'05 | #57  Commander Bly - with Battle Gear (Reviewed 09-15-2005)

Includes:
• Blaster Pistols
• Blaster Rifle

Click thumbnail for large image Spice: We continue our Clone critique with Commander Bly. Upon first inspection you may think you had another Clone Commander, but the yellow paint and lettering on the package will lead you to believe otherwise. Decorated to blend in with the fungus forests of Felucia, Bly comes strapped with a set of blaster pistols and the beloved rifle in which he shot Aayla Secura in the back. A leader after my own heart, when Order 66 was initiated he carried out his mission with no question or mercy even though he had evolved to the point where he developed human characteristics, enough to give himself a name.

Click thumbnail for large image There are many good things about this figure, but if all they were going to throw at us different were to be a paint job, shouldn't it be a good one? The cloth cape is very weathered but you can't say much about the rest of Bly. A scuff on the arm here, a little on the calf there, wouldn't the feet be the dirtiest? I realize Hasbro is a mass market company and this type of craftsmanship would only come from someone who cared as much as a customizing collector! It's not the worst figure I've ever seen but we really deserve more.

Click thumbnail for large image The greatest thing is they made him with jointed elbows instead of the newer RotS roll-pose elbow, that constantly fall off. The fact you can holster the blaster pistols is another mega plus, you can't say he doesn't come with enough fire-power. With good  comes bad, if you are not careful the hands easily fall off. However,  I do like the added movement in the shoulders and am left only wondering why we didn't get the torso movement we've been seeing on the Super Articulated Clones. Perhaps the most impressive aspect about the figure is they didn't make the same mistake they did with Commander Bacara, the knees actually bend. Thank the maker! You can set up Bly in a variety of poses, however I think most of us will prefer him with the rifle at Aayla's back!

Spice - It seems they are on the right track with the rehashing. We don't want the same figure, and you can re-use the sculpts. I do think it is sort of a rip off but I'll take this vs. Han Solo in the ANH outfit again. Commander Bly will be a very welcome addition to our collections. Thumbs up!

(Figure '05 | #57, Asst. No. 85173, Item No. 86650, Backing Card P/N 6508440100, Window Insert P/N 6508450100 ) 

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