Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,326: Yoda (Jedi Spirits, The Vintage Collection)

YODA (Jedi Spirits)
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Hasbro Pulse Exclusive Special Action Figure Set
Item No.: No. G1395
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Three figures, one cane
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $57.99
Availability: November 2025
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: As Luke Skywalker and his friends celebrate the overthrowing of the Galactic Empire, he sees the Force spirits of Anakin Skywalker, Yoda, and Obi-Wan Kenobi looking on. (Taken from the packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: While not the first version of Yoda (Jedi Spirits), it is one of surprisingly few. For fans of 3 3/4-inch figures, we got a holo Yoda in 2005, and of course Force Ghost Yoda [FOTD #3,606] last year, with the very first Spirit of Yoda [FOTD #94] way back in 1998. Each version offers something a little different, but most of them do it with color. This one is similar to some existing Yoda figures you may have bought, now with clear blue hands and feet. The figure has darker skin and a darker brown outfit, plus that metallic blue shimmer that looks so good.

For whatever reason, the robe looks better here than on Anakin or Obi-Wan. You can still see right through it, but depending on the lighting it's a little less visible. He still has his flute and cane, plus the swivel elbows and wrists so he can hold his cane. It follows the template of the other figures in the set, and given Yoda's more recent appearances in The Last Jedi I don't think I like it as much. With Return of the Jedi you were dealing with an earlier level of optical effects, so there's probably some level of ambiguity as to how it was meant to look, and how it looked. Newer Force Ghosts are not really as icy clear blue, and you could probably have just gotten away with an opaque figure splattered in a slight blue metallic tint (like his head, cane, and body got.) The hands and feet are probably a step too far, and I can't say I'm ultimately thrilled with this set as a definitive take on these characters in this style. It's good, but it doesn't quite match what we saw in the movie (or what we thought we saw.)

At $58, this 3-pack came out before the big $19.99 price hike of a single figure last year - so it's rather expensive for what you get. Obi-Wan and Anakin have no accessories (well, an alt head, OK) so there's just not a lot here for the money. Yoda's face printing is very good, and the articulation is below average for 2025. It would be a stretch to say he feels like he's worth $19.33, but I also wonder how collectors perceive the value of this figure without an Ewok village in the first place. The 1998 3-pack had a themed base that was sensible and welcome. We haven't had a playset that really fits with this guy in decades. I doubt we'll ever get an official modular Ewok Village, so this guy's fate is probably to wind up in a shelf of figures lined up shoulder to shoulder (to knee) or to stay in the package. Maybe he'll get to be in some fancy Instagram photos. But more than likely, a regular Yoda figure would do the trick for pretty much all fans. It's a neat idea, but not one that necessarily benefits from the materials and articulation we're being charged more than full price for here. The main reason I'd still recommend this set is because the 1998 versions are yellowing (OK, greening) with age, and - at least for now - this one looks better. Hopefully Hasbro won't use clear plastic for future releases, so they to avoid looking awful as time goes on. It might be silly to think about how a figure may look in 20 or 30 years, but I'm hoping to still be here and enjoying my little plastic men.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse. Hasbro had a Pulse Premium exclusive window on this set for about a month, in which it did not sell out, nor did it sell out in subsequent months. It shipped in November, and it's still in stock.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,326: March 10, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,306: Force Ghost Yoda (Force Masters / Epic World of Action)

FORCE GHOST YODA Force Masters Pack
Epic World of Action Target Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. G0363 No. G0778
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 4 other figures with accessories
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $34.99
Availability: July 2025
Appearances: Return of the Jedi, probably

Bio: Jedi Masters take on Sith Lord Darth Vader in this 5-pack of Star Wars™ action figures inspired by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker, Force Ghost Yoda, Ahsoka Tano, and Darth Vader. (Taken from the Target's web site. Package has no bio.)

