Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,140: Cad Bane (The Retro Collection)

CAD BANE For Some Reason
The Retro Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. F6874 No. F8569
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Pair of Blasters
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: Distribution is everything. I hear fans complain that they don't love Cad Bane from The Retro Collection, but also, it hasn't hit stores after being available for a few months. Secondary market prices are on the higher side, which makes sense as Mr. Bane is a popular character who has appeared on a few series and has a distinctive western look. The figure seems to be digitally sculpted, and it shows - he's a little too symmetrical, a little too stiff, without a nice 'flow' to his body language. Both arms are basically the same, the legs are too straight, and his neck sits too straight. Older figures have the slightest hint of a curve to them, and that combined with a broadness of the shoulders may make you look at this figure and go "that doesn't look right." It's the opposite of the Fifth Brother, where I liked the figure more than the character. Here, I like the character more than the figure.

Old-school elements are all here, but this is one of the few figures that looks like it came from a modern digital fan sculptor more than a real Kenner artisan. The coat is a little chunky, the ammo belts are a little too perfect, the arms are too close to the same, but the colors are good. Hasbro didn't paint all the silver bits, and neither would Kenner on many of its older figures. He can hold both blasters, although they're a little loose given he has no trigger fingers. Kenner also avoided an extended trigger finger. His hat looks the slightest bit too squat, and the face just seems a little too wide. Maybe if they brought in the black around his head a bit closer to the nice red eyes, it would look more "right," but I am struggling to find the words to say why it seems just a tad bit "off."

Kenner did have its own "old west" figure line in Butch and Sundance in 1979, with slightly more dynamic poses and absolutely no dusters. The hats looked good too, and they look somewhat similar to some of Kenner's Adventures of Indiana Jones figures. These all serve as a touchstone for what to expect from that era, and this figure doesn't have the wider stance (nor should it) or the bent gunslinger elbows (which would have been nice.) Cad Bane holds his pistols well enough, and their design looks more or less like something Kenner would have done. And that's what you want.

It's a better toy than a collectible, and I think we all need to appreciate that. He stands with no fights. His legs swing forward fully and you can easily slide him in to a variety of old Kenner vehicles. The neck turns, but is a little constrained by his neck tubes. I assume if Kenner had actually made this figure in the 1980s, the neck wouldn't turn at all. Also, the duster would have been at least partially a vinyl cape like Obi-Wan Kenobi or Darth Vader. This is one of very few figures where I think those otherwise obnoxious vinyl capes would have been good for the look of the figure, but not the functionality. I'm more likely to want to play with this figure as a result, and I think that's a good thing.

When it comes to the look of the figure, I'm always curious who makes the stylistic calls. With the Inquisitors from Obi-Wan Kenobi, the vinyl capes with non-telescoping lightsabers seemed odd - like they were trying to evoke the 1978 figures, but only in part while Obi-Wan himself was more in line with a 1984-era Return of the Jedi design philosophy. Cad Bane seems to mimic some modern retro figures rather than a specific Kenner release - Super7's newer efforts like Vincent Price are a little stiffer and more symmetrical like Cad here - but he still has a feel that might take you back to an era of Saturday morning kid vid or getting a figure after a good report card. If you said the goal was to make him look like a figure with a level of detail no newer than 1979, but based on a pose borrowed from 2022, I'd believe you.

This one is good but lacks the details and hanging coat of previous releases - but he's less finicky and you can actually put him in ships. The light detailing doesn't really work for me with the stiff pose, and a little slouch in his back or some variety in the bends of his elbows would go a long way to making him feel like an authentic original toy. But that's neither here nor there - I would bet Hasbro will never make another retro-style Cad Bane figure ever again, and on its own merits the price point is low enough that I'd recommend it if you're interested in the character or are a junkie for the form factor. I wouldn't make this your first or only Retro purchase, but if you've got a collection going and need to blow some cash? This is a good one to add to the shelf. Or wall. Or storage unit. It may not be perfect, but enjoy this form factor while it still exits. Generation X kids aren't going to be a target market forever.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,140: June 6, 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 3,077: Cad Bane (The Book of Boba Fett, The Vintage Collection)

CAD BANE live action version
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Deluxe Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. F7311 No. FF7314
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #283
Includes: 2 basters, hat
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $16.99
Availability: June 2023
Appearances: 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. (Stolen from Hasbro 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!

