Action Figure Review: BT-1 (Beetee) from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase III by Hasbro

    The newest series of Star Wars: The Black Series figures have started showing up and today I'm checking out the first figure from the series I managed to get my hands on: BT-1 (Beetee). A BT-1 assassin droid disguised as an astromech droid, BT-1 is half of the infamous and murderous droid duo alongside his killer counterpart 0-0-0. Originally appearing in the third issue of Marvel's Darth Vader comic series, BT-1 now appears fairly regularly in the pages of Marvel's Doctor Aphra comic. I was pretty excited last year when Hasbro announced Doctor Aphra, BT-1, and 0-0-0 as these are the first figures based on books or comics from the New Canon. Hasbro used to release a lot of Expanded Universe/ Legends stuff back in the day, and still does on occasion, so it's nice to see the New Canon supported as well. The various Marvel series have been very, very good with some strong character designs. I picked up BT-1 on my lunch break at a GameStop near my office and, apparently, they were only getting in 1 per store. Weird, huh? GameStop is getting these in separately rather than as cases. Let's check out BT-1 after the break...

 The Facts:

Height: 3 3/8ths inches

Articulation: 6 rolling wheels, 3 hinged ankles, sliding middle leg, swivel side legs, 2 hinged chest panels, 2 hinged interior arms, and a swiveling dome.

Accessories: 2 leg panels, 2 dome panels, and 4 attachable
weapons.

Non-Scalper Price: $20 dollars

 Comparison:

* When his weapons are hidden BT-1 looks like any other astromech from the dome down. That being said Hasbro simply reused the same sculpt they've been using since R2-D2 was released in the first series of Phase I figures back in 2013 (I bought that figure about a week or so after my daughter was born). For full details on the sculpt and such you may want to check back on that review or any of the other astromech sets that have been released.

 The Positives:



* I love the look of BT-1. You might think of other black astromech droids, such as R2-Q5, but he's actually a more grayish or gunmetal color. The paint applications are good and everything is very neat and clean. Of course, most of the appeal of BT-1 is when he has all of his weapon systems attached, but we'll get there in a moment.

* The dome is completely new and unique to Beetee. I love the large orange "eye" as it manages to make him look so incredibly menacing. There are lots of cool little details on the dome including some sort of sensor-like device on top. There are two removable panels on the sides. When these come off, you can attach two of his various weapons to the dome.

* Like every other R2 or R5 unit, BT-1 features two hinged panels on the front of the body that open up. Inside is a hinged claw arm on the left and a data port/ universal computer interface arm on the right. While they're part of the reused sculpt, these little features are still a lot of fun and give him even more crazy stuff popping out of his mechanical body.

* BT-1 also features the same retractable third leg that the other astromechs have. It still works just fine although if they ever completely redo this sculpt I'd like for the leg just to slide in and out rather than to lower by swiveling the dome.

* When you remove the leg panels you can attach some of BT-1's armaments. First up, on his right leg, is what looks like a series of three concussion grenades. Presumably this is a grenade launcher of some sort? It plugs in easily and stays attached fairly well.

* On the left is what looks like some sort of electrical weapons, perhaps? Or maybe flamethrowers? Who knows? Just pretend it's something destructive and you'll be good.

 * On the top right of the dome is this very, very cool blaster cannon. Not only is it massive but it has a red paint application inside of the barrel and the made cannon itself can swivel while the base of the cannon has a hinge. There's also a belt of some sort of ammunition connected to the back of the cannon. Something else fun is that when you remove the panels from the side of BT-1's dome you can place them on the side of this weapon, as if the weapon simply popped out of his housing.

 * Seriously, don't BT-1's armaments look like War Machine's? 

 This looks like a missile launcher, perhaps filing a number of smaller missiles. It's also articulated (with a swivel/ hinge launcher and a hinged base) and it looks really cool. Remember how pissed everyone was back in the day because the POTF2 R5-D4 had a missile launcher and laser cannons on his legs? I wonder if BT-1 was inspired by that figure in any way?

 The Negatives:



* The biggest problem with this figure is something that has plagued this figure since the first time it was used: It's too small! Astromechs are a bit larger than Hasbro has produced them in this line. At this point, barring an updated R2-D2, I'd kind of prefer they not change things up since they're all in scale. Still, it is a flaw worth pointing out.

* This one might be hard to depict but BT-1 has legs that are fairly rubbery. This is unique to him over other astromechs and it's problematic because it: A. Makes his legs look a bit off and B. Makes his accessory snap in more loosely than on other droids.

  Despite the issues I mentioned above, BT-1 is a very exciting figure. He looks fantastic, has some fun accessories, and really gives us something that's pretty unique. It's cool to have the New Canon represented and I'm hoping we continue to see more of it in the Black Series. BT-1 is a Great and a 1/2 figure and while he might be a bit undersized, the amount of extras he comes with more than makes up for it. It was smart on Hasbro's part to ship him in the same series as Doctor Aphra and 0-0-0 as it automatically makes for a cool little display grouping on your shelf. Find him before he finds you!




This is the first figure of BT-1 (Beetee) I've reviewed. For more Star Wars: The Black Series Phase III 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 
Battle Droid
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)
Dryden Vos
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 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)
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 Jumptrooper
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
Mace Windu
Maz Kanata 
Moloch
Obi-Wan Kenobi (Force Spirit)
Obi-Wan Kenobi (SDCC 2016) 
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)
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)
Rio Durant
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 
Val (Vandor)
Vice Admiral Holdo
X-34 Landspeeder & Luke Skywalker (SDCC Exclusive) 
X-Wing Pilot Asty 
Zuckuss