Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,978: Obi-Wan Kenobi

OBI-WAN KENOBI Jedi High Council
Original Trilogy Collection Screen Scenes
Item No.: No. 32154
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: Scene 2
Includes: Base, extra base, 2 chairs, Eeth Koth, Plo Koon
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: 2004
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: The Jedi High Council is the main interface between the Jedi and the government of the Republic. The twelve High Council members are chosen from the ranks of the Jedi Masters and represent a gathering of great minds who have proven themselves and their abilities in the service of peace and justice.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: Another day, another Obi-Wan Kenobi.  The Jedi High Council made use (and reuse) of figures which fans weren't clamoring for in the slightest, as this particular figure was one of the nastier pegwarmers around 2000.  Of course, back then it had a really neat plastic cloak and lightsaber, and this time around... it doesn't.  The figure is fundamentally the same as the 2000 release, with minor batch differences in the plastic and paint, in particular the face and hair.  The 2000 version looked a little more lifelike, plus the gear just brought it to life.  All this figure can do is stand around, he can't even really sit since his plastic "skirt" is a little too stiff.  With only eight joints, it's not like it stands out as one of Hasbro's finest either... it's acceptable, and while I think it was better (in 2000) than the previous sculpts, by 2004 it really could have used a refresh.

This mold and variations on it - including head swaps - continue to ship to this day.  The same body is used for the Obi-Wan Kenobi which you'll find in the MTT from 2012, but it has a different 2000 head.   Unless you're a hardcore Jedi fan, give this set a miss.

Collector's Notes: Kenobi... Koth... Koon... hey, what a minute!  What are you trying to pull here, Hasbro?  I kid. Anyway, this set is worth about $26 which is a smidgen under inflation.   I suggest buying it only for the diorama elements.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,978: January 11, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,965: Holiday Tall Jawa

JAWAS 3rd Edition
Star Wars Holiday Edition - Entertainment Earth Exclusive
Item No.: No. 34528
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 2 figures, 1 base, greeting card with envelope
Action Feature: Comes apart
Retail: $17.99
Availability: 2004
Appearances: n/a

Bio:     Hasbro and Lucasfilm Ltd. are delighted to present the third in a series of Star Wars Holiday Edition commemorative sets. Inspired by the artwork of renowned artist Ralph McQuarrie, this specially designed set captures the imaginative vision of McQuarrie's art in collectible 3 3/4" action figure scale. Our gift to you, this piece is a distinctive addition to any Star Wars collection. May the Force be with you, and happy holidays.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: This set is interesting.  It was the first Entertainment Earth exclusive, after being developed for the Fan Club which has historically had some interesting changes of management and whatnot.  The Holiday Edition Jawas (we're looking at the tall one today) has a short but weird development.  Around this time, and this was before I came on board at Entertainment Earth full-time, there were talks about making one of the Jawas bright red and the other bright green to distinguish them from the normal releases... a concept which would be revisited with Darth Vader later.  I kicked and screamed and basically acted like a little brat... so the figures have clear red and clear green eyes but are otherwise Jawa-colored, and the taller of the two figures actually looks like he could fit right in with your Sandcrawler dioramas.  The Jedi Training Remote could be found in a junkpile, so it's not out of the question that this figure (a retool of the delightful 1996 figures) could fit right at home with the movie collection.  I think this is the only figure in this sub-line that has that distinction.

Based on the 1996 sculpt-- it has a 1996 date on the back-- the figure is a little dated but still looks good.  The uni-leg remains, and is joined by a uni-arm as the hands are molded to the remote, so it all moves as one piece.  There's also a waist joint, but for all intents and purposes this is less of a toy than it is a decoration.  Like I was mentioning yesterday, this kind of product sort of kicks Hallmark in the balls, so to speak, as you can just stick an ornament hook in a figure's head for $10 and it looks way better than a $16-$20 resin figurine.   The set is an adequate representation of the characters on the Ralph McQuarrie holiday card, and in 2004 there were (if you can believe it) still only 3 different molds from which to choose for your Jawa needs.   This one, with the twin bandoliers and red (almost orange) eyes just seems to be a clever reuse of existing tooling and it serves a need nicely.

Oh, and there's a display base with the golden words "Holiday Edition" with a sandy base and two wrapped packages.  This would be a kajillion times better without the nameplate and the packages, but for the purposes of a holiday item it works nicely.

