Figure of the Day: Day 1,121: Kit Fisto

KIT FISTO Firing Backpack Launcher!
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87638 No. 87960
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #27
Includes: Lightsaber, backpack, two rockets
Action Feature: Firing Backpack Launcher!
Retail: $7.99
Availability: Spring 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Image: Adam Pawlus' Turbo Tank.

Bio: This Jedi Master belongs to the amphibious Nautolan species that can live comfortably in air or water. He has mastered difficult Jedi techniques that manipulate the movement of water for combat purposes. To aid him further in battle, he sometimes uses an underwater propulsion backpack.

Commentary: Styled much like other animated Jedi, this Kit Fisto figure has the increasingly familiar suite of articulation-- elbows, wrists, shoulders, neck, waist, and hips. No knees, no ankles. It's an entirely new sculpt and is posed in a fairly neutral pose, which is typically the look that a lot of collectors ask for. The skirt is flexible enough for the figure to sit without too much trouble, and the backpack fits right under the hair. Er, tentacles. Whatever those things are.

Much like on the cartoon, this figure sports scavenged Clone armor, Jedi robes, and very colorful deco. The rich brown robes are offset nicely by the green spotted skin, the boots and pants are unique colors, and the rocket pack... kinda sucks. It's easy to accidentally set off due to the flick-firing spring-loaded mechanism, so I had to go digging for these in the couch a few times. The figure's smile and big black eyes make it look better than nearly all previous releases of the Jedi master, so it's easily one of the best despite not having the best articulation. It's significantly better than the Revenge of the Sith version, and while the Geonosis version may be better-- I don't have one at press time-- I don't think I'm going out on a limb by saying this is Hasbro's best Kit Fisto yet.

Collector's Notes: This is the first Kit Fisto from the CG-animated series, but not the first one based on a cartoon. It will be available in blue and the new red packaging, and maybe something else in the future. Who knows?

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,121: September 30, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,120: Lando Calrissian (Marvel)

LANDO CALRISSIAN and Stormtrooper
30th Anniversary Collection Wal-Mart Exclusive Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87793
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, Stormtrooper 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: As one of the worst-selling figures in the Original Trilogy Collection Vintage assortment, it's a little surprise to not only see that Lando Calrissian again, but at a lower price with an added play feature. While the original figure did have 14 points of articulation-- all replicated here, down to the swivel elbows-- it did not have the same cape. Here, the figure is colored in more bright colors, and the cape has a bright red lining and a wire running along the base. This lets you pose it in a variety of ways, which really adds to what you can do with Lando rather than merely look at him. More than anything else, it's the cape that makes the figure distinctive-- otherwise it's pretty much the same as the original release, minus some slight color tweaks. I like this one the best, despite it being less authentic.

Collector's Notes: This is the second use of this Lando mold, but the only use to include wire in the cape. As such, it's worth getting. The only feature missing from this figure is a way to remove the cape.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,120: September 29, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,119: Nikto Gunner (Nysad)

NIKTO GUNNER with Cannon
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 93134
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD23
Includes: Blaster, helmet, clip-on cannon, build-a-droid part
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: September 2009
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: Jabba the Hutt employs Nikto to serve as guards in his palace and on his sail barge and skiffs. The Nikto are a warrior species that are used to hot desert climates, making them suitable for Jabba's purposes-- until that fateful day at the Pit of Carkoon. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: It took a while, but Hasbro finally released this Nikto Gunner-- the second modern-era Nikto and the third unique Nikto character to be made as an action figure. (The 1984 one remains unproduced in the modern line.) Unlike the others, this is the first-ever Nikto with super-articulation and a removable hat, plus a giant cannon weapon that, according to early reports, was designed to clip on to a hypothetical Sail Barge which may never get made. The good news is you don't have to wait for a Sail Barge to use it, because it clips onto the side of the existing Tatooine Skiffs and was likely designed with that in mind in the first place. (Take a look at the picture.)

The figure itself is sculpted like one of the best Hasbro has done, but the deco leaves something to be desired. For example, rather than sculpting various straps and bandoliers as part of the figure, they were made as separate pieces which can be manipulated or in the case of the legs, rotated around. (These rings on his thighs? Separately molded elements.) Given Hasbro's desire to cut costs and all, it doesn't make sense unless they're planning to use this body for another, unknown figure in the future. The hat is also removable, which is going to be great for reusing the head, but the hat doesn't secure terribly well. On the bright side, the blaster fits perfectly in the holster, and the figure has no problems standing around or grasping the cannon with his 14 points of articulation.

So, how about that deco? The figure is molded in a nice enough earth toney color, but the attempt at making it dirty just looks sloppy. It's not subtle, there's just brushings of green on it that make it look like a customizer tried to make a figure look dirty, a far cry from Hasbro's usual efforts. All of the painted straps, skin elements, and facial features are painted precisely where they should be, although the skin does seem dark. Once you get past that, the face is full of awesome detail like little wrinkles and horns that bring the figure to life. As Skiff Guards go, Hasbro put a lot of effort into this one and as such it's worth picking up if you're a fan of characters from Jabba's Palace. Heck, get two if you can, odds are you'll want more of those cool cannons.

