A hot new toy based on a weapon from the Star Wars: The Mandalorian franchise called The Darksaber has been included in a list of the "10 Worst Toys of 2020" due to its potential to cause "injury or death" to children.
The list was created by World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. (W.A.T.C.H.), a non-profit organization whose goal is to educate the public about popular toys that may pose potential hazards to young children. It issues warnings about toys that may cause choking, toys inappropriately advertised for children to use violently and toys with the potential to cause physical damage.
The Darksaber toy sword made by Hasbro is intended for those ages 5 and up and is intended to be a replica of a Mandalore weapon first seen in the Season 1 cliffhanger of The Mandalorian in the hands of Moff Gideon, who uses it to cut through the wreckage of his crashed TIE fighter. Although Hasbro includes a warning which instructs users not to swing or jab the saber at people or animals, as well as to not play with the toy around breakable objects, W.A.T.C.H. has included the Darksaber on its 48th annual review of possibly harmful toys. According to W.A.T.C.H., "young children are encouraged to 'SWING FOR BATTLE….!' with this 'ancient, black bladed lightsaber' made of rigid plastic, with the potential for facial and other impact injuries."
The unique black laser-sword the toy is based on has a rich history in Star Wars lore. The Darksaber, unlike the Jedi's iconic lightsaber, the Darksaber doesn't emit light but seems to suck the light in from around it, giving the blade an ominous black-hole characteristic. In the Star Wars universe, it's a one-of-a-kind ancient weapon with a thin, angled blade that more closely resembles a sword than the traditional lightsabers.
Joining the Darksaber on the list of possibly dangerous toys was the Avenger's Hulk Hands, Marvel's Avengers/Black Panther Vibranium Power FX Claw and a pair of John Cena WWE Jumbo Superstar fists sold to ages 3 and up, which W.A.T.C.H. derides for its absence of cautions or warnings despite the toy's "potential for blunt force or impact injuries."
Created by Jon Favreau, The Mandalorian stars Pedro Pascal, with guest stars Gina Carano, Carl Weathers and Giancarlo Esposito. Directors for the new season include Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rick Famuyiwa, Carl Weathers, Peyton Reed and Robert Rodriguez.
Source: Comicbook