Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,995: Clone Commander Neyo

COMMANDER NEYO Treachery on Saleucami
30th Anniversary Collection Battle Packs
Item No.: No. 87380
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, 2 speeder bikes, Commander Neyo
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Spring 2007 Wal-Mart Exclusive
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: The planet Saleucami is pockmarked with large craters created by meteors that hit the planet. This barren desert world becomes a place of conflict during the Outer Rim Sieges of the Clone Wars. The Republic ultimately win the battle to secure this hot, dry world, and a small contingent is sent there to conduct mop-up operations, led by the Jedi Master Stass Allie. She and two clone troopers under her command are conducting one of their regular speeder bike patrols when Order 66 is enacted.   (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's former apartment.

Commentary: The very first Commander Neyo was sold in a Battle Pack at Walmart.  Later, he was carded and sold in Saga Legends.  Both figures are pretty much the same.

Neyo is built off the 2003 Clone Wars Clone Trooper body, which was a little chubby.  In 2003 it looked great, it was the best thing ever.  By 2007, we've had a few new Clone Trooper body sculpts and this one was starting to show its age.  By no means is it a bad figure, as its 14 joints and nifty black "damage" looks pretty great.  He can sit on his  BARC Speeder without too much trouble, but it will cause his crotch to stretch a bit.  (Hot stuff, eh?)   The figure is a great example of tooling reuse, as the all-new helmet looks great and a new belt with a shoulder harness adds a lot to the look of the figure.  For its time, this figure hit all the expectations.  The expectation being, of course, that Hasbro slapped a helmet and paint on a figure you've bought 13 times over.

While perfectly acceptable and not at all a bad figure, this is one Hasbro could probably stand to go back and redo at this point.  The Vintage Clone Trooper body could be a great basis for a new, better-for-the-bike action figure plus you could tool up the binocular helmet for the regular trooper figures.

Collector's Notes: Just the figure from Saga Legends, carded, is about ten bucks.  The Treachery on Saleucami Battle Pack runs $20 or so usually, but can go as high as $45.  Be cheap!  It's not good enough to warrant $45.




--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,995: February 5, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,985: Galactic Marine

GALACTIC MARINE Battle on Mygeeto
30th Anniversary Collection Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87503 No. 87815
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Rifle, helmet, backpack, 4 other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99-$24.99
Availability: Summer 2008
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: As a stronghold of the InterGalactic Banking Clan, the crystalline world of Mygeeto is caught in the maelstrom of the Clone Wars. It is where much of the Separatist movement’s wealth is kept, and so it is targeted by the Republic: gain control of Mygeeto, and the Separatists lose crucial funding. Ki-Adi-Mundi is stationed on the icy planet with the mission of wresting it from the Separatists. Together with Clone Commander Bacara, Ki-Adi-Mundi and the Galactic Marines battle the droid army in fierce urban fighting, pushing forward against a grim onslaught of super battle droids and enormous tri-droids.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: Almost the very definition of "just different enough to make you mad," this version of the Galactic Marine would be skippable were it not for the handy fact that, as an army builder, you'll want another one.   They biggest and most obvious differences between this and the normal carded release are the mud/damage markings on the figure, plus his pants.  The 2007 individually carded Marine has dark grey pants, and this one is a much lighter grey color.   There are some minor color batch variations, but other than that they're quite similar.  According to the renderings I've examined, this Battle Pack version is slightly more accurate to the movie.  Of course, lighting varies depending on the environment so I suppose it's up to debate, but the raw renderings of the troopers really do seem to have lighter pants.

Articulation is the same as the other marines, with about 14 joints in the usual places.  The skirt prevents the figure from sitting, and the design has legs fairly close together so he may require a stand for stability.  He can still stand, but his center of gravity could probably use a little help.   While there's a lot of articulation, it doesn't necessarily give a great range of movement.  Sure, he's got a lot of moving parts, but he's pretty stiff overall. If you're trying to pare down your collection and only want one movie-accurate version of the Marine, I'd suggest getting this one and this entire set.  The Bacara and Ki-Adi-Mundi make it totally worthwhile.

Collector's Notes: This set was hard to get, and still is.  The price on the secondary market varies, but $30 isn't too far off from normal.  It's worth $30 to crack open and enjoy, but higher than that may be a little more painful.  It's still a solid set, but I don't know that I'd be happy shelling out $60 or more for it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,985: January 22, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,981: Luke Skywalker

LUKE SKYWALKER Wal-Mart Exclusive
30th Anniversary Collection Droid Factory
Item No.: Asst. 12980 No.     87755
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 4 of 6
Includes: R2-D2, piece of C-3PX, lightsaber, hilt, helmet, blaster
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $9.99
Availability: May 2008
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Luke is a young Jedi who helps defeat the Empire. His Astromech droid R2-D2 is damaged during the attack on the first Death Star.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's shelf.

