JediKermit's Full Review: Hasbro Star Wars Galactic Heroes 2-Pack Admiral Ac...
One of the fan favorite characters of the original Star Wars trilogy is Admiral Ackbar. A member of the species Mon Calamari, he commands the Rebel Fleet as they take on (and take out) the second Death Star. Best known for his line, "It's a trap!" Ackbar is a true hero of the Rebellion, and he looks good doing it, in a white uniform that would do Princess Leia proud. He's so popular that I'm surprised there aren't more toys of him--Hasbro has finally included him in their juniorized Galactic Heroes line, and it's about time.
The Galactic Heroes are small, durable action figures with limited articulation. Sold in two-packs for about seven dollars, they usually feature one hero and one villain. They have oversized feet, hands and heads, and are heavily stylized to look almost like child versions of the characters from the Star Wars movies. Hasbro has made a whole division of this style of toys, including Marvel Comics' Superhero Squad, Transformers' Robot Heroes, Indiana Jones' Adventure Heroes (may you rest in peace), and G.I. Joe Combat Heroes. I've kept up on many of those lines, and they're some of my favorite toys currently available. Mattel is trying their own take on the scale and style, with both their Batman and Toy Story properties...they're good too, but I don't know what kind of endurance their lines will have.
This particular Galactic Heroes two-pack features Admiral Ackbar and Nien Nunb. It's unusual to have one of these packs come with two heroes, but they're alien characters that seem to work well together, both from the space battle at the end of Return of the Jedi.
Admiral Ackbar is the reason I bought the set; I already have Luke Skywalker and Han Solo and Princess Leia and all of the other main characters in the original Star Wars trilogy. Now I want the more obscure ones. Ackbar is a very good likeness of his movie appearance: his ovoid, squid-like head is just oversized enough, with bulging orange eyes on either side of his head, and gill-like details under his mouth which manages to both frown and smile at the same time. His hands are exposed up to the elbow, and his forearms have both fins and long fingers worked into them. Ackbar's skin is mottled a dark red and brown, and the paint detail is very crisp, with no bleeding over onto his white uniform. He's one of the few Galactic Heroes with no joints at all--he doesn't have any articulation. So he's stuck into a position standing with his hands on his hips, ready to bark or bubble orders. This works for the commanding character, and since he was never shown to use any hand-held weapons in the movie, his lack of a gun here doesn't bother me any.
Nien Nunb was Lando Calrissian's co-pilot on the Millennium Falcon as they flew into the heart of the Death Star and destroyed it. He's a different species than Admiral Ackbar (a Sullustan, if you must know), but is also kind of fish-faced in his own way. If a catfish and a monkey had a love child, Nien Nunb would be it. He's got heavy-lidded eyes, protruding ears, and a big wet upper lip that folds down over his cheeks and chin. He's wearing a red flight suit with a blue smuggler's vest, and has odd early 20th Century details like a leather flight cap and spats. Like Admiral Ackbar, he lacks any joints at all; unlike Ackbar, he's also got an enormous pistol in his right hand, ready to take on the Empire.
Both figures are between 2.5 and 3 inches tall, and both have a wide stance and big feet that keep them upright, even on uneven surfaces like carpeting. They're durable enough for hard play, and are safe for young children because of their rounded edges and lack of breakable joints. I collect them as an adult geek, but my two sons, ages 5 and 7, love playing with them too. If you're a fan of the original Star Wars trilogy, and if you're looking for someone to shout "It's a trap!" every few minutes, you'll enjoy this two-pack of Galactic Heroes.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 6.99 Type of Toy: Action Figure
Age Range of Child: Kids to Teens
This awesome two-pack includes an Admiral Ackbar figure and a Nien Nunb figure, wielding his blaster accessory!, Manufacturer: HasbroMore at Amazon Marketplace
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