Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,352: The Mandalorian and Grogu (The Vintage Collection)

THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU Gear Galorian
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Deluxe Action Figure
Item No.: No. G2532
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #395
Includes: Jet pack, pistol, rifle, knife, sword, Grogu shoulder sitter
Action Feature: Grogu slots on backpack, pistol fits in holster
Retail: $27.99
Availability: March 2026
Appearances: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Bio: The Mandalorian and his young apprentice Grogu embark on a thrilling adventure as they travel the galaxy. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: This gets long, but it's the best version of this character yet - and you're charged accordingly. You can pose him with a sniper rifle. His son can hang on his back. He has an extra hand, and an alternate sword, and a knife I assume we'll all lose. Considering version 1.0 was $12.99, $27.99 is a lot to ask. At least you know it has more stuff, and a revised sculpt, and the articulation is as good as Hasbro ever gives us at this scale.

This The Mandalorian and Grogu set for this year's movie occupies a territory between "the best" and "boring." I waited to open it until after the movie. I didn't grasp the significance of the accessories being new or if the armor had many changes until seeing the movie. I can tell you that this seems to have a lot of new sculpted parts, with a chest plate bigger than TVC #312A. The helmet has some added grooves in it. The thigh plates aren't the precise same shape or color. But there's absolutely no way you could tell without a side-by-side comparison, and Hasbro has made so many versions of Mando that I have lost count. I haven't reviewed or opened them all, despite each new release having something unique about it. If what you had was amazing, and what you are being asked to buy yet again is slightly more amazing, it might be hard to spend the money unless you demand The Very Best.

Little tiny details in the Beskar armor are indeed barely changed, but it seems that Hasbro had the budget to do a new mold of a guy and spent it on this rather than tweaking and repackaging an existing figure. It's a very good mold, but I imagine long-haul collectors will not appreciate the fact that they're being asked to spend $28 on a figure they may have six or seven other versions of at home. They might appreciate the chest plate is bigger and covers more of the torso. But they may also not have even been aware the previous one was in any way coming up short. Extremely online collectors who need to have the very best version are going to find it here, while those of us who were happy with what we have at home just wanted something new.

A Grogu figure that comes in the package is arguably the biggest selling point. This little guy has a hole in his chest that fits on a large peg on Mando's jet pack. It would be disingenuous to call it a separate figure as it can't stand and both of them look silly when separated. Heh olds on incredibly well, and Grogu's ear and face paint both look fantastic. The sculpting on his robe looks good, plus his tiny hands are holding specific parts of Mando's armor. Hasbro did a nice job with the assets available to them. Grogu's neck can turn, but he has no additional moving parts.

Mando's new gear is specific to the movie, with a sniper rifle, his classic pistol, a sword from the arena fight, and a knife. I am confident I am going to lose one or more of these over time. He also has an alternate right hand with an extended trigger finger for resting the rifle over his shoulder. The hand is very similar, includes extra paint, and requires assembly - so it adds a fair bit to the cost of a figure. (This is $8 more than a current standard release and you could convince me the extra stuff and Grogu is worth $8 for those needing the very best.)

I don't believe this is a great use of the budget, as a pared-down $20 figure probably would have sold better and fans might not have even realized they were missing the extra stuff. He has no problems holding or holstering any of his parts, and it would seem Hasbro went out of their way to make an exquisitely detailed figure with the best-yet articulation and gear for toy photographers. Is it fun for collectors? I don't think that was ever the intent - they know this item is going to sell on Amazon and would be the most popular character, so we're getting the very best figure set that the price point could warrant.

The sword is perfect for his fight with Rotta the Hutt. (There is no Rotta the Hutt figure to buy from Hasbro right now.) The leg articulation is great and would fit perfectly in a ship. (Hasbro doesn't have any ships scaled for this figure in its product line right now - but you may have an old one at home.) It's a weird place to be in when we're getting the top-of-the-line figure like this, but it's kind of a letdown because there are no dioramas to build, no vehicles to pilot, indeed no toys to play with anymore. This guy exists as a souvenir from a very good movie. I suspect more figures are coming, and sure he can pal around with the forthcoming Zeb, but there's no "collection" of stuff to go with the movie. Which dropped to #3 in week 2. Unfortunate - I really do wonder if a massive toy launch with creatures and ships might have helped capture the public's interest, or if what is effectively a season 5 pay-per-view special of a TV show couldn't muster that level of enthusiasm.

