Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,132: Qui-Gon Jinn (The Retro Collection)

QUI-GON JINN Just The Way He Was Never Intended!
The Retro Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure Target 6-Pack
Item No.: No. G0370
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, plus Battle Droid, Jar Jar Binks, Queen Amidala, Darth Maul, and Obi-Wan Kenobi
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $59.99
Availability: March 2024
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: The Star Wars Retro Collection is inspired by 1970s Star Wars figures and features original figure design and detailing! Continue your collection from the galaxy far, far away! (Stolen from the marketing copy. Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: I feel that there's a sliding scale with retro figures - almost none of these feel like they could have existed in the 1980s due to their posture and texture, but sometimes there are elements that feel right out of 1980. Qui-Gon Jinn absolutely feels that way. I would have loved to live in a world where Hasbro made one with a vinyl cape and telescoping lightsaber (because being from a prequel, it should look older than the 1978 figures.) What we got was a figure with cloth Jedi robes and a non-telescoping lightsaber, which is what we saw around 1983 - but the figure's texture is too smooth for 1983, as Kenner was putting subtle changes on its many figures.

Old Kenner figures were usually pretty on-model or wildly divergent. Luke looked more or less like what you might expect, Leia did the best they could with the engineering of the day, and I don't think there's anyone who can explain what was going on with R2-D2. Qui-Gon Jinn looks like a really high-quality knock-off with hints of the 1980s peppered throughout. The most authentically "old" detail is his left hand, which is a little more like the claw we saw on 1978 Luke. Can you cram an accessory in it? Sure - but it's not a "gripping hand," like the right hand. The robes mostly look like someone copied the reference photos well, except for the belt. In the movie (and most toys) the dark brown belt usually hangs a tiny bit higher, with some of the tan belt hanging below it. Here, the dark brown belt hangs a little low and it immediately struck me as just not looking correct. His boots look more or less like other action figure boots, but have that weird, not-quite-puffy rounded detailing that modern Hasbro Retro figures sport but old Kenner figures did not. You probably won't notice, but it really is one of those subtle "this isn't right" things that fans over 40 will see and are less likely to accept.

The head sculpt has an example of modern toy companies working around old limitations. The hair is a separately molded chunk in the back - old Kenner figures rarely had long hair or ponytails. In the case of Boushh, they just dropped Leia's braid entirely. Qui-Gon has a glued-in piece and while it does look sloppy, "sloppy" is how such a thing would probably look in the 1980s. The eyes don't quite feel right for the era, and the beard looks arguably too good. General Madine may be the most prominent beard in Kenner-dom, and Qui-Gon's looks too realisitc. Not that it needs to look weird, but sometimes weird is right with these old figures. The head also isn't particularly glossy, which hurts the old-ness a bit.

A green lightsaber that's just like Jedi Luke's is what one should expect, but the Jedi Robes - included with Qui-Gon but not Obi-Wan Kenobi - are also arguably too good for a retro figure. The hood sits well on the head, the texture is good, the feel is nice... Hasbro really struggled with cloth Jedi robes with sleeves when we started to get them regularly. This seems refined, which is odd - but also Kenner was pretty good about getting hats and hoods to fit, and most figures could fit in the appropriate vehicles. It makes sense that this would be just fine.

The figure's articulation is good, but I'm not buying the posture. The arms and legs swing forward well, and the long robes cut as leg joints do have a precedent. If you have a Hoth Han Solo or Bespin Princess Leia, their garments hang below the belt and above the knees, so this is more or less how it should look. The legs swing forward with little fuss, and the neck can turn without snapping off his long hair. That's more of a modern innovation, and I can't think of an old Kenner figure from the Star Wars era with long hair over his shoulders. Maybe I'm forgetting somebody. In terms of functionality, I would say it's appropriately retro with the quality-of-life improvements we got when Hasbro said "hey, we can use flexible plastic and the thumbs won't snap on our G.I. Joe figures." This is a good thing, even if it's not necessarily authentic to the era.

