Figure of the Day: Day 338: Plo Koon

PLO KOON Jedi Master
Revenge of the Sith Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 85174 No. 85289
Number: III-16
Includes: Lightsaber (removable blade), display base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.24-$6.99
Availability: April 2005
Appearances: The Prequels

Bio: Jedi Master Plo Koon is a meber of the Jedi Council and comes from a long line of Jedi. Serving as a General in the Clone Wars, he leads a battalion of clone troopers against Separatist forces. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Toy Shelves.

Commentary: Hey, Hasbro got it right! (More or less.) After three other figures, this version of Plo Koon is the best yet-- while it's by no means perfect, it's very, very good. It has wrist articulation, elbow articulation, knee articulation, pretty much everything you could possibly want-- except that the joints are somewhat non-standard when compared to his contemporaries from the Jedi council, like Ki-Adi-Mundi and Shaak-Ti. The figure is, as stated, the best Plo Koon you can buy, but he doesn't have a way to attach his lightsaber to his belt, doesn't have super-crazy-awesome articulation, and doesn't have any extra... extras. Sure, it has ball-jointed shoulders, but the "skirt" keeps the legs from being perfect to pilot his Jedi Starfighter. His knee joints are squarish, clunky, and not too aesthetically pleasing. It's unfortunate that this figure is just a few hairs shy of being perfect-- it's not bad, it's just that Hasbro left the door wide open to do another, even better release in the future. Don't let my comments keep you from buying this figure, if you can find it. It's worth owning. But the elbow joints could be better, the sculpt could be stronger, and yes, there could be more accessories.

Collector's Notes: To date, this is the definitive Plo Koon. There was one with his Jedi robes for Power of the Jedi, a version for the Geonosis Battle from Attack of the Clones in the first Saga line in 2002, and a retooled version of the 2002 figure-- in 2004-- for the Jedi Council sets. Unless you count the Expanded Universe, there's really not all that much left to do for this cyborg-looking alien Jedi, outside of a popular concept sketch featuring the Jedi Master with more battle-gear and a double-bladed Lightsaber gauntlet. Personally, that's as high on my want list as most new characters-- it's just a really cool, really fun looking concept.

Day 338: April 9, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 337: Takeel (Snaggletooth)

TAKEEL Cantina Aliens
Power of the Force Cinema Scene Collection
Item No.: Asst. 84305 No. 84059
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster (not shown)
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Fall 1998
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Their remote location makes the spaceports of Tatooine havens for many suspicious travelers from across the galaxy. At the Mos Eisley spaceport, Chalmun's Cantina is a popular hangout for the rough crowd and deadly violence breaks out on a daily basis. Takeel, a Snivvian, is known to dabble in bounty hunting and smuggling. The horned Devaronian Labria calls himself an "information broker", though his information is questionable at best. No one knows for sure what the Morseerian known as Nabrun Leids looks like underneath his breath mask, which he must wear in all non-methane environments. The former fighter pilot will fly anyone or anything anywhere, if the price is suitable. These kinds of patrons have helped make Tatooine's spaceports famous as a wretched hive of scum and villainy. In the days before the Galactic Empire, the spaceport of Mos Espa hosted many similar characters. From the outdoor markets to the junk shops--overseen by the gambling crimelords, the Hutts--Mos Espa was a place where a nine-year old boy like Anakin Skywalker could learn the ways of the universe. (Taken from the Cantina Aliens box.)
Image: Adam Pawlus' Toy Shelves.

Commentary: The various figures known in some form or another as "Snaggletooth" have caused a bit of confusion over the years, confusing fans as to their appearances (or non-appearances) in the movies and the origins of what were initially thought of as "error" figures. But those are usually named "Zutton." Takeel here can be clearly spotted in the original film, assuming you have widescreen copies of the films handy, it's also a fairly simple figure. In the movie, the images clearly show a little more grey skin (or at least from the lighting they do) while this action figure seems to be a little more on the side of albino. The figure has six points of articulation and a blaster, and is nothing to sneeze at-- it's just an oddly colored figure from almost a decade ago that, sadly, needs a little retouching in the paint department. He's still a solid figure, and the first modern "Snaggletooth," which lead a lot of fans to (incorrectly) think he was the only such creature in the Cantina over the years. Thankfully, we all know there are quite a few in the entire saga, and this is just one of many. (There were also Snivvians in Cloud City and Jabba's Palace, neither of which have yet been made as toys, sadly.)

