Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,003: Ikopi

IKOPI  Swamp Creatures
Episode I Battle Bags
Item No.: Asst. 63349  No. 63353
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Tool, bag, Falumpaset, Kaadu, Mott
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: May 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: The ikopi was a fleet-footed ungulate with telescopic legs for fast locomotion. They lived in the plains and swamps of Naboo and its moon Rori and they traveled in herds.  ( Stolen from Wookieepedia. )

Image: Adam's photo dump.

Commentary: I'm a big fan of creatures and those of you who know me understand that I'm on a minifigure kick right now.  I dug out my Ikopi and other Battle Bags figures from 1999, and I gotta say I'm somewhat impressed.  I didn't pay the $10 at the time ($2.24 clearance = yes), but by modern standards these small, non-articulated, ambiguously scaled creatures are pretty much worth the asking price on the secondary market.  $5 or less for 4 painted alien creatures?  Yes please!

Either not in scale, or a juvenile example, the 2-inch-ish Ikopi is a fraction of the size that a 3.5-meter-tall adult would be when compared to the action figure line.  The drawings from the super-cool The Wildlife of Star Wars: A Field Guide (which I have and adore)  show this as a very tall creature with a stretchy, frog-like tongue. Freaky!  The Naboo space antelope can stand fairly well and has a little bit of paint.  The figure has black horns, eyes, and hooves with a little bit of brown on his fuzzy body.  As a creature with very few representations in the toy world, I'd suggest grabbing this figure from this set.  If you want a full-size, action figure-scaled toy though... this ain't it.  And there isn't one.

Collector's Notes: Minifigures offer a cheap thrill like no other.  Painted or unpainted, tiny or smallish, they're fun and are great desk toys.  This particular series also happens to not be worth much, so you really have no excuse for not buying these... unless you don't want them.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,003: February 15, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,940: Nuna

NUNA  Swamp Creatures
Discover the Force Walmart Exclusive Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 63349  No.  63354  
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Tool, bag, Shaak, Pikobi, Faamba
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: May 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: The Nuna, or "Swamp Turkey," is a two-legged blob of meat.  Baby Nuna hatchlings are pretty tiny, and coincidentally the full adult size of the Dwarf Nuna.  While designed as a Naboo creature, you can see Jabba delight in flicking them to their deaths on Tatooine.  There's also an awesome book called "The Wildlife of Star Wars" that features these and other creatures from the saga (and beyond) in great detail, which, honestly, I think you'll enjoy more than this figure.

Image: Adam's photo dump.

Commentary: 1999 was an orgy of delights when it comes to Star Wars as a licensed product.  There's so much stuff from so many companies that the mainstream press picked up on it, and Us Magazine (now Us Weekly) even called putzes like me to be quoted on how these would succeed or fail.  (I predicted a few turkeys, so I consider that bragging rights.  It also was the "Hunks of Summer" issue so you can bet I used that line on the few dates I could con women into going on... to no great effect.)

Anyway, Nuna.   This little guy was part of a sub-line of little plastic figures, unpainted, roughly 2-inches long.  "Battle Bags" were a bizarre carded packet, with the four figures completely obscured but fully identified in a black sack with this powdery slime that turns to gel when you submerge the bag in water.  It's a proper "toy" from a time when we saw the transition of Star Wars merchandise take a hard turn away from kid stuff, and man, this set was total kid stuff.  These figures were not really scaled to the figures on the whole, but the Nuna was pretty close to proper action figure size.

The little guy was molded in a creamy plastic and painted with some varying shades of green and given red eyes.  It's a fat little guy with bulbous toes and a strange wattle, standing near 2-inches high.  Since there's no articulation to speak of you probably aren't going to do a heck of a lot with him, but man, look at it.  It's neat!  One of the areas where I feel the prequels were shortchanged were its creature design, with bafflingly great creatures based on classic movie monsters, real-world sea creatures, and goodness knows what sort of nightmares were in the artist heads.  The Nuna was one of the many bipedal, arm/wing-free creatures and I just love it.  We'll probably never see more of the monsters from the first prequel as big toys, which saddens me, but I am really glad we got a more or less properly-sized Nuna for our action figures.  It's cute.  I love it.  I think you will, too.

Collector's Notes:  There were few times that were as glorious for toy hunting as the late 1990s and early 2000s, as massive clearance sales were almost the norm starting late December 1999.  The Battle Bags were dumped at Target for 75% off - that's when I got mine - as I was in a period where I thought I might actually be exiting Star Wars collecting, it was more of an afterthought purchase.  Today these sets aren't worth too much, but it surprised me they can still command $10 on eBay.  They're neat, for four little guys it seems a smidgen expensive but hey, I'd have paid $10 for this one.  I'm stoked Hasbro took a chance on this weird concept so I got a Sando Aqua Monster and numerous Naboo fish, even if the sizes aren't quite what I might have preferred.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,940: November 20, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,739: Pit Droids

PIT DROID Red Crouching Deco
30th Anniversary Collection Saga Legends (also Episode I bonus figure)
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 84190
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Box, extra figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Early 2000/Late 2007
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Pit droids help repair and maintain podracers with zealous efficiency. Small yet incredibly strong, pit droids often dash onto the racetrack before the vehicles have stopped, risking their mechanical lives in their eagerness to get to work. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: One nice thing about Hasbro is that they're pretty good at slowly dismantling the secondary market of the modern Star Wars figure line, with few exceptions. At one point, the Pit Droid figures like this one were overseas exclusives, a replacement for the CommTech Chips around the year 2000 in Europe and Asia. We wanted them-- and we didn't get them. Which is totally uncool, being the biggest market for this stuff. (It would be like US-exclusive Zoids. It makes no sense.) These figures were in short supply, got expensive, and the fan outcry was surprisingly low. Heck, even I didn't complain about it all that much-- current distribution woes were more of a big deal than these six little droids which were absent from the US collector market for nearly 7 years, while some climbed to triple digits. Thankfully Hasbro had mercy on us and released them with minimal changes, in 2-packs, around 2007. This little red droid was basically the same as the one packaged with the Naboo Guard and Holographic Emperor figures overseas, except this time it didn't require you buy duplicate figures to get a set of them. (Well, aside from the droid itself-- they came in pairs.)

