Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,964: Santa Yoda

YODA 2nd Edition
Star Wars Holiday Edition
Item No.: No. 26763
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Bag, cane, stand, greeting card
Action Feature: Comes apart
Retail: $12.95
Availability: 2003
Appearances: n/a

Bio: Hasbro and Lucasfilm Ltd. are delighted to present the second in a series of Star Wars Holiday Edition commemorative sets. Inspired by the artwork of renowned artist Ralph McQuarrie, this specially designed set captures the imaginative vision of McQuarrie's art in collectible 3 3/4" action figure scale. Our gift to you, this piece is a distinctive addition to any Star Wars colection. May the Force be with you, and happy holidays.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: I actually didn't open this Yoda until this year, mostly because it was on the list of figures I was going to open after I got what I considered to be some form of permanent residence.  It's a very nice figure, and these show off just how far Hasbro came since the 1990s, during a time where Hallmark's Christmas ornaments were slightly more prized as collectibles due to their quality and authenticity, to some extend.  They were a harder material, and generally decorated significantly better than the toys of the day.  Flash-forward to 2003, and Hasbro is crushing them like a bug with figures like this Santa Yoda proving it.  It's a better item at a better price.  Suck on that, Hallmark!

This is one of the better Holiday Edition figures, as it actually looks like what the card represents.  Yoda has a mere 3 points of articulation, but sports a great head sculpt and articulated shoulders as well as a moving neck.  Each hand holds an accessory.  His right holds a sack filled with toys, while the left carries a cane.  Sure, Yoda's head departs from the card in that the figure's lips are parted slightly, but other than that it's a decent representation of the classic Lucasfilm Christmas card.  It has the big colorful ball (more orange than yellow) plus a green wooden toy block set on the base.  The base itself says "Holiday Edition" (no kidding) and has a nifty snowy design with tracks and footprints.  There's a groove in the back of the figure stand for displaying the card - a nice touch, to be sure.  The decoration is quit good with the toys in the back having lots of unique paint applications.  Having said that, they're a little muddy and it's tough to tell just what it is I'm looking at.  While hardly an essential figural purchase, it's a cute gift item and a nice holiday decoration.  You can do worse.

Collector's Notes: This figure doesn't actually have a name.  The front of the box doesn't have the word "Yoda" on it anywhere, and the back just identifies it as a McQuarrie art piece rendered in figure form.  How odd.  Also, the "2nd Edition" above refers to the packaging, which itself refers to this being the second in a series of Hasbro Star Wars Christmas figures.   There would be 4 total sets, although they could have called it quits after the first three and I'd have been pretty happy.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,964: December 24, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,929: Shu Mai

SHU MAI Geonosian War Room
Saga Screen Scenes
Item No.: Asst. 84997 No. 84711
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 2 of 2
Includes: Table, Passel Argente, Nute Gunray
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Fall 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: In a conference room on Geonosis, leaders of the Confederacy of Independent Systems watch Republic and Separatist forces engage in what will become the first batle of the Clone Wars. unscrupulous opportunists who will do anything that will benefit them financially, they ally with Count Dooku to advance their own interests.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: There truly aren't enough Star Wars figures named after things I can order at local Japanese eateries.  Shu Mai was a new mold at the time of her release, bringing us a new alien figure and a woman, which is always highly unusual in this line.   While a colorful, well-designed figure, I can't say she's exciting.   She's pretty neat, though.

The prequel aliens may be no less inventive than their original trilogy ancestors, but they were certainly not fetishized or canonized to the extent of the creatures from 1977-1983.  Imaginations ran rampant over what a Hammerhead was and debate still continues to this day, while Shu Mai is and always was some sort of evil banker.  OK, head of the Commerce Guild.  It's still not interesting.  Thankfully the figure is pretty sharp, and her outfit appears more vibrant than the character in the movies.  With no real leg movement to speak of thanks to her dress, the figure's neck and arms are really your main points of movement.  There's a jointed waist too, but this isn't really an action figure so much as it is a diorma filler.  Heck, she even came with half of a table to build said diorama.

The unique texture of the skin looks good under its blue deco, and the beedy little eyes pop nicely.   Her gold hat and neck gear contrast nicely with the bright red outfit, making this a figure that stands out on a shelf against the mostly brown and green creatures from Attack of the Clones.   There aren't a lot of Shu Mai toys out there, so this one is likely as good as you'll ever get.  She's certainly good enough as a collectible, but as a toy there's not a heck of a lot to play with here.  She can stand, she can point, she can look good.  She's certainly good enough, and the fact we even got her is something of an accomplishment.

Collector's Notes: These sets got dumped like a pregnant girl on prom night (is that a saying? Can it be?) at Kay-Bee toys, bringing the prices down to $10 or so.  Each Geonosian War Room goes for about $5-$10 these days, so if you're in a position to get them both for $20-$25, do so.  You get 6 pretty good figures and a great table in there, and if you've got any taste you'll add in a Wat Tambor too.  That's a fun figure, and as a collection these figures do go nicely together.   Just remember, these are basically display pieces lacking in fun accessories.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,929: November 5, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,906: Mace Windu (Prototype, 2003)

MACE WINDU Ultimate Lightsaber Control
Saga Basic Figure Prototype
Item No.: No. n/a
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber blade
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: n/a
Availability: 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: n/a (Taken from the figure's no packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: While going through my boxes to find figures as-of-yet-unreviewed-- which is a trial after the first thousand-- I stumbled on this Mace Windu prototype.  Damaged.  Decaying.  It's not even 10 years old and I never really got to enjoy it-- you might be able to tell, but the arms cracked at the shoulders and a chunk around his wrist is missing, because the arms were made of a very flexible material that, over time, stiffened and crumbled. I got this off eBay from a guy in China a while back because it had one major difference from the retail release-- a plastic, and not cloth, outer robe, which is how it looked in the promotional shots.  The sculpted garment was dumped prior to the 2003 release of the carded figure, but you can see it on the cardback of Mace Windu #0302.

