Figure of the Day: Day 1,356: Leia (Hoth Outfit)

LEIA Hoth Outfit
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 97568 No. 97570
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: VC02
Includes: Blaster, removable vest
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99-$9.99
Availability: June 2010
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Celebrate the legendary Star Wars saga that changed the universe forever! 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. Iconic Star Wars heroes and villains are captured with incredible detail and premium features to commemorate each epic tale in the Star Wars saga. May the Fore be with you! (Taken from the figure's packaging. There is no bio.)

Image: Adam's bathroom.

Commentary: When the pictures first got out it seemed pretty dull, but it turns out this new Leia is pretty good. Princess Leia Organa isn't super-articulated, but she's close. This finely sculpted figure has no ankle joints, but everything else moves about as good as you can reasonably expect. In addition to her puffy snow suit, she has some metal bits sculpted on and it looks like she would be right at home in a nice Hoth playset. (If you want one, I suggest getting either of the originals from Kenner in the 1980s.) If you have a big Millennium Falcon you should probably get her just to flesh it out, and then you can complain that there still isn't a top-notch Bespin Han to buy yet. Her hair is a little dark, and her skin is a little pale, but other than that our space princess seems to be basically the right color when compared to photography from the film. This figure is so much better than the 1998 one it isn't funny, so it's a clear improvement over any previous version of the character in this outfit. There isn't much else you can do with her that would be reasonable at this stage, so hey Hasbro-- good work! Who's next?

Collector's Notes: The figure hit in June 2010, but the street date was initially said to be August. (When I see it, is when it is out.) She's good enough to buy, so if you see her, grab one. According to some, she's one of the more popular new Vintage figures but at press time it isn't much of a challenge to grab them all.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,356: August 25, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,355: Clone Trooper Fives

FIVES Clone Trooper Rookie
The Clone Wars Wal-Mart Exclusive Clone Wars Rookies Packs
Item No.: Asst. 14657 No. 91914
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, blaster, Rex
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $12.88
Availability: August 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Commando droids overrun a clone trooper outpost manned by new recruits. By the time Captain Rex arrives, the troopers are either dead or have been forced to retreat from the outpost. Rex and the remaining troopers engage in a fierce battle to retake the outpost. Clone Trooper Fives watches in respectful awe as Rex marks one of the rookie troopers with the blood of a monstrous Rishi eeel to commememorate the trooper's valor. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: Hasbro has released fewer plain white Clones than I'd have expected, and Fives is one of the first ones to have a removable helmet. The body is the same clone body you're all used to, but the head is pretty interesting in that he actually has some distinctive facial markings. For starters, he has a little beard painted on, which is unusual for most clones so far. Second, he has a "5" on his head, hence the name. If you want distinctive clone characters, this is one to buy because, frankly, this is the only plain white clone with a unique face so far. Articulation is 14 points, the fancy wrists are here, and there's really no reason to not buy this one. Although if he comes out carded some day, odds are you don't need (but probably want) the eel blood-covered Rex that Fives comes with.

Collector's Notes: The figure sold well, but seemingly showed up at other places after Wal-Mart was done with it. So it's hard to tell if it was really a hit or not, but either way, it's worth your while to track down.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,355: August 24, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,354: Heavy Assault Super Battle Droid

SUPER BATTLE DROID Heavy Assault
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87638 No. 89470
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #11
Includes: Projectile
Action Feature: Firing rocket arm weapon
Retail: $7.99
Availability: August 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: These tireless, fearless droids are used in heavy infantry assaults, unleashing an unrelenting onslaught of firepower until the object of their attack is destroyed. They have integrated weapons, such as a built-in arm cannon, and are sometimes used as field officers in the droid army. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: Sometimes, repaints are pretty welcome. I'd say the Heavy Assault Super Battle Droid is one of the good ones. The coloring is pretty different than the previous releases, as he is lacking the dirt/damage paint and has a lighter grey painted on what amounts to the top of his body. There's also a swell faction logo on his arm which, I must confess, I don't know what it is as of yet. Maybe it's a spin on the Radioactive symbol. The newly tooled arm has a giant gun hand, and you can load a rocket in there and shoot it at your other toys. This is an honest-to-goodness fun toy, big and beefy and ready to knock down other action figures. He isn't super articulated but he's certainly good enough to buy if you dig his look... and dig knocking over other toys.

