Action Figure Review: Obi-Wan Kenobi (Padawan) from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase III by Hasbro

    Today I'm checking out the sixth figure from the most recent series of Star Wars: The Black Series figures: Obi-Wan Kenobi from Episode 1. 2019 has finally been the year that we've gotten a decent collection of characters from the Prequels, possibly thanks to the fact that it is the 20th anniversary of The Phantom Menace. This isn't actually the first release of this version of Obi-Wan Kenobi, though; he was actually released as a Celebration exclusive in Episode I throwback packaging. I missed that one but I didn't fret too much because I knew this one was coming. Obi-Wan makes a great companion piece to hang alongside of Qui-Gon Jinn or to face off against Darth Maul, a figure released way back in the first series of figures from 2013. While largely the same figure as the Celebration exclusive, this figure is lacking the two interchangeable hands that figure came with. Picking up this figure reminds me a lot of getting the Episode I Jedi Duel Obi-Wan Kenobi back in 1999. Gosh, that was an exciting time back then, wasn't it? Let's check this figure out after the break...

 The Facts:

Height: 5 7/8ths 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 hilt and blade.

Non-Scalper Price: $20 dollars

 The Positives:



* There's no doubt that Obi-Wan is a fantastic looking figure. Without his robes he might not be the most exciting looking figure but Obi-Wan's cream colored Jedi outfit is definitely captured well here. The detail is excellent and the articulation is largely incorporated into the sculpt quite well.

* The headsculpt is very good with solid face printing. It's not 100% dead on, but I think that has to do with the hair, which is off a bit. The face is quite realistic, though, especially the eyes.

 * Like the more recent Jedi figures, Obi-Wan can move with the best of them. I'd wager he's more articulated than even most Marvel Legends figures, particularly due to the excellent range of motion most of his joints have, the balljointed neck and head, and the "butterfly" hinged pectoral joints. Obi-Wan is a fun, durable figure who can do pretty much anything needed for a lightsaber duel.

* Obi-Wan Kenobi comes with his lightsaber. Other than the sculpt and paint being different, there isn't really anything different here from any of the other lightsabers in the line. It's a necessary accessory for the figure and he looks great holding it, even with both hands.

 * When he needs to tote his lightsaber around on official Jedi business, just take off the blade and attach it to Obi-Wan's belt. The belt is nicely detailed with a couple small pouches and buckles, all with sharp, clean paintwork.

 The Negatives:

* I'm not so sure about Obi-Wan's hair. It looks too light to me, which throws off the likeness quite a bit. Oddly enough, his braid on the back is much darker than the rest of the hair, too. It seems more accurate than everything else.

 

   Obi-Wan is no doubt a well made figure and he shows off so many of the advances that the Black Series has made over the years, particularly in the areas of likeness and articulation. Unfortunately, Obi-Wan also still display one of the weaknesses from the early line that shows up from time to time: Weak accessorization. Why in the world would Hasbro release this Obi-Wan with no robe or Jedi communicator? Those are both key accessories for Obi-Wan in Episode I and the figure feels rather bare without them. Overall Hasbro has been improving and while Obi-Wan Kenobi (Padawan) is still a Good and a 1/2 figure, he feels incomplete. Seriously, it's so weird how hit or miss Hasbro is with the inclusion of robes for Jedi figures. Those always seem like a no-brainer of an accessory, right?





   I've reviewed a few Obi-Wan Kenobi toys on here including the Micro Machines Classic Characters Obi-Wan, Funko's Ben Kenobi #99 and Obi-Wan Kenobi #214 POP! vinyls, and the Black Series Obi-Wan Kenobi from Revenge of the Sith, Force Spirit Obi-Wan Kenobi, the SDCC 2016 Obi-Wan Kenobi from A New Hope, and the Micro Force standard ROTS Obi-Wan Kenobi and the holographic Obi-Wan Kenobi from the Advent Calendar.

For more figures from Star Wars: The Black Series 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 
Chopper (C1-10P)
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)
Doctor Aphra
Dryden Vos
Elite Praetorian Guard
Elite Praetorian Guard (with Heavy Blade)
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 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 (Death Star Escape)
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