Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,527: Padme Amidala

PADME AMIDALA Peasant Disguise
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 97568 No. 24992
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: VC33
Includes: Pistol, headdress, other headdress
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99-$10.99
Availability: January 2011
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

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

Image: My kitchen, on a G.I. Joe diorama box. I spare no expense.

Commentary: While not a highly-requested costume, Hasbro did a great job recreating Padme Amidala in her "peasant disguise." I find it funny that this qualifies as a peasant disguise, because it looks pretty damned ornate for the kind of garb you'd expect on a refugee or the lower class. According to Hasbro, the creation of this figure resulted in a bit of archival weirdness-- she wears one headdress in the movie, but the official costume photography shows another. So what is the solution? Produce and include both. (This is the correct answer, and one I hope Hasbro arrives at more often in the future.)

The figure itself is fairly ornate-- the face paint is good, and the scarf is sculpted as part of the head. The yellow headdress is removable, and a second one has been included as well. Her arms are fully jointed, and from the waist down she's basically a pepper shaker with no meaningful movement. Hasbro did sculpt legs and pants underneath, though, so that's good. The gown is covered in fine detail, with sculpted and painted accents bringing the fabric to life. To add more heft to the figure, they even included some cloth elements to make her appear slightly less stiff. All in all, a great job on a figure you probably didn't want to buy. It's nice to see this kind of effort go into a figure like this, not just because I appreciate quality but because it also means Hasbro will probably never have a reason to revisit this figure in this costume. She even has a gun, although I don't suppose you'll need it.

Collector's Notes: Like the rest of the figures from her wave, she's packed at 1-per-box. So far, it seems she sells fairly quickly so there's no real danger of her becoming a pegwarmer at this time.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,527: April 21, 2011

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

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

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

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

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

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,414: November 15, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,333: Bail Organa

BAIL ORGANA Alderaan Outfit
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 87821
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD26
Includes: Blaster, robe
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: Fall 2008
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: A member of the Galactic Senate, Organa is also First Chairman and Viceroy of Alderaan. When Anakin falls to the dark side and Padmé dies in childbirth, Bail and his wife Breha adopt one of the twins, Leia, to raise as their own daughter. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' old desk. I think.

Commentary: If there's a short list of things fans ask for in very small numbers that Hasbro, for some reason, does, Bail Organa belongs on it. We got not one, but two figures based on the character's appearances in Revenge of the Sith. This one is based on the ending of the film, where he has no dialogue and does nothing other than hand a baby to some lady they never named through the course of the film. In other words, a fine example of top-notch storytelling. The figure itself has an acceptable face sculpt and decent articulation, although the legs won't be doing much due to his long blue plastic robes. An added cloth robe fits over the figure and is completely removable, which adds a bit of texture to the figure but ultimately this accessory doesn't look very good and makes the figure look cheap. Cloth is tough to do well, as Hasbro continues to illustrate.

I would qualify this figure as unremarkable and not essential. It's not bad-- it's just overwhelmingly average and a second (technically, fourth) ROTS-inspired Bail Organa toy. Do you need more than one? Probably not. He won't disappoint you if you like the photo, but he's not going to delight you, either.

Collector's Notes: One of the worse sellers in 2008, this figure may even still be available in some more rural or lower-trafficed stores. $8 felt like a lot, and on eBay he goes for as little as $4 before shipping. I would only advise you jump on this figure if you're in need of his build-a-droid part, or if the price was below $5 as part of a collection or something. Again, he's not awful, just not any fun and rather dull. Variation collectors should take note Bail exists in both a pale skinned (pictured) and a tan version, just like his wife Breha Organa.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,333: July 23, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,327: Jar Jar Binks (Animated)

JAR JAR BINKS Animated
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87638 No. 87957
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #24
Includes: Cloak
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: Spring 2009
Appearances: Clone Wars

