VC Deathwatch Mandalorian & Axe Woves Review

 Mandalorians sell! Which is why the VC is partially doing well in sales, especially from The Mandalorian series. Strangely Hasbro went an exclusive route with Axe Woves, as they did for Koska Reeves. Which surprised me, but he had a small role so I guess Hasbro didn't think he merited a general release. Axe shares the same buck as the Mandalorian Death Watch Trooper so I will also present it here since they are the same figure, aside from paint, and Axe having a removable helmet while DW Mando doesn't have a removable helmet, or unhelmeted head.

First up is the Death Watch Mandalorian, who will have the same articulation as Axe Woves. DW Mando has 17 POA, and has absolutely no issues with mobility. I'll put him in some fun action style poses in the photos below to show off his articulation. He is also well painted, and on mine (5, 1 was given to me as a 'Thank You' for helping someone out) I have no smears or smudges. He has 2 white marks on his chest and right arm. These are ranks, and in the show some had 1 or 3. Personally I don't know Mandalorian ranking systems but that's what it is. Of course, these were the Mando's that brought young Din Djarin into their fold. If you want to try your hand at customizing the ranks, feel free to do so!

DW Mando stands well on his own, even with the jetpack on his back. His jet pack is removable and he comes with a single blaster pistol and a blaster rifle. The pistol fits in his holster and will stay in without falling out. While he can hold both weapons in each hand, his right hand can hold both weapons the best. He can do a two handed weapon grip (THWG) on his blaster rifle. As a side note to the very extreme collectors (personally I could care less about this but some collectors get angry about this) his range finder does move up and down on his helmet.

Axe Woves is a Target exclusive figure, and uses the buck from the Deathwatch Mandalorian. But Axe has 2 big differences: a removable helmet and a unhelmeted head. Axe also has a different paint job, and this is also well painted.

Axe comes with 3 accessories: a blaster pistol, removable jet pack and removable helmet. The pistol is a bit too rubbery, but it does fit into his holster. You'll see in the pictures how Axe moves, and like the DW Mando he's fun to pose for action displays.

Axe's head sculpt is good, I know the pictures don't show that off as the sculpting and painting process gives a rough look. But in hand, or if you see him on the Target aisle, Hasbro did an excellent job on that! When you see him with his helmet on it looks out of scale, and the way its packed on the card didn't help, but for once the rubbery plastic is welcome here. With it, you won't tear the helmet taking it off (I did this on an older Mandalorian figure, Fenn Shysa) so yes, it looks big and goofy but keep the helmet on if displaying loose so it can eventually form to the head.

Now I'm not ripping Hasbro, in fact I applaud them! Collectors want Mandalorians, and this is a clever way of getting out 2 figures, 1 with a slight change to get 2 separate figures. They did the same with Bo Katan and Koska Reeves, and for the Death Watch Airborne Trooper, Super Commando & Super Commando Captian. 3 body types, making 7 different figures. Only helmet, heads and paint are different. And by Hasbro doing this they can sculpt a new Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader and Han Solo.

 

Picture Key

1. Axe and Deathwatch Mando, ready for action!

2. Axe takes off his helmet for the next photo 

3.  DW Mando shows off his articulation, including his helmet rangefinder!

4. DW Mando's accessories. The pistol is rubbery, but the rifle in my opinion has the right balance of firmness yet flexible enough to fit in his hand. 

5. DW Mando is taking his shot, lining it up!

6. The THWG in action. This picture took the longest to set up, kept falling down! 

7. The hero shot of DW Mandalorian

8 & 9. Axe Woves action and hero shot

10. Axe unmasked! 

11. Axe showing off his articulation 

12. Axe with all his accessories 

13. Final shot of both figures, thanks for reading!!