Figure of the Day: Day 80: Podracer Anakin Skywalker

ANAKIN SKYWALKER from Anakin Skywalker's Pod Racer
Episode I Vehicles
Item No.: Asst. 84020 No. 84097
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99-$29.99
Availability: May 3, 1999
Appearances: Episode I

Bio: The high speed, adrenaline-packed pod races in Mos Espa are immensely popular events for the local populace. The pilots of these pod racers must have lightning fast reflexes and nerves of plastisteel, especially for the Boonta Eve race at Mos Espa Arena. Here, Mos Espa's best maneuver through a perilous course that winds its way through narrow canyons and tunnels. Facing incredible odds and vicious competition, a victory for the young competitor Anakin Skywalker would make him Mos Espa's best pod racer. (Taken from the toy's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelf.

Commentary: Can you say Cornholio? This release of Anakin Skywalker is unique in that he's the only one to wear his distinctive crash helmet from the Boonta races, but also in that he has his arms at a bizarre 90-degree angle which resembles Beavis' alter-ego from Beavis & Butt-Head. His arms are posed this way so he can grasp the controls of the vehicle with which he's packed, but that doesn't mean it doesn't look downright weird otherwise. The figure has the typical six points of articulation, one of which is hampered by a "skirt" piece around his waist which restricts leg movement-- a real bad decision in design given this figure was created solely to be sold as a vehicle pilot that needs to sit down. The sculpt is good, based on other Anakin figures of the day, and his pose is about what it needs to be. The helmet sculpt is top-notch, and I hold out hope that Hasbro will revisit this feature with additional arm articulation, cloth around the waist, and new paint-- it's a marvelously sculpted figure, it just needs a little bit of tweaking and it'll be perfect.

Collector's Notes: This figure, packaged with his vehicle, is about as common as dirt. While many have asked for a reissue, we stand firm in saying that there's no need. Sealed box samples of this toy go for as little as $4 before shipping on eBay, and a rerelease would start at $20-$25, probably as high as $30 were it to be an exclusive. So be a smart shopper-- buy one on the secondary market! It's cheap, and you'll get one sent to your door. Even $4 for just Anakin's a pretty good deal.

Day 80: July 25, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 79: R2-D2

R2-D2 Naboo Escape
Power of the Jedi Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84445 No. 84259
Number: n/a
Includes: Force File
Action Feature: Rolls on wheels under the feet
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Summer 2000
Appearances: Everything, more or less

Bio: R2-D2 is a heroic, tenacious and extremely well-built astromech droid. Owned by the Royal House of Naboo, R2-D2 has been assigned to the Queen's Royal Starship because of his outstanding performance record. (Taken from the figure's Force File.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelf.

Commentary: When he first came out, this version of R2-D2, despite his lack of articulation, was considered to be the new favorite. He had the best sculpt, no weird "blue eye", no action features, and by and large he's still one of the best looking. His only articulation can be found at his dome and legs, so three joints aren't exactly a big improvement-- but he looks great! Look at that battle damage! And check out the proportions-- and the lack of chrome! In its day, this figure was one of the best, but it would eventually be trumped (in principle) by the Vintage edition in 2004-- although there's still a few fans that would say there's still room for improvement, and that room can be had with a redeco of the R4-G9 mold. But I digress. This figure is great in that it has wheels but by and large, as toys go, he's been lapped by subsequent R2-D2 figures. So at this point, we're sad to say unless you collect them all, you can pass on this one unless you want R2-D2 with no light-up features, in which case this one is the absolute best overall.

Collector's Notes: This figure was reissued a few times, albeit with a variation. In 2003, he was recarded on the blue Saga Collection without the battle damage, and in 2004, as part of the Original Trilogy Collection. He was almost the R2-D2 packaged with the Early Bird Kit in 2005, as early prototypes shipped with the "clean" version of this mold for some reason. He's quite easy to get, though, and for fans of R2-D2 who want them all, this is one well worth tracking down as it's simple and nicely done. Also notable: this figure was released in 2000, and Hasbro didn't release another new R2-D2 until 2002 for Attack of the Clones, which itself was a retooled POTF2 figure. The next all-new sculpt R2-D2 would be the questionable Droid Factory Flight version released in the beginning of 2003. For those keeping score, this means 2001 came and went with no R2-D2 figure in circulation except for the odd leftovers of this release.

