Review of 4-LOM action figure
Star Wars Black 6 inch series

Introduction

The latest wave of Star Wars Black 6 inch action figures has covered many of the new characters in Solo: A Star Wars Story. By the way, if you haven't seen it yet, do so - now. It's a great movie, much more in the tradition of the original trilogy than most of the newer releases.

Back to the subject - Star Wars Black, or more specifically, the latest wave. While most of it is a Solo parade, there's a couple others thrown in for good measure, including the subject of tonight's review: the ESB 4-LOM.

One of the bounty hunters, 4-LOM has gotten some action figure love in the past, but this is his first appearance in the 1/12 Black series. You can find him at mass market retailers like Target for around $20, or at specialty retailers like Gamestop for $23. Or you can hit the online dealers, where the price may vary but should be in that same general ball park.

Packaging - ***
Nothing new here. I really love the gray scale pencil style artwork on the front of the box, and it's completely collector friendly, something you don't see with most mass market toys.  This guy is number 67, and the large numerals on the side allow you to find him more easily on a packed peg.

Sculpting - ****
The look of 4-LOM is pretty well known, and capturing it accurately has not been a major issue for most collectibles and action figure companies. Hasbro does a really nice job getting detail in the robot body and insect head, and in creating fine textures on the eyes and face while giving the body a smooth metallic appearance.

I particularly like the bug eyes, which are done in a translucent plastic. More on that in the next section, but the size, texture, and design match the film look.

He is short, though. I don't remember him being this much shorter than the other characters, but perhaps I'm wrong. This figure comes in just a little over 5 1/2" tall in a line where most figures are 6". Maybe this is an effect of using the earlier C-3PO's legs, or perhaps it really is intentional. He does look a little weird on the shelf to me because of it, but your mileage may vary.

Paint - ***1/2
The paint work is well done, particularly on the base coat for the armor and the funky translucent eyes.

The armor also has some wear and tear added through paint, but this isn't quite as impressive. Some of the strokes look exactly like what they are - brush strokes - and the rusty appearance isn't quite as real as I'd hoped.

However, the color (while a little dark) is good, and I love the coverage on the lighter head. I've heard the eyes feature a glow in the dark application too, although I don't see it...the translucent green plastic works best with bright light, where it can shine through and add depth to the appearance.

Articulation - ****
Hasbro continues to impress with their improved articulation on the Black series. This time, they really went above and beyond.

This is because 4-LOM is an inherently difficult figure to articulate. It's that funky body design - it just doesn't lend itself to a ton of joints or mobility. But somehow they found a way around the issues, creating a very limber fellow.

The ball jointed neck works great, as do the rotating hinge shoulders, elbows, hips, wrists, and ankles. The biceps are cut, and there's plenty of rocker movement in the ankles as well. Add in some decent movement in the waist, and you have a very posable figure.

A big fix is with the elbows. The front piston, which is attached at the bicep and forearm, always causes problems, even in much larger scales. They've added a trench in the forearm, where the piston can slide forward and back, greatly improving the range of movement. And in case you get a little too wild, the piston is actually attached to the bicep with a ball joint, and can pop out under pressure. This means you're less likely to break it, always a big plus.

Accessories - **
There's only one - his large blaster rifle. The material they used is a little soft, and you can't position the front bipod, but the sculpt and paint are solid, and the scale is good.

Fun Factor - ***1/2
Thanks to the ever improving articulation, this figure is a ton of fun for kids and collectors alike. He's durable too, and should provide plenty of sandbox hours for your youngsters.

Value - **1/2
The Black Series has hung around $20 for a long time now, and rather than drop prices when the cost of oil dropped, Hasbro put more money into the overall quality. It was a smart move.

Things to Watch Out For -
Take your time breaking free the cut joints on the biceps. Mine were painted tight, and you could tear something using too much force. Otherwise, you should be good to go.

Overall - ***1/2
Another terrific figure in the series, and one the old school fans can truly enjoy. You won't need to revisit this character in 1/12th scale again - he's that nice. Sure, I have some minor issues with the paint, and only one accessory is always a bummer. But there's no doubt this is the best 4-LOM we've gotten in a true action figure, and fans should be very pleased.

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ***
Sculpting - ***1/2
Paint - ***1/2
Articulation - ****
Accessories - **
Fun Factor - ***1/2
Value - **1/2
Overall - ***1/2

Where to Buy 
Best bet is to hit your local Target and GameStop right now, where I've seen this guy for $20 - $23. Online options include these site sponsors:

- Entertainment Earth is also still a pre-order, but at $22.

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
I've checked out a couple of the other figures from this most recent wave, including the young Lando, young Han, and the Range Trooper. I also recently reviewed the terrific Dewback and Sandtrooper.

If you want a slightly bigger 4-LOM, check out the sixth scale version from Sideshow.

You should also hit the Search Reviews page, in case any other applicable reviews were done after this one was published.

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