Collector's Notes: We had this in stock at Entertainment Earth for years.   It sold pretty well, but it would seem that the best audience for Star Wars mixed with holiday kitsch was (and always will be) Walmart.  Loose samples are as cheap as $6, packaged ones are around $20.  It's the last "Holiday Edition" set that actually looks like the card on which it's based, the last one being a cherry red Darth Vader which may be the only figure that I feel like a chump for buying.  I would laugh at me knowing how much I hate that figure.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,965: December 25, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,932: Adi Gallia

ADI GALLIA Jedi High Council
Original Trilogy Collection Screen Scenes
Item No.: No. 32162
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: Scene 3
Includes: Base, extra base, 2 chairs, Anakin Skywalker, Saesee Tiin
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: 2004
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: The Jedi High Council is the main interface between the Jedi and the government of the Republic. The twelve High Council members are chosen from the ranks of the Jedi Masters and represent a gathering of great minds who have proven themselves and their abilities in the service of peace and justice.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: While she has her fans, Adi Gallia hasn't had much love on the toy aisle.  After an iffy 1999 debut (I went through dozens to find non-wonky eyes), she got a retooled version in 2004 in this Jedi High Council set.  She lacks her outer robes, has no weapon, and is basically the same as the 1999 debut save for the added knee joints and a cloth "skirt" so she can sit.  It's a quickie, a limited-tooling option to fill out these packs in a hurry so you can finish your High Council diorama.  Given the lack of gear, the sets weren't much of a deal compared to basic figures in 2004.   She can stand, she can sit, and oh yes-- she can look incomplete.  9 points of articulation and no gear are bad enough, but to save a few more bucks, Hasbro opted to use this entire figure as Stass Allie for the same batch of exclusives.  They don't look all that much alike, but back then Hasbro was pretty adept at identifying and taking a shortcut.   This is a figure you track down for either the diorama pieces, or because you've gotta have them all.  The figure in and of itself was a bit of a dud in 2004, and today it really doesn't look any better.

I like Star Wars a lot, the action figures in particular, and 2004 was such a strange year in that we had some astonishingly good new sculpts (Saga J'Quille, Saga Admiral Ozzel, Vintage OTC Han Solo, OTC Dagobah Luke, OTC Yoda) and some unbelievably neat, well-priced items (Saga Wampa, Saga C-3PO with Escape Pod).  We also had some stuff that was just crap ("Is This Different?" OTC Bib Fortuna, most of the OTC Screen Scene figures, Vintage OTC C-3PO).   For better or worse, it makes 2004 one of the most interesting years to have gone through (and written about), but I guess you can't have the best of the best without some of the most boring of the boring, and Adi Gallia (and Stass Allie) make that cut.   Get the 1999 release, or cross your fingers for Hasbro to do another one some day.  Of course, since the last year where Phantom Menace will get a big push is now almost over, I wouldn't hold your breath.

Collector's Notes:  This set will probably cost you $30 on eBay today,  I would advise holding out for a cheaper price if you can.  Take that $30 and try getting some Glyos or Xevoz or SLUG Zombies or something instead.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,932: November 8, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,918: Eeth Koth

EETH KOTH Jedi High Council
Original Trilogy Collection Screen Scenes
Item No.: No. 32154
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: Scene 2
Includes: Base, extra base, 2 chairs, Stass Allie, Obi-Wan Kenobi
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: 2004
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: The Jedi High Council is the main interface between the Jedi and the government of the Republic. The twelve High Council members are chosen from the ranks of the Jedi Masters and represent a gathering of great minds who have proven themselves and their abilities in the service of peace and justice.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: There are few figures in this line that I felt were half-assed, and the Jedi High Council tops the list.   Hasbro has amazing sculptors and incredible engineers, all of whom I assume were busy when it got to be time to make Eeth Koth and the other figures in these sets.  The 2004 collection of Screen Scenes for Toys R Us are populated by barely-redecorated, accessory-free figures at higher-than-normal for the time prices.   Eeth Koth and Agen Kolar are in the sets, and it gets confusing.  Try and follow me here.  In 2001, Hasbro made a Power of the Jedi Eeth Koth figure.  It's not bad.  That entire figure was repackaged in this collection as Agen Kolar, but lacked the lightsaber.  That mold was retooled to make this figure, Eeth Koth, which has new arms and new legs.   In many respects, this figure has more going for it because the cloth skirt covers the awkwardly-posed legs, and the new arms drastically alter the original figure's personality.  I intended to dump on this figure, but in terms of sheer laziness, this figure is probably the least lazy in the entire collection.   That isn't high praise, but it's not like this is a subset worth of much adulation.

This figure's sole benefit to you as a collector is to sit in a chair.  The set includes said chair.  If you want an Eeth Koth with a chair, this is the figure to get-- otherwise the aforementioned Power of the Jedi release looks cooler and has a lightsaber.

