Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,308: Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi (The Vintage Collection)

BEN (OBI-WAN) KENOBI
I think we've reached the ceiling of what cloth robes can deliver

The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.:
Asst. E7763 No. G0922
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #373
Includes: Lightsaber, hilt, cloak
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $16.99
Availability: September 2025
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: At Princess Leia's plea for help, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi embarked on a journey to Alderaan with Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, C-3PO, and hired pilots Han Solo and Chewbacca. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary:
In 2024 and 2025 we got some new versions of key characters from the original film. That's a big deal, and it invites a lot of scrutiny as fans are being given higher prices and have high expectations that these new figures will surpass previous purchases. It is expected that the likes of Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi are not merely good, but after several releases must be the very best and maybe even final, perfect edition.


This isn't that. It attempts to iterate on the 2004 and 2009 versions of the figure, and does make some improvements. The cloak is still goofy and gets in the way of the arm articulation, which isn't conducive to the two-handed lightsaber fighting poses from the movie. There are aspects of this figure which are incredible, but this is a complainy review because a great likeness and the best-yet leg articulation is hard to deal with when you're going to need another separate figure to do your dueling. The materials used and the super-articulated format have limitations with bulky costumes, and it may be necessary to make multiple figures (or figures with swappable parts) to meet the demands of displays and maybe even play.

I would be lying if I say 2025 Kenobi isn't good, but it doesn't drastically improve on the 2009 versions from The Legacy Collection in terms of being able to fight or have his hood up. In case you forgot, we got single-carded Obi-Wan with elbow and knee ball joints, plus a table with a Leia hologram figure, in The Legacy Collection. It could stand and sit, it looked good, and it had an excellent - for 17 years ago - likeness. 2009 Kenobi had hair which was a little more gray, 2025 is a little more white with the whole photoreal face painting. It has separately molded hair that matches a painted beard. The actual facial hair of the figure is close to the cardback photo, but since it's right there you can easily tell there's a little more color in his sideburns and cheeks, plus a little more dark hair on the sides. When it comes to the new head, it's a good modern improvement - but the old ones were also basically just fine. If Hasbro does a version 2.0, I would ask them to spend the dime and give him a little more color in his beard if they can make it look right. If not, this'll do. For a portrait the size of a peanut, it's excellent.

Costume color is mostly fine. There's always room for a little interpretation with the color of the cloak, the tan robes, and I guess the belt buckle. Costume photos make it look like a tarnished silver-adjacent color. Hasbro opted to make this figure's belt buckle gold. What's right? Probably the tarnished silver. Everything is close enough that I don't think you can fault the Pantones used to make this guy.

Articulation is improved a bit, but this figure isn't capable of all the poses I would deem essential after a dozen different revisions. You can kind of get both hands together to do the death pose from the Death Star - the range of movement in the arms isn't fantastic. It's also hindered by the cloak. With the cloak off, you can make it work. With the cloak on, the tiny bunched-up fabric garment actively pushes the arms apart so it has to be very, very specifically posed. It is not a satisfying experience. You're going to have difficulty getting both hands on the saber to fight Darth Vader, too. I won't say it's impossible, but I'm not liking the results after minutes of fussing with it. It's a toy - this should be simple, or there should be a simpler solution like "duel arms" you can pop out, similar to 2004 Dagobah Luke. The arm articulation is pretty much the same as the 2009 figure with deeper elbow cuts, and exposes the limitations on some super-articulated figures due to the costume design. I think the only option is to pursue swappable arms - a set of alternate pre-posed arms as bonus gear (at a higher price point) could fix this. I'm not normally an advocate for alternate body parts, but we're at a point where you just plain can't get the arms to sit right within a cloth cloak. I don't think Hasbro can make a set of arms with full articulation at this size that can assume the position within a soft goods cloak. There may be value to pre-posed arms or a hard plastic cloak shell to keep the figure's pose from melting away..

The inner robe sculpting is nicely done. The texture is good, and it was good in 2009. It's a little different, but you can tell they're working from the same reference given where the folds go. His lower robes are cloth and the legs have an extensive range of movement. He can sit, no problem. The boots and legs make me think the plan is to repurpose them for prequel Jedi, but I guess we'll find out this year. As mentioned above, I find the range of arm movement below expectations and not significantly improved, but for a figure that'll just sit in your Cantina or train Luke on the Falcon? The articulation is perfect.

