Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,275: Moff Gideon (Dark Trooper Armor, The Vintage Collection)

MOFF GIDEON (Dark Trooper Armor)
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. E7763 No. G0916
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #368
Includes: Blast effect, electrostaff, backpack, cape, blaster
Action Feature: Blaster fits in holster
Retail: $16.99
Availability: July 2025
Appearances: The Mandalorian

Bio: Moff Gideon has constructed the next generation of Dark Trooper, made of beskar harvested from the depths of Mandalore. Unlike previous incarnations, this prototype is a battle suit Gideon wears. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: My big gripes these days - and I have a bunch - tend to come in with timing and novelty. It's hard to get both, or either. I like that this Moff Gideon (Dark Trooper Armor) is a largely new and interesting figure. Sure, we got two in Epic Hero Series a year ago, but whatever. We got it. He debuted on TV 2 1/2 years ago, which is a lot later than "day and date" like we used to get with the main baddies for the movies, but it's here. That's something.

The development cycle for a figure is about 18 months, so Hasbro did take some time here. But it's very good, and I'll wait for something good. We're missing Giancarlo Esposito's face, as there is no unmasked head to be found here. We only get the helmeted head here, but this is the one I would pick because we didn't already have one. The sculpt is pretty smooth and reminds me of the show. The armor looks great and is glossy in the places you want. The red highlights look good, and I assume figures like this keep Hasbro's paint budget light.

Having said that, Hasbro didn't skimp on the details. You get some silver on the chest and belt buckle, plus not all reds are the same. The visor has a different texture to it, to simulate a transparent lit-up visor. The other reds are brighter and pop more. This is how it should be. What's more, the figure has some paint on his electrostaff. I was also impressed that we got that two-fabric thin cape like we got on Lando - it's red for the lining, and black for the back. It's as perfect as you can expect at this size in 2025.

A blast effect pops on the tip of the staff, and the blaster fits in the holster. It all works, and I was able to get some fun poses out of the figure.

There's also a removable backpack that goes through a hole in the cape, and his cape is held on by subtle elastic straps over the shoulders. Hasbro didn't skimp here, and he has a lot of articulation too. I found one of the thigh swivels a little loose but it in no way hurt my ability to pose the figure or have him standing. I'm generally pretty happy to get existing figures in new costumes, and this is no exception. I'd recommend it if you're collecting this strain of figures. Honestly I have no idea how people collect anymore - do you get them all? Are you picky? I have a hard time skipping 3 3/4-inch figures, but I've made some exceptions for metallic repaints. Hasbro delivers the goods here, and I've already got a playset where he might feel at home.

Having said that, I'd also happily buy a Retro version of this one.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,275 September 11, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,266: Imperial Officer (Generic Human Male in Gray, The Vintage Collection)

IMPERIAL OFFICERS Gray Generic Human from 4-pack
The Vintage Collection Shop Disney/Hasbro Pulse 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure Set
Item No.: No. F8302
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #309
Includes: 4 figures, 6 blasters, 3 hats
Action Feature: Removable hat
Retail: $59.99
Availability: October 2023
Appearances: n/a

Bio: Imperial officers fought against Rebel forces in an effort to maintain the Empire’s stronghold over the galaxy. (Taken from the set's product copy. Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: I opened the Imperial Officers set in 2023, and this unnamed Imperial Captain now exists in our collections. Huzzah! On one hand, I'm happy this set exists with Motti and Piett and two other guys who can fill out scenes. But also, it would have been nice to have somebody from the movies or TV series. I'd love to know if this is a specific person, or just a face Hasbro sculpted. It looks specific enough to be somebody, probably an employee of the toy/entertainment complex, but his face is not known to me.

His black hair is super glossy, and fits under the naval cap. The cheek bones are sharp, with painted lips and eyebrows. The eyes are clear, and I can't fault Hasbro for putting out what looks to be a fine original character. I just couldn't tell you if it's accurate or not. Some day he'll stand around on a fancy Death Star or Star Destroyer playset, even if I have to 3D print it myself. But that would be a massive undertaking, and I'll probably hold off for a couple of years to see how HasLab projects shake out.

If you have a lot of officers, you'll recognize the gloved hands from their use with other figures like Krennic or the IBS officer. The right hand is good at gripping blasters. The left, less so. The holster can hold the smaller pistol, and the articulation is effectively the modern standard. Most of the joints tuck away nicely, and the range of movement is mostly only impeded by his tunic's skirt element. The hip joints were designed to have a wide range of motion, though, so it's about as good as this costume is likely to get at this scale with these materials.

