Monday, April 30, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,794: Commando Droid

COMMANDO DROID Bounty Hunters from Hostage Crisis Animated Series Episode
The Clone Wars Target Exclusive Gift Set
Item No.:
  Asst. 19540 No.  19543 
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, stand, additional figures, crappy DVD
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: October 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio:     Bounty hunters and droids take senators hostage on Coruscant. Robonino, Shahan Alama, assassin droids and commando droids help Cad Bane force the release of Ziro the Hutt.   The villainous posse infiltrates the Republic Senate, captures a small group of senators, and frees the imprisoned crime lord.   Cunning and ruthless, the criminal gang gets the best of clone troopers, Senate commando guards, and even Anakin Skywalker before fleeing the planet.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary:  When I think of the "Hostage Crisis" episode, I think of the IG droids running around with Shahan Alama and his cohorts.  The Commando Droid didn't quite stick in my brain as much, but hey, they were there and we get what appears to be a Black Sun logo on its chest and I love faction logos.  I'd wear it on a t-shirt if someone made it. (Heck, I was lucky enough for someone to make the Separatist logo, a TIE Fighter wing lookin' thing, on a shirt for me.)  So yeah, I like it!  The figure is fundamentally similar to the thing and nicely articulated figure released earlier, except with new markings.  This is a significant repaint with some blue markings, which I assume is either gang-related or some form of odd blue urban camo.

The figure looks great on a display stand and the Commando Droid mold is one of the many good releases put out by Hasbro in what appears to be a decreasingly present animated action figure line.  He can fold up into a tiny little ball for storage reasons too, and his eyes are nice and bright.  You'll notice there's a peg coming off the side of his gun, and that can plug right into his back.   Short of giving fans even more gear, I can't imagine what else you could do to make this figure better.  Hasbro did a nice job and threw two of them in the set, so all I can say is that this was a fun set that I was happy Hasbro made.  Even if it was a crazy slow seller.

Collector's Notes: At $25 this set felt a little expensive, but now we live in the era of $8 or $9 figures so four figures for $25 seems like a pretty good deal.  The set has a DVD with clips form the saga-- worthless, and a waste of money which adds to the cost of the set-- but the newly-sculped Robonino and Shahan Alama are both welcome, and the droids are no slouches either. (The set has two.)  You should be able to get this set for $10-$20 these days, anything cheaper than that is a bargain that you would be a terrible person for skipping.   Screw lunch, you can stand to lose a few pounds. Buy this set!

--Adam Pawlus



Day 1,794: April 30, 2012

Friday, April 27, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,793: R5-D4

R5-D4 Remote Control
The Legacy Collection (US Target Exclusive, pictured)
Item No.:
Asst. 89051 No. 91741
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber remote
Action Feature: Beeps, moves, lights up
Retail: $16.99
Availability: 2009
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio:  R5-D4, also known as Red, was one of the last droids produced in the low cost Industrial Automaton R5 line, a line plagued with malfunctions. As a result, R5-D4 was owned by many beings and in a constant state of used sale. His programming became jealous of other droids that were capable of serving without failure and had loyal masters.   (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' something.  I see some video games.  I'm guessing old apartment.

Commentary:  You don't need multiple remote control droids, but R5-D4 is as good as any.  The sculpt is very similar to the astromechs produced before 2004, specifically around 2002-2003.  The wires on the feet are pretty wonky, and the figure rolls ahead and beeps.  It's cute, it goes forward and backward, and that's it. The sculpt isn't as good as the 2011 or 2006 release, but you really just want to get it to drive around on the table anyway.  There are moving parts, but nothing is jointed in any meaningful way.  It's slightly larger than a normal astromech, but that's OK-- you're getting it for the play feature and not authenticity.

Collector's Notes: This wave of RC droids came and went pretty quick, and now goes for $15 or so per robot.    Oddly, R5-X2 goes for as little as $5, and that droid only exists as an RC figure so far.  I'd suggest starting with it, and if you like it, get the rest.  After all, you need an R5-X2!  R5-D4's overall best figure is the 2006 Saga Collection version, but the 2011 Vintage one with build-a-droid parts is pretty nice too.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 1,793: April 27, 2012

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,792: R2-N3

R2-N3  Royal Starship Droids
Discover the Force Walmart Exclusive Battle Packs
Item No.:
Asst. 38606 No.  38608  
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: R2-D2, R2-R9, R2-B1, display stands, die, cards, droid harness
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.96
Availability: January 2012
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Astromech droids repair the Naboo Royal Starship. The shield generator and hyperdrive are damaged while escaping the Trade Federation's blockade of Naboo. The droids fix the generator, but the hyperdrive is too badly damaged. The ship is forced to land on the remote world of Tatooine to find a replacement part.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' photo area.

Commentary:  For pure story reasons, R2-N3 is the only "new" droid in this set even though he's basically a dead-ringer for R2-A6, a 2006 Entertainment Earth exclusive.  I didn't even know the other green droid had a name until I got this figure, and at the time I write this up in early April Wookieepedia didn't even have an entry for him yet.  The figure is very similar to R2-A6, except he uses the build-a-droid mold rather than the R4-G9 mold and has a few significant paint changes.  The most obvious change is that the eye has a small circle light directly underneath it, and Hasbro neglected to paint one on R2-N3.  Another is that his holo projector lacks the gold ring from R2-A6.  R2-A6 is more vibrant and has more color on him, but R2-N3 seems to have more paint applications and a crisper sculpt with a much cleaner paint job.  Some R2-A6 samples seem to have a tiny bit of color bleed going on.

If R2-N3 had the missing circle under his eye, I'd say he was the better droid.  As it is, he's just pretty dang good and a worthy substitute for a missing R2-A6 in your collection.

Collector's Notes: The set was a late arrival and the last time Walmart had late exclusive arrivals, they showed up at clearance stores like Ross or TJ Maxx or Marshalls.   As such, if you don't find one at Walmart, don't panic! More have been showing up.  The first ones showed up on line in January of 2012 and most people never saw them until at least March if not April... and for all I know you haven't seen them yet either.  But as always, with exclusives, patience tends to pay off.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 1,792: April 26, 2012

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,791: Anakin Skywalker

ANAKIN SKYWALKER  Mos Espa Race
Discover the Force Walmart Exclusive Battle Packs
Item No.:
Asst. 38606 No.  38607  
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Sebulba, C-3PO, Pit Droids, display stands, die, cards, helmets, wrenches
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.96
Availability: January 2012
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Podracers line up at Mos Espa Arena's starting grid to compete in the Boonta Eve Classic Podrace. The mechanically gifted Anakin has built his own Podracer and is assembling the protocol droid C-3PO. The ruthless Sebulba is determined to win the race at any cost. Pit droids are part of the racing teams an eagerly assist with repairs.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' photo area.

