Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,466: Carnor Jax

CARNOR JAX Training Uniform
The Legacy Collection Previews Exclusive
Item No.: No. 87924
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Pike, helmet, 5 other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $34.99
Availability: December 2008
Appearances: Crimson Empire comic books

Bio: Each member of the Royal Guard has undergone grueling tests of combat reflexes and stamina, and is trained in the deadly art of echani. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen. The inset is the logo on his back.

Commentary: For whatever reason, the Carnor Jax figure from the 2008 Crimson Empire boxed set looks like more of a hero than the actual hero of the series. His blue armor seems less aggressive, and his face looks more like a Han Solo or a Rebel pilot than it does a future would-be heir to the Emperor's throne. This is odd, as it's basically the same head used on the other black and red guard version of Carnor Jax sold a few years earlier. But back to this one.

The figure's body is shared with all four "royal guard trainees," which also include Alum Frost, Kir Kanos, and Lemmet Tauk. Each has a unique head sculpt, however all of their legs are recycled from the late 2007 30th Anniversary Collection training fatigues Clone Trooper action figure. The body and arms are entirely new, or at least, new enough that I certainly couldn't tell where they came from. The elements went together fairly well so that you probably wouldn't realize that the figure is mostly recycled bits and pieces, with the distinctive crest appearing on his helmet and the back of his body giving the figure a richer, more individualized look.

While derided by many fans as Power Rangers-esque, the design dates back roughly a decade and does give a more individualized appearance to a clan of characters that are, on the whole, faceless throughout the Expanded Universe. Without any ball joints and a total of 12 points of articulation, the figure wasn't exceptional by the standards of his day. Actually, this figure would've been considered pretty average in 2006, although the green and black design on his person plus the dry brushing on his body armor do seem to be a smidgen better than what most Star Wars figures offered at the time. I wouldn't suggest buying this Carnor Jax first, as the comic pack version was way cooler, but it's not a bad one to get after you've exhausted other avenues of the Empire's henchmen. Worth a look on the cheap, just don't overpay for it.

Collector's Notes: This set did not prove to be a big seller, and like a few other 2008-era boxed set exclusives, it did show up at other venues for pretty low prices. Today, it should run you anywhere between $20 and $40, which is quite a range.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,466: January 26, 2011

Figure of the Day: Day 1,465: Magnaguard

MAGNAGUARD General Grievous Bodyguard Droid
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87638 No. 93821
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW49
Includes: Staff, energy bolts, cape
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: March 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars TV series

Bio: IG series 100 MagnaGuards are General Grievous' personal bodyguards. These warrior droids have been trained by the cyborg general to make them exceptionally agile fighters, even against the Jedi. Their primary weapon is a powerful electrostaff. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' former back yard.

Commentary: This is a good one. In early 2009, Hasbro released a version of this figure with fewer accessories and less articulation. The 2010 Magnaguard builds on the charm of the previous model, adding in additional leg articulation which was sorely lacking in the previous version while retaining the same basic sculpt. The cloth cape is a nice touch too, but what fans really seemed to want were the added knee joints and enhanced hip articulation. If you only get one cartoon-style Magnaguard figure, this is the better engineered of the two, although I would say the previous gunmetal deco looked cooler.

Given the need of the line to have more villains, you owe it to yourself to track down one or more of these and crack 'em open. Unfortunately, this proved difficult as this particular Magnaguard was in the final "2009-style" packaging, which came and went pretty quickly in most markets. If you're a stickler for articulation, Hasbro managed to cram in more of what you like on this figure, which should mean less of a hassle getting him into most vehicles. (Again, a plus.) It's worth noting that this figure's head has a hood sculpted over it as well, which really does set it apart nicely from the previous model. If Hasbro decided to redeco this mold in the other color, I'd certainly pick up one or six.