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: The centerpiece of this set - he's the guy in the middle! - is Force Ghost Yoda. I'm kind of surprised they didn't go with "hologram" as they're basically the same, but this clear-ish blue figure makes use of the great Epic World of Action Yoda [FOTD #3,231]... but without the gear. Will kids miss it? Probably not - but it would have been nice to have a little ship. Silly, yes, and I assume Lucasfilm shot that down because dead Yoda has no real use for knickknacks.

The whole set has four full figures and bonus accessories for the price of roughly four figures - so you could look at pint-size, gear-free Yoda as a freebie as much as a selling point. There's a The Vintage Collection Ghost Yoda out right now too, but this one has an amazing clear pearly blue color that just dazzles. Hasbro left it mostly unpainted, but they painted the eyes which really gives him a lot of - ha ha - life. I wonder if they experimented with unpainted eyes and realized this was just better. For those of you who have been collecting for the past 58 years, most holographic and spirit figures have no paint or very minimal paint, and rarely are the eyes decorated. This figure makes me think that is a mistake - you really need a focal point. Even most clear indie figures (hi Glyos! Hi Sofubi!) have painted eyes that make it seem like a real figure, rather than just an unpainted test shot.

The rich blue color looks fantastic, but it's not as clear as some other releases. You can see light through the hands and ears, but the level of opacity of the limbs does a good job hiding the various pegs used to put him together. You really don't notice the wrist joint pegs, or the shoulder pivot bits. Everything looks well-integrated, and the darker color does make it look a lot better. The range of movement is excellent for a spirit Yoda. Honestly, this could just be a non-jointed slug figure and you'd be pretty happy. I like that it can pose and be moved around, and the level of detail pops pretty nicely thanks to the sheen on the blue.

Nobody should ever steal a figure, but I'm kind of surprised not to see him missing from the 5-packs in Target. He's awesome. I just don't think people see the set, which isn't always at eye-level, and the packaging doesn't scream out "I'm Star Wars!" either. It's weird to say that Hasbro should make more eye-catching Star Wars-y packaging that might encourage purchases and theft, but that's where we're at. I think the yellow and white looks fine - but even before it hit shelves, absolutely nobody would look at this and say "this is a good design to engage fans, children, or adults." At least the figure is good, and you can toss the box out without any guilt when you open yours.

I'd recommend getting the Epic lines if only because it's a small, cheap collection with a few vehicles and the whole shebang is affordbale. Hasbro dropped the ball with aliens. There's no Han, there's no Leia, nor R2-D2 and C-3PO. But it's pretty good for a smattering of troopers and heavy hitters alongside some weird, fun repaints like Yoda. The very concept of lightning Jedi is silly, but I won't argue that the figures are good. If this Yoda were a weird indie bootleg for $35 I'd probably want it anyway, so the whole boxed set for that price isn't bad. Just keep an eye out for clearances, given we're now after Christmas I assume Target has probably slashed the price. (I wrote this a few weeks ago.)

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Target on sale for $24.49. If I didn't overpay for Walmart's exclusives last year, I probably would've bought this one at full price and not complain. I needed that karmic price adjustment.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,306: December 30, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,231: Yoda (Epic World of Action)

MASTER YODA 2025 Kids Line
Epic World of Action "Power the Force" Basic Figure
Item No.: Asst. F9405 No. G1153
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, Lightning, Mini Starfighter
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: February 2025
Appearances: Attack of the Clones and/or The Clone Wars   

Bio: Small in size but wise and powerful, Jedi Master Yoda trained Jedi for over 800 years. (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: Since "Baby Yoda" Grogu-ed his way into the line, Yoda classic has been kept out of a lot of stores. We got some stuff for the 40th of The Empire Strikes Back, but by and large this guaranteed winner has been largely sidelined. This is a fine Yoda figure for collectors or kids, and makes a stirring argument that Hasbro pour more development into its Epic lines. You should buy one. I'm not even going to make you wait for the call, just go get one.

