Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,014: The Emperor (The Retro Collection)

THE EMPEROR (Kenner Style)
The Retro Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. F6866 No. F7275
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Cane
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $11.99
Availability: February 2023
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: The Star Wars Retro Collection features design and detailing inspired by the original 1970s Star Wars figures. (Stolen from the marketing copy. Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: When I heard they were going to make Return of the Jedi Kenner figures, there were a lot of figures I assumed we would get - Jedi Luke was a shoo-in, Boushh Leia seemed likely, a Biker Scout was all but guaranteed. But The Emperor I assumed we wouldn't get - surplus white-box mail-in figures were cheap 20-30 years ago, and you can get mint, complete originals now for $15-$20 delivered to your home. He's so cheap, it was probably the worst choice to reissue - if you wanted it, you could've had it already, and a packaged retro remake is a very poor substitute for the original because Hasbro uses an awful flimsy cardstock, intentionally distresses the cards, and slaps an ugly sticker, an iffy 40 Jedi graphic on it, and makes other eyesore changes for carded collectors. But at least you get the figure, and in this case, I don't think it was necessary since the originals tend to hold up really well. Kids who got one tended to not play with them much, so the paint is usually good, the joints are usually tight, and the cane is frequently present. Honestly I was expecting we'd get an Emperor's Royal Guard or Gamorrean Guard as both are good army builders and who wouldn't want more of them?

As this line goes on, it seems like Hasbro is intentionally smoothing these figures out and I'd say making them a little worse. The original 1983 and 1984 releases have a very subtle cloth texture to the robes... and this 2023 one is super smooth. The joints on the 2023 release are somehow looser than the original. The original toy's skin is much more wrinkly, to the extend where I am much more appreciative of the deeper sculpted cuts and careful attention to detail. Having said that, the robes look pretty much the same, the colors are pretty much identical, so if you put this guy on a shelf you probably won't realize it's not the original unless you get real close and squint. Still, I don't understand why Hasbro would de-detail the Kenner original, which is surprisingly wrinkly, unless it was to make the figure look intentionally worse for some reason.

The figure's cane is less detailed than the original, which I appreciate from a "which one is the old one?" perspective. The color and shape perfectly match the old one, but with fewer cuts and grooves. Just like the figure, it would make a fine replacement for the original that you might not realize was under-detailed without really giving it a hard look.

Due to the massive amount of detail on Lando that was washed out, he's probably a worse reissue, but due to his design, a better figure. The Emperor was never a fun figure, and the smoothed-out detail really doesn't hurt it much. The color matching is excellent, and Hasbro did a great job wasting a slot on what could have been a more in-demand figure here. I assume Lando (who, for the record, I love) and the Emperor (not so much) will probably glut up a warehouse somewhere unless they deliberately underproduced the duo. It's a perfectly acceptable remake here, but given this line will most likely be online-only, and you can get an unlimited supply of legit vintage Kenner The Emperor figures online, it's ultimately a pointless endeavor. I know they wouldn't have made Yak Face in the first wave, but Wicket or Admiral Ackbar would probably have been more welcome for filling a market need... or our need for meme figures. The Emperor comes recommended only for those too lazy to open an eBay account to get the genuine article for roughly the same price, if not exactly the same price after shipping is involved.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,014: March 23, 2023

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,920: The Emperor (PulseCon/Throne, The Vintage Collection)

THE EMPEROR Emperor's Throne Room
The Vintage Collection PulseCon Exclusive
Item No.: No. F1267
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #n/a
Includes: Throne, backdrop, lightning, cane
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $31.99
Availability: October 2021
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Rising from the north pole of the second Death Star is a 100-story isolation tower reserved for the Emperor, from which he oversees the battle station's operations. The tower's four spokes house a throne room, Palpatines private chambers, and a vault reserved for Sith artifacts. This throne room was the site of a climactic showdown between Jedi and Sith at the Battle of Endor. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: The "just different enough to make you mad" mantra fit for figures based on this mold for a while. This PulseCon deluxe box throne room The Emperor is basically the same as the single-carded The Emperor [FOTD #2,885], but this version has a throne, a backdrop, and a new head. A better head! The superior head. But it also costs more than twice as much as the basic figure, because you're going to pay it, and it sold out, so you did. Samples on eBay go for over double the initial asking price.