Collector's Notes: When I got these sets, $19.99 seemed high given most single figures were $4.99 in those days.  Samples on eBay usually sell for about $30 boxed, and as a display piece which you buy, look at, and never touch, it's probably worth it.  But that's boring.  I realize I may be the only 30something collector going on about how so many of these action figures are so not fun, but geez, these things are kid's toys.  A lightsaber or something goes a long way.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,918: October 19, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,887: Plo Koon

PLO KOON Jedi High Council
Original Trilogy Collection Screen Scenes
Item No.: No. 32154
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: Scene 2
Includes: Base, extra base, 2 chairs, Agen Kolar, Obi-Wan Kenobi
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: 2004
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: The Jedi High Council is the main interface between the Jedi and the government of the Republic. The twelve High Council members are chosen from the ranks of the Jedi Masters and represent a gathering of great minds who have proven themselves and their abilities in the service of peace and justice.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,867: Bib Fortuna

BIB FORTUNA  The 2004 Redeco
Original Trilogy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84715 No.      85381  
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: OTC-31
Includes: Stand, blaster, cloak
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Fall 2004
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio:      Bib Fortuna screens those who try to enter the palace of Jabba the Hutt, checking to see why they want to see the crime lord. He has worked for the Hutt for decades, until he is tricked into allowing Rebel hero Luke Skywalker inside. When the Rebels are freed at the Great Pit of Carkoon, Bib escapes from the sail barge before it is destroyed.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo area.

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,835: Anakin Skywalker

ANAKIN SKYWALKER Jedi High Council
Original Trilogy Collection Screen Scenes
Item No.: No. 32162
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: Scene 3
Includes: Base, extra base, 2 chairs, Saesee Tiin, Adi Gallia
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: 2004
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: The Jedi High Council is the main interface between the Jedi and the government of the Republic. The twelve High Council members are chosen from the ranks of the Jedi Masters and represent a gathering of great minds who have proven themselves and their abilities in the service of peace and justice.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo area.

Commentary:  Some figures you chase down because they're great, others you get out of obligation.  If you want a complete Jedi High Council chamber, you're going to end up with this Anakin Skywalker which, honestly, isn't a bad figure.  By the time he was released you probably already had an opportunity or two to buy this mold, and the darker dirt and pretty nicely painted head may not be enough to make it exciting.  (Of course, in 2012 there have been a couple new repaints of this mold, as well.)  Anakin's head looks vaguely like Jake Lloyd, and I mean that it sort of occupies this neat space between being true to the actor, and true to the character.  A completely realistic one may be creepy, but this one definitely feels a lot like an action figure made to look like him, which, uh, is exactly what it is.  The costume is good, the articulation is acceptable, given that it's a figure from 2000 it's actually quite good.   Really, the only thing I'd change would be to fix up the legs to have a better range of motion in the hips, because aside from that the sculpt and deco aren't bad.  It's just that the figure occupies that "don't I already have a figure just like this?" space... and it sort of does,  but it's just different enough to make you mad.  Sort of.  I think it's not different enough to make you mad, really, if it weren't for the Jedi screen scenes you probably would skip this set.

Collector's Notes: I was probably the only collector who ho-hummed the scenes as Hasbro put them out in 2004, as the figures were pretty lackluster and we were all lining up to shell out roughly $80 for a floor and some chairs.  You should have minimal difficulty getting this set for $20 or less today, which is funny because I remember these commanding a premium a few years ago.  I guess people realized the Jedi in the set weren't really good compared to other releases?


--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,835: June 26, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,732: Saesee Tiin

SAESEE TIIN Jedi High Council
Original Trilogy Collection Screen Scenes
Item No.: No. 32162
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: Scene 3
Includes: Base, extra base, 2 chairs, Anakin Skywalker, Adi Gallia
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: 2004
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: The Jedi High Council is the main interface between the Jedi and the government of the Republic. The twelve High Council members are chosen from the ranks of the Jedi Masters and represent a gathering of great minds who have proven themselves and their abilities in the service of peace and justice. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: I bought Saesee Tiin and the other Toys R Us exclusive Jedi High Council sets in 2004, and they stayed in their boxes until now. Heck, some of them are still sealed. Why? Because they are sort of boring, only good as display pieces, and not particularly good in the figure department. It was nice seeing Hasbro bow to fan demands to complete the scene, which started in 2003, but sometimes it's nice when they wait a few years-- better sculpts, better technology, or less miserly management may yield a better product, and at the time reissued or repainted figures were around $4.99 each. This set at $19.99 each, with no weapons and few newly tooled parts other than an occasional knee joint, felt more like an obligation than a purchase of joy. But I wanted the "playset," so I bought it.

Saesee Tiin makes use of the 2002 sculpt. You get no lightsaber, no weapon. The toy has jointed hips and no knees, so getting him to sit properly is quite difficult-- I took several photos trying to not make him look too awkward, and I don't think I succeeded. As of 2004 this was arguably a better figure due to its swell soft goods allowing for more movement, but with no lightsaber and a really half-assed ability to sit, it was weak. The figure itself has only 7 points of articulation and if it weren't for his accessories, I probably wouldn't have bought this set. I basically paid $20 for some chairs and a tile floor. The chair is nice, molded in a blueish hue with red fading into orange, and it seems like it would be an ideal place for another, better figure to sit. Since the 2005 Saesee Tiin is one of Hasbro's finest figures, perhaps you'll want to buy this set just to use with that figure.