Being a product of 1999 design aesthetics, the little guy has jointed shoulders and hips, plus a ball-jointed head. Being wiry, he may have difficulty standing if you aren't careful. He doesn't have foot holes either, so prepare for a hassle there. He has no trouble sitting, or looking cool. Since these guys are best displayed fidgeting with your Pod Racer vehicles, you can probably have them leaning or pretending to grab things. The sculpt is unremarkable, but that's OK-- the design isn't very complicated, so there don't need to be too many exposed wires or other elements here. I'm sure Hasbro could do an entirely new sculpt and blow us away, but they did a good enough job 10 years ago where I don't expect to ever see an all-new Pit Droid ever again. These are fine, they're cheap, and frankly I'd rather they keep reissuing figures (so I can skip them) than making new, different versions anyway.

Collector's Notes: You should be able to score this figure off the secondary market at or under its issue price, which is great. These little guys are cool and not the kind of thing that should be a bazillion dollars. An alternate sculpt of this toy in the same colors was also sold, as were 2 other recolors of the toy using this same mold. All 6 different flavors of Pit Droid were sold as 2-packs in the same SKU.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,739: February 13, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,738: Darth Maul

DARTH MAUL Really New
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 37499 No. 37509
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC86
Includes: Plastic hood, cloth cloak, two-piece lightsaber, lightsaber hilt, binoculars
Action Feature: Lightsaber splits down the middle
Retail: $9.99
Availability: January 2012
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Celebrate the legendary Star Wars saga that changed the universe forever! This collection brings to life the incredible story of good versus evil that captured our imagination and took us to a galaxy far, far away. Iconic Star Wars heroes and villains are captured with incredible detail and premium features to commemorate each epic tale in the Star Wars saga. May the Force be with you! (Taken from the figure's packaging. No specific character information.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' photo area.

Commentary: An upgrade of Darth Maul was a long time coming, Hasbro's last attempt to "perfect" the figure was in the 2005 Evolutions packs, and fans said back then that Hasbro came up short. They were right. The new one manages to make a Darth Maul with the bulk of the important features of the day, but it still isn't quite perfect-- it's very good, but it could still be improved. For starters, he's assembled with his belt backward.

The figure's articulation is as good as Hasbro will likely be able to do with today's technology. He has ball-jointed everything, except for his wrists-- they merely swivel, which is something they could probably have improved upon. I know it sounds nitpicky, but this isn't a vintage Mon Mothma, it's Darth "Cash Cow" Maul, the figure you know you can sell forever and keep repackaging long after fans claim they're sick of it-- there is always a new crop of kids and fans who want Darth Maul. He can hold his lightsaber fairly nicely, but I feel the range of movement should be improved still-- it's good, and certainly the best Maul has ever been. But "the best it's ever been" isn't necessarily good enough in the age of $10 figures.

I still feel the best 3 3/4-inch scale Darth Maul, visually, is the Tatooine Showdown release. It's over 10 years old, significantly cheaper, and has a less-impressive weapon. But for my money, there's no finer Darth Maul to have on display-- his plastic robes look significantly better than the tattered robes of the new release, which, functionally speaking, are quite nice.

New Maul's accessories are pretty good-- Hasbro seems to have made peace with the concept of plastic hoods and cloth robes, which gives the head a decent look while allowing for a good range of movement. I don't think the robes accurately represent the costume in the movie, though-- they were pretty funky, with huge sleeves and other swell patterns completely ignored by this one. The lightsaber finally has a flared blade, which has only happened on one other release-- the 2002 Sith Training Robes version, and that had a metal hilt. It splits in two, which is nice for any Jedi Dueling you may do. The unlit hilt can plug into his belt, and the Macrobinoculars look like they should plug into something but they really don't do much interesting. Other than, you know, holding them.

Carded collectors: get this figure. Loose collectors: you'll probably want to get this figure, as his ball-jointed hips and cloth bits are nicely poseable. But in most respects, I don't feel that it's a vastly improved piece... it's good, no questions there. The droid control gauntlet is a nice touch. But the head is merely OK, the hood doesn't look quite right, and all of these things add up to (I'm assuming) unsatisfied fans demanding a revised version of the character, which we'll probably see in a couple of years. Maul is a cash cow that Hasbro hasn't milked much since the 2006 Holographic Darth Maul.