You can choose to like this figure for what it is - a licensed figure that looks like it could stand on a shelf with other old figures - or bag on it for not hiring an actual original gangster sculptor, and was probably sculpted digitally, and was spit out of a factory who doesn't grok that Kenner's old figures had good, crisp details - just not as much detail as a modern figure. For about $10, given what I assume to be a limited audience (the Venn Diagram of "People who love Episode I" and "People who love Kenner Action Figures" might be me and about 40 other people in total), it's this or nothing. I don't think someone like Stan Solo was ever going to crank one out, and I don't know that a Super7 or other company that trades in 3 3/4-inch retro figures would (in today's marketplace) come up with something that captures the tough-to-define posture and pose of those original figures. Having said that, I'd rather the original Episode I figures be posed and jointed like this so they could more easily fit in vehicles. It's good for what it is (a modern take on retro) and I can't argue the price.

Collector's Notes: I got my set from Target. It was in a pile of stuff on the "Collectibles" shelves without any real indication as to where it should have been.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,132: May 9, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,832: Qui-Gon Jinn (50th Anniversary, The Black Series 6-Inch)

QUI-GON JINN Photoreal Second Edition
The Black Series Episode I Cardback - Best Buy Exclusive
Item No.: No. F2729
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, removable blade
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: March 2021
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: A wise and powerful Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn discovers young Anakin Skywalker, proving to be a pivotal event for the entire galaxy. (Taken from the packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: The original release of Qui-Gon Jinn a few years ago was an evolutionary link in this line - Hasbro was trying to fix the issue of weirdly painted faces, so it tried making separately molded eyes. The 2021 release seems to town down that whole thing, giving us effectively the same exact figure with the fancy face paint. It looks a little more lively, but it might have too much color - the eyes almost look bloodshot, but everything else seems to be better. The skin tone is just a little lively, as opposed to the probably-just-died not-quite-bluish look for the original.

You're paying more for less, but it's an upgrade. Hasbro removed the second hand from the original, and charged you an extra $5. A cloth robe would have really made this feel like a good deal, but all you get is an (admittedly good) lightsaber that can pop apart and be placed on his belt. It's a good match for the 1999 Qui-Gon Jinn (Jedi Duel) figure from the first Midnight Madness, coming on a foil cardback that's pretty sturdy.

Qui-Gon's outfit is basically the same as the previous release. The color looks a little more saturated, but other than that, it's Qui-Gon. It's good - you may just be buying it for the packaging, but I opened it and I think it's clearly the superior version. I wish it cost the same as the basic figures because there's nothing special here, and Hasbro got a free second shot at selling existing tooling, but it's good enough that you'd want to buy it as part of this year of the celebration of a company that now exists as a spleen in the body of the mouse. I'm glad they gave him an upgrade, and I'm glad he can hold his lightsaber. Unless you're a completist or a packaging fiend, you may be better off keeping the $25 and putting it toward one of the many (many) new releases this year.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,832: June 28, 2021

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,479: Qui-Gon Jinn (Solo: A Star Wars Story Line Look)

QUI-GON JINN with Darth Maul
Solo: A Star Wars Story Force Link 2.0 Two-Pack
Item No.: Asst. E0324  No. E1687
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, split lightsaber, bracelet, stand, droid, cloak, 2 figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: April 2018
Appearances: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Qui-Gon Jinn was a male human Jedi Master born on Coruscant during the declining days of the Galactic Republic.  (Taken from Wookieepedia.)

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 was waffling between the new movie and old movies, but since I don't know anything about the new movie I decided to look on this surprisingly great Qui-Gon Jinn figure.  Hasbro has largely abandoned Lucas' era of characters, but when they revisit them we always get gems.   This Qui-Gon Jinn is right up there with Target's Emperor Palpatine last year - it's wonderful!  A cloak would have been nice but this taller figure with a great face sculpt is some of their best work.  The hair is carefully designed so it doesn't get in the way of the neck turning, and it doesn't look vaguely like a poodle's ears like the 1999 version.  It's like a tiny, decent Liam Neeson sculpture.

He's not super-articulated, but he looks better than the last super-articulated figure.  He has the typical 5 joints plus rotating wrists, and this is a decent choice.  His robes are more flexible, allowing him to easily sit.  The hand can hold the lightsaber, while his left hand has that great Force gesture that the 6-inch figure had last year.   While not identical, it's similar enough to the bigger figure to make it seem that they came from the same digital reference sculpt files.

