The first thing I’m going to say is that I won’t be giving the Hero Booth a score. That score is relative to Hasbro’s products at this scale, and this is so far beyond the scope of what Hasbro would attempt that giving it a score would be pointless. In fact, I don’t think I need to provide much of a written review. This is another item where I hope the pictures speak for themselves.
The most amazing aspect of this piece is that absolutely nothing looks new. Every square inch exudes wear and tear befitting the well-worn Chalmun’s catina. The pieces oozes age. It’s a funny thing. We spend all sorts of effort to keep our possessions (and bodies) from aging. Yet, when you have something that is new, you have to spend all sorts of effort to give it age. That workmanship has been done here and then some. The columns entering the booth show centuries of age as if they’ve been brushed and battered by all manner of creature hiding out cool darkness of the cantina. The rounded corners and lightened edges of the seats give the same impression.
The other thing that I find remarkable with this piece is the depth. With the exception of the bottom, there isn’t a single smooth surface. Every wall shows signs of damage and repair. It is the simulated stucco patching that really makes the piece jump out at you. I don’t own the 1:6 Sideshow cantina environment pieces, but I seriously doubt they exceed the lifelike qualities of this hero booth. This is the exact thing that we have been begging Hasbro to make as a companion piece to our figures. If Hasbro ever does get into the environment game, I fear this piece will have me spoiled.
If you would like to commission your own piece, you can contact Carl here. But please keep in mind that these are not toys or mass produced items. These are commissioned artworks, so please set your pricing expectations accordingly. If you would like to see more of Carl’s work, please visit his Flickr page.