Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,355: Mandalorian Privateer (Playset Pack-In, The Vintage Collection)

MANDALORIAN PRIVATEER Vintage Debut
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Playset Pack-In Action Figure
Item No.: No. F9260
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #326
Includes: Blaster, jet pack
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $59.99
Availability: November 2024
Appearances: The Mandalorian

Bio: After being seized by a strike team lead by Din Djarin and Bo-Katan Kryze, a team of Mandalorian privateers led by Axe Woves now commands Moff Gideon's Imperial Light Cruiset. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: This Mandalorian Privateer figure was released a couple of years ago and I opened the box right away, because I wanted to try out the Imperial Light Cruiser playset. Then I just kept putting off opening him. He's not a bad figure, but with the many blue Mandos like the Mandalorian Fleet Commander [FOTD #3,243] I already had more than a few figures with a similar - but not identical - configuration. Hasbro does a great job repurposing its tooling like the show reuses costume parts, but as a toy collector it can be a bit much to keep track of all the variants when the extent of enjoyment may be saying "yup, this one's different" before putting it away.

He has the same basic configuration as the commander, but many of the colors are shifted around. The thighs are now silver, the shins are now blue, the chest and shoulders are now also blue, and the helmet is a little more blue. They use the same helmet, jet pack, and blaster while sharing the same costume molds - which makes sense, it's practical. The same belt is used, which means you get no holster here - be sure to store the blaster in his hands. The figure features the modern hip joints, meaning you'll have an easier time getting him to stand or sit. His shoulder armor is connected to his body, so be careful when posing the arms - it will bend those elements up a bit.

Hasbro also made a 6-inch Privateer, with slight changes to the costume configuration - notably blue thighs and a stripe on the helmet. I doubt it will make it out as a 3 3/4-inch figure at this point, because it seems the mania from doing every last repaint may have subsided for now. If it didn't come out in the wake of movie product, I assume the appetite for it (especially at $20) has diminished and this is an army people may no longer feel the need to build.

It's a good figure. As a playset pack-in, it's a pretty good choice - you can army-build it, or customize it, or sell it if you bought several playsets to make a big diorama. But I didn't find it to be compelling, only because we have so many nameless Mandalorians at this point that without new colors (or a face) it's hard to find a reason to open these. Well, beyond writing this review. The good news is that the entire package is quite cheap on eBay thanks to an appearance at Ross, so you can get yours for less than I paid for mine.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth. Reportedly it showed up at Ross last year, although I never found any there.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,355: June 18, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,352: The Mandalorian and Grogu (The Vintage Collection)

THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU Gear Galorian
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Deluxe Action Figure
Item No.: No. G2532
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #395
Includes: Jet pack, pistol, rifle, knife, sword, Grogu shoulder sitter
Action Feature: Grogu slots on backpack, pistol fits in holster
Retail: $27.99
Availability: March 2026
Appearances: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Bio: The Mandalorian and his young apprentice Grogu embark on a thrilling adventure as they travel 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 eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: This gets long, but it's the best version of this character yet - and you're charged accordingly. You can pose him with a sniper rifle. His son can hang on his back. He has an extra hand, and an alternate sword, and a knife I assume we'll all lose. Considering version 1.0 was $12.99, $27.99 is a lot to ask. At least you know it has more stuff, and a revised sculpt, and the articulation is as good as Hasbro ever gives us at this scale.

This The Mandalorian and Grogu set for this year's movie occupies a territory between "the best" and "boring." I waited to open it until after the movie. I didn't grasp the significance of the accessories being new or if the armor had many changes until seeing the movie. I can tell you that this seems to have a lot of new sculpted parts, with a chest plate bigger than TVC #312A. The helmet has some added grooves in it. The thigh plates aren't the precise same shape or color. But there's absolutely no way you could tell without a side-by-side comparison, and Hasbro has made so many versions of Mando that I have lost count. I haven't reviewed or opened them all, despite each new release having something unique about it. If what you had was amazing, and what you are being asked to buy yet again is slightly more amazing, it might be hard to spend the money unless you demand The Very Best.