If you specialize in Imperials, you need to get this set. But if not, maybe you'll be fine with your other officers. He's unique - nobody else has this face - so I'd steer you to adding him to your stash... just in case you'll need figures to fill seats later. I feel silly saying that 30 years after the modern line kicked off, because I would say that thinking has only paid off a couple of times. Boba Fett's Palace made good use of all the Jabba stooges and henches since 1997, and the upcoming Cantina also benefits from 1996 onward. I guess you could use these guys with the Imperial Light Cruiser diorama, but I'd sure as heck like to see a Star Destroyer bridge some day.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,266: August 12, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,265: Moff Gideon (single card, Epic Hero Series)

MOFF GIDEON 2024 Kids Line
Epic Hero Series Basic Figure
Item No.: Asst. F9405 No. G0144
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Cape, Electrostaff
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: July 2024
Appearances: The Mandalorian   

Bio: Clever and formidable, Imperial Moff Gideon is fiercely determined to capture the child known as Grogu. (Taken from the packaging)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: I put off opening this Moff Gideon until recently because it's a lot like Moff Gideon from the 2-pack with Bo-Katan Kryze at Walmart [FOTD #3,175] from last year. The figures are the same - but the accessories were changed. (Also, the first one I got had a half-painted belt, so I left that one carded and bought another one to open later.) It's a nice figure. I'm just irritated that the 2-pack has a flame blast and a jetpack, while the 1-pack has an electrostaff, so you'll want to buy both. It's peak Just Different Enough to Make You Mad... or maybe you'll just skip it. This Gideon was also blown out at Ross last December/January for about $3, but naturally I bought mine at full price because life is unfair. The figure is still good. The design from the show matches the figure well - it's a black armored figure that looks sort of like Boba Fett painted black with Maul helmet horns and a cape. You can see that it's a pretty cheap figure deco, with a silver chest nub and belt buckle with a couple of red highlights. The pole is given some purple flourish, and it probably was a cheap figure to manufacture. Retail price was around $8, which is cheap by modern standards. He has a ball-jointed neck, plus swivel shoulders and hips. The cape connects by a peg, and fits very well.

Given the lack of a painted human head, it makes sense that the figure looks great. The armor shines in spots with some red highlights, and no eyes or eyebrows to worry about painting poorly. Sculpted details are nice, with sharp paint masks giving you a perfectly nice toy figure. What's particularly interesting was that this was the first fully-armored Gideon figure with the helmet - The Black Series was 2025, and The Vintage Collection still doesn't have one. While slightly taller than 3 3/4-inch scale figures, this 4-inch scale release does look pretty fantastic. Without a super-poseable figure against which to compare him, it looks great. It shows Hasbro can make a satisfying figure at a low price, with smooth joints and feet that don't cause the figure to topple over. It's simple, and functionally perfect.

Epic Hero Series would be a great line, if it had a little more support and were a smidgen shorter. Adult collectors poo-poo kid stuff, but I think they're wrong to do that here. This is a good product, but a small slice of adult fans online would rather pay more for articulation they probably won't use. I understand why - but I feel it's costing the larger market of kids and impulse-buyers entry-level lines. Epic has been running almost two years and is still quite small, with a disjointed array of characters that don't all play well together. They're still well-made, and not a bad line to get and bounce off since it won't take up your whole house. Even with all the vehicles, you wouldn't fill an IKEA cabinet (so far, anyway.)

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,265: August 7, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,262: Captain Gilad Pallaeon (The Vintage Collection)

CAPTAIN GILAD PALLAEON Novel! No wait, Live Action?
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Hasbro Pulse/Shop Disney Exclusive Action Figure Set
Item No.: No. G1283
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #359
Includes: 3 figures with accessories, Pallaeon has a blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $49.99
Availability: May 2025
Appearances: Heir to the Empire, etc.

Bio: The loyal Captain Pallaeon works as Thrawn's right-hand man to restore the Empire to its former glory. (Taken from the cardback bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: This is a weird one. Captain Gilad Pallaeon has been around in our imaginations since 1991, most of the time portrayed as an old white guy with a white mustache. The look has some wiggle-room - the style of the facial hair sometimes changes, as do his nose or other features. That's what makes this one so weird. The figure's head doesn't look like the cardback painting - both look good, and both look right, but they're not the same. Interestingly, the figure looks a lot like Xander Berkeley - that's who played him on The Mandalorian. I was wondering if it was some casual "all old white guys look alike" thing, but the more I looked the more I'm not so sure. The slightly tanner skin, the very distinctive ears, and the face that looks pretty gosh darn close to an actual human being makes for a pretty good release. I'm not saying it was meant to be live action Xander Berkeley Pallaeon, but it looks closer to Pallaeon than a lot of Han Solo figures looks like Harrison Ford. If Hasbro never makes another version of the character, this should fit the bill as "good enough" regardless of which version you want.

