Figure of the Day: Day 1,273: Sora Bulq

SORA BULQ Jedi
The Saga Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 85980
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #015
Includes: Lightsaber, stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Spring 2006
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Fighting has erupted in the Geonosis execution arena. Sora Bulq is one of a taskforce of 200 sent to save Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Padmé Amidala from execution. Sora uses his Jedi skills to destroy attacking battle droids and to protect his friends. In the end, he is one of the few survivors of this fierce conflict. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's yard.

Commentary: If you're a reader of the comics, you know who Sora Bulq is-- but it's possible you didn't realize he was originally in Attack of the Clones before becoming a Dark Jedi in the pages of the Republic comic series. This Weequay Jedi has 12 points of articulation (no knees), a strong, dynamic sculpt and surprisingly ornate hair. The braids are thin and flexible, and are molded separately from the flesh of his alien head. There's really nothing wrong with this figure, or anything overwhelmingly remarkable. He has the outfit, the sculpt is of a good quality, and he's yet another Jedi to add to your ranks. If you like Jedi or aliens, he's worth getting. If you're sick of Jedi figures, well, no reason to pick this one up. The simple outfit has a lot of detail and sculpted motion in the fabric, so if you're a diorama fan, or need to fill out a Geonosis arena, this is probably worth your while to get.

Collector's Notes: He never proved particularly difficult to find, so if you can get one, don't pay too much.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,273: April 30, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,272: Grand Moff Trachta

GRAND MOFF TRACHTA with Darth Vader
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87689
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #10
Includes: Blaster, Darth Vader figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99
Availability: Fall 2008
Appearances: Empire comic book series

Bio: Emperor Palpatine may have control of the galaxy after the Clone Wars, but others want that power themselves. There are Imperial officers who are not pleased wth the current regime, and are plotting to eliminate the Emperor and Darth Vader. Grand Moff Trachta is at the center of this plot, but he also has some personal ambitions of his own. It's a tale of secrets, double crosses amd betrayals in the early days of the Empire. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: Who is Grand Moff Trachta, you ask? Why the chief villain and anti-Sith conspirator in the very first arc of the Dark Horse Star Wars Empire comic series. It did OK, but it didn't seem to make waves in fan circles-- certainly not toy fan circles. So here you are, a lucky fan with an obscure cybernetic-enhanced bureaucrat. The sculpting is pretty good-- the guy has a sharp tailor, with the old remainder of his Imperial uniform mixed in with new gadgets and hoses. Surprisingly the character has muscular arms, and Hasbro gave him 12 points of articulation. While he has no knees, he has pretty much everything else including ball-jointed ankles. The figure is a great representation of his comic self-- one of the outfits, anyway-- but the real question is "do you want him?" And the answer is probably "I don't even know who that is." (Well, OK, I do but I still buy all the comics.) He looks neat enough, and if you need an Imperial officer who looks significantly different than all your other ones, he pulls it off. He's just a strange-looking figure that doesn't quite fit in with the aesthetic of the era, but then again, a lot of the Empire and Rebellion comics have new designs that don't quite work. Trachta basically works... certainly better than most of the others.

Collector's Notes: This set included Darth Vader-- essentially the Saga Legends one-- as the second figure. So this wasn't particularly well-received, although it was packed very lightly in assortments and seemed to sell through accordingly.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,272: April 29, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,271: Death Star Trooper

DEATH STAR TROOPER with Blaster Rifle
Power of the Force Collection 3
Item No.: Asst. 69705 No. 69838
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, blaster, freeze frame slide
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99
Availability: June 1998
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Grand Moff Tarkin created this select force of soldiers to defend the galaxy's ultimate weapon, the Death Star. These elite troopers manned the gun towers during the Battle of Yavin, a conflict that resulted in the Death Star's destruction. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's yard.

Commentary: For whatever reason Hasbro waited until 1998 to make the Death Star Trooper, the last of the "original 12" vintage-era action figures. The figure that finally made it to market was a really odd one, showing elements of great sculpting and total phoning-it-in all in one hard-to-find action figure. Since it was released in 1998, it's necessary to say that the sculpting quality and articulation of this figure are on par for its day. There are 6 joints, which was typical, and the outfit was designed nicely. There are folds in the outfit and a few wrinkles, giving the figure a slightly more realistic look than we had come to expect at the time. The texture reflected the light nicely, and while the boots weren't particularly shiny they did look OK. His pose was a little strange, legs slightly bent and a little hunched over, but odds are it would have worked out well had Kenner ever made a control station or playset for this figure to hang out on. Just standing by himself he looks weird-- weirder still with the blaster, as seen in the picture.

Most worthy of discussion, though, are this figure's accessories. He had a removable helmet-- downright unheard of for a Star Wars action figure in 1998 that wasn't some guy in a disguise. Underneath he has sculpted hair and what appear to be some sort of headphones or mufflers or whatever. It's neat, and a nice detail we don't usually see even today. The gun, on the other hand, was stupid then and it's hilarious now. Rather than give this figure a normal small pistol, he received what was the largest Imperial toy blaster available. Originally sold as the big gun for the TIE Fighter Pilot in 1996, this weapon went immediately into junk drawers or under couches. Naturally, Hasbro made this the sole weapon for this otherwise pretty swell figure. He can barely hold it, he certainly has problems aiming it while standing, and it's just big and dumb. It's a shame, because this would have been an otherwise decent release.

