From The Book of Boba Fett comes this Star Wars Black Series 2-Pack release of Cobb Vanth and Cad Bane, as seen during their shoot-out in Mos Pelgo. The set arrives in the extended Galaxy Collection packages for two packs but retains the sloped artwork side and is the same height and width as the other boxes, just deeper. While the 2-pack uses the green accent colour for The Book of Boba Fett Galaxy Collection Series, this set is not numbered nor does the side art line up with any of the other releases.
We start with Cobb Vanth, and this is a variant of the 2022 deluxe release of Vanth minus the Boba Fett armour this time round. That means the torso has been reworked, there are new forearms, and Cobb is sporting a new longer scarf piece around his neck. The proportions for this figure are spot on and the gunslinger look from the show has been faithfully recreated. The body is cast in the base colours of orange for the torso and arms, and dark brown for the legs. The shirt is textured, but not weathered with no further paint apps. The legs also include sculpted detailing but also have some minimal application to dirty them up a little and painted detail on his ammo pouch and the device on his left leg. The belt is also part of the cast waist and this has a tan-brown paint job with a touch of gunmetal. Over this sits the gunslinger's belt in a separate softer orange plastic with a red and white striped buckle. The red neck scarf finishes the look and like the belt, this is an individual piece that sits comfortably on the shoulders and moves as needed so as not to impede any poses.
The head sculpt is also a direct carry-over from the first release, but seems to have had a painted decor update with slightly lighter grey hair with highlights, and a less glossy finish to the skin tone - both of which make this a good likeness to actor Timothy Olyphant.
Cobb has a single blaster for his showdown with Cad Bane, the same Western revolver-inspired piece from the first set. This has also had a small upgrade in decor and is now a gunmetal finish and painted grip as opposed to the plain black of the first release.
Articulation is 17 points in total, with a full pinless body which certainly enhances the overall look. There is no torso joint, just a ball joint waist, and no butterfly shoulders - and these do lessen the posing options. That aside the joints all work well, are secure when posed, and are sufficient for the various gunslinging poses you would want from Cobb Vanth.
Facing off against Cobb Vanth is Cad Bane, and this release represents the first live-action Cad Bane figure - following on from the releases from The Clone Wars and Bad Batch in recent years. This Book of Boba Fett version is an entirely brand new figure based on the prosthetics and costume from this surprise appearance on the show. While previous Bane figures have been described as converting the animated look to a real-world setting, this new Cad Bane is much more realistic on the body with a broader chest and thicker legs than the predecessors.
Each part of the body is cast, as usual, in the base colour with further paint detailing added on top around the various insignia of his shirt, the straps on his legs and the ammunition stored around each boot. Cad retains his gauntlet devices on each arm, painted here in blue and with a number of controls and buttons neatly coloured in white, red, silver and yellow. Over the top of the base figure is a separate long coat in soft plastic and a gun slinger’s belt both also picked out with smaller detailing like lapel insignia or more ammunition.
The head sculpt is given a snarling look with teeth barred - and this head is exclusive to the set with the figure and a more neutral head scheduled as a single release in the months ahead. The blue Duros skin tone is muted to match what we see on screen and the eyes are given a red hue surrounded with dark rings. The headpiece includes the metal plate over his head - painted in silver - and the rebreather tubes that exit the cheeks and go down over his shoulders to a control unit on the back. Cad Bane’s iconic hat is a removable piece cast in softer brown plastic with painted metal panels and fits perfectly on the head. If you do want to vary your Cad Bane looks it is worth noting that all of the hats from any of the Cad Bane Black Series figures will fit this new BOBF version and vice versa.
Cobb Vanth represents the first figure in the Black Series to lose the thigh swivel joint although he gains a boot swivel to keep the articulation count at the 19 points mark, all pinless and inclusive of butterfly shoulders tucked away neatly behind the jacket. The longer coat puts pay to some of the leg posing, but every joint does its job and gives Cad Bane sufficient options for the included accessories.
These start with the twin blasters which are also brand new and feature a slightly metallic deep bronze finish with painted grip. As they don't have a true trigger the fit into the hands is not quite as secure as some Black Series figures, but they hold well enough and can be holstered in the working holsters on his belt when not in use. The blasters can also be enhanced with two firing effect pieces in translucent yellow and orange that slot onto the barrel of the blasters. A similar larger piece is shaped to clip into a socket on the right arm bracer to recreate the flamethrower option. These effect pieces also appear to be exclusive to this set, and while they won't be everyone's cup of tea - they are some of the best ones we’ve had in terms of engineering, execution and overall look.
The Cobb Vanth vs Cad Bane pack is an exclusive release sold via Target stores in the US, and available via the Fan Channel here in the UK. The set carries that dreaded exclusive price tag and rather than be equivalent to two single releases, you are paying about £7 over the odds for two variant figures. Cobb Vanth is a sufficient improvement to the armoured version to warrant this, while Cad Bane is probably going to benefit from being released in this set first as had he come after the single box release demand may have been lessened. The ‘snarling’ head provides a strong point of difference to the upcoming general release as do the included effect pieces. The strength of the set is the two figures together and recreating that showdown in a set that could have easily been Cad Bane vs another Boba Fett.
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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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