Collector's Notes: This figure will be shipping with at least 2 waves, beyond that we actually just don't know yet. I assume this figure will be in steady distribution for most of 2012, because like Darth Vader or General Grievous, to not sell it would be to leave lots of money on the table. Nobody wins when you make one of the most popular characters hard to find. Hasbro has done some pretty senseless things when it comes to distributing popular characters, but this is the Darth Maul To End All Darth Mauls. Basically.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,738: February 10, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,698: Darth Maul

DARTH MAUL Deluxe
Episode I Deluxe Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84045 No. 84144
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, large deluxe lightsaber accessory
Action Feature: Lightsaber Handle Triggers Battle Swing
Retail: $9.99
Availability: May 3, 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Darth Maul was a Dathomirian Zabrak Sith Lord during the waning days of the Galactic Republic. Later, Maul was sent to Naboo, where he fought Jinn and his apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Though (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: The great thing about a movie year-- if you write a toy column-- is that you can see all sorts of crazy stuff, and go back and armchair quarterback it ten years later. With this deluxe Darth Maul, it's really interesting to note that this kind of mechanism was quickly removed from the line, and is making a big return early next year. Actually, from the pictures, I'm not entirely sure if this exact figure is coming back or not yet-- one looks very similar, and it might be this one again. (Or, again, very very similar.)

For $10 this was... acceptable. At the time, the normal Darth Maul was $7, and this one had a large accessory and an action feature to boot. This is not an impressive modern figure, but as Hasbro needed a ton of Darth Maul stuff to sell in 1999 this made sense. It's basically their Jedi Duel version, on a stick, with a button in its butt. You push the button (or activate it via the lightsaber which acts as a battle-stick thing) and he'll wave around his arms. The figure's articulation is similar to the carded counterpart, which means he's of not much use from the waist down-- but his neck, shoulders, and wrists move just fine. This isn't a figure about posing, this is a figure you buy specifically to display or to use to fight your other toys. The mechanism is pretty good, but I can understand that a lot of people would just want a plain, normal, super-articulated Darth Maul and it's 12 years later and it's still not in stores yet.

As a weird side figure, I suggest getting it-- it's meant to be a toy that you can actually play with, and we see very few of those. It's worth about two bucks, and it's absolutely worth that-- I didn't feel it was worth the $10 at first, but now I can say that it was a neat experiment and Hasbro did exactly as many of these battle figures as they should have done at the time. Except it would have been cool to have had a Vader as well, now that I think of it. Maul will not impress you with its sculpt-- after all, Hasbro improves so much, it'd be sad if this was the peak of their talents-- but I do enjoy seeing what they came up with for the kids of 1999.

Collector's Notes: Unless this is, in fact, the basis for the new Movie Heroes figure next year, it's a one-time release. Hasbro put action features to bed until 2002 after this wave came out, with the exception of the spring-loaded 300th Boba Fett in late 2000.

As a single character, Darth Maul may offer one of the richest collecting experiences-- the character has been sold in so many varieties since 1999, you can get a late-era Kenner style figure, deluxe attack figures, figures with experimental dials and magnets, and all sorts of nutty outfits-- short of their being a legit 1970s/1980s-style Kenner version, Maul probably should be your go-to character for getting most (but not all) styles of figural collectibles.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,698: December 16, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,681: Gungan Warrior

GUNGAN WARRIOR with Fambaa
Episode I FAO Schwarz Exclusive
Item No.: No. 84369
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Prod, Fambaa
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $75.00
Availability: Fall 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Giant swamp lizards called fambaas are key to Gungan defense on the battlefield. Working in pairs, the forward fambaa's apparatus fires energy into a receiver mounted on the rear beast, creating a bubble-like shield that unites with other fambaa shields to from an enormous canopy of protection over the Grand Army. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's former back yard.

Commentary: The very first Gungan Warrior was packaged with a very expensive, very large exclusive which was sold at a high-end toy store not available in most cities. As an army builder, I found that frustrating-- especially since this one was pretty good. With six points of articulation, the figure was designed to do little more than stand on a platform inside the massive Fambaa, a huge lizard with zero points of articulation which was priced about $30-$40 too high for something that did essentially nothing. It was basically a very expensive version of the cheap hollow vinyl dinosaur toys, but if you wanted one of every action figure? Tough. You had to get a Fambaa.

I will say I like the figure enough that I'm not sorry I made the purchase. The armor was sculpted quite well, and the detail on the figure is very good overall. The skin pattern, specifically on the arms, is quite remarkable and something Hasbro has phased out of Gungans released since 2009 (so far, anyway.) If you get in close, you can see all these little textures on the figure, which does a lot to bring it to life-- granted, another fifteen cents of paint applications could have made him gorgeous, but that was twelve years ago and too bad. If you like Gungans-- and I might take flack for this, but I do-- this is an essential buy as the mold has not yet been reused.

Collector's Notes: After lingering on FAO shelves, the set is now worth about $20-$40. And yes, that's sealed in the box. Much like the Ewoks of old, the Gungans will likely always remain relatively cheap because the collector market won't drive up the prices. I'm not sure how many of these were produced, but there's no shortage of the supply. Don't let that stop you, though-- if you like Phantom Menace stuff, this is a really neat piece, and the entire toy program for that movie is better than people on the message boards would have you think. Having said that, the Fambaa comes in a swell window box (that's good!) and has fewer play features than your average $9 action figure these days (that's bad!) so buyer, be aware! Not "beware." I think you don't need a sense of foreboding when it comes to buying a Gungan and his giant elephant-lizard friend.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,681: November 23, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,578: R2-D2

R2-D2 with Booster Rockets
Episode I Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84095 No. 84104
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: CommTech Chip
Action Feature: Push up the central leg, the rockets will deploy
Retail: $6.99
Availability: May 1999
Appearances: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

Bio: The astromech droid R2-D2 serves on board the Naboo Royal Starship of Queen Amidala. A multifaceted utility droid, R2-D2 becomes a hero in the struggle against the Trade Federation's invasion of Naboo. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: One of the fun things about this hobby is that Hasbro (often unwittingly) makes a figure from a deleted scene like this R2-D2 from 1999. The robot is based on an alternate design for R2-D2's booster rockets, which appears on the DVD but not in the actual film. In later tales, we saw the rockets actually popped out of his shoulders rather than his body.

