Friday, September 30, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,643: Geonosian Drone

GEONOSIAN DRONE and Special Ops Clone Trooper
The Clone Wars Target Exclusive 2-Packs
Item No.:
Asst. 31362 No. 31680
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Stand, Sonic Blaster, Clone Trooper
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: Late February 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Clone troopers battle Geonosian drones to stop the production ofm ore battle droids. The special ops clone trooper is a highly skilled marksman. With his DC-15a blaster, he takes aim at the swarms of Geonosian drones that are attacking the Republic forces. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: I'm of two minds about this Geonosian Drone figure. It has a good sculpt with a lot of detail, and that's good. There are about 14 points of articulation, and that's what we supposedly want. The problem stems from the design itself, which does not lend itself to long-term display. The figure can stand, but it needs additional support-- if you use a small doll stand like you can find at a craft store, he'll stay upright, otherwise gravity will get the best of him as the included display stand won't help compensate for gravity's effect on his leg joints. Having said that...

This is one of Hasbro's best-looking Geonosian figures. I've got 'em all, and I really like how this one turned out. Using a new modular design which allows Hasbro to easily add or remove elements from the figure, his face has a few colors of paint on it which bring it to life nicely. His expression isn't necessarily vicious or mean, but it's certainly stern and a little menacing. With giant nostrils and a smattering of brightly-colored adornments, it matches the show nicely and just feels more lively than a lot of the other Hasbro figures. The deco just makes this mold come alive, and it's too bad that (to date) the only way you can get this figure is in an exclusive 2-pack. The companion clone is nice, but this is arguably the neater of the two figures.

Collector's Notes: The set lingered for a while-- for all I know you might still be able to find one-- but it seems this assortment is now long gone. I don't really feel the set was a spectacular deal at $15, but anything under $14 or $13 starts to get into "value" territory. It's neat enough to grab, especially if you can stumble on a lot of them for cheap.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,643: September 30, 2011

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,642: Lando Calrissian

LANDO CALRISSIAN General
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 97568 No. 28439
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: VC47
Includes: Pistol, cape, removable holster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99-$10.99
Availability: February 2011
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

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 Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: Hasbro's General Lando Calrissian figures have been a mixed bag. The first one (actually a Kenner figure) in 1998 was a little beefy-- but he looked good. The 2004 one was pretty neat, but the proportions still felt a little off. In 2011, we have probably achieved as close as we're going to get to perfection with this release. The legs are shared with Bespin Han Solo, but the rest of it is pretty much unique to Lando. The cap hangs well, or as well as can be expected for a toy of this scale, and the deco more or less works great. The hair seems a smidgen bushy for Billy Dee Williams, but you've got the costume, the cape, and the moustache-- the ingredients are basically here, but the look and feel is essentially just close enough. (It's like most Luke figures-- it's LIKE Luke, but it's not always like Mark Hamil.)

Articulation is good-- and by good, I mean it's done with your vehicles in mind. The hips have lateral movement (hence why they may look a little strange), allowing him to sit in the pilot's seat. With no holster on his hip to get in the way, it's arguably a better pilot than most Han Solo figures turned out to be, although getting him in just the right pose is still a little tricky. With just enough detail on the uniform, this is likely to be the best, and I assume last, take on this character for a while. (If history is any indication, the soonest we'll see another one is in 6-8 years.)

Collector's Notes: Rather than reproduce the original The Power of the Force cardback, Hasbro put Lando on a Return of the Jedi card-- while true to the movie, it's not how the original toy shipped. It still looks cool, and I appreciate the fact that it's something different. To date this figure has only shipping in one revision of one wave, so if you see him piling up that's just demand-- there's as many of this Lando as there are of Dagobah Luke, so far anyway.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,642: September 29, 2011

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,641: Omega Squad Sniper

OMEGA SQUAD SNIPER 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, shin dongle, 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' parking lot.

Commentary: If you like Omega Squad Clone Commando figures, here's another one. Not explicitly named on the packaging, this black redeco of Sev comes with his accessories and not much else-- the figure is molded in blck, with some minor grey detailing to bring him to life. His visor is a metallic blue, which looks great, and his 10 points of articulation will no doubt continue to infuriate fans for minutes to come, until another figure gets in their vision, because there are almost 2,000 of these things and let's face it: why dwell on being mad?

The design and sculpt are good, the black coloring absorbs a lot of the detail in the armor but black repaints are traditionally always a good thing. Fans like them, and they sell. As part of a gift set which is no longer available, it'll cost you-- but all four commando figures are pretty similar, so if you only got one, you've pretty much got them all. (There are some very minor deco and accessory changes.) I like this figure just fine, and wouldn't mind seeing a new version of it hit the shelves again.

Collector's Notes: A single figure (unpackaged) will set you back about $10-$20. The boxed set is significantly more expensive, and was one of the last online exclusive boxed sets that really seemed to catch fire on the secondary market.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,641: September 28, 2011

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,640: Aurra Sing

AURRA SING Babe Fett
The Clone Wars Basic Figures with Galactic Battle Game
Item No.:
Asst. 94736 No. 97562
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW11
Includes: Blasters, rifle, rifle strap, removable vest, stand, game stuff, belt
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99-$8.49
Availability: June 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Aurra Sing is a force-sensitive bounty hunter, mercenary and assassin. She is willing to work for anyone who can meet her price. She provides her expert sniper skills to Cad Bane on Coruscant. Her skills are well known in the criminal underworld, many aspiring hunters seek her out for training despite her reputation as a cold-hearted taskmaster. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: After having disappeared briefly, it seems Aurra Sing is making a comeback at retail all of a sudden. The character, given a cameo in the first prequel and then shuttled off to the Expanded Universe ghetto for years, made a big splash with her return to the galaxy on television and, naturally, she now gets a new figure. Female characters are far and few between, so it makes sense to release to up her cool factor by teaming her up with young Boba Fett, Cad Bane, Bossk, and other cool characters on the show. If you didn't know who she was before, you do now, and as of today this is the best Aurra Sing figure you can get. Another one is due next year, and this is the first new sculpt since about 2001, but still.

