Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,595: Poe Dameron (Resistance line look)

POE DAMERON and BB-8
Star Wars Resistance  3 3/4-Inch 2-Pack Figure
Item No.: Asst. E5034 No. E5360
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/
Includes: Helmet, blaster, BB-8 figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: January 2019
Appearances: Star Wars Resistance

Bio: A hotshot X-wing pilot for the Resistance, Poe Dameron is a natural leader who keeps an eye on the crew of the Colossus. When Poe sets out on his own missions, he leaves behind BB-8, a rolling BB unit whose spherical shell is packed with useful tools and computer interface equipment, to work alongside Kaz and the rest of the crew. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Infuriatingly great.  That's Poe Dameron in a nutshell - the svelte 3 3/4-inch animated style figure is right in line with the 1970s and 1980s original Kenner toys in that he can stand, sit, and nicely fit in a vehicle.  Unfortunately this line seems to have come out the gate dead - there are no known vehicles, no known second waves, and no real reason for it to exist.

The proportions feel like a classic toy. The exaggerated face sculpt does a perfect job of capturing Poe's personality, without needing to be exactly like Oscar Isaac.   There are a few missing details on the figure, but that's typical - a yellow stripe on the helmet is gone, as are a few other markings. At this size it's unlikely to be noticed by the average customer, doubly so as there's no reference on the packaging.   It's worth noting the clear yellow helmet fits perfectly on Poe's head, as does the blaster in his hand.   It feels like after years of stumbling over things like cloth robes or plastic bits dangling over the legs, going back to the basics - non-fancy designs - was what resulted in the very best classic-style action figure.

The action figure line has been incredibly inconsistent since diverging a few years ago - multiple assortments with price points that are inconsistent with the amount of gear and articulation in the package around 2010 sure didn't help, nor did Hasbro's occasional desire to charge more for something while selling a similar product at a lower price.   $15 is a little high for this set - but it's a pretty good set.   With 5 joints and an above-par, toy-friendly design, I think old-school fans and kids will like this figure a lot.  Poe fits perfectly in the The Force Awakens/The Last Jedi X-Wing fighter toys too, showing that Hasbro and Lucasfilm are maddeningly close to a fun line for kids that never really seemed destined to happen.  If the price is right, go get this set - you'll love it.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,595: June 18, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,456: Poe Dameron (Resistance Pilot, The Last Jedi Line Look)

POE DAMERON (Resistance Pilot) with Force Link
The Last Jedi Toys R Us Poe's Boosted X-Wing Pack-In Figure
Item No.:    No. C1507
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, blaster
Action Feature: Force Link sounds
Retail: $49.99
Availability: October 2017
Appearances: The Last Jedi

Bio: To give ace pilot Poe Dameron an edg in combat, Resistance engineers have fitted a boosted accelerator pod onto the tail of his T-70 X-Wing.  This gives him the extra speed he needs to outrun and outmaneuver the First Order.  (Taken from the packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  I'm getting a lot of mileage out of "Just different enough to make you mad." Poe Dameron returns (again) in his pilot outfit.  This figure was sold at Toys R Us in 2017 as a pack-in for the "Boosted X-Wing" vehicle.  The figure is the same tooling as the 2015 pack-in figure, with deco like the 2017 carded figure, and a unique sound chip with unique voice quotes.  If you're a completist you probably have at least five Poes in pilot outfits, and they're all basically the same.   Thanks, Hasbro.

The figure has five points of articulation with a stamped Force Link symbol on the foot - like the TIE Pilot, the figure tooling is the same.   (Other figures got retooled legs, or are perhaps completely new tools based on the same digital sculpt seemingly created by/provided by Disney and Lucasfilm.)     He has no problems standing or sitting, and the removable helmet is light on deco when compared to The Black Series counterparts.

This figure is so similar to the single-carded release that, while testing it for Force Link quotes, I didn't realize I grabbed the wrong figure and was surprised that one figure was making the sounds of two figures.  Obviously, it wasn't - I just couldn't easily tell them apart.  That's how essential the figure is.   It's a fine pilot slug you cram in the vehicle and forget, but if you do the ship may knock the blaster out of the holster and you're in for a hassle getting the tiny thing out again.  The overall product isn't great, and a figure with a better holster, or a ship with a better interior, could've done wonders.  But that's not what this is.

