Figure of the Day: Day 968: Darth Vader

DARTH VADER with TIE Fighter Gunner Station
Power of the Force Gunner Stations
Item No.: Asst. 69665 No. ???
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Rockets, cockpit and chair thing
Action Feature: Moving seatbelt/yoke, kickstand, firing rockets
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 1998
Appearances: Star Wars


Bio: Re-enact famous Star Wars battle scenes from Darth Vader's TIE Fighter cockpit! (Taken from the toy's cardback.)

Image: Adam's toy room.

Commentary: Would you believe that there was a time in recent memory when knee joints were a novelty? It's true! This Darth Vader was one of the first to sport knee articulation, but sadly relied on a (for its own era) outdated body sculpt. The figure has eight points of articulation, can sit, and has one of the first cloth capes in the modern line. There's no skirt/inner cape, and there's no lightsaber, but it's still a pretty great figure when you look at what your money got you. This particular release takes the 1995 body and tweaks the cape and legs, making it look kinda chunky and more toylike than most Darth Vader toys that would follow. It's neat as an oddity, but odds are its lack of authenticity and unusual proportions will turn you off. I like it precisely because it's weird-- and you might too. If anything this is a good item for your kids because it was made from the era prior to Hasbro designing arm joints to fall apart, it's a solid release and the little gunner station it comes with is a pretty neat toy, if a little too cheap for what it really needed to be.

Collector's Notes: Worthless? Sorta. Still neat though, if you like strange little toys from a time when Kenner was willing to experiment with such things. (That era of Star Wars is long since over.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 968: February 27, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 967: Wicket (aka Widdle)

WICKET This is clearly Widdle
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: Despite the package saying it's Wicket, this is clearly modeled after Widdle Warrick and as such I'm using Widdle's bio. The Ewok Widdle Warrick, nicknamed Willy, was the second oldest son of Deej and his wife Shodu. He had two brothers, Weechee and Wicket, and one sister, Winda. Willy was Wicket's goofy, chubby, and clumsy brother. He was the black sheep of the Warrick family. Widdle received the blue wings of strength from Logray when he was part of the caravan that went to rescue Jeremitt and Catarine Towani from the gorax. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Commentary: Ewoks! For years, it was assumed that collectors hate the little buggers and they were a waste of resources. In 1997, Hasbro delayed the first modern Ewoks in an effort to get Grand Moff Tarkin out a year early. And one of those molds, Wicket, was used to create this figure which I like to call "Fake Wicket" or "Widdle." Widdle was Wicket's brother in the Ewok movies and is colored differently from the cuddly little guy in Return of the Jedi, but did not appear in said movie. (Well, there are similar Ewoks, but it ain't Wicket.)

So this little guy is a repaint of a figure from 1998. He has five points of articulation, and is rather roly-poly. Since it was made before articulation became a big issue, he holds together well and is fairly durable. His spear is, well, a spear, and his hood can come off with a little effort. Due to this figure's birth taking place years before his contemporaries, he's quite large and lacks certain details you'd have seen in Graak and Romba. He's also unusually large compared to the recent Ewoks of 2006 and beyond. He still looks good with them, but it's obvious they're from different times and have a significantly different look. Odds are Hasbro will never go back and do a new Widdle, so make it a point to track this one down if you like his look. There's not much to him that you can't see in that photo.

Collector's Notes: To date, the figure has been released only as a Target exclusive in 2007. As part of a great gift set at a good price point, it's hard not to suggest you get it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 967: February 26, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 966: Jawa

JAWA & WED Treadwell Droid
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 87837
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD33
Includes: Jawa, WED Septoid Treadwell Droid, blaster, bandolier, droid caller
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: January 2009
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: The Jawas come to the Lars homestead to offer droids for sale. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: The original Star Wars is a well Hasbro goes back to constantly for new old figures. For example, there have been a great many Jawa releases. At least 5 distinct molds have been created, many of which have been repainted or tweaked and reissued-- like this one, which is based on the 2007 Jawa action figure. There were so many variations on the basic Jawa design in the original Star Wars film that it's not surprising that we're on, by my count, #8. The core figure is essentially identical to the 2007 release, which is a good one to build off of if you're looking to do a good job. Our new friend here has ball-jointed shoulders and elbows, a ball head, plus standard wrist joints and an articulated waist. It's pretty good, really, but you know what to expect if you got last year's version. The big difference here is that the vest now matches the rest of his rags, and there's a new blaster with a bandolier attached to it. Oh, and there's a little droid caller thing with it too. This figure is darker and less toy-like than its previous incarnation, and I dare use the phrase "more realistic." Unlike most other Jawa molds, he doesn't have the light-up eyeport. (I see this as an improvement. Your mileage may vary.) If you're a fan that owns a Sandcrawler or the Lars Homestead environment, you owe it to yourself to pick up this figure set. I'll talk about the droid later, but really, either of the two figures is enough to warrant its purchase.

Collector's Notes: The first shipments of this figure come with the torso of R5-A2. As to the future, who knows.

Day 966: February 25, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 965: Super Battle Droid

SUPER BATTLE DROID STAP Attack
30th Anniversary Collection Toys "R" Us Exclusive Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87604 No. 87754
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: STAP vehicle, additional toys
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99 (part of a set)
Availability: May 2008
Appearances: Clone Wars

Bio: Battle droids swarm into combat on Geonosis, a vast army under the control of the Separatists. Armed with blaster rifles, the battle droids face the clone troopers in combat: two forces both programmed to act with unwavering loyalty toward their creators. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' carpet.

