Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,864: Han Solo (Carbonite Pack-In)

HAN SOLO IN CARBONITE Slave I Pack-In
Shadows of the Empire and Power of the Force vehicle pack-in
Item No.: No. 69565
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Slave I vehicle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $29.99
Availability: Summer 1996
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Han Solo was a Human smuggler from the manufacturing planet Corellia who achieved galactic fame as a member of the Rebel Alliance and later the New Republic.  (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' photo area.

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,843: Han Solo

HAN SOLO  Rebel Hero
Power of the Force PC Game
Item No.: No. 99180   
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, CD-ROM disc, keyboard playset
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: 1998
Appearances: n/a

Bio:  Explore 7 Worlds of the Star Wars galaxy! Battle TIE Fighters, search for the Death Star and destroy the Empire!   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's old kitchen.

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,813: R2-D2

R2-D2 First Modern Release
Power of the Force Collection
Item No.: Asst. 69570 No. 69577
Number: n/a
Manufacturer: Kenner
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: Retractable third leg, light-up central eye
Retail: $4.99
Availability: July/August 1995
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: R2-D2 is a tripodal computer repair and information retrieval robot, or astromech droid. As an R2 unit, he is equipped with navigational starfighter interfaces, plus extensive sensor packages and numerous devices to facilitate in-flight repairs: laser arc welder, circular saw, grasper arm, and fire extinguisher. He communicates through information-dense chips, beeps and whistles and seems to take pleasure in causing anxiety for his neurotic companion, the protocol droid C-3PO.    R2-D2 played several important roles in the rebellion's victory over the Empire at the Battle of Yavin.  (It goes on like this.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary:  Happy 35th birthday, Star Wars!  Let's celebrate with a look at the very first modern R2-D2, which set off a lot of confusion in the ranks of fans, being one of the first modern figures to upset our perceptions of the films as shaped by Kenner's toys in the 1980s.   You see, R2-D2 in 1978 was much shorter-- this larger toy is closer to the size in the movies, which was spoken of as some unspeakable sin back in 1995.  How dare they change it!  Well, in many respects, it's a lot better-- remember, the original R2-D2 toy had a sticker for body deco, a bizarre dome which doesn't look at all like the movie, and only two legs.  Kenner incorporated the first-ever retractable R2-D2 central leg in the 3 3/4-inch line with this figure, plus the first-ever "light up" eye.   While a nifty feature at the time, fans were quick to point out that this part of R2-D2 doesn't light up in the movies-- a bit of his face directly under it does, though, but Hasbro rarely designs it to light up.   This R2-D2 also kicked off the modern tradition of R2-D2 figures continuing the trend of the vac-metal silver dome, which Kenner kept around for most release between 1978 to about 2008.

While not quite as accurate as today's best R2-D2 figures, this figure was a huge leap forward in 1995.  I mean, it'd have to be-- the body was sculpted, the stickers were gone, and the head sculpt actually looked a fair amount like R2-D2.  Of course by today's standards, I'm sure you could show this figure to new fans and claim it was a Turkish bootleg and they'd believe you.  But back then, when we hadn't seen a new Star Wars action figure in nearly ten years, this was a delightful, refreshing take on one of our  best friends from childhood.  It is no longer an essential purchase since Hasbro cranked out nearly two dozen versions of the droid and counting.  I still like it, though.

Collector's Notes: The 1995 versions of the Kenner Star Wars action figures are currently about as popular as the clap.  You can get them for pretty much nothing, and you probably don't want them.   Many figures from 1995-1997 are really worth a couple of dollars, and paying $5 may be too high.  R2-D2 has the distinction of being one of the first "pegwarmers" in the line, particularly at Kay-Bee Toy Stores which actually imposed limits of 1 or 2 figures purchased per day per store.  (Which reeks of communism.)  This resulted in R2-D2 being left behind in large numbers, no doubt due to his smaller size and Kay-Bee's $6.99 (which was actually the SRP) price tag.   R2-D2 began sitting at retail more often in 1996, and was usually joined by Chewbacca, Han Solo, and Darth Vader as the token "overproduced" figures.   "Overproduced," of course, being collector slang for "any figure I see, have, and therefore don't want."

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,813: May 25, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,746: Han Solo

HAN SOLO First Modern Release
Power of the Force Collection
Item No.: Asst. 69570 No. 69577
Number: n/a
Manufacturer: Kenner
Includes: Blaster, Heavy Assault Rifle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: July/August 1995
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Han Solo's extarordinary piloting skills, blaster-handling and daring have earned him the reputation as a top smuggler, Solo also owes much of his success to his ship, the stock freighter Millennium Falcon, which he won from associate Lando Calrissian in a cutthroat game of sabacc. The Falcon is widely regarded as one of the fastest ships in the galaxy thanks to the mechanical skills of Chewbacca, Solo's Wookiee companion. The team's services are sought after even by powerful crime lords like Jabba the Hutt, who put a bounty out on Solo after he jettisoned a cargo of Jabba's spice in an effort to flee an Imperial patrol. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' old kitchen.

