Vintage Collection

VCBASIC

The Mandalorian

Info and Stats
Number:  
VC166
Year:  
2020
MSRP:  
$12.99
Definitive Status:  
Definitive
 
This is the only version of this item you will need.
Suggested Hasbro Action:  
No Action
Grade:  
10/10 Bantha Skulls
 
* Bantha Skull is compensated for any purchases made through these Ebay links.
* Bantha Skull is compensated for any purchases made through these Ebay links.
Review by: Chris
Review date: 03/10/2020

During our Q&A at the 2020 Hasbro Entertainment Brand Preview Event (NY Toy Fair), Patrick from Hasbro said the following:

...the Vintage scale unlocks the whole world building in a way that Black Series 6” doesn’t, but I also love the detail in Black Series 6”.

I think someone from the Vintage Collection team heard that and said:

Hold my beer and watch this.

Behold!  Above is the best figure in the history of the Vintage Collection.  This is now the standard bearer against which all future figures will be judged.  Something tells me this figure won’t hold the title for long.  The newly sculpted Vintage Collection figures seem to be advancing at a rapid rate.  Perhaps that’s because there is such a long stretch between the waves. 

When I first opened this figure, I texted Mr. Nomadscout and said that it was a 9 out of 10.  I said it was an otherwise 10 out of 10, but I could never bring myself to give a figure with a plastic cape a perfect score.  Then I started posing it for photography.  It moved somewhat effortlessly from pose to pose, and I was able to achieve almost the exact poses I envisioned in my mind’s eye.  If this had rocker ankles, which have sadly disappeared from the 3.75” scale after a brief flirtation in 2013, it would have freakish posability.  Once I realized the figure could achieve all these looks, I texted Mr. Nomadscout and said to ignore my previous message.  This is, in fact, a 10 out of 10.  Then I thought I should really try to get the figure to shoulder the Amban sniper rifle.  When I realized my efforts were successful and saw that the floating trigger figure was tucked perfectly inside the trigger guard, I let out a squeal of joy.  Another text was fired off.  This is an 11 out of 10 figure.  Mr. Nomadscout replied, “Who is this?”  What a cut up.

The patchwork armor worn by Din Djarin for the first two-plus episodes of The Mandalorian is nicely captured across multiple paint applications including some wear and battle damage.  The Mandalorian “Swiss Army Soldier” gear is present with weaponry tucked in throughout, including some callbacks to the original Fett armor.  But perhaps the most notable detailing is with the helmet.  Somehow Hasbro managed to capture a worn patina look.  It’s frankly amazing.  The only thing I can say about the deco is that perhaps the colors are a shade too light, but that is difficult to ascertain from a TV show with so many dark interior shots.  In the few direct sunlight shots, the brown does appear to match the lighter color of the figure, but I feel a darker “coffee” brown would have been a little better here as a personal preference.  The color does seem to match very close to the scenes of Mando on Arvala-7 where he first finds The Child.  Since this is where most of the action takes place while Din is wearing the patchwork armor, this was probably the basis of the design decision.

My biggest gripe is that he has very little to interact with.  To date, we have three basic figures from The Mandalorian: Cara Dune and the Remnant Stormtrooper.  There’s also the Klatooinian Raider that came as a pack in with the AT-ST Raider.  Mando wears this junkyard armor for the first two episodes and a little bit of the third episode at which point The Armorer upgrades him to Beskar.  He doesn’t meet Cara Dune or the Raiders, nor does he get into any meaningful scuffles with the Stormtroopers until after upgrading to the Beskar.  When he’s wearing this armor, he interacts with Kuiil, rides a Blurg, fights off-world Jawa’s, teams up with IG-11 and fights an army of Nikto guards.  We have none of those things. We need them for this figure to realize its full potential. [Editor’s Note:  The Armoror, The Child, The Client, Greef Karga, and Dr. Pershing would also be welcome, please and thank you.]

The fact that this figure looks as good as it does and can do as much as it does really makes me further question why anyone would opt for the larger scale.  I’m not trying to throw shade at TBS collectors.  I’m saying that I don’t personally get it.  I feel like we can finally have it all.  We have a highly detailed and ultra posable figure while also being able to unlock the world. Well, potentially unlock the world.  That is of course only if Hasbro heeds the rooftop screams for more TVC Mandalorian product.

Finally, this figure makes me sick that the Evolutions Boba Fett from 2008 is still shipping in the VC09 packaging to this date.  I WANT A NEW BOBA FETT AND I WANT IT RIGHT NOW.  This figure is a tease of what a new Boba Fett figure could be.

At the time of this review, this VC166 - The Mandalorian figure is available for pre-order at Entertainment Earth (SPONSORED).

* Bantha Skull is compensated for any purchases made through these Ebay links.
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