Click here to buy it at Walmart now!

Commentary: It's been a rocky month for news and commentary about Disney+ live-action shows, as a sudden rush to declare the Emperor having no clothes left fans going "yeah, we know." The Book of Boba Fett appealed to some and left others cold with a parade of interesting introductions and some backstory. But you weren't exactly left knowing who the antagonist was, or what Boba Fett is really after beyond "I wanna be a boss". And then Cad Bane shows up out of nowhere, when you could probably just as easily have thrown in a new guy, but hey, we got a shootout in our quasi-western crime space show for no good reason really.

The character's live-action appearance gives us "the same, but different" aesthetic popular these days. I guess the idea is that nobody really changes their style much after reaching adulthood. The character's duster is a bit more robust, but he has the same hat and gauntlets. His boot rockets are now gone, replaced by ammo belts. He looks like he did in The Clone Wars with red eyes and blue skin, adding a visible grimace instead of teh flat frown we used to get. It's a sensible change, and his arms have a pretty good range of movement. You can pose his hands like he's going to draw his blasters, but the shoulders are a little stiff. It's a pity - but at least the hips, knees, and ankles are pretty easy to move around. I found this figure stayed standing very nicely on my desk and didn't fall over despite being on a frequently bumped-upon workspace. That means Hasbro did a real nice job balancing him, and you can display him with a number of scenarios - he wouldn't look out of place in the cantina or Jabba's Palace.

While his appearance in The Book of Boba Fett required explaining to anyone not intimately familiar with the cartoons, his appearance as an action figure needs no explaining. Popular cartoon character, alien, bounty hunter, it's an easy sale. Is it worth $17? No. Most of these guys aren't - there's not enough here that goes above and beyond what we used to get for $10 beyond the mouth deco and removable hat. But I can't argue that it looks nice, and that Hasbro did a pretty good job making sure the hips move cleanly and that he stays standing. And his holsters work. And he can hold his blasters. If you like the character design, even if you're not a post-20th-century fan, he'd go well in any dioramas you may have featuring aliens.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,077: October 31, 2023

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,806: Cad Bane (The Black Series 6-Inch)

CAD BANE (without, or with Todo 360 as a Hasbro Pulse Exclusive)
The Black Series 2020 Line Look Yellow Star Wars: The Clone Wars Packaging Deluxe Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. E8908 No. E9359, or the exclusive is No. E9634
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #06
Includes: 2 blasters, bag, and hat; exclusive version includes Todo 360
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99 or $29.99 for the exclusive version
Availability: October 2020
Appearances: The Clone Wars
Bio: A ruthless bounty hunter from the planet Duro, Cad Bane was the preeminent blaster-for-hire in the galaxy during the Clone Wars. No quarry was too dangerous for Bane, if the price was right. (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: I put off reviewing a lot of exclusives, but this one was also a standard release. Cad Bane can be bought with or without Todo 360 - I got both, because I'm nuts. The Clone Wars has gone from a thing old fans ignored to a thing young adults adore, which is one of the reasons you're getting so much The Clone Wars stuff in this format. Kids liked it! And old fans are dying off, quitting, or just not spending money as freely. There are now over 40 years of fans, and to put things in perspective my fellow olds should look at Star Trek in the 1990s when Playmates Toys took a couple of years to do Kirk and Spock and friends, instead focusing on the then-hugely-popular new syndicated Star Trek: The Next Generation. It doesn't mean the original thing isn't cool anymore - but you can kind of get why you want to milk the new thing when it's hot.