For fans who buy boxed toys, I assume there's eventually a point where you just realize you're buying a box and the contents are probably irrelevant. If it looks cool, that's probably what counts - and this box looks cool. The wonderful package photography looks great with Luke and Vader (not included) dueling in front of the Emperor, and it's enough to distract you from the fact that the body for this figure has been used at least half a dozen times since its debut as an Evolution figure in 2005. The new cloth robes hide the very old (but good for the time) articulation, but they're bulky when he sits down and it doesn't look as clean as the all-plastic seated figure from a Cinema Scene from way back in 1998.

The head sculpt looks great, much more like what I imagine the character's make-up to look like. He's sitting, so there's no gnashing of teeth or snarl. He's just hanging out and making phone calls. It's what you want in a despot. The throne looks great with purple upholstery, silver and red highlights, and a rotating base. Why does it rotate? I don't know. But it does, and that's nice. The figure also includes Sith lightning and a cane in a tray under the throne.

What makes the figure set arguably worth it is a giant cardboard and plastic Death Star window plus a fold-out "diorama" in the box. It's not bad - but you're basically paying $32 for a $14 figure with a plush box. Is it worth it? Since it's a limited exclusive item, you may feel that it is. Since the head sculpt is good - and cheaper than paying someone to custom-sculpt one for your own - it's potentially worth paying for the very best. I don't grasp why they wouldn't just throw this head in the normal carded figure to get it out to as many people as possible and properly replicate the less furious face of the 1983-1985 Kenner figure, but that's me.

I wouldn't recommend him for the current secondary market prices, but if you ever see this sculpt reissued or used in a gift set at a price you can stomach? Buy it, it's a good head. The body is pretty blah, though, so perhaps Hasbro will make an all-new body some day. But it's been 17 years, so perhaps they won't.

Collector's Notes: I got mine on Hasbro Pulse.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,920: April 28, 2022

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,885: The Emperor (The Vintage Collection)

THE EMPEROR Old Sculpt
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. E7763 No. F1902
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #200
Includes: Energy bolts, cane, hood, robe
Action Feature: n/
Retail: $13.99
Availability: October 2021
Appearances: Return of the Jedi
Bio: Scheming, powerful, and evil to the core, Emperor Palpatine restored the Sith and destroyed the Jedi Order. (Taken from marketing copy. There is no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: I feel like I say "this is a weird one" a lot. This The Emperor figure is meant to be an update of the 1984 figure... and the funny thing, it's an update of a 2005 figure. This is the Revenge of the Sith Evolution figure with a new robe. The head is pretty much the same (PulseCon got a really nice new sculpt for the throne version), but you get some hands with short lightning and a cane too. So Hasbro gets to cash in on 16-year-old tooling, and because the robes are a bit improved (I think) most fans will not recognize the body sculpt is a reissue.

I didn't like the head sculpt before. Slicked-back hair and visible teeth were very, shall we say, extreme? Even for the time this was a stylized choice, and on a vintage cardback it just looks sort of like someone did a swap-out. The hood is nice, the face paint is fine, but the face says "I am from one shot of the movie and not a good all-purpose Emperor figure." The make-up is exceptionally well-painted, given that the figure has very little paint elsewhere I assume they could put the entire budget into the head - including painted hair you may never actually see. They did a nice job with the task at hand.

The joints are tight, and it's very good for a figure of that (ha ha) vintage - ball-jointed knees and elbows were all the rage, so he can sit on a throne if you got one. Also keep in mind, way back in 2005 the idea of getting super-articulated Star Wars figures was a new thing - our first one was a late-2003 Clone Trooper, followed by three waves of the very first Vintage Original Trilogy Collection in 2004 and 2005. (And some of them had only swivel joints, with C-3PO having 5 total - one fewer than his 1995 figure!) These "Evolutions" figures were the Vintage follow-up and were the standard collectors expected from then on (and did not get, by and large, for quite some time.) It just goes to show you that you can use really good designs for a long time, but I also went back in my old toy vault and was very happy with the 1997 Jedi Final Duel Emperor Palpatine (on the throne, no moving legs) and the 1997 carded Emperor Palpatine (basically a salt shaker with arms.) This is nice too, but getting the robes to look perfect is kind of tricky - that's cloth for you. The molded plastic ones limit your options, but look good. Which is better? Well, you decide. (Plastic. The answer is plastic.)

