Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,372: Geonosian Picador (The Vintage Collection)

GEONOSIAN PICADOR with Orray
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Vehicle Pack-In Figure
Item No.: No. G2769
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #411
Includes: Pike, Orray, plugs for orray, reins, stand, wagon
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $79.99
Availability: July 2026
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Geonosians use orrays - sturday quadrupeds native to the rocky planet - as mounts for the picadors in the execution arena, as well as to pull carts carrying condemned prisoners. (Taken from the cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: It's great to finally have this Orray & Geonosian Picador set. It's also a little late. Attack of the Clones came out in 2002, so this beast hit 26 years later. To put it in perspective, the long-delayed Bantha first got made by Kenner in the summer of 1998... only 21 years after the original movie had been in theaters. Prequel kids have been either much more patient or indifferent than the Gen X-ers, so now they get to pony up $80 for what is an admittedly very good - and over-engineered - display piece. It's very good, it's original, and most importantly it's packed with new stuff you didn't buy when the movie was still new. That is such a rarity that I think it's actually worth holding your nose and getting your credit card without waiting for a sale. I doubt we're going to get a lot of never-before-made stuff next year.

So what's in the set? It's versatile, and it's this year's "playset." It's an item designed to be bought more than once for display reasons, and it became apparent as I was setting it up. The orray creature has a saddle plus little plastic plugs in his side, which you can pull out to connect the reins. This means you should probably buy one of these guys to be pulling the cart, and a second one so that the Geonosian may ride him and the cart can be overturned in a display. Heck, you can probably buy more if you want. Like Mos Eisley and the Tantive IV, this set was very clearly intended for repeated purchase. The cart is good, but noting special. The orray is superior to the Mattel Jurassic World toys by a fair bit, but also you're being charged accordingly. It's the same size as the baby stegosaurus mold from a few years ago. The creature has loads of joints and deco, but is sized similarly to the $13 toys in Mattel's line. If this were made at 2009 levels of Hasbro articulation, I assume this set would probably be $40 - but we are in an era where the goal seems to be to give the fan the very best, most expensive offering possible. Everything has tons of extra detailing and joints. If you love that sort of thing, you're going to love this. If you're on a budget, you're probably mad.

The carded Geonosian Picador figure inside comes on a card, with the biggest blister in The Vintage Collection. The giant spear covers almost the entire box for the photo, and probably makes a pretty good case for Hasbro to try a new 3 3/4-inch packaging style after nearly a decade so we can get some other kinds of accessories. The ones released with the movie had sticks or blasters, but I think they were lacking this specific lengthy stick. It's distinctive, so if you have an army of these guys it'll stand out.

The figure itself surprised me. It's not a figure that shares parts with Poggle the Lesser [FOTD #3,342]. Both seem to share elements from a CAD file ancestor, but nearly every piece is significantly altered with added (or removed) armor plus different carapace detailing. Poggle has a lot more spikes and bumps, and this picador is a bit more smoothed out. Functionally, they're pretty much the same with joints in the same places. The range of movement will not surprise you, but perhaps the hands will. Poggle's are larger, with fingers outstretched for gesturing or holding his cane. This picador grips either the pike or the reins tightly, to the point where I would say it might be challenging to get them gripping.

The level of detail on the figure is pretty great, with the green bug bits being texturally similar to the others in the line with flexible gold armor so nobody loses an eye. This one stands out because the back of the armor has various jewels and tassels. Perhaps the significance of the blue gem or various rings and bars are known to you, but I may have forgotten with time. Maybe they just look cool! I appreciate that they made this guy look different than the four-pack at Hasbro Pulse. The quality is there. Hasbro did a nice job, and if you just want more bugs you can skip this set and get four in the cheaper army pack.

I found getting the orray on the cart fairly easy, but contorting this nicely jointed Geonosian to fit in the seat was tough. I worry it might distort the plastic limbs over time, so I'll probably display him nearby either seated on the creature or standing until/unless I buy a second one. (Unlikely at $80.) I'm sure anyone that worked on this is rolling their eyes at my price-related comments, but you do get a sense of sticker shock when a very good $20 figure is in an $80 box with a floating boat and dinosaur of sorts. At $60 I'd say "this is pretty great." There's so much paint, articulation, and detail on everything in the set that you can get why they are asking $80, and I assume only a sliver of that has to do with our current fun with international trade. It's also the first completely new mold we've had for an Attack of the Clones vehicle or creature in over a decade, and I appreciate that we actually got something that isn't another remake. If you're a prequel collector, go buy this, it's great. If you love creatures and vehicles, it's very cool. If you want it to be 2002 and this to be $25 with a roaring sound box, well, maybe they'll try a "retro" thing for the prequels by going back to 1990s-2000s aesthetics some day. (This won't happen.)