Collector's Notes: At press time, it is extremely unlikely that you will find this figure for under $10. As such, prepare to wait, buy it in a lot of figures, or just shell out and call it a day.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,465: January 25, 2011

Figure of the Day: Day 1,464: Princess Leia Organa

PRINCESS LEIA & R2-D2
Power of the Force Princess Leia Collection
Item No.: Asst. 66935 No. 66936
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: R2-D2 figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: 1998
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Moments before being captured by the evil Darth Vader, Princess Leia inserts secret plans for a new Imperial battle station into her loyal astromech droid, R2-D2 (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV area.

Commentary: As you've no doubt heard by now, in 1998 Kenner allowed their Girls' Division to work on some Star Wars product-- and we got some really wonderful things like the Princess Leia collection and the plus Buddies (Beanie Baby-alikes.) This particular Princess Leia is the only one to date to feature completely cloth garments, which allowed her to sit or be posed much more easily than any other Leia figure before or since. She has only 6 points of articulation, which was common for the time, and deco that was basically just fine. The head deco varies from figure to figure, so be sure to take a look around her eyes as the color sometimes bleeds out beyond where you might want it. Other than that, she's a better-than-average figure for the day and if they used this construction now with more articulation under the robe, it would probably be the best figure of Leia yet.

As toys go, this is the real winner even though there's very little sculpting detail to speak of. Other than her head, everything is pretty smooth, lacking in wrinkles and sporting little definition that you might come to expect from most modern action figure. This is sensible, because the cloth dress covers the body and it really doesn't matter if she's wearing nothing at all or clad in a white undershirt. Fans of good toys should look this one up, despite the sculpt being not as crisp or authentic as modern toys, because it's just such a nice artifact of the kind of experimentation going on inside Kenner in the late 1990s. Great stuff.

Collector's Notes: This set was a good seller in the time she came out, and seemed to be one of the finest sellers of the four two-packs. Like most toys from the era, it's close to worthless-- it sells for as little as $1 on eBay, which is, obviously, a good price for it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,464: January 24, 2011

Figure of the Day: Day 1,463: Lando Calrissian

LANDO CALRISSIAN Battle at the Sarlacc Pit
The Legacy Collection Target Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 87931 No. 87798
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Pike, pistol, helmet, Sarlacc Pit, Skiff, 4 more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $62.99-$72.99
Availability: November 2008
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Lando impersonates a skiff guard as part of Luke's escape plan and almost loses his life to the Sarlacc. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: One of the more charming aspects of this 2008 gift set was that you got a good vehicle, a great diorama piece, and five figures of questionable quality. The Weequay was a neat redeco, Boba Fett was nothing special, Han Solo was just different enough to make you mad, and then you got two crappy ones. Lando Calrissian and Luke Skywalker both suffer slightly from some really odd deco choices which may be the result of someone not knowing how to mix paint. The 2004 Skiff Lando body is back, but the silver is gone and his torso armor is this sort of a pukey grey color. His pants are lighter, his arms and legs seem closer to the 1983 Kenner toy's colors, and his body suit is black. The brown on his person is richer, but the skin color is significantly lighter with some of the worst painted eyes you're likely to ever see. While most bootleg figures look pretty bad, this is one of the few Star Wars toys I would go and say is so bad, were it a knock-off, you'd probably think it was pretty bad for a knock-off.

The articulation and gear are unchanged, you still get about 10 points of articulation and a working holster ensuring that as a plaything, Lando holds up about as well as you might hope. Since you're going to want the Sarlacc Pit accessory that comes in his set, you'll likely end up with this figure eventually even though it's one of Hasbro's worst. It's amazing that the quality of the face on the 1983 figure was better, but hey, that's how these things go some times. If you like collecting oddities, this is a must-buy figure. For everybody else, get one of the 2004 carded releases or wait for a possible future resculpt.