A few test shots got out, some had Hasbro markings or missing parts.  Many had missing lightsaber blades, mine surprisingly included one.  Of course, I'm really depressed because a well taken-care-of figure had, in the span of  few years, started to crumble to pieces.  What was once a treasured collectible is now, basically, garbage in the making.  As of the time I wrote this, I realized I spent about 50% of my life writing about these action figures for you guys on the internet between my various newsletters and the discovery that an item I was excited about is in the process of going to pieces before I could even take the time for a good photo is beyond depressing.  So take care of your toys, kids, enjoy them while you can.

Collector's Notes:  Based on how the materials aged, I suggest you not buy this test shot should one come up for sale.   I have been able to track down my loose sample of the retail release version (with the cloth cloak) and its arms are still flexible and haven't crumbled or cracked yet. I'll be keeping a close eye on it over the next year, of course.  This is also why Hasbro discourages sales of prototypes-- obviously, what I have here isn't something Hasbro wanted to sell, I paid a premium for it off eBay China, and now it's falling apart.  I do not wish for my hobby to remind me of my own mortality.  That's what the mirror is for.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,906: October 3, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,905: Mace Windu

MACE WINDU with Blast-Apart Battle Droid
Saga Deluxe Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84859 No. 84876
Number: n/a
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Includes: Battle Droid (red or tan), lightsaber, Force claw/hook, Force blast
Action Feature: Goes to pieces
Retail: $9.99
Availability: April 2002
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio:   A senior member of the Jedi Council, Mace Windu is a highly revered Jedi Master. He personally leads a battalion of Jedi to the red rock planet of Geonosis in an attempt to rescue Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Padmé.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo dump.

Commentary: I missed this one too?  In 2002 we went from having 2 pretty good figures of Samuel L. Jackson to having numerous Mace Windu toys, each of which tended to have an amusing head sculpt or nifty action feature.  This one packed in a bonus "victim" figure, which was a nice touch.  In 2002 Hasbro (and other companies) were tooting their horns about using real digital scanning as a tool in improving their toy sculpts, and with the 2002 line we did see a pretty good jump in sculpt quality.  Deco, though, lagged behind and things like plastic color or paint could suck the life right out of a face.   Thankfully, this one had an expressive face with good paint, and the fact that he's bald makes sure there's no wonky hair.  (We got a lot of wonky hair in 2002.)  His skin is a little light, but the plastic is just barely translucent enough in spots where you can shine a light and the ears tend to glow a bit.  It gives it a tiny air of realism that I'm not used to seeing.

The figure has a wonderful sculpt in an action pose with only 7 points of articulation, a necessary concession if you're going to cram in an action feature or two.   His right sleeve has a spring-loaded launcher inside, and you can shoot out force blasts in a yellow energy ball or blue hook form.  Neither appeared in the movie, but Hasbro was crazy for visual manifestations of the Force in 2002 and with energy being a big deal in the figures, it was something fans were getting used to.  Naturally, it pretty much vanished by the end of 2003.  His left hand has a magnet inside, which lets him hold on to his lightsaber in a different, and fun, way.  In many ways this figure, with its flexible skirt for sitting, is one of the best Mace Windu toys Hasbro ever made and has one of the finest sculpts.  He's not loaded with articulation, but asymmetrical sleeves and a great pose make this figure far more interesting to look at and play with than his descendants.

Collector's Notes:  This figure started with a tan Battle Droid partner, but later his package (and the figure itself) would be changed to a more movie-accurate red color.   In my hunts, the tan one was far more common and I had to track the red one down on eBay several years later.  Red ones were a bit of a pain to track down, but I got it cheap.  The tan bonus droid version is only worth about a buck, and like the Dagobah Vader I looked at last week it's totally worth snagging for five bucks or less.  Even in 2002, I felt like I got my money's worth at ten bucks.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,905: October 2, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,834: Passel Argente

PASSEL ARGENTE Geonosian War Room
Saga Screen Scenes
Item No.: Asst. 84997 No. 84711
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 2 of 2
Includes: Table, Shu Mai, Nute Gunray
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Fall 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: In a conference room on Geonosis, leaders of the Confederacy of Independent Systems watch Republic and Separatist forces engage in what will become the first batle of the Clone Wars. unscrupulous opportunists who will do anything that will benefit them financially, they ally with Count Dooku to advance their own interests.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo area.

Commentary:  3-packs have always been a weird spot for Hasbro, even in the Kenner days.  They seem conflicted over if they should do new figures, popular characters, or some sort of mix and in 2003 they were erring toward more newness.  Passel Argente was part of a separatist 3-pack which, for all intents and purposes, was new enough to be good.  Passel was a great replication of the movie character, with brown robes and a nasty green face.  The sculpt and level of detail are really good, as, frankly, most figures since 2002 have had excellent sculpts with wonderful simulated cloth texture in their outfits.  The subtle paint job brings out the texture quite nicely, which makes up for the general lack of articulation.  Given the character doesn't do much, it's not like I expect a heck of a lot from the figure.  He can stand, he looks cool, and is basically a statue with moving arms.  Diorama fans would love this, but as a toy this figure doesn't bring a lot to the table.  Except, of course, for the other half of the table which the separatists use to monitor the first battle of the Clone Wars on Geonosis... and that alone makes this set worth picking up.

Collector's Notes: An orange/yellow repaint of this mold with lightsaber damage was sold in 2005.  The original set is under $15 still, and was in Kay-Bee on clearance back in the day in the good old days before Bain Capital gutted it.   But I digress.  I don't expect any more versions of this character to see release, so go buy an old one on the cheap and be happy.