Little tiny details in the Beskar armor are indeed barely changed, but it seems that Hasbro had the budget to do a new mold of a guy and spent it on this rather than tweaking and repackaging an existing figure. It's a very good mold, but I imagine long-haul collectors will not appreciate the fact that they're being asked to spend $28 on a figure they may have six or seven other versions of at home. They might appreciate the chest plate is bigger and covers more of the torso. But they may also not have even been aware the previous one was in any way coming up short. Extremely online collectors who need to have the very best version are going to find it here, while those of us who were happy with what we have at home just wanted something new.

A Grogu figure that comes in the package is arguably the biggest selling point. This little guy has a hole in his chest that fits on a large peg on Mando's jet pack. It would be disingenuous to call it a separate figure as it can't stand and both of them look silly when separated. Heh olds on incredibly well, and Grogu's ear and face paint both look fantastic. The sculpting on his robe looks good, plus his tiny hands are holding specific parts of Mando's armor. Hasbro did a nice job with the assets available to them. Grogu's neck can turn, but he has no additional moving parts.

Mando's new gear is specific to the movie, with a sniper rifle, his classic pistol, a sword from the arena fight, and a knife. I am confident I am going to lose one or more of these over time. He also has an alternate right hand with an extended trigger finger for resting the rifle over his shoulder. The hand is very similar, includes extra paint, and requires assembly - so it adds a fair bit to the cost of a figure. (This is $8 more than a current standard release and you could convince me the extra stuff and Grogu is worth $8 for those needing the very best.)

I don't believe this is a great use of the budget, as a pared-down $20 figure probably would have sold better and fans might not have even realized they were missing the extra stuff. He has no problems holding or holstering any of his parts, and it would seem Hasbro went out of their way to make an exquisitely detailed figure with the best-yet articulation and gear for toy photographers. Is it fun for collectors? I don't think that was ever the intent - they know this item is going to sell on Amazon and would be the most popular character, so we're getting the very best figure set that the price point could warrant.

The sword is perfect for his fight with Rotta the Hutt. (There is no Rotta the Hutt figure to buy from Hasbro right now.) The leg articulation is great and would fit perfectly in a ship. (Hasbro doesn't have any ships scaled for this figure in its product line right now - but you may have an old one at home.) It's a weird place to be in when we're getting the top-of-the-line figure like this, but it's kind of a letdown because there are no dioramas to build, no vehicles to pilot, indeed no toys to play with anymore. This guy exists as a souvenir from a very good movie. I suspect more figures are coming, and sure he can pal around with the forthcoming Zeb, but there's no "collection" of stuff to go with the movie. Which dropped to #3 in week 2. Unfortunate - I really do wonder if a massive toy launch with creatures and ships might have helped capture the public's interest, or if what is effectively a season 5 pay-per-view special of a TV show couldn't muster that level of enthusiasm.

I have no complaints about Mando's articulation. It's super easy to get a good pose out of him, although balancing him may take some time. On the bright side, his hands can both grip the rifle and look awesome doing it. Hasbro really did a bang-up job carving out the joints in a way that might make you ask "why can't the other figures do this, too?" and I don't have an answer for you. All I can say is that they really went to town making sure Mando's hip joints, thigh swivels, knees, elbows, shoulders, and wrists all function well enough for an arena combatant with nobody to fight.

If you have no Mando figures, this is the one to get. I'm really happy with the quality of paint, the range of movement, and the amount of gear that you get. I also would like to see if Hasbro could see what they can do to bring costs down so more fans can enter the hobby and participate with the rest of us. In the early 1990s, the secondary market prices would squeeze out fans who weren't in early enough - and we're seeing that again. For those of you seeking incremental steps toward perfection? You need this. For newbies? This is very, very good. But the rest of us know the score - Hasbro will find ways to alter the same costume and improve it, again and again, and we'll probably have another version of this guy if and when a new season or movie see release. That is the way. And if you're happy with what you have at home, keep being happy unless you want to use this specific gear for him to take on the various Remnant figures we got so far.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth. I have found this figure at local sellers of Hasbro wares. This is a good thing for new fans wanting to jump in, but given that scarcity (artificial or otherwise) has driven purchases since 1995? Maybe we're seeing the end of mass interest in The Vintage Collection.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,352: June 9, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,346: Mandalorian Shriek-Hawk (Green and Yellow Chest Armor, Blue Right Shoulder, The Vintage Collection)