At 1 3/4-inches, Yoda is a bit tall for a shorty. He has a ball-jointed neck and great movement at his shoulders, swivel wrists, swivel ankles, and swivel hips. Hasbro delivered some tip-top Yoda toys during the prequels, and this might beat them in actually delivering the level of detail and articulation adult fans expect. It's the slightest bit stylized, but the Attack of the Clones-esque look inspired by the digital puppet turned out well. He's not too hunched over, he has white hair, he looks angry, and he gestures well. You can have him talking, fighting, dueling, or capturing Sith lightning in his hand. The latter is a strange choice given Yoda can't shoot out lightning, nor is there a Dooku to fight, but this is how these things go now. Somehow this is a part of his toy character, so this is what you get. He can hold the gear easily, and there are storage spots for them on his tiny mini Jedi Stafighter.

The crystal green Jedi Starfighter is the kind of inspired lunacy that makes me say someone over at Hasbro gets the idea of fun. (There are some great 3D printed mini-rigs similarly inspired as one-piece open cockpit toy vehicles.) Hasbro should make more ships like this for their larger figures - it's a spectacular small toy. Sure, it has no paint, but it is sized just right for one figure to zoom around and you can store a lightsaber or lightning in two small drink holders. The sculpting is simple but good enough to get the point across, and as one of three accessories makes a strong case that Hasbro maybe, just maybe, should develop more actual toys. It's rare that I get a wacky made-up accessory and go "hey, this is 100% exactly the kind of thing I was going to ask you guys to make!" And here it is! It has no firing rockets or display stands, but considering most vehicles are $50 or $130 these days, it is refreshing to see what Hasbro can deliver as a value-add.

Yoda's paint is very good and his face should delight prequel-era fans. Assuming this wave makes it to stores, I assume you won't see Yoda sit on pegs. It's Yoda! Yoda has been hard to find for a while, and Hasbro made sure you would have a lot of fun with this one. He stands well, if you split his legs you'll even see his brown pants on the inner thighs. I won't say I'm jealous of today's kids only because the modern line is relatively small and scattered - but I would have loved to have owned a Yoda like this when I was young. The tiny starfighter is way better than a floating chair, the articulation is good, and his face has more personality than a lot of the other releases. Go get this one, and hopefully Hasbro will make more one-man fighters in this line that aren't giant robot suits.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,231: April 10, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,948: Yoda (The Retro Collection)

YODA The Original, Reproduced
The Retro Collection Walmart Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. E9646 No. E9651
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Belt, robe, cane, snake
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.86
Availability: April 2020
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Yoda, a Force-sensitive male being belonging to a mysterious species, was a legendary Jedi Master who witnessed the rise and fall of the Galactic Republic, followed by the rise of the Galactic Empire. (Stolen from Wookieepedia. Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: I waited to review Yoda, a 2020 reissue of the 1980ish figure, because I assumed we'd be getting a second hit of them through Walmart or a rerun through other channels. We didn't - The Empire Strikes Back wave of Kenner reissues was hot stuff and in short supply, much like Star Wars figures were at Target. Hopefully things are smoother for Return of the Jedi. The bulk of The Empire Strikes Back wave of figures go for above SRP, but you can get Lando for below retail on eBay. Boba Fett and Yoda cost way more than they should - hopefully Hasbro will consider reissuing them, perhaps on variant cardbacks like in the old days.

But how is Yoda? Pretty good! Not all original Kenner figures were great at holding their weapons, and some of Hasbro's reissues - lookin' at you, Han Solo - just plain do not want to hold their blasters. But Yoda? Yoda works. The hand can hold the cane, the snake fits on the neck, the robes fit, the belt fits nicely, everything is good enough that this Yoda - done in the colors of the lighter-skin, orange snake variants - pretty much looks like the ideal version of the figure in your head. If you actually had the luxury of seeing him on a store shelf, you'd buy him - $10 for a 1980s-style Yoda is a steal, even if you just bought the figure and stripped him of his accessories to give your old, much-loved, accessories-lost figure from childhood. He has the jointed neck, arms, and legs just like the old days - and the wild eyes and goofy smile, too.