Commentary:  The 2012 relaunch for The Phantom Menace really shows that Hasbro has lost its mind when it comes to producing toys.  They're really good at making collectible figures for dioramas, or to leave in the packaging, but the vast majority of the time they don't really take into account little things like you might need an Anakin Skywalker figure to put in his pod race vehicle.  While the figure can be contorted to fit, his arms won't fit on the controls-- and this goes for all of the Pod Race outfit Anakins cranked out in 2012.  (The sick thing is that in 1999, they made one which fits perfectly and didn't rerelease it.   The same holds for Sebulba, but the 2012 Sebulba can be crammed with Brute Force into his ship.)  More complaining about this at the end.

Anyway, this "new" Anakin Skyalker is an acceptable Anakin Skywalker figure, as a standalone thing.  It's a repaint of the 2000 mold, which we've seen a few times over the past decade and change.  The figure is fundamentally the same as the one in Target's "Rise of Darth Vader" 2-pack, except it has no filth on the face and a different helmet.  Between the two, I like the paint job on the Walmart version better.  This Pod Race pilot comes alive with the dirt on his face, without it the figure's skin is far too pale to show the detail.  Being a 2000 sculpt, Anakin has awkwardly jointed knees, plus rotating wrists.  The stiff plastic of his lower shirt makes it a little difficult to get him to sit in a vehicle (or at all), and will distort the plastic if you leave it that way for a long time.  If you just want a display piece, though, this one isn't bad.  It's not particularly impressive, and I think if you keep pulling the helmet over his head it might scrape off the dirt, but other than that?  It's OK.  It comes with a wrench accessory which is a little awkward for his hands, but it's OK.  I appreciate the display stand too, and the Pod Race flags are a nice touch.  It's just that when you get right down it it, you're buying figures which work well as figures or display pieces, not as vehicle drivers.

Collector's Notes: So let me just complain a little more before we go.  The problem here is that we're seeing how Hasbro thinks as a company, and this kind of thinking means that Hasbro has opted out of making suitable pilots for its vehicles.  Vehicles which aren't exclusives.  So what Hasbro did here was to produce 2 vehicles-- arguably from the film's centerpiece, the reason you would want to see it in 3D-- were most likely produced in larger quantities than the figures which drive them, and opted out of using perfectly good figures which do fit.  The only Sebulba available this year was in an exclusive (strike one), and then it was a Walmart exclusive which received unusually late distribution (strike two), and then the figures don't even fit right (insert fail metaphor here.)   The only other figure/vehicle combination that Hasbro routinely botches was Han Solo and Chewbacca with the Millennium Falcon, generally there are seat/figure compatibility issues.  This sort of thing really ticks me off, because the vehicles are already on clearance before the one token new mold for the year comes out with the Naboo fighter and these were generally just a pile of bad decisions.  I hope the line performed well financially for Hasbro, because as toys these are some of the sorriest releases we've ever seen.  Or maybe I'm the crazy one, assuming kids who buy ships want the figures to fit inside them?

I would also like to point out that the Pit Droids pictured on the box are not included with the set.  The Battle Game cards and packaging reflect Anakin's Pit Droids, with an "A" on them, and the included droids match the one included with Rats Tyerell.  I get that sometimes an exclusive set has to be a low-dollar development cash grab, but geez, there were better molds to crank out to go with the vehicles.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 1,791: April 25, 2012

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,790: Ben Quadianaros

BEN QUADINAROS  with Pit Droid
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 37499 No.  37501  
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC81
Includes: Pit Droid, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: January 2012
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

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.  No specific character information.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Ultarama.

Commentary:  After losing the Fan's Choice polls a few times, Hasbro finally gave a figure to Ben Quadinaros after, oh, about 13 years of waiting.  As one of the few Pod Race aliens to get some decent screen time and an on-screen namecheck, fans of all walks of life actually knew who he was.  But for some reason or another, the idea of a kite-shaped biped with suction cups for hair whose torso is 95% face kept getting kicked down the road.  For such a goofy character, this super-articulated Pod Racer came off as looking far more sinister than I would have expected-- the sharp teeth, furrowed brow, and wrinkles turned this guy from a weird little alien into something that's just a little creepy.  Well, "creepy" mixed with what seems to be the aesthetic from The Real Ghostbusters ghosts.  The 3D model from the movie is lighter-skinned, doesn't seem to have his wrinkles quite as clearly defined, and his hair seems a little more managed.  This figure looks like the grim-and-gritty variation on the flustered racer, when what I was expecting was something a little more subdued.

While this wasn't a character I was campaigning for, it was one I expected we'd get eventually... but I was expecting something a little less, well, wrinkly.  I like mean aliens, don't get me wrong, but this character never struck me as the type to have an angry brow and dagger-like shark teeth.   Much like how several Jar Jar Binks figures failed to capture his personality, this figure didn't really strike me as flummoxed or, for lack of a better word, impotent.  The engineering is great, I can tell a lot of work went into the sculpt, and he has no problems holding his gun-- but, and I realize this is an odd thing to say, I'm just not feeling his vibe.   Which is unfortunate because I'm going to go out on a limb we'll never see this figure reissued or revised again.

Collector's Notes: He seems to be selling just fine, so with that in mind it's probably to your advantage to buy him now and not wait for later.  If you collect Pod Race figures, obviously, get him-- otherwise?  I'd say you could probably skip it, but as he's another in a long line of fan-requested figures, even if it is just a few vocal fans that really wanted him, I'm glad to see he made it out.  Even if it did take an unreasonably long time.  I mean, this figure actually lost Fan's Choice more than once.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 1,790: April 24, 2012

Monday, April 23, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,789: SCUBA Gear Ahsoka Tano

AHSOKA SCUBA Gear
The Clone Wars Basic Action Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 37290 No. 37740
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: CW15
Includes: 2 Lightsabers, display stand, swim fins, helmet, launcher, projectile
Action Feature: Launching lightsaber disc
Retail: $8.99
Availability: April 2012
Appearances: Clone Wars TV series

Bio: Ahsoka fights aqua droids in the waters of Kamino when Separatists attack the Republic's cloning facility.  With spinning Lightsaber strikes, Ahsoka battles her way past the underwater droids to reach Tipoca City, where she leaps into the fight to stop the enemy's assault.   (Taken from the figure's cardback.  The picture seems to be from the season 4 episodes on Dac/Mon Calamari, as she did not appear in the Kamino invasion episode in season 3.  Nice one, Hasbro/Lucasfilm Licensing.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' photo area.

