Thursday, March 14, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,116: R3-Series Astromech Droid Clear with Orange

R3-SERIES ASTROMECH DROID Clear Dome with Orange and Silver Markings looks like R3-A2
Star Wars Droid Factory
Item No.:
???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: Head, 2 legs, torso, central third leg, optional hat
Action Feature: Comes apart
Retail: $12.99
Availability: Fall 2015
Appearances: n/a   

Bio: These figures do not have specific packaging or configurations. As such, we will be treating each dome as a unique "figure" as that part is the most plentiful. This batch does not have Hasbro on them - markings read "© DISNEY" and "© LFL" as well as "China" on each leg. (Taken from the packaging)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: I'm slowly going through pegs of unopened figures and I cringe that this R3-Series Astromech Droid with a clear dome and orange panels has been sitting since 2015. But that speaks to the very real glut - I can open a few figures a week, every week, and not hit the end of this very long collection. I'm glad Disney stopped making new figures for its customizable build-a-figure bins, instead focusing on a larger and more expensive product. That's a pretty good example of where the industry is going these days - nobody wants to make money selling value-priced figures. They want to sell $30 or $50 or $80 figures. This one was only $13.

Mine has the only orange body for sale at the time, which was an R7 body. Sadly, this body hasn't shown up in the movies yet, but I'm hopeful. There are more angled parts and a lot more paint than usual, with nice white highlights popping (but absorbing some of the silver.) It looks good in a dimmer display too, and the white panels match the white feet pretty nicely. The exterior legs have jointed feet, with all three having articulated wheels. As with the other bin figures, you can pop them apart at the bottom foot, the dome, and the arms.

What makes this figure stand out is the dome, with glossy orange panels and a silver box around the central black eye. Hasbro's orange domes typically have an unpainted box around that eye, and when Hasbro did a Droid Depot R3-Series Astromech Droid [FOTD #2,732] figure for Target it had an orange box around the eye. That makes this one distinctive - also note the red light below the eye, and a couple of silver greeblies. Also note there's a hole in the top of his dome for a hat peg. At most angles, it blends in to the clear plastic quite nicely (but looking at it straight-on, it's quite obvious.) Depending on your point of view, this figure may be just different enough to make you mad. But we've got over 200 astromech droid figures which means we're well past the point of a sane, sensible collection here unless your focus is droids exclusively.

 Having said that, there are two Hasbro R3-A2 figures that also feature clear domes with orange highlights on mostly white bodies. That may be preferable for you, but they're all priced similarly. The advice I would give you - and not take - is that you don't need every last astromech droid variant out there as you have plenty of orange R3 alternatives.

As I write this, I see two people selling this exact build on eBay. One is $35, one is $60. I wouldn't pay $60, but it's a cute figure and I like orange things. If you don't have too many droids, whatever your definition of that is, this is a perfectly nice figure and I think $35 for a theme park exclusive that's nearly 10 years old is a steal. If you disagree, you are bad at math. Parking at Disneyland, tax, and shipping adds up fast so even if you could just run in to grab it and leave, you probably couldn't get one for $35. If you're collecting a lot of these guys, though, try buying them in a lot or as part of a larger collection to get the per-figure price down.

Collector's Notes: I got mine in 2015 and I am actually not sure how long these parts were made in the bins. I got this from my pal Shannon who was cool enough to get me a set from Disneyland.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,116: March 14, 2024

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,115: Paige (Resistance Gunner, The Last Jedi Line Look)

PAIGE
Resistance Gunner

The Last Jedi Basic Figure Teal Assortment
Item No.:
Asst. C1531 No. C1538
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, helmet
Action Feature: Force Link sounds
Retail: $8.99
Availability: September 2017
Appearances: The Last Jedi

Bio: Paige Tico, nicknamed Pae-Pae by her sister, was a human female who served as a gunner on a MG-100 StarFortress SF-17 in the Resistance during their conflict with the First Order. (Stolen from Wookieepedia. Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:
When making toys from an unreleased movie, you're at the mercy of your licensor - hopefully you get some sort of access to the script, the sets, and indeed any part of the filmmakers you can get. Before a new movie is released, most toys are equals - Constable Zuvio, Finn, Rey, and Poe Dameron were all on the same footing. The same was true in 2017 when we got Resistance Gunner Paige, who could be a major character in the movie. Or not. It turns out the character was not a major player in the movie - heck, most of the movie line's figures were a mix of repeats - ad it didn't help that Paige and Rose shipped together in matching mustard-colored Resistance uniforms. Fans were not excited - heck, she sat unopened on a peg in my basement until last month (along with a few other figures from the sequel era) because we've had a ton of things to review and sometimes, things just keep getting kicked down the road. And that was about five and a half years ago.