Commentary: Fact: Hasbro loves this Super Battle Droid mold. Since its movie-colored debut in 2008, we got a brown repaint, this silver repaint, a really hard-to-get shadowy Mygeeto version, a blue remold, and probably another I'm forgetting. It makes sense, though, because it's a pretty fantastic figure just a few notches short of being perfect. While the coloring doesn't really look like anything from the movies (or comics, or elsewhere) it's still pretty neat. There's some mud on its feet, and a fair amount of grime all over. It retains the articulation you've come to expect-- ball shoulders, swivel and bending elbows, waist, knees, and hips-- but keeps the holes for reasons I can't really fathom. The unique texture of this droid comes through from its silvery plastic, which I really hope doesn't become horribly brittle and shatter over time like other gold or silver toys have been known to do. (Be careful with this one.) There's not much here you haven't seen if you're keeping up with your army droids, so get it if you like the color or also want the STAPs and Battle Droids from the set. It's worth it for what you get.

Collector's Notes: Nearly 9 months after hitting stores, you can probably get one at your local Toys "R" Us. These things tend to sit, despite being pretty great.

Day 965: February 24, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 964: Graak (the Ewok)

GRAAK & Romba
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87409
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #3043
Includes: Bow, arrows, hood, Romba figure, coin (2007), display stand (2008)
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Fall 2007
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Image: Adam Pawlus' Endor shelf.

Bio: When the Ewoks mistake C-3PO for a god, Han Leia, and Chewie use this misunderstanding to get past the Ewok's initial distrust of them. The Ewoks eventually welcome the Rebels into their tribe and help them destroy the shield generatior protecting the Death Star. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: One of the more rewarding things about the modern Star Wars line is assembling a big group of something. Sure, troopers are nice, but what I really love is that Hasbro does numerous takes on Tusken Raiders, Jawas, and yes, even Ewoks like Graak here. The little guy is pretty awesome, showcasing Hasbro's ability to add articulation to a figure that doesn't need it while keeping its appearance reasonably nice. In the old days, Ewoks had 4 joints, meaning you got arms and legs and that's it. This guy builds on that, adding neck articulation, wrist articulation, a waist joint, plus ball-jointed ankles. WOW. That's above and beyond the call of duty for any figure in a 2-pack, so it's really stunning that Hasbro decided to do it for the supposedly unpopular Ewok. He has no problems standing, and I suppose were Hasbro to make any modern-era Ewok vehicles or playsets that aren't a catapult or a glider, he'd be able to interact with it quite nicely.

As far as his gear goes, Hasbro hit it out of the park with a removable hood with a quiver molded to it. You can remove the arrows if you want to, but you probably won't-- they're too small for him to grip easily. It's a wonderful figure and one that you should absolutely add to your Ewok tribe, if you have one. If you don't, I'd suggest getting this 2-pack and see if the notion of having more of these appeals to you. This is some of Hasbro's finest work in the realm of Ewoks, so give it a whirl if you have the means to do so. (And they're cheap, so you should.)

Collector's Notes: Graak seems like he was created with future repaints in mind. The figure was initially named "Lumat" according to a sticker sheet released by Hasbro for a display stand set, which is interesting as the figure has more than a passing resemblance for the vintage-era Kenner Lumat figure. To date, we still don't have Lumat (and there seems to be more than one furball to claim ownership of the name) but it'll be easy for Hasbro to do it when they feel like it. A later list of names had this guy dubbed "Garak," which, as a fan of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, I found to be quite funny. This figure was rereleased in 2008 with a display stand instead of a coin.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 964: February 23, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 963: Tusken Raider

TUSKEN RAIDER Tatooine Camp Ambush
Saga Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84921
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0306
Includes: Gaffi stick, robes, display stand, head
Action Feature: Magnetized head can be knocked off
Retail: $4.99
Availability: January 2003
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Nomadic tribespeople, Tusken Raiders scavenge and pilfer the sparsely populated areas of Tatooine. Also known as Sand People, they are a vicious lot, frequently raiding unsuspecting moisture farms in the desert regions. On one of these barbarous raids, Tuskens seize the helpless Shmi Skywalker and imprison her within an isolated encampment. Warding off previous rescue attempts by local moisture farmers, the Sand People are unprepared for Anakin Skywalker's discovery of their camp and the young Jedi's uncontrollable act of vengeance. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: As one of the first figures Kenner made back in the 1970s, it isn't surprising that the Tusken Raider keeps finding its way to retail in new and interesting ways. What may be surprising is just how many we've seen. Hasbro introduced is to a red and a tan clan last year, but before that we've had basic figures, more articulated figures, female and baby figures, and now even two Jedi members of a Tusken clan. It's an astonishingly diverse alien tribe, and one that a collector could probably drop hundreds of dollars on and still have more goodies to pick up. Naturally, this figure is another great addition to the family.

In Episode I, most of the Tusken Raiders were missing a little canister beneath their chins which makes the figure look like it's missing something when Hasbro leaves it off. This release keeps the gizmo, which makes the figure look just as much like an original trilogy Tusken as you could hope for. The sculpt is incredible, as is the detail, but unfortunately this figure was released in 2003 before things like shoulder ball joints became basically standard, and before Hasbro really upped the ante on the quality of paint on a figure. It's basically a really cool and fun statue, as it stands fine, it has a display stand, and sports a fair degree of arm articulation. (Well, for its time.) His coloring is a little more orange than other Tuskens, meaning he stands out as a sort of an oddball on a shelf of warriors. Since these nomads tended to use whatever scrap they could find, it isn't out of the question that there should be some inconsistency in the coloring, but it's a shame that he doesn't match his brothers and sisters. I don't think Hasbro has made a more lively looking Tusken warrior, and this figure looks (key word: LOOKS) better than the vintage version which would follow a few years later, plus it tends to hold together better despite having a head designed to fall off. (That says a lot.) If for some reason you decide to only buy one Tusken Raider action figure, I'd say you should consider this one. He may not have knee joints, but I'll dare you to find one that looks more awesome.