Commentary:  By your demand!  You voted and you asked to see this SCUBA Ahsoka Tano before anyone else from these two new Clone Wars waves.  And good for you, because unlike a lot of the figures in this wave, this one feels really different and with few exceptions, the execution is superb.   I'm assuming in this political environment it would be an appropriate gag to say "Hasbro's war on articulation continues," because for nine bucks, I expect at least nine joints.  I got 7.   Basically, she has the same articulation as a vintage 1983 figure plus elbows, with ball joints at the neck, shoulders, and the aforementioned elbows.   I think at this point it's tough if not impossible to tell if Hasbro is really aiming for kids, or collectors, or people who leave stuff on the cards, or what.  As a toy she's great, and as a display piece, this is one of Hasbro's best-ever animated sculpts.  With dainty characters, cramming in a lot of articulation sometimes means certain elements need to be thicker, so the decision to eliminate ankles makes sense.  Knees, not so much.  But man, she looks great.  The wrist armor is exquisitely detailed, and the paint job is exquisite.  There's a little silver, some purple, a little bright red, and some white on her suit which is molded in a deep maroon-ish color.  If you were to hand this figure to me in 1995 and said "this is what toys look like in the distant future," I'd be impressed.

She has zero difficulty standing with her swim fins, although they render the display base somewhat worthless.  Her hip joints are perfect, she has zero difficulty sitting in her Jedi Starfighter.  (I just went to check.)   The lack of ankle joints may be a bummer to some of you, but trust me when I say that she looks and feels tiny.  Her foot pegs may be the smallest I've ever seen, and while I haven't compared her to my other Ahsokas yet (because it feels creepy) it looks like she may have the smallest feet of any of them, perhaps the smallest feet of any 3 3/4-inch figure yet.  Including Salacious Crumb.  There's no way they could probably cram a decent joint in here, so the included swim fins make up for what would probably be long-term problems if she used the included display base.

Her SCUBA backpack seems smaller than you'd expect, so it's not at all obtrusive.  The mask slides right over her head, and is mostly clear-- it's a little frosty in spots, but that actually helps obfuscate this figure's one shortcoming: eye deco.  It's almost perfect (and looks better in the picture than in real life), but you can't really see the whites of her eyes at all, so it looks like her eyes are almost entirely blue.  There's a small black out line around them that's just big enough to block out the whites.   It's obvious someone at Hasbro was saying "I'm going to make a figure with our best paint job yet" and came really really close.  I hope this person is working on other figures, because whatever the next one he or she does is going to be phenomenal.  Oh, and on mine you can tell there's a little scuffing on the eyebrow.  I'm not sure how that happened, as this is how she was when I got her and to be honest I didn't even notice until after I took the photos.  And now I can't un-see it.  Argh.

As to her weapons?  Mostly good. You get a cool small lightsaber and a large lightsaber, which she has no problems holding.  The aforementioned swim fins are perfect, and the rest of her gear just plain fits.  (Although I will say I am a little afraid the mask might snap unless you're really careful with it.)  The big goofy thing is her "lightsaber launcher" which is made from silver plastic and swirly silver plastic makes me nervous.  If you have this figure and it's like 2017 or later, I'd suggest doing a fair amount of research before actually playing with the launcher-- if they're breaking, well, blame Hasbro's choice in plastic.  The accessory is fundamentally the same one sold with the 2012 Anakin, but cast in green with additional silver paint on part of the blade.  It's goofy, ugly, and arguably too heavy for her to really get much use from, and it's also hard for my fingers to fire it while she's wearing this weapon.  So to the drawer of discarded accessories, it goes.  Kenner and Hasbro have done better arm-mounted kid-aimed "action" accessories over the last 30 years than this.

In many respects, this figure seems to be a perfect mix of everything I complain about wanting in this column.  She's got a ton of gear, looks great, stands, sits, and all of her articulation adds to the figure's fun factor.  I think you'll like it, if you can find it, and good luck with that.

Collector's Notes: I haven't seen her in the wild yet, mine came from where I work, and you can probably order one at the link below.   eBay has her pegged at $20, and her assortment (which is so far just 1 assortment) has all of waves 2 and 3 in it.  Just sayin'.   Hopefully these will flood retailers soon, but it's early and I lucked out into getting mine early.  Ahsoka figures in this line have been historically expensive on the secondary market, so it would be to your advantage to get her at/near retail should the opportunity present itself.  Other than the SCUBA Clone with the mini sub released recently, I know of no other characters from this season 4 arc getting the plastic treatment just yet.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 1,789: April 23, 2012

Friday, April 20, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,788: Darth Vader

DARTH VADER Lightsaber swinging action!
Discover the Force Movie Heroes
Item No.:
  Asst. 87752 No. 37754
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #MH06
Includes: Stand, card, die
Action Feature: Swinging lightsaber
Retail: $8.99
Availability: January 2012
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Darth Vader is the evil and much-feared military leader of the Galactic Empire. He seeks to bring young Luke Skywalker over to the dark side. As the two battle on a precarious outer walkway on Bespin, Vader reveals a shocking secret that shatters Luke’s world. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' photo area.

Commentary: I don't quite get why Hasbro selected this Darth Vader for a reissue.  The original 2002 release of this mold was plagued with problems, not the least of which being that it was (and still is) marketed as an Empire Strikes Back sculpt when the helmet, gloves, and chest scream "I'm from 1977!"  This 2012 release does correct a few of the 2002 release's problems, but it doesn't answer the question why the far simpler and more fun 2005 release wasn't brought back out.  (The basic Revenge of the Sith carded Darth Vader has a swell cloth cape and swinging action.)

This figure has a button on the back of his belt which, when pressed, will swing the figure from side to side, letting him "fight."  The lightsaber (now a one-piece plastic item instead of a two-piece metal-and-plastic accessory) is sturdier, and doesn't fly out of his hand.  The cape doesn't fly off as easily, but since it is a removable plastic cape it will pop off during play eventually.  Also, it's worth noting the magnetic features are no longer present, his retooled left hand is now just plastic.  It looks better and sharper than the 2002 release, but isn't as fun. (Or fragile.)  Considering that the figure is a confused mashup of the first two films' Vader costumes, it's a neat curiosity-- but the 2002 release has a chunk of a Cloud City diorama, so clearly, it's going to be the better, and cheaper, option.