Day 79: July 24, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 78: Hoth Rebel Soldier

HOTH REBEL SOLDIER with Survival Backpack and Blaster Rifle
Power of the Force Collection 2 (later Collection 1)
Item No.: Asst. 69605 No. 69631
Number: n/a
Includes: Backpack, rifle, later Freeze Frame Action Slide
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99-$5.99
Availability: Early 1997
Appearances: Primarily The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: The Empire has located the Alliance's secret headquarters on the Ice Planet Hoth. During the consequent invasion, Rebel Soldiers hold out bravely against an unbeatable ground assault until a retreat salvages their heroic effort. (Taken from the figure's cardback in 1998. The 1997 edition had no such bio.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelf.

Commentary: Early in the modern line, a wave of almost entirely Empire Strikes Back figures caused fans to jump for joy! Along with the Hoth Rebel Soldier, this assortment introduced Bossk, 2-1B, Luke in Hoth Gear, and the AT-ST Driver to the modern world. And by 2004, all of them would have been redone save for the droid. This figure, though, stands out as a unique release in that it was the first bearded Rebel Trooper figure, and that it was a very distinctive looking army builder-- usually, they were generic, and many assumed this was on purpose as it was easier to paint your own beards on rather than to take it away. (If you think a toy company designing toys with some customizing in mind is outlandish, check out this page at Yo Joe! from an old G.I. Joe newsletter. But I digress.) With six points of articulation, the figure's pose didn't lend itself to new and amazing diorama action, nor did it allow him to easily pilot vehicles. While big, bulky, and awkward, it was a strong seller and by and large did not become a poor seller like a lot of figures from this era.

Collector's Notes: In 2002, Hasbro slapped this figure's head on Hoth Luke's body to make a new Hoth Rebel figure-- neat! Upon release, fans noted this figure seemed to have a striking resemblance to the first modern Han Solo figures, although depending on how you squint, this is up for debate. This figure in this configuration was only available in 1997-1998, although new Hoth Rebels inspired by (and based on) this sculpt continued to be released for years to come. On the note of "figures from this era," Hasbro released a large number of figures from 1997 to stores yet again in 1998 with Freeze Frames, and by and large some fans bought-- others did not. The glut of Rancor Keepers and other figures from the day did a lot to hurt the line in the short term, of course everybody welcomed Star Wars back into retail with open and loving arms on May 3, 1999. And we all know how that turned out.

Day 78: July 23, 2006

Figure Of The Day: Day 77: Yoda

YODA
Original Trilogy Collection Vintage Collection
Item No.: Asst. 85213 No. 85237
Number: n/a
Includes: Cane, flute, snake
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 2004
Appearances: Primarily The Empire Strikes Back , Return of the Jedi

Bio: Celebrate the legendary Star Wars trilogy that changed the universe forever, with The Original Trilogy Collection. This collection brings to life the incredible story of good versus evil that captured our imagination and took us to a galaxy far, far away. The finest recreations of the iconic Star Wars heroes and villains are back with incredible detail and premium features to commemorate each epic tale in the Original Trilogy: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. And, as a tribute to the dedication of Star Wars fans everywhere, we are re-releasing elements of the original packaging that harken back to the creation of Star Wars action figures, which began over 25 years ago with the Original Trilogy. May the Force be with you! (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' "vintage" toy shelf.

Commentary: In 2004, Hasbro generously gifted the world with two Yoda action figures from The Empire Strikes Back. This was the more expensive of the two. With a removable cloth robe, loads of articulation, a good amount of accessories, and the distinction of being perhaps the only Yoda to have individually jointed legs in the modern line. As his cape's a smidge big, and his eyes are a little funny, a lot of fans felt they were being taken to the cleaners as another Yoda figure with less articulation and a plastic cape was going for only $4.99 at around the same time-- and was largely considered one of the best figures in recent memory. For the price and considering competing figures, this is a hard figure to justify buying given the original price, although for packaged collectors, this is a fine addition to any collection as it's a great tribute to a classic figure from days gone by. And Dagobah. Just because it's the most articulated Yoda ever does not mean it's the best.

