Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,115: Paige (Resistance Gunner, The Last Jedi Line Look)

PAIGE Resistance Gunner
The Last Jedi Basic Figure Teal Assortment
Item No.: Asst. C1531 No. C1538
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, helmet
Action Feature: Force Link sounds
Retail: $8.99
Availability: September 2017
Appearances: The Last Jedi

Bio: Paige Tico, nicknamed Pae-Pae by her sister, was a human female who served as a gunner on a MG-100 StarFortress SF-17 in the Resistance during their conflict with the First Order. (Stolen from Wookieepedia. Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: When making toys from an unreleased movie, you're at the mercy of your licensor - hopefully you get some sort of access to the script, the sets, and indeed any part of the filmmakers you can get. Before a new movie is released, most toys are equals - Constable Zuvio, Finn, Rey, and Poe Dameron were all on the same footing. The same was true in 2017 when we got Resistance Gunner Paige, who could be a major character in the movie. Or not. It turns out the character was not a major player in the movie - heck, most of the movie line's figures were a mix of repeats - ad it didn't help that Paige and Rose shipped together in matching mustard-colored Resistance uniforms. Fans were not excited - heck, she sat unopened on a peg in my basement until last month (along with a few other figures from the sequel era) because we've had a ton of things to review and sometimes, things just keep getting kicked down the road. And that was about five and a half years ago.

Before the movie, this was an interesting new pilot figure with a cool helmet. And after the movie, none of that changed as we saw a character have a brief, appearance that served as a way to help define her sister Rose Tico. In a movie year, it's always a little upsetting when your "sneak preview" figures wind up being of little consequence in the grand scheme of things. The sculpting is really good, with Paige having that somehow form-fitting-yet-baggy look that seems to show signs of wear, but without the painted weathering. The vest is a light gray, and every bit of her clothing has the illusion of feeling used and old despite being shiny and new. I'm impressed. She also had a Resistance (or Rebel if you're nasty) symbol on her sleeve and a vaguely familiar checkerboard pattern on her removable helmet. The face sculpt is good, and the face deco is pretty great for pre-Photo Real. I would love to see more paint on the straps and buckles, but at least her leg straps and boots are painted. For her time, this was a pretty great figure in a time where The Vintage Collection was on hiatus.

Her pose is typical of the time - skinny, straight limbs that swing forward with no problems whatsoever. I assume many people in their 40s (or 50s) will turn their nose up at this figure, but the only complaint I had would be getting the mask on her chest plugged in to her removable helmet. It's a great feature, but it's really hard to get it in there and to have it hold in place despite having pegs. She has no problems holding her blaster, and the helmet fits like a glove. Or helmet. It's a good fit, is where I'm going, and you may as well leave the mask off so you can see the face.

I assume the dud of a toy line that was The Rise of Skywalker pumped the brakes on future generations of fans collecting sequel toys later, as it didn't quite come in for the kind of landing we saw with Star Wars originally in The Power of the Force line or the numerous victory laps we saw from Revenge of the Sith figures. The Last Jedi had an action figure series I would call acceptable, Solo had a good enough one, but there weren't a lot of thrilling or weird figures to be had. Paige is aggressively well-engineered, nicely-sculpted and decorated, priced more or less fairly... but she's another boring human. The main thing she had going for her at the time of release was that she was one of very few new characters in the line, and today, I would probably bet you $50 she'll never have another action figure in the next five to ten years. Or longer. She's cheap if you can find her at a comic shop and I doubt you'll find the figure disappointing unless you just don't want another pilot figure. I'd love to see Hasbro make more figures at around this price point and level of quality for a modern audience.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth in 2017. They are long sold out... but there's a nonzero chance a 99 Cents Only store near you might have a few dusty ForceLink-era figures on their pegs.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,115: March 12, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,597: Resistance A-Wing Pilot (The Last Jedi Line Look)

RESISTANCE A-WING PILOT with Resistance A-Wing Fighter (Red Squadron)
The Last Jedi Exclusive (technically released with Solo, also it's complicated)
Item No.:   No. E2265
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster pistol, vehicle, projectiles, figure
Action Feature: Force Link sounds
Retail: $7.99
Availability: Spring 2019
Appearances: The Last Jedi

Bio: A longtime reliable starfighter model used by the Resistance that dates back to the struggle between the Empire and the Rebellion, the A-Wing is a nimble, wedge-shaped fighter propelled to incredible speeds by large twin engines. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: There are complications, and there are complications.   This Resistance A-Wing Pilot is a variation on Resistance Pilot Tallie [FOTD #2,407] - it's a redeco with a new head.  Fun story I can't tell at length - this was not the original intended pack-in, nor did this item have a smooth ride to market.  There were rumors of where it would be sold, and changes, and other stuff - this was a toy that clearly did not want to get released.  It did eventually escape to closeout shelves, getting dumped at Ross for $7.99 despite another intended home for it - but that's a long story I can't tell right now.

The nameless dark green suited figure probably isn't meant to be Pammich Nerro Goode, and I am unable to find the identity or reference for the outfit in my limited resources on-hand.     The helmet is now in blue, with a darker orange visor, and a newly-sculpted head with a slightly different face and different hair coming out of the back of the helmet.  She has 5 points of articulation and a blaster, making this a unique character but probably not one you can name just yet.   The paint is nice and clean, it's unique, but it's not a character I can identify or point to in a book just yet.  Maybe you can.  I'm glad she got a new head, but it's not like I needed either this ship or its pilot. I'm just a sucker for A-Wings.

Force Link Notes: "Reporting in, Squadron Leader." "The enemy is on the move."  "I've located the targets."  "Concentrate fire on the enemy position."  With the ship, it's "Firmware update required."  Never change, Force Link 2.0.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Ross.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,597: June 25, 2019

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 2,566: Kaz Xiono (Resistance line look)

KAZ XIONO Debut
Star Wars Resistance  3 3/4-Inch Single Figure
Item No.: Asst. E5035 No. E3941
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/
Includes: Helmet, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: January 2019
Appearances: Star Wars Resistance

Bio: Confident and skilled when a New Republic X-wing fighter, Kaz now feels out of his element having been assigned to be a spy for the Resistance. (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: On the show, Kaz Xiono oscillates between bumbler and go-getter. Sometimes, he's a pilot with skill.  Sometimes, he's an idiot who will let people trample over him, only looking competent thanks to an even denser sidekick who, despite being a series regular, has no toy.  I don't know who is planning these waves - Kaz is the only series regular in the entire basic single first wave.   It's like a wave made mostly of Constable Zuvio or Paige Tico all over again, but at least this guy is on every week and gets a toy so those who love him on the show can indeed get him.  Unlike, say, Han Solo last year.  But I digress.

This figure hits all the right marks - had Hasbro any vehicles, his articulation seems designed to easily sit with legs at the right angle and arms that don't swivel out too much.  He's skinny and closely matches the colors on the show - the pants aren't quite right, but everything else seems more or less on point.  The face looks like the animation model, the jacket is perfect, and the belt buckle is even right.  Bonus credit to Hasbro for sculpting the jacket as a separate piece, allowing the figure to look a little more three-dimensional and not in any way restricting movement when being posed.  The proportions and style are more cartoon-like than some previous animated lines, with texture as appropriate in a few spots.  Mostly he's smooth, and one might assume the grey sideburns are to indicate he's old.  But he acts like a dumb kid, so... take your pick.

I admit I'm behind on the show and just haven't been feeling it yet.  I'll keep giving it a chance, because I can't not.  He rarely used his helmet or blaster from what I remember, as the show seems to be trying very hard to not have every episode be a shoot-out.  Kaz has no problems wearing his helmet, or holding his blaster.

Hasbro did a great job on what seems to be a tough task - increasing prices, decreasing accessories and features, and a show with ratings about as low as Rebels at its nadir, it's a wonder we've got anything.  I like the character design, the character's performance is good, and the action figure is well done for what it aspires to be - you just have to get excited for the show.  Maybe it gets better?  If you get a chance to pick up a Kaz figure at a good price, you might want to do so.  I can't complain about the toy.  The show, sure.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,566: March 7, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,503: C'ai Threnalli (The Last Jedi Line Look)

C'AI THRENALLI Talking Edition
The Last Jedi Force Link Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. C1503  No. E0524
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $10.99
Availability: June 2018
Appearances: The Last Jedi

Bio: C'ai Threnalli[2] was an Abednedo male who flew in the Resistance Starfighter Corps of the Resistance's military during their conflict with the First Order.  This 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:  This is a figure I wasn't sure if people would want - at work, we picked it up after Hasbro dropped it from the US mainline.  C'ai Threnalli looked like a slightly better Ello Asty at first glance - this time with a removable helmet and no holster.  The figure had a bit more to offer than sounds and new joints, and has proven to be pretty popular.  (I've seen the sales figures.  This should be the first one to sell out.)

The arms seem to be derived from the same digital sculpt as Asty, as do parts of the torso - the vest matches the wrinkles on the older figure in spots quite closely.   It's a safe bet Disney and Lucasfilm are giving Hasbro some digital assets while not being afraid to tweak existing models.   Threnalli has articulated wrists and boots either as a forward-thinking way to fit in future vehicles, or as a cost-cutting measure to avoid having to paint those pieces by molding them in color. I assume the latter.  It's a nice feature though - I'll take articulation any way I can get it!  The helmet is rubbery and is a perfect fit on his head, which is sculpted surprisingly well with a lot of detail.  