Carded fans may like this figure, as it looks good in this presentation. Openers may prefer the PulseCon version, which I will post here shortly. But it's a nice Emperor if you don't have one, and certainly not any worse than the many, many previous releases to use this mold. It may well be the best figure that uses this tooling, but after 16 years, it really ought to be. I'm just unexcited due to its "more of the same"-ness.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,885: December 28, 2021

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,632: Emperor Palpatine (with Throne, The Black Series 6-Inch)

EMPEROR PALPATINE with Throne
The Black Series   6-Inch Figure - Amazon Exclusive
Item No.: No. E6125
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 3 heads, 2 lightning hands, throne, cane, cloth robes
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: September 2019
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio:  Scheming, powerful, and evil to the core, Darth Sidious restored the Sith and destroyed the Jedi Order.  He slowly manipulated the political system of the Galactic Republic until he was named Supreme Chancellor - and eventually Emperor -- ruling the galaxy through fear and tyranny.
(Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability:  Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  This was a significant improvement. I didn't see much reason for Hasbro to bring back Emperor Palpatine (with Throne), but I'm glad they did.  I'm not thrilled at it costing twice as much for a chair and two heads, but that seems somewhat consistent with how Hasbro does these things.  (For $10 less, I'd say it's essential.)  It's really neat, though, and it's better than Hasbro made it out to be.

Hasbro gave us some new parts with this one - the cloth robes seem to be a new pattern, with new cloth lower robes so the knees can bend. The original release had plastic robes over the lower legs, preventing seated poses.  The other plastic elements all appear to be very similar, with a somewhat bulky clasp on the robes and some wonderfully expressive bend-and-swivel hands plus rocker ankles.   This is a figure that just plain works perfectly with the throne, too.

The Emperor's default head is the same as before with an all-new paint job. The 2015 edition had mostly unpainted skin and yellow eyes. The 2019 edition has more realistic eyes plus much more texture  highlights - almost dirty - over the skin to simulate older, decaying cells.  The Dark Side definitely hit this figure hard, and you can see it on all three faces.  There's a standard one that's great, an angry one, and an absolutely perfect smiling/cackling one that I have on his neck as I write this. They're all excellent for different reasons, and it's almost a shame I have to choose which one gets displayed.  These are marvelous options and as Hasbro rarely gives figures alternate heads, it's a real treat.

The hands are about the same - one gestures with pointed finger, and the other is designed for the cane.  New this time, though, are bonus hands with Sith Lightning shooting out of them. The sculpting is good, but like many sets of Palpatine's hands they share the same shortcoming. The paint of the fingers merges into the bolts, so it looks like he has weird morphing hands instead of hands shooting out energy. 

It's a hard look to get right, the 3 3/4-inch line was usually successful by making plug-in lightning with hands (or sleeves) with a hole in them.  This gets the job done, but admittedly, it's a weak spot on an otherwise sharp figure.

 

 The selling point is the throne itself - a very big chair with a base. It doesn't do much other than look cool.  Hasbro hasn't made a lot of these, so seeing painted detailing like control panels and little tidbits on the top of the seat were a surprise to me.  Mine had some weird silver slop on top and on the back, so it's a perfectly good accessory but it's so odd to get a brand new toy that I pre-ordered and parts of it look almost used.  Unless the scuffing was by design, in which case it's amazing - but I doubt it.  It's just a little off for a mint-from-the-box accessory.

I'd recommend you get it for an Emperor Palpatine that's probably as good as you'll get at this size around this price.  I'm sure there's room for a Darth Sidious with Lightsaber some day, but for now this is a top-notch figure and a shining example of Hasbro's capabilities.   I can't imagine we'll get too many more "deluxe" figures like this, but I hope we get a few more gems at a slightly better price.  I mean, the Speeder Bike with Biker Scout wasn't more expensive than this and I'm confident there could be a lot of fun with Deluxe Admiral Ackbar or especially Max Rebo.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Amazon.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,632: October 24, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,434: Emperor Palpatine (The Last Jedi Line Look)

EMPEROR PALPATINE with Force Link
The Last Jedi Target Exclusive Three-Pack
Item No.:   No. C3197
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Cane, alternate lightning hands, Emperor's Royal Guard with Force Pike, Luke with slightsaber
Action Feature: Force Link sounds
Retail: $8.99
Availability: November 2017
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Luke Skywalker was a Force-sensitive human male Jedi Master who was instrumental in defeating the Galactic Empire and the Sith during the Galactic Civil War. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.  Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  I didn't think I wanted a new Emperor Palpatine but Hasbro did a superb job here.   I would almost say it's too good - I've still got Galen Erso on my desk, and looking at the new Emperor versus Galen from just a few months ago there's no competition.   Galen looks awful.   Palpatine is crisp throughout, with really wonderful textures on his robes and one of the best faces of any original trilogy figure.  Ever.  It's great.

