Figure of the Day: Day 883: Qui-Gon Jinn

QUI-GON JINN Tatooine Showdown
Episode I Cinema Scene Collection
Item No.: Asst. 84115 No. 84158
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, display base, CommTech Chip
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Summer 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: After enduring heavy damage during their escape from Naboo, the Naboo Royal Starship is forced to land on the desert planet of Tatooine. Returning from Mos Espa with Anakin Skywalker, Qui-Gon is ambushed by a figure in flowing dark robes - it is the evil Darth Maul. Ordering Anakin to the ship, Qui-Gon matches his awesome Jedi skill against the Sith Lord's sinister power. Both escape with their lives, but it would not be their last meeting. (Taken from the toy's packaging.)

Image: Adam's toy room floor.

Commentary: While not as awesome as the incredibly awesome Darth Maul from the Tatooine Showdown cinema scene set, this Qui-Gon Jinn is pretty awesome-- even by todays standards. He has a good pose, a decent plastic poncho, and oh yes-- a very angry face. While essentially a statue, the figure managed to impress because it just looked so darn good. It's not like he was too tall and thin, or had poodle hair, or sported a terrible face paint job. Hasbro just did the job right here, producing a solid action figure that holds together nicely, can duel with his lightsaber just fine, and managed to capture a decent (although far from perfect) likeness of Liam Neeson. For its era, it was the best. Overall, it's still up there as one of the finest, and I daresay I like it more than the recently released "Evolutions" version, at least in terms of the face. The only real downer here is the figure was designed to be in one pose pretty much all of the time, and he only has 7 points of articulation. This makes him below average by today's standards, but he's still decent. That is, if you feel like you want to buy more figures from the first prequel.

Collector's Notes: Like the vast majority of Episode I product, this set can be had cheaply. How cheaply? You can usually get it in a small collection of toys, all boxed, for less than this three-pack's original retail price. I've just checked eBay for the boxed set, and you can get a sealed one for $1 to $3 before shipping. The set is simply wonderful for $20, and I can't imagine not getting one at today's crazy prices. Unless, of course, you have bad taste and your feedback to me in some of these articles shows that this may well be the case. Prove me wrong, buy this set. It's worth it for the Darth Maul alone.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 883: October 31, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 882: Naboo Trooper

NABOO SOLDIER Royal Naboo Army
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87649
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #3052
Includes: Blaster, helmet, coin
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: November 2007
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Bio: These highly trained bodyguards are assigned to the Royal Palace, where they guard the Queen, the Advisory Council, and other members of the court. Their exceptional combat skills are acquired on direct battle experience on other worlds. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: Some figures come out because they're a great idea. The Naboo Soldier exists basically because Hasbro didn't make one yet, and had the mold leftover from the weak seller yellow version from 2006. This figure is essentially identical to the yellow version, except now the yellow parts are red. No attempt was made to make the skin color or hair color a little different, nor was any attempt made to change the lettering on the helmet or scuff it up a little. It's just a redeco, one you can put in your Naboo playsets or Naboo Royal Starship if you're so inclined. As such, it's not too exciting.

The figure has 12 points of articulation, a too-small head, and a removable helmet. It can basically sit without problem and because of the overall awkwardness of the sculpt (big hands, tiny head, limited detail work) it should fit right in with the Episode I figures you bought in 1999 and 2000. It isn't really a bad figure, but there seems to be no effort made to make it great. Including an old, very large blaster mold didn't help things. This is a figure that fans of the first prequel need, or anyone who wants a decent Naboo army of figures. Everybody else can just keep right on walking, unless you want the figure's coin to complete your collection.


Collector's Notes: The yellow version in 2006 sold so poorly you can still find it in some retail stores in 2008. The red one, however, was made in lower numbers and sold through quite quickly. It's unlikely you'll find one at retail today, but then again, maybe you're a very lucky person or someone with access to a time machine.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 882: October 30, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 881: Stormtrooper (Marvel)

STORMTROOPER and Lando Calrissian
30th Anniversary Collection Wal-Mart Exclusive Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87793
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, Lando figure, Marvel Star Wars #44
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $11.88
Availability: Spring 2008
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back and various Marvel comics

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Bio: Lando has betrayed Han and his companions to the Empire, but now he has had second thoughts about his desision. Knowing he will lose everything, he nevertheless sets in motion a plan to free Leia, Chewbacca, and the droids. He calls in Cloud City guards to subdue the stormtroopers who are escorting the prisoners, giving them all a chance to get to the Millennium Falcon and escape Vader's clutches. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: One of the odder introductions in the toy line lately has been the Marvel-stylized versions of popular characters like the Stormtrooper. It's my understanding that the artists used the unusual coloring in the books because of a need to make them stand out or as a sort of stylized shading, not because they were trying to convey that the characters literally had blue belts and wrist armor. However, this is a discussion for another time because Hasbro up and made the Stormtrooper exactly like that using the 2004 Vintage Original Trilogy Collection mold. Given the basic Stormtrooper originally sold for $10 and has 14 points of articulation, getting the mold here with an added figure for under $12 is quite the bargain. The figure itself, though, is more than a little strange. Unless you plan on buying several, it really won't fit in the rest of your collection unless you're jonesing to do up a display of unusually colored Marvel figures. Which, honestly, I think I'm going to have to do because these are starting to grow on me (as long as Hasbro doesn't make 100 of them). The figure has the same crisp sculpt and articulation you've come to love, only now it has blue on it. That's the selling point, and I can see it being a "pro" and a "con" for numerous reaosns.


