Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,112: Tusken Chieftan (The Black Series)

TUSKEN CHIEFTAN Big Retool
The Black Series 2023 Window Box Line Look The Book of Boba Fett Packaging
Item No.: Asst. E8908 No. F9984
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #06 - Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett
Includes: Staff, cloak
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: December 2023
Appearances: Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett

Bio: The leader of a tribe of Tusken Raiders, the Tusken Chieftan captured Boba Fett after his escape from the Sarlacc in the Great Pit of Carkoon. (Taken from the box packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: Despite having a very small line, The Book of Boba Fett for The Black Series is mostly made of old molds and/or figures from other shows. The Tusken Chieftan hides it well - but you can't hide the C2142 on his foot. And I know you know what it means - it's the SKU for the 2017 Tusken Raider [FOTD #2,382] figure. The arms and legs are reused, but the head, cloak, skirt, torso, necklaces, and accessories are new. And that meets my standards of "new figure." While I would vastly prefer Hasbro treat its "premium" line as such, I know tooling is expensive and sales on action figures seem a little rocky. (That's no secret, check Amazon or eBay to see what the free market decides what new releases are worth.)

As of my writing this, it's still selling for SRP - which means Hasbro probably made a hair too many for the needs of the market, which is largely par for the course for a lot of figures lately. I'd go as far as to say this one feels a bit better than a lot of recent rleeases, with painted robes, extra neck accessories, and a very nice staff. They sculpted new lower robes - honestly, they didn't have to - you can tell because they're nice and clean, not tattered like the 1977-style figure. The chest is new, without the bandoliers. The painted elements look superb, but the sculpting seems a little soft and the brown plastics on the chest and feet are just the tiniest bit opaque. It would work great for skin, but for clothing, you don't want there to be any indication that light is passing through meat. Still, it's dark, and it more or less works great except under bright light.

The head looks great, better than the 3 3/4-inch one and painted well to boot. The painted wrappings look good, and so do the faux metal and leather bits. They did a nice job - the textures on the head are excellent overall. The breathing tubes hang on his neck strangely, but the necklace looks acceptable. I think it could look better, but I also assume someone is making an argument about "value" and may not be taking into account that a Tusken Chieftan without the lady warrior or the prisoner Rodian or Suns-bleached Boba may not be a compelling argument, regardless of relative quality. You can really see that they made a figure with shortcuts that doesn't feel like they took the cheap route, which is great, but I think we all get to a point where you want to see some savings when you see reused parts so often. That ship has likely long since sailed, so the real question is... can this guy be worth the $25?

I'd say "yes but." I love aliens, and things related to Tatooine and adjacent to original trilogy stories - and I love building alien cultures out in the toy box. This ticks all the boxes for me, but if we didn't get a new body I'd be a little grumpy, and if they didn't give us a new staff I'd be furious. If it were a $20 figure I'd be singing its praises and its cleverness, and at $25 I'd say I like it a lot more than many recent arrivals. (It takes me a while to get through these things as I write them up as I go.) With so few figures from The Book of Boba Fett I can't say it's a rewarding line to collect, but if you accept that you're just going to get a few and have an anemic collection? This is a good one, this is one to get. You should get it.

He can stand, he can hold his staff, but he can't sit and it's not like you were going to put him in a ship anyway.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,112: February 29, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,111: Sabine Wren (Epic Hero Series)

SABINE WREN New Kids Line
Epic Hero Series Deluxe Figure
Item No.: Asst. F9949 No. G0139
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Backpack, gauntlet, lightsaber, shield
Action Feature: Comes apart
Retail: $14.99
Availability: January 2024
Appearances: Star Wars: Ahsoka   

Bio: Sabine Wren is a Mandalorian warrior and graffiti artist with a creative and rebellious spirit. (Taken from the packaging)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: For a few years I've been tooting the horn for a new kid line - it's been nothing but reruns in this category since 2018. So after six years, we're back, and you may see the Sabine Wren deluxe figure online or at Walmart so far. It's exciting to have a new figure format! She's a little awkward, but feels a lot like what you might hope a 1990s Kenner figure would have been. She's a hair taller than the other 3 3/4-inch Sabine figures, with different deco, putting her somewhere between the Retro figure and the Vintage figure. This Epic Hero Series Sabine lacks a painted belt buckle and a painted saber hilt on her h ip, but otherwise her paint is a bit fancier.