Commentary: The funny thing about this particular Luke Skywalker is that it came out about a year after the Vintage 2006 X-Wing pilot version, and is tons better.  This basic figure was released in the Walmart-exclusive Droid Factory set, and basically unchanged again in the 2011 Toys R Us-exclusive Death Star Trench Run collection.  This Droid Factory Luke is a zillion times better than the Vintage one.  Don't even bother getting it, just get this one.  Both have the same (incorrect) Darth Vader lightsaber hilt for his belt, but once you get beyond that we're talking Big Improvement here.

The 2008 release adds lots of deco to the helmet.  Note the black stripes on the yellow rectangle on the helmet, the black lining on the sides and interior of the helmet, the black stripes along the sides of the helmet... basically, it's a lot of black.  At first, I thought this figure was a dud because it still didn't have battle-damage or scuffing, but the reality is the newer release puts several paint apps that just plain weren't there in 2006.  But wait, there's more!  The straps around his legs and crotchial zone are now painted shiny silver, the map on his left forearm is loaded with more paint whereas the previous release was virtually unpainted, and his belt is now grey instead of brown.  The later release is significantly more striking, and most if not all of the changes bring it much closer to being accurate to the film.  Oh yes-- and it provides significantly more bang for the buck.  The Walmart exclusive set was $10, plus it included a really cool R2-D2 and a C-3PX piece.  And the vintage figure?  Not so much.

Luke has 14 points of articulation and is pretty nicely articulated.  It's not perfect, the straps do get in the way of him being a good pilot as any stiff plastic acts sort of like a skirt piece.  It can still bend, but it's annoying.   There's a hole in the belt for the lightsaber, and at this point I can't imagine getting more detail or articulation into this costume without making a bigger figure or bringing back soft goods... and old-school t-crotches which are great for vehicle pilot action figures.

Collector's Notes: This figure set, by itself, has been creeping up.  However, the lot of 6 can sometimes be had cheaply, and it should be bought if you like to collect robots.  I assume that you do.  It's a great Luke and easily the best X-Wing Pilot Luke you can get right now.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,981: January 16, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,967: Tri-Droid

TRI-DROID Battle on Mygeeto
30th Anniversary Collection Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87503 No. 87815
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 4 other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99-$24.99
Availability: Summer 2008
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: As a stronghold of the InterGalactic Banking Clan, the crystalline world of Mygeeto is caught in the maelstrom of the Clone Wars. It is where much of the Separatist movement’s wealth is kept, and so it is targeted by the Republic: gain control of Mygeeto, and the Separatists lose crucial funding. Ki-Adi-Mundi is stationed on the icy planet with the mission of wresting it from the Separatists. Together with Clone Commander Bacara, Ki-Adi-Mundi and the Galactic Marines battle the droid army in fierce urban fighting, pushing forward against a grim onslaught of super battle droids and enormous tri-droids.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: Part of the fun (and danger) of making figures from a movie with digital models is that it can sometimes be tough to get a sense of scale. Particularly if the people doing approvals were asleep at the wheel. The 2008  Tri-Droid as unique Mygeeto deco, and is a redecorated version of a single carded figure sold earlier that year. It's larger than your average action figure, but nowhere near the size of the massive Walmart-exclusive Tri-Droid vehicle (Octuptarra Droid) which would come for the cartoon line. Given the design with this deco never appeared in the movie anyway (as far as I can tell) it's impossible to be "wrong," which means that for what it is, it's quite nice. The dark droid with the red and white highlights looks great, I particularly liked the separatist droid army faction symbol on the top of the head. There are little red lights all around the head, big white stripes on the legs, and of course, it's sizable. Each leg has multiple moving parts, although the design is a little wobbly and may need some care when it's time to display this one.

The figure is part of a pretty great set, so if you like a nice Battle Pack I'd say the Battle on Mygeeto may be right for you - each of the figures has unique deco, with the two droids having drastically different paint jobs. get it if you can!

Collector's Notes: This was the final "new" Battle Pack in the 87503 assortment, which mean it got that lovely Last Wave Syndrome. The big difference, though, is nobody seemed to care.  I saw it at Entertainment Earth and Toys R Us... and if memory serves, that's about it. It's $30ish these days, give or take.  That isn't a terrible price, really, although you may think otherwise if/when Hasbro resculpts Ki-Adi-Mundi and Commander Bacara. (It'll happen. Eventually.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,967: December 27, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,949: Ki-Adi-Mundi

KI-ADI-MUNDI Battle on Mygeeto
30th Anniversary Collection Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87503 No. 87815
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, 4 other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99-$24.99
Availability: Summer 2008
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: As a stronghold of the InterGalactic Banking Clan, the crystalline world of Mygeeto is caught in the maelstrom of the Clone Wars. It is where much of the Separatist movement’s wealth is kept, and so it is targeted by the Republic: gain control of Mygeeto, and the Separatists lose crucial funding. Ki-Adi-Mundi is stationed on the icy planet with the mission of wresting it from the Separatists. Together with Clone Commander Bacara, Ki-Adi-Mundi and the Galactic Marines battle the droid army in fierce urban fighting, pushing forward against a grim onslaught of super battle droids and enormous tri-droids.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: One of the key arguments about any feature documenting these toys is "Is this different enough?" and the answer is usuall "sure, why not?"  Ki-Adi-Mundi, at first glance, looks the same as the 2005 release from Revenge of the Sith, but this late-run 2008 Mygeeto release has a few key differences.  The facial expression is painted in a way which just happens to look a little more intense, the tunic is splattered in hard-to-see dark brown mud splotches, and the lightsaber itself is now a one-piece weapon and mercifully dropped the removable blade gimmick which minimizes breakage.  I really liked the 2005 release, but the construction is better on this one overall... plus he has some awesome clone and droid figures.   If you're a new-ish collector just wanting a quality set of 5 prequel-based figures, this is a worthwhile Battle Pack to buy.