Collector's Notes: This set sold somewhat poorly in 2008 and 2009, but it's long gone now. Because of the vehicle and accessory, it should remain interesting despite being one of the ugliest action figures released in the modern action figure line so far... and that's saying a lot given there are nearly 2,000 releases.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,463: January 21, 2011

Figure of the Day: Day 1,462: Kashyyyk AT-RT Driver

AT-RT DRIVERS AT-RT Assault Squad Battle Pack
30th Anniversary Collection Target Exclusive
Item No.: No. 87376
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, two AT-RTs, another AT-RT driver, Clone Commander
Action Feature: Oversize blaster fires, squeeze legs together to raise arms
Retail: $29.99
Availability: November 2007
Appearances: n/a

Bio: These clone troopers are specially-trained to ride AT-RT walkers and are outfitted with armor and helmets designating them as drivers. AT-RT drivers are part of the 41st Elite Corps that is sent to Kashyyyk during the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: In another case of getting the carded sculpt right the first time, the AT-RT Driver was a mold that Hasbro figured out they could squeeze a few uses out of, and they certainly have. The 2005 basic release kicked things off, followed by an orange repaint, this camo repaint, an all-white version, and in some cases matching AT-RTs. OK, one case. The design isn't exactly from any existing fiction I've found, but it is super-articulated and that's always worth something. The figure has a symbol on his chest, a lot of green, and green lenses on his helmet which I happen to find super rad. There's a lot more color here than usual, plus he'll flesh out your Kashyyyk squads nicely. Gree needs more men, and these guys certainly fit the bill. With 12 points of articulation each, these guys hold up well to the advances in toymaking but will likely be upgraded sooner or later. Now that we have improved hip joints that can bend outward, these simple swivel hip figures are antiques waiting to be replaced. (The animated The Clone Wars ARF Troopers have effectively crushed the older AT-RT Drivers in terms of articulation and are effectively the same style of armor, just a phase earlier.)

Collector's Notes: This set-- like most Target exclusives since 2006-- showed up on the closeout shelves. The current going rate is $20-$30, so it actually held on to its value a little bit. This is sensible, because you get three figures and two vehicles for a pretty fair (by modern pricing) deal.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,462: January 20, 2011

Figure of the Day: Day 1,461: ARF Trooper Boil

CLONE TROOPER BOIL with AT-RT
The Clone Wars Vehicles with Figures
Item No.: Asst. 94737 No. 25943
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: AT-RT, blaster pistol, game stand and card
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $16.99
Availability: November 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Clone trooper Boil pilots an AT-RT during the battle to retake Geonosis. An AT-RT (All-Terrain Recon Transport) is a one-man walker armed with a repeating laser cannon. With its height, mobility, and speed, the walker allows Boil to support the embattled Republic forces as they fight waves if battle droids and Geonosian warriors. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: Hasbro's best overall Clone Trooper mold to date is the ARF Trooper body, which has been repainted to make this Clone Trooper Boil figure. The previous Boil had a removable helmet and was exclusive to Target, while this one has a unique camo pattern, the orange 212th Battalion markings, and a special added detail-- a little drawing of Numa on the visor of his helmet. (Numa was a little Twi'lek girl he and Waxer saved on Ryloth. Watch the show, it's good.) But why is this figure good, you're asking?

The ARF Trooper body is, to date, the only animated Clone Trooper to have ball-jointed hips for better sitting on vehicles. (Jesse will have these, but other figures have had to spread their legs a little more forcibly-- they weren't designed for vehicles.) Because this design works so well, Boil has no problems standing around and looking good or sitting in his AT-RT (pictured). The figure is indeed super articulated, plus has extra wrist joints to allow for even more movement when holding his blaster pistol or driving a vehicle. In short, this is as good as it gets, and if you like the paint job you really ought to run out and get this figure. Even though it's just another Clone Trooper, the coloring is quite distinctive from what you already own and the vehicle is really nice (and simple) too. You can't go wrong with this one, kids (or adults).

Collector's Notes: The set was the second repaint of this AT-RT mold, although the figure has had three different paint jobs at press time. The set was easy to get reasonably early on, meaning you can probably find one if you do some looking toay. Or you can do me a solid and order on the link below, ensuring my continued employment.