For those looking for the utmost in on-screen authenticity... this isn't it. But it's an idealized toy in a good format. The jet pack seems to be based on Rebels, complete with purple wings, as is the clear blue wrist shield. She has a two-piece wrist gauntlet accessory that plugs in with a slide-out dagger. I can have her standing on my desk with all of her stuff, and she's not falling over. This makes me happy. I love that her lightsaber hilt is painted gray, because it looks cartoony, with a clear green blade that reminds me a lot of the 1990s The Power of the Force figures. Are the added accessories enough to make her worth $5 more than her non-deluxe counterparts? Not really. But given the pop-out energy blades on the shield, the slide-out dagger on the gauntlet, and the painted wings on the backpack, it's clear Hasbro spent some of the money making this a good product. Sadly, she has no blasters, but I should note I honestly don't feel that they're missing.

The figure itself gets the job done well with lots of colors, painted stripes and a nice helmet. It's worth noting there is no alternate head or removable helmet, but you get a glossy black visor and a chunky rangefinder. The left pauldron has no special signet on it, the fingers are gray instead of skin color, and the blue is a little lighter here... but I don't dislike it. Every accessory is good, nothing feels too superfluous, plus it's worth noting she was sculpted nicely with a real pose. The right arm has a bit of a bend to the elbow, with legs that have a little life to them. Both holsters have blasters sculpted inside, too, and I'd be very happy if the Retro figure was given this exact pose.

Each gauntlet (and her back) has a hole in it. You can mount the shield or gauntlet on either wrist, and the backpack fits tightly on her back. Her hand easily holds her lightsaber, too. I'm trying to find a reason to not recommend this figure to you, but if Retro didn't do it this might be a good, small collection for lapsed collectors to start. Heck, buy it and let your kids play with it. There's no face here so I can't say how great the line is going to be for humans, but for helmeted characters it's shaping up quite nicely. $15 is a lot for a 5-jointed figure, and Retro Sabine has a removable helmet at a lower price - but if you can't find her, this is a decent substitute. I'd like to see Hasbro expand this line to more characters and vehicles, and while I will be set fire for saying this I wouldn't be that sad if this line started to steal the lunch money of the repack-heavy The Vintage Collection. Give this a look in stores if you see it, I think that if you are a fan of toys you may enjoy her.

Line Notes: I'm fond of the bright, colorful packaging with its legible logo and decent - admittedly, not thrilling - artwork. It's good, there's a lot of copy on the back of the card but most of the real estate is devoted to explaining the product and accessories. This is a toy, as these things should be. If Hasbro builds up this format (preferably in silos with a specific show or movie) I would be very happy to see this line continue, but I would prefer to see more basic figures and fewer deluxe ones. If this line only goes two or three waves, I'd say you should skip it - but I hope it's the start of a new ongoing format, and if they drop Retro I'd pick these up.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,111: February 27, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,110: R4-Series Astromech Droid Black with Silver

R4-SERIES ASTROMECH DROID Black Dome with Red and Silver Markings looks like R4-I9
Star Wars Droid Factory
Item No.: ???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: Head, 2 legs, torso, central third leg, optional hat
Action Feature: Comes apart
Retail: $12.99
Availability: Fall 2015
Appearances: n/a

Bio: These figures do not have specific packaging or configurations. As such, we will be treating each dome as a unique "figure" as that part is the most plentiful. There were 25 domes in the 2012 series and 25 domes in the 2015 batch so far. While Hasbro had said they didn't design the first batch, they included Hasbro copyrights. This batch does not - markings read "© DISNEY" and "© LFL" as well as "China" on each leg. (Taken from the packaging)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: I've had this R4-Series Astromech Droid with black dome and silver markings for so long... I forgot what wave it was from. I have a pegboard of unopened figures to review and I've been alternating between Vintage, Black Series, Disney Droid Factory, and Retro figures - and I noticed this on the back of a peg, covered in dust, hanging there for almost nine years. Hasbro has released so many action figures that I've been reviewing anywhere from 2 to 5 per week for almost 18 years, and if they stopped making new ones tomorrow I could probably fill this site for a few more years. It stands as a testament to just how much longevity this line has, but also, how overwhelming it is. It's arguably inaccessible to new fans now, with figures like the "parts bin droids" requiring you to have been at a certain place at a certain time to be aware they existed so you can reference the few online guides to parts. They don't have specific names or official configurations either. If you want this exact droid, you cobbled it together through little parts bins at a theme park. You may not be able to find it on eBay as you see it here, and you may have to buy multiple figures to put it together.