Collector's Notes: The set is worth about $30 on eBay, but sellers in China are selling the base and chairs for a few bucks. I would like to say "go buy it," but there's an added floor panel included with this boxed set which does not seem present in the auctions-- so if you want to complete the council chambers, do not buy the bases without the additional floor panel piece. (It's under the floor in the boxed item.) All six sets will probably set you back $10-$30 a pop, so you should be able to complete the scene for $100 or less... just remember, you'll want to replace (upgrade) the figures included with most of the sets.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,732: February 2, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,621: Clone Trooper

CLONE TROOPER Damaged Green
Original Trilogy Collection Clone Trooper Troop Builder Four-Pack Assortment, Entertainment Earth Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 85688 No. 85774
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster Pistol, collectible poster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $34.99 (part of a four-pack)
Availability: Spring 2005
Appearances: Primarily Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and The Clone Wars

Bio: Virtually indistinguishable from one another, clone troopers are identical in physical appearance, mental capability and stamina. Part of a clone army, they are grown in the cloning facilities of Tipoca City, a luminescent city of industry emerging from the raging seas of Kamino. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: This mold got a lot of mileage in early 2005, after the Clone Trooper was a plain white figure in late 2003 and largely absent in 2004. This edition is green, which, depending on who you ask at Hasbro or Lucasfilm, is (or isn't) the correct green as seen on screen. Gentle Giant seems to think the sergeant is actually browner, and Sideshow agrees. So to date, Hasbro hasn't done that more olivey version. Maybe with the new "Vintage" 2011 mold... or not, this could be another "Is Han's Jacket Blue Or Brown?" thing that gets played up for repaints and variations until we're all dead.

With 14 joints, this figure is largely one of the best molds from its era, and was still an exciting figure up until just recently. Heck, in some respects, it's still exciting-- the arms have a much larger range of movement than the 2011 sculpt, but it's also a little bit chunkier. So if you like your clones on the chubby side, this is the one for you. The added green "damage" is unique to this release, and dresses up an otherwise plain figure quite nicely.

Collector's Notes: This figure is a one-timer so far, although the clean green version has been repackaged a few times. Of the four packs, the battle damaged color set from which this very figure hails was always the first to sell through.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,621: August 31, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,581: Gungan Warrior

GUNGAN WARRIOR First Carded Release
Power of the Jedi Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84455 No. 84274
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/q
Includes: Shield, atlatl, Force File
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Fall 2000
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: The Gungans are an amphibious species who live in underwater cities hidden in deep lakes on the planet Naboo. Although Gungans have a strong warrior heritage, a series of treaties has long kept them at peace with each other. During emergencies, all territories unite to form the Gungan Grand Army. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's old back yard.

Commentary: While troop builders are usually something Hasbro does right out the gate, this Gungan Warrior came out over a year after making his first appearance on the big screen. I'm glad Hasbro waited, because at the time this was a pretty great figure-- and by today's standards, it ain't bad. The skin has this wonderful texture painted on it, which is lacking from the super-articulated 2009 release of this character. (You'll want both, of course.) The figure has a moist look, and his pose works well with his atlatl (the energy ball thing) and the energy shield. Hasbro did a great job sculpting the armor and painting it the right color, plus this Gungan's serious expression is appropriate for the character. You may not like Gungans, particularly ones which only have about six points of articulation, but this is a quality release and a great trooper. If you're on the fence, get it-- and if you hate Gungans, I doubt you made it this far.

Collector's Notes: This figure was repackaged in a Toys R Us exclusive gift set around 2004, but without all the accessories. You should buy both versions, as this one has the most gear, but the other one has a swell exclusive Kaadu with Captain Tarpals. The single-carded figure is worth about five or six bucks these days, while the Naboo Final Combat set is harder to get a read on as few come up for sale. You should be able to score it for under $30, though.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,581: July 6, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,559: Jawa

JAWA The Short One
Original Trilogy Collection
Item No.: Asst. 84715 No. 85374
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: OTC-24
Includes: Blasters, base, tall Jawa
Action Feature: Light-up eye port on head
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Fall 2004
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Jawas are scavengers who live on Tatooine, home of the heroic Rebel Luke Skywalker. Jawas ride through the desert in their huge sandcrawler vehicles searching for wayward droids and discarded scrap. They trade and sell their equipment and hardware throughout the colonies. Jawas capture R2-D2 and C-3PO when the droids land on Tatooine, and sell them to Luke's uncle. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' patio thing.

Commentary: During the Original Trilogy Collection line most collectors got super-excited by the fact that Hasbro reissued all these great figures in really awesome packaging. (I think the OTC line packaging is better than the current Vintage line. It just looks better.) The earliest rereleases in that series were just straight reissues, but as time went on Hasbro applied new and better paint to some of its older molds. The Jawa set included two unique Jawa molds from 1996 in a set for five bucks, with new darker coloring and a black wipe applied to the mold. The light-up eye port was retained, and it tends to work really well on this mold.