Going down the token fan-requirement checklist, this figure has it all. 14 point of articulation. Three weapons. Removable costume elements. Display stand. Working holsters. Removable rifle strap. The only thing that isn't present is any indication of her Jedi-hunting trophies, which were more or less excised from the series to avoid confusion with other characters. The sculpt is good, the range of movement is great, and by raising the waist joint to just below the breasts, you can get some decent poses out of her. Aurra's trademark elongated figures are present, and the paint job is fairly simple-- she looks like a toy, but not a cheap one. I like this figure, and if you're going after all the characters from the various episodes like "Lethal Trackdown" you should go ahead and grab her.

Collector's Notes: This figure has been available on and off since 2010, and it's a quality product. The strap is sometimes difficult to get on just right, and this is more "collector figure" than "kid's action figure," but it's a quality piece and you won't be sorry if you bring her home.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,640: September 27, 2011

Monday, September 26, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,639: Cad Bane

CAD BANE in Clone Trooper Disguise
The Clone Wars Battle Packs
Item No.:
Asst. 35566 No. 35578
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Stand, removable wrist armor, blaster, helmet, Holocron
Action Feature: Removable armor reveals injury, removable helmet
Retail: $26.99
Availability: July 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Anakin, Ahsoka, and Cad Bane escape a Separatist frigate moments before it explodes. The Jedi boarded the ship to retrieve a Jedi holocron and memory crystal stolen by Bane, but their mission fails. As the ship crumbles, Bane hides his identity under a stolen clone trooper uniform so he can escape with the Jedi. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: Hasbro sure does like their bounty hunters! This Cad Bane figure is the fourth release since 2009, not counting repackaged figures, and Hasbro has something new and interesting on each release so far. If you've been collecting with us so far, the armor will be familiar to those of you who bought Denal a few years ago. Bane's armor has blue arms and the body is a mix of figures-- the legs are from the 2008 Clones, while the body and arms are largely from the 2009 redesign we started seeing on Stone. The left arm from the elbow to the fingers is completely new, the white armor can be removed revealing blood and the fingers were carefully sculpted to fit with the holocron accessory.

The finger has a little tab that juts out, while the holocron has a small hole in the side-- you have to look for it-- which lets the hand plug right in. This way, he won't drop it. You can also put the holocron in the backpack, even though it isn't a perfect fit, and the helmet fits about as well as these things tend to these days. It's a pretty good figure overall and the head sculpt-- the first we've seen without those hoses going into his face, which I had originally thought were cybernetic grafted-on parts-- is neat to finally see without gear on it.

It's a crying shame Hasbro didn't sell this one individually-- it's one of their better figures as far as play gimmicks go, and even if he can't exactly sit perfectly, it's a fun enough concept where it's hard to be anything but delighted with it. If your budget permits, get it.

Collector's Notes: This figure (or one similar to it) was originally teased under a sticker on the back of basic figure cardbacks in 2010. It was pulled and word was that he was to be an exclusive for somebody-- that didn't happen. So now the figure is widely available in this 3-pack, which isn't ideal given that you probably already have the Anakin and Ahsoka figures. If you don't, it's a great set-- and even if you do, Cad Bane is neat enough to potentially be worth picking up at a discount.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,639: September 26, 2011

Friday, September 23, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,638: Chewbacca

CHEWBACCA Bowcaster Fires Projectile
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 94736 No. 32843
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW63
Includes: Stand, firing bowcaster, non-firing bowcaster, projectile, Trandoshan blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $8.99
Availability: August 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Chewbacca is captured by Trandoshan hunters, who kidnap victims and hunt them as part of a deadly game. The Wookiee comes across a group of Padawans who have been kidnapped, including Ahsoka, Anakin's Padawan, Chewbacca joins them to find a way to escape from the planet. His immense strength and his technological skills give the group much-needed support. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: Since 2008 Hasbro has managed to sneak a number of The Clone Wars cameos and guests from the original trilogy into the cartoon toy line, to varying degrees of awesomeness. Boba Fett? Multiple outfits. Bossk? Arguably the best toy of the character ever produced. But Chewbacca? Chewie is one of the figures that makes you not believe Hasbro that this is a kid's line, simply because the figure itself feels like it needs some work, specifically in the legs and head. Overall? B, mostly due to sitting problems and face deco, the latter of which could be fixed by a running change or rerelease.

This may surprise you to hear, but this is actually the first completely new Chewbacca mold since 2005. The last new sculpt was for Revenge of the Sith, and before that was the original Vintage 2004 release. Since then the figure has been redressed several times, but not completely resculpted until now when the animation aesthetics pretty much demanded it. This time around, the figure was given a great sculpt and-- at least on my sample-- poor deco. The fur looks just like the CG model, with big strands and shaggy patches being neatly trimmed down in spots so the toy wouldn't have overly shaggy arms, which does make this look like a better toy than a direct translation of the animation model would have. With 13 ponts of articulation, his range of movement should be excellent. Sure, there's no ankle articulation, but you get swiveling wrists and two waist joints, plus with the lack of overly shaggy fur it won't look as iffy when you rotate his hands. I have to give Hasbro major points there for cleaning up the design so it makes a better toy, but he still can't sit. The reason it gets a harumph from me is because the deco fell short in a way that could have been easily (and cheaply) improved, and I'm going to go out on a limb and say this is how you'll feel too.

Chewbacca cannot sit, without surgery. His lower fur "skirt" gets in the way of leg movement, and you can bend them slightly but not at an angle which would allow him to pilot most vehicles. If you pop him apart at the waist-- which is easy courtesy of a ball joint-- you can pop the "skirt" off and he can sit easily. Granted, this is likely not a thing kids would do, nor a thing you would try to do on your own-- but if you must get him inside a spacecraft, that's how you're going to have to do it since Hasbro has an allergy to figures sitting down. It wouldn't be fair for me to dump on the hip articulation without praising the neck movement-- most Chewbaccas are jointed at the neck but cannot turn their heads. This one can actually look left and right. Good job, Hasbro!