Under the robes he's a little more different - the painted arms are lacking in wrinkles and much glossier. The sculpt in general seems very smoothed out - something you'd notice comparing him to an original, but those of you who don't own one or have never seen one could easily confuse this for the real deal. Thankfully he has numbers stamped on his feet to indicate he's a modern release, but it does go to show that Hasbro can make a Kenner-style-figure look and feel almost like the genuine article when they put some work into it. My Yoda's ears were a little bent in the package, but he's a pretty perfect recreation as these kinds of things go - the lighter eyes, the paler skin, the orange snake, it's all here and he is the sort of thing Hasbro should have made in much greater numbers.

Due to the demand for this reissue, the price on eBay and Amazon is a little high - you can get an unpackaged Kenner original for about the same price, roughly $50. For that reason I wouldn't suggest paying current secondary market prices for the rerun, but I would suggest Hasbro rerun all their old Kenner figures to meet demand. Or at the very least, Yoda, Boba Fett, Darth Vader, and Stormtroopers - the interest is there, and it would be a great impulse/Father's Day assortment. If this figure ever shows up again for $10, I'd strongly suggest picking him up. He's a keeper!

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Walmart through my pal Scott "ToyGuru" Neitlich! Did you see his new Spector Creative YouTube channel yet? Click here.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,948: August 4, 2022

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,754: Yoda (The Black Series 6-Inch)

YODA (Dagobah)
The Black Series 40th Anniversary 6-Inch Figure Deluxe 2-Pack
Item No.: No. E9642
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: D4
Includes: Cane, backpack, head, Luke figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: August 2020
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back
Bio: Commemorate the 40h Anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back with Luke Skywalker & Yoda figures. At the urging of Obi-Wan, Yoda agreed to instruct Luke, developing his Jedi abilities. (Taken from the 2-pack box.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: This Yoda (Dagobah) is good, but it's not worth $20. The only corner Hasbro cut was foot peg holes, but part of the problem with multiple scales is you can see where we're being overcharged a bit - this is a super-articulated figure with an extra head, and it's 2 1/2-inches tall. Hasbro has a 3 3/4-inch assortment with super-articulated figures and similar quality for $12.99. $29.99 might have been too cheap for this set... but c'mon. This isn't a full $20 figure here.

Shorter than the previous Yoda (which had a snake and a lightsaber, this figure seems to be the full super-articulated ridiculousness. Knee joints, ankle joints, wrist joints, and two of the best head sculpts Yoda ever got make this a good figure. I can't deny that you look at it and it's impressive - but it's tiny, man. You got more stuff with Maz Kanata.

The tattered robes are pretty good, and the articulation works fairly well. I can't get a ton of great poses out of him - his body language seems more like the kid in the Yoda costume in E.T. - but he's ideally suited to fit in the blue backpack. Yoda slides right in, no fuss no muss, and in there you have no worries about making him look old, or sore, or hunched over.

As silly as it is to note, Yoda's hair looks great here, as do his eyes. The wrinkles all seem perfect, too. I am unsure if the green is the right shade - it seems too dark - but it still looks decent. He's the right height, he's just too freaking expensive for what you get. A 2-pack with R2-D2 for $30 would have been right on the money... but as it is, it's good, and the Luke he comes with is very good, so I won't talk you out of picking up the set. You can probably get bigger, better, or other Yoda figures, but for this particular line there's no better example of the Jedi master from this movie yet. Having said that, you still want the other one for the snake!

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,754: November 24, 2020

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,420: Yoda (The Last Jedi Line Look)

YODA Jedi Surprise
The Last Jedi Basic Figure Teal Assortment
Item No.: Asst. C1531  No. C3465
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, cane
Action Feature: Force Link sounds
Retail: $8.99
Availability: September 2017
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Yoda is Palpatine's little green friend.  (Stolen from Wookieepedia.  Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  Hasbro has been stingy with basic updates of core characters, so  Yoda getting a new figure - let alone an all-new prequel-based sculpt - is more than a little surprise.   While I would have loved to see another The Empire Strikes Back update, we did just get one a couple of years ago - so this is perfectly nice.

