Kylo Ren - TFA - Build A Weapon (Forest)

A dark warrior strong with the Force, Kylo Ren commands First Order missions with a temper as fiery as his unconventional lightsaber.

It has arrived: September 4th, Force Friday, so that means all that stuff that Disney tried so desperately to keep close to the vest has been fully revealed and no longer a government secret. But if you’re a regular visitor to any Star Wars fan site, you probably saw most of the line up in one fashion or another. Obviously opinions are strong on where the Hasbro 3.75” basic figure line should be, and the thought of regressing back to five points of articulation almost 40 years after the first Star Wars figures graced the shelves in the 70s, is a bitter pill indeed for most hardcore collectors. But as Hasbro promised, there would be something for everyone.... eventually.... and that promise has come true in more ways than one. The new, while still controversial, is one that collectors should analyze for themselves (in spite of the articulation present) because the figures have been designed well, and the sculpts no longer feel like Happy Meal toys (at the moment). The first wave of Build A Weapon figures are undeniably interesting, have fantastic sculpt and good paint operations, and present a robust line of characters we personally haven’t been warmed inside about since The Vintage Collection original run.

Kylo Ren is the mysterious new villain of The Force Awakens, and if you have been keeping up to date with the spoilers, you probably already know who he is. We don’t, and we plan to keep it that way until Episode VII hits theaters. It’s just more fun that way. Anyway, the Kylo Ren “Build A Weapon” basic figure has impressed us. Think back to the Rebels line and how the Jedi Temple Guard looked despite its articulation. That’s pretty much where our opinions set themselves when it comes to appreciating Kylo Ren. The sculpt is magnificent and the paint jobs are tight and clean. Yes, they’re also simple, but we won’t deny Hasbro credit when they’ve succeeded, and they’ve completely succeeded when it comes to Kylo Ren. A swivel head sculpt has been abandoned in favor of a pseudo ball-socket one and we love the option that this gives collectors. Removable heads are always much more fun than ones that cannot be removed. Besides, Kylo Ren comes with a separately sculpted scarf that is removable (for optional display) thanks to the removable “pop off” head. Like many other “simply articulated” figures who wear lower robes, Kylo Ren has been give sculpted legs inside of them which work very well for the sculpt. We’re very happy that if it did have to go this way that it looks this good.

We should probably just develop our thoughts about Kylo Ren’s head sculpt. It too is excellently designed and decorated. We’re telling you, we’re not fans of five points of articulation, but this figures looks fantastic. Kylo Ren comes with his signature lightsaber. It too looks great for what it is. There is wavy texture in the blade and the “exhaust” from the sides looks better than expected. The figure can hold the lightsaber equally well in both hands and we’re thrilled that either hand can accommodate his awesome lightsaber accessory. When fully assembled and outfitted, Kylo Ren looks just as good as any other “high quality” action figure that Hasbro has produced to date. Yes, in case you’re interested, we can’t believe we’re conceding this either. Part of the Jungle/Desert/Forest/Snow Build A Weapon assortment, Kylo Ren comes with a weapon part that can be combined with two other parts to create a larger weapons as a pack-in premium. We haven’t had much time to play with this yet, but it looks like it could be a blast for kids, especially those that love LEGOs. It’s a neat “building” feature that is completely different that any Build A Droid thing they’ve done in the past. Conclusively, The Force Awakens line has started with a bang. We’re eager to see where it goes. Kylo Ren is a fabulous start.