Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,072: C-3PO (Mission Series 2013)

C-3PO Movie-Style
2013 Darth Vader Lava Line Look Mission Series Tantive IV
Item No.:
Asst. A5228 No. A5234
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #MS05
Includes: R2-D2 figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: December 2013
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: R2-D2 and C-3PO escape from the Rebel ship Tantive IV as it boarded by Darth Vader and Imperial Stormtroopers. The Droids flee the ship in an escape pod that falls to the remote desert planet Tatooine – and puts in motion an adventure that will change the galaxy forever.  (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Commentary: While I'm generally quite pleased with this particular format, I'd be lying if I said C-3PO met my low expectations.  He's slightly less poseable than the 2004 Original Trilogy Collection Vintage take on the figure, which also had five joints.  While Hasbro's Mission Series sculpt is way better and gives the droid a ton of personality just standing there, it comes up short as a toy simply because the hip joints are restricted.  C-3PO barely can bend a few degrees forward, and can still stand on his own two feet while "completely" bent down.  It's pretty unfortunate - Hasbro can do better, and has done better here.   As a toy, it's not so great.  But as a display piece?  This is a winner - just keep an eye on the head deco before opening it.

In my formative years, I often read that R2-D2 and C-3PO were the keys to the saga - the original trilogy is largely told through their eyes, and I read that they would be an important part of the prequels.  It's odd that this is the first time the pairing ever got sold as a 2-pack in a non-exclusive format, but here we are.  C-3PO's golden paint is similar to the 2010 Vintage version, in that it's not shiny.  C-3PO's arms and neck rotate freely, plus he's got a silver right shin.   The one place Hasbro has tripped up a lot on this character is his head, as most figures over the years didn't have painted black dots in his eyes - this one does, and some samples are looking up, or down, or in the wrong direction.   My sample is nicely centered and while it looks good, it might have looked better had Hasbro elected to use a different color of paint or a different technique to decorate him.

The figure spectacularly fails The Landspeeder Test, and is unable to fit in any vehicle require sitting.  Maybe he'll be at home in the AST-5, CAP-2, or PDT-8, but he won't be driving Luke's car or sitting down in the hold of the Millennium Falcon.   For diorama fans this may be a great choice - good custom fodder, too.  You could have this one stand around Jabba the Hutt and it's a perfect fit.  Since the character is usually seen standing and not sitting, I'll guess most people who buy it won't care that he can't sit.  As a kid I would frequently put R2-D2 and C-3PO in vehicles together, so C-3PO having the ability to sit and drive around has always been important.

While C-3PO does not meet my low standards for this series, he does stand well and will look good on a shelf, on your desk, or in a playset.   The sculpting is good, the deco is fine, it's just that the engineering could use some work.  I was under the impression that this line was meant to foster strong connections to the 1978 toy line, which means sitting.  Ah well.  Perhaps Hasbro will retool him on a future release, or give us a shiny metalized version down the road.  I'd be game, but for now this two-pack will probably delight more kids than adult fans.

Collector's Notes: I got this from Entertainment Earth in early December.  I have not seen it in stores yet.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 2,072: December 31, 2013

Monday, December 30, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,071: Obi-Wan Kenobi (Mission Series 2013)

OBI-WAN KENOBI Movie-Style
2013 Darth Vader Lava Line Look Mission Series Mandalore
Item No.:
Asst. A5228 No. A5235
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #MS06
Includes: Lightsaber, Darth Maul figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: December 2013
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Jedi hero Obi-Wan Kenobi confronts the evil Sith Lord Darth Maul on the planet Mandalore. Obi-Wan has dueled Maul several times since their first encounter on Naboo, and must face him once again when Kenobi comes to Dutchess Satine's rescue.  (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Commentary: Darth Maul is a solid figure - a new sculpt based on a never-before-made-as-a-toy costume.  His companion Obi-Wan Kenobi takes a few shortcuts, adapting the existing Saga Legends mold with new deco and new arms.  He still has 5 joints and can stand or sit relatively well, but it's worth noting it's an effort to cram him in the new, smaller Jedi Starfighters.  It shouldn't be - they should just fit if they're designed at the same time, at the same company.   If it's designed as a "kid line" there's no excuse for any compatibility issues if they nailed it back in 1978.

Hasbro seems interested in reusing a bunch of parts in this line, and this is a clever way to do that.  Modifying an existing movie figure to give me an Expanded Universe toy?  OK. I'm game.  The retooled hands have Clone armor wrists and can hold a lightsaber more easily.  The range of movement is about teh same, btu the color scheme is different.  Obi-Wan is less peachy and more ashen, his hair is redder and his outfit is a little less colorful.  The sculpting is still good, but not fantastic - you won't be wowed by it, but you will be delighted by it.  It looks good, the paint job is on the happy side of good as Hasbro painted his wrist communicator silver.  He's also got a Cody to hang out with, that's a bonus.  The open circle fleet symbol on his right wrist is also well-decorated, and I'm largely quite pleased.  Hasbro has done numerous "movie" versions of Obi-Wan in some sort of clone armor since 2005, and while this certainly isn't the most dynamic, it's certainly the most desk toy-friendly.

I've got an entire suite of Saga Legends and Mission Series toys on my desk as I type this, and not one of them has fallen over.  Vintage and Black Series figures usually topple over eventually due to the ankles or some other issue, and these figures just do what they're supposed to do.  They stand there, and they look good.  I realize it may be unfair to lavish Hasbro with praise given the lower expectations out of a kid-driven $10 figure 2-pack in an era of $11 single-carded figures, but I'm quite happy with these.   And yes, we'll look at more tomorrow.

Collector's Notes: I got this from Entertainment Earth in early December.  I have not seen it in stores yet.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 2,071: December 30, 2013

Friday, December 27, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,070: Darth Maul (Mission Series 2013)

DARTH MAUL Movie-Style
2013 Darth Vader Lava Line Look Mission Series Mandalore
Item No.:
Asst. A5228 No. A5235
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #MS06
Includes: Lightsaber, Obi-Wan Kenobi figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: December 2013
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Jedi hero Obi-Wan Kenobi confronts the evil Sith Lord Darth Maul on the planet Mandalore. Obi-Wan has dueled Maul several times since their first encounter on Naboo, and must face him once again when Kenobi comes to Dutchess Satine's rescue.  (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Commentary: Not every figure appeals to every collector.  But this one appeals to me, so if you don't like it tough!   I realize that's flippant but as I write this (about a week ago) I just got this Darth Maul in the mail and it's about 90% of what I want in my Star Wars action figures.  If I get hate mail for this entry, I get an extra +10% in spite joy points which brings it up to a perfect score - so go ahead and send me the nasty emails you so do when I'm happy.  IT ONLY GIVES ME POWER.