On TV, he has a specific symbol on his shoulder - this figure does not have that. Why? Probably because Hasbro continues to use the same good, but not distinctive, Imperial Officer body. Everybody looks pretty much the same in uniform, with the same odd gloved hand that can't hold a blaster on the left and a perfectly good right hand for blasting. He has a holster and a blaster that fits in there just fine. The gray looks great, both on his hair and uniform, so he'll fit in with your other officers fairly well. This is a character fans have had in the middle or maybe end of their wish lists since the 1990s, and it's great to finally have one that is yet another shining example of Hasbro doing a good job.

The head is incredible. The hat is molded to the head, and is a perfect fit. The paint on the silver ornamentation all looks good, and his face is dynamite. It never ceases to amaze me what Hasbro can do. To the human eye, Pallaeon has a little shine to his skin, perfectly good eyebrows, great sideburns, a wonderful mustache and eyes that have a slight twinkle. Even a crank like me who has been thinking "Why am I still collecting after all these years?" can look at a figure like this and go "Oh, that's why." Every few yers we see a big jump in terms of Hasbro's skill at making human heads the size of a peanut, with this being yet another reason why you should collect this line. Maybe every figure isn't for you, but if you quit collecting 10 years ago, I'd say this is a set worth returning to buy.

Again, I can't say it was Hasbro's intention to replicate Xander Berkeley because I don't know it for a fact. Maybe the figure looks a little like the character, and the man looks a little like the character, and the figure looks a little bit like everything, so you can't really say what it is or isn't - but I think it's good enough to make collectors pretty happy. I expect Hasbro may tweak this figure a bit to look more like the on-screen uniform at some point and rerelease it. I don't know that you'll need to buy it twice, but if you missed it? Get whatever version you can. (Also, if Hasbro ever made a Kenner-style 5-jointed one, I'd buy that too.)

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,262: July 29, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,259: Grand Admiral Thrawn (The Vintage Collection)

GRAND ADMIRAL THRAWN Epauletted
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Hasbro Pulse/Shop Disney Exclusive Action Figure Set
Item No.: No. G1283
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #360
Includes: 3 figures with accessories, Thrawn has a blaster and ysalamiri
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $49.99
Availability: May 2025
Appearances: Heir to the Empire, etc.

Bio: The last of the Empire's warlords, Grand Admiral Thrawn has made vital discoveries that could compromise the future of the New Republic. (Taken from the cardback bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: Hasbro is master at getting me to buy things I don't want. I didn't want another Grand Admiral Thrawn unless he was either Retro Kenner style... or had epaulets, a Ysalamir, and a nutrient frame. I guess two out of three ain't bad. This is very similar to The Vintage Collection Rebels Thrawn [FOTD #3,167] from last year, which itself is almost identical to the Ahsoka live-action un-dad-bodded version. There are changes, and they are precariously close to being just different enough to make me mad - but they're actually what I wanted in the first place.

Since 1991 fans have wanted a Thrawn figure, and this is more or less what they wanted it to look like. The 1998 version had no gold epaulets. Neither did the comic pack version, or other subsequent versions - but they were on the book cover. They weren't in the comic. This figure is a mishmash of all the versions, giving you a Ysalamir like we saw in POTF2 and The Black Series (no nutrient frame), the head from the live-action Rebels version, the epaulets from the early 1990s art, and - surprisingly - the collar ornamentation from Rebels. We've never seen quite this particular mix of parts and pieces before, which mostly eschews the Dark Horse comic elements but trades heavily on the recognizable parts of the book jacket and streaming appearances.

Normally I'd say "well of course the collar was left like Rebels, did you think Hasbro would retool it?" But here's the funny thing - Hasbro changed the mold! The torso has canals for the gold epaulets, which are (for now) flexible gold plastic. I think they may become brittle with age, so be super careful 10-20 years from now. Since Hasbro remolded the figure, I'm surprised they didn't remold the collar too - I assume this was an editorial decision and I really wonder why the decision was made. If this were the first figure we got, the pastiche of multiple versions is precisely what I would want too - cover a lot of bases, nobody's going to be 100% happy, nobody's going to be 100% disappointed. For a book specific set, it's an unusual choice and I bet there's a story we don't know yet.