I have no complaints about Mando's articulation. It's super easy to get a good pose out of him, although balancing him may take some time. On the bright side, his hands can both grip the rifle and look awesome doing it. Hasbro really did a bang-up job carving out the joints in a way that might make you ask "why can't the other figures do this, too?" and I don't have an answer for you. All I can say is that they really went to town making sure Mando's hip joints, thigh swivels, knees, elbows, shoulders, and wrists all function well enough for an arena combatant with nobody to fight.

If you have no Mando figures, this is the one to get. I'm really happy with the quality of paint, the range of movement, and the amount of gear that you get. I also would like to see if Hasbro could see what they can do to bring costs down so more fans can enter the hobby and participate with the rest of us. In the early 1990s, the secondary market prices would squeeze out fans who weren't in early enough - and we're seeing that again. For those of you seeking incremental steps toward perfection? You need this. For newbies? This is very, very good. But the rest of us know the score - Hasbro will find ways to alter the same costume and improve it, again and again, and we'll probably have another version of this guy if and when a new season or movie see release. That is the way. And if you're happy with what you have at home, keep being happy unless you want to use this specific gear for him to take on the various Remnant figures we got so far.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth. I have found this figure at local sellers of Hasbro wares. This is a good thing for new fans wanting to jump in, but given that scarcity (artificial or otherwise) has driven purchases since 1995? Maybe we're seeing the end of mass interest in The Vintage Collection.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,352: June 9, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,345: IG-11 (Nevarro Marshal, The Vintage Collection)

IG-11 (Nevarro Marshal)
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch basic figure
Item No.: Asst. G2786 No. G2616
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #388
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: March 2026
Appearances: The Mandalorian

Bio: The Mandalorian returns the blasted fragments of the assassin droid hero, who undergoes a total rebuild - complete with reprogramming and marshal stripes that denote IG-11 as Nevarro's protector. (Taken from the cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: IG-11 (Nevarro Marshal) is one of those ideas that just makes sense from a production standpoint. Back in 2021 IG-11 [FOTD #2,871] formed the basis for at least three versions of the character - and that one currently sells for a bit of a premium. The most recent version of the character (a very nice figure, with two smaller buddy figures) was blown out at Ross for $4.99 this one has the advantage of different colors and accessories. Its success will probably have to do with the size of the production run, so if it comes and goes quickly you might not see it on markdown shelves. I sure as heck haven't seen many of it in stores yet as it seemed to sell through almost immediately, but I assume more shipments could be coming.

This 2026 release uses the same basic body as the 2021 version, but replaces the vest with a belt and adds some more color. This figure matches The Mandalorian season 3 finale, where the droid gets his repaired torso back as well as a holster and a vest. He has red and cream markings on his body now, plus a matching belt buckle to denote his status - somehow being the marshal of an entire planet. The various hoses and greeblies are pretty much the same as the previous version of the droid, with deco more or less perfectly matching the TV show. The one element that isn't a perfect match - and I wouldn't have noticed if someone hadn't pointed it out to me - is on the chest. On the cardback photo and TV show reference, the red stripes go a little above the nub on the center of the chest. On the figure, they stop at the nub. Would I ever have noticed were it not pointed out to me? No. I don't assume we'll ever see a variant (as virtually nothing gets a second production run under the same item number in The Vintage Collection anymore), but it's an interesting thing to note if you're wondering if you got a bad one. You didn't - they're all like this.

Articulation is quite good, with the spread-out fingers and ankles that both bend and swivel. The hips have a good range of movement, and the ball joint in the arms is pretty great at allowing him to have numerous poses. The head is multiple swiveling parts, too, allowing him to be posed as you see fit. Hasbro did a real nice job on this guy the first time, so they're able to reap dividends from its reuse as needed. The new blaster and holster fit really nicely, and it's quite amazing how so many of the color breaks on the mold just happen to fit the mold breaks on the plastic figure. I wonder if it was planned accordingly when they were redesigning IG-11 for the show?

It's funny to me that Mando himself keeps changing his outfit, but it's largely the same after the end of the first season. Sure, he swaps out parts, but still looks effectively the same. IG-11 has had several looks - his first appearance, partially exploded, a statue, a T-800 skeleton trying to kill Grogu, a mobility device for Grogu, and now this new version with new colors - and they all look surprisingly different. How toyetic! I am a little burned out on all of Hasbro's trooper variants, but for some (admittedly hypocritical) reason I'm still interested in deco changes on droids, or Han's jackets, or stuff like that. I would recommend checking this one out if you're a fan of the TV show. I would also recommend re-watching season 3 of The Mandalorian, because I found it held up nicely on a rewatch last year. I have no idea if he'll appear on the movie, but I'm not currently betting on it. I am, however, expecting Boba Fett might have a cameo.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,345: May 14, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,330: Greedo (The Vintage Collection)