The only real visual difference between this and the carded The Last Jedi Poe is the blaster - pack-in Poe has light grey, single Poe has black/dark grey.  So you're looking at that, wrist joints, and a new sound chip.   If you're a completist like me you're going to get them anyway, but prepare to be disappointed.  A little scruff, a different helmet deco, literally anything that could make this figure distinctive would have been nice.

Force Link Notes: "You need a pilot." "Stay sharp."  "Give it everything you got!"  Also a smattering of blaster sounds.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Toys R Us.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,456: February 19, 2018

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,441: Poe Dameron (Resistance Pilot, The Last Jedi Line Look)

POE DAMERON (Resistance Pilot) with Force Link
The Last Jedi Basic Figure Orange Assortment
Item No.: Asst. C1503  No. C1507
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, blaster
Action Feature: Force Link sounds
Retail: $8.99
Availability: September 2017
Appearances: The Last Jedi

Bio: Poe Dameron was a human male pilot who served as a commander in the New Republic and, later, the Resistance during its conflict with the First Order.  (Stolen from Wookieepedia.  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:  We got a lot of Poe Dameron figures for The Force Awakens, and this new one is also just different enough to make you mad.   For the last movie we got a carded pilot with an opaque visor, an Armor Up figure, a jacket figure with a non-removable helmet, an X-Wing pack-in with removable helmet (which is a lot like this one), a The Black Series exclusive version, another Armor Up version as a Toys R Us exclusive, a 2-pack Resistance Officer outfit version... I could go on.   This new figure is squarely in the middle of them all.   The best version is The Black Series version, which has some good scruff, extra helmet deco, and top-notch articulation.

This figure is the basic 5-joint body, but has swivel wrists as well as enhanced textures from the last movie.  That's it, really.  The helmet lacks some of the stripes of The Black Series version and is a darker black, the blaster is nice and fits in the holster, and there's a sound chip.  Oh - and all the folds on the suit seem to be the same as The Force Awakens, too.   The figure is pretty redundant, which is my big complaint about The Last Jedi as a whole.   I understand you need to make a new Poe figure, but the best one is a pack-in with the Ski Speeder.  This one is just like 4 other orange pilot suit versions on the market, and aside from the Force Link it's really not any better or different.     It's the first individually carded pilot Poe with a removable helmet, but I don't necessarily see that as a virtue since very similar figures are packed in with the 2015 Poe's X-Wing and 2017 Poe's Boosted X-Wing.  There's no scruff on the face, but the eyes are painted nicely.  His likeness is OK, the skin is a little pale but mercifully not translucent.   The buttons on his chest are pretty clean, however the various buckles on the straps of his flight suit are unpainted.

While a Poe Dameron figure is essential in any collection, which one you get may be open to interpretation.  As he's not significantly different from the previous versions, he's for Force Link fans or completists only.  Otherwise, you've probably got this figure or one close enough to it to make you happy.   If you have no Poe figures, it's perfectly nice - he can stand, he can sit, the helmet fits, the holster stows the blaster, and Hasbro in no way made a mistake or screwed it up.  It's just horribly boring.  Hasbro talks a lot about how they need to pick figures carefully, as to not waste a slot, but this is a new tool with new copyrights, the Force Link mark on the boot, and some barely perceptible changes.  Given the relatively small line and significant levels of "Don't I already see another figure just like that?" Hasbro really let us down  by spending a slot on this particular Poe instead of a different costume, or a new alien, or some other hero or villain.   It's not a failure of engineering or licensing, but it's certainly a letdown by either Hasbro management or the powers that be at Disney that approve (or dictate) the characters in this line.  Had Hasbro given us a figure with ungloved hands (as shown in the photo on the packaging) I could at least say they made one minor change and that's visually interesting, if not particularly significant.   As your parents have undoubtedly said to you - I'm not mad.  I'm just disappointed.

