Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,633: Maz Kanata (Holographic, Solo: A Star Wars Story line look)

MAZ KANATA Holographic
Solo: A Star Wars Story Force Link 2.0 Exclusive 5-Pack
Item No.:   No. E2262
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, also Kylo Ren, First Order Snowtrooper, Rey, Captain Poe Dameron
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: ???
Availability: Late 2018
Appearances: The Last Jedi

Bio: Maz Kanata was a Force-sensitive humanoid female who was born over a millennium before the brewing war between the First Order and the Resistance. Living in an ancient castle on the planet Takodana, Kanata gained a reputation as a "pirate queen" by allowing traveling smugglers to reside in her home—as long as they honored her prohibitions against politics and war. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.  Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  Things don't go as smoothly as you hope.  This Holographic Maz Kanata was going to be US Toys R Us exclusive. Then Toys R Us closed - so Hasbro offered it to Entertainment Earth.  They neglected to ship it there, so then they just kind of filtered out and showed up - a friend of mine found them in those seasonal calendar stores.  I never saw them anywhere, so I got my set from a UK eBay seller.

Given how over the sequel movies most toy fans were - in part because of the repetition, repetition, and repetition in the line - I bet a lot of people don't know and don't care they're missing this set. The only truly new figure in the set is Maz, a holdover from The Last Jedi that saw release for Solo which was recast here in blue, with no paint.  This would've been a better carded exclusive - the detail is great, and the blue is darker than a lot of the holographic figures from the heyday of the format from 2005-2009.

She has 5 points of articulation, and has no problems standing or sitting.  It's a quality figure, the engineers of the old Kenner line would be proud of this one.  The backpack isn't removable, and I'd go as far as to say that this is a pretty nifty figure in a style we rarely get these days.  I probably paid too much for this set, so if you get it at a good price, you're a winner.

Force Link 2.0 Notes: "I am no Jedi, but I know the Force."  "I assume you need something.  Desperately."  Blasters. It's not much new here.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from eBay.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,633: October 29, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,183: R2-D2 (Holographic)

R2-D2 Holographic Disney Weekends Exclusive
Star Wars   Droid Factory
Item No.: ???
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Head, 2 legs, torso, central third leg
Action Feature: Comes apart
Retail: $12.95
Availability: May 2015
Appearances: n/a

Bio: Whether he is delivering a secret message to Obi-Wan Kenobi or saving the classic heroes of the Rebel Alliance from the trash compactor on the Death Star, R2-D2 is always ready for any mission.   For the first time, R2-D2 is portrayed as his own holographic transmission action figure.  What secret information does R2 carry this time?  Join R2-D2 on his adventure throughout the galaxy! (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  Clear blue figures (and before them, clear purple figures) have been part of this line for just over 15 years.   Holographic R2-D2 is the first-ever droid to get the unpainted distinction, this time taking the 2015 version of the build-a-droid mold with clear blue plastic.  When lit from behind, the figure looks great - almost like blueprints come to life.  THe toy itself is sort of silly, because I can't remember a single instance of the droid appearing as a blue light image in the movies.  Maybe he was in the cartoons, I certainly can't remember off the top of my head.  It didn't make an impact, but as the black repaint is to Transformers so is the clear blue repaint to Star Wars.

As a clear blue repaint, it highlights some of the things that work (and don't work) about the sculpt.  For example, the little dot under the eye and next to the holographic projector has been painted, rather than molded, on most R2 Astromech domes for some time.  As this figure is unpainted, this facial feature is now oddly absent.   Without paint, it's easy to notice the frosty texture on all the parts rather than a clear, smooth finish.  It works nicely.  It also lets you see the inner-workings of the figure, which is something you usually don't see unless you crack one open along the seam.

If you've always wanted a clear R2-D2, today's the day - go get one.   It's pricey, but unfortunately that tends to happen with event figures until people get sick of them and prices drop - which we saw happened with a lot of the silver figures from 2002-2005.   I don't know what the future holds for this one, but if you can get it cheap it's neat enough to be worthwhile.

Collector's Notes: I got this from eBay. It was a Star Wars Weekends Orlando item.  $20 shipped - admittedly not cheap, but if you don't feel like paying to park at a Disney thing it's a pretty decent price.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,183: September 2, 2015

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,098: Obi-Wan Kenobi (Star Wars Rebels Secret Exclusive Figure 2014)

OBI-WAN KENOBI Secret Exclusive Figure
Star Wars Rebels Mission Series The Ghost Toys R Us Exclusive
Item No.: No. B0315
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, Ezra Bridger figure, Kanan Jarrus figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: September 2014
Appearances: Star Wars Rebels

