Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,267: Rey (Resistance Outfit, The Force Awakens)

REY Resistance Outfit
The Force Awakens   Jungle and Space Figures
Item No.: Asst. B3445 No. B5667
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: "Combine" staff and blaster, regular pistol blaster, vest, lightsaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99  
Availability: January 2016
Appearances: The Force Awakens

Bio: Rey is a resilient survivor, a scavenger toughened by a lifetime of dealing with the cut throats of the harsh desert world of Jakku. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: The Rey toys are sort of a marvelous example of what happens when demand exceeds supply - especially this one, which currently commands a premium due to not saturating.  Heck, most of the post-movie figures are still somewhat scarce - Hasbro decided to pack all figures at even case ratios, so the Rhode Island toy maker put out as many Resistance Reys as Old Man Han and Hassk Thugs.   The idea was you'd buy all three to build a weapon.  You didn't.  The cases also had 50% reshipped product, which was not wise - you could fill it with Reys and probably do OK.  Hasbro played it safe and didn't over produce, so that means we could see things swing the other way for the next movies.  The smart money is always on the bad guys, as that's what collectors will gobble up if kids won't.   Now kids are buying - new fans, too!  They love Rey, and why wouldn't they?  This is her second costume form the movie, and it's one you want.  And can't find.

With a removable vest, it's a good replica of what you saw on screen.     I assume you'll see it in the next numerical movie, unless it skips ahead and whatever planet Luke is on has a lot of people selling pants.   (I suspect not.)  The figure can stand and sit, and she'll even fit in your Millennium Falcon despite not having perfect hip joints.  I appreciate this.   With 5 joints, she's about as good as her other figures - but she has a lot more gear and a nicer head paint job.  The hairstyle looks a little better, the eyes are a bit sharper, and she's even got the pistol in her holster that she got from Han Solo.   If that weren't enough, she has a new lightsaber sculpt with a loop on the end, plus her "Combine" weapon is a two-part staff and blaster.   With four weapons, no figure on this line is as likely to be as good as this Rey.  Heck, after looking at the whole line I'd say this is the big winner - I hope Hasbro reissues her.

The bonus accessory is a... what is it?   I guess it's a staff and a gun you can combine to make something that sort of looks like a longbow?  The secret message in many girl toys since The Hunger Games was that everybody is an archer, and maybe it's a stretch - but I certainly got that feeling from seeing this figure with this weapon.  You can combine it with a backpack and another gun to get another awkward weapon that you don't need.  I just feel the combine weapons got less interesting as they progressed.   I am hoping we have seen the last of them.

With decent wrist wraps, pants, shoes, belts, and a working holster, this figure is as good as you should expect from this series.  It will not knock your socks off, but as toy figures go she's pretty great.  I'm sure a lightsaber hilt and a belt on which to hang it would make her even better, but I suppose that's what remakes and sequels are for.   If you see her under $10, snag yourself this one - or wait and hope a better one is coming September of 2017.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,267: August 31, 2016