Collector's Notes: While not especially hard to get, and by some perceived as a rip-off, this figure won't set you back a lot of green (ha ha) on eBay. He can easily be had for his original price, or in a lot of other figures from the Vintage waves at close-to-bargain prices. If the price is right, this should be bought-- go ahead and get one. But for the purposes of dioramas, you can do better as his arms sometimes fall off (and are easily fixed) in the bulk of his robes.

Day 77: July 22, 2006

Figure Of The Day: Day 76: Luke Skywalker

Jedi Knight LUKE SKYWALKER (from Tatooine Skiff)
Power of the Force Collection, Target Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 26457 No. 26458
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Fall 1999
Appearances: Primarily Return of the Jedi

Bio: Over the arid Western Dune Sea on Tatooine, Jabba the Hutt sentences his victims to be cast into the maw of the mighty Sarlacc, much to the raucous amusement of his palace minions. In the final attempt to escape from the clutches of the vile crime lord, the Rebel heroes launch a surprise attack. And so... the daring confrontation aboard the Tatooine skiff ignites! (Taken from the box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: In 1999, Hasbro cranked out its first "trilogy" vehicles without the Kenner name and one of the pack-in figures was this Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker, based on the popular 1999 redesign that was used and adapted with the Rancor, Complete Galaxy Tatooine, and to a lesser extent the Final Jedi Duel Luke. This figure was, at the time, seen as a pretty lousy improvement-- they managed to age Luke's hair, but his face was still fairly wide-eyed and the figure itself, with a then-whopping 9 points of articulation, didn't do a lot for fans. Jointed knees and wrists, at the time, were a bit of a novelty still. Today, the figure's appeal is pretty limited as the 2004 version of the costume is, by and large, much better assuming you got one with a good paint job. As a pack-in figure with the Skiff, it's a nice toy-- but nearly seven years later, it's a bit old-timey. It is, however, especially notable for the "blast mark" on Luke's hand where he got shot by one of Jabba's thugs on the Sail Barge.

Collector's Notes: Fun fact: the Skiff with Luke set was one of many items to be announced to everyone, even solicited with pricing, and pulled at the last minute to be an exclusive. (This happened again just last year with Plo Koon's Jedi Starfighter, also a Target only item.) Along with the Y-Wing, these were to comprise a brand new vehicle assortment. Sadly, Hasbro opted to give it to Target for whatever reason making these particularly tough to find. Upon their release, I remember seeing the Skiff exactly once and the Y-wing twice, which is a bit of a shame. Also, this was one of the first classic vehicles to come in a nifty window box. At the time of its release, fans were complaining a blue streak-- not just because it was hard to find, but because it came with "yet another" Luke figure and not a new member of Jabba's entourage. As an added shocker, this toy was immediately put on sale for, if I recall, $12.88 the week after most fans found it-- so to add insult to injury, not only couldn't you get it, but it was a damn good deal.

Day 76: July 21, 2006

Figure Of The Day: Day 75: Royal Guard

ROYAL GUARD Coruscant Sentry
Saga Collection Collection 2, Death Star Throne Room Battle Pack
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84831; Asst. 85837 No. 85839
Number: 0219
Includes: Force pike, energy blast
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99-$29.99
Availability: April 2002; Fall 2005
Appearances: Primarily Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, and Return of the Jedi

Bio: Imperial Royal Guards are so highly trained in deadly arts that their chosen weapon is not a blaster but a vibro-active force pike, which they use with lightning swiftness to inflict precise and lethal wounds. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' old computer desk. He's standing on a P&P Products display stand.

Commentary: Few figures have caused as much ire as the Royal Guard. In 1983, Kenner released a nearly perfect version of the figure, and in 1997, they released a giant bowling pin remake. (Not so good.) This is the second modern attempt, and #3, released in 2005, was considered to be the best modern one. But we're talking about the 2002 release here, which has 8 points of articulation (about half of which are meaningful) with a force pike and an energy accessory. You can't get a lot of poses out of this guy, but he does look really good just standing there. By no means perfect, it's a cheap figure that is excellent for dioramas, and so far, little else. It can't sit or really move around all that much but at least it makes a nice display piece.

Collector's Notes: Originally released in 2002, it was repackaged in the 2005 Death Star Throne Room Battlepack without the nifty energy bolt. You should get the carded version as it has more accessories and is otherwise the same. This is the best modern Royal Guard with a Force Pike. The best Royal Guard in terms of overall sculpt and articulation is the Revenge of the Sith one, but he doesn't have the exciting pool cue we've all come to love.

