Star Wars Black, The New Norm in Action Figures

Hasbro decided to take on a new format for their Star Wars license in 2013. Instead of a new 3.75″ figure format, Hasbro went with their mega popular 6″ scale design. Marvel Legends is considered the new norm in action figures (scale wise that is) and it was only a matter of time before Star Wars got that treatment. The line as a whole became a huge money maker for Hasbro and in turn, changed the entire way we collect Star Wars figures.

Love or hate them, Star Wars Black is here to stay. The line that some fans despise emerged as the primary collector focused line and replaced their successful, highly articulated series of figures in the 3.75″ scale (minus exclusives). The transformation did not happen overnight but it was clear that the basic line was doomed from general retail. As many of you know, the 3.75″ Black figures performed poorly at retail. The cardbacks came off on the first assortments and the new card designs could not save the line.

Some fans rejected this new scale for several reasons and one of the reasons was the playability with vehicles. Plus you have 30+ years of action figures in the 4″ scale to contend with and lets face it, fans don’t like change. Hasbro has incorporated large scale vehicles into the line. The first being a Speeder Bike and the last being an EP7 Tie Fighter. Hasbro did state that more were planned.

The start of the line was welcomed with many fans jumping for joy for this new series. Hasbro tried this format years ago (How many remember the mega Destroyer Droid?). Maybe it was not exact but the Mega Action Figures was a clear indication of the future of the line.

The first wave or Phase 1 gave us RS-D2, Darth Maul, Luke X-Wing Pilot and a Sandtrooper. Hasbro went right for the jugular with this series and that was it; fans were in love! The funny part about this is the wave was considered a slow seller due to many hanging around on the pegs. Once the fan base caught onto the line, this series shot up overnight and many fans were left with the task of adding these figures to their collections.

Fast forward to 2016 and the line is still growing. This year we will have received 36, not including exclusives and what a year we had! The crowning jewel to the line will be the fan choice winner Darth Raven. He should be coming out very soon. 2017 is looking bright as well as we will have more figures from both Rogue One, The Original Trilogy, Prequels and the new Trilogy to choose from. Personally I hope Hasbro works more of the classic characters into the line. Original characters from the first three movies has a tendency to drive this line.

We do have a comprehensive list of all release below. Use it to help fill in the gaps and look for more awesome Star Wars Black figures in the coming new year. 

Phase 1

Wave 1

• Luke Skywalker (#1)
• Darth Maul (#2)
• Sandtrooper (#3)
• R2-D2 (#4)

 

 

Wave 2

• Princess Leia Slave Outfit (#5)
• Boba Fett (#6)
• Greedo (#7)
• Han Solo (#8)

 

 

Wave 3

• Stormtrooper (#9)
• Obi Wan Kenobi EPIII (#10)
• Luke Skywalker Bespin (#11)

 

 

Wave 4

• Anakin Skywalker EPIII (#12)
• Clonetrooper  (#14)

*Chewbacca was planned for this wave but was pushed to phase 2. His numbering was #13

Phase 2

Wave 1 (5)

• Sandtrooper -Corporal (#1)
• Darth Vader (#2)
• Luke Skywalker-Jedi (#3)
• Chewbacca (#4)

 

Wave 2 (6)

• Tie Pilot (#5)
• Yoda (#6)
• Clone Trooper Sergeant (#7)
• Obi Wan Kenobi (#8)

 

Wave 3 (7)

• Han Solo (Stormtrooper disguise) (#9)
• Boosk  (#10)

 

 

Wave 4 (8)

• Emperor Palpatine (#11)
• Luke Skywalker (Stormtrooper disguise) (#12)
• Clone Trooper Captain (#13)

 

 

Wave 5 (9)

• Clone Commander Cody (#14)
• IG-88 (#15)
• Leia Boushh (#16)

 

 

Deluxe Star Wars Black

• Speeder Bike W/Scouttrooper
• Jabba The Hutt
• Han Solo and Tauntaun
• Luke Skywalker and Wampa

