Figure of the Day: Day 253: Commander Bly

COMMANDER BLY Battle Gear!
Revenge of the Sith Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 85173 No. 86650
Number: III-57
Includes: Twin pistols, rifle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.25-$6.99
Availability: Fall 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Equipped for battle on the exotic fungus planet of Felucia, Commander Bly fights alongside Jedi Knight Aayla Secura. When the secret Order 66 is issued, Commander Bly suddenly turns on Secura and the rest of the Jedi. (Taken from the figure's carback.)

Image: Adam's toy shelf.

Commentary: In short, Commander Bly is just yet another repaint. The Clone Commander figure was given a fresh coat of paint, and his hook-and-string based accessories were dropped. The resulting figure was an end-of-the-line release which inspired newfound panic in fans due to it being available in decent numbers, but during the busy holiday 2005 season where not just collectors, but tons of parents were out looking for figures-- any figures-- for their kids. (Say what you will about gift-givers, but they ain't picky like us collectors.) The figure is essentially super-poseable, with all the joints you might hope for except for a waist joint. Aside from that, the figure moves just like you would hope for, and while the first release's color was a bit off, near the end of the run Hasbro did manage to fix the deco to better match the packaging. Unfortunately, it wasn't easy to get. No matter the version you choose, either version is worth adding to your collection.

Collector's Notes: Several variants on this figure exist, with some major and minor changes. The first two releases were identical, with the same color of yellow for most of the figure's markings, but the color of the rings in the shoulders and ankles come in yellow or white. The third release is the one that's colored properly, and that one has brown markings down the middle of the helmet and in a few other places. The third release tends to go for a bit of cash, and fans are hoping Hasbro reissues it in the upcoming Felucia themed Battle Pack which also includes some Star Corps Clone Troopers and Aayla Secura. Surprisingly, this figure and the very popular Commander Gree were not reissued as part of the successful 2006 assortments of "Heroes & Villains" and "Greatest Battles," which brought back 2005's best-selling figures for another go-round.

Day 253: January 14, 2007