Friday, December 31, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,448: Storm Commando

STORM COMMANDO CLONE COMMANDOS
The Legacy Collection Wal-Mart Exclusive Evolutions
Item No.:
Asst. 87874 No. 91518
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blasters
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.96-$24.96
Availability: August 2009
Appearances: Rogue Leader comic books

Bio: Elite commandos conduct fierce battles and covert operations from the earliest days of the Clone Wars to the final days of the Galactic Empire. The lethally effective Alpha (Alpha-17) accompanies Jedi generals on missions and trains clone troopers on Kamino. Fi Skirata (RC-8015) serves as a team medic in Teroch Squad and Omega Squad, easing tensions with his sense of humor. Storm commandos receive special training to fight the Rebel Alliance; also called shadow scouts, they wear dark armor that deflects light and energy. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' place, somewhere.

Commentary: While not necessarily really a clone, the Storm Commando is one of no fewer than four black Scout Trooper repaints on the market today. Courtesy of this one's unique helmet and greaves, it stands out as more than just a simple deco change, his holsters and distinctive helmet help him stand out from the crowd. While still primarily based on the super-popular 2006 Vintage Scout Trooper mold, the figure is just different enough to be interesting plus sports 12 points of articulation.

The unique helmet-- and this is the only release of this helmet I've seen so far-- is the main reason to pick up the figure. It's a very different looking Imperial and if you're only going to get one black Scout Trooper, why not this one? The other three have the same "classic" Scout Trooper helmet, while this one looks a little bit different. It's almost like a concept art variation-- heck, it probably is-- and as such will stand out nicely. The metallic paint on the figure gives it a little more oomph, so get one if you can.

Collector's Notes: The set is essentially worthless-- thanks closeout shelves!-- so you can get this one pretty easily. Since it comes with two other really cool clones, if you aren't all cloned-out yet, you may as well track it down and enjoy it.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,448: December 31, 2010

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,447: Clone Pilot Matchstick

MATCHSTICK Clone Trooper Pilot
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 87638 No. 91276
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW34
Includes: Helmet, blaster pistol, projectile, firing gun
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: August 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Matchstick is a clone pilot in Shadow Squadron who goes on a fatal mission to destroy a Separatist ship. He flies a Y-Wing fighter/bomber toi attack the Malevolence, a huge vessel armed with a deadly ion cannon. His Y-Wing is damaged while passing through a large nebula, a mishap that results in dire consequences for the trooper. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: Hasbro has only done three Clone Pilots in its animated line, but none of them are straight repaints. Sure, they share tooling with other releases, but Matchstick, Odd Ball, and Goji each have distinctly different sculpts in places. Matchstick was the first (and so far only) pilot to sport a removable helmet in the cartoon segment, recycling Rex' head (with unpainted hair) and torso as the new bit. You'll recall that Odd Ball from 2008 has a non-removable helmet for a head, so that's the one big distinction with this release.

The helmet is also unique to this pilot as, so far, no other figure includes a removable pilot's helmet. He has 16 points of articulation, the fancy wrists everybody loves which can pivot and swivel, plus a firing fun which... well, OK, I never use it. But it's there if you like that sort of thing. As a much-needed Y-Wing Bomber pilot or just another trooper for your ranks, it's a decent enough figure and it seems you never can have enough pilots in this line.

Collector's Notes: The figure was somewhat hard to find and seemingly came and went quickly-- like many 2009 Clone Wars figures who aren't the main cast of the show. For whatever reason he's cheap, you should have no problem getting one on eBay or in the recently released Wal-Mart Shadow of Malevolence DVD two-pack with Anakin Skywalker which should be at retail now... unless it sold through. Which it probably hasn't.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,447: December 30, 2010

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,446: Gamorrean Guard 2010

GAMORREAN GUARD Fuzzy Edition
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 97568 No. 21482
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: VC21
Includes: 1983 axe, 1997 axe, force pike, removable helmet
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: October 2010
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Celebrate the legendary Star Wars saga that changed the universe forever! This collection brings to life the incredible story of good versus evil that captured our imagination and took us to a galaxy far, far away. Iconic Star Wars heroes and villains are captured with incredible detail and premium features to commemorate each epic tale in the Star Wars saga. May the Fore be with you! (Taken from the figure's packaging. There is no bio.)

Image: Adam's shelving unit. Yeah, great picture, isn't it?

Commentary: Hasbro pulled out all the stops to make this the finest-ever version of the Gamorrean Guard, adding in articulation, accessories, and moxie (especially moxie) like never before. Without question, Hasbro's ability to sculpt the ideal alien action figure has frequently achieved new heights, and it's really amazing to see what sort of things they got in the plastic. The soft goods fur, though? That they're still not really good at just yet.

If you look at the head of this figure, you'll see all sorts of things I'm sure the sculptors of the 1983 original never considered, let alone dreamed of. There's real depth in his face, with the fangs jutting out and a feeling of a cavernous maw inside those lips. His big snout really feels alive, and there's even some sculpted, extremely subtle drool on his chin-- it's astounding this detail actually made it to the final model. The wrinkles are fantastic, the face is pretty expressive, and the eyes are about as good as we can expect these days. To top it all off, his helmet comes off revealing his ears and a very bald green ham head.

His body is just about as great-- super-articulated, except the shoulders don't really benefit from the ball-joint construction-- they can't swing out well. The elbows, wrists, ankles, and waist all work fine, plus the fact that the knees are nicely hidden by the rolls of fat that make up his legs. The hips are worthless-- the figure's legs can't swing forward at all, which is actually really depressing to see on such an otherwise great figure.

Two things I actively dislike about this figure: there's a date stamp carved into his left thigh (WHY? WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS? PUT IT UNDER THE FUR OR UNDER HIS SHOE!) and the furry part of his clothing does not look good in person. The prototype looked nice, but the final product is too big, too bushy, and frankly, quite distracting. Customizers have taking to shaving it down but people like me are klutzes and if we knew how to make things, we wouldn't collect them.

Thankfully Hasbro gets the accessories perfect. He has two axes, one is modeled after the design packed with the 1983 figure and the other looks like the 1997 figure's weapon. He also includes a pike similar to the ones held by the guards at the front of Jabba's gates, which has not been produced in this scale as of yet. So it's new!

You can ignore the hip articulation, I'm sure you can get past the date stamp, but it's hard to ignore the fluff around his groin. It's overkill, but hopefully we'll see some sort of running change after he's molted.

Collector's Notes: He shipped in decent numbers but doesn't seem to be primed for too many additional shipments. Better get while you can!

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,446: December 29, 2010

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,445: Jawa

JAWAS with Ion Blasters
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 87638 No. 87996
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW08
Includes: Ion Blasters
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: August 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: These Tatooine scavengers hunt for lost or abandoned equipment- machinery, droids, or even starfighters that appear unoccupied. Jawas look almost identical to outsiders, but among each others, they can easily identify differences in lineage, health, and other details. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's TV tray.

