Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Action Figure Review: Captain Phasma (Quicksilver Baton) from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase III by Hasbro

 Earlier this year something pretty peculiar popped up completely announced from the wintry wilds of the Great White North: An exclusive Captain Phasma action figure was popping up as an exclusive in Canadian Toys 'R Us stores. It was pretty interesting as this figure hadn't been announced or teased in any way that I'm aware of; she just started shipping. Since SDCC 2018 we've learned that this new version of Captain Phasma from The Last Jedi, marketed as Captain Phasma (Quicksilver Baton), will appear in the US as a Disney Store exclusive at some point. Who has time to wait for that? I managed to get her through my secret network of Bothan spies and now we have a review of a new Captain Phasma action figure from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase III. No Bothans died in bringing you the following review although one developed a bit of gout from eating too much Rancor jerky....




 The Facts:

Height: 6 3/4 inches tall

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

Accessories: Modified F-11D blaster, Quicksilver baton, and Quicksilver baton (extended),

Non-Scalper Price: $30-38 Canadian dollars ($23-$30 dollars US Dollars)

 Comparison:

* Here's a quick shot of the original Captain Phasma from TFA on the right and the new TLJ Captain Phasma on the left. Since this new Captain Phasma shares so much with the original figure (entire body and blaster) I will refer you to that review for all of the finer points of the articulation and the sculpt. I'll just cover the new points here.
 The Positives:

* Captain Phasma looks excellent. I'm still glad that Hasbro uses silver paint rather than trying to vac-metallize the figure. I think the silver paint just looks so much better. She's a solid sculpt that still holds up pretty well considering that it has been about three years since she was first released. The biggest difference between this figure and the previous release is the battle damage from Phasma's fight with Finn onboard the First Order Supremacy. The damage is just painted on but it does look quite a bit like the damage from the film (sans the dramatic lighting, of course). I love very scene specific Star Wars figures and this one definitely works for me.
 * The helmet is really cool. It's a completely new sculpt that features lots of scarring and damage on the helmet from where Phasma took a direct blow from Finn's Z6 riot baton. Not only is the damage present but we can see Phasma's eye through the hole, just like in the film. I really liked the Phasma novel by Delilah S. Sawson and I'm glad to see some element of Phasma revealed without her armor. I kind of hope she somehow comes back one more time. She's scheduled to appear in Resistance but that's set before TFA, I believe.

 * Since this is Captain Phasma (Quicksilver Baton), Phasma comes with her Quicksilver baton from The Last Jedi. It's a long, silver staff that has a few little techy elements blended into the sculpt. It looks like its onscreen counterpart, so that's a plus.

* In the film Captain Phasma whips out her baton and it extends to its full size nearly instantly. To help "create" the effect, Hasbro included the retracted version of the weapon. You know, little accessories like this really make a Black Series release feel deluxe. I wish more figures included them.
 * Like the original figure, Phasma comes with the same blaster as before. While at a glance it doesn't look too different from the F-11D blaster rifles the standard First Order Stormtroopers carry, the front stabling grip, the trigger, and the macroscope are quite different. The design actually reminds me a bit of the E-11s which the Imperials used. Phasma can hold it quite nicely, even in a two-handed grip.



         


* The last big difference between the original Captain Phasma and this new figure is the inclusion of an actual soft goods cape. The way it drapes over her left shoulder looks perfect and it doesn't inhibit any articulation. This is an excellent improvement and I really like it. Like the Dude's rug, it really ties this figure together.
 The Negatives:


* The belt on my Captain Phasma was loose and doesn't appear to have been glued on well. It will in place on its own most of the time but sometimes it loosens up a bit during posing.
    While she'll currently cost you a bit to import if you're not in Canada, this Captain Phasma figure improves on the original quite a bit. With a new headsculpt, a cloth cape, and two new accessories, Phasma feels like a pretty solid exclusive that doesn't feel too much like a soulless double dip. To be honest, I really like her. I'm not the biggest fan of The Last Jedi but the Phasma scene is one of the parts I really dig and this figure captures it quite well. Captain Phasma (Quicksilver Baton) is a Great figure and a cool addition to the Last Jedi offerings. Definitely worth waiting for until later this year when the Disney Store starts carrying her.


I've reviewed a couple of other Captain Phasma figures: The Funko POP! exclusive Captain Phasma [Chrome] #91 from the Smuggler's Box crate subscription and the Black Series TFA Captain Phasma.

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
Ahsoka Tano 
AT-AT Pilot 
Baze Malbus
Captain Cassian Andor (Eadu) 
Captain Poe Dameron
C-3PO
C-3PO (Resistance Base)
Captain Phasma
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
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 
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 Organa 
Qi'ra (Corellia)
Qui-Gon Jinn
R2-A3, R5-K6, and R2-F2
Range Trooper
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 
Supreme Leader Snoke (Throne Room)
Tusken Raider 
X-34 Landspeeder & Luke Skywalker (SDCC Exclusive) 
X-Wing Pilot Asty 


6 comments:

  1. Really looking forward to this one! My friend in Canada managed to secure me one, so thankfully all the guesswork is taken out of the equation.

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    Replies
    1. Good deal. I'm trying to be patient with General Veers but darn, the Canadians have him early again, too. On a serious note, it's nice to see Hasbro apparently doing a better job with North American distribution overall. I wonder what distribution is like in Mexico?

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  2. Definitely want her. I'll pose her fighting with Finn in his officer disguise.

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    Replies
    1. I have her posed alongside Finn as well. While TLJ is far from my favorite Star Wars film, I would definitely love to have a few more figures from it. I really want Rose in her First Order disguise. I love the outfit she wears in that scene.

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    2. Yeah, she wears the blue double-breasted version of the First Order uniform, seen (AFAIK) only on her and on Colonel Datoo in TFA. Datoo is another figure I want. I'd also really like Captain Peavey (the Finalizer captain who pals around with Hux throughout TLJ) and the First Order Security Bureau officer with the white uniform and shoulder holster. He can come with the black Evil!BB-8.

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    3. I'm still amazed that BB-9E was not released by Hasbro in the Black Series. Seems like a figure they would have absolutely wanted to put out.

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