While lacking in the level of detail of the larger figures, the sculpt is still there and most of the elements are painted similarly.   This looks about as good as I could hope for a Qui-Gon figure at this size and price point, plus or minus a few joints - and at this point I'd say articulation quantity is overrated.  The fists don't easily pop out and the figure can actually sit, which makes it better than many.   I doubt any long-time collector actively thought they needed another Qui-Gon figure, but this is a big improvement.  It's excellent - and the Maul it comes with is no slouch, either.  Do yourself a favor and get this set.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,479: May 7, 2018

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,384: Qui-Gon Jinn (The Black Series)

QUI-GON JINN Big Figure Debut
The Force Awakens The Black Series 6-Inch Figure
Item No.: Asst. B3834 No. C2141
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #40
Includes: Lightsaber blade, hilt, alternate hand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: May 2017
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio:  A venerable if maverick Jedi Master, Qui-Gon Jinn was a student of the living Force. Qui-Gon lived for the moment, espousing a philosophy of "feel, don't think -- use your instincts.” (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:  No movie got flushed down the crapper faster than The Phantom Menace.  After its 1999 debut, Hasbro couldn't get away from it fast enough - by 2000, the line had rebranded and new characters from the first prequel were generally scarce.  This Qui-Gon Jinn is only the second figure from the film to enter the 6-inch action figure assortments, the first of which was in 2013.   While some fans request characters from Episode I, they are neither legion nor loud.   With a new movie every year I assume that one every three years is probably a good clip, as I don't expect much other than maybe some day getting Obi-Wan Kenobi or when it costs out, Jar Jar Binks as a convention exclusive.

This is a good figure - I'd go as far as to say an essential one for a collection.  I'd personally want a few figures from each movie, and The Phantom Menace offers few options.  It wouldn't surprise me to see him in a two-pack with Darth Maul as a retailer exclusive in the near future (I swear I have no advance knowledge of this if it shows up), and it's nice enough to warrant a purchase.  If you see it for retail price, get it.  At a slight mark-up, it's still good enough that you might want to consider getting it anyway.  You'll want to buy a robe for it, but aside from that Hasbro delivered all killer no filler here.

Qui-Gon appeared in an assortment with intricate figures and a lot of plastic.  Also some figures lacking in "oomph."   He's probably the weakest new guy in the batch - the Royal Guard has robes.  The Tusken Raider is one of the most ornate figures in the line, with tons of gear.  Lando has a big cape and a couple of accessories.  Qui-Gon is present with a lightsaber and an alternate hand - no cloak, no robes.   I assume this is purely to keep costs of the entire wave down, but it felt like it was missing with Obi-Wan Kenobi, and doubly so here since Qui-Gon frequently had some bonus garment over this outfit.   It's still a good figure, and the hands swap out easily, but I assume all this is doing is creating a market for Etsy stores and people who can sew 1:12 scale clothing.   The lightsaber plugs in his belt nicely, and the removable blade plugs in without a fight.   The Jedi gesture hand is a nice bonus and adds something to fight poses.

This is a figure with a swell sculpt - the head looks great, if a little pale.  The eyes are painted nicely and seemingly cast separate from the rest of the head, which in no doubt would add to the cost of the figure.  The beard and mustache look about as real as their movie counterparts, plus his hair is slightly flexible - so you can move his head a little bit.  Articulation is standard The Black Series fare, with a range of motion that's acceptable.  He can get both hands on his lightsaber, but it doesn't look a heck of a lot better than the 1999 Jedi Duel release.  If he has one or no hands on the lightsaber, he looks a lot better - the Jedi gesture, holding the lightsaber out, it's a lot more expressive.

Deco is superior to other Hasbro Qui-Gon toys, with parts of the robes painted in colors we usually don't see.  The outer level is a bit darker, and an inner garment is even darker than that.  The pants are fine, the boots are cool, and the textures are top-notch.  I love how they got his face to not be glossy, although it is a little pale.  I'm happy with the likeness overall, although if you get the facial hair and nose right you're halfway there.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,384: July 5, 2017

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,874: Qui-Gon Jinn

QUI-GON JINN  Duel on Naboo
Discover the Force Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 37822 No.  37855
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, game stuff, additional figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $22.99
Availability: April 2012
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi battle Darth Maul during the invasion of Naboo.  The two Jedi encounter the Sith Lord in the palace hangar and fight a fierce lightsaber duel that ends in the Theed Generator Complex.   Obi-Wan becomes separated from Quik-Gon by the complex's security shield, and can only watch as his Master continues the battle alone. But when the shield lowers once more, Obi-Wan attacks Maul with grief-stricken determination. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,798: Qui-Gon Jinn

QUI-GON JINN Jedi Legacy
30th Anniversary Collection Evolutions Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87480 No. 87562
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, robe, additional figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99-$25.99
Availability: February 2008
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio:  Qui-Gon Jinn was a revered, yet maverick and unconventional Human male Jedi Master. He was the Padawan to Count Dooku, and the mentor to Obi-Wan Kenobi and briefly Anakin Skywalker.  (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's old apartment.