GREEDO Single-carded release of HasLab figure
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch single figure (pictured) or HasLab pack-in
Item No.: No. G1302 or Asst. F6878 No. G2604
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #393
Includes: Blaster, vest
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: March 2026 (single, Cantina version was September 2025)
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: The overzealous Rodian Greedo fancied himself a big-time bounty hunter in Jabba the Hutt’s employ -- despite being a pretty poor shot with a blaster. (Taken from the single-figure packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: As I get older and crankier, "Does this need to be redone?" is a question I ask a bunch. Hasbro has made quite a few very decent Greedo figures and, of course, this one is the best. For the purposes of a figure that'll merely sit at a table, the 1998 mold (rereleased a few times) may be best, but this is your go-to figure for standing. It's like a slightly-better, shrunken-down version of the 2013 The Black Series 6-inch figure [FOTD #2,052] that seems to use the same digital sculpt. That's OK, it's a good sculpt, and I think it may have been used for the Jakks Pacific Big Figs release. Remember those? They were a big deal.

This Greedo's body was also used for the 2025 Kenner-style Greedo [FOTD #3,288], which will probably be my go-to "plays with" version. The Kenner-style colors remind me of how I interacted with the character as a kid, while this vested version reminds me of how it actually looks on a big enough screen. Other than the vest, both figures are functionally identical minus the colors. I'd recommend buying them both, provided you have a need for more aliens. And who doesn't?

The costume seems pretty good, but there are a lot of continuity issues regarding the shoes. Kenner's various figures changed color from release to release, and this one opts with what I assume the style guide demands - gray. And they look fine. I would also have been happy with pink high heels, to match the classic behind-the-scenes reshoot photography. As far as I can tell the costume might be right, but lighting makes the vest look different from shot to shot. It's browner here. It has been a pale yellow, too. The movie scenes look a smidgen more orange or brown depending on the edition, so all I can say is that this one looks perfectly fine and Hasbro could probably do running changes with different vests and fans might buy it. I mean, if I were them, that's what I'd do on a future rerun. And then a Beedo vest version.

The suit and pants seem great, with yellow painted sleeves. The yellow paint is a little thick, and seems like they missed a few spots. The sculpt for the yellow parts on the pants and sleeves isn't very good. I think sculpting deeper cuts on the yellow bands would have helped solve the problem, as was the case on some older figures. The sculpted clothing wrinkles absolutely obliterated the fabric textures on the costume. We might just be seeing the limitation of the materials, and maybe some day we'll see a dual-molded Greedo where half the arm or leg are molded in the yellow plastic color with no paint at all. (I'm not an engineer, I have no idea if it'll hold up to that.) Unless you get really close, you probably won't notice the areas where the paint is less than perfect, or the incredible stitching sculpted in the suit or vest. The belt is also nice, as is the holster. By and large, everybody did a real nice job here.

Articulation is very good, with a head that can do subtle tilts, bending wrists, and a best-in-class waist joint. The peg waist joint allows for tilts in all directions at the belt region, which is a good and sensible thing to do. Heck, Hasbro and Kenner have known for years that there's no better place to put a joint than the belt line but they sometimes forget and it does mar the look of the figure a bit. Here, it couldn't be better - all joints are as integrated as well as current toy wizardry allows.

The head is fine. I would have preferred the eyes be a little more purple, but blue is probably fine for most fans. I'd be curious if this is a Disney style guide issue that fans didn't force, because over the years I have heard from a few fans that develop these products who were very particular about purple eyes.

As this figure has a good range of movement and can stand or sit, or hold his blaster, it's probably the last Greedo you'll ever need to buy. Thanks to the plastic vest being an improvement over the cloth one from roughly 20 years ago, I assume fans of super articulation love this upgrade and I'm glad Hasbro didn't lock it behind a crowdfund. The head sculpt is dynamite, the joints allow for some subtle movements, and the elbow joint cuts are pretty great. I can imagine a few small ways they could improve it later, but if it'll take another 20 years for a complete makeover it may no longer be a concern for me or many of you, either. For now? Get this one, it very well be the last collector-grade 3 3/4-inch Greedo many of us will ever have a chance to buy. It's grim to say this, but I really do wonder who among us will still be interested in this stuff when the 60th rolls around.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth. As of my writing this, he's a Fan Channel / Amazon exclusive. I'm hoping they put him into wider release for the anniversary next year.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,330: March 24, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,315: IG-11 (Speeder Bike / Epic World of Action)

