Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,352: The Mandalorian and Grogu (The Vintage Collection)

THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU Gear Galorian
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Deluxe Action Figure
Item No.: No. G2532
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #395
Includes: Jet pack, pistol, rifle, knife, sword, Grogu shoulder sitter
Action Feature: Grogu slots on backpack, pistol fits in holster
Retail: $27.99
Availability: March 2026
Appearances: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Bio: The Mandalorian and his young apprentice Grogu embark on a thrilling adventure as they travel the galaxy. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: This gets long, but it's the best version of this character yet - and you're charged accordingly. You can pose him with a sniper rifle. His son can hang on his back. He has an extra hand, and an alternate sword, and a knife I assume we'll all lose. Considering version 1.0 was $12.99, $27.99 is a lot to ask. At least you know it has more stuff, and a revised sculpt, and the articulation is as good as Hasbro ever gives us at this scale.

This The Mandalorian and Grogu set for this year's movie occupies a territory between "the best" and "boring." I waited to open it until after the movie. I didn't grasp the significance of the accessories being new or if the armor had many changes until seeing the movie. I can tell you that this seems to have a lot of new sculpted parts, with a chest plate bigger than TVC #312A. The helmet has some added grooves in it. The thigh plates aren't the precise same shape or color. But there's absolutely no way you could tell without a side-by-side comparison, and Hasbro has made so many versions of Mando that I have lost count. I haven't reviewed or opened them all, despite each new release having something unique about it. If what you had was amazing, and what you are being asked to buy yet again is slightly more amazing, it might be hard to spend the money unless you demand The Very Best.

Little tiny details in the Beskar armor are indeed barely changed, but it seems that Hasbro had the budget to do a new mold of a guy and spent it on this rather than tweaking and repackaging an existing figure. It's a very good mold, but I imagine long-haul collectors will not appreciate the fact that they're being asked to spend $28 on a figure they may have six or seven other versions of at home. They might appreciate the chest plate is bigger and covers more of the torso. But they may also not have even been aware the previous one was in any way coming up short. Extremely online collectors who need to have the very best version are going to find it here, while those of us who were happy with what we have at home just wanted something new.

A Grogu figure that comes in the package is arguably the biggest selling point. This little guy has a hole in his chest that fits on a large peg on Mando's jet pack. It would be disingenuous to call it a separate figure as it can't stand and both of them look silly when separated. Heh olds on incredibly well, and Grogu's ear and face paint both look fantastic. The sculpting on his robe looks good, plus his tiny hands are holding specific parts of Mando's armor. Hasbro did a nice job with the assets available to them. Grogu's neck can turn, but he has no additional moving parts.

Mando's new gear is specific to the movie, with a sniper rifle, his classic pistol, a sword from the arena fight, and a knife. I am confident I am going to lose one or more of these over time. He also has an alternate right hand with an extended trigger finger for resting the rifle over his shoulder. The hand is very similar, includes extra paint, and requires assembly - so it adds a fair bit to the cost of a figure. (This is $8 more than a current standard release and you could convince me the extra stuff and Grogu is worth $8 for those needing the very best.)

I don't believe this is a great use of the budget, as a pared-down $20 figure probably would have sold better and fans might not have even realized they were missing the extra stuff. He has no problems holding or holstering any of his parts, and it would seem Hasbro went out of their way to make an exquisitely detailed figure with the best-yet articulation and gear for toy photographers. Is it fun for collectors? I don't think that was ever the intent - they know this item is going to sell on Amazon and would be the most popular character, so we're getting the very best figure set that the price point could warrant.

The sword is perfect for his fight with Rotta the Hutt. (There is no Rotta the Hutt figure to buy from Hasbro right now.) The leg articulation is great and would fit perfectly in a ship. (Hasbro doesn't have any ships scaled for this figure in its product line right now - but you may have an old one at home.) It's a weird place to be in when we're getting the top-of-the-line figure like this, but it's kind of a letdown because there are no dioramas to build, no vehicles to pilot, indeed no toys to play with anymore. This guy exists as a souvenir from a very good movie. I suspect more figures are coming, and sure he can pal around with the forthcoming Zeb, but there's no "collection" of stuff to go with the movie. Which dropped to #3 in week 2. Unfortunate - I really do wonder if a massive toy launch with creatures and ships might have helped capture the public's interest, or if what is effectively a season 5 pay-per-view special of a TV show couldn't muster that level of enthusiasm.

I have no complaints about Mando's articulation. It's super easy to get a good pose out of him, although balancing him may take some time. On the bright side, his hands can both grip the rifle and look awesome doing it. Hasbro really did a bang-up job carving out the joints in a way that might make you ask "why can't the other figures do this, too?" and I don't have an answer for you. All I can say is that they really went to town making sure Mando's hip joints, thigh swivels, knees, elbows, shoulders, and wrists all function well enough for an arena combatant with nobody to fight.