Collector's Notes: This figure has never been reissued, repainted, or otherwise returned to retail. It's a shame, as it's a great sculpt and would really have been a nice entry in those Tusken and Bantha camp battle packs at Toys "R" Us in 2008.

Day 963: February 20, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 962: Wioslea

WIOSLEA of Spaceport Speeders
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 87840
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD36
Includes: Blaster, robes
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: January 2009
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Wioslea is a salesperson for Spacesport [sic] Speeders, a used landspeer lot in Mos Eisley. Swayed by Kenobi's Jedi mind trick, the female Vuvrian offers Luke 2,000 credits for his landspeeder, which he sells to pay for the trip to Alderaan. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: The first thing I noticed about Wioslea is that she has a very disturbing looking mouth. Other jokes I'd like to make about it aren't remotely appropriate for what I presume the readership of this column to be, so let's move on to another inappropriate, but probably not for this column, observation. She's got boobs. I went looking for some pictures of the alien from Star Wars and I can honestly say that it did not appear to have anything in the way of chesticles, although the figure certainly does. She's basically as super-articulated as one can expect, and is able to sit just fine. She does not, however, have knee joints.

Hasbro's sculptors managed to capture the alien design's bizarre head-- and yes, it is a weird head even for Star Wars-- complete with the eyes looking in multiple directions. I guess I never really gave the character much of an extended look, but damn she be ugly. Thankfully, there's a robe to cover her head if you like, complete with holes to put her dangly antenna through. It fits perfectly, which is unusual for any Hasbro cloth robes. Seriously, it doesn't get better than this. The soft goods for the lower part of her robes are also perfect so far, and the body seems like it could have made a perfect template for a female Jedi figure with some modifications in the lower legs, forearms, and of course head. This figure is great. I know some of you disagree with me on this particular issue, but I'm generally glad Hasbro has put off making a lot of the minor characters until now, when the figures are genuinely great. I don't think Hasbro could go back and remake this as a better figure, really, or at least not in the next 5-10 years.

Collector's Notes: She's new! As such you're probably just now finding her, or just now getting annoyed that Wave 6 isn't already out. She shipped along with a whopping 7 other basic figures, 2 of which were 2-packs, and almost all of which were requested by fans for a while now. This almost makes up for the lack of everything endearing non-$100+ that was 2008. Hasbro's internal photographers goofed up and put Obi-Wan Kenobi's lightsaber with her, leading to numerous ridiculous arguments concerning the character's status as a Jedi. She isn't a Jedi. A photographer just put the wrong accessory with her in one official picture. Get over it, missy.

Day 962: February 19, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 961: R2-A6

R2-A6 Astromech Droid Pack Series II
The Saga Collection Entertainment Earth Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 87055 No. 87057
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: Twist dome to extend or retract third leg
Retail: $39.99
Availability: January 2006
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Assists fighter pilot Ric Olié during the Battle of Naboo. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' carpet.

Commentary: The droid R2-A6 held the distinction of being one of very few figures released by Hasbro as a 12-inch figure and then not being made as a 3 3/4-inch figure almost immediately. Bespin Luke came out about a year before his smaller counterpart, but R2-A6 saw release in the larger scale in 1999. The smaller figure wouldn't be made until 7 years later, and that's because it was requested by an online store's goofy new employee as a part of an exclusive set. (Which is awesome that it turned out OK.) Of all the astromechs in the exclusive boxed sets, this is one of about three that I'd say turned out as good as or far, far better than I could have hoped for. It isn't my favorite, but I can't argue with quality. There are so many tiny details on this figure that don't appear on other repaints of R4-G9 that it's really quite stunning. Around his holographic projector, there's a gold line. His big eye is painted black, and despite being the same colored plastic, Hasbro actually took the time to paint the center circle on the top of his dome green as to match the other panels. (Often, they leave it black.) There's a big yellow dot on the back of his head, and his non-vac metal silver dome looks gorgeous. Really, this R2-A6 is everything I want in an R2-D2 but I still haven't got it. Since the figure is form Naboo, it's appropriately clean, the paint colors are sharp and vibrant, and the white parts are pretty gosh darned white. Usually I can find a nit to pick or some detail I'd like to have seen done better, but here, I can't say that would be true. Hasbro nailed it, and as such, I can't say anything bad about it. Other than it belongs to Ric Olie, the other balding space pilot from the Star Wars saga.

Collector's Notes: Sold out, not yet reissued, and not expected to be. There's really no good reason to put this guy out again unless Hasbro comes up with a Naboo fighter with a droid socket or something. (They won't, I'm just saying.) The larger R2-A6 holds the distinction of being the only R2 unit other than Hasbro to be made in the larger size. (R5-D4 being the only other astromech made in that scale.) Interestingly, the large R2-A6 has a vac-metal dome, a feature the larger R2-D2s do not. The little guy now goes for about $10 on eBay if you can find it.

Day 961: February 18, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 960: Chewbacca

CHEWBACCA Cloud City Capture
Saga Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84851 No. 84890
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0238
Includes: Imperial Blaster, C-3PO parts, bag
Action Feature: C-3PO's eyes light up when head is pushed down on body.
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Fall 2002
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Captured upon their arrival at Cloud City, Chewbacca and his Rebel companions are apprehended by Darth Vader in hopes of luring their Jedi friend, Luke Skywalker, into a trap. While in solitary confinement, Chewbacca takes solace in reassembling the dismantled C-3PO. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk. Note: the version pictures is the 2006 The Saga Collection release. As far as I can tell it's the same as the 2002 Saga release.

