Editor’s Note:  This review has been updated with our second look at TVC…

Original Review:  Chris - 04/28/2012 8:50 PM

When the biggest complaint you have about a figure is that Hasbro has made it neigh impossible to buy multiples of, it must be at least partially decent.  That is the case with the Imperial Navy Commander.  I don’t think there needs to be a tremendous amount of commentary about this figure.  The pictures speak for themsevles.  It’s a super articulated army builder that doesn’t have any sculpting eye sores.  Enough said.  The emblem on the sleeve is that of the Grand Army of the Replublic and not that of the Empire, so that’s a bit of a “whoops.”  The complexion is a little fair (which made photographing the black costumed figure against a black background exceedingly challenging).  Other than that there’s nothing to complain about, nor is there anything I feel a particular need to gush about.  It’s just a nice well done army builder. 8 out of 10.

Updated Review:  Bret - 9/06/2018 07:05 AM

[Editor’s Note:  This review, with some edits, is taken from the gallery we did recently for the Black Series release of this same figure.]

As Chris mentioned in his review, it’s a solid figure, and fundamentally there’s not that much to either praise or complain about (but I’ll try anyway).  The articulation is solid, but nothing mind-blowing.  Swivel hips and wrists, with everything else being ball joints.  The paint is simple, as are the accessories.  The figure is able to perform various poses, included a casual THWG with the included blaster.  The blaster fits perfectly in the holster, and also can be held with either hand very firmly.  In a nice touch, the index finger of either hand can fit perfectly through the trigger guard.  The problem here is that the blaster is sculpted out of that horrendous gummy bear material.  The removable helmet is a neat sculpt, and looks great.  In my sample, the helmet is a bit loose, so it’s hard to position perfectly and get it to stay.

The few standout items?  The face is outstanding, both in the physical sculpt and in the paint applications.  I find that the likeness is reminiscent of a young Johnny Carson, or possibly Lance Armstrong.  The paint on the figure itself is pretty simple, just a few details here and there on the all black uniform. 

The Imperial Navy Commander was most definitely not easy to find, so it was a good choice to be repacked in Phase II of the 3.75” Black Series.  One thing that should have been corrected is the Republic emblem on his right shoulder.  I’m not sure if Hasbro just didn’t care enough to fix it, or if making the change would have somehow blown the budget for a “repack”.  If it would have classified the figure as “new”, then Hasbro should have gone all out by repainting the uniform in gray, giving us a modern update to the Kenner Death Squad Commander.  If not, then perhaps an alternate head sculpt would work.  As it was, the figure was in such demand that the repack sold well enough.

I’ll stick with the 8.  It’s a very good, if not particularly exciting figure.  I’d be tempted to drop it a point for the egregious error of the Republic shoulder insignia.  That should be enough to drive most collectors mad, and it would be a shame if one were to have army-built this version, only to have the emblem corrected someday, but whatever.  The figure is basically definitive for this character, otherwise.

Verdict: No Action 

The re-release in the Black Series seemed to have satisfied demand.  Samples of the TVC carded version are fairly inexpensive, with TBS version going for not much more than retail.  As such, there is no need for a revisiting of this figure, unless there were some kind of OT Imperial trooper multipack.  Ball jointed hips, alternate head sculpt, and a correction to the shoulder insignia could improve this figure, if Hasbro ever wanted to take another look in the year 2525, if man were still alive.

Verdict Guide:
Re-sculpt = The figure is not definitive, and a new version should be developed.
Re-issue = This version is definitive (or close enough), and shows sufficient secondary market demand to warrant a straight repack.
No Action = This release does not require new attention.