Collector's Notes: This is a brand-new figure in every sense of the word. As such you may not have seen it in stores yet.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,119: September 28, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,118: Luke Skywalker (Stormtrooper Comic Pack, Blue Variant)

LUKE SKYWALKER Marvel Star Wars #4
30th Anniversary Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87518
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 6
Includes: Blaster, helmet, comic book, R2-D2 action figure
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $10.99
Availability: April 2007
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Luke, Han, and Chewbacca have rescued Princess Leia - but now they have to escape from the Death Star! After being hunted by stormtroopers and narrowly escaping a crushing end in a garbage masher, the four are reunited with the droids and nearing the safety of the Millennium Falcon. But tragedy looms as they watch Darth Vader and Ben Kenobi face each other in a lightsaber duel to the death! (Taken from Hasbro's press materials.)

Image: Some old analog antenna.

Commentary: When Hasbro first revealed a new Stormtrooper body with a human head on it, it seemed a foregone conclusion that we'd get Luke Skywalker in Stormtrooper Disguise, and we did-- in this weird comic book coloring. A movie version of the mold, which was actually retooled in a few places, wouldn't see release until 2009.

This particular figure is essentially the old Vintage Original Trilogy Collection Stormtrooper, but with a retooled neck, a new head, and a helmet. In short, it's basically the comic pack Han Solo but seemingly just a smidgen shorter with a slightly different "shadow" pattern. The fact that it's super articulated isn't enough for some fans, but the real appeal from these Marvel-themed comic packs is that this is essentially a wacky pop-art, urban vinyl, quasi-bootleg redeco of a popular figure. If you had a case of these on your wall, it'd look like some strange toy art installation. As such, there's no real reason for fans of movie figures to get these unless you can really appreciate something weird, as these certainly qualify. I'd almost suggest only buying comic packs like these to new fans, as it's a much smaller sub-collection of product and it has a unique look. Plus you can easily "complete" the set, as very few Marvel sets were made so far. (Although I guess it could go up to 107, plus annuals, plus the ROTJ adaptations, plus the Ewoks/Droids books... so it's up to you.)

Collector's Notes: This figure is back in stores in the red packaging after previously having been released as a 30th Anniversary Collection comic pack. However, it is the other variation, which looks significantly different than this one. Different enough to constitute a new figure. This release has blue "shadows," the second drops all the blue and looks like a normal Stormtrooper with red eyes.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,118: September 25, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,117: Battle Droid (Clean)

BATTLE DROID Clean Variation
Episode I Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84085 No. 84092
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, Backpack, CommTech Chip
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: May 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: The greedy Trade Federation has created an army that requires no food, no drink, no sleep. Millions of these high-tech battle droids amass into a virtually unstoppable armed force. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)


Image: Some decaying door near my apartment.

Commentary: There are four variations on this Battle Droid, all with the same packaging-- this one is "clean," as it is lacking in the brown sludge, lightsaber cuts, or blaster damage. In other words, it's the "normal" one.

At Comic-Con this year, Hasbro announced that a new Battle Droid mold is being produced which intends to replace this one in terms of articulation and the ability to sort of fold up as seen in the movie. I find it hard to believe that it's really, actually happening, because this original release served us well for so long. His joints were strong, his limbs were thick, he could stand up for months at a time in a hot room without warping. He was all things other Battle Droids weren't. The figure seems to have been engineered before Lucas completed the droid's personality and movements, but still, it's a good replica of how they look on the big screen. Most importantly, it was one of the most articulated figures of its day with knees and elbow joints, which was pretty much unheard of for Hasbro Star Wars until it started to become a regular thing around 2004-2005.

If your collection has a Battle Droid focus, this is a good one to grab. Most collectors I know gravitate toward all droids that aren't Trade Federation or Separatist-related, given the designs I don't always blame them, but this is one of the few molds that turned out particularly well for this character. It's well worth a look!

Collector's Notes: The 1999 Battle Droid mold didn't see a heck of a lot of use. Other future droids used this paint job, or one very close to it, but the mold itself wasn't exactly a frequently used one. This was the first time Hasbro cranked out four variations of a figure in a single case, too.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,117: September 24, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,116: Imperial Evo Trooper

IMPERIAL EVO TROOPER The Force Unleashed
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87482
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0809
Includes: Rifle, twin pistols, backpack, display stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: February 2008
Appearances: The Force Unleashed media blitz

Bio: Trained to survive the galaxy's most treacherous weather conditions, EVO Troopers are equipped with enhanced armor that can deal with hazards such as extreme heat, acid rivers, and lightning. Each EVO Trooper's FA-3 fléchette launcher fires shards of metal capable of hitting multiple targets. (From the figure's packaging.)

Image: A tree in a yard, presumably their natural habitat.

Commentary: The entire The Force Unleashed line was originally scheduled for 2007, as they were shown to the public about a year before hitting stores. I've always wondered if, somewhere out there, there's concept art for unproduced coins for figures like this EVO Trooper, which (I guess appropriately) recycles weapons from the original Evolutions action figure set from 2005. Rather than take its guns straight from the game, for some reason it includes twin pistols from the Star Corps trooper and the large weapon from the Sandtrooper. The sculpt is pretty much right on the mark, though, and it's essentially a slightly bulky but still super articulated action figure.

The figure has a removable backpack and some hoses leading to his chest, which makes it look like he's prepared to survive some tough environments. However, the figure's chest console has a flat, white space that looks like a sticker or tampo should be applied there to make it look like there are lights or buttons or something. As it is, it looks like someone made a mistake on the design. Also, there's a very thick layer of what is either dirt or cat urine coating his lower legs almost completely, which is a little much and distracting from the distinctive red stripes painted on the figure's shins. It's rare that I'd consider asking Hasbro for a repaint that drops a paint application, but in this case, I bet it might make for a slightly better looking figure.