Bio: Born the day the Galactic Empire was founded, Ezra Bridger has been a lone rebel for his entire life.  That is, until he crosses path with Kanan Jarrus and discovers a mysterious hologram from a Jedi named Obi-Wan Kenobi.  What secret will be revealed? (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Commentary: Secrets and Star Wars rarely go together.  It's a pretty safe bet that this item wasn't supposed to be seen until later, but it showed up on fan sites about a week ago and in stores just last week without any mention (that I recall) in any slide show or convention.  This of course means that we once again are growing complacent and Hasbro is probably testing out its infrastructure for leaks before we get to Episode VII - it isn't unreasonable to see Rebels as a dry run for the new movies just like Shadows of the Empire and the Special Editions served that purpose in the 1990s.   This is the time when you can afford to make mistakes.  Secrets are going to get out, like the blacked-out Obi-Wan Kenobi in this set with a black plastic window around the figure.  (I hope this means there's a variant with an actual window coming!)   It's a great idea conceptually - I brought this up a few times when I was nudging them to put an exclusive mystery figure in a boxed set as a bonus surprise.  (Spoiler alert: yes that figure was Vlix.  No it didn't happen.)

This figure is exclusive to the set and may be an exclusive mold.   He's a great holographic figure -  not the first Obi-Wan in this style, and probably not the last.  An Obi-Wan from Rebels is expected in Saga Legends in the next few months, and I assume the "salt shaker" mold will not be used - but if it is? It's pretty good. The articulated head is the only moving part on the figure, which has a wonderful pose and great texture.  The head sculpt is, to say the least, lovely.  You could use this in your The Clone Wars dioramas if you would like, and the figure feels light and hollow - a perfect texture for an ethereal communication figure.  It doesn't do much but look good and be skinny - you'll hate me, of course, for saying I totally dig it.  Hasbro did a real nice job here, and getting the mold as a holographic figure first makes me like it more.   The "prepaint" is a concept more companies need to exploit because, let's face it, we'll buy both if you give us the lesser version as a new mold first.  This creates demand for a "flesh" version, which we will also happily buy - while the reverse is not necessarily the case.

For a small statue, it's delightful - especially if you (like I) had a coupon that was about to expire for 20% off last weekend.  For $20, it's a stretch - a $10 "mission series" pack plus one bonus figure isn't worth $20, but $15-$18?  Yeah, that's pretty good!  Also, because I'm a sucker, I'd pay dang near anything to get some Rebels early and I am quite happy with the set for what it ultimately cost me (for the record, just under $12 - thank you, store credit.)   If you're just super-pumped for the new toy line (and ambivalent about the show itself) this is something you owe it to yourself to run out and get.  I did - I hit up a few stores in between a record store run because all aging collectors will at some point turn their focus back to vinyl.  Vinyl capes, vinyl music, it's just going to happen - but I digress.

Collector's Notes: As far as I can tell this is the first action figure release for Rebels and potentially the first "stealth" action figure exclusive to hit before a formal announcement in quite some time.  Kudos, Hasbro - well done sneaking this one past us.   Please consider more introductions like this - I'll buy any multi-pack of upcoming figures with a bonus exclusive figure without a single complaint if they keep coming out before the basic, non-exclusive versions.   And for the collectors - as this is the note section - keep in mind that Ezra and Kanan will be packaged individually in just a few weeks for about $6 each.  Kanan will also be bundled with the Phantom vehicle at Target.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,098: September 15, 2014

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,535: Darth Sidious Holograph

DARTH SIDIOUS HOLOGRAM with stand
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 92951
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD10
Includes: Walking stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: August 2009
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Darth Sidious uses holographic technology to discuss the invasion of Naboo with Nute Gunray. The Sith Lord encourages the Viceroy of the Trade Federation to eliminate anyone who resists the Federation's occupation of the planet. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's TV tray.

Commentary: It's extremely rare for a figure to have fewer points of articulation than its accessory, but you'll see exactly that with the Darth Sidious Hologram from 2009. The figure is a solid, non-articulated bluish creation with a really nice sculpt and a slightly pearlescent sheen to it. After years of clear versions of this character in various sizes, this may be one of the best-sculpted incarnations in terms of detail, but it can be tough to tell as clear plastic tends to suck the texture right out of a mold in a visual sense. Measuring about half the size of a full action figure, the rest of the figure's mass comes in the form of a walking base with articulated legs. Sadly it doesn't actually walk (what a great wind-up toy that would've been!) but it does move and has a good amount of detail present. Each leg has multiple points of articulation, and there's much to enjoy in the way of grooves and sculpted detail. If futuristic furnishings are your thing, this is a true delight.

I opened this one and it went from "neat" to "eh" in about ten minutes. This is in no way a criticism of the amount of work that went into the product-- I can see Hasbro did a bang-up job making this the best-possible incarnation of this particular character that they could. It's just that as a thing, it's not as thrilling as a new Luke or a Chewbacca. Big props for a job well done, but with the level of weirdness we're getting to in this line, a figure being fantastic may not be enough to warrant your buying it-- you should personally want to own this one, rather than just go on the advice that it's very well-designed.