Chewie's head looks like a different sculpt at first glance when you compare it to the packaging shots. The released toy has a significantly darker face with overly enhanced reddish pink lips, and the contrast between the light and dark fur repeats constantly and does not appear nearly as subtle as the deco on the packaging. Admittedly, the body fur deco could be attributed to Hasbro's famous photography skills, but the head has clearly been ruined by the altered paint scheme. It's a great head! This happens once in a while at Hasbro, the sculptor does a magnificent, beautiful portrait and the factory goofs it up or the guy in charge of the deco layout made an error. Or maybe it's just taste and I have none-- but I refuse to believe this, the contrast on the head between the dark fur and the bright mouth just look awful. (It is, though, entirely possible that it's only my sample.) Aside from this the deco is pretty nice-- the hands and feet have dark grey for his "skin" which contrasts nicely against the "fur." His claws were not given a unique color, but he does sport the black rings around his eyes, just like the make-up Peter Meyhew had under the original mask in the movies.

Finally, there's accessories-- many of them-- and they're all really good. Not being content to merely give him a gun and call it a day, Hasbro supplied three guns-- two bowcasters and a captured rifle. The Trandoshan rifle has two grips on it and he has no problems carrying the weapon. Both bowcasters are much more durable in feel and were designed to be held in his hands with much less fuss, which is a huge plus in my book. Hasbro gave him a bright green projectile rather than the red one shown in stock photography, and this is the one weapon that falls short-- he can hold it just fine, but the scope and the firing mechanism are going to cause problems. If you push the missile with your finger, it smashes into the scope, and the darned green blast won't even go that far. There are good "marble shooter"-style projectiles out there, this just isn't one of them. (Although I will say that it's easier to shoot than the Savage Opress Axe Cannon.)

If Hasbro lightens up the face and maybe tones down the pink on the mouth a tiny bit-- which they may have, I've only got the one sample-- this is a figure I would suggest all animated fans buy. It's also one of the better overall Chewbaccas in recent memory, mostly because sitting is less and less of a key concern at Hasbro HQ with the character. For his purposes in The Clone Wars, which is mostly shooting, fixing, and fighting, it works well enough.

Collector's Notes: A reasonably new figure, you probably haven't seen him yet. But he is shipping from Hasbro, because mine came from an online retailer!

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,638: September 23, 2011

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,637: Darth Phobos

DARTH PHOBOS The Force Unleashed: Sith & Imperial Troopers
The Legacy Collection Toys R Us Exclusive
Item No.:
Asst. 33259 No. 33261
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: August 2011
Appearances: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game

Bio: Using the power of the Force, this female Sith Lord can warp and control the minds of the weak and make them do her bidding. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: If you're an affluent Star Wars fan in 2011, there's a reason you don't recognize Darth Phobos-- the character was exclusive to the Wii and last-gen Playstation 2 versions of The Force Unleashed game. So if you picked up the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 ports, like any self-respecting gamer, the contents of Toys R Us' latest exclusive set based on the game is largely a mystery. Why her? I have no idea. When a number of other characters spanning other media may be more well known, like a character which appeared in every port of the game, she's a strange choice. But ours is not to question why-- ours is to point a finger and judge how well the character turned out as a toy.

The sculpt is, without question, a good one. The Theelin Sith Lord lacks the detail in some recent figures, but there are numerous sculpted elements which bring her to life like torn pants, laced-up elements to her garments, wrist armor, and... hooves, I guess. (She's the same species as Rystall.) Her hair is well-sculpted, but there's no getting past the deco-- this looks a little too colorful and a little too simple compared to the ornate, fine detail on recent figures. I don't even want to use a word like "cartoony" because recent animated figures have sharper paint jobs with more subtle shading, which this figure does not have. The in-game model appears more muted, while this is downright vibrant. I hate using a phrase like "ha ha she's going to fight Rainbow Brite" but... admit it, you think that too. Except for the lack of ankle joints, the sculpt is essentially super-articulated and that's always a plus for a figure which has little chance of ever getting a second release.

The lightsaber deco is exceptionally good. The paint job makes it look like metal, the silvery plastic has some added black that brings it to life in a way I've never seen on a Hasbro toy lightsaber accessory before-- it's genuinely impressive and worth examining up-close if you see one in stores (or buy it.) Since the deco doesn't match the source material I have a hard time being excited about this one, but I have to admit I wasn't excited about her in the first place-- characters from lesser ports of games I've played (so I've never "met" them for myself) are gleefully obscure, but if you're going to give me a light blue alien with darker blur markings, WHERE THE HELL IS VLIX AND THE FROMM GANG? Excuse me, I had something in my throat. What I meant to say was, the figure has the building blocks of a great release, but the simple deco knocks it down a peg or two. The eyes in particular are a little too stark for my liking, and the costume deco (and possibly sculpt) seems to lack a certain overt attempt at being what I presume to be what you humans call "sexy." It's a nice attempt, but it ultimately feels that it does not properly capture the personality of the character, nor the spirit of how most of Hasbro's toys are made these days.