Bio: It's up to Jar jar Binks to save the day when Padme Amidala walks into a trap set by the Separatists on the planet Rodia. Donning a Jedi robe, Jar Jar hopes that the threat of dealing with a formidable "Jedi" will force Padme's captors to release her. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: After a nearly seven year hiatus, Hasbro did another Jar Jar Binks figure in the animated style which some of us have embraced and others still don't like. The figure was around for one assortment and quickly went away, which makes sense given that it's not particularly thrilling as toys go. It is a nice figure though-- 12 points of articulation, a good sculpt, and a lot of personality were worked into this one. Unlike the 2002 version which we just looked at, this one seems to have been designed by someone who actually understands the nature of the bumbling character with his lanky body and slightly awkward mannerisms. The "borrowed" Jedi cloak is a nice touch too, so he can be a bombad Jedi or whatever. No weapons were included-- which is reasonable, given he doesn't have a signature weapon-- but this does take a little "action" out of the figure. It's odd to think that a figure from the kid-driven line seems to be designed with collectors in mind, but it honestly felt to me that this is what Hasbro did on this one.

The cloak has a wire in the neck, so it can cling to him just fine. Hasbro did a great job here, even adding that scarf thing and a little purple to give him an added sense of old-school importance. (Purple was once a color of royalty, you see. Ask your Egyptian history buff buddies.) The figure is a couple of knee joints away from perfection; as it stands it's just merely a high point in Hasbro's cartoon catalog.

Collector's Notes: Due to his being in short supply and limited window of availability... he actually is worth something. People are paying a premium for this one. I have to wonder if Hasbro is doing this on purpose to drive collectibility in this segment. If you can find this one for $10 or less, I'd suggest grabbing him because he is a really nice figure and a great, unique character in the line. Hasbro did a good job here, so it's nice to see something of quality command a slight premium. It was only sold on the blue-and-white packaging to date, and were I a betting man I would not expect to see it in the next several months to a year. Possibly ever.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,327: July 15, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,324: Jar Jar Binks (Senator)

JAR JAR BINKS Gungan Senator
Saga Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84821
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0224
Includes: Pole, electric bolt for pole
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: April 2002
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Now a Senate representative from Naboo, Jar Jar wears the elaborate Gungan outfit deemed proper for the ceremonial grandeur of the Senate. In a twist of fate, Jar Jar is manipulated to propose the motion that gives Chancellor Palpatine the powers of an emperor. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: While Jar Jar Binks doesn't get a break from fans for his character, and this is expected, one would think that a little more love would be lavished upon his toys. One would be wrong. Aside from the animated-style Jar Jar figure in 2009, this 2002 release was the final one. Actually, at press time, Hasbro hasn't made another one in the basic action figure movie-style line, and this one was a real stinker to go out on. Hasbro makes great figures-- and this is not one of them.

Jar Jar has an awkward pose, not seen on film. He has a weapon, not seen on film. As far as I know this wasn't the result of some excised scene, but rather Hasbro trying to make a character fans hate into something exciting. The end result is something that isn't true to the movie and isn't fun to play with, his big bulky robes prevent him from doing anything but looking awkward. His shoulders, neck, and poseable have articulation you can exploit but all you can have him do is "fight." It's kinda dippy, which is unfortunate because I'd like to have a Jar Jar in this outfit that, you know, just kinda stands around and looks OK. The sculpting and deco of this figure are quite good, but the problem here is that the pose and personality of the toy are all wrong. I can admire them for taking some license with it (and this very figure was on my desk for most of the past 7 years), but it really could have been a little more collector-friendly by not trying to amp up his combat-readiness.