Commentary: Hasbro has made very few figure two-packs as of late, and this Jawas set may be one of the few "basic figure" sets in the regular animated assortment that we'll ever see. The pictured figure is the "short Jawa," notable in that his smaller blaster is holstered on his right hip and that he has a different hood design which sets him apart from his partner. When the chirping aliens appeared in The Clone Wars a bunch of fans giggled and thought about how much fun it would be if they were toys-- now that we have them, it isn't obvious what we should do with them as their role in the show was pretty limited. I guess they can go fan off Jabba or something.

With 10 points of articulation, this little guy is actually pretty good and along with his partner, this set is easily worth your allowance. It's a shame their role in the TV show is so minor, because their tattered robes with a redesigned, raised garment that doesn't drag on the ground gives these guys a distinctive look from their live-action counterparts. The figure has no problems standing or holding his weapons, but his unique design has no hips so he cannot under any circumstances sit. Well, maybe if you literally cut him in half and stuck him back together again, but nobody wants you to do that. It's a quality product and one well worth picking up if you have the means.

Collector's Notes: While most minor characters from the late 2009-early 2010 Clone Wars line became something of a hot prospect, this set stuck at about $6 on the secondary market-- meaning you can actually afford one if you'd like it. You could do worse! There are no known plans for a reissue, either.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,445: December 28, 2010

Monday, December 27, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,444: R2-B1

R2-B1 Astromech Droid
Episode I Collection 2 Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 84128 No. 84105
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Droid Harness, CommTech Chip Stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Early 2000
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: A blue astromech droid sporting yellow trim, R2-B1 is one of a fleet of mechanics on the Naboo Royal Starship. It risked its circuits to perform repairs while under heavy incoming fire. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: The 2007 remake of this 2000 R2-B1 was meant to correct the fact that it did not really fit in with the style of the other droids. Both versions are a little off for different reasons. This 2000 release was an odd duck because it had a chrome dome (which was largely phased out by 1999) an only 2 legs rather than all 3. In many ways this figure was another evolutionary step in making the perfect Astromech droid toy, but the 1999 Royal Starship pack-in R2-R9 was significantly better in many ways. The main thing this figure had going for it was a cool blue dot in the middle of its holo projector and, let's be frank, striking coloring. Just look at it. Since it only moves at the head and legs, there's not much here-- the sculpt is on par for its time and the size isn't too out of whack for what was considered normal during the final days of the CommTech era. There's nothing I would call terribly wrong about the figure, but it really was a step backward given what we got in other droid figures just a year earlier. Since it looked cool and was hard to find, it sold well and was probably worth considering a success. Of course, we as a group have short attention spans and the 2007 version is loaded with articulation and was easy to get. As such, the original fell out of favor, and odds are the only people who are really interested in it remember what it was like when it first came out-- exciting, new, and blue.

Collector's Notes: This figure was never reissued, but the mold was used to make R2-D2 for an exclusive Toys "R" Us X-wing Fighter a couple of years later. At one time this figure (and its companion in the assortment, TC-14) were expensive and desirable. Today, arguably, they are neither. It costs around $10, which is more than most figures from Episode I in 1999-2000, but adjusted for inflation it's really not all that impressive.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,444: December 27, 2010

Friday, December 24, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,443: Han Solo (Stormtrooper)

HAN SOLO Death Star Escape
Power of the Force Toys "R" Us Exclusive Cinema Scenes
Item No.:
No. 69737
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Stand, blaster, two more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: Summer 1997
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: The Rebel Alliance has infiltrated the Galactic Empire's most powerful battle station, the Death Star! posing as stormtroopers escorting a prisoner, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Chewbacca attempt a daring rescue of the captive Princess Leia. Can they escape the dreaded Death Star, or is the Rebellion about to suffer the loss of its newest heroes? (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: Back in 1995, fans heard that Hasbro planned on doing a figure and when the run was done, it would probably be gone forever. How naive we were! The once-valuable Han Solo in Stormtrooper Disguise started life as a mail-in figure for Froot Loops cereal, and this 1997 retail release was actually a reposed figure with a very different pose and an arguably improved head sculpt. Well, the sculpt is pretty much the same, but the kind of plastic was different and that really did improve its overall look. The figure (with his helmet on) matches the other Stormtroopers of the time, but no other figure had his unique pose.

With six points of articulation this figure is nothing to write home about, but in his day the set was actually quite popular-- after all, it was one of the first (if not the very first) retailer-exclusive 3 3/4-inch action figure to hit stores. (Mail-in figures and club exclusives would have hit by this point.) People were excited, and they paid a slight premium for this set too. Even if you weren't thrilled about yet another version of the character in this outfit, you could leave the helmet on and have another Stormtrooper. Oh, to be young again.

Collector's Notes: This was the second and final "POTF2"-style Han Solo Stormtrooper, but it wouldn't be the last version of the figure in this disguise-- we'd see another one as a Wal-Mart exclusive around late 2002, and we'd also see one in a comic pack as that line kicked off. The first-ever individually carded Han Solo Stormtrooper wouldn't be produced by Hasbro until 2009, 32 years after the figure's first appearance in the movies.

Like most figures from the late 1990s, this set is worthless. Odds are your local comic book shop will sell you one for $10 or less, and eBay sellers are currently getting about $2.50 when someone is actually willing to bid. That is not a typo-- this set is worth about three bucks.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,443: December 24, 2010

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,442: Darth Maul

DARTH MAUL Sith Speeder/Saga Legends
Episode I Vehicle Pack-In
Item No.:
Asst. 84135 No. 84141
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, Sith Speeder, launching probes
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $11.99
Availability: May 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Darth Maul is pure manifestation of the dark side of the Force. Ordered by Darth Sidious to destroy the Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, Maul uses his personal repulsorlift vehicle-the Sith speeder-to carry out his sinister mission. The speeder supports a deployment system capable of launching a seeker droid known as a Sith probe droid. This droid maintains ultra receptive sensor arrays capable of tracking down practically anything. Swift and focused, Darth Maul speeds over the desert sands of Tatooine in search of his Jedi prey; meanwhile, the welfare of the galaxy hangs in the balance. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: In 1999 Hasbro wisely made a special Darth Maul action figure as a pack-in to its small Sith Speeder vehicle... which, sadly, would be the only vehicle Maul would get for several years. (The Sith Infiltrator wouldn't make the rounds until 2007. Coincidentally, the figure was reissued along with the new ship.) This particular action figure was easily the best toy Darth Maul you could buy in 1999 and I daresay the best toy Maul you can buy, period. He can stand, sit, and assume a number of action poses courtesy of his jointed knees (still an unusual feature in 1999), plus he has one swivel wrist and one swivel elbow. While other figures had more arm articulation, this figure's cloth garments and added leg articulation gave him more personality and play opportunities than the Maul figures which would come before him or since. There's a reason Hasbro keeps repackaging this 1999 Darth Maul figure-- it's pretty good.

