MagnaGuard - TBS [P4] - Six Inch Figures (TCW15)

MagnaGuards, implacable droids who guarded key Separatist leaders, proved tough opponents for the Jedi with their deadly electrostaffs. They could even keep fighting even after losing limbs or heads.

Hasbro always throws in a delightful surprise here and there in The Black Series 6-inch line, don't they? The MagnaGuard might be the surprise of the 2023 product year. It's not a surprise because we didn't know it was coming. We all had anticipation when it was first announced. But the surprise here is that it turned out innumerably better than expected, and it's a lovely addition to The Black Series 6-inch line and Star Wars collections in general. The all-new figure brings elements from The Clone Wars and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith, but Hasbro decided to source the figure to The Clone Wars. They likely did this since it's the 20th Anniversary of the Clone Wars multimedia event, not the television series. However, since they shy away from making characters from the Prequel Trilogy, the next best thing is finding the closest source, which happens to be The Clone Wars. The packaging is relatively irrelevant. So, if you don't care about such things, you can focus on the incredible action figure instead.

This MagnaGuard is the white variety. Hasbro mirrored The Black Series release after the extremely popular and highly sought-after 2010 The Vintage Collection MagnaGuard (VC18) basic figure. That 3.75-inch version of this character still holds up remarkably well, and TVC collectors have waited eons for Hasbro to repaint the figure and re-release the wide varieties we see in Revenge Of The Sith. But they still make us wait. Instead, they've focused their energies on the beautiful 6-inch version, and we believe that all collectors will be thrilled to add this action figure to their ever-growing collections. The MagnaGuard comes loaded with meaningful articulation. We didn't have any challenges posing the figure, and the action figure maintained all the poses we configured well. It also interacts with its included accessories here. And overall, we're pleased with the figure's paint job and design. The MagnaGuard will work well in your displays for either The Clone Wars or Revenge Of The Sith.

For accessories, we get seven different parts here. They've woven a soft-good cape. We don't think it sits appropriately on the figure's shoulders, but a little futzing makes it look better than when you take the figure out of its "woke" packaging. Hasbro ensured they added the Kaleesh Warlord symbols on it, and it looks fantastic. We also get a double-edged spear. The figure holds this weapon well. Then Hasbro added the electropole, and most separate accessory parts link back to this main one. The electropole breaks down into three parts, five parts if you count the electro effects. The ends of the electropole are removable. We're unsure why Hasbro approached its design this way, but it works well. You certainly have display options when it comes to the figure's accessories. Generally speaking, the MagnaGuard is a fantastic action figure, and we hope it gets the appreciation it deserves because, you know, it's not a Morgan Elsbeth or Reva (Third Sister) where all the feigned praise usually goes.