Collector's Notes: Despite being a really boring idea on paper, this figure sold incredibly well and quickly in the markets I watched. It never shipped past the first assortment, and on eBay loose samples go for about the original retail price or a little less. At press time, carded samples were a little tougher to get. The figure came with pieces to build a L8-L9 droid figure... which you should totally make sure you get, too.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,535: May 3, 2011

Figure of the Day: Day 1,259: Blackhole

BLACKHOLE and Stormtrooper
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs Wave 7
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 89780
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #13
Includes: Stormtrooper, torture droid, blaster, smoke stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: March 2010
Appearances: Star Wars newspaper strips

Bio: Shadow stormtroopers capture Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia on Vorzyd V. The Rebels are on the planet, also known as the Gambler's World, to stop the evil Empire's main source of income. After kidnapping the Rebels, the stormtroopers speak with Blackhole, the Imperial Intelligence Director, who orders the prisoners interrogated by an IT-O Droid. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: It took nearly 30 years for the world to see a figure of Blackhole and sadly it doesn't really look like his original mysterious nebulous incarnation. Of course, an oddly shaped black blob with stars in it probably wouldn't make for a very exciting toy, but an unarticulated 2-inch PVC is a real drag in a comic 2-pack. This figure is really more of an accessory than a legit action figure, even by this column's increasingly lax standards. So for $15, a Stormtrooper repaint and this guy is actually pretty lame.

The character of Blackhole has evolved much suddenly, so instead of being this shadowy figure he's now Cronal or Lord Shadowspawn or all of the above, so rather than being a decrepid old man or an undeveloped thing, he's a muscular shirtless dude. The sculpting is pretty good, but this is basically a notch and a half above those red or blue holograph figures from 2006-- as a "bonus" it's not bad, but it's nothing special. He does look like the character in the essential guides a bit, but not much like the comic which came with this set. (The same can be said for the Stormtrooper.) I will say his deco is quite nice-- cast in clear plastic, the figure is painted black with bright silver stars. The effect is quite good and unique to this figure, and as deco goes it's one of those nice surprises where Hasbro managed to take a weak figure and turn it into something that looks great. They have wonderful deco artists there.

Collector's Notes: This figure is in release-- possibly limited release-- right now. So go get it if you want, because the comic pack SKU is gonna be phased out pretty darned quickly. As someone who actively dug the Russ Manning stories I was personally hoping for a real figure with joints or at least something scale to the other figures, but this is probably the only version of this character that you'll ever see.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,259: April 12, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,178: Qui-Gon Jinn (Holographic)

QUI-GON JINN Figure as Holograph
Episode I Wal-Mart Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 84225 No. 84371
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Light-up stand
Action Feature: Light-up base
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: In the days of the old Republic, a direct communications system was introduced to give those in power a way to quickly relay vital information to where it was needed. As part of a comm-unit communication, this 3-D, visual system uses advanced holoprojectors which enable the user to transmit and receive messages within seconds. (Taken from the figure's package.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: This barely qualifies as a figure. It's the right scale, but Qui-Gon Jinn has no articulation. I don't mean "it doesn't move much," I mean the whole thing is one damn solid piece. This clear blue figure has some painted details on his face, specifically a fleshy color, to better simulate the look of the holographs in the prequels. It's a little off, but it's slightly more accurate than the clear blue and purple figures we've been getting steadily since about 2005. As figures go, this thing is a statue. You can look at it, and that's about all. It's pretty cool to have it with the light-up communicator base as an action feature, but again, it doesn't do much. The base itself is pretty neat as a sort of prop replica, but the ability to spin the figure when you want isn't much of a fun play feature. It was a neat idea, but it's no wonder that this line was abandoned after the first two figures It's a neat curiosity, but hardly worth shelling out a lot for.

Collector's Notes: I picked my first one up at ten bucks. I also picked up more on clearance at $0.50 each. These weren't popular items, and have never been rereleased. Get them cheap if you get them at all. As in, not worth the ten bucks.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,178: December 18, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,171: Holographic Ki-Adi-Mundi

HolographicKI-ADI-MUNDI
The Saga Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 85944
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #027
Includes: Stand, lightsaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Spring 2006
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: During the battle of Coruscant, Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi is assigned to lead a strike team to battle the droid armies stationed on Mygeeto. He appears to the Jedi Council via hologram and reports on his progress. He fights bravely until his clone troopers suddenly change and turn on him. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: Hasbro has understood the importance of getting the most out of a mold for quite some time now-- look at Transformers, for years nearly every mold got at least one repaint. Applying this to Star Wars, there are precious few figures you can just slap a new coat of paint on and get some other new figure from it. Thankfully George Lucas pitched in and added characters like Holographic Ki-Adi-Mundi to the movies so Hasbro could get one more squeeze out of the mold, without paint to boot. Hasbro took the 1999 Ki-Adi-Mundi, gave him a newer lightsaber mold, and cast the whole thing in clear blue. He can't sit, and he doesn't have the definition or slight coloring like he does in the movie either. So really, this is a figure that personifies (plasticifies?) the very idea of a cheap repaint.

