Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,292: Snowtrooper Commander (The Vintage Collection)

SNOWTROOPER COMMANDER Newer and Improveder
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Stormtroopers of the Empire Set
Item No.: No. G1281
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #379
Includes: Blasters
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $49.99
Availability: September 2025
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Stormtroopers specialize in operations across the galaxy, from desert worlds to arctic conditions. Scout troopers patrol for the Empire with speeder bikes. (Taken from packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: While many eyes have been rolled and pixels have been spilled on the whole "not my Star Wars!" thing, I'm not going to lie to you - it has been really nice getting stuff from the original trilogy era in 2025. Kenner-flavored Cantina aliens, Kenner-sculpted classic heroes, a Cantina, a Mos Eisley, new versions of Luke, Han, and Chewie... even a Snowtrooper army pack and Snowtrooper Commander - as updates - are nice to have. I don't dislike the new era, necessarily, but the further you get away from "Empires vs. Rebels vs. Space Gangsters" I'm realizing my interest starts to wane. When I was a kid there weren't many people with lightsabers, and even in that first MMO Jedi were a special rarity. It's kind of nice to see Star Wars items that are recognizably from highly-watched (or played, or read) materials and I'm going to have few complaints about toys from The Empire Strikes Back.

Hasbro has done versions of the Snowtrooper Commander before, and it's kind of amazing that there are any shared parts with the regular Snowtrooper. For this 3-pack version, Hasbro flipped the shoulder armor, changed the entire torso, made a different boots, and different forearms, and also a unique belt, and a distinctive mask. I think the upper arms, upper legs, and possibly lower torso are the same.

The last figure of this guy was about ten years ago, and this one is glossier in all the right spots. The colors are a little more vibrant, with separately molded shoulder armor and a cloth (rather than plastic) lower coat. He stands well, the blaster fits in the holster, but the lower torso armor sort of gets in the way of his legs. Luckily, this figure will probably spend most of his time standing. The ball-jointed hips and rocker ankles will help with those action poses, but nothing's going to help the fact that you will probably wish you could buy a few more of these. At least the standard rank-and-file were sold in a four pack.

While we've got a few of this guy, I can't say it's not an improvement. While I am a little over Clones (and am hitting my limit on Stormtroopers with new spot colors), Snowtroopers are not exactly abundant and a new fan hasn't had a crack at this guy for a while. I'd prefer single versions so you can stock up on the ones you want - but $50 for 3 guys isn't terrible for an opener in 2025. If I get a crack at these guys at a discount I'll probably buy more. There's a lot of new tooling here.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse, It has come in and out of availability several times during its pre-order window.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,292: November 11, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,864: Han Solo (Carbonite Pack-In)

HAN SOLO IN CARBONITE Slave I Pack-In
Shadows of the Empire and Power of the Force vehicle pack-in
Item No.: No. 69565
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Slave I vehicle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $29.99
Availability: Summer 1996
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Han Solo was a Human smuggler from the manufacturing planet Corellia who achieved galactic fame as a member of the Rebel Alliance and later the New Republic.  (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' photo area.

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,760: Prince Xizor

PRINCE XIZOR vs. Darth Vader
Shadows of the Empire Comic Pack Assortment
Item No.: Asst. 69590 No. 69567
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Staff, Darth Vader figure, comic book
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $11.99
Availability: Summer 1996
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, has instilled terror throughout the galaxy since the beginning of the Empire. His devotion to the Emperor and mastery of the dark side gives him more power than any single individual in the galaxy except for the Emperor himself. Draped completely in black and wielding the ability to take a life with a mere gesture, Darth Vader stands as the incarnation of evil. His dislike of Prince Xizor is intense and his distrust well-founded. Though Vader would gladly eliminate Xizor, Emperor Palpatine has need of Black Sun's shipping operations to speed construction of the new Death Star. Xizor had best watch his back however, as Vader's control of the dark side of the Force makes him a most formidable foe. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: Back in the 1990s, six points of articulation were impressive, and Prince Xizor was one of the first characters to get two same-outfit figures. Basically similar to, but posed differently than the individually carded release, this figure has a less-crazy weapon. Sort of. Sure, he has a giant staff-- symbolism?-- but the regular one came with two interlocking energy fan blade things which just aren't very cool. Staffs are cool. And as an American, I am required to say guns are good. (Seriously, they'll deport me if I don't.) But anyway, he's also got a robe which you can remove if you really want, it's open in the back like a hospital gown to show off his green spine.

