Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi (75040) Lego Star Wars Minifigure Review

“Your Move!”  Kenobi challenges General Grievous on Utapau

There have been a number of Obi Wan Kenobi Lego variants released in recent years and at first glance, this one does not look appreciably different.  This is an Episode III, Jedi Master variant of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

This set is clearly linked with Episode III:  Revenge of The Sith, as are many of the 2014 Winter Wave releases.  2012 saw the last release of an Episode III themed Obi-Wan Kenobi in set 9494 Anakin’s Jedi Interceptor.  Whilst this set dealt with the climatic contest between Master and Padawan, this 2014 set captures Kenobi’s other great duel in this film with General Grievous on the planet of Utapau.

This minifigure variant is not really breaking any new ground as you will see in the photographs and descriptions below.

The head piece is printed on two sides with brown trimmed beard, eyebrows and facial lines and black circular eyes with white pupils. On one side we have a white grimacing mouth on the other we have a straight black line, but worried eye brow line.  Kenobi always looks somewhat troubled!  In fact the face print is identical to the Obi-Wan Kenobi head piece which we saw in sets:  9494 Anakin’s Jedi Interceptor from 2012 and 75021 Republic Gunship in 2013.

Kenobi’s hair piece is dark orange, with smooth hair combed in a sideways manner.  This has also been seen before in 9494 Anakin’s Jedi Interceptor and 75012 BARC Speeder with Sidecar from 2013. 

The unique aspect of this minifigure is the torso and leg pieces.  The torso is a double sided print portraying Jedi Robes.  The detail of the Jedi robes is outlined with black lines and brown lines on a tan base colour.  A reddish brown undergarment is seen in a V-shape around the neck line to the front.  Kenobi’s belt is detailed with silver buckles and accessories as well as black detail lines describing small pouches on the rear of the torso.  The torso is completed by tan coloured arms and light flesh coloured hands.

The legs are nicely printed to the front.  The hips are tan coloured with simple line details in black and brown.  The upper legs are tan coloured with simple robe detailing: black and brown lines which follow a similar design to the legs we see on the Kenobi variant from the 75012 BARC Speeder with Sidecar.   The difference here is in the two-tone colours that are used.    The lower leg is dark tan in colour.

Interestingly, Kenobi is not equipped with a lightsaber, but is given a standard blaster.  Considering Kenobi loses his lighsaber early in the Wheel Bike Chase and uses a blaster to finally dispatch Grievous I guess there isn’t room for too much argument here.

So if you own the Kenobi minifgures from 75012 BARC Speeder with Sidecar, 9494 Anakin’s Jedi Interceptor, 75021 Republic Gunship (2012-2014) you see a gradual evolution/subtle evolution.  From my point of view the Torso is probably the highlight here.

Let’s face it though, if you are purchasing 75040 General Grievous Wheel Bike, you are not really buying it for this minifgure.  You will be buying this for General Grievous and/or the Wheel Bike itself.  For an outlay of £20 you are not going to be disappointed with this set.  Build experience, playability and quality of the minifigures make this a value for money set (not something I say very often about Lego Star Wars sets).  This is a nicely detailed/printed minifigure that is not to be sniffed at!

Did Lego get it right?  We are always interested in your thoughts on the Lego minifigures we review, please add your comments below and give the minifigure a rating on a scale of 1-10:

Obi-Wan Kenobi in Rako Hardeen disguise (75024)

The ‘Marksman of Concord Dawn’, Rako Hardeen was a human male bounty hunter who was active during the clone wars.  Rako appears during a story arc of four episodes in the second half of Season 4 of the Clone Wars TV series.  The season originally aired between September 2011 and May 2012.

In an intricate, satisfying plot line the bounty hunter Hardeen is hired by an anonymous client to murder Obi Wan Kenobi.  After ‘successfully’ carrying out the assassination with a sniper rifle the mystery client is revealed to be the Jedi Council in the form of Mace Windu and Obi Wan Kenobi himself. From this point Kenobi uses nanotechnology to transform his face and a voice emulator droid and voice sample from Hardeen to impersonate the bounty hunter.  Why?  Kenobi uses Hardeen’s cover to infiltrate the criminal underworld to uncover a separatist plot against Chancellor Palpatine.

This minifigure is unique to the 75024 HH-87 Starhopper set released in summer 2013.

The minifigure is impressive.  The eye is immediately drawn to the head piece.  The head is light flesh coloured with light blue eyes and a dark red maroon tattoo around the right eye.  Other facial features include light brown stubble/scarring.  A beautiful print, on the reverse of the head piece is a small brown curve.

The Torso is predominantly dark grey in colour, with olive green arms and dark grey hands.  The Torso has an overlapping plate structure with light grey collars and metallic silver badge.  The rear is simply printed, mostly dark grey in colour with a reddish brown marking in the centre.

The legs have an interesting print being olive green in colour with metallic gold armour and knee pads with dark brown strapping.

The figure comes with a sniper rifle which is enhanced with a black lightsaber hilt to make an extended barrel.

Rako Hardeen is a great minifigure although it feels like something is missing.  Those that have watched the story arc will frequently see him wearing a helmet.  Admittedly, it is not the most eye catching or in fitting with the rest of the outfit.  You might also ask why would you want to cover that great face print?  However the inclusion of the helmet would have completed the minifigure. 

Those keen eyed viewers of the clone wars will have spotted the re-appearance of Hardeen’s outfit when Kenobi travels to Mandalore to rescue Duchess Satine during another epic Clone Wars story arc in season 5.   Those wanting to recreate scenes from Mandalore might want to switch in Kenobi’s head from the minfigure in the 75012 BARC Speeder with sidecar set.  Mix in the 2013 set 75022 Mandalorian Speeder and 7914 Mandalorian battle pack and you are a good way there.

We are always interested in your thoughts on the Lego Minifigures we review, please add your comments below and give the minifigure a rating on a scale of 1-10: