Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,631: Captain Rex

CAPTAIN REX ARC Troopers
The Clone Wars Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 94743 No. 19682
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Pistols, rifle, bipod, helmet, game card
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: September 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Captain Rex is tough, discilpined and always focused on the mission as his top priority. He aims his sharpshooter blaster to clear a path through the droids. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: Rex sells. So Hasbro was well within their rights to include him again with the hard-to-find ARC Troopers Battle Pack, one which we all hope they give another run to in the future. Captain Rex has been given a new helmet and the head sculpt is different from the original release, similar to that of Bly. The deco is different, with distinctive blue line "damage" this time around, and a newly-tooled gun which is (to date) exclusive to this figure. It's not a bad Rex, as it has all the articulation of a regular Rex and a newer helmet sculpt which is slightly more authentic to the TV show and the rest of the toy line. With something like 8 versions of this Rex armor available, no one is really any better than the others, but this is probably your best bet. Not because of greatness, but because he comes with three other awesome figures you'll want.

Collector's Notes: Due to seemingly low production and high demand, this set is expensive. How expensive? eBay says $75-$150. This is preposterous. Hasbro: get on a reissue, please. These prices aren't going to make the kids happy, please give them a shot at this surefire hot selling set. The kid-driven Clone Wars line has had a much stronger secondary market presence, as (believe it or not) kids do patronize comic and collector shops to get the figures they want, and sometimes have to shell out extra cash to get the ones they want. I don't care for this happening, but it does, and it shows what a healthy older (or spoiled) kid component can do to a line's longevity.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,631: September 14, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,630: Anakin Skywalker

ANAKIN SKYWALKER and Can-Cell
The Clone Wars Figure and Vehicle Assortment
Item No.: Asst. 91349 No. 91354
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, bug
Action Feature: n/q
Retail: $16.99
Availability: June 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano hitch a ride on a can-cell to escape the villainous Asajj Ventress. The Jedi and his Padawan face their foe on the monastery's landing platform on Teth. Anakin leaps onto the giant dragonfly and saves Ahsoka and Rotta the Hutt just as spider droids destroy the platform and it hurtles to the ground far below. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: This Anakin Skywalker was one of many variations on the basic 2008 design-- slightly different deco and accessories resulted in some barely-different figures with unique gear like a giant bug. If you want a super-articulated Anakin figure, this is it-- 14 joints and a cloth lower outfit allow him an increased range of motion, plus his scar is more pronounced than on other knee-bedecked versions of this character. It's good-- I'd say get it, if you like this outfit, as it's one of the few which can sit in a vehicle easily without damaging elements of the figure.


Collector's Notes: The Can-Cell was originally developed for (and removed from) Revenge of the Sith, and a slightly redecorated version of the insect comes with Anakin here. The insect itself is not a particularly awesome toy, plus the 2005 release came with Yoda for only $9.99-- a much lower price. The version with Yoda sells for about $2. This version doesn't seem to be moving these days. This Anakin mold was used in a B'Omarr Monastery Battle Pack and was also packed with a Desert Speeder, so you've got a few options.


--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,630: September 13, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,629: Clone Trooper Fives (Kamino)

CLONE TROOPER FIVES Defend Kamino
The Clone Wars Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 35566 No. 28533
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Gun, helmet, stand, more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $26.99
Availability: July 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: CT-27-5555 was a clone trooper who served in the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars. Because of his assigned clone number, he was given the nickname "Fives." (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: The boys from the episode "Rookies" are something of a big deal to some fans of The Clone Wars-- like me, for example. I was pretty pleased to see the guys as recurring characters in new armor, plus a rank advancement. Fives gets his second figure with this release, a mass-release set based on the season 3 debut where he got to defend Kamino from hordes of invading droids. He has new armor with some nice graphics featuring some lettering and a logo (see below) as well as barcode-like stripes on his legs. I'm not sure if the barcode itself holds any significance or is just a broken stripe, and being in the worlds of retail I see it as something you scan at a store.