IG-11 & Grogu with Speeder Bike
Epic World of Action Amazon Exclusive
Item No.: No. G1422
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Red blaster, gray rifle, red rocket, clear gray rocket launcher, brown basket, IG-11 figure, Grogu figure, multi-piece speeder bike
Action Feature: Bag connects to figure and vehicle, rocket launcher fires and connects to bike, bike explodes
Retail: $19.99-$21.99
Availability: July 2025
Appearances: The Mandalorian

Bio: After his reprogramming, IG-11 tracked down Grogu and rescued him from Scout Troopers on a Speeder Bike. (Taken from the packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: Timing is everything. This awesome IG-11 & Grogu with Speeder Bike set came out in August 2025. Their debut on The Mandalorian with this vehicle was December 27, 2019. To put that in perspective, it would be like if Kenner put out Ewok figures in 1989, when the line had been dead for four years. Could you imagine something awesome being on TV when you were in kindergarten, and then the toy didn't come out until you were almost done with the sixth grade? It's a shame this couldn't have been out for season two. Or three. But I'd say all of Epic World of Action and Epic Hero Series was a spectacular line defeated by some pretty horrible timing.

At least the toy is good.

While The Vintage Collection had an IG-12 with Grogu and an Anzellan for $25, Epic World of Action did a trade-off where $20-$22 (or under $10) could get you a whole Speeder Bike with Grogu and IG-11. Each item has its advantages, but a vehicle with a wheel for $20 and two figures strikes me as a really good deal. I feel like a jerk getting it on sale, but Amazon has had a proclivity to mark down their Hasbro exclusives in recent years and I hate overpaying for everything.

Grogu is more or less the same figure with the hover pram or the N-1 starfighter. He has glossy, painted fur trim around his collar and sleeves. Otherwise, he's the same basic figure you've already purchased. This makes him just different enough to make you mad. He is articulated at the neck and shoulders.

IG-11 is a whole new animal with an all-new mold, but like many of the Disney-era toys it appears to be derived from the same basic sculpt we got with other IG-11 toys. The fingers look a lot like The Vintage Collection claws, and it's sadly missing the bandolier vest piece. This feels like a notable absence, and I'd have traded the blasters or rocket launcher for it. Maybe kids wouldn't. The detail is quite good, and he has exceptional articulation for an Epic kiddo figure. Check out actual ball jointed shoulders, bend-and-swivel elbows, ball-jointed hips, and bend-and-swivel knees. If Hasbro gave us this level of articulation on a lower-priced The Vintage Collection figure, I would be pretty happy. The red shoulders look great, and the metallic coloring is good. The hands easily grip the pistols or bike handlebars. Hasbro did a real nice job here, minus the lack of ammo belt vest.

IGgy has no problems sitting on the bike with his feet on the pedals and his hands on the bars. His butt may hover slightly, but it works. You can plug the bag on the roll behind the seat, or on the side of the bike. The clear gray rocket launcher also plugs into the side. This bike has added "battle damage" detail too, making it visually different from the other releases thus far.

Compared to the 1996 $9.99 Power of the Force POTF2 Speeder Bike, this is an amazing toy. Adjusted for inflation, it's priced comparably with a second figure and more action features baked in the bike. You don't have the easily lost flaps or jointed legs, but I kind of prefer the rolling wheels and bumper car action. I would actually recommend the entire line to figure fans as it's not very big and shows what Hasbro can do with toys when they set their brand plan to it, and you know what? I'd like more of this sort of thing. I don't believe Hasbro will give it to us, but it just proves they're still very good at making actual toys when they are allowed.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Amazon on sale for $6.25 around Black Friday. After Christmas it was under $9.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,315: January 29, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,296: The Mandalorian (Blue Tech Speeder Bike / Epic World of Action)

THE MANDALORIAN Biker
Epic World of Action Power the Force Speeder Bikes
Item No.: Asst. G0363 No. G0372
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blue Darksaber, rocket, blue launcher, tech decobike
Action Feature: Bike rolls on wheels, removable launcher, launching rocket
Retail: $19.99
Availability:  August 2025
Appearances: The Mandalorian

Bio: The Mandalorian traversed Tatooine on a speeder bike, a vehicle capable of high-speed travel that requires skill and fast reflexes. (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: Sharing a SKU with the first version, this is a variant deco and package refresh. The Mandalorian (Speeder Bike) is part of the yellow-carded kiddo vehicles which were largely passed over by big box stores. This version is the Epic World of Action Power the Force version. For those just joining us: Disney pushed Power the Force (no "of") as a focus for product and marketing Star Wars in 2025, which was meant to emphasize tech and power. Very little of this is actually visible to the end consumer, and this may be one of very few places the slogan appears on actual product. Hasbro took its plain The Mandalorian Speeder Bike [FOTD #3,212] from earlier this year and made it "powered" with some blue. The figure itself is largely identical, save for a Darksaber. Both the figure and the Darksaber were packaged together as The Mandalorian [FOTD #3,238] earlier this year - and that one has a blaster. There's a lot of figural overlap with some accessory overlap, so depending on your goals you might not actually want or need to buy all these toys to own all the unique parts.