--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,834: June 25, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,731: Nute Gunray

NUTE GUNRAY Geonosian War Room
Saga Screen Scenes
Item No.: Asst. 84997 No. 84711
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 2 of 2
Includes: Table, Shu Mai, Passel Argente
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Fall 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: In a conference room on Geonosis, leaders of the Confederacy of Independent Systems watch Republic and Separatist forces engage in what will become the first batle of the Clone Wars. unscrupulous opportunists who will do anything that will benefit them financially, they ally with Count Dooku to advance their own interests. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: I like Nute Gunray. Not as much as I like Admiral Ackbar, but it's a neat character and an easy target for making jokes-- specifically, doing Taco Bell ads in his voice. Trust me, good times. Anyway, this figure-- which I believe is the most recent version of the character in action figure form despite being about 9 years old-- is actually a redressed version of the 1999 figure. (He even has a 1998 copyright date on his foot.) The head and coat is new-- the body and arms are old. I'm willing to bet most fans didn't notice, in part because the set comes with a swell half of a table and I would assume everybody's first reaction to buying this set would be to assemble the table and ooh and ahh over it. It's a nice table, with clear red surrounded by some yellow, covered in little yellow holographic vehicles. It's a nice little decoration.

Nute Gunray has only 3 meaningful points of articulation, with the neck and shoulders getting a decent range of movement. His hips and waist are articulated, but due to the robes they're really quite worthless. Thankfully the sculpt is good-- his head looks a lot like the mask in the movie, and the hat is a nice touch too. His face is quite colorful, with shiny eyes giving him a smidgen more soul than your average alien action figure. The robe sculpting is sharp, with lots of folds and detail-- it actually looks significantly better than the figure in the robes, because of the time difference in their creation.

Hasbro could do a better version of the Trade Viceroy, but probably won't-- which is a shame, because Nute makes for a nice figure. As this is the best Nute to date, you may as well buy it--if Hasbro doesn't announce a new one at Toy Fair, I have a feeling that this character's window may have permanently shut.

Collector's Notes: The Geonosian War Room and Jedi High Council sets were highly anticipated, and these first 4 "Saga Scenes" were dumped at Kay-Bee for half price. You should be able to get this set for $10 or so-- the set-- not just one figure. I give it a strong recommendation for ten bucks.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,731: February 1, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,710: Han Solo

HAN SOLO Skirmish at Carkoon
Saga Toys R Us Exclusive
Item No.: No. 34511
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Handcuffs, sail barge blaster, other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: 2004
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: He escapes being fed to the Sarlacc when his friends come to his resuce. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's toy shelves.

Commentary: I'm not quite sure why Hasbro opted to put this "new" Han Solo out in 2004. Made of new and old parts, this figure creates an unfrozen Captain Solo out of elements of the 1999 Cantina version and the 2000/2001 Bespin Han Solo figure. It kept some of the good parts, but not all-- unsurprisingly, the new right leg has no holster, but it also has no knee joints. The figure doesn't sport ball-jointed shoulders either so when you get right down to it, at least from the perspective of articulation, this figure took the worst elements of those and put them together.

The figure itself looks OK, an improvement over the brow-furrowed unfrozen Han of 1999 and the bulky one from 1996. Han Solo in Carbonite is one of those few figures that could really stand for a complete update, although those just wanted a solid unfrozen Han may be best served by the 2006 carded release, or the 2008 Sandstorm version. This version is for collectors only, if you have to have every last unique mold, this is one you just have to buy. Seven points of articulation weren't very exciting in 2004, and they're not very exciting today. The coloring is good, but the shirt is wrong and the head sculpt feels off. Harrison Ford's head seems like a tough one to capture in this scale, so you might just want to give this one a pass.

Collector's Notes: The set itself is rather neat-- you get Klaatu, Barada, and Nikto from the then-hard-to-find Cinema Scene set featuring Jabba's thugs, although now they have black weapons. (Variant!) The other big accessory in this set is the Sail Barge Cannon, originally sold with a Deluxe Slave Leia in 2001. It's a nice accessory, and from the look of things it'll be the largest chunk of the barge Hasbro ever makes. I would suggest getting the gun, but to date there is no way to do so without also buying some of those older figures which you may no longer want or need. Since this set is basically worthless at under $10, or much less, I think it wouldn't kill you to get it just to toss out the figures and keep the gun. (But don't do that.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,710: January 3, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,703: Holiday R2-D2

R2-D2 Holiday Edition 2002
Saga Wal-Mart Exclusive
Item No.: No. ???
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: C-3PO, display base, greeting card
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $13.99
Availability: November 2002
Appearances: n/a

Bio: Hasbro and Lucasfilm Ltd. are delighted to present, for the first time, this Star Wars Holiday Edition commemorative. Inspired by the artwork of renowned artist Ralph McQuarrie, this specially designed set captures the imaginative vision of McQuarrie's art in collectible 3-3/4" action figure scale. Our gift to you, this piece is a distinctive addition to any Star Wars collection. May the Force be with you, and happy holidays. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' shelves.

Commentary: Ho, ho, ho. From 2002 through about 2005, Hasbro put out a bunch of Holiday Edition figures based on everything from classic Ralph McQuarrie holiday paintings to what I assume was a fantastic deal on red paint back in 2005. This R2-D2 was half of the very first set in the series, which was joined by C-3PO in a Santa outfit. This R2-D2 is modeled on the 2000 R2-B1 mold, painted up like R2-D2, and modified to include antlers-- given the red light under his eye, I assume the intent was to portray R2-D2 as Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

What I find particularly likable about this guy-- minus the novelty-- is how Hasbro sculpted the droid to look like the costume elements were, in short, sort of half-assed. On the left, it looks sort of like an antler was embedded into a small block, which was attached to his head somehow. I have no idea how, but it is. On the other side, it looks like C-3PO took some duck tape and stuck it to his head, which is a kind of a thing I'll always find funny. The dome sculpt itself is missing a ring near the bottom, but other than that it's painfully obvious that this is R2-D2-- and it's also painful to see just how far his sculpt has come in a decade.