If you have no Mando figures, this is the one to get. I'm really happy with the quality of paint, the range of movement, and the amount of gear that you get. I also would like to see if Hasbro could see what they can do to bring costs down so more fans can enter the hobby and participate with the rest of us. In the early 1990s, the secondary market prices would squeeze out fans who weren't in early enough - and we're seeing that again. For those of you seeking incremental steps toward perfection? You need this. For newbies? This is very, very good. But the rest of us know the score - Hasbro will find ways to alter the same costume and improve it, again and again, and we'll probably have another version of this guy if and when a new season or movie see release. That is the way. And if you're happy with what you have at home, keep being happy unless you want to use this specific gear for him to take on the various Remnant figures we got so far.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth. I have found this figure at local sellers of Hasbro wares. This is a good thing for new fans wanting to jump in, but given that scarcity (artificial or otherwise) has driven purchases since 1995? Maybe we're seeing the end of mass interest in The Vintage Collection.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,352: June 9, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,296: The Mandalorian (Blue Tech Speeder Bike / Epic World of Action)

THE MANDALORIAN Biker
Epic World of Action Power the Force Speeder Bikes
Item No.: Asst. G0363 No. G0372
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blue Darksaber, rocket, blue launcher, tech decobike
Action Feature: Bike rolls on wheels, removable launcher, launching rocket
Retail: $19.99
Availability:  August 2025
Appearances: The Mandalorian

Bio: The Mandalorian traversed Tatooine on a speeder bike, a vehicle capable of high-speed travel that requires skill and fast reflexes. (Taken from the packaging)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: Sharing a SKU with the first version, this is a variant deco and package refresh. The Mandalorian (Speeder Bike) is part of the yellow-carded kiddo vehicles which were largely passed over by big box stores. This version is the Epic World of Action Power the Force version. For those just joining us: Disney pushed Power the Force (no "of") as a focus for product and marketing Star Wars in 2025, which was meant to emphasize tech and power. Very little of this is actually visible to the end consumer, and this may be one of very few places the slogan appears on actual product. Hasbro took its plain The Mandalorian Speeder Bike [FOTD #3,212] from earlier this year and made it "powered" with some blue. The figure itself is largely identical, save for a Darksaber. Both the figure and the Darksaber were packaged together as The Mandalorian [FOTD #3,238] earlier this year - and that one has a blaster. There's a lot of figural overlap with some accessory overlap, so depending on your goals you might not actually want or need to buy all these toys to own all the unique parts.

What makes this set unique? The vehicle. Mando still has excellent detail and articulation with a good range of movement for the asking price. The shoulders, elbows, knees, hips, and neck all have a great range of movement with a bladed energy weapon that easily fits in his hand. The silver painted armor looks bright and the various belts and bandoliers look good, but get a little in the way of the hip joints. He can sit on the bike, but he tends to hover a bit when his hands are on the handlebars and feet are on the pedals. On his own, though? Great figure. If I were Hasbro I'd have slapped some energy crackles or blue light on the armor to make him stand out.

But the bike! I saw this at New York Toy Fair 2025 and thought both "that's kind of goofy" and also "I must have it, nobody is going to buy this" and I think I was right. I suspect Ollie's or Ross will have it, right now you can buy it online (click our sponsor links, or don't) and it's a nice chunk of plastic for $20. The bike sculpt has a great wrapped-up seat, there are rolling wheels, and htere's a charming clear blue rocket launcher with a big red rocket. It stands out, it looks neat, and if you hate it? It's removable. You can place it on any of a number of sockets on the bike if you like, but not on the peg behind the seat. I assume it serves a purpose, but what? I couldn't tell you. The deco on the bike is similar to the first release, but you'll notice blue circuit patterns on the nose and on the sides in the back. I really couldn't make them out until I opened the package. In low light they're hard to see, and subtle - and if you hate it, likely easily removed. I think it's interesting as a toy gimmick, something that probably exists mostly to please someone in marketing that the customer nor the designer would have asked for. It makes little sense on the product in and of itself, but that's what makes knowing it's a tie-in to a marketing initiative interesting. We have a reason for it, but is it a good reason? I'm inclined to say "they're trying too hard." I would've loved just general energy blasts indicating a power surge, because blue circuitry isn't something I connect with the product or the show. It's a refresh, but given Target only carried the Speeder Bike (and not Mando's bike) I can't imagine it made a lick of difference anywhere in the United States toy market.