Commentary:  In 2008 this Qui-Gon Jinn was the definitive version of the character, and today... well, it still is. The mold has been trotted out a few times since then, proving that Hasbro can probably make more money by making a figure right the first time and just re-cranking it out in new packaging, in new gift sets, or with new accessories.  No doubt, the figure could be improved with a little more care in the paint.  The moustache and beard are thick, blending in to one another, where it seems they don't quite merge in the same way in the movies.  So really, Hasbro could get yet another use out of this figure just by painting the head better next time, although I'm a little sick of the mold after so many reissues.  It's still fairly good, though, except it still includes a 1999-style lightsaber without the flared blade.   At this point it's kind of inexcusable, but I digress.

The tall Jedi includes a removable cloth cloak which, as usual, is big to the point of being annoying.  But once you take it off, the sculpt is quite good.  Hasbro put in some great detail in the boots and outfit, with the textures turning out quite well.  He has some cloth elements and like most Jedi has difficulty sitting, but a 2012 Battle Pack version aimed to fix that by returning to squared-off t-crotch joints.  (At press time I don't have it and I'm quite eager to see how it turns out.)  For now, this Qui-Gon is the one all collectors should chase down, although I might suggest fun-loving collectors get the Movie Heroes rerelease-- I'll review him with his gun in the future, but the vintage version or any of the other releases are, for now, basically just as good as the original Evolutions set.

Collector's Notes: This figure has been reissued a few times.  In 2009, it was part of a mail-in offer with an Eopie, but that release lacked with robes.  In 2012, it was put out on a Vintage cardback as well as a Movie Heroes and Discover the Force package.  The Movie Heroes one is notable for introducing a new firing gun, which is an odd accessory for a Jedi master.  The Jedi Legacy Evolutions set is the version you really ought to buy since it includes a novel version of Luke Skywalker and the only movie Bultar Swan to date.  The set can be had for as little as $15 before shipping, and it's totally worth it as all three figures are excellent.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,798: May 4, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,772: Qui-Gon Jinn

QUI-GON JINN Light-Up Lightsaber Blade!
Discover the Force Movie Heroes
Item No.: Asst. 87752 No. 36573
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #MH18
Includes: Stand, card, die
Action Feature: Light-up lightsaber
Retail: $8.99
Availability: February 2012
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Qui-Gon Jinn battles Darth Maul in a deadly confrontation on Naboo. The Jedi Master first duels the Sith apprentice on Tatooine, barely escaping the confrontation, then faces him again on Naboo. Qui-Gon is up against a relentless enemy who tests his mastery of the lightsaber. Although he's strong in the Force, Qui-Gon battles for his life against this powerful foe. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' photo area.

Commentary: Old-school Kenner meets modern Hasbro! This Gui-Gon Jinn is an interesting synthesis of new and old design techniques to the point where I'm honestly not sure what to make of it. His shoulders and hips are classic joints like the 1970s figures, and he has no waist joint. If you remove the lower part of his robe-- easily done, as it's a belt tabbed in the back-- he can sit in pretty much any legit 1980s Kenner vehicle unless his lightsaber gets in the way. On the other hand, he has ball-jointed knees and a ball-jointed left elbow, plus a jointed wrist and a ball-jointed neck plus the best Liam Neeson head sculpt yet. It's so real, he could practically speak "I've got full-blown AIDS." (Did you watch "Life's Too Short?" The improv bit? With Ricky Gervais? It was funny. Anyway.) The pose is also similar to the old Kenner figures, and I get a kick out of that.

The other nifty thing-- and shortcoming-- is the figure's action feature, a swell light-up lightsaber which is activated by his belt. If you push the buckle, it lights up until you let go-- so fighting with lit-up sabers is difficult. My big complaint, though, is that the battery isn't replaceable. I don't know what this means for corrosion over the coming decades, which we as collectors are sort of worried about at times. There's a battery in this guy, and it ain't coming out. I don't like this. I love the feature and how it works, but I want to be able to replace the battery and it's my guess that I won't be able to buy a new one in 10+ years when the battery runs down or leaks or something. And I have to literally crack the figure open if I want to remove the battery. I know this may be a ridiculous thing to Hasbro, but seriously, consider your audience: a lot of people, maybe not the biggest market, are buying these and will hold on to them for years or decades. Is it safe to have a permanently-installed battery? (I'm not calling them out, I honestly don't know.)