Collector's Notes: The figure didn't exactly perform terribly well, and depending on your stores you might find some sitting on the shelves. If they're cheap, I suggest you pick up a bunch of them while you can. It's a great figure and should be good in any toy box, diorama, or trade pile because they're neat.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,354: August 23, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,353: Rebel Trooper

REBEL TROOPER Tantive IV Defender
Saga Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. ???
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0254
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: January 2003
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: The Rebel Blockade Runner Tantive IV was on an urgent mission to Tatooine. Princess Leia Organa, armed with secret plans to the Death Star, was on her way to find General Obi-Wan Kenobi when the ship was attacked by an Imperial Star Destroyer. The heroic Rebel troopers were the last line of defense as the ship was boarded by Darth Vader and a platoon of Stormtroopers. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: In 2001, Hasbro told us we would get three head variants of the Rebel Trooper. Version 1 hit in 2001, versions 2 and 3 hit in early 2003. Better late than never, right? This new version has a new head, but the faces are pretty similar, so this would be "dark hair Saga variant" in my book. The other is a reddish, lighter brown. Designed with a molded-on helmet, the figure has articulation at the shoulders, wrists, hips, neck, knees, ankles, but not waist. Hasbro aped the style of the then-popular 21st Century Toys modern warefare action figures, giving this figure a pretty good ability to crouch without the use of the slightly more expensive ball joints we're used to today. While good at the time, a lot of modern fans outright hate these figures and complain incessantly that they need to be updated. Given that this body had a total of 5 different heads and a complete comic-style repaint, I'm pretty much done with wanting to ever see another version of this trooper, but I see their point. For army-builders or completeists only if you already have a Rebel Trooper, otherwise, I suggest you get at least one.

Collector's Notes: The figure was late, temporarily popular, and hard to identify. A lot of fans don't know there are two different heads on the Saga cardback because they share an essentially identical package. (I don't count date stamps. [And if you don't know what those are, that's good.]) Most of these are pretty cheap, but be sure to ask a lot of questions from the seller if you're looking for a specific version. This specific one has dark brown (almost black) hair, while the other, as stated above, is more red.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,353: August 20, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,352: Rocket Battle Droid

ROCKET BATTLE DROID with can opener
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87638 No. 87958
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #25
Includes: Blaster, launcher, rocket, rocketpack
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: Spring 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Some Battle Droids are supplied with jet backpacks, which enable them to navigate for short distances through the vacuum of space to board Republic ships during battle. Since they do not need oxygen, the droids are useful as part of raiding parties to infiltrate and capture ships. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: The Rocket Battle Droid was a pretty grim spin on the goofy Battle Droids. These red robots would fly through space looking for lost escape pods, cracking them open and causing the poor victims inside to be blown out into space. Unlike their cousins, they're pretty good at their job and they can afford to be goofy because they're so good at what they do. If they were worried, it probably would take them down a peg. The figure's body is the same as the basic 2008 Battle Droid, but it has a new head and a new backpack. The miner's helmet-style light on his head is pretty cool, and the rocket pack seems a lot neater than the big backpack with the antenna. The Rocket Battle Droid has 8 points of articulation, which isn't bad, and is generally a good release.

Collector's Notes: The figure was available on a blue card in early 2009 and a red card in late 2009 and 2010. The same figure was also repackaged for the Target Ambush at Ambregado set, in a slightly different shade of red. Either version is acceptable, I don't believe most fans will notice the difference. For the purposes of this column, we're not going to cover the other release.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,352: August 19, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,351: Rebel Trooper (Biker Scout Disguise)

REBEL TROOPER Shield Generator Assault
The Legacy Collection Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87752 No. 87779
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, Helmet, R2-D2, Han Solo, Imperial Officer
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: August 2008
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Some Rebel troopers disguise themselves in the uniforms of captured or fallen Imperial soldiers to infiltrate the enemy's position. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: The Endor Trooper in Biker Scout Disguise was actually a former Fan's Choice candidate, back when Hasbro told fans that, if made, they couldn't do a removable helmet because of the beard. How far we've come! This figure takes the super-articulated Scout Trooper body and gives him a new head plus the helmet. The paint job is slightly worse than an average Biker Scout, with some details like the soles of the boots being left unpainted. His midsection is also left plain white rather than being decorated in a cream color. Other than that, it's super articulated and awesome. Were this a carded figure, I'd strongly suggest buying it. It doesn't break a ton of new ground, but it's made from enough quality parts and is a decent enough idea that you should totally get the set.

Collector's Notes: The set itself is still findable in some markets. While Hasbro has not identified him as such, it appears this is in fact Nik Sant, a bearded Endor Rebel named for Santa Claus. That's how great imaginations are in Lucasfilm's naming camp. "Dude's got a beard? SANTA CLAUS."

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,351: August 18, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,350: Roth-Del Masona

ROTH-DEL MASONA vs. Geonosis Warrior
The Legacy Collection Geonosis Arena Showdown
Item No.: Asst. 91751 No. 91756
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #5 of 6
Includes: Lightsaber, Super Battle Droid
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99
Availability: October 2009
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: The Jedi Knights rush to Geonosis to rescue Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Padme from execution. The Jedi brandish their lightsabers against the Geonosian warriors and the massive army of battle droids, super battle droids, and droidekas. All hope seems lost that any Jedi will survive this battle, then Yoda arrives with an army of clone troopers. Although many Jedi are lost that day, others survive this climactic battle that ushers in the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's box-- that's right, it's the same generic copy on every box.)

Image: Adam's Geonosis Arena playset.