Commentary: When Kenner relaunched Star Wars in 1995, the line was a mixed bag-- some elements made them better toys, and in some respects, they weren't very good. Han Solo was in the middle as one of the first figures packed at 3 per case, which was a mixed blessing. His muscular appearance resulted in numerous "Has he been working out on a Solo-flex? Hahaha!" comments which has basically changed my opinion from Star Wars humor being potentially funny to wanting to punch some people in the throat. Yeah, he's beefy, this was in the style of numerous figures of the day. His face is unquestionably Han Solo-esque, but it doesn't look much like Harrison Ford. Up until this figure, most of my action figures I more or less enjoyed without question-- they were fun, they could stand or sit or hold their guns and were basically a good time.

Han Solo had problems. While I do miss the simpler construction, I don't miss the wonky pose or the gravity-unfriendly design. You see, the figure can't stand on his own-- this was a surprisingly common problem with a few of the 1995 releases, you couldn't get Han to stand upright without a display stand (and in 1995, there were none) or unless you kicked out his left foot so that his heel was on the ground and his feet were pointed in the air. Since he was released beyond the advent of separate holsters, he was designed to sit well, but the sculpt prevented him from fitting easily into the Millennium Falcon. His arms and legs weren't friendly to sharing the space with Chewbacca-- he could git by himself, but he did hog a little bit of the co-pilot's seating area.

While some of the early figures were good playthings, Han Solo left a lot to be desired. As a carded figure and an artifact from his day, he's not bad. I mean, all the Han elements are here from the off-white shirt to the black vest to the blue pants with red stripes. Kenner improved on some elements from the old days, like adding a waist joint and giving him a then-impressive sixth point of articulation, but I doubt fans today would be very interested in him. His trademark blaster has difficulty being gripped in his right hand, and his secondary gun really doesn't add much to the figure. It's a nice bonus in the sense that a bonus is nice, but I can't say it brought a lot of fun to the table. I wouldn't suggest running out and getting him if you want a strong toy, but if you've got a few bucks I would suggest getting the version from the Classic 4-Pack or the real deal from 1978. Subsequent Han figures were better, and I would only suggest buying this one if you're a fan of the style of the mid-1990s. And have a spare display stand.

Collector's Notes: The 1995 figures were so insanely hot when they debuted it's tough to remember just how many people stashed them away. I met people who bought a set or two to keep carded, and even some people who bought sixteen in hopes that, some day, these would be good to have around. Oddly, there are toys from this era which have jumped up to crazy prices, but they aren't Star Wars. The figure sells for $1 or so usually, but I would place its actual market value at slightly less. It's not a comment on the quality or durability of the product, but more or less the fact that there may be more of these preserved in perfect condition than the very first issue of Spawn.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,746: February 22, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,684: Han Solo

HAN SOLO Millennium Mint Coin Collection
Power of the Force Millennium Mint Coin Collection
Item No.: Asst. 69675 No. 84022
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, stand, coin
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: 1998
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Han Solo became caught up with the Rebel Alliance, courtesy of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa, whom he helped rescue from the Death Star. ( Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's room.

Commentary: This Han Solo figure isn't as interesting as his accessories. The figure is the same as the 1997 Bespin Han Solo with some added paint on his boots, but this really doesn't add to the figure and its six points of articulation. What does make a difference is a small splash of silver on the barrel of his gun, which was a new and unique detail which we still don't see a lot of on new Han figures to this very day-- the latest release was unpainted.

His sculpt is good, but it's a 1997 figure meaning it's going to be unquestionably bad for most of you. I like it because I'm a fan of the now-defunct Kenner house style, which basically meant we got simple figures, often with big guns, for about five or six bucks. He can stand and sit, plus his display stand makes it a lot easier to keep him from toppling over. In the stand is a place to display a coin, based on a 1980s sculpt but now cast in gold with a new flip side. This predated the 30th Anniversary Collection figures and their coins by about 10 years, so it was a nice glimpse into the thought process inside Kenner which is probably very similar to ours. That is, "Hey, remember that thing? We should do that again."

As a display piece, this is a neat item-- only 7 different Millennium Mint Coin figures were made, so the entire set could go on a small display and not look too awkward. Hundreds of these things would have been weird, although I do wish Hasbro adopted the idea of a stand for the coin AND for the figure for the more recent collections... it's nice to actually see these things. If you have the guts to buy toys from the 1990s, this isn't a bad one-- although if you have the Mynock Hunt Han Solo (1998 Battle Pack) or the aforementioned individually packaged Bespin Han Solo, this one offers little new in the figure department... but oh! Those accessories!

Collector's Notes: He's cheap if you want him, which you probably don't, but the coin stands are pretty cool. If you want it, you should be able to get it for $7 or even less-- this old stuff has little in the way of fans.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,684: November 28, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,664: Princess Leia Organa (Endor)

PRINCESS LEIA ORGANA in Ewok Celebration Outfit
Power of the Force Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 69570 No. 69714
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, Freeze Frame Action Slide
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99
Availability: January 1998
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: An accident during a furious speeder bike chase leaves the princess without a way of finding her Rebel companions. Befriended by Endor's Ewok civilization, Leia is once again united with her friends, but under different circumstances. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' old apartment... one of them.