MANDALORIAN SHRIEK-HAWK Green and Yellow Chest Armor, Tam Scarf
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Amazon Exclusive Special Action Figure Set
Item No.: No. G0265
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Four figures, four jet packs, four knives, five blasters
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $64.99
Availability: October 2024
Appearances: The Mandalorian

Bio: The Shriek-Hawks are a team of Mandalorian specialists skilled in jetpack operations as well as scouting and rescue missions. (Taken from the packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: It's kind of a bummer that the lady Mandalorian Shriek-Hawk and her pals weren't bigger hits. Hasbro did a pretty good job with the set, riffing on its existing figure molds much as Lucasfilm iterated on its existing armor molds to make new costumes. Heck, I'll even say I'm mildly annoyed people weren't bigger fans of the third season of the show - I rewatched it not-too-recently and had a pretty good time. Really the only thing that bugged me was a big Mandalorian showdown for leadership of a clan in what seemed to be a Los Angeles park. Otherwise, we got a pretty solid little show filled with new faces and the faceless, nameless armored dudes. Really, the only thing anybody did wrong here was wait this long to make this kind of a show. In the 2020s, we've had a lot of Mandalorians so making a nameless $65 gift set for characters with little personality and few appearances may make for tough sells. At least they also make for cool figures.

The leftmost figure in the box has no given name as far as I can tell, so really all we have to go from is the packaging phhoto, some stills, and the "wow" factor. I think this figure would've been a hit in stores, even if she is a modified Bo-Katan Kryze costume. The holsters, skirt, and scarf are new with the rest being mostly reused elements. New paint goes a long way, and with her colors resembling a pastiche of Boba and Jango Fett suits there's a lot to like. The slightly scuffed helmet looks good, and the scarf seems less like an affectation of a film professor wearing such a garment in Tucson when it's 100 degrees out. (You know who you are.) The figure doesn't have the rifle from the illustration per se, but she does have a cool blaster pistol and a knife. She has no problems holding the gear or holstering the blaster, and the jetpack fits in her back socket nicely. I'm not exactly a fan with a super high bar to clear here, if the figure has the correct colors and can use her accessories I'm a happy camper.

The tiny jetpack is amusing in light of current global fashion trends, where tiny Loungefly or other bags have supplanted the purse as a popular go-to can't-miss accessory for about half of the population. I can't help but wonder why the other half of the Mandalorians wouldn't want less weight, but maybe there's something about fuel efficiency I don't know. It is cast in green with an orange stripe and some silver enhancements.

I really dig how the coloring of a lot of these guys seems to just barely nod to things like Kenner's original Boba Fett, what with the orangey/yellow gauntlet, the red gauntlet, the green chest plate, and the blue body suit. It's a subtle nod, and the mishmashed armor seems to be consistent with what we've seen with a lot of other not-rich armored characters on the show. Articulation is on par with other modern figures, complete with the improved ball-jointed hips. Sure, the skirt sort of gets in the way, but I don't think she's in much danger of having a vehicle in which to sit at this point. For a figure that'll look cool standing around, Hasbro did a great job. I wish there were more toys for her to mess with, but apparently someone decided "adult mature collectors" want their little plastic men to be all serious and in packaging and not leading around weird flying monsters inside vehicles or other cool stuff, which is unfortunate. Hasbro did a bang-up job here, and I'd see no reason for them to go back and give us a do-over other than to appeal to that ever-diminishing "I only want single-carded figures" contingent. If you just want a figure that will look awesome in nearly any display, this is a set worth your dollars. Especially since it seems to be marked down on the regular.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Amazon.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,346: May 21, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,325: Mandalorian Shriek-Hawk (Blue and Brown Chest Armor, Pale Yellow Right Shoulder, The Vintage Collection)

MANDALORIAN SHRIEK-HAWK Blue and Brown Chest Armor, Pale Yellow Right Shoulder
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Amazon Exclusive Special Action Figure Set
Item No.: No. G0265
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Four figures, four jet packs, four knives, five blasters
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $64.99
Availability: October 2024
Appearances: The Mandalorian

Bio: The Shriek-Hawks are a team of Mandalorian specialists skilled in jetpack operations as well as scouting and rescue missions. (Taken from the packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: Haven't I seen this Mandalorian Shriek-Hawk before? Yes, and no. The set uses new and old molds with new coloring, much like the prop department on the show. There are instantly recognizable elements from the show, along with some new bits. If you want to skip it, be my guest, but it's a unique (if nameless) figure.