This is clearly a transitional figure, in that period of time when Hasbro was actually quite concerned with vehicle interaction, but before effectively strangling the non-exclusive vehicle market around 2000. With The Phantom Menace, Hasbro developed exclusive figures frequently as pack-ins to its vehicles to ensure a kid would actually have a figure to put in the driver's seat, and, generally speaking, that the figure would fit.

As integration goes, this figure may have done the best job of really working as a toy. The figure could sit in the driver's seat, plus he could store his lightsaber in the steering column. The sculpt was good, but now that it's 11 years old we've seen Hasbro do better. As Hasbro upgrades the Sith Lord, this remains the figure to beat as play features go. The last completely new movie Darth Maul sculpt was developed in 2005 so I have to assume another one is in the works, but at press time I've seen no evidence that one is planned for the vintage line just yet. (Although I do expect to see one.)

Collector's Notes: This exact figure has seen a few resurrections, most notably the 2007 Saga Legends line in which it had slightly different face paint. Neither one is genuinely better, so we'd err toward getting the one with the vehicle. The figure WITH the speeder was included in the 2009 Tatooine Desert Ambush Battle Pack, which you can probably find at a fine closeout store near you.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,442: December 23, 2010

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,441: Omega Squad Commando (Boss Repaint)

OMEGA SQUAD COMMANDER Elite Forces of the Republic
30th Anniversary Collection Entertainment Earth Exclusive Mandalorians & Omega Squad Set
Item No.:
Asst. 87467 No. 87455
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Backpack, rifle, 6 more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: November 2007
Appearances: Republic Commando novels

Bio: This elite clone commando squad wears black armor, unlike most other commando squads. They are originally from different squads whose ranks were ravaged during the Battle of Geonosis. Those who survived were combined to form the Omega Squad. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' apartment complex parking lot. If you people gave me some money for this column I could afford a house by now.

Commentary: The members of Omega Squad were requested by fans and here they are, as repaints of Delta Squad. This particular figure is a repaint of Boss, as he lacks the backpack gear or any other special add-ons on his person. The figure has 10 points of articulation with swivel wrists and ball-jointed elbows, making him a good-- but not perfect-- figure. I saw no shortage of complaints when it came to the articulation of Clone Commando Scorch and all his descendants, although I have a hard time truly faulting them as, generally speaking, they're pretty good. They look good, and sure, Hasbro COULD have done a better job-- they certainly would have got a good return on the mold with all the repaints plus the popularity of the characters. But it is what it is-- the token black repaint, which most toy fans know is an inevitable strong seller. This set did fairly well, selling out in a reasonable amount of time thanks in part to it being a giant pile of awesome. Each 7-figure set had 3 Mandalorians and 4 Clones, which was a hard deal to turn down.

Of the entire set, this figure is the least ornate-- all the other commando figures have more gear-- but he's still pretty nice. He also does have a quartet of silver dots on his breastplate, just like the Communications figure in the set. The rest of the black Omega Squad figures are unpainted as dots go, but sport the bodysuit paint and the helmet deco.

Collector's Notes: So far these figures are exclusive to this gift set. The set itself has retained much of its value, actually climbing slightly-- so if you see a deal on it, grab it. It's possible Hasbro will some day revisit these characters as they would be easy sellers, but it's getting increasingly difficult to pinpoint who Hasbro is going to make and why in their movie line.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,441: December 22, 2010

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,440: Cantina Band 2007

FIGRIN D'AN AND THE MODAL NODES Commemorative Tin Collection
30th Anniversary Collection Wal-Mart Exclusive
Item No.:
No. 87229
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 5 instruments, 4 identical figures, tin
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $29.99
Availability: November 2007
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: During the Clone Wars, the Bith Jazz sensation was at its highest, and Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes rode that wave all the way to the top. Popular even with the clone troopers of the Republic, the Modal Nodes toured constantly. After the war's end, Imperial policies and mismanagement cast the Modal Nodes on hard times. It fell to band leader Figrin D'an to keep the group together, booking gigs at any backwater cantina that would pay their fee. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: The Cantina Band (made up of Figrin D'an, Doikk Na'ts, and depending on who you ask several others) is tricky because all the members look the same and you'd basically need a freeze-frame and a pointer to identify all the different dudes hanging out in the Cantina who may or may not be a part of the group. Since there are only five instruments, it seems Hasbro considers there to be only five members of the band-- so in this set, you get five figures, and the value isn't really there. Since they're sculpts from 1997 Hasbro did have to do some work to dress them up a bit-- quite literally, as each has an added garment. A cloth vest has been added to each band member, but there's no getting around some of the flaws of that era. Specifically, none of the figures can stand unassisted unless you kick a foot ahead and angle it slightly, so only one foot can be flat against the ground. Sadly this was a common issue in the early days of the modern line, although ultimately you could find a way to position each figure to stand. Clearly, this was not a priority for Hasbro (then Kenner) until a few years later.

The sculpt holds up fairly well, thanks mostly to the paint added to the figures. There's a lot of detail and a light wash brings out the various bumps and grooves on the head, while the outfit has been redecorated with another light wash plus the shirt has some added white paint on it. Each figure has 10 points of articulation and is notable for having the first articulated wrists and elbows in Star Wars. Basic figures wouldn't get this sort of articulation until about a year later, but since this figure is a repaint of a then-10-year-old toy... well, it's just sort of old. The set looks better in the box than it does out, although diorama fodder doesn't need to do much other than stand around and look pretty. I also suggest leaving the rubber bands on the hands to keep the instruments in place, they'll decay eventually but at least you'll get a few good years out of them being posed properly. The figures are good, but not great, and clearly a great case for Hasbro to redo a figure for vintage. After all, these figures were one of very few I think all fans would agree were sorely missing from the 1978-1980 line of action figures and really are a hallmark of what made the movie memorable, even if they are clearly lesser characters as sales and the story goes.

As Hasbro made no effort to name the characters in-pack, and they're all essentially the same guy, we're just going to do the one article on them. I'm not sure if we should tally them individually in character count or not (probably) but for the purposes of this column, it's all one figure.

