The Good: Amazing sculpt, Great articulation, Exceptional playability, Wonderful accessories, Good balance.
The Bad: None.
The Basics: Absolutely perfect, Bossk from the Saga Legends collection of figures is a perfect, ultra-articulated version of the lizard bounty hunter and remains the ultimate sculpt and coloring achievement for a Bossk figure!
A year and a half ago, my wife and I were out at Toys R Us and I snuck away from her to buy a gift or two that I knew she would like (she did!). Unfortunately, at the same time I was getting her her gifts, I was also getting myself two of the brand new Saga Legends Star Wars action figures. They had just begun the line and the IG-88 and Bossk figures looked absolutely amazing. Unfortunately for me and my impulse buying, my wife noticed my absence from her side. So, to prevent her from catching on that there were gifts for her in the trunk, when we returned to the car, I presented her with the Bossk figure I bought. My logic, in my explanation to her, was simple: as a child, she had not had any toys like that and now, as an adult, she was baffled by my desire to play and wanted to play with me from time to time. So, I explained, this was the first figure for her collection so she was not just dependent upon me and my ideas for play. She seemed to like the idea, because this is the first time since I have had access to the figure to review it!
The Saga Legends Bossk is, arguably, the ultimate Bossk figure, and can credibly replace even the 2003 Original Trilogy Collection Bossk (reviewed here!).
For those unfamiliar with Bossk, Bossk is one of bounty hunters seen aboard the star destroyer Executor in The Empire Strikes Back (click here for my review of the film). The lizard-like bounty hunter growls at Imperial Officers who explain they don’t need his sort of scum around before Darth Vader begins lecturing the assembled scum about what the bounty is. Bossk is popular enough to even be the subject of a 12” doll (reviewed here!).
Bossk's latest casting is part of the Saga Legends collection for the 4" toy line and it is a masterwork of sculpting and painted details.
Basics
The Bossk figure is amazingly well-detailed, which is saying something because prior versions of the figure seemed to get it perfectly right as well. The snarling reptilian stands 3 7/8" tall as an action figure and he looks very menacing! Bossk was released in 2010 as part of Hasbro's Saga Legends Collection and it appears to be an entirely new casting of the bounty hunter. The alien is cast in fairly soft plastic.
This toy is an immaculate sculpt; for a character that was seen ridiculously briefly, this looks just like every picture that exists of it. Bossk is cast in his yellow flight suit with his arms, head and feet exposed. The yellow suit is more muted than prior incarnations, making it look more accurate and less garish. Similarly, the white chestpiece of the suit looks a little dirtier, which makes some sense as the bounty hunter is probably not the cleanest villain in the galaxy far, far away. The coloring details that truly stand out, though, are in Bossk’s fleshtones. Bossk was an alien that was a latex mask, gloves and feet in a flight suit. This figure makes the character look like anything but. He looks like an actual lizardman with exceptionally detailed brown and yellow scales, dirty gray claws and tiny white teeth in his open mouth. The coloring details on this figure put every other version of it to shame, which is saying quite a bit!
What truly sets this Bossk apart from all earlier versions of the bounty are the even more elaborate molded elements. Bossk is molded with the very basic character’s form. Unlike prior incarnations that molded the flight suit straps and devices to him, this figure features very few costume elements molded onto the body of the character. Atop the basic figure mold, though, there are several outer tubes and the flight suit straps. Even cooler is that around Bossk’s neck is a strap that has a handle, making it look like he has a built-in flotation device or parachute around his neck!
Accessories
Bossk is a ruthless bounty hunter who only needs his custom blaster rifle. As part of the Saga Legends Collection, though, Bossk also comes with a stand. The stand has two pegs for the holes in Bossk's feet. The stand is 2 5/8" wide, 1 3/8" deep and 1/8" tall. It simply tells fans that this figure is from Star Wars and has a slot for the Galactic Battle Game card.
Bossk's blaster rifle is a 2 1/4" long black blaster which has a scope and power pack molded right into the blaster stock. It features a brown strap that descends from the barrel and the butt of the gun and allows Bossk to sling the weapon over his shoulder. It fits perfectly in Bossk's right hand, as that is the only one molded partially closed. Despite being a little more monochromatic than the rest of the figure, the blaster rifle looks pretty cool in his hand or slung over his back.
This figure was part of the "Saga Legends" line of the Star Wars figures and as such, it also includes a locker of "secret weapons" and a card for playing in the Galactic Battle Game. It also includes a six-sided die for the game. The card slides into a slot on the base and the die adds bonuses to Bossk's powerful abilities when it comes time to play that way. The "secret weapons" are basically six black plastic guns thrown into the figure to give it added options. Not all of them fit in Bossk's hands and it is unclear if every version of the Saga Legends Bossk come with the same six extra guns. While the Imperial blaster does fit into Bossk's hand, there are others that are too small or too large (the little cannon that comes in this extra weapon's pack, for example) to fit.
Playability
The four inch toy line was designed for play and Bossk is perfect in that regard. This Saga Legends figure has impressive balance! Flatfooted, this is a very balanced toy and because of the articulation of this figure, it is very easy to keep him flatfooted, even in outlandish poses. Bossk is amazingly articulated and this is a vast improvement on earlier sculpts of Bossk for playability. Bossk comes with an astonishing fourteen points of articulation! This version of Bossk has joints at the ankles, knees, groin socket, bust, shoulders, wrists, elbows, and neck. Many of the joints are hinged ball joints, allowing exceptional articulation. As a result, there are freakish amounts of articulation from the ankles, knees, shoulders and elbows!. This Bossk is exceptional for its poseability as a result of all of these joints!
For whatever improbable poses one might find where he will not remain standing, the base is solid and Bossk 's foot holes make it possible to use him on virtually any Star Wars playset with the foot pegs.
Collectibility
Bossk is part of the 2010 Saga Legends four-inch series, a series of Star Wars action figures that is a strange mix of dull characters and awesome bounty hunters. The Saga Legends line is entirely made up of recastings of earlier figures. That said, as one who takes the figures out and manipulates them for play and display, this is truly the ultimate Bossk action figure and if recent trends follow, the Saga Legends series will not have incredible market penetration. As a result, this may actually turn out to be a great investment figure. Either way, it is the best Bossk figure imaginable and any earlier version for the 4" line may be replaced by this sculpting!
Bossk is SL01 in the Saga Legends collection.
Overview
Bossk is an amazing sculpt of the bounty hunter for the new Star Wars toy line. If you don’t have a Bossk figure, this is the one to hunt down for your own collection!
For other Saga Legends Star Wars figures, please check out my reviews of:
SL02 IG-88
SL09 General Grievous
SL18 Chewbacca
SL21 Luke Skywalker (X-Wing pilot)
SL22 Hoth Han Solo
SL23 Snowtrooper
10/10
For more Star Wars toy reviews, please check out my index page!
© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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