Greetings everyone and welcome to the long overdue third edition of Freestanding Figure. Gray Fox here, fully recovered from the bitter sickness that gripped my body. For this review, I bring you the Walgreens Exclusive Star Wars: The Black Series Prototype Armor Boba Fett. This figure is based on the initial designs by Star Wars concept artist Ralph McQuarrie and how he envisioned the Galaxy's most deadly (or perhaps most overrated?) Bounty Hunter. McQuarrie is responsible for the initial designs of basically every Star Wars character, including Darth Vader, C-3PO, Chewbacca, R2-D2, the Stormtroopers, Luke, Leia, Han, and many others. It was he that initially suggested Vader wear a breathing apparatus, if that underlines his significance any further.
©Ralph McQuarrie (Concept Art)
Figures a little more exacting in their replication of McQuarrie's concept art were released a few years ago in the 3.75 scale, and while this figure isn't EXACTLY like the first appearance McQuarrie intended, it's likely to be the only thing we'll get like it in this scale. As mentioned above, this figure was only available at Walgreens as an exclusive retailing for 19.99. The packaging is in line with the rest of the Star Wars Black Series, with a nice large black matte window box with blue accents displaying the figure and his accessories. Unlike the rest of the Black Series, Prototype Boba Fett is NOT numbered.
Boba Fett is the clone and son of the most skilled and notorious bounty hunter in the Galaxy before the rise of the Empire, Jango Fett. Roughly a decade before Episode 1, a Jedi Master was sent to Kamino through Palpatines eternal machinations to create a Grand Army of the Republic. This army would be comprised of clones of the best template possible: the galactically feared manhunter, Jango Fett. These clones would be significantly altered to suit specific tasks and functions, behave in a more docile manner, age at an accelerated rate twice that of a regular human, augmented physically, senses sharpened, fed and trained in a specific regimen to hone them into one of the greatest fighting forces the Galaxy would ever see.
As a stipulation for the use of his DNA, Jango required a large sum of money and a single clone, genetics unaltered and untampered with in any way, for him to raise from infancy as his son and heir to his legacy (Clearly Jango was skilled at everything save the art of romance). Trained under his father's tutelage from traditional Mandalorian starting age of 5, as well as having the whole of Tipoca City, Kamino as his playground and his clone brothers as playmates, Boba was already well versed in many skills such as hand to hand, marksmanship, computer system operations, piloting and takeoff procedures, survival skills and techniques by the time we encounter him in Episode 2 around age 10. Yet this was the age tragedy would strike when he witnessed the only family he'd ever really known, the mighty Jango Fett, decapitated in battle at the hands of Mace Windu. Naturally very deeply disturbed and scarred by this, he used the trauma and pain, Batmanesque, to push himself to become the greatest warrior he could be and carry on his father's legacy. Boba obtained a reputation for always retrieving his pray, pursuing them ruthlessly until they're captured dead or alive. He not only inherited his father's title of Mand'alor, greatest champion and leader of the Mandalorian people who are renowned as the best soldiers, bounty hunters, assassins, and mercs in the Galaxy, as well as his reputation of greatest bounty hunter in the Galaxy.
I can't stress how difficult this figure was to track down. Upon hearing that he'd be released around December 2014 a couple months in advance of the release date, I was determined to get a jump on him (lest I be subjected to after-market tyranny, Boba Fett's rabid fanbase, and the difficulty getting anything during the Christmas season) by visiting multiple Walgreens weekly throughout the month of December. Low and behold, after 2 and a half weeks of no results I inquired as to the nature of this special release with a Walgreens manager (having read about shortages and some stores not receiving their Boba figures at all). He told me they had gotten one box of about 20 figures that sold out immediately, several people having also inquired and purchasing theirs the day of release. Dejected, I purchased a McFarlane Assassins Creed figure and went home. That following Tuesday I hit paydirt and got Darth Vader, Luke from Episode 6, and my coveted prototype Boba Fett. The Vader went to a dear friends formidable collection, the Luke to my little brother. Boba was, without question staying with me.
Upon removal from the outer box, we find Boba in a plastic tray that he and his accessories can fit back into and easily works for storage purposes. I have to say, this trend of collector friendly packaging becoming more prevalent in American figures is pleasing me to no end. Once again, a US company is taking note of standard conventions in Japanese figures/toys to great effect. Boba comes equipped with his Sacros K-11 blaster pistol 'The Disintegrator', his EE-3 carbine rifle, and Mitrinomon Z-6 jetpack all removable, with the rest of his equipment all sculpted throughout the rest of his body. They have all the little details, such as his wrist mounted miniature flame launcher, wrist laser, and foot spikes molded into the armor, even including touches like the three braided wookie scalps on his shoulder. His Journeyman Protector Honor Sash is made of soft goods and the disintegrator pistol fits perfectly into its holster. He is cast in white which holds a very different aesthetic from the Standard Color version, though it is the exact same sculpt (it even still bears some of the superficial wear-and-tear of the standard version, like the small dent in the helmet). He fits in perfectly with most 6 and 7 inch scale figures from numerous series (Marvel Legends, DC Universe/Collectibles, NECA, etc) as well. Jango and Boba were never that tall. Sort of a Wolverine effect, the short and tough-as-nails badass. It stands to reason he wouldn't be as tall as, say, John J. Rambo or the Batman. Speaking of...
It is admittedly a little more difficult than it should be to get his rifle into both hands in an aiming/firing pose, though it can be done with a little tweaking. The guns are cast in a slightly pliable black plastic that I worry will warp if left in any shape for too long. His elbows could have stood just a little more range of motion, though he easily gets into his 'cradling-my-gun-like-a-child' pose. He comes with a highly usable 20-or-so points of articulation, and so much fun to pose! He belongs on a flight stand and passes the Freestanding Test with flying colors. My initial misgivings about a 6 inch Star Wars line are further assuaged with every figure I get and this one is no exception to this. He looks great, the stark look of the white armor contrasting well with dark armored figures such as Vader and the Target Exclusive Shadow Squadron 2-pack and fitting in perfectly next to similarly armored figures like stormtroopers. Place him at the head of a team of his clone brothers so he can lead them to victory. Overall, an excellent representation of one of the most sinister and mysterious characters from the original Star Wars trilogy. This figure makes me want the standard version even more than I did before!
I give Prototype Boba Fett an 8.5 out of 10.
The standard version Boba Fett will be available via Amazon (and other retailers) in a few days from now.
What do you think? Not impressed? Another lackluster 'take-it-or-leave-it' exclusive? Is the figure as overrated as Fett himself or does it live up to the hype and the Fett legacy? Let me know in your comments, as well as anything specific you'd like to see reviewed and I'll do my best to make it happen. The next review I have slated for you is going to be either Obi-Wan Kenobi (Episode 3 version) from The Black Series - OR - Figma's Link from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Look forward to it! Until next time, Wishing you Happy Hunting, fellow collectors!