The short Jedi has a clear green lightsaber and a cane, clearly not the same as the gimer stick from the original trilogy.   His hands were a little wide for the accessories, so getting him to grip them properly may present a low-level challenge.  The lightsaber lacks the "flare" at the base, so it should be an easy-to-identify weapon in future piles of accessories.  Unless, of course, they make another dozen Yodas... and if that spin-off movie happens, they probably will.   He also has a cloak that's a separate rubbery piece, but you're not supposed to remove it.

This is my favorite prequel-based Yoda now.   The figure has ball-jointed shoulders along with a swivel waist and rotating feet, plus a ball-jointed neck.  This means he can't sit, but given his robes such hip joints would have been superfluous.   The pose reminds me of his pre-duel posturing, which means he can look like he's about to unleash his might on Darth Tyrannus or Darth Sidious as he keeps eye contact and draws forth his mighty blade.   The pose - and arms - can also be easily positioned to look like he's walking with his cane, and thanks to his expression and the general pose of the figure he looks like he's putting some weight on it.   There are few wrinkles in his robes - they almost look too clean - but it's convincing.  It's good.

The face sculpt is great, as is the hair deco.  His hair is light and wispy, with eyes barely outlined to bring them out.  The face is wrinkly, with extra wrinkles just above his mouth.  The ears are a thin green plastic, allowing some light to pass through reminiscent of the puppets.  His body has pretty much no deco, and his tridactyl feet are more on model with how we know Yoda should look.   His fingernails and toe claws are unpainted, but I doubt anyone will notice - they'll be too distracted by the fine detail on his robes and cane.  

As rapid prototyping gets better, we're going to see more fine detail on some action figures.  Yoda's is pretty impressive, but you have to get in real close with ample lighting to notice.    The figure is not visually impressive for eight bucks, but the shoulder joints and sculpted detail were enough to get me to take it to the registers with a smile.   Get if if you can find one.

Force Link Notes: "Destroy the Sith we must."  "Judge me by my size, do you?"  "Use the Force."  "The dark side I sense in you."  Lightsabers.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Walmart, and I was surprised to see it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,420: October 25, 2017

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,138: Yoda (Star Wars Rebels Mission Series)

YODA and R2-D2
Star Wars Rebels Mission Series
Item No.: Asst. A5228 No. B0130
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #MS16
Includes: Cane, lamp, R2-D2 figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: March 2015
Appearances: The Empire Strikes  Back

Bio: R2-D2 encounters the mysterious Yoda on the planet Dagobah. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Commentary: Popularity trumps necessity these days, which is why we're getting another Yoda.  We're getting close to one a year, at least, because it's one of those characters that Hasbro really needs to keep in circulation in some form or another.  Interestingly, Hasbro seemed to struggle with Yoda from The Empire Strikes Back since the 1990s, particularly with the higher-end figures.  The vintage ones and last year's 3 3/4-inch The Black Series release struggle with spindly limbs where the articulation prevents the figure from holding together well, plus bulky cloth elements made it hard to play with.  This one just plain works.  It's not fancy, but the set is a pretty decent deal.

This is a figure where Hasbro seems to have taken their time to do a great job.   The texture on Yoda's clock is rich and exaggerated, giving the plastic a cloth-like feel that we very rarely see.  The last time we saw an all-plastic Yoda from The Empire Strikes Back was 2004, and that figure managed to benefit from a lot of paint to dirty up the costume.  This one is virtually unpainted - it looks like a toy, complete with his belt pouch just a little too high on his torso.  This is for his leg clearance - he has no problems standing or sitting, and if you were one of the 7 people who bought a Yoda's Jedi Starfighter in 2013  you'll be interested in knowing he actually doesn't fit thanks to the shape of his head.