Collector's Notes: A reasonably new set, she's just starting to show up now and is selling briskly. If history is any indication the set will probably be around for a short time, vanish, and then you'll be angry you missed it when it comes time to pay up on eBay. Why wait? The set is, on the whole, excellent-- the other 4 figures are really good, but just Darth Phobos, on eBay, was selling for $30 in the middle of August. Today she's closer to $15, which is still expensive compared to the entire set.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,637: September 22, 2011

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,636: Clone Trooper

CLONE TROOPER Damaged White Style 3
Original Trilogy Collection Clone Trooper Troop Builder Four-Pack Assortment, Entertainment Earth Exclusive (and others)
Item No.:
Asst. 85688 No. 85777
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster Pistol, collectible poster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $34.99 (part of a four-pack)
Availability: Spring 2005
Appearances: Primarily Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and The Clone Wars

Bio: Virtually indistinguishable from one another, clone troopers are identical in physical appearance, mental capability and stamina. Part of a clone army, they are grown in the cloning facilities of Tipoca City, a luminescent city of industry emerging from the raging seas of Kamino. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: Having since been eclipsed in terms of articulation and sculpt quality, the former gold standard for a good Star Wars figure was this Clone Trooper. Painted many, many different ways, this particular version was one of four "battle-damaged" versions. Hasbro really came into its own with fantastic damage deco in late 2005... but this came out in early 2005, and big black burn marks were what were called for early on. A large black spot on the right shin and just next to the right shoulder set this apart from the rest, sharing the same sculpt with numerous other clones. It ages fairly well, but the exclusive clones from these sets were before Hasbro made new discoveries in white plastic-- so it's possible these will discolor over time, like other Vintage white figures from the 1970s and 1980s. As such, don't display them in the sun. For dioramas and the hardcore Clone fan, you already know that this is a great addition to a display. It's unique and there aren't many white damaged clones out there, so this is a wonderful way to mix up your shelves. On the other hand if all you want is the best example of a given character, well, the 2011 Vintage clone is tough to beat!

Collector's Notes: Time seems to be bad for most Star Wars pre-2008-- which is good for you on the secondary market. A recent eBay sale on this very set closed for $0.99 before shipping... which was $12, but still, that's a freaking bargain.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,636: September 21, 2011

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,635: L8-L9

L8-L9 Arena Combatant
The Legacy Collection Build-A-Droid Figure
Item No.:
Asst. 87535
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number:
Includes: Flame attachments
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: n/a
Availability: Septmeber 2009
Appearances: Clone Wars

Bio: L8-L9 was a prototype battle droid built by TaggeCo during the Clone Wars. The droid was created in the utmost secrecy, and was part of a ploy by Baron Orman Tagge to gain favor in the sight of Palpatine. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' puzzles.

Commentary: With about 14 joints, L8-L9 is an obscure character lover's dream. Hasbro got pretty obscure pretty quick in its build-a-droid offering, bringing in rarely-seen R7 astromechs alongside the likes of this droid glimpsed at only briefly in a giant arena battle royale. This is one of those figures I like to cite when a fan complains Hasbro never does anything good for collectors, when I should just punch that person for being a pest. The red robot has holes in his palms which can "shoot flames" with clear attachments, a really nice touch and a distinctive weapon. Like most figures from this line, he has a great range of movement and can actually sit fairly well or be posed nicely, despite all you really need him to do is to stand and aim at combatants. As the number of figures based on the 2002-2005 TV show are few, I'd give this one a strong "buy" rating along with the Battle Pack Asajj Ventress and the 2011 ARC Trooper Commander (Fordo). This is a release as great as it is obscure, so if you care about good figures you should get one of your own. (And if you get the entire Phantom Menace wave of figures you had to buy to get the components, do that too-- most of them were great!)

Collector's Notes: All build-a-droids were one-wave wonders, as the parts were immediately retired as the next droid bits were introduced. A complete droid sells for $8-$10, quite a deal considering just how weird this one is. While a blue deco exists in the Expanded Universe, Hasbro has yet to make a figure based on that design. Were I a betting man, I assume they never will. If you're a sucker for obscure toy lines, the pegs on build-a-droid figures are very similar to Onell Designs' Glyos figures, if you're looking for limbs to plug in to the bodies.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,635: September 20, 2011

Monday, September 19, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,634: Ponda Baba (Walrus Man)

PONDA BABA Walrus Man
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 97568 No. 32242
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: VC70
Includes: Pistol, alternate bloody arm, fin hands, paw hands, glass
Action Feature: Alternate right arm, alternate hands
Retail: $9.99
Availability: September 2011
Appearances: Star Wars

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 Force be with you! (Taken from the figure's packaging. There is no bio.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: This Ponda Baba is pretty much perfect. It's one of my favorites. There's not much left to do with this guy, from where Hasbro's engineering goes. He's super-articulated. His coat is part of the torso. He has fins with strange little finger grips. He has paws. He has a holster. He can stand, he can sit, he can hold his liquor-- literally, he's got a glass.

This is the first completely new Ponda Baba sculpt since 1997. 1997. A resculpt in 2004 has been reused a few times, but it shared parts with the 1997 version-- so there's never been a super-articulated version of the figure before this one, and someone at Hasbro must have said "let's just put every last possible feature into this figure" because that's exactly what happened. Given the increased prices, it's good they did this-- I wasn't sure if I should be pleased that one of the precious few slots devoted to Cantina creatures would be given to a remake of a figure I was pretty satisfied with, but they did, and I dig it.

The second arm pops off at the shoulder-- just pull it out, it'll pop nicely. The alternate bloody stump arm has a ball-jointed shoulder and a "swivel" at the lightsaber wound, which makes sense given that the main point of this is to be a stump on the ground. The elbow is unnecessary, and the ability to select the paws or the fins is a nice touch. The hands swap easily, and the other feature-- the holster-- works great. The holster opens up a little bit so it can be gripped more easily, it works fantastic.

Hasbro did a bang-up job resculpting this guy. The 1997 figure was ahead of its time and a wonderful release in its day, and so is this one-- the brown shirt is here, the gold belt buckle is great, and they even painted one of the buttons on his jacket. The piping on the jacket is great, the textures on the outfit are magnificent, and the boots are nice and shiny. The holster doesn't grip the leg-- which means he can sit, which means this is a step in the Right Direction. (It's very important for figures to be able to sit.) I had to problem getting this guy into any pose I wanted, and since my vehicles are mostly packed up I didn't have many chances to get him to sit in something sensible-- but I did test him in the big 2010 AT-AT, the 2009 Millennium Falcon, and the 2010 redesign of the TIE Bomber and could get him to fit in a decent way in all of them. Which basically means this: I went out of my way to find something to complain about and could not find it. The figure is just that good.