I have zero understanding of why Hasbro put in the expense of giving him ball-jointed knees, but they did and there you go. I think this may be the best toy figure of Qui-Gon to date since he can actually sit and has a cool fun toy feature. Sure, his shoulders are a little broad, but if you can get beyond that this may be the best, funnest Qui-Gon Jinn figure Hasbro has ever and will ever make. Get it if you dare, fun lovers!

Collector's Notes: A relatively new release, this figure is a little tough to come by in the wilds of retail. Wave 1 of Movie Heroes may be in the way at a store near you.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,772: March 29, 2012

Figure of the Day: Day 1,246: Qui-Gon Jinn

QUI-GON JINN Jedi Master
Saga Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84801
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0232
Includes: Lightsaber, blast-effect
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: May 2002
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: As the desperate final battle against the Trade Federation rages on, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi clash against Darth Maul in the Theed power generator area on Naboo. As they reach the central core, Obi-Wan gets trapped behind a wall of raw energy and Qui-Gon continues the battle by himself, where it proves to be a day of destiny for all involved. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's home.

Commentary: While Hasbro basically abandoned individually-carded Phantom Menace Anakin and Obi-Wan figures around 2001, they brought out a new Qui-Gon Jinn in 2002 after the Episode I run was over and done with. Adopting the then-new style for basic figures, this one is essentially a pre-posed statuesque little guy, posed perfectly for duels and battling Battle Droids. For a while, it was considered to be the best version of the character but since we've seen a better articulated version, you might just settle for it being the best looking release. With the dark brown Jedi robes, decent head sculpt, and perfectly acceptable deco, this is probably the version of Qui-Gon you'll want for your diorama or display needs. He isn't overly lanky, and while the head could be painted a little bit better, fact is you probably won't be looking at his face so much as the lightsaber and its deflecting of a laser bolt. As a carded figure, or a desk display, this is a great figure. Sure, he can't sit for squat, but at $5 in 2002 he was certainly a crowd-pleaser.

Collector's Notes: Neither rare nor desired, you can pick this one up on the cheap. And if you can, I think you'll like it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,246: March 24, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,185: Qui-Gon Jinn

QUI-GON JINN Theed Hangar
Episode I Playset Pack-In
Item No.: Asst. 84055 No. 84713
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, Battle Droid, and a whole playset
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $29.99
Availability: May 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: In their attempt to liberate the Naboo people, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi face their deadliest foe...Darth Maul. While the desperate final battle against the Trade Federation rages on outside, Darth Maul corners the two Jedi inside the Theed hangar. Armed with a double bladed lightsaber, Maul leads Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan into a snare of deadly surprises-collapsing catwalks, secret traps and battle droid ambushes! Maneuvering through the hangar, Qui-Gon Jinn takes out a band of battle droids with his lightsaber and his mighty power kicks before coming face to face with Darth Maul! (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's kitchen.

Commentary: Without the playset, this Qui-Gon Jinn isn't particularly exciting. It has loose limbs so you can plug him into his playset, which has a big lightsaber-shaped joystick that allows you to control the figure and have him "fight" things around the hangar. It's a really ornate way to make a deluxe figure with an action feature, using a playset as a disguise for a fairly clever way to bring a single figure to life. Because of this, the figure has very limited articulation. Also, the sculpt is a little less crisp than other figures, and the deco isn't as good as other Qui-Gon Jinn toys. It's a perfectly fine figure, but this is one you get to finish a collection rather than to be your one-and-only Liam Neeson Jedi. The figure is basically OK, but the playset itself is the reason to pick up this figure. It's a nice way to display some of your toys.

