Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,457: Elite Praetorian Guard (The Last Jedi Line Look)

ELITE PRAETORIAN GUARD (with Whip-Staff) with Force Link
The Last Jedi Toys R Us First Order Starter Set Pack-In Figure
Item No.:    No. C3553
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Force Link band, sword, whip, figure, axe, 2 blasters
Action Feature: Force Link sounds
Retail: $34.99
Availability: October 2017
Appearances: The Last Jedi

Bio: When kids wear their Force Link gear and pick up the included 3.75-inch scale, movie-inspired Star Wars Elite Praetorian Guard (with Whip-Staff) figure or First Order Stormtrooper Executioner figure, they can activate authentic figure phrases and sounds! Compatible all figures, vehicles, accessories, and toys in the Force Link line.  (Taken from the Toys R Us web site.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  There's a little less variety in The Last Jedi figures than I would like, but at list this Elite Praetorian Guard hits a sweet spot about being different.  Unfortunately it also comes in a $35 exclusive with another figure I do want, and the third release for the Force Link band.  This means completists for figures will have to buy at least three bands, which is patently uncool for my wallet.  A 2-pack of figures would be better, but we're not here to bag on dubious product development.  We're here to look at this pretty good figure.

If this were a single figure, you'd want one or two.   The body have 5 points of articulation - so there's nothing new there - but there's a new helmet, unique to this figure.   No other 3 3/4-inch figure has this "underbite" helmet.  It has a lined face plate, a smooth cap, and a really interesting design from the back. There's a flat back of the head with greeblies, plus detailed curved sides with little... vents or buttons. I don't know which.   This helmet is also available as an exclusive 6-inch figure, but as 3 3/4-inch figures go this is your only option.  The figure can stand, swing its legs or arms forward, and look awesome holding his gear.  

What surprised me about the figure was painted detail - the boot soles and thighs inside the gown are painted black!  I don't know why as you won't see these details, but it's nice to see they didn't trim them.    The only other painted detail is a dot on the figure's chest - Hasbro could have really made this one more cheaply.  I'm somewhat glad they did not.

The main selling point for this figure is his cool accessories.  Clearly designed by fans of Castlevania, the sword/staff weapon can un-kink and become a sharp whip weapon.  Actually working a mechanism in the toy would be expensive, so Hasbro included separate weapons for each mode.   The detail is pretty good, with grey blades, a painted red handle, and a silver... uh... nipple on the pommel.   Thanks to the accessories this is easily my favorite guard.  It's too bad it's in an expensive exclusive, but this is what you can get.   I like it a lot - I don't know if you'll want to spend $35 to get it, but if there's a sale or you're sitting on a gift card I doubt you'll be disappointed.  Hasbro did a great job on the figure, so if the price is right you should treat yourself to one or more of this.

Force Link Notes: CHECK

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Toys R Us.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,457: February 21, 2018

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,450: Elite Praetorian Guard (The Black Series 6-Inch)

ELITE PRAETORIAN GUARD 1 of 3
The Force Awakens The Black Series 6-Inch Figure
Item No.: Asst. B3834 No. C3290
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #38
Includes: Blade Pike
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: September 2017
Appearances: The Last Jedi

Bio:   As the Supreme Leader of the First Order, Snoke was flanked by crimson-clad guardians, loyal protectors encased in ornate armor ready to defend the Supreme Leader from any threat.  (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 was surprised to see three flavors of Elite Praetorian Guard figures, all of which appeared in the movie and had more action than the Emperor's Royal Guard from four movies over 33 years.  Hasbro has already delivered many flavors of guard in multiple scales, and this may be the most disappointing.  The sculpting is perfect, and the articulation is clever - just not very good.

The figure has hidden articulation at the elbows, and this is something I admire Hasbro for trying.  The 3 3/4-inch regular figures have no elbows, and the Black Series Walmart exclusive has a standard elbow.  The 6-inch one crams in a couple of joints, but the range of motion is not really great.  You can't really bend the elbows all that much, but they have a little give - the result is a figure that looks good, but has a limited range of movement.  The plastic robes also limit movement to some degree, but there are enough openings that you can have the legs peer through for action poses.   What's more, the shoulder armor pads are also jointed with a little bit of movement - you can even pop them out if you like.