This Darth Maul figure - and indeed the story from which he comes - are a bizarre mishmash of things that I don't think anyone would've seen coming, nor asked for, five years ago.  Darth Maul got cut in half - he's dead!  And 5-jointed figures?  Kenner declared those out of vogue before relaunching Star Wars toys in 1995.  The fact that this figure exists is something of a small miracle, and I don't even mind that this particular Kenobi vs. Maul costume match-up never happened.  I get two good figures for ten bucks - I declare myself a winner here, and if you buy it I bet you'll enjoy it too.  Darth Maul's feel as a toy, in my pocket as he hung out with me, was like a toy that fell out of some alternate universe time warp.  The proportions, pose, and colors reminded me of a generic Jabba's Palace thug and I went to stand him up by Wooof and the rest. He fit right in.  He's the right size to stand on a Skiff.  Truly, this format is what people like me have been wanting all these years.

The figure itself is good, but not likely to knock a lot of socks off.  I find a lot of charm in his shortcomings - the five joints, the limited deco, even the tattoos not matching.  The body has a bright, pinker color while the face has a darker, more subdued red.  It feels like something old-school Kenner would've done, and to be honest I prefer the darker color overall.  The colors are more toy-like, less subtle than the animation model - all of those greys blurred together, while here there's a striking contrast between the faux-metal legs, the light grey pants, and the black gloves.  Sculpted detail is quite good, although the paint is a little sloppy.  I'm seeing some black splotches where there shouldn't be any, although it isn't hurting my love of the figure one bit since they're usually in creases or folds around the pants.

I have no reason to lament the lack of articulation because when it comes to 3 3/4-inch figures, I'd rather celebrate what we do have than mourn the spirit of something that may never come.  Sure, Maul with 16 joints would've been cool.  And yes, I'd have loved to see an Animated one.  But this is very nice - he stands and sits well, and he fits in the Sith Infiltrator vehicle better than most other Darth Maul action figures since 1999.   This alone gives him high marks in my books.  I love the idea of a rogue Darth Maul jetting around the galaxy causing problems, and Hasbro gave me a figure that has managed to get right in to my inner 9-year-old.  The quality of the figure - just in terms of paint - isn't up to Hasbro's usual standards, but it's not like I expect to see a better version of this figure down the road right now.  It feels like a post-Return of the Jedi toy and for that reason I really love it.   It could stand near the Fromm Gang or maybe a revived Grand Moff Tarkin or some other craziness, and as such it's very welcome in my toy stash.   I got my money's worth.

Collector's Notes: I got this from Entertainment Earth in early December.  I have not seen it in stores yet.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 2,070: December 27, 2013

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,069: Clone Commander Cody (Saga Legends 2013)

CLONE COMMANDER CODY Movie-Style
2013 Darth Vader Lava Line Look Saga Legends
Item No.:
Asst. A3857 No. A4132
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #SL12
Includes: Backpack, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99
Availability: December 2013
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Clone Commander Cody serves under Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi during the Clone Wars. Cody is part of Kenobi’s fateful mission to the planet Utapau to take down General Grievous and deliver a decisive blow to the Separatists. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Commentary: At no point in the last year did I say to myself "I wish I had a new Clone Commander Cody figure," but I'm not complaining to have this one.  If you've seen the previous Mission Series or Saga Legends Clones, this is similar - the arms, body, and head have been retooled.  The backpack is not only removable for this Cody, but it doesn't fall off as easily as the other releases.  I would say it's about as perfect as we can expect for this price point save for the slightly smaller helmet (all Clones have small helmets for some reason) and the fact that his shoulder antenna is bent in-pack.  Seriously, the bubble isn't deep enough to not get it bent.  It's unfortunate and bad planning on Hasbro's part.  I know we collectors nitpick, but nothing should be bent out of shape before you open the box.  (This can be easily fixed by dipping the part in boiling water for about three seconds.)

The body has been retooled for a badge on the front and a hole on the back.  Each arm has new flourishes, you'll see some wires on the right arm and the aforementioned antenna on the left.  Deco is a little light, but it's OK - this series trades away a little authenticity to keep costs down, and for anyone that collected the original 1978-1985 figures a few mistakes add to the authenticity of "old" figures.   If it were perfect, it would be boring.

His range of movement passes The Landspeeder Test and he easily fits in most current vehicles.  Obviously anything requiring bent knees won't work, but the other stuff works just great.   The only real downer here is that while a "real" Captain Rex is a new and welcome character, this is Hasbro's third new sculpt of movie Cody and I certainly wasn't wanting a new one.  Had Hasbro based the design on the season 1 Clone Wars helmet I'd be very excited, instead of just being OK with it.  It's the least exciting figure of this wave, but it's still pretty cool in the sense that this format of figure now exists once again.  Get it cheap or as part of a lot/set/case if you can, I wouldn't suggest paying a premium to get one personally.

Collector's Notes: I got this from Entertainment Earth in early December.  I have not seen it in stores yet.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 2,069: December 26, 2013

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,068: Captain Rex (Saga Legends 2013)


CAPTAIN REX Movie-Style
2013 Darth Vader Lava Line Look Saga Legends
Item No.:
Asst. A3857 No. A5794
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #SL10
Includes: 2 blasters
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99
Availability: December 2013
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Captain Rex is a clone trooper captain in the 501st Legion. He serves under Jedi General Anakin Skywalker, whose missions take the Jedi and his tough, free-thinking captain all across the galaxy to fight the Separatist threat. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Commentary: Merry Christmas! Hasbro teased a Legacy Collection version of the character which, to date, has not surfaced.  Those wanting a movie-compatible version of Captain Rex have this figure as an option, and it's pretty good.  It lacks numerous paint applications seen on the animation model, but it also has a few more marks than I expected - specifically the kill marks on his arms and legs.  this is easily the most-decorated trooper in the line, and certainly the one with the most gear.  It's worth noting that, for some reason, his pauldron is a separate piece.  It's not easily removed, but you can move it around if you want.   The figure also has working holsters, a first for this new Saga Legends assortment.