I like the lightsaber hilts. The hands have problems double-gripping them due to interference from engineering and the figure's unusual thumbs, but you can kind of, sort of, make it almost awkwardly work. One of my gripes about The Vintage Collection is that each figure looks amazing, but they're generally difficult to pose just right. A coat, a belt, a skirt, or some element will push limbs away from where you want them to go. It's one reason I'm fond of Retro - movement is limited, but it stays where you put it. I don't want my figures to fight me, and Obi-Wan doesn't want to fight for me.

I do not like the cloth cloak. It is not an improvement. Hasbro hasn't had a lot of great luck with cloth Jedi capes and cloaks and robes at this scale. In this case, it's folded kind of oddly and Hasbro sewed the hood down. You can snip the tip, but not everybody likes to make modifications to the figures and the hood is huge. As is, it hangs somewhat oddly. It just isn't cut right. Around the shoulders, there's a little too much fabric. The sleeves are too small and tight, in the movie they're much longer and hang down a bit. With a little work I can get it to look mildly acceptable, but I think that after 25 years of cloth Jedi robes on 3 3/4-inch scale action figures we can all admit that there are limitations of the material and/or factory sewing machines that may not be able to deliver a satisfying experience at this size. At this point I think it's just beyond the technical expertise of the factory or the designer, and alternative materials must be examined. Perusing fan and official figure photography, I don't think it's just my opinion - the cut of the robe just isn't worthy of a "premium" collector-priced figure in today's market.

After several decades I think I just have to make peace with the fact that this is probably as good as a "super articulated" Kenobi as we're going to get - unless you change up the engineering and try something different. I'd recommend this to anyone who doesn't have an Alec Guiness Kenobi in their collection, because it is still the best one overall so far - but other ones have unique accessories and poses you may find valuable. If you want maximum articulation but aren't too bothered by the cloth hindering some of it, with the best likeness, this is your current best bet. But for a dueling alternative, keep reading.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

While not exactly a looker by modern standards, I would recommend you look up the 25th Anniversary Obi-Wan Kenobi [FOTD #110] and/or The Last Jedi Kenobi [FOTD #2,413] for dueling purposes. It's necessary for your double-handed dueling Death Star needs. The price isn't too high yet, but it has been slowly increasing.

Confidential to Hasbro: I know you guys like Deluxe figures for $25 and up, and I think you should consider Obi-Wan for a fancy upgrade. A version of this figure with multiple plastic robe pieces for specific poses might look good and give you another bite at the apple for the figure tooling. Sculpted plastic hoods do tend to look great - so why not include plastic robes for specific vehicle riding needs, specific dueling needs, and including them with version 2.0? I think VC #373 is good for certain fans - they want a carded figure, they want the cloth, and you gave them exactly the kind of figure they asked for - bravo. But it doesn't look great in a diorama, and I think plastic robe parts are the solution and I'm willing to pay for it. Consider it for the 50th anniversary, perhaps in a duel with Darth Vader set or a Death Star playset.

I would also recommend looking at 2004 Dagobah Luke for a "statue" solution that may be cheaper and use less labor at your factories. Swappable arms gave this $5 Luke figure wildly different poses that were not possible to replicate with "super articulated" arms. An Obi-Wan with pre-posed scene-specific arms could be a viable product for cutting off alien arms or distracting Sith Lords. Some fans will complain, but it's the internet and that's what we do here. New features and functions give fans a reason to buy a figure other than "now he's got ankle rockers." There is more to being a functional figure than merely having the most articulation. A "Statue Series" might be a great sidekick to The Vintage Collection for scene-specific major characters in the films, with reduced factory labor costs.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,308: January 6, 2026

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,307: DJ R-3X (Droid Depot)

DJ R-3X
DJ, You Dirty Guy!

Star Wars Droid Depot
Item No.:
???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: Comes apart, jointed visor, jointed headphones, can wear hats
Retail: $14.99
Availability: October 2025
Appearances: Galaxy's Edge

Bio: All different types of droids populate the Star Wars galaxy. Each droid is different and has their own unique personality and colors. Rex, a former Starspeeder 3000 pilot for Star Tours, was recently reprogrammed to be a DJ at Oga's Cantina.. Join DJ R-3X on their adventures throughout the galaxy. May the Force be with you... and your Droids! (Taken from the packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary:
DJ R-3X is impressive. It didn't get a price bump, it's sizable, and it's a new mold. It seems to be quite different from Captain Rex (sadly I missed the $300+ Starspeeder with him), so I have to judge this one on its ample merits. It compares favorably to new Hasbro The Vintage Collection releases. The weathering is a little harsh, but visible. You can see painted Aurebesh RX on his neck, plus several decorated white and blue buttons. And bolts. Also speakers. Armed plating. Faux lights in the eyes and ears. It just keeps going. At every angle, you'll see something like a jointed thumb or a telescoping neck that makes you go "Oh yeah, they did a nice job here."