Collector's Notes: This figure originally (and exclusively) shipped in a 3-pack with Nabrun Leids and Labria in 1998. In 2007, heavily repainted versions of those other two aliens were released as Wal-Mart exclusives-- perhaps Takeel isn't going to be far behind?

Day 337: April 8, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 336: Barada

BARADA Jabba's Skiff Guards
Power of the Force Cinema Scenes Collection
Item No.: Asst. 84035 No. 84061
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, display base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Fall 1998
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Barada was a Klatooinian who served as chief mechanic for Jabba the Hutt's sail barge Khetanna. He was one of the most loyal and hardworking of Jabba's servants and his loyalty would last until his death at the battle at the Great Pit of Carkoon. (Stolen from Wookieepedia)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Toy Shelves.

Commentary: There's a bit of hubbub about this figure. Since the original figure in about 1984, the alien action figure with this face was marketed as Barada, but the name has been applied to other aliens of his species known as the Klatooinians. So if this is Barada, when will we see the red-pants alien from the vintage line, if ever? (Who, by the by, is known as Kithaba these days?) It's a big argument in fan circles, or at least some of them. For the sake of this article, though, we're going to ignore them and just look at this figure.

Made in 1998, this figure was the victim of Hasbro's attempts to make figures look more dynamic and gritty-- as you can see, the figure's head, belt, and hands are the victim of some sort of horrible paint wipe process. The figure's sculpt is decent, and with six points of articulation he's nothing to sneeze at. Unfortunately, the attempt to paint this figure is so awful that it's hard to look at this figure as being especially good, even with this in mind. Why on Earth would there be the same green wiped on the skin, hands/gloves, belt, and headband? It doesn't make any sense. The figure's costume is great, the shirt and pants are sculpted well and painted appropriately. If you like the unique paint decoration on the head-- and I absolutely don't-- you should probably go buy this one, as it appears in two multipacks released nearly 5 years apart. Obviously, Hasbro liked it enough to crank it out twice with no significant changes before a third release in 2006 gave it a better paint job, leaving some fans pleased with the upgrade while others were irritated that we didn't get Kithaba or an all-new sculpt instetad.

Collector's Notes: A nearly identical (or for the purposes of this column, completely identical) Barada figure was sold in the Skirmish at Carkoon multipack in 2003 (and beyond) at Toys "R" Us. In 2006, this mold was heavily repainted and it looks, well, less crappy. If you have the chance to buy the newer Saga Collection release, I advise you to get it. The original 1998 version was packaged in a three-pack with Klaatu and Nikto action figures.

Day 336: April 7, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 335: Chewbacca (Boushh's Prisoner)

CHEWBACCA Boushh Prisoner
The Saga Collection
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 85805
Number: 005
Includes: Metal chain, display stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: January 2006
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: The mighty Chewbacca has been "captured" and taken to Jabba's Palace. Jabba quickly realizes that his capture is a mere ploy to free Han Solo from carbonite. Jabba orders Chewbacca and his friends to be executed, but Luke Skywalker has other plans. Chewbacca helps his friends defect Jabba and saves Han and Lando Calrissian from their doom, proving once again that he is a fearless Wookie warrior! (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Toy Shelves.

Commentary: Hasbro loves to find a new way to use an old mold-- and this particular Chewbacca mold has been used many, many times. (More on that later.) This release is unique in that it includes a metal chain for it pretending to be Boushh's captive prisoner, but otherwise isn't really all that new. The decoration is the same as the previous release, more or less, and the figure includes no weapons. You get a Wookiee, a chain, and a display base-- and that's it. Sure, it's a figure with 7 points of articulation, and yes, it's a very tall and properly scaled Chewbacca, but still, there's not much for him to do other than stand there. Also, Chewie in the movie doesn't look quite like this-- his hair is a little different, and the chain around his neck is over, not under, most of the fur. As this is the second version of a "Boushh's Prisoner" Chewbacca, one might hope it would be good enough to be the final. Sadly, there's still room for improvement, but it's better than the 1998 version.

