Obi-Wan Kenobi - TAC - Basic (08 01)

Obi-Wan holds onto hope that he and Padmé can turn Anakin back from the dark side. But on Mustafar, he realizes that all is lost and Anakin has been consumed by evil. Obi-Wan is viciously attacked by Anakin and battles for his life in a climactic duel surrounded by molten lava rivers.

While this isn't the first time we've broached this subject, it is evident that Hasbro has very little trouble in making excellent and accurate Prequel and Original Trilogy Obi-Wan Kenobi action figures. They all quickly become favorite action figures (no matter what film the character is based) and it seems for the most part it is for good reason. They all are designed very well and Hasbro clearly spends time making the likenesses as great as possible. In fact, collectors just couldn't get enough of the Episode III version of Obi-Wan and even today continues to be one of the most frequently available carded figures in the basic figure line. This is also evidenced by its continual disappearance at retail. It is very quite amazing how he keeps selling through time and again at retail despite his constant presence in various wave assortments. And as time moves on, every incarnation of Obi-Wan tends to get better and better. While this may be simple common sense that new versions of figures should get better and better with time, Obi-Wan seems to get better year by year (or in even less time). This latest version is indeed Obi-Wan Kenobi at Hasbro's sculpting finest and we think that Hasbro has yet to improve upon its beauty and near perfection. Utilizing the awesome 2005 ROTS Obi-Wan Kenobi (III 55) action figure, Hasbro improved the things that needed improving to a most satisfying degree and made a spectacular definitive version.

You are already familiar with most of this figure's body already, but as the first figure of 2008, Obi-Wan has been updated with the much-requested ball-jointed legs. They work excellently on this figure and it is a distinct pleasure to pose Obi-Wan with this new enhancement. Also updated is his head sculpt. We really never have issues with the way Hasbro sculpts the heads of Obi-Wan Kenobi action figures and this figure is no exception. It is probably the best Episode III Obi-Wan Kenobi likeness yet. And we don't expect Hasbro to improve it by much more if at all. He has the perfect concerned look on his face and his hair has been parted in a very authentic fashion. The coloring on the figure from head to toe is spectacular and the action figure has a beautiful posture. Because of his ball-jointed hips, Obi-Wan Kenobi has nearly limitless posing capability and this is reason enough to purchase it for your collection. He only comes with a lightsaber, he can hold it very well and in multiple action poses. We bet you will find this a pure joy to play with because we certainly did. Likely to repeat itself in future basic figure lines, Obi-Wan Kenobi is absolutely a figure that deserves rerelease after rerelease.

Released as part of the first wave(of two total final 2008 waves) that encompasses the post 30 (77-07) line, Obi-Wan Kenobi came with a personalized action figure stand instead of a collector's coin. Many fans preferred to get the stands in lieu of the coins. And then there was a large group of collectors who preferred the coins. But no matter your preference, the great thing was that Hasbro included a bonus pack-in for these last 15 figures. Unfortunately, sometimes the stands were rendered useless because of the action figure's ball-jointed ankles that severely limited the depth of the peg hole on the foot. Or the natural design of the figure did not make it necessary to come with an action figure stand. While it was nice to get a stand that had Obi-Wan's name on it, his foot peg hole was too shallow and you couldn't press him all the way down on it. But to be completely honest, we don't buy figures for the stands. This figure is excellent based on its own merits obviously. And this Obi-Wan Kenobi figure will forge its way to the forefront of your collection as the definitive Episode III interpretation of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Now, only if Anakin can be made in a similar way, we would have two phenomenally designed figures to recreate that pivotal battle on Mustafar. Hopefully we won't have to wait too much longer!