Force Link Notes: "I'm Poe, Poe Dameron." "I can fly anything." "Let's light it up." "We're gonna do this."  "Take my lead." It's clearly a soundalike.  Also a smattering of blaster sounds.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,441: December 27, 2017

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,309: Poe Dameron (Rogue One)

POE DAMERON vs. Snowtrooper Officer
Rogue One   Two Pack Action Figures
Item No.: Asst. B7073 No. B8612
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 2 figures, 2 rifles, 1 backpack, 1 backpack rocket launcher, 2 projectiles
Action Feature: Opening mouth
Retail: $14.99
Availability: September 2016
Appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Bio: An ace pilot, Poe Dameron is a leader in the Resistance's fight against the First Order.  He soars into battle behind the controls of a modern X-Wing Fighter.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: "Wait a minute," you're asking, "is Poe Dameron an ageless character in Rogue One?"  No - but Hasbro decided to bring out a few characters from the last movie for this new one.  Why this one, I have no idea - the skin color on Poe changes from figure to figure, and this is not a recognizable costume from the film.  You'll notice it - along with the all-gold (no red arm) C-3PO and Leia's blue dress all appear in the scene when Rey is being waved off by the Resistance.  In other words: you didn't notice it, and neither did anyone else.  The figure commits the cardinal sin of being neither great nor terrible, neither necessary nor redundant.  It's wildly different - it's interesting - but you probably already have at least four or five 3 3/4-inch Poe Dameron figures in other, recognizable costumes.

 Poe looks like he got a good sculpt here, although the fact his face is painted flesh rather than molded in flesh makes him look a little older.  Maybe like Poe Dameron's pappy Kes Dameron, which should instantly baffle Star Trek fans.  But I digress - the hair turned out well, and molding it in black makes it look great.  Poe's expression is good, but it's always a little jarring to see how he changes from figure to figure - there's no stubble here, for example.   The Resistance officer outfit looks a little like the Republic officers during The Clone Wars, and the greenish color is pretty spiffy.  A rank badge looks a little like an upside-down "VII," which I would love to believe is just a nod to the movie's episode title.

This figure has no problems sitting or standing, showcasing a great range of movement for a five-jointed figure.  He easily holds his pistol, and it's no great challenge to mount the preposterous, ridiculous, why-is-this-even-here blaster accessory on his person.   It's a little back-heavy, so be sure to tilt him forward a tiny bit.  The blue rockets fire nicely (they're red on the packaging photos), and the design doesn't immediately bring to mind something from the movie like the smaller guns on individually packaged figures.  

 It's not bad - I'm sure the reasoning behind it was "it's a cool toy!" but the companion Snowtrooper officer and relative obscurity of the costume makes it sort of a snore.  It's unique, sure.   It's Tarkin-ish, yes.   But is it necessary?   Nah.   It's a fun nod for the collector class, but nobody was clamoring for the costume and it was never obvious who this figure was just by seeing his unpackaged self in photos.   It's functionally good, and technically well-designed, but exciting?  Not really.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,309: November 17, 2016

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,273: Poe Dameron (The Black Series, 3 3/4-Inch)

POE DAMERON Pilot
The Force Awakens   The Black Series - Walmart Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. B4054 No. B5008
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.96
Availability: December 2015
Appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Bio: An ace pilot, Poe Dameron is a leader in the Resistance's fight against the First Order.  He soars into battle behind the controls of a modern X-Wing Fighter.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Walmart's 3 3/4-inch line of exclusive The Black Series figures has been a source of immense frustration.   Waves hit and take a long while to saturate - in which time people lose their damn minds, myself included.   Poe Dameron was one of last Fall's two batches of figures from the then-new movie, and the one (along with Finn) most likely to sit.   Fans were agitated because pulling the highly popular - but unvaried in character - line from mass retail to an exclusive at the highest trafficked store in the country left something to be desired.  Would you ever see these figures???  The answer turned out to be "yes, eventually" which was true of pretty much the entire line to date.  It's not as bonkers as it used to be, but the wait is miserable, long, and if you're outside a city with more than one or two Walmarts, seemingly eternal.

The internet's boyfriend  seems to be challenged in translating himself to plastic.  The skin is never quite right, the expression's not always perfect, and Oscar Isaac's a decent looking dude.  He's peachier and paler than he should be, but the eyes and eyebrows are good on this particular head sculpt. S subtle hint of scruff appears, but it's so faint you might not miss it if they left it out.  I'm glad it's there.  His costume is simply painted, with plenty of orange and white to replicate the Resistance costume form the movie.  He's (as of yet) the only super articulated pilot, and boy howdy did they do a nice job here.