Each one was made of as many parts as you decided to cobble together - a dome, two legs, a middle foot, a body, and an optional hat. They were $12.99, which wasn't cheap by the standards of the day when you could get a Hasbro figure for about (or under) ten bucks. Today, you can't get much of anything for under $17. It's less of a collectible than it is a souvenir to delight children with a custom-made memory of their visit to a magical place... while vexing adults who want a complete set without even knowing what the complete set truly was.

This particular R4 dome looks a lot like R4-I9 [FOTD #996] from 2003, which appeared as the only genuinely new figure in a Toys R Us exclusive gift set. Disney keeps the silver trapezoid outlines on the black dome and the silver band around the base, making it look fundamentally identical - but it's not. This is a different mold, with different proportions and a hole in the top so he can wear a hat. You probably won't be able to tell that from the photos, though. The Hasbro R4-I9 had a body with silver panels. Disney did not offer that color of part in its bins - the black body there had orange panels with some silver accoutrements, so you couldn't replicate the other droid at the time. Instead, you get something new with bright silver on the outer parts of his feet and lots of colorful dots on the cord-free legs which results in a distinctive figure for which there is no backstory. You make the story here.

Back when the parts bins first came out, I had a collecting crisis when I was faced with a lack of legs - which Disney later "fixed" by having a leg serve as both right and left, dropping critical parts from them. It's efficient, but also a bit sad... and over 100 Disney droids later, I may be droided out. It could be old age - I've been writing about Star Wars toys online since 1995 - but I can't muster a lot of enthusiasm about this one now. It's a good figure. The paint is clean, the design is good, and the parts I got all go together nicely with a bonus silly top hat. If you can get this figure, it is a treat, it feels like a nice product and has aged incredibly well with no squeaky parts or other unpleasantness from the passing of time. The only thing going against it is that there are so many figures - no new fan is going to be able to collect them all, or even know what they missed as there's no complete, definitive guide to everything. With few playsets or vehicles, droids like this serve less of a function beyond "collectible." A couple of very similar builds on eBay go for about $25-$30, with others seemingly declining in price - perhaps due to the obscurity of the line and lack of names. If you missed out on bin droids, I suggest you go to eBay now and start browsing. Given inflation, being able to purchase these well-made figures for $20-$30 may be an exciting prospect for those who missed them over the past decade and change.

Collector's Notes: I got mine in 2015 and I am actually not sure how long these parts were made in the bins. I got this from my pal Shannon who was cool enough to get me a set from Disneyland.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,110: February 22, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,109: Mon Mothma (The Retro Collection)

MON MOTHMA New!
The Retro Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure Hasbro Pulse/Shop Disney 6-Pack
Item No.: No. F6988
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, plus Wicket W. Warrick, Yak Face, Emperor's Royal Guard, Gamorrean Guard, and Admiral Ackbar
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $72.99
Availability: November 2023
Appearances: Return of the Jedi (or maybe Rogue One)

Bio: Star Wars Retro Collection includes Star Wars action figures from the 40-plus-year legacy of the Star Wars Galaxy, including movies and live-action series. (Stolen from the marketing copy. Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: To say that a Kenner-style Mon Mothma was unexpected would be a gross understatement. If you gave me 50 guesses as to which figures Hasbro would remake (or make) for its 6-pack in 2023, she would not be on it. I would have banked on an astromech repaint, or new Jabba's Palace aliens, maybe even Nik Sant or Wedge Antilles finally - but the first lady of exposition? With a blaster? Never. But, I can understand why - with her, the quantity of human women characters in the Kenner-style original trilogy action figure line increases to two. (Also due to inconsistencies on the parts of who voiced and was interviewed about EV-9D9, I don't count the robot - but Sy Snootles, sure.) For those keeping track at home, Urgah Lady Gorneesh and Kea Moll also exist.