It looks better than a lot of the other The Last Jedi figures, which kind of is unfortunate as it had more limited availability.  It's similar, but different, and certainly good enough to warrant your attention with extra flight straps and definitely new legs.  C'ai, along with Maz Kanata, a Flametrooper, and Emperor Palpatine were all bumped from the main line but all found homes somewhere.  (The single Palpatine was sold overseas, and in 3-packs at Target.)  I think they're all decent for different reasons.   If you're a pilot fan, get one.

  "Got 'em."  "Come and get me!"  "Roger."  "We have a mission to complete."  "Come and get me!"  And blaster effects.  The voice is, obviously, not from the movie.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.   This figure was originally slated to be a part of the first Force Link line for The Last Jedi but when the final wave got axed, this item was dumped in the USA.  It is a de facto USA Entertainment Earth exclusive.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,503: July 31, 2018

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,469: Rose (Crait Defense, The Last Jedi Line Look)

ROSE Crait Defense
The Last Jedi Home Video Battle on Crait 4-Pack
Item No.:    No. E0321
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 4 figures, 4 blasters, poncho, lightsaber, staff
Action Feature: Force Link sounds
Retail: $24.99
Availability: February 2018
Appearances: The Last Jedi

Bio: Part of the support crew that keeps the Resistance starfighters flying, Rose has hated the First Order since she was a child.  Now able to fight back against the enemy, Rose keeps her focus on her mission.  (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 costuming in The Last Jedi really strikes me as odd - some people wear the same clothes as the last movie, some change in front of our very eyes! The Rose (Crait Defense) figure wears the poncho we saw in the Resistance Ski Speeder at the end of the movie, and by that I mean you didn't notice it at all.   She went from a yellow speed suit to a First Order officer disguise to this.  Well, it's basically the disguise - her boots and pants are First Order-issue, while the white undershirt was probably there the whole time.  Why the poncho?  I have no idea.  Modesty?

The poncho is brown with little slices in it so she can swing her arms forward.  Each arm has a jointed wrist, and they're small hands unlike the meat paws we're used to getting.  She can hold her blaster easily, and it's a gunmetal silver take on the black ones we got with the yellow outfit figures.   The plastic poncho - oh, how I wish it was cloth - comes off when you pop her head off.   Underneath you can see her necklace, and she looks great.  Nothing looks too out of whack, the head sculpt is good, and the deco is as it should be.  What's better, she can sit!  The legs can swing forward and don't stop at some weird angle.  The hair is great, the face deco is wonderful, and she delivers a decent figure experience.  I'm amazed they bothered to make this costume, and I assume they were hedging their bets that she might be a phenomenon.  Like the movie, Rose seems to have received mixed reactions.  I enjoyed seeing her on-screen, even if she and Finn were dorks.

Hasbro did a good job with the figures in this line, even if you don't love the character choices.  The texture is good, te paint is sharp, and the likenesses are so good you have to assume someone forgot to tick a box to get Harrison Ford's face 30 years ago as the reason they all look... close.  But not exact.  This is a good set for the money, and a last hurrah for the line's retail support as it transitions to Force Link 2.0.  

Packaging Notes: This is a good box.   The footprint is the same as the previous Disney movie 4-packs, which were designed to be the same size as the digital download boxes a few years ago so a fan could collect them all on a shelf together.  This isn't widely promoted.  The box itself is much better than the rest of the 3 3/4-inch figure line, with a much better use of the space.  The back has bios for all four figures in multiple languages along with shots of figures that show them with (or without) their accessories, and there's no big use of white space like on the Kohl's set.  Hasbro did a great job here.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,469: April 4, 2018

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 2,407: Resistance Pilot Tallie (The Last Jedi Line Look)

RESISTANCE PILOT TALLIE with Resistance A-Wing Fighter
The Last Jedi Class B Vehicle Assortment
Item No.: Asst. C1248  No. C1249
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster pistol, vehicle, projectiles, figure
Action Feature: Force Link sounds
Retail: $29.99
Availability: September 2017
Appearances: The Last Jedi

Bio: A longtime reliable starfighter  model used by the Resistance that dates back to the struggle between the Empire and the Rebellion, the A-Wing is a nimble, wedge-shaped fighter propelled to incredible speeds by large twin engines. (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:  There are surprises, and there are surprises.   For years, few lines of figures incorporated multiple women in the line at launch - sure, there were a few, but rarely were they all new characters.  The Resistance Pilot Tallie joins at least two new Resistance members.   Tallie is in a green suit with grey gloves, but the most exciting thing is her new helmet - the visor is translucent, and not opaque like The Force Awakens' iffy helmets.  Which, for better or for worse, creaks open the door to revisit Asty, Poe, and Snap Wexley.