Aside form the stump, the neatest new feature are the fin hands. The flippers are sort of round, paddle-shaped appendages with three fingers each. The two fingers and thumb are these weird little tube things, and they can perfectly grip the glass or the gun. Perfectly. If you buy only one unnecessary remake this year, this may well be your best bet. At ten bucks I do not feel I wasted my money, and for those of you who know me, I am a cheapskate. As the Aquabats once said, "Don't ask why, just buy buy buy." Cantina lovers, this may be your figure of the year for 2011.

Collector's Notes: This figure hit with some repacks, but the most notable things about this figure are in the packaging. For starters, the cardback uses a different illustration than the 1979 original. Second, it has the Boba Fett mail-away flyer, which does say you can use any Hasbro Star Wars action figures for the offer and does not impose a limit on which assortments. So sender beware! I'd love to see Hasbro try a "Kenner" version someday-- swim fins, stupid vest, green skin-- but I think that's unlikely. I'd buy it though-- if it's as good as this one, it would be a treat. A freaky green treat.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,634: September 19, 2011

Friday, September 16, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,633: Saesee Tiin

SAESEE TIIN Jedi Flight Gear
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 94736 No. 30441
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW54
Includes: Stand, lightsaber, backpack, helmet, dice, card
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $8.99
Availability: August 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Saesee Tiin is an outstanding pilot because of his impressive telepathic abilities and the practice he received flying his starfighter through the challenging winds on his homeworld, Iktotch. When he is on space combat missions, the Jedi Master wears a special helmet and flight pack with swing-out wings. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: In brief, this Saesee Tiin is a very strong figure with a really neat concept of an accessory. The figure succeed, the accessory (as a toy) needs more work. So let's begin with the Jedi-- Hasbro gave him a green lightsaber and cloth robes, so he can easily sit in a Starfighter should Hasbro deem him worthy of an animated ship of his own. (Interestingly, the packaging shows a blue blade.) The sculpt is good, with armored gauntlets, special deco on the armor, and the usual Jedi robes all coming together to give you a strong, all-around great Jedi action figure. If Hasbro just sold you the figure with the lightsaber, I think you'd be quite happy with this release. The head has a good expression, decent deco, and eyes looking up just a little more than I might've preferred-- but it still looks great. He's a good toy figure-- he can't hold his lightsaber with both hands, and he doesn't have ankle joints, but he meets all the necessary criteria of being a good plaything given he can stand, sit, hold his weapon, and fit in a vehicle.

The backpack is where the problems start. You (and Hasbro) may disagree, but I think any time you have to rip a figure's head off to use an accessory you've done the kids a disservice. Part of the fun of playing with a toy is using your imagination and going on an adventure. Ripping off the guy's head is all well and good if you're trying to kill him, but having to pause the action to dismember him, attach a harness, and continue? Awkward. It's not good play unless swapping heads is part of the activity. What's more, the backpack itself doesn't hold together well. It falls off the harness easily, and the fold-out wings fall off the pegs as you turn it. There's no avoiding this-- the tension just causes them to fall off unless you push back heavily on the wing as you go. I'm a little disappointed-- Kenner perfected the perfect pop-out wing backpack years ago, with figures like Tec-Shield Batman and Future Batman being fine examples of the action feature functioning well.

As a collector, you probably won't care-- the backpack is something that belongs in your junk drawer. As someone who messes around with the gear and loves big goofy accessories, I'm disappointed because the look is good, the idea is neat, but the execution is disappointing. The helmet, though fits absolutely perfectly and is painted quite well. So it's a mixed bag-- I think adult fans who like this line will get what they want from this figure, but I expect kids will be a little disappointed at the weak large accessory not being as fun, or solid, as it should be.

Collector's Notes: A new release, he ships in an assortment as one of a few new figures, along with a revised Captain Rex, a Stealth Clone Trooper, a snowy Kit Fisto, Seripas (who is AWESOME), and several repackaged figures.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,633: September 16, 2011

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,632: Darth Vader

DARTH VADER The Empire Strikes Back
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 97568 No. 97580
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC08
Includes: Lightsaber, 3-piece helmet, cape
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $8.99
Availability: June 2011
Appearances: Empire Strikes Back and/or 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 Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: Complain as fans do-- frequently-- Darth Vader is Hasbro's most bankable non-trooper character from the movies. If they want to make sure they have a repackaged figure in a case which will sell, this is the one you want to keep cranking out. I'm actually really surprised Hasbro stopped shipping him in the cases by early 2011, as they could just change the logo and swap the cardback photo and sell another 30,000 pieces. Easily. But anyway.

The figure is the same body as the 2005 Evolutions Darth Vader, which has been the basis for numerous versions of the Sith Lord since then and remains Hasbro's best non-Star Wars-specific version of the character in toy form. He can stand and sit well, he has cloth elements so he can actually pilot a ship, and the armor sculpting is really great. The "new" elements of this figure are largely in the head-- specifically, the face and helmet. In 2008 Hasbro redesigned the mold to have a 2-piece removable helmet (a dome, plus a lens piece that comes off.) This time around all 3 pieces are removable, so if you pop off the head you can actually see a sculpted chin and mouth under the rebreather portion of the helmet. It's a really cool detail, but it's kind of bad as a toy. You see, when you have removable parts, they sometimes fall off. The dome doesn't stay on really well, and Hasbro hasn't had a new Darth Vader without a non-removable helmet since 2005. (It's time to go back to basics.) The sculpting is great, and the Sebastian Shaw likeness is... well, it's OK, but the deco is still in need of improvement. At the end of Return of the Jedi, Darth Vader had these huge rings under his eyes and lots of color surrounding his very pale skin. This figure is a sort of zombie grey color. Hasbro: you can do better. If you're going to give us another run of this guy without a glued-on helmet, please make him look more like those last few moments of Return of the Jedi. Or the Darth Vader 2.0 Mighty Muggs figure, or the second Darth Vader Unleashed action figure, they both nailed it.

