This is so close, so tantalizing close to getting a perfect score.  But it falls just short because of a familiar refrain in the Black Series.  What is going on with the paint applications particularly on the heads?  Why does this Obi-Wan have two orange caterpillars resting on his brow?  Did he lose his natural eyebrows in a gas stove explosion and his nephew’s platonic female friend drew these monstrosities on with makeup?  YES, I admit it.  This is the second Uncle Leo eyebrows joke I’ve made with the Black Series so far, but I tried to obscure this one a bit instead of going right at it like a caveman. The eyebrows aside, the likeness is passable, but not an uncanny valley likeness by any stretch of the imagination.  The varying color paint applications to the hair are very nice an look much more natural than a monochromatic ginger mop.  The eyes on my sample are looking slightly down and to the right.  I don’t know if this is accidental or intentional, but I like it.  It gives the figure a typical Obi-Wan Kenobi inward expression.  But curse those eyebrows.

The second I was able to approximate the en garde taunt that Obi-Wan Kenobi gave to General Grievous, my love affair with this figure was on.  Notice I said “approximate” and not “replicate”.  The figure can come close to that iconic pose, but cannot balance in the exact arched back position.  Still it’s close enough for me.  The arms on the figure are a Jedi training lesson.  They require patience.  The upper tabbard limits the range of motion of the shoulders. But that tabbard is flexible.  So with a little effort, you can achieve a sufficient range of motion.  Likewise the ball jointed wrists are hampered a bit by the overhanging sleeves.  But this too can be overcome. Here’s an interesting note.  To the best of my knowledge, the ball jointed wrists on every previous release in either scale have articulated on different planes.  One wrist, typically the right, would articulate up and down.  The other wrist would articulate in and out.  On this figure, both wrists articulate in and out.  This allows for some natural two handed saber grip poses.  Unlike the two Luke Sywalker releases, the saber hilt (courtesy of the removable blade) attaches to the belt via a peg instead of a loop and hook.  This is less authentic, but lends itself to a more natural looking display.

The legs, like all 6” scale figures that do not share Stormtrooper DNA, are a dream.  The non-rotating double hinged knees are compensated for with an upper thigh swivel.  The soft goods lower tunic allows the t-crotch hips to move freely and I’m not going to go into how much I love rocker ankles for the fiftieth time.  I absolutely love this figure and but for the heavy orange eyebrows I would give it a perfect score. Alas, it earns an A- with a 9 out of 10.  I would like to deduct another point because (at the time of this review) Hasbro is insanely carrying this Obi-wan figure forward instead of the much more in demand Stormtrooper figure.  But that wouldn’t be fair to the figure. 

9/10 Bantha Skulls