The vaguely Asian armor allows the figure little movement, you can sort of move his legs at the hip and his arms and head turn freely. The waist joint moves a bit... and that's it. The head sculpt is pretty weak-- he's a little leathery, he has two shoots of hair coming off his head-- and it's sort of charming in a 1990s way. Hasbro did better with Xizor in 2008, and that figure was also a remarkably poor seller. You can probably get that one at that crap Wal-Mart a few miles from the good one.

Collector's Notes: It's cheap if you want it-- it's a neat package from the declining years of Kenner, and for those reasons I like it. I wouldn't necessarily say you need it... but if you love the 1990s, you need this.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,760: March 13, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,620: Darth Vader

DARTH VADER vs. Prince Xizor
Shadows of the Empire Comic Pack Assortment
Item No.: Asst. 69590 No. 69567
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, cape, Xizor figure, comic book
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $11.99
Availability: Summer 1996
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, has instilled terror throughout the galaxy since the beginning of the Empire. His devotion to the Emperor and mastery of the dark side gives him more power than any single individual in the galaxy except for the Emperor himself. Draped completely in black and wielding the ability to take a life with a mere gesture, Darth Vader stands as the incarnation of evil. His dislike of Prince Xizor is intense and his distrust well-founded. Though Vader would gladly eliminate Xizor, Emperor Palpatine has need of Black Sun's shipping operations to speed construction of the new Death Star. Xizor had best watch his back however, as Vader's control of the dark side of the Force makes him a most formidable foe. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: Oh, it warms the heart. This Darth Vader was essentially done in the 1990s Kenner house style, which involved limited articulation, an acceptable likeness, and lots of muscles-- just like Batman, or someone from ALIENS. Back then five points of articulation were still the norm for most American toy action figures, so even when you put a figure in an early comic book 2-pack like this one, Kenner wasn't particularly motivated to make it significantly better than the previously-released version of the character. The bulk of the figure is essentially the same as the 1995 single Darth Vader figure, but the cape, an arm, and a leg seem to have been updated to give the figure more of a dueling pose.

The bulk of you will not want this figure. There are other, better Darth Vaders and this one didn't even have the "skirt" part of the costume yet, that wouldn't become part of the figure line until 1998. Back in 1996, Kenner designers still made an effort for these to be playthings which could sit and not pop apart at the elbow joint, because there were no elbow joints. If you're like me and have a soft spot in your heart for the old Kenner toys of the 1980s and 1990s, along with Aliens vs. Predator and Terminator 2 and their many other movie lines, you're going to want to track these down. Star Wars was one of very few lines to survive the transition from "Kenner" to "Hasbro," and the Kenner style was bred out of the line starting in early 1999. Figures like this are pretty far removed from today's incarnations, almost as much so as they were from the original Vintage toys of the 1970s and 1980s. Were I a new collector I'd just focus on the pre-Hasbro days of the line and call it a day, but odds are you're going to skip this one. It's OK-- you had to be there for these guys.

Collector's Notes: This figure shipped on a single card, seemingly exclusive to J.C. Penny, in late 1997. The figure had a more flexible rubbery cape, and came on a green Power of the Force card. Stock of the figure was later sold to other outlets, or at least one outlet-- Entertainment Earth had the single card 4-packs, which also included an AT-ST Driver and Endor Han Solo. The Darth Vader vs. Xizor 2-pack is, today, only worth about $3-$10. It was one of the first "comic packs" back when the line only had 2 items and a full-size comic reprint was something of a novelty, as minicomics were the norm in the 1980s. I like this set a lot. I hope some of you do, too.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,620: August 30, 2011

Figure of the Day: Day 1,364: Princess Leia

PRINCESS LEIA with Prince Xizor
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87687
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #8
Includes: Gown, blaster, Xizor figure, comic book
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99
Availability: Summer 2008
Appearances: Shadows of the Empire

Bio: As Leia struggles to save the Alliance from being crushed by the Empire, she learns that bounty hunters are after Luke. She infiltrates Black Sun to find out why that crime syndicate wants Luke dead. The leader of Black Sun is Prince Xizor, who sees Luke as a way to get his revenge upon Vader and, at the same time, gain favor with the Emperor. Her mission is in jeaopardy when she meets Xizor and finds herself unable to resist the prince's strange power. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' old desk.