This is a good 7-inch scale figure. The likenesses of cartoon figures are hard to pin down, but thankfully a rubber mask is a rubber mask, and a skinny alien is a skinny alien. Other than some more painted and sculpted detail, Cad Bane looks pretty much exactly like his animated model counterpart. If anything, Hasbro filled him out a little here - he was more gaunt on the cartoon, with bigger eyes. Aside from that he looks pretty much exactly like you would have imagined with his wide-brimmed hat, working holsters, Boba Fett-like gauntlets, and boot rockets.

The blue skin if vibrant and the costume is a bit less saturate than the animation model, which is what you want in your scum and/or villainy. He has the kind of articulation typical to the later 2020-and-beyond figures with thigh cuts hidden by his boots, rocker ankles, jointed rockets, and he just serves as a shining beacon of how to hide articulation in your character design. Nearly every joint is hidden in a fold in his costume, which makes this seem like it could have been designed as a toy first. Hasbro did a magnificent job translating it to a sneering plastic figure, with faux leather deco on the plastic and some worn bits on the pants. It's really quite incredible, but I assume there's a certain kind of fan who is absolutely adoring this figure while a lot of fans are going to eventually realize that they missed it. They will not be happy. This is a great release.

Since the character doesn't seem to be dead - at least, not yet - it would not entirely surprise me to see him show up in a streaming show or a new animated program. This is a figure that stands out as one of Hasbro's very best aliens, and serves as a reminder of why they should make more of them. They do such a good job! It's a shame we don't see more, but it always helps when it's a regular recurring popular bad guy. If you have the chance, get one.

Collector's Notes: I got the exclusive one from Hasbro Pulse. I got the regular one from Entertainment Earth. I literally cannot tell the difference.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,806: April 27, 2021

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,639: Cad Bane

CAD BANE in Clone Trooper Disguise
The Clone Wars Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 35566 No. 35578
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Stand, removable wrist armor, blaster, helmet, Holocron
Action Feature: Removable armor reveals injury, removable helmet
Retail: $26.99
Availability: July 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Anakin, Ahsoka, and Cad Bane escape a Separatist frigate moments before it explodes. The Jedi boarded the ship to retrieve a Jedi holocron and memory crystal stolen by Bane, but their mission fails. As the ship crumbles, Bane hides his identity under a stolen clone trooper uniform so he can escape with the Jedi. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: Hasbro sure does like their bounty hunters! This Cad Bane figure is the fourth release since 2009, not counting repackaged figures, and Hasbro has something new and interesting on each release so far. If you've been collecting with us so far, the armor will be familiar to those of you who bought Denal a few years ago. Bane's armor has blue arms and the body is a mix of figures-- the legs are from the 2008 Clones, while the body and arms are largely from the 2009 redesign we started seeing on Stone. The left arm from the elbow to the fingers is completely new, the white armor can be removed revealing blood and the fingers were carefully sculpted to fit with the holocron accessory.

The finger has a little tab that juts out, while the holocron has a small hole in the side-- you have to look for it-- which lets the hand plug right in. This way, he won't drop it. You can also put the holocron in the backpack, even though it isn't a perfect fit, and the helmet fits about as well as these things tend to these days. It's a pretty good figure overall and the head sculpt-- the first we've seen without those hoses going into his face, which I had originally thought were cybernetic grafted-on parts-- is neat to finally see without gear on it.

It's a crying shame Hasbro didn't sell this one individually-- it's one of their better figures as far as play gimmicks go, and even if he can't exactly sit perfectly, it's a fun enough concept where it's hard to be anything but delighted with it. If your budget permits, get it.

