How does the Black Series Wave 1 look?

Courtesy of Rebelscum.com

Thanks to Rebelscum we now know which figures will be in the initial waves of the Black Series and Saga Legends action figure lines. More than that, how many of each figure will be in each case – and those read this article know how much that can matter. Read on to find out how the line-up looks, whether it is full of good choices or Batha poodoo.


The first wave of the Black Series will contain:

1x 01 Padme Amidala (Geonosis Arena, Episode II)
1x 02 Clone Trooper Sergeant (Episode II)
2x 03 Anakin Skywalker (Jedi Hero, Episode II)
2x 04 Biggs Darklighter (Rebel Pilot, Episode IV)
1x 05 Luke Skywalker (Yavin Ceremony, Episode IV)
2x 06 Darth Vader (Bespin Trap, Episode V)
2x 07 Biker Scout (Speeder Bike Pilot, Episode VI)
1x 08 Clone Pilot (Episode III) 

Courtesy of Rebelscum.com

This seems like a perfectly adequate line-up, and the case mix seems about right. Once upon a time army-building Clone Trooper figures had to be packed with multiples in a case to meet demand, but now there has been a bit of Clone saturation over the years. The danger that this wave faces, however, is that it will suffer from first wave syndrome.

The first wave of a new Star Wars line always sits on shelves much longer than any subsequent wave. This is because stores always over-order the first wave, for fear of running out of stock, and the stale stock stops the subsequent waves from getting through (this killed off the 2002 Deluxe line, which had an awful first wave – sadly that awful first wave meant the subline was doomed before the really awesome sets were released).

Courtesy of Rebelscum.com

In this context, the case mix is a bit riskier. Biggs Darklighter is the only figure likely to excite collectors at all, the big characters in the wave and Clones have all been done before. There will be an Anakin figure and Clones available in the Saga Legends line, so kids won’t be interested in those. The problem is, this wave would be fine as a second one – but as a first wave it really need to pack a punch so that the figures keep selling through. A couple of stand-out characters are needed who have never been done before, or some excellent updates of existing characters. This wave should have cool stuff in it like the Mara Jade figure, or the realistic Rex and Ahsoka.

The new 6” line is going to keep it simple – four figures in Wave 1, one of each in a case. That makes sense as the first four figures sound

like a pretty good line-up, except looking at history - back in 2008 the Luke Skywalker & R2-D2 Droid Factory twin pack was the hardest to find by far. And with about twenty something different Sandtrooper figures, will it really be as popular as the others?

1x 01 Luke Skywalker (X-Wing Pilot, Episode IV)
1x 02 Darth Maul (Episode I)
1x 03 R2-D2
1x 04 Sandtrooper

The first wave of Saga Legends will contain:

  1x 01 Mace Windu (Episode III)
  1x 02 Clone Trooper (Episode II)
  2x 03 Anakin Skywalker (Episode III)
  2x 04 Obi-Wan Kenobi (Episode III)
  1x 05 Super Battle Droid (Episode II)
  2x 06 R4-P17 (Episode III)
  1x 07 Yoda (Episode III)
  2x 08 Clone Shock Trooper (Episode III)

Hasbro have really outdone themselves here, as for the first time in years appropriate

figures will be available to go with the respective vehicles. That’s why two R4-P17s in the case is a good idea. What is not such a good idea is having Super Battle Droids and Shock Troopers – these have been released over and over in the current incarnation of Saga Legends. Unfortunately the 3D films got canned, so this line-up seems pointless. What would be better is a good mix of heroes and villains – a Luke, a Vader, a Chewbacca, a Darth Maul to go alongside the Anakin, Obi-Wan and Yoda.

So whilst neither of these waves are full of completely bad choices, neither are the sort of stellar wave that a new line needs to kick off with. The 2008 The Clone Wars line had an excellent first wave, as did the 30th Anniversary Collection. An awesome first wave is needed for future 4” success.