Commentary: As figures I never expected to see go, this Princess Leia certainly made the list. This is basically from a scene in which Leia tries to make Xizor think he's gonna get some, and then knees him in the balls. Truly, a great toy for kids, right? Well, we have her, and space bedroom wear is just as goofy as you can hope. If there's one thing that does it for me, it's headbands! (Actually, no, not really.) This Leia has more articulation than she can handle, and the ankle joints make her legs look a little chunky. She lacks elbows, but other than that is a pretty robust figure in terms of movement. In short, your reasons for buying this figure are "do you love Leia figures" and "do you need a new Xizor", the answer to both I assume to be "yes" and "sure, why not." The detail on the figure is OK, but it's not really an amazing release given what else Hasbro has been releasing in the past four or five years. It's worth buying and certainly fits the bill of a good modern figure, just not as a great one.

Collector's Notes: This figure may be available at a store near you still-- it was not a hit. Don't pay a premium for this one, if anything try to get it for under $10 because it's just that common.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,364: September 6, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,160: Imperial TIE Fighter and TIE Interceptor Pilot

TIE INTERCEPTOR PILOT with TIE Interceptor
The Legacy Collection Toys "R" Us Exclusive
Item No.: No. 92287
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, helmet, TIE Interceptor vehicle with blast-off panels and removable ejector seat
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $49.99
Availability: September 2009
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: The elite TIE Interceptor starfighter slices through space with its dagger-like wings and ultrasleek design. Designed for speed and firepower, this Imperial fighter has four additional laser cannons mounted on its wings that the pilots use with devastating accuracy. As a space superiority fighter, the TIE Interceptor challenged the Rebel Alliance and was used extensively at the Battle of Endor. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's stove.

Commentary: Believe it or not, it's 2009 and there's still no such thing as a TIE Interceptor Pilot (or TIE Fighter Pilot) that's super-articulated. This one comes very close, but there are no ankle joints-- not that this is a deal breaker, of course, given that the figure exists mostly to occupy a chair inside a fully-enclosed vehicle. It's not like he'll be doing a lot of running around. Hasbro opted to include a holster on this figure, but it's a pretty unfortunate addition. Not only is it glued over the figure's molded belt, but it's generally aligned poorly, hanging off to the side. Also, the blaster's unusual shape gets in the way of the figure's arm, and is actually better left off to the side depending on how you store or display this one.

On the bright side, he looks good. The helmet is sculpted well, the head is the typical Clone Trooper design (which may not be entirely accurate in the context of the films), but at least he has a waist joint. The figure is a repaint of a pilot which was released just weeks before this one, and it had "elite" markings on his helmet as seen in very few behind-the-scenes photos and as practically not seen in the movies. If you want the best-yet plain TIE Fighter Pilot, the Toys "R" Us TIE Interceptor is the only place to get it right now. Unless Hasbro reissues it on a regular package, which seems like something to expect in the next two years.

Collector's Notes: This was the first way to get this particular TIE Pilot without the "elite" markings on his helmet. A similar (if not identical) figure just hit with a regular TIE Fighter as a Target exclusive. For the purposes of this column, they're identical.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,160: November 24, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,143: Dash Rendar

DASH RENDAR with Heavy Weapons Pack
Shadows of the Empire Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 69605 No. 69561
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, Heavy Weapons Pack
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: July 1996
Appearances: Shadows of the Empire

Image: Adam's back yard.