In this 4-pack's third Mando from the left, you'll get a figure with The Book of Boba Fett Boba boots, and the bulk of the rest of the figure is based on Din Djarin Mando bits like you saw on Mandalorian Fleet Commander [FOTD #3,243] a couple of years back. The helmet seems to be a good match, too, as is the backpack. This figure also has a unique belt/holster part. I feel like a kid doing a book report from a cover, but it's worth noting the helmet is blue with a gray stripe on the top and very dark gray around the shiny black visor. I also dug the silver left gauntlet and yellow right gauntlet. It has a similar flavor to other figures, but it's unique enough to be interesting and/or somebody's 501st fan character. Articulation is on par with recent releases, as no new bits were constructed here.

The backpack is a redeco of the Fleet Commander, with a Death Watch Mandalorian [FOTD #2,926] double-grip rifle and a pistol with a unique closed trigger guard. He also has a vibroblade which I am fairly sure has never been used with another figure.

Hasbro delivered the goods here, trading on what the prop department did best. I wouldn't say it's mind-blowing in 2026 (or 2024) but it does provide us with new characters that appeared on screen without incorporating a lot of new parts. That's worth something, but at the same time, I'd be just as happy if this guy had half the joints at a lower price. It's a very deluxe figure for a fairly insignificant character, and at markdown prices is a real gem. I'd say give it a look. If you need more Mandos - and at this point, that feels less likely - get this set.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Amazon.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,325: March 5, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,316: Mandalorian Shriek-Hawk (Brown Chest Armor/No Rangefinder, The Vintage Collection)

MANDALORIAN SHRIEK-HAWK Brown Chest Armor, No Rangefinder
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Amazon Exclusive Special Action Figure Set
Item No.: No. G0265
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Four figures, four jet packs, four knives, five blasters
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $64.99
Availability: October 2024
Appearances: The Mandalorian

Bio: The Shriek-Hawks are a team of Mandalorian specialists skilled in jetpack operations as well as scouting and rescue missions. (Taken from the packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: I had this Mandalorian Shriek-Hawk for over a year before opening the set - there's a lot of toy action to absorb! Each figure has individually customized armor and stands out as an individual, but none of them have names or individual packaging. It's one big set, which is kind of a neat throwback to the Kenner era when you got names like "Rancor Keeper" or "A-Wing Fighter Pilot" because nobody wanted to dig deeper. Four figures share this name, and this is the one on the far right of the boxed set.

This figure has brown chest armor, a green left shoulder, a yellowish right shoulder, and Kenner-ish red and gold-ish gauntlets. The arms and legs share elements with Axe Woves and Mando, the chest armor seems to be unique, the helmet is unique, and the belt and codpiece are also unique. The helmet has a unique cracked - but articulated - rangefinder, which makes this guy stand out. Since all of the figures in this set have blue helmets and generally brown and gray bodies, it feels like a group but not a terribly cohesive one. And since there aren't a ton of clear images (or names) to easily compare costumes to figure, I'll leave it at "this is good enough for now." It might be old age, but it certainly feels like I'm at a point in my life where I can say "close enough, let's move on to something new next."

This figure has a distinctive holster, plus a vibro-blade... or kinfe... or whatever it is. The set on has one big rifle to share among them, which is a shame. It's a neat figure, but not one that stood out or one that was featured in a book or trading card or anything I've come across to make me bounce up and down, point, and demand it.

Hasbro probably got to this as quickly as possible, and that was a solid 18 months after they appeared on TV. It's an afterthought of a set. That's a bad choice - these figures aren't a spoiler, and they probably would have made people more excited for the show (and toys) had they been released before we knew they weren't anything super duper special. Imagination is worth a lot, and giving fans something to dream about is a lot more exciting and engaging than giving fans confirmed nobodies down the road.

