Star Wars: Basic clothes that look a little sci-fi and maybe a little Renaissance festival inspired and lots of earth tones. Still, that's what he looked like in Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II. Your mom might mistake him for Obi-Wan Kenobi or Cassian Andor (assuming she knows who Cassian Andor is). Still, it's pretty accurate and you'll recognize him right away if you know who he is. His "shirt" is actually a separate piece over the torso, kind of like last year's Episode IV Luke Skywalker update. I'm not really sure why (maybe it's the same torso under there, even?) but it does look solid in person.
* Kyle's likeness isn't based on the original Dark Forces but instead on Jason Court's appearance in Dark Forces II. He's a slim, average white guy with a beard and good hair. Nothing crazy special but, again, it does look like the character. The beard print is pretty good; it's amazing the difference that the face-printing technology has made in this line.
* Kyle's bracers (on both arms) look impressive and have a leather-like texture in the sculpt, along with some little silver rivets. He's also sporting a shoulder pad on his right side that can swivel, allowing you to move it with the sculpt. That's a nice feature and it ensures it's always properly in place when posing Kyle.
* Hasbro included Kyle Katarn's special Bryar pistol is actually a blaster rifle that was cut down, so it packs a lot of punch in a smaller size. It's a great design and inspired the pistol that Cassian Andor uses in the series as well (the MW-20 Bryar Pistol). The sculpt is sharp and the pistol gets a paint hit on the handle.
* Kyle Katarn used three lightsabers with three different blade colors during his time; green, yellow, and eventually blue. The blue bladed lightsaber here is the model Kyle built himself and has a longer handle which I'd assume makes it better for holding with both hands. It's cool to see it get it's own unique sculpt with clean paint applications. As almost always, the blade is removable. They're much easier to remove these days and feel way more solid than in the past.
* While multiple blade colors (or multiple sabers in general) would have been preferable, Hasbro did throw in a blade effect that makes the saber look like it's in motion. The blade is a much deeper blue here than on some other figures in the line, and I think it makes the overall effect look less convincing, but it's still kind of neat. You can look at this and just hear the lightsaber humming and swooshing effect.
* Where does Kyle Katarn's Bryar pistol go? In this convenient holster on his left hip. He's a crossdraw man!
The Negatives:
* It'll stay in place on the shelf but be careful moving him around with this on; it's likely to fall off. The peg is rather tiny and quite loose.
This is the first figure of Kyle Katarn I've reviewed on the site. For more Star Wars: The Black Series Phase IV reviews, check out the following:
Ponda Baba
Prince Xizor
Princess Leia Organa (A New Hope)
Princess Leia Organa (Star Wars: Princess Leia)
Prince Xizor
Princess Leia Organa (A New Hope)
Princess Leia Organa (Star Wars: Princess Leia)
Princess Leia Organa (Endor)
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