Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,949: Ki-Adi-Mundi

KI-ADI-MUNDI Battle on Mygeeto
30th Anniversary Collection Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87503 No. 87815
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, 4 other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99-$24.99
Availability: Summer 2008
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: As a stronghold of the InterGalactic Banking Clan, the crystalline world of Mygeeto is caught in the maelstrom of the Clone Wars. It is where much of the Separatist movement’s wealth is kept, and so it is targeted by the Republic: gain control of Mygeeto, and the Separatists lose crucial funding. Ki-Adi-Mundi is stationed on the icy planet with the mission of wresting it from the Separatists. Together with Clone Commander Bacara, Ki-Adi-Mundi and the Galactic Marines battle the droid army in fierce urban fighting, pushing forward against a grim onslaught of super battle droids and enormous tri-droids.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: One of the key arguments about any feature documenting these toys is "Is this different enough?" and the answer is usuall "sure, why not?"  Ki-Adi-Mundi, at first glance, looks the same as the 2005 release from Revenge of the Sith, but this late-run 2008 Mygeeto release has a few key differences.  The facial expression is painted in a way which just happens to look a little more intense, the tunic is splattered in hard-to-see dark brown mud splotches, and the lightsaber itself is now a one-piece weapon and mercifully dropped the removable blade gimmick which minimizes breakage.  I really liked the 2005 release, but the construction is better on this one overall... plus he has some awesome clone and droid figures.   If you're a new-ish collector just wanting a quality set of 5 prequel-based figures, this is a worthwhile Battle Pack to buy.

Collector's Notes: The "Battle on Mygeeto" Battle Pack was a very late release in the line, I saw a couple at Toys R Us and of course Entertainment Earth, and that was it.   The set had the very first super-articulated Bacara as well as two totally unique droids in it, so if it's still cheap on eBay and people haven't yet realizes that they missed it, I suggest buying it.  $30 or less for this set is a total bargain for the quality of what you get relative to what you pay for at Target these days.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,949: December 3, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,706: Ki-Adi-Mundi

KI-ADI-MUNDI Jedi
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 94736 No. 20803
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW25
Includes: Stand, lightsaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: Fall 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Ki-Adi-Mundi is part of the massive attack to destroy a Geonosis factory churning out dangerous new battle droids. Damaged by enemy fire, the Jedi's transport crashes short of the designated landing point. As he pushes forward, Ki-Adi-Mundi and his squad enter a cave where they are attacked by Geonosian drones. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' former kitchen.

Commentary: This Ki-Adi-Mundi probably has had the longest shelf life of any version of the character. Since his introduction about a year ago, he's still fairly easy to get-- the only exception might be the original Phantom Menace release due to its series' unprecedented level of distribution. This one is slightly better though, and I would say it's the best in terms of durability and play. Don't get me wrong, the Revenge of the Sith one is good, but this one's lightsaber is less fragile and I'm delighted by the robe design incorporating soft plastic and cloth, which allows him to sit fairly well. Or it would, if the back part of his robes were softer-- as it is, he can't fit in a Jedi Starfighter with the canopy closed, so I'd say he's merely good and not great.

With 12 points of articulation-- no ankles-- this is one fine figure. The joints integrate nicely into the design, the deco is good, and the features closely resemble the animation model. He's got a very distinctive and kind face on the show, and on the whole Hasbro replicated it here with flying colors. It's possible that if his head were painted its color rather than molded in it, it might look even better-- but as it is? It's very good. It would be nice to see his hands a less pink color, but still, it's a reasonably minor complaint when the overall figure displays nicely, has a good lightsaber, and show signs of Hasbro trying new things in its toy engineering. I might not suggest that you overpay for this one, but if you see it you may as well spring the eight bucks.