Collector's Notes: This was part of the last wave of the "Galactic Assortment" (or "Collection 3") that shipped to retail stores in 1998. The other new figure in the wave was Ree-Yees (yes, only two new figures) and both proved quite difficult to find in the wild. Time has made them cheaper, but at the time they were the cause of much stress for the figure collector. A super-articulated and taller version of the figure was made in 2007, and basically improves on this release in every possible way. The 1998 Trooper is more of a curiosity today than anything else, so buy it only if you're a fan of figures from the pre-prequel era. I personally like it but I admit that it has been lapped by future developments. The same figure, complete with gun, came as part of a Death Star accessory set exclusive to Target stores in 2002. It's worth noting this was the last wave (to date) of accessory packs.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,271: April 28, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,270: Battle Droid

BATTLE DROID Arena Battle (Tan)
Saga Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84865
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0211
Includes: Backpack, blast effects, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: April 2002
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: A decade earlier, the Trade Federation's army of battle droids invaded the peaceful planet of Naboo. Now these droids are back in even greater numbers, ready to march against the Jedi and the forces of the Galactic Republic. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's yard.

Commentary: While not Hasbro's finest Battle Droid, this one ain't bad. In 2002 Hasbro redesigned the figure, removing the knee joints we saw on most of the Episode I and Power of the Jedi releases. While this may sound inexcusable, Hasbro added additional paint operations, more accessories, and slashed the price by two bucks. In my book, that's a huge improvement but it seems a lot of fans didn't agree. A number of stores choked on this figure, and I personally managed to score a few of them for around US $0.60 a piece. It's sad to think we live in a world where any troop builder has to go through multiple clearances to get to that point, but it does show that anything-- even something great-- isn't guaranteed to be a hit.

The sculpt is pretty good and was used on and off for a while. Hasbro gave the figure joints at the shoulders, elbows, hips, and neck, which are certainly acceptable. We've since got better sculpts and even more improved deco, but this is a good one for scene filler. The chest has a little peg on it which you can place a "blast effect" on to make it look like he got shot. There's also some blue energy pieces to make it look like he suffered damage. A fan without the obsessive need to keep everything on the figure (like me) can mix and match elements with other Battle Droids, creating a scene of "different" figures using these unique pieces. It's a pretty good figure from the Episode II line, and since we haven't yet received a "perfect" tan Battle Droid with mega articulation and all of that it's still arguably worth owning. With dozens of unique Battle Droid figures a collector could assemble quite the toy collection of just this character, and it's a great example of how Hasbro has developed and how their thinking has changed over the past ten years.

Collector's Notes: The first release of this figure (seen here) shipped in 2002 in tan. In January 2003, the assortments shipped with a recolored and repackaged red figure under the same SKU. The tan one is the more common. Interestingly, Hasbro knew of the fact they would change it as soon as possible at Celebration II, the big Star Wars convention held in Indianapolis. That was in May 2002, which shows that even when you're trying to do something "immediately" it may take a while in the world of manufacturing.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,270: April 27, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,269: Captain Needa

CAPTAIN NEEDA Imperial Apologist
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 87573
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD40
Includes: Blaster, Hat, Droid Part
Action Feature: Removable hat
Retail: $7.99
Availability: April 2009
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Captain Needa assumes full responsibility for losing the Millennium Falcon when the Rebel ship emerges from the asteroid field. Needa apologizes for the mistake to Lord Vader, who accepts the apology -- then kills Needa as punishment for his failure. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's TV tray.

Commentary: "Apology accepted, Captain Needa." That one line of dialogue is really the only significant thing about this guy. A few seconds before he dies, we meet him and find out he's going to take responsibility for a mistake which really isn't his, and for some reason fans decided this warranted a figure. Hasbro listened, and here he is-- and he's pretty good.

Needa is made out of a new "generic" Imperial Officer body which Hasbro developed about four years late. The body has a removable rank badge which allows Hasbro to swap out this piece without making an entirely new torso. (To date, they have not done this nor have they announced a figure to make use of this feature.) The modular body (made from a previous Death Star Trooper's legs) has a ball-jointed head, so that's easy to change out, and like most good figures he has 14 points of articulation and fantastic detail. The hat stays on well enough-- not perfectly, but certainly not to a point to complain about-- and the likeness is passable. I mean, there's only so much you can do with aging, pasty, white British guys in the same exact costume, so the fact that it has any distinctiveness to it is pretty welcome compared to the one "Imperial Officer" we got in the 1980s. This figure is a good example of Hasbro using the most of its tooling library while planning ahead for future Imperials, but will we get more after this one? It seems unlikely, but that's been said before, so who knows. Perhaps we'll see a new Tarkin with this torso in 2011. Until then, this remains the latest, most refined Imperial officer available and it's well worth picking up for that reason alone.