Aurebesh Notes: The word "Eo" appears under the vehicle's seat for reasons I can't quite grasp. Much more sensible are the words "Bug Stomper" on the sides of the front of the walker, as this vehicle was deployed on Geonosis during the landing on Point Rain.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,461: January 19, 2011

Figure of the Day: Day 1,460: Scorch

SCORCH Republic Commando
The Saga Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 85987
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #021
Includes: Stand, backpack, hip ammo, holographic mini figure, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Spring 2006
Appearances: Republic Commando

Bio: When the battle begins on Geonosis, clone trooper Scorch is ordered to engage the Separatist droid army. Scorch's Delta number is Six-Two, but he is well known for his humorous mishaps. Although he is a competent soldier and an excellent explosives technician, "Scorch" earned his nickname after an ordnance accident that left him without eyebrows for a short time. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: What Hasbro says and what actually sells regarding the Expanded Universe is tough to reconcile-- we're told these aren't popular figures, but then you rarely saw Scorch, Darth Malak, and so many others hang on the pegs more than once if at all. This particular Clone proved so popular that despite fan complaints regarding articulation, it consistently sold through and was quickly redecorated and repackaged as part of a boxed set with the entire Clone Trooper Delta Squad commando team. This is a true success.

Scorch was produced in 2006, when not all figures were expected to be super articulated just yet but most were approaching that level of detail. With 10 joints, and non-ball-jointed shoulders, many fans saw him as a disappointment even though all he's likely to ever do is stand around and aim his gun, which he could do without too much trouble. Had Hasbro not released a super-articulated clone in 2005, odds are people would have been more accepting of his unjointed knees and ankles, but well, we have high expectations. The figure matches his Xbox appearance nicely, plus a good amount of dirt adds a little life to this armored release. Back in 2006, he was a Big Deal and proved difficult to find, that is until the boxed set with him and his brothers.

Collector's Notes: The individually carded Scorch and the one in the Delta Squad boxed set are effectively identical, with minor changes so small I don't consider them unique. If you have one, aside from the missing display stand in the boxed set, you're good to go. You should have no problem getting the individually carded version (which sports an awesome Xbox-inspired backdrop) for $5-$10, although the complete boxed set of Delta Squad may be closer to $80. (It started life at about $40.) Good hunting!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,460: January 18, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,459: Cad Bane (the 2011 one with Todo 360)

CAD BANE and Todo 360
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 94736 No. 26375
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW42
Includes: Hat, two pistols, bag, Todo 360 accessory/figure, stand, card, die
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: January 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Cad Bane and Todo 360 sneak inside the Jedi Temple. Bane has a well-deserved reputation as a ruthless bounty hunter. He is hired by Darth Sidious to steal a Jedi holocron. He and his techno-service droid gain access to the building and break into the well-guarded holocron library. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen, on some box. (Spare. No. Expense.)

Commentary: Third time is the charm, right? Since 2009 we've had three different versions of Cad Bane sculpted and sold to you, the hapless consumer. This figure is, on the whole, the best of them. The wires on the wrists have been simplified so that they no longer get in the way of elbow movement. The wrists are articulated, and the paint job is unquestionably improved. The jacket is a separate sculpted piece, and the hat is removable too. He has two small silver pistols and a bag for explosives or what have you, and this is easily the most detailed version yet. At first glance, it looks more "realistic" when compared to the previous animated releases, particularly take note of his head. The grimace and wrinkles seem quite lively, and it looks like a tiny toothpick may have been sculpted (and painted over) on his mouth. As an added bonus, this figure has jointed knees which make it easier for him to sit now that he has cloth making up the lower part of his duster. It's a lot better than the previous versions, and is easily the best-looking version yet.

However.