 

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,372: August 18, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,342: Poggle the Lesser (The Vintage Collection)

POGGLE THE LESSER Take Three
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch single figure
Item No.: Asst. F6878 No. G2602
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #391
Includes: Cane
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: March 2026
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Poggle the Lesser was a powerful figure within the Confederacy of Independent Systems, commanding hte droid armies that fought the Republic for control of Geonosis. (Taken from the single-figure packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Older fans like to dunk on the prequels, but they did a nice job there. The design work is amazing, with weird backstories and some genuinely great nomenclature. The sequels didn't top Poggle the Lesser, a bizarrely-named, strange-voiced, uses-his-rival's-leg-as-a-walking-stick antagonist from Attack of the Clones. Maybe he'd be more popular if Hasbro put out the figure in year one - we got our first basic figure in 2003 with a redeco in 2006. That means he's been off the market for about 20 years - so this is a good time to try again, now with knees, elbows, wrists, and other added articulation.

The 2003/2006 sculpt was very good, being based on digital assets and having all the wrinkly skin and intricate armor detail you might want - but it was still painted like a toy of its era. This new one has a bigger budget, with more detailing of the leather-like stuff covering his lower waist, more mottling in his beard, livelier eyes, and many - but not all - of the gems now painted. The turquoise bits were left unadorned, and the red gems seema little too bright, but otherwise? They did a nice job. The bug brooch looks good, the golden bangles are colored well, and the skin seems generally about as good as you can expect at this price point. I'm not sure if the vest color is quite right - but I'm not going to knock it. There are a lot of paint apps here and Hasbro did a great job making him feel a little more finished. Even the wings have a nice shimmer to them!

The sculpt is mostly great. The bug skin? Perfect. The clothing texture? Top-notch. The only parts I'm not fond of are the artistic decisions, which generally coincides with how I feel about most "collector" figures in general. The figure seems to have perfectly replicated a basic pose of a digital model. That's good, right? Mostly, yes. The problem is that it missed some key details or quirks that make the figure seem alive. If you look at the digital model from the movies, you'll notice the bangles around his wrists are sort of a cluttered, messy, jangly thing. The figure is tight and orderly. The figure stands upright with his head held high, and excellent posture. The movie character was something of a hunchback, with his Wookieepedia portrait tilting his head in a way the figure just can't do. They nailed the details, but this goes to show you that even a super-articulated figure needs work on its pose in order to give it the right personality. It's not bad. It's no worse than what we had before. But if Hasbro does Version 3.0 some day, I would recommend making him a little slouchier, a little messier, and generally more alive.

His one accessory is a cane, and it's also about as good as the last one. The movie model has some gold on the top, and a few cracks, and some weathering. This one is mostly clean except for some gold adornments. The sculpt is good, but it's a little too nice and clean. If this were still a $17 figure I'd have little reason to complain, but as we're at $20 and probably not that far off from $23, I want either a perfect figure or a cheap figure.

Articulation is very good, with the shoulders inset in his torso nicely. The hands move well, the feet rock a bit, and he has the knees, thighs, hips, and any other joints you might want. Thin-legged figures with unusual poses can dip and fall over with time, so the articulation is very welcome here as a correcting mechanism to the aging process. I suspect Poggle figures will slowly lurch forward over the years, so at least you can to in there and move the ankles and knees a bit rather than warp a single-piece leg. He's not going to sit in any vehicles, or probably at any war room tables, but at least he can stand as the manufacturer intended.