The figure has robes that connect to his hood.  Arms are separate jointed pieces, as are the neck and hips.   Thanks to the robes he won't be doing much sitting, but the belt, boots, and everything look really slick.   The face looks a lot more like the make-up, and I have to wonder if they had a superfan or improved reference for this one.     If you're a fan that just wants the best-looking Emperor for a display, this is it.

The hands are posed in interesting ways - the lightning hands are weird and a tiny bit ugly as the fingers merge with the lightning.  The paint isn't super clean, so it looks like his fingers are melting into the lightning - and maybe htey are.  It's weird.  If you don't look too close, it's a pretty awesome effect.   The normal hands are similarly good - one hand is designed for his cane, while the other is beckoning or taunting.   Both allow for a decent amount of gesturing, which is helpful when a figure can't do much other than stand and move his arms thanks to costume limitations.   Everything is old and gnarled and perfect.

This is the Emperor you want.  This is evidence Hasbro still has a booming creative force inside that can make awesome things for us when they so choose - it's uncommon, but it's real, it's here.  It's great.  While I expect the set may hang around a bit, support something awesome and go buy it for yourself or a collector buddy at (or near) regular price.  Send Hasbro a clear message that when it comes to exclusives, all-new sculpts of original trilogy figures are most welcome.

Force Link Notes: "Wipe them out, all of them."  "In time you will call me Master."  "You will bring him before me." Sith lightning sounds.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Target.  It was on sale for 25% off.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,434: December 8, 2017

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,089: Darth Sidious (Mission Series 2014)

DARTH SIDIOUS Movie-Style
2013 Darth Vader Lava Line Look Mission Series Senate Duel
Item No.: Asst. A5228 No. A6523
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #MS10
Includes: Lightsaber, Yoda figure (2013 Saga Legends repack)
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: July 2014
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Jedi Master Yoda discovers that Senator Palpatine is really the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, leading to an explosive duel in the Senate Chamber on Coruscant. Their intense battle tears apart the chamber in the final hours of the once-great Republic. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!
Commentary: Since the 2010 Vintage version, I really never gave Darth Sidious all that much thought.  This costume was done and done well, getting the mix of cloth, articulation, and deco more or less perfect.   And yet here we are again, with a frankly very strange figure.   The head is a weird mix of the sculpt of the post-transformation Sidious with what appears to be the eyes and smile deco of pre-transformation Palpatine.   The grin is not an evil one, and the simple eyes do look a lot more like the classic action figures which may have inspired this line.   The pale skin of the hands was left undecorated, while the head has a weird, rusty wipe on it.   It is, to say the least, strange - but it also has the off-model charm of the best figures 1979 had to offer like Walrus Man.  Something here is wrong, and for that reason, it's quite interesting.

The costume, on the other hand, is quite right.   The hood fits, but is so overbearing that it prevents the neck from turning in any meaningful way.  To make up for this, Hasbro left the hands articulated so you can rotate them around in duel poses or menacing poses.  Each finger on the left hand is separate, and it looks incredibly good.   His right hand is posed gripping the lightsaber, and can rotate around to make a number of awesome dueling poses.  What's more, the legs have 1980s-style robe cuts so he has no problems sitting, standing, or looking decent - when you split the legs, you'll see his pants and boots inside.  Hasbro did a nice job here, rather than cheaping out and just leaving the area between the legs a flat, unsculpted surface.

Getting robed figures to sit is insanely touch - usually something gets in the way of the legs bending at a 90-degree angle, but Hasbro nailed it.  The figure has no problems standing or sitting, or looking decent while posed.  Sure, he has goofy deco and his neck doesn't move but the engineering is otherwise superb.   It's a weird figure that is off-model in strange ways, which makes it fun from where I sit.  Oh, I should also note his lightsaber hilt is all silver.  While a minor detail, one more paint app would do wonders to make it look better.   This is the prequel-era Sidious to beat - and if Hasbro puts it out again with new paint, it might not be all that hard.  Having said that, it's still worth a look if you missed the companion Yoda and arguably interesting enough even if you have one already.

