Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,957: Luke Skywalker

LUKE SKYWALKER  Bespin Battle
Discover the Force Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 37822 No.  37824
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, pistol, game stuff, additional figures
Action Feature: Gun fits in holster
Retail: $22.99
Availability: April 2012
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: During his Jedi training, Luke has a vision that his friends are in danger.  He rushes to Bespin to rescue Han and Leia, where he encounters Darth Vader and the bounty hunger Boba Fett.  The Sith Lord's plan has worked: he has lured Skywalker to the planet and intends to deliver him to the Emperor.  While Fett collects his long-sought quarry, Luke battles Vader in a menacing lightsaber duel. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's Carbon Freeze Chamber playset.


Commentary: One area where I feel Hasbro has let down fans is making good toys, for kids, at prices which aren't awful.  This Luke Skywalker is a surprisingly toy-ish release, and is one of three new sculpts in a set for $20.  That basically brings us back to latter-1990s prices, with mid-1990s articulation.   The sculpting and deco on this figure are so delightful, I would advise you all to buy it.  Yes, even though 10 of you a week email me or post on forums about how I'm a terrible person for saying it.

While the 2010 Vintage Bespin Luke is close to a perfect figure, the 2012 Battle Pack Bespin Luke is a nearly perfect toy.  With only five points of articulation, he has no problems standing or sitting.  He balances well, he bends at the hips to sit in most vehicles, and he can hold his weapons with little difficulty.  The quality of the sculpt is really amazing, with a sharp level of detail that almost looks too good.  You can see all sorts of tiny wrinkles, folds, and other details which proves the sculptors put in a ton of work.  The head sculpt is also quite nice, but the kicker is that the hair is bright yellow.  If you're under 30 as of right now, you probably hate this.  If you're over 30, you may be delighted, because the original two Kenner Luke Skywalker figures with visible hair also had Crayola-bright wigs.   This figure might look even better with a proper color, but Hasbro has had difficulty matching the color perfectly - so going in the yellow direction makes it fun, because, well, they're not trying to be perfect.  They're trying to be interesting.

I am not one of the collectors who insists each and every figure have 12 or more points of articulation.  I'm pretty happy we got a ball-jointed head here, and while I wouldn't have minded a waist joint I can't deny that the final product looks good and holds together nicely.  It is a fun figure that works well as a toy and arguably better as a desk plaything, as super-articulated figures have a nasty habit of toppling over as their "sweet spot" for standing can be tricky to find.  With this Luke, he's got one pose.  And he's going to stand in it.  If I had my way I'd ask Hasbro to make the entire 1978-1985 Vintage line in this format, plus a smattering of Clone Wars and Prequel figures, but odds are that's going to never happen.

Collector's Notes: At Celebration VI, Hasbro confirmed (to me, in a Q&A) that there would be more "simple" articulation figures like this next year.  They didn't say what, but if the quality is on par with Luke here I'm happy.  This Luke figure didn't start shipping to stores until months after showing up online, so order yours from a dotcom or cross your fingers Target still has a few.  But if you like old toys, be sure to get it before it goes away.  It's nice.  I approve.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,957: December 13, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,956: Cyborg Darth Maul

DARTH MAUL Darth Maul Returns
The Clone Wars Target Exclusive Battle Pack
Item No.: No. A0730
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, spinning accessory, display stand, card, plus Nightsister and Savage Opress figures
Action Feature: Lightsaber splits in two, plugs into spinning energy grip
Retail: $19.99
Availability: September 2012
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Darth Maul returns from the dead and is ready for battle on new cybernetic legs. With the help of his brother Savage Opress and a powerful Nightsister, Maul prepares to avenge himself against the Jedi who almost killed him.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.   You'll note, it doesn't quite match the story... or maybe it does, from a certain point of view.)

Image: Adam's photo dump.