What makes this set unique? The vehicle. Mando still has excellent detail and articulation with a good range of movement for the asking price. The shoulders, elbows, knees, hips, and neck all have a great range of movement with a bladed energy weapon that easily fits in his hand. The silver painted armor looks bright and the various belts and bandoliers look good, but get a little in the way of the hip joints. He can sit on the bike, but he tends to hover a bit when his hands are on the handlebars and feet are on the pedals. On his own, though? Great figure. If I were Hasbro I'd have slapped some energy crackles or blue light on the armor to make him stand out.

But the bike! I saw this at New York Toy Fair 2025 and thought both "that's kind of goofy" and also "I must have it, nobody is going to buy this" and I think I was right. I suspect Ollie's or Ross will have it, right now you can buy it online (click our sponsor links, or don't) and it's a nice chunk of plastic for $20. The bike sculpt has a great wrapped-up seat, there are rolling wheels, and htere's a charming clear blue rocket launcher with a big red rocket. It stands out, it looks neat, and if you hate it? It's removable. You can place it on any of a number of sockets on the bike if you like, but not on the peg behind the seat. I assume it serves a purpose, but what? I couldn't tell you. The deco on the bike is similar to the first release, but you'll notice blue circuit patterns on the nose and on the sides in the back. I really couldn't make them out until I opened the package. In low light they're hard to see, and subtle - and if you hate it, likely easily removed. I think it's interesting as a toy gimmick, something that probably exists mostly to please someone in marketing that the customer nor the designer would have asked for. It makes little sense on the product in and of itself, but that's what makes knowing it's a tie-in to a marketing initiative interesting. We have a reason for it, but is it a good reason? I'm inclined to say "they're trying too hard." I would've loved just general energy blasts indicating a power surge, because blue circuitry isn't something I connect with the product or the show. It's a refresh, but given Target only carried the Speeder Bike (and not Mando's bike) I can't imagine it made a lick of difference anywhere in the United States toy market.

It's Thanksgiving week, and maybe you're shopping for somebody. I think a kid might get a kick out of it because Mando is a good figure, and the blue Darksaber looks neat, and I really like the blue rocket launcher. It's weird. It's likely not to be something you're going to see again in a future product. It feels like a toy in the way that Kenner's 1990s Batman toys had odd thematic accessories and matching suits, and those were a big hit. I wouldn't say no to an even weirder version of this, but this middle-ground item might not push everybody's buttons. I really like that blue launcher, which is a silly reason to spend $20, but this is day #3,296. All of this has gotten pretty silly a long time ago.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,296: November 25, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,288: Greedo (Cantina Adventure Set - The Vintage Collection)

GREEDO Kenner Flavor
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Cantina Adventure Set Pack-In
Item No.: No. G1301
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #378
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $64.99
Availability: September 2025
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: A Rodian bounty hunter with a tapir-like snout, bulbous eyes, and pea-green skin, Greedo is overzealous with a blaster - and a pretty poor shot. (Taken from packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: It's Greedo! Some people say he's a minor character, and I disagree. As the first alien antagonist of the entire series, and one of very few characters to be named on-screen, kids remembered him and it just happened to help he's colored similarly to his name. Toy companies are usually really good about making him one of the first characters you get, but Hasbro gave Greedo something of a break from roughly 2010 to 2025. That struck me as odd, but this year we got two figures both from the same mold, both (more or less) exclusive to Hasbro Pulse, and both packed with different Cantina playsets. This one was colored like the 1979 figure and packaged like the Sears playset from that era. The other one is movie-specific and has a movie-specific playset. They're both good for different reasons.

Kenner and Hasbro have given 3 3/4-inch fans roughly five Greedo molds. While we've seen a wide variety in how they're painted, this is the first one since 1979 to come in the Kenner Green colors. For this release, Hasbro dropped the vest but ensured we got a lot of detail. If the figure sculpt looks familiar, there's a reason. Not only did Hasbro give its 6-inch Greedo the same treatment in 2021, but much of it is the same sculpt.