The blaster is the same as the Rebels release - gray, fits in the holster - but the critter buddy is unique. It's flexible, but not too rubbery, and he hangs over Thrawn's shoulders with no added assistance. Hasbro did a better job than I would have - you get four tiny black painted eyes, and a white painted belly. (I'd have left it unpainted, you'd never know.) It seems to be derived from the same sculpt as The Black Series release that came with Luke, making it about as good as we should reasonably expect given the resources at hand. The leathery skin looks cool, with tons of little folds and ridges. It's very detailed for a tiny creature sidekick, and is far better looking than necessary to make me happy. Hasbro deserves a pat on the back for this one.

As the lesser of the three figures in this set - or at least the most redundant - Hasbro did a good job here. They added elements to this figure which we don't always get, and Thrawn is still a popular fellow despite being kind of a dud in Ahsoka. Maybe Hasbro will come up with a way to do another figure in Ahsoka season 2, but at this point I don't think I need another 3 3/4-inch The Vintage Collection release. I will, however, happily buy Heir to the Empire figures for The Retro Collection if Hasbro ever does them. If you can make me happy you made something I was grousing about, you're doing a great job. I hope Hasbro cranks out more of this set since fans seemed to miss it in spots.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,259: July 17, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,245: Imperial Security Bureau (Imperial Officers set, The Vintage Collection)

IMPERIAL OFFICERS ISB, no IBS
The Vintage Collection Shop Disney/Hasbro Pulse 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure Set
Item No.: No. F8302
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #309
Includes: 4 figures, 6 blasters, 3 hats
Action Feature: Removable hat
Retail: $59.99
Availability: October 2023
Appearances: n/a

Bio: Imperial officers fought against Rebel forces in an effort to maintain the Empire’s stronghold over the galaxy. (Taken from the set's product copy. Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: I ordered this set of Imperial Officers in 2023, opened it... and neglected to review it! Well. This ISB Member - presumably - has a very high rank as he shares it with Krennic. Actually, he shares quite a bit with Krennic and other Imperials from the past couple of years. The "skirt" is new, and the head is new - oh, and the blasters are different. But otherwise? Same figure.

The holster kind of, sort of holds the smaller pistol and won't include the included Imperial E-11 rifles. Or, the Stormtrooper one. His hands can hold them fairly well, but it's worth noting the right hand is much better at gripping weapons than the left. Again, it's the same build as Krennic, and the left hand isn't the best on either figure.

But... who is this guy? I don't know. He's pale, he has a gray mustache and matching sideburns. His hair seems to be thinning a tiny bit, and he has tired-looking eyes and a snazzy black cap. I assume he's based on a Hasbro, Disney, or Lucasfilm employee but I couldn't say I know who yet. The face is too specific to not be somebody, and right now he's just another in a very small collection of Imperial Security Bureau members. For those keeping track at home, other white uniform figures include Yularen, Krennic, and Meero. And I'm sure someone is screaming at me that I forgot somebody. What matters is that you've got another figure to fill that Death Star or Star Destroyer playset that I'd love to say is hopefully coming but given the current uncertainty about the toy market, I don't know.

The nameless character looks fine, but I don't know how he fits into the story. Not that this necessarily matters - I've got a zillion droids and they mostly just go where ever. I assume this figure will likely go into storage until he is called upon to stand around in a gray room diorama of my or Hasbro's making. I should be more enthusiastic about this figure because this is precisely the kind of thing I would have been bananas over 20 years ago. A new guy! From the Empire! For fun! That's awesome! But I had a lot more hope about a place for these guys back then, too.

The face has a lot of personality, and despite using a lot of recycled parts he's distinctive. If you can get this set for a fair price, do so. The set sold fairly well and commands a bit extra on the secondary market, probably because it's the kind of thing old fans like. Chiefly, neat figures that look like they belong in dioramas and playsets that orbit the worlds of the original trilogy and surrounding stories. I assume this set will get more expensive if a day comes where fans actually have a big playset to pack out with figures, but I assume the expiration date on that is 2027. At this point I'm largely just happy that we are, somehow, still getting an occasional figure that fits in the fringes of the galaxy without being another version of a character we've got a dozen of already.