Hasbro did a great job on the craft, but I would like to see a slouchier, nervier pose if we ever see him again. Poggle the Lesser is an awesomely weird alien out of the George Lucas catalog, but he's not a being who you would say holds his head high. I think the final deco details - even with the missing turquoise - are a good choice as it looks more like he would on a red-tinted Geonosis or Mustafar. This is probably the very best Poggle the Lesser collectible of any kind you can buy today, and it's certainly one that's loaded with personality, jointed wings, and precious metals galore. If you have that 2002 Geonosis Arena playset, he'd love to hang out there. I assume I will not see a higher-grade 3 3/4-inch version of this figure, so I can recommend this one as the best figure you'll probably ever get. The amount of fine detailing here is impressive, and I imagine followed a style guide to the letter. Companies just need to start making messier figures that love drama.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,342: May 5, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,059: Sun Fac (2013 Legacy Collection Droid Factory)

SUN FAC Take Two
Legacy Collection Droid Factory
Item No.: Asst. - No. A6729
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Geonosian gun, TC-70 right arm
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $59.99
Availability: October 2013
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: In Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, Sun Fac sentences Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala to be executed in the Geonosian arena after conficting them of espionage.  The ruthless Sun Fac is chief lieutenant to Archduke Poggle the Lesser, and runs the Geonosian Droid Factories with a cold and brutal efficiency.   (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: I'll take "Updates Nobody Asked For" for $100, Alex.   Sun Fac was close to being useful - Hasbro could have tweaked the deco some more and just released him as a generic Geonosian Trooper, thus making him worth army building and giving this set a reason to be bought in bulk.  Back in 2010 Hasbro did use this mold for a generic Trooper as part of Target's exclusive Geonosis Arena packs, which benefitted from retooled legs with an added knee joint.  This figure is based on that configuration, with new deco over the kneeless 2006 version which you no doubt have bought by now.

In terms of articulation, this version wins.  In terms of accuracy, Hasbro had it right in 2006.  Sun Fac 2013 lacks the scar on his face, and parts of the loincloth armor seem to be colored less consistently with the digital models from the movie.  The 2006 version had detail that "popped" better, particularly in the red/silver around the waist, and had some exaggerated red in his skin which, I think, better captured the spirit of the movie design.   The lack of the eye scar is somewhat baffling, but Hasbro has made a surprising number of figures that took a step back over the years - which is to say, any.  I'm lazy, I'd just reissue the guy with no changes.

It's different enough to be notable, and there's no doubt why Hasbro decided to push this wave away from retail.  I feel they should have gone the extra mile and just dumped it completely, it's fine for people who haven't gotten Fac-ed yet but anyone with the 2006 version - which also includes a display base and a secondary pole weapon - will see Sun Fac 2013 as a waste of plastic and resources.   Of course, what we all really want is that TC-70 arm so suck it up, people.

Collector's Notes: I got this figure online from Amazon, and so should you. The packaging is unique for many reasons - not only is it based on the abandoned 2013 "Droid Factory" Legacy Collection concept, but the item is not six figures in a box - it's one figure with six items inside it.  The carded figures have no SKU and no UPC.  The P/N on the cardback is a Part Number, and that "part" that it represents is the actual cardboard piece - not the product itself.  As such this item was designed specifically to be an online exclusive, a retail store would likely never stock an item in the 21st century without a unique UPC unless it sold the entire 6-figure set, in its white mailer box, as a single unique item.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,059: November 18, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,735: Geonosian Warrior

GEONOSIAN WARRIOR Arena Battle
The Legacy Collection Target Exclusive Geonosis Arena Packs 2010
Item No.: Asst. 97645 No. 97649
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #4 of 6
Includes: Staff, Shaak Ti figure
Action Feature: Lightsaber hilt plugs into belt
Retail: $12.99
Availability: October 2010
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: The Jedi Knights rush to Geonosis to rescue Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Padme from execution. The Jedi brandish their lightsabers against the Geonosian warriors and the massive army of battle droids, super battle droids, and droidekas. All hope seems lost that any Jedi will survive this battle, then Yoda arrives with an army of clone troopers. Although many Jedi are lost that day, others survive this climactic battle that ushers in the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Geonosis backdrop, which was tossed out months ago.