See also, locking up the Rey/Luke story between The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. It's more rewarding for all parties to do something like a Sneak Preview wave, because - honestly - anybody that sees the bulk of figures and go "you ruined the show" needs to be bonked upside the head. Sure, a presumed-dead guy coming back is a spoiler. Yes, a decapitated figure or maybe even a disguised figure could be something that ruins the fun. But after 10 years of Disney-era Star Wars in live action, I don't think a single toy would tell me something that would in any way alter my enjoyment of the movie or TV show. Quite the opposite - getting to gawk over and speculate about a costume provides much more when it comes to anticipating the show, plus I'll even keep an eye out for it on-screen. Hopefully Hasbro and Lucasfilm can get more things like this out prior to airdate, because they'll only enrich the fan experience. The "no spoilers, I don't even want to see a trailer" crew can't be reasoned with nor should anyone try. They're lost. Make money off the rest of us. But I digress.

The figure's boots look great, the armor is nicely dented, and the armor is incredibly clean. There aren't any real signs of wear in the deco, and since we never really dwell on it, it looks fine. It'll be great in that diorama you won't build, because there's no actual shriek-hawks to herd or spires to climb, or cities to fly around in. A figure without vehicles, or playsets, or other toys to interact with can still look amazing, but I'd say it may never be fun. He can stand, he can hold his gear, and he looks incredibly distinctive. I love the glossy visor! But other than hanging out by the Armorer's Forge, I can't do much else with him. If you don't have thousands of figures, this is a good set and Amazon marked it down - it's great for the price. If you've got too much stuff, well.... this won't help that.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Amazon.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,316: February 3, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,296: The Mandalorian (Blue Tech Speeder Bike / Epic World of Action)

THE MANDALORIAN Biker
Epic World of Action Power the Force Speeder Bikes
Item No.: Asst. G0363 No. G0372
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blue Darksaber, rocket, blue launcher, tech decobike
Action Feature: Bike rolls on wheels, removable launcher, launching rocket
Retail: $19.99
Availability:  August 2025
Appearances: The Mandalorian

Bio: The Mandalorian traversed Tatooine on a speeder bike, a vehicle capable of high-speed travel that requires skill and fast reflexes. (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: Sharing a SKU with the first version, this is a variant deco and package refresh. The Mandalorian (Speeder Bike) is part of the yellow-carded kiddo vehicles which were largely passed over by big box stores. This version is the Epic World of Action Power the Force version. For those just joining us: Disney pushed Power the Force (no "of") as a focus for product and marketing Star Wars in 2025, which was meant to emphasize tech and power. Very little of this is actually visible to the end consumer, and this may be one of very few places the slogan appears on actual product. Hasbro took its plain The Mandalorian Speeder Bike [FOTD #3,212] from earlier this year and made it "powered" with some blue. The figure itself is largely identical, save for a Darksaber. Both the figure and the Darksaber were packaged together as The Mandalorian [FOTD #3,238] earlier this year - and that one has a blaster. There's a lot of figural overlap with some accessory overlap, so depending on your goals you might not actually want or need to buy all these toys to own all the unique parts.

What makes this set unique? The vehicle. Mando still has excellent detail and articulation with a good range of movement for the asking price. The shoulders, elbows, knees, hips, and neck all have a great range of movement with a bladed energy weapon that easily fits in his hand. The silver painted armor looks bright and the various belts and bandoliers look good, but get a little in the way of the hip joints. He can sit on the bike, but he tends to hover a bit when his hands are on the handlebars and feet are on the pedals. On his own, though? Great figure. If I were Hasbro I'd have slapped some energy crackles or blue light on the armor to make him stand out.

