Geonosian Warrior - SW [S - P2] - 12 Inch Figures

Ten years after the fight to save Naboo from invasion, the galaxy is on the brink of civil war. Under the leadership of a renegade Jedi, thousands of solar systems threaten to secede from the Galactic Republic. A courageous Jedi Knight, his impulsive and headstrong apprentice, and a queen-turned-senator are drawn into the heart of the conflict... and the beginning of war.

Geonosians are an insectoid alien species native to the red rock planet of Geonosis. Geonosians run the foundries where the battle droids are manufactured, and their leader, Poggle the Lesser, oversees battle droid production for the Trade Federation. A barbaric species often thrilled by gladiatorial executions, the Geonosians are aligned with Count Dooku and his Separatist Movement.

Every Star Wars film is great at introducing a new species that plays a pivotal background role in the story. In A New Hope, it was the Jawas that rounded up the droid duo. In Return Of The Jedi, it was the Ewoks that helped the Rebel Alliance defeat the Galactic Empire during the Battle of Endor. And in Attack Of The Clones, the Geonosian Warriors were the sentient insectoid species that oversaw the production of B1 and B2 battle droids so that they could prepare for the imminent Battle of Geonosis.... and the beginning of the Clone Wars. It was the Geonosian species that was responsible for the creation of the Galactic Empire's Death Star. When Attack Of The Clones was released, Hasbro was already too well invested in the 12 Inch Figures line. They already had produced a very satisfying array of characters from the Original Trilogy, as well as The Phantom Menace. They kept the momentum rolling and including characters from across the saga under one banner, the Star Wars “Saga” line, which went through three phases of metamorphosis before Hasbro retired the collection.

In the second phase of the Star Wars “Saga” line, Hasbro released six basic release 12 Inch Figures as well as two exclusive sets which excited, deflated and generally impressed collectors of this line. The reason why emotions ran the full gamut is that some were certainly better than others. And the Geonosian Warrior is one of the finer figures from the entire Star Wars “Saga” lineup (all phases). It’s not loaded with articulation, but the sculpt is so darn good that you’ll wish Hasbro had applied the same expertise into the 3.75” Geonosian Warrior action figure releases. (Those 3.75” figures were just never up to snuff if you asked us our opinion.) You’ll have to enjoy the structure, stature, and details of these Geonosis inhabitants via the 12 Inch Figures release. It is almost too good for words. The figure has an incredible sculpt. We’re quite impressed with how much of the character Hasbro transferred from computer-generated images into a three-dimensional toy. It has every last detail you could wish for and a paint job to bring all of these details to life. This isn’t a 12 Inch Figure to casually ignore. It’s one you should put on your wish list.

Geonosian Warrior may only come with eleven areas of the figure articulated (including the two articulated wings), but articulation is not a consideration here. Don’t misunderstand us, please. We obsess about articulation, but it is the sculpt of the Geonosian Warrior that succeeds here and is the topic in which you should focus. Then the final paint job with its pearly finish completely knocks this figure out of the park. As you look into the Geonosian Warrior’s cold black eyes, you know that it is just a worker bee preprogrammed to complete its mission at hand: to kill anything that will cease the production of battle droids in the droid factory. Ball-jointed shoulders and hinge-jointed articulation in the knees and elbows give you enough movement here to satiate your need to display him. And the included staff, albeit too short, is a nice addition that accompanies this winged beast and adds to its authenticity and realism. The Geonosian Warrior is honestly one of the finest 12 Inch Figures in the Star Wars “Saga” line. It does feel a little out of place in a line that focuses on the most major heroes and villains of the various Star Wars films. But that doesn’t affect our assessment of it at all. If it’s a one-off figure, then that is fine. It’s worthy of inclusion in the Star Wars line.