Really all he can do is stand around since he has six points of articulation and his lower robes block most leg movement. I guess this could also serve as some sort of ice sculpture, too. As line filler it's more interesting than, say, a straight reissue. Still, a reissue might have sold better, given that the audience for a normal figure is slightly larger than that for a frozen blue Jedi-sicle.

Collector's Notes: Some holographic figures enjoyed brief success as collectibles. Most go on eBay and can be bought for a song. Care to wager a guess on this one? I actually segregated the holographic figures in a separate container so they're not mixed in with the painted ones for some reason. It just seems like they should be kept away from the real ones.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,171: December 9, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,073: Holographic Count Dooku

COUNT DOOKU Holographic Transmission
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 89605
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD21
Includes: Lightsaber, cape, droid part
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: September 2008
Appearances: Expanded Universe

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Bio: The former Jedi is in league with the Trade Federation and cyborg General Grievous to propel his galaxy-wide revolt. Dooku communicates with his allies via a hologram transmission to coordinate the next steps in his quest to overthrow the Republic. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: If I were to bet on anything, it's that pretty much every major character will get some sort of spirit or holographic rerelease eventually. It took Count Dooku a few years, but here he is in all his blue glory. Repaint waves are now required by law to have a bright blue figure, and Hasbro made this one out of parts from two existing releases. The cape comes from a 2003 screen scene figure, while the rest of him is based on the 2005 Evolutions figure. Particularly notable is the "skirt" piece, which is blue cloth-- something I've been whining about seeing for years, and this is the first time Hasbro tried it. In the past they opted not to because they said it wouldn't look good. I think it looks great, but that's me.

I don't see the need for a soft plastic cape over a cloth one, but it's here to complete the look of the figure, as is a lightsaber. The lightsaber with a holographic figure generally serves no purpose other than to give the poor child who receives this as a gift because their parents or aunts didn't think about how boring it'd be, and of course, now it's in blue. You could do worse, I suppose. This is a character where a holographic figure makes sense, and he pretty much rounds out the list of important Jedi and Sith that really needed such a figure. Until we revisit the purple ones and make them blue, that is.

Collector's Notes: A one-timer, so far he shipped during Wave 3 and that was it. As such he currently only exists with 5D6-RA7 parts. Specifically, the right arm. I don't expect this to be reissued, ever, so you might as well get one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,073: July 24, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 903: Holographic Yoda

HOLOGRAPHIC YODA Kashyyyk Transmission
Revenge of the Sith Toys "R" Us Exclusive
Item No.: No. 85732
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Stand, lightsaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99 or free with purchase
Availability: April 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Jedi Master Yoda, a close friend of the Wookiees, travels to their homeworld of Kashyyyk to help personally spearhead the Republic defense of that planet. While there, the revered Jedi sends a holographic transmission to the Jedi Council to discuss recent ominous events. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Imperial Troop Transporter.

Commentary: There was a time, many moons ago, where a clear unpainted figure was an exciting novelty. This Holographic Yoda was one such toy-- an exclusive, based on an existing mold, but without all that paint. The clear purple plastic is pretty striking, and the accessories are essentially invisible against light carpet. There isn't much in the way of innovation here, beyond marketing. The figure is a little expensive for what it was, although it's not like you have another option for getting such a Jedi. Based on a mold from 2003, this figure costs more and has less. Heck, back in 2003, the Yoda was not only painted but it included a hoverchair, a cane, and oh yes-- a second figure. Oh well. Basically, this is a collector's figure. I don't think your average kid would have a lot of fun with it, but as one of those kids who spent his allowance tracking down every little bit of Star Wars I could, who am I to second guess the nation's youth? Given that the figure was cast in purple, which went out of vogue by the end of 2005 as far as holographic figures go, I don't think it's impossible to expect a blue version in the next few years. There's generally good money in core characters, so really, it's a matter of "if" over "when." Oh, the figure has articulation which qualifies as decent. You can move him at the leg (one leg, both are stuck together), the head, the shoulders, and swivels at the elbows. As Yodas go, he's pretty good.

Collector's Notes: For the fan who needs everything, for the Yoda fiend, or for those who admire figures which are closer to ice sculptures.

Day 903: November 28, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 848: Holographic Clone Commander Cody

CLONE COMMANDER CODY Holographic
The Saga Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 87325
Number: #056
Includes: Jetpack, helmet, blaster, display base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Late 2006
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: The battle-hardened Cody has fought beside General Kenobi many times in the Clone Wars, so it is no surprise that his 212th Attack Battalion is sent to Utapau to once more serve his friend. But this commander soon receives a secret communiqué from a far more sinister leader and quickly changes his allegiance. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: Fans love clones, and apparently paint isn't a requirement for figures like this Holographic Clone Commander Cody to prove successful. Mostly clear blue plastic, this figure has a few opaque pins in his joints but is pretty transparent. I was pretty enamored with this figure when it first came out because of the removable helmet. "If the helmet is clear," I thought, "can't you see his face through it?" The answer is "sorta, but not really." Not a lot of light makes it in the helmet, so it isn't like it's going to be really obvious that you can kind of see where his eyes are. The figure itself is-- as far as I can tell-- identical to the non-holographic version from earlier in 2006, which means it's almost super perfect. (He's a little short.) The fun value of a clear blue repaint is pretty low, but if you're collecting them all at least it looks different enough from other figures you own. At this time, it's the only clone figure to get the holographic treatment, so in that respect it's pretty distinctive.