Collector's Notes: This is the third unique deco style applied in the name of Marvel comics to a Stormtrooper. It will no doubt not be the last.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 881: October 29, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 880: Han Solo (Hoth Tauntaun Gear)

HAN SOLO and Tauntaun
Power of the Force Beast Assortment
Item No.: Asst. 69645 No. 84017
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, Tauntaun, reins
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: Fall 1998
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Bio: Quick and Powerful, Capable of Surviving in Frigid Temperatires (Taken from the box. Dull, eh?)

Commentary: In 1996, Kenner put out a Hoth Han Solo with the hood down and his thermal hat up, and in an oddly colored jacket. The figure was one of the first two genuinely poor sellers in the line, resulting in Kenner saying that they would never revisit the character in this outfit. Well, by the end of 1998, "never" came around and the figure was slightly retooled and packaged with a Tauntaun that was basically impossible to find at retail. The figure was a vast improvement over the previous release in all areas, as his hood was now up, he had jointed knees, and oh yes-- he came with a Tauntaun. That's quite important. Keeping the same basic sculpt quality as the previous release, there were loads of textures and paint applications that made the figure good for its time. Since then, we've been given Han in his Hoth jacket in numerous colors (Blue, Brown, Black [Galoob]) and with his hood up or down. Heck, we've even had Han with removable goggles. So why is this one still neat?

Well, for starters, it's one of two Hoth Han molds sculpted to sit on a Tauntaun. The other was the 2003 version with the lightsaber and removable face mask. Second, it holds together nicely. While some fans may disagree, as a toy collector, I admire this figure because it is first and foremost a toy. Sure, the jacket is a color I don't see as correct, but the figure actually holds together. There's no danger of arms falling off, of a weapon breaking, or some other inappropriate problem. It's a solid plastic man that can take abuse and looks good riding his Tauntaun. You can't ask for much more than that, and 10 years later it still looks decent. Not perfect, but honestly the newer ones aren't all that much better than this one was. I wouldn't necessarily suggest tracking it down or paying a premium for it, but it was a fine example of Kenner trying to make good on a previously released and poorly received version of the same toy.

Collector's Notes: This particular figure was very highly sought-after for a couple of years. In 1998, Kenner made so much stuff that stores couldn't absorb it all-- so a lot of it got dumped into alternative channels like GameStops, where most toy collectors didn't frequent at the time. As such, this $15 creature pack was going for upwards of $60-$80 for quite some time. This has since died down, but the item seems to have been produced in fairly limited numbers, possibly meaning that it could be a genuinely hard-to-find item.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 880: October 28, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 879: Spirit of Anakin Skywalker

ANAKIN SKYWALKER Jedi Spirit
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87410
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #3045
Includes: Lightsaber, cloak, coin
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Fall 2007
Appearances: Return of the Jedi DVD Edition

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Bio: As the Rebels celebrate their victory over the Empire, the spirit of Anakin Skywalker appears to his son, Luke. But instead of the ravaged Darth vader he became, it is the youthful Anakin Skywalker who appears, restored at last to the hopeful young Jedi he once was. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: One of the few things that truly bothered me about the Star Wars line-- specifically, when fans asked for it-- was the inclusion of a lightsaber with Jedi Spirit figures. In 1997, the first one came out with a clear blue Obi-Wan Kenobi. Fans complained about a need for a lightsaber despite the fact that no Jedi Spirit has been seen using a lightsaber in the movies, and eventually Hasbro caved and started putting them with figures like this Anakin Skywalker for absolutely no good reason whatsoever. Seriously, what's he going to do with it? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

The figure itself, unlike other Jedi Spirits, seems to be a completely new sculpt. Hasbro made the figure an astonishing 14 points of articulation and, after much fan complaining, finally decided to try soft goods on the "transparent" action figures. The good news is that it looks pretty good-- not fantastic, but certainly good enough. The figure has no problem sitting or being posed, and the head was sculpted to look not like Anakin Skywalker from Episode III, but seemingly more of a hybrid between his appearance in that film meshed with that of Sebastian Shaw from Return of the Jedi. The outer robes are surprisingly stiff, and actually can hold a shape better than most other thick brown robes included with other action figures. The only real downer about them here is that they're very easy to see through and this probably wasn't what Hasbro was hoping to capture with the final product. Either way, it looks pretty good, and is one of very few figures released that were based on redesigns seen on the DVD trilogy. I'd suggest getting it because it's decent for what it aspires to be, but odds are enough of you consider it blasphemy that anything I say won't change your mind. It's a good figure, and while it doesn't exactly break new ground it does a fine job of being a dead clear Anakin. The last dead Anakin done by Hasbro made no effort to be clear, and it includes Obi-Wan's lightsaber-- so this was a step in the right direction.