Collector's Notes: The same five figures were also repackaged as "Star Wars Weekends" Disneyworld exclusives shortly thereafter. The figures are identical, but each costs a lot more and includes a really swell light-up display base that plays music. If you have to choose between the two, get the Disney ones as the tin isn't exactly fun.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,440: December 21, 2010

Monday, December 20, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,439: Deliah Blue

DELIAH BLUE and Darth Nihil
The Legacy Collection Entertainment Earth Exclusive Comic Packs
Item No.:
Asst. 87504 No. 91264
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #16
Includes: Blaster, comic, second figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: November 2010
Appearances: Star Wars: Legacy comic books

Bio: A powerful Sith warrior and a savvy ship's mechanic are caught up in the attack on Princess Marasiah Fel. Darth Nihl battles Cade Skywalker, the son of a Jedi that Nihl killed in the Massacre at Ossus. Delilah Blue repairs the Mynock so that its crew, the Jedi and the gravely wounded princess can flee the attacking Sith. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: A Battle Pack's backdrop-- see, those things are good for something.

Commentary: The first-ever Zeltron action figure finally exists! Deliah Blue comes from the far-flung future of Star Wars: Legacy, about 100 years after Palpatine died and pretty much everybody you knew other than R2-D2 is gone. This red-skinned alien girl is the gal pal of the series' hero Cade Skywalker, and this is her first (and likely only) action figure. Easily one of the most colorful toys made as of late, the character does a good job recreating her very tight and revealing costume, offering up one of very few Star Wars action figures to sport cleavage. (Hooray for boobies.) She has more than one outfit, but this one really stands out and was probably the best one for Hasbro to make. After all, what other figures could have purple boots, a bare midriff, and the tightest buns this side of Princess Leia's hair? It's an unusual choice to make as a figure, especially when you consider that this item was developed for the main retail line and only found its way to being an online exclusive after retailers and Hasbro agreed that the comic pack line wasn't a good fit for store shelves.

Deliah's hair is a little less blue than I remember it being in the comic books, but if you can get past that the deco is more or less spot-on. Gold bracelets, purple jewels, red balloons, green clovers-- it doesn't get much better than this! Her sculpt is great, if perhaps a little too sexy for a line of kid's figures, but let's face it-- anyone who cares about this character is probably an adult anyway. As you can see in the picture, there's not too much difficulty in getting her to sit. Ms. Blue has 14 points of articulation, making her a super-articulated release that even has a (more or less) working holster for her blaster. The blaster is worth noting because it sports some green paint at the top which is downright unusual in this toy line.

It's unlikely Hasbro could do a much better version of the character if they even tried, the body is just about perfect and the head, with minor tweaks, would also be perfect-- as it is, it's merely top-notch or excellent. (I know, boo-hoo.) There aren't too many Legacy-era figures, and hopefully strong sales of this set might convince Hasbro to throw out a couple of more in the next several years. Right now, the entire collection stands at about 14. Admittedly, that's a great number of figures, but a couple of more Sith and maybe Jariah Syn would make it even better, wouldn't you say?

Collector's Notes: These sets had two shipments so far-- one shipment in November (which sold through before you could blink), and another in December. They're available through Entertainment Earth or shops that order products through EE Distribution, their wholesale wing, and they're in stock right now. And yes, I work at Entertainment Earth, so standard disclaimers apply. Order below through the "buy this figure" link to support this ongoing project and future exclusives!

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,439: December 20, 2010

Friday, December 17, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,438: Pit Droid

PIT DROID White Crouching Deco
30th Anniversary Collection Saga Legends (also Episode I bonus figure)
Item No.:
Asst. 85770 No. 84190
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Box, extra figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Early 2000/Late 2007
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Pit droids help repair and maintain podracers with zealous efficiency. Small yet incredibly strong, pit droids often dash onto the racetrack before the vehicles have stopped, risking their mechanical lives in their eagerness to get to work. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk, being grabbed by a 10-inch Force Battlers Anakin Skywalker. Which, I might add, is a really neat toy.

Commentary: Yet another claim against Hasbro never listening to fan needs, this Pit Droid was a reissue of a fairly scarce and expensive 1999 release from Europe and Asia. Over there, the Episode I line had bonus Battle Droid and Pit Droid figures rather than CommTech chips, and for whatever reason Hasbro opted out of releasing the Pit Droids in the USA until 2007. This resulted in very high prices on eBay but, oddly, I stumbled on some of these at Comic-Con for a couple of bucks in a pile of unwanted Gundam kits. Go figure.

The figure itself is good but arguably nothing special. With five points of articulation, this squatting cybernetic mechanic was designed as a pit crew for Pod Racer vehicles, of which there were a grand total of two. He has a ball-jointed head, unusual for the time, plus typical swivel shoulders and hips. He can stand or sit with ease, although his feet are too small for foot pegs. He can stand on his own with little problem, but he's still a snap to knock over. Due to his pose, he can be posed in a variety of useful ways including repairing stuff, lounging, sitting, and so on. This was the first pose Hasbro made for the figures, the later releases had the arms a little more skewed.

Collector's Notes: This figure's 1999 release was expensive and hard to find, but has since dropped. The 2-packs issued in 2007 are pretty close to worthless, so don't overpay for them-- anything over $10 shipped is too much right now.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,438: December 17, 2010

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,437: BG-J38

BG-J38 Arena Battle
The Legacy Collection Build-A-Droid
Item No.:
Asst. 87535 No. n/a
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: n/a
Availability: Summer 2010
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: BG-J38 was used to provide entertainment for the Hutt and soon became one of Tatooine's best gamblers. He was unbeaten in almost every game, but never won a match against his master. After Jabba's death at the pit of Carkoon BG-J38 disappered to unknown parts. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: I had a hard time remembering the name of BG-J38 until I realized that Lucas' camp would be unlikely to name a background character "BJ," despite the giggles we'd all get out of it. I'm also not at all shy saying that this is one of my absolute favorite sequences to see toys from, as Jabba's palace is freaking packed with awesome robots and creatures and armored dudes and hot chicks. As sequences go, the attempt to one-up the cantina was about as good as set pieces get in the entire saga. It's nice Hasbro gave us so many obscure figures from it, but well, "some" is never enough. We want more, dammit! This one certainly fits the bill of giving us more of what we want, although it's a safe bet most fans won't know what he's supposed to be.

At first glance it's just 8D8 with a new head. At second glance, that's still what it is. Sure, the torso's actually different, but it's all about first impressions. BG-J38 isn't a robot you ever get a good look at and I've only seen images of it from the back. As such, if Hasbro fabricated any of the front of the figure, there's no really obvious way to know this. It's pretty screen-accurate by virtue of the fact we have little reference, and the figure has more articulation than it needs to in order to be a good build-a-droid action figure. Articulated knees and elbows are more than this figure likely deserves and there's something more than a little funny about the notion that 8D8, who actually did stuff and was seen, only had 5 points of articulation. Such is the benefit to waiting for the line to continue, new figures being made today are way, way better than they would have been in 2001. Good things really do come to those who wait, and anyone looking to populate Jabba's dungeon should absolutely run out and pick up this figure by any means necessary. It's not mind-blowing, but it's nice and weird, the perfect filler for any diorama involving a Hutt.

