Check out my unboxing of the Hasbro Black Series Darth Vader Helmet from the Kenobi series and then my side by side comparison with the EFX Legend Edition helmet taht sells for 10x the amount of the BS one! You won't believe it!
99 percent of people out there can't tell the difference. They just see Darth Vader. For $130 it's an amazing piece for the price. The interior and multiple sound effects really make it worth it.
I disagree. The likeness is off and for 130$ it should look more accurate. But nobody wants to pay 1k for helmet unless you want accuracy. I don’t blame ya. I would do the same especially if it were screen accurate. Hell I’d pay 4K just for a rogue one stormtrooper helmet because it is beautiful
99 percent of people would walk into oncoming traffic if instructed to. The fact that Hasbro went out of their way to create this thing from scratch, instead of just scanning the original, shows just how much they really don't care. It would have been less work and 100% accurate and they could have still sold it for the same price. Don't make excuses for Hasbro. Demand better!
I think it’s also worth noting about the new black series helmet: if the face portion is detached from the neck the breathing is different if you push the sound button
Just got it and when putting the batteries in thought they were flat as the breathing seemed off so swapped them a couple of times and thought I'll buy new ones in the morning. Put the mask together then realised! Cool little feature though
I love Star Wars. I’m 52. You get it. But this price difference is way too big for the minor flaws. Yes, the eye shapes and forehead are the obvious mistakes, but who cares when you’re paying 15% the price of an EFX.
That EFX one is absolutely stunning, I do like that the BS one has the glossy dome, that is a little more accurate, but honestly for $130 there is some small modifications you could do to make it awesome
The Hasbro Vader still looks a lot like the old voice change version with the control box, its more of a cartoon style face where the other has a smaller more menacing glare and bigger more samurai OT look about it..
@@jeremydrew1227 …Doesn’t “resemble” the film helmet? That’s a really far stretch. It absolutely looks like the film helmets. It may not be exact, of course, but to say it “does not resemble” the film helmet is complete BS.
Efx looks to be a matte finish to the A New Hope Vader helmet while the Black Series is based on the Revenge of the Sith Vader helmet. I could be wrong, though the subtle differences could explain why it looks 'off'.
The look of Vader's helmet has changed with every film, as the prop builders start to perfect their process. Also, the first one was the crudest one, lacking the benefit of modern techniques. Then you have to look at how directors and production will put their own spin on things. Story-wise, it makes sense that the Kenobi helmet, being the first, would change over the years as Vader would have newer and better ones built as Luke was growing up. As far as how Kenner built their version, it's the best way to have great detail and keep the price point manageable.
Even though the shape is a bit off the Black Series looks really good for the price, especially with all the details on the inside. It's definitely a helmet worth getting
"A bit off" ? No, the black series Vader helmet is TOTALLY off from every point of view. The view of the two helmets side by side reveal that the black series helmet is ridiculous. The helmets of the other characters from the black series seem much more well-made.
@@philippealain-art clearly you don't own the shitty Black Series Kylo Ren helmet. Remember these are fancy toys, not prop replicas...for 130ish bucks, and the fact it breaks into the ROTJ reveal helmet, it's pretty good for the price. These aren't meant for super nerds, just the average consumer.
@@j-bird4726, I don't own anything from the crappy postlogy. As I said before, the other real characters' helmets are acceptable (Stormtrooper, Boba Fett), but Vader's helmet is an unacceptable disaster for the overpriced helmets they are. The Vader black series helmet is a bad, expensive, inaccurate and ugly toy. It was not difficult to do at least as well as the Rubies supreme edition, and quite possible to do better, even at the same price.
If I remember correctly, the Kenobi series helmet is based off Hayden’s Vader helmet. It was made more to fit his body so it didn’t look so big and awkward on him. Can’t remember where I got this bit of info, but it’s the only thing I can think of that makes it so different. I still wish they’d do an actual ANH helmet.
The Obi-Wan series helmet is a transition from Episode 3 to Episode 4, but the black series helmet is not based on any model and no mold of a real helmet was used. It's a free interpretation totally failed in all points of view. Both in the forms and in the proportions, nothing is right. It's a terrible ugly bad toy sold way too expensive. The stromtrooper and Boba Fett black series helmets are much better. But of course Boba Fett's helmet is extremely simple.