For the time this was a really impressive figure. R2-D2 kept the light-up eyeport which was on pretty much all of the modern R2-D2 figures (save for the awful 1998 pop-up lightsaber figure) to this point, and the painted silver head wasn't reflective-- a nice touch, given that it's apparently hard to get right. The torso sculpt is a little harsh, with lots of sculpted panels and lines exaggerated slightly compared to the later releases. This toy's main purpose is to highlight the jets for his hover mode, which all pop out when the figure's head is centered and you push the third leg up. Overall it's not a bad figure, but those big gaps in his body are hard to ignore and the figure has since been surpassed by better flying figures... and in the case of a 2003 version, worse figures. This one is mostly worth getting as both a deleted scene and a concept figure, a nifty idea that never really made the cut to the big screen. If you like that kind of thing, you should get this one.

Collector's Notes: This figure has never been repainted or repackaged. It was a good figure for the time, but it nearly immediately was upstaged by the superior (and significantly rarer at the time) R2-D2 with Holographic Princess Leia action figure. A packaging variant does exist, as there is a "thick bubble" and a "narrow bubble" variant.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,578: July 1, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,497: Darth Maul

DARTH MAUL The Final Lightsaber Duel
Episode I VHS Tie-In
Item No.: Asst. 84385 No. 84522
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Red lightsaber, display stand, Obi-Wan Kenobi
Action Feature: Breaks apart at the torso, holds with a magnet
Retail: $14.99
Availability: Spring 2000
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Darth Maul and his double-bladed lightsaber prove a fearsome challenge to Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi as the trio battle it out in the Theed generator complex. With hopes for victory nearly gone, Obi-Wan leaps from the brink of certain death and uses his fallen master's weapon to cut the evil Sith Lord in two! (Taken from the set's packaging.)

Image: On my old desk.

Commentary: Hasbro has done so many versions of Darth Maul that, eventually, they all start to look alike. This figure has the rare distinction of having the same gimmick and pose as an individually carded figure releases just a few months later. The figure splits in two, and has a magnet in his torso. Each of these two figures have completely different sculpts, but they both seem designed to be effectively the same figure. With only six points of articulation, this figure really only can wow you in its ability to break in half. (Intentionally, I mean.) The detail and deco is really no better than any other Maul, but he is pretty cool in that his head can actually tilt back a bit. I think that's a big plus.

I would not suggest tracking down this 2-pack, which also includes Obi-Wan Kenobi, unless you gotta have everything. It's not that the figures are bad, it's just that there are so many versions of these characters that you won't find these to be particularly remarkable.

Collector's Notes: This set was a pretty good tie-in to the home video release of the first prequel, but, well, not so hard to get it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,497: March 10, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,481: Jar Jar Binks

JAR JAR BINKS with Gungan Assault Cannon
Episode I Invasion Force
Item No.: Asst. 84205 No. 84368
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Rocket, cannon
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Spring 2000
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Gungans produce many of their structures using a secret method that actually "grows" the basic skeletons of many of their vehicles and weapons. The Gungan assault cannon is created from this process and then fitted with electronic components to create a powerful assault weapon. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's former backyard.

Commentary: One of the great challenges in animation is to convey a personality of a figure. This is usually done through things like the pose and facial expression, two areas where this Jar Jar Binks figure opts to bore you. Released long after people knew who he was and what he should be like, this figure looks outright serene, almost bored compared to his low-level manic persona on the big screen. This was a guy who'd scream, jump, and step in a pile of poo-- and this figure? Well, he just looks like he's standing around waiting to film the next take. With a body sculpt that draws from the 1999 basic carded figure, this release has no articulation from below the waist and is actually a little disappointing. As a pack-in with a cannon accessory he's basically acceptable but the cannon isn't exactly a pile of fun either.

Jar Jar can't sit-- at all-- he has no hip joints. This figure's sole purpose is to stand and fire a cannon, or if you wanted to just make him stand, there's that. While this isn't the figure with the least play value of the entire modern line, he's probably in the bottom ten. I wouldn't suggest even considering buying this one unless you're a Jar Jar completist or really want the cannon. (The cannon, I should add, may misshapen with time and gravity so take care when storing it so it doesn't get bent out of shape.) If you have the basic 1999 carded figure, it's better than this one-- trust me.

Collector's Notes: The set was something of a weak seller in its day, and today can be had for under $10. Were this a regular retail release for $10 I think you might find it lacking, particularly when compared to the other "Invasion Force" vehicles which were actually, you know, fun. And the figures could sit. But who's keeping track?

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,481: February 16, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,455: Mace Windu

MACE WINDU with Lightsaber and Jedi Cloak
Episode I Collection 3 Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84105 No. 84084
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Cloak, lightsaber, CommTech chip
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: May 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: A respected Jedi Master and a senior member of the Jedi Council, Mace Windu wields a great deal of authority through out the Galactic Republic. He is well aware of the dangers of the Sith. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: Samuel L. Jackson's Mace Windu has been a big part of the line since 1998, where he was the first mail-in figure from the prequel trilogy, and the first "sneak preview" figure since the 1980s. This isn't that figure-- rather, this is the second release, a resculpted figure sold at retail. This one is different in that it has more articulation, slightly different deco, and a different cloak.