Commentary: Is this one figure or two? I decided this Chewbacca would be just one, since the C-3PO parts aren't enough to really do anything with. But since there are two characters here, there's some more writing to do. Starting with Chewie, for the time, this was the best-ever Star Wars Chewbacca. Given the figure is meant to be from The Empire Strikes Back, this may bother some folks. The hair is really the big thing which indicates which movie he's from, and with his hair back he has more in common with the vintage toy than the 2001 "mechanic" figure-- which was really slick. Anyway, is this figure any good? Heck yeah. He has ball-jointed shoulders, elbow joints, and wrist joints-- this was, until 2004, the best Chewbacca you could possibly hope to get. He can lean back and scream in agony, he can fire his gun at the Empire, and he can be posed to "fix" C-3PO. Our friend, however, can not swivel at the waist. He can sit, he can stand, he can emote, plus his fur is sculpted to look more like fur and less like some sort of clumped mess. With his black nose, blue eyes, and expressive mouth, this is a sign that Hasbro was really heading in the right direction after the first push for Attack of the Clones. Even more amazing, there's more to this figure.

Back in 1982, Kenner made a C-3PO with removable limbs for Chewbacca to carry around on his back. (Kenner did a new version of this in 1998.) However in 2002, they decided to give fans a head, a body, and a pile of junk to represent the disassembled droid as accessories. You can even "repair" C-3PO like Chewie did in the movies-- push the head into the body, and the eyes will light up. It's pretty amazing, although the light isn't one of Hasbro's finest. Still, it's hard to be picky-- the sculptor for these parts obviously snagged an existing protocol droid mold, chopped it up, and cast the results. This gives us a C-3PO that looks like C-3PO, and it avoids some of the problems we've seen with vehicles and astromech domes that are incredibly off-model.

In addition to the one-and-a-half figures, you get a standard Stormtrooper blaster (the same "small" one that has been in circulation since 2001), and a cloth net bag with a little piece of elastic. I have to say that it's a little tricky to get the most out of the bag, but you can still get Chewie to fit it on his back. As toys go, the entire package is a shining example of some of Hasbro's finest work. I assume this was a more expensive figure to make, as it incorporates kid features (lights), core characters, added articulation, plus accessories. Hasbro could have just as easily made one version with the net backpack, and a separate one to represent the time in the Cloud City cell where Chewie was at work. If you never got this figure, you should rectify this ASAP.

Collector's Notes: The figure was a decent seller when it debuted around September 2002, and it was good enough for Hasbro to reissue, mostly unchanged, in the 2006 line. C-3PO retained the eye feature, and Hasbro tossed in a bonus display stand. I do not consider these to be different figures, but packaging variant hunters will no doubt want both versions. The 2006 packaging is, if you ask me, better. The C-3PO seems to be based on the TC-14 mold, but chopped up. Chewbacca was recolored for numerous figures in exclusive multi-packs, like a Hoth version in 2003 and a bizarrely recolored Endor version in 2008. If you look back at this figure, it was a pretty amazing deal. Actually, if Hasbro sold this figure today for eight bucks, it'd still be a pretty solid deal.

Day 960: February 17, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 959: Jango Fett

JANGO FETT Kamino Escape
Saga Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84851 No. 84857
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0213
Includes: Pistols, helmet, backpack, rocket, firing rocket, claw-on-a-rope
Action Feature: Rifle fits in holster
Retail: $4.99
Availability: April 2002
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Resourceful and dangerous, Jango Fett is known throughout the criminal underworld as the best bounty hunter in the galaxy. Equipped with an arsenal of weapons including his missile-firing jetpack, Jango attempts to take out Obi-Wan Kenobi as he and Boba Fett escape from Tipoca City. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: While not the first Jango Fett, it was early enough to be memorable, popular, and easily the most accessorized version of the character. Since it's from the era where Hasbro was working from Gentle Giant scan data, the armor and proportions are all pretty great. Unfortunately, this was the era before ball-jointed shoulders, so the figure is pretty limited in its movement capabilities. This particular release has 8 points of articulation, which sounds weak, but the accessories make up for it. The little grapple thing is a blast to play with, and the removable helmet is a nice touch. This particular Jango has no real problems standing or sitting, and it seems the 2002 release of the Slave I was designed with this specific figure in mind. There's an area to hang his jetpack and everything.

Considering the decent level of detail in the armor, the adequate likeness in the face, and all the gear, it's a figure you'd probably enjoy having to play with. It certainly isn't the most articulated, but it's fun to play with and that's worth a lot to me. I suggest you give it a shot, especially if you can get it at or around $5. Hopefully as the line progresses, we'll see all this gear added to a super-articulated body.

