Gary Collinson gets hands on with Sideshow and Hot Toys’ new Kylo Ren Sixth Scale Collectible figure from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker…
If you’re a child of the 1970s or the early 1980s, then there’s a good chance that one of your earliest experiences with the world of action figures (and collecting) came with Kenner’s iconic Star Wars toy line. These little 3.75″ plastic wonders allowed kids not only to relive the big screen exploits of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia in the comfort of their own home (at a time when home video was still very much in its infancy), but to transport themselves to the galaxy far, far away, creating their own stories and adventures limited only by imagination.
Almost half a century on, kids have every piece content at their fingertips, and action figures find themselves competing for attention with video games, apps, YouTube, social media, et al. The world has changed dramatically, and so too has the world of action figures. Like video games and comic book, they’re no longer just “for kids” (good news for those of us who kept finding ourselves “taking a wrong turn” into the toy aisles well into our late teens, twenties and beyond). Manufacturers have of course taken note and over the past decade or so we’ve seen an increased emphasis on catering to this adult collector market, with those whose childhood love of action figures never quite subsided now able to choose from an array of deluxe collector pieces alongside the more traditional “basic” supermarket shelf fillers.
Two of the most prominent names in the high-end action figure arena are Hot Toys and Sideshow; since the turn of the millennium, these companies have been developing a seriously impressive reputation for producing some astounding products across a whole host of licensed properties, not least Star Wars, and we’ve been fortunate enough to get our hands on one of the newest products in that line: the Sixth Scale Kylo Ren Movie Masterpiece Series Collectible Figure from 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Measuring over 30cm in height, this latest Kylo Ren figure presents a highly detailed and accurate depiction of the First Order’s Supreme Leader as portrayed by Adam Driver in the final chapter of the Skywalker Saga, and comes complete with two alternate heads (masked an unmasked), a deluxe costume including tunic, coat, pants, boots, belt and hooded cape, seven interchangeable hands, LED light-up crossguard lightsaber, lightsaber hilt and interchangeable lightsaber blade. Within the box we also have a display stand with nameplate, instructions, and batteries to power both the lightsaber and the battle-damaged helmet, which also incorporates an LED light-up feature.
With any high-end collectible figure, capturing an authentic likeness of the subject is paramount, and Hot Toys’ designers GOX, E-Lee and JC. Hong have excelled in this department when it comes to the brand new head sculpt for the unmasked Kylo Ren/Ben Solo. The sculpt itself is superb, delivering an accurate representation of Driver’s face from all angles. However, it’s enhanced immeasurably by an intricately-detailed paint job which is quite simply stunning, with every pore, freckle and mole combining to deliver a truly lifelike skin texture that would need to be analysed under a microscope to fully appreciate its beauty. Hats off to Hot Toys here, as they have really delivered and in terms of facial likeness, it’s among their best.
With such a striking and attention-grabbing Ben Solo head sculpt, one would assume that for many collectors, the reforged Kylo Ren helmet head piece is going to end up gathering dust in the box. That being said, it’s still very well done and those planning to go with the helmet as their display piece of choice will not be left disappointed. The added LED light effect (which includes general and ‘breathing’ mode) is also very striking and looks incredibly cool, especially when paired up with the ignited LED lightsaber on low light.
The attention to detail and high-level of quality continues through to the figure’s costume which again is finely detailed and looks authentic to the movie’s design down to the last stitch (for Hot Toys aficionados, the outfit appears to be the same as the Kylo Ren figure from Star Wars: The Last Jedi, albeit with a new cape that comes complete with a hood). With over 30 points of articulation throughout the body, and a good assortment of interchangeable pieces, there’s plenty of options when it comes to posing and displaying the figure; the aforementioned hood could perhaps be a tad thinner, but it’s easy enough to work around and so that really is a minor quibble in the scheme of things given how fantastic the figure is overall.
If you’re a fan of the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy and wanting to dip your toes into the world of Hot Toys, or simply get your hands on an eye-catching display piece, then I definitely recommend the Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Kylo Ren Sixth Scale figure. The facial sculpt is right up there with the very best we’ve seen from Hot Toys, and between the alternate head pieces, cloak etc., there’s plenty of variety to be had. It’s almost two figures in one really, and it would have been fantastic to see the blue Skywalker lightsaber included for those who wanted to go full Ben Solo with their display. But we can’t have everything, and instead we’ll have to make do with what is surely the definitive Sixth Scale interpretation of the Supreme Leader of the First Order and Master of the Knights of Ren.
The Sixth Scale Kylo Ren Movie Masterpiece Series Collectible Figure was provided to us for review purposes and is available to pre-order now via Sideshow. For even more great Star Wars collectibles (and much more besides!), be sure to head to the Sideshow website or follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Gary Collinson