Collector's Notes: Before this figure was confirmed, Hasbro indicated it was planning on making the next Spirit Anakin figure with both the heads of Sebastian Shaw and Hayden Christensen, allowing fans to pick which version they wanted. As you can see in the final product, this didn't happen.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 879: October 27, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 878: Imperial Engineer

IMPERIAL ENGINEER Star Wars: Battlefront II
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 89606
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD22
Includes: Helmet, armor, blaster, droid piece
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: September 2008
Appearances: Star Wars: Battlefront II

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: Architects of combat, Imperial engineers establish defenses and use various weapons and tools to destroy Rebellion emplacements. They employ devastating detpacks - remotely detonated explosives - to destroy heavy machinery and enemy positions. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: Greatness is tough to find in a repaint wave, because all the really good ideas tend to be obvious. Clone Troopers are easy repaints, as are droids. But Imperials? There's not much in the way of opportunity, so sometimes Hasbro cranks out a really dull figure like the Imperial Engineer, which you will probably buy just because you want its droid part and/or a complete collection. In and of itself, it isn't a bad figure, it's just that it's not much new. Based on a previously released Death Star Gunner, the figure has the same 12 points of articulation, same armor, and same holster you've seen before. Heck, his helmet, armor, gloves, boots, and holster are essentially the same as the original figure. The big change is that the black body suit is now grey. That's it-- there's nothing else new or different here beyond this one slight tweak and the placement of a shoulder logo.

The one truly interesting thing about the figure is its blaster. It's the basic Stormtrooper blaster, but in silver with black markings. It isn't exactly true to the film or the game, but at least it looks different than the previous guns I've bought. When this figure was announced and I saw the first photo, I thought it was just a Gunner with a new name-- which is of course extremely lame. Unfortunately the reality of the situation wasn't all that far off, so while I wouldn't advise fans go out and buy this, well, there you have it. It's as good as the Gunner, just slightly different. Pick up at your own risk.

Collector's Notes: A new release, this figure is one of the slower sellers of his repaint wave. No doubt, this has to do with the fact that the figure really doesn't look all that different from the Death Star Gunner of 2006, of which fans were able to buy plenty.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 878: October 24, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 877: Bespin Luke Skywalker

LUKE SKYWALKER Bespin Gear
Power of the Force Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 69570 No. 69713
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, blaster, freeze frame action slide
Action Feature: Removable right hand
Retail: $5.99
Availability: January 1998
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: Sensing his friends are in critical danger, Luke Skywalker ventures to Cloud City before finishing his Jedi training. Unbeknownst to him, Darth Vader has prepared an elaborate trap with the darkest of intentions. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: It took like what seemed to be forever for Kenner to get to Luke Skywalker in his Bespin outfit in the modern line. The good news is that when they got to him, they did a pretty great job-- for the time. Obviously in 2008 the figure isn't too impressive, but for 1998 it was stunning. Luke was significantly less beefy than previous modern releases, plus his head has been redesigned to look less awful. He could sit, pilot a ship, or stand without too much trouble plus he had a removable right hand-- a first for the action figure line, and this feature would become increasingly more common as the line (and dismemberment) went on.

The figure's look is fairly simple-- he's molded in a tan color with some darker brown paint added to bring out some of the detail. While not bloody, the figure was sculpted with moderate battle damage including torn pockets and a couple of rips elsewhere on his costume. Because of how Kenner elected to paint him, it really isn't obvious-- you have to look at the figure up close to see these added details. The costume basically matches the movie, and future figures went on to refine the look by adding articulation as well as improved (2002) and horrible (2007) head sculpts as time went on. This version is by no means essential at this stage in the line, but it's pretty good and is arguably the best plaything out of any of the versions Kenner or Hasbro would produce. For my money, though, the 2002-2004 sculpt was the best.

Collector's Notes: While there aren't many interesting variations to speak of short of international packaging and a spelling variation on the back, there are some notable tidbits about this one. For starters, this figure was in the very first wave to sport a line-wide price increase, raising the consumer cost by about a buck. Second, most if not all early promotional shots show him coming with a grappling hook blaster which was ultimately not included with the figure. Third, it was the first retail figure to include a wrist joint.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 877: October 23, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 876: Yaddle

YADDLE with Evan Even Piell
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 89600
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD19
Includes: Lightsaber, droid piece, companion Even Piell figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: September 2008
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: Jedi Master Yaddle is a member of the Jedi Council and is the same unknown species as Yoda. In contrast to the quiet and thoughtful Yaddle, Jedi Council member Even Piell is known for his humorless and fierce demeanor. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: Repaint waves are generally a pretty exciting proposition-- you end up with droids, holographic figures, clones, and one or more new characters. This time around, though, Hasbro decided it was high time to reissue and repaint Jedi Master Yaddle, previously sold as part of a screen scene set in 2003. This time around, the figure includes a lightsaber and a paint job that's a little more subtle and true to the movie. The 2003 release was astonishingly vibrant, and this one seems to be slightly darker than the reference photos on the packaging. The figure's deco is largely very good except for a part of her robes which should have been painted just under her chin to match the lighter color of her garment-- it was left unpainted. The figure has the same six points of articulation, and the same basic sculpt. She looks a lot like the puppet used in filming, which is to say, somewhat off-putting. If you missed her the first time around and collect Jedi, I'd say this is probably the better version to get-- the play value of the Jedi council chamber is pretty low, all things considered. But a lightsaber? That's good times when she can keep it in her hands.

Collector's Notes: So far, the set seems to be doing well. Selling two figures for the price of one tends to be a good thing when it comes to moving product, I've found.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 876: October 22, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 875: Basso in Stormtrooper Disguise

BASSO in Disguise
30th Anniversary Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87555
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, helmet, comic, Mouse figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Late 2007
Appearances: Star Wars: Empire comics and the Star Wars radio drama

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room floor.