Collector's Notes: The "Battle on Mygeeto" Battle Pack was a very late release in the line, I saw a couple at Toys R Us and of course Entertainment Earth, and that was it.   The set had the very first super-articulated Bacara as well as two totally unique droids in it, so if it's still cheap on eBay and people haven't yet realizes that they missed it, I suggest buying it.  $30 or less for this set is a total bargain for the quality of what you get relative to what you pay for at Target these days.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,949: December 3, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,945: Watto

WATTO Wal-Mart Exclusive
30th Anniversary Collection Droid Factory
Item No.: Asst. 12980 No. 87756
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 5 of 6
Includes: R2-T0, datapad, piece of C-3PX
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: May 2008
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Image: Adam's toy shelves.

Bio: Watto sells used droids and mechanical parts in his shop on Tatooine. One of the droids for sale is R2-T0.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Commentary: When I walked out of The Phantom Menace, I thought Watto and Sebulba were probably the best effects in the movie as digital characters went.  Watto had the added (dubious) benefit of being mildly controversial, I particularly enjoyed watching reactions pour in from around the world where each region had different opinions of just which race he was knocking.  I was also quite surprised to see him left out of the 2012 Phantom Menace merchandise completely, with no Hasbro products featuring the character.  Not even Fighter Pods.  It's a good thing Hasbro made their best-ever Watto in 2008 as a cheap Walmart exclusive with a swell Astromech droid.

This Watto, which legend has it was sculpted by Art Asylum (and the quality shows), began life as a 1999 release which was treated to a bluer, better redeco as part of the first Droid Factory packs.  He still sports his accessory on his belt, and his datapad, but the figure itself is the gem here.  The paint masks look closer to the movie, and this bulbous fellow has dirty skin and webbed feet. I daresay it's more realistic than the movie, he still has a lot of personality in his face and is packaged with one of Hasbro's best astromech droids.   If you only get one Watto, make it this one.  Even though he has five points of articulation and the legs don't do you much good, it's just a wonderful figure.

Collector's Notes:  This set (and this wave) had variable distribution in 2008, but I had no problems finding them around Los Angeles.   While some complained of unavailability, the price of all the C-3PX Droid Factory sets have remained quite low while the figures in these sets are inarguably more interesting than the 2009 Darktrooper Droid Factory sets.   If you're so inclined, I'd suggest getting the entire 2008 set, especially Watto with R2-T0.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,945: November 27, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,931: R2-D2

R2-D2 Wal-Mart Exclusive
30th Anniversary Collection Droid Factory
Item No.: Asst. 12980 No.     87755
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 4 of 6
Includes: Luke Skywalker, piece of C-3PX, lightsaber, hilt, helmet, blaster
Action Feature: Twist dome for leg retraction action
Retail: $9.99
Availability: May 2008
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Luke is a young Jedi who helps defeat the Empire. His Astromech droid R2-D2 is damaged during the attack on the first Death Star.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's shelf.

Commentary: I've got a lot to say about the Luke in this set, but today it's all about R2-D2.  The 2008 Droid Factory series of exclusives was a gift to fans of robots and weird repaints, as you could buy 13 figures for $60 and all of them save for one were, at the time, changed enough to be quite interesting.  R2 in particular brought us an amazingly detailed battle-damaged take on the figure, built on the R4-G9 mold with its retracting central leg activated by the dome twisting.   It looks spectacular.   The front of the figure looks distressed, panels are popped open, wires are exposed, and the light under his eye is dimmed signaling the fake-out of the droid's death from the end of the original film.  Cables, silver circuits, and plenty of grime are rubbed into his body while the legs are, aside from some dirt, pretty much the same as usual.  The back of the robot has bulging damaged panels and exposed wires as well, leading one to wonder just what kind of lovable genius sculpted (and also approved) such a depressing take on one of sci-fi cinema's most beloved plastic pals who's fun to be with.

The dome is also notable in that there are some serious scuffs, as well as more soot and blown-open panels.  This is a droid that looks like it was pulled out of a scrapyard, even the toy looks like it's seen better days.  It's really amazing, and to be honest I'm wondering if I missed this one in the archives.  It's so fantastic, you really ought to get one.  The price isn't too high, so you can if you're so inclined.  I know you've all got, what, something over 2 and something under 30 R2 figures by now, but go ahead and add this one to your stash.  And if Hasbro ever repaints the mold, get that too.