Bio: In all the galaxy there are few who can fly and shoot like Dash Rendar. Many years ago, as a cadet at the Imperial Acadmey, he continually impressed his superiors with the ability to push vessels beyond their usual limits, executing maneuvers his ships were never meant to perform. He held great promise as a future Imperial officer until a freight vessel piloted by his brother malfunctioned and crashed on Coruscant, destroying a private museum that housed many of the Emperor's treasures. Though the mishap was not the pilot's fault, the Emperor banished Rendar's family and had Dash expelled from the academy. Given his bold disregard for regulation and arrogant confidence, it is doubtful that Dash would have fit in well within the ranks of the Empire anyway. He never hesitates to boast of his skills as an expert pilot and gunner. After his dismissal from the academy, he began a career as a thief and gambler, but soon discovered that his exceptional flying skills were a great asset in the smuggling business. (Taken from the figure's cardback. It goes on but we're cutting it there.)

Commentary: The Shadows of the Empire story was an interesting one, particularly its development. At one point it was to take place between the first two films of the original trilogy, and then it was moved-- so now Han Solo was frozen. Enter Dash Rendar, a generic meatless off-the-shelf gluten-free Han Solo substitute. The fairly unmemorable character had a design that seemed very much of the 1990s by way of the 1980s, with lots of padding and huge guns. The giant gun pack wasn't particularly true to any of the licensed story tie-ins, and the character's head for Kenner's figure didn't really look like any of the other versions, either. He often appeared with bare arms, and this action figure was fully enclosed.

The character is so much like Han Solo that Kenner sculpted him in a nearly identical pose to its then-current action figure of the original Corellian smuggler, and Dash also sported the same difficulty standing that Han had. It's pretty amazing when you go back and look at it. Dash has six points of articulation, and none of his parts have been reused to create other figures.

Collector's Notes: To date, Dash Rendar has been released exactly once, but his poor sales kept him on pegs for a while. Xizor sold fare more poorly. He's the one and only, so unless Hasbro announces a new Dash Rendar soon (which is seemingly less likely with the future of comic packs in question), you'd better go after the original. On eBay, he sells for $1-$3. An update of this character is frequently requested by fans, particularly by those that grew up as part of the Nintendo 64 generation. The Shadows of the Empire video game resonated strongly with numerous fans from that era.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,143: October 30, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,038: Prince Xizor

PRINCE XIZOR with Princess Leia
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87687
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #8
Includes: Staff, Princess Leia figure, comic book
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99
Availability: Summer 2008
Appearances: Shadows of the Empire

Bio: As Leia struggles to save the Alliance from being crushed by the Empire, she learns that bounty hunters are after Luke. She infiltrates Black Sun to find out why that crime syndicate wants Luke dead. The leader of Black Sun is Prince Xizor, who sees Luke as a way to get his revenge upon Vader and, at the same time, gain favor with the Emperor. Her mission is in jeaopardy when she meets Xizor and finds herself unable to resist the prince's strange power. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Commentary: This is the third action figure release of Prince Xizor since 1996. Best known as one of the weaker sellers of his day-- I remember going into a brand-new Wal-Mart that was stuffed with these guys, despite the case not shipping for months-- the figure was probably one of the worst sellers of the pre-Episode I era. And now, we have a new version, proving once more that when Hasbro or Kenner said "never again" that they really don't necessarily mean that. What they mean is "ask again later."

This figure improves on the original by giving him a less ridiculous weapon, slightly better proportions, and the ability to be posed as you're more likely to see him in the comics. His gown restricts leg movement, even though he's basically super-articulated. (For those keeping track, that means 14 or more joints. In his case, 14.) The green-skinned businessman/crimelord has cloth "sleeves," for lack of a better word, hanging off his arms, and these really don't do him any favors. The detail on the head and armor are superior to previous releases, although the 1996 figures had thicker necks and slightly angrier looking heads, which served them well as villain action figures. Were it not for his eyes looking at you somewhat menacingly, this figure could be a good guy based on his body language and appearance. There's a lot of purple, grey, and gold here, making this a reasonable upgrade from the original figures.

