Figure of the Day: Day 815: Clone Trooper (Animated)

CLONE TROOPER Rocket-Firing Launcher!
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87638 No. 87660
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: No. 5
Includes: Blaster, rocket, rocket launcher
Action Feature: Rocket-firing launcher
Retail: $7.99
Availability: July 26, 2008
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: Clone troopers put up an unrelenting defense against the hordes of battle droids that are pouring into the B'omarr monk monastery. The intrepid troopers are keeping the enemy at bay so that Anakin and Ahsoka can rescue Jabba's kidnapped son. The clone troopers use their blasters and thermal detonators with skill, focusing exclusively on ensuring that the mission is a success. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: After seemingly exhausting the potential for new Clone Trooper repaints, Hasbro has been gifted with a new Clone Trooper mold based on the new CG movie and television series. I must say I was extremely down on the idea of another stylized line of figures at first, as the notion of re-re-rebuying characters is getting old. Hasbro has once again proven that they make a great product, and this release is actually really good. Rather than doing another white trooper, Hasbro is trying yet another kind of dirt experiment, this time using a process similar to that used on CZ-4 in 2007. The result is a dirty figure with an even, unique level of battle damage. In case you didn't catch that, this means every single Clone Trooper figure has a unique paint job. Some have extra splotches, some don't. If you line up a dozen of them, each one is just a little bit different. This is great from an army builder's perspective, but I can imagine there are a few fans whose heads just exploded.

Taking what they learned from the 2008 Commander Gree figure, this Clone Trooper has superior-- but not perfect-- articulation. The hips are still fairly weak and aren't easily able to sit, sadly, but it does have the enhanced wrist joints which allow for better aiming of his weapons. Included is a battle-worn blaster and a rocket-firing launcher, so you've got one normal weapon for adult fans who hate big goofy blasters, and a big goofy blaster for the kids. Since the figure has 14 points of articulation, Hasbro managed to succeed in creating a figure that, assuming nobody has a problem with the style, should appeal to all audiences fairly equally.

Oh, and he has an over-the-shoulder rocket launcher that works pretty well. I'd say you should get one, and don't throw away the extra gun-- it's going to be useful if you plan on building some armies.

Collector's Notes: As a new mold with great articulation and seemingly infinite damage variants, this should keep fans busy for a while. It wouldn't surprise me to see some genuinely astonishing armies as a result. Due to the package design, it seems it may be difficult to find mind samples of this line.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 815: July 29, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 814: Death Star Gunner

DEATH STAR GUNNER Battle of Endor
The Saga Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 84121
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #041
Includes: Helmet, armor, blaster, stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Summer 2006
Appearances: Star Wars and Return of the Jedi

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen floor.

Bio: The immense weaponry of the Imperial fleet was operated by these highly skilled gunners. They were easily recognizable in their large, distinctive helmets, which were designed to protect them from the dangerous flashback of turbolaser batteries. Accustomed to the vast power under their control, they operated with smooth, calm precision, even during the fiercest battles. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: Fans like to throw the word "controversial" around, to give figures and their hobbies more importance. The Death Star Gunner would fit the bill because, for about five minutes, fans expressed low levels of concern that this release had a clone's head under his removable helmet. Unlike the 1997 release, Hasbro designed this figure to try to be all things to all fans. It has removable armor, so you could basically get it to look like his Return of the Jedi or Star Wars appearances. The figure has a great level of detail, and being reasonably recent, fits in well with the line as a whole.

Given all the bells and whistles Hasbro put into the accessories and the sculpt of the toy, it's almost a crying shame they didn't spend the additional nickel and make it perfect. It has 12 points of articulation, making it almost super articulated. It's missing ankles, and the elbows are swivel joints and not ball joints. The unfortunate thing is that because of these minor shortcomings, a lot of fans online have written this figure off, but this is OK as there will be no pleasing those individuals. The figure can sit, stand, and be posed quite nicely, making it one of Hasbro's better releases over the past few years. It isn't perfect, but it's so good you probably won't care all that much. Get one if you don't already have one, it's a great addition to your growing Imperial navy.