Commentary: There weren't a ton of previously-unmade figures in the early days of the line, but Princess Leia in her Endor dress stood out as something even the old-timers didn't have at the time. With six points of articulation, she's pretty good-- the sculpt isn't bad for its day, but this is a design which straddles the fence between the early days of the line, when everything functioned as a toy, and a more collector-friendly era where things like being to sit aren't as important.

She was repainted in late 2006, and retooled in late 1998 to include some cloth bits and pieces. The original release is pretty good, and since there's really no better sculpt you may as well get this or any of the versions on the market today.

Collector's Notes: The figure wasn't a huge seller, and her price remains low. There aren't many figures from the pre-Phantom Menace days which haven't been revised, but this is one of them.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,664: October 31, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,620: Darth Vader

DARTH VADER vs. Prince Xizor
Shadows of the Empire Comic Pack Assortment
Item No.: Asst. 69590 No. 69567
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, cape, Xizor figure, comic book
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $11.99
Availability: Summer 1996
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, has instilled terror throughout the galaxy since the beginning of the Empire. His devotion to the Emperor and mastery of the dark side gives him more power than any single individual in the galaxy except for the Emperor himself. Draped completely in black and wielding the ability to take a life with a mere gesture, Darth Vader stands as the incarnation of evil. His dislike of Prince Xizor is intense and his distrust well-founded. Though Vader would gladly eliminate Xizor, Emperor Palpatine has need of Black Sun's shipping operations to speed construction of the new Death Star. Xizor had best watch his back however, as Vader's control of the dark side of the Force makes him a most formidable foe. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: Oh, it warms the heart. This Darth Vader was essentially done in the 1990s Kenner house style, which involved limited articulation, an acceptable likeness, and lots of muscles-- just like Batman, or someone from ALIENS. Back then five points of articulation were still the norm for most American toy action figures, so even when you put a figure in an early comic book 2-pack like this one, Kenner wasn't particularly motivated to make it significantly better than the previously-released version of the character. The bulk of the figure is essentially the same as the 1995 single Darth Vader figure, but the cape, an arm, and a leg seem to have been updated to give the figure more of a dueling pose.

The bulk of you will not want this figure. There are other, better Darth Vaders and this one didn't even have the "skirt" part of the costume yet, that wouldn't become part of the figure line until 1998. Back in 1996, Kenner designers still made an effort for these to be playthings which could sit and not pop apart at the elbow joint, because there were no elbow joints. If you're like me and have a soft spot in your heart for the old Kenner toys of the 1980s and 1990s, along with Aliens vs. Predator and Terminator 2 and their many other movie lines, you're going to want to track these down. Star Wars was one of very few lines to survive the transition from "Kenner" to "Hasbro," and the Kenner style was bred out of the line starting in early 1999. Figures like this are pretty far removed from today's incarnations, almost as much so as they were from the original Vintage toys of the 1970s and 1980s. Were I a new collector I'd just focus on the pre-Hasbro days of the line and call it a day, but odds are you're going to skip this one. It's OK-- you had to be there for these guys.

Collector's Notes: This figure shipped on a single card, seemingly exclusive to J.C. Penny, in late 1997. The figure had a more flexible rubbery cape, and came on a green Power of the Force card. Stock of the figure was later sold to other outlets, or at least one outlet-- Entertainment Earth had the single card 4-packs, which also included an AT-ST Driver and Endor Han Solo. The Darth Vader vs. Xizor 2-pack is, today, only worth about $3-$10. It was one of the first "comic packs" back when the line only had 2 items and a full-size comic reprint was something of a novelty, as minicomics were the norm in the 1980s. I like this set a lot. I hope some of you do, too.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,620: August 30, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,584: Princess Leia (Endor Gear)

PRINCESS LEIA in Endor Gear
Power of the Force Millennium Mint Coin Collection
Item No.: Asst. 69675 No. 84027
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, poncho, display base, coin
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Summer 1998
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Princess Leia Organa was at various stages of her life a politician, revolutionary and Jedi Knight of the New Jedi Order. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's floor.

Commentary: The evolution of Endor Leia figures has brought us a lot of ups and downs, and this Princess Leia action figure is right in the middle of these changes. The sculpt is a retooled 1997 Speeder Bike Leia with new arms and legs, and this body was reused in 2001 for an Endor General Leia-- which got a different head, and no poncho.

She's a nice figure. Unlike the 1997 release, her sculpt was not designed to be specifically used to ride a speeder bike. She can stand, but she may need some assistance. She's thin, has six points of articulation, and... uh... unique hips. I think the word I am looking for is "granny panties." (Can you help me out ladies? Do any ladies read this? I don't think that many do.) Leia can hold her gun just fine, and is different from the blaster in the 1997 release. The helmet is not removable, and as overall deco goes this is probably the best of the Endor Poncho Leia figures. Note, the camo is a much lighter green than the dark, rich brown of the Vintage figure from the 2000s.