Collector's Notes: Got a nickel? You can afford one of these. (Just like I can afford your mom. For a nickel.) But seriously, you can get one of these for next to nothing. As such, don't pay retail, get it in a lot or better still, get it from someone dumping their stash. As of today Hasbro has not confirmed a new Jar Jar based on any of the movies, and if you want the character in this costume it's literally your only choice.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,324: July 12, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,051: Orn Free Taa

ORN FREE TAA Senator
Saga Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84804
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0235
Includes: Camera, stand for camera
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Summer 2002
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: A Rutian Twi'lek, Senator Orn Free Taa has succumbed to a decadent lifestyle on Coruscant. Treating politics as sport, he uses his position to indulge his extravagant impulses. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: If there's one area that Hasbro basically skipped for the first prequel, it's the random alien senators. Orn Free Taa was an interesting choice for early Republic senator figures, but his distinctive look and notable girth made him stand out on the pegs. Mostly. His blue skin blended in with the packaging.

Due to the nature of the figure's design, he's basically one of those pepper shaker figures. The head and arms can move, but that's about it. Considering it sold for $5, a full $2 less than Episode I figures, this is OK. The detail was definitely a step up, and I daresay that this figure still works as one of Hasbro's good aliens even seven years after its release. His head is covered in wrinkles, and his robe is fairly detailed. Really, a little bit of paint and this figure would probably be pretty much perfect. Well, sorta perfect-- all he's going to do is stand around and be blue and fat. There's not much of a toy here, but this isn't a character you buy to play with so much as to display. With that in mind, I think collectors will be glad to get one if the price is right.

Collector's Notes: While not a turkey, this one was a slower seller in many markets. As such, you can probably get this one cheap. I suggest you do so because I wouldn't count on it getting reissued any time soon, plus he appears on the new cartoon too. So he's kinda relevant, I guess.

Day 1,051: June 24, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 986: Bail Organa

BAIL ORGANA The Clone Wars
Saga Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84830
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0333
Includes: Holographic Obi-Wan Kenobi module
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99
Availability: Fall 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan is a trusted advisor in Chancellor Palpatine's inner circle. An impassioned supporter of civic virtue, Bail regrets that to counter the Separatist threat, the Republic must deploy a newly discovered clone army. Although the Republic garners an equivocal victory at the Battle of Geonosis, it is only the first step in a much larger, carefully conceived Clone War. The noble Senator stands in somber observation as thousands of clone troopers, marching in military formation, board countless warships and disperse throughout the galaxy to new battlefronts. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: We're a funny bunch as fans-- if we can name something, we'll basically demand a figure of it. Sometimes this leads to questionable sellers like Bail Organa here, a figure that came out within weeks of the first-ever super-articulated Star Wars action figure, yet has articulation that would have basically sucked in 1999. While the detail on his garments, jewelry, and arguably head are pretty great, he can't do much. Both wrists are articulated, as are both shoulders. His waist and neck can move, but his long robes make him a pepper shaker with arms. He's not going to do much other than stand there and look cool. Lucky for you, he looks plenty cool. His face sculpt looks a good deal like Jimmy Smitts, but unfortunately his skin is just a smidgen too pale to look right. The beard is basically right on the money, as is the hairstyle.

There's certainly room for improvement, but he's a reasonably minor character with little action. It's rare that you have a character with lines that can't do anything but stand and nobody complains-- but that's what happened here. So enjoy kids, this is as good as it's going to get. This is the only Attack of the Clones-specific Bail Organa figure in production.

Collector's Notes: He sold better than many of his casemates, but he wound up on insta-clearance in many markets due to Hasbro renumbering the basic action figure SKU in early 2004. This caused the figure to become devalued pretty damn quick, meaning this won't cost you too much if you decide you want one now. He has never been reissued. ALso, despite the fact that the figure's hand was clearly sculpted to hold a gun, he does not include one. I started freaking out when I wrote this article because it looked like something was missing. Thankfully, it wasn't.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 986: March 25, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 911: Mas Amedda