But the bike! I saw this at New York Toy Fair 2025 and thought both "that's kind of goofy" and also "I must have it, nobody is going to buy this" and I think I was right. I suspect Ollie's or Ross will have it, right now you can buy it online (click our sponsor links, or don't) and it's a nice chunk of plastic for $20. The bike sculpt has a great wrapped-up seat, there are rolling wheels, and htere's a charming clear blue rocket launcher with a big red rocket. It stands out, it looks neat, and if you hate it? It's removable. You can place it on any of a number of sockets on the bike if you like, but not on the peg behind the seat. I assume it serves a purpose, but what? I couldn't tell you. The deco on the bike is similar to the first release, but you'll notice blue circuit patterns on the nose and on the sides in the back. I really couldn't make them out until I opened the package. In low light they're hard to see, and subtle - and if you hate it, likely easily removed. I think it's interesting as a toy gimmick, something that probably exists mostly to please someone in marketing that the customer nor the designer would have asked for. It makes little sense on the product in and of itself, but that's what makes knowing it's a tie-in to a marketing initiative interesting. We have a reason for it, but is it a good reason? I'm inclined to say "they're trying too hard." I would've loved just general energy blasts indicating a power surge, because blue circuitry isn't something I connect with the product or the show. It's a refresh, but given Target only carried the Speeder Bike (and not Mando's bike) I can't imagine it made a lick of difference anywhere in the United States toy market.

It's Thanksgiving week, and maybe you're shopping for somebody. I think a kid might get a kick out of it because Mando is a good figure, and the blue Darksaber looks neat, and I really like the blue rocket launcher. It's weird. It's likely not to be something you're going to see again in a future product. It feels like a toy in the way that Kenner's 1990s Batman toys had odd thematic accessories and matching suits, and those were a big hit. I wouldn't say no to an even weirder version of this, but this middle-ground item might not push everybody's buttons. I really like that blue launcher, which is a silly reason to spend $20, but this is day #3,296. All of this has gotten pretty silly a long time ago.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,296: November 25, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,243: Mandalorian Fleet Commander (The Vintage Collection)

MANDALORIAN FLEET COMMANDER Live Version
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. E7763 No. F9782
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #309
Includes: Alternate helmet head, blaster, rocket pack
Action Feature: Removable backpack, alternate head
Retail: $16.99
Availability: April 2024
Appearances: The Mandalorian

Bio: Serving under mercenary-turned-privateer Axe Woves, the Mandalorian Fleet Commander sits at the helm of a captured Imperial light cruiser. (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: Since the prequels, it seemed like we rarely get a nameless non-trooper character. The Mandalorian Fleet Commander got some actual face time and got to do some stuff. He got a LEGO figure, this figure, and a The Black Series figure. But, as far as I know, no name. I'd love to know if there's a story there - were there some cut scenes like with Ric Olie? Did someone in licensing just like the deco a lot and pushed it out on product? Was it a pretty easy figure to make because of shared parts with other figures? My guess, the answer, is "yes."

At least we got him before the window of opportunity closed. The helmet has an articulated rangefinder, and a blaster that fits nicely in his hand. There is no holster.

Hasbro did a pretty nice job here, but I do wish he had a vehicle to go with him. The body seems to be largely shared with other figures, like the Mandalorian Judge, and you can see how Lucasfilm has been sharing and repainting costume bits for the new era of series. The shin armor was used for various Imperial pilots and the Shoretroopers, too - and it looks fine. We're getting a lot of blue and gray Mandalorians, and it seems to finally be slowing down a bit - but in 2024 we got this guy. The head is swappable, and not a removable helmet. It seems a little small for the neck and body, but has excellent detail and fairly good face paint. The sculpted hair texture seems pretty good and is part of the head, not a molded wig.

I'm not sure if I like the paint. I love the metallic blue on the shins and forearms, but it doesn't carry over to the helmet or jet pack. The metallic paint really makes the sculpted detail pop, and I'd love to see this kind of paint dished out where appropriate. It looks good. The armor has a red light element, but is otherwise rather plain. It matches the show nicely, but I would've loved to see a few more decals or other markings to make it stand out. I'd say Hasbro did a nice job, and the articulation is similarly on par with most modern figures. The range of motion is good, the hands can grip the blaster, everything works rather well. For a figure with a lot of shared parts, the figure comes together nicely.