It's Thanksgiving week, and maybe you're shopping for somebody. I think a kid might get a kick out of it because Mando is a good figure, and the blue Darksaber looks neat, and I really like the blue rocket launcher. It's weird. It's likely not to be something you're going to see again in a future product. It feels like a toy in the way that Kenner's 1990s Batman toys had odd thematic accessories and matching suits, and those were a big hit. I wouldn't say no to an even weirder version of this, but this middle-ground item might not push everybody's buttons. I really like that blue launcher, which is a silly reason to spend $20, but this is day #3,296. All of this has gotten pretty silly a long time ago.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,296: November 25, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,240: The Mandalorian (Epic World of Action Mech Force Suit)

THE MANDALORIAN Mech Force Suit
Epic World of Action "Power the Force" Mech Figure
Item No.: Asst. G0776 No. G1157
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Cape, Mech, small gray pistol, big blue blaster
Action Feature: Removable cape, mech opens, blue blaster mounts on gauntlet
Retail: $19.99
Availability: March 2025
Appearances: n/a
Bio: Level up to ultimate bounty hunter status with The Mandalorian an armored mech suit! (Taken from the packaging)

Image: Adam's photo lab. Note, this sample has two left feet because life is cruel.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: When I first saw the final form of The Mandalorian with Mech Force Suit, which is this one, I was not entirely sure what I was looking at. It's like someone saw those Transformers movie Energon-infused figures from 2007 with the extra blue paint on them, and said "let's do that." It's arguably a lot more interesting than the same normal deco again, and represents a radical departure from the norm. Hasbro has dialed down its "Arctic Combat" or "Deep Dive" paint jobs on its many brands in recent years, so you're unlikely to see anything weird or new unless it's a direct reference to an existing vintage toy. For G.I. Joe: Classified Series you'll get Tiger Force or Python Patrol, but it's not like they're going to make up a new Axlotl Army or anything.

Your 4-inch plastic hero is basically the same as the 2025 carded figure mold. The paint is a lot different. His silver gauntlets are now blue on the outside, and unpainted on the inside. The thigh armor is unpainted, as are the backs of the hands. The skirt bits hanging off the belt are painted gray. The bright silver is now a darker silver, and Hasbro added a blue circuit pattern to his chest armor. Why? I don't know. I am guessing someone in Disney marketing came up with the idea, put it in a style guide, and someone just ran with it. It doesn't really make sense, as it's not the kind of thing we see in Star Wars so much as in Breath of the Wild or whatever video game has blue light-up tech in it. Articulation is good, the figure build is decent, and I am annoyed mine has two left feet. I'm going to go out on a limb and assume the different deco probably costs about the same as a basic carded figure, giving how much paint got traded around here.

Mando cannot fit in the mech without messing with him - that sort of thing bugged me as a kid. I had to take Vader's and Obi-Wan's capes off to get them in ships, and Mando's cape must come off before he can clip in the mech. This seems like a wasted opportunity for making use of the figure's backpack port. There's a hole in the back, and Hasbro could just as easily put a little peg in there to mount him without a clip. The entire front of the mech opens up and you can put Mando inside, except for his arms - those jut out the sides. It looks kind of dorky, and it's probably good that the bright blue fists of the mech distract from the arms dangling out. I should note, he does fit in there, and it's not difficult to get him inside. It works, it's just not as elegant as I would have liked.

But how is that mech? It's interesting, and shows signs of future plans I assume will never come to fruition. The bright blue blaster peg is 5mm - if you collect Transformers, this is meaningful. That's the size of the port on most robots in disguise, so you can mount their weapons on his shoulders, forearms, shins, or soles. (Yeah, there are sole holes.) There's another socket on the back as well, but not mech-sized backpack exists. Depending on your toy box, you could have a lot of fun with this and you could hand his blaster to many Optimuses Prime.

He, too, has the weird tech paint on the torso and similar sculpted circuits sculpted inside. What's particularly fascinating is that the exterior of the mech looks like it could be some weird part of the Star Wars galaxy, but the interior looks like it came from a different design school entirely. It's loaded with tiny circular dots, circuit patterns, and reliefs of various shapes. There's a Mudhorn signet in front of the breastbone and on the seat behind his back, which is a sensible addition. Most of the interior greeblies don't seem to add much to it and will probably go unnoticed by kids, but I appreciate that someone felt the need to add a lot of extra detail in there. The figure's shoulders are ball-jointed with hinge elbows and swivel wrists.