Collector's Notes:  This figure showed up with X-Wing Luke at Walmart for a mere $10 at first, and the duo (sans C-3PX part) were sold with a Toys R Us exclusive Death Star Trench Run boxed set (with an X-Wing, Darth Vader, and his TIE Fighter) late in 2011.  That R2-D2 was not significantly different than this one and for all intents and purposes, I'm classifying them as the same figure.   (The Vader from that set is just different enough to make you mad, though.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,931: November 7, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,912: Omega Squad Demolitions Republic Commando

OMEGA SQUAD DEMOLITIONS Elite Forces of the Republic
30th Anniversary Collection Entertainment Earth Exclusive Mandalorians & Omega Squad Set
Item No.: Asst. 87467 No. 87455
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Backpack, rifle, 6 more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: November 2007
Appearances: Republic Commando novels

Bio:   This elite clone commando squad wears black armor, unlike most other commando squads. They are originally from different squads whose ranks were ravaged during the Battle of Geonosis. Those who survived were combined to form the Omega Squad.  (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam's former apartment's lawn.

Commentary: The black repaint used to be cool.  Heck, it's still cool too, but now it's more of a given that you're going to see them.  The Omega Squad member pictured here is basically the 2006 Scorch mold with less color and way, way more black.   Each of the Republic Commando figures from the Elite Forces of the Republic set is a little bit different, but they're all recolors of the existing Commando tools.  The color selection really works, with a black armor being broken up by a grey body glove and some metallic paint on the helmet and blaster to mix things up.  He has 10 points of articulation and does not meet the "super articulated or it doesn't count" mandate of your average fan on a message board.  In and of itself, it's a really neat-looking group of figures, and proved popular enough that I don't recall many (or any) complaints about their right to exist, as with so many other clones or repaints out there.  People love Commando figures, people love black repaints, and together, you get Voltron.

Collector's Notes: These Entertainment Earth exclusives are climbing in price, with single figures commanding $10-$20.  I don't know if I would say this one figure is worth $20, but it shows just how far pricing has come over a few years-- the boxed set started life at $40 for 7 figures, now individually it's going to go for as much as triple that.  People love black repaints!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,912: October 11, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,900: Super Battle Droid

SUPER BATTLE DROID Battle on Mygeeto
30th Anniversary Collection Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87503 No.     87815
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 4 other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99-$24.99
Availability: Summer 2008
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith, maybe, sorta, not really

Bio: As a stronghold of the InterGalactic Banking Clan, the crystalline world of Mygeeto is caught in the maelstrom of the Clone Wars. It is where much of the Separatist movement’s wealth is kept, and so it is targeted by the Republic: gain control of Mygeeto, and the Separatists lose crucial funding. Ki-Adi-Mundi is stationed on the icy planet with the mission of wresting it from the Separatists. Together with Clone Commander Bacara, Ki-Adi-Mundi and the Galactic Marines battle the droid army in fierce urban fighting, pushing forward against a grim onslaught of super battle droids and enormous tri-droids.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: Sometimes Hasbro will crank out repaints that come from a place I don't quite know.  The Cylon-like Super Battle Droid hit the stores in 2008 as one of the last Battle Packs in its assortment.   It has no weapons, but the deco is really nice.  The dark, almost black glossy figure has covered in some nifty silver detailing.  Check out the patterns on the chest and on the joints, as they make certain parts of the figure pop nicely.   The gun on the hand is also decorated, which certainly helps give it a little life.  The key feature on this figure is that the eyes are painted red, which really sets it apart from other releases.  While not quite super articulated, this mostly-articulated figure is based on one of the better molds for this character and is totally worth getting if you aren't married to the idea that all figures you buy from these movies are actually from the movies.

Collector's Notes:  I saw this set at Toys R Us a few times, and online, but they're gone now.  The prices aren't terrible for the set, and because of the different droids I'd suggest getting it.  Each of the five figures are different enough to be interesting, but this one is particularly cool.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,900: September 25, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,879: Commander Bacara

COMMANDER BACARA Battle on Mygeeto
30th Anniversary Collection Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87503 No.     87815
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, 4 other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99-$24.99
Availability: Summer 2008
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: As a stronghold of the InterGalactic Banking Clan, the crystalline world of Mygeeto is caught in the maelstrom of the Clone Wars. It is where much of the Separatist movement’s wealth is kept, and so it is targeted by the Republic: gain control of Mygeeto, and the Separatists lose crucial funding. Ki-Adi-Mundi is stationed on the icy planet with the mission of wresting it from the Separatists. Together with Clone Commander Bacara, Ki-Adi-Mundi and the Galactic Marines battle the droid army in fierce urban fighting, pushing forward against a grim onslaught of super battle droids and enormous tri-droids.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,821: Obi-Wan Kenobi

OBI-WAN KENOBI Order 66
30th Anniversary Collection Target Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 87356 No. 87360
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 4 of 6
Includes: Right hand, lightsaber right hand, cloak, lightsaber hilt (and AT-RT Driver)
Action Feature: Squeeze legs for lightsaber-swinging action
Retail: $9.99
Availability: March 2007
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio:  Obi-Wan's leadership during the Clone Wars earns him a well-deserved reputation as an outstanding general. He battles the Separatist forces with the help of clone troopers who operate AT-RT vehicles in the thick of battle.   (Taken from the set's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' old desk and old computer.