Collector's Notes: EVO Troopers first came out on 30th Anniversary packaging with a coin. In August of 2008, you could buy newly packaged Legacy Collection figures with a droid part replacing the stand. His companion, the Jumptrooper, was not brought back into circulation. At this time, the figure is not planned to ship in new assortments.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,116: September 23, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,115: Hondo Karr (Stormtrooper)

HONDO KARR Joker Squad
The Legacy Collection Entertainment Earth Exclusive
Item No.: No. 87923
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, helmet, knife, 5 more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: March 2009
Appearances: Legacy Comic Books

Bio: Hondo Karr was a blond Human male. He was a stormtrooper assigned to Joker Squad. However he later defected to the Galactic Alliance Remnant. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: On a TV tray.

Commentary: Few characters have so much figure potential after so few appearances. Based on the Legacy comics, Hondo Karr first appeared as a stormtrooper, and his squad mates said he might be an ex-Mandalorian. If that wasn't enough, he defects to the Alliance after the events of his first appearance, plus the figure includes both a knife and a mullet. If you don't already like Hondo Karr as a concept, well, what am I supposed to tell you?

The body itself is basically the modified Vintage 2004 sculpt, with a new head and some slight deco modifications like a white holster. The blaster doesn't quite fit into the holster, and there's a lot of debate as to what a Legacy trooper should look like. The artwork is anything but consistent, but it seems that it's basically a mishmash between Clone and Stormtrooper parts, but some artists show them as similar to trilogy-era Stormtroopers. So either it's right, or it's very wrong. Hasbro did what made the most sense for their budgets, and the figure works as a "future" or "modern" Stormtrooper. The best thing about this guy, if you ask me, was an unintentional feature you can only see when you try to put his helmet on. This figure has a mullet, and it hangs out the back of his headgear. I think that's pretty fantastic, because it's just so sloppy and out of character with the generally less hairy line. Typically, you don't have chunks of the character spilling out of the costume, but here you go.

And yeah, he does look a fair amount like Luke, doesn't he? At the smaller size, one really needs to exaggerate features, because White Blonde Dude is pretty much always going to kinda sorta look like Luke unless significant changes are made. The spiky hair seen in the comic didn't make the transition to the action figure, largely because it probably wouldn't fit under the helmet. Ah well.

Collector's Notes: This figure comes with 5 others in the Joker Squad set, which is currently exclusive to Entertainment Earth. The story of the squad appears in Legacy #4.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,115: September 22, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,114: WED Treadwell Droid

WED TREADWELL DROID & Jawa
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

Image: On a TV tray.

Bio: The Jawas come to the Lars homestead to offer droids for sale. One of the droids they show Owen Lars is a WED Treadwell droid, a common utility droid with multiple manipulator arms and goggle-like photoreceptors on a telescoping neck. (Taken from the figure's cardback. I wonder if they meant this other configuration.)

Commentary: While Galoob made a micro figure of the WED Treadwell Droid in the 1990s, this multi-armed automaton was basically ignored in larger scales until earlier this year, when Hasbro packed it with yet another Jawa. This one has multiple articulated arms and a swivel base, making it a pretty solid release given that it comes with a fairly well-designed Jawa too. The deco is pretty true to the movie-- it's simple, mostly off-white, with an orange stripe and some silver. It almost looks too nice for a piece of junk some short chirping aliens picked up out of the desert, but hey, it's a toy. It's a whole mess of moving parts, so it seems like a terrible toy but a great collectible figure. It's not a ton of fun to play with, but if you already own a Sandcrawler, a dozen Jawas, and a few moisture vaporators, you should probably consider this the must-buy figure of 2009. Or whatever year it is when you stumbled on this.

Collector's Notes: It's a pretty distinctive figure and well worth picking up simply because it's the first time it's ever been made. A new version may be made some day, but for now, this is it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,114: September 21, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,113: Commander Ponds

COMMANDER PONDS Clone Trooper
The Clone Wars Toys "R" Us Exclusive
Item No.: No. 93489
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Rifle, twin pistols, removable helmet
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: August 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars TV Show

Image: On a Turbo Tank.

Bio: Clone Commander Ponds battles to liberate the Separatist-occupied world of Ryloth. The commander and Jedi Mace Windu lead clone troopers in a fight to clear a way through battle droids to capture Lessu, the planet's capital city. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: The most impressive thing about Commander Ponds is that it proves my ongoing ranting about just how important paint is to an action figure. To look at it, you might not know that the figure's entire construction is essentially Captain Rex minus the pauldron, and with a new helmet. The short blonde hair was just left unpainted, so now he looks nearly bald. How about that? It's a crying shame they didn't do the same thing for Target's Commander Fox in 2008, which has a very awkward looking long neck as a sort of failed experiment to put Obi-Wan's helmet head on the Rex body. But I digress.

Ponds is a good replica of the character from the show. The patterns and coloring are fairly accurate, which is great for a figure which wasn't exactly named on-screen. He has no problems using his weapons, as to be expected since it's based on a good, existing figure, plus the helmet isn't too snug or too loose. If you want it sitting higher or lower, it'll hold in place quite nicely. It also has the little notch in the chin, which was introduced with the first figures in 2009 and will probably be added to any new clones from here on out. So hey, all those troopers you bought last year? They're all a little off model and now you can re-buy them all. How about that?

The figure has standard TCW Clone articulation, which is 14 joints plus those extra wrist joints which allow for better weapon-handling and hand-signaling. The kama gets in the way of the figure sitting, as usual, so just be aware of that. Overall I really like this one, it's pretty colorful and it doesn't look like anything else in the cartoon clone pile yet.

