This review is being published on the 4th of July, otherwise known as the American Independence Day.  We typically don’t post much content on holidays, because people don’t tend to be in front of their computer screens.  To our American readers, we wish you a Happy Fourth of July, but Bantha Skull’s audience is growing increasingly international.  Most of this growth comes from English speaking countries, so to our friends in the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, thank you.  But we’re also seeing growth in Mexico and other Latin American countries, and to you we say gracias.  Finally we’re growing a modest audience in Japan.  This is presumably due to the increased use of Google Translate.  To our Japanese readers, arigatou.  It’s with these international readers in mind that we bring you our review of the Retro Collection The Mandalorian on this day.

First, let me say that I’m not a fan of the Retro Collection for the most part.  With the exception of Darth Vader, I wasn’t moved by the initial Episode IV offerings, even though those were the first Star Wars figures I ever got in my life.  I was still too young to appreciate the cards at the time.  I don’t remember pouring over the backs of those 12 and 20/21 back figures agonizing over the figures I did not yet own.  I did have interest in a few of The Empire Strikes Back Retro wave, particularly Lando Calrissian and Boba Fett.  Lando was the first Empire figure I got as a kid, and Boba Fett is Boba Fett.  If/When the Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker gets released in 2023, I will buy ever single one I see, but that’s about it unless Hasbro does something mind blowing like releasing a Retro Yak Face.  As far as making purposely dumbed down versions of characters from a modern source, I can’t stress the degree to which I do not get the appeal.  Retro figures that do not have vintage counterparts make about as much sense to me as retro televisions.  Fortunately for Hasbro, my opinion does not matter.  These figures are flying off the shelves at an impressive rate.  There are a great many collectors and casual buyers who enjoy these.

As far as this Mandalorian figure goes, it stands well, which is always appreciated especially since the lack of articulation would have exacerbated any balance issues.  With respect to being “retro”, I fell the figure is almost too good.  I can’t imagine a vintage Kenner figure having this many paint masks and paint applications.  The first time I saw this Retro Collection Mandalorian, it was hanging on the pegs of Gamestop.  I initially glimpsed it our of the corner of my eye and for s split second I thought it was the VC166 - The Mandalorian figure.  I also feel there may be a tick too much detail in the sculpt.  As an example, I don’t think Kenner would have sculpted the detail into the back of the helmet.  This figure is almost like something between the end of the vintage Kenner line and its return in 1995 with the Power of the Force “2” line.  Maybe that’s the point, and Hasbro is correcting the severe deviation from the universe’s intended timeline.  In the correct timeline where Lucas keeps making Star Wars live action entertainment after Return of the Jedi,  perhaps this is what the figures would have looked like.  I guess I can appreciate that.

In keeping with Bantha Skull tradition, Retro Collection figures do not receive a grade.