Fives' body is the basic 2008 Clone body, complete with ankles and swivel/pivot wrists. His helmet is the newer style, with a slightly different chin and forehead being the most obvious changes. So really, Hasbro did the best body, with a good head under the helmet, complete with the beard and the "5" tattoo on his head. The only real problem with the figure is the alignment of his deco. There are so many applications, it becomes obvious if something is a little off-center, and on my sample, it was. While the blue paint seems to be positioned correctly, the red "eyes" and "mouth" of the creature painted on his helmet were shifted slightly to the left-- so be careful if you have the chance to examine it at retail. Depending on how he's posed in a display, it's less noticeable, but this is something that might bug the snot out of you over time. I like the character, the figure, the deco, and the set, so I say go get it when you can. Heck, order it at the link below, because I get a cut of sales made through it. (Hooray, sponsors.)

Aurebesh translation: Five's arm (and Echo's leg) have a design with a Z-6 rotary blaster canon in a circle with some lettering beneath it. It's very small. It reads: "For Hevy," referencing the clone gunner who met his end at the end of the season 1 episode "Rookies." (If it's been more than a year, it no longer constitutes as a spoiler.)

Collector's Notes: This wave of Battle Packs marks an interesting historical turn-- the first Cinema Scenes were $15-$20 for 3 figures, and mutated into various 4- and 5-figure sets for about $20 over the years before raising costs returned us to 3-figure sets again. While mostly repaints, the amount of paint is greater than average. It's a new set, and obscenely popular-- with Echo, Fives, and the new ARC Trooper Blitz, this is one of the sets you Clone fans need to buy now because if you don't, you'll be sorry. The kids LOVE the ARC Troopers.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,629: September 12, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,628: Clone Pilot

CLONE PILOT Republic Attack Shuttle
The Clone Wars Vehicles
Item No.: No. 28533
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Gun, stand, very large vehicle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $69.99-$79.99
Availability: July 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Clone trooper pilots were special clone troopers bred in the Kamino cloning centers for the purpose of piloting craft of the Grand Army of the Republic and the early Galactic Empire. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: This one's different. I know this Clone Pilot from the Republic Attack Shuttle looks like the 2008 Odd Ball, but it's not. It uses the newer body which debuted with Stone in 2010, has a slightly differently painted (and differently molded) helmet, plus he has a chevron on his arms. I won't say it's better, but it looks cool and is different than the existing pilot. It also fits in the ship well-- the figure doesn't need to sit to fit in the pilot's chair, just bend his legs a little bit and he'll slide right in. (This is, of course, good enough for me. If the figure fits, I'm happy.) The range of motion is good, but with only 12 joints he's not as poseable as his 2008 ancestor. I would advise you get him because of the unique deco and, frankly, the big ship is pretty cool. It opens up like the old Battle Beasts playsets, and any time anyone does anything to be more like Battle Beasts, I think we all need to buy it.

Collector's Notes: This drove me nuts: they hid his white blaster inside the ship. There's a gun rack in one of the wings, and the gun is inside the wing when you open the vehicle and not in the plastic baggie of torpedos and the labels. This figure is effectively the same mold as Goji, repainted for your approval. There are two pilot seats, so you'll probably want to make sure you have at least one more pilot to flesh out this vehicle. And another dozen clones to pilot all the gunner and battle stations on the ship.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,628: September 9, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,627: Ki-Adi-Mundi Concept

KI-ADI-MUNDI Concept Design
The Legacy Collection Droid Factory Figure
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 91435
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD38
Includes: Lightsaber, droid part
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: October 2009
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith concept art

Bio: In this Episode III concept art by Derek Thompson, Ki-Adi-Mundi wears a cape and has an eyepatch over one eye. This more battle-weary appearance was designed to indicated that the Clone Wars have been raging for years and are taking their toll on the Jedi. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' former back yard air conditioner unit.

Commentary: One really neat (but abandoned) concept for Revenge of the Sith wast o have beaten, haggard-looking Jedi running around showing off the scars of the Clone Wars. One of the really awesome designs revealed to fans in 2005 was Ki-Adi-Mundi missing an eye, with an added bandolier and a unique new Jedi outfit. Back in 2005 the idea of getting a line of figures based on concept art again seemed unlikely, but from 2007-2009 we received about 20 of 'em. How awesome is that? I'm really thrilled this was one of their new designs, because it reminds me a lot of the kind of world-building we saw out of Kenner in the 1980s and 1990s with ALIENS, Robocop, Batman, and other lines-- except that it came out of Lucasfilm. The figure really does look like it belongs in the movies, and has some of the best (if not the best) articulation of any Ki-Adi-Mundi figure to date.