I'm glad Hasbro got behind selling armored Mandalorian figures, but without vehicles or playsets it feels increasingly hollow. It would be great to have a ship bridge playset or some fighters to pilot, just because eventually you realize you have a dozen blue armored dudes who look somewhat similar and not much for them to do but stand on a shelf or exist in the packaging. A good figure is a wonderful thing to have, but eventually you need them to have more to do than merely exist. Hopefully we'll get some real variety with The Mandalorian & Grogu next year, because while this is a good figure, I don't know that I want any more of this particular suit of armor in these particular colors. Unless it's Retro, in which case, bring it on. I've got all the $10 bills for Retro.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,243: May 22, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,240: The Mandalorian (Epic World of Action Mech Force Suit)

THE MANDALORIAN Mech Force Suit
Epic World of Action "Power the Force" Mech Figure
Item No.: Asst. G0776 No. G1157
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Cape, Mech, small gray pistol, big blue blaster
Action Feature: Removable cape, mech opens, blue blaster mounts on gauntlet
Retail: $19.99
Availability: March 2025
Appearances: n/a
Bio: Level up to ultimate bounty hunter status with The Mandalorian an armored mech suit! (Taken from the packaging)

Image: Adam's photo lab. Note, this sample has two left feet because life is cruel.

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: When I first saw the final form of The Mandalorian with Mech Force Suit, which is this one, I was not entirely sure what I was looking at. It's like someone saw those Transformers movie Energon-infused figures from 2007 with the extra blue paint on them, and said "let's do that." It's arguably a lot more interesting than the same normal deco again, and represents a radical departure from the norm. Hasbro has dialed down its "Arctic Combat" or "Deep Dive" paint jobs on its many brands in recent years, so you're unlikely to see anything weird or new unless it's a direct reference to an existing vintage toy. For G.I. Joe: Classified Series you'll get Tiger Force or Python Patrol, but it's not like they're going to make up a new Axlotl Army or anything.

Your 4-inch plastic hero is basically the same as the 2025 carded figure mold. The paint is a lot different. His silver gauntlets are now blue on the outside, and unpainted on the inside. The thigh armor is unpainted, as are the backs of the hands. The skirt bits hanging off the belt are painted gray. The bright silver is now a darker silver, and Hasbro added a blue circuit pattern to his chest armor. Why? I don't know. I am guessing someone in Disney marketing came up with the idea, put it in a style guide, and someone just ran with it. It doesn't really make sense, as it's not the kind of thing we see in Star Wars so much as in Breath of the Wild or whatever video game has blue light-up tech in it. Articulation is good, the figure build is decent, and I am annoyed mine has two left feet. I'm going to go out on a limb and assume the different deco probably costs about the same as a basic carded figure, giving how much paint got traded around here.

Mando cannot fit in the mech without messing with him - that sort of thing bugged me as a kid. I had to take Vader's and Obi-Wan's capes off to get them in ships, and Mando's cape must come off before he can clip in the mech. This seems like a wasted opportunity for making use of the figure's backpack port. There's a hole in the back, and Hasbro could just as easily put a little peg in there to mount him without a clip. The entire front of the mech opens up and you can put Mando inside, except for his arms - those jut out the sides. It looks kind of dorky, and it's probably good that the bright blue fists of the mech distract from the arms dangling out. I should note, he does fit in there, and it's not difficult to get him inside. It works, it's just not as elegant as I would have liked.

But how is that mech? It's interesting, and shows signs of future plans I assume will never come to fruition. The bright blue blaster peg is 5mm - if you collect Transformers, this is meaningful. That's the size of the port on most robots in disguise, so you can mount their weapons on his shoulders, forearms, shins, or soles. (Yeah, there are sole holes.) There's another socket on the back as well, but not mech-sized backpack exists. Depending on your toy box, you could have a lot of fun with this and you could hand his blaster to many Optimuses Prime.

He, too, has the weird tech paint on the torso and similar sculpted circuits sculpted inside. What's particularly fascinating is that the exterior of the mech looks like it could be some weird part of the Star Wars galaxy, but the interior looks like it came from a different design school entirely. It's loaded with tiny circular dots, circuit patterns, and reliefs of various shapes. There's a Mudhorn signet in front of the breastbone and on the seat behind his back, which is a sensible addition. Most of the interior greeblies don't seem to add much to it and will probably go unnoticed by kids, but I appreciate that someone felt the need to add a lot of extra detail in there. The figure's shoulders are ball-jointed with hinge elbows and swivel wrists.