If Hasbro is reading and would like to do more ISB space fascists, Major Partagaz would be fun.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,245: May 29, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,220: Dedra Meero (The Vintage Collection)

DEDRA MEERO Debut in this size
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. E7763 No. G0905
Number: #346
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $16.99
Availability: January 2025
Appearances: Andor

Bio: Methodical, polished, and ambitious, Dedra Meero embodies the ideals of the Imperial Security Bureau. She is ever vigilant, collecting and analyzing intelligence from across the galaxy. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: My interest in pretty much any Star Wars property goes up the more I can get my head around it - so action figures, trading cards, and guide books help a lot! With Andor season 2 on the horizon and this Dedra Meero figure likely meant to have been to help promote it, hopefully we'll get more merch so more of us can know the names that were sometimes hard to understand in the mix. Getting a figure makes it more interesting to care about the show, and what shelf she might go on makes you actually have some stake in paying attention. Or at least that's been my finding - if there's no figure, it's probably not an important character. (Not that there's anything wrong with obscure background nobodies, I love them too.)

Dedra Meero is good at her job. And she has annoying coworkers... and someone who probably wants to date her, who's a creep, and that takes some doing when you have an entire faction of awful, creepy people. As I write this, the show is set to hit late next month and we'll see if she stays with the Empire, joins the Rebels, or somehow gets blown out an airlock. What we do know is that Hasbro did a nice job translating her costume with plastic, with the top being a consistent white color (that matches Luke from the same wave) with a mostly good paint job, at least on my sample. The belt is left unpainted at the bottom - I assume it's a one-off - but that would mean she shipped to stores so I could see other examples of her. The rank badge and code cylinders look great, and Hasbro once again nailed a tiny pea-sized facial portrait. It's Denise Gough, but tiny!

In terms of articulation, she breaks no new ground and is perfectly fine. The wrists only swivel - there's no bend - and everything else is on par with other recent The Vintage Collection releases. It's great that Hasbro gave her thigh swivels and ball-jointed hips, but with the long tunic she may not be getting much use out of them. Heck, given the lack of vehicles and playsets, I'd argue most of the articulation is superfluous and were it not for the excellent sculpted detail and top-notch face paint, Hasbro could probably have made her with 5 or 10 joints, and most fans would never notice. Some loud ones would - but the bulk of this figure is being sold to adults, who will either never open her packaging or open her, stand her on a shelf, and never so much as look at the figure again. This is no fault of the figure, she's excellent, it's just the nature of the middle-aged collector to demand every last specification imaginable and then probably not make use of any of it. The quality is as good as you can expect to get these days - she even has a blaster!

With Dedra and a lot of streaming show figures, it's kind of unfortunate that they're all collector figures and there are few reasons for any kid to pick them up with the lack of "toy" elements. The glossy boots look good, the plastic selected for the face isn't too pale, and this is a figure that will probably be remembered as one of Hasbro's many excellent executions in this line. It's just that Andor gets such a small roster of figures that I would not be shocked if most fan ignore her, or forget they bought her, just because she's not part of a greater, growing collection. (I'd say "yet" but let's be honest, we're lucky to get 3 figures a year from any movie or streaming series anymore.)

If you're a fan of the show, and you enjoy Hasbro's excellent 3 3/4-inch action figures, I doubt you'll be disappointed with her. The hair is great, the pants are right, all she needs are some similarly dressed coworkers she can probably barely tolerate and you're all set. If she hits a store near you, consider picking her up to add to your hypothetical Andor collection. And/or cross your fingers Hasbro does some Kenner-style Andor or Rogue One figures before you decide to stop buying toys.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,220: March 4, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,084: Admiral Motti (Imperial Officers set, The Vintage Collection)

ADMIRAL MOTTI Imperial Officers Set
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure Hasbro Pulse / Shop Disney Exclusive
Item No.: No. F8302
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, 3 additional figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $59.99
Availability: October 2023
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Imperial officers fought against Rebel forces in an effort to maintain the Empire’s stronghold over the galaxy. Add these four unique figures to your collection, including two new officer portraits; Admiral Piett (with his admiral rank badge); and -- for the first time in The Vintage Collection -- General Motti. (Stolen from Hasbro marketing copy. It says "General" Motti on their page.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: You'll probably want Admiral Motti. He comes in one of those odd white boxed sets, and as of my writing this isn't planned to be a part of the carded line so far as I know. He's not the first Motti figure - we got one in the CommTech line over 20 years ago, and he got repacked in The Saga Collection as part of a big Imperial Officers gift set. Since then he's been dormant, but now you can get one loaded with articulation. That's good! But he doesn't have that "tugging at the collar" hand we saw previously, so you may want to get both releases. The 2023 one is objectively better overall, but it also illustrates how we've gone forward and back. Yes, the new figure is loaded with articulation and is one of the best-jointed Original Trilogy figures Hasbro has ever made. However, it comes at the expense of a figure's personality, a pose and a simple joint that gave you everything that this character was about. Breathing problems.