Collector's Notes: A relatively new release, this figure should be in a store near you right now.  But again, it's sort of a baffling pick as Hasbro has made far better kid-friendly Darth Vader action figures with fewer fundamental flaws and better sculpts.  The similar-but-better 2012 Vintage Darth Vader just hit, and yeah, you'll want that one instead.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 1,788: April 20, 2012

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,787: Mace Windu

MACE WINDU Order 66
30th Anniversary Collection Target Exclusive
Item No.:
Asst. 87356 No. 87358
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 2 of 6
Includes: Lightsaber, cloak, and Galactic Marine figure
Action Feature: Squeeze legs for lightsaber swinging action
Retail: $9.99
Availability: March 2007
Appearances: n/a

Bio: Mace Windu puts aside his diplomatic mantle to lend his skill as a powerful Jedi warrior during the Clone Wars. He leads a regiment of Galactic Marine clone troopers into battle to stop the Separatist invasions on several worlds. (Taken from the set's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' old desk.

Commentary: Why do you want this Mace Windu? You probably don't, but if you do this 2-pack includes an exclusive hoodless cloth cloak (which is pretty cool) and a uniquely painted Galactic Marine clone trooper figure, which is arguably reason enough to buy the set. The Mace Windu itself brings little new to the table, I had a couple of spares from finding this set on clearance so one of 'em got sacrificed to the toy gods to get sent to China as a test subject for an action figure stand. That's my way of saying "you won't need multiples of this one."

By 2007 this sculpt had really shown its age. We've seen it a few times, but this one at least had the courtesy of adding a new accessory. The figure was originally released in 2005 for the Revenge of the Sith line, but that version had Sith lightning that could surround him and he could shake off when you squeezed his legs. The sculpt is merely OK, it doesn't look a heck of a lot like Samuel L. Jackson in terms of his general pose and demeanor, but collectors looking for every last major variation of Mace Windu with a new accessory are going to want this. There are many better Mace Windu figures, but sometimes it's less about quality than it is getting one of everything. That's what this figure is. Don't buy it for its own merits, but do get it for the purple Galactic Marine.

Collector's Notes: A boxed sample goes for as little as $3, and oddly, this Mace Windu loose has gone for $4-$6. I don't understand why, you people must be stupid or something. I bought one at $10 and another at about $2 on clearance, and I'd say anywhere in between those is totally worth it for the complete set. The Order 66 2-packs are weird and fun, even if they have nothing to do with the event from the film (and even if some of the Jedi figiures from them basically offer nothing new or valuable.)

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,787: April 19, 2012

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,786: Grievous' Bodyguard

GRIEVOUS BODYGUARD vs. Obi-Wan Kenobi
Revenge of the Sith Battle Arenas
Item No.:
Asst. 85241 No. 85456
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Display stand base, electropole, Obi-Wan Kenobi figure
Action Feature: Dueling action, sort of
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Summer 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Battle as Obi-Wan or one of General Grievous' bodyguards, as they face each other on the sinkhole planet Utapau! One remains - the other falls! (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' photo area.

Commentary: I'm generally pretty happy when Hasbro gets a new "trooper" made and does a few versions of it, but for some reason this Grievous Bodyguard figure stayed in its packaging (or at least its insert) until March 2012, at which point I finally removed it because I had a deadline to meet and I had to review something. The interesting thing about waiting to open a figure like this one is you get to see just how poorly modern packaging ages. You know those little clear rubber bands? They crumble like a cookie. Seriously, look at some of your older, well-taken-care-of packaged figures. Those clear bands are now slowly turning opaque and some of them are crumbling even though you've never even touched them. He's surrounded by some plastic which is sealed around his person, and you have to basically rip it apart. It works, but it's some of the more annoying packaging I remember ever having to deal with.

The figure itself ain't bad. Well, the sculpt ain't bad. As a figure it's terrible, but as a statue it looks really cool. He is jointed at the neck and shoulders... and that's it. He has some difficulty standing and may need to be heated or tweaked in order to get the legs in a more normal pose, because I think he's gonna faceplant if I sneeze. This is why leg (or ankle) joints are essential-- no leg articulation may mean a figure can't stand, and since this one can't sit either, it's worthless without its action display base. You can basically use it like a Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robot, but he doesn't seem to like staying on the stand all that much.

As a sculpt, I actually quite like it. The chest has some big gashes and dents, and a few subtle ones can be found on the legs. The paint job seems a lot better than the other 2005 Magnaguards, and it feels thicker and sturdier than the other releases. It just can't stand particularly well and his arms give new definition to "awkward." The figure can assume a pretty good "dead on the ground" pose, and if you take him out of the arena display stand that's probably what you'll be using it for. Still, I hate to knock it because the sculpt and deco are so nice, but given the price it's almost shameful that Hasbro released this. When this 2-pack came out at $20, single figures typically sold for $5.24-$6.99 and had a minimum of six or seven joints. Three just plain isn't cool unless we're talking about Padme or something so small it wouldn't even make sense to give it a joint. This is a release you get if you're a completist only because the Vintage 2010 figure is so much better overall, but I'd be lying if I said the figure didn't have a certain charm. I don't think most of you are going to find that it has enough charm, though, so don't go chasing it down unless it's cheap.

If this were released today for about $10-$15 I think you might be happy with it, as the figures are fun but not fantastic. If you just want little plastic men to hold and smack each other with, you'll like this set. If you want to pose a figure or put them in a ship? Avoid.

Collector's Notes: A boxed sample sold for $3.94 before shipping on eBay recently, and I'd say that's about right. They're not overly common on eBay, but it wouldn't stun me if you could trip over these at the right flea market for $5 a whack. And it's worth at least half that. If memory serves this set came out after the other arenas.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,786: April 18, 2012

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,785: Clone Trooper Scythe

CLONE TROOPER SCYTHE and eggs
The Clone Wars Brain Invaders DVD Set
Item No.:
Asst. 30411 No. 31678
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #2 of 2
Includes: Stand, game card, blaster, helmet, backpack, Geonosian worms, Ahsoka Tano figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: March 2012
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Ahsoka battles brain worms that infect her comrades, including clone trooper Scythe. The Geonosian worms turn their victims into menacing zombies, as Ahsoka finds out during a flight to a medical station. The Padawan must find a way to destroy the parasite and save her friends. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' photo hole.

Commentary: Just like the orange trooper from these sets was mostly the 2008 body, Clone Trooper Scythe builds on that classic buck and gives us the ball-jointed ankles and bend-and-swivel wrists we love so much. As a bonus, he has a removable helmet and an exceptional amount of cool deco. While many troopers like Mixer had a little blue on him, Scythe adds to it with swell tampos on his belt and left shoulder. As an added bonus, his bald head has a swell tattoo on it, making this one of the more interesting figures in terms of clone decoration. (The orange figure from the other pack was notable for a modified helmet mold, so they're each good for different reasons.)

