Ezra Bridger - R - 12-Inch Figures

Ezra Bridger is a street-smart teenager with unique abilities who joins a group of freedom fighters in their stand against the Empire.

The collecting community has pretty much figured out that Hasbro has changed the way they approach all action figures. Without proof, collectors have been able to surmise that one set of digital files exists for each new action figure they approach. This basic design is then extrapolated into multiple scales and formats: even both simply articulated action figures as well as super-articulated ones. When it comes to the Rebels line, Hasbro gave collectors plenty of advanced warning that the line would revolve around five points of articulation. But despite this most of us conceded that the figures turned out quite well for the most part. With the recent re-launch of the 12-Inch Figures line somewhere around 2013, Hasbro completely revisited the way these figures were made. They’re basically just one-sixth scaled 3.75” basic figures. And as you might imagine, the sculpts are nearly identical thanks to that unfounded rumor that the same digital files are being used to create all of the Hasbro action figures these days.

What’s nice about Ezra Bridger is that this figure looks so much nicer in 12-Inch Figure scale. Billed under the Hero Series banner, this new term mostly describes anything of a large nature. And that’s what you have here: a really big version of the hero from Star Wars: Rebels. It’s interesting how there are limitations when these figures get reduced down to 3.75” scale. Whether the proportions can’t be sized perfectly or not, sometimes the basic figures can appear a little wonky. In the Hero Series scale however, Ezra Bridger looks as if he has been ripped right out of the animation. We are thoroughly impressed with this figure and think it is significantly better than its 3.75” counterpart. Not only does the figure look incredibly more accurate, there is added articulation which helps the figure as well. The addition of swivel wrists aid the collector in posing it with the included accessories. Instead of a cadet helmet, Ezra Bridger comes with a much better handled lightsaber hilt and removable lightsaber blade. It’s the perfect accompaniment for this Hero Series sized action figure.

The paint job on the Hero Series Ezra Bridger needs some work though. The insignia on his back has been completely ignored. As you know from the 3.75” version, it is painted white. On the Hero Series figure it has been sculpted into the back but remains the same color of the vest. It makes us wonder if paint operations are more expensive than tooling expensive if this figure has been approached in this manner. Besides this setback, the rest of the deco on Ezra Bridger is very nice. There are only a few instances of sloppy applications, but overall the figure turned out very nicely. For less than $10, kids and collectors do receive a decent toy here. Obviously collectors are going to be less impressed as the articulation is really lacking in these sculpts. We really miss was it articulation especially. We know these aren’t made for us, but we are not so sure if they’re resonating with the audience Hasbro designed them for either. We’ll just have to wait and see how well this scale fares with the young Star Wars population. We do wonder however if the line will have enough time at retail space to make that clear or not.