Before the movie, this was an interesting new pilot figure with a cool helmet. And after the movie, none of that changed as we saw a character have a brief, appearance that served as a way to help define her sister Rose Tico. In a movie year, it's always a little upsetting when your "sneak preview" figures wind up being of little consequence in the grand scheme of things. The sculpting is really good, with Paige having that somehow form-fitting-yet-baggy look that seems to show signs of wear, but without the painted weathering. The vest is a light gray, and every bit of her clothing has the illusion of feeling used and old despite being shiny and new. I'm impressed. She also had a Resistance (or Rebel if you're nasty) symbol on her sleeve and a vaguely familiar checkerboard pattern on her removable helmet. The face sculpt is good, and the face deco is pretty great for pre-Photo Real. I would love to see more paint on the straps and buckles, but at least her leg straps and boots are painted. For her time, this was a pretty great figure in a time where The Vintage Collection was on hiatus.

Her pose is typical of the time - skinny, straight limbs that swing forward with no problems whatsoever. I assume many people in their 40s (or 50s) will turn their nose up at this figure, but the only complaint I had would be getting the mask on her chest plugged in to her removable helmet. It's a great feature, but it's really hard to get it in there and to have it hold in place despite having pegs. She has no problems holding her blaster, and the helmet fits like a glove. Or helmet. It's a good fit, is where I'm going, and you may as well leave the mask off so you can see the face.

I assume the dud of a toy line that was The Rise of Skywalker pumped the brakes on future generations of fans collecting sequel toys later, as it didn't quite come in for the kind of landing we saw with Star Wars originally in The Power of the Force line or the numerous victory laps we saw from Revenge of the Sith figures. The Last Jedi had an action figure series I would call acceptable, Solo had a good enough one, but there weren't a lot of thrilling or weird figures to be had. Paige is aggressively well-engineered, nicely-sculpted and decorated, priced more or less fairly... but she's another boring human. The main thing she had going for her at the time of release was that she was one of very few new characters in the line, and today, I would probably bet you $50 she'll never have another action figure in the next five to ten years. Or longer. She's cheap if you can find her at a comic shop and I doubt you'll find the figure disappointing unless you just don't want another pilot figure. I'd love to see Hasbro make more figures at around this price point and level of quality for a modern audience.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth in 2017. They are long sold out... but there's a nonzero chance a 99 Cents Only store near you might have a few dusty ForceLink-era figures on their pegs.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,115: March 12, 2024

Thursday, March 7, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,114: Yak Face (The Retro Collection)

YAK FACE
A Licensed Remake!

The Retro Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure Hasbro Pulse/Shop Disney 6-Pack
Item No.:
No. F6988
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Staff, plus Mon Mothma, Yak Face, Emperor's Royal Guard, Gamorrean Guard, and Admiral Ackbar
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $72.99
Availability: November 2023
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Star Wars Retro Collection includes Star Wars action figures from the 40-plus-year legacy of the Star Wars Galaxy, including movies and live-action series. (Stolen from the marketing copy. Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary:
For the first time in America, the old Kenner Yak Face is just a toy anybody can easily get for a fair price. Back in the 1980s, this figure was legendary for having most likely not been sold on US soil. A tri-logo Return of the Jedi version was sold in Europe. A Power of the Force carded version with a coin (with French and English on the packaging) was sold in Canada. I have heard some people say they saw Yak Faces in Kay-Bee stores in the Pacific Northwest as they were being closed out, but I don't know if this was substantiated or not - point is, if you were an American fan you probably didn't have one of these in the 1980s. I got mine in 1990. Kenner (and much later Hasbro) would go on to make new versions, with an orange coat version from Kenner in 1997 and a super-articulated version from Hasbro came out in 2019 (and reissued in 2023.) They're all very good and slightly different, but none of them were the (fake) real deal.