Since the Disney takeover, there have been whispers that Lucasfilm has approved digital assets that go out to Hasbro and Jakks and other companies that make figures, rather than doing their own in-house interpretations. If you put this figure next to Hasbro's 2013 6-inch figure, you'll note that the wrinkles on the suit are very similar if not identical on the arms and legs. Hasbro's 3 3/4-inch torso has more detail than the 6-inch one, especially on the back. You'll note this Kennery Greedo has a lot of folds and creases plus a nice texture, while the 6-inch one was significantly smoother. The chest seems very similar, with hands that aren't particularly different. The head appears to be altered a bit, with less oblong eyes dotted Kenner's familiar white highlights. I'd say this was a more successful execution of the Kenner deco idea.

Not knowing when to quit, Hasbro went the extra mile and left in the movie version's holster. As you know, Kenner 1979 Greedo had no belt or holster - it probably would have been a more accurate figure to just leave it out. We got his movie blaster, which looks fine, and which fits well in his hand or holster.

I had some difficulty getting him to stand right. While Hasbro has significantly improved articulation, Greedo took some work to get just-so thanks to fidgety ankles. He sits well, and the pivot joint at the waist is cut nicely at the belt so it's not an eyesore. The hands bend and swivel nicely, with fingers that are made to grip a blaster. Hasbro did a pretty good job here, minus the very shallow foot peg holes that probably will make finding a good stand difficult.

Paint on this bright green 2025 figure is pretty sharp. The 2021 6-inch Kenner Greedo had fades at his joints, which reminded me a bit of sofubi and higher-end collector figures. This one just keeps things simple, sharp, and elegant. The figure is mostly molded in color, and his off-center dots have him giving some of the best side-eye since 1979 Hammerhead. This figure has a lot of personality, and I'm honestly more excited about this deco than the movie deco for that reason. It's rare that I can point to a Hasbro collector product and say "you get a lot for your money here," but this is worth the asking price. I bought two - I rarely buy two of anything anymore.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse, I assume it's an exclusive as ShopDisney hasn't listed it (yet?). It initially sold out immediately, and has come in and out of availability several times during its pre-order window.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,288: October 28, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,219: Fennec Shand (The Retro Collection)

FENNEC SHAND In all the sizes
The Retro Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. F6874 No. F8565
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Removable helmet, 785MK Firepuncher-X sniper rifle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $11.99
Availability: December 2023
Appearances: Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett

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: One of the figures I was the most excited to get in The Retro Collection somehow escaped my review log. I don't know how - Fennec Shand was on my wish list way back since I heard they were doing Kenner-ized The Mandalorian figures a very long time ago. A warrior since - and probably before - The Clone Wars, she's seemingly immortal and also never changes her clothes. Truly, the Fran Lebowitz of Star Wars, with a gun.

I know there are people who don't like what Hasbro is doing with this line, and prefer a $40 fan-made figure. Well, I like a $10-$12 figure, and this one turned out pretty well. It doesn't suffer from Bespin Luke Pose-ism, with her arms sticking out a little bit - the left hand on my sample can hold the rifle very well, while the right one will sometimes drop it. Figures by Kenner-actual tended to not have longer coats, so the squared-off butt that's revealed when her legs swing forward always weirds me out a bit. But other figures had this too. It's OK, it won't hurt us. The cut in the hips is very good, so her legs can move forward enough that she can sit in one of your vehicles. Or stand in it, if it's a Slave I or equivalent Firespray-class gunship. My requirements for good figure engineering are usually "can stand," "can sit," "can use their accessories," and other than some weirdness with the right hand, she's functionally perfect.

Kenner figures from 1979-1985 usually came in two flavors. There were ones where Kenner had good source material, and ones where they fudged it. Whoever saw Chewbacca clearly had a grasp of the costume. Walrus Man took more creative liberties. Fennec is more of the former - this is a simplified (but not by much) take on her costume, which is lighter on texture but still has the major milestones. he belt, the red triangles on her coat, the red band around her hair - and also her hair. If Kenner made this figure in the 1980s, you wouldn't get the separately-molded braid. They'd just lop it off. She has her red elbow pad, and while all the matching color bands in her boots and gloves are absent, that's fine. Kenner would have (and frequently did) leave that kind of thing unpainted.

The only place the figure's head and deco comes up a little short is the head. Ming-Na Wen had a pretty intense braid thing going on top of her head, and the figure's slightly smoother details downplay this a bit. Her face is a bit lacking compared to early press renders, which had slightly darker skin with no hint of translucency, plus slightly sharper (thinner) paint for her eyes that made them seem a little more realistic. I guess the final figure almost feels truer to what Kenner may have done, but she could just stand to be slightly more opaque. And if you don't like it, Hasbro has a solution - there's a rubbery helmet. It's great. It feels just like the Boushh helmet from 1983, with a slice so she can look out of it. It's not too big, and it's not too small. I'm really impressed with it, especially since Hasbro just opted for swappable heads for The Vintage Collection version.