@@philippealain-art you have no sense of knowledge. Kenobi costume was custom to Hayden’s body. Hence why the helmet was not the same….I dunno what to tell ya. It’s accurate for that series. What did you think the helmet was? They need at least a scan of the helmet used on screen. It’s licensed silly! Hasbro can’t just “make what they think is right” Disney would sue the pants off them for breaching contract.
@@hehawkiller, I explained to you that it was a transition between the episodes 3 and 4, it is however simple to understand. In terms of knowledge, I'm sure you don't know half of what I've learned in my extensive research and documentation. Do you even know what the differences are in the manufacture of the different helmets in each film in detail? So yes, I confirm it, hasbro didn't use any mold or 3D file to make this awful parody of Vader helmet. The mask is too large, the dome is not the right shape and proportions. Find out what the different versions of the helmets are for each film, because they have been modified for each movie, and then you can pretend to give lessons to others. But when you have this knowledge, you'll stop talking crap and you will know why this black series helmet is so bad.
The eFX, while is nice and does retain the original shape, was heavily cleaned up. There was a ton of detail on the dome lip removed and the paint job is still far to clean on the mask. Fan casts from the Rick Baker mold retain all of the original detail better. One reason why eFx did a lot of clean up is due to the fact that a lot of people would believe they received a sloppy defected helmet. eFX also came out and said that Chinese production tends to fix flaws on the casts thinking the so called defects are not suppose to be there.
Yeah I’ve talked to Gino about it and he explained that the factories can’t distinguish between flaws in the cast (debris) and minor details that are supposed to be there so they just picked some very specific flaws to highlight to the factory. My collection focuses primarily on licensed replicas so I don’t have any Vader fan casts.
@@StarWarsReplicas Well if you do get one I would highly recommend getting the DJ helmet from Mike Warren. It has direct lineage to the Rick Baker mold and comes with all the details you'd expect to see in a ANH helmet. I got one at the end of last year and I can't get enough of it.
@@StarWarsReplicas Gino Sabatino is one of the most arrogant, despicable a$$holes I have ever seen in my life. He is involved in this?! Now I don't want one anymore...
The problem with fanmade stuff is that you never know what detail is from the originalcast and what´s added from the mold or the maker himself.The best example is the SL ANH Vaderhelmet.The maker added the details to sell it as the Holy grail helmet.A shame for the community.Perhaps this EFX is cleaned a little more...but its proof that its really from the Rick Baker mold and has nice finish out of the box.
I enjoyed this video a lot, great comparison. You didn’t show how the top and bottom of the helmet separate to look like Vader when he had the helmet off, it’s a neat detail, and it makes a different sound effect when separated.
Ever since I was a kid collecting Star Wars toys it always pissed me off that they didn't even try to make them look like the way they look in the films. If that mold for the eFX version exists, or the actual prop, why the hell didn't Hasbro just scan it and make their version a 1:1 replica, instead of messing with it and "Kennerizing" it? It's infuriating. This video should put people off to buying the Hasbro one. Force Hasbro to do better.
@@HiredGoonage ...and 95% would march off a cliff if instructed to. Or, to put it in contemporary terms, take experimental shots and wear face diapers for a virus with a 99.5% survival rate for anyone under 80. But, thanks for playing, reply guy.
@@thestorm99 don't be daft, and no reason to bring in your anti-vax bs to further expose your foolishness. 95% won't see a difference in the helmets mounted on the wall, or in cosplay use. You would only see the difference side by side if you were educated in it and actively looking for differences.
I have both the Black Series and EFX PCR helmets, and the two of them, in my opinion, are amazing. If near-perfect screen accuracy is what you’re after, you can save your pennies and track down an EFX. If you’re on a budget, then for around $130, you’ll get an absolute belter with the Black Series. It’s not 100% accurate to any on-screen helmet, but that doesn’t have to be a negative. All of Darth’s helmets differ in shape and size, so I see the Black Series design as yet another variant. Whichever helmet you get, you’re in for a treat!