This figure's main draw at the time was its big brown cloak which completely covers the figure. You can make him hold his lightsaber while encased in the garment, but, well, it looks a little goofy. It works, but not terribly well-- and since Mace rarely wears his cloak with the hood up, odds are this is an accessory that will ultimately live in your junk drawer. Under the cloak is a figure in his normal Jedi attire, with sleeves matching his robe and a more action-oriented pose with his legs spread out a little bit more. His right arm sports a swivel elbow and a swivel wrist which, in 1999, were still pretty fancy stuff on a Star Wars toy.

While the figure feels cut from the same cloth as the 1998 mail-in release, the only piece that seems to be shared is the torso-- everything else seems to have slight changes made to the tooling, be it a bent ankle or a teeny change to the head, which may even be just my imagination. I wouldn't classify this figure as "different enough to make you mad," but it certainly is different enough to be notable.

His lone weapon is a lightsaber, and while some fans may peg it as incorrect, it wasn't back in 1999. Lucas changed a lot of how the Expanded Universe worked in those years, and nearly every character in The Phantom Menace was assigned one lightsaber color, only for Lucas' camp to say "never mind" and change every character to red, green, blue, or purple later. As such, Mace is carrying a very different weapon than he would hold in the prequels, and while there are stories explaining the saber swap they certainly don't explain away the coloring or how he got his gold-plated weapon in the prequel sequel. It's just one of those weird things to note-- you can try to explain it away, but really, it's not something with a clear-cut answer.

Collector's Notes: This figure did make a few return appearances with switched-up accessories, but the first release is the one you want-- yes, even though it's wrong.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,455: January 11, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,444: R2-B1

R2-B1 Astromech Droid
Episode I Collection 2 Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84128 No. 84105
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Droid Harness, CommTech Chip Stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Early 2000
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: A blue astromech droid sporting yellow trim, R2-B1 is one of a fleet of mechanics on the Naboo Royal Starship. It risked its circuits to perform repairs while under heavy incoming fire. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: The 2007 remake of this 2000 R2-B1 was meant to correct the fact that it did not really fit in with the style of the other droids. Both versions are a little off for different reasons. This 2000 release was an odd duck because it had a chrome dome (which was largely phased out by 1999) an only 2 legs rather than all 3. In many ways this figure was another evolutionary step in making the perfect Astromech droid toy, but the 1999 Royal Starship pack-in R2-R9 was significantly better in many ways. The main thing this figure had going for it was a cool blue dot in the middle of its holo projector and, let's be frank, striking coloring. Just look at it. Since it only moves at the head and legs, there's not much here-- the sculpt is on par for its time and the size isn't too out of whack for what was considered normal during the final days of the CommTech era. There's nothing I would call terribly wrong about the figure, but it really was a step backward given what we got in other droid figures just a year earlier. Since it looked cool and was hard to find, it sold well and was probably worth considering a success. Of course, we as a group have short attention spans and the 2007 version is loaded with articulation and was easy to get. As such, the original fell out of favor, and odds are the only people who are really interested in it remember what it was like when it first came out-- exciting, new, and blue.

Collector's Notes: This figure was never reissued, but the mold was used to make R2-D2 for an exclusive Toys "R" Us X-wing Fighter a couple of years later. At one time this figure (and its companion in the assortment, TC-14) were expensive and desirable. Today, arguably, they are neither. It costs around $10, which is more than most figures from Episode I in 1999-2000, but adjusted for inflation it's really not all that impressive.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,444: December 27, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,442: Darth Maul

DARTH MAUL Sith Speeder/Saga Legends
Episode I Vehicle Pack-In
Item No.: Asst. 84135 No. 84141
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, Sith Speeder, launching probes
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $11.99
Availability: May 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Darth Maul is pure manifestation of the dark side of the Force. Ordered by Darth Sidious to destroy the Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, Maul uses his personal repulsorlift vehicle-the Sith speeder-to carry out his sinister mission. The speeder supports a deployment system capable of launching a seeker droid known as a Sith probe droid. This droid maintains ultra receptive sensor arrays capable of tracking down practically anything. Swift and focused, Darth Maul speeds over the desert sands of Tatooine in search of his Jedi prey; meanwhile, the welfare of the galaxy hangs in the balance. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: In 1999 Hasbro wisely made a special Darth Maul action figure as a pack-in to its small Sith Speeder vehicle... which, sadly, would be the only vehicle Maul would get for several years. (The Sith Infiltrator wouldn't make the rounds until 2007. Coincidentally, the figure was reissued along with the new ship.) This particular action figure was easily the best toy Darth Maul you could buy in 1999 and I daresay the best toy Maul you can buy, period. He can stand, sit, and assume a number of action poses courtesy of his jointed knees (still an unusual feature in 1999), plus he has one swivel wrist and one swivel elbow. While other figures had more arm articulation, this figure's cloth garments and added leg articulation gave him more personality and play opportunities than the Maul figures which would come before him or since. There's a reason Hasbro keeps repackaging this 1999 Darth Maul figure-- it's pretty good.