Is it worth it? At $15 I would say it's the perfect kid birthday item. At $20, it's worth a peek. Since it's not on the TV shows or movies, and it's a little goofy, and it doesn't look like anything else in the line, my hunch is a lot of fans will skip it. If you want a toy that looks like a toy, and is a toy, this is for you.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth. I am assuming if I can't get a replacement from Hasbro I might buy a second one when they inevitably hit markdown. But I like it enough to say it's a neat toy at full price.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,240: May 13, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,238: The Mandalorian (Epic World of Action)

THE MANDALORIAN 2025 Kids Line
Epic World of Action "Power the Force" Basic Figure
Item No.: Asst. F9405 No. G0099 (same 2024 SKU, new 2025 figure)
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Cape, Darksaber, Pistol
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: February 2025
Appearances: The Mandalorian/The Book of Boba Fett
Bio: The Mandalorian is a formidable bounty hunter in an increasingly dangerous galaxy. (Taken from the packaging)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: After getting huge distribution last year, Hasbro decided to follow-up its 5-joined The Mandalorian figure with The Mandalorian! The figure is pretty much the same as the Speeder Bike The Mandalorian [FOTD #3,212] from a month back, except it trades the traditional Darksaber and bike for an energy-crackling Darksaber and a blaster pistol. If I were you I'd probably just buy the one with the bike, unless you're an accessory completist.

It's not a bad figure - quite the opposite. For $8 in today's economy, this figure is pretty excellent. Adjusted for inflation it stacks up well against nearly any figure from cheaper eras, given that he has about 15 points of articulation and three accessories. Deco could be better, but the target audience will probably find the separately molded belt and bandolier plus shiny silver armor to be more than enough. It stands up well to similar recent figures from Mattel (Jurassic World) and Spin Master (Batman, DC Comics) for roughly the same price in recent years. Hasbro has tended to make its Star Wars product "premium" so it's really refreshing to see that not only can they deliver something great that measures up well to the competition, but it's actually really good.

If you want a super-articulated figure with all the joints and most of the paint, The Vintage Collection delivers the goods well. If you want something half the price, this gets the job done. There are no wrist or ankle joints, and yeah there are missing greeble paints and knee pad deco, but that was true of a lot of Kenner-era figures in the 20th century. I like how bright his silver paint is, and am generally impressed how good the figure looks given how few paint applications we got here. The character's basic look and personality were captured well, and he stands nicely. He can fit in some ships - being a 4-inch (rather than 3 3/4-inch scale) figure he's a little big, but hey, that's where we are now.

The newness of this figure is an overloaded blue Darksaber. It's a weird one - I don't know why they picked blue, but well, here it is. If you aren't hung up on the coloring, it's a really awesome accessory. It seems like some 1990s-style "extreme" accessory, crackling with comic book-style energy that really stands out compared to the perfectly nice regular black blade releases with a white edge. Since Mando no longer carries the weapon on the show as of 2024, it makes sense that a kid could see this as a new weapon for the character, rather than a representation of what we saw on the series. He holds it well, just like his pistol. The pistol comes with other releases, but I believe this particular Darksaber may be exclusive to this release of the figure.

If you want all the parts and pieces in the Epic Hero Series/Epic World of Action line, you'll need this one. And the one in the N-1 Starfighter. And maybe the speeder bike, and the single card too. A new one is also coming with a Mech suit. That means if you're buying these lines, there are five figures based on the same basic sculpt that you can buy, three of which come with a vehicle or mech suit. The only aspect of this particular figure that's presently unique to this release is that Darksaber, and yeah, I'm enough of a dork to say "I'd pay eight bucks for a good goofy accessory." If you just want a cool figure to chuck at a kid, this is it.

Inflation Notes: According to the US Inflation Calculator, this is a pretty reasonable deal. Comparing the prices of Hasbro or Kenner "kid" Star Wars figures from various eras, this figure has more articulation and is generally cheaper than his ancestors.
1978: $1.97 ($9.60 in 2025, 12-backs)
1995: $4.99 ($10.40 in 2025, POTF2/Power of the Force)
2005: $5.24 ($8.52 in 2025, Revenge of the Sith)
2015: $7.99 ($10.71 in 2025, The Force Awakens)

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,238: May 6, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,212: The Mandalorian (Speeder Bike / Epic Hero Series)

THE MANDALORIAN Biker
Epic Hero Series Speeder Bikes
Item No.: Asst. G0363 No. G0372
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Darksaber, rocket, launcher, bike
Action Feature: Bike rolls on wheels, removable launcher, launching rocket
Retail: $19.99
Availability: January 2025
Appearances: The Mandalorian   