Before I continue, I should point out that "customizers" (bootleggers) have also made reproduction Yak Face figures. I don't have any of those, so I can't speak to how they're unique. But I can tell you that if you never got an original, $72.99 for Yak Face and five other figures is a deal. I hope Hasbro does more sets just like this, with one ultra-rare figure mixed in with other reissues, for an average of $12.17 per figure. (Confidential to Hasbro: if you can sell these figures at more places than Shop Disney, they will sell. Shop Disney is not the preferred destination of Generation X and Elder Millennial Star Wars fanatics who would buy Kenner toys for themselves.)

His accessory is a staff that has a little give to it and feels incredibly close to a vintage sample. Tri-Logo Yak Face figures usually had no weapon, although I have seen a few packaged with a Tusken's Gaffi stick. Coin carded Power of the Force ones came with this staff - except it was slightly shorter, and darker in color. The 2023 one is a lighter gray, so it'll be easy to tell a fake one from a real one if they're both in the same room.

As to the figure, it's incredibly close to replicating the original. I would say the new one is close enough for those who don't have the budget for the real deal. Putting them side-by-side, I immediately noticed the 2023 figure has blue sleeves and pants that are darker and more saturated than the original. The figure's painted skin is almost identical to the original, but the molded plastic head is slightly paler. The hair around the neck is a little different, as are the boots - but they're close. The skin of the 1985 figure head is a little glossier and slightly more opaque, arguably making it a barely superior option if money is no object.

The sculpts are a little botoxed in 2023, but not entirely. The neck hair is a little washed out, but the bumps on the hands are seemingly just as good - if not better - than the original figure. The wrinkles on the outfit are virtually the same, just a little more rounded, and the head's many bumps, wrinkles, and hair show slight signs of generation loss. It looks like they made a copy off an original figure, but for all I know it was a not-as-good-as-it-could-be digital scan. I know which one is which in front of me thanks to thinks like copyright and a couple of paint dings, but I'm quite impressed how similar they look. If anything, the richer blue on the 2023 version almost makes me think that should be the original.

The other figures in this set are all good, but let's be honest - you could have bought Wicket, a Gamorrean Guard, an Emperor's Royal Guard, or Admiral Ackbar by now if you really wanted one. They were cheap for years. It is very unlikely that Yak Face has ever been anything close to "affordable" for American collectors, even adjusting for inflation this 2023 set is cheaper than buying all six carded around 1990. While it's not a perfect recreation, it's the best alien in the entire set - it's so close and there's nothing like the Gamorrean's eyes or Wicket's nose that stands out as being "off." I hope all the teens and young adults who couldn't afford a Yak Face at secondary market prices in the 1990s find out this one exists so they can get it. This is a big dang deal, and Hasbro has a few more they could make to really ignite the old fans again like double-telescoping lightsaber Luke, Darth Vader, or Obi-Wan, a vinyl cape Jawa (although Stan Solo has cheap ones now), the blue Sears Snaggletooth, or Vlix. Just throwing that last one out there.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse, who seem to have sold out days after shipping. Check ShopDisney for availability but they also seem to be out.

Extended ramblings: It's my hope this line continues until Hasbro remakes the entire original Kenner line. All of it. I really appreciate having low-cost close-enough versions of these figures I can just pick up and play with, without the concern of "this is worth a lot of money and is old and rare." I've never know Yak Face to be anything other than a holy grail figure - everybody else, I got for $25 or less. In most cases, $10 or less. A lot less. I've been enjoying just picking up a "rare figure" and putting him in random vehicles and having him in my pocket, changing the context of this particular action figure from "holy grail" to "something new that might actually wind up on clearance some day." If I could, I'd buy literally every Kenner action figure, vehicles, and playset in this style just to experience them again as worthless toys. As a kid I got to play with about 40ish figures just after the line just ended and it was flea markets or bust. Getting to hold a "rare figure" like it's worthless is quite a joyful moment. Anyone that wants it can just get it. It would be wonderful to see Hasbro continue with Stormtrooper Luke, Amanaman, EV-9D9, and so on. The originals can still be valuable pieces of desirable toy history, but having more easily available reproduction 1970s and 1980s figures that people can just play with in the sandbox and beat up again - maybe even with their kids or grandkids - would be truly priceless.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,114: March 7, 2024

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,113: Princess Kneesaa (Ewoks Cartoon, The Vintage Collection)

PRINCESS KNEESAA
Cartoon Version

The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure Fan Channel 2-Pack
Item No.:
No. F8300
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #283
Includes: Bola, bag, hood, coin
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $36.99
Availability: October 2023
Appearances: Ewoks

Bio: Clever and courageous, Kneesaa embarks on adventures with her EWOK friends on Endor's forest moon. (Taken from the cardback.)

