Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,607: BB-8 (Droid Depot, The Black Series 6-Inch)

BB-8 (Droid Depot)
Galaxy's Edge The Black Series 6-Inch Figure Disney Park Exclusive
Item No.: No. E5158
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #n/a
Includes: C-3PO. R2-D2, DJ-R3X
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $69.99
Availability: June 2019
Appearances: Galaxy's Edge

Bio: A skittish but loyal astromech, BB-8 accompanied Poe Dameron on many missions for the Resistance, helping keep his X-Wing in working order.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability:  Click here to buy it at Amazon now!


Commentary:  The other three figures in this set had distinctive merits of their own, but BB-8 did not take C-3PO's path to improvement.  This is basically the same as the 2015 release, but with added dirt.  If you like increased battle-damage, you want this figure.  If you're happy with your existing BB-8, this does not bring anything new to the table.

My sample has the same head, barbell, and body construction with the head being the only moving part.  It doesn't roll or anything like that, and the paint job is largely very similar with the tiniest bit of added panel detailing in  few spots.  I would have loved to see this are improved - this mold with a completely new paint job, or cast in shiny white plastic, would be compelling.  Instead, it's gone from kind of grungy to very grungy.  It's by no means bad, but it doesn't bring a lot new to the table and some of the orange paint applications on the bottom of the dome are a smidgen off on my sample.

Positioning the head to find the gravitational sweet spot is just like before, and he's also just as white and as orange as last time.  I don't see any significant changes, so if you just want a 6-inch scale BB-8 you're probably better served getting the 2015 version with Rey as it's cheaper.  If you need all the versions - or the other droids in this set - you'll be glad Hasbro made enough deco alterations to this droid so you can tell it is indeed a different release on sight.  If Hasbro is so inclined, that would mean they could still do a clean BB-8 before turning in the mold.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from my pal Shannon who went to Disneyland's Galaxy's Edge last month.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,607: July 30, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,606: R2-D2 (Droid Depot, The Black Series 6-Inch)

R2-D2 (Droid Depot)
Galaxy's Edge The Black Series 6-Inch Figure Disney Park Exclusive
Item No.: No. E5158
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #n/a
Includes: C-3PO. BB-8, DJ-R3X
Action Feature: Compartments open to reveal arms, retractable third leg when dome spins, opening dome panels
Retail: $69.99
Availability: June 2019
Appearances: Galaxy's Edge

Bio: R2-D2 is a plucky and loyal Astromech droid that aids the Resistance in their conflict against the First Order and takes part in many of the numerous events in the galaxy. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability:  Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  While C-3PO brought a new deco variant with new parts and was effectively a new definitive figure, this R2-D2 is another R2-D2.   Using the same sculpt from 2013, this one bridges the gap of "too dirty" and "too clean."  You could say it's "just right," but if you're happy with the R2-D2 figures you already have this one only offers a new level of dirt.

I would nudge you to the basic figure first - be it the 2013 orange box version or its 2017 40th Anniversary reissue - because of the lightsaber and scope accessories.   This one has places for those attachments, but you'll need to steal them from other droid figures.  The opening panels on the dome are still present, the third leg still rotates down, but this time it has dirt deco on it! That's a real unusual thing in Hasbro's droid toys.     The wheels on the heels are still present, as are the pop-off blue panels for the arm rockets (which are not included.)

As R2-D2 figures go, it's fine - it's a little different, if lacking in features.  It doesn't bring much new to the table.  The front logic displays - those little rectangles - are left unpainted yet again, but everything else is more or less as it should be. The rear logic display could benefit from being a different color than blue, but it still looks fine.  They did a fine job with weathering the back of the figure, a rare treat as the damage and wear tends to be left off the back side.  Hasbro painted the top panel on Artoo's dome, though, and at this point that's where we need to be.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from my pal Shannon who went to Disneyland's Galaxy's Edge last month.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,606: July 25, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,605: Porgs (Batuu, The Black Series 6-Inch)

PORGS (Batuu, Smuggler's Run)
Galaxy's Edge The Black Series 6-Inch Figure Disney Park Exclusive
Item No.: No. E5159
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #n/a
Includes: Chewbacca with Bowcaster, Rey with Blaster and Staff and Lightsaber, Hondo Ohnaka with Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $69.99
Availability: June 2019
Appearances: Galaxy's Edge