Collector's Notes: Like most 2009 Legacy figures he's not particularly easy to find, but odds are you can get him without too much fuss. It's the benefit of their being a lot of Imperial Officer figures, some people don't seem to get there's a difference.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,269: April 26, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,268: Shadow Trooper

SHADOW TROOPER Commander, more or less
30th Anniversary Collection Shared Exclusive
Item No.: No. 87879
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, blaster, additional figure
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $16.99
Availability: Summer 2008
Appearances: n/a

Bio: These specialized troopers pose as bounty hunters or mercenaries to slip in and out of locations, quietly gathering vital information for the Republic. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: "Pose as bounty hunters," the packaging says. Sure. This particular Shadow Trooper uses the "Evolutions" Episode III Clone body and applies a brighter (and better) spin on the 2005 Utapau Shadow Trooper's deco. The red visor is much brighter, the grey is a bit sharper, and it just looks better, despite having a pretty goofy backstory. I mean, it's a dude who looks like another dude wearing the Clone Trooper armor which every one of these dudes wears for the largest army in the galaxy. These guys are as much bounty hunters as I am an expert on botany.

While not immediately obvious, these are surprisingly lavishly decorated for a Hasbro Clone Trooper repaint. The body is cast in a color which is, for all intents and purposes, black and has a very light grey brushing on it. The red really pops, and the grey for the body suit stands out against the dark armor. What's more, the back of the figure had a few details painted on it, which is downright amazing for these guys. While the set did command a higher price, Hasbro did put a little bit more into the deco and packaging. Unfortunately, they didn't put much into the tooling, and unless you're really careful the chin of the trooper's human face will likely jut out from under the black striped helmet.

Collector's Notes: This set was initially offered as a German exclusive for their fairly sizable Jedicon. However, a European convention cannot support Hasbro's minimums for an exclusive, so the rest got dumped in the USA at ShopStarWars.com. At press time, it is still available for $15.99. It's a pretty nice set, coming in the same canister-style packaging as Target's "Order 66" packs. I'd suggest getting it, it's one of the better looking Clone repaints and one of three figures to use this basic shadowy color scheme.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,268: April 23, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,267: Darth Vader (Battle Pack)

DARTH VADER Rebel vs. Empire
Revenge of the Sith Battle Pack
Item No.: Asst. 85554 No. 85725
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Cape, helmet, lightsaber, additional figures
Action Feature: Removable helmet, push button for lightsaber-swinging action
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Summer 2005
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: As dark lord, Darth Vader seeks to show young Luke Skywalker the true power of the dark side. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's yard.

Commentary: "Just different enough to make you mad." This Darth Vader is a mix and match "new" figure, using various existing parts. The 2002 Saga "Cloud City" Darth Vader's body is used (which is actually based on the original film's armor) and the head is that of the 2003 Death Star version. Put 'em together, and you get another "different" Darth Vader. Since this Battle Pack was designed with kid sales in mind, it seems only fair to treat the figure accordingly. It sucks. The helmet won't stay on, and neither will the cape. The push-button mechanism causes the figure to pivot at the waist, and it's pretty awful especially when you consider the fragile lightsaber can easily snap off from inside the hilt-- such is the danger of a plastic blade in a metal shell.

On the bright side, the sculpt is OK and the paint job on the unmasked face is pretty good. He does feel more expressive than some other Vader heads, but still, it's a crappy figure. For completists only.

Collector's Notes: This set was pretty popular at the time, and the packaging is nice-- but the figure itself is nothing special. It's worth noting that this is basically the only new figure in the Rebel vs. Empire Battle Pack, so if you don't yet have one I wouldn't advise you to do so just to get this one character.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,267: April 22, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,266: Emperor's Shadow Guard

SHADOW GUARD Emperor's
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87488
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0815
Includes: Stand, pike, blade, blaster, cloak
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: February 2008
Appearances: The Force Unleashed

Bio: Each one of these elite guards is specially chosen by Palpatine for his exceptional loyalty to the Emperor, and for his ability to use the Force. Each carries a pike that can be ignited to use as a lightsaber-like blade. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's yard.

Commentary: I assume Hasbro must love The Rolling Stones, because they had a red guard and wanted to paint it black. This Shadow Guard is the 2005 Royal Guard mold, enblackened, with a new pike. Or rather, a pike, as the 2005 release oddly contained a rifle. With 12 points of articulation, he's pretty good at assuming most poses, sitting, or standing guard. He keeps a tiny blaster in a holster on his hip which can be easily lost (particularly as you can't see it), so be careful to not misplace it. His swivel elbows are kinda cruddy by modern standards but he does basically look pretty good. In the game The Force Unleashed the character didn't wear black robes, plus the armor looked a little different, but this is one of those "eh, close enough" releases. At least we got one.

Aside from the easily lost blaster, my other gripe with this release is that the robes are very thin-- as you can see in this picture. In a too-bright environment you can see right through them. I'd still suggest grabbing a couple of them to stand around, despite being Yet Another Black Repaint they're pretty nice looking.