Collector's Notes: The figure didn't become a hot commodity, mostly because the entire era was kind of a turkey that way. The packaged playset with both figures can be easily had for less than original retail on eBay. In some cases, for less than the price of an individual figure.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,185: December 29, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,178: Qui-Gon Jinn (Holographic)

QUI-GON JINN Figure as Holograph
Episode I Wal-Mart Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 84225 No. 84371
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Light-up stand
Action Feature: Light-up base
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: In the days of the old Republic, a direct communications system was introduced to give those in power a way to quickly relay vital information to where it was needed. As part of a comm-unit communication, this 3-D, visual system uses advanced holoprojectors which enable the user to transmit and receive messages within seconds. (Taken from the figure's package.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: This barely qualifies as a figure. It's the right scale, but Qui-Gon Jinn has no articulation. I don't mean "it doesn't move much," I mean the whole thing is one damn solid piece. This clear blue figure has some painted details on his face, specifically a fleshy color, to better simulate the look of the holographs in the prequels. It's a little off, but it's slightly more accurate than the clear blue and purple figures we've been getting steadily since about 2005. As figures go, this thing is a statue. You can look at it, and that's about all. It's pretty cool to have it with the light-up communicator base as an action feature, but again, it doesn't do much. The base itself is pretty neat as a sort of prop replica, but the ability to spin the figure when you want isn't much of a fun play feature. It was a neat idea, but it's no wonder that this line was abandoned after the first two figures It's a neat curiosity, but hardly worth shelling out a lot for.

Collector's Notes: I picked my first one up at ten bucks. I also picked up more on clearance at $0.50 each. These weren't popular items, and have never been rereleased. Get them cheap if you get them at all. As in, not worth the ten bucks.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,178: December 18, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,084: Qui-Gon Jinn (with Eopie, 2000)

QUI-GON JINN with Eopie
Episode I Beast Assortment
Item No.: Asst. 84125 No. 84354
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, removable poncho, Eopie creature
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99+
Availability: Summer 2000
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Image: Adam Pawlus' back yard.

Bio: Riding atop an eopie, Qui-Gon Jinn hauls a T-14 hyperdrive generator to the outskirts of Mos Espa where the Queen's disabled Naboo Royal Starship waits to be repaired. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Commentary: It truly is amazing what becomes "collectible." At one time commanding as much as $120, this Qui-Gon Jinn with Eopie has gradually declined in value as people realized a) they don't like the prequels that much, and b) other, more exciting toys shipped out of Hasbro. The Qui-Gon figure in particular is nothing special, particularly when you compare it to the rest of the line. It has a button on the back of his belt which activates an "attack" action, like the deluxe figure. It has a removable cloth poncho, like the 2000 Power of the Jedi release. It has a green lightsaber... because they all do. Since this figure was paired with a fantastically rare creature, it did well. "Rare" is the key word, because the farting, feature-free Eopie isn't much of a toy, yet holds a certain legendary status because it was so hard to get. That doesn't mean it's any good, just that certain people didn't get it and whined and whined and now it's coming back out again. Minus one key thing-- the figure I'm reviewing here. A different version of Liam Neeson's character will be included instead.

This particular release was unique to this set. Qui-Gon was designed to sit on the Eopie, to stand and look normal, and to fight-- truly, no small feat for a figure with only 6 points of articulation and a button mechanism. If you take off his poncho, you'll note Hasbro wisely dropped the "skirt" below the belt for optimal articulation and the ability to sit on his creature companion. When his poncho is on, you won't notice it's gone. The outfit's sculpting is on par with the other versions from this era, which is to say it's a little bit more heroic in its proportions. Qui-Gon's face and eye paint are largely superior to others from the time, meaning this is one of the better looking Liam toys you can pick up-- assuming the lack of articulation isn't a problem. The cloth poncho is a nice touch,

Collector's Notes: This was the rarest Episode I toy that wasn't a bonus pit droid for quite some time-- it was, as far as can be told, never sold in the USA. Units in US packaging were sold in Japan, but with a sticker. These were also sold in the UK in multi-lingual packaging, which is where this sample came from. A new mail-in version is available now but the differences between the Qui-Gon figure are significant... the Eopie changes are unknown. Courtesy of this new release, odds are the 2000 original is on the fast track to worthlessness. Such is the collecting game.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,084: August 10, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 883: Qui-Gon Jinn

QUI-GON JINN Tatooine Showdown
Episode I Cinema Scene Collection
Item No.: Asst. 84115 No. 84158
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, display base, CommTech Chip
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Summer 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: After enduring heavy damage during their escape from Naboo, the Naboo Royal Starship is forced to land on the desert planet of Tatooine. Returning from Mos Espa with Anakin Skywalker, Qui-Gon is ambushed by a figure in flowing dark robes - it is the evil Darth Maul. Ordering Anakin to the ship, Qui-Gon matches his awesome Jedi skill against the Sith Lord's sinister power. Both escape with their lives, but it would not be their last meeting. (Taken from the toy's packaging.)