Bio: Small, flat-muzzled avians that flock about the rocks and roost in the cliffs of Ahch-To island, porgs are inquisitive creatures. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability:  Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  Porgs are popular, and also hated.  It's a rare combo platter, making them somewhat like the Ewoks in that you have fans that can't understand why anybody loves them as well as fans that think they're just great.  At 1-inch tall, each tiny Porg is almost more of an accessory than a figure in its own right - but Hasbro sold a 2-pack in 2018 for about $6, so we're going to treat them like a unique product for the purposes of this review.

They're new! I was surprised.  At first glance I assumed they just were the standing Porg from earlier, but each body is a new casting.   There's a Screaming Porg and a Sad Porg, leaving the door open for other variants like Geordi LaPorg and BBQ Porgs in the future.  Each figure is built around the existing template - ball-jointed wings and swivel legs on a round, rotund feathered body. They're small, they're cute, and they're painted very differently than the 2018 versions.  The brown/orange feathers are much paler this time, but the brown is a pretty close match as are the other colors.

Deco is impressive - the eyes can be a little off, so examine them before you buy them if you're worried.  It's not obvious, but the closed-mouth Porg is the "Sad Porg" that gives Chewbacca a guilt trip at dinner time.  You can see the exaggerated, pouty lower lip and the sad drop-shaped eyes. A little outline around the eyes may make it more obvious, as I completely missed it when I first got the set.

Screaming Porg is pretty much perfect - the mouth is open, painted, and yelling.    The eyes are wide and the tongue protrudes a tiny bit, giving you a very cute, very personable bird-like entity.  They all have pink feet with painted webbed claws, and are probably - probably - worth the overall asking price if you want the other figures in the set. 

You get 3 $20 figures and 1 $6 2-pack in a box.  $26 of the product is inarguably good enough and new enough to be worth it, with the other $40 being just different enough to make you mad (or very exciting if you missed it the first time.)   I begrudgingly recommend the set just because Hasbro did actually go through the trouble to change stuff up enough so that you can tell them apart from previous runs, which is admittedly not a high bar but it's nice for us collector people.   If the package inspired you, get it.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from my pal Shannon who went to Disneyland's Galaxy's Edge last month.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,605: July 23, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,604: C-3PO (Droid Depot, The Black Series 6-Inch)

C-3PO (Droid Depot)
Galaxy's Edge The Black Series 6-Inch Figure Disney Park Exclusive
Item No.: No. E5158
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #n/a
Includes: R2-D2. BB-8, DJ-R3X
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $69.99
Availability: June 2019
Appearances: Galaxy's Edge

Bio: A fastidious and worry-prone protocol droid, C-3PO longs for peaceful times, but his continued service to the Resistance keeps him in the front lines of galactic conflict. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability:  Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  I was pleasantly surprised by this C-3PO - it's better! "Just different enough to be shockingly essential" is not the kind of catchphrase I usually use in this feature. Hasbro actually changed out the arms here, giving C-3PO articulation similar to 4-LOM.  It always irked me that the previous versions of C-3PO had no elbow joints, mostly because they did cram them in the 3 3/4-inch figures from time to time.  There's no excuse with a higher price point and no accessories - and apparently Hasbro agreed this time.

C-3PO is the droid of Theseus that you probably expected.  The body (but not belly), head, and shoulders are the same as all previous 6-inch C-3PO figures.  The belly wiring is the same as the Walgreens/40th Anniversary C-3PO.  The legs are the same as all C-3PO and 4-LOM 6-inch figures.  The arms and hands are the same as 4-LOM.  Hasbro bashed together the best possible C-3PO action figure they could muster out of existing parts, and it even has hands that can do things like hold accessories now!   This gives C-3PO about 25 points of articulation, including the three moving parts around the shoulders.   In terms of construction this is, without a doubt, Hasbro's best-ever C-3PO figure.