It's odd that Hasbro put all that attention into the top of the mask in the interior that you can't see but left the molding injection mark on the top of the helmet that you can see.
"No one knows the difference", only those who have a major visual deficiency cannot see the difference between a well-made model and a bad, expensive, inaccurate and ugly toy. Let's be serious, the view of the two helmets side by side reveal that the Vader black series helmet is ridiculous and off from every point of view. For much less money, you have the Rubies supreme edition, which has a far better look.
I've got a first gen Black Series Vader helmet, and I gotta say the short neck always did annoy me, so much so that I extended it myself with fiberglass. And naturally, not a week after I finish the mod is when Hasbro announced this one. I'm honestly on the fence if I want the new one considering how much work I put into the old one.
Just got my Hasbro Black today. (May 18, 2023) and the only gripe I had was I had to remove the front grill just to be able to breathe. That’s an awesome thing in my opinion, even if it’s a bit detrimental for looks. That; and I can wear my glasses in it. They fogged up only a little.
Careful bro, there are people here that will rip you apart from saying the hasbro even looks remotely like a darth vader helmet lol, bunch of losers if you ask me...
@@nicholasmapes, just because you have no sense of observation doesn't mean that others have to be so stupid and promote such a failed, ugly, inaccurate and too expensive toy for it's bad quality (the Black series).
@Philippe Alain okay, keep thinking that while 99% of us are out here having fun... keep pouting over tiny details. People like you are killing fandoms... plus, you wanna talk about cost, the EFX is crazy expensive, and still has detail flaws... so yes, ill take the $130 "toy" with Slightly more flaws, with interior detail, and sound that is more comfortableto wear... you can keep your fiberglass $1000 replica that still has issues...
@@nicholasmapes, it's not tiny details but a failure from all points of view, both in terms of forms and proportions. If people are stupid enough to buy and promote bad products they are not worthy to be part of the fandom.
@Philippe Alain the EFX has issues too, so youre not going to buy that either, right? You don't like the black series, so don't buy it... don't buy any lego star wars either... the rest of us will be out here enjoying ourselves while you pout... gatekeepers like you are always trying to kill fandoms... go back to your moms basement troll
Hasbro didn't base it off Kenobi. The top helmet is the exact same as the 2018. I compared them together before packing the 2018 one to ship it to the buyer
We need to remember that the Hasbro black series mask is also a toy. The EFX legend, is every starwars collectors dream, BUT alot of us haven't the CASH for such a spot on masterpiece as the EFX. I know I don't. In 2017 Hasbro released the first generation black series Vader mask without the extended neck and smaller chin vent, as the one you just reviewed. I purchased that one before they disapeared , so I made my move and grabbed one asap. My local walmart carried a limited few, maybe 7 in the course of 3 months and after they were all sold they never reordered anymore. The mask retailed for $68.00. Since I'm such a BIG Fan of VADER, I seased the moment, and grabbed the last one, because I doubt I would ever have that opportunity to own a studio size mask again. . . And I was right. Unfortunately the eye lenses had been gnarreled up on both sides before un boxing , so the value as a collectors item greatly went down. Having that take place, I decided this past Halloween 10-31-22 to paint the all black face using a Rustolium Gunmetal. masked out in thepattern seen in "ANEW HOPE" and Kenoby . Turned out phenominal.
For most people it’ll be a compromise on what you get for your money. I’m happy with my original black series Vader and Mando helmets and have a load of money left over to use on my family :) but that’s just me.
Like a lot of people, I am no expert in Star Wars memorabilia so the cheaper helmet will look good to the majority of people. I'm actually considering getting one to display in my home theater. I'm also interested any other pieces from any other movies people would recommend I look into.
Glad to see this comparison. I saw the new black series and celebration and initially I thought it looked okay... but then you see that dome and it just get's worse. And really it's that dome... looks like they improved if from the first black series; but just so much of that is off it really hurts the rest of the helmet which seems pretty good. I think if they just thickened up the front edge and altered the shape just a bit it could be a winner. Glad I have the EFX... when you see that you can just feel how right it is.