The sculpting is good, with a bit of texture on the lower robes and a shiny, glossy plastic armor up top.  The ridges on the helmets are clean, and a figure with this level of detail seems improbable in bygone eras.   You can see little tiny lines in some spots, but the arms and chest are mostly smooth and flat surfaces.  The lack of face is a little unsettling, but it's true to the film.   While I personally don't see the design as striking, I can't deny that Hasbro did the best that they could with bend-and-swivel wrists and rocker ankles.   You can get both hands on the blade, sort of, but it lacks much motion.

Given the characters seemed to not have a lot to do rather than puff themselves up and then die, I don't know if we'll see them in future movies.    These might be the only figures Hasbro bothers to do, and other than fixing the elbows I can't picture them being much more interesting.  This particular helmet is one of three in the line, with the other two at Amazon and GameStop as exclusives.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,450: January 29, 2018

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,421: Elite Praetorian Guard (The Black Series)

ELITE PRAETORIAN GUARD With Articulation
The Force Awakens The Black Series 3 3/4-Inch Figure Walmart Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. B4054 No. C3621
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Bladed staff
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $11.92
Availability: September 2017
Appearances: The Last Jedi

Bio: As the Supreme Leader of the First Order, Snoke was flanked by crimson-clad guardians, loyal protectors encased in ornate armor ready to defend the Supreme Leader from any threat.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  Army builders and villains are staples of Star Wars, so it's good that the Elite Praetorian Guard exists - this Walmart exclusive is super articulated.   It's also presently the cheapest guard you can buy in this scale - the others appearing in a 2-pack with Rey and in a BB-8 playset.   So far Hasbro has released three (announced four) varieties of 3 3/4-inch Praetorian Guard.  I don't know if we've seen all of the costumes, either.

The design is similar to the simpler figure, with a lot of articulation and cloth skirt pieces.   The plastic one looks better, but this poses better - so I'd say you need both.  You may disagree.  You are wrong.   The aesthetics are changed up quite a bit, even though the helmet is the same - but things like bend-and-swivel wrists and articulated elbows greatly change his possible poses.  Or her!  We don't know.   I assume they're going to see more action in the new movie than previous generations of guards, but it wouldn't surprise me if they just stood there like a statue.  I love that it's an action-packed figure that has articulated ankles (not rockers, mind you) and it has no problems standing - but the other version has less than no problems standing.

I could see troop building this guy, but I don't know if I should - how many are in the movie?  And in which style?  And are there other accessories coming, or is this it?      The design isn't suddenly better, but the articulation gives it more personality - it's less a chess piece and more a figure of action.   Maybe there's a better turn of phrase for that, but I can't think of it.  Give me time, it will come to me later.   Getting a look at the boots and thigh swivels makes for a more interesting toy, and given its price this is probably the one you're going to want to buy.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Walmart.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,421: October 30, 2017

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,414: Elite Praetorian Guard (2-Pack, The Last Jedi Line Look)

ELITE PRAETORIAN GUARD with Rey (Jedi Training)
The Last Jedi Deluxe Action Figure 2-Packs
Item No.: Asst. C1242 No. C1253
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Bladed weapon, Lightsaber, Staff, Blaster, Rey figure
Action Feature: Force Link sounds
Retail: $14.99
Availability: September 2017
Appearances: The Last Jedi

Bio: The Elite Praetorian Guard were the personal guard of Snoke, Supreme Leader of the First Order, during the First Order's conflict with the Resistance. They were clad in ornate crimson armor, including Plastoid helmets, and robes and were armed with staff-like melee weapons with a blade on either end. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.  Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  According the greater licensed product line, it looks like there are multiple ways to do the Elite Praetorian Guard thanks to weapon and helmet variations.  I was at Target and saw a cut-out with a sword that, at the angle presented, looks like a collapsed umbrella.  (This hasn't made it to Hasbro's toys yet.)   This version of the figure is interesting because it has a visor over its visor - but is fundamentally similar to the version we looked at last week.

It's worth noting this figure - with its awning visor - was made in Vietnam, while the other was in China.  The actual look and sculpt of the figure is pretty much identical, coming from the same digital files but different tooling.  If you examine their feet, there are minor differences in the placement of the Force Link logo as well as the specifics of the text.  As such, they're  not the same figure - but they seem to make similar if not identical combat sounds with the Force Link band.  Boooring.   The figure has exactly the same articulation as his partner, and the sculpting has no obvious differences.