Commentary: One of the things that's good (or bad) about The Clone Wars is that it serves as a clearing house of ideas from the Lucas vaults.  The concept of Darth Maul as a half-cyborg, gloved arms, and no shirt with some sort of collar dates back to at least 2005, when we saw it in the graphic novel Star Wars: Visionaries.  Heck, we even got a "realistic" action figure of it in a comic pack in 2010.  It always baffles me when people cite some of this stuff as new and fresh and I'm sitting here going "Uh, no, I've had that in my closet for a while now thanks."

This Darth Maul is a better-looking figure with cleaner paint applications and a better face.  It's not a perfect translation of the cartoon, but as a toy it's great to look at.  (It will require a stand or assistance, though.)  The big clawed feet come straight from the cartoon, and it's really amazing just how slavish they were to replicating the comic design except the action figure has far, far shorter horns.  (Savage has some big horns, though.)  The ribbed, ALIEN-like lower torso is here, as are the ornate gloves, and even the unique grooves on his thighs.   They really went out of the way to make sure the New Maul looks a lot like the Old Maul you already have, but sharper and cleaner.  The streamlined sculpt looks fantastic, and makes me a little sad we're seeing so few animated figures these days.  Hasbro just makes better and better designs, too.

Rather than giving the action figure an action feature, they integrated it into the accessory.  That red blob on Darth Maul's hand has a handle in the center, and it spins around.  There are holes in it, and you can split Darth Maul's weapon and plug it into either side.   It's really clever and (if you ask me) a better idea than having a super-loose or geared wrist.  The figure is nicely poseable, the action feature is fun, and the paint job is simple, clean, and looks great.  I'm a big fan of this set and I do suggest you get one.

Collector's Notes: Target exclusives are often available for several weeks or even many months, as the production numbers are sizable and the distribution tends to be pretty good and surprisingly evenly rolled out.  If this figure is sold out by now in your neck of the woods, rest assured it was probably plentiful in October.  (It seemed to be in most markets.  Heck, it's still plentiful in Phoenix right now.)  I would suggest getting one at $20, I assume this set will be expensive down the road due to its including 3 desirable characters.  Unless we get a real Mother Talzin, of course, in which case all bets are off.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,956: December 12, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,955: AT-ST Driver

AT-ST DRIVER Endor AT-ST Crew
The Vintage Collection Kmart Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. A1116 No. A0398
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Packaged with AT-ST Gunner, helmet, blaster
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $14.99
Availability: October 2012
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: These two Imperial troopers find themselves in trouble when they encounter a couple of Ewoks and one giant Wookiee.  The unlucky driver is knocked unconscious by Widdle Warrick, Wunka and Chewbacca.  The gunner fares no better: he is unceremoniously tossed out of the vehicle by the trio.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo dump.

Commentary: This is a really interesting one.  The AT-ST Driver is director Richard Marquand, best-known is the dude who helmed Return of the Jedi.  The card game identifies the character as "Major Marquand," but Hasbro gives him a less specific name despite having a head which looks more than a little like the director.  The figure's super-articulated 14-joint body was used with a Hoth AT-ST Driver in 2010, but was given a number of upgrades.  For starters, the helmet now has goggles stuck to it and it looks way, way better than the separate goggles.  They're also given green lenses, which look quite distinctive.  The head is particularly lively, the color of plastic looks great even in dim light and the eyes have a tiny simulation of a spark of life behind them, thanks in part to a good choice of paint and a couple of very small, very subtle wrinkles.  Sure, he looks plastic, but the figure manages to feel just a little more alive than others.  I'm loath to keep him behind a helmet, it just looks so well done.  This AT-ST Driver is good in so many ways that the Vintage boxed AT-ST vehicle isn't.

The blaster is a typical Stormtrooper blaster, but here's where things get weird.  There was supposed to be another change to the figure which you can see on the package, which either the factory (this is my guess) or Hasbro (not as likely) left out for some reason.  There are straps on the figure's shoulders and belt, just like the 2010 version.  However the packaging shows a couple of minor sculpting changes, including a holster for the blaster!    Given that this might get in the way of a figure sitting down inside the vehicle, I am not completely sorry to see it go.  It fits in the AT-ST head just fine, and is, if you ask me, the very best AT-ST Driver action figure your money can buy as of today.