Collector's Notes: This figure (or one similar to it) was originally teased under a sticker on the back of basic figure cardbacks in 2010. It was pulled and word was that he was to be an exclusive for somebody-- that didn't happen. So now the figure is widely available in this 3-pack, which isn't ideal given that you probably already have the Anakin and Ahsoka figures. If you don't, it's a great set-- and even if you do, Cad Bane is neat enough to potentially be worth picking up at a discount.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,639: September 26, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,459: Cad Bane (the 2011 one with Todo 360)

CAD BANE and Todo 360
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 94736 No. 26375
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW42
Includes: Hat, two pistols, bag, Todo 360 accessory/figure, stand, card, die
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: January 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Cad Bane and Todo 360 sneak inside the Jedi Temple. Bane has a well-deserved reputation as a ruthless bounty hunter. He is hired by Darth Sidious to steal a Jedi holocron. He and his techno-service droid gain access to the building and break into the well-guarded holocron library. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen, on some box. (Spare. No. Expense.)

Commentary: Third time is the charm, right? Since 2009 we've had three different versions of Cad Bane sculpted and sold to you, the hapless consumer. This figure is, on the whole, the best of them. The wires on the wrists have been simplified so that they no longer get in the way of elbow movement. The wrists are articulated, and the paint job is unquestionably improved. The jacket is a separate sculpted piece, and the hat is removable too. He has two small silver pistols and a bag for explosives or what have you, and this is easily the most detailed version yet. At first glance, it looks more "realistic" when compared to the previous animated releases, particularly take note of his head. The grimace and wrinkles seem quite lively, and it looks like a tiny toothpick may have been sculpted (and painted over) on his mouth. As an added bonus, this figure has jointed knees which make it easier for him to sit now that he has cloth making up the lower part of his duster. It's a lot better than the previous versions, and is easily the best-looking version yet.

However.

My big beef with the Xanadu Blood vehicle is that existing Cad Bane figures won't fit in it well-- and guess what? This one doesn't either, even with the hat off. So we have Cad Bane's ship, and Cad Bane can't fit in it. (Well, that's a half-truth-- the Speeder Bike one can fit if you cram him in without the hat. The others don't really fit.) So if you're a vehicle fan you'll still be disappointed, but as figures go? This is another fantastic entry in the animated line, and I dare say it's so good that if you stuck him in the crowds of your Jabba's Palace shelf diorama, he'd fit right in. Even if you have other Cad Bane figures, I'd still suggest buying this one-- just remember, the only part of Todo 360 that is articulated is his head. (I'll be reviewing him as a unique figure on a future date.)

Collector's Notes: This one just came out-- mine came in the mail from Entertainment Earth last Friday and I was surprised to see it. Other new figures in this wave include Training Gear Hevy, Obi-Wan Kenobi in his new outfit, and R7-P7, Ahsoka's astromech droid. Odds are it'll be hitting in your stores very soon, I'm sure before Toy Fair next month. Or you could, you know, click the "buy this figure" banner and support this blog by buying it or another of many fine items. (Hey, I've written thousands of these things, I should do a plug here and there.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,459: January 17, 2011

Figure of the Day: Day 1,374: Cad Bane

CAD BANE Pirate Speeder Bike
The Clone Wars Mini Vehicles
Item No.: Asst. 94737 No. 94827
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Starhawk Speeder Bike, blasters, hat, satchel, display stand, game gear
Action Feature: Working holsters
Retail: $7.99
Availability: July 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Cad Bane avoids his pursuers on a pirate's speeder bike. The bounty hunter forms a temporary alliance with a pirate gang to further his own selfish interests. When his business with the gang is finished, he takes leave of the thugs-- snd also takes one of their speeder bikes as part of his payment. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: While Cad Bane and this bike have yet to appear on screen together, there's nothing stopping Hasbro from employing a little toyetic license to bring out a fun toy with an all-new version of the Bounty Hunter. (Or at least, new enough.) Rather than simply tweak the existing Cad Bane toy, Hasbro really did a job on this one-- the torso is much wider, the legs have an amazing range of motion, the arms are, well, assembled funny so you have to swivel them around, and the head is all-new. If you have the existing Cad Bane, you need to get this new one because a) it's significantly different and b) it can sit, which the carded release cannot.