But as to this one - why? I want to know. The figure itself seems to have had her hands "inspired" (or swiped) from Kenner's Princess Leia Organa figures - they're a little different from, but incredibly close to, Battle Poncho Leia. Everything else seems to be new, but generally seems to be inspired by the newer retro figures in that her posture is too good. The dress legs are "pants" like The Emperor, with flat, unpainted inner legs. There's no wavy pattern like Anakin Skywalker. She can stand with no problems thanks to her massive "feet," and my sample has no problems holding her blaster - a reuse of Leia's.

The outfit looks like she should, with multiple layers of robes and the same necklaces and general look we saw in Rogue One as well. Due to how her neck looks I wouldn't necessarily argue with you if you said they sculpted her from that movie and it's close enough and stylized enough that it could be either Caroline Blakiston or Genevieve O'Reilly. Customizers have made much better retro head sculpts - and worse, also worse - and this one is bland, but fine. It doesn't really look that much like either performer, which is how a lot of old, real Kenner figures turned out - nobody's picking up Han Solo and going "oh, this looks just like Harrison Ford." But Mon's hair looks right, the eyes are clean, and she more or less has everything where it should be. She can fit in many vehicles as long as her pants don't get in the way, too - her range of movement is better than that old mail-in Anakin Skywalker.

Had this figure been released in the 1980s I have no doubt she would have been one of those figures you saw at flea markets that didn't sell even at a buck or two - but wait a couple of decades, and now she's exciting because she's new and having a moment on the Disney+ series Andor. I like that she got made, but she's an odd choice. Hasbro gave us Grand Moff Tarkin [FOTD #2,588] in 2019, and that made sense as a character people felt was absent for decades. Snowspeeder Pilot Luke Skywalker [FOTD #2,698] was a head-scratcher as X-Wing Luke fit the bill, and similarly I would've probably expected Death Star II Luke (as the body sculpt exists under Battle Poncho Luke) as the token "new figure." Hopefully they keep this program going so we can get more new classic trilogy figures alongside the reissues, but I'm not overly optimistic Hasbro's new post-layoff structure will be game. Unless the notion of making new products based on existing molds is attractive and cheaper, in which case, maybe that's all that we'll get. If you're getting this set anyway, Mon Mothma's one of the star attractions - but if you don't want the other five figures in this set (or at least Yak Face) I assume you won't be buying it.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse, who seem to have sold out days after shipping. Check ShopDisney for availability too.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,109: February 20, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,108: Tusken Raider (Dark Robes and Stripes, The Vintage Collection)

TUSKEN RAIDER (Dark robes, brown marks on head wrappings)
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Hasbro Pulse and ShopDisney Shared Exclusive Action Figure Set
Item No.: No. F8301
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 4 figures with cloaks, rifles, gaffi staffs
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $59.99
Availability: August 2023
Appearances: The Book of Boba Fett
Bio: Survival in the unforgiving desert of Tatooine requires strict training and discipline for the members of a Tusken tribe. Led by a chieftain, each member of the clan must learn to be useful. (Taken from marketing copy. There is 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!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: While not bad, it can be hard to muster excitement for the Tusken Raider army pack - $60 (or $15 per figure) is not at all a good value, and I assume recolored figures may not float your boat the way individually carded figures might. It's not terrible either, as the figures have good articulation, decent accessories, and for three repaints and a newish guy deliver the goods as "good enough." Looking at the stills from the show, the Hasbro people did a good job applying the unique markings on this figure's head wraps. A new body would be nice, but Hasbro seems to be disinterested in new molds if there's an adequate tool in China that can get the job done. I don't blame them, especially for a trooper pack.

What makes this figure interesting are, unsurprisingly, his colors. Most previous Tuskens have been in the classic tan robes, but we've seen a little variation here and there with the Hetts and a reddish group for Toys R Us sold long enough ago that it could have a driver's license. This figure's decision to use tan arms, a dark, dark brown chest and robes, and dark brown pants makes for a satisfying - and more importantly, different - figure to add to your ranks. Boba can hang out with these guys, but there's nobody for them to fight just yet.

