So thanks to my local buddy swfinderpa, I'm caught up on Wave 2 and basic junk for 2008 till July I guess. Now onto exclusive crap I can't find! Yay!
Anyway, some thoughts...
-Rahm Kota... Outstanding Jedi freak. Love the battlescars, the topknot, and I think the armor looks cool, as though he pilferred it for added protection due to his "on the lamb" nature. I think his likeness could've matched his image on the cardback a bit more but it's not much for me to gripe about...
What is annoying me though? The fact he's given a bandoleir lightsaber "holster" thing, and no lightsaber hilt to put into it. That is really annoying, and would've been a great feature that Hasbro omitted for no really clear reason I can see.
Figure itself... Outstanding. The softgoods only add to the coolness, the armor's partially removable, and the articulation is outstanding. Paint and sculpting, top notch. One of the better figures of the wave IMO.
-Shadow Guard... He's cool. I think for a repaint, this is pretty slick, and even some anti-EU fans will dig the weapon and the looks of the character. Like an elite of the elite type trooper that are trained in saber fighting. A removable helmet with unique headsculpt would've been nice (ala the Darkhorse 2-pack of guards), and I would also say new hands would've been nice, but as it is, it's a good figure. Removable blade = really good too... Nice to get that on this figure when Kota should've had it as well.
-Marris Brood... Easily the weakest of the bunch, but not TOO bad. The lack of articulated knees is obviously her most glaring flaw. I actually would've liked if Hasbro used the Aayla Secura ROTS figure as a base, made new arms and a new head, and given us that. That would've been ideal to me... Again a cool sculpt and paintjob though, and really neat innovation on the sabers. I expect to see these in the EU again at some point as they're quite unique.
Speaking of the sabers, if I were to design them they'd get shorter blades ala Maul's, but that's me. The blades make them seem less "elegant" or nimble weapons I guess.
Still, a cool figure... Some knees would've made her perfect I think, but the figure's not bad as is, and has a neat sounding backstory to it.
-Jump Trooper/Evo Trooper... Covering them together because, honestly, they're not different enough to warrant separation. They're new funky designs of Clones, and that should make people happy. I like them... Would've liked some decals maybe on the box of the Evo Trooper since it looks like it's to have some kind of button deco ala the AT-AT driver. Good articulation, lots of greeblies added on... Makes for new trooper suit designs, and troopers that ACTUALLY maybe would require additional training for their jobs unlike, say, a "Sandtrooper", or a Trooper donning cold weather gear...
-Battledamaged Vader... Card says something about battling Rebels on the new Death Star. Sounds interesting, or possibly insanely lame.
Regardless, it's a heavily articulated figure and without all the crap put onto it, he looks great. The pieces to fill the missing costume are, to me anyway, worthless. They make him look a little less battle damaged, at best. Not much to write home about, but the figure itself is solid and well sculpted.
-Juno Eclipse... I got her earlier, and she's cool. She'll make a nice army builder, and if you can get additional headsculpts with different hair/skin colors and things, she'll army build ok. Not much to write home about other than I wish I had a male version of this figure because it's sorely lacking in the line.
-FU Evolution set... I know this isn't the right thread, but I have to say while I love the FU wave, the Evo set is the wave's highlight. Without it, the FU figures feel incomplete. If you get one FU item, get that one. It's near perfection... Couple ball/socket elbows and lightsaber hilts away from perfection actually.