Collector's Notes: This figure was announced during Comic-Con 2009 as a late September/early October gift-with-purchase promotional release. In reality, it hit the first week of August for $9.99. Also, and I may be mistaken, I believe this is the first-ever Hasbro Star Wars product to sport the new silver "R Exclusive" sticker rather than the brightly colored one used in some variation or another for the past several years.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,113: September 18, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,112: Yarael Poof

YARAEL POOF Jedi Master
The Saga Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 87355
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #069
Includes: Lightsaber, display stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: January 2007
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Image: My floor.

Bio: Jedi Master Yarael Poof is skilled with the use of a lightsaber, but his preferred means of combat is mind tricks, which he uses with incredible proficiency to confuse his opponent. He is present on that fateful day when Qui Gonn-Jin brings young Anakin Skywalker before the Council for training. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: The pin-headed Yarael Poof was killed off in a comic before Attack of the Clones came out, and his figure didn't first hit until 2003.

This is the second of (so far) two releases. The first one has a seat and no lightsaber. This one has a lightsaber and a stand. They're pretty much identical, or are close enough where I've made a decision not to review both the 2002 Saga Scenes version and the 2007 The Saga Collection releases.

As articulation goes, this figure has a fairly odd setup which prevents it from standing on its own. Dig this: the hips are one piece, like the 1990s Jawas or a Playmobil figure-- so you can't have one leg sit and the others not, they both move together. He has knee joints, so he can basically look awkward or be posed better while sitting. He also has swivel wrists and swivel biceps, so this is a figure engineered from the get-go to be a figure that sits. Actually, his first release was packaged sitting down, and it seems like Hasbro didn't ever really plan on anyone trying to get him to stand up. That's why I'm pretty happy that this release (the second one) has a display stand. Oh, and the lightsaber? A clever reuse of the McQuarrie Concept Stormtrooper's weapon, which is why it looks unlike any other lightsaber from any other Jedi figure.

The figure is, overall, pretty good. 2002 and 2003 sculpting tends to hold up well for the most part, short of fixing some articulation and gravity woes the figure is about as good as it can get. There are lots of wrinkles and folds, and the deco is really something. But if you only get one, make sure a stand or seat is included. Otherwise this figure is basically worthless and will fall over.

Collector's Notes: This figure is a semi-repack of a previously released Yarael Poof.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,112: September 17, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,111: Baron Fel

BARON FEL with Derek "Hobbie" Klivian
30th Anniversary Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87529
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 12
Includes: Blaster, chest console, chest armor, helmet, Hobbie Klivian
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 2007
Appearances: Comics

Image: My floor.

Bio: Rogue Squadron is sent to Brentaal IV, an important trading planet held by Imperial forces. The elite squadron's mission is to take control of the planet, but to do that they will have to defeat Baron Fel's formidable 181st Imperial Squadron - no easy task even for "Hobbie" Klivian and the other ace pilots in Rogue Squadron. Unknown to them, they are being used by bickering Imperial forces in a devious plot to consolidate their power. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: One of the more popular characters among fans of Star Wars fiction is Baron Fel, one of few TIE fighter pilots to get a name and any sort of fame. The character defected to the Republic/Rebellion/whatever after Return of the Jedi, and ultimately, eventually, went back and his descendants became the new rulers of a new Empire. But that's way off.

This figure is based loosely on one of the characters' first appearances, which is why he looks a little wonky. This isn't a standard TIE Fighter Pilot outfit, nor is it a Rebel Pilot outfit. (So for those keeping track, there are two new versions of Fel Hasbro can crank out without too much work.) The figure is missing his trademark facial hair, and his proportions were very strange for a 2007 figure. He was a little chunkier and bulkier than he needed to be, but at least he exists, right? A working holster is a nice touch, but this figure basically went straight into the storage boxes after I got it because I just don't like the costume. If Hasbro just popped a new head on an existing body, I'd be thrilled-- hopefully now that we have the perfect TIE pilot body, we can get one some day down the road.

Excepting his ankles, this figure is quite close to being super articulated with a grand total of 12 joints. Not bad, considering you got two figures for $10 with a comic book when you bought this at its issue price.

Collector's Notes: None of this figure has been reused to make another figure yet, and it has never been reissued. But don't worry, you can buy the packaged set on eBay for about $11 shipped, which is less than it would cost you reissued.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,111: September 16, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,110: Endor Rebel Trooper

ENDOR REBEL SOLDIER Return of the Jedi
Saga Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84802
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0233
Includes: Helmet, backpack, blaster, blast effect
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: April 2002
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Image: My desk.

Bio: When Han Solo, Leia Organa and Luke Skywalker land on the forest moon of Endor to destroy the shield generator protecting the Death Star II, they are accompanied by a squadron of commandos. Loyal and courageous, these soldiers are inteprid fighters for the cause of the Rebellion. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: A few years ago, Hasbro was really crazy about the idea of making a figure and selling it twice-- changing the head makes it new! Lately they've come out saying this was going to be less and less common, and while we're still seeing it, this Endor Rebel Soldier was one of the first times Hasbro actually got the variant to market. (The Power of the Jedi head sculpt variants wouldn't hit until 2003.) This beardless trooper is based on a Hasbro employee-- but who? I still haven't got an answer, although I've had a hunch as to who it might be for a while. (He denies it.)