Our Tusken pal is pretty good, with swivel wrists (not exactly modern) an rocker ankles (very modern.) The hip joints have great "gee I wish he had a new Bantha" levels of mobility, making for a satisfying figure whose soft goods robes do a great job hiding the points of articulation. The material is a little stretchy, and it looks nice and hangs well. I can't fault it. He can easily hold his rifle, which seems to be made out of the kind of plastic used for green army men. The good stuff, I mean - it has a nice feel to it and it isn't quite as gummy as some PVC while being flexible enough to not easily snap.

This is a good figure for standing around and filling dioramas. Due to the nature of what it is - and the lack of other figures from these scenes - it's not exactly going to inspire a lot of play or combat. It can stand and look cool, or build out other clans, or fill stadiums. I guess he can also dance, if you like, as the set has a couple of rifles and a couple of gaffi sticks to mix up how they can look or be posed. Hasbro did a nice job with the resources at hand, but that is sort of the flavor of the line as a whole right now. It's heavy on old tooling and familiar faces, and while Hasbro isn't churning out terrible figures to turn fans away, I don't know that they're putting out amazing things to keep lifers on board as the old guard eyes 50, 60, and beyond and the younger fans don't really have a prayer to ever "collect them all" given current toy store conditions. I do not presently regret this purchase, but as I have written thousands of figures up and have dozens - maybe a hundred or more just sitting around the office waiting to be opened and reviewed - you could probably accurately insinuate that I have some sort of a problem.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,108: February 15, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,107: Cad Bane (The Black Series)

CAD BANE Live Action (released twice nearly simultaneously)
The Black Series 2023 Window Box Line Look The Book of Boba Fett Packaging
Item No.: Asst. E8908 No. F9982
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #05 - Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett
Includes: Hat, 2 pistols
Action Feature: Holsters, removable hat
Retail: $24.99
Availability: December 2023
Appearances: Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett

Bio: Renowned bounty hunter Cad Bane was known for his impressive arsenal of weapons and allies. His work with the Pyke Syndicate on Tatooine led him face-to-face with Boba Fett. (Taken from the box packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: Over the holidays I rewatched The Book of Boba Fett, a fantastic example of what the current creature creators can do with a bunch of excellent casting choices and enough "please clap" cameos to delight and confound fans of all ages. Camie! Fixer! Cad Bane! I liked the character on the cartoon, I liked the 6-inch figure I already had - but here was a new one, coming in similar to the 3 3/4-inch one also released a few months ago. Despite the fact he doesn't look like the other 6-inch releases, he's similar enough that I assume most fans would walk by this figure and go "I got that" or "Hey, that's the one I missed." To make matters worse, a nearly identical figure (with more fireblasts) was sold in a two-pack with Cobb Vanth as a Target exclusive last year. It would seem Hasbro continues to experiment with solid packs, exclusive variants, and other ways to get out (I assume) popular characters and make sure the market gets their needs met. Seeing his secondary market price on eBay is now below SRP, it would seem they succeeded.

I did not immediately take a shine to this figure, and it took me a minute to figure out why. It looked cheap. The face sculpt is good, and Hasbro painted the skin blue - that makes it look a lot better, and really highlights the sneer. The alien hands look great, with unusual blue fingers with wide tips and bony knuckles. Those are great! But then it hit me - it was the shine. I consider a glossy finish a real perk when it comes to retro-style figure, as some of the old ones (Ewoks, Walrus Man, and so on) had an a shiny finish in the original Kenner era. That's part of the appeal - but with 6-inch figures, you want "realistic" textures. Cloth needs to look like cloth, metal needs to look like metal, plasteel needs to look like... I don't know what. But not plastic. The figure's boots are molded in a brown with a hint of translucency, which destroys the "premium" illusion. The chest has a shirt that's almost distractingly shiny, and the choice of material doesn't make it look like a $25 figure. The 3 3/4-inch figure actually looked a little bit better.

Paint is acceptable, but I think the elements popped better on the small version too. The shirt was darker, as were the pants, contrasting from the jacket. The silver highlights on the ammo belts and actual belt seemed a bit nicer, and the painted blue gauntlets on the little version also had a more "premium" look than the molded-in-blue. I realize this may sound a bit hypocritical, as I've been impressed by Mattel's molded-in-color limbs and boots on Masters of the Universe Origins. (Seriously, Filmation Skeletor is unpainted except for the black on his eyes and mouth!) I think that sort of thing works great with toys and cartoony characters. Seeing the pains Filoni and Favreau and Rodriguez took to translate a cartoon character to a believable moving mask with the cartoon voice, the figure doesn't quite capture the presence of the character on TV. This is just due to materials, though.