I like this figure - the head sculpt is good and the paint is pretty clean overall.  He has no problem holding his accessories and is probably one of very few figures in this new, simplified line to improve on the articulation levels of his 1990s counterparts.  Yoda has two legs rather than one, and inside you can see that Yoda's pants are sculpted wrapped around each leg.  It's not as interesting as the pants and boots on other figures, but hey, it's Yoda.   This set makes me wish there was a better modern Hasbro Dagobah playset, but such is life - it's nice, I like it, and for the price I think you'll get your money's worth.

Collector's Notes: I got this from Entertainment Earth.  This set started appearing in stores late in March.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,138: April 6, 2015

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,115: Yoda (The Black Series 6-Inch)

YODA Dagobah Outfit
The Black Series 6-Inch Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. A4301 No. A9011
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #06 (Blue Box)
Includes: Green blade, lightsaber hilt, snake, flute, belt, gimer stick
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: November 2014
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: On the remote swamp planet Dagobah, Jedi Master Yoda teachers young Luke Skywalker the ways of the Jedi and the power of the Force.  "My ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is."   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Commentary: Generally speaking, a Star Wars action figure review writes itself.  Within seconds I can tell you if a 3 3/4-inch action figure fits within established parameters for "good," and while some aspects may cause controversy - specifically, if one or two bad elements make a figure bad or not - generally the reaction is pretty good.  I trust my gut.  My gut didn't have an immediate positive or negative reaction to the 6-inch Yoda, mostly because unlike the similarly small R2-D2 he didn't demonstrate value.   While we as a group have come to accept that 3 3/4-inch scale figures are now generally $11, those figures usually have a decent array of accessories and there's really no competing Hasbro Star Wars product delivering a similar product at a better value.  Not so with the 6-inch line.  Due to his shorter size, Yoda is, for all intents and purposes, a 3 1/4-inch action figure.  This means that Hasbro's decision to ask $20 of him is either a result of cynicism (i.e., "those people will buy anything,") or perhaps poor planning.   I have no doubt this figure costs less to make, although it's possible even the factory (which Hasbro doesn't own, if you weren't familiar with how things in China work) could have said "all 6-inch figures are $X" and as such, Yoda fell under a goofy pricing structure.  Since there are no half-sized 6-inch assortments or plussed-up gift sets, this price is what it is - faulty.

As collectors, we are quite often suckers for the things we love. We bite the bullet, shell out our money, and ultimately get what we want.  Since Yoda will sell even at secondary market mark-ups and the sculpt is good, it's sort of an issue and it sort of isn't.  This figure could fit in a 3 3/4-inch package pretty easily, and seeing that he's short, with a similar to 3 3/4-inch piece count, the price really does sting.  This is, simply put, not even big enough to be a 3 3/4-inch figure yet because it comes in a big box, we pay twice as much without hesitation.   Not every figure in this line is perfect, and some like the Sandtroopers offer a lot of stuff for your money.  With Yoda, you're opting in on paying the Yoda toll.

There are no foot holes in his tridactyl feet, but the ankles are jointed as are the hips and an upper thigh-swivel.  But why offer both ankles and a thigh swivel, when no knees are present?  It just adds more parts, which takes more engineering and assembly, without offering additional functionality or value.  With 16 points of articulation the figure is neither impressive nor bad - the lack of knee joints at this scale is somewhat baffling, and at the same time a decision to not simplify it to sell it as an accessory to a Dagobah Luke (for example) is also a little strange.  What we have here is a figure that would be average as a 3 3/4-inch release, and also would fit within the confines of that assortment.  There are no bend-and-swivel wrists, but you do get completely unnecessary double-jointed elbows - the cloth garments don't let you get the most out of them and it isn't like Yoda is super-bendy as a character in the first place.