Collector's Notes: This Jango was not only popular, and was not only reissued a few times, but it was also tweaked to make several other figures. There's a 2003 repackaged version, there's a 2006 repackaged version with a display stand. The figure was reissued without most of its accessories and packaged with other figures in a tin in late 2006. Magnets were added to his gauntlets and he was packaged with an accessory to make him "fly" in 2003. Needless to say, it's pretty easy to get, but it's also surprisingly in-demand from fans as it is one of the better Jango figures.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 959: February 16, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 958: Bane Malar

BANE MALAR Helmet Dude
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 87679
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD07
Includes: Droid piece, blaster, rifle
Action Feature: Rifle fits in holster
Retail: $7.99
Availability: July 2008
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: The mysterious bounty hunter Bane Malar occasionally visits Jabba's palace on the Western Dune Sea. He reveals little of himself, causing suspicion among the Hutt's hangers-on and rumors that Malar is a telepath who steals people's secrets to use against them later. (Taken from the set's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: As far as anyone can tell, Bane Malar was a costume designed for Return of the Jedi and is nowhere to be seen in the finished film. A similar character does appear on screen, but this isn't him. One might wonder why make a figure of this guy first, or why fans requested it, or even more baffling-- why some fans said this was a favorite character. I assume hyperbole plays a big role, but the important thing is what we have here is a pretty great figure that will be right at home in any diorama featuring Jabba the Hutt. He's a little shorter than most other figures, but has all the articulation that you might reasonably be able to hope for. This dark-blue suited... creature seems to be a labor of love from Hasbro as he's loaded with detail. The folds of his flight suit and the unique shape of his helmet all look fantastic, no doubt helped by the fact that this action figure may be the first or only look collectors have of the guy. With no face to muck up, Hasbro spent its time creating a fantastic costume and making sure we as fans have a figure that is likely to be the best (and only) release the character ever sees. With this in mind, all fans of Jabba's palace probably need to have one or more of this guy, but if you're trying to save room in your collection for characters that you actually know and recognize, well, this ain't it.

Collector's Notes: Given his nearly anonymous status in the film, it's more than a little shocking that this was a strong seller. Shipped from the same wave that gave us Yarna da'l' Gargan, and in the same ratio, it's a little surprising that the character known in the credits as "Fat Dancer" not only had more recognition, but huge fan demand. What is surprising is that she didn't sell too well, and Bane Malar tended to move fairly briskly. I guess it just goes to show that even fans don't always know what we really want.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 958: February 13, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 957: Wookiee Warrior

WOOKIEE WARRIOR Attack on Kashyyyk
30th Anniversary Collection Target Exclusive Battle Pack
Item No.: No. 87701
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Bowcaster, projectile, additional Wookiee, Darth Vader, 2 Stormtroopers
Action Feature: Bowcaster really fires!
Retail: $19.99
Availability: March 2008
Appearances: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

Bio: The Wookiees courageously defend their planet but are outgunned by the Imperial army and its extensive weaponry. The Wookiees fight with ferocity and manage to hold back the troopers for a time, but are ultimately overwhelmed by the Imperial Troopers. (Taken from the set's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray. Note: the figure is carrying a Stormtrooper blaster and a Wookiee blaster, nether of which are supposed to go with this figure-- but you will get Stormtrooper blasters in the battle pack.

Commentary: There aren't many molds were swapping accessories and repainting the figure will result in a compelling plastic person, but Hasbro made this Wookiee Warrior on the cheap and it still looks pretty great. The figure uses the mold originally used for the 2005 "Sneak Preview" Wookiee Warrior, and tweaks it just enough to be cool again. All of the figures armor has been removed, and replaced with a retooled bandolier specially designed for this figure's girth. It's a huge figure-- and Hasbro gave him the big feet he needs to not fall over when fighting or what have you.

The new reddish brown deco is great, it's not crazy different from other figures but it's distinctive enough that it isn't obviously a previous figure with a new belt. It's actually the same as the other figure in the set, but it's in a different color, which actually is OK when dealing with a trooper figure like this. In the game, Darth Vader (you) fight Wookiee after Wookiee in an endless attack in the first stage, so you'll probably actually get pretty excited for this sort of thing if you like stuff from the game. In a way it's a shame we couldn't get more, but there are at least 6 Wookiee Warrior figures based on this specific mold at this point. It's probably time to move on, but at least Hasbro made a bunch of good ones and spread them out over 3 years.

Value Notes: Long time fans may wince at this boxed set due to what you get for the price. The Wookiee Warriors were originally $5.24-$6.99 each. The Vintage Stormtroopers were $9.99 each, if not more, as was Darth Vader (who is now missing a lightsaber hilt.) Individually, these figures would have ran you roughly $40-$45 which just goes to show that sometimes, you really can wait for a better deal.

Collector's Notes: I love this set, but it's pretty much guaranteed to do well-- as of the date I write this (which is before the print date), the Battle Packs are almost entirely sold out at every Target I've visited-- just a couple seem to be left at each store, if that. It's a neat set but I have to say it is a little scary to think that we might see a lot of "group of figures you have versus 1-2 figures you wouldn't mind having because they're different" even if the value is there. I don't know how it will ultimately do on the secondary market but it seems to be selling fast enough to warrant you take interest in it sooner rather than later.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 957: February 12, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 956: Tol Skorr

TOL SKORR with Asajj Ventress
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87630
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #01
Includes: Lightsaber, shoulder armor, additional figure, comic book
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $11.99
Availability: July 2008
Appearances: Clone Wars comics

Bio: Asajj Ventress & Tol Skorr are on the trail of Quinlan Vos; Count Dooku wants the Jedi brought back to him to face punishment. They locate Vos on a ruined exploration vessel, but meet with unexpected difficulty when Obi-Wan Kenobi arrives to find out what happened to the missing ship. Ventress has battled Kenobi before and yearns to put an end to the Jedi. Kenobi and Vos must work together if they hope to escape these two relentless and ruthless foes. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' living room.

Commentary: When initially announced by only his last name, fans weren't who Tol Skorr was just because he's not what you'd call remotely popular, even by comic fan standards. I actually assumed they meant Skorr the Bounty Hunter from the old newspaper strips, which I thought was pretty exciting at first. And then I found out it's a bearded dark Jedi dude. Oops.