To grant him full movement (and the ability to pass The Landspeeder Test), the figure's kama is sculpted to his legs and is not a separate piece.  It looks good, and it works well.   The rangefinder isn't articulated, but that's OK - I don't need movement as long as it looks good.  The figure seems to be largely based on the existing Saga Legends and Mission Series Clone troopers, but each and every part save for the arms seems to have sculpting changes made to them.  There's even an indentation for his pauldron!  Rex is completely lacking in battle damage, but dammit, he looks cool.  You basically know what to expect from him if you've purchased other similar clones in 2013, and while I don't think he'll satisfy those who wanted a super-articulated movie-style Rex figure he's a good figure in his own right.  I'm pleased to have him, especially for the price.

Collector's Notes: I got this from Entertainment Earth in early December.  I have not seen it in stores yet.  You should checkout the Yakface.com image gallery for him - they do nice work there!

--Adam Pawlus


Day 2,068: December 25, 2013

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,067: Stormtrooper (Saga Legends 2013)

STORMTROOPER Imperial Goons
2013 Darth Vader Lava Line Look Saga Legends
Item No.:
Asst. A3857 No. A4131
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #SL11
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99
Availability: December 2013
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Stormtroopers track down Rebel infiltrators in the Death Star. Dutiful enforcers of the evil Empire’s will, the Stormtroopers search the battle station for Luke, Han and Chewbacca, who are on a mission to rescue Princess Leia. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Commentary: Infuriatingly good.  Hasbro claims that this Stormtrooper was designed to be modeled after the suits used in the original 1977 film, which is named "Star Wars," and screw you if you say otherwise.   It reminds me a lot of the promo armor suit used around 1977, and may well be the same thing but it just seems to have a slightly different vibe.  The sculpt is completely new and it's Hasbro's only modern era Stormtrooper to sport 5 points of articulation.   It feels like an old figure, which is what you want.  It can even hold on to his blaster just fine, and his skinnier build is a stark contrast to the bulk of the troopers in your armies.  It's great.   Hasbro's biggest screw-up here was packing it 1 per box and not releasing it as a 2-pack in the Mission Series assortment.  Seriously - show of hands - who wants only one of this?  I've only got one, and I'd buy a whole freaking squad of this, and I haven't done any troop building for years.  (Hasbro, if you're reading: please sell me a case of 12 of these.  Or a few cases.  I'd spring for 20 of these.)

Most Stormtroopers and Sandtroopers we've been getting for the past 10 years all come with parts from 2004 and 2005 releases - this is a complete refresh and it shows.  The helmet isn't removable, and it looks a little bit wider.  The head turns just fine, but doesn't have a ball joint.  This figure passes The Landspeeder Test, which is my arbitrary test of determining if a retro action figure is designed properly.  Getting Boba Fett in is a struggle, but the Stormtrooper glides right in perfectly.  Kudos, Hasbro.

This is the Stormtrooper figure the old farts wish they had as kids - no holster to get in the way, the grenade is reduced a bit so it's visible but not an eyesore.  The helmet sculpt is one of Hasbro's best, certainly at this size, and the only real complaint I have is that the grey highlights on the helmet are far to pale.  Darken 'em up a bit just so I can see them.  Otherwise?  Greatness.  This may well be Hasbro's best toy figure of 2013.  Sure, the Black Series have more articulation and detail.  Yeah, the 12-inch figures are bigger and provide more for the money.  But this guy?  This is as close as Hasbro got to making an all-new 1970s-style action figure this year, and everything about it just works well.  It's a crowd-pleaser.  And it also figures that it's a royal pain in the neck to get one.  Or two.  Or more. If I don't get at least six I'm going to get pissy, my Imperial Troop Transport demands new troops!

Collector's Notes: I got this from Entertainment Earth in early December.  I have not seen it in stores yet.  I'd have bought more if I did.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 2,067: December 24, 2013

Monday, December 23, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,066: Boba Fett (Saga Legends 2013)

BOBA FETT Bounty Hunter
2013 Darth Vader Lava Line Look Saga Legends
Item No.:
Asst. A3857 No. A5793
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #SL09
Includes: Rocket pack, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99
Availability: December 2013
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Boba Fett is the bounty hunter who successfully tracks down Han Solo. One of the bounty hunters hired by Darth Vader to find the Millennium Falcon, Fett tracks Han to Bespin and leaves the planet with the carbonite-frozen Solo in his possession. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Commentary: This is the Boba Fett that we all were hoping we would get in 1995.   When The Power of the Force collection came back, a 5-jointed expertly-sculpted figure is really what we all thought would be a reasonable thing for the relaunch - and Kenner gave us six joints, and for the day pretty good sculpting too.   Of course in 2013 everything old is utter garbage to most fans, so it's worth saying that this new version of Boba Fett is pretty good.

So!  New sculpt.  Boba Fett is the thinnest he's been in years, and feels right at home as a quasi-vintage action figure.   The pose isn't quite retro, but it's close.  The arms hang at the sides out a bit, and the helmet seems to be more inspired by the unused appearance of the armored bounty hunter from The Clone Wars - note the points on his visor.  Normally, Boba Fett has squared-off edges on his visor.  It wouldn't surprise me at all if, at some stage of development, this figure was meant to be a "realistic" version of animated Boba Fett.   The lighter cloth around his chest armor stands out quite well, and I expect that the grey flight suit will continue to infuriate those who would prefer to see the more blue tinted version used on the movies.  Me, I'm fine with the grey.  Close enough.  The neck is swivel-only, which, again, is good enough.  There's no articulation ont he rangefinder.

Deco is good, but light overall - there's not a lot of damage here and a few markings on his backpack were left off.   I suppose this was done to keep these at $5.99, but there's part of me that would love to see what $1 more could do for the paint here.  The EE-3 gun is completely unpainted and smaller than most other releases, making it unique and visually distinct from the others.  It's not a perfect fit in his hands, which for this line I thought was more of a requirement - these should be the best toys Hasbro has done, although I suppose it's not like the original 1979 Boba Fett was fantastic about keeping a grip on his gun either.  I've had no problems getting the figure to stand, or shoving him into the new mini Slave I that's all the rage with collectors who are not you.  (I like it.)

This is a very different figure from the 2012 Battle Pack Boba Fett, which also has 5 joints.  The 2012 figure has a ball-jointed head, a separate piece for the cape, a second smaller blaster, and a more beefy build.  The 2013 figure is much skinnier and seems more like the actual actor on-screen.  2012 is also taller, and has a far more intricate paint job.   For his vehicle compatibility, I really like the 2013 model.  For shelf presence, 2012 wins hands-down.  2012 can also hold his gun more easily, the 2013 figure's hands have index fingers too fat for the trigger guards.