The deco could be a smidgen sharper, but after all the increasingly expensive R2-D2 repaints of the same mold for over 15 years this is quite refreshing. The base is one big foot, and it's got a foot peg hole. Hasbro has been engineering those out, giving us figures with a small indentation on the heel that is no longer compatible with most display stands. This figure has zero use for a display stand, but has a hole anyway. I can appreciate that.


Articulation is above expectations. The gray column (let's say "leg") connects to the neck and collar. The big orange base can rotate separately, and the body is made of two rings. The front two arms are connected to the top part, and the back arm is connected to the bottom part. The neck telescopes up and own, with a pivoting neck plus a visor and headphones that can move up and down. The arms have moving thumbs, rotating wrists, plus several places where they can bend and swivel. Compared to an R2-D2 or C-3PO mold, this thing is pretty incredible.

The dome has a hat hole in it, so depending on the hat, Rex can wear it. The rabbit ear hat only works with the visor closed, but smaller hats should work just fine. Disney put together an impressive figure that has me wondering what factory costs are, because this seems triple or quadruple the complexity of a typical Astromech droid figure at the same price. Hasbro also made this figure with slightly less weathering and a similar-but-different tampo on the arm. Disney's has more painted buttons on the chest. Which is better? Well, pick a scale, and I'm sure you'll be happy.

As with many of the droid figures from Disney, I have no practical use for them. It's basically a hoard at this point. If you can store it, you should give it a whirl.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Shop Disney. It was not a fast sell-out.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,307: January 1, 2026

Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,306: Force Ghost Yoda (Force Masters / Epic World of Action)

FORCE GHOST YODA
Force Masters Pack

Epic World of Action Target Exclusive
Item No.:
Asst. G0363 No. G0778
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 4 other figures with accessories
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $34.99
Availability: July 2025
Appearances: Return of the Jedi, probably

Bio: Jedi Masters take on Sith Lord Darth Vader in this 5-pack of Star Wars™ action figures inspired by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker, Force Ghost Yoda, Ahsoka Tano, and Darth Vader. (Taken from the Target's web site. Package has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary:
The centerpiece of this set - he's the guy in the middle! - is Force Ghost Yoda. I'm kind of surprised they didn't go with "hologram" as they're basically the same, but this clear-ish blue figure makes use of the great Epic World of Action Yoda [FOTD #3,231]... but without the gear. Will kids miss it? Probably not - but it would have been nice to have a little ship. Silly, yes, and I assume Lucasfilm shot that down because dead Yoda has no real use for knickknacks.

The whole set has four full figures and bonus accessories for the price of roughly four figures - so you could look at pint-size, gear-free Yoda as a freebie as much as a selling point. There's a The Vintage Collection Ghost Yoda out right now too, but this one has an amazing clear pearly blue color that just dazzles. Hasbro left it mostly unpainted, but they painted the eyes which really gives him a lot of - ha ha - life. I wonder if they experimented with unpainted eyes and realized this was just better. For those of you who have been collecting for the past 58 years, most holographic and spirit figures have no paint or very minimal paint, and rarely are the eyes decorated. This figure makes me think that is a mistake - you really need a focal point. Even most clear indie figures (hi Glyos! Hi Sofubi!) have painted eyes that make it seem like a real figure, rather than just an unpainted test shot.

The rich blue color looks fantastic, but it's not as clear as some other releases. You can see light through the hands and ears, but the level of opacity of the limbs does a good job hiding the various pegs used to put him together. You really don't notice the wrist joint pegs, or the shoulder pivot bits. Everything looks well-integrated, and the darker color does make it look a lot better. The range of movement is excellent for a spirit Yoda. Honestly, this could just be a non-jointed slug figure and you'd be pretty happy. I like that it can pose and be moved around, and the level of detail pops pretty nicely thanks to the sheen on the blue.

