Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Action Figure Review: Doctor Aphra from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase III by Hasbro

   I'm making my way through the newest series of Star Wars: The Black Series figures and next in line for review, joining BT-1 and 0-0-0, is Doctor Aphra. Hasbro was very smart to release Doctor Aphra with the Droids as the presence of all three figures automatically makes each of the individual figures more desirable. I've felt that the Black Series would benefit from more themed waves and this seems like a small step in the right direction. I love Doctor Aphra, so much so that I actually purchased the 1/18th scale Doctor Aphra figure from the Vintage Collection last Fall. We knew a Black Series version was coming, however, and here she is. What's really interesting about this figure, besides the fact that she's one of the first figures from the New Canon in the Black Series line, is that she features a lot of reuse. We've seen droids and armored troopers rely on reuse but Doctor Chelli Lona Aphra might be the first regularly clothed human figure to take advantage of clever reuse to craft a completely new figure. Yes, while you may not realize it right off the bat, Doctor Aphra reuses quite a bit from...wait for it... Jaina Solo. Yup! Who would have thought, huh? While I applaud Hasbro's commitment to using unique sculpts and accuracy for movie characters, I'm A-OK with clever reuse to offer us more characters from books and videogames. Let's see how Doctor Aphra turned out after the break...



 The Facts:

Height: 5 3/4ths inches

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

Accessories: Blaster, vest, and flight cap.

Non-Scalper Price: $20 dollars
 Comparison:

* On the left is Doctor Aphra. On the right is Jaina Solo. At a glance they look nothing alike. It turns out that the figures share torsos, waists, belts/holders, and legs/ boots. Yup. The colors and other accoutrements really hide this well, so you'd never notice it unless really staring at both figures in hand. Personally I'm thrilled with this reuse for characters from non-film media and I hope it means we see more characters like this in the future.
 The Facts:



* While she's reusing Jaina Solo's torso, waist, and legs, the paint work really does a great job of capturing the look of Doctor Aphra quite well. Aphra has new arms with short sleeves and flight gloves as well. The outfit really works well for Aphra's casual, roguish outfit and definitely feels very faithful to the character.


* Aphra's outfit is completed with the inclusion of a red vest. It fits her well and looks great. Seriously, with this vest on you'd never know that this used the Jaina Solo body at all.

* Like the Rebels figures, Doctor Aphra's portrait is Hasbro attempt to render the character as if she were a real person, allowing her to stand alongside the rest of the realistic looking Black Series figures that mostly come from films. Doctor Aphra  has a round face and straight, dark hair that obscures her left eye. I think Hasbro did a pretty solid job here. She's not quite how I picture Aphra but it's solid work nonetheless.


* Unlike the Vintage Collection figure, this Doctor Aphra figure has a removable flight cap. I love the look of this! It's weathered, worn, and has some very nice looking goggles on it. The paint work is exceptional and the fit is near perfect. She really looks great in this, doesn't she?


 * Since she used the Jaina Solo body, Aphra has some incredible articulation. Not only does she have all of the joints you'd expect but she also has a hinge joint below her mid-torso balljoint. With less extra stuff on her body than Jaina had, Doctor Aphra's articulation is even smoother and more useful.


* Like on the Vintage Collection figure, Doctor Aphra's unusual tattoos are very nicely rendered. The lines are clean and highly visible, even looking good despite the fact that they run across the elbow joint.


* Doctor Aphra shares another thing with Jaina: Her sidearm. Doctor Aphra has a standard BlasTech styled blaster pistol with a few nice paint applications.


* Doctor's Aphra belt changes pretty frequently, so I have no problem with Hasbro reusing the Jaina Solo belt as well. It looks great, fits the character, and has an excellent holster to stow her pistol away in.
 The Negatives:

* My only complaint is that Doctor Aphra's arms look a little off without the vest. Jaina Solo has thicker sleeves from her flightsuit, but Aphra's look a little too small. Again, with the vest on it looks OK but without the vest things look a bit off.
   The latest series of Star Wars: The Black Series figures is looking to be one of the strongest yet. With 6 new figures, and none of whom seem to be a dud, Hasbro is on a roll. Doctor Aphra is another Epic figure. Through lots of clever reuse and some great painting and sculpting, Hasbro has delivered another figure that definitely didn't seem like she'd be a shoe-in for the line. I really like Doctor Aphra (I've got the newest trade sitting here to read soon) and I really hope Hasbro continues to mine her comic for more great characters. For the comic based characters I'm definitely OK with Hasbro reusing parts if it means we get more characters. Even if you're not a fan of the Sequel Trilogy, the Marvel Comics have been overall pretty good and a ton of fun with some fantastic new characters. Having Doctor Aphra, BT-1, and 0-0-0 on the shelf is pretty cool and definitely makes the Black Series seem even more expansive than ever!




If you're a Doctor Aphra fan also check out my review of the Vintage Collection Doctor Aphra.

For more Star Wars: The Black Series figures, 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 
AT-AT Pilot 
Battle Droid
Baze Malbus
BT-1 (Beetee)
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

No comments:

Post a Comment

What'chu talkin' 'bout?