Collector's Notes: I haven't seen this one yet, but his casemates have been out for weeks thanks to a revision case with Luke/Vader, Han/Chewie, and Grievous/Kenobi.  Some write that Yoda is a "repaint" and I disagree - any differences seem to be batch variation, and do not look to be significant or intentional changes in color.  Even if you have them side by side, the 2013 Saga Legends Yoda is virtually identical to the 2014 Mission Series Yoda.   If you're reading this in the future, skip the single Yoda and just get him in this 2-pack, or the Rebels repack due later on.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,089: August 4, 2014

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,890: Darth Sidious

DARTH SIDIOUS  Let's Try Again
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 37499 No.  30791  
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC95
Includes: Cloak, lightsaber, hilt, hood
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: January 2012
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

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

Image: Adam's closet.

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,535: Darth Sidious Holograph

DARTH SIDIOUS HOLOGRAM with stand
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 92951
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD10
Includes: Walking stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: August 2009
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Darth Sidious uses holographic technology to discuss the invasion of Naboo with Nute Gunray. The Sith Lord encourages the Viceroy of the Trade Federation to eliminate anyone who resists the Federation's occupation of the planet. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's TV tray.

Commentary: It's extremely rare for a figure to have fewer points of articulation than its accessory, but you'll see exactly that with the Darth Sidious Hologram from 2009. The figure is a solid, non-articulated bluish creation with a really nice sculpt and a slightly pearlescent sheen to it. After years of clear versions of this character in various sizes, this may be one of the best-sculpted incarnations in terms of detail, but it can be tough to tell as clear plastic tends to suck the texture right out of a mold in a visual sense. Measuring about half the size of a full action figure, the rest of the figure's mass comes in the form of a walking base with articulated legs. Sadly it doesn't actually walk (what a great wind-up toy that would've been!) but it does move and has a good amount of detail present. Each leg has multiple points of articulation, and there's much to enjoy in the way of grooves and sculpted detail. If futuristic furnishings are your thing, this is a true delight.

I opened this one and it went from "neat" to "eh" in about ten minutes. This is in no way a criticism of the amount of work that went into the product-- I can see Hasbro did a bang-up job making this the best-possible incarnation of this particular character that they could. It's just that as a thing, it's not as thrilling as a new Luke or a Chewbacca. Big props for a job well done, but with the level of weirdness we're getting to in this line, a figure being fantastic may not be enough to warrant your buying it-- you should personally want to own this one, rather than just go on the advice that it's very well-designed.

Collector's Notes: Despite being a really boring idea on paper, this figure sold incredibly well and quickly in the markets I watched. It never shipped past the first assortment, and on eBay loose samples go for about the original retail price or a little less. At press time, carded samples were a little tougher to get. The figure came with pieces to build a L8-L9 droid figure... which you should totally make sure you get, too.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,535: May 3, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,511: Emperor Palpatine

EMPEROR PALPATINE Yet Another Repaint
The Legacy Collection Previews Exclusive
Item No.: No. 87924
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Cane, lightsaber, cloak, 5 other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $34.99
Availability: December 2008
Appearances: Crimson Empire comic books

Bio: Accompanied by Darth Vader and surrounded by Royal Guardsmen, Palpatine visits Yinchorr to observe students at the training ground. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: My desk.

Commentary: Since its debut in 2005, this Emperor Palpatine sculpt has had a few redecorations and revisions. This one is, I believe, one of the better releases. The skin tone is nice and pale, the hair is painted, but the personality is a little off for the scenario. In the comics we didn't see Palpatine in a murderous teeth-baring rage, but hey, it's still a slightly improved version of the Revenge of the Sith figure. He's super-articulated and still interacts with the Sith Lightning from the Evolutions Sith Lords set. The figure has no problems standing or sitting, the detail is great, really the only downer is that the hood of the cloak hangs on the figure's head a little strangely. This was present in nearly all releases of this mold, except the 2009 Empire Strikes Back version that incorporates a plastic hood. This figure is of that "just different enough to make you mad" variety, it's more unique than just another variation but it's not so different that you would likely seek it out of its own merits. If you don't have any version of the "Evolutions" Emperor, this is the best one to get with the original head sculpt-- but if you have any of them, they're really all pretty much the same with different skin tones.

If you buy this figure in the boxed set, the main reason to get it are for the trainee guards-- this is just a bit of an afterthought, and Vader's really no different from his other releases of this mold. The set is pretty good, particularly if you like the comics.