Nobody should ever steal a figure, but I'm kind of surprised not to see him missing from the 5-packs in Target. He's awesome. I just don't think people see the set, which isn't always at eye-level, and the packaging doesn't scream out "I'm Star Wars!" either. It's weird to say that Hasbro should make more eye-catching Star Wars-y packaging that might encourage purchases and theft, but that's where we're at. I think the yellow and white looks fine - but even before it hit shelves, absolutely nobody would look at this and say "this is a good design to engage fans, children, or adults." At least the figure is good, and you can toss the box out without any guilt when you open yours.

I'd recommend getting the Epic lines if only because it's a small, cheap collection with a few vehicles and the whole shebang is affordbale. Hasbro dropped the ball with aliens. There's no Han, there's no Leia, nor R2-D2 and C-3PO. But it's pretty good for a smattering of troopers and heavy hitters alongside some weird, fun repaints like Yoda. The very concept of lightning Jedi is silly, but I won't argue that the figures are good. If this Yoda were a weird indie bootleg for $35 I'd probably want it anyway, so the whole boxed set for that price isn't bad. Just keep an eye out for clearances, given we're now after Christmas I assume Target has probably slashed the price. (I wrote this a few weeks ago.)

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Target on sale for $24.49. If I didn't overpay for Walmart's exclusives last year, I probably would've bought this one at full price and not complain. I needed that karmic price adjustment.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,306: December 30, 2025

Thursday, December 25, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,305: Snowtrooper (The Vintage Collection)

SNOWTROOPER
Four-pack or single

The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Four-Pack (pictured) or individual
Item No.:
No. G1285 or Asst. F6878 No. G0927
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #349
Includes: Blaster, heavy blaster (4-pack only), backpack
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $54.99
Availability: September 2025
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Snowtroopers are stormtroopers trained for operations in arctic conditions and equipped with specialized gear to protect them against cold. (Taken from the single-figure packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary:
"Do I need this?" is a regularly asked question, because Hasbro went full-on confusing with the Snowtrooper in 2025. A single-carded figure was released and, as of my writing this, is hard to find in stores. Hasbro Pulse put out a four-pack of them. The figure molds and deco all seem to be the same, but there are benefits to each version. If you're an opener, get the four-pack - those boxes include bonus heavy blasters. If you want to keep it packaged, go the single figure route.

This figure shares a few - very few - parts with the Officer in the 3-pack (sold separately.) It's a weird year for troopers, especially given there's no Hoth program or upsell vehicle like an AT-AT or Echo Base. For whatever reason, 2025 is the year of the Snowtrooper and you're in luck because they're good. This version has muddy boots, a slightly baggy mask under the helmet, a distinctive backpack with a peg that won't let you put it on wrong, and very good articulation. We don't see a lot of these guys sitting, but the improved hip joints with a thigh swivel are welcome. The hands can both hold a blaster, and the detail is great. All the little lights are painted. The various buttons have color, and the silver "buckle" is painted too. The eyes seem to be decorated nicely, and there are painted fingers on the gloves. Hasbro didn't skip details here.

The hood is a lot narrower, and I feel it's a big improvement over the ones we got in the first decade of the century with very, very wide masks. Sure, the wider mask might be more accurate but this looks better. You can turn the head and the helmet doesn't pop off or anything. It's great! I know it's silly to be impressed by something as simple as a neck joint, but if you had the 1980s Snowtrooper you know that it's a luxury.

While I would love a little variety in the dirt deco, I can understand why Hasbro didn't do it. We still have a nice off-white "skirt," and you can always add more grime to any figure you want. The glossy shoulder pads look great, and the knee pads are good too. Maybe we'll get an E-Web to go with these guys later. For now, this is as good as it gets and I appreciate that Hasbro gave fans options on how they want to buy this figure. $17 for one stings a bit, and $55 for four is a little more reasonable for those looking to build a diorama. If you have the means or interest, get at least one. I'm not sure I'll ever need four or more - but maybe Hasbro can put out a playset and change my mind.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse. It was an exclusive but later opened up to Entertainment Earth and elsewhere.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,305: December 25, 2025

Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,304: Obi-Wan Kenobi (Force Masters / Epic World of Action)