24 points of articulation - for the record, I'm counting a point of articulation as any place two piece of figure are joined and can move - are nothing to sneeze at.  Ball-jointed hips!  Swivel wrists!  This is the kind of figure fans have been wanting, and so far it looks like they aren't getting (immediately, if at all) for Rogue One.     On the bright side, you can find Poe on clearance at a Walmart for around ten bones now if you're lucky.

His accessories are simple.  In addition to the non-removable straps and hoses, he has a removable black helmet with clear lenses and a blaster which fits in his hand or his holster.  It's not gratuitous, nor is it innovative, but it delivers the goods in a way that is consistent with collector expectations.

While Finn has a lot of figures, Poe's are more varied.  Do yourself a favor and get this one, even though you probably already have this outfit in this size.  It's just a nicer figure, with better gear, and it's not like your other ones have elbow joints.  It doesn't amaze - the figures rarely exceed their mandate when toy features are ignored - but at least he looks cool.  Also thank your lucky stars simpler figures exist, he's a hassle to try to cram in an X-wing.  Poe (along with the Rey, Kylo Ren, and Finn from this line) occupies a place on my desk since I got them, which is probably the highest praise I can give a Star Wars toy lately - usually stuff gets shuffled off shortly after purchase so I can make room for the next thing.  These ones are pretty great.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Walmart thanks to help from an awesome toy blogger.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,273: September 13, 2016

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,244: Poe Dameron (The Force Awakens X-Wing)

POE DAMERON Resistance X-Wing
The Force Awakens   Walmart* Exclusive Vehicle Pack-In
Item No.: No. B4006
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, X-Wing vehicle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $49.99  
Availability: November 2015
Appearances: The Force Awakens

Bio: The modern incarnation of a classic design, the Incom T-70 X-wing fighter is the signature combat craft of the Resistance forces in their fight against the First Order. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  While the Toys R Us TIE Fighter certainly walked the "just different enough to make you mad" qualifiers, Poe Dameron and his X-Wing are a bit more interesting.  The figure is - right now - exclusive to the vehicle, which is sufficiently different than the main line release.   Black and white plus orange and blue, we're getting a vehicle that's more than a tiny bit different and that makes a big difference.   The vehicle itself is pretty decent but has the same waxy plastic as its black cousin, with the same basic stickers and (at least on mine) perfectly straight cannons.  Plus the unique Poe figure.

As far as I can tell, Poe's body is pretty much the same as the armor version from September - I didn't see any immediately obvious differences in the limbs, torso, or jacket that I could pick out.   He has no real problems standing and is a bit of a challenge to get out of his vehicle - but he slips right in, easily.  Closing the hatch is easier than the regular release too.   His gun is the same, and fits right in his hand.

What makes this figure distinctive is the head - complete with molded-on helmet.   Just like the standard individually released pilot, there's no clear visor and it's pretty much the same design - except now it's white with blue and grey markings.  The face sculpt is not any different, so it still really doesn't look a heck of a lot like the actor.  A bit of hair is visible on the back of the helmet, and it's basically a scaled-down version of the 12-inch figure (with bike) from September.  It's a classic head swap - usually the vehicle isn't the selling point, but in this case I'd say you're going to want the figure just because the vehicle is fairly interesting.   $50 is a lot to ask, but seeing that Walmart has it during their busy season you may want to keep your eyes peeled.  It could end up on clearance in January, or all the moms and dads will clean them out not even realizing it's special.   I just decided it'd be easier to buy it and not fret later, and so far I do like this figure (and vehicle) more than the standard release.  It's handy that it just happens to be in Walmart's signature colors.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Walmart on a retail shelf last week.  * - Right now all signs point to this being an exclusive - but please note, it does not come with an exclusive sticker and was never announced in any official capacity by Hasbro.  As such, this could turn out to be wrong - but as far as I know, it isn't a wide-release item.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,244: November 24, 2015

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,240: Poe Dameron (Flight Suit 6-Inch Black Series, The Force Awakens)

POE DAMERON 07 / Pilot
The Force Awakens The Black Series 6-Inch Figure
Item No.: Asst. B3834 No.  B3841
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Pistol, helmet, gloved/ungloved hands
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: September 2015
Appearances: The Force Awakens

Bio: An ace pilot, Poe Dameron is a leader in the Resistance's fight against the First Order.  He soars into battle behind the controls of a modern X-Wing Fighter. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  The other Poe Dameron figure comes in the traditional flight suit.   It's actually kind of neat - the deco and detailing are better than ever, while the shoes and likeness, well, not so much.   This one is neat because (like the other one) the name Poe is written on the back of the helmet in Aurebesh, and the white vest has the words "PULL TO INFLATE" written on it, upside-down.  So that took  me a minute to figure out, but it makes perfect sense - after all, Poe would need to be able to read it.  On the other hand, if someone was going around with a shirt with upside-down lettering on it I'd assume the factory screwed up.