This is clearly a transitional figure, in that period of time when Hasbro was actually quite concerned with vehicle interaction, but before effectively strangling the non-exclusive vehicle market around 2000. With The Phantom Menace, Hasbro developed exclusive figures frequently as pack-ins to its vehicles to ensure a kid would actually have a figure to put in the driver's seat, and, generally speaking, that the figure would fit.

As integration goes, this figure may have done the best job of really working as a toy. The figure could sit in the driver's seat, plus he could store his lightsaber in the steering column. The sculpt was good, but now that it's 11 years old we've seen Hasbro do better. As Hasbro upgrades the Sith Lord, this remains the figure to beat as play features go. The last completely new movie Darth Maul sculpt was developed in 2005 so I have to assume another one is in the works, but at press time I've seen no evidence that one is planned for the vintage line just yet. (Although I do expect to see one.)

Collector's Notes: This exact figure has seen a few resurrections, most notably the 2007 Saga Legends line in which it had slightly different face paint. Neither one is genuinely better, so we'd err toward getting the one with the vehicle. The figure WITH the speeder was included in the 2009 Tatooine Desert Ambush Battle Pack, which you can probably find at a fine closeout store near you.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,442: December 23, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,438: Pit Droid

PIT DROID White Crouching Deco
30th Anniversary Collection Saga Legends (also Episode I bonus figure)
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 84190
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Box, extra figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Early 2000/Late 2007
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Pit droids help repair and maintain podracers with zealous efficiency. Small yet incredibly strong, pit droids often dash onto the racetrack before the vehicles have stopped, risking their mechanical lives in their eagerness to get to work. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk, being grabbed by a 10-inch Force Battlers Anakin Skywalker. Which, I might add, is a really neat toy.

Commentary: Yet another claim against Hasbro never listening to fan needs, this Pit Droid was a reissue of a fairly scarce and expensive 1999 release from Europe and Asia. Over there, the Episode I line had bonus Battle Droid and Pit Droid figures rather than CommTech chips, and for whatever reason Hasbro opted out of releasing the Pit Droids in the USA until 2007. This resulted in very high prices on eBay but, oddly, I stumbled on some of these at Comic-Con for a couple of bucks in a pile of unwanted Gundam kits. Go figure.

The figure itself is good but arguably nothing special. With five points of articulation, this squatting cybernetic mechanic was designed as a pit crew for Pod Racer vehicles, of which there were a grand total of two. He has a ball-jointed head, unusual for the time, plus typical swivel shoulders and hips. He can stand or sit with ease, although his feet are too small for foot pegs. He can stand on his own with little problem, but he's still a snap to knock over. Due to his pose, he can be posed in a variety of useful ways including repairing stuff, lounging, sitting, and so on. This was the first pose Hasbro made for the figures, the later releases had the arms a little more skewed.

Collector's Notes: This figure's 1999 release was expensive and hard to find, but has since dropped. The 2-packs issued in 2007 are pretty close to worthless, so don't overpay for them-- anything over $10 shipped is too much right now.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,438: December 17, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,415: Darth Maul (Tatooine)

DARTH MAUL Tatooine
Episode I Collection 1 Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84085 No. 84134
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, CommTech Chip Stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Summer 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: The evil Sith Lord Darth Maul learns the power of the dark side from his master Darth Sidious. Together, they plot to destroy the Jedi and enslave the peaceful planet of Naboo. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: For a character with few lines and fewer costumes, Darth Maul gets a ton of play in the toy aisle. It's hard to imagine a time when any Maul would be cause for celebration, but this was when the concept of prequels was not entirely soured for some fans and you could still be easily excited about new Episode I toys. This one was unique in that it had the large outer robes and limited articulation. Basically, it's a statue, and not a great one. He can hold his weapon, not exactly menacingly, while standing on a display stand. The limited arm articulation and virtually worthless neck and lower body articulation are blocked by additional robes which you can't even see due to the large clamshell of the outer clothing. This is a figure you should buy specifically if you think it looks good-- I think Hasbro has done better. The Tatooine Showdown Cinema Scene figure is pretty gorgeous and essentially replicates the same outfit, just in a significantly more pleasing way, so get that one instead if you need to be picky, because this carded Sith Lord is more a thing that you store than a thing you can play with or admire.

Collector's Notes: This mold was not reissued much as-is, but was used as the basis for the 2006 Holographic Darth Maul figure. It was also packaged with a plastic tumbler for a Target exclusive shortly after Episode II came out. Oh, and this original 1999 release is effectively worthless. I know, try to be surprised. You should have no problem getting a sample for $1-$5. In 2002 (or so) he was reissued as a Target exclusive, packaged with a plastic tumbler designed to look like the 1970s Burger King collectible glasses.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,415: November 16, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,412: Sebulba

SEBULBA Sebulba's Pod Racer
Episode I Vehicles
Item No.: Asst. 84020 No. 84098
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Pod Racer vehicle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99-$29.99
Availability: May 3, 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: It is said that in all of Mos Espa, there is no better pod racer than Sebulba. A member of the Dug species, Sebulba is feared by his competitors for his aggressive racing tactics and nerves of plastisteel. Sebulba's success is due much to the fact that he will do whatever necessary to win, even if it means resorting to dirty tricks. His high performance pod racer is packed with certain "illegal" modifications used to eliminate fellow racers. On Boonta Eve race day however, a young competitor named Anakin Skywalker will give the infamous Sebulba a run for his money. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: Love or hate Episode I, there's no denying that it introduced some freaky and cool designs into the franchise. Mr. McCraig-- I'm sorry, I mean Sebulba-- has a leg for an arm, and an arm for a leg. He walks awkwardly and seems like some strange horse-ape-reptile creature, plus he talked funky and had a neat costume with huge goggles. Oh, and he was a jerk to Anakin. He seems like he'd be a natural fit for the basic carded figure line, but Sebulba would not be carded during the initial run of Episode I, sadly. This figure-- his first-- was packaged with his large Pod Racer vehicle, meaning the figure itself was engineered more as an accessory for that craft than as a stand-alone product.