Deco is based on The Last Jedi, which also just happens to be pretty much identical to how C-3PO looks in Revenge of the Sith and the original Kenner line - all gold with no mismatched limbs.  Hasbro did make a 6-Inch Value C-3PO [FOTD #2,418] with this deco, and if you just need a C-3PO at this size with this particular color configuration, it's certainly a cheaper option.   If you want the best of the best, though, go with the Galaxy's Edge figure if you're accepting of a C-3PO with no silver or red limbs.  It's the best all-gold C-3PO you can get from Hasbro in this scale, until they figure out a way to do worthwhile vac-metal gold again.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from my pal Shannon who went to Disneyland's Galaxy's Edge last month.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,604: July 18, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,603: Chopper (C1-10P, The Black Series 6-Inch)

CHOPPER (C1-10P)
The Force Awakens The Black Series 6-Inch Figure
Item No.: Asst. B3834 No. E4084
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #84
Includes: Fire blast, fire cloud, spare left leg, central rocket leg, central wheel leg
Action Feature: Connects to blast base, rolling wheels, arm pops out of chest, arms pop out of dome
Retail: $19.99
Availability: June 2019
Appearances: Star Wars: Rebels

Bio: Chopper is the resident droid of the Ghost, assisting the crew in everything from ship maintenance to combat, even though he doesn't always want to.  After many years of repirs and patch jobs, Chopper has a beat-up, worn look that matches his sometimes cranky personality. (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:  Essential!   I didn't think Chopper (C1-10P) as a smaller droid could carry his weight as a figure.   I assumed Hasbro wouldn't shove enough plastic in the box to warrant the price of a standard figure.  I was wrong.  This is fantastic.   Hasbro's "realistic" take on Chopper from Rebels seems almost the same as the cartoon.   It also looks a bit like the full-size droid from Rebels Recon, although it's a bit lighter and a little less filthy.  Every element is where it should be, from the weird alternate leg to the panels that look glued on in the wrong place.  Some of the colors are a smidgen off, like the chassis body being lighter grey on the toy than the TV show, or the orange stripe over the chest arm being yellow rather than orange, but I'm picking nits here.  This is pretty gorgeous and I'm not going to dump on it for taking license on translating a cartoon character to a movie-compatible one.

The toy is positively loaded in moving parts.  The central leg is removable - you can elect to leave it out, or use a rocket leg, or a wheel leg.  The hips and ankles move, and the left leg can be replaced with a leg that better matches the right one if you're so inclined - a nice nod to an episode of the show where Chopper wants to get his leg fixed.  The dome rotates, as does the dish on top.  What surprised me was the leg in the body swivels out, as do the arms inside the dome.  Each arm has at least two joints, and there are ball joints on the head arms' elbows.

The colors largely match the TV show, with bright oranges and yellows against a sea of muted greys and greens.  I love how it turned out, complete with the blue dots inside the two remaining eyes.  The wires were painted, and so were tons of other details.  Hasbro even painted wear and tear on the figure's backside, and that's something we don't get very much.

Kudos to Hasbro for including environmental pieces.  The clear orange "blast" pieces work as a great display sand for the figure, making Yoda and R2-D2 seem like they need to up their game on the gear front.  A little white smoke paint dusts the blast, making it a pretty fantastic piece for a display shelf or desk.  If you already have the other Rebels figures, you'll be happy to get this one.   I should also note Ezra is a stunner.  Make sure you add these to your stash before the prices get stupid expensive - I assume Rebels kids will get older and want these eventually.  And be sure to get that Hondo from Galaxy's Edge while you're at it.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,603: July 16, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,602: Rey (Batuu, The Black Series 6-Inch)

REY (Batuu, Smuggler's Run)
Galaxy's Edge The Black Series 6-Inch Figure Disney Park Exclusive
Item No.: No. E51525159
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #n/a
Includes: Blaster and Staff and Lightsaber, Hondo Ohnaka with Blaster, 2 Porgs, Chewbacca with Bowcaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $69.99
Availability: June 2019
Appearances: Galaxy's Edge

Bio: A scavenger toughened by life in Jakku's harsh deserts, Rey has been drawn into a galaxy-spanning conflict and learned that her life is being shaped by the mysterious power of the Force.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability:  Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  While I am a fan of Rey (the character) I am finding Rey (the toys) to provide diminishing returns.   This figure is a theme park exclusive that almost certainly qualifies as "just different enough to make you mad."  The costume's colors are pretty much identical to the previous releases of the same costume as a 2-pack with Luke Skywalker from SDCC 2017, or the individually boxed figure from September 2019, or Toys R Us' obscenely overpriced $40 Rey with some soft goods and a display stand from Toys R Us from late 2017.  On top of that, there's a wounded arm variant of the single figure - so the collector who loves Rey has already bought this figure in this costume with this almost identical mold up to five times before this release.  And that hardcore fan will no doubt be drawn to Disneyland, and will probably buy it again.