Even though I forgot to review her earlier, you shouldn't skip this one. This figure never showed up at Target or Walmart, may have shown up at FYE near you, and was mostly an online (and later Ross) exclusive. If you didn't enjoy the character in The Mandalorian or The Book of Boba Fett, if you don't like Kenner toys, you probably don't want this figure. But I very much like these things, so even with a few shortcomings she's still pretty much as good as anything I had from the 1970s or 1980s. For those of you who may have had real Kenner toys as a kid, there's something magical about putting her next to a Luke or a Han as part of some greater toy universe. Also she might be around five bucks if you find her at a markdown store, and she's worth at least twice that.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,219: February 27, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,212: The Mandalorian (Speeder Bike / Epic Hero Series)

THE MANDALORIAN Biker
Epic Hero Series Speeder Bikes
Item No.: Asst. G0363 No. G0372
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Darksaber, rocket, launcher, bike
Action Feature: Bike rolls on wheels, removable launcher, launching rocket
Retail: $19.99
Availability: January 2025
Appearances: The Mandalorian   

Bio: The Mandalorian traversed Tatooine on a speeder bike, a vehicle capable of high-speed travel that requires skill and fast reflexes. (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: When Epic Hero Series became a thing, Marvel's figures had ball-jointed shoulders, knees, elbows, and hip joints. Star Wars had a ball-jointed neck and swivel arms and legs - until now! The biker assortment features greater articulation at the shoulders, elbows, knees, and hips, making this The Mandalorian the best in class for this particular line. This level of articulation has been the norm for Mattel Jurassic World humans and Spin Master's various Batman and DC Comicss lines, and they seem to do pretty well. If Hasbro made a "one size fits all" line with about this level of articulation, I think it would be pretty good - I dare say, good enough - if it meant getting more new characters in the line. If we could live in a world with Gunter or The Stranger or maybe a new Cantina patron with knees and elbows, I think we'd all be a lot happier than not getting them in the $16.99 assortments. As a figure, he's great. He looks well, he poses nicely, the separately molded belt and bandolier stand out a bit more, but mostly it's nice to have a tiny bit more articulation on a toy figure made to be a bike rider. His cape and Darksaber are similar to the other releases, so the main reason to buy this figure is, well, the figure. And the bike. The figure sculpting is nice and crisp, but on a shelf it's going to look pretty similar to the ones you purchased last year.

The bike is pretty neat - but the interaction isn't fantastic. I love what Hasbro did with the vehicle. Clear wheels? Great idea. Removable firing rocket launcher with multiple mounting points? No notes. Great idea. A big peg on the back which serves no obvious purpose? Uh... I'll get back to you there. Presumably a future toy will interact with it, but right now the backpack hole fits. I assume that was not the intent, because why would you have a guy flailing back there? ...maybe I just answered my own question, having Mando drag a guy around might be fun. The rocket fires well, the colors and paint are good, the designers did a good job making a fun toy.

However, there's a problem. Mando is a good figure. The bike is a good bike. Mando is not good at sitting on the bike. I think if Hasbro dropped the foot pedals, this would be a better piece. The 1983 Speeder Bike cheated - you just put the Biker Scout's butt on the seat, hands on the handlebars, and that was it. It worked, it was fast, it was fun. This one requires massaging all the joints just-so to get the butt kind of close to the seat, with hands on the handlebars, and the feet will probably eventually pop off the foot pegs. It just doesn't work as intended - I'm not sure if it wasn't tested with physical product, or if the joints just aren't quite what the prototypes were, or what. The cape gets in the way, too, and there's no on-board weapon storage. If you are happy with 3 parts of his body touching the bike, it gets the job done - but it looks like they were struggling to pull it off in the packaging photos, so what chance do I have?

I'd recommend either element - the figure, or the vehicle - on its own merits, but together they don't hang as well as I would like. A figure that can't fit in the seat, or use the clearly provided foot pegs on the pedals properly, would be the kind of thing that annoyed me to no end as a kid. So if it bothers you, maybe skip this one. If you can settle for a hovering foot or butt or maybe only have one hand on the handlebars, I'd say it's good enough to give a try and I hope there are other vehicles in the works that may not require such a specific seating position tolerance.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,212: February 4, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,201: Jango Fett (The Retro Collection)