The sculptor did a good job, and the engineers who put the articulation in deserve an award. The shoulders can shrug forward and backward in the coat, giving the sneering baddie additional body language that's subtle and absolutely sells the figure's "I don't care" or "I hate you" vibe. He stands well, and he's easy to pose. I love the moods he evokes just by standing there, snarling at you with his teeth showing. The eye color is superb. The prototype looked good too, so it just lost a lot in translation on the way to (from?) the factory.

With the 3 3/4-inch line the occasional bad joint, or wrong-sized holster, or other problem was something we all had to take on the chin every year or two. Sometimes Hasbro owned up to it - like that first Vintage IG-88's holster on his back couldn't hold the accessory due to a factory glitch. It happens! For $5 or $10, it's not a huge deal. But this one was $25, so seeing such a wonderful sculpt with excellent textures and one of the most striking alien faces in a decade of these big figures marred by a chest that says "I cost $2.99 at Remco in 1987" is a bit disenchanting. I'm not saying don't buy it - but if you're the kind of fan who's inclined to customize the figure, you're going to make him awesome. The boots and chest aren't everything but ultimately they do make what is a genuinely impressive design and make you ask why it's $24.99. Sure, the joints are great. Yes, the personality is good. But if you're happy with Cad Bane at home, maybe wait for a sale on this one.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,107: February 13, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,106: Y5-X2

Y5-X2 with R4-X2
Star Wars Droid Factory
Item No.: ???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: R4-X2 and Y5-X2 figures
Action Feature: Comes apart
Retail: $19.99
Availability: ca. Fall 2017
Appearances: The Last Jedi
Bio: All different types of astromech droid populate the Star Wars galaxy. Each droid is different and has their own unique personality and colors. These Resistance droids are assigned to the main cruiser of the embattled Resistance forces. May the Force be with you... and your droids! (Taken from the packaging)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: If you're looking for the most essential droid in the line, it isn't Y5-X2. The body is identical to his 2-pack companion R4-X2. Only the head is unique between them, and since they're packed together, you're likely to get both or neither. At least it's cool. The dark green body has black and silver panels with some white on the shoulders, breaking up the dark a little bit - but maybe not enough to really pop. Thank goodness there's a white dome that stands out.

The paint isn't perfect, with the triangles on top of the dome being painted green and off-center a bit. The red eyes are a little off-center, but it's so minor you probably won't notice. He has tons of green rectangles painted on his head, plus a Resistance symbol subtly etched in the back. If I was the kind of person who customized his car, I would want to get this kind of graphics slapped on the sides. It's by no means essential, but I like droids, and I like green, and I like faction symbols on things. Astromechs rarely have any sort of affiliation markers on them, so these two are pretty special. But also, I now have hundreds of them, so I would also be pretty happy if they just stopped.

Collector's Notes: I got mine in 2017 and I'm pretty sure my pal Shannon picked it up for me - but it's been in my "to open" pile for seven years! Well, thanks Shannon.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,106: February 8, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,105: Sabine Wren (The Retro Collection)

SABINE WREN (Kenner Style)
The Retro Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. F6874 No. F7305
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, lightsaber, 2 blasters
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $11.99
Availability: October 2023
Appearances: Star Wars: Ahsoka

Bio: The Star Wars Retro Collection features design and detailing inspired by the original 1970s Star Wars figures and features original figure design and detailing! Continue your collection from a galaxy far, far away. (Stolen from the marketing copy. 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! 

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: While Vintage gave us a mark-up, Retro Sabine Wren is at normal price. During the one week I saw these at Target stores I never saw her, and as I write this she commands a premium on Amazon at $28. I assume "deluxe" Vintage probably comes from a calculus of "this is the most popular figure, we may as well charge more for it if it goes for a premium on Amazon anyway." Hasbro channeled their old Kenner skills to give us something not entirely unlike a 1980s figure. Her rubbery helmet and colorful blasters feel old, as does the green 1983-style lightsaber. This means she has more gear than she can carry, which has never happened for a Kenner figure new or old in the Star Wars line - they always capped them at two handheld accessories. (Honestly I'm surprised they didn't just make two figures - helmet with blasters, unhelmeted head with lightsaber, or something like that.)