MAS AMEDDA Scenery
Power of the Jedi Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84455 No. 84136
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Force File
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: August 2000
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Mas Amedda is the stern, Chagrian Vice Chair of the Galactic Senate and is responsible for keeping order during debates. Amedda temporarily takes over when Queen Amidala submits her vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum. (Taken from the figure's Force File.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: After Episode I as a toy line ended, a few figures were shuffled off into its sequel, Power of the Jedi. Of those, Mas Amedda was one of the most colorful. Why? Well, look at it. There are blues, yellows, reds... it's a distinctive figure with horns! By the way, those horns bend easily to avoid breakage, meaning if you store this figure in a less-than-careful way it's sure to become distorted over time. He's posable at the shoulders, neck, waist, and that's about it. Basically, he was designed to stand around and call for order, and with his total lack of accessories he's not going to be a lot of fun. Fans did ask for this one, and Hasbro delivered, but he's a figure while will make you happy if you don't open your toys or just have them standing around. There's not a lot to play with here (unlike the 2005 version), so if you like what you see in the picture, that's pretty much exactly what you'll get. It's a well-sculpted figure with lots of detail and color, he's just not going to be doing a lot of vehicle piloting or enemy-blasting.

Collector's Notes: The first Mas Amedda, and arguably the best. The 2005 version was much bulkier and uglier, this one seems a little more vintage-like. It wasn't too popular, so you should be able to get it cheap.

Day 911: December 10, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 886: Chancellor Valorum

CHANCELLOR VALORUM with Ceremonial Staff
Episode I Collection 3
Item No.: Asst. 84105 No. 84132
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: CommTech Chip, Staff
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: May 3, 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: As the beleaguered leader of the Galactic Republic, Supreme Chancellor Valorum faces many challenges to his authority, from the greedy Trade Federation to the manipulations of his one-time ally Senator Palpatine. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: The Pawlus computer desk.

Commentary: Back in 1999, it seemed like Hasbro had a good formula for its then-new prequel line. It was as follows: make anything, it will sell, nobody needs to see the movie first. It worked. Chancellor Valorum was one of the very first figures produced for the line, and he's as exciting as he looks-- not very. While the figure has a good likeness for its time, and probably wouldn't look much better were it released today, it's just not very exciting. It's somewhat depressing to cite it as an example of some of Hasbro's finest work at the time, because it's a character that, like most of you, I can't fake much of an interest here. Yes, it is Terrance Stamp as a small plastic man. Yeah, he's got the dress, complete with all the detail. And yes, he's even got a big fat staff for waving around. But he doesn't do much. The only meaningful articulation is at the neck and shoulders, because the big robes prevent any articulation from the waist on down from doing much of anything. Without more senators or some other diorama, this figure doesn't offer much to fans other than another notch in your collection's bedpost. Yes, it's stunning, but it isn't remotely cool-- which is a shame, really.

Collector's Notes: As you might expect, fans didn't much go nuts for this one. It sold better (or rather, it sold through faster) than a lot of other equally interesting characters of its time in part because Hasbro made fewer of them. You can get this figure today on eBay for next to nothing, and you probably should. Hasbro will probably never make another one, and the character did relatively little before being eventually blown up in the comics.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 886: November 5, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 508: Mon Mothma

MON MOTHMA Republic Senator
Revenge of the Sith Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 85174 No. 85296
Number: III-24
Includes: Tiara thing, stick thing, base thing
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.24-$6.99
Availability: March 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: A member of the Galactic Senate, Mon Mothma is troubled by the expanding power of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. She secretly begins to assemble groups that will eventually become the Rebel Alliance. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: Mothma: friend to children. (No wait, that's Gamera.) Mon Mothma was one of the first figures made for the final prequel. She was also completely cut from the movie, which is a bit of a shame given that all the Rebels introduced at the end of Return of the Jedi pretty much showed up out of nowhere now. The figure's costume is very similar to the figure based on Return of the Jedi, with nearly identical jewelry, a strikingly similar haircut, and the biggest most notable additions being the removable crown piece and the very high neck on her dress. The likeness is good, the articulation is somewhat limited, but let's face it: this is not a figure you're likely to buy because you loved her story, or the figure's character. You buy it to complete the set. She can stand, point, and wave her arms and that's about it. It's not a bad looking figure, although Hasbro could make her look a little better with some more paint, a different batch of plastic, and maybe a slightly better head. This will never, ever happen, so buy the existing one and enjoy it because unless she appears on TV, you'll probably never see her again.