Collector's Notes: The 1997 Millennium Mint Coin figures were really spotty in terms of distribution-- generally speaking, a city would get tons of Luke or Leia, but rarely both. This figure was only released once in this form, and she was the last Endor Poncho Leia until the Vintage version a few years later.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,584: July 11, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,572: Rystall

RYSTALL Jabba's Dancers
Power of the Force Cinema Scenes
Item No.: Asst. 69650 No. 69849
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Base, two other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Mid-Late 1998
Appearances: Return of the Jedi: Special Edition

Bio: Rystáll Sant was a dancer for the Max Rebo Band. She was a near-Human hybrid, born to a Theelin father and a Human mother. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's Jabba diorama.

Commentary: Do you know and old lady when you see one? I didn't. Rystall had a cameo in Revenge of the Sith but you first met her in the 1997 Return of the Jedi rerelease. The figure was more or less normal for her day, which is to say you get 6 points of articulation. She has no problems standing, but her pose is very dance-specific. I guess she makes a convincing singer too. The figure's sculpt is quite good, with lots of winkles, feathery hair, and-- to say the least-- distinctive hooves on her feet. The purple figure is really colorful, particularly for Jabba's Palace with its many earthy browns. While she can't hold anything in her hands, the figure is pretty much required for a cool Jabba's Palace diorama. (Yes, even if you hate the Special Editions. Those new aliens were pretty cool, you have to admit.)

Collector's Notes: The set was blown out from Hasbro/Kenner around 2000 and was available for cheap online for years. She was also reissued in the 30th Anniversary Collection line in a set of mixed Jabba's Palace Max Rebo Band boxed sets with no significant changes. As such, if you want one, you can get one. The entire set of 3 dancers now sells for about $7. I've seen auctions close for a sealed box sample of this set for as little as $4.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,572: June 23, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,484: Han Solo (Gunner Station)

HAN SOLO Millennium Falcon Gunner Station
Power of the Force Gunner Station Assortment
Item No.: Asst. 69665 No. 69766
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Gunner station, missiles
Action Feature: Really fires!
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Spring 1998
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Han Solo became caught up with the Rebel Alliance, courtesy of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa, whom he helped rescue from the Death Star. Solo helped Skywalker destroy the Death Star when it attacked the Rebel base at Yavin 4, where they had taken Organa. Solo became an unofficial member of the Rebel Alliance, and fell in love with Organa. He helped destroy the Second Death Star at the Battle of Endor. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's kitchen.

Commentary: It wasn't until late 1998 where we started getting figures where fans were really starting to scratch their heads. "Is that Han Solo different?" Well, yes-- this model looked astonishingly similar to the PC game figure sold for about $40 later in the year. This one came first, doesn't have jointed knees, and is slightly thinner than most of the "new" Han Solo figures from 1995-1998. He can stand, and he can more or less fit in the Gunner Station accessory with some futzing-- Kenner wasn't huge on figure/playset compatibility in those days, and they're getting a lot better about it lately. By today's standards, the figure is probably worth skipping. Ten bucks? So what, if he can barely stand on his own (he can't) and doesn't even have a gun? Ah well.


Collector's Notes: The figure was pretty common and was also available in the Great Closeout of 2000 at Toys "R" Us and Kay-Bee stores. In short, it's pretty worthless-- in 2007 Hasbro made a new version of this figure using new and old parts, so there's really no need to pick up the 1998 release unless you positively, absolutely, simply must have them all. The 2007 one was also included with the big 2008 Millennium Falcon vehicle/playset. Save your money.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,484: February 21, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,483: Labria

LABRIA Cantina Aliens
Power of the Force Cinema Scene Collection
Item No.: Asst. 84305 No. 84059
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, cape, stand, two more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Fall 1998

Bio: Their remote location makes the spaceports of Tatooine havens for many suspicious travelers from across the galaxy. At the Mos Eisley spaceport, Chalmun's Cantina is a popular hangout for the rough crowd and deadly violence breaks out on a daily basis. Takeel, a Snivvian, is known to dabble in bounty hunting and smuggling. The horned Devaronian Labria calls himself an "information broker," though his information is questionable at best. No one knows for sure what the Morseerian known as Nabrun Leids looks like underneath his breath mask, which he must wear in all non-methane environments. The former fighter pilot will fly anyone or anything anywhere, if the price is suitable. These kinds of patrons have helped make Tatooine's spaceports famous as a wretched hive of scum and villainy. In the days before the Galactic Empire, the spaceport of Mos Espa hosted many similar characters. From the outdoor markets to the junk shops--overseen by the gambling crimelords, the Hutts--Mos Espa was a place where a nine-year old boy like Anakin Skywalker could learn the ways of the universe. (Taken from the Cantina Aliens box.)

Image: Adam's old apartment.

Commentary: The third alien in Hasbro's pretty nifty Cantina Aliens pack from 1998 was Labria, which may or may not be giggle-worthy. The devilish alien was presented in a very pale light, with cream-colored skin and an outfit somewhat lacking in painted detail. Given that it's from before the prequels, it's no real surprise that it's lacking in articulation. Six joints allow this figure to stand, but because of his plastic cape he won't be doing too much sitting anyway. The detail as pretty good for the day and the figure had few problems standing or holding on to his gun. (You see, back in the 1990s, it was generally common for figures to be able to hold on to their gear.)