His sculpt is good - it looks like Stuart Freeborn's sculpt, which itself looks a bunch like Mr. Freeborn.   His green skin feels darker than most Yoda figures, but it gets the point across.  His soulful eyes remain, and the paint on my sample is mostly good although there's a little too much white on this particular figure's left eye.   It's a pretty good recreation of a latex puppet, and I can't complain about the quality of his jacket either.  Unlike the 3 3/4-inch scale Yoda released earlier this year, it is a bit more tattered and worn - and looks like it actually fits him.  The belt is good, and the banded snake is also very nice.  His cane fits in his hand loosely, while the prequel-inspired lightsaber seems a smidgen large for his tiny hands.  (And it's also an added, unnecessary cost here.  A blue backpack for Luke would have been more fun, but it is what it is.)

Because it's a 6-inch scale Yoda with a good sculpt, I can't say this is a bad figure.  However based purely on the criteria of the 3 3/4-inch line, it's clearly not a good deal.  It also doesn't matter to this series' bottom line, so Hasbro doesn't need to fret.   Hasbro's line of 3 3/4-inch figures are taller, similarly articulated figures with a piece count that's sometimes similar to Yoda here.  For a figure that's only an inch taller than a standard Hasbro/Kenner Yoda he's sort of a bitter pill to swallow, but Yoda figures have been historically smaller and overpriced since the line started.  Of course, usually we were dealing with figures in the $3-$7 range, now that he's $20 it's impossible to ignore that there's not enough plastic here to warrant the price tag, nor is this figure twice as big or twice as good as a typical 3 3/4-inch tall Hasbro Star Wars figure.  It's not bad either - and this is very important - this figure's only flaw is that he doesn't deliver sufficient toy for your money. Hasbro's Deluxe-class Transformers are $15 and are roughly twice the size. If money is not an issue for you, or if you just love Yoda, this is a wonderful figure at a price I can't get behind.  You can get bigger, better, more impressive figures in this line for the same price, but you won't because we just like Yoda too much.

Collector's Notes: This figure is in major online and brick-and-mortar stores in the USA now.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,115: December 29, 2014

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,086: Yoda (The Black Series 2014)

YODA Dagobah
The Black Series 3 3/4-Inch Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. A5077 No. A5632
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: Black Series #22
Includes: Gimer stick, training backpack, flute, cloth robe
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $10.99
Availability: June 2014
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: A wise and powerful Jedi Master, Yoda takes on the training of young Luke Skywalker, who comes to the planet Dagobah to learn the ways of the Force.  (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Commentary: Since his debut in 1980, Yoda has had quite a few figures for a character with basically 1 1/2-costumes at best when it comes to the movies.  If you want to feel really old, the last all-new sculpts for original trilogy-specific Yoda figures were in 2004 for The Original Trilogy Collection, when we got a really nice $5 basic version and an arguably not-so-nice $10 "Vintage" version.   This figure is somewhere in between those two - actually, it's probably closer in tone to the 1980 original.   Yoda has but 5 joints, a cloth robe, a belt, a cane, a sack, and a removable neck flute.  The sculpt is OK, but the robe is put on so poorly that you will need to take off the robe and futz with it to get it to look semi-decent.  And truth is that it can be made to look semi-decent rather easily - it isn't great, but the problem is Hasbro has to see the light that cloth accessories at a 3 3/4-inch scale are a dubious proposition.   When you have a character that never really needs to sit like Empire's Yoda, a sculpted version is arguably better - and also easily available between the 2004 Original Trilogy Collection version, and the Jedi Training on Dagobah Battle Pack (2007-2009).  But, I digress.

The sculpt of this Yoda feels a little smaller than previous releases, and he earns points for that.  The figure was clearly designed to sit in a backpack and wrap his arms around Luke's shoulders, like in the training scenes in the movie.   He does this well - the included knapsack is a little too large and baggy to really click for me, especially when compared to the streamlined 2004 version.   It does fit on Luke just fine, and  Yoda fits in without a hitch.  It is functional as all get out, but gosh is it enormous.  I have some giant canvas tote bags and I think this is scaled larger than those are.   The straps fit Luke perfectly, and the buckle not only works but looks good.  Hasbro deserves a medal for that.  It's not easy to do, let alone do without being clunky or baggy.