As an added bonus, the figure has two Geonosian worms on him-- one still attached to an egg, and the other gripping his entire right side. It's a great bonus, and this set will go well with Barriss Offee from The Clone Wars if you got her. (Go get her.) Hopefully they'll make more clones from these episodes, especially if Hasbro is going to go the extra mile to add to his belt buckle like that.

Collector's Notes: Originally announced as a Walmart exclusive, this is one of many sets originally announced as an exclusive to the chain which ended up (so far) at T.J. Maxx and Marshalls.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,785: April 17, 2012

Monday, April 16, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,784: Dr. Evazan

DR. EVAZAN Cantina Patron
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 37499 No. 98528
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC57
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: April 2012
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. No specific character information.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' photo area.

Commentary: I put up a poll on this very site to see which of the many new Vintage figures you wanted to see first, and you told me it was Dr. Evazan. Which, as it turns out, shows you have excellent taste. (I was hoping you would have voted for Kithaba.) He turned out really well, and is a fine example of Hasbro saying "Here, it's perfect, now shut up."

In the 3 3/4-inch format, there's a finite amount of detail you can sculpt into a head, and Hasbro has seemingly nailed it. With the original character being covered in makeup and shadows, it's no wonder they got it a little off way back in 1997 when the last head was sculpted. This figure makes him a little rounder, takes his grizzled-factor up a notch, and gets the outfit more or less right. Both hands are posed with trigger fingers extended to fire the gun, and the gun fits into the holster. Oh, and Hasbro used soft enough plastic so he can sit, and the holster was designed so as to not intrude upon the figure's ability to bend his legs... so in short, in many respects, Dr. Evazan is a better toy than most Han Solo figures.

Dr. Evazan has 14 points of articulation, and is basically on par with Hasbro's better efforts. There are no bend-and-swivel wrists, but these seem reserved for Jedi and clones these days. The outfit sculpting is really great, to the point where it's starting to make sense why Hasbro expects these figures are "worth" ten bucks. Other than the painted chest fuzz, which could probably be better, everything is great-- the shirt looks old, the vest texture is great, the pants are nice and dark, and the wrinkles are spot-on. Of course, the head is also quite good with the older hair and the dead eye, complete with scarring and that horribly disfigured nose. His mouth is barely open, exposing a couple of teeth, and this is where it gets really amazing. Hasbro painted the teeth! It's a teeny-tiny detail and you probably won't even notice, but I am impressed.

The only reason to hold on to your 1997 or 2004 Dr. Evazan figures is if you're hung up on that classic style. (I am.) Everybody else: this is perfect, an improvement in every possible way. And yes, you're being charged for it, but the face sculpt alone is something you would probably willingly shell out ten bucks for just to upgrade your existing old figure. Heck, even though Hasbro insists on stamping dates into figure legs (I HATE THIS!) the factory had the courtesy to put it on the back of the thigh, so it's difficult to see. Other than a little paint slop on the front and the back of the belt around the "metal" bits, I can't imagine Hasbro ever doing a better Dr. Evazan than this one. Get it. Get two, if you dare, the packaging is really nice.

Collector's Notes: An essential upgrade, this figure makes up for a Cantina figure which, well, it just wasn't all that great the last two times. I think I can safely say if you like the Cantina, you won't be sorry paying $10 for this new figure which, at press time, has not shown up at brick-and-mortar. You can order it online at the link below (and it's in stock when I'm writing this as part of a case), and as always it makes me look like I'm doing my job well if you do.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,784: April 16, 2012

Friday, April 13, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,783: Kit Fisto

KIT FISTO Wal-Mart Exclusive
30th Anniversary Collection Droid Factory
Item No.:
Asst. 12980 No. 87757
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 4 of 6
Includes: R4-H5, piece of C-3PX, lightsaber, bendy wire robe
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: May 2008
Appearances: Clone Wars

Bio: Jedi Master Kit Fisto is equally comfortable in air or water. R4-H5 flies in Fisto's starfighter to help navigate to help navigate and repair the ship. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' shelf.

Commentary: One of the better Kit Fisto figures at the time, this edition was based on a 2003 version which took its inspiration from the original Clone Wars cartoon. In it, we saw Kit Fisto go swimming and do awesome Jedi things in the oceans of Mon Calamari (or Dac, whatever) and Hasbro was kind enough to make the figure. And then rerelease it in 2006. And again in 2008, which is this version. This one is significant due to a few key changes in deco and accessories. The figure itself has slightly darker skin and a slightly darker brown costume, as the bits on his hands and feet are a little more brown than red this time around. Also, the tips of his, uh, "hair" are more bluish grey with the color extending higher than the previous release, which was closer to a blackish grey. So in the deco department, it's quite different, just not in a way that will make you happy to know it.

The main reason to buy this figure are his Droid elements-- his own personal astromech is included, as is a piece of C-3PX. In addition to those, Hasbro introduced a swell Jedi Robe with a wire in the bottom of the garment so it could be posed in dynamic action displays. For some reason Hasbro abandoned this concept pretty quickly, so we still don't have a Vader with an awesome bendy wire cape. It's really cool and fun, and yes I would suggest you track Kit Fisto here down just so you can have one to play with. The Kit figure itself is neat because it's wort of weird, but with only 8 joints I can't imagine it's going to get a lot of love from most modern collectors.

Collector's Notes: These 2-packs are creeping up in price a bit, so it's closer to $20 now which, sadly, is probably what it would cost if it were new today. I really do like these sets and I would suggest you do go get 'em all to build C-3PX. Also, of all the swimming Kit Fisto figures based on this mold, this release is the best. And yes, it's because of the cape. The others are just the figure and a lightsaber, so this one gets you more bang for your buck.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,783: April 13, 2012

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,782: General Grievous

GENERAL GRIEVOUS Wal-Mart Exclusive Droid Factory Packs
The Legacy Collection Droid Factory
Item No.:
Asst. 14860 No. 91928
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 1 of 5
Includes: 4 lightsabers, cloth cape, blaster, CB-3D figure, Dark Trooper head and rifle
Action Feature: Push down head, arms move
Retail: $17.00
Availability: July 2009
Appearances: Star Wars: General Grievous novel

Bio: In the comic Star Wars: General Grievous, the cyborg general has dark plans for a group of innocent young Padawans. At the same time, the astromech droid CB-3D assists a rogue team, including the droid's master Flynn Kybo, on a mission to hunt down and eliminate Grievous. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: The hit-to-miss ratio for General Grievous isn't especially good. Most of his figures are, at best, OK with a few being genuine flops. And by flops, I mean floppy and hard to play with. This one is pretty solid-- he's a little short, but it takes the 2005 Revenge of the Sith mold which has been reissued time and again, plus holds up pretty well. All four arms are on display, he has jointed hips and knees, and the deco is pretty good. A slightly redder, bonier color looks nice, plus it's surrounded by the (and correct me if I'm wrong) first cloth cape for a movie version of this character. The back of his cape lacks any unique markings and it's a little thick, but I applaud Hasbro for adding a new accessory to make the figure more than just another repack we choked down to get a new astromech droid and a piece of a Dark Trooper.