While time has dulled the excitement of the figure, there's no denying that this represented some pretty remarkable sculpting for the time-- check out the individual teeth and the wrinkles on his smile. As head sculpts go, this is a pretty remarkable example of what Kenner cranked out as Hasbro was rebranded as Hasbro in late 1998. The outfit is good, the cape isn't bad, but that face! The paint job was also pretty good, despite not exactly aligning with generally accepted coloring for Devaronian skin out costuming-- the skin should be redder, the ascot should be browner, the horns should be blacker. As a different character in your dioramas, I'd peg this as a must-buy, it's just that as Labria he isn't quite perfect. It's an odd way to describe it, I admit, but it's rare that figures are executed well but aren't authentic. (Well, maybe not rare as Cantina aliens go.)

Collector's Notes: Labria (and Nabrun Leids) received new life in early 2007 when Hasbro got a repaint wave. Labria had richer coloring, redder skin, and an overall better-looking appearance which would probably make that the version to get, assuming you only buy one. The original 1998 Cantina Aliens set remains worth buying because the Takeel mold has yet to be reused. Also, the current "official" name for the character is the unspellable Kardue'sai'Malloc which has not yet appeared as the main name on the toy packaging.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,483: February 18, 2011

Figure of the Day: Day 1,464: Princess Leia Organa

PRINCESS LEIA & R2-D2
Power of the Force Princess Leia Collection
Item No.: Asst. 66935 No. 66936
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: R2-D2 figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: 1998
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Moments before being captured by the evil Darth Vader, Princess Leia inserts secret plans for a new Imperial battle station into her loyal astromech droid, R2-D2 (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV area.

Commentary: As you've no doubt heard by now, in 1998 Kenner allowed their Girls' Division to work on some Star Wars product-- and we got some really wonderful things like the Princess Leia collection and the plus Buddies (Beanie Baby-alikes.) This particular Princess Leia is the only one to date to feature completely cloth garments, which allowed her to sit or be posed much more easily than any other Leia figure before or since. She has only 6 points of articulation, which was common for the time, and deco that was basically just fine. The head deco varies from figure to figure, so be sure to take a look around her eyes as the color sometimes bleeds out beyond where you might want it. Other than that, she's a better-than-average figure for the day and if they used this construction now with more articulation under the robe, it would probably be the best figure of Leia yet.

As toys go, this is the real winner even though there's very little sculpting detail to speak of. Other than her head, everything is pretty smooth, lacking in wrinkles and sporting little definition that you might come to expect from most modern action figure. This is sensible, because the cloth dress covers the body and it really doesn't matter if she's wearing nothing at all or clad in a white undershirt. Fans of good toys should look this one up, despite the sculpt being not as crisp or authentic as modern toys, because it's just such a nice artifact of the kind of experimentation going on inside Kenner in the late 1990s. Great stuff.

Collector's Notes: This set was a good seller in the time she came out, and seemed to be one of the finest sellers of the four two-packs. Like most toys from the era, it's close to worthless-- it sells for as little as $1 on eBay, which is, obviously, a good price for it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,464: January 24, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,443: Han Solo (Stormtrooper)

HAN SOLO Death Star Escape
Power of the Force Toys "R" Us Exclusive Cinema Scenes
Item No.: No. 69737
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Stand, blaster, two more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: Summer 1997
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: The Rebel Alliance has infiltrated the Galactic Empire's most powerful battle station, the Death Star! posing as stormtroopers escorting a prisoner, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Chewbacca attempt a daring rescue of the captive Princess Leia. Can they escape the dreaded Death Star, or is the Rebellion about to suffer the loss of its newest heroes? (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: Back in 1995, fans heard that Hasbro planned on doing a figure and when the run was done, it would probably be gone forever. How naive we were! The once-valuable Han Solo in Stormtrooper Disguise started life as a mail-in figure for Froot Loops cereal, and this 1997 retail release was actually a reposed figure with a very different pose and an arguably improved head sculpt. Well, the sculpt is pretty much the same, but the kind of plastic was different and that really did improve its overall look. The figure (with his helmet on) matches the other Stormtroopers of the time, but no other figure had his unique pose.

With six points of articulation this figure is nothing to write home about, but in his day the set was actually quite popular-- after all, it was one of the first (if not the very first) retailer-exclusive 3 3/4-inch action figure to hit stores. (Mail-in figures and club exclusives would have hit by this point.) People were excited, and they paid a slight premium for this set too. Even if you weren't thrilled about yet another version of the character in this outfit, you could leave the helmet on and have another Stormtrooper. Oh, to be young again.

Collector's Notes: This was the second and final "POTF2"-style Han Solo Stormtrooper, but it wouldn't be the last version of the figure in this disguise-- we'd see another one as a Wal-Mart exclusive around late 2002, and we'd also see one in a comic pack as that line kicked off. The first-ever individually carded Han Solo Stormtrooper wouldn't be produced by Hasbro until 2009, 32 years after the figure's first appearance in the movies.