Day 75: July 20, 2006

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

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

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

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

Image: Adam Pawlus' computer, left monitor.

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

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

Day 74: July 19, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 73: Ten Numb

TEN NUMB Rebel Pilots
Power of the Force Cinema Scenes
Item No.: Asst. 64035 No. 84057
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, display base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Fall 1999
Appearances: Primarily Return of the Jedi

Bio: For generations, an evil power has spread throughout the galaxy. It began with Darth Sidious' sinister plot to conquer the planet Naboo and peaked with the Empire's domination of the galaxy. Throughout the era, brave starfighter pilots flew into space to fight this power. Naboo pilots braved impossible odds to save their planet from the superior forces of the Trade Federation. years later, X-wing pilot Wedge Antilles, B-wing Pilot Ten Numb, and A-wing pilot Arvel Crynyd were part of the assault on the second Death Star. Their success at the Battle of Endor released the iron grip on the galaxy. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelf. Shock.

Commentary: At one point, this was a highly sought-after set-- but after time, Ten Numb and his friends became more common and prices became reasonable. He was also decorated and reissued under a slightly different name, but today we focus on his first release. With 6 points of articulation, this little guy hasn't got a lot going for him outside his removable helmet and his status as a quasi-Expanded Universe figure. If you watch Return of the Jedi, you'll see this exact costume but in red during the Endor celebration. (The white outfit does not appear in the movie.) This has been an element of frustration for quite some time for me, as the character was on a trading card in 1983, but as he appeared (as far as I can tell) only in Star Wars Chronicles in this white outfit, he's never been "corrected" since. So we've seen Ten Numb as a Kubrick figure and more because of this, and he even starred in a comic book with his white outfit. Oh well, I guess. Maybe it's right and I'm wrong, but I prefer to point fingers at people who aren't me when I might be wrong, so I'm going with "way to go, Lucasfilm licensing!" (Seriously, they do a great job, this seems to be an error that snowballed in many different formats as he seemingly didn't appear in the movie in this color of suit.)

Collector's Notes: For Power of the Jedi, this mold was reused. A new white outfit Sullustian Pilot was created with black gloves and other minor changes, but at first glance, there's no difference. Ten Numb has never had another sculpt, nor was he ever released carded. He's a good figure though.

Day 73: July 18, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 72: Obi-Wan Kenobi

BEN (OBI-WAN) KENOBI Flashback Photo
Power of the Force Flashback Photo ; The Original Trilogy Collection Kmart Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 69680 No. 84037; No. 34527
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, Flashback Photo
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: December 1998-Spring 1999, Fall 2004
Appearances: Primarily Star Wars


Bio: Legendary among the heroes of the Rebel Alliance, Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi is regarded as one of the greatest Jedi Knights ever to have lived. As a young Jedi who had just completed his own training, Obi-Wan made a solemn pledge to train young Anakin Skywalker in the ways of the Force. Anakin became a Jedi but then turned to the dark side and became Darth Vader. Many years later, destiny would have an older and wiser Obi-Wan guiding Anakin's own son, Luke Skywalker, in the ways of the Force, and ultimately, in turning Vader back to the light side. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelf. Shock.

Commentary: In 1998, Hasbro released the first action figures under its brand name (everything was Kenner before) and cranked out a number of core characters under a "new style," which was supposed to transition to Episode I. Fans assumed this meant new packaging, but more articulation and better paint jobs were the order of the day when Hasbro released Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi at the tail end of 1998. The original POTF2 Obi-Wan had 6 joints, and this one added several in the arms to allow for dueling action. It's no surprise that this is one of the best classic Obi-Wan figures, nor is it a big surprise it was reissued in 2004 with the blue Snaggletooth and Ponda Baba. It holds up well and aside from the now-simple face paint, it's really a gorgeous figure. Sure, they can do better, but it stands well, has articulated wrists and elbows, and most important of all, is cheap. I can't think of a good reason for you to not own this figure, so go buy it as it's as good as you can expect this week.

Collector's Notes: A great figure, the secondary market treated this figures like most: poorly. It's dirt cheap, you can get one for about two bucks. It's worth it, too. This was the first-ever Obi-Wan action figure in the 3 3/4-inch scale with his hood up, a few have been made since but this is arguably the best of them.

Day 72: July 17, 2006