BB-8 - TFA - 12-Inch Figures

BB-8 is the spherical, loyal astromech droid of the Resistance pilot Poe Dameron.

Making its debut in the TARGET exclusive BB-8/C-3PO/R0-4LO 12-Inch Figure three-pack, collectors couldn’t wait until they got their hands on the single-packed BB-8 figure, complete with clean paint job and exclusive accessories. Although severely delayed, BB-8’s release became a reality (months after the fact), and now we have the opportunity to get this little astromech droid with accessories available nowhere else. As one of the most popular characters in Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, it’s tough to process how Hasbro didn’t make this 12-Inch Figures a number one priority for the line on Force Friday. BB-8 was released at a time when interest in collecting the toys based on the film was quickly waning. Horrid case pack ratios and awful distribution only beleaguered the poor figure more than it deserved. Nothing seems to be working in its favor. In fact, not too many people have even found this 12-Inch Figure on store shelves. Most had to acquire him online or on the aftermarket. This isn’t the way the Star Wars line should be, and collectors are losing interest in collecting thanks to all of these things blocking our path.

BB-8 was the star of The Force Awakens, and the droid is clearly a star in the 12-Inch Figure line. This version of B-8 comes with more features than you might expect. BB-8 has a swivel head, a ball-socket neck (which goes deep into the body of the figure) and two ball-jointed arms which are removable (as well as their panels) to give this simply made action figure some versatility. The two arm attachments here are NOT available in the TARGET exclusive set. As a bonus, Hasbro included an electronic effect to show that BB-8 means business if threatened. The figure is hollow and maintains balance thanks to a very subtle flattened bottom which balances the figure very nicely. The paint job is simple here and not as nice as the TARGET exclusive version. This time BB-8 has a clean paint job, and it’s been done nicely, especially for a budget figure. The lines are clean there isn’t much here to disappoint. Simply put, BB-8 looks great. Maybe figures like these aren’t the nicest figures Hasbro could produce, but you do get quality here for a minimal MSRP of $9.99. You could do a lot worse here.

As stringent 3.75” super-articulated collectors, the BB-8 12-Inch Figure still captures our interest. We were huge fans of Hasbro’s old Action Collection 12-Inch Figures line, and it’s nice to see this scale available at retail. We would like to see a different approach made to them, but many of them are made up to the standards we find acceptable. BB-8 is surely a figure that fits into this category for us. We just hope that those who want this figure can get ahold of it somehow. At this point, we don’t know what it is going to take to get the Hasbro Star Wars line healed at retail. Not being able to find new figures or seeing them arrives 10-12 months after they’re due is not showing the collecting community that Hasbro is overseeing what they should see at the retail level. The peg-warmers MUST be cleared out, and old stock must be replaced with new. Why we’re still seeing brick and mortar still utilizing the old replenishment system is almost incomprehensible now. If you can locate this 12-Inch Figure, it comes highly recommended by us. And if you already own the TARGET exclusive BB-8/C-3PO/R0-4LO 12-Inch Figure three-pack, this will still be a new version of BB-8 for you.