Bio: Rebels infiltrate an Imperial base on Kalizt IV to free Jorin Sol before he is tortured into revealing the location of the Alliance's fleet. Disguised as stormtroopers, Mouse and Basso enter the facility to carry out their assignments. While Mouse plants explosive charges to destroy the facility, Basso discovers that captured civilians are being used as slaves by the Imperials, and convinces the Rebels to free them. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: It's almost disgusting how many times Hasbro can use the same body to make multiple viable and yet different figures. Basso here is one of many to go incognito as the Empire's "finest" during his tenure as a member of the Rebellion. I'm not sure why he has the fancy markings around his human head, but he does have a fancy pauldron which makes him look a little more interesting. Given he uses a popular Stormtrooper body, it shouldn't surprise you to hear that he has 14 points of articulation and, for the most part, is a worthy addition to your army. His removable helmet basically means you can make him a plain Stormtrooper, which may come in handy if you can get a lot of him on the cheap. Really, Hasbro didn't have to do much work here-- an added accessory and a new head can easily generate a new character, plus I have little doubt we'll see the head again in the future to do one of those Rebel commando figures. They're making the body to use with Luke, after all, a simple head swap could result in multiple additional figures quite easily. But anyway, the point is this Basso is pretty great. He doesn't really bring much new to the table, but he does allow Hasbro to make an Expanded Universe character with limited cost and risk-- after all, who wouldn't like to own more Stormtroopers?

Collector's Notes: A strong seller, but not impossible to find. The figures essentially acted as extra troopers for your forces. The same basic body was used to make Mouse, comic versions of Stormtrooper Luke and Han, and a Clone-inspired Stormtrooper. The body will be used for movie versions of the figures, a Spacetrooper, and some Legacy-based comic figures for an upcoming Entertainment Earth exclusive due in 2009. The body was itself originally the 2004 "vintage" Stormtrooper.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 875: October 21, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 874: Kashyyyk Trooper (Comic Book)

KASHYYYK TROOPER & Wookiee Warrior
30th Anniversary Collection Wal-Mart Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87794
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, Wookiee, droid arms, comic
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $11.88
Availability: June 2008
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room floor.

Bio: Wookiee warriors and clone troopers fight desperately to hold back the waves of battle droids pouring onto Kaskyyyk near the end of the Clone Wars. The lush forests of this once-peaceful planet are burning, and the air is filled with the harsh sounds of battle. Wookiees tear apart battle droids with their bare hands as clone troopers first their blasters at the attacking droids. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: Repainting a Clone Trooper is a sure thing. If Hasbro decides they want a Kashyyyk Trooper, there are dozens of different ways to do it. There's comic art, movie art, concept art, and original concepts that can be applied to the same figure mold, giving fans a good reason to buy the same mold one, two, three, or forty-seven times. This particular mold has seen a lot of use-- the body started life as the 2003 super-articulated Clone Trooper, and has been repainted, retooled, and tweaked to make nearly a dozen unique Clones over the years. This particular one is a redeco of the Saleucami trooper, initially a Wal-Mart exclusive, which has since been subsequently repainted, rereleased, repackaged, and so forth. This particular one is unique because he has a purple deco not unlike that of the various Mace Windu themed Clone Troopers, but that's really the big selling point. At first glance it may not look significantly different than your other clones, which is a bit of a problem, but if you're buying armies anyway "a little different" is likely different enough to warrant a purchase. As such, I'd say clone fans should love this-- but the rest of the class might be bored at this point.

Collector's Notes: A Wal-Mart exclusive, this set was a little tough to get and some stores held it back for the 7/27/08 launch of the Clone Wars and Legacy product.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 874: October 20, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 873: Bail Organa

BAIL ORGANA & Obi-Wan Kenobi
30th Anniversary Collection Wal-Mart Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87557 No. 87558
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, robes, baby, comic book, Obi-Wan figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $11.99
Availability: January 2008
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room floor.

Bio: Darkness descends over the galaxy as Palpatine's power increases and Darth Vader joins him as his Sith apprentice. The former Anakin Skywalker is unaware that his beloved Padmé gave birth to twins after their final meeting. And if those children are to remain alive, he must never know they exist. So Obi-Wan secretly brings Leia to Bail Organa and his wife, who will raise her as their daughter. Then he travels to Tatooine, where Owen and Beru Lars become the guardians of their nephew, Luke Skywalker. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: Hasbro sure seems to be milking this Bail Organa mold. We got one in 2005, another with a baby in late 2005, and now, we got the baby one in new colors with a cloth cloak and a comic book. The figure has the same articulation and deco you're used to, except little Leia has a pink blanket and Bail is draped in a cloth... uh... what the Hell is that he's wearing, anyway? A space toga? It basically fits well, and compliments the figure nicely. Bail has 12 points of articulation and a blaster holster, which is on the happy side of decent. Especially since, you know, he can sit. (This is very important.) The figure is a must-buy if you don't have any Bails, or if you'd like a baby Leia figure. It may be the best overall Bail Organa that Hasbro has made yet, and there's a little room for improvement. After a few releases it's tough to really go on about it, but it's certainly decent-- and the original 2005 Bail was a pretty weak seller. So yeah, I don't expect a new mold any time soon unless the character makes appearances in future television projects.