For six bucks, if you see it, you're going to buy it.  What I say means nothing, it's a $6 new Boba Fett with probably the best proportions yet.  Seeing his gauntlets or backpack with more paint would be wonderful, or perhaps a strange redeco or two - for example, 1979 Kenner colors with a red and yellow gauntlet.  I'd buy that.   Hasbro did a nice job designing the figure so that his cape and Wookiee scalps don't get in the way, but the gun's lack of true compatibility with the hand is frustrating.  It's so close!  The other figures are perfect fits, too.  Ah well.  Go ahead and get one.

Collector's Notes: I got this from Entertainment Earth in early December.  I have not seen it in stores yet.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 2,066: December 23, 2013

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,065: Clone Captain Deviss (Battle of Geonosis: Jedi Knights)

CLONE CAPTAIN DEVISS Battle of Geonosis: Jedi Knights
2013 Darth Vader Lava Line Look Toys R Us Exclusive
Item No.:
Asst. A5769 No. A4968
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 2 blasters, 3 additional figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: October 2013
Appearances: Attack of the Clones?

Bio: The Jedi launch a rescue mission to Geonosis that ends in a battle between the Jedi and Separatist forces.  The Jedi fly to the planet to rescue Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Padme Amidala from the Separatists.  Battle Droids and Geonosian Warriors fight the Jedi in what becomes the first battle of the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Commentary: If you were around in 2002, you'll remember we got a red Clone Trooper Captain figure.  We did not get Clone Captain Deviss  because the clones didn't start getting names until 2003, where a few were identified as part of the then-new Clone Wars multimedia marketing malaise.   Deviss existed as a figure in 2005, but the design was excised from the movie so it's not like anybody knew who he was.  He did get a few toys made of him, though, so he's almost an official movie character from Revenge of the Sith. (This started off as a design for Bly.) The whole named clone thing from Attack of the Clones is rather new.

The figure itself is a retread.  The body is a 2003 Clone Wars super articulated trooper with red rank markings.  The shoulder rings are sadly white, while previous carded releases of Clone Captains often had them as red.   The red is darker and a little thicker, but a few spots of white peek through.   He has 14 points of articulation and, surprisingly, painted off-white soles on his boots.   His weapons are similar to those packed with many Vintage clone figures, and are generally smaller and exhibit some silver paint applications.  They're nice.

I wouldn't suggest any long-haul collector run out to get this set for this figure, but it is different enough so that you can identify him easily against your other red Clones.   I'm in no way excited to own this one, but well, there's one more in the pile, I guess, and I can flush a few more dollars down the collection toilet.   If you never received a red Clone Captain, do make sure you get this one.  I like his guns better, but the shoulder issue is tough to get over.

Collector's Notes: I got this at Toys R Us in Scottsdale, AZ in mid-October.  Since then, it appears there has been an endless supply of this set and its companion, although for how long it's tough to say.  Sometimes these sets stick around for a few years, and other times they vanish quickly.

Column Notes: Time to go on break again! I'll be back when something new shows up.  See you next mission!

--Adam Pawlus


Day 2,065: November 26, 2013

Monday, November 25, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,064: Selig Kenjenn (Battle of Geonosis: Jedi Knights)

SELIG KENJENN Battle of Geonosis: Jedi Knights
2013 Darth Vader Lava Line Look Toys R Us Exclusive
Item No.:
Asst. A5769 No. A4968
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 2 Lightsabers, cloak, 3 additional figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: October 2013
Appearances: Attack of the Clones This Set

Bio: The Jedi launch a rescue mission to Geonosis that ends in a battle between the Jedi and Separatist forces.  The Jedi fly to the planet to rescue Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Padme Amidala from the Separatists.  Battle Droids and Geonosian Warriors fight the Jedi in what becomes the first battle of the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Commentary: The funny thing about Selig Kenjenn is that despite being effectively named for this set, he's less obscure than the other two Jedi in the package.   At no time was this character associated with the Battle of Geonosis, but it's a heck of a toy tuckerism.  The head (new sculpt) is based on Leland Chee, keeper of Lucasfilm's Holocron database for continuity.  The only illustration of the character was seen fighting Stormtroopers with a background packed with TIE Fighters, so I'll leave it up to him to decide how he fits in to the whole sort of general mish mash.  As such, you can place this figure just about anywhere and not be wrong.

I am not sure where his hands come from, but the head is new, the "skirt" is new, and the body was previously a Nikto Jedi from 2010 named Fi-Ek Sirch.  Other than the legacy neck being somewhat thick, the figure actually looks pretty good for an alien adapted into a human.  He has little difficulty holding his lightsabers, and the 14 joints are what you've come to expect.  The outfit is surprisingly well-textured, and there's even a place to plug a lightsaber hilt.  One is not included, but if you find a spare, you know where to stick it.  Due to the behind-the-scenes-ness of the figure, I like it and would suggest you track it down.  I love Hasbro's creations based on real-world people, mostly because the story behind it is far more interesting than "this was another unnamed extra."  Grab him if you can, he's probably the most interesting part of this set.

Collector's Notes: I got this at Toys R Us in Scottsdale, AZ in mid-October.  Since then, it appears there has been an endless supply of this set and its companion, although for how long it's tough to say.  Sometimes these sets stick around for a few years, and other times they vanish quickly.


--Adam Pawlus


Day 2,064: November 25, 2013

Friday, November 22, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,063: Khaat Qiyn (Battle of Geonosis: Jedi Knights)

KHAAT QIYN Battle of Geonosis: Jedi Knights
2013 Darth Vader Lava Line Look Toys R Us Exclusive
Item No.:
Asst. A5769 No. A4968
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, cloak, 3 additional figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: October 2013
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: The Jedi launch a rescue mission to Geonosis that ends in a battle between the Jedi and Separatist forces.  The Jedi fly to the planet to rescue Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Padme Amidala from the Separatists.  Battle Droids and Geonosian Warriors fight the Jedi in what becomes the first battle of the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Commentary: These sets are quite ballsy on Hasbro's part, because nobody knows who Khaat Qiyn is.  In a year where the mainline is filled with remakes, re-remakes, and threemakes, it's great to see any outlet for a figure where we can all look and say "I don't have her, also, who is that?"   This figure suffers two indignities.  One, her left hand is actually the hand that should've gone to Que-Mars Redath, you'll note that it's much larger than her right.  Second, I think she's supposed to be of Asian descent.  The brown hair and peach skin make her look a little more like Leia, and Hasbro made no effort to match the intense make-up from her face.  The sculpt on the head is quite good, though, so I would anticipate a customizer could show us that Hasbro did do a great job with everything here minus deco and assembly.