Collector's Notes: This set did not prove to be a big seller, and like a few other 2008-era boxed set exclusives, it did show up at other venues for pretty low prices. Today, it should run you anywhere between $20 and $40, which is quite a range.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,511: March 30, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,414: Palpatine

PALPATINE Lightsaber Attack
Revenge of the Sith Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 85173 No. 85424
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: III-15
Includes: Lightsaber hand, lightning, spare head, spare hands
Action Feature: Push down for swinging attack
Retail: $5.24-$6.99
Availability: Spring 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: The Supreme Chancellor encounters questions about his ultimate motives. During a confrontation with Mace Windu, he uses his deadly powers and experiences unexpected and frightening results. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: This Palpatine mold was used for multiple releases despite not being particularly fantastic. It is neat because it transforms and has an action feature without being too bulky, but the toy only has meaningful articulation in the arms and neck. In movie years Hasbro tries its hand at honest-to-goodness "toy" figures, and this one fits the bill nicely. If you push down on the figure's feet, his right arm goes up and "slashes" his weapon. If you're using the alternate accessories, he can also raise lightning at people. It's pretty swell to play with it, and the head sculpts are both pretty good. Just remember if you get this one, it's an action figure-- the sculpt is nice, but it's meant to be played with. This is somewhat amusing because the figure was the result of a running change which came out of Lucas re-editing the film-- the very first figures have Anakin's blue lightsaber, while the standard release had a red lightsaber (also with Anakin's hilt). Some later releases dropped this weapon because, obviously, he should be holding his own weapon based on how the film was edited. I would classify this figure as fun and worth owning, but due to all the rereleases, collectors are probably sick of it by now.

Collector's Notes: The first release had a blue lightsaber, which was "corrected" to red-- it's still an incorrect sculpt. The figure also appeared in a Battle Pack (with a modified hand and accessory), and in Target's Order 66 packs-- which is technically wrong because it had the "normal" head and not the "Sith" one. Ah well. It's still a nice figure.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,414: November 15, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,385: Darth Sidious

DARTH SIDIOUS Senate Duel with Yoda
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 97568 No. 20819
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC12
Includes: Hood, lightsaber, Sith lightning
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: August 2010
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Darth Sidious, also known as Darth Sidious, was the last Chancellor of the Galactic Republic and the first Emperor of the Galactic Empire. He was a Dark Lord of the Sith who followed the Rule of Two and was the most powerful Sith Lord the galaxy had ever known. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: After seeing the pictures and hearing the complaints, this Darth Sidious went from being a long-awaited fan request to a turkey. But after getting it, I'm not complaining-- it turned out pretty well, particularly as a toy. While it does retain some of the feel of the Evolutions Palpatine of 2005, this mostly (if not entirely) new figure (I'll cop to not checking it against my entire archive) turned out great. I've got him standing in weird action poses and he doesn't fall over-- this is a winner! The opened snarling face is great, and while there are bits that remind me of previously released versions of the character, the mouth is undoubtedly new. His exposed hands have dark fingernails, which is another really nice touch.

The costume is great, but not perfect. I've heard a lot of complaints (and may have had a few in my head), but comparing it to the publicity shots, the figure seems mostly on the mark. The little jacket cloth piece is actually pretty close to the real thing, it's just a small opening down the front of the garment that the figure lacks. (This is obfuscated by the Boba Fett sticker and darkness on the card.) Other than that, he's a pretty perfect Senate Duel Palpatine figure, and I would say that this is certainly good enough for my liking. If I had to insist on something to be altered, I'd probably toss in a head that doesn't look like it wants to eat my brain-- this guy looks positively evil. I'd love to see a head suited for being seated at his desk too, but if I had to pick, this is the better head. Hasbro did well.

The sculpted costume bits are actually really nice, too. His hood can be posed to reveal the face or obscure the eyes, which I love. His hands look creepy, his sleeves are poofy, and there is a lot of detail under his robes of state. The Vintage line has had a lot of ups and downs in its first two waves, but this is a genuine highlight. It's my new favorite version of the character (as seen in the prequels) now that I can play with it, and while your mileage may vary I would strongly suggest you convince your friend to buy one so you can play with it. I hope you won't be disappointed, because I like this one.