Like most figures from the late 1990s, this set is worthless. Odds are your local comic book shop will sell you one for $10 or less, and eBay sellers are currently getting about $2.50 when someone is actually willing to bid. That is not a typo-- this set is worth about three bucks.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,443: December 24, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,427: Wicket

WICKET and Logray
The Power of the Force Collection 2; Original Trilogy Collection
Item No.: Asst. 69605 No. 69711; No. 34515
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Staff, hat, sash, Freeze Frame Action Slide (1998 only)
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99; $19.99
Availability: Spring 1998; Fall 2004
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Logray and the Ewoks stand amazed as their newfound idol, protocol droid C-3PO, begins to "magically" levitate as Luke Skywalker uses the power of the Force. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: One of the fun things about this column is going through the early figures and seeing just how well they held up. Nearly every figure from 1995-1997 elicited some form of complaint, and in some cases it seemed unnecessary. Wicket was not a great figure. The little guy was much larger than his 1984 forerunner, but he doesn't look quite right. He's a little chunky, bigger than necessary, and his head is much darker than need be. He has 5 points of articulation, but doesn't really hit the right buttons in terms of appearance. Wicket's head could benefit from being larger, with brighter off-white fur and some light fur above his eyes and on his ears. With his current proportions, this figure seems almost like a grown-up version of the character. (Kids have big heads, after all.) The eyes are bright, and the teeth are painted, so it's nice to see they injected some personality into this figure. It probably could have been improved by a heavy repaint, but Hasbro never gave us one-- instead, we just got a new sculpt in 2010, which is just fine with me really.

Wicket's body was reused for a 2008 Ewok with Glider figure (and retooled slightly), plus the figure was repainted in Widdle the Ewok's coloring in 2007 for a Target exclusive. A new Wicket figure is hitting this year, so you might want to look for that one instead.

Collector's Notes: The set with Wicket and Logray is, unfortunately, still a worthwhile purchase-- Hasbro hasn't done a new Logray and the 1998 one is good enough where they may decide against redoing him. A variant of the figure exists as some stitches on his hood were painted. This figure mold was repackaged numerous times-- the 1998 POTF2 2-pack with Logray, the 1998 2-pack with Endor Leia, the 2004 Original Trilogy Collection single figure, and the 2004 OTC Toys "R" Us Endor 4-Pack come to mind for starters.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,427: December 2, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,343: Wedge Antilles

WEDGE ANTILLES with blaster pistol
Power of the Force Carry Case Pack-In
Item No.: Asst. 87557 No. 87558
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster pistol, Millennium Falcon Carry Case
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Summer 1998
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Wedge Antilles was a famed Corellian pilot and general, known as a hero of the Rebel Alliance and New Republic. A standout starfighter pilot, he was one of the few to survive the Battle of Yavin, after which he founded Rogue Squadron with his friend Luke Skywalker. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: I try not to swear too much, but when I pulled up the photo to write about this Wedge Antilles my first thought was literally "Man, fuck that figure." The 1997 figure is a baffling release (which we'll get in on below), but for the sake of the column, we'll focus on the actual figure here. Since this was the only mold that existed, Hasbro's Rhode Island division (back when the Cincinnati division did most of the line's work) decided they had a great idea-- to take a Millennium Falcon carry case, and to take a 1995 X-Wing Luke Skywalker and put a new head on it. And presto, Wedge! Two variants of the figure exist-- both have very different paint jobs, the second of which is slightly more authentic but still off. The mold is, obviously, the Hoth Snowspeeder pilot suit.

The first release has Luke's markings on his helmet, plus white stripes on his sleeves. The second release (pictured) is more authentic to the helmet in the movie, and the white stripes were dropped. It's still pretty iffy, and even in 1997 there was a lot of moaning about this one. With only six points of articulation, there's not much to speak of here. He's too muscular and since he wasn't released at a sensible price point (setting a tradition for Wedge figures), he was met with more scorn than delight.

Collector's Notes: The last time I checked, the figure wasn't going for much. The product itself makes no sense-- why is Wedge the bonus figure with Han Solo's ship? Why was he painted badly? Why did this figure start a precedent of Wedge being released only as an exclusive but never as an individual mass-market release? Despite the higher price tag in 1997, the figure's price has stayed low and there's really no good reason to shell out big bucks for this one. It just isn't that good.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,343: August 6, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,314: Princess Leia Organa

PRINCESS LEIA ORGANA All-New Likeness
Power of the Force Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 69570 No. 69824
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, Rifle, Freeze Frame Action Slide
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99
Availability: Summer 1998
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Held captive in the Death Star, the princess is interrogated by Darth Vader and Grand Moff Tarkin. Leia was ordered to reveal the location of the secret Rebel base or see her home planet of Alderaan destroyed. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' place.

Commentary: While I'll never be 100% certain, it seems like the development of this Princess Leia Organa figure sprang up from two things in 1995. One, that the 1995 Princess Leia took a severe beating from fans despite being a huge seller due to her, shall we say, handsome features. Two, a mail-in figure from Kellogg's-- Han Solo in Stormtrooper Disguise-- was supposed to include a double-grip Stormtrooper blaster as an accessory. Kellogg's would not allow a gun with their cereals, so that was not to be.