Ms. Qiyn's body is recycled from Stass Allie, with her right hand originating in Tarados Gon.  Oops.  The lightsaber is green and according to the notes on Wookieepedia, this is correct.  Given the obscurity and lack of reference, I wouldn't fault anyone for having gotten it wrong.   Her unique cloth robe color seems to match the reference shots as well, so Hasbro gave us a figure that is on the low side of authentic but otherwise hits most major benchmarks.  Yes, we get 14 points of articulation.  Yes, we get decent deco.  But she may be the wrong race, and she's got a wrong hand.  It's sort of a spectacular failure, but in all honesty nobody would probably ever have noticed were it not for the likes of Wookieepedia in this era of every last character getting a backstory.  I wouldn't mind seeing Hasbro give her another shot with better head deco and the correct left hand down the road, for now she's fantastic diorama filler - but these bizarre errors are increasingly common in the line.  I can understand some glitches, but this one should have been plain to anyone doing approvals... I assume the hand was a last-minute error at the factory that sneaked its way into production.  I'd say get her as custom fodder or diorama filler as I assume you have no connection to the character.  If you told me this was Han and Leia's granddaughter, I'd believe you.  Why wouldn't I?

Collector's Notes: I got this at Toys R Us in Scottsdale, AZ in mid-October.  Since then, it appears there has been an endless supply of this set and its companion, although for how long it's tough to say.  Sometimes these sets stick around for a few years, and other times they vanish quickly.


--Adam Pawlus


Day 2,063: November 22, 2013

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,062: Que-Mars Redath (Battle of Geonosis: Jedi Knights)

QUE-MARS REDATH Battle of Geonosis: Jedi Knights
2013 Darth Vader Lava Line Look Toys R Us Exclusive
Item No.:
Asst. A5769 No. A4968
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, cloak, 3 additional figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: October 2013
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: The Jedi launch a rescue mission to Geonosis that ends in a battle between the Jedi and Separatist forces.  The Jedi fly to the planet to rescue Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Padme Amidala from the Separatists.  Battle Droids and Geonosian Warriors fight the Jedi in what becomes the first battle of the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Commentary: This is a fun one to nitpick. Que-Mars Redath is a figure that does originate from the films, but is an obscure, background character.  How obscure?  It took a while for him to have a name, and according to most sources Hasbro got it wrong - it should've been labeled "Que-Mars Redath-Gom."  I'm not picking on Hasbro, I didn't know what his name was, either.  The figure is an odd mix of parts and you can se an error on this one - his right hand is significantly bigger than his left.  (Insert joke about handling his lightsaber here.)  The issue is that another figure in this set - Khaat Qiyn - seemingly had her hands swapped with him. They're painted to match the figure, but the molds are backwards.  It's an unusual error, to say the least, and I dare say unprecedented in the thousands of figures we've looked at together over the years.  The smaller hand originally came with Stass Allie, and the figure's body was originally Tarados Gon (Klatooinian Jedi Knight).  The head is, as far as I can tell, new - and he's not even the first Weequay Jedi.  We've also had Sora Bulq and Master Sev.

With 14 points of articulation, Que-Mars is fairly typical for a Jedi figure with the full range of movement you've come to expect from these figures.  It doesn't go above and beyond in any way, but it does look pretty good other than the head being seated a little low on the neck.  The head itself is well-sculpted and exceptionally decorated, with lots of warty detail and a nice paint job to bring out the winkles and creases.   The eyes are big and expressive, while in the movie they were two black voids.  I prefer Hasbro's take in this respect.  His lightsaber blade is green in the source material, so score one for Hasbro there.

With the tiny lady hand and the wrong name, this figure would probably be the subject of fan ire in another year, but 2013 seems to be the year everybody throws their hands up in the air, perhaps because they just don't care.  The set is not selling terribly quickly and as it has multiple new characters I would suggest getting it if you collect Jedi or have a prequel focus.  Everybody else, well, get it if you like it. 

Collector's Notes: I got this at Toys R Us in Scottsdale, AZ in mid-October.  Since then, it appears there has been an endless supply of this set and its companion, although for how long it's tough to say.  Sometimes these sets stick around for a few years, and other times they vanish quickly.


--Adam Pawlus


Day 2,062: November 21, 2013

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,061: TC-70 (2013 Legacy Collection Droid Factory)

TC-70 Jabba's Protocol Droid
Legacy Collection Droid Factory
Item No.:
Asst. - No. A6729
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: Buildable figure
Retail: $59.99
Availability: October 2013
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio:  n/a (Taken from the figure's cardback.  Oh wait, it doesn't have one.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: When I heard Hasbro was axing its 2013 Droid Factory line, I was mostly OK with it - I was saddened to lose a few Astromechs, FA-4, and TC-70 though.  I have no use for another A-Wing Pilot, but I'll buy every last droid repaint Hasbro deems worthy to release.  I love these things.   TC-70 is based on Jabba's protocol droid from the 2008 The Clone Wars movie, and an animated version of the figure has already been produced.  The movie version seems like such an obscure nod to fans that I'm amazed it exists.

The body mold was used before to make K-3PO and U-3PO, each of which shared this figure's ability to be dismantled.  The head, arms, and legs pop off and can be swapped with other Droid Factory figures like various astromech droids, FA-4, and a couple of Death Star Droid figures.  Customizers have a lot to like here, but please, don't paint the TC-70 parts.  We need these.  This droid gets better deco than the mold has seen so far, with mismatched casing on the right thigh, numerous silver bits, a few stripes, and an expertly decorated head.  I don't think I'm being hyperbolic when I say this is one of the best - if not the best - paint job we've ever and probably will ever seen on a protocol droid action figure.