Collector's Notes: This was a poor seller. Mon Mothma came out in the wake of the hugely popular Revenge of the Sith line, which sold very well. At least the Jedi, troopers, aliens, and droids did-- anything labeled "SENATOR!" tended to not be quite as hot. There's not a lot of action in this figure, so it's appeal is pretty much entirely as a collectible or as custom fodder. I like the figure enough, but if Hasbro never made it, odds are you wouldn't really miss it from your collection. Sure, you can be the founder of the Rebellion, but if you don't appear in the movie in any significant way, your appeal goes away real quick.

Day 508: September 26, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 456: Mas Amedda

MAS AMEDDA Republic Senator
Revenge of the Sith Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 85174 No. 85440
Number: III-40
Includes: Staff, removable hat, removable tongue
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.24-$6.99
Availability: March 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Mas Amedda was Vice Chair of the Galactic Senate under Chancellor Valorum and is now Supreme Chancellor Palpatine's majordomo. The Chagrian official uses his snakelike tongue to express agitation. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' figure shelves.

Commentary: I never thought I'd live to see the day where an action figure's selling point, in big bold letters, would be "Republic Senator." Mas Amedda is one of many figures with this two word marketing message from 2005, and one of the neater ones. With his robes, removable hat, and removable tongue, the figure is fairly imposing and you can actually do something with it. Rather than just have him stand around, his various accessories give you some options as to what you can have him do. "Hat on" and "hat off" isn't the most exciting such option one can aspire to have in a toy, but it's better than nothing. I mean, all poor Ask Aak can do is stand there, with or without his blaster. The highly detailed Mr. Amedda has lots of articulation in his arms, big robes, and can stick his tongue out at you-- and what's even more amazing is that he isn't the first Star Wars release from Hasbro to offer this exciting distinction. Mas, if you were to buy him, would most likely be a welcome addition to your shelves and/or Senate display. He isn't much of a toy, but the aforementioned play features do make him a little more exciting than the likes of Bail Organa or Mon Mothma. If the price is right, this is a nice example of Hasbro trying something a little bit more ambitious, and it turned out fairly well.

Collector's Notes: As far as I know, the whole tongue thing was excised from the movie, but it does make an amusing play feature. Seeing how Hasbro integrated a removable tongue into a figure of this size while making the figure look decent with it or without it is no small feat, and I gotta say I was impressed. The figure hasn't exactly been in high demand, but then again, neither was the 2000 release based on Episode I.

Day 456: August 5, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 427: Leia Organa with Bail Organa

Infant LEIA ORGANA with Bail Organa
Separation of the Twins Collection
Item No.: Asst. 87011 No. 87013
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, removable cloak
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.24
Availability: November 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: After assisting the last of the Jedi in escaping the murderous rampages of the clone troopers, Bail Organa has a meeting with Master Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Faced with determining the fates of the newborn twins, Yoda instructs Obi-Wan to deliver Luke to his aunt and uncle on Tatooine, while Bail volunteers to adopt Leia and raise her with his wife on Alderaan. There she will be loved and cared for as one of their own. Obi-Wan and Yoda agree that allowing the trustworthy Senator Organa to care for the child is the best option for young Leia. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Revenge of the Sith Heroes & Villains shelf.

Commentary: So, what's the deal with Bail Organa and Leia Organa? Well, it's the same basic 2005 Bail figure, minus the display stand, but with a baby. We're treating this as one figure as Leia really is an accessory, and she's the same mold as Luke-- it really is amazing what a little paint can do. Bail is nicely done, with ball-jointed shoulders and knees plus a gun holster ensuring that this is a figure that has been well-designed. He's just kinda dull-- after all, a grey jumpsuit and a toga don't exactly scream "fun" at your average collector. The figure itself (and when sold by itself) wasn't too special, initially being a bit of a slow seller in many stores. The added bonus of a baby and new packaging made this a red-hot figure, especially at the low prices at which Wal-Mart was selling it. If you don't have Bail, get this one. If you do have Bail, this one is almost worth it just for the baby.