So! Three years later we got this figure, who has hands posed to grip a double-weapon and an entirely new sculpt which throws out the proportions and features of the original, save for some very basic elements. Under her gown, she doesn't seem to have pants on (as seen through the cut on the side) but she does have big white boots. Not knowing what's supposed to be under there, I can only assume this is correct, or a brazen attempt to tart up this otherwise fairly modest get-up. She can no longer sit, but she seems to have little problem standing. Her hands are posed specifically to fire a gun, and she looks best with the double-grip Stormtrooper blaster. She does, however, look just fine with her normal sporting blaster.

By the standards of 2010, she looks good, but not as crisp and generally realistic as later releases. She does, however, look like a fine Kenner action figure from the 1990s. Sadly, it was around her release where the designers began favoring aesthetics far over play value, so if you want a Leia that can sit down this isn't it. The main reason to buy this figure today is as an evolutionary step in the line, or for the gun for Han Solo-- who has also since been upgraded and replaced. I like it, but if you're new to the hobby and cutting corners this may not be the best Leia you can buy.

Collector's Notes: Since you may be able to stumble on her for a few bucks, well, why not buy one? She's not rare and as far as I know was only released in this configuration-- no multi-packs or anything. For cheap, she's worth grabbing, but I wouldn't advise dropping more than original retail on her alone.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,314: June 28, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,310: Emperor Palpatine

EMPEROR PALPATINE Final Jedi Duel
Power of the Force Cinema Scenes Collection
Item No.: Asst. 68650 No. 69783
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Display base, additional figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: 1998
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Under the evil gaze of Emperor Palpatine, the lightsabers of two Jedi Knights - a father and son - clash furiously in a final duel between the light side and dark side of the Force. Slowly, the young Skywalker is lured closer to the rage of the dark side, and Palpatine sits confident of the Rebellion's defeat and the acquisition of a new emissary to fulfill his evil legacy! But the young Jedi's resistance appears to be growing... (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: Many have complained that we have never received Emperor Palaptine with a throne. These people are wrong-- this figure has one, stuck to the display base of the Cinema Scene set. The figure itself doesn't do much, after all he's posed with "sitting" legs and his arms are designed to be placed on the armrests, but the sculpt is pretty good and, to date, this is the only way you're going to get a) the seated Emperor and b) the throne accessory. He's more of a statue than an action figure, simply because once he's in that chair, he doesn't do much. And outside of the chair? He looks pretty goofy. Kenner's designers did a good job with him and he was far and away the reason to buy this set back in 1998, and, believe it or not, still is.

Collector's Notes: This one went from a pretty great set to clearance fodder in under a couple of years, and could be had for under $10. Today, you shouldn't pay more than $5-$10 for it, and because of the throne, I'd suggest you get it. If the long, retangular base which the chair is stuck to bugs you, you can just slice it off and end up with a throne on a square base. You should do that. I consider this a required purchase for fans of Return of the Jedi unless Hasbro does a better one, and I suspect it will be tough to do since this figure was specifically made to sit and only to sit.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,310: June 22, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,271: Death Star Trooper

DEATH STAR TROOPER with Blaster Rifle
Power of the Force Collection 3
Item No.: Asst. 69705 No. 69838
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, blaster, freeze frame slide
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99
Availability: June 1998
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Grand Moff Tarkin created this select force of soldiers to defend the galaxy's ultimate weapon, the Death Star. These elite troopers manned the gun towers during the Battle of Yavin, a conflict that resulted in the Death Star's destruction. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's yard.

Commentary: For whatever reason Hasbro waited until 1998 to make the Death Star Trooper, the last of the "original 12" vintage-era action figures. The figure that finally made it to market was a really odd one, showing elements of great sculpting and total phoning-it-in all in one hard-to-find action figure. Since it was released in 1998, it's necessary to say that the sculpting quality and articulation of this figure are on par for its day. There are 6 joints, which was typical, and the outfit was designed nicely. There are folds in the outfit and a few wrinkles, giving the figure a slightly more realistic look than we had come to expect at the time. The texture reflected the light nicely, and while the boots weren't particularly shiny they did look OK. His pose was a little strange, legs slightly bent and a little hunched over, but odds are it would have worked out well had Kenner ever made a control station or playset for this figure to hang out on. Just standing by himself he looks weird-- weirder still with the blaster, as seen in the picture.

Most worthy of discussion, though, are this figure's accessories. He had a removable helmet-- downright unheard of for a Star Wars action figure in 1998 that wasn't some guy in a disguise. Underneath he has sculpted hair and what appear to be some sort of headphones or mufflers or whatever. It's neat, and a nice detail we don't usually see even today. The gun, on the other hand, was stupid then and it's hilarious now. Rather than give this figure a normal small pistol, he received what was the largest Imperial toy blaster available. Originally sold as the big gun for the TIE Fighter Pilot in 1996, this weapon went immediately into junk drawers or under couches. Naturally, Hasbro made this the sole weapon for this otherwise pretty swell figure. He can barely hold it, he certainly has problems aiming it while standing, and it's just big and dumb. It's a shame, because this would have been an otherwise decent release.