As usual, she has a blaster and 5 points of articulation.  She has no problems standing or sitting in her A-Wing Fighter vehicle, which I have to say is pretty awesome.   Deco is largely good, with painted buttons and most straps - sadly a strap between her legs is left undecorated.   It's that way on the box, too.  You'll also  notice she has a Resistance symbol on her shoulder along with painted code cylinders, a nice addition that could have easily been left off.   The green suit color is also quite nice.

Her Force Link quotes may or may not be in the movie - at this point we have no idea if this is an actor in the film, or a Hasbro or Disney employee just making sure the gimmick has some functionality.   When you shove her forward, you get blaster noises.   Her other quotes include "Here they come!", "Let's do some damage!", "Protect the bombers," and "Reporting in, squadron leader."

This is a perfectly nice figure, pretty good for a pack-in pilot and certainly unique in that this may be the first lady Resistance or Rebel Pilot to be packaged with a vehicle.  We had a Pilot Padme with a Naboo fighter as an exclusive ages ago, but rarely - OK, never - do we get an unknown lady character as a ship pack-in.  (Although we did come close in an exclusive that never got along far enough.  Wait for my book!)   I like the ship, I like the figure, it's a worthwhile purchase.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,407: September 11, 2017

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,366: Snap Wexley (The Force Awakens)

SNAP WEXLEY and First Order Snowtrooper Officer
The Force Awakens 2-Packs
Item No.: Asst. B3955 No.  B5895
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, rocket, launcher, Snowtrooper, blaster
Action Feature: Working holster, spring-loaded hook rocket
Retail: $14.99
Availability: January 2016
Appearances: The Force Awakens

Bio: An ace X-wing fighter pilot for the Resistance, Snap Wexley undertook the vital recon mission that confirmed the location of the Starkiller weapon, and flew in the assault against the abominable weapon. (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:  Let it never be said that Hasbro doesn't listen.  Fans want lots of Rebel (and Resistance) Pilots, so we got Snap Wexley early on along with Poe Dameron and Asty.   One one hand, that's cool - but on another, it's not.  The figures borrow heavily from the aesthetics of the original 1979 Luke Skywalker (X-Wing Pilot) figure with limited articulation and a non-removable helmet, plus the indignity of an opaque yellow visor.  It's not pretty.   It's consistent so far, but it wouldn't stun me to see newer, better versions of these figures as Hasbro starts to get in to The Vintage Collection in 2018.  

Snap's got no problems standing, but sitting provides a challenge - he's a thicker man, so the design needs to account for the hip joints swinging forward.  As he is, the legs are stopped by his crotch region pretty quickly.  He won't be able to sit in an X-Wing, even if he could fit in it - and you'll recall Hasbro's X-Wings for The Force Awakens were a tight squeeze for even smaller figures than this one.   The sculpting seems on par with the rest of the line, featuring generous detail work translating a cloth flight suit to plastic.  The vest has lots of detail too, and a swell Resistance logo on the flight vest.  The cable connects the chest box to his pocket, plus he's even got a working holster for his blaster.   I love the deco on the helmet, but the flesh is pale and the beard is weird.  This is an ideal figure for buying, putting on the shelf, and then never touching again.

I'm not a big fan of the grappling hook gun - I don't know why it's here, and I have a strong dislike for most of The Force Awakens' bonus weapons.  Rogue One figures had rocket launchers that better fit the spirit of the film - this one just looks like someone cobbled together something because they were on deadline and Disney wouldn't get them reference material.  (I'd bet money this is actually what happened.)    The grip is positioned so that Snap can carry it like a briefcase, not exactly holding it up or aiming it at someone.   This is good, because the figure can hold it on a flat surface and not topple over.  This is bad, because it's the antithesis of being an action-oriented figure.  It looks like he's just lugging it around Comic-Con.

The set wasn't a huge hit - you can get it on Amazon for about half price.  Hasbro has a weird habit of releasing the characters that benefit from the movie early on, with some of the weirder ones after the movie comes out.  Thing is, fans are more likely to buy anything without knowing if it matters or not prior to seeing the film, whereas after the movie is the only time they'll probably understand why they want that Finn or Jyn or whoever.  This was a good set for fans - a trooper and a new pilot are a great combo pack.   It's just that the figure could be better with a removable helmet, better face paint, or better articulation.  For $8 or less get one.  For $15 or more, I'd say you can wait it out.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth a million years ago.


--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,366: May 3, 2017

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