This Grievous holds together well, plays well, and can stand better than most other Grievous toys. Given his age he is unlikely to impress, but considering what he comes with I would say he is ultimately worthwhile. You might even want to steal his cape for use with another Grievous! But, unless you're new or a big fan of the Expanded Universe, you won't necessarily want this one. (But I love droid toys, so this set was a must-buy for me.)

Collector's Notes: By this point this mold had been released several times, and the price was considered awful for its time. Today, the 2-pack will set you back closer to $20 with the complete set running you between $80 (not bad) and $100 (not great).

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,782: April 12, 2012

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,781: Ratts Tyerell

RATTS TYERELL with Pit Droid
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 37499 No. 26973
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC77
Includes: Goggles, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: January 2012
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

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. No specific character information.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' yard while under construction. Yes, that is a pile of dirt.

Commentary: The 12-year gap between the original Episode I line and the 2012 3D line was such a friggin' blessing. Even though he was developed around 2009, figures like Ratts Tyerell benefitted from a few years of improvements in Hasbro's sculpting and engineering, which is pretty fantastic. Sure, the 1999 Pod Racer figures like Gasgano were good... but this? This is way better.

The tiny Ratts has a huge body and tiny little legs. He looks like he's wearing a diaper, which is either charming or a funny allusion to the rumor/fact/rumor that NASCAR people whiz themselves in the races. If it's not true, I don't want you to tell me. He has jointed hips, shoulders, wrists, waist, and neck which is decent for a little guy. The paint is good, and the grin is spot-on. I love the removable goggles, not just because it's a nice touch but because it fits really well. He also has a gun. I don't know why.

The only thing I feel is missing from the package is a flag, as Hasbro went nutty including flags with almost every other new or reissued Pod Racer. Mawhonic has one. Toys R Us and Walmart both got exclusive sets with flags. Why no flag for Ratts? All or nothing, people. Of course, the flag is just me being annoying about wanting a uniform set of flags to go with the racers-- I wouldn't miss it if other figures didn't have one, and they're not exactly necessary. Much better is a Pit Droid, which was included and has a nifty paint job. For ten bucks it is more expensive than these guys used to be, but hey, two figures? Two accessories? Good paint job? I'm OK with this.

Collector's Notes: Originally meant as a companion figure to Clegg Holdfast, the delayed figure bowed in 2012 as a 2-pack with a Pit Droid. You may still be able to get him easily at a store near you, as he is newish.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,781: April 11, 2012

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,780: ARF Trooper Trapper

ARF TROOPER Assault on Geonosis
The Clone Wars Battle Packs
Item No.:
Asst. 35566 No. 35577
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Rifle, blaster, stand, more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $26.99
Availability: July 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: "Trapper" was the nickname of an Advanced Recon Force trooper that served under High Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi and Clone Commander Cody in the Second Battle of Geonosis. He was then assigned to Mace Windu on Malastare to find survivors in the sinkhole made by a bomb. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Ultarama.

Commentary: By a delightful coincidence, I got this ARF Trooper around the same time I was re-watching the second season of The Clone Wars. He was identified as Trapper, which, I guess, Hasbro didn't feel like doing on the box. There are a lot-- LOT-- of ARF Troopers, and along with Waxer and Boil, there are a lot of other ARFs that look almost exactly like this guy. He's missing the nifty Numa marking, but he's still kinda rusty with camo and orange markings. If we had more Geonosis-themed Clone vehicles, he'd be right at home. But we don't. This is a wonderful figure with ball-jointed hips plus bend-and-swivel hands, so he's really about as good as they come. I love the helmet, I dig the visor, the only real problem with it is that collectors have too many figures that look just like him by now.

...or maybe that's a plus. I guess if you'd ask me if I want 3 troopers that are identical or 3 that are slightly different, I'd go with the 3 differentish ones.

Collector's Notes: The Battle Pack was flushed down the clearance toilet in early 2012, it may still be available at a store near you. For ten bucks or less, consider this a compulsory purchase. For $27... you don't need it. But the Geonosian is pretty slick.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,780: April 10, 2012

Monday, April 9, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,779: Battle Droid

BATTLE DROID with STAP vehicle
The Clone Wars Class I Vehicles
Item No.:
Asst. 36576 No. 37744
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 2 rockets, stand, backpack, STAP, stand, game card
Action Feature: STAP vehicle has launching rockets
Retail: $17.99
Availability: January 2011
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Your "interplanetary" adventures are about to go seriously mobile! Your STAP vehicle is constructed to look just like the vehicle in the epic Star Wars movie and is sized just right for your BATTLE DROID figure. Set your BATTLE DROID figure on the vehicle, then launch him into major Star Wars action! When the battle calls for super firepower, grip the stand and press upward to launch the vehicle’s missiles! (Taken from the figure's web site.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Ultarama.

Commentary: Is it different? Just barely. This Battle Droid is the third redeco of the STAP with Battle Droid first sold in 1998, and each time they change it just a bit. The STAP itself has been reissued with other figures and in Battle Packs numerous times, but as a stand-alone thing with this particular droid mold, it's the third go-round. This time, the STAP has a much richer color-- and honestly, this is the reason to pick it up-- while the figure is very similar to the previous releases, specifically the Sneak Preview one. With about 9 points of articulation, this thing was quite impressive when Kenner first put it out-- but today? Not so much. The sculpt is the very first Battle Droid we ever got, and it's been eclipsed-- but as a driver, it's pretty good. The figure is sculpted to grip the controls, with its feet on pegs to help him steer this flying gun platform. A button in the clear display base moves him slightly, and activates the rockets. But the real question is, how is he different?

The damage is a little different. That's basically it. Unless you have it side-by-side with the 1998 droid, you'll probably assume it's identical. The black grime is a little different, although much of it is in the same position. If you're a vehicle collector, it's worth getting. If you need every last Galactic Battle Game card, pick it up. But the droid itself is not significantly different than the earlier releases, so you could skip it if you're trying to cut back. I think it's the best movie STAP to date, so I'd still suggest giving it a look if you missed the previous releases.