The good news is that Hasbro didn't skimp on articulation on detail for this comic pack figure. The bad news is that you likely not only don't recognize him, but don't care. (Humans are boring as a rule.) He has armor, scars, and 14 points of articulation, which on paper makes him pretty cool. Sure, he has a soft goods "skirt" piece so he can actually pretend to sit, a unique hand pose, and a distinctive lightsaber, but it's extremely hard to muster an ounce of enthusiasm for the character.

Collector's Notes: Generally Star Wars fans have a habit of asking for obscure characters, but this guy, as far as I know, was on nobody's lists. At just four comic appearances, it's actually a little surprising that they made this guy instead of Sora Bulq as a Dark Jedi or those wacky Nikto clones. While it's great to see fans have their "moar Expanded Oonivurse figgrus pleez" requests answered, well, uh, can we go for slightly more interesting ones?

Day 956: February 11, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 955: Darth Sidious

DARTH SIDIOUS Jedi vs. Darth Sidious
The Saga Collection Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87503 No. 87196
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, additional figures
Action Feature: Push Figure Down for Lightsaber Slashing Action
Retail: $19.99
Availability: 2006-present
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Here, in a lavish Senatorial office atop one of the tallest buildings on Coruscant, the endgame of the conflict between Sith and Jedi begins. Revealed as a Dark Lord of the Sith, Chancellor Palpatine vaults across his desk with the uncanny speed of a master in the Force, his lightsaber blazing to life. Its blade carries the swift death of no less than three Jedi. Even the great Mace Windu will be fought to a standstill in this, the first battle in a conflict that will end with the extermination of the Jedi. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: This Darth Sidious has been through a few releases-- the basic body started life in 2005 as a figure with a hand that had a dedicated lightsaber, either in red or blue. The 2006 release (this one) dropped one of the swappable heads and gave the figure a removable lightsaber plus new hands. The 2007 release (Order 66) comes with the other head and a soft goods cloak. So they're all "just different enough to make you mad."

This one is actually pretty nice. The "evil" head is included, and is easily removed as the figure's first release had two different heads. The right hand also pops out for the same reason. Only articulated at the neck, shoulders, wrists, and elbows, it's essentially a statue. It's nice that he can swing his weapon, but eh, it is what it is-- a pretty good plaything, but it can't sit. Basically, the only reason you will want this figure is for it to fight your Jedi toys, otherwise it's a pretty dull plaything. It's an acceptable display piece, to say the least, as you can use it to "knight" Darth Vader. He's freaking ugly, so he'll do the trick just fine. Since there are multiple versions, and this Battle Pack comes with other figures you probably own once or twice over, I wouldn't suggest you go track this one down unless you're pretty hardcore about your Palpatine collection.

Collector's Notes: This is one of those figures that walks the line of "variant" and "new figure." This basic body has been used for three major releases, plus there's a lightsaber variant on one of those. This exact version, though, has come back a couple of times so you shouldn't have a problem getting one.

Day 955: February 10, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 954: Dr. Evazan

DR. EVAZAN Cantina Showdown Cinema Scene
Power of the Force Wal-Mart Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 69650 No. 69738
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, additional figures, display stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: Early 1997
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: On the run from Imperial stormtroopers, Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker enter the seedy Mos Eisley Cantina in hopes of finding swift passage to the planet Alderaan. Inside, among the gallery of criminals are the murderous Dr. Evazan and the brutal Ponda Baba--both of whom are thirsty for a fight with Skywalker. Reaching for their blasters, the villains are suddenly cut off from Luke by the pulsating blaze of Obi-Wan's lightsaber! Will Obi-Wan triumph and save the Rebellion's only hope? (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' box lap thing.

Commentary: Virtually no characters in the Cantina had any dialogue. This is not remarkable. What is remarkable is how uninteresting the talky ones were, and how long it took for them to be made as toys. Dr. Evazan took 20 solid years, and when we finally got him he didn't look all that great. While fans had a lot to complain about when the Star Wars line started up in 1995, this figure just didn't quite click. He had a weird pose, a strange outfit, and a likeness that really didn't look a lot like the scrap photos I've seen. (Maybe they used different ones.) His hair color seemed off, he wasn't pudgy enough, he needs to be balding more, and to look a little more freakish. I mean seriously, the guy's a freaking troll. The figure looks like Father Jack on the show Father Ted more than a character from a sci-fi movie. It seems like Kenner took some liberties with the design, and a 2004 resculpt didn't prove to be all that much better. If anything, it's only a slight improvement based on this very same design. There are few figures from the 1995-1998 era that Hasbro hasn't updated in the past several years, and some of the very minor ones are actually getting a little love. In the coming year, Hasbro has figures like Malakili, Ugnaughts, and even a Spacetrooper in various stages of development. In case you haven't guessed, this translates to "buy it if it's cheap, but wait for a new one if you can."

Collector's Notes: This figure was really hard to get, then it hit wide. Then it went on clearance for as little as $2.00 (I got a few with the tag still.) After all that, the item became a wide release, turning up at other stores. In case you haven't yet figured it out, this is not a rare figure.

Aside from ol' Evazan here, there are a few other movie characters from the modern Kenner days that haven't been completely redone (that is, beyond a new arm or leg) yet. There's about 15-- many of which are about to be announced and shown to the public in New York, I assume. I believe this is the only Cantina alien from before 1999 that hasn't been redone at least once. Several of the others have been redone twice in some cases.