Image: Adam's toy room floor.

Commentary: While not as awesome as the incredibly awesome Darth Maul from the Tatooine Showdown cinema scene set, this Qui-Gon Jinn is pretty awesome-- even by todays standards. He has a good pose, a decent plastic poncho, and oh yes-- a very angry face. While essentially a statue, the figure managed to impress because it just looked so darn good. It's not like he was too tall and thin, or had poodle hair, or sported a terrible face paint job. Hasbro just did the job right here, producing a solid action figure that holds together nicely, can duel with his lightsaber just fine, and managed to capture a decent (although far from perfect) likeness of Liam Neeson. For its era, it was the best. Overall, it's still up there as one of the finest, and I daresay I like it more than the recently released "Evolutions" version, at least in terms of the face. The only real downer here is the figure was designed to be in one pose pretty much all of the time, and he only has 7 points of articulation. This makes him below average by today's standards, but he's still decent. That is, if you feel like you want to buy more figures from the first prequel.

Collector's Notes: Like the vast majority of Episode I product, this set can be had cheaply. How cheaply? You can usually get it in a small collection of toys, all boxed, for less than this three-pack's original retail price. I've just checked eBay for the boxed set, and you can get a sealed one for $1 to $3 before shipping. The set is simply wonderful for $20, and I can't imagine not getting one at today's crazy prices. Unless, of course, you have bad taste and your feedback to me in some of these articles shows that this may well be the case. Prove me wrong, buy this set. It's worth it for the Darth Maul alone.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 883: October 31, 2008

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 534: Qui-Gon Jinn

QUI-GON JINN Jedi Training Gear
Power of the Jedi Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84445 No. 84559
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, Force File
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Spring 2001
Appearances: n/a

Bio:  Qui-Gon Jinn is a Jedi devoted to maintaining order and justice in the galaxy. He, like most Jedi, feels it is his duty to pass on what he has learned to the next generation of Jedi. He does so by taking a Padawan to mentor. During the training process, Qui-Gon often wears his Jedi training gear for protection when sparring with his trainee.   ( Taken from the figure's Force File.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: Supposedly from a cancelled subline (and definitely from concept artwork), this Qui-Gon Jinn brought non-movie figures to the regular action figure line in a very "Batman" way.   We saw some bonus accessories with deluxe figures, and we've seen some comic and concept figures sold as such, but integrating these into the main line by combining it with movie designs and actors' likenesses was something new.  This particular figure combines Liam Nesson's head-- or at least a decent facsimile-- with a body loaded with armored detail and very limited articulation.  With six joints there really isn't a lot that die-hard figure junkies will like about it, but it's a remarkable design and it showed that Hasbro people had some interesting and marketable ideas to expand the universe after the first prequel was released.   I'd love to see more original concepts like this in the line, as it does seem to seem not entirely removed from the spirit of Star Wars.  Now if I saw Pod Racing Obi-Wan Kenobi, that'd be a different matter entirely.  The figure's outfit is unique to this figure, and while there is an armored Obi-Wan as well, they don't seem to go together too incredibly well. This figure is probably best kept for collectors or for kids looking for something truly different, after all it's not like most Jedi go through a large number of costume changes.

Collector's Notes: This figure has never been reissued, and it's worth noting it is pretty cool as a toy.  There's so little buzz surrounding this figure it's almost not funny, so if you want one you better start trading or looking to eBay.

Day 534: October 22, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 497: Qui-Gon Jinn (Jedi Duel)

QUI-GON JINN Jedi Duel
Episode I Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84085 No. 84072
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, CommTech Chip
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: May 3, 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: A wise and powerful Jedi, Qui-Gon Jinn discovers young Anakin Skywalker, proving to be a pivotal event to the future of the Jedi and to the entire galaxy for generations to come. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: Back in 1999, fans were thrilled that Hasbro upped the ante with tons of articulation and in many cases, better sculpting and deco than we were used to. We got figures which seemed great, like this Qui-Gon Jinn with a whopping 10 points of articulation, a display base, and a lightsaber which had multiple colors of paint on the hilt. Giggle if you want, because back then this was something special. Of course, with a few years between its release and giving the figure another look, you can see it really doesn't look too much like Liam Neeson, it's just a little too angular in the costume, and the hair still looks something like a dog's floppy ears. Time was not kind to the figure, but Hasbro did make sure he was taller than the other Jedi, which was nice, but the once-awesome deco just doesn't hold up today. The hair looks funky, the eyes look off, and the figure itself feels quite plain. This is no doubt the result of cranking out dozens of figures (1999 was the first year Hasbro got close to 100 releases), but geez. Time is the fire in which iffy figures burn.