Many collectors will tell you this is an important release because of the scene on which it is based. It isn't-- it's just a figure that didn't sell well packaged with an infant. It's a nice figure, and a good infant, and it does have a golly-gee factor that made us excited to rebuy it in 2005... but to pay a premium for this release seems a little doofy to me. But hey, for five or seven bucks? I'd be lying if I said this wasn't an appealing release.

Collector's Notes: Depending on where you live, this was a really hard-to-get figure. It's being tweaked, repainted, and reissued as a Wal-Mart exclusive in 2007, but this "original" version seems to be the best version of Bail-with-a-baby... but this could change. This upcoming Twins comic 2-pack has both Obi-Wan and Bail Organa, but both figures have soft goods and the babies have been redecorated, meaning these versions from late 2005 will still be unique and, as the kids say, "collectible." The figurer came on unique hybrid ROTS/TSC packaging that, we must say, we very much dig.

Day 427: July 7, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 425: Padme Amidala

PADMÉ Republic Senator
Revenge of the Sith Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 85174 No. 85292
Number: III-19
Includes: Blaster, Mustafar base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.24-$6.99
Availability: March 2005-Present
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Padmé comes to realize that her beloved Anakin is falling to the dark side of the Force. She makes a desperate attempt to convince him to return to the side of good before it is too late. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: Despite having more costume changes than pretty much anybody in the entire prequel storyline, Miss Padmé hasn't exactly had a lot of action figures. From Revenge of the Sith, she got but one-- a weird little Boy Scout ensemble which shows off her baby bump and features soft goods so she could, given the opportunity, sit. Her face sculpt was much improved over previous releases, and on some levels, so was the paint-- not on my sample, of course, but on the other ones they tried to give her makeup and decent eyebrows, generally making her look female. I can appreciate this, the execution wasn't perfect but I don't expect too much from a 3 3/4-inch action figure. (Well, OK that's a lie.) So she could sit in a ship if she had one, which is good, she has knee joints, which is also good, and most of her articulation is hidden in her costume. In other words, Hasbro pretty much did everything they could to make this a good figure-- while there will no doubt always be debate on the soft goods for the lower part of the dress, the overall design is sound, and it isn't like there was too much more you could do with the outfit. This figure's main fault with fans is her abundance, as Hasbro made sure to keep her in circulation for a good long time-- although in my area, they're pretty much all gone these days. As a sign of things to come, if Hasbro keeps the Amidala figures about this good, we'll be in good shape.

Collector's Notes: This figure was first released in 2005 for Revenge of the Sith, and was repackaged in 2006 for the Episode III Greatest Battles Collection. Both versions were fairly common in some markets, achieving "pegwarmer" status while in other areas, they just kept selling really well. It seems to be a crapshoot depending on the neighborhood. As of this article, this figure is the most recent version of Padme from the movies. A Clone Wars version was made in early 2007, though.

Day 425: July 5, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 308: Ask Aak

ASK AAK Senator
Revenge of the Sith Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 85174 No. 85497
Number: III-46
Includes: Blaster rifle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.24-$6.99
Availability: Fall 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Ask Aak is a Gran, from the outworld of Malastare. Just before the start of the Clone Wars, he suported the Military Creation Act and was part of Chancellor Palpatine's Loyalist Committee. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: Does the world need another Gran? I'd say yes. Ask Aak is the second member of the Ree-Yees species, and this is easily a better figure than the 1998 version of the Jabba's Palace drunk. Ask Aak has a ball-jointed neck, and basically just enough articulation to make you both happy and mad. He isn't super-poseable, but he's certainly good enough. With various textures in his sculpt, it's obvious a lot of work went in to the figure's bumpy hands, hairy coat, and nasty, alien feet. A lot of work went into this figure, and it shows-- so pick one up if you have the means. The figure includes a redeco of the 2004 Bossk gun.