Sebulba can stand on his own, but his little feet don't have foot holes in them and he's a little bit smaller than many perceived he should be. In this day of downsized R2-D2s and Chief Chirpas, though, I can't say for sure if this one was actually more accurate in terms of height. Maybe? He's certainly not bad. The sculpting seems primitive today, but for 1999 he was pretty great. Things like multiple shades of brown on his leathery racing attire was pretty stunning, as were the many shades on his skin and other little details on his costume. While not superb, he is a good example of how Hasbro managed to do some great stuff in the late 1990s, but is also a sign of how a lot of the figures from this film seemed to look a little pale due to the faded, unpainted look of their skin tone. For a figure released before the film, but created before the design in the movie was finalized, he's not bad. I wouldn't suggest you track this one down unless you also want his vehicle, but he's certainly not bad. It's just the Power of the Jedi version which would follow over a year later was better.

Collector's Notes: While somewhat popular in its day, the figure plus the vehicle are now worth about ten bucks. I'd say it's worth getting for that. It wouldn't stun me to someday see another Sebulba upgrade, but unless it's a Star Tours exclusive, I doubt we'll ever see his Pod Racer again. So yeah, get this one if you want it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,412: November 11, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,388: Royal Starship Astromech Droid R2-R9

ROYAL STARSHIP ASTROMECH DROID later named R2-R9
Episode I Royal Starship
Item No.: No. 84146
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Giant freaking vehicle
Action Feature: Light-up projector
Retail: $99.99
Availability: Fall 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: R2-R9 was an R2-series astromech droid. This droid, along with most other astromech droids on Queen Padmé Amidala's ship, was destroyed when it tried to fix the deflector shield generator while escaping the Trade Federation blockade of Naboo. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: Some fans liked the fact that the (at the time) biggest-ever new vehicle in the modern line included an exclusive and then-nameless Astromech Droid later called "R2-R9." Some loved the fact Hasbro had a brand new droid sculpt that really was miles ahead of the previous R2-D2 toys. Others were annoyed that you had to pay $100 to get it. Both were right. This figure was the first-ever "super articulated" astromech that wasn't R2-D2. He had a retractable third leg, all three jointed ankles, and moving shoulders in addition to the swivel dome without any action features to muck up its appearance. Even better, it had a light-up projector, rather than a light-up eye, making it more authentic than pretty much any figure to follow in that capacity. I was enamored by the fact that Hasbro actually made an R2 unit with a big black eye for once, so this was a fast favorite for me. Heck, I still dig it, even though better sculpts have been made and the character/appliance has been one-upped. He's still cute.

Collector's Notes: This mold, in the state used here, was never reused or repainted. This droid was remade using different molds later on, but this particular version is unique. The droid isn't really worth a high price, but if you want one by itself it should set you back about $15-$20. The entire vehicle, with the droid, is closer to $100. I suggest getting the whole thing if you bother at all. It's interesting that this is similar to the going rate in 1999-- the ship was $100 and people sold just the droid for $20. It's actually somewhat disappointing.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,388: October 8, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,382: Pit Droids

PIT DROIDS 2-Pack
Episode I Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84095 No. 84129
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Tool Thing, CommTech Chip
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Spring 2000
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Small in stature and mechanically adept, pit droids scurry to service Podracers in the height of competition. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' floor.

Commentary: After Episode I hit theaters, fans were torn. Should we like this movie? And what about all those comic relief characters? I immediately gravitated toward the delightfully goofy Pit Droids, with their saucer-shaped heads and seeming love of being sucked through giant jet engines. This little guy was one half of a 2-pack which, at the time, proved to be extremely difficult to find at retail. Back in 2000, figures with only 5 or so points of articulation weren't so unusual, particularly when they're this small. This droid has a ball-jointed head, but his arms and legs are your standard swivel joints. His sculpting shows drastic improvement over the figures of 1999, which showed Pit Droids as being posed like, well, vintage 1970s Star Wars figures. This little guy has his limbs bent like he might actually be trying to fix something, and his big black eye gives him a little bit of added personality. Given that there are several Pit Droids out there to buy today, there's no real reason you need to jump on this one. The two droids in this set were never repainted or rereleased, so unless you aren't a fan of this design, I'd suggest going ahead and getting this one if it's no trouble for you to do so.

The CommTech chip stand-- standard at the time-- isn't useful for this set given their feet don't exactly work with a peg.