OBI-WAN KENOBI
Force Masters Pack

Epic World of Action Target Exclusive
Item No.:
Asst. G0363 No. G0778
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blue lightsaber, Force lightning, 4 other figures with accessories
Action Feature: Lightning grip for fists, lightning can wrap around figure
Retail: $34.99
Availability: July 2025
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Jedi Masters take on Sith Lord Darth Vader in this 5-pack of Star Wars action figures inspired by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker, Force Ghost Yoda, Ahsoka Tano, and Darth Vader. (Taken from the Target's web site. Package has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary:
It's rare that I see something and go "Eh I think I can wait for a sale," but with this particular set's price point and abundance I did wait for a $10 off deal in November. It's a good set for the money (unlike some of last year's exclusives), and this Obi-Wan Kenobi is arguably the best part of the set. Normal Jedi Obi-Wan isn't available elsewhere in the line yet, and while he shares some bits with the armored figure it's still mostly a new figure. Mostly.

It's not a total match for the movie, Hasbro gave him extra Force lightning bits on his forearms for thematic reasons. Mechanics and energy were supposed to be a big part of Star Wars product this year, and you can see it in a few select parts of the line - but it also goes against the Jedi not being able to use Sith Lightning. We saw Yoda absorb it, and we saw Obi-Wan absorb it with his lightsaber, so I suppose you can give the blue blast to another figure and pretend - but part of me wants to buy a second set and de-paint the forearms. It's not a massive eyesore, and I suppose it would set the figure apart from a single-carded non-lightning version had one surfaced. So far, it hasn't.

The figure itself is pretty great. It doesn't have the rich sculpted fabric texture of the collector figures, but it does have ball joints galore and a great face sculpt with matching printed deco. It looks great for a kid toy, and the figure has no problems standing, sitting, holding the lightsaber, or holding the lightning. Getting him to balance with the big lightning will take some doing, as gravity is real. It's a heck of a handy little accessory, and if kids actually got this in their hands they might have some fun with it. There aren't a lot of physical manifestations of "The Force" and kids could probably pretend it's like a tractor beam for Force-grab or Force-push or whatever. Also, these Force clamps are currently exclusive to (or are debuting in) this set.

Kenobi has no problems sitting, but you may need to bend the robes a bit to get it working right. I wish there were a matching Epic Hero Jedi Starfighter, but alas, that seems unlikely. It would also be nice to have a specific figure for him to duel from the movie, but that doesn't exist either. It's a nice figure if you just want a hero Kenobi for the kids, or something for your desk. When a line is small like this, it's hard to create something satisfying that also spans nearly 50 years of stories. As such, on his own merits, this is a good figure and the set at $35 (or $25, or less) offers a decent value. $5-$7 per figure, with elbow and knee joints, plus ball-jointed hips? That's not just a good deal in 2025, we didn't have that good of a range of motion in 2005 and prices were typically lower.

 If this line got any real momentum, maybe launched alongside a new season of a popular show with more than one or two characters from said show, I think it could be a really strong one. The toy features are generally fun, the prices are competitive with other kiddo figures, the deco is good - if a bit stylized - and there's no sense of "this guy looks wrong." I'd recommend tracking down the set if you're so inclined.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Target on sale for $24.49. If I didn't overpay for Walmart's exclusives last year, I probably would've bought this one at full price and not complain. I needed that karmic price adjustment.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,304: December 23, 2025

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,303: Wuher (The Vintage Collection)

WUHER
New and Significantly Improved

The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch HasLab Cantina Pack-In
Item No.:
No. G1302
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #HAS008
Includes: Blaster, 1 alternate hand, 1 tumbler
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $399.99-$499.99
Availability: September 2025
Appearances: Star Wars
Bio: Wuher, the Cantina's gruff bartender, keeps his hand low to survive. Whether it's droids entering the premises or stormtroopers investigating a brawl, he does his best to avoid trouble altogether. (Taken from packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary:
I both understand and am whiny about the inclusion of Wuher the bartender with Hasbro's $400-$500 bar. On one hand - if you're buying this playset, you probably want this character. On the other, you probably have one of his two previous releases. A $400-$500 playset like this aims squarely at lifers who want a place to put all their figures, and 2025 Wuher is a masterful improvement over 2000 CommTech-era Wuher. Also, it drives home just how great 2000 Wuher was at the time and still serves as an excellent figure to stand behind your bar, assuming you want to keep this one carded.