Collector's Notes: This figure shipped with the infamous (and long-delayed) Expanded Universe wave of The Legacy Collection which also was yanked from mass market and given to Toys "R" Us and online stores as a shared exclusive... about six months late. This figure is also notable in that Hasbro often tiptoed around confirming it in their own official Q&As to the point where it was obvious they were dodging the question. But we still love you guys. Thanks for the robot!

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,437: December 16, 2010

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,436: Battle Droid

BATTLE DROID Arena Battle
The Legacy Collection Target Exclusive Geonosis Arena Packs 2010
Item No.:
Asst. 97645 No. 97647
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #2 of 6
Includes: Antenna, blaster, Rodian Jedi figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99
Availability: October 2010
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: The Jedi Knights rush to Geonosis to rescue Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Padme from execution. The Jedi brandish their lightsabers against the Geonosian warriors and the massive army of battle droids, super battle droids, and droidekas. All hope seems lost that any Jedi will survive this battle, then Yoda arrives with an army of clone troopers. Although many Jedi are lost that day, others survive this climactic battle that ushers in the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: The Battle Droid has quite the history at Hasbro, as the figures range from really good to almost perfect most of the time. It's very rare for Hasbro to make a bad one, but we often see ones that are just a hair shy of being great. In 2009, the same basic mold as this figure was introduced but one version had giant eyes painted on, while the other had no eyes. Between the two, it averages out to substandard and we all hoped for a cheap repaint-- which we eventually got in 2010 Saga Legends. Now this specific figure is a bizarre hybrid of the aforementioned two releases, as it has the deco of a standard red Battle Droid, but it has the antenna rather than the backpack. Weird! Also neat.

The figure itself is, unquestionably, Hasbro's best and most error-free execution of the form. He can fold up, he's loaded with detail and articulation, plus the plastic isn't weak and awful (so far, anyway) making this the go-to figure of the year. Nice! It's a nice, just-different-enough figure to add to your collection and to be honest I can't complain about this one too much. I'm just so happy the eye size is right this time, the fact that it can fold up into a little ball is the icing in the cake. My guess is that this is going to be as good as this mold gets, so strap yourself in for repaints and you're going to love every last one of them. Pick this set up if you've got a few bucks and happen to see one in the wild.

Collector's Notes: New, but surprisingly popular-- this figure seems to be selling extremely well. It's probably thanks to the unnamed Rodian Jedi, but it is a swell Battle Droid. Get while the getting is good, or clearance-y.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,436: December 15, 2010

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,435: Queen Amidala

QUEEN AMIDALA Yet Another Gown
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 87535 No. 92884
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD08
Includes: Blaster, droid part
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: Septmeber 2009
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: The queen returns to Naboo to free the planet from the clutches of the ruthless Trade Federation. Amidala hopes to enlist the aid of the native Gungans to fight the Federation and its large battle droid army. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: The Queen Amidala wardrobe was extensive-- Padme had so many costumes from the first prequel that we're still getting figures ten years later. Hasbro seemed to have nailed how many they should make to ensure sales, and this figure did just fine in most markets. Essentially a statue with super-poseable arms, this purple costume appeared on the big screen and apparently struck enough of a chord for Hasbro to give us a toy of it. And here it is. Aren't you thrilled?

There aren't a ton of figures from Episode I that fans were itching for, but there always seems to be a steady, non-specific stream of requests for more action figures of Natalie Portman in increasingly ornate gowns. They don't have a lot of play, but hey, at least they're prettier than another trooper repaint. The figure has deco appropriate to the outfit, with the makeup on the face, the purple hair thing, a brownish gown, and very little leg articulation. This figure is about as much fun in the package as it is out of the package, mostly because all she can do is stand. Her legs may be uneven-- your samples may vary-- and she can gesture with her hands if you're so inclined. The blaster is a nice bonus, but this figure is diorama filler more than anything else. For fans, I think you'll like this. If you buy her just to complete your L8-L9, I think you'll be OK with that too. As a separate unique figure, she's not terrible thrilling. Perfectly well-done but, well, even the most awesome version of this character in this costume can only be so cool.

Collector's Notes: This was not a highly demanded figure, and eBay proves this-- she goes for about four bucks before shipping. That's a level of indifference you don't see much for a reasonably new, short-run release. Loose samples, I believe people will pay you to take away. Odd, as it's a quality product just not an exciting one. (Hey, just like most of 2010 vintage! I kid. [Not really, it's been a slow year for movie.])

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,435: December 14, 2010

Monday, December 13, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,434: Clone Trooper (Vintage)

CLONE TROOPER The New Gold Standard
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 97568 No. 20833
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC12
Includes: Helmet, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: August 2010
Appearances: maybe Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Clone troopers were an army of identical, genetically-modified clones, created to serve in the Grand Army of the Republic during the conflict that came to be known as the Clone Wars. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: The Clone Trooper 2010 "vintage" figure is an interesting beast because it makes huge improvements but still isn't quite great. This is one of those irritating issues where Hasbro approaches nailing the perfect Clone Trooper but just falls short. The plain white version of the figure is, for all intents and purposes, meant to be the best sculpt Hasbro has ever done-- to some degree, it is. There are a few shortcomings on deco, though, which is not ideal when dealing with the plainest version of the warrior. The most obvious absence is the black stripe above his visor, which admittedly is a minor detail but when it comes to the "face" it's hard to let this kind of detail go. The fact that the figure has a removable helmet is also annoying, but that's more of a personal preference. (For the generic guys, I find removable helmets overkill. If I don't see their faces in the movies, I don't need to see them in the toys, plus the proportions are a smidgen off.)

The sculpt itself is pretty cool-- it's a mix of the legendary 2005 Clone Trooper and the pretty spiffy 2009 Gelagrub Clone Trooper, combining most of the best parts from both. The figure now has ball jointed hips which on the whole work great, plus the "standard" articulation from a normal 14-joint release. As Clones go, this is pretty darned poseable and certainly worthy of a slight premium price. While pivot wrists would be nice, well, I'm sure we'll see more of those later on a future rerelease. The figure is indeed a significant engineering improvement over the 2005 body, but the deco (and the size of your army) may prevent you from wanting to buy a ton of them. Get at least one, though, or wait for the inevitable repaints.

Collector's Notes: While popular, Hasbro in 2010 seems to have nailed making figures at the right quantity-- you shouldn't have too much problem getting this figure for its retail price now.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,434: December 13, 2010

Friday, December 10, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,433: Clone Trooper (AT-AP Drivers)

CLONE TROOPERS Battle of Christophsis
The Clone Wars Target Exclusive Battle Packs
Item No.:
Asst. 87931 No. 89000
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, other figures/gear
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $62.99-$72.99
Availability: November 2008
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Clone troopers were an army of identical, genetically-modified clones, created to serve in the Grand Army of the Republic during the conflict that came to be known as the Clone Wars. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk. (Both are the same figure from the set-- he only has one shoulder marking.)