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:
Some of you are going "Wow, it's the first-ever Princess Kneesaa figure!" but it's worth noting Kenner made a few in its preschool line in the 1980s, plus this exact figure was sold as Kneesaa [FOTD #1,868] way back in 2012. But there was a twist - while this figure was in a 2-pack for $37, the original release was in a 5-pack with tons of accessories and newly tooled parts for the wallet-stomping price of *checks notes* $40. Call it inflation or just a bigger reach for wallet share, but this is basically the exact same figure - minus a "movie hood" - but adding a coin and a bag for more than twice the price. Hasbro sold figures with coins for $6.99 in 2007, so while inflation is real, this is another one of those things where fans have to ask if it's worth the price to buy it again. As that set sells for $150-$200 in the box, this is probably going to be your cheaper alternative assuming you don't want the other furballs.

Through gritted teeth, I recommend this to a certain kind of 80s kid who loves Saturday morning cartoons. Hasbro did a decent job painting an existing movie-style figure with cartoon-style deco, even if it means a higher price with far fewer paint ops, accessories, and figures from her previous release.

Kneesaa is essentially Wicket with a new head and a pink hood. This release keeps the same joints and body parts, but drops the dirty fur paint in favor of a cleaner (cheaper) deco and new added dark fur around the eyes. This brings her closer to her cartoon appearance. Hasbro doesn't bother to paint the stitch deco on the hood either, rather just giving us a weird blue line over the top of her head. The blue feathers are still painted, but the plastic is nice and pliable and it feels great. Hasbro also included a reuse of Wicket's bag, which was not originally sold with Kneesaa in 2012.

 She also has some ropes with rocks on them which she can wear. It's not a weapon per se, but it is a carry-over from the aforementioned gift set. I think this version of her does a good job replicating her cartoony fur colors, but it comes with a lot of cost-cutting. As far as I can tell the set sold out cleanly, but I sometimes see them at GameStop stores for roughly retail price. I hesitate to say it's worth $37 because compared to other Hasbro Star Wars product, you're not getting your money's worth. But if you want these characters, there aren't a lot of options on the market and the original releases of these figures will cost you more money. It's a far cry from 2 Ewoks and a Freeze Frame Action Slide for $5.99 in 1998, but it would seem the younger fan (or "child") market is no longer the goal here.

The one thing that may throw the whole price calculous out the window is old-school Kenner coin fans. For an all-new coin, right now, given there may never be another one, this is a hard proposition to poo-poo. I think collectors will probably be fine with this set for the price thanks to the brand-new Kneesaa coin. Since Kenner's original Kneesaa concept never got far enough along to get a prototype coin, we've never seen one of these before. The coin's artwork looked very familiar, and Hasbro, if you're reading - I'll even pay $20 for Kneesaa's coin again if you pack her with that Kenner-style prototype figure, finally produced for the mass market. For some fans money is no object, but it depends on the specific product - if you really like a format or want to add a specific piece to your collection, the one Ewok thing being sold to you from the cartoon series in decades (other than apparel) may be a "shut up and take my money" proposition for you. I had no problem throwing down a couple of Jacksons to get this set, but also, I assume that it is extremely unlikely we'll ever get more 1985 Ewoks or Droids toys before the 40th anniversary in 2025. And if not then, probably not before we die.

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

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,113: March 5, 2024

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,112: Tusken Chieftan (The Black Series)

TUSKEN CHIEFTAN
Big Retool

The Black Series 2023 Window Box Line Look The Book of Boba Fett Packaging
Item No.:
Asst. E8908 No. F9984
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #06 - Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett
Includes: Staff, cloak
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: December 2023
Appearances: Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett

Bio: The leader of a tribe of Tusken Raiders, the Tusken Chieftan captured Boba Fett after his escape from the Sarlacc in the Great Pit of Carkoon. (Taken from the box 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:
Despite having a very small line, The Book of Boba Fett for The Black Series is mostly made of old molds and/or figures from other shows. The Tusken Chieftan hides it well - but you can't hide the C2142 on his foot. And I know you know what it means - it's the SKU for the 2017 Tusken Raider [FOTD #2,382] figure. The arms and legs are reused, but the head, cloak, skirt, torso, necklaces, and accessories are new. And that meets my standards of "new figure." While I would vastly prefer Hasbro treat its "premium" line as such, I know tooling is expensive and sales on action figures seem a little rocky. (That's no secret, check Amazon or eBay to see what the free market decides what new releases are worth.)