Collector's Notes: This was part of the last wave of the "Galactic Assortment" (or "Collection 3") that shipped to retail stores in 1998. The other new figure in the wave was Ree-Yees (yes, only two new figures) and both proved quite difficult to find in the wild. Time has made them cheaper, but at the time they were the cause of much stress for the figure collector. A super-articulated and taller version of the figure was made in 2007, and basically improves on this release in every possible way. The 1998 Trooper is more of a curiosity today than anything else, so buy it only if you're a fan of figures from the pre-prequel era. I personally like it but I admit that it has been lapped by future developments. The same figure, complete with gun, came as part of a Death Star accessory set exclusive to Target stores in 2002. It's worth noting this was the last wave (to date) of accessory packs.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,271: April 28, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,219: AT-AT Commander

AT-AT COMMANDER with AT-AT
Power of the Force Vehicle Pack-In
Item No.: No. 69733
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: AT-AT, AT-AT Driver
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $79.99
Availability: Summer 1997
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: The stern and polished General Maximillian Veers is completely loyal to the Empire. He launches an invasion to destroy the Rebels' shield generator protecting the base from attack. (Taken from his Assault on Hoth Bio.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' yard.

Commentary: For some reason, figures were really growing tall in the 1990s. This AT-AT Commander (later, General Veers) was huge, towering over other figures to the point of ridiculousness. On the bright side, he looked pretty good, and was primarily designed to sit inside the AT-AT. Since he was made before Hasbro started experimenting with skirts more, he has no trouble sitting in an AT-AT canopy and should be your go-to figure for all your pilot needs. After, of course, you use the drivers. The facial detail is nothing special, although it did look better than many other human figures released around the time. The armor and limbs are perfectly fine, and do look a lot like those of Grand Moff Tarkin and Piett.

13 years on it's not going to win any beauty pageants, but it gets the job done and it certainly holds together well. The 1997 release with vehicle has no blaster, but the 2005 release in the battle pack does include a chunky POTF2-era Stormtrooper rifle.

Collector's Notes: First released in 1997, the figure was packaged with the first modern release of the AT-AT. In 2005, he was repackaged in the Toys "R" Us exclusive Assault on Hoth Battle Pack. While he was essentially unchanged, it's notable that the diorama on the back of the box showed the 1982 AT-AT Commander rather than the modern figure-- a rare instance of Hasbro using a vintage Kenner figure in modern packaging photography. The 2006 General Veers figure has removable armor and more articulation, but is not capable of sitting quite so easily-- so get either, as each is better in different ways. Yet another AT-AT Commander figure is coming in or around August 2010.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,219: February 15, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,211: Luke Skywalker (Hoth)

LUKE SKYWALKER in Hoth Gear with Tauntaun
Power of the Force Beast Assortment
Item No.: Asst. 69729 No. 69645
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: #BD33
Includes: Blaster, bridle, Tauntaun
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: January 1998
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Quick and Powerful, Capable of Surviving in Frigid Temperatures (Taken from the figure's box. And yes, that was from the Tauntaun. Oh well.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: In the early days of the modern line, the addition of a waist joint was a pretty big jump ahead. Seeing new moving parts like knees on this Luke Skywalker was huge, mainly because it meant the days of trapdoors on the back of creature toys-- which, while effective, would be over. The good news is that the creatures themselves tended to look a little better, the bad news is that the figures looked a little worse. Because of the fact he was made specifically for sitting, Luke has a very wide stance, but not so wide that you couldn't have him stand and look somewhat normal. The figure is based on the 1997 individually packaged Hoth Luke with a few changes, the most important of which are his legs and knees. He can sit-- which, at the time, was normal for most figures. Today, a new Hoth Luke figure would likely be sculpted with plastic around the legs to complete the look of the coat, and this may hamper his ability to ride his creature.

Being a 1998 figure based on a 1997 figure, there's not a lot here to write home about beyond the fact that he's great for riding Tauntauns. The 2003 Hoth Luke has a better overall sculpt, but has been rendered unable to sit on his steed. Due to Hasbro's reluctance to ape the G.I. Joe articulation style for creature-riding figures, it seems unlikely that a future Hoth Luke will be made in a manner which will be perfect for the Tauntaun, so this means only one thing: Hasbro needs to bring back the old-style Kenner trap doors of old.

This figure isn't bad, but it isn't necessarily worth tracking down unless you need a Luke for your Tauntaun. And if you have a Tauntaun, there's a good chance you already have a Luke or two. Snag it if it comes up in a set or a lot, and you probably won't be sorry.

Collector's Notes: This figure was reissued in a Toys "R" Us exclusive blue-boxed Saga gift set a few years later for $20, and for just $5 more you got a Chewie, a Leia, an astromech droid, and a retooled Tauntaun with guts that spill out of his belly. Is it any wonder some fans are concerned about price when you see this kind of drop in the middle of the range?

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,211: February 3, 2010