The sculpt was awesome for 1997 and by today's standards isn't anything too special. For diorama filler or to pack your Sandcrawler, this may be one of the best figures you can get. The figure has three (possibly four, if you can get the head to budge) joints and is pretty much only good at standing. He can try to sit, but the angle at which the legs can move and the figure's pose will prevent it from being able to actually sit down inside something. So he'll just be standing, and the big uni-leg has no problem doing that.

The sculpted detail here is really remarkable, particularly for a figure that was (at the time of its release) about eight years old. The twin pack of Jawas seems to be long gone, so you're going to need to (or want to) track this one down. It's neat, it's well-designed, and it's a quality plaything. As a packaged item, this set is gorgeous. As loose figures, this is a wonderful set. You've got no excuse to not buy it unless one Jawa is enough for you and the 2009 ones were good enough.

Collector's Notes: This deco was only sold in the OTC 2-pack. Jawas sold with the OTC Sandcrawler had the original 1996 deco. The 2004 OTC set proved to be quite popular, but I saw it several times and also bought a few of them too. (I like Tusken Raiders and I also like Jawas.)

Day 1,559: June 6, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,555: Clone Trooper

CLONE TROOPER Super Poseable
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84851 No. 84724
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0350
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Late 2003
Appearances: The Clone Wars, Attack of the Clones

Bio: At the time of their introduction, the Republic Clone Troopers represented the future of galactic warfare. Far superior to the battle droid armies of the era, the Clone Troopers formed the backbone of the Republic's new military initiative that battled against the forces of the Confederacy of Indepenedent Systems. Accelerated growth allows them to reach maturity quickly, and they are constantly trained in fighting techniques, vehicular skills and battlefield tactics, creating superb soldiers molded mentally and physically for battle. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: Hasbro probably has the release of this Clone Trooper figure on a calendar as the day Star Wars collectors got spoiled rotten. Prior to this figure's release, 10 or maybe 12 points of articulation were really something, and we typically got swivel joints and not these ball-joint things. Just a month or so before this figure came out, our Lt. Dannl Faytonni figures were pretty fancy with their swiveling wrists and bending knees. And then this Clone comes along and beat the crap out of everything we ever bought up to that point, kicking off what we now take for granted as a bare minimum in some cases. But the really funny thing about this figure is that Hasbro has just rendered it obsolete in early 2011 with its new "Vintage" Clone Trooper which is the most spectacular thing I've ever seen so far.

Collector's Notes: In 2003 this figure was basically impossible to get. In 2005, Entertainment Earth got reissues (and repaints) of this mold, and after that this figure was packaged along with Anakin Skywalker in a gift set with a Darth Vader carry case. The figure has since been reissued numerous times in Saga Legends so if you want one, there's really no excuse for not being able to get one. It only took Hasbro about four years to put it in regular rotation at retail.

Day 1,555: May 31, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,528: Snowtrooper

SNOWTROOPER The Battle of Hoth
Saga Basic Figures Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84851 No. 84979
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0319
Includes: Blaster, E-Web Cannon, Projectile, Backpack
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99-$5.99
Availability: Summer 2003
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: With the Imperial forces dominating their assault of the Rebel base on Hoth, the battered Rebels flee the ice planet. An Imperial Snowtrooper, a highly-specialized form of trooper created for cold weather missions, sets up an E-Web repeating blaster hoping to destroy Han's Millennium Falson. But Han destroys the enemy's blaster and escapes to continue to fight another day. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: On a 2010 Freeco Speeder backdrop. Nice, eh?

Commentary: There are two fascinating things about this Snowtrooper: one, that its accessories are far better than its cost warranted, and two, it was made from an inferior grade of white plastic. (See Collector's Notes for more on the latter.) This figure was also notable for not being a "trooper" so much as a ranking officer, on the upper left-hand part of his chest armor are some colored squares that says he's smarter than the average grunt. Shorter than the hulking 1997 Snowtrooper, this version really did pack a lot of fun into a cheap package. The head could turn (a first for a 3 3/4-inch Snowtrooper), he had a holster for his blaster, and he had added ankle articulation to help with improving his poses in battle scenes.

The detail is really nice, with some crinkles in the mask and a nice, smooth helmet. There isn't a lot of dirt-- which is nice, given the snow-- and while the articulation isn't as good as later figures, it's not bad at 7 points. The helmet's ability to pivot forward and backward is a nice touch, but the real winner here is the E-Web Cannon. In the vintage line, it was a separate accessory-- in 1997, it was a deluxe figure's accessory. And now? Basic figure. How cool is that? It fires a rocket and has pretty good detail, but lacks the cable and ammo box of the previous two releases. So while not perfect, it certainly was cheap and you absolutely got your money's worth. For those keeping track of such things, the accessories Hasbro packed in with figures from 2002-2004 were, on the whole, some of the best of the entire run. And when I say "entire run" I mean everything from 1978-2011, they really crammed some awesome gear in some of those figures. Sure we got a few good ones in 2006, but nothing quite this nice.