This isn't to say the new one isn't fantastic. If you compare the previous release, the proportions are similar and the general landmarks are all there - but the new one has so much more going for him. The shirt has way more sculpted detail. You can have his belly cover his belt now. He can point, the glass is removable, he even has ankle tilts and thigh swivels! The separately-molded plastic wig looks great, and the scruff is painted particularly nicely. He's even got painted chest scruff... which is a little off-center on mine. He's grouchier, squintier, and feels more alive than the previous release. It's also worth noting the pants and boots are significantly different now. 2000 had boots with wraps around them, while 2025 just covers the boots with his pants. Which is better? Who cares? His job is to stand behind the bar and you'll never see them. Hasbro gave this guy an exceptional amount of love when ensuring the parts move well and allow you to put him in other vehicles and playsets... which is kind of amazing given many fans will never, ever even open the carded figure.

But this goes back to the philosophical implications of when, if ever, are you happy with a figure? If you've been happy with one of the old versions, do you need an upgrade? I didn't love the OTC remastering, but I like the CommTech version just fine. The figure performed all necessary functions as a guy who only needed to stand behind a bar. The new head looks better, but as we get older and as we're likely to not touch the figure much after purchase (be it putting it in a display or putting the carded figure in storage) it's overkill. Hasbro's work at this size is second to none for the prices, even with the increases Hasbro's all-new sculpt figures continue to impress. It's just that for the goobers who are just a rubber mask, or just someone to occupy a seat, sometimes a simple figure is enough to get the job done. I don't know if we would've gotten another cool alien instead of Wuher had Hasbro decided the cheap POTF2-era guy to be good enough, but clearly, I think about it. I would not have felt slighted if we didn't get this update, even though he has an incredible range of motion and hugely improved detail.

Much like the Tonnikas, he has an optional hand with a glass - which is welcome. That's what his original figure had. The rifle is an imaginative bonus but is also a bit of overkill given it's probably not a part of most displays. The extra painted detail on the blaster helps, but like the blaster itself, it might not be missed were it absent.

Overall this is an exceptionally good figure of a figure where my only real complaint is that I was satisfied with previous releases. The amount of texture on the fabric, the nicely engineered articulation, and especially that scowl all serve to give this guy far more personality and a greater range of movement than countless other characters. I don't know who sculpted him, I don't know who gave him the deco budget, but man it's an impressive hunk of plastic. If you never got a Wuher, go get this one. But if you just need a decent guy to stand behind the bar while Luke and your other aliens take focus in a diorama, your old versions will get the job done. But if you want it to look the very best? Get this one... I still find the old one to be good enough for my needs, though.

Confidential to Hasbro: you could've gone without any articulation below the hips and we'd never have missed it, if that ever could be a consideration in reducing prices down the road for other new characters who only stand around.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse. I hope it shows up in the regular line, for now it's exclusive to a crowdfund that is no longer available outside the likes of eBay.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,303: December 18, 2025

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,302: Snaggletooth (Cantina Adventure Set - The Vintage Collection)

SNAGGLETOOTH
Kenner Flavor

The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Cantina Adventure Set Pack-In
Item No.:
No. G1301
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #379
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $64.99-$74.99
Availability: September 2025
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Nicknamed "Snaggletooth" at the Mos Eisley Cantina, bounty hunter Zutton's exceptional skills caught the attention of Jabba the Hutt, who put his services on retainer. (Taken from packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary:
I consider this figure and his set to be underpriced. How often does that happen? Not very. Along with Walrus Man, Hasbro made some interesting choices on Snaggletooth. And by that I mean "look man, there's a budget for these things." Obviously we all know the figure on the cardback photo doesn't match the figure, and that it's missing a distinctive belt buckle, but sometimes the point is to get out a nicely priced redeco in a good exclusive gift set. This does a nice job of that, and I'd say the door is open for Hasbro to redo this guy if they want. I'd buy a super-articulated Kenner sculpt should they ever decide to make one.

If anyone says "oh they're not fans!" I disagree. The first thing I noticed were his boots. If you have an original blue Snaggletooth, you know the paint tends to rub off the boots. The deco artist knew this too, and decided to mold the boots in silver plastic instead. Clever! I see some swirls so I am the slightest bit worried about future gold plastic syndrome. It's unlikely, but you know me. I'm a worrier. The shins are painted blue, and they nicely match the legs.