The animated-style figure has a few red paint marks that Hasbro ignored, and the metallic finish of the 2013 movie version makes it look like a more expensive release.  (Considering what it costs, this is appreciated.)  He has swivel wrists, shoulders, hips, and a head, with the elbows, knees, ankles, and waist having a greater range of movement.  The 2010 Vintage C-3PO has a slightly better range of movement and more moving parts, but this figure looks good and holds together nicely.  I greatly appreciate that Hasbro threw us a bone with at least one more "realistic" figure from the animated series that wasn't a main character, and if you're reading - I implore you - please give us a few more.  Sell 'em for $10 in the Black Series for all I care, I'll take your Astromechs all day long.  And so will these fine readers.  Won't you?  (Back me up, I'd do it for you.)

Collector's Notes: I got this figure online from Amazon, and so should you. It is sold with one piece in each of six other carded figures.   The packaging is unique for many reasons - not only is it based on the abandoned 2013 "Droid Factory" Legacy Collection concept, but the item is not six figures in a box - it's one figure with six items inside it.  The carded figures have no SKU and no UPC.  The P/N on the cardbacks are a Part Number, and that "part" that it represents is the actual cardboard piece - not the product itself.  As such this item was designed specifically to be an online exclusive, a retail store would likely never stock an item in the 21st century without a unique UPC unless it sold the entire 6-figure set, in its white mailer box, as a single unique item.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 2,061: November 20, 2013

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,060: 212th Battalion Clone Trooper (2013 Legacy Collection Droid Factory)

212TH BATTALION CLONE TROOPER It's "Different"
Legacy Collection Droid Factory
Item No.:
Asst. - No. A6729
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Big gun, small gun, TC-70 left arm
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $59.99
Availability: October 2013
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio:  Clone Troopers in the 212th Attack Battalion fight in the Battle of Utapau.   Distinguished by their orange-marked armor, 212th Clone Troopers are under the command of Jedi General Ob-Wan Kenobi and Clone Commander Cody.   They accompany Kenobi to Utapau on a mission to eliminate General Grievous.  (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: I goofed!  Reader Paul Harrison of the Jedi Temple Archives pointed out that I have a terrible memory - because I feel shame, I'm leaving my original, wildly incorrect FOTD commentary below.  The 2011 Utapau Orange Clone Trooper was based on the body seen on figures like the Gelagrub Patrol Clone Trooper and VC15 Clone Trooper (2010).  As such, this 212th Battalion Clone Trooper figure has merit - to an extent.  If you picked up the Vintage-carded 501st Clone Trooper or the VC45 Attack of the Clones clone trooper, this figure shares the same bend-and-swivel wrists plus the thinner build.  This, kids, is why you always check your reference library before writing a column at 2 in the morning.

For this reason, the new orange Clone has more than a little merit - on the plus side, the newer, thinner build looks better.  On the minus side, the helmet deco is still not quite right and the helmet itself feels a smidgen too large.  His guns are the delightful new Vintage variety - smaller, thinner, and painted.  Troop building will sadly not be possible but then again, it's not like we don't already have a bunch of different strains of the chunkier, orange Utapau troopers anyway between exclusives, comic packs, and other releases.  So this one is new deco and kinda cool - if you're the kind of person who wants but one clone, only the best of each squad, this may be the one for you.  If you're a troop builder, well, uh, move along.  Nothing to see here but your tears.

The unedited old version, or yet another scarlet A: I assume your reaction to the 212th Battalion Clone Trooper was similar to mine - "don't I already have enough of these?"  While most figures in this wave differ from other recent releases significantly, this one... well... not so much.  In 2012, we got a Vintage Collection Utapau Clone with the same exact mold.  It's the "Vintage" body, with bend-and-swivel wrists plus ball-jointed hips.  The oversized helmet remains, but the deco is a little bit different.  It's more than a little surprising to see this squad again so soon, particularly since the layman will never realize it's different.   It's figures like this that, at least for 2013, make me wonder how much oversight there is at Hasbro.  (I'm convinced Lucasfilm is fine with anything.)  Aside from the TC-70 arm, there is nothing that makes this guy stand out to an average fan - it really is just different enough to make you mad.

The figure is a smidgen different from the 2012 figure, most obviously in the helmet and damage.  The 2012 figure has slightly more accurate helmet detailing as orange placement goes, but this 2013 release has some pretty spiffy battle damage.  The 2013 figure is much, much paler - leave the helmet on, he looks like he has the flu.  The orange around the upper thighs is more true to the movie, and overall the orange looks more damaged and worn.  The guns are slightly different from 2012, different tooling you'll recognize from figures like the 2013 Clone Pilot (in the case of the smaller rifle).  Both are unpainted, and the end result is a figure that's arguably superior to the last release.  However, we've had several flavors of orange since 2006 and they don't tend to match, so building a matching squad at this point is basically a fool's game unless you shop online or are an executive for a New England-based toy company.  Me, I live in a basement, so I'll add one more Utapau Trooper to my growing, increasingly mismatched squad.  They'll get along just fine.

Collector's Notes: I got this figure online from Amazon, and so should you. The packaging is unique for many reasons - not only is it based on the abandoned 2013 "Droid Factory" Legacy Collection concept, but the item is not six figures in a box - it's one figure with six items inside it.  The carded figures have no SKU and no UPC.  The P/N on the cardback is a Part Number, and that "part" that it represents is the actual cardboard piece - not the product itself.  As such this item was designed specifically to be an online exclusive, a retail store would likely never stock an item in the 21st century without a unique UPC unless it sold the entire 6-figure set, in its white mailer box, as a single unique item.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 2,060: November 19, 2013

Monday, November 18, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,059: Sun Fac (2013 Legacy Collection Droid Factory)

SUN FAC Take Two
Legacy Collection Droid Factory
Item No.:
Asst. - No. A6729
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Geonosian gun, TC-70 right arm
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $59.99
Availability: October 2013
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: In Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, Sun Fac sentences Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala to be executed in the Geonosian arena after conficting them of espionage.  The ruthless Sun Fac is chief lieutenant to Archduke Poggle the Lesser, and runs the Geonosian Droid Factories with a cold and brutal efficiency.   (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: I'll take "Updates Nobody Asked For" for $100, Alex.   Sun Fac was close to being useful - Hasbro could have tweaked the deco some more and just released him as a generic Geonosian Trooper, thus making him worth army building and giving this set a reason to be bought in bulk.  Back in 2010 Hasbro did use this mold for a generic Trooper as part of Target's exclusive Geonosis Arena packs, which benefitted from retooled legs with an added knee joint.  This figure is based on that configuration, with new deco over the kneeless 2006 version which you no doubt have bought by now.