While the head sculpt is a little blah - the translucent skin, the old eyes and scruff  - the rest of the figure is pretty good.  Leave the exquisitely decorated helmet on his head, and odds are you won't mind that his lips were painted after the scruff was applied.  It just needs work - better paint masks or perhaps more skill in applying them.      Sculpting is similar to the smaller figure, only with more detail.  We've now got straps, hoses, a chest computer, and some of the worst shoes I've ever seen.  Functionally, they're great - I mean, rocker ankles!  That's good, right?  It should be, but the way the pants were cut and shoes were sculpted, while logical and functional, looks wonky.  You'll look at his lower legs and say "Hey, is that a ring like in the shoulders of my smaller figures?  Can the foot move there?"   Yes it can - and it doesn't look very good once you notice it.   You get around 20 points of articulation, which goes up to 22 with the bend-and-swivel ungloved hands.  That's right - not only did Hasbro include swappable mitts, but the flesh ones have extra joints.  It's a nice bonus!

As pilots go, Hasbro mostly upped their game here.  The grit on the vest looks wonderfully disgusting, and the suit feels like we're seeing some real wear and tear in spots.  The fake cloth detail in the orange plastic is really amazingly done, and while there are some areas that look like they might be underdetailed - some spots on the left shoulder, some bits on the belt and straps - we haven't seen many final shots from all sides yet, so we don't know.   As "Action Figure Guy" this is a pretty satisfying release - if I didn't know this was supposed to look like an actual guy, it'd just be a neato futuristic X-Wing pilot.  As it is, it's just OK.  I love the helmet and articulation.  I don't love the likeness, or rather,  how the likeness turned out in the materials used by the factory.  Maybe it looked awesome as a 3D sculpt on a PC screen, but in my hand I'm just not feeling it.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,240: November 18, 2015

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,239: Poe Dameron (Jacket 6-Inch Black Series, The Force Awakens)

POE DAMERON Target Exclusive
The Force Awakens The Black Series 6-Inch Figure Set
Item No.: No.  B4047
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Rifle, helmet, Stormtrooper figure with accessories
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: October 2015
Appearances: The Force Awakens

Bio: An ace pilot, Poe Dameron is a leader in the Resistance's fight against the First Order.  He soars into battle behind the controls of a modern X-Wing Fighter. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  While we have a vague idea what function many characters serve by now, Poe Dameron is... a pilot.  Is he the new Han?  A new Wedge?   A traitor?  A hero?  We have no idea.  We do know he has an orange flight suit and at least two X-Wing Fighters, plus he has this jacket - which Finn has too.  Is it First Order surplus or standard issue for the Resistance forces?   I don't know.  I don't know much of anything, which really sort of makes collecting these toys sort of a bizarre gamble.  I'm not able to buy these toys because I saw a movie and liked it - I got these toys because the franchise has offered me more good than bad and I'm hoping that they work out and I'll be very  happy I own these figures come movie time.  More than likely, though, even if I love the movie all I'll really do is reorganize them on a shelf until Episode VIII when they'll all become a lot more exciting.

While Poe and Finn share a tailor, they don't share a sculpt.  This jacket has different wrinkles, and the head sculpt is cast in a different plastic with different deco than the flight suit version.  Neither one is screamingly Oscar Isaac in appearance, the elements are all here like the scruff and the hair but they don't quite add up to a perfect Poe from the early images we've seen.  An uneven scruff paint application can do wonders to make or break a figure, while no scruff at all is just, well, not notable.  On my sample you can see some weak spots in the paint, showing where the brushes didn't quite hit their mark.  It's subtle, but it does break the illusion of reality.   His upper lip got some of the scruff, too, so that's a little... off.  It's not the best head deco we've seen, but at least the eyes are clear and the hair seems to be covered evenly.

