Review – Star Wars: Rebels TIE Pilot

I found the new Star Wars: Rebels TIE Pilot* action figure at ToysRUs over the weekend and grabbed him. Pricier than the two packs I’d picked up before this toy it’s not as great a value, but the design continues that vintage Kenner vibe I’m getting from the other toys so at the moment I’m still very happy. I think I’d be happier still if Hasbro had packed him in a two pack with a Stormtrooper; who would complain about an extra Stormtrooper action figure?

Kenner is Back!

Maybe it’s just because I’ve been sinking so much energy into my Universe Expanded book, but something about these new Star Wars action figures really makes me feel as if Hasbro has unlocked the door to the Kenner style and embraced the history of Star Wars action figures. After taking a look at three different two packs — Wullffwarro and Wookie Warrior review here, Cikatro Vizago and IG-RM review here, Bossk and IG-88 review here — I feel confident in saying that Hasbro’s Star Wars team spent a lot of time with the seventies and eighties action figures figuring out what made those old toys tick.

That’s One Big Helmet!

The TIE Pilot* action figure has one hell of a giant helmet, but in looking at the source material (see above) the helmet on the toy is actually sized quite nicely relative to the cartoon character design. Okay. I can totally live with exaggerated designs and the only thing we need to make this toy better is a Rebels-specific TIE Fighter. I guess it’s time I grab that TIE Advanced Prototype* toy so that this guy has an appropriate ship.

Goes Great With Kenner Vehicles!

Above you can see the new TIE Pilot* action figure with the 1981 Kenner INT-4 Mini-Rig toy (review here) and I must again ask that Hasbro consider releasing an older Mini-Rig or two in this new Star Wars line. I popped open the cockpit and the new figure fit down in there like he was built for the thing; if my TIE Interceptor wasn’t hanging from the ceiling I’d testfit this toy in that ship . . . I bet they go together perfectly.

Gets a Gun!

The TIE Pilot* action figure comes with a blaster, which is nice since some of the other toys in the line that I’ve opened were without accessories or weapons. Maybe this line will sell well enough that Hasbro will put together a weapons pack to sell; I’d happily pay $5 or $6 for a carded selection of the weapons they’ve created for Star Wars: Rebels action figures. I know that’s not the sort of toy they usually sell these days, but based on how tough these are to find I suspect the line is selling well enough it could support a set of guns. Who else would drop $5 for a pack of blasters?

Closing Thoughts

Even though the TIE Pilot* action figure isn’t as great a deal as the other figures in the line I’ve bought it’s still very fun. I know this guy is pretty tough to locate in stores at the moment, but I suggest you keep your eyes open and snag him when you spot him. A wonderful update to a classic toy and yet one more reason why Hasbro has clearly decided to bring the Kenner style back to toy chests everywhere.