Commentary: Figures like the Geonosian Warrior are sort of the ideal multi-pack fodder-- it's a decent enough mold and a trooper, so you won't feel like a chump if you get stuck with two or three more of them. It's an upgrade of the 2006 Sun Fac mold, with new deco and all-new knee joints in the legs. This is good because, as a rule, more joints are better than fewer joints. This is bad because heat and gravity are not kind to figures with bizarre leg configurations, so you may need additional support (read: doll stand) to hold this little guy up. With all the articulation you could want and gritty green detailing, he looks super-cool but does not match his fellow Geonosian figures. Actually, Hasbro's been pretty bad about making them similarly colored since their debut in 2002, and the figures have a history of being difficult to stand and display. Having said that, this is one of the better-looking ones and if life allows you would be well-served selecting it as the one you troop-build. Even for a Sun Fac redeco with new legs, it's pretty awesome and would have made a great "vintage" figure were it packaged that way.

Collector's Notes: The set came out during a pretty big dump of exclusives-- over a dozen hit Target over the course of days, as opposed to 2011 when the chain had something like 4 total exclusives for Q4 representing quite a slowdown. The set was marked down quickly and for some reason Target continued to get more of the 2009 arena sets in 2010 after this wave shipped, meaning these ones are, relatively speaking, in shorter supply. This means that it is entirely likely that there could be some out there in the woodworks waiting to hit a closeout store near you. Also notable, these sets were slashed in price nearly immediately after they came out-- I believe they were about $8.99 for several weeks.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,735: February 7, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,707: Geonosian Warrior

GEONOSIAN WARRIOR Republic Commando Delta Squad
The Legacy Collection Toys R Us Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 33259 No. 33260
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Sonic blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99-$49.99
Availability: July 2011
Appearances: Star Wars: Republic Commando video game

Bio: A dirty filthy Geonosian. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' former kitchen.

Commentary: This Geonosian Warrior continues the proud tradition of fairly decent figures being made based on the Sun Fac mold since 2006. This particular figure has more in common with the 2010 Geonosis Arena 2-pack reissue, as he has knee joints. (Big improvement.) I like this one a lot overall-- the coloring is good, the armor is nice, there's a red jewel on his torso, Hasbro did a nice job making this one stand out. That's actually one problem I have with Geonosians as a whole, there's no real consistent coloring in either the movie or cartoon style-- each one looks fairly unique, so those looking to build an army will need to buy several of a single figure rather than buy a few, here and there, as new versions are made.

His accessory is a sonic blaster similar to others released in the line. With bronze, brown, and green, it stands out nicely. No staff was included this time around, but that's OK-- I can get sticks out in the yard.

With this current articulation structure-- about 14 joints-- he feels sturdier than some of his ancestors. Previous Geonosians lacked key leg joints or were designed without holes in their feet, so getting them to stand up would prove difficult if not impossible. That's not the case here! Since this Geonosian can stand upright, and he's got a stiff set of joints, it seems like he should have no problems standing for the long haul. The only variable, and I haven't had it long enough to confirm this, is that the legs' unique shape may result in bending with heat or gravity over time in ways the joints can't easily help-- so warping could be possible, but the material feels better than other figures. So yeah.... hard to say. My guess is you won't buy this figure on its own merits anyway since it was packaged with a new and improved Delta Squad, but I still like it and would probably support buying it for its own merits.

Collector's Notes: I see this set quite a bit, although it would seem some stores are swimming in them while others... not. It is my assumption that this will be a sought-after set in a few years unless Hasbro releases individually packaged versions of all the Delta Squad members, so go get it now, OK?

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,707: December 29, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,679: Flying Geonosian Warrior

FLYING GEONOSIAN with Sonic Blaster and Attack Pod!
Saga Deluxe Figure
Item No.: Asst. 84859 No. 84902
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Sonic blaster, attack pod, projectile
Action Feature: Press button to flap wings
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Summer 2002
Appearances: n/a

Bio: Inhabitants of the planet Geonosis, these winged warriors engage in a vicious battle on the side of the seceddionist forces. Skilled fighters with weapons for which the Jedi Knights have no known protection, the Geonosians threaten to overwhelm the beleaguered Jedi who have come to the aid of Anakin, Padmé and Obi-Wan. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: I thought I reviewed this Flying Geonosian warrior, but couldn't find it in my archives-- so here it is! This 2002 release was a heck of a nice figure, although not really worth the ten bucks. At the same time for $5, you could get a Geonosian with a Massiff or a Geonosian with a spear. This figure has slightly more going on, a better costume, better deco, and more gear... but it's still an awkward toy. As most early Geonosians were not posed with standing in mind, this figure is difficult to get standing on his own. He has no foot holes, so all he's going to do is, most likely, topple over without added hand support or a separate small doll stand to keep him upright. This is not due to age, it's just the design-- with legs like that, he can't hold himself up.