If you want a figure to sit at a table (that Hasbro has never made), this is it. He can sit! The skirt piece is a little stiff but he has those new ball-jointed hips that give him a tremendous range of movement. The knees and ankles move, the shoulders move, the elbows move, the wrists bend and swivel. It's a very good mold and one they're using for Piett, Thrawn, and undoubtedly many more figures in the years to come. I'm glad they gave Motti the right rank badge and code cylinders, because some Imperial Officers just get hand-waved as being "good enough" without every last change. (Admittedly, it would be better than nothing.) I should also note that he has no problems holding his blaster, even though we never saw the character with a sidearm.

Hasbro's sculptors did a great job here. The scowl looks amazing, the hair is fantastic, and the uniform is nice and crisp. It's the kind of figure that would make you run back to your giant Death Star playset, if Hasbro made one, which they still have not. While you have to assign the figure's personality by posing the otherwise generic male Imperial stooge body yourself, it's nice to have the option. It's so rare that we get new minor human character in this line that I'd say, overall, it's great. Hasbro needs to maximize its tooling investment, which means that somehow we wind up paying more for more articulation and we trade away a little personality. I think most adult collectors will prefer this The Vintage Collection release, but I'm not going to be getting rid of my The Power of the Force Motti. There's an element of charm I would lose in the upgrade, and I can't have that. As such, I recommend both figures. At current prices, they're still affordable.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,084: November 23, 2023

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,064: Tala Durith (Imperial Officer, The Black Series)

TALA DURITH (Imperial Officer)
The Black Series 2023 Closed Box Line Look Obi-Wan Kenobi Packaging
Item No.: Asst. E8908 No. F7096
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #13 - Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: June 2023
Appearances: Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi

Bio: Obi-Wan Kenobi is set years after the dramatic events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith where Kenobi faced the corruption of his friend and Jedi apprentice, Anakin Skywalker turned Sith Lord Darth Vader. (Taken from the packaging. It's still this not-specific.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Walmart now!

Commentary: Tala Durtith (Imperial Officer) was released pretty recently, and the free market has spoken. For some reason she's packed two per case - an honor usually reserved for the more popular characters - but she's around $16 on Walmart.com and $21.58 on Amazon as of my writing this just before Labor Day. In short, nobody cares - which was also the feeling I had when she went up for pre-order. I wouldn't necessarily blame the character or the quality of the figure, but at $25 fans may need to have a stronger relationship with the character and I am going to predict that at some point in the next 2-3 years you'll find her for sale for $5-$10 at a collectible toy store near you, if not Amazon or eBay. There was nothing wrong with the costume, there was nothing wrong with the actress, but when fans do not truly love a show, and then you start making figures of lesser characters that look a lot like other figures they've bought in the past, it's not hard for people to go "I don't want to give you my money for this one."

And it is important to point out that Hasbro did a good job. The waist joint cut at the belt? Excellent. The thigh cuts under the "skirt"? Great. The knee joints tucked behind the very, very wide pants? Good job. The articulation offers nothing new, but she is expressive and while the elbows are only able to bend 90 degrees it's still pretty good. She has a working holster and a non-removable (but separately molded) hat above a perfectly printed face of Indira Varma.

Hasbro did a nice job with the body sculpt here and when I look at it, I assume we got it so they can use this body for other figures later. (I'm OK with that for 3 3/4-inch figures, but for $25+ premium figures, not so much.) I assume Dedra Meero (or Tobbi Dala, or Ysanne Isard) will be made using this buck in the future because the textures are excellent. She stands well, she doesn't flip over while I type on my desk, the feet are nice and flat - a problem that's been coming up, round-foots fall over - and the joints move smoothly. It's so odd to have a figure like this where I have no real complaints over how they did it, but at $25 I just don't feel like there's any level of measurable excitement despite a high level of quality for what was delivered. Is it me? Am I depressed? Am I just finally out of touch with this hobby enough that I need to be put on the ice floe and shoved off?