As you can see in the photo, there's a nasty paint glitch on the figure-- and every loose sample I've seen so far. The chin has the paint scraped off it, giving it an extra-ugly appearance. Basically, it looks like Hasbro missed a spot. I've heard some fans say they believe this is an intentional move on Hasbro's part, but I can't help but think this was unintentional. It just doesn't look very good.

For collectors, this is as good as it gets right now-- but it still needs work. After all, his hands aren't very good at holding his lightsaber, the belt does not have a place to hang his lightsaber, and, again, the dang helmet won't stay put.

Collector's Notes: Despite complaints, this figure was always one of the ones that sold out really fast-- non-collectors will buy this one. Right now you're unlikely to find one in the wild, so good luck. I heard people complain it was over-shipped, but eBay says it's worth $15. The new Cloud Car Pilot can't claim that.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,632: September 15, 2011

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,631: Captain Rex

CAPTAIN REX ARC Troopers
The Clone Wars Battle Packs
Item No.:
Asst. 94743 No. 19682
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Pistols, rifle, bipod, helmet, game card
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: September 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Captain Rex is tough, discilpined and always focused on the mission as his top priority. He aims his sharpshooter blaster to clear a path through the droids. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: Rex sells. So Hasbro was well within their rights to include him again with the hard-to-find ARC Troopers Battle Pack, one which we all hope they give another run to in the future. Captain Rex has been given a new helmet and the head sculpt is different from the original release, similar to that of Bly. The deco is different, with distinctive blue line "damage" this time around, and a newly-tooled gun which is (to date) exclusive to this figure. It's not a bad Rex, as it has all the articulation of a regular Rex and a newer helmet sculpt which is slightly more authentic to the TV show and the rest of the toy line. With something like 8 versions of this Rex armor available, no one is really any better than the others, but this is probably your best bet. Not because of greatness, but because he comes with three other awesome figures you'll want.

Collector's Notes: Due to seemingly low production and high demand, this set is expensive. How expensive? eBay says $75-$150. This is preposterous. Hasbro: get on a reissue, please. These prices aren't going to make the kids happy, please give them a shot at this surefire hot selling set. The kid-driven Clone Wars line has had a much stronger secondary market presence, as (believe it or not) kids do patronize comic and collector shops to get the figures they want, and sometimes have to shell out extra cash to get the ones they want. I don't care for this happening, but it does, and it shows what a healthy older (or spoiled) kid component can do to a line's longevity.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,631: September 14, 2011

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,630: Anakin Skywalker

ANAKIN SKYWALKER and Can-Cell
The Clone Wars Figure and Vehicle Assortment
Item No.:
Asst. 91349 No. 91354
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, bug
Action Feature: n/q
Retail: $16.99
Availability: June 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano hitch a ride on a can-cell to escape the villainous Asajj Ventress. The Jedi and his Padawan face their foe on the monastery's landing platform on Teth. Anakin leaps onto the giant dragonfly and saves Ahsoka and Rotta the Hutt just as spider droids destroy the platform and it hurtles to the ground far below. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: This Anakin Skywalker was one of many variations on the basic 2008 design-- slightly different deco and accessories resulted in some barely-different figures with unique gear like a giant bug. If you want a super-articulated Anakin figure, this is it-- 14 joints and a cloth lower outfit allow him an increased range of motion, plus his scar is more pronounced than on other knee-bedecked versions of this character. It's good-- I'd say get it, if you like this outfit, as it's one of the few which can sit in a vehicle easily without damaging elements of the figure.


Collector's Notes: The Can-Cell was originally developed for (and removed from) Revenge of the Sith, and a slightly redecorated version of the insect comes with Anakin here. The insect itself is not a particularly awesome toy, plus the 2005 release came with Yoda for only $9.99-- a much lower price. The version with Yoda sells for about $2. This version doesn't seem to be moving these days. This Anakin mold was used in a B'Omarr Monastery Battle Pack and was also packed with a Desert Speeder, so you've got a few options.


--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,630: September 13, 2011

Monday, September 12, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,629: Clone Trooper Fives (Kamino)

CLONE TROOPER FIVES Defend Kamino
The Clone Wars Battle Packs
Item No.:
Asst. 35566 No. 28533
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Gun, helmet, stand, more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $26.99
Availability: July 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: CT-27-5555 was a clone trooper who served in the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars. Because of his assigned clone number, he was given the nickname "Fives." (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: The boys from the episode "Rookies" are something of a big deal to some fans of The Clone Wars-- like me, for example. I was pretty pleased to see the guys as recurring characters in new armor, plus a rank advancement. Fives gets his second figure with this release, a mass-release set based on the season 3 debut where he got to defend Kamino from hordes of invading droids. He has new armor with some nice graphics featuring some lettering and a logo (see below) as well as barcode-like stripes on his legs. I'm not sure if the barcode itself holds any significance or is just a broken stripe, and being in the worlds of retail I see it as something you scan at a store.

Fives' body is the basic 2008 Clone body, complete with ankles and swivel/pivot wrists. His helmet is the newer style, with a slightly different chin and forehead being the most obvious changes. So really, Hasbro did the best body, with a good head under the helmet, complete with the beard and the "5" tattoo on his head. The only real problem with the figure is the alignment of his deco. There are so many applications, it becomes obvious if something is a little off-center, and on my sample, it was. While the blue paint seems to be positioned correctly, the red "eyes" and "mouth" of the creature painted on his helmet were shifted slightly to the left-- so be careful if you have the chance to examine it at retail. Depending on how he's posed in a display, it's less noticeable, but this is something that might bug the snot out of you over time. I like the character, the figure, the deco, and the set, so I say go get it when you can. Heck, order it at the link below, because I get a cut of sales made through it. (Hooray, sponsors.)

Aurebesh translation: Five's arm (and Echo's leg) have a design with a Z-6 rotary blaster canon in a circle with some lettering beneath it. It's very small. It reads: "For Hevy," referencing the clone gunner who met his end at the end of the season 1 episode "Rookies." (If it's been more than a year, it no longer constitutes as a spoiler.)