As a toy he's fairly fun-- his wings have limited articulation, plus a switch on the back lets you make them "flap" and that's always a good time. He has 5 joints, but the arms are done in such a way where you probably can't do a heck of a lot with him other than pose him aiming his sonic blaster. It's rare to see Hasbro sculpt a figure with an arm fully extended perpendicular to his body, so you pretty much are forced into a single position here. Hasbro has greatly improved sculpting on Geonosians with time, but little things like how to have the stand up aren't really seeing a whole heck of a lot of improvement-- they're going to need support, so if you want to set up a nice shelf for a few years, well, tough. You're going to have to buy some stuff to keep them from toppling over.

I like the sculpt and the wing mechanism is really fun, I just wish they made it so he could stand up without my buying an additional product. I expect to see this figure return in 2013 if Hasbro continues the Movie Heroes assortment, as just the figure without the pod is a nicely action-packed figure and for $8 or so, probably fits the bill of that upcoming assortment. It's not the most exciting thing, and I certainly wouldn't advise you pay a premium for it on the secondary market, but the mold is unique to this release and has yet to be reissued.

Collector's Notes: While somewhat scarce in 2002, this figure is now commonplace on the secondary market. Loose samples are as little as $1, while packaged ones are as low as $2. And to think, some people out there are still sitting on these expecting their investment to climb-- it's not going to happen. To put this in perspective, this figure is now about 9 years old. That would be like a Return of the Jedi figure from 1983 around 1992, when everything started skyrocketing and at that point, most packaged figures were going for at least retail or significantly above. For those of you holding out hope-- most of you would never read a column like this one-- give up on your dreams of getting your money back from this stuff.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,679: November 21, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,669: Geonosian Warrior

GEONOSIAN WARRIOR Assault on Geonosis
The Clone Wars Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 35566 No. 35577
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Gun, wings, stand, chest piece, more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $26.99
Availability: July 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: The warrior caste was lower station within the Geonosian aristocracy. Members of the warrior caste were winged and divided into two sub-categories - the elite and the regulars. They matured quickly, achieving maturity at age six at which point they were battle-ready. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's photo studio test shot.

Commentary: Hasbro really seems to be getting the most out of its Geonosian Warrior mold, with this being one of the better overall incarnations. Incredibly colorful, this doesn't quite fit in with the other figures in terms of color but looks fantastic by himself. The yellowish-green wings pop nicely, and the face has a light, peachy color around his eyes and mouth. The golden chest armor is removable, as are the wings, plus the sonic blaster has a nice bright green dot at the center.

So far (I opened this in early October and am writing this on an airplane a few days after) it hasn't fallen over yet, so gravity seems to be kind to this figure so far. Previous Geonosians based on the mold toppled over pretty quickly, so I anticipate this to be doing a faceplant when I arrive back home. Still, it's a nice figure and even though it's part of a boxed set I'd say it's still worth your while.

Collector's Notes: It's part of a set with a dirty repaint of Obi-Wan Kenobi and another ARF Trooper figure. So the set itself seems good enough to warrant the asking price, although it might be close enough to things you have that you won't jump on it. I'd still grab it if you can.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,669: November 7, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,643: Geonosian Drone

GEONOSIAN DRONE and Special Ops Clone Trooper
The Clone Wars Target Exclusive 2-Packs
Item No.: Asst. 31362 No. 31680
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Stand, Sonic Blaster, Clone Trooper
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: Late February 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Clone troopers battle Geonosian drones to stop the production ofm ore battle droids. The special ops clone trooper is a highly skilled marksman. With his DC-15a blaster, he takes aim at the swarms of Geonosian drones that are attacking the Republic forces. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: I'm of two minds about this Geonosian Drone figure. It has a good sculpt with a lot of detail, and that's good. There are about 14 points of articulation, and that's what we supposedly want. The problem stems from the design itself, which does not lend itself to long-term display. The figure can stand, but it needs additional support-- if you use a small doll stand like you can find at a craft store, he'll stay upright, otherwise gravity will get the best of him as the included display stand won't help compensate for gravity's effect on his leg joints. Having said that...