Bio: The Mandalorian traversed Tatooine on a speeder bike, a vehicle capable of high-speed travel that requires skill and fast reflexes. (Taken from the packaging)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: When Epic Hero Series became a thing, Marvel's figures had ball-jointed shoulders, knees, elbows, and hip joints. Star Wars had a ball-jointed neck and swivel arms and legs - until now! The biker assortment features greater articulation at the shoulders, elbows, knees, and hips, making this The Mandalorian the best in class for this particular line. This level of articulation has been the norm for Mattel Jurassic World humans and Spin Master's various Batman and DC Comicss lines, and they seem to do pretty well. If Hasbro made a "one size fits all" line with about this level of articulation, I think it would be pretty good - I dare say, good enough - if it meant getting more new characters in the line. If we could live in a world with Gunter or The Stranger or maybe a new Cantina patron with knees and elbows, I think we'd all be a lot happier than not getting them in the $16.99 assortments. As a figure, he's great. He looks well, he poses nicely, the separately molded belt and bandolier stand out a bit more, but mostly it's nice to have a tiny bit more articulation on a toy figure made to be a bike rider. His cape and Darksaber are similar to the other releases, so the main reason to buy this figure is, well, the figure. And the bike. The figure sculpting is nice and crisp, but on a shelf it's going to look pretty similar to the ones you purchased last year.

The bike is pretty neat - but the interaction isn't fantastic. I love what Hasbro did with the vehicle. Clear wheels? Great idea. Removable firing rocket launcher with multiple mounting points? No notes. Great idea. A big peg on the back which serves no obvious purpose? Uh... I'll get back to you there. Presumably a future toy will interact with it, but right now the backpack hole fits. I assume that was not the intent, because why would you have a guy flailing back there? ...maybe I just answered my own question, having Mando drag a guy around might be fun. The rocket fires well, the colors and paint are good, the designers did a good job making a fun toy.

However, there's a problem. Mando is a good figure. The bike is a good bike. Mando is not good at sitting on the bike. I think if Hasbro dropped the foot pedals, this would be a better piece. The 1983 Speeder Bike cheated - you just put the Biker Scout's butt on the seat, hands on the handlebars, and that was it. It worked, it was fast, it was fun. This one requires massaging all the joints just-so to get the butt kind of close to the seat, with hands on the handlebars, and the feet will probably eventually pop off the foot pegs. It just doesn't work as intended - I'm not sure if it wasn't tested with physical product, or if the joints just aren't quite what the prototypes were, or what. The cape gets in the way, too, and there's no on-board weapon storage. If you are happy with 3 parts of his body touching the bike, it gets the job done - but it looks like they were struggling to pull it off in the packaging photos, so what chance do I have?

I'd recommend either element - the figure, or the vehicle - on its own merits, but together they don't hang as well as I would like. A figure that can't fit in the seat, or use the clearly provided foot pegs on the pedals properly, would be the kind of thing that annoyed me to no end as a kid. So if it bothers you, maybe skip this one. If you can settle for a hovering foot or butt or maybe only have one hand on the handlebars, I'd say it's good enough to give a try and I hope there are other vehicles in the works that may not require such a specific seating position tolerance.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,212: February 4, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,193: Paz Vizsla (Amazon Exclusive 3-Pack, Epic Hero Series)

PAZ VIZSLA Unite the Clans
Epic Hero Series Amazon Exclusive Figure 3-Pack
Item No.: No. G0311
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Mandalorian Warrior, Paz Vizsla, 2 blasters, fire gauntlet, blade gauntlet
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: September 2024
Appearances: The Mandalorian

Bio: These Star Wars toys feature design and detail inspired by The Mandalorian live-action series on Disney+. (Taken from the Amazon description.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: Unite the Clans Paz Vizsla is basically the same as the Paz Vizsla [FOTD #3,123] figure that came out earlier this year on a deluxe cardback. That release was $14.99 (later $12.99), and was the same base figure with the same fire gauntlet accessory. This figure comes with 2 other figures, but not jet pack, and no rocket-firing giant blaster. Which is better? That's up to you - gift-giving parents might prefer this one because you get more figures for not much more money.

If Hasbro made this figure a little darker, more like the show's armor, I'd recommend it without reservations. Because it's nearly identical - the belt and kama/skirt/whatever are slightly different shades of brown - it's not going to add to your collection. That doesn't mean it isn't a good figure! It's a satisfying, chunky, and sturdy figure that stands well and his one accessory still is pretty darned good. If you got this figure in this 3-pack first, I wouldn't necessarily say it's worth getting the deluxe set for the rocket pack and rocket launcher. But on clearance? Yeah, that backpack is cool enough to justify a double-dip.