I don't regret buying it-- that's something I think I'm going to be using to rate figures more often-- but it doesn't mean you're going to have a lot of fun with it. It's neat enough, but once you write about it and take a picture of it, where does he go? It's not like there's a playset which can incorporate him, or a little pad to stand on in the AT-TE to look like a projection. Since buying him nearly two years ago, he's lived in a box. I assume yours will as well if you make the purchase.

Collector's Notes: This figure may have represented one of the quickest turnarounds from Hasbro introducing a regular mold to selling a clear blue repaint. (Quickest holographic repaint, period, being Emperor Palpatine in 2005.) It was fairly popular, surprisingly, and now it's going to take some work to find one. Also, he was one of a whopping 4 holographic figures to appear in the basic The Saga Collection line. It seems that since then, Hasbro is trying to limit production of these clear blue figures to one or two per year. I also feel like I should start a pool on how long before Hasbro cranks out an animated The Clone Wars Cody.

Day 848: September 12, 2008

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 522: Emperor Palpatine (Holographic)

HOLOGRAPHIC EMPEROR Toys "R" Us Exclusive
Revenge of the Sith Toys "R" Us Exclusive
Item No.: No. 85992
Number: n/a
Includes: Force lightning, Force blast, lightsaber, removable hood
Action Feature: Spring-loaded firing projectiles
Retail: $9.99 or gift with purchase
Availability: Fall 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: A scheming, cold, and calculating Sith Lord, Emperor Palpatine rises to power and all but eliminates the Jedi Knights. His pupil, Darth Vader, communicates with his master via holographic image transmissions. Together, they strive to crush anyone who stands in the way of their new Galactic Empire. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's toy room.

Commentary: One thing particularly interesting about this Holographic Emperor figure is the name-- on the front of the package, it just says simply that. No "Palpatine," no "Sidious," just simply "Holographic Emperor." The figure is nearly identical to the 2005 Emperor figure released just months prior, but this one is completely clear and devoid of paint-- in other words, a great way for Hasbro to make a buck off of us with little to no new development costs. The figure has decent articulation, and so far, it's been fairly sturdy. I haven't seen any discolored figures (which does sometimes happen with clear figures, especially Kenner's Ambush Predator mail-in) nor have I heard of much in the way of breaking. It's a solid product, but it's also the third holographic Palpatine. Hasbro did one in 2000, another in 2004, and this one in 2005. The detail is decent for a holographic figure, although some painted details couldn't hurt-- those holographs weren't totally transparent and without definition. There were dark spots and light spots, too, and a little paint could have made this a totally awesome figure. However, let's not kid ourselves-- holographic figures exist mostly to be a cheap, quick-to-develop product which is both "new" and uses no new tooling. For that, Hasbro did a great job here-- but yeah, as always, it could've been better. And there's the issue of price.

Collector's Notes: This was both an excellent deal and a crappy deal. If you're a collector who is patient, this was a good one-- if you spent about $20 at a Toys "R" Us store, and these were in stock one week, they'd give it to you for free. You also had the option of paying $9.99 for it, or ordering it through Amazon back when they were paired with Toys "R" Us. It's more or less worth tracking down, as you're going to want this character in one of his holographic forms for your collection. This one has the added bonus of having a strong sculpt and even an action feature with weapons, although it's unnecessary for the fact it's an electronic transmission. Snag one if you're so inclined!

Day 522: October 10, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 441: Holographic Obi-Wan Kenobi

Holographic OBI-WAN KENOBI
The Saga Collection
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 87341
Number: 063
Includes: Cloak, lightsaber, hilt, base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Early 2007
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Obi-Wan Kenobi and the rest of the Jedi Council appear as holographic images to brief Yoda while the diminutive Jedi Master is on Kashyyyk. Obi-Wan's holographic form cannot hide the despair he feels as he watches the galaxy slip further and further into darkness and chaos. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: It's hard to make something clear blue and with no paint exciting, but Hasbro made this Obi-Wan Kenobi figure a good one by using the best super-articulated mold available to them and by including nearly every accessory from the regular release of the figure. You get the cloak, the lightsaber (in "on" and "off" modes), a stand, and more joints than you could ever possibly need for a figure of this nature. So the figure can sit on a Jedi Council chair if you have a spare, more or less, so until Hasbro figures out how to add more definition to a translucent figure as well as some sort of "scan lines," this is probably as good as you can ever hope to see for a holographic figure of old Ben. So if you like holographic action figures, this is one of Hasbro's best, and as such, is worth snagging while you can. If you don't like the idea, there's really nothing new here to bring you over to the clear blue side of the Force, so you probably aren't going to miss too much by skipping it. I think it's worth a look though, just because it did turn out fairly well.

