'Star Wars' Collectibles & Toys Review: Hasbro Star Wars: The Black Series: Supreme Leader Kylo Ren
Hasbro Star Wars: The Black Series #90: Supreme Leader Kylo Ren. Photo Credit: Hasbro, Inc. © 2019 Hasbro, Inc. and Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL) |
On October 4, 2019, during the pre-premiere run-up to Star Wars - Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, Hasbro released the 90th figure in its successful Star Wars: The Black Series line of six-inch scale action figures, Supreme Leader Kylo Ren. This figure, which is actually a re-use of the body from 2017's #45 Kylo Ren figure, features a new helmet based on the one reforged by the former Ben Solo after the events of Star Wars - Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, as well as a new cape and two changeable hoods.
This figure was one of a fall "wave" of Hasbro Star Wars: The Black Series figures based on characters not just from the final Skywalker Saga film but also from other Star Wars films and TV shows, including Star Wars; Rebels and The Mandalorian. In addition to Supreme Leader Kylo Ren, Hasbro also released the following six-inch scaled action figures:
- Rey & D-O
- Cal Kestis
- The Mandalorian
- Sith Trooper
- Offworld Jawa
- Second Sister Inquisitor
- First Order Stormtrooper
Hasbro promotional photo of Supreme Leader Kylo Ren and some of the accessories.Photo Credit: Hasbro, Inc. © 2019 Hasbro, Inc. and Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL) |
What's in the Package?
As Supreme Leader of the First Order, Kylo Ren wields more power than ever before. Nevertheless, Kylo Ren continues to search for secrets of the Force from the depths of the dark side.﹘ Packaging blurb, Supreme Leader Kylo Ren
I acquired Supreme Leader Kylo Ren a couple of weeks back, along with Luke Skywalker (Yavin Ceremony, Rebel Trooper, Emperor Palpatine and Throne (Amazon Exclusive), and Rey & D-O. This is, by far, one of the biggest hauls of Star Wars: The Black Series six-inch scale since I ordered 11 figures (most of them from the "Kenner 40th Anniversary" wave) to go with a Legacy Display Stand (and Darth Vader action figure) that I'd received for Christmas in 2017. (As I've said in previous Star Wars: The Black Series figure reviews, I can't amass a large collection; I don't have the space to store, much less display, a huge collection. And even in the unlikely event that I did get my own place someday, I still can't afford to be a "comprehensive collector.")
Another promotional photo of the Supreme Leader Kylo Ren action figure.Photo Credit: Hasbro, Inc. © 2019 Hasbro, Inc. and Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL) |
Supreme Leader Kylo Ren represents the Sequel Trilogy's most intriguing character, Kylo Ren, the powerful but conflicted leader of the First Order. Played by Adam Driver (A Marriage Story), Kylo is not only a man obsessed with the Dark Side of the Force, but he is also a member of the Skywalker family. His mother is the former Princess of Alderaan, Leia Organa, the natural daughter of Anakin Skywalker and the twin sister of Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, and his father is the smuggler-turned-Rebel hero Han Solo.
Born five years after the Battle of Yavin, Ben was trained as a Jedi Knight by his uncle Luke; however, the young Jedi Padawan was seduced to the dark side of the Force by the mysterious Snoke. Eventually, Ben renounced the ways of the Jedi and destroyed his Uncle Luke's new Jedi Temple, killing many of his fellow apprentices and recruiting the survivors into the dark side group known as the Knights of Ren. By the time of the Starkiller Incident, Ben called himself Kylo Ren, and was known throughout the First Order as "the Jedi Killer."
Kids and collectors alike can imagine the biggest battles and missions in the Star Wars saga with figures from Star Wars The Black Series! With exquisite features and decoration, this series embodies the quality and realism that Star Wars devotees love. Star Wars The Black Series includes figures, vehicles, and roleplay items from the 40-plus-year legacy of the Star Wars Galaxy, including comics, movies, and animated series. (Additional products each sold separately. Subject to availability.) ﹘ Promotional blurb in the Supreme Leader Kylo Ren product listing, Hasbro Official Website
The figure of Supreme Leader Kylo Ren depicts the former Ben Solo as he appears in the first act of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, wearing a black outfit reminiscent of his infamous grandfather Darth Vader's Sith-inspired armor, complete with a flowing black static-dampening cape.
In addition, the figure comes with a deactivated lightsaber hilt and an activated lightsaber with the wicked-looking unstable red energy blade. It appears flame-like in comparison to other lightsaber blades because Kylo Ren's kyber crystal is cracked, which is why the hilt has crossguard vents from which excess energy can be expelled.
In addition, the figure comes with a deactivated lightsaber hilt and an activated lightsaber with the wicked-looking unstable red energy blade. It appears flame-like in comparison to other lightsaber blades because Kylo Ren's kyber crystal is cracked, which is why the hilt has crossguard vents from which excess energy can be expelled.
"My mother was the daughter of Vader." Promotional photo by Hasbro. © 2019 Hasbro, Inc. and Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL) |
The Star Wars: The Black Series Supreme Leader Kylo Ren action figure comes with the following accessories:
The 6-inch scale Black Series figure is detailed to look like the character from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, featuring premium detail and multiple points of articulation. ﹘ Promotional blurb in the Supreme Leader Kylo Ren product listing, Hasbro Official Website
- Cape
- Hood (up)
- Hood (down)
- Lightsaber hilt
- Lightsaber
My Take
As I mentioned earlier, there is are limits (financial and space-related) to how many collectibles I can buy, so I have been extremely picky as to what figures I add to my Star Wars: The Black Series collection. I'm trying to buy at least a few character-based figures from each of the live-action features; so far I have not bought any figures on any scale from the various TV series, although if I see a figure of The Mandalorian with The Child, I would try to get one.
I chose Supreme Leader Kylo Ren because he is by far the most intriguing "villain" in the 2015-2019 Sequel Trilogy of the Skywalker Saga. After all, you can only have a great hero (and Rey is certainly that in my opinion) if you have an interesting and dangerous antagonist. To me, Kylo Ren is that: a powerful opponent to the trilogy's protagonist, and as much as I hated him in The Force Awakens when he killed his father, Han Solo, his arc was compelling and ultimately rewarding, at least in my view.
Hasbro has done a great job with its Star Wars: The Black Series line of collectibles, lavishing the spiritual heirs to the original Kenner action figures introduced 42 years ago with authentic detailing and improved sculpts. Along with improvements in design, molds, paint jobs, and accessories, the addition of more points of articulation allows collectors and kids alike to display their figures in more life-like poses.
I heartily recommend this Hasbro Star Wars: The Black Series figure of Supreme Leader Kylo Ren to collectors ages 10 and up. Hasbro, of course, puts a lower age range (ages 4 and up), but I do not think that most kids under the age of 10 appreciate the coolness of this Star Wars collectible or the fine nuances of the art of collecting itself. Sure, the figures are sold and marketed as toys, but even so, Hasbro's true intended consumer base is the adult collector. In any event, I do caution parents to not get Supreme Leader Kylo Ren for kids younger than four, as the figure's small accessories can be a choking hazard.
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