The outfit (and the sculpt) are unique to this release, so I'd say you should get it. Concept figures belong in any collector's stash, and this was an extra-awesome design that really does belong in a toy line. I hope Hasbro can find more adventure-oriented action-packed figure designs to adapt to the toy line, because this was a great way to expand the toy universe while giving collectors something that kids would probably like, too. Well done!

Collector's Notes: Despite being hard-to-find, a lot of figures are basically worthless. This is one of them. It came out at $8 and today... that's about what it'll set you back on eBay. You can probably get it cheaper if you luck into a lot. Get it if you can, it'll go great with your gauntlet-bedecked 2009 Plo Koon. This is one of my favorite figures since the movie series ended, and we've had a lot of great figures since 2005. Do yourself a favor, get one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,627: September 8, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,626: Castas

CASTAS Speeder Bike
The Clone Wars Class I Vehicle (Mini-Rigs)
Item No.: Asst. 29960 No. 29956
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: I
Includes: Blaster, stand, Speeder Bike vehicle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $18.99
Availability: July 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Castas pilots a speeder bike to hunt down his prey. The speeder bike is fast and lightweight, a suitable vehicle for hunters to chase anyone fleeing from capture. Bounty hunters like Castas prefer these bikes for their front-mounted blasters and hidden side blasters. (Taken from the figure's product info page on Hasbro.com.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: Fact: collectors love bounty hunters. Upon its release, Castas and his speeder bike seemed to be the fastest seller of the new mini vehicles, largely on the strength of the figure. The vehicle is no slouch-- the newly-designed bike stands nicely, features a seemingly superfluous kickstand, and articulated handlebars-- but everybody wants Castas to go with Aurra Sing, Bossk, and Boba Fett. At this time it seems Aurra is suddenly shipping again as of late July, but Bossk remains exclusive to his Slave I vehicle set and single-carded Bobas are long gone.

Castas works nicely as an action figure. Stylistically, he fits in with the bulk of The Clone Wars but his design seems a little bit simpler, with fewer fabric folds and textures. If anything, he seems closer to the original Droids figures in some respects-- significantly better, but spiritually on the same page. The doglike face sits atop an asymmetrical body, slouched to one side with long legs and a beefy body. His hands sport two fingers and a thumb on each hand-- I didn't even notice this on the cartoon-- and he's much more colorful in appearance, which is a nice touch. He sports a logo on his costume and bike, although I have no idea what it actually means. Hasbro ensured the figure sat on the bike nicely, so be sure to give this one a try-- he even looks good without the vehicle, and we get so few cool villains in the line that I just have to advise you to get him before Hasbro starts shipping him and he shoots up to $40. Mark my words: this will happen. It might be 2 years but it'll happen.

Collector's Notes: This same bike was also slated to come with young Boba Fett at Toy Fair 2011. (At that time they pegged him for a Spring release.) To date no new date is given and it's not known when or where it will hit, but we can assume it might be in a later wave of this assortment if it hasn't already been pulled out as a future store exclusive. Also, this is the only Castas figure to date. The Aurebesh on his bike reads "Dog Faced Bounty Hunter."

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,626: September 7, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,625: YVH-1

YVH-1 Build-A-Droid
The Legacy Collection Droid Factory Figure
Item No.: Asst. 87535
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: Removable limbs
Retail: n/a
Availability: November 2009
Appearances: New Jedi Order novels

Bio: The YVH 1, or Yuuzhan Vong Hunter One combat droid, was a battle droid developed by Tendrando Arms as a means to effectively combat Yuuzhan Vong warriors. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' former back yard BBQ.

Commentary: Figures which hail from novels are pretty uncommon-- usually a "book" figure actually can trace its roots to a comic panel or a book cover, so this YVH-1 figure was a somewhat unlikely creation as his head sorta appeared on a book cover and a full-body design appeared, eventually, elsewhere. It's a unique mold-- most build-a-droids were made with repaints in mind-- and it's an army-builder, shipping with some figures which weren't supremely easy to find. The figure itself is pretty nicely done, although the design (especially when reduced to the 3 3/4-inch scale) screams "Terminator" more than "Star Wars." The skeletal robot was meant to evoke the Yuuzhan Vong warriors, except robotic, and a voice (in the books) based on that of one Lando Calrissian. So basically you have a Lando-bot designed to kill aliens. I can't fault that as a concept.