Retro Sabine does not have all the paint applications of the Vintage counterpart, but she's still very good given she's 58% cheaper. The tampos on the shoulders are absent, the boot deco is missing, some of her chest stripes aren't there and some of the gauntlet deco is missing, and her back armor lacks the color stripes. The helmet is missing the white/light gray stripes, too - but aside from that? She really nails it. The purple hair seems more accurate than the Vintage version, there's a painted silver lightsaber on her belt (shades of Bespin Luke, who had the wrong color), and unless I'm mistaken she's more colorful than any real Kenner vintage-era figure. I'm counting about 3 colors of paint per limb, seven colors of paint on her chest, 3-5 deco hits per leg... that's impressive. With the extra accessories, it shows Hasbro can put more money in these figures and still make money. That's great! Hopefully we can see some more figures with this level of love and care in the deco before the line ends.

Hasbro has struggled to really capture Kenner's sculpting techniques, but they nail elements of it. The aforementioned lightsaber hilt is a lift from a 1980 Bespin Fatigues Luke Skywalker, and the smaller, "pinhead" with removable helmet was pretty common as a trade-off with the likes of Skiff Lando, Leia Boushh, and Stormtrooper Luke. The pose is nothing special - I think that's just the sculptor's lack of familiarity with the original figures' asymmetry (see Greedo, Walrus Man, Han Solo, etc.) as a bent elbow or some pose other than "at attention" was fairly common back in the day. Even a little slouch gives a figure some personality. Due to her gear and general demeanor, the pose we got is pretty appropriate for the character. I would have liked sharper details (like a real Kenner figure - they're not rounded off and soft like Hasbro's Retro remakes, go buy and squint at a Hoth Rebel Soldier) but it's not like my eyesight is perfect anymore. She turned out very well and the sculptor got the important parts right.

Her helmet is very similar in sculpt to that of Bo-Katan Kryze [FOTD #2,939], but when you look at the sides you can tell it's not identical. This is new - and rubbery, and removable. It's a tight fit over her small head, and it also is a very tight fit if you put it on the Vintage figure. It feels a lot like the old Boushh helmet. I wish they did a similar removable helmet for Boba Fett, but hey, maybe they can just do a The Book of Boba Fett version with one. I can dream.

Her articulation is on point, with 5 joints just like the originals. Everything swivels nicely, but the one thing I don't like is her weird thigh gap. More than other figures, you can see daylight where the thighs are under the torso. I assume this is a result of a talented - but new - sculptor not quite making the most of where the rotation can go, but also, I couldn't do it so maybe I'm just ignorant. When I look at figures made by actual old-school sculptors, even new "retro" ones from other manufacturers, we don't see this problem. Granted, it might not be a problem to you - I didn't notice it until I was writing this review and looked at the stock photos again. In person, I just have her standing around or sitting in ships, and she's fine.

Looking at retro product from Super7 - heck, and Hasbro - I don't know how they delivered it for this price. Four accessories in four different colors of plastic would be unheard-of back then, and it's pretty unusual now. I assume this cost a bundle, but maybe they stole Morgan Elsbeth's budget. I was hoping to find an extra of this figure at retail, but I don't think that's going to happen. She's great, unless you hate the face sculpt - which doesn't look a ton like the character - I'd recommend it. Heck, even if you don't like it, you can leave on the helmet. You've got options, and this is probably the best figure that isn't Chopper in the entire wave. What's funny - or sad - is that I'm more excited to have this figure to go in the HasLab The Ghost ship when it comes out later. As long as there are Kenner-style figures to match a HasLab 3 3/4-inch vehicle or playset project, I'll always buy both. If you love Kenner figures, and can deal with her not having every last correct detail, she's more than worth the retail asking price.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,105: February 6, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,104: Sabine Wren (The Vintage Collection)