Collector's Notes: A Wal-Mart exclusive, this set was a little tough to get in some markets. I saw these in retail on a road trip once-- but others tell me it was quite common.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 873: October 17, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 872: Rahm Kota

RAHM KOTA General
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87487
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0813
Includes: Lightsaber, stand, removable-ish armor
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: March 2008
Appearances: The Force Unleashed comic, novel, game, and so forth

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: Rahm Kota's lack of faith in the clone troopers during the Clone Wars allowed this Jedi general to escape Order 66. After many years in exile, he launches a dangerous plan that leads to an unexpected encounter with Darth Vader's Secret Apprentice. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: Spoilers today? Yes-- I figure more of you won't play the game (or read the comic) than will at this point, so I figure it's all up for grabs. Rahm Kota is the first target of Vader's secret sidekick in The Force Unleashed, and unlike most Jedi, isn't boring. Typically, they're very high-minded fancy-talking do-gooders who can form a proper sentence and a mellow attitude that invites mocking. Kota was played up to be more of a gritty survivor type, and he goes through a lot of crap-- he almost dies, he gets blinded, he has a drinking problem, and oh yes-- apparently he was one of the founders of the Rebellion with Garm Bel Iblis, Bail Organa, and Mon Mothma. I guess the history books forgot to mention that before. While "Samurai Jedi" sounds somewhat boring, the writers behind the game/novel/comic managed to make the character meaty enough that he could be more than just another Jedi survivor-- which made for a good gaming experience that actually made me very glad I had the action figure for six months before I even touched the game.

The figure-- and several figures from the game-- raised a lot of questions. Since Kota was due in 2007, how long before that was the figure developed? And was it done based on the concept art, or the actual actor whose face appears in the game? The figure itself seems to have all the elements of the character's costume, but doesn't look much like the actor. Then again, Han and Luke don't either. Thankfully, Hasbro made it good for the most part-- the chest armor is removable, but the shoulder armor is not. The figure is basically super articulated and features slightly clunky cloth pieces under his arms. Again, this matches the game, but it doesn't really look as cool as it should. The figure also has a holster on his back for his lightsaber, but it doesn't really fit too well. The lightsaber doesn't have a removable blade either, so even if it did, it would look weird. This General looks pretty great, as his costume is loaded with detail, his face has scars, and oh yeah, he's got armor. That's something most Jedi skipped out on. Since he's a well-designed figure with more than adequate articulation, he should be right at home in any diorama you decide to make-- although we could use more of his own militia as action figures before we go ahead and do that.

Fans of the character should get the figure, but if you don't know who it is or know why you should care, well, you can save $7 by not buying it I guess. It's great to see Hasbro make figures from a game like this, and here's hoping we'll see more. Heck, there's another version of Rahm Kota left to make, if nothing else.

Collector's Notes: Originally planned for a 2007 release, the figure was delayed to the game's release. As a 2007 figure, he probably would have included a coin. To date, no samples or prototypes of a hypothetical coin have surfaced. The figure was released and discontinued before any The Force Unleashed story-based products hit stores, so fans had to decide if they wanted this figure based purely on how cool it did (or didn't) look and rumors/speculation.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 872: October 16, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 871: Biggs Darklighter

BIGGS DARKLIGHTER Rebel Pilot, Take Two
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87210
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #3014
Includes: Blaster, helmet, coin (2007), stand (2008)
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: March 2007
Appearances: Star Wars

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: As talented a pilot as his friend Luke Skywalker, Biggs joins the Imperial Academy, but what he sees there opens his eyes to the brutality of the Empire. He defects to the Rebel Alliance and serves heroically, but is blown out of the air by Darth Vader at the Battle of Yavin. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: Biggs Darklighter's claim to fame for a generation was that he was largely cut out of Star Wars while a fraction of fanboys insist that they saw him on the big screen. Oh sure, you could see him for like 29 seconds, but not in any significant capacity-- his role did surface on trading cards, in a 1981 radio drama, in comics, in a novelization, in a kid's storybook, and elsewhere... but not in the movie. Or for that matter, any of the subsequent home video releases, or DVDs. (Do you think the 30 seconds counted in the Special Edition? Well, there's several more minutes of stuff where that came from. So where is it, Lucas? I own two versions of the trilogy on DVD, would you like to make it three?)

While the 1998 version of Luke's best buddy was (at the time) an entirely new body, the 2007 version uses the ever-popular Dutch Vader body once more to create another non-Luke pilot. This means he has the same ball-jointed knees, no waist joint, and the same questionable arm articulation. He's also very tall, and sports a removable helmet. Really, the only new mold used here is the head, which is OK-- most people wouldn't know Biggs from Carrot Top were it not for the mustache, so the figure is basically acceptable. They got the helmet right, and the head looks Biggs-ish. There isn't a lot of high expectations to go on here. It does the job-- had Hasbro produced a Biggs-specific X-wing, odds are that's where he would belong. As it is, he's just OK-- Hasbro can and likely will do a better one between now and the time the line ends. By 2008 standards, it's acceptable, but by no means stellar.

Collector's Notes: There are two major variations on this toy in addition to the standard release. A gold coin/foil cardback version with an Ultimate Galactic Hunt sticker was released in late Summer 2007, and the basic figure was packaged with a stand in 2008. The basic release has a silver coin. Some are rarer than others, but none seem to command a premium at this time.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 871: October 15, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 870: Super Battle Droid

SUPER BATTLE DROID with fire
30th Anniversary Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87241
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #3008
Includes: Fire bits, coin
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: March 2007
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: After the introduction of the massive clone army, the Trade Federation revisits the design of its battle droids and decides that a slightly smarter, more independent and more heavily armed droid is needed. The result is the much more powerful and deadly super battle droid. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: For years, fans have been asking for a new Super Battle Droid-- and while they kept getting new ones, few were particularly great. Some had better poses, but flimsy legs. Others had great deco, but no articulation. Would Hasbro ever make a better version of this heavily armed blue robot? Of course! It just took several years for them to do a pretty good (but not yet perfect) version. He has jointed knees and elbows, which is great. He's even got the ability to rotate at the elbow, but unfortunately not in a way that lets him assume the pose from the film where he holds his arm up with his weapon at the ready. Still, for battle scenes, this figure is pretty much perfect-- especially since it adds to that growing subset of figures which can be referred to as "on fire." Oh, and he has a waist which can pivot, which is a first for the character.