Day 954: February 9, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 953: Super Battle Droid

SUPER BATTLE DROID Battle of Kashyyyk
The Saga Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 87331
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #061
Includes: Projectile, blast effect, firing arm, standard arm, display stand
Action Feature: Swap arms, firing rocket
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Late 2006
Appearances: Expanded Universe (well, maybe some day)

Bio: The tough, deadly and durable super battle droids are used by Separatist forces in battle. The manufacturers of battle droids corrected those droids’ shortcomings to create a more powerful and much deadlier version. These droid armies clash with the clone troopers throughout the galaxy. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: A recurring theme in the Star Wars action figure line is that Kenner and Hasbro want to make figures that look like they were just out of range of the camera. This is a fine example. While we really didn't see a camo Super Battle Droid (as far as I can tell) anywhere in the fiction, it looks like it fits. Based on the 2002 "deluxe" mold which has been reused a few times, it's also an example of how Hasbro can dress up a less desirable figure into something you really want to have. Or at least, I wanted this one. In an era of so many different clone troopers, it's nice to see Hasbro tried to crank out some nifty repaints for them to fight. Very few Super Battle Droids exist in any color that isn't bluish grey, so this is more than a little compelling. I mean, it's brown! It's green! Sadly, there's not much else to write about other than that this looks cool. The mold itself isn't so fantastic (as you've seen in previous installments), but it will snazz up a diorama quite nicely. Hasbro's deco artists put on a nifty Droid Army logo on his arm-- I love those-- and lots of green detailing. Some said it looked goofy, but hey, I'm OK with that. I like the design, but it would have been nice to see it applied to the more highly articulated mold which was released about a quarter after this figure hit shelves.

Collector's Notes: This figure was fairly easy to find, I found quite a few on markdown when it first came out as well. Fan reaction will no doubt keep this cheap for those who admire truly unusual action figures. Score one more for an original Hasbro design!

Day 953: February 6, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 952: R2-X2

R2-X2 Astromech Droid Pack Series II
The Saga Collection Entertainment Earth Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 87055 No. 87057
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: Twist dome to extend or retract third leg
Retail: $39.99
Availability: January 2006
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Flies on X-Wing Fighter Red 10 during the Battle of Yavin. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' carpet.

Commentary: When R4-G9 came out in 2005, I had one reaction: let's repaint the crap out of this. Thankfully a few months later I had my chance to propose a boxed set of droids (which went through a few mutations), and in its very first form the first astromech droid I put in any of the proposals was R2-X2 here. As such, you can guess, he's pretty special to me-- I mean, I got to ask someone to make this figure! It's been three years and it still makes me giddy. Since he's based on the best R2-D2-style body Hasbro has yet made, you can bet that he turned out as a pretty good figure. Twist the head, and his leg will go up and down. Move his legs and feet. Oh yes-- and admire his awesome black paint job, completely devoid of a clear plastic light-up eyeport. (This is important. If you're me. I'm glad they erred on making it look like the movie over the kid-friendly eyeport, which goes from "neat" to "eyesore" in about 2 seconds.)

It's a fun figure to play with, but it's lacking in accessories and basically exists to look cool. If you're reading this blog, that means you're probably the target market for it. Do you like the design? Great! Get one. If not, save your money. I'm hugely biased, but what did you expect? I think everybody should get this figure.

Collector's Notes: Sold out, not yet reissued. There's an ongoing debate between me and another collector on this figure's color. I say it's supposed to be black, he thinks it's dark green. The way I see it, Hasbro can always repaint it, but it looks right to me. One of my favorite things about this figure is that he apparently belongs to a Theron Nett in the movie. He still doesn't have a figure, but we've got his droid! (At least the droid looks cooler than yet another rebel pilot figure.) If you want just this robot, and not the boxed set, check eBay. There used to be tons of them individually for under $10, although lately they seem to have dried up. Also, I'm frequently asked "When can we expect Series III?" There are no plans to do another box of droids to my knowledge, so ask Hasbro if and when you see them. Since mid-2008, each figure includes a droid piece at retail, so I guess that's the main method for releasing Astromechs these days. (And the best, if you ask me, if you're a figure collector of the collect-them-all variety.)

Day 952: February 5, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 951: SP-4

JN-66 & SP-4 Research Droids
Saga Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84924
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0305
Includes: Extra droid figure with hover stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99
Availability: January 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones Deleted Scene

Bio: The analysis droids SP-4 and JN-66 assist Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi when he seeks their help in identifying a small toxic dart. The origin of the mysterious weapon may provide the only clue in discovering who is behind the assassination attempt on Senator Amidala. Deep within the great Jedi Temple, in an encased analysis room, the SP-4 droid examines the dart and searches for a possible link in its streaming bank of datya. Typically reliable for such research, the analysis droid's assessment is less informative than the Jedi had hoped. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: What combines the fun of a librarian with the action packed excitement of a legless robot? Why, it's SP-4, the adorable examination droid! This little guy works at the Jedi Archives on Coruscant and was a pretty great little design that reminded me of Nintendo's ROB (Robotic Operating Buddy) from the NES days. Unlike his partner, this figure has legs and a little more articulation. One of the problems you'll see with the figure is that he's loaded with thin plastic pieces coming off his head. These have a habit of bending, or coming pre-bent. A little hot water can fix this, but it's a problem you can avoid and prevent. Store this one carefully, or better still, keep him standing up. He has a fair amount of detail, and there are all sorts of little rivets and panels brought to life on the fairly tall figure. While short, he's still bigger than an astromech droid. Each arm bends at the elbow, there are two head joints (one at the base of the skull, the other where the neck meets the torso) and he can sort of pivot the head forward. It's impressive, and if sold alone he'd probably have been a pretty good deal were he packed with more gear. Seeing that he has an extra figure with him, he's a wonderful droid and a great deal. Just not a particularly exciting deal.