We've had red versions of this figure a few times, which makes this one a nice change of pace. It still has gloved hands, and the eeys are meant to mimic the old Kenner head. The skin is lighter and gray, with fairly nicely painted hair and a silver knot on his belt. It's not really a belt buckle, but again, what are you expecting with a repaint? The body itself is light on paint, mostly molded in blue or gray. Hasbro probably saved a few pennies by eschewing any wipes or any paint on the shirt under the tunic. It looks better for it, but you really need to get into the idea of "like it for what it is" and not "it's not the other thing you may have preferred." I like weird things, and I need more guys for my Cantina, so I'm digging this figure.

He can stand nicely, and there's enough pliability in his "skirt" that he can kind of, sort of, sit. The blaster fits in the back of his robe wrap, making this a generally decent redeco of a perfectly nice sculpt. It is also Hasbro's/Kenner's first carded blue Snaggletooth. Previous version were bagged or in a box.

It's worth noting we got a surprisingly nice take on Blue Snag during the Original Trilogy Collection about 20 years ago, and while it lacks this level of detail it's certainly very nicely articulated and has the correct belt buckle. It can sit, it's very much OK - but they're all a little different. As such, you may as well look them all up and let your budget be your guide.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,302: December 16, 2025

Thursday, December 11, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,301: R4-TR3 (Droid Factory)

R4-TR3 Holiday Edition
Star Wars Droid Factory
Item No.:
???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: Star topper
Action Feature: Comes apart
Retail: $14.99
Availability: October 2024
Appearances: n/a 

Bio: All different types of droids populate the Star Wars galaxy. Each droid is different and has their own unique personality and colors. This droid is right at home on the forest moon of Endor. Join R4-TR3 on their adventures throughout the galaxy. May the Force be with you... and your Droids! (Taken from the packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!  

Commentary: I admit my enthusiasm for holiday droids is waning a bit - they're very good, but also are increasingly exhausting. They're more a collectible unto themselves, and when it comes to making a toy of a theme park attraction or an unrelated holiday it should probably be special. Or cheap. Lucky for me, I got R4-TR3 for $11.38 (no joke) last year thanks to a sale and a coupon that got a bunch of holiday droids down to a more reasonable per-figure price. Nothing against the holidays, but I have over 20 Christmas droids and I don't decorate for Christmas. Which I guess is a big mark in this guy's favor. I got a fully-decorated Playmobil tree [16bit.com FOTD #2,368] in a set I got super duper cheap on clearance, which sometimes make an appearance. I bought it for the easy chair in the set. But I digress.

This droid is neat as a collectible or piece of holiday festiveness, and it's a little too garish to fit in with your Endor diorama. It's not bad, nor did the designer do a bad job - I just want my figures to go with all my movie figures, and this guy is close. The green body with brown feet? Perfect. The dark green panels and mid-century dome markings look fantastic. Even the red eye works for me. The differing colors on the feet are a little odd, and I don't love the gold dot lights or red box outlines. They're great ideas to make this guy look like a decorated tree, with everything lining up well and lots of little tidbits like red, gold, and silver vents as well as a blue projector to really make it look like something in a home somewhere. The gold star on top really drives the point home - all five of them.

But is it Star Wars? That's the question. I'm sure everybody is saying "Well, yeah" and they aren't wrong. I would be a lot happier with this droid if it kept the star, the green, the brown, and the silver, but lost some of the other colors. And I assume a ton of people who bought it love it for those other colors.

If you missed it last year, you can still get it on eBay for about $25-$30 shipped in the USA. If that sounds outrageous, keep in mind that early adopters for this year's R2-H25 paid $14.99 plus tax and shipping - about $27.21. After the increase it's over $30. Is it worth paying $30 to ship a droid to your house? I'm starting to lean toward "no." I'm not asking Disney to cut the price, but maybe put the Halloween and Christmas droids together as a bundle or on the same day - Disney can reduce labor and materials costs, and we can pay to ship one box instead of two. Win win.

I took more than a year to crack mine open. I like it, but I don't love it. I'm coming more from a place of fatigue and excess more than actual dislike. Over the past 15 or so years, I've bought hundreds of Disney droids based on this mold ranging from $7-$30 shipped. I've missed and/or skipped a couple, especially some bundled with big expensive vehicles that I didn't necessarily have a crack at. With shipping charges, you're probably going to get at least 3-4 holiday droids per year at $25-$30 a whack, and that starts to add up. Is it worth $120 a year for something you'll look at, chuckle, and chuck in a drawer? Probably not. But people who don't have 3,000 figures will probably love this as a nice bit of holiday fun rather than another symbol of decades of plastic debauchery.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Shop Disney.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,301: December 11, 2025