Collector's Notes: Still available at a store near you, most likely. With this figure's release, that means that the only basic carded figures from 1996 that haven't had at least one new version cranked out are Chewie in Bounty Hunter Disguise, Dash Rendar, Luke Skywaler in Imperial Guard Disguise, and if you want to get technical, the version of Boba Fett released in 1995 with the brown gloves, red gauntlets, and multi-colored jetpack hasn't been revisited yet either.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,038: June 5, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 492: IG-88

IG-88 vs. Boba Fett
Shadows of the Empire Comic Pack Assortment
Item No.: Asst. 69590 No. 69568
Number: n/a
Includes: 2 blasters, Boba Fett, comic book
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $11.99
Availability: Summer 1996
Appearances: Shadows of the Empire & The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: The battered war droid IG-88 was among the bounty hunters commissioned by Darth Vader to hunt down and capture the Millennium Falcon after the Battle of Hoth. IG-88 is one of five droids created by Holowan scientists, who deliberately programmed the units to maximize their freedom of action in combat. This experiment proved tragic when, upon activiation, the new IG prototypes eliminated their programmers and escaped to fulfill whatever mission lie within their distorted metallic intellects. IG-88's programming has caused it to value Imperial credits over organic life, making it a devastatingly efficient hunting machine. It is loaded down with a mass of heavy weaponry such as a heavy blaster and blaster rifle as well as a flamethrower, sonic stunner and grenade launcher. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: Some fans see the concept of two figures and a comic as a new thing-- not so. Kenner did two such packs in 1996, including Boba Fett vs. IG-88. Both figures were based somewhat on older sculpts, with IG-88 here being a modified 1980s vintage figure with a few minor tweaks, like an added waist joint and new deco. Obviously, a new mold was constructed, but most fans just assumed Hasbro tossed in a joint at the waist and added new paint and called it a day. Not so. There's a little more work here than that, although the details are somewhat minor. (It's also worth noting the original figure was pretty excellent for its day.) The newly dirty deco, retooled guns, and companion figure (the first-ever ESB-specific deco Boba Fett action figure) made it a huge hit, and it sold really well upon its initial release. Of course, that's probably just due to people still wanting a Boba Fett, although IG-88 was a really decent figure for its day, and one of a few figures from the films being marketed as what would eventually come to be known as the "Expanded Universe." It's not perfect, but it's neat-- arguably, it's more neat in its packaging, as all it is really good for is standing around and looking cool. Oh well. I like it, but more recent versions in 2001 and 2007 make this one look pretty dull.

Collector's Notes: As the prototype for the hugely popular 30th Anniversary comic pack concept, one might think this set and its companion piece, Darth Vader vs. Xizor, are currently valued collectibles. If so, you'd be wrong. The secondary market prices don't even keep up with inflation of the original MSRP, and you can get this set for about $7 if you play your cards right. The comic itself is just a reprint of part of the monthly/collected Shadows of the Empire comics, so if you have those, this is a comic you can skip.

Day 492: September 10, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 248: Xizor

PRINCE XIZOR Shadows of the Empire
Shadows of the Empire
Item No.: Asst. 69605 No. 69594
Number: n/a
Includes: Energy weapons, removable gown
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Summer 1996
Appearances: The Clone Wars (in theory)

Bio: Prince Xizor is the head of the galaxy-wide criminal organization known as Black Sun, his power and influence challenged only by the Emperor and Darth Vader. A villainous mastermind, Xizor uses his huge, intergalactic shipping operations as a legitimate front, employing millions of criminals to execute favors for the Empire and carry out its his own evil agenda. His characteristic lack of emotion is due much to his Falleen ancestry which evolved from a species of reptile. Cold and clever, he plots his moves with a diabolical genius and fights with the skill of a teras kasi master, stopping at nothing to get in his way. Those that dare challenge Xizor generally meet with death by his own hand or by one of his myriad of henchmen. His favorite proverb: "To contend with Xizor is to lose."

Despite their devotion to the Emperor (though Xizor's commitment is at best a political maneuver) there is little love between Vader and the Dark Prince. Vader does not trust the crime lord's intent, while Xizor seeks vengeance against Vader for the deaths of his family. A direct attempt on Vader's life however, would be too dangerous - even for Xizor - and in his opinion, a fate not painful enough. To ruin Vader in the eyes of his beloved master would be the ultimate degradation, a feat which could only be accomplished by locating and eliminating Luke Skywalker. Spoiling Vader's promise to deliver Skywalker to the Emperor alive would undermine Vader's reliability and give Xizor all that he desires: final vengeance and Vader's position as the second most powerful figure in the galaxy. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's shelves, yet again.

