"We're here to further security objectives by collecting intelligence, providing useful analysis, and conducting effective covert action, sir."
The final Star Wars Black Series Galaxy Collection Wave of 2024, Wave 19, featured a mix of new figures from across the Star Wars Universe including three figures who would bridge the gap between the first season of Andor in 2022 and the upcoming second season in 2025. To this point, only 9 numbered figures had been released from Andor as well as an exclusive 2-pack. The new additions are numbers 10 through 12 and are the first Andor figures to come in the newer format Galaxy Collection packaging.
The box design remains broadly the same but now removes the angled side to create a squared-off box with a central window. The base colour for the box is black, with an accent colour applied to the text and artwork. For Andor, this is an orange/red tone. Dedra Meero is the 12th figure in the Andor Galaxy Collection with her artwork connecting to K-2SO.
This artwork shows Dedra in her ISB uniform clutching her datapad and the accompanying text on the rear has no specificity to either her role in Season 1 of Andor or any potential role in Season 2 - only that she is a ‘methodical, polished and ambitious’ member of the Imperial Security Bureau. Her deep red/orange backing card features a starscape rather than an Imperial office or structure. This backdrop is also seen on her side artwork.
ISB Superivor Dedra Meero is released in her Imperial uniform as seen in Season 1 and presumably into Season 2. She utilises much of the existing female Imperial Officer body used on Tala Durith from Kenobi. The legs are a full re-use - black in colour with the flared Imperial upper thighs and knee-high boots. The torso is updated to a new chest and skirt piece, while the arms are the same as Durith. These are all crisp white in colour with the code cylinders at either side coloured silver. Her Lieutenant rank insignia of three blue blocks is also in situ as is a simple black belt with silver buckle. Dedra stands shorter than Tala which is accurate to the two actors, so the Meero body has undergone some tweaking in the hips or the torso itself to shorten her by a few mm.
The head sculpt captures an excellent likeness to Denise Gough and her mannerisms while playing Dedra Meero. The face printing extends the usual layer of realism onto the head sculpt with a pair of fierce and focused eyes around a tight mouth and chin. Her hair is slicked back and tied in a bun and therefore is part of the head rather than an individual piece but the edges remain clean and crisp and there is a colour variation in the hair for added realism vs what might usually have been a flat colour.
Dedra comes with her ISB datapad. This black accessory features a split screen with silver and red details on the controls and on the framework around the screens. There is nothing showing on display which is a shame, a decal or applied sticker showing some random Imperial code would have brought the piece to life more than the flat black which is no different to the rest of the pad front or back. The pad will fit in Dedra’s hands either with a two-handed grip or held in one hand. Sadly the elbow joints are not broad enough to bring the forearm up and back on itself to reflect the pose we see on the side artwork.
Dedra is also armed with a simple black cast blaster pistol with silver detailing. This is the Merr-Sonn Power-5 blaster we see her use on Ferrix. It fits into her right-hand securely with a trigger finger in place - but there is no holstering option as she does not carry the weapon usually, only when in the field at which point she is usually wearing an overcoat and hat which would make a nice future variant.
Articulation is not quite in line with the current established configuration, mainly as the base figure is a couple of years old. There are 17 points in total with Dedra missing out on any butterfly shoulders, although these are not really required on an ISB officer who will be posed to attention or using her datapad. The elbows - as mentioned earlier - would have benefitted from a wider bend to secure her datapad. The dual-join in the neck does support some variation in head position, but again this is a character defined as stiff and upright. There are no issues in the legs which are secure and hold Dedra in place once posed. While they do still use the thigh swivel, this is hidden under the skirt piece.
Dedra Meero is a brilliant recreation of her character at 6-inch scale and showcases how far the facial sculpting and printing have come. While the Imperial body may be a couple of years old now, it does what it needs to do and where changes were necessary Hasbro have made them to remain accurate to the ISB uniform. The datapad is a neat inclusion, making a change from blasters, but it needs some definition on the screen sections to bring it to life. All in all a very strong release and one that will please fans of Andor or those who wish to flesh out Imperial Officer ranks.
Keep Track of all the Star Wars Black Series figures from Hasbro at our comprehensive
If you are reading this via a 3rd party website that is importing our newsfeed, please come and visit us directly and give us a follow on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Check out our direct news feed for more action figure news, reviews, and store reports
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...
Comments