Commentary: It's both surprising and completely understandable that Roth-Del Masona is rotting on some Target store shelves. This exclusive action figure, which was packaged with a Super Battle Droid, was one of only two all-new characters introduced over the six 2-packs. The figure takes a Mace Windu and throws on a new head, plus a bunch of paint. The outfit is pretty close to the film, but it adds a lot of extra cream coloring to the middle of his chest, when it should be closer to the amount on the original Mace Windu figure on which he was based. He has 14 points of articulation, and is basically not a character anyone who only watches the movies would know. He was killed by General Grievous off-screen, so really, this is a pretty low-level Jedi to consider making. The assortment was pretty dull when you consider the only two new figures were Jedi that people flat-out don't know. So yeah, you can probably still find him, but the main reason to get him is because you have to collect them all.

Collector's Notes: This one can be had for SRP, easily, if not cheaper. Since he came with a barely-a-repaint of a figure which has been widely available, it's no surprise he wasn't a huge hit, but it's unfortunate that the new Jedi figures in this assortment were generally the weakest performers.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,350: August 17, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,349: Clone Captain Rex (Rookies)

CAPTAIN REX Eel Blood
The Clone Wars Wal-Mart Exclusive Clone Wars Rookies Packs
Item No.: Asst. 14657 No. 91914
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, blasters, Fives
Action Feature: Firing rocket launcher
Retail: $12.88
Availability: August 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Commando droids overrun a clone trooper outpost manned by new recruits. By the time Captain Rex arrives, the troopers are either dead or have been forced to retreat from the outpost. Rex and the remaining troopers engage in a fierce battle to retake the outpost. Clone Trooper Fives watches in respectful awe as Rex marks one of the rookie troopers with the blood of a monstrous Rishi eeel to commememorate the trooper's valor. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: There are no shortage of Captain Rex figures, particularly if you're in to variations. This specific one was made to tie in to the first season episode "Rookies." You can tell because his hands are covered in a gooey blue eel blood, which was used to mark a handprint on Echo's armor. the figure itself uses the same construction as Rex, which used basically the same construction as a standard Clone Trooper from the animated line. He has the enhanced wrist joints and the normal compliment of articulation, 14 points. His armor is basically clean, except for the eel blood splattered on his hand (which can be tough to see) and on his forearm (which you can't miss). There is also some "damage" in his blue stripes, which may make this a compelling figure for you. If you have a Rex, the only reason to get this one is the eel blood. And the figure Fives, which is packed with him.

Collector's Notes: There are multiple barely-different repaints of this Rex figure, but this one is one of the more distinctive ones. The original figure came in clean and dirty, and at least one of the versions was effectively "shiny"-- which is to say, perfectly clean stripes and no damage markings of any kind.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,349: August 16, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,348: Camie Marstrap

CAMIE MARSTRAP & Laze "Fixer" Loneozner
The Legacy Collection Celebration V Exclusive Comic Pack
Item No.: No. 19671
Number: #VCP02
Includes: Pet creature, Fixer figure, Empire comic book #8 reprint
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: August 2010
Appearances: Star Wars deleted scene, Empire comics

Bio: Fixer and Camie meet their friends Luke Skywalker and Biggs Darklighter at Tosche Station to work on their T-16 skyhoppers. As they make plans to go swooping through Beggar's Canyon to bulls-eye womp rats, they share their dream of leaving behind the remote desert planet of Tatooine to seek out fame and glory as part of the Rebel Alliance. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' bathroom, again.

Commentary: Few characters in Star Wars are famous for being removed from the film, but Camie makes the cut. Played by Koo Stark, she's big on the trivia circuit for being known as an adult film star. Wikipedia seems to put it as she wasn't so much an "adult actress" but an actress who did some nudity in a movie early on, but not being an expert in all things 1970s I don't know. Anyway, both Camie and Fixer seem pretty accurate to their movie outfits, in Camie's case she has really long boots, a really short skirt, and a shirt. Her upper legs are bare, and I actually can't tell if her crotch region is painted or the same color as her legs. Yeah yeah, I'm a perv for looking, like you wouldn't after word got out of a similar Slave Leia test shot from 1997. (I saw it, it's real.)

This figure is a completely new sculpt and is, on the whole, very nicely articulated. She has no ankle joints, but that's reasonable given it would muss up the look of the boots. (Ankle joints are not always good-- see the Comic Pack Leia from Shadows of the Empire for a good example.) The head sculpt is nice, the outfit is about right, and the range of motion is acceptable. Given that she's a convention exclusive of a fan so obscure I would wager a significant number of the convention-goers won't know she was cut from the original film, I'm not particularly concerned that she can't sit due to how her clothes were sculpted. Due to the nature of the figure-- being a comic pack and a deleted scene figure-- this is one of the most exciting releases for us older fans who are in to such things. If I were you, I'd go out of my way to get this set. It's just so cool that Hasbro actually made it.

Collector's Notes: The set was originally slated as a comic pack in the main line, but that was not meant to be. The final release was on the blue and black "Dark Side Approacheth" cardback style which itself was packaged in an attractive window box. It's pretty wasteful, but attractive. There are foil elements on the outer package, a velcro latch, and enough graphical wizardry to make you feel like you bought a premium product. $14.99 is pretty cheap for what this is, especially given that's regular retail for most comic packs these days. Get it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,348: August 13, 2010