Commentary: The Clone Trooper repaint is basically the thing ensuring Hasbro's Star Wars lines remain profitable. Fans buy dozens, and a minor change is effectively a new character. These figures are based on the 2008 pack-in AT-TE Clone Trooper, but with one key difference: that figure had a logo on each shoulder, while these figures (which come two to a set) only have a logo on their left shoulders. The level of grit is a little different than the AT-TE figure plus its blaster is black now, but your average collector probably won't want to make the distinction as "new character." The way I see it, these ones are AT-AP drivers since they came with an AT-AP. (Adam Logic strikes again!)

The figure is effectively only a 2008 Clone Trooper (first dirty release) with a stamped logo on his arm and fewer accessories. As the gee-whiz factor goes, this is a pretty boring repaint because it's a safe bet you've got dozens of different animated clones by now, and if you don't, you won't care about this one. With 14 points of articulation, I still like this set enough to suggest getting it, even if the figures and vehicles inside aren't hugely different at first glance. (Really, you're buying this for a very different AT-AP and a similar-but-totaly-different tank.)

Collector's Notes: This particular variant hasn't had a second release, but the figure is quite similar to the 2008 pack-in with the AT-TE vehicle. The Battle of Chrisophsis set is now worth less than issue price, so try to get it for $50 or less and you'll be happy you did.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,433: December 10, 2010

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,432: Admiral Yularen

ADMIRAL YULAREN Hologram and Holo-Com Table
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 87638 No. 87965
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW07
Includes: Blaster, removable holster, Hologram Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Holo-Com Table
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: August 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: The Republic admiral oversees a large fleet during the Clone Wars, coordinating battle campaigns from the bridge of his flagship, the Resolute. He contacts battle leaders, such as Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi, to keep track of ongoing situations. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: A fun (well, OK he's stuffy) character, Admiral Yularen helps plan stategy in The Clone Wars, spending his time on the bridges of various vessels and telling Anakin that he's being reckless. As such, captain buzzkill here suffered at retail slightly. His accessories and articulation didn't do much to make him exciting, and this release seems to be geared more at collectors. He has 10 points of articulation, with his legs being designed with standing in mind. He has hip joints, and not much else when it comes to his legs. An interesting feature (I assume it's a feature) is that his holster was seemingly designed to be removed, which is great as it's a little bulky and being able to get rid of it streamlines the look of the figure.

He needs a little support to stand, usually, and also sports a giant table. It's a heck of a nice accessory and, unlike more rocket-firing guns, it looks good next to your figures. I wonder if people will be buying this figure more for the table than the Admiral, but hey-- it's all pretty good. The character looks a good deal like his animation model, except the skin tone seems more in line with the realistic figures than the cartoon ones. Or maybe it's just me, this one looks like it could maybe pass for "realistic" if you squint just right. If you want a dude to boss around your clones, Yularen's a good pick.

Collector's Notes: Yularen sat around in some markets, being one of very few figures to be something of a pegwarmer briefly in 2009 and 2010. I doubt we'll see a reissue of this one, although I do expect to see the body reused for other figures some day.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,432: December 9, 2010

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,431: 7th Legion Clone Trooper

CLONE TROOPER 7th Legion Trooper
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 87500 No. 87646
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #3049
Includes: Helmet, blaster, coin
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: November 2007
Appearances: n/a

Bio: Clone troopers are the bulk of the Republic’s military might during the Clone Wars. They’re the perfect soldiers: focused and efficient, even when they are ordered to instantly change from allies to enemies upon receiving a single command. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: Around the time of this Clone Trooper Hasbro seems to have decreed that all movie-based Clones have removable helmets. Personally, I'm over it-- I prefer the non-removable helmet heads since they look better and hold their shape. This particular figure reuses the 2005 Evolutions mold, with a few minor modifications. His belt isn't removable, and he's missing the kama and some of the gear. Despite having dozens of clones at this point, I will say this figure stands out because his body-- not his helmet-- has some great dirty deco. There's a little bit of dirt, some scuffing, and big reddish circles which, so far as I can tell, serve no real purpose. Good on Lucas for keeping the design off the big screen. The figure is super-articulated, and it is one of the better deco jobs that Hasbro did in one of their many trademark repaint waves. Now all waves seem to have repaints in them. Such is life.

Collector's Notes: Only two toy Clones have the 7th Legion markings-- this one, and a 2005 release from a 3-pack of barely-poseable figures. More may come some day, but for now these are your only picks and this release from 2007 is the better of the two. It's worth picking up, and is also basically worthless. Buy a bunch!

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,431: December 8, 2010

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,430: Anakin Skywalker (Space Suit)

ANAKIN SKYWALKER Space Suit
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 87638 No. 91267
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW21
Includes: Lightsaber, Helmet, Rocket, Dummy Rocket, Jetpack
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99-$7.99
Availability: August 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: The Separatists have stolen a Jedi holocron containing the secret names of future Jedi. Anakin contrives a daring maneuver to board the Separatist frigate and retrieve the holocron. Skywalker, Ahsoka and a team of clone troopers drop through space on AT-TE walkers, land on the outside of the frigate and breach the ship! (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: As of today, this is the best cartoon Anakin Skywalker money can buy. Not only does it have a logic-defying fishbowl on top of Anakin's normal outfit, but the articulation and amount of gear is pretty great. Anakin's costume here is nearly identical to that of the previous figure, but has been retooled and redecorated, improving it a great deal. This version is super articulated with 14 points, and has a thinner sculpt plus a pivoting waist joint. His outfit even has a place to plug in a lightsaber hilt, despite the figure not including one. The arms seem to be recycled from 2008, but other than that? New. New head, new torso, new arms, and the coloring better matches his on-screen animation model. (Note one black glove and one brown one.) It's not a perfect translation of the cartoon design-- the toy is a little bulkier, which looks better-- and it's the closest one you can get now.

The "space suit" is the epitome of lazy. Lucas animation put a fish bowl on their regular design and called it a day. Ahsoka got a new costume. Obi-Wan got a new costume. Anakin? Fish bowl. I love all three figures in their retro space gear, but Anakin's is special-- it has more in common with the more ridiculous Kenner (and Mattel) Batman figures of the 1990s and 2000s. The figure is also a little taller and more aggressive in his appearance, plus the thinner form generally looks better next to the other figures in the cartoon action figure line. If you only buy one Anakin Skywalker figure, this is the one. Do it.