Exclusives 

Cantina Showdown (Toys R Us)

• Han Solo
• Greedo

Imperial Shadow Squadron (Target)

• Speeder Bike with Shadow Scout
• Shadow Stormtrooper Commander

 

• Boba Fett (Prototype Armor) (Walgreens)
• Jabba the Hutt’s Throne Room (SDCC 2014)

Phase 3

Wave 1

• Finn (Jakku) (#1)
• Rey (Jakku) & BB-8 (#2)
• Kylo Ren (#3)
• First Order Stormtrooper (#4)
• Chewbacca (#5)

 

Wave 2

• Captain Phasma (#6)
• Poe Dameron (#7)
• Guavian Enforcer (#8)
• Constable Zuvio (#9)

 

Wave 3

• Resistance Trooper (#10)
• First Order TIE Fighter Pilot (#11)

 

 

Wave 4

• First Order Snowtrooper (#12)
• First Order General Hux (#13)
• X-wing Pilot Asty (#14)

 

Wave 4.5

•  Rey (Jakku) & BB-8 [with lightsaber added] (#2)

 

 

Wave 5

• Jango Fett (#15)
• First Order Flametrooper (#16)
• Finn (FN-2187) (#17)
• Han Solo (#18)

 

 

Wave 6

• Kanan Jarrus (#19)
• Ahsoka Tano (#20)
• Luke Skywalker (A New Hope) (#21)

 

 

Wave 7

• Sergeant Jyn Erso (Jedha) (#22)
• Captain Cassian Andor (Eadu) (#23)
• K-2S0 (#24)
• Imperial Death Trooper (#25)
• Kylo Ren (Unmasked) (#26)

 

 

Wave 8

• Director Krennic (#27)
• Scarif Stormtrooper Squad Leader (#28)
• C-3PO (Resistance Base) (#29)

 

 

Wave 9

• Princess Leia (#30)
• AT-AT Driver (#31)
• Obi-Wan Kenobi (#32)
• Sabine Wren (Fan’s Choice) (#33)
• Darth Revan (Fan’s Choice) (#34)
• Snowtrooper (#35)

Exclusives

Action Figure 3-Pack (Target)

• Imperial Death Trooper
• Captain Cassian Andor
• Sergeant Jyn Erso (Jedha)

Astromech 3-Pack (Toys R Us)

• R2-A3
• R5-K6
• R2-F2

Clone Trooper 4-Pack (Entertainment Earth)

• 442 Siege Battalion Clone Trooper
• 212th Attack Battalion Utapau Trooper
• Coruscant Guard (Phase II)
• 501st Legion Clone Trooper

Imperial Forces (Entertainment Earth)

• Sandtrooper Sergeant
• Crimson Stormtrooper
• Lieutenant Oxixo
• R2-Q5

 

Stormtrooper 4-Pack (Amazon)

• Phase I Clone Trooper Commander
• Phase II Clone Trooper
• Imperial Stormtrooper
• First Order Stormtrooper Officer

• Imperial Hovertank Pilot (Toys R Us)
• Imperial Shock Trooper (Battlefront) (Walmart)
• Kylo Ren (Starkiller Base) (Kmart)
• Kylo Ren [Unmasked] (Celebration Europe 2016)
• Obi-Wan Kenobi (SDCC 2016) 
• Poe Dameron/First Order Riot Control Stormtrooper (Target)
• Rey (Starkiller Base) (Kmart) 
• Scarif Stormtrooper (Walmart)
• Sergeant Jyn Erso (Eadu) (Kmart)
• Sergeant Jyn Erso (SDCC 2016)
• Darth Vader (Emperor’s Wrath) (Walgreens)
• First Order Snowtrooper Officer (Toys R Us)
• First Order Stormtrooper (SDCC 2015)
• C-3PO (Walgreens)
• Boba Fett w/Han in Carbonite (SDCC 2013)
• Star Wars First Order Tie Fighter w/ Pilot