It seems quite common for a higher figure in power to have guards of his own in the Star Wars universe. In Return of the Jedi, the Imperial Guards were undoubtedly in this position as they protected the Emperor on the second Death Star, and we even got to see them pop up briefly in Revenge of the Sith where Yoda swiped them off their feet with the Force. Speaking of the best Star Wars movie ever, the beginning of it showcased Grievous with bodyguards of his own, as very advanced droid units meant to give Jedi like Anakin and Obi-Wan a challenge, to the point where they still fought the heroic duo while decapitated. We've got both of them in Black Series form, so let's give them some proper spotlight!
Let's start off with the Magnaguard. These designs were quite unique amongst the Separatist's selection of droids, as these were different classes of IG droids that were far more advanced and combat-oriented than the traditional IG-88 model. Not to say that the other IG models are pathetically weak, but these were made to protect the likes of General Grievous, with the matching white armor and cloak. Not to mention that the more organic body frame makes this better suited for taking down stronger threats than the norm, a major contrast to the skeletal IG-88 and below models. And unlike the cloth goods on the Grievous I own, which is the 2003 Clone Wars version, this figure's cloth goods feel a little more appropriate for it, given how skinnier it is compared to Grievous, who should have a somewhat thicker cape meant for his imposing design. But, that being said, WHO THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO KEEP THEIR LEGS WARPED THIS BADLY OUT OF THE BOX?!
Head sculpt is done mostly well, the proportions and movie-accurate details are all included for a higher-end figure. The paint apps are a mixed bag. One eye looks like it's not aligned properly while there are some actually nice details applied, such as the dry-brushing added to make the Magnaguards look a little dirty. I greatly appreciate that since it'd otherwise be flat plastic. The articulation consists of a double-ball neck, and shoulders that are on ball joints for butterfly movement and can move 360 degrees. The forearms swivel as well as the biceps, but the lower part of the forearms also swivel despite it not being needed. The wrists can hinge, there is a bit of a diaphragm joint that requires it to work differently from normal figures due to the droid design. The hips are on double ball joints, the knees bend, and the feet can hinge as well as the ankles at fairly higher-than-normal spots. Posing them is possible, but you're going to need a good amount of patience to tackle the right pose. And yes, you can remove the cloth goods and the PVC piece on the head if you want to depict them bare. They also have alternate staffs that can be used if you want to use them instead of the more cotton-swab-looking staff. Their electric pieces can stay in place, but they don't really stay on as well as they should unless you warp them somewhat.
For a comparison with their boss, here they are with General Grievous, who doesn't really have much synergy with them because this is the 2003 Clone Wars version of Grievous rather than the Revenge of the Sith version, explaining why the Tartakovsky colors are applied onto a live-action design. I feel General Grievous is a little undersized, so I'd like to see another company's take on the character with a more accurate scale since he's 7 feet tall. And yeah, the Magnaguard effect pieces suck at staying in place, and I hate how warped the left legs are. FOR BOTH COPIES. I was genuinely excited for these figures since I love Revenge of the Sith and the Magnaguards, but these two make one of the worst purchases of 2023 I ever made. Oh, and I hate how flexible parts of the figure are, especially the shoulder pads not being pinned in place.
Final ranking: ⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Up next, here we have the Imperial Guards. Now, I know how much the Black Series line loves its cloth goods, but I will say the Imperial Guards are an example of overkill. Apart from an opening on the right arm, it's all red cloak. Underneath the cloth, however, is a wholly armored sculpt that I feel proves how plain the design is while concealing it. There's a nice level of sculpt work for the armor plates, the spandex material, and the boots that go high up on his knees. It makes me wonder how practical those robes were if they signify style over substance. With Darth Vader's cape, it gives him a sense of power and authority as a Sith Lord and one of the higher-ranking villains of the Empire. As for Palpatine, the robes represent his history as a Sith that spans even before the Prequel Trilogy. The Imperial Guards just feel rather basic, without their helmets.
Speaking of, it is sculpted pretty well and matches the character design from the movie. Which is basically expressionless given how it's a black slit for a visor. Not with the same personality that Vader's helmet or the Stormtroopers possess. The sculpt's articulation consists of a ball and neck hinge for the head, shoulder rotation, the combined elbow bend and bicep rotation signature of the Black Series line (and Hasbro lines in general), wrist swivels on uncomfortably thinner pegs than what Marvel Legends have somehow, hinges for either in and out or up and down movement, and a diaphragm joint. Hips are on ball joints, thighs swivel, kneed bend at two points (this has the pinned joints rather than the same kind of joint used for the arms), and there is both an ankle hinge and rocker. The Imperial Guard comes with the usual blade weapon that barely stays on the right hand because the Black Series team isn't really that good at swapping hands, while the tiny pistol that looks like a crumb of an Oreo cookie from a distance can be on the other hand. I think these added details are from the EU and such.
And here they are with Emperor Palpatine. They look better for a display like this rather than being used as action figures, but then again, that stems from how uninteresting they are in a vanilla pose, combined with how basic they are in terms of designs.
Overall, the Imperial Guard is slightly better in terms of quality, though the design isn't anywhere near as interesting as the Magnaguard. On top of that, this guy is a re-release of an existing mold, so if you don't want this, you can stick with what was previously made. Man, I wish Hasbro put in better effort with these guys since I always liked having two of each to go with Grievous and Palpatine. I bet the Senate Guard is better than the Imperial Guard.
Final ranking: ⭐⭐ and a half out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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