Collector's Notes: They came, they went, nobody really seemed to notice. Deleted scenes figures are always an interesting proposition, and these sold surprisingly well given that there's no action, no real recognition, and the only people who knew who they were were hardcore fans with DVDs and reference guides. Heck, I can't even keep the names straight between these two.

Day 951: February 4, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 950: Stormtrooper

STORMTROOPER Vintage Edition
Original Trilogy Collection Vintage Figures
Item No.: Asst. 85213 No. 85272
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Imperial Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Late 2005
Appearances: Star Wars and everything else

Bio: Stormtroopers were the elite shock troopers of the Galactic Empire. Like Imperial-class Star Destroyers and TIE Fighters, stormtroopers served as reminders of the Emperor's power, extensions of his will, and a method of keeping the Empire's thousands of star systems in line through fear. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: In 2004, some fans said this Stormtrooper was the best thing ever, and others saw it as an insult-- even though it was the best articulated Stormtrooper ever (and continues to be), well, I guess there's no pleasing everybody. Its sculpt allowed for it to be the first super-articulated bodied Stormtrooper, however the design did restrict some movement. His legs are basically very... tightly kept together, unable to get much dynamic movement. His arms can be moved in and out, up and down, but his poses tend to keep him looking like he's trying to avoid letting anyone see his armpit stains. They're very close to the torso, which can look a little weird. These guys are perfect for lining up on a Death Star, or manning certain kinds of equipment-- but if dioramas or action scenes are your thing, future figures with less articulation might give you more what you want.

Honestly, I can't complain too much here. He's about the right size, can move quite a bit, and the sculpt is above and beyond our expectations of what we should hope for out of a Stormtrooper figure. There are, however, two key problems I have with it, one of which was really just a flaw of its time and has since been fixed. 1. Holster. Hasbro designed the figure to have a holster to carry his blaster. The sculptors, I presume, in China goofed this up and the fit is extremely awkward. 2. Plastic. This is the one Hasbro has since fixed-- the 2004-2005 shipments of the figure (as in, any and all from the original cardback) have an off-white plastic that almost looks like its yellowing. Later releases in Battle Packs are pure white, or at least seem that way by comparison.

Collector's Notes: The figure was shipped for a while and even showed up at Tuesday Morning stores on closeout. (I got one of mine there.) It was repackaged as a more pure white figure in 2008 in Target's Force Unleashed Kashyyyk Battle Pack. In 2006, it was retooled as a Sandtrooper, and several versions of this figure have been issued since and they're still in circulation. The $7 Sandtroopers may be your best alternative to the "vintage" version, because many are also pure white, without battle damage, and all the gear can be removed. So, keep your eyes peeled for those. Also, in 2007, this figure was retooled to have a human head and removable helmet as part of the basic figure line. Oh, and it was recolored in black too. And they did some comic packs with Basso and Mouse in Stormtrooper disguises based on this mold, as well as Marvel-colored Luke and Han Stormtrooper figures. Movie colored version of Luke and Han are due out any day now, and odds are there are a few other figures based on this original mold too. While Clone Troopers are the most repainted figures, it seems this mold may well be the one with the most unique resculpts and reapaints available.

Day 950: February 3, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 949: Dice Ibegon

DICE IBEGON & Trinto Duaba
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 87841
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD37
Includes: Trinto Duaba figure with blaster and hood, droid part
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: January 2009
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Dice Ibegon is a female Florn Lamproid who believes in the Rebellion and is attuned to the Force. (From the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: There aren't many figures that Hasbro essentially designed in their entirety, but Dice Ibegon is one of them. In the movie, she just existed as a kind of snake head thing. Hasbro fleshed out the design with extra arms and a tail, and I'm not sure if it's more or less creepy that this unholy combination of male and female genitals with teeth can now visibly scoot around. The character's appearance in the cantina really did nothing for her popularity, but she was the subject of a short story by a couple of Trek scribes which put her in a relationship with a werewolf that is disturbing on numerous levels. I mean, I know that love is blind, but apparently it's also completely fearless. But hey, now you've got a figure of this thing, so how is it?

Surprisingly good-- even if assembly is required. (The top half needs to be popped into the bottom after you open it.) The figure is pretty nicely done, there's a good amount of detail here. Lots of wrinkles, some thinner skin is folded in a pretty realistic way, and some extra light brown paint helps the figure seem a little less like just a toy and slightly more lifelike. It has a bright red mouth-- too bright, really-- a torso joint, and six jointed, uh, "arms." Surprisingly, Hasbro's engineering team made it so the tiny arms don't fall out easily, or really at all so far. I'd expect the figure to fall to pieces if you look at it funny, but it doesn't. This sort of thing is pretty uncommon these days, so it's nice to have a solid release on what could have been a flimsy figure. As the first and likely only Dice Ibegon figure you'll ever see, you may as well get her. With Trinto Duaba in a 2-pack, plus a piece of the astromech droid, it's a good value. (As Hasbro creeped the prices of figures up while the price of oil went down, I fully expect figures to have more parts and pieces rather than a price drop going forward. Or people will likely be angry.) I'm not disappointed, and here I thought I just flat-out wouldn't care. It's pretty good for what it is, my only concern now is what the heck do I do with it now that I have it. It's not like there's a table she can fit in.

Collector's Notes: I just got this figure last week, so there's not much trivia to share just yet. But hey, we'll get to that when I do Trinto down the road. I've seen this one on pegs a few times but that doesn't mean it's a stinker yet. That remains to be seen.

Day 949: February 2, 2009