Commentary:  Continuing a proud tradition of excessive reuse, this Obi-Wan Kenobi figure is based on a figure from 2005 which, as of its release in 2007, was already old and crusty.  It's not terrible-- as a toy, it's actually quite fun, and the sculpt is more or less just fine.  This figure is a repaint of a figure from 2005, which was packed with a blue Jedi Starfighter in 2005, painted with weird lava highlights in 2005, and was rendered obsolete in 2005 with a super-aritculated pilot version.   That didn't take long!  Anyway, so why do you want this one, you ask, and why did I buy it in 2007?  Honestly, it's pretty good for what you got-- as of this figure's release, single figures were about $7 and it also included an exclusive orange Utapau AT-RT Driver figure, which was the real selling point.

Obi-Wan is the same mold as before, with a little more white in his beard.  That's the big difference.  Arguably the best release of this mold, it makes for an acceptable toy because he can swing his weapon around and the lightsaber is actually molded to his articulated hand.  It's a good, fun design but since it can't sit very well, it made for a below-average pilot figure, and because it had difficulty standing, it was hard to leave on your desk.   Hasbro had done better, but I'd be lying if I said this one wasn't any fun.  Since he has 10 joints and a hole for his lightsaber on his belt, it's a pretty good release.  It could be better, of course, but that can be said of pretty much everything in life.  I wouldn't chase him down just for this figure, but if you're a clone fan, this is a worthwhile set to get the AT-RT Driver with Obi-Wan as a bonus.

Collector's Notes: This set is worth about $5, packaged.  The entire wave of 6 2-packs is worth about $40-$80, depending on the day.  It's not bad for $10 particularly in today's market, but if you already have a few hundred figures this might not be an exciting pursuit given the alternatives available to you at retail or on eBay.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,821: June 6, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,812: R4-F5

R4-F5 Wal-Mart Exclusive Droid Factory Packs
30th Anniversary Collection Droid Factory
Item No.: Asst. 12980 No.  87759
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #1 of 6
Includes: Third leg, Plo Koon figure with lightsaber, C-3PX leg
Action Feature: Rotate dome to raise sensorscope
Retail: $9.96
Availability: May 2008
Appearances: n/a

Bio:   Jedi Master Plo Koon flies his Jedi starfighter into battle against Separatist forces, aided by is astromech droid R4-F5.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' boxes.

Commentary:  New figures in this line are increasingly uncommon since 2005, as new character introductions aren't quite as common in plastic.  Thankfully Hasbro gave us an R4-F5 during the second big droid boom-- the first being when some lovable genius got some Astromech droid packs released in early 2006, and the second lasted from 2008-2009 as Hasbro really went hog wild with its build-a-droid line.  As one of the many Walmart 2-packs released for the bargain price of $10, these sets transcended "just different enough to make you mad" even if you already had one of the figures in the set.  At $10, with a new build-a-droid piece and at least one new or significantly different robot, how could you go wrong?

R4-F5 builds on the vintage 2004 R2-D2 body with some glue and paint.  The removable panel is fused in place, but the sensorscope mechanism still works when you rotate his dome around.  All three legs have wheels, and the central one is removable.  His deco is unique, similar to R2-D2 on the body but with paler blue markings, blue legs, and a blue dome.  As his design wasn't really seen in full before the toy came out, it's possible Hasbro got to design some bits and pieces of him, and they did a great job.  I mean, it looks cool.  But I'm easy, I love R2-D2 repaints and this one, as a new robot, is particularly exciting to have.    I love the entire wave, and would suggest you all look into it.

Collector's Notes: On eBay, Star Wars fans are dumb.  I may even be referring to you.  Boxed samples of the figure are about $6-$10, which includes Plo-Koon and C-3PX' leg.  Loose samples are usually $12-$17, minus the second figure and leg.  So yeah, if you can't do simple math and realize more for less is better, you're kind of a dumbass.  But when I say "dumbass" rest assured, it's with love.  (And scorn.)  Plo Koon has another astromech named R7-D4, which came out with the three animated Clone Wars waves which hit around August of 2011.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,812: May 24, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,802: AT-ST Driver