The helmet is striking in that it departs from the other one.  I still don't love it, but I appreciate the changes just to mix it up a bit.  I collect things, so having one with a less ornate helmet mixes up my displays.   You'll note that this guardsman has a large visor over his helmet, perhaps a blast shield, and the helmet itself is strikingly different.  The back of the helmet has different details.  It has the chin/fave area similar to a First Order Stormtrooper or Phasma.  I'm still not sure if he can see through that thing.

I appreciate the figure's accessory, which may constitute a minor spoiler.  It splits apart in the middle, giving you two bladed sword weapons if you are so inclined.  Does it split for combat?   Does it get damaged by Rey's lightsaber?  Do these two even share a frame of the film?     It's hard to say, especially as we've seen how much things can be changed at the eleventh hour in the editing room after Rogue One.   For the discriminating troop builder, this is a worthwhile set - but take note, the Rey figure is extraordinarily similar to (but not identical) its individually-packaged counterpart.   I'd suggest getting this 2-pack over the single figure to maximize your trooper and minimize your duplicate Jedi trainees.

Assortment Notes: The 2015 line gave us a couple of weird plussed-up figure packs - one was "Armor Up" figures, a basic figure with a helmet for an added $5 upcharge.  The other was a Deluxe 2-pack, which gave us two figures with normal accessories plus rocket launchers and big weapons for about the price of two regular figures.  This movie's two-packs are somewhere in the middle - you get 2 figures for $15, which is good.  The bonus accessory isn't as neat as what we got for Rogue One (giant rocket launchers) but are about as sensible as what we got for The Force Awakens - only we get a secondary sound chip instead of an action feature.  Minus things like duplicate figures you might not want, these are a decent value.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,414: October 4, 2017

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,412: Elite Praetorian Guard (The Last Jedi Line Look)

ELITE PRAETORIAN GUARD with BB-8 2-In-1 Mega Playset
The Last Jedi BB-8 2-In-1 Mega Playset
Item No.: No. C1253
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Pike, Force Link, playset, bridges, 2 figures
Action Feature: Force Link sounds
Retail: $199.99
Availability: September 2017
Appearances: The Last Jedi

Bio: The Elite Praetorian Guard were the personal guard of Snoke, Supreme Leader of the First Order, during the First Order's conflict with the Resistance. They were clad in ornate crimson armor, including Plastoid helmets, and robes and were armed with staff-like melee weapons with a blade on either end. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.  Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  Some things make good sense and some things... less sense.   The Elite Praetorian Guard is something of an unknown, other than there are multiple flavors and apparently the non-elite one, for now, is exclusive to a $200 playset.  Well, so much for troop building.  Both the Elite and non-Elite versions are similar other than the helmet and weapon, taking cues from the classic guards of the Lucas era with the flatter, feature-reduced look of the Disney-era helmets.   The Snowtrooper and Flametrooper of the First Order barely have eyes, and they're much more subdued.  So too is this guard... which has no real face to speak of.

A ribbed face mask covers its mug, with a domed helmet on top and some armor on the back.  There are no eyes, no mouth, no nose.   It's a distant design, possibly attempting to make the military of the First Order increasingly literally faceless while taking cues from some of those weird mask/glasses things we occasionally see on tabloid news shows.   Its built-in blandness may work for thematic purposes, but it's a drag.   It's almost too normal - the Senate Guards were long and ornate, as were the Emperor's Royal Guards.   The design feels much more based in reality, this seems like something someone in a made-up country on Earth in a movie might have in its color guard.

The figure's body is a little more interesting, with nested shells for arms and a dress.   The gown is nicely textured, standing easily and posing nicely.  The figure is a perfect execution of the design in the format, with swivel shoulders, moving hips, and the ability to hold his one-piece pike weapon without a problem.  Being able to double-hand it might be cool, but at this time we have no idea what it will be doing in the movie.  Perhaps it will be a combat character, or perhaps it will be a statue.  

It's not bad... it's a good figural execution with lots of textures, bright colors, and great abilities.  The design from the movie sucks, though.   So kudos to Hasbro for delivering the goods as best as you could, and boo to the art team who came up with this one.   For those looking to fill out a scene, that may prove challenging.  Hopefully time will lead to an abundance of these if you want them, but it makes me love the First Order Stormtrooper design more than a little bit more.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,412: September 27, 2017