Collector's Notes: This wave of Battle Packs marks an interesting historical turn-- the first Cinema Scenes were $15-$20 for 3 figures, and mutated into various 4- and 5-figure sets for about $20 over the years before raising costs returned us to 3-figure sets again. While mostly repaints, the amount of paint is greater than average. It's a new set, and obscenely popular-- with Echo, Fives, and the new ARC Trooper Blitz, this is one of the sets you Clone fans need to buy now because if you don't, you'll be sorry. The kids LOVE the ARC Troopers.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,629: September 12, 2011

Friday, September 9, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,628: Clone Pilot

CLONE PILOT Republic Attack Shuttle
The Clone Wars Vehicles
Item No.:
No. 28533
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Gun, stand, very large vehicle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $69.99-$79.99
Availability: July 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Clone trooper pilots were special clone troopers bred in the Kamino cloning centers for the purpose of piloting craft of the Grand Army of the Republic and the early Galactic Empire. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: This one's different. I know this Clone Pilot from the Republic Attack Shuttle looks like the 2008 Odd Ball, but it's not. It uses the newer body which debuted with Stone in 2010, has a slightly differently painted (and differently molded) helmet, plus he has a chevron on his arms. I won't say it's better, but it looks cool and is different than the existing pilot. It also fits in the ship well-- the figure doesn't need to sit to fit in the pilot's chair, just bend his legs a little bit and he'll slide right in. (This is, of course, good enough for me. If the figure fits, I'm happy.) The range of motion is good, but with only 12 joints he's not as poseable as his 2008 ancestor. I would advise you get him because of the unique deco and, frankly, the big ship is pretty cool. It opens up like the old Battle Beasts playsets, and any time anyone does anything to be more like Battle Beasts, I think we all need to buy it.

Collector's Notes: This drove me nuts: they hid his white blaster inside the ship. There's a gun rack in one of the wings, and the gun is inside the wing when you open the vehicle and not in the plastic baggie of torpedos and the labels. This figure is effectively the same mold as Goji, repainted for your approval. There are two pilot seats, so you'll probably want to make sure you have at least one more pilot to flesh out this vehicle. And another dozen clones to pilot all the gunner and battle stations on the ship.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,628: September 9, 2011

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,627: Ki-Adi-Mundi Concept

KI-ADI-MUNDI Concept Design
The Legacy Collection Droid Factory Figure
Item No.:
Asst. 87535 No. 91435
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD38
Includes: Lightsaber, droid part
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: October 2009
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith concept art

Bio: In this Episode III concept art by Derek Thompson, Ki-Adi-Mundi wears a cape and has an eyepatch over one eye. This more battle-weary appearance was designed to indicated that the Clone Wars have been raging for years and are taking their toll on the Jedi. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' former back yard air conditioner unit.

Commentary: One really neat (but abandoned) concept for Revenge of the Sith wast o have beaten, haggard-looking Jedi running around showing off the scars of the Clone Wars. One of the really awesome designs revealed to fans in 2005 was Ki-Adi-Mundi missing an eye, with an added bandolier and a unique new Jedi outfit. Back in 2005 the idea of getting a line of figures based on concept art again seemed unlikely, but from 2007-2009 we received about 20 of 'em. How awesome is that? I'm really thrilled this was one of their new designs, because it reminds me a lot of the kind of world-building we saw out of Kenner in the 1980s and 1990s with ALIENS, Robocop, Batman, and other lines-- except that it came out of Lucasfilm. The figure really does look like it belongs in the movies, and has some of the best (if not the best) articulation of any Ki-Adi-Mundi figure to date.

The outfit (and the sculpt) are unique to this release, so I'd say you should get it. Concept figures belong in any collector's stash, and this was an extra-awesome design that really does belong in a toy line. I hope Hasbro can find more adventure-oriented action-packed figure designs to adapt to the toy line, because this was a great way to expand the toy universe while giving collectors something that kids would probably like, too. Well done!

Collector's Notes: Despite being hard-to-find, a lot of figures are basically worthless. This is one of them. It came out at $8 and today... that's about what it'll set you back on eBay. You can probably get it cheaper if you luck into a lot. Get it if you can, it'll go great with your gauntlet-bedecked 2009 Plo Koon. This is one of my favorite figures since the movie series ended, and we've had a lot of great figures since 2005. Do yourself a favor, get one.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 1,627: September 8, 2011

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,626: Castas

CASTAS Speeder Bike
The Clone Wars Class I Vehicle (Mini-Rigs)
Item No.:
Asst. 29960 No. 29956
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: I
Includes: Blaster, stand, Speeder Bike vehicle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $18.99
Availability: July 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Castas pilots a speeder bike to hunt down his prey. The speeder bike is fast and lightweight, a suitable vehicle for hunters to chase anyone fleeing from capture. Bounty hunters like Castas prefer these bikes for their front-mounted blasters and hidden side blasters. (Taken from the figure's product info page on Hasbro.com.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: Fact: collectors love bounty hunters. Upon its release, Castas and his speeder bike seemed to be the fastest seller of the new mini vehicles, largely on the strength of the figure. The vehicle is no slouch-- the newly-designed bike stands nicely, features a seemingly superfluous kickstand, and articulated handlebars-- but everybody wants Castas to go with Aurra Sing, Bossk, and Boba Fett. At this time it seems Aurra is suddenly shipping again as of late July, but Bossk remains exclusive to his Slave I vehicle set and single-carded Bobas are long gone.

Castas works nicely as an action figure. Stylistically, he fits in with the bulk of The Clone Wars but his design seems a little bit simpler, with fewer fabric folds and textures. If anything, he seems closer to the original Droids figures in some respects-- significantly better, but spiritually on the same page. The doglike face sits atop an asymmetrical body, slouched to one side with long legs and a beefy body. His hands sport two fingers and a thumb on each hand-- I didn't even notice this on the cartoon-- and he's much more colorful in appearance, which is a nice touch. He sports a logo on his costume and bike, although I have no idea what it actually means. Hasbro ensured the figure sat on the bike nicely, so be sure to give this one a try-- he even looks good without the vehicle, and we get so few cool villains in the line that I just have to advise you to get him before Hasbro starts shipping him and he shoots up to $40. Mark my words: this will happen. It might be 2 years but it'll happen.