This is one of Hasbro's best-looking Geonosian figures. I've got 'em all, and I really like how this one turned out. Using a new modular design which allows Hasbro to easily add or remove elements from the figure, his face has a few colors of paint on it which bring it to life nicely. His expression isn't necessarily vicious or mean, but it's certainly stern and a little menacing. With giant nostrils and a smattering of brightly-colored adornments, it matches the show nicely and just feels more lively than a lot of the other Hasbro figures. The deco just makes this mold come alive, and it's too bad that (to date) the only way you can get this figure is in an exclusive 2-pack. The companion clone is nice, but this is arguably the neater of the two figures.

Collector's Notes: The set lingered for a while-- for all I know you might still be able to find one-- but it seems this assortment is now long gone. I don't really feel the set was a spectacular deal at $15, but anything under $14 or $13 starts to get into "value" territory. It's neat enough to grab, especially if you can stumble on a lot of them for cheap.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,643: September 30, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,608: Undead Geonosian

GEONOSIAN Undead
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 94736 No. 25274
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW34
Includes: Display base, card, die, sonic cannon
Action Feature: Pop-out arms and legs
Retail: $6.99
Availability: November 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars TV show

Bio: Undead Geonosian warriors lurk in a vast underground hive. They are under the control of their queen, Karina the Great, who uses a green worm to bring dead Geonosians to life. Obi-Wan, Anakin, and a squad of clone troopers battle these mindless zombies to rescue Luminara Unduli from her Geonosian captors. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV stand.

Commentary: Once a trend-setter, now a trend-follower? In the past few years we've seen a pop-culture staple, the zombie, take over pockets of our Star Wars' expanded universe. This Undead Geonosian was Hasbro's first entry into the zombie Star Wars world, sharing elements with a normal Geonosian, showing Hasbro planning ahead to get the most out of its molds. The figure is painted greyish with decaying eyes and wings, a tongue sticking out (or is that a brain worm?), and some bright gold armor. Most Star Wars figures are weird, not freaky. The modular design has pop-off wings and armor, so you could probably make a bunch of different ones-- that is, if you found enough of them. This one wasn't particularly common. The sculpt and deco were great, but there's a problem: gravity.

The figure will not stand on his own for a long period of time. If you pop him on a display stand, he will sag and topple over with time, especially if the room is hot. So if you're going to display this one, be sure to give him extra support by leaning him up against something, or buy some tiny metal doll stands to clamp him upright. These bizarre leg joints and new CG designs aren't conducive to display.

Collector's Notes: eBay prices are cheap on this one, so if you can't find one in the wild you should be able to score one somewhat cheaply.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,608: August 12, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,529: Geonosian Warrior

GEONOSIAN WARRIOR & Kit Fisto
The Legacy Collection Target Exclusive Geonosis Arena
Item No.: Asst. 91751 No. 91752
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #2 of 6
Includes: Blaster, Kit Fisto figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99
Availability: October 2009
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: The Jedi Knights rush to Geonosis to rescue Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Padme from execution. The Jedi brandish their lightsabers against the Geonosian warriors and the massive army of battle droids, super battle droids, and droidekas. All hope seems lost that any Jedi will survive this battle, then Yoda arrives with an army of clone troopers. Although many Jedi are lost that day, others survive this climactic battle that ushers in the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's Arena playset.

Commentary: As a heavy reworking of Sun Fac, this Geonosian Warrior turned out fairly well. The deco is incredibly bumpy and filthy, the armor has been exquisitely painted, and-- unusual for an exclusive-- Hasbro actually added knee articulation. This messy figure would make for a great army builder were it not stuck in a 2-pack with Kit Fisto, its raised price effectively limiting just how many you're likely to want to buy. At the present time, as movie figures go, this is the best basic Geonosian trooper you can get. He's got wings, he's got articulated ankles, and he has a big gun for aiming at the clone army. Hasbro did a great job bringing out the texture in its sculpt, so you'll probably want to track this one down despite having had a shot at a superior Kit Fisto figure at this point. (For the record, a Kit Fisto was packaged with this Geonosian.)