Rather than reuse the head, Hasbro gave this version of Bane a nice snarl. His hat still flies off if you aren't careful, but a lot of nice minor details like the fact his knees can bend back far enough to convincingly ride the bike show that Hasbro isn't allergic to fixing its toys so they work as top-notch playthings and display items. Seriously, this one is really well done. If you plan on getting the Xanadu Blood when it hits later, be sure to get this Cad Bane so you can have a figure who can actually sit. The detail and paint are roughly what we're used to from Hasbro, so overall this is a good piece and a nice improvement.

Collector's Notes: Available now, the set is actually moving nicely. The bike belongs to the Ohnaka Pirate Gang, which so far have not been produced as toys which can sit. This one is actually worth the effort to track down, so be sure to get it. The other version is also worth having, but for different reasons related to his costume.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,374: September 20, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,200: Cad Bane

CAD BANE Bounty Hunter
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87638 No. 91268
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW22
Includes: Hat, blasters, blaster rifle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: August 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Cad Bane is hired by Darth Sidious to break into the Jedi Temple and steal a holocron containing the secret names of future Jedi. The resourceful and cunning bounty hunter carefully puts his plan in place using schematics of the temple, a techno-service droid and an unscrupulous shapeshifter. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)


Image: Adam's TV tray.

Commentary: Depending on how much more screen time he gets, it's a safe bet Cad Bane will get several more action figures. It's also a very popular character with a strong design-- so I decided to wait a good long while to cover it here, in the hopes that being removed from its packaging for a few months might help the hands to take a better shape, or for some elements to work slightly better. It didn't help. As a statue, a carded figure, or as a desk display, Cad Bane is a pretty good little figure. It looks cool, has great deco, a top-notch sculpt, and acceptable articulation. As a toy? It really doesn't work-- this can't all be blamed on Hasbro, his unique design doesn't necessarily help.

There's no denying that Hasbro did a good job sculpting this figure and making sure the many details of the TV show model were replicated in three dimensions. Unfortunately, it doesn't hold together as a plaything. For starters there's his hat, expertly sculpted to snap onto his blue head right down to a groove which aligns to a hood that covers his hatless noggin. Unfortunately, once removed, the hat tends to fall off if the figure is ever rotated in such a way where gravity will pull it off. It may have been better to have created the figure with the head sculpted as part of the hat, so it doesn't flop off quite so easily. Cad includes two pistols which fit into his holsters just fine, but they don't quite fit into his hands particularly well. They fit, but it's very easy to accidentally knock them out and send them flying. The rifle, while cool, can't be easily held in both hands due to how the arm joints were done, but it does look pretty nice. If you're willing to do some heavy futzing with the weapons, you can make them work.

His articulation shows a good effort, but ultimately not where it needs to be to be a great toy. For starters, he can't sit easily. Part of this is due to his duster, which extends to the floor. The material is flexible so in theory he would be able to sit with his extra-long coat, but there's a pouch on the back of his belt which is too thick to bend. If Hasbro took some artistic license and raised or lowered this element of the design, it would probably sit without any significant problems. The leg articulation itself is perfect, it's just that coat that prevents a figure from being able to pilot a ship, which is really unfortunate because his vehicle is supposedly coming in 2010.

Bane's arms show all the articulation fans ask for, but the design hurts movement. There are ball joints on the elbows plus jointed wrists, but the hoses connecting Bane's wrist gauntlets to his upper arms are such that you really can't bend them at a meaningful angle. The item looks better than it plays, and if that's what counts for you, go run out and buy one immediately. Otherwise, I'd suggest holding off to see if Hasbro does a revised version with less restricted movement and, perhaps, more cartoon-accurate skin coloring.

Collector's Notes: This figure has been doing very well so far, and has been in short supply during some parts of 2008. As such, it's going to be hot for a while it seems. Also, this is one of very few Bounty Hunters in the animated line so far, particularly in light of the marketing that the show was going to be very hunter-heavy for its second season. Like Boba Fett in the days of old, the marketing for these characters seems to always outweigh their screen time.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,200: January 19, 2010