The figure sculpt is the same as last time - it's nice, it has dents, it's dynamic and all the joints swivel nicely. The head is on a ball joint, and I would absolutely love to see what a customizer would do with some added silver battle damage or other embellishments. I assume you're all-in on Epic Hero Series, or just not interested. If you are all-in, you're going to get this guy just to get the Axe Woves (Boba Fett retool) and Mandalorian Warrior (multicolor Bo-Katan repaint.) I'd say you get your money's worth, but 1/3 of it is something that may prove redundant - but you can give it to a friend's kid, or keep it on your desk at work. There's nothing wrong with it, it's just not something useful like an army-builder or a generic trooper.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Amazon.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,193: November 28, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,183: The Mandalorian (Arvala-7, The Vintage Collection)

THE MANDALORIAN (Arvala-7) & Blurrg
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: No. G0302
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Cape, pistol, Amban phase-pulse rifle, Blurrg
Action Feature: Holster holds pistol, bandolier holds rifle
Retail: $39.99
Availability: September 2024
Appearances: The Mandalorian

Bio: With help of the Ugnaught vapor farmer Kuiil, The Mandalorian learns how to tame and ride a blurrg on the desert planet Arvala-7.. (Taken from The Mandalorian figure's cardback inside this set's box.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: Expectations can be a problem when you're dealing with collectors. Since we got a few price increases - a The Vintage Collection figure today is four whole dollars higher than when this character made his debut - we expect improvements. The Mandalorian (Arvala-7) is another proud entry in the "Just Different Enough to Make You Mad" hall of fame, in that the toy's functionality was improved, but his deco was not. It's also somewhat essential, given that the one-silver-shoulder look was only very briefly on the series and as such, armor completists will likely pick it up. It's very similar to the 2020 The Mandalorian [FOTD #2,680], which was actually quite exciting at the time. It's funny to look back at the review and see my complaints of "Hasbro doesn't make a lot of new 3 3/4-inch figures" and here we are, 4 1/2 years later, and Hasbro still doesn't make a lot of new 3 3/4-inch figures. This one is a pack-in pilot, though, so I guess we're allowed to look at it with cost-cutting. And boy howdy did Hasbro cut some costs here.

The good: Hasbro took a colorful costume and brought it back, with improved hip joints for greater mobility. To get this guy to sit on the Blurrg, you need hips that can go sideways - which the original can do, but the 2024 figure can do better. There is a functionally good - but annoying - hip joint that Hasbro had been using in the back half of the 201Xes, which got upgraded to a much smoother ball-and-socket joint a couple of years ago - and this new Mando has it! That's good, because you don't have to do as much careful positioning of the legs to get him on the Blurrg figure. You still need to move around the knees and all, but in the end you can make it look like he's sitting back there and it's not a big hassle. The figure's overall functionality is similar to the 2020 figure, as he can holster his weapons and be posed nicely. A new cloth cape also looks very good, and was a great upgrade for a "driver" figure like this. When it comes to using an old mold with just enough tweaks to make it work for this specific purpose, Hasbro did a good job. No notes. It would be foolish to do an all-new figure since the original was nice.

I don't like the deco, though. (I know, I know, it's always something with me, I'm sorry.) The 2020 figure's coloring is a bit more saturated, with bluer blues, tanner tans, and browner browns. Accurate or not, it just looks snappy. The new one is more muted, but also loses a lot of the character - the rusty dirt on the helmet is gone. Hasbro left out all of the silver "damage" on the chest, left shoulder, and left thigh as well as the damaged bits they forgot to paint the first time. If this were a single-carded figure, at $16.99 I would rate it a disappointing downgrade from the original. However, it's not - you get this carded figure packed in with a Blurrg figure and he's really hefty and pretty good. The entire package is arguably worth the asking price, especially if you love the show, adore creatures, and need every last Mando variant. His Beskar left pauldron is what makes this particular The Vintage Collection figure unique. I hesitate to call it a "must-buy" for that reason alone, because it's such a minor tweak, but I admit I've been wanting it since it was a good character moment. Confidential to Hasbro: since you guys reuse and reissue figures with minor (and annoying) changes anyway, if/when you put this guy out again for a 10th anniversary or something, please give him the silver battle-damage. Please and thank you.

Toy budgets are a tight thing - you can't get everything, and those pennies go somewhere. With this specific toy I think Hasbro got it wrong - the money used to make carded packaging (and extra cardboard to protect said cardboard packaging) was a waste, especially on a closed-box figure. Hasbro should have pocketed the money, spent a couple of cents per figure on the silver paint, and carded this guy as a separate release down the road because it really is an excellent sculpt with lots of places that could benefit from the added decoration. I may be too picky here, but after four years I want either a cheaper figure or a better figure, and this is arguably neither. The improved legs makes it a sideways move, as neither is completely superior, but I would favor the 2020 figure as something I just have standing on a display. This 2024 Mando is, of course, better as a beast rider and I'm sure it is frustrating to hear me say "and who cares, I wanted the Blurrg so I was going to buy it anyway." It's just when you have a format that's priced as a premium product, I know it can't be perfect but it would be nice to see it be just slightly better than the previous release.