Collector's Notes: This was a fairly popular figure in its day but certainly not difficult to find. However, time and the appearance in the game has done this figure well-- it actually sells for a premium! So if you can get it for under $10, consider yourself lucky.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,266: April 21, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,265: Rahm Kota's Militia Elite

MILITIA ELITE Rahm Kota's
The Legacy Collection Toys "R" Us Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. TBD No. TBD
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 1 of 2
Includes: Helmet, removable shoulder armor, giant gun
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $29.99
Availability: April 2010
Appearances: The Force Unleashed

Bio: Rahm Kota's militia was his backing force during his scattered battles against the Galactic Empire. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's yard.

Commentary: Under the helmet this Rahm Kota's Militia Elite looks more than a little like a pale Clone Trooper, but it's actually pretty much in line with renders of the character as provided by LucasArts. This is a particularly strange release, not just because it came out so far after the game but because Hasbro tried some new stuff out here. Like many other figures, he has no ankle joints. Unlike other figures, his shoulder armor is removable-- presumably to allow for more shoulder movement, but who knows. There's a little tab that fits into a small hole near the joint, providing collectors with new, easily-lost choke hazards. He's quite nice-- the armor isn't too bulky, the deco is pretty good, and the articulation is essentially the new standard (i.e., 12 points). While he doesn't have his fancy weird light-up features from the game, he does look a heck of a lot like an early version of the Rebel forces. You know, exactly like you might want. His giant gatling gun is pretty much like the one used in the game, despite having also been packaged with other existing releases.

If Hasbro released this one individually I'd wager more than a few collectors would put together a squad of them. I liked the look so much I bought one off eBay early and well, here he is. He feels like something that fell out of the mid-1980s, like a lost Kenner concept for a post-Return of the Jedi release, and I really like that. It's a shame he'll be stuck in the multi-packs, but with any luck Hasbro will continue to revisit The Force Unleashed as they have been doing on a fairly regular basis.

Collector's Notes: This is an advance sample so at press time we don't have full details on it. Actually, buzz is these just started hitting this week, but we haven't seen them yet. It will be packaged with an EVO Trooper, Juno Eclipse, Galen Marek, and a new Shadow Stormtrooper. Yes, another one. Kota's men have other armor as well, and one of the trooper variants could probably be built off a modified version of this particular release. So far there have been a ton of figures from this game-- 7 carded ones in 2008, another in 2010, an Evolutions pack of the Apprentice for 3 more, a pair of Trooper and Sith 3-packs, a Wookiee-themed Battle Pack, plus the big giant Rancor. Add in these two 5-packs, and your total collection for The Force Unleashed could be as big as 29 figures. (Some of which were repacks, not counting duplicates of course.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,265: April 20, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,264: Battle Droid

BATTLE DROID Theed Generator Complex
Episode I Playset Pack-In
Item No.: Asst. 26220 No. 26222
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Theed Generator Complex
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: May 2010
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: The adventure continues with this exclusive playset from Star Wars: Episode I! Authentically styled with incredible detail, the Theed Generator Complex captures all the suspense of the fierce lightsaber battle between Darth Maul and Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi! (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's yard.

Commentary: Does this Battle Droid look familiar? He probably should-- the same mold was used a few times in 1999, and you might have him from any of many places. This specific figure-- with this specific paint job-- was a pack-in with the "Theed Generator Complex" playset, which was the smaller, simpler of the two Episode I-themed environment toys. The figure has very limited articulation, about on par with a vintage (as in 1978) action figure. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as he doesn't fall apart easily and he can actually sit inside a vehicle without too much fussing. As toys go, this is a pretty solid figure. His blaster is part of his hand, which is why it isn't called out above as a separate accessory.

This figure will not wow or amaze you if you're a picky collector, but it's another neat evolutionary step in the line's development. This is one of the more primitive Battle Droids, but it's also a very good one. Points to Hasbro for keeping it simple. More points to Hasbro if they find a way to release a bunch of these on the cheap again.

Collector's Notes: The same mold was used in 1999 in Asia and some other countries as a CommTech chip substitute-- it's the same figure, just unpainted. So no eyes, no dirt, none of that. In a way I'm envious of those people, because I've probably not even seen my CommTech chips in over 8 years at this point. This figure (as far as I know) wasn't widely available separately from the ship but it's possible some polybagged ones are out there that I missed.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,264: April 19, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,263: Obi-Wan Kenobi (Cold Weather Gear)

OBI-WAN KENOBI Cold Weather Gear
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87638 No. 93819
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #48
Includes: Lightsaber, hood, goggles
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: March 2010
Appearances: Star Wars: The Clone Wars episode Trespass

Bio: Obi-Wan wears cold weather gear to protect himself from the icy conditions on Orto Plutonia. The Jedi Master is part of a team that investigates the disappearance of clone troopers stationed on the snow-covered world in the Pantora system. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's yard.

Commentary: Fact: "Trespass" is one of the best episodes of The Clone Wars. It only makes sense that Hasbro decided to make several figures who have never appeared anywhere else. (It's just that neat.) This Obi-Wan Kenobi is another great addition to the set, along with Anakin Skywalker, Thi-Sen, and the Cold Gear Captain Rex. The biggest surprise about Obi-Wan Kenobi is that Hasbro bucked expectations (and financial sensibilities) with this one, giving him a completely new body when odds are Hasbro could have just reused the cold gear Anakin body and nobody would know the difference. The fact that this new Obi-Wan is clearly different in its wrinkles, boots, and how the fabric on the back of his parka folds is proof positive that the bean counters at Hasbro are asleep and the designers are just trying to give us something a little better than we would expect from them. Kudos.