This figure goes very well with the 2007 version of Leia in Boushh Disguise, but if you don't have that figure, you really don't need this new Chewbacca figure at all.

Collector's Notes: This mold has been used many, many times before. In 2001, it was packaged with goggles, a torch, and the monniker "Millennium Falcon Mechanic." And then it was repackaged several times. In 2004, the figure was packaged along with a carry case, a Millennium Falcon, and in some cases had added accessories like a display base. It was redecorated in late 2006/early 2007 in "Marvel Comics colors" which, most fans hope, will be the final use of this mold.

Day 335: April 6, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 334: Leia Organa (General)

LEIA ORGANA General
Power of the Jedi Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84445 No. 84642
Number: n/a
Includes: Blasters
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Fall 2000
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: A princess on her homeworld of Alderaan, Leia Organa is a strong-willed woman of action. After Alderaan was destroyed by the first Death Star, she became a full-time member of the Rebel Alliance. She is dedicated to putting an end to the Empire's reign of tyrrany. (Taken from the figure's Force File.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Toy Shelves.

Commentary: For whatever reason, Hasbro and Kenner haven't exactly gone out of their way to make figures from parts of Return of the Jedi that weren't in the first 30 minutes. It took years to get out a decent carded Scout Trooper, Ewoks have been largely ignored, and you can forget about a lot of pilots and vehicles-- of course, Hasbro has since made up for a lot of this with unusual releases like General Leia Organa, a figure that's the third stage of evolution for a figure that started life in 1997. Originally, this figure started life as a pack-in to a Speeder Bike. Then, in 1998, Kenner retooled it to be a Toys "R" Us exclusive packed with a collector's coin. In 2000, Hasbro took that 1998 body, put the Hoth Leia head on it, took away the poncho, and blammo-- new figure. It more or less works, but it retained the enormous "crotch piece" for the lower waist that looks really, really awkward and wasn't a problem when it was covered by the poncho. With 6 points of articulation, the figure isn't anything special-- but hey, it's a costume that hasn't been available on an individual card before this release, so kudos to the toymakers for realizing that you can sell the same figure if you add or remove an accessory. It's worth getting for your Endor Bunker dioramas.

Collector's Notes: This figure was a "kitbashed" release and one of three figures made as an initiative to make Power of the Jedi more trilogy-focused than prequel-focused in a hurry as Hasbro decided that, after about a year of Episode I, that the line had to be shelved. The others were the Mon Calamari Officer and K-3PO, both excellent figures in their own right. General Leia can be had for about $5 or so, and goes along well with General Solo, General Madine, and General Calrissian. Boy, they sure have a lot of generals in the Rebellion, don't they?

Day 334: April 5, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 333: Holographic Luke Skywalker

HOLOGRAPHIC LUKE SKYWALKER Jabba's Palace
Saga Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84715 No. 84745
Number: 0411
Includes: Lightsaber, Base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: March 2004
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: As part of the plan to rescue Han Solo, Luke sent the two droids, R2-D2 and C-3PO, to the palace of Jabba the Hutt. R2-D2 played a holographic message to Jabba in which Luke requested an audience with the infamous crimelord and, to prove his sincerity, asked the Hutt to accept the two droids as gifts. While the nervous C-3PO was startled at this news, it was all part of Luke's plan to put everyone in position for the planned rescue attempt. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Toy Shelves.