Commentary: When the first new Star Wars figures hit in 1995, there was little question that it would be a huge hit. Just one year later, the line took a detour from the films into the Expanded Universe with the very first Shadows of the Empire figures including the awkward Prince Xizor, a figure made famous for not selling. A year or three later, it was still possible to find unsold figures in stores, and I even saw a brand new Wal-Mart open up with pegs of Xizor-- despite the figure not having been shipped for several months at that time, and no other Shadows figures were around to be seen. Truly, the figure is cursed.

For the time, though, he wasn't horrible. As a new alien with a new sculpt, it was a nice addition to the mix, even though his incredibly dorky Energy Blade weapons were the subject of many jokes until collectors decided it was time to move on. The sculpting is pretty good, but nothing stellar. It's obvious a new version could be made today and greatly improved, but odds are nobody really wants to see a new version of this character because he was killed off in the original Shadows project and, well, it'd be like dumping gasoline onto a fire.

Collector's Notes: The figure is what you call "common." Paying more than a couple of bucks for it would be foolish, so your best bet is to buy it off another collector or to pick it up as part of a large lot/collection where it averages out to be basically nothing. Few figures were as disliked as this one, mainly due to the fact fans felt another movie character could have been made, but it's still a unique curiosity and one of the very first non-movie characters to get a toy.

Day 248: January 9, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 162: Swoop Trooper

SWOOP TROOPER Shadows of the Empire
Power of the Force Light Vehicle Assortment
Item No.: Asst. 69760 No. 69591
Number: n/a
Includes: Swoop Bike
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Summer 1996
Appearances: Shadows of the Empire

Bio: A swoop was a repulsorlift vehicle similar to a speeder bike; in fact, it was in essence simply an overpowered speeder bike, "an engine with a seat." Swoops were often used by gangs. After the Galactic Empire outlawed podracing, swoop racing became the favored alternative. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: The toy shelves of Adam Pawlus. And yes it's dusty.

Commentary: As one of the first ever original designs said to have come from Kenner, the Swoop Trooper drew a lot of heat-- but most fans generally liked its unique, damaged, colorful design. The figure had a tilting neck, and joints at the shoulders, knees, and hips. He wasn't what you would call super-poseable, but since he had knees and his sculpt didn't give him an especially awkward pose off of the bike, a lot of fans generally liked this one. His boots had treads, his armor had damage, and he had a bike with the first-ever firing rocket on an action figure scale Star Wars vehicle. Fans gobbled this release up for a while, but then got bored as they realized it really didn't appear in the game or movie in this exact format. A redesigned Swoop Trooper would appear in the Star Wars: Special Edition and elsewhere. Still, it's a great original design.

Collector's Notes: The years are not kind to old toys-- this old release can be had shipped for less than the original $9.99 retail. The figure was never rereleased or repackaged, but a variant does exist-- some came with a promotional WideVision trading card from Topps promoting the then-upcoming theatrical rereleases of the original trilogy. It's a fun figure and it fits in nicely with most Cantina/Jabba's Palace/Tatooine dioramas so it's one you might want to get if you haven't snagged one or two already.

Day 162: October 15, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 123: ASP-7 Droid

ASP-7 with Spaceport Supply Rods
Power of the Force Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 69605 No. 69704
Number: n/a
Includes: Spaceport Support Rods
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Summer 1997
Appearances: Star Wars: Special Edition, Shadows of the Empire

Bio: ASP-series droids, also known as asp droids, were general-purpose labor droids manufactured by Industrial Automaton and found throughout the Galaxy. Simple-minded droids, the ASPs were strictly working droids and nothing more; their vocabulary, likely a variant on CBell-1, consisted of only "Yes" and "No" or "Affirmative" or "Negative." The most common of these models was the ASP-7, which stood at 1.6 meters. The Prefect of Mos Eisley kept a large amount of ASP-7s throughout the settlement, such as ASP-704.