Collector's Notes: It's still shipping! You can get one if you want, but I wouldn't go crazy at $18. If you can get it on clearance, you should-- it's totally cool for $5-$10, and you can get a 1998 or 1999 original for $6 or less. And that's worth it.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,779: April 9, 2012

Friday, April 6, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,778: Mickey Mouse, Jedi Knight

JEDI MICKEY & R2-MK
Star Tours Gift Set
Item No.:
No. 16990900
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Display base, R2-MK, lightsaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $18.95
Availability: Summer 2010
Appearances: n/a

Bio: Whether he is fighting the Separatist forces in the Clone Wars, or helping the galaxy with their struggles against the Galactic Empire, Jedi Master Mickey Mouse is ready to use the Force at anytime. Aided by his new friend astromech droid R2-MK, these allies can complete any mission in the galaxy. Join Jedi Mickey and R2-MK on their many adventures across the stars! May the Force be with You. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' insert box.

Commentary: The question of "does it count?" comes up a lot, and Jedi Mickey was one I kept kicking down the road in hopes that I would not be writing this column at some point and could weasel out of making the call. Some of you will be upset that he's here, and some of you will understand why he is. So why is he here? He comes packaged with Star Wars branding, an unquestionably Star Wars-y robot, and is made by Hasbro. If the Hasbro logo didn't appear on the box, and/or he were packaged separately, you probably wouldn't see a 3 3/4-inch scale Jedi Mickey Mouse in this column. But they did, so I feel obligated to include it.

This is the second version of this figure-- the first has light tan robes and is packaged with (the worst) Yoda, and this one has slightly reddish brown robes but is fundamentally a similar figure. The sculpting is OK-- not bad for Hasbro standards, and it captures the character's personality fairly well. Granted, as an adult American in 2012 I don't see or think about Mickey Mouse much, beyond that great clip on the Soup a few months ago. He doesn't really belong in any diorama or display shelf, unless you pull out your Star Tours stuff. To date (and correct me if I'm wrong) he's the only Disney mascot 3 3/4-inch scale figure to appear in a Hasbro-branded Star Tours product, as the rest seem to be Disney Parks items. (Depending on who you asked at Hasbro, they sometimes are cagey about this being a Hasbro product-- except by its SKU, it's a pretty safe bet it came out of Hasbro. Industry stuff. Long story.)

He can't do much other than look angry and wave around his lightsaber, so this is the sort of thing Disney fans are sure to love while the rest of us probably roll our eyes and grumble they didn't just give us another astromech repaint instead. Hasbro's relationship with theme park merchandise can elicit all sorts of responses in collectors, so let me put it this way: I wouldn't have bought this figure if it weren't for R2-MK. It's a perfectly nice figure but he's one of a tiny number of figures I have no real desire to display, or really even own, so let's move on.

Collector's Notes: Initially a fairly expensive park exclusive, the set is now... still kind of pricey on eBay. Prices start at $20 and go as high as $35, and I do not know about its Disney Park availability as I haven't been to a Disney compound since roughly 2010.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,778: April 6, 2012

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,777: Oola

OOLA with Jabba the Hutt
The Legacy Collection Wal-Mart Exclusive
Item No.:
No. 94727
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Salacious Crumb and Jabba the Hutt figures, throne, throw pillows, pipe, bowl, railing
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $34.97
Availability: August 2010
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Jabba the Hutt and Salacious Crumb sit on a throne as Oola dances for the crime lord. The loathsome Hutt is momentarily entertained by the Twi'lek dancer's graceful performance. His monkey-lizard cackles with glee, knowing that Jabba will soon turn to some other amusement, such as throwing another victim to the hungry rancor. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV.

Commentary: Over the last few years, the value of a dollar has changed a lot as toys go. Now, a basic figure is $9 or $10, deluxe Transformers start at about $13, and it seems the era of a $5 action figure has ended. So the fact that Oola was sold as part of a quasi-pricey exclusive stings a little bit less, but it still ain't cheap. This figure is about on par with any Vintage release, including the requisite articulation, soft goods outfit, and anatomically incorrect nipple-free but exposable breasts. I'm not sure if this was a nod to a scene in the movie, or just the way things worked out to maximize authenticity and blah blah blah. Due ot the figure's facial construction, I'd say she looks a little younger than the last release or Femi Taylor, the actress/dancer who portrayed her on the big screen. The arms are a little thick in spots, but that's more or less normal when you have a lot of articulation. Nearly her entire outfit is made of a net-like material which exaggerates the size of the holes significantly, but there's only so much you can do as you scale a costume down. The sculpt is wonderful, and her collar has a fairly long rope tied to it, so Jabba can yank her around and do whatever. You know, dirty Hutt things. (In the Hutt?)

As the second Oola figure, she's pretty great. I won't say you should toss out your 1998 Oola to get this one, but since you're going to want Jabba and his throne you may as well. If this figure were sold on a Vintage card, you'd happily buy it while kids ignored it, so it's probably for the best that Hasbro stuck it in this gift set. If you can find it at a good price, get it. If she ever is repackaged on a single card, you should probably pick her up... but odds are you'll want the throne, so yeah, get the big set too. Hasbro could probably have done a slightly better figure if they reduced articulation in the arms and replaced the net dress with a sculpted dancer's outfit, but this particular figure has a nifty range of motion and a unique feel you probably won't see anywhere else in this (or any other) action figure line. Seriously, where else can you push aside a costume and see what amounts to a mutilated green breast?

Collector's Notes: Initially exclusive to Walmart stores in 2010, this set showed up at online store Entertainment Earth in 2011. (You can order it at the link below, unless they ran out, there was a run on them it seems. I get a teeny cut of it, so really, your buying one is basically charity.) The set was tough to find in many Walmarts, so if you missed it on the first go-round, get one now. It's possible but incredibly unlikely she may remain at a Walmart near you, so the stories of rural America tell me.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 1,777: April 5, 2012

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,776: Lando Calrissian

LANDO CALRISSIAN Sandstorm Outfit
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 37499 No. 49689
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC89
Includes: Cloth poncho, plastic wrap, goggles, communicator, pike, blaster, Skiff Guard helmet
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: February 2012
Appearances: Return of the Jedi deleted scene

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. No specific character information.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' shelves.