With only three points of articulation and a light-up eyeport, there's not much to this figure-- even by the standards of nine years ago. Retractable third legs were the norm since 1995, so its absence is easily noticed. As a display piece-- particularly in the box-- this is a really great figure. I don't suggest that you open this set unless you really, really want to... it looks better in the box. But if you do open it, it looks even better in an X-Wing or Y-Wing fighter's droid socket.

Collector's Notes: The holiday line was plagued with cancelations-- the entire series was developed as a Fan Club exclusive, but only two of the products were released through the club as it repeatedly changed owners since the early 2000s. In other fun, I'm writing this in November-- I work ahead-- during a surprise internet outage. While this set originally sold for about $14, I remember it shooting up to $20 and $30 on eBay-- and unsurprisingly, it dropped and now it's $10 or so.

This piece was one of the first items I saw that showed me just how the Wal-Mart customer juggernaut could absorb a case of product quickly-- I actually saw a case of these on a pallet, and took it upon myself to liberate a set. I went back in a day, and they were gone-- and I didn't see another one until weeks later, in another city, and that felt like a fluke. This time of year, I've even seen an entire pallet of Mr. Potato Heads-- hundreds of units-- sell through overnight.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,703: December 23, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,696: Barriss Offee

BARRISS OFFEE Luminara Unduli's Padawan
Saga Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84926
Number: #0312
Includes: Lightsaber, blast effect, stand
Action Feature: Magnetic lightsaber attracted to hand
Retail: $5.99
Availability: Early 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Barriss Offee is the Padawan learner of Luminara Unduli, and similarly shares her Master's latticed facial tattoos. The youthful Jedi apprentice often prefers wielding a lightsaber to participating in diplomatic negotiations. During the Battle of Geonosis, Barriss must defend herself and her fellow outnumbered Jedi from the Separatists' impending droid armies. Her strong healing abilities make her an invaluable asset when the battle erupts into a full-scale ground assault and the beginning of the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's spare room.

Commentary: As I've mentioned before, the figures of 2002 and 2003 were a little confusing and it's no surprise that fans requested a new version of Barriss Offee almost as soon as she came out. (New versions wouldn't come until 2011, at which time a new cartoon and a new movie version were released a few months apart.) The 2003 release is an astonishing piece, and a terrible toy.

Around 2002 Hasbro got really interested in the statue market, with its oversized "Unleashed" figures and to a lesser extent, the Collection 2 assortment of the 3 3/4-inch action figures. Luminara Unduli was basically a statue with arms, and Barriss follows suit. She needs her display base to stand properly, and while she does include an action feature, she's a terrible toy. She can't sit. Her legs can't move. All you can do is twist her head, position her arms, and basically have her scream and position her lightsaber. As a sub-category of action figures, this style is pretty remarkable-- it's just evidence of competing, incompatible schools of thought of how to do toys. As a display piece, the figure is pretty neat-- but the crazy cloak and screaming face are sort of out of touch with the bulk of this figure line.

The texture, deco, and sculpting are all pretty good and if an extra few cents were spent painting the dead droids on the Geonosis-themed base the right color, it would be a much better release. As a thing you can look at, it's pretty cool. As a toy? This is terrible. So depending on what you do with your toys, this could be the coolest thing ever that it's a crying shame Hasbro didn't keep doing... or a chunk of trash that you should be glad they fixed in 2011. I like it for what it is, but I'm really happy we got a new, better version this year. I will say this: she has a great personality.

Collector's Notes: This was a pretty neat figure in its day, but I don't remember it being particularly popular or well-received. And today it's worth about $5. If you liked the bigger Unleashed toys, I think you might dig this one. I wish Hasbro did do a few more figures in this style, but not minor characters-- I'd love to have a crazy-posed Maul or Vader in this size. Well, I guess we got a Darth Maul like this in 1999, as well as the 2002 "sneak preview" Jango Fett, which did a bang-up job of giving you a fantastic sculpt but a rotten toy.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,696: December 14, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,690: Coleman Trebor

COLEMAN TREBOR Battle of Geonosis
Power of the Jedi Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84991
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0324
Includes: Lightsaber, hilt, display stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99-$5.99
Availability: Fall 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: An amphibious creature from the watery world of Sembla, Coleman Trebor is a brave and noble Jedi Knight and member of the Jedi High Council. He is one of many Jedi assembled by Mace Windu to confront the Separatist armies on Geonosis. Here, where the Clone Wars begin, Trebor defeats countless Geonosian warriors and droid battalions, but meets his ultimate fate in the gunslinging hands of bounty hunter Jango Fett. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Just say no to rugs.

Commentary: If Coleman Trebor represented a stage in Hasbro's development as a figure maker, this would be the phase where she went off backpacking to German to find herself and join a band named "Chyx." (If you know the joke, pat yourself on the back.) This figure was an entirely new sculpt. This one came out between the 2002 phase, where most characters were statues, and the super-articulated phase, which really kicked off at the end of 2003 and again at the end of 2004. Trebor has 12 points of articulation and it seems obvious to me that Hasbro was aiming to add articulation while maintaining that statue aesthetic. The figure has a ton of sculpted detail in his robes, and very specific folds in his outfit that lend it to being displayed in a very specific way. Having said that, the legs and robes were designed so he can sit-- he still looks like he's going to fight, but you can fit him inside some vehicles. Aside from vehicle compatibility and packaging, this figure feels like the kind of thing most collectors wanted-- tons of statuesque detail and virtually invisible joints.