JANGO FETT Kennerized
The Retro Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: No. G0371
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #341
Includes: 2 blasters, another 5 figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $59.99
Availability: November 2024
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: The Star Wars Retro Collection is 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 Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: I'm a big fan of The Retro Collection, warts and all. Nobody's going back to 1984 to pump out more figures, but at least they're trying. Jango Fett is part of a six pack that's half Attack of the Clones and half Revenge of the Sith, with some sensible choices and some that are just going to make you mad that each prequel didn't get its own six pack. Jango Fett is probably tops of the list of characters to make in any format, and he's joined by two sensible choices - Padme Amidala and Mace Windu. (If it were up to me I'd throw in Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Count Dooku.) What's particularly interesting about Jango is that Hasbro made a 5-jointed version of him roughly a decade ago, and they're somewhat similar. I also assume the number of people who are grown-up Kenner kids who are looking at these figures and going "well, actually" while opening them up and playing with them is a vanishingly small group, and people might not even take these guys out of the 6-pack box they got in the mail. Their loss! It's a good figure.

Hasbro once again opted to make a Jango that mixes his costumes. The dent-free helmet of Kamino is here with the second silver and blue jetpack we saw on Geonosis. It's not true to the movie figures we got in the 2000s (but matches the The Vintage Collection deluxe figure) and I feel like Hasbro has a blank check to make those kinds of decisions with The Retro Collection. If they want to make a figure based on incorrect concept art colors, or with the wrong blaster? They should be encouraged to do so. (For Vintage and Black Series, accuracy matters. As a kid, Bib Fortuna had a weird twisty cane and nobody complained.)

The bulk of his costume feels like they put a typical modern design through a Kenner fun factory, with the various belts, holders, pads, vambraces, and so forth, toning down the musculature a bit and giving him a slightly more dynamic pose. What I found really odd were his holsters. Jango typically wears them with the leather straps over his thigh armor - this figure seems like they sculpted it digitally and accidentally pushed the straps behind the armor. It makes it look like his non-functional holsters are just kind of floating - you might not notice, but I did, and it's kind of weird. I almost feel like we got a figure that was near the final stage of development by accident - other than those holster straps, I think the decisions Hasbro made were really good. There aren't as many nifty details as on 1979 Boba - take a look at his quilted shoulders or the wrinkles on his arms and legs - but the armor seems right and the pose feels pretty good. His right gauntlet has recessed squares that seem deeper than the costume - those were shallower rectangles. The change is, well, "wrong" but who cares? It's Kenner, baby, getting a few details wrong is what makes them fun.

 Jango's helmet looks a lot like Boba Fett (Morak_ [FOTD #2,935], which is more or less what you want. It's a departure from the 1979 figure, but I think it fits in with the "story" Hasbro seems to be telling with these figures. Clearly Hasbro's interpretation of the future of Kenner would be that this is the new standard helmet, and I think it was probably the best choice. The sculpted details are all pretty much identical except for the dent in Boba's helmet, if you compare the backs they both have the same vent designs.

His backpack is really interesting and threw me for a bit of a loop. When I first saw it, I thought it was the original backpack with some modifications and the wrong coloring - but it's got to be the JT-12 with an elongated rocket. Sadly Hasbro dropped the vestigial retooled L/J-slot that we got on Boba Fett (Morak), but the proportions seem pretty close to what you'd have to get out of Kenner. I feel this was more of a "get it?" gag than how Kenner would have done it, but I'm probably overthinking things here. The little jets are melded with the figure's back - just like Boba - but this time they gave him some extra paint to set them apart. It's not quite right - but that's what makes it interesting.

The paint is the one place this figure really gives me pause, mostly because it's so good. Figures like Snaggletooth had duller silver paint back in the day, and this paint - while not vac-metal or a mirrored finish - is incredibly shiny. The quality of the materials is excellent, but - and I'm probably one of few fans to think this way - Hasbro should be allowed (no, encouraged) to cut corners. The original Kenner toys were dirt cheap back in the day, and it would be unusual for the company to cover the figure in so much paint, and so nicely too. The brown paint looks fine, the blue on the helmet looks good, and they did well.

Jango's twin blasters are, perhaps, a little too good - they look just like any typical modern WESTAR-34 blasters. I think most fans are going to love these, and they are the kind of thing I assume most Star Wars fanatics expect. Having said that, if they gave us gray Kea Moll/Squid Head blasters instead? I bet those would be just as easily accepted and would also be something Kenner Actual would have done.

Is he - and the set - worth it? Look, $10 per figure for six newly sculpted figures that vaguely resemble what I had as a child will always be worth it to me. Don't tell Hasbro, but I'd probably pay $15 for a new Retro figure as long as they were genuinely new without complaining. This is one of the better ones, and I will buy another if the set ever goes on sale.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,201: December 26, 2024