Collector's Notes: The figure has been repackaged a few times, with varying accessories. The individually carded release (2009 and 2010 so far) has the most stuff, with the 2010 one including bonus game pieces-- get that one if you're going to open it. Look for the dark blue and cloudy packaging at retail. The 2010 Rise of Boba Fett gift set has this figure, minus the space gear. The same gear-less figure can also be found in the Holocron Heist Battle Pack.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,430: December 7, 2010

Monday, December 6, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,429: Mail-In Rocket Firing Boba Fett

BOBA FETT Rocket-Firing Backpack
The Vintage Collection Mail-In Offer
Item No.:
No. 97917
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VCP03
Includes: Pistol, firing rocket, non-firing rocket
Action Feature: Rocket-firing backpck
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Fall 2010
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: He's here at last! After 30 years, the Boba Fett figure with the rocket-firing backpack has reached this galaxy! The story of this mail away figure is well known among Star Wars fans, and we're here to deliver the goods. This figure is a re-creation of the original Boba Fett figure, with the addition of that all-inportant rocket-firing feature. Good things really do come to those who wait-- and the wait is officially over! Enjoy! (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: When I first heard Hasbro was doing this Boba Fett I was slightly revolted-- I'm really not a big fan of reissues in the toy world, generally because it makes the original a little less special and often because the replica is still no substitute for the real thing. This one falls into the latter category-- a real, honest-to-goodness 1970s Boba Fett test shot is a very different animal than this figure, as is the basic non-firing vintage Boba Fett figure. Hasbro made several changes which should be obvious to anyone who was heavily into the real Kenner vintage line, but any fan with a good eye can tell that this is not the original. Which means everybody wins.

This is not a figure from the original molds-- this is also not a figure that was perfectly re-created from the original. Certain flaws on the original toy are no longer present, specifically a visible seam down the middle of the helmet has been cleaned up. In many ways this figure is much sharper than the original, which often had some duller details due to the quality and expectations of the toy world in 1979. The figure's copyright information is no longer on the back of the leg, but rather these details are on the soles of the boots. For some reason Hasbro started putting in clearly visible (and ugly) date stamps on its 2010 products (I've seen them on Marvel, Star Wars, and Transformers) and Boba Fett has a black painted date stamp on the back of his left leg. It's also worth noting that Hasbro made the 2010 Rocket Fett button blue, while the few 1970s prototypes I've ever seen have had red buttons. (Except for the figures not cast in production colors, obviously.) It's also worth noting that the figure's foot pegs have been resized for the 1995-present figure stands, so don't expect this one to fit in seamlessly with your 30-year-old Kenner collection.

Boba's red firing rocket looks nothing like the original 1979 figure's non-firing rocket as it has a rounder tip and is several inches long. The non-firing slug is almost nothing like the original, the color and texture is off and it sticks out of the backpack in a mushroom-like way rather than being a uniform thickness. The sculpt is a little different, too, so the original figures remain distinctive.

The thing I found the most exciting about this figure is how the actual rocket mechanism functions. On recent vehicles (Swamp Speeder) the rockets tend to fly out by themselves, and for some reason Hasbro has stopped including switches and instead uses spring-loaded flick-rockets which, if you ask me, are unsafe due to their enthusiasm to launch. Boba's rocket has an actual button you have to push down, which is just fantastic-- it shoots a reasonable distance and makes a satisfying "click" noise upon launch. It's difficult (if not impossible) to accidentally set it off by sneezing or by the figure falling over-- you gotta push the button. Big, big kudos to Hasbro for making the mechanism work perfectly.

So that's the improvement-- the figure still has some of the flaws of the original. He's still back-heavy and my sample will not stand upright without assistance or without holding his arms out in front of him so keep a display stand handy. He also has difficulty holding his gun, which was a reused Stormtrooper blaster. And by difficulty, I mean extreme difficulty. His stance is a little different, and I can't quite tell you how but it feels very different from every Kenner Boba Fett I've played with or owned. The paint is sharp, and the sculpt is astonishingly sharp. He has five points of articulation just like the original, and I expect many of you will want it just to own a replica of any vintage-era figure, and the fact that it's based on one of the action figure collectible industry's holiest of holy grails is just a nice bonus.

This is by no means an essential figure for collectors of the modern line because it doesn't fit in with that aesthetic, however because it is what it is, you owe it to yourself to get one, because you'll be sorry if you don't. Personally I'd have rather they made a super-articulated modern figure based on the unique paint job of the original Kenner Boba Fett figures (which Hasbro/Kenner have never done in the modern line), but I assume this one will be more appealing to a certain breed of toy collector. They sure don't make them like this anymore, or rather, they won't after the offer expires in 2011. Remember, this is not meant to be a fun toy-- it's a collectible that just happens to have one of the finer firing mechanisms I've seen on a toy of this size.

Collector's Notes: This is the fifth "vintage" vintage figure to be made by Hasbro or Kenner since 1995-- the others were Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and Chewbacca in the infamous (and retaining of its original retail price) 1995 Toys "R" Us Classic 4-Pack. This figure comes on a Star Wars-logo card-- a first for a modern Hasbro take on the vintage packaging-- and may be worth getting just because it looks nice. Hasbro has stated there are no plans to do any other 1970s-style figures, but that this was a unique one-off. Here's hoping.

There's no denying that this figure will appeal to toy collectors in a way that no other modern release can. If you're a vintage guy, this should be on your list of things to send for prior to the April 2011 expiration date. Mine took a little under two months to arrive, so if you've been procrastinating, send for yours now. The carded figure comes double-boxed and the cardback I received was unpunched. It's a mass-produced toy, so if you're expecting it to be worth hundreds of dollars you're probably going to be in for an unpleasant surprise later.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,429: December 6, 2010

Friday, December 3, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,428: Scout Trooper

BIKER SCOUT One of two in this set
30th Anniversary Collection Target Exclusive Battle Pack
Item No.:
Asst. 87565 No. 87567
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $49.99
Availability: November 2007
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: A scout trooper was a member of the Imperial Stormtrooper Corps specially trained for scouting, reconnaissance, combat survival, and most times, sniping. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: The Biker Scout (or Scout Trooper) is one of the molds that most fans felt like Hasbro nailed in 2006-- which works out well, as Hasbro has yet to update it beyond changing out the head. There have been some minor deco changes and I've been asked if these variants should be considered deco variants. I decided that they do look different enough and, in the movie, there are multiple troopers walking around-- so these are distinctive figures. In this particular gift set, Hasbro put in two different versions of damage on the figure, and this one seems to have its grit on the upper part of the torso armor, plus added stains on the boots. The figure has a great amount of detailing-- there's unique deco on the bits hanging off the belt. The soles of the boots are sculpted, and recorated. While much of the figure is black or white, Hasbro did make sure that most of the important detail is represented and colored correctly. With 14 points of articulation this figure is one of Hasbro's best-- but I dare not call it the best we'll ever get. The hip joints do have room for improvement, especially now that Hasbro has ball-jointed hips and can make figures which better sit on bikes. As free-standing Scout Troopers go this sculpt is about as good as they get, but there's going to be at least one more good opportunity for Hasbro to modify and rerelease the character.

