Hey there faithful readers, we're here with another Retro Review. This time we're taking a look at the Hasbro Star Wars Black Series:...
Hey there faithful readers, we're here with another Retro Review. This time we're taking a look at the Hasbro Star Wars Black Series: Cobb Vanth Action Figure. I happened to glance at my shelf and realized I'd never reviewed this before... which is kind of sad, actually.
Cobb Vanth (also known as The Sheriff and later The Marshal), is a fictional character in the ,Star Wars franchise. Introduced in the 2015–2017 Chuck Wendig novel trilogy ,Aftermath, he is a former slave who has used the Mandalorian armor belonging to Boba Fett, scavanged by Jawas, to bring order to Tatooine "Freetown" Mos Pelgo in the five years after the events of ,Return of the Jedi. Throughout the trilogy, Cobb faces off against the Red Key Raiders mining collective, the Tusken Raiders, and a krayt dragon, and while successful in defeating the former needs a bit of help to deal with the latter.
Accessories (7/10):
Hasbro has done a solid job of outfitting Cobb Vanth. Though not separate pieces, the inclusion of Boba Fett's iconic armor, a removable helmet that reveals the character's face underneath, and a rocket pack with rotating jet nozzles catapult this figure into a league of its own. The attention to detail on the blaster pistol and rifle further enhances the figure's versatility. The only slight drawback is a minor lack of additional accessories, but given the quality of those included, it's a negligible concern.
Appearance (8/10):
Cobb Vanth stands as a testament to Hasbro's commitment to accuracy. The sculpt captures the rugged essence of the character with precision. The paint application, especially on the Mandalorian armor, is commendable. I am very impressed by the amount of detail poured into the paint applications, to give the armor that beaten, worn, damaged look. The sculpted texture in his pants, boots, and undershirt is also incredibly well done, though a black wash or, honestly, even a dusty beige wash would have given the figure more accuracy for someone living on a desert planet. This would have lent more of a "worn" look to the figure, making it more realistic. The head sculpt and paint application do a very nice job replicating Timothy Oliphant's features, and the white touches in his hair and beard turned out very nice, indeed. The removable helmet adds an extra layer of depth, allowing collectors to display the figure in two distinct ways. Overall, this is a solid looking figure, which lives up to it's television counterpart rather nicely.
Articulation (7/10):
The Mandalorian Cobb Vanth figure boasts a reasonable, though not expansive range of articulation. From the subtle movements of the head to the dynamic poses achievable with the arms and legs, this figure excels in capturing the fluidity of the character's on-screen presence. Joints are sturdy yet flexible, ensuring longevity for those who enjoy frequent reposing. A minor limitation in elbow articulation prevents a perfect score, but it's a minor quibble considering the overall fluidity of movement. Starting at the top, his head turns side to side with ease, both with and without the helmet. The neck is on a joint and allows Vanth to look down very well, with and without the helmet. His shoulders will raise out to a T pose, but the shoulder pieces on the armor, though fairly soft, run the risk of bending upward. You can rotate the arms a full 360, but again, be careful with the shoulder pieces. There is no bicep swivel, with that particular motion built into the single jointed elbow. They can bend in to about 90 degrees. Please note on the right arm, the tubes from his gauntlet to the shoulder piece are a bit stiff and need to be moved in order to accommodate the elbow bend. The wrists swivel, with the right hand having a vertical hinge, and the left with a horizontal. However, the design of the wrist gauntlet on the left hand does limit motion. Vanth has an upper torso joint, which allows for twisting, some forward and backward crunch/bends, and some side to side tilts. The legs can split to just past 90 degrees and can kick forward reasonably high. The thigh cuts work fine and are hidden nicely. The knees will bend about 90 degrees and there is a boot cut/swivel. The ankles hinge and pivot quite nicely, which is good.
Affordability (7.5/10):
While the Hasbro Black Series often hits the mark in terms of quality, affordability can be a concern for some collectors. I found mine on Amazon for $21.99, but he has increased in price and is currently there for just over $23 (on sale!). This pricing still falls inline with the bulk of the Star Wars Black Series figures, so it shouldn't come as any type of sticker shock.
Overall Impression:
The Mandalorian Cobb Vanth figure from the Hasbro Black Series is a good, solid entry in the realm of action figures. The meticulous attention to detail and the decent range of accessories make it a standout addition to any collection. While I do have some minor gripes, the overall package is undeniably impressive. Thus, Cobb Vanth earns an above average score of:
7.75 out of 10 ToyBoxes
If you're a fan of The Mandalorian or a collector seeking a high-quality action figure, Hasbro's Cobb Vanth is a must-have. Embrace the adventures of the Star Wars universe on your display shelf with this exceptional addition. Until next time... GEEK OUT!!!