Should this set wind up on clearance, I think I'm more likely to clear Kmart out of these guys than the Ewoks.  They're really well-done, and I honestly did not anticipate liking them so much.   I've got three "modern" AT-STs needing 2 pilots each, so should these ever go down to $10 or less, I'm cleaning them out.  For $15 it's an amazing value and it's a wonder Hasbro opted to leave these off the Vintage cardbacks.  Actually, I thank Hasbro for NOT putting them in the main line because unlike the 1990s, today, the only way you can pretty much be guaranteed to (eventually) find a figure is if it's a store exclusive.  The regular line stuff remains elusive these days.

Collector's Notes: DON'T PANIC!  Kmart exclusives are generally quite common and wind up on clearance, but are slow to roll out.  Also, Kmart's web site is notorious for filling orders with the wrong products.  I suggest being patient and/or networking here, as the numbers tell us Hasbro made a good number of these and they should be plentiful in the next few months.  The packaging is really nice too, although it's astonishingly wasteful.  It's about twice the size as it needs to be, you could cram the Ewoks in this box and have room to spare.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,955: December 11, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,954: Nanta (Corpsey the Ewok)

NANTA Ewok Pack
Discover the Force Toys R Us Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. A0790 No. A0791
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Packaged with Tippet, Flitchee, Teebo, and Kneesaa figures
Action Feature: Hood, spear, knife
Retail: $39.99
Availability: August 2012
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: The Ewoks of Bright Tree Village join forces with the Rebels to battle Imperial troopers.  These diminutive natives of Endor are fierce fighters with an array of weapons to help defeat the troopers and immobilize Imperial walkers.  Armed with spears, clubs and weapons taken from overpowered troopers, the Ewoks do their part to free the galaxy.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo dump.

Commentary: I'm never sure if I should be happy or sad when a "gag" figure makes it out.  I'm usually happy because when it comes to Star Wars, my love of things which are new tends to be more genuine than not.   Nanta is the fan-requested Ewok "Corpsey" but given a name that wouldn't give Hasbro or Lucas some sort of fit.   This figure's claim to fame is being the one that another Ewok cries over when it dies.   It's kind of morbid, but as the figure itself isn't "dead" in appearance it's still one more great Ewok for your dioramas, armies, or toy box horde.

Nanta's head and body are basically a tweaked Nho'apakk, with a resized neck peg and, as far as I can tell, few to no other changes.  (Why, I have no idea.)   The figure is now mostly dark grey or black fur with a little lighter grey fur, while it seems the movie has very light or even white stripes on his fur.  So it's close, but not a perfect recreation of the one photo some dude posted to Wookieepedia.  The hood coloring isn't quite a perfect match either, but it's still a solid Ewok figure that builds off an existing design and makes something new and different to the point where I assume your average fan would have little or no idea it's essentially a repaint with a new hat.   Other than the figure lacking the color of his seeming on-screen inspiration, it's a nice release with 10 points of articulation representing a previously-unmade character.  This figure is the reason people like me are still here, we buy 30 more Anakins and Vaders in between new droids, Ewoks, and Rebel Pilots.  It seems a lot less exciting as I type it out, but let me assure you that Nanta and his set are worth tracking down if you have love of Ewoks in your life.  Sure it's expensive, but it's a good set.

Collector's Notes: The set is showing up more now, which is good, because a lot of you people freak out when you don't run the math.  Why am I saying that? For some reason people decided this item is only shipping at a rate of one-case-per-store, and that's just ridiculous. I believe the initial report posted at Rebelscum regarding the run size and other 2012 Hasbro Toys R Us exclusives indicated the US run of the set to be around 30,000 sets which many do not understand is a very large number.  How do I figure? I am so glad you asked!  According to Wikipedia, Toys R Us has around 875 stores in the USA.  So assuming these numbers are correct, and as Hasbro does not reveal its final edition sizes we do not and probably will never know for sure, that puts us at an average of 34 sets per store, which is not a tiny number.   Obviously some will be a little higher and some will be a little lower, but you get the idea.   Sure, some scalper could pick up all 34 units per store as a store puts out 2-3 cases at a time, but that's pretty unlikely.  Keep your eyes peeled for these hitting the shelves, and remember: if you see them and pass on them, and regret it later, it's not my fault.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,954: December 10, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,953: Red R3-Series Astromech Droid

