“Make ten men feel like a hundred”
In 2021 Hasbro marked the 5th Anniversary of Rogue One with a number of releases in the Black Series line as part of their new Galaxy Collection packaging and connective artwork boxes. Within this were a number of new releases, but also a reworking of five of the original Rogue One figures giving most of them a makeover both in figure decor and in packaging. The wave was a Fan Channel release.
Cassian Andor is number 02 in this 2021 Rogue One wave, arriving in the Galaxy Collection black box with its slanted right-hand side and using the newly established Cyan accent colour assigned to Rogue One. Cassian’s artwork follows on directly from Jyn Erso and ahead of his droid K-2S0.
In 2016 the original Cassian Andor figure in his standard Rebel uniform was only available as part of a 3-Pack alongside Jyn Erso and a Deathtrooper. So while this 2021 release does present some upgrades to Cassian, it is also the first time this version of him has been available as a single release. The Rebel uniform is unchanged since the 2016 release - factory paint variations aside- with Cassian wearing a cream shirt, brown combat jacket, green/beige trousers, and combat boots. Paintwork is limited to piping on Andor’s jacket and some details on his rank and comms badges - and to some painted straps and buckles on both his belt and trousers. A second gunslinger-style belt also features a silver painted clasp and fasteners and this also incorporates a holster which is then fixed to the right thigh with a sculpted thigh strap painted on the leg.
vs 2016 (right)
Cassian’s head sculpt remains the same as 2016 but it has been given the full printed face works and now bears a closer resemblance to Diego Luna. The upgrade is not as visually impressive as the one on the Jyn Erso head sculpt but it is still an improvement against the original figure and perhaps suffers more from the original head being quite a way off and arguably slightly undersized.
Andor’s three-piece blaster rifle is included in the release. This starts off with a simple-looking blaster with limited detailing and silver paint at both the barrel and rear section. You can use this as a standalone hand blaster in Cassian’s right hand, or have this piece secured into the holster. Or you can expand the rifle with a stock piece at the back and an extended barrel that connects to the front to make a larger blaster rifle.
The articulation is 16 points in total and you do feel the age of the upper torso joints in particular when trying to pose Andor with the blaster in the full rifle configuration. Without butterfly shoulders and with some limitation in the elbows, more action-orientated shots with the rifle raised in the firing position are difficult and if you do get one you will find it will cause the rifle to be warped between the arms and the body. The legs feature double-jointed pinned knees which does provide Cassian the ability to kneel or stoop.
Cassian is another improvement on the original release from 5-years prior, but still presents minor issues stemming from that 2016 headsculpt in terms of proportions and likeness. Thankfully there are other Diego Luna headsculpts now available in the line which may allow some kitbashing for those that want to take this base Rogue One Cassian Andor to a higher level.
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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...
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