His articulation, like many 2003 figures, is uneven. Both wrists are jointed, but only one elbow. One knee is articulated, with the opposite leg's ankle having a joint. It's quite unusual, but it more or less works-- this is a figure designed to stand up or be displayed without too much force, except for one tiny little flaw which I'm now going to pick at as that's the way of my people. His right hand? It's a closed fist. There's a hole in it for the lightsaber, but it's an incredibly tight fit. Over the years in Star Wars, we've learned that closed fists designed to hold weapons are usually a pain in the neck. (See: 1995 Boba Fett.) One you get the saber hilt in his hand, it doesn't want to come out. Sure, you can get it out, but it's going to involve use of the force. And by force, I mean my three ounces of strength. This is one rare case where I am extremely happy that the lightsaber blade is removable from the hilt for storage purposes: I do not like extracting the hilt from his hand.

The stand is also really cool, with cracked mud and dead droid bits on the bottom. A little paint can make it even better, but overall this is a very strong figure. It's not 16+ joints super-aticulated crazy time, but for five bucks this was a remarkable release and it fits right in with your 2011 figures. If you go through life with only one Colman Trebor action figure, make it this one.

Collector's Notes: A new Coleman Trebor came out in 2009, based on a Qui-Gon Jinn body. I like the 2003 one better-- it has less articulation, but more personality. The sculpt is arguably better here in 2003, but it can't sit. Overall, I like the 2003 one more. He should set you back $10 or less.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,690: December 6, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,688: Obi-Wan Kenobi

OBI-WAN KENOBI Jedi Warriors
Saga Toys R Us Exclusive
Item No.: No. 26720
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, hilt, prison device, Assassin Droid, stand, other figures
Action Feature: Magnet in hand grasps lightsaber or Assassin Droid
Retail: $19.99
Availability: 2004
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Jedi Knight. Master to Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan exemplifies the courage of the Jedi order. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: There's no shortage of Obi-Wan Kenobi figures from the prequels, and I was genuinely excited when I first got this one back in 2002. But we're here to talk about the 2004 rerelease, which has slightly lighter hair and a darker set of eyebrows. Other than that, it's fundamentally the same as the 2002 release and arguably not different enough to get you interested in it. But it comes with a neat big accessory so that's why you want this.

The new piece, which was originally supposedly developed to be included with the Geonosis Arena playset, was cut due to budget reasons and ended up in this set. (The Arena was pretty cheap, as low as $40 I believe when it first hit.) It makes sense that you'd want to cut the less exciting bits, and this makes sense to remove. The round bits on the base rotate, just like in the movie. The blue clear energy bits can more or less grasp a figure, it's a little awkward to get this figure into the stand but it basically works. You can even toss a lightsaber in his hand if you really want, even though it makes no sense in the context of the scene where Count Dooku interrogates the Jedi.

A good accessory can make a figure you don't want into something you'll throw down some serious money to get. I bought this set because of the Nikto Jedi variant and this very base, which so far remains exclusive to this gift set nearly seven years later. It's weird to think, but the accessories aged better than the figures. So if you like this idea, get this set, take the stand, and put the figures into a drawer somewhere.

Collector's Notes: Unsurprisingly, this set is now effectively worthless. The main selling points were this big accessory and a Nikto Jedi who has since been upgraded. As such, buy the set for this restraining device and you'll probably be pretty happy.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,688: December 2, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,686: Nikto Jedi

NIKTO JEDI Jedi Warriors
Saga Toys R Us Exclusive
Item No.: No. 26720
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, hilt, stand, other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: 2004
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Jedi Knight. A renowned Jedi swordsman, Fi-Ek Sirch hails from the planet Kintan. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's printer.

Commentary: This Nikto Jedi was given a name in this set, although it wasn't the one that headlined the box-- why kick it into the bio? How odd! Anyway, it's a reworked version of the 2002 Nikto Jedi Knight, with two big differences. One, his outer cloak is missing. Two, his arms are a new color to match the robes under the cloak. Other than that, and a missing lightsaber effect that's hard to describe, it's basically the same as the 2002 release. Oh, and his lightsaber hilt has some more black paint on it.

This Jedi warrior is articulated at the neck, shoulder, wrists, and waist. It can't stand on its own, so be glad the set included some clear oval-ish constructs to prevent face-planting. Overall, it's basically a statue and that was how the lesser characters were during the second prequel. The main guys had action feature, the secondary guys were display pieces. I like this figure because it shows just how different a little bit of color and a removed accessory can make a figure.

Conversely, I hate this figure because of my growing dislike for the removable hilt lightsabers. The blade comes out, but it was partially glued in so it sort of sags and feels like it's going to break. It's very unpleasant, and it makes me glad that Hasbro has largely went back on this idea and now primarily makes one-piece lightsabers. I've had this stored in its original box as I was nervous the blade would snap after the figure fell over, and I'm still tempted to permanently glue it in there because... it just doesn't look good. With the 2011 Vintage release, there is no reason to buy this one unless you're a nutty collector, and even then be aware it's pretty fragile so if you wish to avoid heartbreak and/or repair, I'd say don't buy it.

Collector's Notes: Unsurprisingly, this set is now effectively worthless. The main selling points were this figure, being the only unique figure in the set, plus an exclusive restraining device accessory for Obi-Wan Kenobi that Count Dooku used on Geonosis. But more on that later. This set is worth the $10 or so asking price these days, although if you aren't into variants or accessories this is a pretty boring set by 2011 standards.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,686: November 30, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,679: Flying Geonosian Warrior

FLYING GEONOSIAN with Sonic Blaster and Attack Pod!
Saga Deluxe Figure
Item No.: Asst. 84859 No. 84902
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Sonic blaster, attack pod, projectile
Action Feature: Press button to flap wings
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Summer 2002
Appearances: n/a

Bio: Inhabitants of the planet Geonosis, these winged warriors engage in a vicious battle on the side of the seceddionist forces. Skilled fighters with weapons for which the Jedi Knights have no known protection, the Geonosians threaten to overwhelm the beleaguered Jedi who have come to the aid of Anakin, Padmé and Obi-Wan. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: I thought I reviewed this Flying Geonosian warrior, but couldn't find it in my archives-- so here it is! This 2002 release was a heck of a nice figure, although not really worth the ten bucks. At the same time for $5, you could get a Geonosian with a Massiff or a Geonosian with a spear. This figure has slightly more going on, a better costume, better deco, and more gear... but it's still an awkward toy. As most early Geonosians were not posed with standing in mind, this figure is difficult to get standing on his own. He has no foot holes, so all he's going to do is, most likely, topple over without added hand support or a separate small doll stand to keep him upright. This is not due to age, it's just the design-- with legs like that, he can't hold himself up.

