Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,263: Nien Nunb (The Force Awakens)

NIEN NUNB The Years Have Been Kind
The Force Awakens   Desert and Snow Figures
Item No.: Asst. B3963 No. B6951
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: "Combine" claw backpack, regular blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99  
Availability: January 2016
Appearances: The Force Awakens

Bio: A Sullustian pilot who was vital in bringing his people into the Rebellion during the Galactic Civil War, Nien Nunb continues to loyally serve Princess Leia Organa as a member of the Resistance. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: He's back!  Nien Nunb is a favorite to many of us since we got ours as the first year of Return of the Jedi figures from 1983.  This one is about as tall as the Kenner original - which is to say, he's tall - with a new blaster and a  backpack with claws on it that I flat-out do not understand.  

It seems that the Abrams camp borrowed heavily from the 1983 original, giving Nien Nunb the same high-waisted vest with a bluer tint and boots far more similar to that original Kenner toy.  He's also taller than the 2012 figure - I assume Hasbro's current team has lost some of the notes over the years as to things like scale, weapons, certain colors, and certain materials.  What we got is a perfectly charming 5-jointed update of the famous pilot, complete with a small silver gun that's very acceptable.  It's not exciting, but it's similar to other Resistance pilot guns and, of course, you could do worse.

His face is a little freaky - the eyes aren't quite as big and glossy as I would like, and they photograph like two soulless black holes.  This isn't a knock at the sculpt, more of how the materials played out when I photographed the figure.   This still looks like the alien we all know and love, but with a hint of being a version of him that haunts Lando's nightmares, rattling chains and telling him to change his ways.   Mr. Nunb has decent articulation, and I assume a pilot gear outfit could be made if Hasbro were so inclined.  (I'm currently banking heavily that Disney is calling the shots for most of the characters here.)   The extra backpack accessory is a tight fit, and has multiple moving claws.  Why?  I have no idea.   The more of these I get the more angry I am that they were no doubt included as a way of trying to get buyers to rationalize a higher retail price.   A display stand or a secondary movie weapon would be pretty cool, these are just a drag.

Since Nien Nunb was a favorite when I was a kid, I like this figure.   He hasn't gotten much play compared to the others, and to be honest I wish Hasbro kicked him down the road a bit just because his costume isn't really all that different when compared to Leia or Ackbar or C-3PO's red arm.  It takes resources to make a new figure, so seeing Nien Nunb right now just sort of feels shruggable.     There's nothing terrible about him other than the height issue, so much like that first Boss Nass I wish we could have just gotten him a year or two later.   But he's here now, and he's pretty good, I guess, but even if you're building the weapons it's a lackluster group - another Kylo Ren and another Stormtrooper?  If anything, this is probably the most desirable of the trio even though the Adam Driver head sculpt ain't half bad.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,263: March 18, 2016

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,001: Nien Nunb

NIEN NUNB  Return of the Jedi
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 37499 No. 39653
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC106
Includes: Blaster, rifle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: October 2012
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Celebrate the legendary Star Wars saga that changed the universe forever! This collection brings to life the incredible story of good versus evil that captured our imagination and took us to a galaxy far, far away. Iconic Star Wars heroes and villains are captured with incredible detail and premium features to commemorate each epic tale in the Star Wars saga. May the Force be with you!  (Taken from the figure's packaging.  No specific character information.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: I'm super-pumped Hasbro revisited Nien Nunb in late 2012, although it probably wasn't necessary.  The 1997 version was pretty good and pretty cheap, but the 2012 version is quite nice.  Actually, if the head were painted better I'd say it was an unquestionable improvement.  The sculpt was improved greatly, with more detail, a better-looking costume, and (most important of all) the right height.  Lando's co-pilot retains the typical 14 points of articulation and raises the figure a holster for his squared-off 1983-style faux-Kenner blaster pistol.  (A nice touch!)  He has little problem standing or sitting, and fits pretty well in the big Millennium Falcon from 2008.  As an added bonus, his longer rifle is modeled after the 1997 figure, so this is as much a nearly-perfect movie figure as it is a nod to his previous toys.

The face is a little darker and less glossy than I would have liked, browner than gray and lacking in color around his unique jowls.  This just could be a trick of the light in the movie, but I think there's potential here for another redeco should Hasbro opt to reissue this figure for the (I assume) planned rerelease of Return of the Jedi in 3D in 2014.  The sculpt, detail, and personality of this figure is great.  A+.  The deco?  B+.  It's tantalizingly close to perfection!