As of my writing this, it's still selling for SRP - which means Hasbro probably made a hair too many for the needs of the market, which is largely par for the course for a lot of figures lately. I'd go as far as to say this one feels a bit better than a lot of recent rleeases, with painted robes, extra neck accessories, and a very nice staff. They sculpted new lower robes - honestly, they didn't have to - you can tell because they're nice and clean, not tattered like the 1977-style figure. The chest is new, without the bandoliers. The painted elements look superb, but the sculpting seems a little soft and the brown plastics on the chest and feet are just the tiniest bit opaque. It would work great for skin, but for clothing, you don't want there to be any indication that light is passing through meat. Still, it's dark, and it more or less works great except under bright light.

The head looks great, better than the 3 3/4-inch one and painted well to boot. The painted wrappings look good, and so do the faux metal and leather bits. They did a nice job - the textures on the head are excellent overall. The breathing tubes hang on his neck strangely, but the necklace looks acceptable. I think it could look better, but I also assume someone is making an argument about "value" and may not be taking into account that a Tusken Chieftan without the lady warrior or the prisoner Rodian or Suns-bleached Boba may not be a compelling argument, regardless of relative quality. You can really see that they made a figure with shortcuts that doesn't feel like they took the cheap route, which is great, but I think we all get to a point where you want to see some savings when you see reused parts so often. That ship has likely long since sailed, so the real question is... can this guy be worth the $25?

I'd say "yes but." I love aliens, and things related to Tatooine and adjacent to original trilogy stories - and I love building alien cultures out in the toy box. This ticks all the boxes for me, but if we didn't get a new body I'd be a little grumpy, and if they didn't give us a new staff I'd be furious. If it were a $20 figure I'd be singing its praises and its cleverness, and at $25 I'd say I like it a lot more than many recent arrivals. (It takes me a while to get through these things as I write them up as I go.) With so few figures from The Book of Boba Fett I can't say it's a rewarding line to collect, but if you accept that you're just going to get a few and have an anemic collection? This is a good one, this is one to get. You should get it.

He can stand, he can hold his staff, but he can't sit and it's not like you were going to put him in a ship anyway.

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

--Adam Pawlus


Day 3,112: February 29, 2024

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,111: Sabine Wren (Epic Hero Series)

SABINE WREN New Kids Line
Epic Hero Series Deluxe Figure
Item No.:
Asst. F9949 No. G0139
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Backpack, gauntlet, lightsaber, shield
Action Feature: Comes apart
Retail: $14.99
Availability: January 2024
Appearances: Star Wars: Ahsoka   

Bio: Sabine Wren is a Mandalorian warrior and graffiti artist with a creative and rebellious spirit. (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: For a few years I've been tooting the horn for a new kid line - it's been nothing but reruns in this category since 2018. So after six years, we're back, and you may see the Sabine Wren deluxe figure online or at Walmart so far. It's exciting to have a new figure format! She's a little awkward, but feels a lot like what you might hope a 1990s Kenner figure would have been. She's a hair taller than the other 3 3/4-inch Sabine figures, with different deco, putting her somewhere between the Retro figure and the Vintage figure. This Epic Hero Series Sabine lacks a painted belt buckle and a painted saber hilt on her h ip, but otherwise her paint is a bit fancier.

For those looking for the utmost in on-screen authenticity... this isn't it. But it's an idealized toy in a good format. The jet pack seems to be based on Rebels, complete with purple wings, as is the clear blue wrist shield. She has a two-piece wrist gauntlet accessory that plugs in with a slide-out dagger. I can have her standing on my desk with all of her stuff, and she's not falling over. This makes me happy. I love that her lightsaber hilt is painted gray, because it looks cartoony, with a clear green blade that reminds me a lot of the 1990s The Power of the Force figures. Are the added accessories enough to make her worth $5 more than her non-deluxe counterparts? Not really. But given the pop-out energy blades on the shield, the slide-out dagger on the gauntlet, and the painted wings on the backpack, it's clear Hasbro spent some of the money making this a good product. Sadly, she has no blasters, but I should note I honestly don't feel that they're missing.