Collector's Notes: This same bike was also slated to come with young Boba Fett at Toy Fair 2011. (At that time they pegged him for a Spring release.) To date no new date is given and it's not known when or where it will hit, but we can assume it might be in a later wave of this assortment if it hasn't already been pulled out as a future store exclusive. Also, this is the only Castas figure to date. The Aurebesh on his bike reads "Dog Faced Bounty Hunter."

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,626: September 7, 2011

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,625: YVH-1

YVH-1 Build-A-Droid
The Legacy Collection Droid Factory Figure
Item No.:
Asst. 87535
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: Removable limbs
Retail: n/a
Availability: November 2009
Appearances: New Jedi Order novels

Bio: The YVH 1, or Yuuzhan Vong Hunter One combat droid, was a battle droid developed by Tendrando Arms as a means to effectively combat Yuuzhan Vong warriors. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' former back yard BBQ.

Commentary: Figures which hail from novels are pretty uncommon-- usually a "book" figure actually can trace its roots to a comic panel or a book cover, so this YVH-1 figure was a somewhat unlikely creation as his head sorta appeared on a book cover and a full-body design appeared, eventually, elsewhere. It's a unique mold-- most build-a-droids were made with repaints in mind-- and it's an army-builder, shipping with some figures which weren't supremely easy to find. The figure itself is pretty nicely done, although the design (especially when reduced to the 3 3/4-inch scale) screams "Terminator" more than "Star Wars." The skeletal robot was meant to evoke the Yuuzhan Vong warriors, except robotic, and a voice (in the books) based on that of one Lando Calrissian. So basically you have a Lando-bot designed to kill aliens. I can't fault that as a concept.

The figure has 14 points of articulation and like most build-a-droid figures, lacks ball-jointed shoulders. He does sport 14 points of articulation, which is pretty swell, although I doubt most of you are going to do much with this guy once you assemble him. The detail is good, although the plastic choice doesn't really evoke "metallic soldier" all that much as it's sort of beige and the way this kind of plastic interacts with light makes it feel less awesome. The painted parts, and the silver blaster, look great though and Hasbro's sculptors did a great job recreating the source material here. It's a nice figure, but given the size of the line-- I mean, damn, it's huge-- it may not be an essential buy unless you're a really big fan of the Expanded Universe. (Not being a huge fan of the novels, I didn't know that this guy was a thing until Hasbro announced the figure.) I'd say get it if you like droids and toys from the distant future of Star Wars.

Collector's Notes: There are two toys that more or less reference cable news networks-- YVH-1 and the vintage mini-rig, MTV-7. His many parts shipped with n Revenge of the Sith-themed wave of figures in 2009, and that wave was actually somewhat difficult to get in many markets. A complete loose figure is worth about $10. Since the figure was distributed as a bonus part with other action figures, packaged samples don't technicaly exist.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,625: September 6, 2011

Monday, September 5, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,624: Felucian Warrior

FELUCIAN WARRIOR Second Edition
The Legacy Collection Toys "R" Us Exclusive Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Figure Packs
Item No.:
Asst. 97910 No. 97912
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #2 of 2
Includes: Bone club/sword/whatever
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $29.99
Availability: April 2010
Appearances: The Force Unleashed

Bio: Felucians use their natural Force abilities to control their environment, including the ferocious rancors. The native inhabitants of Felucia expertly wield their bone swords, showing no mercy to those who threaten them. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' guinea pig room.

Commentary: In The Force Unleashed game, you could slice up Felucians of varying shapes and colors, although it was hard to get a good look at some of them. With that in mind, I assume this more-muted Felucian Warrior is more or less authentic to the game-- I mean, the bone weapon is bone colored this time around, and the subtle colors seem to blend in with the Felucian Rancor and other scenery in the game. The design is nothing short of weird, with what I assume is a mask, some suction cuppy things on his arms, and little tiny hands off the arms. It's an unusual design for Star Wars but it seems to sort of kind of fit in with the game universe, I can't imagine seeing these in a movie and it fitting. 10 points of articulation make this a good, but not fantastic, figure-- it's unique looking and different enough to be worthwhile, but I wouldn't suggest tracking down these sets on the merits of this specific figures. (The other ones in the set, though, are worth grabbing.)

Collector's Notes: The sets did OK, and are now gone. So good luck getting one. Loose samples are pretty cheap though.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,624: September 5, 2011

Friday, September 2, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,623: Female Tusken Raider

TUSKEN RAIDER Female
30th Anniversary Collection Bantha with Tusken Raiders Battle Pack
Item No.:
No. 87378
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Staff
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $44.99
Availability: Spring 2007
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Tusken Raiders are fierce desert savages that keep to themselves, and are a terrifying presence to the colonists that live on Tatooine. Swathed from head to toe in rags and robes, Tusken Raiders brandish their bladed clubs called gaderffii sticks with menacing skill. Also known as Sand People, these aggressive nomads dwell in the rocky Jundland Wastes of Tatooine and ride single file on banthas to conceal their numbers. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: If you can't get enough of the Tusken Raider culture, this female of the red clan may be of interest. The red isn't overtly red, so you might not even notice it's different at first glance. Her shoes and lower body are different from her other releases, but the top part is pretty close. (The arms are different as well.) I wouldn't put this at "just different enough to make you mad," but odds are if Hasbro sold it individually you'd be pretty uninterested. As part of the gift set she was pretty neat, but she's basically still a statue. There's not a lot of action in this figure beyond her ability to carry a gaffi stick and haul around a child in a large pouch on her back. The design is neat and I appreciate the new color, but she's a little less exciting than the other recolors in the box. I'd still go out of my way to get one, though.

Collector's Notes: The clans did well depending on the region-- which is a nice way of saying it was rare in some areas and a horrible seller in others. Today the set is $40-$50ish, depending on the week.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,623: September 2, 2011