Thanks for the video it was really interesting/useful! Seeing as so much is based on scans these days I was a bit surprised, but have to think that maybe the proportions on the hasbro were reduced in the hat part to maybe save on standard box size and therefore standard shipping and so on, which all affect the final all-important price point. A bit tail wags the dog but as most of us agree most won't notice. Having worked with Lucasfilm licensing in the past it wouldn't surprise me at all - I have the EFX from 2011 and I love it. My fave version of Vader's helmet. I feel they messed up big time on the Revenge of the Sith one when scanning only one half and mirroring it - as we know with people's faces, if you mirror something asymmetrical, you get two different looks if you mirror each side. And therefore two different personalities/versions. And I think that along with Christensen not having Prowse's proportions made him look weedy with more negative space and such. I have a simple method of overlapping each side to get a true average that feels like the same thing even if it is properly symmetrical, and it kills me they went the easy route. Also that they undid the brilliance of the alternating paint job which made it infinitely easier to film and show both planes and edges. Worse still was that I almost worked on episode 3 and have friends who worked on the costumes/props I would have hassled had I known! That's my little rant! But yep, still love the ANH helmet over the 'softer' Empire one, the smaller chin grate and all that. This one looks the most insect-like to me!!
For the people whining and complaining about the inaccuracies saying its garbage keep in mind, this is a toy. Made by a toy company. For little kids and basic collectors who just want a cool piece for a relatively low cost. If you are looking for 100% screen accuracy then maybe dont buy a toy and complain when the toy isnt perfect? As a starwars fan, it still never ceases to amaze me how nitpicky and whiney some of yall are. Anyway, great vid man keep up the good work and ill probably be picking one of these up when I get the chance.
This is an amazing improvement over the old black series reveal. The longer neck, red lenses, and gunmetal highlights completely transform it. It would still be nice to have that dome fixed, but as far as the mask itself I feel like they've brought out the full potential here, and this would look great next to a 1/4 HT Vader.
Nothing has really been improved. The black series Vader helmet is a terrible ugly bad toy, totally failed in all points of view, both in the forms and in the proportions, sold way too expensive.
@@philippealain-art I don't trust Black Series to get any mask right. You said it, just looks and feels like a toy. It doesn't match what I see on screen when I watch these films.
For me personally. My Canon is that vader has had roughly the same mask type, but small differences when he has to replace things when damaged in fights. So what we see from. Revenge of the sith, to kenobi, to a new hope doesn't all have to have the exact same measurements. Just look terrifying, and seal the pressurized suit right?.
A voice changer would have been better than a prerecorded huff. Though, not bad for 98% of fans who'd buy something like this to begin with. The imperfection atop is from the fact they made the mould for the helmet a top inject gate (the area where the hot plastic is shot into the mould). It's cheaper to make a simpler mould like that than it is to make the gate come in from the inside of the cavity. The quality, as I see from the video, of the moulds themselves seem to be pretty good. I'm a T&D guy and work on these type of thin walled moulds day in and day out. I'll likely never see this mould set pass through my shop as it was likely commissioned and ran in China. I would love to see the plans for the inner mask: the detail is pretty good for the cost.
Darth Vader helmet with voice changer and Bluetooth is even better. If the helmet receives an incoming phone call comes in the helmet would flash blue light,missed call would flash red,flashing green light SMS has received,solid red light a voice mail is present,low mobile coverage area would flash orange. With built in speakers and microphone of course.
I love mine, but I’d love a replica eventually. Idk if it’s because I’m an avid Star Wars fan or Vader fanatic but I can tell the difference as soon as I bought it, without references. Black series helmets are always disproportionate and too big and clearly mass produced. Like I said earlier, I love mine, but it’s not as good as a replica. From a distance and an angle it’s perfect, but looking dead on, it looks weird
At the end of the kenobi series obi wan destroyed that mask so vader had to make a new one so that's why there is differences between the two helmets so unless you are a fan of the old or new is preference
it looks quite nice, would have been more interesting if you adjusted the helmet the same way on both, you can see the plastic top is way higher ( over the 3 nose bar) it surely make it look very different but both helmed are still very nice, i love the your room too! thanks for the review
It looks to me like the hasbro would benefit from having the helmet tilted forward a little on the mask. The biggest flaw for me on the hasbro are the curves on the mouth box, they just look wrong. It should be a straight sided triangle.