The good - the figure's costume is true to the movie, with a good range of articulation just like before. She has her staff, her lightsaber, and a lightsaber - the latter of which has a rich deep blue blade, which is a nice change of pace.  The figure's main new feature is the portrait getting that "hyper realistic" photo printing, which gets better every year.  They did a nice job making this Rey figure look more like Daisy Ridley, which is pretty good as previous releases found little improvements with color and eyeliner here and there to make the facial features pop.  I can say that this is the best version of this Rey Hasbro has ever done, but two years later and several variations after... it does not feel essential nor does it feel timely.

With the basic single figure of Rey showing up at second-hand stores around my town for $3-$5 sealed in the box ($12 or under on eBay) and also the soft goods + display base version going for under $20, this doesn't seem terribly necessary.  Since she ties in to the attractions, it makes sense that the figure exists - but I find myself oddly lamenting the lack of a distinctive addition to the costume.  Dirt on her boots?   Maybe some scorch marks on the outfit?  Any environmental cosmetic change would have been a positive addition at this point, not that the new face paint isn't welcome - it would just  be nice to have a figure that's more than improvement and instead offers something distinctive and unique, whatever that may be.

Hasbro did a good job giving the licensor/customer what it likely requested - but I would have liked to have seen a couple of additional enhancements or alterations to make this truly stand out.  At least it has a new portrait!

Collector's Notes: I got mine from my pal Shannon who went to Disneyland's Galaxy's Edge last month.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,602: July 11, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,601: BB-8 (Resistance line look)

BB-8 and Poe Dameron
Star Wars Resistance  3 3/4-Inch 2-Pack Figure
Item No.: Asst. E5034 No. E5360
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/
Includes: Helmet, blaster, Poe figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: January 2019
Appearances: Star Wars Resistance

Bio: A hotshot X-wing pilot for the Resistance, Poe Dameron is a natural leader who keeps an eye on the crew of the Colossus. When Poe sets out on his own missions, he leaves behind BB-8, a rolling BB unit whose spherical shell is packed with useful tools and computer interface equipment, to work alongside Kaz and the rest of the crew. (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: Infuriating.  Back in 2015 BB-8 in a set with Poe Dameron would have flown off the shelves at $15, but in 2019 the value proposition doesn't meet the hype.  That first BB-8 was packaged with two cool new alien figures for the same price, thus softening the blow of having to pay $15 for the breakout star of the new movie's trailer.  By now people are over BB-8 a bit, so the mere hint at the cybernetic marble being a toy isn't enough to make it an exciting purchase.  While improved, this is not an exciting purchase.

His companion Poe figure is a gem - the slim, redesigned pilot fits better in toy X-Wings than the movie ones!   This new animated BB-8 is cleaner and rounder, with better paint, but there's a smaller flat base that's a bit harder to find. The only thing that moves is the head, so really all the figure delivers is a clean, stylized design with orange and silver paint within the lines, clearly, on a white chassis.  It's very good - but if this set were $9.99, given how little is in it, you might still huff and puff about not getting enough toy for your money.  And this is $15.