The figure shares the same body as the bearded version, right down to the sculpted jacket hanging over the body which obstructs shoulder movement. The swivel elbows were fairly useful, as were the jointed wrists, but ultimately this figure is more of a statue than a toy. With the two-handed rifle, there's really not much he can do other than be posed aiming his rifle, which is good for army builders but if all you want is one really awesome Endor Rebel Soldier, well, Hasbro still hasn't quite perfected it yet. Maybe we'll see something in 2011.

Collector's Notes: Despite not being great, Hasbro used this body to make various figures. At least 4 Endor Rebels (including this one) share the same upper body, as does the Battlefront Rebel Vanguard Trooper. This figure has not yet been repackaged.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,110: September 15, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,109: Maris Brood

MARIS BROOD The Force Unleashed
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87485
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0811
Includes: Stand, twin tonfa lightsabers
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: February 2008
Appearances: The Force Unleashed game/book/comic

Image: My yard, again.

Bio: Maris Brood is a Padawan who escaped Order 66 and has been in hiding with Jedi Master Shaak Ti on Felucia. When she is violently separated from her Master, her impetuous and angry nature leaves her vulnerable to the influence of the dark side.(Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: She's not a Sith... right? The fine line between good and bad was blurred in The Force Unleashed throughout the entire story, and this evil looking chick was the apprentice of Shaak Ti, who apparently did not actually die in either of the two filmed (but deleted) deaths in Revenge of the Sith but rather fought to make it to Felucia. Where Darth Vader's apprentice did the job. Anyway, Maris was with her and was being trained as a tool of vengeance against Darth Vader, which brings us to how she looks now. Apparently while in the wilds of the jungle, your pants hold up nicely but get tighter while your top shrinks to a glorified ace bandage. Bless the perils of war.

Hasbro Star Wars women with super-articulated arms are all over the place, thankfully this one's arms don't look too manly, despite being as thick as or maybe even thicker than her legs. It's important to have that kind of motion, because tonfa lightsabers look dorky if you can't get decent arm motion out of your toys. She has a waist joint at the bottom of her top, which is a good place to put it in order to avoid disrupting the look of the figure. Always use the seams! She has red fingernails, multiple belts, "dark side" eyes, and just a smidge of lipstick, which really helps identify a character as female at this small size. While she has no knee joints, she does have ankles which help to pose her on a display stand or shelf. Oh, and she can sit without real problems. In short, it's a pretty great figure. If you're a fan of the game, put this toy on your wish list.

Collector's Notes: A one-timer (so far), this figure could make a return appearance in the next year given the game is being reissued and the rumor mill indicates some boxed sets based on the video game are in the works. As Hasbro is fond of recycling existing figures, it wouldn't stun me to see her again. Also, the prototype of this figure shown at 2007 Toy Fair in New York had green lightsabers. Obviously, only red were released. Variant hunters, take note: there's a very minor skin tone change, one looks greyer than the other. The is the less-grey version.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,109: September 14, 2009
Happy 30th Birthday, Me!

Figure of the Day: Day 1,108: R2-D2 with Datalink Accessories

R2-D2 with Datalink Accessories
Power of the Force Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 69570 No. 69831
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Freeze Frame slide, claw arm, saw arm
Action Feature: Pop-up sensorscope, plug-in arms, retractable data arm
Retail: $5.99
Availability: Summer 1998
Appearances: Star Wars

Image: Standing in front of one of my oldest friends' "save the date" postcard. He got married over the past weekend. Happy marital relations, Michael!

Bio: Inside the Imperial Death Star, R2-D2 uses one of his many mechanical assets to rescue his Rebel companions from certain death within a rapidly closing trash compactor. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: In 1998, Kenner decided it was time to start a trend which is now extremely common and expected: "improvements." This R2-D2 was only the second version of the figure released at the time, which is pretty stunning if you think about that between 1995 and 1998, we only got two. Nowadays, we get at least one new version every year between the basic carded assortments and the various battle packs. The action features introduced here were pretty awesome at the time, and I'd argue they're still pretty excellent. The most obvious one is the sensorscope-- press a button, and it pops up. It's a big improvement over the 1982 version, which required you to use your fingernail to pry the thing up a fraction of an inch.

The next feature of note is the datalink arm. This built-in appendage would extend as you rotate the figure's dome, allowing the droid to "hack" into Imperial targets. How cool is that? And how come it took 21 years? Ah well. It's a great addition, and one that was reintroduced with the second-ever animated R2-D2 in 2008. The figure also sports a socket in which to plug other accessories, so as long as you didn't lose them you could have R2-D2 saw his way out of a net or grab something with a small claw. Again, these were really clever and simple ideas which gave a figure with no new costume changes a second lease on life/sales. This was before Hasbro realized you could add some white, blue, green, or red to his feet and say "hey kids, it's the Endor one!"

Of course, I haven't even discussed the figure itself. This was interesting because it altered the perception of the droid in a big way by shrinking him down ever so slightly from the 1995 release, which some fans thought was the proper size. Scale has always been an issue in this line, and this figure kicked up additional questions as to just how big the figure should be. It's pretty close. The sculpt itself isn't a huge improvement over the 1995 release, but it is a little more subtle, the proportions are slightly better, and it dropped the third leg since the various internal mechanisms ate up the space needed for such an appendage. (This was before Hasbro decided you could just make it removable.) Overlal this was a great figure to get in its day, and fans were mostly excited to get a new and improved version of Artoo. Of course, nobody knew that new revisions would be an annual thing, if not more frequent, as pop-up lightsaber, Holographic Leia, and booster rocket versions of R2-D2 would all be released within a year following this figure's release.