Commentary: Fantastic, but short. Also, kinda white. Lando Calrissian is many things, and those aren't two of them-- this figure is an odd example of a misfire mixed with the best execution you'll ever see. Hasbro was clearly switched on when sculpting, designing, and costing out this figure. He has more then enough gear, and is able to appear in his "Skiff Guard" outfit as well as the deleted scene sandstorm costume, but height is something of a shortcoming. He's nearly a full head shorter than the last Lando figure, and that head is pretty pale. I think I have a couple of Lukes darker than this Lando, and that seems just plain odd. With the helmet on, it's not like you'll notice, but I find it pretty frustrating. The darkest Skiff Lando was 1983, and while he was probably a little too dark, I hope any subsequent reissues of this figure go in that direction.

I consider this figure to be essential, despite the height problem, since this is the super-articulated version of this costume. The costume itself looks fantastic, colored closely to the 1983 Skiff Guard Lando figure, which was one of my favorites growing up. If Hasbro ever does reissue this figure, I'd love to see darker skin, longer legs, and maybe a tweaked torso. The sculpt is wonderful, but it just seems Kenner and Hasbro, since 1995, have had a hard time making non-white figures. (And let's be honest, a lot of the whitey figures are pretty pale or translucent too.) The last issue of Skiff Lando was preposterously pale, so here's hoping the next one is exactly like this... but colored better.

Collector's Notes: Probably the best figure of this wave, save for those two issues, he's in stores near your now. Probably. I don't know who lives in your area. If you're reading this years in the future, unless a Skiff Guard Lando came out after this one, make this the one you buy. Height's not everything and it's just got so dang much stuff in the package.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,776: April 4, 2012

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,775: R2-B1

R2-B1 Royal Starship Droids
Discover the Force Walmart Exclusive Battle Packs
Item No.:
Asst. 38606 No. 38608
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: R2-D2, R2-R9, R2-N3, display stands, die, cards, droid harness
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.96
Availability: January 2012
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Astromech droids repair the Naboo Royal Starship. The shield generator and hyperdrive are damaged while escaping the Trade Federation's blockade of Naboo. The droids fix the generator, but the hyperdrive is too badly damaged. The ship is forced to land on the remote world of Tatooine to find a replacement part. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: The third time is the charm! After three attempts, Hasbro has finally gotten R2-B1 painted "correctly." (I don't have photos of the front, back, and sides, but he has a silver dome and that's what I wanted to see.)

The first 2000 release had a vac-metal dome, just as that was going out of vogue. The 2007 release was molded grey plastic, unpainted-- which matched pretty much zero droids, let alone the rest from his crew. But this one? Just right. It's kind of depressing that I spent about $15 on previous R2-B1s, and only now in a boxed set of 3 other figures which are basically robots I already have do I get a correct one, but what are ya gonna do?

This time around R2-B1 is made of build-a-droid parts, which should make him attractive to pretty much everybody. The blue color is just a tiny bit paler than the 2009 R3-M3 figure, but the markings are unquestionably R2-B1. After all, he's got yellow panels, a silver dome, and that's what you really want. This is the R2-B1 which will match your other droids, plus the colors just seem to click. Oh, and he has a black central eye-- finally-- which makes him as authentic as you can get to the movie right now. Sure, the little holes in the bottom of his body for extra legs aren't exactly like in the film, but nothing's perfect! Its a good R2-B1 and if you only get one, make it this one. The droid harness is a nice touch, too, but not absolutely essential.

For those not familiar with the build-a-droid chassis, it has removable legs, a removable dome, a removable central third leg, and articulation at the ankles. There are no extra features or gadgets, but the end result is a clean, well-sculpted, and nicely decorated figure. Right now, unless you've got a real soft spot for extra gadgets and panels which open, this is the best mold Hasbro has for new movie astromech droids.

Collector's Notes: This set is one of two tremendous pains-on-the-butt from an otherwise uneventful and frankly above-average roll-out of Walmart exclusives. The chain got a whopping 17 exclusive items, and all except two were distributed fairly well in a matter of days. These two Battle Packs were sold online around late January and vanished completely from Walmart's online inventory and, in most cities, apparently never actually got out to stores. There were shelf labels, but few (if any) collectors started to see inventory until the very end of March 2012. I ordered my sets online in late March 2012 and they showed up literally yesterday, about three days after I actually saw them at retail. So there you go, sometimes ordering online is a good backup plan for exclusives, but sometimes you'll still see them in the wild first. But anyway, yes, you should see these at retail but it's unknown how many each store will get, so go out and look today if you haven't yet found them. The set is arguably not worth $25, but 4 build-a-droids for $25... it really isn't that bad of a deal.

Oh, and there's a variation (and presumably not an error.) If you pop off his dome, some of the figures have an unpainted segment directly where the "guts" can be seen, while others have an unpainted, blue area. It's not yet known what the exact deal is here, other than the painted ones are definitely more common. This sample was a painted on.

I think at this point, R2-B1 has more toys than any other Astromech than R2-D2, as action figures go he should be tied, in the modern line, with R5-D4. R2-D2, of course, has somewhere around 30 modern releases by now.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,775: April 3, 2012

Monday, April 2, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,774: Clone Trooper Kix

CLONE TROOPER KIX Hunt for Grievous
The Clone Wars Battle Packs
Item No.:
Asst. 35566 No. 35580
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, stand, game card, 2 other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $26.99
Availability: July 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: "Kix" was the nickname of a clone trooper medic who served in the 501st Legion, a unit in the Galactic Republic's Grand Army, during the Clone Wars. Kix, Jesse, and Hardcase took the injured Rex to a nearby homestead to recover, while they returned to join Kenobi and his team. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' former kitchen.

Commentary: Another clone! This one is Kix, and he is one of very few medics to appear in the Clone ranks. The figure was sold in a set with a different enough to be interesting pair of Rex and Grievous, each of which had some interesting alterations that go beyond mere batch changes or minor variations. Kix though, is unique-- it takes the new basic clone body (no ankles) and gives him a new blue paint job so he can hang out with your other clones and be slightly different. Since the armor deco is unique to this figure, which is exclusive to this set, you'll probably want to track it down-- particularly if your local stores still have him on clearance. The figure has the same increasingly maddening hip joints which are not conducive to sitting, a thin build, and overall decent articulation in terms of quantity goes. Since 2003 we've been in such a rush to get to super-poseable figures that it seems a lot of people don't care that this figure has pretty weak hip joints which aren't as good as the old Kenner toys. I guess that's progress?

Collector's Notes: This entire assortment has gone to clearance at many big box stores, so he's probably already gone from your local distribution area. You may need to check closeout stores, online, eBay, or Toys R Us as they never mark anything down and hang on to stuff for ages.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,774: April 2, 2012