Collector's Notes: This figure was the first-ever trooper from the original trilogy to be made as a toy featuring the face of a Clone Trooper. At first, fans were arguing if it was supposed to be a clone or not-- eventually, additional similar figures satisfied the argument. This particular Gunner was rereleased in 2007 as part of a Kmart exclusive tin set that nobody wanted which also featured R4-I9, Darth Vader, and a Scout Trooper. (Actually, it's a great set, it's just stuff we probably mostly have by now.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 814: July 28, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 813: Captain Tarpals

CAPTAIN TARPALS with Electropole
Episode I Collection 3
Item No.: Asst. 84105 No. 84121
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Armor, pole arms
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Summer 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Image: Adam Pawlus' living room on some step thing.

Bio: A military leader with little patience for the exploits of Jar Jar Binks, Captain Tarpals helped lead the Gungan Army against the invading trade Federation forces. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: Like many figures released including a movie launch window, like some you no doubt bought recently, Captain Tarpals cardback is pretty vague. Of course, when we all saw the movie, we found out there wasn't much to his character other than to act as a competent foil to Jar Jar Binks with the added benefit of amphibious facial hair, for lack of a better description. With six points of articulation, this isn't a remarkable toy, and it's about on par of what you'd expect prior to the year 2000 when it comes to figures from the saga. The armor is nicely detailed, the face is painted well enough, and there's a lot of color in his costume. It's just that it's not exciting. He can hold his weapon with both hands, and yeah, there's some neat coloring on the arms and armor. Since the figure is basically Jar Jar with a nicer head and less annoying personality, there's not a lot to go on about here. Do you like how it looks? Get one. Or get the 2004 version with jointed knees, if you're feeling saucy.

Collector's Notes: This particular Tarpals was around briefly in 1999 and then was removed from the line. No rereleases of this figure exist but a retooled and repainted version with knee joints was sold in a Toys "R" Us exclusive gift set in 2004. Go get that one, as it's worth your money, even at a slight premium. (The set has a Battle Droid, Tarpals, a new Kaadu, a Battle Droid, a Gungan Warrior, and a Naboo Security figure. A good deal, surely, especially for its initial $20 asking price.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 813: July 27, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 812: Shaak Ti

SHAAK TI Jedi Master
Saga Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87429
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0210
Includes: Blast effect, Lightsaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: April 2008
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: Shaak Ti is a powerful Jedi Master. Her highly refined Jedi skills are extremely useful in the battle against Count Dooku and the super battle droids. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: A very hard figure to get upon release in 2002, particularly in the U.K., this statue of a Shaak Ti figure got a brief surge of popularity until people realized it wasn't all that great. Posed so she basically can't be more than a statue, this colorful, well-painted, nicely sculpted release looks awesome on your desk. It's also a terrible toy, as it's basically a salt shaker with arms, but due to the leg poses she also has a habit of falling over. Aside from the two shoulder joints, her articulation is pretty worthless. This is a figure you should buy purely based on looks, or your desire to own a blaster deflection bolt. She can't sit, or be placed in vehicles-- she's just for looks. Hasbro's attention to deco means that she looks good, with lots of little color markings on her robes, striking salmon colored skin, lovely stripes on her head, and great face paint-- which is important. The 2005 was significantly better overall, so if you don't feel the need to own them all, you can skip this one. Unfortunately, it's somewhat cheap, and it shows.

Collector's Notes: Jedi tend to sell very well, and this one was no exception. Until saturation hit, at which time people stopped caring. She isn't hard to get, so if you want her, try to pay $5 or less- any more than that and odds are you'd be sorry.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 812: July 26, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 811: 501st Legion Trooper

501ST LEGION TROOPER Super Articulated
30th Anniversary Collection Saga Legends
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87429
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, coin
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Early 2008
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: These highly trained tactical ops clone troopers accompany Darth Vader on a mission to destroy the Jedi. Vader and the troopers storm the Jedi Temple and, with crack marksmanship and coordinated team maneuvers, quickly eliminate the Jedi inside. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: After years of broken promises, the 501st Legion Trooper finally saw release with super articulation in early 2008. A Saga Legends 501st Trooper on an identical package was sold in 2007, but was based on a different mold with different articulation. The one we're looking at today has 14 points of articulation, and a number of ball joints giving the figure the best range of movement you can hope for on a currently available member of the 501st. It also has the exact same paint job as the previously released one, so it may be tough to spot which is which since there are few distinctive characteristics. (Basically, look for a chin on a carded figure-- this one doesn't have a removable helmet.) There's not much to say about the mold that hasn't been already said, so thanks Hasbro for getting this one out at the last minute.