A more advanced model, the ASP-19, was used by Darth Vader to hone his lightsaber dueling skills. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's other toy shelf.

Commentary: While I think some of the information on Wookieepedia about the ASP-7 droid is in error (that or the toy's goofed up), it's a notable figure in the history of the line because it's one of the first all-computer generated Star Wars characters to be produced as a toy. Articulated at the neck twice (so he can nod or look up) as well as the shoulders and hips, it's a fairly good robot and a welcome addition to any quasi-industrial setup you may have in your collection. The sculpt is simple, as is the design from the films. All this figure is really capable of doing is carrying his cargo (or if you have a spare, a lightsaber) and standing there-- he can't really sit; he can't really enter a pose that makes it look like he's doing much aside from fighting or staying put. As such, if you like the look of this figure-- and I do-- I can't say enough good about it. If you want a figure that's probably likely to spark a kid's imagination, this is a good one because it really doesn't have too much of a backstory. If you want a super-posable crazy awesome droid, get something else.

Collector's Notes: ASP droids were first seen in the Shadows of the Empire project, but an action figure wasn't made until Summer of 1997 for the Special Edition line. Back then, nobody cared about this figure. Today is no different, although it's a unique droid and one of my favorite action figures. Despite the unique design from Lucasfilm and an appearances on screen and in the expanded universe, these droids vanished from the Star Wars continuity almost completely after 1997.

Day 123: September 6, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 74: Chewbacca in Bounty Hunter Disguise

CHEWBACCA in Bounty Hunter Disguise
Shadows of the Empire Collection
Item No.: Asst. 69605 No. 69562
Number: n/a
Includes: Axe, cape, gun
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: July 1996
Appearances: Primarily Shadows of the Empire comics and novel

Bio: The fall of the base on Hoth signaled dangerous times for the Rebellion. In an attempt to gain information about recent assassination attempts on Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia Organa and Chewbacca followed a lead to the Imperial Base in Coruscant. There they hoped to confront Prince Xizor, Underlord of the Black Sun, who was rumored to have information regarding these attempts. Imperial City was not a safe place for wanted Rebel Alliance figures such as Chewbacca and Leia, so to avoid arrest the two disguised themselves as intergalactically known bounty hunters. Chewbacca dyed large patches of black in his hair and adopted the weaponry of Snoova, a well-known Wookiee bounty hunter. To further authenticate the disguise, he reluctantly shaved the fur on his head to a short crew cut.

While on Coruscant, Chewbacca discovered that the charismatic Xizor was responsible for the attempts on Skywalker's life. After a narrow escape from the labyrinth of Black Sun's hideout, Chewie was able to contact Luke Skywalker and Lando Calrissian and inform them that Leia was being held prisoner on Coruscant by Xizor. The band knew then that they had only one option: go to Coruscant and rescue Leia. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' computer, left monitor.

Commentary: In the 1990s, Hasbro actually had some degree of difficulty getting the word out about new stuff, and the first word of Chewbacca in Bounty Hunter Disguise came from a Lucasfilm Licensing publication that indicated a "Chewbacca in Snoova Suit" was coming out. Nobody knew who or what a Snoova was at the time, but we eventually found out it was an armored Wookiee bounty hunter, and Chewie would assume his identity. The figure itself is essentially a heavily retooled version of the 1995 Chewbacca figure, with dyed fur, added armor, and basically everything you see in the photo that's very un-Chewie-like. With the typical 6 points of articulation, the neck is basically stiff reducing it to a 5-joint figure. He can sit quite well and has places to plug in some accessories. There's two holes in his back, one for his cape and one for his vibro-axe, and overall, he's pretty cool-- as a toy. He's a little goofy but as the first non-movie take on Chewbacca, and as one of the first-ever Expanded Universe figures, this one is a real keeper.

Collector's Notes: Due to its unusual look, this figure was not the most popular at the time but nowhere near the weak seller that his case mate, Prince Xizor, was. Today, he's dirt cheap and well worth snagging as flat-top cyborg armored Wookiees are hard to find, and as you may have noticed he's also my mascot for Q&A. Well worth getting, as he's fun.