Collector's Notes: This figure's mold was never reused to create other droids, nor was it reissued. But not to worry, there's like 25 other R2-D2s, most of which are based on the "vintage" 2004 mold. The "vintage" version is arguably the best new interpretation of the gizmos and accessories introduced on this nifty, but now outdated, release.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,108: September 11, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,107: Obi-Wan Kenobi (Jedi Starfighter Pilot, Attack of the Clones)

OBI-WAN KENOBI Jedi Starfighter Pilot
Saga Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84851 No. 84860
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0236
Includes: Lightsaber, cloak, binoculars, dish, dish stand
Action Feature: Dish plugs into Jedi starfighter, lightsaber-slashing attack
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Fall 2002
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: Obi-Wan Kenobi is sent to Kamino by the Jedi Council to discover who is behind an assassination attempt. Piloting the Jedi Starfighter, Obi-Wan discovers an industrial facility in which a stunning cultivation is underway - one that may decide the fate of the encroaching civil war. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: Looking back on some figures in this column brings both feelings of delight and frustration. This Obi-Wan Kenobi figure in particular does both, showing us just how much more stuff Hasbro gave us with a figure at a lower price just a few short years ago. The figure itself will likely not impress you by current standards, The sculpt is pretty good, and the likeness was one of the better ones in 2002. The figure's look turned out pretty nicely, and this was despite having a seemingly completely unnecessary action feature. If you pressed a button on the back of his belt, he'd slash his lightsaber with both hands. He also had a magnet for holding the weapon, which I really liked, but I'm a sucker for magnet-based play features. Were it not for the headgear communications equipment, this would probably have been one of the better-overall Obi-Wan figures to come out of the second prequel. The non-removable gear may be an eyesore, but Hasbro found a way around that with a head swap a few years later.

As far as accessories and toy synergy goes, this figure impresses. Not only does it include a cloth cloak, but it sports a radar dish which plugs into a hole on the Jedi Starfighter released months earlier. There's also a stand for the dish if you don't have the ship, and a really tiny pair of binoculars. Like, it's so small, you'll probably lose it and forget you had it in the first place. Obi-Wan can't exactly look through them due to his limited articulation, but at least he has no problem swinging his lightsaber. The most interesting extra in this set was, to me, that dish. In 2002 Hasbro spent a lot of time designing its toys to connect to other toys-- playsets connected to deluxe figures, and figure accessories plugged into ships. It was a good idea. Despite having released multiple Jedi Starfighters over the years, this was the only instance of the radar dish seeing release. So you can't exactly easily deck out your armada with the accessory if you wanted to, but absolutely no fans seemed to care about this fact. It's interesting to see what does and doesn't set us off as a group, as we were crazy about Republic Gunship gun pods, but the dish? Total indifference. (I thought it was cool.)

Collector's Notes: This figure was essentially a one-timer, it was repackaged as a Kay-Bee exclusive with the Jedi Starfighter shortly after its release with no changes. In 2005, the body was recycled with a new head to make a less piloty Obi-Wan in the Jedi vs. Separatists Battle Pack.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,107: September 10, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,106: Ak-Rev

AK-REV with drum
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 87677
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD05
Includes: Drum half, drum stick
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: July 2008
Appearances: Return of the Jedi: Special Edition

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: Ak-Rev is one of the drummers in the band that provides musical entertainment for Jabba in the Hutt’s palace court. The Weequay’s serious demeanor hides an angry nature; he’s always ready for a fight. Along with fellow drummer Umpass-stay, Ak-rev survives the debacle at the Pit of Carkoon. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: I like to think that Ak-Rev is a sign that fans are really, really gullible. In 2007, Hasbro released Umpass-Stay, a drummer with only one half of the drum. Fans asked Hasbro when the companion would come out, Hasbro remained coy, and fans on the forums actually went along with it. Do you people really think Hasbro would only release half of an accessory and never finish the job or say something like "just buy two?" Geez. Whatever, man.

Hasbro left knees off of this one, but failing that, there are 12 joints here to allow for a number of musical poses. The body itself has a lot of detail on it, but the neck seems a little too prominent and the resulting figure looks a little goofy. It's a very colorful figure with exceedingly bright eyes, but as a background character, you can't go wrong really. Take a look at the shoulder pads, the fringe, and the striped shirt and tell me that this guy wouldn't make a good pirate or, perhaps, a refugee from the Renaissance Faire. Still, Jabba's Palace aliens are few and far between so overall I have to say that this is a pretty good figure. Since it's not from the original cut of the film, nor is it perfect, I'd say that it isn't a must-buy unless you want the entire band and a complete drum. I would rank it as "good enough"-- better than no Ak-Rev, but hardly an impressive release compared to the other figures that shipped with him around the same time.

Collector's Notes: This one seemed to sell OK in some markets and slower in others. By now he's generally worked his way through the system, so you aren't too likely to stumble on him.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,106: September 9, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,105: Luke Skywalker (Dark Empire II)

LUKE SKYWALKER with Clone Emperor
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87745
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #12
Includes: Lightsaber, removable cloak, additional figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $13.99
Availability: January 2009
Appearances: Dark Empire II (comic series)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: Luke Skywalker has discovered the existence of another Jedi, helping him further his goal of reestablishing the Jedi Knights. While he makes plans to go to Ossus to locate important Jedi artifacts, Emperor Palpatine is reborn in the body of another clone, and he makes immediate plans to crush the Alliance and the fledgling Jedi Knight. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: One of the first figures I did for this column was Luke Skywalker from the first Dark Empire series, which I assumed they would never revisit in any form. And here we are! Colored differently and completely resculpted, the now-aging Jedi Master was represented as a much more action-packed figure, which is really out of character for the modern era. The crazy flowing capes and blowing robes were very 2002, so it was surprising to see the style repeated here. The giant cape piece is removable by sliding it over Luke's arms, although the figure looks extremely dull without it. As such, I suggest you leave it on.