Collector's Notes: If there's one thing Hasbro is really good at, it's getting the most out of a mold. Starting life in 2005, this mold has been used for a "pilot" figure, a basic ROTS-style figure during the early Saga Collection line, this holographic figure, and of course, the post-duel "swimming" Obi-Wan from Episode III, and the comic pack figure based on the Clone Wars comics. Oh, and it looks like parts were used for a Mace Windu too. This figure shipped in two different colors: a very light blue (as pictured here, nearly identical to the blue mini holographic figures) and a much darker blue color. The first release was the dark blue, as far as I can tell.

Day 441: July 21, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 421: Holographic Plo Koon

PLO KOON Jedi Hologram Transmission
Revenge of the Sith Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 85174 No. 86740
Number: III-66
Includes: Lightsaber, display base
Action Feature: Single Color and Lack Of Paint Saves Hasbro Money!
Retail: $5.24-$6.99
Availability: Fall 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Jedi Master Plo Koon is a member of the Jedi Council and comes from a long line of Jedi. Serving as a General in the Clone Wars, he leads a squadron of Republic star fighters against the Separatist forces on Cato Neimoidia. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: At first, Holographic figures were a nice novelty. We got a trio of them during Episode I, a couple of mini-holo figures for Episode II, and they just kept on coming. Plo Koon was a harder-to-get holo from late 2005, as this figure was (as far as I can tell) packed in but one assortment. Being a bright blue figure, there wasn't a lot of work for Hasbro to do to earn their five bucks on this one. The figure itself is a 2000 Plo Koon from Power of the Jedi, while the lightsaber and stand are the basic 2005 Plo Koon figure's accessories, but done up in clear glittery blue. Depending on how you display it, this figure looks damned striking-- against a black background, it looks gorgeous. I'm a little sick of the whole holographic figure thing and when I look at the picture I took for this article I just said "wow, that looks really nice." It shouldn't, but it does. The figure has five meaningful points of articulation, as everything under the robes pretty much ain't goin' nowhere. There's no paint to speak of, and the deco is consistent with most holo figures that would come later. (Prior to this figure and Aayla Secura, pretty much all of them were a purple color which wasn't exactly accurate either.) It can't sit, like he's seen in the movie, but it still looks really good if you're a collector who can look at a bright clear blue alien and say "dayum." I can't imagine a kid would be overly pleased with a Jedi ice sculpture, but there it is-- it's nice, it is what it is, and it certainly could have been better (or could sit on a Jedi council seat.)

Collector's Notes: I so wanted to rip on this figure. But for some reason I can't, probably because it's surprisingly photogenic. It's somewhat hard to get but it's still fairly cheap-- you can probably get one for about the same going rate as any other average modern (and currently available) figure. If you don't like holographic figures and just want one, I feel this is one of the better looking ones overall. (Darth Sidious from Episode I being my favorite, even if it isn't the best.)

Day 421: July 1, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 401: Holographic Princess Leia

HOLOGRAPHIC PRINCESS LEIA
Original Trilogy Collection Comic-Con 2005 Exclusive
Item No.: No. 85694
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99
Availability: July 2005
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: In the Rebel Alliance's most desperate hour, Princess Leia hides the stolen Death Star plans in R2-D2's memory bank. She instructs the droid to find Obi-Wan Kenobi on the desert planet of Tatooine. It is at Kenobi's home that a holographic Princess Leia pleads with Kenobi to come to the aid of the Rebel Alliance. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray. Darth Maul and Obi-Wan are in the background. The display base on which she stands actually comes with the Holographic Yoda.

Commentary: Take a figure from 1998. Now take away the paint. Now mold it in clear purple. Does this sound like another exciting exclusive yet? The somewhat baffling but oddly neat Holographic Princess Leia is just that-- an old mold being trotted out for one last sale. Don't get me wrong-- it was a good mold, but an odd choice for the holographic treatment as most of us remember Leia as having her hood up. So what you're getting here is a figure that originally cost $6, but was painted nicely and had accessories plus a Freeze Frame. (Except, of course, now it's lacking these perks.) If you think this is a good deal, you're delusional-- but as a collectible/one more plastic person in the collection, it's OK. Personally, I could take or leave the bulk of the holographic figures-- I like weird releases, so I feel obligated to buy these. But they're about as exciting as socks for Christmas, plus Hasbro has made an awful lot of these lately. Four meaningful points of articulation do not a good toy make, but what really made this one sting was the price-- it shouldn't have been a $14 figure, but Hasbro seems intent on proving that there's a sucker born every minute and I am indeed that sucker.