Collector's Notes: Since the prequels were lacking in really good creature showcases like Jabba's Palace or the Cantina, you're going to have to settle for Pod Races and the Senate. (And to a lesser extent, the Outlander Club of Episode II.) This nifty figure shows that if the story went in a slightly different direction, we could've had dozens of really cool random alien figures instead of what we got for Revenge of the Sith, which was mostly new versions of characters we already got. Oh well. Either way, it's a nice figure.

Day 308: March 10, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 229: Bail Organa

BAIL ORGANA Republic Senator
Revenge of the Sith Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 85174 No. 85288
Number: III-15
Includes: Blaster, cloak, display base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.25-$6.99
Availability: April 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Bail Organa, a senator from Alderaan, sees how the Republic is being ruined. When the situation becomes even more treacherous for loyal members of the Republic, he lends his support in the fight to save the galaxy. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: Most figures had a two-word selling point on the front of the packaging in 2005, like "Wookiee Rage" or "Jedi Knight." Bail Organa got saddled with "Republic Senator" which may as well have been "Intergalactic Dentist" or "The Figure You Didn't Ask For." Sure, he had a decent role in the movie, but after all the dust settles he's not really an action hero in this flick, and the droves of unsold Bail Organas at a lot of smaller stores to this very day attest to the fact that having a famous adopted daughter doesn't make you a good action figure.

The figure itself is a good one, though-- while the beard isn't quite as perfect as one might hope, the costume is represented well, there's a holster for his blaster, he has articulated knees, and that big poncho cloak can come off. There's a lot of subtle wrinkles in the costume, but the problem is that it's a boring costume. Ball joints or no, it's a guy in a grey toga with no nifty helmets or colorful laser swords to dress up the figure. It's possible this figure may have been more popular if he had his ship-- after all, is there anyone out there who doesn't want a nice Tantive IV? (Oh yeah, everybody but me, since nobody asks about it in the Hasbro Q&A or mentions it on forums ever.)

Collector's Notes: The figure was repackaged in 2005 as a Wal-Mart exclusive, this time packaged with a baby Princess Leia instead of his display base. It was a superior accessory, and the one most collectors would want to go after. This figure can be had quite cheaply if you can find it, so don't go paying a premium for him unless he has the baby.

Day 229: December 21, 2006

Figure Of The Day: Day 194: Chi Eekway

CHI EEKWAY Lucas Collector's Set
The Saga Collection ShopStarWars.com Exclusive
Item No.: No. 80060
Number: n/a
Includes: Removable cloak
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $34.99
Availability: 2006
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: This Twi'lek Senator from Wroona is extremely wary of Palpatine's intentions and growing power. She works quietly behind the scenes to oppose him. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam's TV tray. I actually took this around the first week of the column and just never wrote it up.

Commentary: While I was initially thrilled when I heard Chi Eekway was coming out in a nifty exclusive box set, most collectors seem to disagree with me that this was a good thing. Sure, the figure has limited articulation and little in the way of accessories, but she may well be the first non-half-naked Twi'lek female, which is surely a dubious distinction but a distinction either way. If you like the picture, that's what it's like to own the toy-- she can't really sit, but she has excellent deco, a good sculpt, and managed to make the exclusive set not feel like a rip-off. I don't ask for much, just give me something I can call "new" without laughing. For augmenting your displays, this is a must-own figure. For those looking for cool aliens, don't pass this one up. If you're on a budget, though, you can probably live with waiting on this one a while longer.

Collector's Notes: This item was expensive, but more or less worth it-- $35 for 4 figures with 3 new sculpts is up there, especially for "collectors" who bought Zett Jukassa in 2005, but at least there are some interesting figures here to make it a little less painful. So far, it seems the item hasn't been a spectacular seller, and you can get it in a bundle with the Republic Commando set on the cheap-- and it isn't a bad deal. The set is worth it if you're a fan of the prequels and like figures with a good back story.