Collector's Notes: This one has not yet been rereleased, although we can safely say we never expect to see it again. It's not awful, and later releases weren't as well articulated, it's just somewhat bland. Good thing a new, super-poseable version is coming in 2008.

Day 497: September 15, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 234: Qui-Gon Jinn

QUI-GON JINN Jedi Master
Episode I, Sith Lord Attack, Episode I Tin
Item No.: Asst. 84805 No. 84107
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, may include Jedi cloak and comlink
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99-$29.99
Availability: Spring 2000, Fall 2006
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Having spent his life battling the forces of evil, Qui-Gon Jinn squares off against his most sinister enemy yet - Darth Maul - in an epic lightsaber duel inside the Theed power generator. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: The tables of Adam Pawlus.

Commentary: After many releases in 1999, Qui-Gon Jinn has seen very few figures since Hasbro went out of their way to purge the memory of Episode I from the shelves. This release was one of the last in Episode I packaging, and six years later, he returns to the stores. The figure has a mere 6 points of articulation (sub-standard for its day), but was one of the first figures to feature "soft goods," cloth parts that accent the figure and enhance it in special ways. In this case, the enhancement was that the figure can sit-- something most Qui-Gon figures cannot easily do. While a nice addition, it's ultimately an empty gesture because the figure's wacky arm pose prevents it from being able to fit in a lot of vehicles, and his hair is all crazy due to the action pose. It's a nice figure to look at, surely, but the decision to include a communications device with the most action-oriented figures of his day continues to confuse me.

For kids, this is a solid figure-- the CommLink (if included) is the only easily lost part. The lightsaber is fairly durable, and with only six points of articulation, the arms or wrists are very unlikely to just pop out of the sockets. So it's an excellent toy, and an excellent part of a diorama if you're setting up a duel with Darth Maul. It doesn't have a lot of articulation, so most collectors will poo-poo this one-- but it's well made and designed with kids and collectors in mind, so despite some limitations I simply cannot fault it.

Collector's Notes: So far, there have been three major releases of this figure. The first included the figure, a CommTech chip, and a comlink. The second came in a Battle Pack, and that one didn't have the CommTech chip. Number three was in the Episode I-themed tin set, which had only a lightsaber and a Jedi cloak. So to get "all the parts" you'll probably need to own at least two of these figures. As far as I can tell, no major changes were made in the figure itself-- just the accessories.

Day 234: December 26, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 83: Qui-Gon Jinn

QUI-GON JINN Mos Espa Disguise
Power of the Jedi Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84445 No. 84253
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, poncho, Force File
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Summer 2000
Appearances: Episode I

Bio: Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn has handled many difficult negotiations on behalf of the Jedi order. On some missions, he is required to wear a disguise. Bold and headstrong, he is willing to take any risk to restore lasting peace and security to the galaxy. (Taken from the figure's Force File.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: One of the characters pushed with the advent of the prequels, Qui-Gon Jinn enjoyed 3 years of steady releases before more or less dropping off the face of the Earth in 2002. One of the first Power of the Jedi figures (and almost one of the last from the Episode I line), this particular release of Qui-Gon is the only carded version to include a cloth poncho. He also has ball-jointed shoulders, but aside from that, is essentially the same basic six-joint formula we've all come to expect. He's got a good range of movement, but the cloth is really kind of bland-- when cropped like to the left, it's a head on a sheet of cloth. There's little definition here, but the figure is a fun one and the cloth doesn't restrict his movement. It's a neat figure, and if you don't have a poncho-clad Qui-Gon, it may be worth pursuing for the right (low) price, we can't say much about it because it's pretty gosh darn bland when you get right down to it. No dirt, no mud, but a strong face sculpt is present which gives it a fair amount of personality. His hands seem a little big, though.

Collector's Notes: One of the first waves of Power of the Jedi was scheduled to include this figure, but he was delayed and came out a bit later. Still, he's a great figure even if he is essentially worthless today. For the money, though, he's fun-- your kids would probably like it a lot.

Day 83: July 28, 2006