Collector's Notes: This figure was made during a time where Hasbro's white plastic often grew a green film over time. This happens to packaged and opened figures, and can be removed off the figure if you rub it with a cloth, damp or otherwise. It's extremely difficult to get into the nooks and crannies. If you can get the green out of the nooks of his backpack, you're a genius. This particular affliction is pretty common on figures made of mostly white plastic from 2002-2004, which effectively encompasses the entire Attack of the Clones/Saga blue carded action figure line as well as some 2003 Clone Wars figures. If you haven't seen your 2002-2004 figures lately, you might want to go check them out-- even if properly cared for in a dark, cool place, the figures will grow this green grease that has to be removed physically. This particular Snowtrooper mold was reused quite a bit, so don't be surprised if you see a few flavors of it in your collection.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,528: April 22, 2011

Figure of the Day: Day 1,317: Spirit Obi-Wan Kenobi

Spirit OBI-WAN [KENOBI]
Original Trilogy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84715 No. 84780
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #OTC-03
Includes: Lightsaber, display stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: July 2004
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Obi-Wan Kenobi is a friend of Luke Skywalker, the Rebel hero. In a battle with the evil Darth Vader, Obi-Wan lets Vader win and disappears, becoming part of the Force. His spirit appears to Luke and guides him in his fight to save the galaxy. He tells Luke to find Yoda, who will teach him to be a Jedi Knight and to use the power of the Force to fight Vader. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' old apartment.

Commentary: Since 1997, Hasbro has tried a few versions of Spirit Obi-Wan. The mail-in one was a nice idea, and it was tweaked slightly for the "Jedi Spirits" Cinema Scene as Power of the Force dwindled. For my money, though, there has been no better release than the 2004 edition-- which is this one. The robe is a little darker than the later "Jedi Training on Dagobah" release, and even though it includes a lightsaber-- presumably due to fan outcry that the previous versions didn't have one-- it's still pretty authentic. The outfit is about right, and it's a mix of new parts plus bits and pieces from a figure released in 2000, but tweaked just a little bit. The likeness is pretty great, and the pearlescent shine to it also works quite well. Articulation is, for the time, pretty good. All meaningful articulation below the waist is crippled by the robes, but shoulders, wrists, and swivel elbows do allow a little bit of movement upstairs. You won't find a better Spirit Obi-Wan yet, so if you can find this one (or one based on this one's release), do so.

Collector's Notes: I consider Wave 1 of The Original Trilogy Collection (Dagobah Obi-Wan, Luke, R2-D2, and Yoda) a required purchase for all Star Wars fans. It's also practically worthless-- but the four figures are loads of fun and can join together to make a nice diorama. Not buying these means that you are part of the problem in this hobby, so get them if you can.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,317: July 1, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,233: Wuher

WUHER Mos Eisley Cantina
Original Trilogy Collection Mos Eisley Cantina Screen Series 2, Kmart Exclusive
Item No.: No. 34516
Number: n/a
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Includes: Bar equipment, glasses
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99, part of a gift set
Availability: Summer 2004
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: On the planet Tatooine, the Mos Eisley cantina, also known as Chalmun's cantina, is the hot spot for entertainment and intrigue. Many species intermingle there, spying and conducting shady business. Bounty hunters frequen the seedy joint, hoping to catch their prey in an unguarded moment. obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker went to the cantina to find transportation off the planet, which led to their first meeting with Han Solo. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Cantina.

Commentary: The 2004 Wuher was a modified version of the 2000 exclusive release in that his hand got resculpted so you could have him hold a cup, or not hold a cup. (The original had a mug molded to his hand, you see.) Aside from the paint, the figures are otherwise largely very similar with the same six points of articulation and the same sculpt. This version, being the new one, benefits from improved decoration with a slightly more gritty head that brings out the detail of the sculpt better than the original version. The figure still keeps the scruffy face, and depending on your taste either the POTF2 or OTC version would be absolutely fine to add to your Cantina diorama. I don't really know which I like better, but I do like the color of the 2000 original's outfit just a little more. This one isn't bad, it's just different-- and because it came with Kikik Keed'kak, at the time, odds are you would buy it just for the then-exclusive alien.

Collector's Notes: This figure was originally planned as a Wal-Mart exclusive for 2003, with an individually carded figure coming with a Cantina section. This never happened, but a few samples got out to the collector's market as Hasbro's factory accidentally squeezed out a few before being told the item would not be produced. This gift set release for Kmart in 2004 was largely identical except for packaging and the level of grime is basically the same-- but you may notice some minor differences.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,233: March 5, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,091: C-3PO (Coin Edition)

C-3PO Toys "R" Us Exclusive
Power of the Force Millennium Minted Coins
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87792
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Display stand, coin
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Summer 1998
Appearances: Star Wars

Image: Adam Pawlus' couch.