Collector's Notes: Given that it has been 10 years I would assume that the window of rerelease on this figure set has closed. Loose sets sell for $4-$7, carded sets go for about $8-$12. I'd say it's worth going as high as $12 on. A pre-release photo of this set showed a slightly different accessory, which, again, would be nice to see if Hasbro ever reissued it. This may be the best Pit Droid set in terms of appearances, so it's worth tracking down.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,383: October 1, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,319: Anakin Skywalker

ANAKIN SKYWALKER Tatooine Showdown
Episode I Cinema Scene Collection
Item No.: Asst. 84115 No. 84158
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Backpack, display base, CommTech Chip
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Summer 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: After enduring heavy damage during their escape from Naboo, the Naboo Royal Starship is forced to land on the desert planet of Tatooine. Returning from Mos Espa with Anakin Skywalker, Qui-Gon is ambushed by a figure in flowing dark robes - it is the evil Darth Maul. Ordering Anakin to the ship, Qui-Gon matches his awesome Jedi skill against the Sith Lord's sinister power. Both escape with their lives, but it would not be their last meeting. (Taken from the toy's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' old desk.

Commentary: During Episode I it seems Hasbro decided that you were going to get an Anakin Skywalker figure if you wanted one or not. The kid-- in pretty much the same outfit-- had numerous releases, all of which were pretty tough to tell apart. He had two carded releases. He was packed with vehicles and games. He came in two Cinema Scenes. Truly, if you were going to collect this line, you were going to get the pint-sized Darth Vader because Hasbro was intent on cramming one down your throat. This release is one of the better ones in the sense that it isn't awful. His action pose, backpack, and deco are on the happy side of good, and his face paint generally was clean without a too-waxy plastic used for his face. Sure, they could make him a little livelier, but since the New Sculpt Train ended for the character in 2000 that seems decreasingly likely.

Collector's Notes: If you have at least one young Anakin figure, you pretty much have them all. There's nothing wrong with this release, but they're so samey that only the collector wanting truly everything should pay him any mind. If you're this person, get one. Also, the scene he comes with also includes one of Hasbro's best Darth Maul figures of all time in addition to a great example of Hasbro's work with a poncho Qui-Gon Jinn. You should get the set-- but don't expect much out of Anakin, he's the weak link in the box.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,319: July 5, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,297: Darth Maul (Jedi Duel)

DARTH MAUL Jedi Duel
Episode I Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84085 No. 84088
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, CommTech Chip
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: May 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Evil personified, Darth Maul has been ordered to destroy Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi assigned to protect Queen Amidala. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: In 1999 this Darth Maul figure was a big deal. Huge. As a matter of fact, I'm fairly confident this was the #1 most hotly anticipated figure from the prequels during their entire run and it was easily Hasbro's best seller of its day. Casepacks were adjusted to increase the quantity of this figure, and word on the street was that some stores even got solid cases of 32 pieces of just this one figure. That's pretty amazing, plus there were a few running changes to keep the still-engaged fans interested. Minor packaging changes incorporated the logo of the company responsible for CommTech, and the figure's own chin was initially pink and was later changed to a more uniform shade of red and black. The inner part of his robes also had darker shades of grey, and some fans did indeed pay premium prices for these minor changes. This was pretty common from 1995 until about 2000, when some figures proved so hard to get that people started being more concerned about getting a complete set than every last version.

People were paying premium prices for just Maul briefly, and even more for specific versions of the packaging or head, but eventually Hasbro caught up with the demand and people started to realize they didn't like Episode I all that much. Before then, Hasbro shipped a ton of this figure, and it seemed the public was quite eager to catch Star Wars fever and started out their collections here. With the standard six points of articulation plus additional wrist and swivel arm joints, this was considered to be about as good as Star Wars figures got in 1999. I mean, 10 points of articulation! What a jump! Most people remembered figures as having 5, so this was genuinely significant even if, by today's standards, the sculpt is a little outdated. People wanted Darth Maul, and while we haven't yet seen Hasbro's best effort on the character (or so I hope), this was a pretty good first attempt at retail.

Collector's Notes: Like most once-valuable figures, this one is pretty worthless today at a couple of bucks, and most sellers aren't remotely interested in the variations. Hasbro has done better, but this one is a neat item as far as the line's history goes. I'd suggest getting one just because it's a uniquely popular piece from the past.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,297: June 3, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,279: Jar Jar Binks

JAR JAR BINKS Mos Espa Encounter
Episode I Cinema Scene Assortment
Item No.: Asst. 84115 No. 84161
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Chuba, CommTech Chip, extra figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Summer 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: While wandering with Anakin Skywalker through the maze of Mos Espa's outdooor marketplace, Jar Jar Binks spots a juicy chuba hanging temptingly from a vendor's cart. Unable to resist, Jar Jar lashes out with his sticky, elastic tongue, and accidentally sends the tasty treat flying into the soup of the galaxy's fiercest podracer - Sebulba. Enraged, the Dug racer leaps from his table and viciously attacks the unfortunate Jar Jar, leaving young Anakin to rescue his Gungan friend. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' yard.

Commentary: When the Mos Espa Encounter set first hit, fans took note of its unique, unmasked Sebulba. Less enticing was Jar Jar Binks, already a disliked character but this version was particularly bad. His skin color was really off-- the reds were quite bright, while the creamy parts seemed more yellow. The figure is really only notable for his uniquely cautious pose-- he seems like he should be avoiding or getting away from something, which is appropriate for the scene this one came from. The face was a little more expressive than some Jar Jar figures from 1999 but ultimately failed to really capture his personality in the way that some-- well, few-- later releases would. This is certainly not a figure worth paying a premium for, but if you can get the set on the cheap it's decent enough. Other Jar Jars will likely be more useful as a diorama maker, or if you're a collector it's worth noting that it's one of the worst.

Collector's Notes: This figure has never been rereleased and was considered a dud when he hit. You probably shouldn't pay more than a few bucks for it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,279: May 10, 2010