Collector's Notes: I see this one fairly regularly, which is nice because it's better than "What do you mean you weren't at the store that one weekend? Well, it's gone forever now." As such you should be able to procure one fairly cheaply.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,706: December 28, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,627: Ki-Adi-Mundi Concept

KI-ADI-MUNDI Concept Design
The Legacy Collection Droid Factory Figure
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 91435
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD38
Includes: Lightsaber, droid part
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: October 2009
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith concept art

Bio: In this Episode III concept art by Derek Thompson, Ki-Adi-Mundi wears a cape and has an eyepatch over one eye. This more battle-weary appearance was designed to indicated that the Clone Wars have been raging for years and are taking their toll on the Jedi. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' former back yard air conditioner unit.

Commentary: One really neat (but abandoned) concept for Revenge of the Sith wast o have beaten, haggard-looking Jedi running around showing off the scars of the Clone Wars. One of the really awesome designs revealed to fans in 2005 was Ki-Adi-Mundi missing an eye, with an added bandolier and a unique new Jedi outfit. Back in 2005 the idea of getting a line of figures based on concept art again seemed unlikely, but from 2007-2009 we received about 20 of 'em. How awesome is that? I'm really thrilled this was one of their new designs, because it reminds me a lot of the kind of world-building we saw out of Kenner in the 1980s and 1990s with ALIENS, Robocop, Batman, and other lines-- except that it came out of Lucasfilm. The figure really does look like it belongs in the movies, and has some of the best (if not the best) articulation of any Ki-Adi-Mundi figure to date.

The outfit (and the sculpt) are unique to this release, so I'd say you should get it. Concept figures belong in any collector's stash, and this was an extra-awesome design that really does belong in a toy line. I hope Hasbro can find more adventure-oriented action-packed figure designs to adapt to the toy line, because this was a great way to expand the toy universe while giving collectors something that kids would probably like, too. Well done!

Collector's Notes: Despite being hard-to-find, a lot of figures are basically worthless. This is one of them. It came out at $8 and today... that's about what it'll set you back on eBay. You can probably get it cheaper if you luck into a lot. Get it if you can, it'll go great with your gauntlet-bedecked 2009 Plo Koon. This is one of my favorite figures since the movie series ended, and we've had a lot of great figures since 2005. Do yourself a favor, get one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,627: September 8, 2011

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 1,043: Ki-Adi-Mundi

KI-ADI-MUNDI with Sharad Hett
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87775
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #16
Includes: 2 figures, 2 lightsabers, mask, hat, breathing mask
Action Feature: removable mask, mask
Retail: $11.99
Availability: January 2009
Appearances: Star Wars comic series


Bio: Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi is sent to Tatooine to find the self-exiled Jedi Master Sharad Hett, who now lives among the fierce Tusken Raiders. As Sharad tells his anguished story to Ki, the assassin Aurra Sing locates the TRusken camp - and brings deadly trouble to the two Jedi and the Sand People. (Taken from the toy's cardback.)

Image: Adam's TV tray.

Commentary: Considering he didn't have a whole heck of a lot to do in the movies, this makes at least five releases of Ki-Adi-Mundi in action figure form. Based on an Expanded Universe appearance from around Episode I, he has a purple lightsaber (as the whole red/green/blue thing had not yet been established) and is based slightly on an earlier release. His head is similar to his previous releases, but the legs are from the pretty spiffy Revenge of the Sith figure. With 12 points of articulation (no ankles) he's one of the better Jedi figures to come out of Hasbro, in particular because he utilizes a mix of soft goods and plastic for his costume. This allows for better leg movement. His hat fits perfectly on his head, as does his breathing mask. Really, this is a heck of a nice figure, even if there's not much in the way of deco to praise. He looks great, and is one of the better comic pack figures out of Hasbro this year. If you enjoyed the Outlander story arc, or just like a nifty Jedi wearing something other than robes, this is a figure you'd be a fool to miss.