That's where expectations come in. If Hasbro made this in a "kid line," or Retro, all bets are off - 5 joints and a trapdoor Blurrg? Sure, that's fine, it's a kid toy at a lower price so a toymaker can take some shortcuts and I'll say "it's fine, because it's a toy, and priced like a toy." Thi is $40. And because I am a fanatic, I think this set is arguably worth the $40 just for the creature - but I would really to get back to a product that doesn't make me have to make charts and graphs to determine if what I got was worth the money. When I buy an $8 Epic Hero Series figure, I'm immediately charmed. With The Vintage Collection (especially with remakes) I have to go back to the well, compare them, take notes, and really ask if what I have is the same, or better, or if it's missing anything. With the new cape and hips, it's better. With the desaturated color and lack of battle damage, it's worse. All together, it's about as good and as a figure riding a creature most fans will never notice - and again, that's why I wish they dropped the carded packaging inside the box entirely. That packaging positions it as a fancy collectible, and if they just tossed it in with a tissue paper wrap I think my reaction would be "hey, clearly they had to take some liberties to make the budget given how awesome the blurrg is" rather than "I find this $16.99 carded figure in my $40 beast to be lacking." And again, I also could just be a monster with unrealistic expectations since I am still recommending you buy this at full price with a smile. Collectors make no sense - I know, I'm one of them - but gosh, wouldn't it be great to have a helmet that's at least as good as the cheaper one you bought a few years ago?

Confidential to Hasbro (again): I'd buy this armor configuration in Epic Hero Series tomorrow for $8. I'd buy it for $20-$25 if you threw in a kid-friendly Blurrg. Like I said, I know I'm a nut.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,183: October 24, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,160: The Mandalorian and Grogu (N-1 Starfighter Pack-Ins, Epic Hero Series)

THE MANDALORIAN | GROGU New Kids Line
Epic Hero Series The Mandalorian's N-1 Starfighter
Item No.: No. F9950
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 2 figures, 1 vehicle, cape, 2 projectiles
Action Feature: Launching projectiles, rotating engines
Retail: $34.99
Availability: July 2024
Appearances: The Book of Boba Fett, The Mandalorian Season 3   

Bio: The Mandalorian is a formidable bounty hunter in an increasingly dangerous galaxy. Grogu has chosen to follow the path of his protector, the Mandalorian, and continues to share adventures at his side. (Taken from the single figure packaging. Box has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

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Commentary: Since this vehicle comes with two old figures and one new accessory, I'm lumping it all together - if you're an accessory completist, you'll need to buy all versions of these. The Mandalorian is almost identical to his single card release [FOTD #3,118] except the single card has a Darksaber and blaster, whereas the vehicle version trades them for a jetpack. Grogu includes none of the accessories from his single carded release, effectively rendering him as an accessory. You can read those reviews for details, because Mando's got 5 joints, Grogu's got 3, and they're pretty good. The new jet pack is huge, and Mando can't wear it while in his vehicle - it's also incredibly oversized. I would have loved to see any minor change to either figure that might make me say "hey it's different!" beyond the accessories, but alas, it was not to be. They're both very nice figures and for what you get in the box, arguably a very good deal.

When Hasbro introduced Mission Fleet, I was agitated because I didn't want a new scale. If those were 3 3/4-inch vehicles I'd have gleefully bought them all, because I had no interest in a scale where Hasbro would lose interest within a few years. And they did. Now we have Epic Hero Series, and the N-1 Starfighter is its first vehicle. Yes, first vehicle. It's not as big as The Vintage Collection ship, but it's about $100 cheaper and the same size figures can fit inside. Just chew on that for a bit. It doesn't have the high level of paint detail, or the display stand, or removable engine parts, or on-board accessory storage either... but it's $100 cheaper. As collectors I really do feel we've lost our minds when it comes to accepting and demanding figures have a level of quality that demands that much of a price increase, but that's what we do. So instead, Hasbro made one for kids and wouldn't you know it, it's sturdy and a lot of fun. The details are not exact, as the spires coming off the back are a lighter gray, and nothing seems particularly metallic like that previous release. But that's OK, you get plenty of exposed mechanical bits and the size is such that you can cram The Vintage Collection or The Retro Collection figures inside without much fuss.

Functionally, it's about as good as a 1990s Kenner ship design with two firing rockets, seating for Mando and his son, and some nifty opening "boost mode" engines. The rockets fire nicely, and being bright green you can find them in the carpet. This toy reminds me a bit of Kenner's 1997 redesign of Darth Vader's TIE Fighter - which I believe was the first all-new Original Trilogy-specific vehicle we had at that point in the line. (There were other new vehicles for Shadows of the Empire, everything else was derived from 1970s and 1980s toys.)