Collector's Notes: Despite being an online-exclusive, this wave sold out (partially) cheaply on Amazon.  They  had no patience, in a few days it went from full price to a flux price of about five bucks.  I wouldn't suggest paying more than $15 for it if you can help it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,001: February 13, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,401: Nien Nunb

NIEN NUNB B-Wing Pilot
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 93130
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD19
Includes: Blaster, helmet
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $7.99
Availability: September 2009
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Nien Nunb is a B-Wing pilot who attends the Rebel Alliance briefing prior to the Battle of Endor. Because of his great skills as a pilot and navigator, he is later given the temporary assignment of co-pilot for the Millennium Falcon during this crucial battle. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' old desk.

Commentary: I honestly believe that Hasbro and/or Lucas was in error by naming this figure Nien Nunb. The white Sullustian pilot was, in the 1990s, identified in publications as a prototype prop costume for Ten Numb, who wore a red suit on the film. (Unless that was a mistake, heck, maybe it is.) The red suited dude shaking Wedge's hand in the Endor celebration is, supposedly, Ten Numb. Do you see any white-suited Sullustians on screen in Return of the Jedi? I don't. It's Ten, dammit, and I admit I may be totally wrong on this but I digress. Back to the toy.

This was a pretty obvious repaint. Hasbro had a white Ten Numb which was released in 2008, and since there was a red-suited pilot of that species (despite the body being tall), it was an easy repaint. So here it is. Is it cool? Sure. Identity aside, Hasbro did a really nice job on this figure and the B-wing pilot is a pretty cool design, despite being one of the least-valuable action figures from the real Vintage action figure line. (Seriously, want a carded one? It'll cost you less than a nice meal out. $12.50 for a Power of the Force one.) This one is a lot nicer since it's super-articulated, has a really cool blaster, and is an alien. That's a big plus. The coloring is good, his big black eyes practically speak, and that giant helmet is superb. As a thing you keep around on your desk because it looks cool, this is a really nice figure and I somewhat wish I bought more on mega-clearance in 2010.

If you ignore the name and just take it as "cool Rebel pilot toy" or are less nutty about these things, I think you'll love this one. Any toy derived from Return of the Jedi (or the years following) tend to be better than toys that are not. It's science fact, don't dispute it, everybody loves Ewoks and Lumiya and Vlix.

Collector's Notes: These hung around and may still be rotting at a Wal-Mart near you. Don't overpay for it, but do consider getting one. It's certainly nice enough, whatever his name really is.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,401: October 27, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 260: Nien Nunb

NIEN NUNB with Blaster Pistol and Blaster Rifle
Power of the Force Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 69605 No. 69694
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster pistol, rifle, Freeze Frame action slide
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99
Availability: Fall 1997

Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Nien Nunb grew up in the caves of his homeworld, Sullust with his sister, Aril Nunb. Later, he worked for the SoroSuub Corporation as a smuggler. During one of his smuggling flights he befriended Lando Calrissian - an individual Nunb would have great deals with in later years. It was with Calrissian that he would copilot the Millennium Falcon during the climactic Battle of Endor. He went on to become the administrator of the Kessel spice mines, and sporadically worked with the New Republic and its successor, the Galactic Alliance. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: As a pretty popular figure in the vintage line for many fans, it was only a matter of time before the memorable Nien Nunb was granted a modern figure-- and that amount of time was about two years. With a decent sculpt, excellent paint, and six points of articulation, it's a little old-fashioned compared to today's super-poseable figures with tiny blasters and more paint ops on their head than this figure has on his whole body. But this said, it's a good figure-- the head sculpt is excellent, the clothing is good, and the pose, while weird, is decent enough to stand on his own. For its time, it wasn't the best figure, but it seems to hold up fairly well and makes a good toy. After all, he can actually sit and be placed in vehicles, a distinction many figures over the past decade cannot claim. It's a good upgrade to the vintage figure, but, obviously, there's still a little room for improvement. A removable "helmet" or more joints would be nice, but the sculpt as it is, is a good one.

Collector's Notes: It's not Nine Numb. It's Nien Nunb. The figure sold from 1997-1998, and hasn't been seen since. The figure was clearanced out in many stores and one collector bought 100 of them for fun-- as such, you can guess it's pretty common. A new one is not expected soon, and this one is good and cheap enough to warrant tracking down.

Day 260: January 21, 2007