Collector's Notes: This assortment stuck around for a while, and while unlikely it's possible you might still be able to find it locally. At $13 it may be a bit of a stretch, but for $10 or less it's a great deal. On eBay, it's not worth a lot so feel free to be a cheapskate on this one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,529: April 25, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,469: Geonosian Warrior

GEONOSIAN WARRIOR Republic Commando Delta Squad
The Saga Collection Shared Exclusive
Item No.: No. 87269
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, 6 other action figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $33.99-$39.99
Availability: December 2006
Appearances: Star Wars: Republic Commando

Bio: Though they lack ranged weaponss, they have the ability to fly, giving them an acute advantage on an open battlefield, and their powerful force pikes can kill with a single blow. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: While at first glance it would seem that this Geonosian Warrior is just a repack of the 2002 figure, well, you'd be wrong. Based on the unfinished "nude" design of the alien, this figure repaints that first 2002 offering in a less metallic, more toy-like coloring with similar-but-different colors. His green eyes stand out as being different, and he is really good at holding on to that giant sonic blaster. The figure has spindly limbs and a mere 6 points of articulation (plus articulated wings), but he has absolutely no problems carrying that big stupid gun which was released quite a while after the figure made its original carded debut.

As a spindly figure, be careful storing him if you open the boxed set-- his limbs could become distorted over time, and the same can be said with his weapon. His awkward pose is actually ideal for standing upright without a display stand, aside from the fact that he lacks the armor seen in the movies this is a top-notch trooper. Sometimes simple works, and considering his role in life is basically to be beaten on by Clone Commando figures, it's not like this is a figure that needed to be anything too special. Which is good, because it certainly isn't too special. Separated from the set, you probably wouldn't give it a second look-- but as part of the collection? It's not too bad... just a little more naked than I'd prefer.

Collector's Notes: The price of this set continues to climb-- after a successful run at about $34, it now commands $70-$120 on eBay. Individual clones can get $30. As such, be careful when making a purchase, and be wary of future toy announcements at all times now-- Hasbro has hinted more than once they may redo these four figures, meaning you should probably not buy them as soon as that announcement comes down. It takes a long time for prices to depreciate as (surprisingly) it takes a long time for fans to catch on when their toy has just been devalued. So even IF a new set is announced, I'd expect it to be 2-6 months for the original set's price to go back down, given how similar items have behaved in the past. Or, you could just wait for the newer and probably better set that may or may not happen some day.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,469: January 31, 2011

Figure of the Day: Day 1,321: Geonosian Warrior

GEONOSIAN WARRIOR Jedi Victim
Saga Deluxe Collection
Item No.: Asst. 84859 No. 84882
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Anakin Skywalker figure
Action Feature: Can be dismembered
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Summer 2002
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Battling for their lives in the arena, Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi clash against thousands of Geonosian Warriors in a grueling confrontation. As Geonosians attack, Anakin uses the Force to retrieve a second lightsaber and prepares to defend himself at all costs. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' tackle box.

Commentary: Neat idea, iffy execution. This Geonosian Warrior is based on a preproduction drawing, which is why he has no clothes. He also has a hard time keeping together, which is unfortunate for a figure whose sole purpose is to be slashed to bits and reassembled. With very little articulation and an iffy action feature, well, this is a "collectors-only" kind of thing, which is unfortunate given that it was clearly created with kids in mind. I'm all for a figure that's fun to play with, but I found this one to be annoying and hard to handle. The sculpt is OK, but since it's not based on the final film, well, why bother? You can safely skip this set, unless you really need every last variation on Anakin or the Geonosian Warrior. Hasbro made so many better ones that this isn't necessarily worth your time.

Collector's Notes: While the Anakin figure has made a few return appearances, the Geonosian has not.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,321: July 7, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,164: Geonosian Warrior

GEONOSIAN WARRIOR First Release
Saga Basic Figures Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84867
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0215
Includes: Staff, lightning effect
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: April 2002
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Image: Adam's Geoniosis Arena playset. I used this one to shoot a bunch of figures. I totally suggest you go buy one.

Bio: Geonosian warriors are the inhabitants of the rocky planet Geonosis. These warriors aid Count Dooku in his effort to incite a civil war. (Taken from the figure's package.)