The real selling point of this particular figure is his snap-on flames. They stay on to a somewhat acceptable degree, and may require you hang on to some clear rubber bands to keep them in place despite grooves and tabs which are designed to hold it in position. The figure can also be posed with an R2-D2 shooting out flames, to make it look like R2-D2 started the figure. I personally didn't care for this "combination" in that it didn't fit together as well as I would have liked, but the figures are awesome by themselves, and this is arguably the best Super Battle Droid. Unless you don't like the flames, of course, but you can just pop those off and throw them away. It has the best deco, the best damage, and the best overall greasy-ness. Truly, this is a well-designed little toy that should be fun for collectors and, if the flames work properly, fun for the kids too.

Collector's Notes: The first figure to use this mold, numerous Super Battle Droids have been made based on this design. A comic pack repaint was made in a gold-ish color, a silver repaint appeared in a Toys "R" Us exclusive battle pack, a stripey version was put into the Battle on Mygeeto battle pack, and the same deco was retooled without the holes for the fire and released under Saga Legends in Summer of 2008.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 870: October 14, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 869: Nippet

NIPPET & Leektar
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 87676
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD04
Includes: Leektar figure with accessories, basket
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: July 2008
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Bio: Nippet the wokling is too young to take part in the Battle of Endor but is delighted by the victory celebration that takes place in her village. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: It's rare that a tiny figure with no articulation can command interest from fans, but Nippet has been requested for ages. Movie-style woklings have been extremely uncommon in the licensed product biz, and outside a character eraser (and arguably Kenner's plushies) there hasn't been much of anything. A gaggle of baby Ewok figures have been on fan request lists a lot as of late, and now we get one. It's not a killer value, but it's one more than we've ever had before.

The figure has no articulation, no accessories, and limited detail. There are some sculpted fur details, big eyes, and coloring that basically matches the movie, or is at least close enough where it seems unfair to complain. It's possible that articulated limbs could be done, but they weren't-- so oh well. The light white fur on her head doesn't look quite right, but hey, whatever. It's a baby Ewok, only 25 years after we first saw them. Even though the figure is little more than a glorified accessory, I'm glad we got it.

Collector's Notes: New and still available, the carded figure has a "First Day of Issue" variation you can buy if you want. Other than that, there's not much going on here just yet.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 869: October 13, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 868: Wookiee Warrior

WOOKIEE WARRIOR Dark Brown Variant
Revenge of the Sith Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 85173 No. 85461
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #III-43
Includes: Bowcaster, red rocket, shield, blaster, bandolier
Action Feature: Wookiee Battle Bask!
Retail: $5.24-$6.99
Availability: Summer 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Bio: The Wookiees are intelligent, fiercely loyal and exceedingly strong. When their peaceful home planet of Kashyyyk is enveloped by the Clone Wars, these ferocious warriors fight the Separatist incursion. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: Sometimes Hasbro gets it, and sometimes, they don't. With the Wookiee Warrior, we see Hasbro follow-up another Wookiee Warrior from earlier in the year with a big step forward (in terms of accessories) and a big step back (in terms of articulation). Let's start with why it's great-- first, it has an action feature that isn't too obtrusive. You squeeze the legs, and he flails his arms about. If you don't want to, you can still pose the arms without the mechanism getting in the way too much. Second, the deco is pretty great. There's medium brown and dark brown splotches of fur that give the figure an added sense of realism, or at least a sense that he can't find his bottle of shampoo. Either way, it's a nice touch. Third, the accessories are fantastic. You get so much gear with this figure that it can't carry it all at once! If you built an army of this figure, you could have scores of goodies to share with other warrior figures that might not have as much stuff in their boxes. As such, it's to your benefit to get a few of these, if you think you might want more guns and such.

The biggest problem I had with this figure was in its leg joints. This figure and a Chewbacca released around the same time have this baffling swivel knee joint. It can't bend, it can just turn-- why? No joint at all would probably be about as useful. The previously released Wookiee warrior had knee joints, so it's really a shame that this one, which came later, did not. Thankfully the figure's arms can be posed to hold all of its accessories, but it really does suck that you can't have them kneeling or in some other combat pose which involves the lower extremities.

Collector's Notes: In the exact same packaging, this figure came in a light cream color (first release) and a dark brown release (second release, shown.) Neither is apparently more rare than the other, but distribution may vary by region for all I know.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 868: October 10, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 867: R5-F7

R5-F7 Y-wing Fighter Pilot
30th Anniversary Collection Toys "R" Us Exclusive
Item No.: No. 87431
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, pilot, Y-wing fighter
Action Feature: Pop-up motivator, removable third leg
Retail: $29.99-$34.99
Availability: Summer 2007
Appearances: Star Wars

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Bio: Rebel pilot Lieutenant Lepira flies Gold Four, the point Y-wing for Gold Squadron at the Battle of Yavin, but is shot down during that pivotal battle. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Commentary: The fun thing with some of the brand-new figures from the original Star Wars is the fan reaction-- like R5-F7 here. It's always funny to hear a chorus of "I always wanted that guy!" when he didn't have an entry on Wookieepedia, a name, or any buzz at all prior to the figure's release. The figure, like so many R5-droids, is just a repaint of the 2006 R5-D4, with all the features (and easily lost parts) you might hope for. Warning/guarantee: there's a plastic antenna that comes out of his dome-- it falls out, often. You may get a sealed package Y-wing with this piece floating around inside, or missing entirely. It is to your benefit to inspect the toy or make sure someone else inspects it for you, as it would suck to lose it. And yes, if you do lose it, you can swap it with the part from another R5 unit like R5-D4 or R5-J2.