AT-ST DRIVER Another One
30th Anniversary Collection Target Exclusive Battle Pack
Item No.: Asst. 87565 No. 87567 
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $49.99
Availability: November 2007
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio:  The Rebel Alliance learns that the Empire is building a second Death Star and that the Emperor is on board overseeing its construction. The Rebels plan to destroy the station, but a deflector shield protects it from attack. Han, Chewie, Leia, Luke, C-3PO, and R2-D2 are sent to Endor to disable the shield. After being chased by Scout Troopers, they are befriended by the native Ewoks, who join their fight against the Empire. Han tricks the Stormtroopers into letting him into their bunker and shuts down the shield. Rebels and Ewoks battle the Stormtroopers, with Chewie arriving ot help his friends in a captured AT-ST Walker. With the shield down, the Rebel fleet destroys the Death Star, ending Emperor Palpatine's rule.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary:  This AT-ST Driver was a great example of Hasbro exploiting its existing mold library when coming out with one of the best-ever exclusives for the price.  The big boxed set included numerous repaints and a few new guys, but this was one of the highlights in the set.  The head is a reuse of a 2002 Rebel Trooper, now with gray hair.  The body is a repainted 2003 Han Solo (AT-ST disguise/Endor Strike) outfit, which itself was a retool of the 2001 Imperial Officer figure.  The outfit was painted a little more green, given a little more detail, and presto-- instant "new mold" AT-ST Driver.  (A Super-Articulated AT-ST Driver would be sold at Target in 2010.)  This one is quite good and definitely meets the "good enough" criteria for an above-average vehicle driver figure.  the sculpt may not be the most current, but he has no problems sitting plus has limited elbow articulation and a swell communicator sculpted right in to his hand.  Some of you articulation fiends hate everything, but there's no denying this is a quality figure released, as a part of a boxed set, at an excellent price.   Had Hasbro carded it, it probably would have sold fairly well.   I'm actually somewhat surprised Hasbro hasn't cranked this one out for more gift sets.

Collector's Notes: Similar-but-different AT-ST Drivers were included with the Ultimate Battle of Hoth set and Walmart's exclusive AT-ST.  The Endor set, boxed, on eBay seems to go for as little as $60 and as high as $250.  At $80 or less, it's well worth owning, even for just the exclusive Ewoks and the logs.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,802: May 10, 2012

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

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

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

Image: Adam's old apartment.

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

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

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,798: May 4, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,783: Kit Fisto

KIT FISTO Wal-Mart Exclusive
30th Anniversary Collection Droid Factory
Item No.: Asst. 12980 No. 87757
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 4 of 6
Includes: R4-H5, piece of C-3PX, lightsaber, bendy wire robe
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: May 2008
Appearances: Clone Wars

Bio: Jedi Master Kit Fisto is equally comfortable in air or water. R4-H5 flies in Fisto's starfighter to help navigate to help navigate and repair the ship. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' shelf.

Commentary: One of the better Kit Fisto figures at the time, this edition was based on a 2003 version which took its inspiration from the original Clone Wars cartoon. In it, we saw Kit Fisto go swimming and do awesome Jedi things in the oceans of Mon Calamari (or Dac, whatever) and Hasbro was kind enough to make the figure. And then rerelease it in 2006. And again in 2008, which is this version. This one is significant due to a few key changes in deco and accessories. The figure itself has slightly darker skin and a slightly darker brown costume, as the bits on his hands and feet are a little more brown than red this time around. Also, the tips of his, uh, "hair" are more bluish grey with the color extending higher than the previous release, which was closer to a blackish grey. So in the deco department, it's quite different, just not in a way that will make you happy to know it.

The main reason to buy this figure are his Droid elements-- his own personal astromech is included, as is a piece of C-3PX. In addition to those, Hasbro introduced a swell Jedi Robe with a wire in the bottom of the garment so it could be posed in dynamic action displays. For some reason Hasbro abandoned this concept pretty quickly, so we still don't have a Vader with an awesome bendy wire cape. It's really cool and fun, and yes I would suggest you track Kit Fisto here down just so you can have one to play with. The Kit figure itself is neat because it's wort of weird, but with only 8 joints I can't imagine it's going to get a lot of love from most modern collectors.

Collector's Notes: These 2-packs are creeping up in price a bit, so it's closer to $20 now which, sadly, is probably what it would cost if it were new today. I really do like these sets and I would suggest you do go get 'em all to build C-3PX. Also, of all the swimming Kit Fisto figures based on this mold, this release is the best. And yes, it's because of the cape. The others are just the figure and a lightsaber, so this one gets you more bang for your buck.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,783: April 13, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,762: R4-H5

R4-H5 Wal-Mart Exclusive
30th Anniversary Collection Droid Factory
Item No.: Asst. 12980 No. 87757
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 4 of 6
Includes: Kit Fisto, piece of C-3PX
Action Feature: Removable third leg, rotate dome to raise sensorscope
Retail: $9.99
Availability: May 2008
Appearances: Clone Wars

Bio: Jedi Master Kit Fisto is equally comfortable in air or water. R4-H5 flies in Fisto's starfighter to help navigate to help navigate and repair the ship. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' boxes.

Commentary: People love Kit Fisto, which means Hasbro made him a couple (yes, two) Jedi Starfighters plus an Astromech Droid named R4-H5. It stands as a pretty great monument to Hasbro's line, you've got several characters who get their own personal squad of vehicles. Captain Kirk only gets the Enterprise, so screw you Kirk!