Yoda's flute fits perfectly around his neck, the cane fits perfectly in his hand, and the figure's face sculpt is good.  Luke with Luke there's a tiny bit too much white paint on his eyes, but he's sad-eyed and has a lot of personality.  The fact he has been downgraded to 5 points of articulation at his price point just plain hurts, mostly because we've seen more with older figures - of course, Yoda's more stable here, but I don't think we really got our money's worth.  The cloth robes obfuscate the rather nice sculpt, and are a little too clean.  Soft goods work great for prequel Yoda since he's not a mud hobo, but this version should be a little dirtier or more torn up - and for the money, I have to assume it could be done.  It just wasn't.  The robes fit fairly well if you're patient, but I'm not, and I kind of want my figures to look good before I open the card - I'm not a carded collector... but I feel for those of you who are.

New fans will probably love it - it's a nice Yoda!  Those of us who have bought over 20 Yodas may look at this and prefer older ones, despite the fact Hasbro did make something quite good here.  The sideburns on Yoda look a little funky - it seems they painted bare skin and not sculpted hair - but maybe it's just mine.  If you've got money to spare, the combination of Yoda and Luke is pretty good and worth a look.  Luke in particular is a milestone that fans will likely be mad Hasbro won't reach for again - it's so obviously someone pulling out all the stops, while Yoda seems like someone pulled out a couple of stops.  There's nothing really terrible about this Yoda beyond the price and the baggy backpack - the figure's good, the accessories all fit, and it's friggin' Yoda.  It doesn't matter if you hate him - if he hits stores, casual fans will buy it if you pass.

Collector's Notes: This figure started shipping from online toy stores late in June 2014.  At press time I have not heard of him showing up in big box shops.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,086: July 1, 2014

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,031: Yoda

YODA with Yoda's Jedi Attack Fighter
The Yoda Line Class I Vehicles
Item No.: Asst. A0918 No. A0922
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Jedi Attack Fighter, cane, lightsaber, booster seat, Super Battle Droid, cloth robes
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: January 2013
Appearances: n/a

Bio: Yoda pilots an attack fighter to blast Super Battle Droids. The fighter is designed for hyperspace capability, which allows the Jedi Master to fly across the galaxy on solo missions. The craft's compact size and two missile launchers make it an ideal attack ship for Yoda to use in battle against the ever-present Battle Droid army. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: Many people have told me I'm a bad person for finding this Yoda figure to be charming despite its flaws.  Yes, I know the very idea that Yoda needs an attack vehicle goes against most of what we perceive his character to be, but I think it's funny - sort of like that quasi-bandit version from 2003.  He has jointed wrists, hips, elbows, and a moving neck plus cloth robes, a cane, and a lightsaber.  The head communicator gear is non-removable, but it's fitting given most "pilot" figures.  His eyes are a little big, had Hasbro made smaller black dots I think this would be a more widely accepted figure.  Oh, and his cloth robes are a little big, but they tend to be at this scale.

The figure is similar to many Yodas in the marketplace, specifically from Revenge of the Sith as you've got ball-jointed shoulders.  His tiny hands can grip his accessories just fine, but it's hard to get beyond the fact that they really, really are tiny.  He has no problem sitting in his vehicle (thanks to a booster seat) and as such, it meets my criteria for being a good figure.  I don't need it to be great - just make it so it can play well, and I won't complain too much.  It seems durable and I appreciate that the new head makes it unique, although the main reason I like this figure is really because the set as a whole is a lot of fun.  The droid dome, vehicle, and robot victim all come together to make a nice package.

Collector's Notes: The set is most likely being sold at a store near you right now. Go get one!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,031: March 27, 2013

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

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

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

Image: Adam's photo hole.

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

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

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,964: December 24, 2012