As a toy he's fairly fun-- his wings have limited articulation, plus a switch on the back lets you make them "flap" and that's always a good time. He has 5 joints, but the arms are done in such a way where you probably can't do a heck of a lot with him other than pose him aiming his sonic blaster. It's rare to see Hasbro sculpt a figure with an arm fully extended perpendicular to his body, so you pretty much are forced into a single position here. Hasbro has greatly improved sculpting on Geonosians with time, but little things like how to have the stand up aren't really seeing a whole heck of a lot of improvement-- they're going to need support, so if you want to set up a nice shelf for a few years, well, tough. You're going to have to buy some stuff to keep them from toppling over.

I like the sculpt and the wing mechanism is really fun, I just wish they made it so he could stand up without my buying an additional product. I expect to see this figure return in 2013 if Hasbro continues the Movie Heroes assortment, as just the figure without the pod is a nicely action-packed figure and for $8 or so, probably fits the bill of that upcoming assortment. It's not the most exciting thing, and I certainly wouldn't advise you pay a premium for it on the secondary market, but the mold is unique to this release and has yet to be reissued.

Collector's Notes: While somewhat scarce in 2002, this figure is now commonplace on the secondary market. Loose samples are as little as $1, while packaged ones are as low as $2. And to think, some people out there are still sitting on these expecting their investment to climb-- it's not going to happen. To put this in perspective, this figure is now about 9 years old. That would be like a Return of the Jedi figure from 1983 around 1992, when everything started skyrocketing and at that point, most packaged figures were going for at least retail or significantly above. For those of you holding out hope-- most of you would never read a column like this one-- give up on your dreams of getting your money back from this stuff.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,679: November 21, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,653: Rebel Trooper

REBEL TROOPER Tantive IV Defender
Saga Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. ???
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0254
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: January 2003
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: The Rebel Blockade Runner Tantive IV was on an urgent mission to Tatooine. Princess Leia Organa, armed with secret plans to the Death Star, was on her way to find General Obi-Wan Kenobi when the ship was attacked by an Imperial Star Destroyer. The heroic Rebel troopers were the last line of defense as the ship was boarded by Darth Vader and a platoon of Stormtroopers. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk fan.

Commentary: It's the Rebel Trooper with another head variant! It took a while but Hasbro delivered the head variants on these figures, setting a precedent (at least in the pre-current days) that if they said they would release a variant or make a change, it might take a year, but it would happen. Both heads showed up in early 2003, with the same body (complete with removable vest) and a helmet glued to the newly-tooled heads. This one has reddish hair, which is the most distinguishing characteristic as the three pasty white human faces all look different, but are hard to describe as HOW they're different. Sporting the same articulation as before, he keeps the nifty knee articulation and blaster pistol, and unfortunately the exact same arms. As diorama filler it's quite good, but the 2011 version is unquestionably a better overall figure.

Collector's Notes: At least five heads exist for this one body, so variation hunters, rejoice! Or freak out. What is it you do?

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,653: October 14, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,553: Han Solo Hoth Rescue

HAN SOLO Hoth Rescue
Saga Basic Figures Blue Variant
Item No.: Asst. 84851 No. 84959
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0313
Includes: Lightsaber, blaster, mask, sensors
Action Feature: Push button for lightsaber-swinging action
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Summer 2003
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: On the ice planet Hoth, Han rides a tauntaun into the chilling night to find Luke, who has not returned from a patrol. Han locates a badly wounded Luke, but when the tauntaun succumbs to the cold, they are unable to return to the base. In danger of freezing to death, Han uses the creature's body as a makeshift shelter until rescuers can arrive. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: My long-time readers know that there's quite a bit of controversy over the color of Han Solo's jacket-- and not just on Hoth. Kick-started by Galoob in the 1990s, the way fans, licensees, and LucasFilm viewed the character was initially forged by the 1980s Kenner figures. What color were Han's various jackets in The Empire Strikes Back? Blue, if you grew up during the original days of the original trilogy. But if you were around in the 1990s, Lucas initially dictated to Galoob that (and I've got this quote in a letter from the company in a box some where) that "Han wears black." So for the early Galoob Micro toys, the jackets were black-- but in 1996, Hasbro's Hoth Han was sort of a brownish, purpley color and again in 1997, Bespin Han had a black jacket. Smash cut to 2003, Hasbro (after a few years of fan complaints) decided to do it both this Hoth Han in two colors-- there was even a full-page magazine joking if Han wears brown or blue... which completely disregarded the black jackets in the mid-1990s.

So in short, I have no idea what color this figure should be, because of illusions created by photography and discoloration of aging fabric. As far as I'm concerned, it should be blue, and this figure is blue. Hasbro did a nice job on this one, designing a figure that was compatible with the existing Tauntaun figure (seriously, he sits perfectly), sports a working holster, has sculpted binoculars, and can carry a little scanner pack too.