Back in 2005, holographic figures were still something of a novelty-- we had a couple for Episode I as Wal-Mart exclusives, a few rejected ones that never came out, a few mini-clear holographic figures, and that Holographic Emperor. Then came Yoda, Leia, Aayla Secura, and Plo Koon, making 2005 a holo-filled year. 2006 was pretty blue too-- we got Darth Maul, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ki-_Adi-Mundi, Commander Cody-- plus 24 bonus holographic figures (in blue or red). This year, the only known holographic figure on deck is Darth Vader, and that hasn't been confirmed by Hasbro yet. While the novelty is certainly there, a light-up base would be nice, or perhaps just fewer releases. With just one holographic figure for 2007, I'm actually somewhat interested.

Collector's Notes: Early test shots of the figure included a clear blaster-- the final release had no weapons or accessories of any kind. The best thing about this figure being an exclusive is how it was sold-- sensibly. ShopStarWars.com allowed you to pre-order the item before Comic-Con in 2005, and you could just waltz up to the booth whenever you wanted to and claim your figures without being terrified of missing the exclusives. This is a smart move-- it lets the store take my money before I even go to the show, and guarantees that I'll buy it and not be distracted by other items at the show. This is a model of what should be done for all convention exclusives-- let me order the damn thing in advance, I'll pick it up when I have a minute or ten. I've got other stuff to do while I'm there (in my case, this is what we call "work") so help me out already.

Day 401: June 11, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 333: Holographic Luke Skywalker

HOLOGRAPHIC LUKE SKYWALKER Jabba's Palace
Saga Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84715 No. 84745
Number: 0411
Includes: Lightsaber, Base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: March 2004
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: As part of the plan to rescue Han Solo, Luke sent the two droids, R2-D2 and C-3PO, to the palace of Jabba the Hutt. R2-D2 played a holographic message to Jabba in which Luke requested an audience with the infamous crimelord and, to prove his sincerity, asked the Hutt to accept the two droids as gifts. While the nervous C-3PO was startled at this news, it was all part of Luke's plan to put everyone in position for the planned rescue attempt. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Toy Shelves.

Commentary: The funny thing about Holographic Luke Skywalker is that it's a repaint, and the mold on which it was based was released in the wave prior to this one. This almost instant release silenced requests for a holographic version before they could start, but it's just odd to go to a store and see regular and holographic figures at the same time. I love the concept, and the figure has excellent articulation-- however, its paint kinda sucks in the head department. There tends to be a lot of stray paint, and the clear plastic doesn't photograph too well. It doesn't look all that great in person, either, but the "translucent" (barely) plastic used for the costume looks great. It's obviously a great attempt, but the head paint brings this figure down a few pegs. The lightsaber is an unnecessary accessory, but since this figure is a straight repaint and doesn't offer much new to fans, it's pretty obvious that Hasbro felt they had to toss in some form of extra to get people to buy this.

Collector's Notes: This wasn't the world's strongest seller, but diorama fans would be well-served to buy this one. Just turn him so he faces Jabba and away from you, and it's a pretty good release. Pay careful attention to the paint on the head, even the hair-- it's the one area where most samples of this figure fall short.

Day 333: April 4, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 250: Darth Maul (Holographic)

DARTH MAUL Holographic
The Saga Collection
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 87090
Number: 048
Includes: Lightsaber, stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Fall 2006
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Though his motivations and goals are a mystery to the Jedi, Darth Maul is kept on a tight leash by his master Darth Sidious. Seeming to be a rogue warrior bent only on chaos, he is actually a precision instrument used to make the first strike in a plan that will lead to the subjugation of the entire galaxy. In constant contact with his shadowy master, Darth Maul gladly kills or destroys any target he is given. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's 2006 prequel shelf.

Commentary: While a version of Holographic Darth Maul was released in 1999, apparently someone decided it wasn't good enough. Well, we disagree. This new release uses another mold from 1999, giving the Sith Lord a pose and a weapon never seen while he was communicating with everybody. Also, the mold and the plastic seem weak, the figure has toppled over once or twice while remaining on the stand and is, at worst, kinda crappy. With some futzing, he'll stay upright, but the 1999 Maul was much better despite having no articulation because he could actually stand up right and was a more appropriate design. The new blue coloring may excite some fans, and the clear blue lightsaber may be of some use to customizers. The figure's sculpt is still one of 1999's finest, but repeated pressings from the mold seems to have taken some of the sharpness out of the final product. It's still good, or at least OK, but it's hardly the finest Darth Maul being sold during the Q4 2006 period. If you have to have all things Maul, you'll love this. If not, well, save some money and skip this one. The unpainted face sculpt doesn't look a lot like Ray Park, as many of the first Maul figures relied on paint over sculpt to resemble the character. Not that it matters too much, but a little more attention to the likeness of the actor would be nice to have here.

Collector's Notes: Despite not being great, this figure may go down being hard to get. Available in one case assortment at one per box, there aren't that many to go around and the figure wasn't one I spotted on the pegs much here in Los Angeles. As such, if you're someone who will want every figure eventually, it would be to your advantage to pick this up on sight-- it may not be great, but it's going to hurt a lot worse if you have to pay above retail to finish your set down the road.