Collector's Notes: Depending on your needs as a collector, you may want to skip this figure. If you like variety in your squads, this is a must-buy set-- the alternate damage deco should bring a little life to your otherwise mostly white shelves. There are other flavors of the trooper to get including a removable helmet version from a 2008 Battle Pack and a flip-up helmet version from a late 2006 collector's tin figure pack. There are no shortage of variations on this one, so do snag many or any as your budgets and opportunities permit.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,428: December 3, 2010

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,427: Wicket

WICKET and Logray
The Power of the Force Collection 2; Original Trilogy Collection
Item No.:
Asst. 69605 No. 69711; No. 34515
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Staff, hat, sash, Freeze Frame Action Slide (1998 only)
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99; $19.99
Availability: Spring 1998; Fall 2004
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Logray and the Ewoks stand amazed as their newfound idol, protocol droid C-3PO, begins to "magically" levitate as Luke Skywalker uses the power of the Force. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: One of the fun things about this column is going through the early figures and seeing just how well they held up. Nearly every figure from 1995-1997 elicited some form of complaint, and in some cases it seemed unnecessary. Wicket was not a great figure. The little guy was much larger than his 1984 forerunner, but he doesn't look quite right. He's a little chunky, bigger than necessary, and his head is much darker than need be. He has 5 points of articulation, but doesn't really hit the right buttons in terms of appearance. Wicket's head could benefit from being larger, with brighter off-white fur and some light fur above his eyes and on his ears. With his current proportions, this figure seems almost like a grown-up version of the character. (Kids have big heads, after all.) The eyes are bright, and the teeth are painted, so it's nice to see they injected some personality into this figure. It probably could have been improved by a heavy repaint, but Hasbro never gave us one-- instead, we just got a new sculpt in 2010, which is just fine with me really.

Wicket's body was reused for a 2008 Ewok with Glider figure (and retooled slightly), plus the figure was repainted in Widdle the Ewok's coloring in 2007 for a Target exclusive. A new Wicket figure is hitting this year, so you might want to look for that one instead.

Collector's Notes: The set with Wicket and Logray is, unfortunately, still a worthwhile purchase-- Hasbro hasn't done a new Logray and the 1998 one is good enough where they may decide against redoing him. A variant of the figure exists as some stitches on his hood were painted. This figure mold was repackaged numerous times-- the 1998 POTF2 2-pack with Logray, the 1998 2-pack with Endor Leia, the 2004 Original Trilogy Collection single figure, and the 2004 OTC Toys "R" Us Endor 4-Pack come to mind for starters.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,427: December 2, 2010

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,426: Count Dooku

COUNT DOOKU Arena Battle
The Legacy Collection Target Exclusive Geonosis Arena Packs 2010
Item No.:
Asst. 97645 No. 97651
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #5 of 6
Includes: Lightsaber, Nicanas Tassau figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99
Availability: Ocotber 2010
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: The Jedi Knights rush to Geonosis to rescue Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Padme from execution. The Jedi brandish their lightsabers against the Geonosian warriors and the massive army of battle droids, super battle droids, and droidekas. All hope seems lost that any Jedi will survive this battle, then Yoda arrives with an army of clone troopers. Although many Jedi are lost that day, others survive this climactic battle that ushers in the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: Minor upgrades are inevitable in this line, especially now as Hasbro has stated that a lot of their figures are about as good as they're going to get. You can't get much better than super-articulated, so it makes sense that for now all Hasbro did to make a new Count Dooku was create a new head sculpt. The body is based on the 2005 Evolutions sculpt, which has a cloth element to allow the Sith to sit were he so inclined. (He never had the need to, as the only vehicle that was made for him included a unique figure.) There's not much to say about the body other than it was good before and it's good now, although the head is particularly interesting because it deviates from the earlier designs quite a bit. Since 2002, Hasbro made the Dooku figures with heads that were certainly a little more elongated, or a little more narrow.

My first reaction was that this looked like a guy dressed up as Count Dooku, but after giving it a really good look I think Hasbro nailed it. Aside from the fact the figure has a hard time looking straight ahead-- his head tilts up-- the look is right. The shade of white for the hair and beard may not be perfect, but hair color is hard to nail perfectly. With a tinge more grey he'd be perfect, but this sort of thing is not easy nor is it always financially sensible to do perfectly right when what they did really does look just fine. If you look at his face sculpt, you can tell that the expression and the basic form seem to be way better than anything previously released by Hasbro. His hair seems a smidgen thicker, and his emotions seem a little more subdued-- he's not smiling or being evil, he's just there. It looks great, and we already had an "angry" head on this body with the previous release. This may be the best overall Dooku to date in the movie line, so I would put it at a strong "buy" in spite of the figure with which he is packed.

Collector's Notes: The new Geonosis sets seem to be selling well in my market, save for Anakin and Obi-Wan. People have it figured out. There's no reason to skip this set if you've never bought a Dooku, so go get him if you need to add to your growing army of Sith.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,426: December 1, 2010

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,425: Boba Fett

BOBA FETT Bounty Hunter
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 94736 No. 21466
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW32
Includes: Vest, jetpack, twin blasters, stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: September 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Haunted by the death of his father, Boba Fett continues his training as a bounty hunter. He learns the skills of this dangerous trade from the Trandoshan hunter Bossk and the ruthless Aurra Sing. Jango's son is determined to follow in his father's footsteps as a powerful bounty hunter, and is eager to fight the Jedi who defeated his father. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' current and hopefully only temporary toy shelf.

Commentary: It's amazing that The Clone Wars has made a dramatic shift from under-articulated kid-friendly figures into stuff so good it would make your 1995 self's head explode-- in particular if you're young enough to not remember 1995. This Boba Fett is unique in that it's the first individually packaged version of the figure to not include any form of helmet, while keeping much of the rest of the outfit's signature armor. Boba's knee pads and chest armor are all here, as is his trademark backpack. He's armed with Jango's twin pistols, and a great mean facial expression the likes of which you rarely see on the movie toys. Boba Fett keeps the super articulation you all know and love but adds a twist with a new hip joint which allows the figure to both bend at the waist and for the leg to swivel at the hip. If you're a stickler for being able to get the most motion out of your toys, this figure will likely amaze you with its amazing range of motion while not incorporating bulging joints or awkwardly shaped crotch pieces. Remarkable stuff.

The paint job is superb-- no problems to speak of-- and the outfit itself is pretty simple. He has a grey jumpsuit speed suit on with some armor bits here and there, so there's not a lot of detail to worry about here. It's a good thing Hasbro added the extra armor, because without it Boba would be a pretty plain looking figure. The complete package is really cool, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't also want an animated-style version of the hunter's classic helmet too.

Collector's Notes: This figure seems to be taking its sweet time in achieving pegwarmer status, so if you see it you might want to just buy it.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,425: November 30, 2010