My big beef with the Xanadu Blood vehicle is that existing Cad Bane figures won't fit in it well-- and guess what? This one doesn't either, even with the hat off. So we have Cad Bane's ship, and Cad Bane can't fit in it. (Well, that's a half-truth-- the Speeder Bike one can fit if you cram him in without the hat. The others don't really fit.) So if you're a vehicle fan you'll still be disappointed, but as figures go? This is another fantastic entry in the animated line, and I dare say it's so good that if you stuck him in the crowds of your Jabba's Palace shelf diorama, he'd fit right in. Even if you have other Cad Bane figures, I'd still suggest buying this one-- just remember, the only part of Todo 360 that is articulated is his head. (I'll be reviewing him as a unique figure on a future date.)

Collector's Notes: This one just came out-- mine came in the mail from Entertainment Earth last Friday and I was surprised to see it. Other new figures in this wave include Training Gear Hevy, Obi-Wan Kenobi in his new outfit, and R7-P7, Ahsoka's astromech droid. Odds are it'll be hitting in your stores very soon, I'm sure before Toy Fair next month. Or you could, you know, click the "buy this figure" banner and support this blog by buying it or another of many fine items. (Hey, I've written thousands of these things, I should do a plug here and there.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,459: January 17, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,458

CLOUD CITY WING GUARD Sgt. Edian, or "The Black One"
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 88338
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD50
Includes: Blaster, hat, baton, droid part
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: Late 2009/Early 2010
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: The elite Wing Guard is in charge of security on Cloud City, working as police officers, customs officials, and crisis controllers. Troopers such as Utris M'Toc and Sergeant Edian handle these crucial duties with honesty and efficiency. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' former apartment's pool's water pump thing.

Commentary: It's always a little sad when Hasbro makes a high-quality figure and fans don't buy it-- especially when it's an army builder produced in low numbers that turns into a pegwarmer. The Cloud City Wing Guard's first release-- the human with the dark skin-- didn't do so well. The figure was in the final wave of basic Droid Factory figures shipped to all major retailers, and unlike the other figures in the case just sorta floundered despite having an exceptional sculpt with great accessories. Some have speculated that due to his features, Hasbro had initially planned on doing a white guard and just changed his skin color but I can't say for sure if this is true-- it's an interesting assumption and I can see where it comes from if you look at the figure up close-- his features don't quite match the card photo, although this may be more the hairstyle and the deco on the face. The actual human has a little more color in his features than the figure does, so the toy does feel just a smidgen off. Also, his hat doesn't fit perfectly well, you're likely to knock it off if you touch the figure.

When it comes to the body, this figure shines like no other-- good hands hold the accessories, his holsters work well, and the sculpt is just stunning. The amount of wrinkles and detail in this clothing are just about perfect, plus it's nice that everything is set up properly. No longer do we have baby blue accessories, or a jacket that for some reason is hanging open, or a substandard head sculpt. The legs are able to stand or sit with no problems, and this figure really should have been an honorary vintage release-- except for the hat not fitting on the head, the engineering is as good as or better than your average collector-driven release. The added gold details on the coat look great, the white undershirt collar is visible, and he just looks like he belongs on some awesome Cloud City playset that Hasbro will never actually produce. This is one of the greatest figures that the fandom at large failed to embrace, so be sure to snag one (or more) if you can on the cheap.

Collector's Notes: The tail-end Legacy figures were tough to find but this one rotted on the shelves something fierce, just like the Power of the Jedi release at the beginning of the last decade. People just don't like this trooper. I picked up a few of these for about fifty cents a pop. In 2010, Hasbro released an alien-faced variant of this figure with a different head sculpt which only shipped in cases with the Expanded Universe wave. (In other words, Toys "R" Us and online retailers.) The initial release was available everywhere and may even still be there now since it was a bit of a slow seller. It's seeming unlikely that we'll ever get the vintage 1980s moustache variant remade in the modern line now that we've had four Bespin Guards and the only ones that had any heat were hard-to-find exclusives.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,458: January 14, 2011