SABINE WREN The Live-Action One
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Deluxe Action Figure
Item No.: No. F6881
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, helmet, bag, paint tool, hilt, Lothcat 2 blasters
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $27.99
Availability: November 2023
Appearances: Star Wars: Ahsoka

Bio: Sabine Wren was a Force-sensitive human female Mandalorian warrior and revolutionary leader during the Galactic Civil War against the Galactic Empire, and later a Jedi during the early years of the New Republic. (Taken 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!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: If money is no object, then this Sabine Wren deluxe figure is pretty good. For the price of $27.99, this 3 3/4-inch is $3 more than the 6-inch version. What does this smaller one have going for it? Hasbro knows you'll probably pay it - also a Lothcat sidekick and a paint accessory, plus a bag. Does that make it worth $11 more than a basic Vintage figure, or $3 more than a better-looking 6-inch one? Or $15 more than a Retro one? I'd say no. But that's not what I'm supposed to do when I review a figure - I'm supposed to tell you if it's good or not, but I want to give you some unsolicited context anyway. This figure did not get wide distribution in 2023, showing up fairly few places - and despite that, she pegwarmed hard at Target. (I also saw her in-stock on Amazon.) For that reason, there may be demand even with the high price - when Hasbro says "you can't have it," fans respond "but I want it!"

She's pretty great. The Retro one lacks the bag or kitty, and some of the paint applications - so I can't argue that Hasbro did a mostly great job here. Her pistols fit in the holsters and have the blue and yellow highlights. The Ezra lightsaber is included, both full and just as a hilt. There's a satchel, a helmet, and a bag. The latter two accessories, I have notes - everything else is just superb. As you can see in the pictures, she has a sizable helmet that's too big. Given we've seen Bo-Katan Kryze's head as an alternate head, or just tighter helmets in general, this sort of thing just isn't OK after Hasbro (and Kenner) put four decades in removable helmets, especially at this price. Deluxe Boba Fett had two bonus Stormtrooper heads in addition to a helmet - the budget is there. Also, the bag is just a wasted opportunity for play and storage. It would be great if it had indentations on the back to store the paint gun or the spare lightsaber hilt, just so it served a function beyond "hangs there." There's nothing wrong with the accessory, but I do feel there's a lack of imagination and innovation. There's no surprise - it does what it's supposed to do, it looks how it's supposed to look, but you won't be pleasantly surprised by any of it. (Kudos, though, to putting a lot in the box. I just take away more points when there's a botched helmet or head.)

What will be a big selling point for many is the Lothcat. You get a little kitty with a jointed neck and some nice striping, painted eyes, and creamy brown on the back. It's cute, and on par with/better than the average Grogu figure. I don't think it would be missed had Hasbro left it out and cut the price by a buck, but when it comes to accessories? They can sell a figure. I've bought Playmobil sets just because they had a dumpster, or a chainsaw, and I have no doubt that a cute kitty with beady eyes will sell some people on Sabine who would have otherwise purchased Retro or Black figures.

But we haven't even talked about the figure herself! She's good. Articulation is on par with the better figures from The Vintage Collection, as she has a good center of gravity and doesn't necessarily tip over when you type. She has no problems holding all of her gear, which is a good thing. It's a little ridiculous to see her all geared up with both lightsabers and the giant helmet, but for those of us who bristle at storing figures apart from a figure display it's handy. The painted armor looks great, but it's not perfect. For $28 I want perfect. The lights are missing from the gauntlet, the "white" or very light gray on the helmet and armor are a few shades too dark. The head is very nice, with a purple "wig" and a likeness I assume may also be preproduction. But I could be wrong. The hair could also stand to be a few shades darker, but at least it looks like her. Hasbro could take this figure, remove some accessories, update the deco, and sell it as a cat-less, bag-free basic figure too. I think people would be excited do get her on a regular cardback.

If you can get this figure for a price you think is fair - be it $27.99 or on clearance - it's pretty decent, but becomes even better if it's on sale. (It was, at Target around Chrismtas.) The helmet isn't good, but everything else is perfectly nice. At $17 or less, I'd say it's essential. I appreciate that we got it somewhat close to the release of the show, but I would also like to start being annoying and demand Hasbro be allowed to have these things ready in time to launch with - or before - the show, mostly because fans can buy the figure before the show changes their minds.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Target

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--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,104: February 1, 2024