The figure itself has 12 points of articulation (no ankles, increasingly common) and some removable head stuff. The hood of his coat is removable, and fits on snuggly. Also removable-- and I presume easily lost (and eventually broken) are set of goggles. Be careful with these. The new head sculpt is a step up, although due to the fact his beard is mostly covered and his eyebrows look a little more judgmental I keep saying that it looks like Ron Swanson. (Can someone get Nick Offerman a bit part in Star Wars? He'd be good.) Anyway, enough of my sitcom nerditry. Be sure to snag this one as it's good. My guess is we'll see a "hood down" variation down the road in some form of battle pack, but as of today this is it and it is pretty good.

Collector's Notes: A new figure, not too hard to find yet, so get it while you can!

Clone Wars Notes: Seriously, go check out the episode "Trespass," it's great. StarWars.com streams it from time to time. You get big furball warriors, evil blue dudes, and C-3PO gets to translate.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,263: April 16, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,262: Clone Trooper (Routine Valor)

CLONE TROOPER and Clone Trooper Lieutenant
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs Wave 7
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 91772
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #10
Includes: Antenna, blaster, warhead, extra figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: March 2010
Appearances: Star Wars: Routine Valor Comic Book

Bio: Clone Troopers display more than "Routine Valor" during a battle on Sarrish. When their Republic gunship crashes near a dangerous gun emplacement, the clones launch an attack to capture the promontory on which the gun is anchored. Although the odds are against them, the troopers dont hesitate to take on the deadly challenge. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's neighbor's yard.

Commentary: If you love clones and are anything like me you probably got your fill of the orange Clone Trooper figures from the 212th Battalion back in 2006. This figure is basically the same mold and very similar deco, but is different in a few meaningful ways. There are no black "damage" markings here, and the positioning of the orange markings are slightly different. Were Hasbro to integrate this slight deco variation on the basic figure, that'd be pretty swell for those looking to build an army. For a comic pack, it's still a nice idea because it does set this figure apart from the basic carded release, even if only slightly.

The most signifiant addition to this release is his gun. The larger rifle has a hollow barrel, and you can cram stuff into it like this bazooka-esque warhead thing. It fits right in, or can be removed, giving your gun two distinct looks. It's a nice feature, one I was not expecting to ever see. Who knew Hasbro had new surprising gun features waiting for us? While not significantly new, the figure is certainly different enough to be worth a good look, although those of you who are over clone troopers may be better served being happy with what you already have.

Collector's Notes: While not a significantly different figure from the 212 Battalion Utapau troops, army builders will want this one just to mix up their ranks a bit. It's great to see similar-but-different troopers for those who are interested in such things, although your average fan may not want to pay a premium for a slightly different shade of orange and a new gun.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,262: April 15, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,261: General Weir

GENERAL WEIR and Storm Commando
The Legacy Collection Wal-Mart Exclusive Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 93269 No. 93607
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, bandolier, blasters
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.88
Availability: March 2010
Appearances: Rogue Leader comics

Bio: General Weir launches a counter-rebellion after the Battle of Endor to undermine the Rebel Alliance. The Imperial general discovers that Luke Skywalker is in the city of Coronet and, with his stormtroopers and storm commandos, goes after the Rebel hero. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's yard.

Commentary: If there's one thing Hasbro thinks we can't have enough of, it's super-articulated Scout Trooper figures. They're basically right. This General Weir figure uses the body we're used to with a removable helemt, much like the Battle Pack Scout Trooper from late 2008. His helmet fits right on, and he has a bonus bandolier to add some color to the otherwise virtually unpainted body of this new character. He's black, you see-- other than his helmet's red visor and belt buckle, the outfit is completely black. No grey on the soles, just lots of black. He has a blaster in each hand and the now familiar 14 points of articulation. As an addition to an army, and a ranking figure, he's probably worth scraping up because he's just distinctive enough to be interesting. Just remember, there are now four black Scout Trooper repaints.

Collector's Notes: If you can't find this one on eBay, search on "General Weird." Because fans can't spell or read. The set was originally one of three exclusives in the wave until Wal-Mart rejected one of them. The other Wal-Mart exclusive pack, IG97 with Rom Mohc, is either more popular or in shorter supply than General Weir and the Storm Commando in our findings.

The other black Scout Trooper repaints include a Comic-Con exclusive figure that sold with a Speeder Bike a few years ago, the Storm Commando from this very set, and 2009's Wal-Mart exclusive Commando figure. The 2009 version had a new helmet sculpt, a little more variation in levels of blackness, and was otherwise the same basic body. I would argue this comic pack gives you the most bang for your buck-- each release is going to cost you more than $10, so this one is pretty nice.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,261: April 14, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,260: Pons Limbic

PONS LIMBIC or "Brainiac"
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 87839
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD35
Includes: 2-piece table, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: January 2009
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Cantina patron Pons Limbic can calculate hyperspace coordinates in his head without a computer, a common ability among his species. Like all Siniteen, Pons has a large, ridged head that resembles cerebral lobes, giving him a super-intelligent appearance and earning him the nickname "Brainiac" by his fellow Cantina denizens. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's Cantina diorama.