With dark red and bright yellow highlights, this particular robot looks like he might be at home in a fast food eatery. There's also a good amount of weathering, which for the most part looks great-- it's just that the yellow is almost too bright when you look at the total package. Still, it works, and it looks different than most of the currently available droids on the market. Since he's based on an existing mold, he moves exactly like the currently available droids on the market-- the dome turns, the arms move, there are articulated "ankles" on the outer legs, and like other R5 units, the third leg is removable. The only thing he could do that he can't do is move his "foot" on his central leg, but other than that, he's pretty much perfect.

As to the play features, the figure just doesn't look good-- it does stuff. The action feature that Hasbro left in is a neat one. You twist his head, and a "bad motivator" pops up, just like R5-D4. Another feature was somewhat disabled, and this is the "tool arm" compartment. Numerous figures used this same body type, but Hasbro has taken to gluing down the panel and removing the added accessories which plug in-- why, I'm not sure, I'd love to have these on the various droids I buy. As such, you may be able to unglue it, but the only parts which fit in the socket are colored for R2-D2. So it won't match. So yeah, no luck there.


Collector's Notes: This figure is probably still available at a Toys "R" Us near you-- the ship, while awesome, proved fan demand and even kid interest in vehicles doesn't always mean you'll make a sale when double or triple-dipping a vehicle mold at a price they didn't consider fair. It's a fine item and a good set for the money, so if you don't have a Y-wing-- and even if you do-- I'd suggest scoring one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 867: October 9, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 866: B'arin Apma

B'ARIN APMA Mandalorians and Omega Squad
30th Anniversary Collection Entertainment Earth Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 87455 No. 87467
Number: n/a
Includes: Blasters, Helmet
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: Late 2007
Appearances: n/a

Image: Adam Pawlus' front yard.

Bio: Brotherhood, stamina, loyalty. These are three pillars upon which B'arin Apma rests his entire life. These are also the three main tenets that he drills into the clone troopers he trains – as essential to a superior soldier as marksmanship and courage. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: When Hasbro started revealing new Mandalorians as Entertainment Earth exclusives, a lot of fans weren't sure what to make of new characters like B'arin Apma. A few cracked that these looked like Hasbro employee heads on existing repainted bodies-- and this was pretty much the case. While the name to go with the face is not yet known, the figure itself takes a modified 2002 Jango Fett torso and arms and adds on newly sculpted legs plus a spiffy helmet in a dark grey color. In short, it looks sort of like Jango Fett, but not really. As a toy, the figure works pretty well-- his limbs don't easily pop off (although his head does), he can sit, he can stand, and his legs are super articulated. Unfortunately, his arms are not-- as they're recycled from an older figure, all you get are swivel joints at the shoulders and just above the elbow. This is going to limit the amount of cool poses the figure can do, but not by too much. That, and odds are this figure isn't going to see a lot of action outside dioramas, anyway.

The detail is pretty good considering they mixed 2002 and 2007 sculpts. Since the coloring is consistent, the figure basically works as a unified whole. What doesn't really work is the battle damage, and arguably the head. The "damage" is just some silver streaking, which looks more like a paint brush accident than actual wear-and-tear from the fields of battle. The head itself is something a lot of fans had issues with due to the facial hair and the well-kept hair on his head. Personally, I think it sort of works-- if the guy's face was dirtied up a bit and given a slightly meaner facial expression, he'd have looked particularly awesome. As it is, he isn't bad-- truth is we've seen very few representations of Mandalorians outside their helmets, and you never really know what kind of life they lead. Sure, we think of them all as these grizzled, badassssss supercommandos but for all we know some of them are heavily armored file clerks. It's a pretty good figure, and one I'd say is good enough to buy if you're the kind of fan who wants every Mandalorian that Hasbro has made. Which at present time is no less than 12 unique characters, more if you count the variant costumes on Boba and Jango.

Collector's Notes: The first test shots of these figures had helmets which were far too small, this was corrected for a later release. Early images of this particular figure showed him to come with a Jango Fett-style rocketpack more like the one he had on Geonosis, with the same deco as the one he would have in his final release. It is not known why the change was made. These items sold out from Entertainment Earth in late Summer of 2008, but are still available on the secondary market and some comic and online toy shops.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 866: October 8, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 865: Imperial Jumptrooper

IMPERIAL JUMPTROOPER Stormtrooper
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87483
Number: #0810
Includes: Blaster, Stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Early 2008
Appearances: The Force Unleashed

Image: Adam Pawlus' living room.