While the ship is more advanced than anything made by Kenner in the 1980s, it does work well with The Retro Collection figures. That Grogu is bigger than The Vintage Collection one but a tiny bit smaller than Epic Hero Series, so he has a little extra room. The same is true about Mando - you can get his Retro figure in the pilot's seat even with his jet pack molded to the back. If it were a true 1970s vehicle parts would probably come off. Fans of Retro, give this a look because five years in I doubt Hasbro is ever going to make vehicles for that segment.

Actual play features, on a nicely sized toy, at a price that would be expensive 20 years ago but dirt cheap by modern standards. If you value the figures at $10-$15, and consider the ship adjusted for inflation, this might be one of the best vehicle values we've ever had. There are no stickers, there's very little paint, but it looks right and it does stuff. I wish it came out to time with the show, but with any luck Hasbro can get a few years out of selling this one with new series and a movie. That might be hoping for too much. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this package for the figures alone, but if you missed the figures I would strongly recommend it for the ship with the figures. The last time we got a new "kid" vehicle was 2018 for Solo: A Star Wars Story, and I think Hasbro should really consider making more ships at this price point because they're affordable and, in most cases, arguably as satisfying as the deluxe models for the average fan. It may not look like a tiny prop replica, but also, it's not priced like a tiny prop replica.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,160: August 6, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,138: The Mandalorian (Glavis Ringworld, The Black Series)

THE MANDALORIAN (Glavis Ringworld)
The Black Series 2023 Window Box Line Look The Book of Boba Fett Packaging
Item No.: Asst. E8908 No. F9985
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #08 - Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett
Includes: Cloth cape, Darksaber, jetpack, blaster pistol, knife
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: December 2023
Appearances: Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett

Bio: After entrusting Luke Skywalker with Grogu’s care, The Mandalorian--known to few as Din Djarin--sets off to learn more about the origins of his people. (Taken from the box packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

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Commentary: If we didn't already know that under his helmet, The Mandalorian (Glavis Ringworld) was Din Djarin, we'd probably be joking that it's Theseus. Since 2019 we saw Hasbro follow the lead of Disney, releasing figures that follow the evolution of the character's costume on the show. Every few episodes we might see a new element added to his costume with something else traded out, leading to potentially endless changes in the evolution of the costume between now and when the series finally is deemed unprofitable by shareholders. I was really surprised they updated his cobbled-together costume to a full blinged-out Beskar suit on the show so quickly, but it makes sense for a variety of reasons - not the least of which being the maintenance of the costume on the show. Did something get stained? Work it in the script.

If you have earlier releases that you're happy with, you probably don't want to buy another one - unless you need a cloth cape, as that's something that this release does particularly well. As of now this is probably the "final form" for the character until the movie comes out, if the movie comes out, and/or if he gets a significant makeover. (I'm surprised the powers that be have resisted the allure of painting him a new color.) Since most of the "full Beskar" suits are very similar, in the box or on a shelf you won't notice a big difference from previous releases. The boot-knife and knee joints, though, provide new elements that change up how the figure functions and that tends to be the kind of thing that makes me say this is worth a look even though it's not a new figure.

This figure looks very similar to previous releases, but the most obvious improvements to me are neat enough to warrant yet another purchase. Or perhaps selling your old version(s) for the new one, because he now has the modern-style knees rather than the old butterfly joints, and a stretchy cloth cape that hangs quite nicely off his back. You also get a great jetpack with places to mount flames in the jets, a Darksaber with removable blade and a hook to hang on the back of his belt, and a blade that fits smoothly in his boot. A character like this is no doubt a dream for all parties involved, given you can keep his helmet on and replace the actor, endlessly tweak the costume, and sell revisions of the figure ad infinitum.

I had no problems getting the figure standing or holding his gear, but the cape does kind of get in the way with the jet pack - you can move it, of course, and it feels surprisingly great. The materials used are all quite nice, as the helmet doesn't give a hint at a nose in the head slug under the helmet, the droid thigh guard has unique decoration and scuffs, and the blue on his knee and hips looks just a smidgen more saturated than other releases. It's by no means perfect, but there's a limit to how good a figure can be before the price tag shoots through the roof - and Hasbro keeps getting closer and closer to perfect with most new releases. The new legs are great, the arms pose quite nicely with the blade, and he seems to be generally better than the other Mando figures I've bought. I have no doubt Hasbro will find other ways to gradually improve the character with a future release, but I don't know what that is - short of charging more and putting more stuff in the box.

If you see this one for $25 or less, and you don't balk at paying $25 for a good figure, get this one. I'm not saying to buy every version of the character, but this may well be the best one until they replace the Darksaber with another new accessory during his next appearance.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,138: May 30, 2024