R3-SERIES ASTROMECH DROID Clear Dome with Red Panels
Star Tours Droid Factory Customizable Figure
Item No.: No. ???
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Head, 2 legs, torso, central third leg, optional hat
Action Feature: Comes apart
Retail: $10-$12
Availability: 2012
Appearances: n/a

Bio: These figures do not have specific packaging or configurations.  As such, we will be treating each dome as a unique "figure" as that part is the most plentiful.   At this time there are 25 domes and while Hasbro sometimes seems to indicate they are not Hasbro product, they do have Hasbro copyright markings and as such we are classifying them under the Hasbro banner.

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: When I first saw the red R3-Series Astromech Droid dome from the whole Disney Droid Factory, I said "Hey, didn't I already get this?"  It turns out no, I didn't.  While there was a droid from 2009 which looks similar, the deco is pretty different in that this one is redder, and has a silver box around the central eye whereas the other one was unpainted.  They are, fortunately, different enough to be interesting.   A yellow light under the eye brings the clear head some personality, and like his purple cousin from this line you can see right through him and into the body.  It's nice.

I chose the red "R2" body in the picture for this one, but you can slap it anywhere you please.  I really am happy Hasbro/Disney/whoever wants to take responsibility for this one made sure the deco was different from other droid releases, because for those of us crazy people who want one of all the droid parts, we want something different.   The figure has a hole in the dome for a droid hat, which looks better on some than others.

Collector's Notes:  This item was a customizable release at Disney Hollywood Studios in Orlando, and you can configure them any way you wish. While not my top pick, I can't argue that it turned out quite well and I look forward to seeing if there are any more R3 clear domes next year.  I also look forward to them ceasing making new parts to track down, because really, this is the most irritating distribution ever.  You have to go to Orlando and pay $100 just to see what they have, and heaven help you if they're out of right legs that day.  Hey Disney, if you're reading this: please let me consult on your eventual Anaheim roll-out.  I work cheap.  Here's the short version: look at LEGO's nicely-sorted pick-a-brick layout at the theme stores on your property.  Pieces are sorted by color and size.  This is nice.  Do that.  Your crappy little bins are set up like Goodwill, only more cluttered and harder to get through.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,953: December 7, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,952: Clone Trooper Boost

CLONE TROOPER BOOST 104th Battalion "Wolf Pack" Clone Troopers
Clone Wars Shared Online Exclusive Ultimate Gift Set
Item No.: No. A0793
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster rifle, pistol, rocket, rocket pack, display stand, card, plus Plo Koon, Sinker, and Commander Wolffe figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: Fall 2012
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: The famed 104th "Wolf Pack" Battalion serves under Jedi General Plo Koon and is led by Commander Wolffe.  At the Battle of Abregado, the entire battalion was decimated, losing only Wolffe, Sinker, and Boost.  Only luck, ingenuity and the unyielding determination of Plo Koon kept them alive.  The troopers' armor was originally red, but Wolffe, changed it to blue-gray to honor the many comrades who were lost in the battle.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.  It's weird. "Losing" only..?  No, "Leaving" only.  Argh.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: For whatever reason Hasbro has forsaken The Clone Wars in its animated form this season.  These are the first new animated figures since June/July with Fox, and these are the only other figures on the books for 2012... plus American packaging samples (and solicitations) for the 2013 figures have yet to surface.  Since the show has unlimited clones, aliens, Jedi, vehicles, and more I'm grumpy that all we got this year were about a dozen new figures.  Many of which, like Boost, were repaints.  At least I like clone repaints.  I like them lots.  I want more.