Collector's Notes: Since its release this one has been somewhat hard to find at retail. Plans call for it being repackaged in the red line look in the near future, so variant hunters, you might want to get on top of that.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,043: June 12, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 399: Ki-Adi-Mundi

KI-ADI-MUNDI Jedi Master
Revenge of the Sith Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 85174 No. 85361
Number: III-29
Includes: Stand, Lightsaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.24-$6.99
Availability: April 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Ki-Adi-Mundi is a member of the Jedi Council and a Republic General in the Clone Wars. Trained in the Jedi arts by master Yoda himself, Ki-Adi-Mundi leads clone troopers against Separatist forces on the planet Mygeeto. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' back yard.

Commentary: Fourth time is the charm! Ki-Adi-Mundi had a figure for each previous prequel, plus those Jedi Council 3-packs-- all which were basically the same mold with minor modifications. So this version is the first 100% new one since 1999, and man, is it great. The figure is close to super-articulated, but not quite there-- he has 12 joints (no ankles) and the cut elbows rather than ball elbows. The detailing is great, the soft goods are pretty good, the sculpt is wonderful. The one thing I don't much like is there's still a plastic "skirt" piece over the legs that gets in the way of articulation, which seems dumb as the figure has that cloth robe covering that part of the body so you can't even see it.

Collector's Notes: Just a fun aside-- my Ki-Adi-Mundi figures are cursed. My Episode II one had its lightsaber break when the figure fell off a shelf a few years ago, and my Episode III one was fine until the day after I shot this photograph. The lightsaber is fragile, so be sure to take care with this and all other removable blade figures. This figure hasn't been rereleased, except for once-- in a Kay-Bee exclusive multipack sold in 2005. The multipack didn't have any exclusive elements to it, as everything had been available separately in the past. As such, if you want this figure-- and if you like Jedi, you do want this figure-- just get the carded one. It's cheap. (MORE IMAGES)

Day 399: June 9, 2007

Figure Of The Day: Day 201: Ki-Adi-Mundi

KI-ADI-MUNDI with Lightsaber
Episode I Collection 3
Item No.: Asst. 84123 No. 84105
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, CommTech Chip
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: May 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: As part of the twelve-member Jedi Council gathered on Coruscant at the temple of the Jedi, Ki-Adi-Mundi must help must help make many fateful decisions as the council is called upon to consider the invasion of Naboo and the future of young Anakin Skywalker. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's toy shelves.

Commentary: Before you say Ki-Adi-Mundi has the wrong colored lightsaber, let me say both that you're right and you're wrong. Before Episode II, for some reason Lucasfilm Licensing allowed Jedi Masters and Knights to have a whole rainbow of lightsaber colors, as seen in the comics and video games. Plo Koon had a yellowish green weapon, Saesee Tiin also had a purple one, and even Mace Windu's was blue. Ki-Adi-Mundi and his purple lightsaber debuted in 1998 in the Star Wars ongoing series (which eventually was renamed Star Wars: Republic) so in the context of Episode I and its merchandising, this is totally 100% correct. Like many other oddities in the mythos and its licensed stories, George Lucas changed his mind and this altered a few other tidbits as time went on.

The figure itself is on the lower grades of what was available at the time. A large number of Episode I Jedi Knights had articulated wrists, elbows, and other "new"-to-us joints which really made the then-new figure line sizzle. Unfortunately Ki-Adi-Mundi was given but six joints, making him not so much a step forward as he was simply more of the same. The deco was good, the paint typically turned out nicely, and the figure aged well-- there wasn't a lot of "paint molting" problems, stability problems, or other annoyances of time. Ki-Adi-Mundi hasn't really had any bad figures, and since this one ties in more to the Expanded Universe than the films, collectors may wish to track it down.

Collector's Notes: In 2002, a revised Ki-Adi-Mundi was sold using this mold and a retooled arm with a magnet and added articulation, as well as the now "corrected" blue lightsaber. In 2005, an all-new super-poseable version of the Jedi was released for Revenge of the Sith. In between, a Jedi High Council version was produced which was, well, OK.

Day 201: November 23, 2006