Poe's jacket looks great! There's some illusion of wear on it, plus various red and silver markings.  The sculpt is crisp and clean, I can only assume it's true to the movie because it's pretty finely detailed.  I assume that came from the actual prop.   The pants are nicely done, but the knees look a little weird - the yellow (what I assume to be) Jakku dirt has been described as "baby vomit."  It doesn't seem far off.   Similarly oddly matte are his boots, perfectly black but lacking in any real personality.  There's a shine you sometimes get on a Han Solo or a Darth Vader or even an X-Wing Luke that does wonders - not here.

Poe is an exceedingly average 6-inch action figure with 22ish points of articulation - I doubled-up on the bend-and-swivel wrists as well as the rocker ankles.   There's no cut at the boot, and single elbows are quite limiting, but other than that it seems to be a fairly nice and by-the-numbers action figure.  When working with price points and deadlines, there's probably only so much you can do.   The price point in particular leaves us only so much room to praise or complain, and at $40 for a set it's a decent value.  At $30, it's spectacular.   After getting a look at this one up close, though, I could see fans campaigning to Hasbro for better deco even if it meant a $1 or $2 price increase.  A little extra care put into the head paint masks at the factory could do wonders for making this one excellent, instead of someone else to hang out on a shelf until the movie gives him a personality.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Target's web site with a $10 off coupon, code "BESTGIFT."  Give it a shot, it might still work.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,239: November 17, 2015

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,208: Poe Dameron (The Force Awakens)

POE DAMERON X-Wing Pilot
The Force Awakens Vehicle Pack-In
Item No.: No. B3953
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, helmet, Poe's X-Wing Fighter
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $49.99
Availability: September 2015
Appearances: The Force Awakens

Bio: When missions call for it, ace Resistance pilot Poe Dameron becomes Black Leader, flying a dark-hulled T-70 X-wing starfighter into action. (Taken from the figure's packaging.  Man these don't get any better do they?)

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'm surprised that this Poe Dameron is not the same mold as the single-carded version - you might say "but Adam!  The X-wing pilot version has a removable helmet.  You knew that."  Well, yes - but I was expecting a new head on an existing body.  What we got is surprisingly different.   For starters, let's get this out of the way - you can get this figure to fit in his X-wing, with some finesse.  You have to squeeze his arms in to fit, and to close the canopy you have to do a little dance.  Basically, you sit him in, and lean him back.  And then shove him forward in the seat, and lean him back some more - do this a couple of times and when it looks like he's ready to join the bobsled team, the waxy glass window will close over his head.  The single-carded Poe figure fits slightly better in the vehicle, with less hassle.  Now, I'm not saying Hasbro did a good job here - in the 1980s, figures generally fit in vehicles without a struggle.  There's no reason that, in 2015, I should have to put this much effort just to make a pilot figure sit in the vehicle with which he was packed.   Widening the body a tiny bit or tweaking the canopy to open at a wider point could make this a lot easier on the consumer, but the vehicle isn't a very good consumer product.   On to Poe!

Pack-in Poe, at first glance, looks like the single carded one with a new head.  Upon closer observation, you'll notice many differences - the mold is broken up differently, with smoother detailing.  The ribbing on the various straps is much harder to see or feel, and the red plastic seems a tiny bit glossier and I daresay like 2% more translucent.  It's not bad, but it is different - as are the buttons and switches on his chest panel.  The colors are same, but sizes and intensity are altered in such a way where, side by side, you'll notice a difference.   His head still doesn't look a heck of a lot like Oscar Isaac, but the helmet may be more to your liking.  A clear visor fits snuggly over his eyes, and the angle of some of his helmet markings have changed - the right side of his helmet points in a different direction, while the "Rebel" symbol on his helmet is aligned more appropriately with the groove in the sculpt.  The texture of the flight suit is visibly smoother too, and while you might not notice this I certainly did.   The helmeted version also stands a tiny bit taller than his non-removable helmet counterpart.