I'm finding my fandom is tied to the figures a lot more than I thought, the 6-inch line and a lack of comics or good guide books left me cold and I skipped all of the exclusives for this show because they started off at $27.50 or higher each - it just wasn't worth it for a variant of an existing mold, and that saved me over $300. Looking on the secondary market, most of those figures that came out last year can be had below retail quite cheaply and I still don't want to give them the money - and Teeka is right up my alley. (I did buy the 3 3/4-inch retro and vintage ones, though.) Tala is just too far removed from the formats that got me collecting in the first place, even though she turned out nicely I have zero connection to this figure. I bought the wave, opened her, wrote this review, and at some point I will probably end up giving her away or selling her at a loss just to get the shelf space back. My complaints may be less for the figure itself than the "system" - I got playsets, ships, stands, and other accoutrements that make even the dullest of 3 3/4-inch figures a valuable addition to a collection. But 6-inch figures, the figure has to exist and be of value in and of itself - so unless there's something intrinsically awesome (or rare) about the figure, it's not going to hold its retail price and fans are going to spend their money or efforts elsewhere.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,064: September 14, 2023

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,874: Vice Admiral Rampart (The Black Series)

 

VICE ADMIRAL RAMPART Walmart Exclusive
The Black Series 2020 Line Look Dark Red Star Wars: The Bad Batch Packaging
Item No.: No. F2932
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #08 - Star Wars: The Bad Batch
Includes: Blaster, Mouse Droid
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: October 2021
Appearances: The Bad Batch

Bio: After the fall of the Republic, Vice Admiral Rampart is assigned to oversee the clone troopers on Kamino by Governor Tarkin. Rampart has eagerly taken to his role in the Galactic Empire as it aims to instill order in the galaxy. (Taken from the packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: There are a lot of aliens, pilots, and other good figures that I don't think will be appreciated in their time. This is one of them. Nobody knew who he was when the pre-order went live and after a few appearances on the show, they still don't know much about him! Vice Admiral Rampart is yet another Imperial stooge who is there to hunt down dissenters, but his whole deal is transitioning the Empire away from clones to citizens for some reason. It's a living.

The figure exists probably thanks to its speedy development - the body parts are shared by Tarkin, Thrawn, Veers, and Piett, just to name a few. I assume it's because of the existing body with 26 points of articulation that this figure exists. After all, you don't need to make new bodies like you would for any of the other recurring characters. There are minor differences between the various Imperials in this scale, and the figure has some minor accuracy issues, but it's a good figure. It's just not an accurate figure. The Imperial Navy rank badge is not always a consistent thing in reference books, so it's not surprising Hasbro's figure uses the same one with the Moffs and Admirals and such rather than the one on the show - which has two code cylinders, two blue rectangles, and four red rectangles. The figure has twelve rectangles - six blue, six red. Most fans probably won't notice (or, frankly, care) but it's the kind of thing that could probably have been done correctly and more easily in the 3 3/4-inch line thanks to more torsos and a system developed to plug in different rank pins from about 12 years ago. The Black Series was not created to be as robust nor as scalable.

It's worth noting that his head is new, and it looks like what it is - a realistic interpretation of a stylized, blocky cartoon head. The shin is a little big, the head is a little thick in spots, and it doesn't look like a specific famous person as far as I can tell. The shading and paint is excellent, but since it's not an exact representation of an actual person it's hard to rate well or not. As an action figure, it looks like an action figure. It resembles his TV appearance, and there's not a whole heck of a lot else to say other than they did a good job bringing a cartoon character into a photoreal space.

The blaster pistol is perfectly fine, but for $24.99 - a full $2 over the price increase of $22.99 we got earlier this year - I would have liked to see more new elements, like a retooled torso, given that we'll probably never get another figure of this guy. You do get a repack of the Disney Galaxy's Edge First Order Mouse Droid - the scuffing is so similar, I assume it's meant to be the same exact piece - but it's still not a heck of a lot of extra for your money. Tarkin got an Interrogation Droid, Veers got all that armor plus hats. At $22.99, I wouldn't complain, but at this time I'm not quite sure why some exclusives cost more than others, even at the same store, for varying levels of changes. 

But hey, if you want a Rampart, this is the only game in town right now and my guess is absolutely nobody will be excited for him until a couple of seasons in the show. You know, after he dies, or joins the Rebels or something.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Walmart.com.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,874: November 18, 2021

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 619: General Veers (Battle of Hoth, The Saga Collection)

GENERAL VEERS Battle of Hoth
The Saga Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 85927
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #007
Includes: Helmet, blaster, chest armor, display stand, holographic figure
Action Feature: Remove armor to switch costumes
Retail: $6.99
Availability: February 2007
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: General Maximillian Veers is a stern military man who is determined to do his part in the dismantling of the Rebel Alliance. Following Darth Vader's orders to destroy the Rebel shield and power generators at their secret base, Veers clears the way for Vader's landing on the ice planet Hoth. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Hoth shelf.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: For whatever reason, General Veers got the short end of the stick over the years. This is the first widely-available non-exclusive figure to actually hold the name, and it came out in 2006-- 26 years after the character was named on screen, had significant screen dialogue, and blew up stuff. Sure, we got an "AT-AT Commander" but that's freaking weak. This figure manages to make up for two decades of slighting this poor guy, because it has pretty much everything you could hope for. It has a holster, removable armor, and great articulation. If you need a figure for your AT-AT or for your non-existent Star Destroyer, you're covered either way. The only thing that really isn't perfect about this figure is the articulation (which is good, more on that in a moment) and its height-- he's a very tall Imperial.