From 2006-2008, we got an amazing run of vehicles and droids that belong to major and semi-major characters. Fisto's droid came in a Wal-Mart 2-pack with a repaint of Kit which came with a unique robe, and R4 has never been reissued. This was also, I believe, his first full-body appearance as he didn't show up much in the comics or TV shows. Fisto's Starfighter had a built-in droid, so this guy's not exactly necessary unless you want to use this movie-style figure for the animated 2010 Clone Wars vehicle.

Based on the Vintage 2004 R2-D2 body, the figure has a glued-in instrument panel and a rotating dome with a pop-up sensorscope. His third leg is removable-- not retractable-- and he has a wicked cool green and orange paint job. Just in terms of the fact it looks sort of like a pile of vegetables, I can't not love this figure.

Collector's Notes: These 2-packs, and a lot of items from this era, are all pretty cheap. If you can get all 6 C-3PX "Droid Factory" sets for $60 or less, just get the lot of 'em. It's worth it for the droids alone, but hey I'm biased. I love robots.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,762: March 15, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,753

REBEL TROOPER Capture of Tantive IV
30th Anniversary Collection Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87503 No. 87212
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, removable helmet, 4 other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: February 2007
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Though inexperienced in combat against trained and determined fighters like the Imperial stormtroopers that swarmed onto their ship, these troopers were utterly loyal to Princess Leia and the Rebel Alliance. They fought to the last man in defense of their ship. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' boxes

Commentary: After skipping him entirely for the first 20 years of the franchise (imagine that-- 20 years!) the Rebel Trooper began getting more releases than anyone expected. This mold alone has had no fewer than 5 unique head sculpts, plus a comic book-themed redeco. It has also been eclipsed-- the 2011 Vintage Collection version of the figure is really sharp, but for the purposes of dioramas and cannon fodder, the older ones are mostly quite good too. Based on the late 2001 mold, this figure came out in 2007 with a new head sculpt and a removable helmet to set it apart from previous releases. The Capture of Tantive IV Battle Pack was an excellent value in its day, if for no reason other than to throw out the Darth Vader figure and keep the 2 Rebels and 2 Stormtroopers.

Back in 2001, the mold was pretty impressive with its unusual swiveling legs that allowed for the figure to kneel and aim his blaster. By 2007, fans were screaming for a new take on the trooper, and it would take a little longer for one to actually show up. With only 12 joints (and no ball joints), the figure was dismissed as being primitive, but I can't help but like it for what it is. If it means getting a cheaper figure, I don't need 8 ball joints-- sometimes I just need somebody to be shot in the fface, and this figure works for that purpose nicely. He has a bit of a sneer, so I can't say I feel bad about Stormtroopers stomping him. He has a blaster, and little hope of surviving the first wave of an Imperial attack.

If you buy this set, this figure will probably not impress you. The leg engineering wasn't reused on many other Star Wars Hasbro figures, but it was used on 21st Century Toys military figures. (This construction was used on a 2002 Darth Maul.) His vest is removable, if you feel like having that fight, but I would suggest grabbing him if you can get him cheap. I'm hoping Hasbro will make an actual Blockade Runner vehicle in 2015, and I've got about a dozen Rebel Fleet Troopers (not counting the 1997 one, because he sucked then and sucks now) to populate it should the need arise.

Collector's Notes: The secondary market pricing for this set is at (or under) retail, which given inflation is good news. The boxed set looks pretty nice, so you may just want to get one to leave in the box with the diorama-style packaging. I ended up with a bunch of these due to damaged units showing up missing figures, someone got these and stole the Darth Vaders out of them. Which is dumb. Why not steal the Stormtroopers? I'll never understand some forms of thievery.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,753: March 2, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,712: Heavy Trooper

HEAVY TROOPER Battlefront II Clone Pack
30th Anniversary Collection Diamond/Previews Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 87561 No. 87466
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Rocket launcher, rocket, 5 more figures
Action Feature: Squeeze legs to reposition arms
Retail: $39.99
Availability: November 2007
Appearances: Star Wars: Battlefront II

Bio: These front-line troopers receive special training to take out enemy vehicles, using powerful rocket launchers and other heavy weapons. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's former apartment.

Commentary: Hasbro wisely realized just how much mileage they could get out of their clone molds, and the Heavy Trooper was what Bacara got. It's the same sculpt as the 2005 figure, complete with the squeeze-the-legs-to-aim-the-gun action. (It's a nice action.) The big deal here is the new color and the gun, which for Clone fanatics is more than enough reason to shell out the cash to get one. The figure is now painted in a gray color rather than maroon (or camo, or blue) and sports some "battle damage" scrapes and markings. There are some silver highlights, but he's still the "can't really sit" figure from 2005, more or less.

The gun-- so far exclusive to this figure and this set-- is the high point here. The long black rocket is removable from the launcher, but does not fire-- this is unusual for a Hasbro product, as spring-loaded whatevers tend to find their way into most of the toys where it would be appropriate. Why they neglected to include on here is beyond me-- I would assume it might have to do with a reduced lead time to make the set, but it's hard to know for certain. (After all, we can't ask Hasbro questions about all 2,000 or whatever figures.) This figure looks good and is basically acceptable as a plaything, but it's more of a "pose" figure than an "action" figure. It's kind of funny to see that it has a mechanized feature to aim his rocket launcher... but the launcher does not fire.