He still has a working holster, but the blaster is now a slightly less metallic shade of grey.  It works nicely, but odds are you won't notice much of a difference without a side-by-side comparison.   This Poe offers a better head and helmet, but a worse body - and you can't swap the heads due to the neck peg size differences.   If i were to make a guess, I would assume these figures both got made from the same digital scan reference and were sliced up by different engineers, thus resulting in Hasbro doing more work than necessary and quite possibly designing two "different" action figures when one with two heads could be easier.  But I could be wrong - this is just a hunch.   I like this figure just fine, but either one will do a fine job warming X-wing seats.   Even better are your old Luke pilot figures - but his day is over, so have some Poe.   Completists will of course want to get the X-wing to keep their sets complete.  With his arms sticking out a tiny bit, I'm really not at all impressed by the figure - I don't dislike it either.  It's just one more for the pile of plastic where I don't know if I like them or not yet.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,208: October 5, 2015

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,206: Poe Dameron (Armor Up - The Force Awakens)

POE DAMERON Space Armor
The Force Awakens   Armor Up Figures
Item No.: Asst. B3886 No. B3893
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, armor with integrated helmet
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99  
Availability: September 2015
Appearances: The Force Awakens

Bio: An ace pilot, Poe Dameron is a leader in the Resistance's fight against the First Order.  He soars into battle behind the controls of a modern X-Wing Fighter. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  Because this figure is (to date) exclusive to this set, Poe Dameron is currently worthwhile - his sculpt debuted in this set, and if there's a single-carded version of it at a lower price I've not seen it yet.   At first glance it's the same costume Finn wears, but it's actually just very similar.   The jacket is of a similar cut, but the pants, shoes, and shirt aren't.  The head isn't either, but that's a bit more obvious.   The same red stripe is present on the jacket, but the sculpt lacks backpack holes.  The armor makes up for this oversight.  His head sculpt doesn't exactly look like Oscar Isaac - maybe it's the eyes, maybe it's the hair color - because at first glance I was wondering if it was a (not very good) Star Wars Rebels Cadet Han Solo or something.   Maybe I'll feel differently after I see the movie but this figure doesn't feel particularly specific in its current format.   There is some nice detail here, but a good likeness is exceedingly important - slightly darker hair would be one way to give this figure a smidgen more authenticity at minimal cost.   The outfit is, I suppose, a good one - having not seen the movie all I can say is that the work put into this figure shows.  5 joints, winkly pants around the boots, and a shirt that shows some signs of action makes it a decent figure.   I also appreciate the rank badge and numerous decorative pockets.

He can stand and sit, plus his jacket doesn't get in the way of sitting - his hip joints do restrict the movement a bit, though.   His hands have no problems gripping his ample blaster rifle which is cast in gunmetal plastic and doesn't have the patina or deco of some other weapons but it is - so far - a unique sculpt.   I can't say it looks bad, but I can't say it looks good either - so far I haven't a thing to complain about here.

Also diggable, the armor!  It's pretty slick - it could be cooler, but it's fantastic.   The fact that the helmet can't be removed and worn separately is my only complaint.  They did a fine job integrating a very Star Wars-y helmet with blue markings, armor, breathing gear, and a jet pack.  A jet pack!  That's something we usually only get in the Kenner and Hasbro Star Wars universe, unless you are a Fett or a clone of Fett.   The Rebels and Imperials rarely get this kind of gear outside video games, so the clip-on armor deserves a round of applause for integrating components to resemble the classic pilot helmets and chest computers.  I like it as a stand-alone toy, and I suppose I have to because there's probably zero chance of any figure fitting in an X-Wing while wearing this gear.  Unless of course Hasbro makes a new bigger X-Wing, and I of course am hopeful this might happen.   As a survival item or something you might wear after hitting the "eject" button in a planetary atmosphere, it's pretty slick.

Given the price - $13 for this, or probably $40-$50ish to get a 6-inch Black Series one in a 2-pack (if that comes out here) - this is a rotten deal.   Dollars do not support this purchase, but this item is likely being sold to kids, gift-givers, and those who appreciate the truly weird toys.  There's no reason this shouldn't be $8, or simplified to meet that price point - and at that price it's awesome.  It's just no bit of snap-on armor makes a figure twice as awesome.  Heck, those of you old enough to remember the 2004 "Ultra" figures may recall a $5 C-3PO or a $10 C-3PO with a full Escape Pod.   I'm all for higher price points, but I'd like to see something to show for it like a mini vehicle or additional accessories.  This is moot, though, because as of right now if you want this character in this outfit you don't have options.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,206: October 1, 2015