Since the line is probably already over for good, I assume any of this is moot - fans in the future will probably want this set because it's a great example of Hasbro releasing a wonderful set of figures, regardless of price, that look good and behave better as toys than nearly anything they've done since the 1995 relaunch. No other line better captures the ease of play as Resistance, unfortunately you'll have to borrow all the vehicles from previous series as Hasbro has elected not to release any at this or probably any other time.  If you see it on clearance for $10, get this set.  If you want a really good Poe figure, get this set. If you have no other BB-8 toys, get this set.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,601: July 9, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,600: Chewbacca (The Vintage Collection)

CHEWBACCA Threedux
The Vintage Collection Action Figures
Item No.: Asst. E0370  No. E51186
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #141
Includes: Bowcaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99
Availability: May 2019
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Chewbacca, known affectionately to his friends as Chewie, was a Wookiee warrior, smuggler, and resistance fighter who fought in the Clone Wars, the Galactic Civil War, and the conflict between the First Order and the Resistance.  (Stolen from Wookieepedia.  Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: This Chewbacca was kind of a strange one because the official photos don't necessarily match the product.   Shots of the toy against a yellow and black gradient background were of The Black Series Chewbacca - which has different decoration.  The carded and loose shots - typically, actual factory samples - show a completely different head sculpt and different paint from older releases.  This is all very strange, because this figure seems to be an all-new paint job with a head from about 4 years ago.  This is our future - reruns with paint that shows us Hasbro can and sometimes does not do better.

If you got Chewbacca from The Black Series [FOTD #2,165], this is basically that mold.  Key changes include better fur paint, the interior of the mouth is painted pink now, and less raccoony eye paint.   Chewie is darker overall, but it's still the 2004 Original Trilogy Collection  body.  Hasbro has seemingly decided they can't or won't ever try to do better, 15 years later.  It's much improved and doesn't have the weird light brown streaks that may imply possible accidents.  Chewie's claws, nails, and a lot of the fleshy parts of his hand and feet are also painted.  This is definitely the best deco we've seen on this mold.

As packaging goes, this is the first time Hasbro gave us a The Vintage Collection Chewbacca on a packaged modeled after the original double-bordered Star Wars 1978-1979 packaging.  It's also the first "Vintage" package Chewbacca in this size since the 2004.  If you're a packaged fan or an opener his is probably an essential addition unless you're the kind of weirdo that has one or two Chewbacca figures and says "I'm good, thanks."  A black bowcaster, the best head paint job yet, and 23 points of articulation are all wonderful features.  And I'm sure Hasbro will make one with better hands in a few years so they can sell it to us for another 15 years.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,600: July 4, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,599: Lando Calrissian (The Vintage Collection)

LANDO CALRISSIAN (Gaiden)
The Vintage Collection Action Figures
Item No.: Asst. E0370  No. E4061
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #139
Includes: Blaster, scarf, cape
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99
Availability: May 2019
Appearances: Solo

Bio: Lando Calrissian was a human male smuggler, gambler, and card player who became Baron Administrator of Cloud City and, later, a general in the Rebel Alliance.  (Stolen from Wookieepedia.  Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: I was a little surprised to see Lando Calrissian in this line, especially a full year and two other figures after the movie came and went.  Wearing the same outfit as the other figures - one that has a lot of similarities of what we'll see in The Rise of Skywalker - I would almost complain that it's unnecessary.  However, as usual, Hasbro crams in a lot of improvements and for that reason you'll want to replace your Force Link 2.0 version with this one.

This time around Lando's blaster has the added muzzle attached, and it's not removable like on the 6-inch version.  Lando's scarf and cape are two separate pieces, and the holster is sculpted and molded separately from the body.   He's not going to sit with the blaster in his holster.  Hasbro did a nice job painting the scarf and the liner of the cape, with a little painted detail in the blaster to boot.  Short of an alternate blaster without the muzzle, there's not much else I would do to add to this figure.

The figure itself is really good.  You get articulated ankles, bend-and-swivel wrists, the double-jointed neck, and yes, the thigh cut are all here.  The weird ab joint is also here sadly, as I assume Hasbro doesn't like articulation being hidden at the belt for some reason.  I don't get it, myself, the belt seems to be the perfect place for a joint.  Donald Glover Lando's head is a gem, with a great sculpt and just a smidgen more paint. He seems to have a bit much on his forehead if you get too close, but at a distance you get a decent amount of detailing.

Hasbro more or less nailed this one.  There's a hip/holster compatibility issue that comes and goes over the years, but otherwise it's pretty great.  Obviously, grab it if you see it at a fair price as it's the best young Lando figure Hasbro has ever done.  It may also be the best Lando figure Hasbro has ever done.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,599: July 2, 2019