In terms of articulation, this version wins.  In terms of accuracy, Hasbro had it right in 2006.  Sun Fac 2013 lacks the scar on his face, and parts of the loincloth armor seem to be colored less consistently with the digital models from the movie.  The 2006 version had detail that "popped" better, particularly in the red/silver around the waist, and had some exaggerated red in his skin which, I think, better captured the spirit of the movie design.   The lack of the eye scar is somewhat baffling, but Hasbro has made a surprising number of figures that took a step back over the years - which is to say, any.  I'm lazy, I'd just reissue the guy with no changes.

It's different enough to be notable, and there's no doubt why Hasbro decided to push this wave away from retail.  I feel they should have gone the extra mile and just dumped it completely, it's fine for people who haven't gotten Fac-ed yet but anyone with the 2006 version - which also includes a display base and a secondary pole weapon - will see Sun Fac 2013 as a waste of plastic and resources.   Of course, what we all really want is that TC-70 arm so suck it up, people.

Collector's Notes: I got this figure online from Amazon, and so should you. The packaging is unique for many reasons - not only is it based on the abandoned 2013 "Droid Factory" Legacy Collection concept, but the item is not six figures in a box - it's one figure with six items inside it.  The carded figures have no SKU and no UPC.  The P/N on the cardback is a Part Number, and that "part" that it represents is the actual cardboard piece - not the product itself.  As such this item was designed specifically to be an online exclusive, a retail store would likely never stock an item in the 21st century without a unique UPC unless it sold the entire 6-figure set, in its white mailer box, as a single unique item.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 2,059: November 18, 2013

Friday, November 15, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,058: Black Squad TIE Pilot (2013 Legacy Collection Droid Factory)

BLACK SQUAD TIE PILOT First Appearance
Legacy Collection Droid Factory
Item No.:
Asst. - No. A6729
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Two pistols, TC-70 left arm
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $59.99
Availability: October 2013
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: TIE fighter pilots protect the Death Star from a Rebel attack.  Black Squadron is stationed aboard the Death Star when the Rebels launch an assault upon the battle station.  Totally committed to the success of a mission, these elite pilots swarm into space to battle the Rebel fighters in a ferocious dogfight.  (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Just different enough to make you mad!   I didn't immediately realize what made the Black Squad TIE Pilot unique.  In addition to his gun, the helmet deco is where this figure is unique.  Some pilots have the "ace stripes" or "clown tears" painted gray on the mask, but this figure is notable in that it has one - and not two - Empire symbols on the helmet.  The right side is blank.  It's possible that this is Backstabber (DS-61-3), a pilot identified as such by a trading card.   The helmet pops off and it has the now arguably inaccurate Jango clone face under the removable helmet.

For those not in the know, this figure started off in 2004 as a "Saga" figure which has been upgraded over the years to include a second holster belt, a removable helmet, a new torso, and new arms with ball-jointed elbows and swivel wrists. The crotch and legs are basically unchanged, which is why the figure has no knees (knees weren't a normal thing in early 2004) and the figure has hips which rotate nicely and allow the figure to sit.   Sitting, of course, has been gradually engineered out of many of these figures over the years.


TIE Fighter Pilots with this construction have been pack-ins with vehicles and parts of gift sets over the years, and were also sold carded in 2010 - but the deco changes a little each time.  This is the only TIE Pilot figure that comes with the squarish barrel gun that was inspired by the original Kenner toy's weapon, and we last saw this particular blaster with Nien Nunb last year.  Overall you could probably cobble together a figure pretty close to this one out of toys you already own, but the one-logo helmet is what makes this one unique in your squadrons.  I should be dumping on this more, but I'm pretty sure I jotted this down in at least two possible exclusive proposals over the years so it's not like I wouldn't have done it.  Points to Hasbro for coming up with a different TIE Pilot, but at the same time it would be nice to see some ankles.  This basic body has been the basis for no fewer than six or seven figures by now.

Collector's Notes: I got this figure online from Amazon, and so should you. The packaging is unique for many reasons - not only is it based on the abandoned 2013 "Droid Factory" Legacy Collection concept, but the item is not six figures in a box - it's one figure with six items inside it.  The carded figures have no SKU and no UPC.  The P/N on the cardback is a Part Number, and that "part" that it represents is the actual cardboard piece - not the product itself.  As such this item was designed specifically to be an online exclusive, a retail store would likely never stock an item in the 21st century without a unique UPC unless it sold the entire 6-figure set, in its white mailer box, as a single unique item.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 2,058: November 15, 2013

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,057: Battle Droid (2013 Legacy Collection Droid Factory)

BATTLE DROID Red
Legacy Collection Droid Factory
Item No.:
Asst. - No. A6729
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Gun, backpack, antenna, five other figures, TC-70 left leg
Action Feature: Folds up
Retail: $59.99
Availability: October 2013
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Battle Droids are manufactured in factories on Geonosis. They are built in endless numbers to create a vast army for the Trade Federation and the Separatists.   Carrying blasters, they pour into the Geonosis arena and onto the planet's bare, rocky ground to battle the Repblic's Clone Troopers in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: So another Battle Droid was released, and it shows that by and large this wave was unoriginal and something of a tease.  I appreciate the emphasis on troopers, but none of these are areas I was looking to expand.  Based on the 2012 Vintage Collection Battle Droid (still warming pegs at some Targets near you), the figure is one of Hasbro's best takes on the robot.  It's super-skinny, can collapse completely into a little ball, and has both an antenna and a backpack so  you could easily customize one into a commander.  He's very unsure of his footing, so you'll want a doll stand - not a typical one-peg figure stand - to keep him standing over time.   Gravity and heat will cause him to collapse in a matter of time, be it days or weeks.   He will fall over, take my word on this.

He's easily the best red Battle Droid in terms of articulation and features, so it's sort of a shame to seem him stuck as part of an expensive online exclusive.  On the other hand, it's possible a collector with networking skills can trade a few of these guys away (or keep them)  while breaking up Droid Factory sets as each figure may appeal to a different segment of the collector public.  I was in no way excited to procure this figure, but I can't deny that it's a good figure and a smart use of Hasbro's repainting abilities, making it one of this set's highlights.  It brings something new to the table, but depending on your figure collecting needs it may not be sufficiently different.  There's a little silver "damage" and the eyes - and everything else - are where they should be.   Don't hold back on this one if you're interested.