Day 74: July 19, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 25: Luke Skywalker in Imperial Guard Disguise

LUKE SKYWALKER in Imperial Guard Disguise
Shadows of the Empire (Collection 2)
Item No.: Asst. 69605 No. 69566
Number: n/a
Includes: Taser Staff Weapon, Cape (removable), Helmet (removable)
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Summer 1996


Bio: The Empire's victory in the Battle of Hoth has brought hard times for the Rebel Alliance. Han Solo has been frozen in carbonite by Darth Vader, and two huge bounties have been placed on the head of Luke Skywalker. The Emperor wants him alive, but Prince Xizor, underlord of the most powerful criminal organization in the galaxy, wants him dead. Worse still is that the diabolical Xizor is holding Princess Leia Organa prisoner in his castle on the Imperial Center of Coruscant. This is a tactical maeuver, part of a larger master plan to lure Luke Skywalker into his castle where he can be easily eliminated-- the key step in Xizor's plan to replace Darth Vader at the Emperor's side. unaware of this danger, the young Jedi and Lando Calrissian sneak into Imperial City hoping to rescue Leia. Simply laying foot on Coruscant is a dangerous act for these two: high on the Empire's list of most-wanted outlaws, they could easily be recognized and captured -- or assassinated. Disguising themselves as beggars, they "borrow" the armored uniforms from a pair of elite Coruscant stormtroopers. These troopers are some of the Empire's finest, selected as home guards for the wealthiest and most cultured city in the galaxy. Joining forces with Chewbacca and Dash Rendar, Skywalker and Calrissian attempt to infiltrate Xizor's nearly impenetrable stronghold and rescue the princess. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' display shelves.

Commentary: Kenner shocked us all in 1996 with new figures based on original design work from Kenner and Lucasfilm-- including Luke Skywalker in Imperial Guard Disguise. This figure, complete with removable helmet, was cool because it was a troop builder, a new Luke figure (at the time, the fourth), and custom fodder all in one. (Lando also wore this outfit but never got a figure made of him.) This new figure has the typical 6 points of articulation, a helmet, and a stick-- which, all put together, make for a great figure. While cut from the beefy, poorly articulated cloth of his time, this figure still looks great on a shelf next to everybody else and will bolster your too-small Imperial forces. It truly was a product of its time, aside from the fact that Kenner spared us the horrible neon, spring-loaded rockets, and rotten sculpts that it sold in its other lines at the time. (If you think early Star Wars from 1995-1997 looks odd, go check out Congo, Waterworld, Batman & Robin, and their other movie-based lines at the time. The many Buzz Lightyears available today will look refreshing.)

Anyway, my point is you should get one of these if you claim to be a supporter of the Expanded Universe sub-line of non-film toys. Also, if you missed it, Shadows of the Empire was a 1996 "multimedia event," better known as "warming up the marketing machine for new movies." A novel, soundtrack, comic, Nintendo 64 game, toy line, pop-up book, and making-of book saw production for Shadows but support faded quickly when Kenner confirmed that the single batch of figures, vehicles, and 2-packs were to be it. (Galoob, however, put out a few more products in years to come, in addition to its initial MicroMachines line.) So if you can imagine Clone Wars being much less popular with fewer products and was slightly more reviled by fans, that's what Shadows of the Empire basically was. (I rather dug it for what it aspired to be-- a movie without a movie.)

Collector's Notes: In either late 1995 or early 1996, the working names for these figures got their way into my hands. This one was originally called a "Coruscant Guard," which lead many to speculate it just might be a fancy new term for the Emperor's Royal Guard, which would mean that some of us were expecting something that looked a little more like Kir Kanos. Likewise, Chewbacca as a Bounty Hunter was "Chewbacca in Snoova Disguise," and Snoova was later revealed to be a sort of cyborg Wookiee. The Shadows of the Empire line was the first de facto run of Expanded Universe action figures, bringing to plastic 4 brand new figures for the very first time: this Luke, the aforementioned Chewbacca, Prince Xizor, and Dash Rendar. While not as well-received as Clone Wars, these figures still do have a special place in the heart of collectors and those who are fiends for comics, games, and novels.

Day 25: May 31, 2006