Monday, December 8, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,300: Obi-Wan Kenobi (Blue Tech Speeder Bike / Epic World of Action)

OBI-WAN KENOBI
BARC Speeder

Epic World of Action Power the Force Speeder Bikes
Item No.:
Asst. G0363 No. G0778
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blue lightsaber, rocket, blue launcher, tech deco bike
Action Feature: Bike rolls on wheels, rocket launcher, spring-out wings
Retail: $19.99
Availability: August 2025
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Legendary Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi battled on the back of a speeder bike, a vehicle capable of high-speed travel that requires skill and fast reflexes. (Taken from the packaging)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary:
Scarce. I haven't seen it in stores. Amazon resellers are asking a lot for Obi-Wan Kenobi with his BARC Speeder, which makes some degree of sense as the only non-repaint in the second wave of the Epic World of Action carded vehicles. The figure itself seems to be a mishmash of parts from other releases, while the bike seems to be unique and loaded with enough play features to make you angry it isn't easy to get.

Obi-Wan seems to share Target's exclusive Obi-Wan Kenobi head, torso, and skirt. The boots are unique (but similar to Rex), and his arms may well be the same as Rex. They certainly seem as if they come from the same digital sculpt, but I can't tell if they're from the same molds. Obi-Wan Kenobi's shoulder armor also matches that of single-carded Anakin Skywalker, fitting Kenobi slightly better.

 But how's the figure? Great. He stands well, with 15 points of articulation. (I count points of articulation here as places where two pieces join and can move, so the knee can move at two places but the hip can only move at one.) While the figure doesn't have ankles or wrists like his The Vintage Collection counterpart, it's worth comparing what you get as both are technically the same price now. Hasbro's 3 3/4-inch collector figures have some cloth bits and more joints, but what the kid figure lacks in superfluous bits he makes up for with vehicle. $20 for a super articulated figure, or $20 for a vehicle with a pretty nicely articulated figure? Unfortunately, fans over 40 will rarely support anything fun, so they'll miss out on a really good Ewan McGregor sculpt with a decent head of hair and beard on it. They may overlook the Jedi symbol stamped on the shoulder. They will certainly miss out on the padded black pants under the skirt piece, but if they have Armored Kenobi at home they may have no need of another at this point. I feel for the hypothetical target audience as this item has not appeared in American big box or toy stores, nor is it likely to unless they order through better toy distributors. (And it's $60 on Amazon!)

Obi-Wan sits well on his bike. There are bulky skirt pieces, but they bend out of the way with handlebars and pedals that are better at holding him in place. I had no problems getting him massaged on the bike, with one minor quibble. The bike has an awesome action feature with two pop-out blades to clip bad guys, but his legs can get in the way if Kenobi is not seated just-so. Hasbro is really improving play features for kids, but I would certainly prefer a kid to not have to plan to make sure the clearance is perfect before taking the wheeled speeder in battle. It would be great if it just fit easily the first time. Having said that it's more fun than the other bikes in the assortment.

 If the bike looks familiar, Hasbro did a number of wheeled BARC Speeders in The Clone Wars. Some had sidecars, but none had the circuit patterns on the front and the integrated rocket launcher is unique. With rolling wheels and two button-activated features, it's a real toy that's fun to play around with. It's more Kenner than most Kenner toys, and a reminder what catering to older fans may have cost us in terms of memorable, fun, and durable toys. The deco is pretty clean, with blue paint over an off-white bike.

 I like this bike the most. The Kenobi figure is very good, and as a package I bet it would have made for a great birthday present to a certain kind of fan. Having said that, it's also a bizarre entry given he's from a show that has been on and off the air/streaming since 2008 and ended completely in 2020. The entire Epic collection is a strange grab bag of out-of-time choices, all of which seem to be a few years late to succeed in the market. (In their shoes, I'd probably have focused on whatever was streaming instead of what was hot 2-20 years ago.) But Hasbro did a great job - the amount of care and action packed in this set shows they really do want to excel at making toys for kids when they're given a chance. I would recommend picking this one up while you can (check our sponsored link below or keep an eye on closeout shops.) I wouldn't say it's worth $60... but if it were $25 I would say it is still a pretty good product for the asking price and certainly a better toy adjusted for inflation compared to what we were getting in the 1990s. Nice work Hasbro, I hope you can keep the roughly 3 3/4-inch kid format going for a long time.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,300: December 9, 2025