BB-8 - SW [S] - 12-Inch Figures (Exclusive)

Brave and loyal BB-8 continues his service to Poe Dameron, but also is a good friend and resourceful ally to Finn and Rose during their mission to thwart the First Order.

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. Now it's reissued as a Walmart exclusive in the Star Wars [Solo] line, and we're not sure we needed to see BB-8 again. As one of the most popular characters in Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens in addition to Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, it’s tough to process how Hasbro didn’t make this 12-Inch Figures a number one priority. Now they're over-releasing the droid. BB-8 is a decent 12-Inch Figure, but enough is enough already.

BB-8 was the star of The Force Awakens, and the droid is likely the star in The Last Jedi. This version of B-8 comes with more features than you might expect, but the extras aren't exactly noteworthy. 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. 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.

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 hope that those who want this figure can get ahold of it somehow. The figure showed up at select Walmart stores during the holidays, but just sat and didn't sell through at all. Then they showed up online and have been on clearance for as long as we can remember. We get why this figure would have relevance at retail the first time it was released. But re-releasing the same figure with little to no changes is silly and it will only become a shelf warmer and quickly become clearance fodder. That's what is happening to this release.