Commentary: It's really amazing to see what gets the most attention in this line-- this Pons Limbic, for example, is probably one of the more spectacular Cantina aliens in terms of what Hasbro did with it. The character is probably best known from a trading card, and yet Hasbro gave it the deluxe treatment with an awesome accessory. Even Momaw Nadon doesn't get this kind of love!

The figure's sculpt is, in short, basically everything you can hope for. 14 points of articulation, ball joints as expected, good deco, nice detail, and a holster too. The fact that the figure comes with both a spiffy table and a build-a-droid part was pretty remarkable when he hit, particularly when just five waves later Cantina aliens seemed to get smaller and have fewer accessories. Heck, Limbic's case mate was a 2-pack of Cantina aliens. We'll probably never see that again. Limbic can stand, sit, and basically do what you want. The sculpt of his outfit is particularly detailed for a character you never really got a solid look at, and is easily one of the best looking figures in that respect. His deco could probably be stronger, I guess, but it looks just fine to me. For scenery stuffing, figures don't get much better than this. Be sure to get one if you missed it.

Collector's Notes: Hasbro claimed that this was a weak seller and was even taken back in some markets. This is not what we saw in our runs, but we only see a few dozen stores in one region of the USA, so you might not want to overpay for this one if you seek him out. (You should seek him out.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,260: April 13, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,259: Blackhole

BLACKHOLE and Stormtrooper
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs Wave 7
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 89780
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #13
Includes: Stormtrooper, torture droid, blaster, smoke stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: March 2010
Appearances: Star Wars newspaper strips

Bio: Shadow stormtroopers capture Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia on Vorzyd V. The Rebels are on the planet, also known as the Gambler's World, to stop the evil Empire's main source of income. After kidnapping the Rebels, the stormtroopers speak with Blackhole, the Imperial Intelligence Director, who orders the prisoners interrogated by an IT-O Droid. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: It took nearly 30 years for the world to see a figure of Blackhole and sadly it doesn't really look like his original mysterious nebulous incarnation. Of course, an oddly shaped black blob with stars in it probably wouldn't make for a very exciting toy, but an unarticulated 2-inch PVC is a real drag in a comic 2-pack. This figure is really more of an accessory than a legit action figure, even by this column's increasingly lax standards. So for $15, a Stormtrooper repaint and this guy is actually pretty lame.

The character of Blackhole has evolved much suddenly, so instead of being this shadowy figure he's now Cronal or Lord Shadowspawn or all of the above, so rather than being a decrepid old man or an undeveloped thing, he's a muscular shirtless dude. The sculpting is pretty good, but this is basically a notch and a half above those red or blue holograph figures from 2006-- as a "bonus" it's not bad, but it's nothing special. He does look like the character in the essential guides a bit, but not much like the comic which came with this set. (The same can be said for the Stormtrooper.) I will say his deco is quite nice-- cast in clear plastic, the figure is painted black with bright silver stars. The effect is quite good and unique to this figure, and as deco goes it's one of those nice surprises where Hasbro managed to take a weak figure and turn it into something that looks great. They have wonderful deco artists there.

Collector's Notes: This figure is in release-- possibly limited release-- right now. So go get it if you want, because the comic pack SKU is gonna be phased out pretty darned quickly. As someone who actively dug the Russ Manning stories I was personally hoping for a real figure with joints or at least something scale to the other figures, but this is probably the only version of this character that you'll ever see.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,259: April 12, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,258: Luke Skywalker (Hoth Pilot)

LUKE SKYWALKER Hoth Pilot
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 88879
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD51
Includes: Helmet, lightsaber hilt, grapple gun, hook
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: Late 2009/Early 2010
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Luke leads an attack on Imperial AT-AT walkers that are moving toward Echo Base. He instructs the other snowspeeder pilots to use their harpoons and cables and aim for the legs in an attempt to take out the Imperial walkers. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's yard. It never snows here, so enjoy Spring.

Commentary: Hasbro hasn't given Luke Skywalker in his cold weather pilot outfit much love since 1995. The 2002 release just resculpted the collar. The 2007 version was Zev's body with a Luke head. This one? Not so much recycled. The head has a hood up, which is pretty unusual for most pilot figures. He includes only the lightsaber hilt-- a real bummer given he uses the full weapon on-screen-- but hey, it's something. While his hand was sculpted to hold the Jedi weapon, his belt wasn't, and the saber (as usual) was designed with a tab to plug into a belt. Oh well. If you need a figure for an AT-AT diorama or just someone to pilot a Snowspeeder, it's pretty good. The sculpt is, without question, a huge improvement but as always there's room for a few tweaks to make it better. But for now? This is the best. The sculpt is a little funky, but he dangles from a rope nicely. His lightsaber could be better-- a blade, for example-- but as it is, if you have a million figures and some spares, it'll do just fine.