Day 194: November 16, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 62: Lott Dod

LOTT DOD Neimoidian Senator
Saga Collection Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84913
Number: 0251
Includes: Holographic Darth Sidious, Fancy Hat
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99-$5.99
Availability: Fall 1998
Appearances: Primarily Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

Bio: A Neimoidian senator who represents the Trade Federation's interests in the Galactic Senate, Lott Dod uses his bureaucratic lies and procedural tricks to achieve the aims of the Trade Federation. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's Pawlus Toy Shelves never looked more exciting.

Commentary: During Episode I, Neimoidians sold poorly. Which is why it's somewhat shocking to see Hasbro going back to the well for this race, starting with 2002's Lott Dod from the very first prequel. It's not shocking because he's a bad figure-- he's actually quite neat, despite being largely a statue. He's painted well, looks old and wrinkly (moreso than a normal member of his race), but doesn't have much action to offer aside "removing of hat" action and "standing there" action. For fans of aliens and specifically the Trade Federation, this is a gorgeous figure with a nicely sculpted robe, a well-painted sash, and of course, the first mini-holographic bonus figure ever. And this was one people actually wanted, despite having been released with Count Dooku previously.

Collector's Notes: What you see is what you get, and you can get it for about $2 per pound. This figure was a very weak seller and no doubt still sits in a store somewhere to this day, never having been purchased. (My guess is a Walgreen's or a CVS.) If you want one, just keep watching eBay-- his auctions end below $2. No, seriously. Why wait for a reissue when you can practically steal this one?

Day 62: July 7, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 58: Padmé Amidala (Droid Factory Chase)

PADMÉ AMIDALA Droid Factory Chase
Saga Collection Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84923
Number: 0304
Includes: Blaster, removable cape, conveyor display base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99-$5.99
Availability: Janaury 2003
Appearances: Primarily Star Wars: Attack of the Clones


Bio: The beautiful Padmé Amidala, a member of the Galactic Senate, strives for a peaceful resolution to the civil strife plaguing the Republic. After narrowly escaping two assassination attempts linked to the expanding Separatist movement, Padmé seeks retreat under the protection of Jedi apprentice Anakin Skywalker. Soon, the heroic pair is lured to the heart of the Separatist stronghold, where cataclysmic events propel them into the midst of a deadly battle and the explosive onslaught of war. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Collection room fun.

Commentary: For Episode II, Hasbro decided to get the most out of its "real scan" technology and got some very true-to-life sculpts with some very... peculiar facial expressions. Along with a Mace Windu figure, this version of Padmé Amidala has a screaming face which, if a normal face, would have made this an excellent figure. With 13 points of articulation, this was a most impressive figure for 2003, and to this day is one of the best figures based on Natalie Portman-- which is great, and a shame, as her facial expression is hard to get past even three years later. Her rubbery cape is easily removed in case it gets in the way, and her scene-specific sculpt could be easily adapted to a more normal looking figure through the addition of a new head. As, in a way, an update to the 2002 quick-draw version of this costume, this was a huge improvement across the board and seeing how nicely articulated it was and how good it turned out, it's a little surprising more fans aren't clamoring for it today. On eBay, it goes for barely a couple of dollars above its original in-store price.

Collector's Notes: Padmé's display base was specially designed to connect to several other toys. You can build a partial Droid Factory Assembly Line by combining her with the Deluxe Super Battle Droid (2003), the Deluxe C-3PO (2002), and the Arena Playset (2002). Neat! This is the closest, to date, Hasbro has come in the modern line to making a large playset through the use of several smaller, lower-priced components. If you'd like to see how such a concept turned out, consider buying these items and taking a look. At which point you can tell Hasbro how much you dig it.

Day 58: July 3, 2006