Collector's Notes: Originally shown to fans at Comic-Con 2005, this super-articulated figure took its time getting out. The clone took three years and two botched releases to make it to the shelves, which was probably for the best-- it's allowed Hasbro to make different versions of this particular trooper, which also sold really well. So from a business perspective, it made sense to push this back, but most signs point to a factory SNAFU as the result of the delay. Today, the figure can still be found in some stores because Hasbro shipped it at a very generous 3 per case, essentially a 25% chunk of a case. Lovely!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 811: July 25, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 810: Lt. Lerpia

LT. LEPIRA Y-wing Fighter Pilot
30th Anniversary Collection Toys "R" Us Exclusive
Item No.: No. 87431
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, droid, Y-wing fighter
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $29.99-$34.99
Availability: Summer 2007
Appearances: Star Wars

Image: Adam Pawlus' box mock-up for the Elite Forces set.

Bio: Rebel pilot Lieutenant Lepira flies Gold Four, the point Y-wing for Gold Squadron at the Battle of Yavin, but is shot down during that pivotal battle. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Commentary: Fans of the Rebel Pilots frequently beg Hasbro to just make more-- even if it's just an old body with a new head. Lt. Lepira, some kid with a mullet, is one such figure. With the 2004 Dutch Vader body, this figure sports a new head and a pretty boring helmet. Most fans will get this one just because they wanted the excellent vehicle with which he was packed, but let me tell you, this guy rocks a mullet like no other. (Seriously, no other Star Wars figure has hair like this. I've got pretty much all of them, so I can be sure.) It may seems stupid to advise you buy a figure because of its hair, but the figure is pretty nondescript otherwise. It has the same too-tall orange flight suited body, the same lack of arm articulation, and yet another dumb look on his face. While not remarkable, it's certainly distinctive. Because of this, I can safely say it's worth snagging just because it's so greatly goofy, plus it's nice to have a few more Rebels. Even if they all basically do look the same.

Collector's Notes: This figure is probably still available at a Toys "R" Us near you-- the ship, while awesome, proved fan demand and even kid interest in vehicles doesn't always mean you'll make a sale when double or triple-dipping a vehicle mold at a price they didn't consider fair. Yet the red-striped TIE Interceptor from last year sold through and the Y-Wing was a much better item for the money, so what do I know?

--Adam Pawlus

Day 810: July 24, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 809: Galactic Marine

GALACTIC MARINE Clone Trooper
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87234
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #3002
Includes: Blaster rifle, backpack, helmet, coin
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Early 2007
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: Clad in armor and uniforms designed to maximize combat efficiency in hostile environments, the Galactic Marines are the Republic’s front line forces and often take on the most formidable opponents. After the issuance of Order 66, a squad of these troopers betrays and shoots down Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi on Mygeeto. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: One of the more requested figures from the third prequel, the Galactic Marine first gained fame by appearing under a different name, with slightly different coloring, in the super-popular Battlefront games. This version is specifically based on the movie, and it seems pretty accurate. (Nevermind the fact there are at least 3 different deco jobs on this mold based on this particular suite of colors.) This maroon Mygeeto trooper is essentially super-articulated, but as usual, there's a bit of a barrier in his waistcoat. That thing isn't going to let the figure sit, so it's a bit clunky. Due to the figure's feet, the Galactic Marine may have difficulty standing without additional support from a stand or a wall. (The soles are slightly rounded, you see.) His armor is nicely painted, with loads of scrapes and filthy details, and he's got a removable helmet. Hasbro basically went out of their way to achieve near-perfection on the first try, but would a cloth piece around his waist be too much to ask so that he can sit? Aside from this, it's a strong release with 14 points of articulation.