Collector's Notes: This figure is new and should be back in new packaging this Fall.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,258: April 9, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,257: Emperor Palpatine

EMPEROR PALPATINE 1980 Edition
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 87572
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD39
Includes: Lightsaber, cane
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: April 2009
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: The Emperor contacts Darth Vader during the Sith Lord's pursuit of the Millennium Falcon. Palpatine warns Vader of a disturbance in the Force caused by the son of Anakin Skywalker. The Emperor commands Vader to turn the young Jedi to the dark side. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: While requested by some fans, it's tough to think that a lot of adult collectors were sitting around going "Hey, you know what I wish we could get? That weird Emperor Palpatine from The Empire Strikes Back before they cast Ian McDiarmid." Hasbro, never one to miss out on a good opportunity, crafted the figure by sculpting a new head and grafting it onto the generally well-received "Evolutions" body from 2005. It basically works great, considering the original as-seen-on-screen character was a floating clear blue-tinted head in a hood.

So new head, super-articulated body... good right? Pretty much. The lightsaber was of course a bonus from Revenge of the Sith, and the head itself seems to be a hybrid of the Ian McDiarmid head and the weird effects one. The end result is pretty good, and the plastic sculpted hood looks significantly better than the cloth one previous incarnations of Palpatine has sported from 2005 until the present. If you don't have any super-articulated Emperor figures, this one is as good as (or better than) any-- the fact that it's inspired by a weird, now-excised design is a plus, and he just looks more freakish than I'm used to. I'd say go for it, consider the build-a-droid piece to be a delightful bonus.

Collector's Notes: This figure was one of the easier ones to find from his wave by virtue of him not being wildly popular-- they were all made in pretty much the same number. You might even be able to find this one still if you live near the right Wal-Mart or drug store. He is unlikely to be reissued, so get him if you can for cheap, as odds are he won't be going for much any time soon.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,257: April 8, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,256: Ulic Qel-Droma

ULIC QEL-DROMA & Exar Kun
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87971
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #11
Includes: Lightsaber, Dark Lords of the Sith #6
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: March 2010
Appearances: Tales of the Jedi comic books

Bio: Ulic Qel-Droma is battling the dark side of the Force; he believes that if he can conquer it, he will avenge the death of his master. He is attacked by Exar Kun, who feels the Jedi is a threat to his goals. As the two battle, they are unaware that Sith Lords from the past have other plans for their destiny. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's yard.

Commentary: While not exactly (at all) authentic to the comic book, Ulic Qel-Droma brings a character to life who has existed in the Star Wars universe since the original Dark Empire series. (He was a big part of the backstory.) His story takes place around the same time as the Knights of the Old Republic game and comics, give or take a few years, and the series starring this Jedi spanned roughly 5 years and about 23 issues. Much like Luke (and later, Anakin) this Jedi hero had some awesome adventures and decided he could use the dark side of the Force to bring down an enemy. Well, we all know how that usually turns out. Fans of the series-- myself included-- will probably talk your ear off about how they would make a pretty good cartoon or movie or some such. So how is his figure?

Ulic looks a lot more like he does on the cover of his first comic appearance, nothing at all like the comic he comes with. (Where he bangs some chick and is shirtless.) With slightly tattered rags and some armor, he has 14 points of articulation and a great range of movement. Unless it's my imagination, he also sports a marker on his forehead which wouldn't appear until the very comic he comes with, several years later. He has a good range of movement and decent detail, although his clothes seem remarkably clean for being so tattered-- a little dirt would have been nice, but it's nice that we got Ulic in the first place. His lightsaber doesn't quite match the comics, and the color of his blade seems to change throughout the tale. It's OK, I guess, because Exar Kun (his companion in the set) looks nothing like his appearance in this particular comic, either. So it's a pretty decent interpretation of the Beast Wars of Onderon Ulic, and that's nothing to sneeze at. Well, it'd be nice if his shirt were colored properly but the figure certainly hits the mark for "good enough."

Collector's Notes: Part of the final wave of comic packs (and a recent release), odds are you can still have a shot at getting this one cheaply. For fans of the Tom Veitch/Kevin J. Anderson series, it's a must-buy. For everyone else? Well, odds are you don't even know who this is. Sadly, this is one of very few figures from this era, along with the Mandalore from this comic series. Too bad we won't be seeing more any time soon.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,256: April 7, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,255: Jake Farrell

JAKE FARRELL REBEL PILOTS III
The Legacy Collection Wal-Mart Exclusive Evolutions
Item No.: Asst. 87874 No. 91508
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, helmet
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.96-$24.96
Availability: August 2009
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Rebel Alliance fighter pilots have a legacy of bravery that ultimately carries them to victory against the Imperial forces of the Galactic Empire. John D. Branon ("Red Four") flies in Red Squadron at the Battle of Yavin, losing his life in the attack on the Death Star. Shira Brie joins Rogue Squadron after the Battle of Hoth and gains the trust of her fellow pilots. Jake Farrell pilots an A-Wing at the Battle of Endor and celebrates the end of the evil empire. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's TV tray.