Have you tried Big Bad Toy Store online? They have them in stock for $134.99 plus $4.00 shipping (flat rate - you can include as many items as you want for the same shipping charge.)
The Hasbro one costs much less than 100 bucks in production costs. That should tell you everything you need to know. The EFX looks awesome but 1000 bucks for a decoration piece is WAY too greedy!
Great review as always. Can't beat the EFX legend. The BS dome is just too small for me, it looks highly stylised, almost like a Marvel comic version. But hey, for the money it's still very cool, if had it as a kid I would have been more than happy
The mark at the top is the plastic injector gate. They should have put the injector on the inside face. they could texture the plastic with a satin finish to improve it.
The cheaper one has much cleaner lines, way more consistent shapes. Fiberglass has warping and rough lines. The cheap one is injection molded, the flaw at the top is known as the gate, or where the plastic flows into the mold. You can't really get rid of gate vestige when it comes to molded components.
Seen as Vaders helmet has changed for each film. Is the Black Series one more accurate to the Ben Kenobi series? I had a quick look but its hard to tell.
I have to be honest, I am not that much of an expert about the different vader helmets, but the Black series looks a lot better than the 1000 EFX helmet. It just looks cheaper in my opinion.
I agree... and I know the gunmetal paint is more accurate but it looks weird to me. I have the 2018 BS helmet and I like the look of it better than either of these. And the interior detail is awesome in the BS helmets. Personally I wouldn't spend even $500 on the EFX version.
The New Hope version on screen was clearly more matte finish than later versions. Later versions were clearly new construction as there was, after the enormous success of Star Wars, more money to make new props. I think it would fair to compare to screen shots to see if the Hasbro matches the later versions. it looks like it does. The shiny finish certainly does. Prop makers construct them to get the shot in the can. They certainly didn't make that prop to endure for a series over 40 years long. They made replacements to cover damage from simple wear to mock combat , and even nearby pyrotechnics. To make replacements over the years they have the same problems replicators have. Getting replacements to resemble the "original" prop.
The two differences I see is Old Vader vs New Vader. Like a live action Vader vs Anime Vader feel. The price is unbeatable tho for the Black Series mask
I'd prefer the "New Hope" version. the shape of the black series face part is a bit massive, the top dome of the helment is a kinda short. you can't Get any closer than the Original 1977 version. That says: "DARTH VADER" Alone. I'll take the black series, Remove the electronics, Install it into the New Hope version. [Even though I'm not gonna cut into it] Well, [to me], I believe it'll play it off nicely
I actually enjoyed this review a lot as it gave me a good comparison between the two helmets and yes there is a big difference between the size of the face on both. I recall hearing that this helmet is base on ROTJ (as it is just a repaint of the one they released a few years ago that I have in my collection) so I expected a few differences. I'm really impressed with the paint though and will definitely upgrade my original Black Series to this one now.
Yep I waited till the day the new one came out before ordering to make sure by video reviews that it was different. The top helmet is the same but the neck is totally different from 2018. And the red eyes and silver paint
@@CaseyPriceForsakenhero, You have the right to like bad, inaccurate, ugly and expensive toys, but you betray yourself since you acknowledge that the 2018 helmet is off, which means that the 2022 helmet is also off because there are no real improvements to make it accurate. The changes are just details and don't fix any of the many errors. This really proves that you are not giving an honest point of view.
@@philippealain-art I think you maybe misunderstood some of my meaning. The 2018 one had a short neck and never looked right when proped up. The new one does since the neck is longer. And also I'm saying the helmets look drastically different in the films especially comparing it to the very original new hope helmet is a mistake. Look at stills from obiwan the show. The helmet is very close to that design.
I'm fine with my helmet, my brother got it for me for my birthday this year so, plus it goes perfectly with my new more replica style costume too :P I should do a full video on that here soon
I mean honestly I prefer the black series helmet. I feel like it just looks more like Vader to me than the really rare helmet tbh but that’s just my opinion
The EFX looks better on the outside, but the Black Series is way better detailed all around. EFX doesn’t even have the top of the mask detailed. What is that?