This is a figure that really doesn't benefit from its super-articulated frame. What good are 14 points of articulation if a garment prevents the figure from taking advantage of these extra pieces? Hasbro's design for Luke makes a better statue than a toy, which is too bad because cloth robes or perhaps a slightly more understated piece would allow the figure to look good in anything but an action pose. Also, the resulting figure is unusually wide, making it tricky to store in most carry cases. Thankfully it looks good, with a slightly older looking face and lots of rings sculpted around his costume. He certainly looks like someone who could take down an AT-AT with the Force, which is good, because that stuff goes down in the comics.

Collector's Notes: Love Dark Empire? Well, here ya go. This is probably as good as the outfit will look in terms of modern sculpting, but I really do prefer the original release with its stylized lightsaber, blue highlights, and far stranger hair. Oh, and a less insane pose for his robes, that's a plus. Still, it's nice, and you can probably still find it at retail if you look hard enough.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,105: September 8, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,104: HK-47

HK-47 Build-A-Droid
The Legacy Collection Composite Figure
Item No.: Asst. 87535
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: n/a
Availability: July 2009
Appearances: Knights of the Old Republic (Various)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: HK-47 was a Hunter-Killer assassin droid and Jedi hunter constructed by Revan shortly after the beginning of the Jedi Civil War to assassinate those who Revan believed would destabilize the galaxy. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Commentary: While I enjoy poo-pooing some Knights of the Old Republic fans' requests for figures, even I can't deny that some of the designs for the robots and villains are stunning. HK-47 in particular looks both like a modern design or something that would have been at home as an original creation in the vintage Kenner line. Seriously, if this was some random thing that Luke had to fight, I'd believe it. Its red eyes, battle-damage, and panels seem like something out of a bygone, yet decidedly futuristic, era. The figure's parts come split between 6 different figures, actually, technically, 12 total. Each limb, when combined, will give you a super-articulated figure that's pretty fantastic. If you're a fan of the character, this figure should do right by you. Aside from the neck-- which isn't a ball-joint-- it's about as good as you should reasonably expect of a figure of this construction. Oh, but there's no ball joints at the shoulders, just FYI.

My only real beef with the figure is that he doesn't seem to like holding his gun too much. A lot of figures have this problem, but given there were no rubber bands to deform his hands, there's less of an excuse. It should just work, and unfortunately, it didn't for me. But hey, those that want this figure should still try and track it down.

Collector's Notes: You can't really use the RA7 limbs with it, because HK-47's are longer, but I suppose you could make a lopsided pile of junk if you wanted. This wave is a little difficult to find currently, so who knows what the future holds for this very popular game character. A silver repaint is, of course, on the way shortly.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,104: September 7, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,103: Plo Koon

PLO KOON Wal-Mart Exclusive Droid Factory Packs
30th Anniversary Collection Droid Factory
Item No.: Asst. 12980 No. 87759
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #1 of 6
Includes: Lightsaber, R4-F5 figure, C-3PX leg
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: n/a
Availability: June 2008
Appearances: Various, Prequel Trilogy

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: Jedi Master Plo Koon flies his Jedi starfighter into battle against Separatist forces, aided by is astromech droid R4-F5. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Commentary: This is a repaint of the 2005 Plo Koon, but it looks a little softer and slightly more alive than the original release. Also issued on a Saga Legends cardback, this particular Plo Koon is pretty sharp. The articulation won't likely impress, but it's pretty good. The leg joints are surprisingly awkward given when it came out, as the knee and boot articulation varies on each leg. Usually you get the same kind of joints on each limb, but not so here-- one rotates at the boot, the other, at the knee. My guess is that someone decided not to do a good job that day. he has cut joint elbows, normal wrists, and a lightsaber. In short, it's a good basic figure, but certainly not an impressive one. Because of the aforementioned weird construction it sort of sticks out like a sore thumb against other prequel Jedi figures, so if you can wait for the next one, go ahead and do that.

Collector's Notes: Once a very cheap $10, you can probably now get this for less than that, particularly as part of a lot on eBay. A super-articulated Plo Koon is coming soon, though, so while this is the best one you can get today an even better one is just around the corner if you can wait.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,103: September 4, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,102: C-3PX

C-3PX Wal-Mart Exclusive Droid Factory Packs
30th Anniversary Collection Droid Factory
Item No.: Asst. 12980 No. n/a
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: n/a
Availability: June 2008
Appearances: Droids Comic Book

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: C-3PX started his operational style as a simple 3PX-series protocol droid in one of Cybot Galactica's many factories. Initially built as a protocol unit for Outer Rim usage, C-3PX, as well as the entire 3PX series, faced difficulty selling against Cybot Galactica's more successful 3PO-series protocol droid. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Commentary: One element of the appeal of build-a-droids is that in some respects, they don't quite exist. Sure, I have a C-3PX in my toy box, but you can't go out and specifically buy one-- you have to pick up several other sets to put it together, which in 2008 would have cost you about $60. Several two-packs were released, each with a different piece, and the entire set is really quite good. C-3PX was the only figure in the collection to be made of entirely new parts. He is indeed super-articulated, and even has a ball-jointed head that didn't quite work. The head itself is a little small, and it feels like the round peg puffs it out a bit. Still, it's an awesome release in that it's a non-chrome C-3PO-esque droid (fairly unusual) with red eyes and tons of guns, and numerous faux panels which hang open with these blasters poking out. Truly, it's the most violent version of the least violent character of the original trilogy.