Bio: Equipped with jet backpacks, Imperial jumptroopers burst through the air in short spurts. Their long-range rail detonators eliminate all enemy targets from any vantage point. As the Emperor extends his iron-fisted rule, jumptroopers join Imperial forces from Outer Rim planets to more central locations like the Death Star. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: The Expanded Universe has its ups and downs, with the Jumptrooper being what I'd like to think of as a recent high point. Realizing a cash cow when they see it, variant Stormtroopers started to become part of the Star Wars line starting in 2006 with the Shadow Trooper. Fast forward a few years, and now we're seeing elements of Clone Trooper armor incorporated on the suits of the Empire's finest. The Jumptrooper is notable in that it was developed long before the game's release-- over a year and a half-- and as such doesn't perfectly mesh with the game. For example, the characters in the games can fly and have a jet pack, and this figure certainly has no jet pack. I guess he can fly, but you're going to need to throw it.

Slightly bulkier than your average Stormtrooper, this particular variant has essentially the same articulation, clocking in at 14 points. The trooper can sit, stand, and assume a few decent poses. Surely, he's unique enough to add to your pre-Rebellion era dioramas. The early days of the Empire are pretty lacking in toys outside the original Droids series and a handful of other figures, so this is a nice release to have. He only comes with a blaster pistol and display stand, which is OK, but it'd have been nice to see more gear with it. I'd still say you should get one or more, if you're looking to have some fun with the early Empire. And you should be looking for this.

Collector's Notes: For some reason, this figure wasn't rereleased in the mid-2008 line reboot with the Evo Trooper and Battle Damaged Darth Vader. Seeing as the troopers were quite popular, I'm more than a little stunned nobody has mentioned it coming back. So for now, you're going to have to do some work to find this one unless you just happen to be at the right toy store that's sitting on some older stock-- and they're out there.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 865: October 7, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 864: 2-1B

2-1B Surgical Droid
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87546
Number: #0806
Includes: Stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Early 2008
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Bio: Palpatine takes the gravely wounded Darth Vader to Coruscant. A team of surgical droids, including a 2-1B series droid, uses diagnostic and surgical equipment to treat Vader's injuries, attach mechanical limbs, and encase him in the black armored suit that he'll wear the rest of his life. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: While droids are, in theory, popular it seems that 2-1B really isn't. Sure, the model of droid surgeon was used to repair Luke Skywalker's severed hand and was instrumental in the creation of Darth Vader, but ultimately, Darth Vader's prosthetics expert isn't as exciting as, say, his personal army of troopers. That isn't to say our friend here isn't a good figure-- far from it. While shorter than previous releases, he's pretty good overall. He has knee and elbow joints, plus ball elbows. These are firsts for this great figure, and while his coloring is more subdued than his 1997 and 1981 ancestors, he's still pretty distinctive. For example, his poking tool thing is his arm, rather than an accessory. He has ball-jointed ankles. Oh, and the texture is pretty good-- although really no better than the original. As medical droids go, this is a fine one, but given that the Kenner releases are practically worthless it stands to reason you shouldn't pay a lot for this one. There's a lot of personality here, and he's instrumental in any "birth of Darth Vader" scenes you may choose to recreate with toys, but there's not a whole lot else you can do here.

Collector's Notes: A (so far) one-timer, this figure came and went in a hurry at the top of 2008. No doubt intentionally, as the figure's brisk sales freed up room for some future shipments of new (and old) figures which weren't quite as hot.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 864: October 6, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 863: Chewbacca

CHEWBACCA Battle of Endor
30th Anniversary Collection Target Exclusive Battle Pack
Item No.: Asst. 87565 No. 87567
Number: n/a
Includes: Spear, hood
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $49.99
Availability: November 2007
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Bio: Chewbacca (or "Chewie", as he was known by his friends) was a legendary Wookiee from Kashyyyk and co-pilot of Han Solo's ship, the Millennium Falcon. He was the son of Attichitcuk, the husband of Mallatobuck, and the father of Lumpawaroo. Chewbacca carried with him the name of an ancient Wookiee hero, the great Bacca, first of the great chieftains of Kashyyyk, and the creator of a sword that denoted leadership among the Wookiees. This name placed Chewbacca in a noble lineage, which was further supported by his role in the Battle of Kashyyyk during the Clone Wars and during the Galactic Civil War. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Commentary: Hasbro knows fans love Chewbacca, which is why there's generally one in circulation these days. This particular version is pretty unique in that he's colored strangely-- his fur is much lighter, and almost a little orange. Other releases are significantly more brown and generally the same color-- which means this figure could almost act as a unique character in your dioramas. Based on the 2002 Cloud City Chewbacca, which was reissued in late 2006, painted with snow deco in 2004, and no doubt making another appearance in the future, it's a pretty decent figure. With 10 points of articulation, he's fairly poseable. There aren't any ball joints outside his shoulders, but he still works fairly well as a toy. His joints rarely pop apart, and his growling facial expression certainly looks good. The only problem with his head is that the fur sculpting looks closer to the 1978 Kenner figure than the mask as seen in Return of the Jedi, which may or may not irk fans. As someone who has a kajillion Chewies, I like this figure precisely because he isn't very accurate. The different look means I basically have a new Wookiee warrior for my armies, which is actually a little bit more exciting than yet another samey Chewbacca. I'm sure fans who have only one Chewbacca won't care for the inaccuracy, but I've got more Chewbaccas than I do digits. As such, bring on the craziness!

Collector's Notes: To date, the figure has been released only as a Target exclusive in 2007. If you want him with snow deco or more movie-friendly paint, there are plenty of other options. The boxed set itself is really quite stunning as a gift set, as a collectible, and as an example of Hasbro's work in creating excellent packaging. You should get one, but mostly for the Ewoks or the other items in the set.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 863: October 3, 2008