Collector's Notes: The set was repackaged in the blue-and-white 2008 "Legacy" colors, making these figures not terrible tough to locate. The price varies based on a variety of factors, but has sold recently for as little as $26. Plus a lot of shipping.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,712: January 5, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,687: Luke Skywalker

LUKE SKYWALKER Jedi Training on Dagobah
30th Anniversary Collection Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87503 No. 87214
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, blaster, 4 other figures
Action Feature: Push button for lightsaber swinging action
Retail: $19.99-$24.99
Availability: Spring 2007
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Young and brave, Luke Skywalker was a fast and eager learner, but his own impatience and latent anger proved to be his greatest enemies. Despite the guidance of both Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi, he was on his own for much of his Jedi training. It was his deep native connection to the Force that allowed him to eventually control his own emotions. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's couch.

Commentary: I've got a lot of Luke Skywalker figures. I haven't actually sat down and counted them for a while, but I do remember at one point I had something close to 30 of them when the line size hadn't yet hit 300, if memory serves. This was in part because Kenner kept tweaking and rereleasing figures, be it with new heads, different arms, or a new torso with a hole for an accessory which was never made. This particular Luke is based on the then-exceptional 2002 release, minus the accessories that made it so fantastic. Even though the 2010 Vintage Bespin Luke (not the 2007 one, that one sucked) is the best Bespin Luke, I still strongly suggest buying the 2002 release just for his gear. But how does this one rate?

It's OK-- I like the brown color better for his outfit, and I appreciate that Hasbro made him look less harried than the Cloud City-specific ones in 2002 and 2004. Luke is less sweaty and bloody, with fewer bruises and richer overall coloring. I like how he looks a lot, but without the antenna, bacta tourniquet, or other junk, it's just another Luke. Mind you, it's a good Luke-- the lightsaber swinging action at the waist was a really nice touch, even though Hasbro quickly phased out the button-activated features. The metal lightsaber grip looks great, and the blaster fits right into his holster. As toys go, this is a good piece and it wouldn't stun me to see Hasbro alter it slightly and rerelease it in its Movie Heroes line later. It looks a little dated by our current standards, but remember, back when this sculpt first came into the world it was dynamite.

With 12 points of articulation and a removable right hand, this figure simply did more and did it better than its siblings. It also had a holster sculpted as part of the leg, a minor detail but as a toy fan this is a huge deal. The separate rubber belt/holster hinders articulation slightly, while this one can actually sit with minimal problems. In short, it's a real toy, and as such it's really fun. If you're feeling up to it, go ahead and get this gift set.

Collector's Notes: There are two versions of this gift set. The 2007 release with 30th Anniversary Packaging has a different mold used for Darth Vader than the 2008 version, which should piss off a fair amount of completeists. (I just buy both and hate myself for the next week while I eat PB&Js to make up the difference in my wasted money.) The 2008 Legacy version seems to be the rarer one, with the 2007 one selling for as little as ten bucks on eBay. For ten bucks, the Yoda, Vader, Luke, R2-D2, and Obi-Wan Kenobi grouping is fantastic and even boxed, it's a nice display piece. If you can, get this set-- heck, get three or four so you can have all the versions around, you crazy person you.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,687: December 1, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,641: Omega Squad Sniper

OMEGA SQUAD SNIPER Elite Forces of the Republic
30th Anniversary Collection Entertainment Earth Exclusive Mandalorians & Omega Squad Set
Item No.: Asst. 87467 No. 87455
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Backpack, rifle, shin dongle, 6 more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: November 2007
Appearances: Republic Commando novels

Bio: This elite clone commando squad wears black armor, unlike most other commando squads. They are originally from different squads whose ranks were ravaged during the Battle of Geonosis. Those who survived were combined to form the Omega Squad. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' parking lot.

Commentary: If you like Omega Squad Clone Commando figures, here's another one. Not explicitly named on the packaging, this black redeco of Sev comes with his accessories and not much else-- the figure is molded in blck, with some minor grey detailing to bring him to life. His visor is a metallic blue, which looks great, and his 10 points of articulation will no doubt continue to infuriate fans for minutes to come, until another figure gets in their vision, because there are almost 2,000 of these things and let's face it: why dwell on being mad?

The design and sculpt are good, the black coloring absorbs a lot of the detail in the armor but black repaints are traditionally always a good thing. Fans like them, and they sell. As part of a gift set which is no longer available, it'll cost you-- but all four commando figures are pretty similar, so if you only got one, you've pretty much got them all. (There are some very minor deco and accessory changes.) I like this figure just fine, and wouldn't mind seeing a new version of it hit the shelves again.

Collector's Notes: A single figure (unpackaged) will set you back about $10-$20. The boxed set is significantly more expensive, and was one of the last online exclusive boxed sets that really seemed to catch fire on the secondary market.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,641: September 28, 2011