Commentary: While fans wanted a more authentic A-Wing pilot for a while, we didn't expect Hasbro to give us so many. With Jake Farrell, this pack of pilots is less a "who's who!" than it is a "who's that?" of the heroic elite fighting force. The figure itself borrows liberally from the 2007 Tycho Chelchu and the 2008 exclusive Arvel Crynyd, except it's way greener and has a new head. The coloring is a little more subtle, and nothing stands out as being particularly striking-- it's just a good, decent A-Wing pilot. He's very similar to the vintage 1984 and 1985 release, save for the helmet, which is still pretty slick. His straps are black rather than white or cream, and with him we now have three distinct modern A-Wing pilots made from the same super-articulated body. Will we get more? Well, hopefully only to go out of their way to replicate that vintage figure as perfectly as possible. Otherwise, it's kind of boring, and the outcry from fans for more pilots is starting to feel strained. After three Evolutions packs and numerous comic packs, it's starting to feel like we've had enough-- if not too many-- between 2008 and 2009.

Collector's Notes: The set sat, and may even be available still in your local stores. The entire wave of Evolutions exclusives had wildly variable pricing, and I saw prices in the range quoted above while others claim to have seen it for under $10. As such, it's OK to be cheap. Of the three Evolutions packs for Wal-Mart in Fall of 2009, this was probably the least popular.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,255: April 6, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,254: Zuckuss

ZUCKUSS New
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 92968
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD54
Includes: Blaster, breathing gear, droid part
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: Late 2009/Early 2010
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Zuckuss is one of the bounty hunters that Darth Vader tasks with finding the Millennium Falcon. Although he uses the ancient rituals and keen intuition native to his people, Zuckuss nonehteless fails in his mission when Boba Fett locates the ship first. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's yard.

Commentary: Bounty hunters are generally popular, but poor Zuckuss has been way down the pecking order since the modern line kicked off. In 1998, he was the final one of the ESB hunters to get made as a figure. He was one of the last ones to be made as a 12-inch. And he was also the last one to get a resculpt, plus it's arguable if it's better or worse. It's difficult to tell if it's the lighting or what, but this new figure's outfit doesn't quite match the packaging. The figure is a richer, dark brown while the photos seem more tan. With the cloth lower part of his robes, the figure looks somewhat mismatched despite being his most articulated version to date. It strikes me as odd that Hasbro would give him the full 14 points of articulation, as his chest armor piece seems to hinder movement slightly. It's great that he can hold his gun and stand around-- two very important things-- but he just doesn't look or feel quite right. The head doesn't match the picture, and the weird split between the top and bottom part of his costume just doesn't do him any favors. Hasbro certainly improved on the 1998 release, but I expect fans will still be ready to buy another even more improved version in the next five years-- should Hasbro make one.

Collector's Notes: A repaint is already planned in "Kenner" colors as a 2010 Comic-Con exclusive. It seems to look better if you ask me. The standard carded release seems to be shipping regularly as of early 2010, but as he's a bounty hunter he tends to sell. Keep looking!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,254: April 5, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,253: Super Battle Droid

SUPER BATTLE DROID & Roth-Del Masona
The Legacy Collection Target Exclusive Geonosis Arena
Item No.: Asst. 91751 No. 91757
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #4 of 6
Includes: Jedi, lightsaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99
Availability: October 2009
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's Arena playset.

Commentary: Based on the best Super Battle Droid mold this for (initially from 2007), this figure features the sculpt revisions introduced in 2008 as part of the Saga Legends line. This figure is much cleaner, without the dirty deco splashed over the figure. He has about 9 points of articulation, and is sculpted to look pretty much exactly like the movie. Sadly, he can't assume all of his signature poses, but to date this is the best Super Battle Droid mold you can buy. Picking up this set to get another one for your army plus a new Jedi Knight character is a decent enough move, particularly if you can get it cheap. It's not a big improvement over the other releases, but it is a trooper droid and certainly looks different enough that I'd be lying if I said I wasn't happy to get one.

Collector's Notes: These sets weren't huge sellers and who knows what the future holds for them? Right now you can probably get them at or below the issue price.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,253: April 2, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,252: Clone Trooper (AT-TE Squad)

CLONE TROOPER Three Dot Flavor
The Clone Wars AT-TE Assault Squad Battle Pack
Item No.: Asst. 87752 No. 87881
Number: n/a
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Includes: Blaster, rifle, rocket, launcher, 3 more clones and accessories
Action Feature: Firing rocket
Retail: $23.99
Availability: Early 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars Movie

Bio: Clone troopers storm the mesa, fighting battle droids on the ground or climbing up the cliff in AT-TE walkers to reach the monastery. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: Who is ready for more of the same? This Clone Trooper is similar to other grey-striped releases, except he has three dots on his chest, which, I'm not entirely sure, probably specify a rank in a guidebook I have not yet seen. The clean body uses the 2008-style body with the original helmet, so it's lacking the little notch cut out of the chin we started seeing on helmets in 2009. The articulation is good, the style is nice, and as figures to cram in your vehicles go, these are pretty good. I'd grab a bunch if I were you, but there's no guarantee you're going to find them particularly cheap these days.

Collector's Notes: Out of production, the set is a little tricky to find these days. Still, check those out-of-the-way Wal-Marts or those Asian eBay sellers with lots of these in a single auction.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,252: April 1, 2010