Clone Trooper Boost (which I remember as it looks like he's crying... boo-hoo, get it?) is a redeco of one of this year's few new molds. It's based on the revised, Phase II Clone Trooper which was released in plain white back in January.  Sinker and Boost are the only repaints of it so far, and Boost came out pretty well.  With 12 points of articulation, he lacks ankle movement and his torso and wrist don't have the range of the original 2008 sculpt.  He does look closer to the show, as he's much thinner and the armor is truer to the digital models.  He's totally clean, with a little grey for his markings and no dirt of any kind.  (Dirt was largely removed from animated clones in late 2008.)

While I love the deco, especially the little wolf on his helmet, the figure continues to suffer from his ancestor's flaws.  The hip joints don't have enough clearance to swing the legs forward without warping the legs and stretching out the crotch area, and the hands are quite small.   You can get the guns into them, but it's a tight fit... many toy lines exaggerate hand and head size, but Hasbro has been getting better about keeping it authentic. I can't help  but like the guy, he's got a big black block on the back of his helmet, lots of weapons, and an optional rocket-firing backpack.  (Hasbro left out the slug rocket.)  It's a great toy set, and a nice figure.  It's a decent exclusive and a great way to wrap up the year, as 2012 was probably the worst year The Clone Wars had as a toy line.  Or at least, I hope it will be.

Collector's Notes: I doubt it'll get much cheaper than $20, but hey, you can play chicken all you want.  I was surprised to see it at $30 (which is what I paid, because I am dumb) so if you can get it for less you totally should.  At $5 a figure, it's a bargain.  Long-term collectors are basically just paying to get Sinker, Boost, and a cleaner Wolffe. Exclusives are typically easy to find, items are easy to find online, and shared online exclusives?  Forget about it.  So you've got no problem getting this set, which, as of this week, crept down to a very cheap $21.59.  SRP is around $40, but hey, price war.


--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,952: December 6, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,951: Ahsoka Tano

AHSOKA TANO  and eggs
The Clone Wars Brain Invaders DVD Set
Item No.: Asst. 30411 No. 31678
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #2 of 2
Includes: Stand, game card, lightsaber Geonosian worms, Clone Trooper Scythe figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: March 2012
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Ahsoka battles brain worms that infect her comrades, including clone trooper Scythe.  The Geonosian worms turn their victims into menacing zombies, as Ahsoka finds out during a flight to a medical station.   The Padawan must find a way to destroy the parasite and save her friends.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: From a purely community-driven perspective, Ahsoka Tano is a fascinating character.  Kids like her, and there are anecdotes that the character is supposedly bringing in tons of new, adult, woman blood into the hobby and fandom.  True?  I dunno.  The ratings of The Clone Wars and sales of most licensed products aren't exactly on an upswing these days.  (Did you think the reason these figures weren't showing up at Walmart was because they were too damn popualr?  Hah!)

The figure takes the 2008 Ahsoka and gives her slightly improved face paint, which is nice because, let's face it, a decent face is probably one of the most important things any figure can have.  You could slap Hermi Odle's head on a small burlap sack and it would be a decent figure, so this one is a bit of an improvement.  The deco of her weapon and body isn't significantly different, but she is being attacked by what appears to be a very rapey Geonosian Brain Worm which is all sorts of creepy.  (This is how it was packaged, folks, I didn't pose it this way.)   With a decent amount of articulation, her very thin arms don't have the ball-jointed elbows so many fans crave.  Still, she's a good representation of the character and the optional brain worms are a nice bonus.  I would argue not as nice as Rotta the Huttlet, but hey, that's where I like to be.