Collector's Notes: I got this figure online from Amazon, and so should you. The packaging is unique for many reasons - not only is it based on the abandoned 2013 "Droid Factory" Legacy Collection concept, but the item is not six figures in a box - it's one figure with six items inside it.  The carded figures have no SKU and no UPC.  The P/N on the cardback is a Part Number, and that "part" that it represents is the actual cardboard piece - not the product itself.  As such this item was designed specifically to be an online exclusive, a retail store would likely never stock an item in the 21st century without a unique UPC unless it sold the entire 6-figure set, in its white mailer box, as a single unique item.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 2,057: November 14, 2013

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,056: FA-4 (2013 Legacy Collection Droid Factory)

FA-4 New!
Legacy Collection Droid Factory
Item No.:
Asst. - No. A6729
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: TC-70 torso, five other figures
Action Feature: Removable limbs
Retail: $59.99
Availability: October 2013
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: FA-4 is Count Dooku's Pilot Droid on board the count's solar sailer, an interstellar sloop and a gift to Dooku from the Geonosians.  When Dooku makes his escape from Geonosis after battling Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Yoda, it is the Pilot Droid FA-4 who operates the controls of Dooku's interstellar ship. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Originally FA-4 was to be doled out in segments as a build-a-droid figure, instead Hasbro just carded him as part of this special set.  I'm OK with that - it's a very nice figure.  Given 8 points of articulation, the figure moves better than I'd have guessed with joints at the hips, elbows, shoulders, and two neck joints.  You can pop off the arms, legs, and head and swap them with parts of other build-a-droid Protocol Droid bodies if you want, and the Pilot Droid arms do look quite nice in that style of body.

There are precious few 100%-newly-sculpted figures in the line this year, and I believe this may be the first completely new character to be released on a single blister card this year.   Thankfully it looks good - the squat little guy comes up to a Stormtrooper's shoulder, with a bronzey paint and a few painted details.  Eyes, some light silver, and a bit of black bring this silvery-grey robot to life.   Were this figure sold in stores, I'd want more of them because the various parts and pieces really are fun to swap with the other build-a-droid bits.  The figure has more moving parts than I'd expect and looks like it would fit perfectly in the Solar Sailer vehicle... that will never, ever be made.

You won't find a lot of excessive detail here, but as the only genuinely new figure in the wave it's the reason you will want to buy this set.  I almost bought one off of eBay until the flood of them made me think better of it, and I'm glad I waited.  $30 is too high for this figure - as is $60 - but the entire set is arguably "worth" it.   Barely.   It's still an expensive and decreasingly rewarding time to be an action figure collector.

Collector's Notes: I got this figure online from Amazon, and so should you. The packaging is unique for many reasons - not only is it based on the abandoned 2013 "Droid Factory" Legacy Collection concept, but the item is not six figures in a box - it's one figure with six items inside it.  The carded figures have no SKU and no UPC.  The P/N on the cardback is a Part Number, and that "part" that it represents is the actual cardboard piece - not the product itself.  As such this item was designed specifically to be an online exclusive, a retail store would likely never stock an item in the 21st century without a unique UPC unless it sold the entire 6-figure set, in its white mailer box, as a single unique item.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 2,056: November 13, 2013

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,055: Sandtrooper (2013 Legacy Collection Droid Factory)

SANDTROOPER Black Pauldron
Legacy Collection Droid Factory
Item No.:
Asst. - No. A6729
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Rifle, pistol, backpack, IM4-099 "Face" droid, clear connector piece
Action Feature: Droid connects to backpack
Retail: $59.99
Availability: October 2013
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Sandtroopers hunt for two Droids on Tatooine.  Wearing armor modified for harsh desert climates, Sandtroopers search the town of Mos Eisley for R2-D2 and C-3PO.  A Sandtrooper questions "Ben" Kenobi, who uses a Jedi mind trick to make the Sandtrooper agree that "these are not the droids you're looking for."  (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Up until about 2008 I was elated each time Hasbro put out a new sorta-different Sandtrooper figure, because the prices were good and the deco was usually quite different.  There were also multiple sculpts and tons of accessories, so it was a scavenger hunt of sorts.   This version is less exciting - it's good, but it's very similar to the 2012 Vintage release (orange pauldron) except they left off the one orange paint app.  Other than that it's functionally identical, with very similar dirt paint (which is excellent), the same three-piece Stormtrooper blaster, a large grenade cannon, and of course the same backpack with clip-on Face Droid from Star Wars: Special Edition.  I'm glad Hasbro was generous with the accessories, but the fact that nothing really changed except one single paint application (and the packaging) irks me a bit.  One different accessory - even the removal of one accessory - would make me think they at least pretended to do a little more work on this guy... of course, that's kind of the theme of this whole wave.  When Hasbro announced they axed the Droid Factory waves, other than the droids themselves I thought that was kind of for the best.

The body is the same as the Dewback Sandtrooper, and pretty much all subsequent Sandtroopers in the Vintage 2010-2012 era.  The helmets of this and the 2012 one are supposedly different, but it's similar enough to me where I'll just say "sure" and move on - it's not significantly interestingly different enough where I can point to what's unique.  Maybe the mouth?  I don't know.  I love the paint job on the body, which is again fundamentally similar to that 2012 Vintage Sandtrooper.  The articulation is about as good as we're going to get at this scale until Hasbro caves in and gives us a 100% new sculpt, and I'm less and less optimistic about this.

If you're a collector, you want this - it's different enough to make you mad.   If you're an army builder, you'll want this - same reason.  If you're looking for the best examples of each trooper or character, and you have the 2012 Vintage release, you can skip this one - it's basically the same, minus the color of the shoulder pad and the droid part.  Oh - it comes with the head of TC-70, Jabba's protocol droid from The Clone Wars movie.  Well, I take back everything - now it's a must buy.  (I loves me some Droids, and Clone Wars, and Jabba.)  The set itself is far more interesting than any of the six figures inside, save for Dooku's pilot droid.

Collector's Notes: I got this figure online from Amazon, and so should you. The packaging is unique for many reasons - not only is it based on the abandoned 2013 "Droid Factory" Legacy Collection concept, but the item is not six figures in a box - it's one figure with six items inside it.  The carded figures have no SKU and no UPC.  The P/N on the cardback is a Part Number, and that "part" that it represents is the actual cardboard piece - not the product itself.  As such this item was designed specifically to be an online exclusive, a retail store would likely never stock an item in the 21st century without a unique UPC unless it sold the entire 6-figure set, in its white mailer box, as a single unique item.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 2,055: November 12, 2013