Bio: The Star Wars Mint is officially re-instituted with this limited edition series! New gold-colored coins feature character images from the classic silver-colored coin release-all with brand new reverse-side stampings specially designed for this exclusive commemorative offering. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Commentary: Sometimes Kenner really did a great job, like with this C-3PO. It's so good, that when Hasbro made a "Vintage" figure in 2004 and also reissued this figure on a basic card, it was pretty obvious that this was the better of the two. Aside from some more paint to bring out the eyes, this is really about as good as C-3PO figures got until the 2005 Revenge of the Sith release, and by today's standards this one is still pretty great. The design is based on parts of the Purchase of the Droids C-3PO (1998) and Removable Limbs C-3PO (1998), minus any action features or unique dirt deco. At first it looked like it was just the 1995 figure with new paint, but a ton of tiny sculpting refinements show that Hasbro did a bang-up job in making sure that this was one of the finest and most authentic movie-based C-3POs of its day. Little details, like incorporating the silver shin, definitely helped make this figure stand out against what we saw in the first couple of decades of C-3PO toys.

The coin and premium deco were this figure's selling points, because in its day basic figures were $6 and Hasbro had to do something to justify them. The coin itself was the front of the 1985-era coin with a new reverse side, which unfortunately didn't include any of the biographical information but rather incorporated a fairly generic design with lightsabers and a few words that looks like it could have been cribbed from any crappy fan web site circa 1997. Unlike some of the other figures in this line, the figure was genuinely the reason to make this purchase.

Collector's Notes: The MMC figures were pretty haphazard in their distribution-- some cities had tons of one, but none of another. C-3PO and the Emperor were kinda tough to come by in my neck of the woods. The same C-3PO figure was later reissued on the basic packaging of the Original Trilogy Collection line in 2004, without the coin. It was also used in the Saga-era "Hall of Fame" assortments. My advice to you regarding the purchase of this figure depends entirely on how many C-3PO figures you need. If you can get a cheap OTC one, I'd say that's the way to go.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,091: August 19, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,039: Slave Princess Leia with Sail Barge Cannon

PRINCESS LEIA with Sail Barge Cannon
Power of the Jedi Deluxe Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84475 No. 84653
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Giant missile firing barge weapon, staff, rockets
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: December 2001
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Jabba the Hutt planned to throw Han Solo to the Sarlacc in the Great Pit of Carkoon. But Princess Leia killed Jabba by choking him with the chains holding her prisoner, then rigged the Sail Barge's laser cannon to fire into the ship, destroying it and the crime lord in a huge blast! (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: Greatness is relative, as this Princess Leia figure proves. With only six points of articulation (neck, arms, legs, waist) she doesn't do a lot to impress, but she's clearly superior to the pretty great 1997 release. This one is notable for having a rooted ponytail, real cloth parts of her costume, an actual metal chain, and most important of all, she's actually shorter than the other characters now. The overall sculpt is a little less beefy than before, and her head is angled in such a way that she's basically only good at being posed for combat on the Sail Barge. Which is handy, as she includes both the giant cannon and a force pike.

She can be posed on this large gun accessory, but she doesn't look all that in to it. Actually, she looks pretty bored-- one hand is off to the side, and one's touching what I guess aims the gun. This is by no means a bad figure, but it's likely to be rendered to the old figure graveyard pretty soon. I assume this figure is going to be remembered for its Sail Barge Cannon, which will likely be the biggest piece of the barge we ever get out of Hasbro.

Collector's Notes: The same Leia figure, without the barge gun, was released at least two more times. One was as a Target exclusive cup-with-figure set, which was pretty tough to get in some markets. The other was as a basic Original Trilogy Collection carded figure, which looks pretty awesome. The figures are basically the same on all three. In Summer 1997, Kenner released the first version of this figure. Later in 2009, Hasbro will release the next one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,039: June 8, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,013: Dr. Evazan

DR. EVAZAN Mos Eisley Cantina
Original Trilogy Collection Mos Eisley Cantina Screen Series 1, Kmart Exclusive
Item No.: No. 34516
Number: n/a
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Includes: Bar equipment, glasses
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99, part of a gift set
Availability: Summer 2004
Appearances: Primarily Star Wars

Bio: On the planet Tatooine, the Mos Eisley cantina, also known as Chalmun's cantina, is the hot spot for entertainment and intrigue. Many species intermingle there, spying and conducting shady business. Bounty hunters frequen the seedy joint, hoping to catch their prey in an unguarded moment. obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker went to the cantina to find transportation off the planet, which led to their first meeting with Han Solo. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: If you released a recognizable character from an iconic scene in cinema history as a toy, and it sucked, what would you do? If you're Hasbro, you would take Dr. Evazan and give him new legs and a fresh coat of paint. The 2004 release of one of very few Cantina characters to speak was a great improvement over his predecessor, but he's still not pudgy, or balding, or really ugly enough. If anything this looks like a younger version of the character, but with one major change: his new legs allow him to sit down just fine. This is handy since he comes with a bunch of stools. Hasbro's revised paint job brings out the figure's detail in ways the 1997 release didn't, so if you had to pick one over the other, get this one. He has eight points of articulation, while this is not fantastic it's certainly good enough for now. I am of course assuming Hasbro will some day make a 100%-new version of the character, but the rumblings out of Hasbro as of late make me think this might be a ways off.