Collector's Notes: Speaking of showing up at Walmart, this figure was supposed to have done just that.  She was developed as a 2-pack with a DVD for the chain, which as far as I can tell either never stocked them or only received a super-limited test run of them.  (I have only heard one report, sans evidence, of this set being sold there.)  The run was dumped at closeout channels like Marshall's or TJ Maxx, which seems to be happening a lot with anything that may have been a Walmart exclusive as of late.   If you can get it, get the set for the clone companion.  I'm still seeing these sets locally as of this week.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,951: December 5, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,950: Darth Maul

DARTH MAUL  Slashing Lightsaber Action!
Discover the Force Movie Heroes Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 36568 No.  38565  
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #MH15
Includes: Stand, card, die, lightsaber
Action Feature: Squeeze legs, arms move
Retail: $8.99
Availability: February 2012
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio:  Darth Maul duels Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Theed Royal Palace on Naboo. The Sith Lord handles the lightsaber with supreme skill, making it difficult for the two Jedi to gain the upper hand in life-or-death confrontation. Maul slashes at his opponents with his double-bladed lightsaber as the three duel from the hangar bay to the generator complex.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: With dozens of Darth Maul figures and few different costumes, it's increasingly tough to suggest any new version is worthwhile.  While the Naboo Battle Pack one had an exceptionally good sculpt and superior likeness, this one is worth getting mostly as a desk toy.   The head sculpt is OK, but the expression and paint job is merely acceptable.  The face design just doesn't seem quite right, but the leg mechanism works quite well.  If you squeeze his legs together, he does that little dance where one arm goes up, another goes down, and you can make pretend he's fighting.

As a figure to live on your desk for you to futz with while pretending to work, it's fair amount of fun.   Since it was developed for the kiddie line around a gimmick, it's more than a little limiting as it can't fit in the vehicle o really do much of anything other than "fight."  The sculpt is good, but not great, and the main reason to get really excited about this one is the one-piece double-bladed lightsaber with the "flared" blade, with extra energy deco near the hilt.   Believe it or not, no Darth Maul figure with a completely plastic lightsaber had that additional detail until 2012.

Collector's Notes: This figure was packed at a higher number in the assortments, but sold quickly due to fans loving the character and using the head as a replacement for the Vintage one.  You may be able to find one at a store still stocking Movie Heroes.  New Movie Heroes 8-packs at Walmarts just showed up with this guy and the other Wave 2 guys, all in a big envelope, for like $25.  It's a killer deal and if you love toys it's one worth getting.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,950: December 4, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,949: Ki-Adi-Mundi

KI-ADI-MUNDI Battle on Mygeeto
30th Anniversary Collection Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87503 No. 87815
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, 4 other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99-$24.99
Availability: Summer 2008
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: As a stronghold of the InterGalactic Banking Clan, the crystalline world of Mygeeto is caught in the maelstrom of the Clone Wars. It is where much of the Separatist movement’s wealth is kept, and so it is targeted by the Republic: gain control of Mygeeto, and the Separatists lose crucial funding. Ki-Adi-Mundi is stationed on the icy planet with the mission of wresting it from the Separatists. Together with Clone Commander Bacara, Ki-Adi-Mundi and the Galactic Marines battle the droid army in fierce urban fighting, pushing forward against a grim onslaught of super battle droids and enormous tri-droids.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: One of the key arguments about any feature documenting these toys is "Is this different enough?" and the answer is usuall "sure, why not?"  Ki-Adi-Mundi, at first glance, looks the same as the 2005 release from Revenge of the Sith, but this late-run 2008 Mygeeto release has a few key differences.  The facial expression is painted in a way which just happens to look a little more intense, the tunic is splattered in hard-to-see dark brown mud splotches, and the lightsaber itself is now a one-piece weapon and mercifully dropped the removable blade gimmick which minimizes breakage.  I really liked the 2005 release, but the construction is better on this one overall... plus he has some awesome clone and droid figures.   If you're a new-ish collector just wanting a quality set of 5 prequel-based figures, this is a worthwhile Battle Pack to buy.

Collector's Notes: The "Battle on Mygeeto" Battle Pack was a very late release in the line, I saw a couple at Toys R Us and of course Entertainment Earth, and that was it.   The set had the very first super-articulated Bacara as well as two totally unique droids in it, so if it's still cheap on eBay and people haven't yet realizes that they missed it, I suggest buying it.  $30 or less for this set is a total bargain for the quality of what you get relative to what you pay for at Target these days.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,949: December 3, 2012