The figure itself gets the job done well with lots of colors, painted stripes and a nice helmet. It's worth noting there is no alternate head or removable helmet, but you get a glossy black visor and a chunky rangefinder. The left pauldron has no special signet on it, the fingers are gray instead of skin color, and the blue is a little lighter here... but I don't dislike it. Every accessory is good, nothing feels too superfluous, plus it's worth noting she was sculpted nicely with a real pose. The right arm has a bit of a bend to the elbow, with legs that have a little life to them. Both holsters have blasters sculpted inside, too, and I'd be very happy if the Retro figure was given this exact pose.

Each gauntlet (and her back) has a hole in it. You can mount the shield or gauntlet on either wrist, and the backpack fits tightly on her back. Her hand easily holds her lightsaber, too. I'm trying to find a reason to not recommend this figure to you, but if Retro didn't do it this might be a good, small collection for lapsed collectors to start. Heck, buy it and let your kids play with it. There's no face here so I can't say how great the line is going to be for humans, but for helmeted characters it's shaping up quite nicely. $15 is a lot for a 5-jointed figure, and Retro Sabine has a removable helmet at a lower price - but if you can't find her, this is a decent substitute. I'd like to see Hasbro expand this line to more characters and vehicles, and while I will be set fire for saying this I wouldn't be that sad if this line started to steal the lunch money of the repack-heavy The Vintage Collection. Give this a look in stores if you see it, I think that if you are a fan of toys you may enjoy her.

Line Notes: I'm fond of the bright, colorful packaging with its legible logo and decent - admittedly, not thrilling - artwork. It's good, there's a lot of copy on the back of the card but most of the real estate is devoted to explaining the product and accessories. This is a toy, as these things should be. If Hasbro builds up this format (preferably in silos with a specific show or movie) I would be very happy to see this line continue, but I would prefer to see more basic figures and fewer deluxe ones. If this line only goes two or three waves, I'd say you should skip it - but I hope it's the start of a new ongoing format, and if they drop Retro I'd pick these up.

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

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,111: February 27, 2024

Thursday, February 22, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,110: R4-Series Astromech Droid Black with Silver

R4-SERIES ASTROMECH DROID Black Dome with Red and Silver Markings looks like R4-I9
Star Wars Droid Factory
Item No.:
???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: Head, 2 legs, torso, central third leg, optional hat
Action Feature: Comes apart
Retail: $12.99
Availability: Fall 2015
Appearances: n/a

Bio: These figures do not have specific packaging or configurations. As such, we will be treating each dome as a unique "figure" as that part is the most plentiful. There were 25 domes in the 2012 series and 25 domes in the 2015 batch so far. While Hasbro had said they didn't design the first batch, they included Hasbro copyrights. This batch does not - markings read "© DISNEY" and "© LFL" as well as "China" on each leg. (Taken from the packaging)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: I've had this R4-Series Astromech Droid with black dome and silver markings for so long... I forgot what wave it was from. I have a pegboard of unopened figures to review and I've been alternating between Vintage, Black Series, Disney Droid Factory, and Retro figures - and I noticed this on the back of a peg, covered in dust, hanging there for almost nine years. Hasbro has released so many action figures that I've been reviewing anywhere from 2 to 5 per week for almost 18 years, and if they stopped making new ones tomorrow I could probably fill this site for a few more years. It stands as a testament to just how much longevity this line has, but also, how overwhelming it is. It's arguably inaccessible to new fans now, with figures like the "parts bin droids" requiring you to have been at a certain place at a certain time to be aware they existed so you can reference the few online guides to parts. They don't have specific names or official configurations either. If you want this exact droid, you cobbled it together through little parts bins at a theme park. You may not be able to find it on eBay as you see it here, and you may have to buy multiple figures to put it together.

Each one was made of as many parts as you decided to cobble together - a dome, two legs, a middle foot, a body, and an optional hat. They were $12.99, which wasn't cheap by the standards of the day when you could get a Hasbro figure for about (or under) ten bucks. Today, you can't get much of anything for under $17. It's less of a collectible than it is a souvenir to delight children with a custom-made memory of their visit to a magical place... while vexing adults who want a complete set without even knowing what the complete set truly was.