The figure's articulation is pretty good, but may not be enough for some fans. The figure has the normal six points of articulation, and adds in wrist joints and swivel elbows. So those of you looking for ball joints (outside the head) are going to be disappointed, but seeing as the figure will spend most of his time standing around, you probably aren't going to be missing much. The deco and texture on the figure is totally appropriate, the likeness is pretty good, and he's actually one of very few figures accessorized exactly as one might hope. Who would have ever guessed that Hasbro would throw in a removable helmet and snap-on armor so you could switch between a traditional Imperial officer or the AT-AT Commander costume in a jiffy. How can you not want this figure?

Collector's Notes: In Canada, as a Sears exclusive around 1981 or so, Kenner packaged the AT-AT Commander figure on a crummy cardback with the name "General Veers." In 2005, Hasbro repackaged the 1997 AT-AT Commander in a Battle Pack with the name "General Veers." (Sure, the box showed the 1980 figure, but eh.) The 2006 General Veers figure did fairly well and sold through without too much kicking and screaming, which is a plus.

Day 619: January 15, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 475: Admiral Motti

ADMIRAL MOTTI Choking Victim
The Saga Collection Diamond Exclusive
Item No.: No. 87268
Number: n/a
Includes: Imperial Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: January 2007
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Second of the triumvirate in command of the Death Star, Motti believes the power of the Death Star dwarfs all others in the universe. He learns the fallacy of this belief at the hand of Darth Vader, to his regret. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: Back in early 2000, Power of the Force figures were surprisingly hard to get and figures like Admiral Motti proved especially difficult to find. So in 2006, Hasbro announced a new pack of Death Star goons, and a reissue (and repaint) of this figure with a better blaster was one of the lucky few to see plastic once more. While it would have been nifty to see a non-choking Motti, the figure still holds up fairly well with an articulated wrist and elbow on his right arm and "basic" articulation elsewhere. He can stand, he's colored to better match his gift set brothers, and his skin is very, very pale. Like, almost minty-green pale. The figure's likeness is pretty good, especially considering he came from an era where an accurate likeness on any human figure was usually coincidental. This is a good one-- if you missed the original release, this is a fine substitute. If you got the original, well, odds are you'll eventually end up with one of these when you buy the gift set. Not that this is a bad thing.

Collector's Notes: Still available, this set is one of those few mind-blowing releases where Hasbro did a fairly awesome job. There are a few places to nitpick, but as far as bang for the buck goes this is one of the finer sets to be had. After all, upon release, a figure costs about $6.99, and this set gets you 7 figures for about $40. Sure, Darth Vader is basically a throwaway, but the rest of the set is totally worth owning.

Day 475: August 24, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 171: Admiral Motti

ADMIRAL MOTTI with Imperial Blaster
Power of the Force Collection
Item No.: Asst. 84185 No. 84366
Number: n/a (or C9)
Includes: Blaster Pistol, CommTech Chip
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Spring 2000
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: The senior Imperial commander in charge of operations on the original Death Star, Admiral Motti often disagreed with the decisions of Darth Vader. His outspokenness almost cost him his life when Vader used the Force to strangle the Admiral into silence. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelf.

Commentary: Along with a new Princess Leia, Admiral Motti was part of the final wave of Power of the Force figures released to retail. The figure was good-- Motti was remembered for two things in Star Wars, sitting and being strangled. While the figure can't sit, he can act like he's being strangled with an elbow joint. The figure also has a jointed wrist and the usual compliment of joints, making him (for his day) a pretty spiffy release. The uniform matches other Imperials of his day, and while there's not a lot of detail, he was quite popular on release to the point of being deemed a "rare" figure. The figure has an excellent likeness and six years later, I can safely say it was one of the line's earlier high points.

Collector's Notes: While a lot of fans on eBay are seemingly stuck in 2000 with their opening auction bids, the figure can be had for about $10 or less. He's also being reissued (identical, I think) in an upcoming Death Star Briefing gift set which is exclusive to any outlet that sells products through Previews/Diamond. This figure is more or less worth owning if you have a need for choke victims and Imperials, and odds are you fit one of those two criteria.

Day 171: October 24, 2006