Commentary: Because of today's movie development process, toys are started long before the movie completes post-production. As such, digital characters like the Geonosian Warrior are not fully realized before Hasbro gets the specs to make toys. Rather than waiting to see the final edition in the movie, they fudge it based on early models and concept art, and sometimes they do such an awesome job you'd never know. Other times, well, it's a little obvious, and that happened a couple of times with Attack of the Clones. Long gone are the days of waiting it out, this release took its cues from early models which were developed before the creature's clothing. So while it's a great interpretation of the alien species, it's totally nude and ready to party down. As such, depending on your feelings as a collector, this is arguably more of a curiosity than one of Hasbro's great releases. However, in a crowd, it's pretty tough to tell who is or isn't wearing pants, so this figure is probably just fine for your diorama needs. Also, it's cheap.

The figure has an awkward pose and very limited articulation with joints at the neck, shoulders, and hips. He can stand, but balance is something of an issue because his legs are going every which way. He also doesn't seem to like to hold on to his staff too much, so he can be a bit of a trial in some places. But since Anakin Skywalker is going to hack these up real good anyway, well, it's no bother. (Speaking of which, there is a Geonosian out there specifically designed to be sliced up by Anakin. But this isn't it.)

It's a very below-average figure by modern standards but it looks pretty neat and as troopers go, is a fun little release simply because it is different from what appeared on film. Hasbro made an updated warrior in the new Target Geonosis sets, so you may want to get that too-- but I'd make sure you have one or two of these in your stash, just for fun.

Collector's Notes: This figure was a one-timer and has been redone in a few forms. This is probably one of the least interesting versions of the character, but he's totally naked, so there's that.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,164: November 30, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 368: Poggle the Lesser

POGGLE THE LESSER Geonosian War Chamber
Saga Screen Scenes Collection
Item No.: Asst. 84997 No. 84980
Number: 1 of 2
Includes: Cane, half of table, other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: Summer 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Poggle the Lesser was the Archduke of Geonosis before and during the Clone Wars, and was a leading member of the Separatist Council. As planetary leader of the Geonosians and a member of the Techno Union, Poggle controlled the vast droid factories found on his planet. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: There's not a lot of articulation on Poggle the Lesser but sometimes, a little is enough. This being the first release of the character as an action figure (another would follow in 2006), the colors are a bit muted, the pose is a little more action oriented (or at least active), and well, he can stand around. Due to how the figure was designed, he can't do much other than stand around menacingly-- sure, he can move his arms and legs, but the v-hips prevent him from looking normal while being seated. This is a great figure for dioramas, but as a toy, it fails-- he's not going to go in any ships because of his wings, and he's devoid of action features that may make him fun for the kiddies. What you see is what you get, folks.

Collector's Notes: The 2006 release has better coloring and a display stand, but the 2003 release has half a war room table, Count Dooku, and San Hill. Which will you buy? Decisions, decisions. Until San Hill is available separately, or elsewhere, this set should be on your must-buy list if you like prequel toys.

Day 368: May 9, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 124: Geonosian with Massiff

MASSIFF with Geonosian Handler
Saga Collection Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84803
Number: 0234
Includes: Leash, lizard-dog
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Spring 2002
Appearances: Attack of the Clones (technically)

Bio: Massiffs are ferocious creatures with razor sharp teeth and agile movements. Although small in size, these aggressive beasts are difficult to restrain, even by their handlers. (Taken from the figure's cardback)

Image: Yet another Adam's Pawlus toy shelf.

Commentary: Here's a unique situation. The main character in the set is a Geonosian Warrior, but this particular product was marketed as a Massiff in 2002, allowing for an unusual dynamic-- is the accessory now the most exciting part of the figure? The Geonosian is a good figure, not a great figure, but one of the first really good Geonosians. The very first Geonosian Warrior was totally naked, no armor or anything. This one is properly outfitted, at least, and is uniquely colored and looks pretty slick. Of course, the Massiff is pretty awesome with only one point of articulation-- his jaw. Together for $5, this was an incredible value and lots of fun at a low price. Of course, the Massiff species never made the final cut on Geonosis.

Collector's Notes: Originally designed for Geonosis, the Massiff species of lizard-dog only appears on Tatooine in the movies. Part of the backstory for the saga indicates the two planets are reasonably close together and spacers helped the species migrate from one world to the other, hence the need for a Tusken Raider with Massif set which was released later in 2002, and was also an awesome deal for the price. The Geonosis set is good as well if for no reason other than to help you build your armies. Deleted scene figure fans take note, this is one you should be adding to your collections.

Day 124 September 7, 2006