This particular R4 dome looks a lot like R4-I9 [FOTD #996] from 2003, which appeared as the only genuinely new figure in a Toys R Us exclusive gift set. Disney keeps the silver trapezoid outlines on the black dome and the silver band around the base, making it look fundamentally identical - but it's not. This is a different mold, with different proportions and a hole in the top so he can wear a hat. You probably won't be able to tell that from the photos, though. The Hasbro R4-I9 had a body with silver panels. Disney did not offer that color of part in its bins - the black body there had orange panels with some silver accoutrements, so you couldn't replicate the other droid at the time. Instead, you get something new with bright silver on the outer parts of his feet and lots of colorful dots on the cord-free legs which results in a distinctive figure for which there is no backstory. You make the story here.

Back when the parts bins first came out, I had a collecting crisis when I was faced with a lack of legs - which Disney later "fixed" by having a leg serve as both right and left, dropping critical parts from them. It's efficient, but also a bit sad... and over 100 Disney droids later, I may be droided out. It could be old age - I've been writing about Star Wars toys online since 1995 - but I can't muster a lot of enthusiasm about this one now. It's a good figure. The paint is clean, the design is good, and the parts I got all go together nicely with a bonus silly top hat. If you can get this figure, it is a treat, it feels like a nice product and has aged incredibly well with no squeaky parts or other unpleasantness from the passing of time. The only thing going against it is that there are so many figures - no new fan is going to be able to collect them all, or even know what they missed as there's no complete, definitive guide to everything. With few playsets or vehicles, droids like this serve less of a function beyond "collectible." A couple of very similar builds on eBay go for about $25-$30, with others seemingly declining in price - perhaps due to the obscurity of the line and lack of names. If you missed out on bin droids, I suggest you go to eBay now and start browsing. Given inflation, being able to purchase these well-made figures for $20-$30 may be an exciting prospect for those who missed them over the past decade and change.

Collector's Notes: I got mine in 2015 and I am actually not sure how long these parts were made in the bins. I got this from my pal Shannon who was cool enough to get me a set from Disneyland.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,110: February 22, 2024

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,109: Mon Mothma (The Retro Collection)

MON MOTHMA
New!

The Retro Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure Hasbro Pulse/Shop Disney 6-Pack
Item No.:
No. F6988
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, plus Wicket W. Warrick, Yak Face, Emperor's Royal Guard, Gamorrean Guard, and Admiral Ackbar
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $72.99
Availability: November 2023
Appearances: Return of the Jedi (or maybe Rogue One)

Bio: Star Wars Retro Collection includes Star Wars action figures from the 40-plus-year legacy of the Star Wars Galaxy, including movies and live-action series. (Stolen from the marketing copy. Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary:
To say that a Kenner-style Mon Mothma was unexpected would be a gross understatement. If you gave me 50 guesses as to which figures Hasbro would remake (or make) for its 6-pack in 2023, she would not be on it. I would have banked on an astromech repaint, or new Jabba's Palace aliens, maybe even Nik Sant or Wedge Antilles finally - but the first lady of exposition? With a blaster? Never. But, I can understand why - with her, the quantity of human women characters in the Kenner-style original trilogy action figure line increases to two. (Also due to inconsistencies on the parts of who voiced and was interviewed about EV-9D9, I don't count the robot - but Sy Snootles, sure.) For those keeping track at home, Urgah Lady Gorneesh and Kea Moll also exist.

But as to this one - why? I want to know. The figure itself seems to have had her hands "inspired" (or swiped) from Kenner's Princess Leia Organa figures - they're a little different from, but incredibly close to, Battle Poncho Leia. Everything else seems to be new, but generally seems to be inspired by the newer retro figures in that her posture is too good. The dress legs are "pants" like The Emperor, with flat, unpainted inner legs. There's no wavy pattern like Anakin Skywalker. She can stand with no problems thanks to her massive "feet," and my sample has no problems holding her blaster - a reuse of Leia's.

The outfit looks like she should, with multiple layers of robes and the same necklaces and general look we saw in Rogue One as well. Due to how her neck looks I wouldn't necessarily argue with you if you said they sculpted her from that movie and it's close enough and stylized enough that it could be either Caroline Blakiston or Genevieve O'Reilly. Customizers have made much better retro head sculpts - and worse, also worse - and this one is bland, but fine. It doesn't really look that much like either performer, which is how a lot of old, real Kenner figures turned out - nobody's picking up Han Solo and going "oh, this looks just like Harrison Ford." But Mon's hair looks right, the eyes are clean, and she more or less has everything where it should be. She can fit in many vehicles as long as her pants don't get in the way, too - her range of movement is better than that old mail-in Anakin Skywalker.