Is it worth it? At $15 I would say it's the perfect kid birthday item. At $20, it's worth a peek. Since it's not on the TV shows or movies, and it's a little goofy, and it doesn't look like anything else in the line, my hunch is a lot of fans will skip it. If you want a toy that looks like a toy, and is a toy, this is for you.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth. I am assuming if I can't get a replacement from Hasbro I might buy a second one when they inevitably hit markdown. But I like it enough to say it's a neat toy at full price.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,240: May 13, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,238: The Mandalorian (Epic World of Action)

THE MANDALORIAN 2025 Kids Line
Epic World of Action "Power the Force" Basic Figure
Item No.: Asst. F9405 No. G0099 (same 2024 SKU, new 2025 figure)
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Cape, Darksaber, Pistol
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: February 2025
Appearances: The Mandalorian/The Book of Boba Fett
Bio: The Mandalorian is a formidable bounty hunter in an increasingly dangerous galaxy. (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: After getting huge distribution last year, Hasbro decided to follow-up its 5-joined The Mandalorian figure with The Mandalorian! The figure is pretty much the same as the Speeder Bike The Mandalorian [FOTD #3,212] from a month back, except it trades the traditional Darksaber and bike for an energy-crackling Darksaber and a blaster pistol. If I were you I'd probably just buy the one with the bike, unless you're an accessory completist.

It's not a bad figure - quite the opposite. For $8 in today's economy, this figure is pretty excellent. Adjusted for inflation it stacks up well against nearly any figure from cheaper eras, given that he has about 15 points of articulation and three accessories. Deco could be better, but the target audience will probably find the separately molded belt and bandolier plus shiny silver armor to be more than enough. It stands up well to similar recent figures from Mattel (Jurassic World) and Spin Master (Batman, DC Comics) for roughly the same price in recent years. Hasbro has tended to make its Star Wars product "premium" so it's really refreshing to see that not only can they deliver something great that measures up well to the competition, but it's actually really good.

If you want a super-articulated figure with all the joints and most of the paint, The Vintage Collection delivers the goods well. If you want something half the price, this gets the job done. There are no wrist or ankle joints, and yeah there are missing greeble paints and knee pad deco, but that was true of a lot of Kenner-era figures in the 20th century. I like how bright his silver paint is, and am generally impressed how good the figure looks given how few paint applications we got here. The character's basic look and personality were captured well, and he stands nicely. He can fit in some ships - being a 4-inch (rather than 3 3/4-inch scale) figure he's a little big, but hey, that's where we are now.

The newness of this figure is an overloaded blue Darksaber. It's a weird one - I don't know why they picked blue, but well, here it is. If you aren't hung up on the coloring, it's a really awesome accessory. It seems like some 1990s-style "extreme" accessory, crackling with comic book-style energy that really stands out compared to the perfectly nice regular black blade releases with a white edge. Since Mando no longer carries the weapon on the show as of 2024, it makes sense that a kid could see this as a new weapon for the character, rather than a representation of what we saw on the series. He holds it well, just like his pistol. The pistol comes with other releases, but I believe this particular Darksaber may be exclusive to this release of the figure.

If you want all the parts and pieces in the Epic Hero Series/Epic World of Action line, you'll need this one. And the one in the N-1 Starfighter. And maybe the speeder bike, and the single card too. A new one is also coming with a Mech suit. That means if you're buying these lines, there are five figures based on the same basic sculpt that you can buy, three of which come with a vehicle or mech suit. The only aspect of this particular figure that's presently unique to this release is that Darksaber, and yeah, I'm enough of a dork to say "I'd pay eight bucks for a good goofy accessory." If you just want a cool figure to chuck at a kid, this is it.

Inflation Notes: According to the US Inflation Calculator, this is a pretty reasonable deal. Comparing the prices of Hasbro or Kenner "kid" Star Wars figures from various eras, this figure has more articulation and is generally cheaper than his ancestors.
1978: $1.97 ($9.60 in 2025, 12-backs)
1995: $4.99 ($10.40 in 2025, POTF2/Power of the Force)
2005: $5.24 ($8.52 in 2025, Revenge of the Sith)
2015: $7.99 ($10.71 in 2025, The Force Awakens)

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,238: May 6, 2025