Collector's Notes: Today is FOTD's 3rd birthday! This figure lingered briefly, but you can probably chalk that up to Kmart not being the retail monster it once was. This is arguably the better of the two (so far) Dr. Evazan figures.

Day 1,013: May 1, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,003: Stormtrooper

STORMTROOPERS Troop Builder Set
Saga Fan Club Exclusive
Item No.: No. 32519
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster pistol or rifle, additional figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: 2002
Appearances: Various

Bio: Stormtroopers were the elite shock troopers of the Galactic Empire. Like Imperial-class Star Destroyers and TIE Fighters, stormtroopers served as reminders of the Emperor's power, extensions of his will, and a method of keeping the Empire's thousands of star systems in line through fear. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' couch.

Commentary: Packaged in a plain white box with a barcode, this Stormtrooper represents much of what fans wanted from Hasbro in this era. The company skimped on packaging and used the best-available Stormtrooper mold of the delay to deliver a fairly priced Stormtrooper that was sorta kinda widely available. (Units were later blown out in Wizards of the Coast retail outlets.) The figure is a whiter version of a 1999 Hasbro Stormtrooper, but the key difference here is that it lacks the temperature-sensitive blast-damage in addition to the gun rack. Because it's clean, I'd say this one is slightly better, but your mileage may vary.

This figure has been rendered junk drawer fodder due to later, super-articulated releases, but it's still decent. It has jointed elbows and swivel biceps, plus ball-ish jointed shoulders. Aside from that it's a pretty stiff figure, but it's certainly good enough to man stations in a playset or a large vehicle or act "dead." (Especially the latter.)

Collector's Notes: The sculpt started life in late 1999 as a Power of the Force CommTech figure. It went on to become a carded figure in the Saga and Original Trilogy Collection lines.

Day 1,003: April 17, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 933: Luke Skywalker (Jabba's Palace)

LUKE SKYWALKER Jabba's Palace
Saga Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84715 No. 84731
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0404
Includes: Lightsaber, cloak, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99
Availability: January 2004
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Hiding his identity, Luke went to Jabba the Hutt's palace on a mission to rescue Han Solo, frozen in carbonite and a macabre wall sculpture in the crime lord's abode, Luke attempted to use Jedi mind tricks to influence the Hutt to free Solo, but the loathsome slug of a gangster was immune to such techniques. Jabba captured Luke and cast him into the rancor pit for a battle to the death. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: Around 2002, Hasbro let fans know two versions of Luke Skywalker in his Jedi Knight outfit would be coming, one would be collector-friendly and the other would be a little... less so. This was the collector one. Featuring a cloth cloak, a blaster, and a lightsaber, Hasbro attempted to recreate the 1983 Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker toy with modern bells and whistles. For the most part, they succeeded-- he had jointed knees (still more or less a novelty at the time), swivel wrists, swivel elbows, shoulders, and the normal articulation you've all come to love. While not a super-articulated figure, it really was an example of some of Hasbro's finer work for the time. His hands were sculpted to have a few different uses, like parading around Jabba's palace and also holding a weapon.

As a toy, it basically works but it has difficulty sitting. Other than that, it's a pretty good example of some of Hasbro's better basic figure work around the time that the "new standard" was ushered in by the super-articulated Clone Trooper in late 2003. So at the time, it was a bit of a letdown because we had, just a month earlier, seen a figure which gave us all a glimpse of what the future holds for the line. A future, I might add, which still hasn't come to pass-- the 2007 attempt was a huge step backward, with its odd tan, huge hands, and awful attempt at the costume. The 2008 Sandstorm version was a little better, but lacks the vest-- so I guess we're all still game for yet another version, despite at least one "new" Return of the Jedi Luke figure being sold each year since 2003-- except 2005.

Collector's Notes: Hasbro really likes this mold. It was immediately recolored as a holographic figure just one wave later, and it's been repackaged numerous times to varying degrees of success. A memorable late 2008 reissue appeared as a Target exclusive and featured some of the worst paint you'll ever see out of Hasbro in the Battle at the Sarlacc battle pack. In 2006, the base figure and lightsaber were given a helmet, a poncho, and a belt as well as a new hand and revised legs to recreate the Endor version of the figure.

Day 933: January 9, 2009