Had this figure been released in the 1980s I have no doubt she would have been one of those figures you saw at flea markets that didn't sell even at a buck or two - but wait a couple of decades, and now she's exciting because she's new and having a moment on the Disney+ series Andor. I like that she got made, but she's an odd choice. Hasbro gave us Grand Moff Tarkin [FOTD #2,588] in 2019, and that made sense as a character people felt was absent for decades. Snowspeeder Pilot Luke Skywalker [FOTD #2,698] was a head-scratcher as X-Wing Luke fit the bill, and similarly I would've probably expected Death Star II Luke (as the body sculpt exists under Battle Poncho Luke) as the token "new figure." Hopefully they keep this program going so we can get more new classic trilogy figures alongside the reissues, but I'm not overly optimistic Hasbro's new post-layoff structure will be game. Unless the notion of making new products based on existing molds is attractive and cheaper, in which case, maybe that's all that we'll get. If you're getting this set anyway, Mon Mothma's one of the star attractions - but if you don't want the other five figures in this set (or at least Yak Face) I assume you won't be buying it.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse, who seem to have sold out days after shipping. Check ShopDisney for availability too.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,109: February 20, 2024

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,108: Tusken Raider (Dark Robes and Stripes, The Vintage Collection)

TUSKEN RAIDER
(Dark robes, brown marks on head wrappings)

The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Hasbro Pulse and ShopDisney Shared Exclusive Action Figure Set
Item No.:
No. F8301
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 4 figures with cloaks, rifles, gaffi staffs
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $59.99
Availability: August 2023
Appearances: The Book of Boba Fett
Bio: Survival in the unforgiving desert of Tatooine requires strict training and discipline for the members of a Tusken tribe. Led by a chieftain, each member of the clan must learn to be useful. (Taken from marketing copy. There is 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:
While not bad, it can be hard to muster excitement for the Tusken Raider army pack - $60 (or $15 per figure) is not at all a good value, and I assume recolored figures may not float your boat the way individually carded figures might. It's not terrible either, as the figures have good articulation, decent accessories, and for three repaints and a newish guy deliver the goods as "good enough." Looking at the stills from the show, the Hasbro people did a good job applying the unique markings on this figure's head wraps. A new body would be nice, but Hasbro seems to be disinterested in new molds if there's an adequate tool in China that can get the job done. I don't blame them, especially for a trooper pack.

What makes this figure interesting are, unsurprisingly, his colors. Most previous Tuskens have been in the classic tan robes, but we've seen a little variation here and there with the Hetts and a reddish group for Toys R Us sold long enough ago that it could have a driver's license. This figure's decision to use tan arms, a dark, dark brown chest and robes, and dark brown pants makes for a satisfying - and more importantly, different - figure to add to your ranks. Boba can hang out with these guys, but there's nobody for them to fight just yet.

Our Tusken pal is pretty good, with swivel wrists (not exactly modern) an rocker ankles (very modern.) The hip joints have great "gee I wish he had a new Bantha" levels of mobility, making for a satisfying figure whose soft goods robes do a great job hiding the points of articulation. The material is a little stretchy, and it looks nice and hangs well. I can't fault it. He can easily hold his rifle, which seems to be made out of the kind of plastic used for green army men. The good stuff, I mean - it has a nice feel to it and it isn't quite as gummy as some PVC while being flexible enough to not easily snap.

This is a good figure for standing around and filling dioramas. Due to the nature of what it is - and the lack of other figures from these scenes - it's not exactly going to inspire a lot of play or combat. It can stand and look cool, or build out other clans, or fill stadiums. I guess he can also dance, if you like, as the set has a couple of rifles and a couple of gaffi sticks to mix up how they can look or be posed. Hasbro did a nice job with the resources at hand, but that is sort of the flavor of the line as a whole right now. It's heavy on old tooling and familiar faces, and while Hasbro isn't churning out terrible figures to turn fans away, I don't know that they're putting out amazing things to keep lifers on board as the old guard eyes 50, 60, and beyond and the younger fans don't really have a prayer to ever "collect them all" given current toy store conditions. I do not presently regret this purchase, but as I have written thousands of figures up and have dozens - maybe a hundred or more just sitting around the office waiting to be opened and reviewed - you could probably accurately insinuate that I have some sort of a problem.

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

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,108: February 15, 2024