While not perfect-- the head does look funky-- this is as good a C-3PX as you're likely to ever see. The eyes are red, the big "X" is on his face plate, and of course he's heavily armed. Heck, you can give him a gun to hold if you want, but one was not included. As Hasbro's very first build-a-figure in Star Wars, this figure spawned quite a legacy which would go on to include the likes of HK-47, R7-T1, MB-RA7, and many others. Just remember that the parts don't quite fit as well with subsequent droids if you're looking to swap them around.

Collector's Notes: The character has been retconned into the point of ridiculousness (built by Darth Maul?) by the RPG and Scholastic program (both of which are largely ignored), but the figure is still pretty good. If you only know him from Droids #3, all the better. The entire figure on eBay should set you back $15-$20, with each part coming in at about $5. Overall, you're probably best served buying the collection of six two-packs. According to people I talked with inside Kenner in the 1990s, the figure "Attack C-3PO" (solicited in 1996 and never produced) was planned to be C-3PX before being rejected by Lucasfilm.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,102: September 3, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,101: Corran Horn

CORRAN HORN Wal-Mart Exclusive Droid Factory Packs
The Legacy Collection Droid Factory
Item No.: Asst. 91939 No. 14860
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 5 of 5
Includes: Lightsaber, hilt, helmet, droid, Darktrooper torso
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $17.00
Availability: July 2009
Appearances: I, Jedi

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: From the book I, Jedi! Rogue Squadron pilot Corran Horn searches for his wife who has disappeared while on a covert mission to track down pirates. The Force-sensitive Horn is accompanied on his quest by his astromech droid R2 Whistler, who has programs useful in detective work, escape and evasion. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Commentary: I've never seen fans sour on a toy series quite so quickly as the 2009 Droid Factory packs, which were announced as $13 sets but ended up being closer to $17. The reasons for the price increase are unclear, so you might be left wondering if Corran Horn is worth the asking price. Given the $8 retail on basic figures, it doesn't seem incredibly outlandish although it certainly does carry a slight sting, although nobody seemed to gripe when Wal-Mart's Death Star Compactor scenes were released at a price nearly double that of basic figures. But I digress.

Corran Horn is an OK figure on his own merits. He uses the Pilot Luke Vintage body, warts and all, with a new head and redeco helmet. So he's short, and for some reason he has a Darth Vader-esque lightsaber and hilt with a blue blade. On the cover of I, Jedi he seems to have his hair shaved down and a green lightsaber. This figure has longer hair and a blue lightsaber. Another figure from Wizards of the Coast has him in green Jedi garb and a beard with a blue lightsaber. So it's kind of tough to say just how accurate it is since he's had pretty few officially licensed visual reference images created on his behalf. Obviously, it would be nice to see a slightly taller body, but this is what it is. For those of you who just want another pilot, or have a soft spot for the character, Hasbro's figure seems to take elements from a few of these illustrations to make a decent looking toy. I find this figure to be as welcome to my ranks of Rebel pilots as any other, so odds are you'll probably enjoy this one as long as you aren't too picky.

Collector's Notes: This figure seems to hold the distinction of most acceptable by most fans, who have taken a collective dump on this assortment. It does not seem to be the strongest seller so far, but hey, you never can tell.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,101: September 2, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,100: Clone Commander Keller

COMMANDER KELLER Wal-Mart Exclusive Clone Trooper
30th Anniversary Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87557 No. 87559
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, Backpack, cloth poncho, Galactic Marine figure, comic book
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $11.87
Availability: January 2008
Appearances: Dark Horse comics

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: The Clone Wars are over. The Galactic Republic army is defeated, and Order 66 has eliminated most of the Jedi or forced them into hiding. Wild rumors are spreading that the Jedi tried to overthrow the government and cannot be trusted. On the planet Toola in the Outer Rim, Commander Keller is hunting down two fugitive Jedi who survived Order 66. With the help of a Galactic Marine, Keller tracks them through the deep snow as they head toward Ithaqua Station. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: One of very few figures to grab people at the end of the run of Republic was Commander Keller, leader of a squad of cold-assault Clone Troopers. This figure is a real mishmash of others, with the bulk of the figure having been previously used as the various Airborne Clone Troopers. Hasbro added a different belt and some cloth elements, and the end result is one of the best arguments for the constant reuse of molds. The helmet comes off, the rifle is rifletastic, and there's a fair amount of deco under his garments which, most likely, you will never see. As super-articulated figures go, this one won't do much to surprise you, but it is a well-constructed figure. I mean, it can sit thanks to the cloth parts, so that's a step in the right direction.

So far, no other figures have recycled this specific construction. There are several figures that use this body mold and helmet, but as to the cloth bits, they're exclusive to this release. So far. For all I know Hasbro has announced another Clone Trooper repaint collection and this one's in it and black, if you're reading this far enough into the future.

Collector's Notes: This one's long gone, but thanks to the glut of new product you can get this one on eBay at or below the issue price. $13 or so shipped is very doable.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,100: September 1, 2009