Idk jack about star war, i played there games but i always liked the characters, all the different type of stormtroopers, the emperor's guard, kylo ren, they are so dope looking. So to me the the Hashbro will do. Yeah the finish on the more expensive on is going to look better but, as long as its 1:1 scale and it looks like that ill be fine with it. And i kinda like the detail look without the mask. Like i said i'm not a hardcore so take what i say with a grain of salt. That being said, if you display the Hasbro helmet in a case will it look almost as fantastic as the EFX? Or can you see from a mile away its plastic? Thanks for any info, great review & nice collection man!!!
EFX is much more sinister. The boggly eyes of the black series, while a fun product, make it a little less mature. EFX looks like it's staring straight through you. Black series looks like it's looking left and right at the same time. Interesting to see how much of the characteristics feel different. IMO obviously.
I picked up the Hasbro Darth Vader helmet for $105, an absolute deal. I think it is great for what it is, a toy. If you are someone looking for a collectable prop to put on display, you might want to look elsewhere. Otherwise, this thing is awesome!
for 900$ less I get far more details and awesome sound effects? Damn, EFX needs to catch up what the hell? I just don't like how small and thin the dome on the hasbro helmet is and how the eyes are red, though overwise, awesome helmet
One of my favorite props in my collection is a mold a fan made of the DC Direct V for Vendetta mask, which itself was made off of a mold of a screen used mask from the film. I then had it painted to match the screen worn one as closely as possible. I definitely wouldn't mind a $100 priced mold off the EFX Legend Vader mask.
Vader's mask, etc aint all black?! There goes my childhood I guess. Also, the shiny cheap-o black helmet is what kills the new one. The mask part is good and detailed but that helmet...yeesh.
I have the EFX helmet as well as the Hasbro helmet. And Tho the EFX is cast from a New hope helmet. If you look at the right Cheek. It sits a little lower than the left one. Visually to me, the EFX helmet looks to have a bit of a warp in its mould. Not at bad as the Don Post helmets. But I can still see a warp in the Fibreglass casting. I was going to use the EFX helmet for a full-suit build. But now I have the Newer Hasbro helmet. I'm honestly much happier with the detail and the price.
I believe the EFX is ANH style but the Black Series is Kenobi - more ESB / ROTJ. Note the widows peak and eye size. Obviously the Black Series dome is too low and should be taller.
Because they are based on different helmets, one can say this is Version 1 vs Version 3.. In those years from KENOBI to A New Hope, Vader got older, technology changed.. Who says Vader only had 1 version of his suit/helmet? For the price it's not bad and I think compared to the $1000 version the $100 would win if you compare the inside of both helmets right?
I like the look of the cheaper one better...the gloss works better. The matte finish on the left makes the surface imperfections look bumpy and sci fi imperial aesthetic is very clean not like the rebel attire. the spot on the top of the cheaper on is the only thing id be unhappy about.
The black series helmet is shaped just wrong. The dome is wrong. Otherwise it's really good. That should be an easily fix that wouldn't make the helmet cost more. I hope they do so in a rerelease and then I'll buy it.
I've read more comments saying the likeness is off on the new 2022 helmet. And I just have to push back. It's suppose to be the Kenobi style helmet. The likeness is like 95 percent accurate. You can't compare it to a new hope helmet. Which itself is drastically different from Vaders other outings it wasn't mass produced and crafter and was also geometrically incorrect in some places. Look how much it changes from a new hope to empire Strikes Back. Compare it to the 2022 Kenobi show and it's super accurate. Maybe the top is slightly too small but that's it. When you are holding it in your hands. It looks so good.
Why nobody understand only difference between them is black series build from darth vader in obi-wan kenobi show its not off its looks like darth vader in obi-wan show and 1000 dollars helmet its from legend's that's it
I have the Black Series one older one its the same thing except for the red eyes I can just take my lens out and put red in it if I really wanted to but tbh i like the black effect better
I always thought the black series helmet looked kinda jank but wow I didn’t realize it was THAT disproportionate. But honestly for a helmet that was under $100 at retail it’s definitely not bad at all. It’s actually pretty good for the price. But it’s still no match