The figure has 14 points of articulation and like most build-a-droid figures, lacks ball-jointed shoulders. He does sport 14 points of articulation, which is pretty swell, although I doubt most of you are going to do much with this guy once you assemble him. The detail is good, although the plastic choice doesn't really evoke "metallic soldier" all that much as it's sort of beige and the way this kind of plastic interacts with light makes it feel less awesome. The painted parts, and the silver blaster, look great though and Hasbro's sculptors did a great job recreating the source material here. It's a nice figure, but given the size of the line-- I mean, damn, it's huge-- it may not be an essential buy unless you're a really big fan of the Expanded Universe. (Not being a huge fan of the novels, I didn't know that this guy was a thing until Hasbro announced the figure.) I'd say get it if you like droids and toys from the distant future of Star Wars.

Collector's Notes: There are two toys that more or less reference cable news networks-- YVH-1 and the vintage mini-rig, MTV-7. His many parts shipped with n Revenge of the Sith-themed wave of figures in 2009, and that wave was actually somewhat difficult to get in many markets. A complete loose figure is worth about $10. Since the figure was distributed as a bonus part with other action figures, packaged samples don't technicaly exist.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,625: September 6, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,624: Felucian Warrior

FELUCIAN WARRIOR Second Edition
The Legacy Collection Toys "R" Us Exclusive Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Figure Packs
Item No.: Asst. 97910 No. 97912
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #2 of 2
Includes: Bone club/sword/whatever
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $29.99
Availability: April 2010
Appearances: The Force Unleashed

Bio: Felucians use their natural Force abilities to control their environment, including the ferocious rancors. The native inhabitants of Felucia expertly wield their bone swords, showing no mercy to those who threaten them. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' guinea pig room.

Commentary: In The Force Unleashed game, you could slice up Felucians of varying shapes and colors, although it was hard to get a good look at some of them. With that in mind, I assume this more-muted Felucian Warrior is more or less authentic to the game-- I mean, the bone weapon is bone colored this time around, and the subtle colors seem to blend in with the Felucian Rancor and other scenery in the game. The design is nothing short of weird, with what I assume is a mask, some suction cuppy things on his arms, and little tiny hands off the arms. It's an unusual design for Star Wars but it seems to sort of kind of fit in with the game universe, I can't imagine seeing these in a movie and it fitting. 10 points of articulation make this a good, but not fantastic, figure-- it's unique looking and different enough to be worthwhile, but I wouldn't suggest tracking down these sets on the merits of this specific figures. (The other ones in the set, though, are worth grabbing.)

Collector's Notes: The sets did OK, and are now gone. So good luck getting one. Loose samples are pretty cheap though.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,624: September 5, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,623: Female Tusken Raider

TUSKEN RAIDER Female
30th Anniversary Collection Bantha with Tusken Raiders Battle Pack
Item No.: No. 87378
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Staff
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $44.99
Availability: Spring 2007
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Tusken Raiders are fierce desert savages that keep to themselves, and are a terrifying presence to the colonists that live on Tatooine. Swathed from head to toe in rags and robes, Tusken Raiders brandish their bladed clubs called gaderffii sticks with menacing skill. Also known as Sand People, these aggressive nomads dwell in the rocky Jundland Wastes of Tatooine and ride single file on banthas to conceal their numbers. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: If you can't get enough of the Tusken Raider culture, this female of the red clan may be of interest. The red isn't overtly red, so you might not even notice it's different at first glance. Her shoes and lower body are different from her other releases, but the top part is pretty close. (The arms are different as well.) I wouldn't put this at "just different enough to make you mad," but odds are if Hasbro sold it individually you'd be pretty uninterested. As part of the gift set she was pretty neat, but she's basically still a statue. There's not a lot of action in this figure beyond her ability to carry a gaffi stick and haul around a child in a large pouch on her back. The design is neat and I appreciate the new color, but she's a little less exciting than the other recolors in the box. I'd still go out of my way to get one, though.

Collector's Notes: The clans did well depending on the region-- which is a nice way of saying it was rare in some areas and a horrible seller in others. Today the set is $40-$50ish, depending on the week.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,623: September 2, 2011