Collector's Notes: This wave surprised me once I got my hands on it-- this figure in particular caused me to do a quick about-face. I see him here and there, and my guess is he'll be phased out due to the fact that Palptine is not exactly one of Hasbro's best-sellers. Since 2005, we've not had many carded versions. There's the 2009 ESB Holographic Incarnation and... whoa, is that really it aside from repacks? Show your support for evil and buy one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,385: October 5, 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 1,257: Emperor Palpatine

EMPEROR PALPATINE 1980 Edition
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 87572
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD39
Includes: Lightsaber, cane
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: April 2009
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: The Emperor contacts Darth Vader during the Sith Lord's pursuit of the Millennium Falcon. Palpatine warns Vader of a disturbance in the Force caused by the son of Anakin Skywalker. The Emperor commands Vader to turn the young Jedi to the dark side. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: While requested by some fans, it's tough to think that a lot of adult collectors were sitting around going "Hey, you know what I wish we could get? That weird Emperor Palpatine from The Empire Strikes Back before they cast Ian McDiarmid." Hasbro, never one to miss out on a good opportunity, crafted the figure by sculpting a new head and grafting it onto the generally well-received "Evolutions" body from 2005. It basically works great, considering the original as-seen-on-screen character was a floating clear blue-tinted head in a hood.

So new head, super-articulated body... good right? Pretty much. The lightsaber was of course a bonus from Revenge of the Sith, and the head itself seems to be a hybrid of the Ian McDiarmid head and the weird effects one. The end result is pretty good, and the plastic sculpted hood looks significantly better than the cloth one previous incarnations of Palpatine has sported from 2005 until the present. If you don't have any super-articulated Emperor figures, this one is as good as (or better than) any-- the fact that it's inspired by a weird, now-excised design is a plus, and he just looks more freakish than I'm used to. I'd say go for it, consider the build-a-droid piece to be a delightful bonus.

Collector's Notes: This figure was one of the easier ones to find from his wave by virtue of him not being wildly popular-- they were all made in pretty much the same number. You might even be able to find this one still if you live near the right Wal-Mart or drug store. He is unlikely to be reissued, so get him if you can for cheap, as odds are he won't be going for much any time soon.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,257: April 8, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,083: Clone Emperor Palpatine

CLONE EMPEROR with Luke Skywalker
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87745
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #12
Includes: Lightsaber, removable cloak, holocron, lightning bolt
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $13.99
Availability: January 2009
Appearances: Dark Empire II (comic series)

Image: Adam Pawlus' barbeque.

Bio: Luke Skywalker has discovered the existence of another Jedi, helping him further his goal of reestablishing the Jedi Knights. While he makes plans to go to Ossus to locate important Jedi artifacts, Emperor Palpatine is reborn in the body of another clone, and he makes immediate plans to crush the Alliance and the fledgling Jedi Knight. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: While few fans were actively begging for a new Clone Emperor Palpatine figure, Hasbro went ahead and did one. And they did a freaking amazing job, too. The 1998 release was pretty good, but this one ups the ante by tacking on tons of articulation, lots of accessories, and a fully realized costume underneath the main costume. You don't get that often. Were this figure released as a basic carded release, odds are Hasbro wouldn't have packed so much stuff with him. It's really a good use of the comic pack format, including extra bits and pieces in addition to a comic book reprint.

Under the cloak is a creepy decaying old man with blue liver spots and presumably some form of electrical tape. (Kinky.) The coloring on the skin really does look like it came out of a comic book, with big blue and greenish circles that give the key villain of the franchise an especially otherworldly look. The design benefitted from a few years of information, for example, what Palpatine looked like when he was younger. The stylized comic art of Cam Kennedy can be interpreted in a variety of ways, and it's good to see Hasbro not making chunky, literal interpretations of the characters but rather take a few colors here and a costume there while synthesizing something that would look more at home in the modern movie-styled line. You know, like what they didn't do with Tobbi and Fenn.

This figure is a very nicely done release and an example of how far Hasbro has come since 1998. That original Clone Palpatine was a high mark for a lot of us, so seeing a release like this incorporate soft goods and plastic armor in new and interesting ways shows that Hasbro actually not only learned a whole lot about how to do the line even better, but has the power to surprise us.

Collector's Notes: This one seems to be done for now-- if you missed it, go get it. Hasbro has been good about rereleasing a number of comic packs as they go forward, so you might have a chance to get one in new packaging down the road. I wouldn't assume that you would, of course, so go ahead and grab this one if you see it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,083: August 7, 2009