Collector's Notes: Made in big numbers, fans should be able to get lots of these easily. The same figure was slightly repainted for the Mygeeto Battle Pack and the Battlefront sets, plus was totally repainted for a Wal-Mart exclusive comic pack and a Target exclusive Order 66 pack. It's been busy!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 809: July 23, 2008

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 795: Oochee the Ewok

OOCHEE Battle of Endor
30th Anniversary Collection Target Exclusive Battle Pack
Item No.: Asst. 87565 No. 87567 
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Spear, hood
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $49.99
Availability: November 2007
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Bio:  Oochee was an Ewok warrior who, as far as can be told, did not exist by name until some point after 2000.  Research showed a single notation of the figure on a French-language site focusing on Star Wars role playing, but until this figure was in stores there were no references to the character as an Ewok.  As such, it can be assumed that Hasbro invented the character, or discovered a background character which had to be named by Lucasfilm prior to its release.  (By me.)

Commentary: What's odd about Oochee is how he came to be.   The body of the figure is that of Logray, released in 1998.  The mold was given Wicket's hood, and all were painted black-- and presto, new figure.  There's no real reason Hasbro couldn't  have done this figure a decade sooner, but they waited, and now  here it is.  In an effort to make the Endor exclusive set he came in exciting, this figure managed to capture collector attention in that it was a legit new character and not "guy you have with grass stains."  The downer about all of that is our little furry friend has but five points of articulation, and is rather tall compared to Ewoks released in and after 1996 like Chirpa, Romba, and Graak.  Still, it stand to reason some taller, huskier Ewoks exist so it's not like this figure is totally out of place with the rest of your collection in terms of scale.  It's just obvious that he's a little different, is all.  He's still awesome.

Collector's Notes: To date, the figure has been released only as a Target exclusive in 2007 and is one of few Ewoks to debut as (and so far, not change from) a store exclusive.  The boxed set itself is really quite stunning as a gift set, as a collectible, and as an example of Hasbro's work in creating excellent packaging.  You should get one.  Oochee and his oddly colored companion Wicket are reasons enough to purchase this set.  Yes, even at the high price.  Do it.

Memo from the Future: In October of 2012, Hasbro made a similar new Ewok named Wunka which is an AT-ST hijacker which looks very similar to this one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 795: July 9, 2008

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 789: Garindan (1997 Debut)

GARINDAN Long Snoot
Power of the Force Collection 3
Item No.: Asst. 69705 No. 69706
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Summer 1997
Appearances: Star Wars

Image: Adam Pawlus' mousepad.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Bio: Garindan's eyes were hidden beneath dark goggles, as they were extremely sensitive to the harsh sunlight of Tatooine. His name translates to "Blessed One", "burnt wood", "dust from a windstorm", "ugly", and "toast" in five different languages. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Commentary: It took 20 years for Kenner to crank out the very first Garindan action figure, and for its day, it was pretty good-- it also signaled the start of a new, bad direction for the toys. With a cloak, a communicator molded into his hand, and a nicely detailed face, fans gobbled this figure up, even though it wasn't colored totally correctly. With the little comm to contact Sandtroopers and a gun of his own, he was a welcome addition to the line and a much-needed new face for the Cantina or the streets of Mos Eisley. Unfortunately, Hasbro gave him a non-removable cloak which prevented him from sitting, or really doing much of anything but standing there. Arm articulated was restricted by this plastic garment, which effectively reduced his number of points of articulation to about two or three, depending on what you consider acceptable. More a statue than a toy, the figure showed signs of good design marred by one bad accessory which can ruin the whole thing. Still, fans as a whole liked it (myself included) so it's hard to complain too much.

Collector's Notes: This figure saw rerelease in 1998 with a Freeze Frame Action Slide bonus, and an entirely new Garindan figure was released in 2007. The 2007 release is arguably superior in almost every way, so if you want Garindan, I suggest you get the new one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 789: July 3, 2008