Commentary: The funny thing about Holographic Luke Skywalker is that it's a repaint, and the mold on which it was based was released in the wave prior to this one. This almost instant release silenced requests for a holographic version before they could start, but it's just odd to go to a store and see regular and holographic figures at the same time. I love the concept, and the figure has excellent articulation-- however, its paint kinda sucks in the head department. There tends to be a lot of stray paint, and the clear plastic doesn't photograph too well. It doesn't look all that great in person, either, but the "translucent" (barely) plastic used for the costume looks great. It's obviously a great attempt, but the head paint brings this figure down a few pegs. The lightsaber is an unnecessary accessory, but since this figure is a straight repaint and doesn't offer much new to fans, it's pretty obvious that Hasbro felt they had to toss in some form of extra to get people to buy this.

Collector's Notes: This wasn't the world's strongest seller, but diorama fans would be well-served to buy this one. Just turn him so he faces Jabba and away from you, and it's a pretty good release. Pay careful attention to the paint on the head, even the hair-- it's the one area where most samples of this figure fall short.

Day 333: April 4, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 332: Bossk

BOSSK Executor Meeting
Saga Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84715 No. 84772
Number: 0418
Includes: Rifle, Base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Spring 2004
Appearances: Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Darth Vader hired six of the galaxy's most elite bounty hunters to track down the Millennium Falcon and her Rebel crew. Bossk was one of the hunters selected by Vader aboard the Executor after the Battle of Hoth. A towering reptilian Trandoshan and skilled predator, Bossk was a fearsome and heavily armed tracker. He was frequently bested by rival bounty hunter Boba Fett, and was betrayed by hunters he hired in the search for the Falcon. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Toy Shelves.

Commentary: In the modern line, it's not often that a figure was made before 1999 that most fans felt never needed an upgrade-- but Bossk was one of these "perfect" figures. During its first release in 1997, it was pretty much exactly what it needed to be-- not too bulky, not awkwardly posed, and most important of all, not missing any major markings. This release from 2004 almost looks identical to the 1997 version, at first, except that the gun is different, Hasbro hid a few extra joints in it (12 in all), and it's not a bad figure. It doesn't have any straps hanging down to block his ability to sit, it doesn't have goofy articulation in places he doesn't need it that make him look all funky, he's just a good solid figure. It's really hard to say if it's a good thing or a bad thing for Hasbro to look at a great figure, and then attempt to redo it-- and it really doesn't look any better. Sure, it has more articulation, but unless you put the two-side-by-side, aside from the weapons, they aren't exactly as screamingly different as, say, new vs. old Dengar or Boba Fett or even Darth Vader.

Collector's Notes: This particular Bossk was never rereleased-- the 1997 version has been repackaged in at least two gift sets, including the 2005 Bounty Hunter Gift Set for Diamond/Previews. As such, if you want this version of Bossk, you'll need to get a carded sample. (That is to say, until Hasbro realizes they still have the mold and drop him in some new Battle Pack.) The best way to tell the 1997 version against the 2004 version at a glance is the mouth or the articulation-- the new version has extra arm and leg joints and an open mouth, while the older one has a closed mouth.

If you only buy one Bossk, this one is arguably the better of them. There's also a Titanium Series release which you might be able to find for pennies on the dollar in the clearance section of your local Wal-Mart or Target still. It wasn't exactly a popular item. But wait, there's more-- despite already releasing two perfectly good Bossk figures, Hasbro's going back to the well for a third brand new sculpt in 2007 with the 30th Anniversary Collection Vintage Line. This one is probably super-duper articulated, I guess. So I guess the new 2007 figure will be even less necessary than the 2004 one, that, or it just speaks volumes on the market for Bossk collectibles.

Day 332: April 3, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 331: Jabba the Hutt

JABBA THE HUTT Jabba's Palace
Saga Collection Ultra Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84716 No. 84740
Number: n/a
Includes: Rail, Pipe, Bowl, Food, Tongue
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Spring 2004
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: A loathsome slug of a gangster, Jabba the Hutt was the preeminent crimelord in the Outer Rim Territories. Basing his operations out of Tatooine, the Hutt had his pudgy fingers in a number of lucrative and unsavory rackets. He lived in an opulent if sand-scarred palace out in the Tatooine deserts. After the carbonite-frozen Han Solo was delivered to the Hutt, Han's friends attempted a rescue that seemed to end in failure in the Hutt's audience chamber. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Toy Shelves.