An action feature was integrated into the figure to simulate the slice-open action as seen in the flick. Han comes with a lightsaber-- it's basically Luke's but let's not dwell on the hilt details-- and if you push a button on his back, he can swing the lightsaber. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention, he has a removable face mask too. This is a really slick figure, it's a little dated today but if you just sit down and look at everything Hasbro packed into the figures of 2002 and 2003 it's hard not to be more than a little impressed.

Collector's Notes: This figure has been repainted and rereleased a few times. You can get a really dark (almost black) version in 2006 from a tin gift set in addition to the brown and blue carded ones from 2003. While the 2007 "Vintage" figure is arguably the best overall, this one is presently the best one you can buy which can ride a Tauntaun. I expect a new version in the next couple of years... the Tauntaun and Han Solo.

Day 1,553: May 27, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,552: Tusken Raider Child

TUSKEN RAIDER Tusken Child
Saga Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84864
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0208
Includes: Gaffi stick, Tusken Mother
Action Feature: Toddler fits into pouch on back
Retail: $4.99
Availability: April 2002
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Also known as Sand People, these dangerous savages live in the rocky Jundland Wastes on the planet Tatooine. The Tusken Raiders engage in an inevitable confrontation with Anakin Skywalker after he tries to rescue his mother from their camp. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Jabba shelves.

Commentary: I'm not quite sure what the deal with this Tusken Raider Child's pose is, but the sculpt is pretty good. A simple figure, this one is jointed at the shoulders and is designed to sit in a pouch on the back of his (or her, they all dress the same) mother. For a figure from 2002 the deco is quite good-- I don't think they could do a much better job today. There are numerous shades of brown, a wipe, and a black visor painted on this tiny figure.

The sculpt is great, there is plenty of detail, and it stands without a problem. This is one of those rare, great figures that Hasbro probably couldn't be expected to do a whole heck of a lot better, plus it's a weird one. One of my favorite sub-segments of the line (along with astromech droids) is collecting every different flavor of Tusken Raider I can get, so I'm jazzed they made women and children. And Jedi. And ones you can decapitate. Now that I think of it, the only thing for Tusken Raiders that I'd really love to see (but never got) is some sort of action feature one. If you could push a button and it raised its arms and could yell (or I could yell) that'd be awesome. Did you know the sound of a Tusken Raider is some sort of donkey or mule thing? (But I digress.)

This is a great little figure. I consider it essential because it's so unique, so be sure to add one to your collection. And his mom too. But man, these little dudes are neat, aren't they?

Collector's Notes: This one has been released twice-- the original carded figure in 2002, and a Battle Pack with a Bantha and some Tusken Raiders for Toys "R" Us a few years later. If you're after loose figures, it should be cheap. Collectors also take note that there's a red redeco from a variant of the Battle Pack.

Day 1,552: May 26, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,528: Snowtrooper

SNOWTROOPER The Battle of Hoth
Saga Basic Figures Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84851 No. 84979
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0319
Includes: Blaster, E-Web Cannon, Projectile, Backpack
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99-$5.99
Availability: Summer 2003
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: With the Imperial forces dominating their assault of the Rebel base on Hoth, the battered Rebels flee the ice planet. An Imperial Snowtrooper, a highly-specialized form of trooper created for cold weather missions, sets up an E-Web repeating blaster hoping to destroy Han's Millennium Falson. But Han destroys the enemy's blaster and escapes to continue to fight another day. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: On a 2010 Freeco Speeder backdrop. Nice, eh?

Commentary: There are two fascinating things about this Snowtrooper: one, that its accessories are far better than its cost warranted, and two, it was made from an inferior grade of white plastic. (See Collector's Notes for more on the latter.) This figure was also notable for not being a "trooper" so much as a ranking officer, on the upper left-hand part of his chest armor are some colored squares that says he's smarter than the average grunt. Shorter than the hulking 1997 Snowtrooper, this version really did pack a lot of fun into a cheap package. The head could turn (a first for a 3 3/4-inch Snowtrooper), he had a holster for his blaster, and he had added ankle articulation to help with improving his poses in battle scenes.

The detail is really nice, with some crinkles in the mask and a nice, smooth helmet. There isn't a lot of dirt-- which is nice, given the snow-- and while the articulation isn't as good as later figures, it's not bad at 7 points. The helmet's ability to pivot forward and backward is a nice touch, but the real winner here is the E-Web Cannon. In the vintage line, it was a separate accessory-- in 1997, it was a deluxe figure's accessory. And now? Basic figure. How cool is that? It fires a rocket and has pretty good detail, but lacks the cable and ammo box of the previous two releases. So while not perfect, it certainly was cheap and you absolutely got your money's worth. For those keeping track of such things, the accessories Hasbro packed in with figures from 2002-2004 were, on the whole, some of the best of the entire run. And when I say "entire run" I mean everything from 1978-2011, they really crammed some awesome gear in some of those figures. Sure we got a few good ones in 2006, but nothing quite this nice.

Collector's Notes: This figure was made during a time where Hasbro's white plastic often grew a green film over time. This happens to packaged and opened figures, and can be removed off the figure if you rub it with a cloth, damp or otherwise. It's extremely difficult to get into the nooks and crannies. If you can get the green out of the nooks of his backpack, you're a genius. This particular affliction is pretty common on figures made of mostly white plastic from 2002-2004, which effectively encompasses the entire Attack of the Clones/Saga blue carded action figure line as well as some 2003 Clone Wars figures. If you haven't seen your 2002-2004 figures lately, you might want to go check them out-- even if properly cared for in a dark, cool place, the figures will grow this green grease that has to be removed physically. This particular Snowtrooper mold was reused quite a bit, so don't be surprised if you see a few flavors of it in your collection.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,528: April 22, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,456: Plo Koon

PLO KOON Arena Battle
Saga Collection 2 Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84868
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0212
Includes: Lightsaber, blade, force blast
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: April 2002
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Plo Koon is a member of the Jedi Council. Special equipment protects his sensitive eyes and nostrils from Coruscant's oxygen-rich atmosphere. With his extensive grasp and control of the Force, Plo Koon leads the Jedi into battle on Geonosis. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: One of the more desired figures from the first prequel was Plo Koon, who got few outfit changes but several toys despite having no dialog in the three films. (He's since made up for it in the cartoons.) This figure was the first "uncloaked" version, which sported eight points of articulation and an action-oriented pose which was common in most of the 2002-2004 figures. He's clearly posed for battle and not for sitting in his council chair or a space ship, which makes sense because when this figure was designed Hasbro was moving away from vehicles. Actually, in this era Hasbro produced very few vehicles every year with Attack of the Clones launching with only five ships-- pretty weak stuff, particularly if you saw how bad the figure/vehicle compatibility was in that first wave.