Day 250: January 11, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 119: Darth Sidious (Holograph)

DARTH SIDIOUS Holograph
Episode I Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84095 No. 84081
Number: n/a
Includes: CommTech Chip
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: 2000
Appearances: The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith

Bio: The evil and mysterious power behind the Trade Federation's blockade of Naboo, Darth Sidious appears over vast distances as a holograph in order to communicate to his many subordinates. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Clone Wars shelves.

Commentary: By 2000, it was obvious that corporate America's gamble on the prequels were slightly misplaced. While a massive event movie, overproduction, collector burn-out, and the film itself were responsible for figures like Darth Sidious (Holograph) seeing limited distribution because other, older items were so overproduced that there was little room for anything new. The figure itself was (and remains) one of the better holographic figures ever made, because a lot of smart decisions when adapting the regular Darth Sidious mold. For starters, the original figure's individual legs were all remolded into one central body piece. Also, the figure added paint to flesh out the hands and face, while most later figures were solid-color or had weird blobs and "shimmers" to accentuate the figure's decoration. (The lone real exception being Jedi Luke's Holograph from 2002 and the 2004 Spirit of Obi-Wan Kenobi.) So the figure is fairly solid, and it looks good. As far as articulation, each arm has three joints, and beyond that you don't need much more-- the head doesn't really move, but it is a separate piece.

This figure more or less accurately represents every portrayal of Darth Sidious as a holograph-- standing still, and being mostly clear. It isn't perfection, but it's very, very close and I personally have a hard time picturing Hasbro ever doing a better job than this, the very first attempt at a holographic hooded Palpatine. Hasbro would try again two more times. In 2004, Hasbro took the 1997 Emperor Palpatine figure and molded it in clear, unpainted purple plastic. In 2005, Hasbro took the 2005 Emperor Palpatine figure and molded it in the same unpainted purple color. To this date, the original, 2000 Darth Sidious Holograph from Episode I is easily the best. If you only get one clear Emperor, get this one.

And for the record, there are also smaller versions of this character as holographs. In 2002, Lott Dod and Count Dooku were packaged with miniature, hooded holographic figures. In 2006, all villains had the opportunity to be packaged with red or blue versions of a lightsaber-brandishing Darth Sidious bonus figure. To date, no character has had more unique holographic toys made of it.

Collector's Notes: In addition to the regular US release, a foreign release was made as well. In it, a bonus Pit Droid was packaged with this figure, and there are three variants. These cross over into the lower echelons of "Holy Grail" status as they're quite hard to get, and combine an awesome figure with an awesome overseas exclusive. Good luck finding them. But I digress.

Issued only once and in limited numbers, this figure is essentially a collector's item in a vaguely true sense of the world. It's not hype, this is actually a good item, collectors dig it, and it isn't too dirt cheap but can be had for cheaply. Under $15 shouldn't be a problem, under $10 is also doable. Were I a new collector, I'd put this high on my wish list.

Day 119: September 2, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 11: Holographic Darth Maul

DARTH MAUL Figure as Holograph
Episode I Wal-Mart Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 84225 No. 84372
Number: n/a
Includes: Light-up holoprojector
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: 2000

Bio: Darth Maul was a Dark Lord of the Sith and the first known apprentice of Darth Sidious. Maul was kidnapped by Sidious and trained in the ways of the dark side of the Force from a young age. He revealed himself to the Galaxy on Tatooine and killed Qui-Gon Jinn on Naboo before being killed by Obi-Wan Kenobi. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: This image was taken on a table of no real consequence, other than it cost less than the figure standing on it. Hooray for Target clearance furniture.

Commentary: Hasbro's fetish for holographic figures started here as Wal-Mart exclusives. Along with a companion Qui-Gon figure, Darth Maul had no articulation and could do nothing aside from standing there and, when a light source came from under him, lit up. That's it. As such, adding this figure to your collection will probably stem from your love of Darth Maul or your need to collect-them-all, because as a toy, there's really nothing here. As an added bonus, this acts as a quasi-roleplay toy because the projector (while large) is about the size of a communicator a character in the movie might carry. It's a neat item and worth picking up as a collector's item or even as a toy for kids-- heck, it's a little surprising this wasn't pushed as more of a roleplay item in which you could "Communicate with your Sith Apprentice!" or some such. But, such is life, and this item can only loosely be referred to as an "action figure" as there's pretty much no action here.

Collector's Notes: While fans keep requesting Hasbro "finally make a Darth Maul holograph," it's important to point out that they did, and this feature is dedicated to the ignorant few who seem to really want something but can't be bothered to search on Google to confirm that not only did it come out, but it's largely worthless. It can be easily had for retail price, and with a little patience, even less. I personally bought several at $0.50 a whack on clearance as this was an item that redefined "unpopular" in many-- but not all-- markets.

Day 11: May 17, 2006