Commentary: As part of the obscenely popular (in theory) Ultra assortment, Jabba the Hutt was a source of much delight and much complaining. The figure was the first-ever Return of the Jedi Jabba figure in the modern line, but it was based largely on a sculpt of the 1999 "Jabba Glob" toy with some modifications. (For example, it's significantly tougher to pop off his head and have goo come out of his mouth.) The figure is one of the better Jabba toys on the market, but it's missing his trademark tattoo which even the vintage Jabba had on his arm (seriously, go look, you'll see it.) This new figure has excellent decoration but didn't quite hit all the marks for some fans. In some cases, the criticism was valid-- like the paint looking a little weird in places, or the fact that the figure was missing his trademark throne. Other criticism was, well, annoying-- OK, we get it, you're mad it wasn't a 100% new sculpt. And no, Jabba's not too short-- a common fan misconception is that Jabba the Hutt is this towering beast. If you look at the movie, most of his height comes from his throne, anyone standing on his level appears taller than he is. Anyway, where was I? Let's move on.

The figure was nicely accessorized-- you could take the included railing and put it on a vintage Jabba throne, or on the modern Jabba's Palace cardboard playset that Hasbro released a few years earlier. With Jabba's mouth being sculpted to accept... erm, items, you could have him smoke on his hookah or insert a special "tongue" accessory so it looked like he was thinking about his next meal. Since the figure was sculpted with more than a little drool (a feature I didn't care for), this is actually quite appropriate.

Collector's Notes: In 2004, Hasbro sold a number of Ultra figures, including repackaged deluxe figures of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Jango Fett. The rest of the line was mostly new figure-and-accessory sets, like a Wampa with part of an ice cave, C-3PO with an escape pod, Jabba's Court Denizens, General Rieekan with a big tactical screen, and an Ewok with a combat glider. The original idea was to have each series of figures in early 2004 tie in with the various Ultra figures, and for the most part, they did. Since they were first announced, fans clamored for more of these larger deluxe figures, but sadly Trilogy-based upsized figures haven't been sold in stores ever since.

Until Hasbro releases a new modern Jabba the Hutt, this figure from 2004 should be a required purchase to anyone interested in buying figures from Return of the Jedi. There are surprisingly few to be had on eBay, and at the going rate of about $20 shipped, it isn't a bad item-- but then again, I've got one, so you'll need to make the call on if this giant slug is worth $20, $10, or somewhere in between. Although I have to say, it's totally worth it for about $15.

Day 331: April 2, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 330: Death Star Gunner

DEATH STAR GUNNER Ka-blammo
Power of the Force Collection 1 or 3
Item No.: Asst. 69570 No. 69608
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster Pistol, Rifle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Fall 1996-1997
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Imperial gunners were members of the Imperial Starfighter Corps who manned the various weapons of the Empire's capital ships, military bases, and, most famously, the Death Stars. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' floor.

Commentary: There are two (at least) different versions of the Death Star Gunner in the films. This figure was based off of a design used in the original Star Wars, which was a little more ornate and featured armor on the chest. (The vintage release was based on Return of the Jedi, and the 2006 version tries to bridge the two versions with removable bits and pieces.) This one was pretty good, and many fans considered it to be one of the few very good figures from the early years of the modern line. Sure, it had six measly points of articulation, but it had glossy paint! It had armor! It had two guns! That's all kinds of awesome. With folds in the "cloth" bits and a decent pose, fans ate this one up while it was offered at retail-- and then it vanished. The price never really shot up, but it wasn't a very common figure.

Collector's Notes: This figure has a lot of documented variations, from the color of the cardback to stickers on the packaging and beyond. This sort of thing was really fascinating in 1996 when, in two years, Hasbro barely cracked 30 new modern action figures. Today, you'll be lucky to find any fans that care enough to pay any sort of a premium as far as pricing goes, and as such, you can add this one to your collection fairly cheaply.

Day 330: April 1, 2007