This figure did manage to improve on the look and feel, with a wonderful looking poseable release which today is more of a statue than a toy. His lightsaber had a removable hilt, plus he had a weird blaster deflection thing you can have him put in his hand which really isn't particularly useful. Supposedly it was to add value to the figure, but it doesn't seem to hold up well after nearly 10 years. Plo had some difficulty standing due to his battle-oriented pose, which could result in him falling over, which in turn could cause the lightsaber to snap-- the blade is held in with a very thin peg, prone to breakage. If you display your figures out of the box, I suggest using a display base or buying a second backup figure for when this one inevitably breaks.

While not essential, the figure's detail is really good for the time and it's a great evolutionary step that eventually brought us to where we are today-- with nearly everything being super poseable all the time. If you have a character focus on Plo Koon, get him, but don't expect to be blown away by this particular release.

Collector's Notes: This figure seemed to be in somewhat short supply in 2002, but you could get one if you tried. Future, better figures rendered it obsolete, so get one if you're so inclined-- it's a neat curiosity. Two or three bucks ought to do it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,456: January 12, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,415: Darth Maul (Tatooine)

DARTH MAUL Tatooine
Episode I Collection 1 Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84085 No. 84134
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, CommTech Chip Stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Summer 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: The evil Sith Lord Darth Maul learns the power of the dark side from his master Darth Sidious. Together, they plot to destroy the Jedi and enslave the peaceful planet of Naboo. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: For a character with few lines and fewer costumes, Darth Maul gets a ton of play in the toy aisle. It's hard to imagine a time when any Maul would be cause for celebration, but this was when the concept of prequels was not entirely soured for some fans and you could still be easily excited about new Episode I toys. This one was unique in that it had the large outer robes and limited articulation. Basically, it's a statue, and not a great one. He can hold his weapon, not exactly menacingly, while standing on a display stand. The limited arm articulation and virtually worthless neck and lower body articulation are blocked by additional robes which you can't even see due to the large clamshell of the outer clothing. This is a figure you should buy specifically if you think it looks good-- I think Hasbro has done better. The Tatooine Showdown Cinema Scene figure is pretty gorgeous and essentially replicates the same outfit, just in a significantly more pleasing way, so get that one instead if you need to be picky, because this carded Sith Lord is more a thing that you store than a thing you can play with or admire.

Collector's Notes: This mold was not reissued much as-is, but was used as the basis for the 2006 Holographic Darth Maul figure. It was also packaged with a plastic tumbler for a Target exclusive shortly after Episode II came out. Oh, and this original 1999 release is effectively worthless. I know, try to be surprised. You should have no problem getting a sample for $1-$5. In 2002 (or so) he was reissued as a Target exclusive, packaged with a plastic tumbler designed to look like the 1970s Burger King collectible glasses.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,415: November 16, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,380: Luke Skywalker (Hoth)

LUKE SKYWALKER Hoth Attack
Saga Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84715 No. 84727
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0403
Includes: Lightsaber, hilt, goggles, ice base
Action Feature: Articulated scarf
Retail: $5.99
Availability: Early 2004
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: While patrolling on Hoth, Luke was savagely attacked by a Wampa and dragged by the ice creature to its cave, where he was suspended from the ceiling in anticipation of becoming the Wampa's next meal. Luke used the Force to retrieve his lightsaber from the floor of the cave and freed himself from the ice entrapping his leg. The Wampa attacked again, and Luke fought the vicious creature, escaping only after severing one of the Wampa's arms. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: One nitpick I have in the modern line is that Hasbro can't seem to crank out a decent all-purpose Hoth edition of Luke Skywalker. We've seen tons of him, but each one seems to serve a specific function-- there's no one release that is designed to both hang upside-down and ride on a Tauntaun. This particular figure is Wampa Cave-specific and is-- if you can believe it-- the last new Hoth Luke sculpt Hasbro has done. Since 2004, all new versions have been based on this design with new deco. It's a great figure, but Hasbro has come so far it's a little surprising we didn't see a new or retooled version, particularly since Hasbro decided to package this one with a Tauntaun a couple of years ago. (For the record, this one cannot sit on a Tauntaun.)

Luke's sculpt was, for 2004, great. Ball-jointed shoulders and an articulated scarf allow the figure to hang upside-down like in a Wampa's cave, and what's even better is that he includes a big ice base chunk which can attach to another ice base chunk that came with a Wampa. Combined, it allows Luke to hang and be menaced by a Wampa. This makes the figure, and arguably makes it the best version to display even if Hasbro makes a new and improved figure sculpt later. The snowy diorama is amazing and really cool, so it's more worth getting for its accessories than the figure itself. Well, that's a half-truth, this is still the best Hoth Luke sculpt you can buy. His bloodied face is pretty gruesome, but repaints of the figure lack the visible red streams of bodily fluids.

Collector's Notes: eBay has this figure going for as little as $1, which makes sense given the many repacks and repaints over the years. I'd say get this version, and a 2004 Ultra Wampa figure, so you can make the little diorama. It's worth it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,380: September 28, 2010