Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,293: Rey (Rogue One)

REY (Jakku)
Rogue One   Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. B7072 No. B9842
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Staff, backpack, projectile, launcher
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: October 2016
Appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Bio: Rey is a resilient survivor, a scavenger toughened by a lifetime of dealing with the cutthroats of the harsh desert world of Jakku.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Because she's popular, here's Rey.   We found out Rey was the new Luke last September, and her action figure selection confirms this - back in the 1990s we got a bevy of Lukes from the original movie with unique helmets, hats, ponchos, and other accessories.   Rey currently enjoys 5 different (well, 4 unless you're an accessory completist) 3 3/4-inch action figures, 4 of which share similar if not identical bodies.  If you're an all-in fan of Rey (and boy howdy am I) you probably really appreciate it when Hasbro puts in new parts and makes big changes to the figure.  This one delivers enough changes to be worth your while.

The big changes over Rey [FOTD #2,191] from last year are the head, the rocket launcher, and the torso wrappings.  The arms, legs, and torso seem to come from the same (I presume) digital sculpt as the others and other figural products.  There are minor differences - feel free to compare the markings on the boots - with the plastic outfit seemingly a little more saturated in deco.  There's a hint of yellow in here, as opposed to the more muted ran color of the original.  It stands apart.   It also stands quite nicely.  Another cool bonus - despite having chest wrappings and a wrapped head, Rey retains neck articulation this time.  The figure has a good face sculpt and decent deco - the head is molded in the wrapping color with a painted face, which actually serves Rey well.  It helps to avoid the whole skin translucency issue we see with other toys.

While her staff and backpack offer nothing new, that rocket launcher on her arm is a delight.  I'm not saying you'll love it, but for those of us who love the toys of the 1990s where a big spring-loaded weapon dongle was standard issue?  I  believe we'll all love what they're trying to accomplish here.  The painted, arm-mounted launcher is modeled after her speeder vehicle with the orangey red color and some added deco to bring out a little detail.   She has no real problems wrapping it to her forearm, and most shockingly to me she has remained standing on my desk for days without toppling over due to an imbalance.  It's a decent, bulky weapon too - I'm impressed!  The blue blast-capped rocket shoots out of the launcher fairly nicely, but it's not as amazing as the distance you'll see on the Nerf launchers.  It goes a couple of feet, which isn't bad.

So!  Do you need this Rey?  Probably not - the cinematic weight of the costume can't be ignored, but its brief on-screen presence probably won't mean this will be your first Rey purchase.  I love strange costume variations and unique helmets and hats, so seeing this figure on the market so soon shows Hasbro does indeed remember how to milk a hero for all of his or her costume variants, and I'm pretty jazzed I didn't have to wait 20 years to get one.   It's way more interesting than a repack with new accessories or a lightsaber, and the actual toy component is pretty good and quite creative.   I assume it'll sell well, because it's Rey, but in and of itself it's an interesting piece and far more exciting than the rocket launcher kickboard accessory from 2015.  Maybe we can get a scarred, unmasked Kylo Ren next.  (I'm being sincere, I'd like one.)

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,293: October 20, 2016

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,292: Darth Vader (Rogue One)

DARTH VADER Version 920
Rogue One   Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. B7072 No. B9843
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, cape, projectile, launcher
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: October 2016
Appearances: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Bio: An imposing figure standing two meters tall and encases in ominous black armor, Darth Vader is the emissary and enforcer of the Emperor's commands.  Vader helped the Emperor carry out the elimination of the Jedi Order and the rise of the Galactic Empire.  Now, he is charged with rooting out rebel activity and any threats to his master's reign.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Holy crap another Darth Vader.   Very few of his action figures are based specifically on the original 1977 movie suit, as Rogue One supposedly aspires to do, but if you compare some of the publicity shots to this Hasbro figure and the Funko items and other products you'll notice they don't all match.    This Hasbro figure lacks the red lenses, but it does have the robes over the shoulder armor.  Funko's (and one of the publicity standees) has the robes under the shoulders - which is how they did it in every movie save for the original - and generally they have the red lenses.  Based on rumors floating around, it was Disneylucasfilm's goal to make it as perfectly Star Wars as possible and this figure does a pretty good job of pulling that off.  It's not as awesome as the super-articulated 2006-2007 figure - the one that came with Obi-Wan's robes and a coin and was super-articulated and was $7 - but it's still good.

Unlike the bulk of The Force Awakens and Rogue One toys, Darth Vader has a sixth joint.  His waist is articulated, making this one a lot closer to the 1995 figure you've all decided to hate.  His lightsaber even lacks the "flare" at the base of the blade.  The inner "skirt" cape has a couple of cuts so you can fit this figure in some vehicles, although it's a tight squeeze - they don't fold down perfectly.  The arms are spread out, a little more action-oriented than I was expecting, but he can hold his lightsaber in menacing ways that imply the figure could fight in a duel.  I don't expect to see it ignited on film, but who knows?

The deco largely matches other Vader figures based on the original film, complete with horizontal ribbing on the gloves and the big green chest light.   It's pretty good, but you've probably got a few Darth Vaders.  Or a few dozen.   He's missing the neck chain for his cape, which is plastic and removable.   He's also seemingly just a smidgen beefier than my imagination thinks he should be, but that might just be the camera angles in the movie.

Rounding out the set is a rocket launcher with an energy blast on the tip.  It's shaped like Darth Vader's belt buckle.  It is ridiculous.  He has no problems holding it, and it feels like it fell out of the 1990s and was probably rejected back in the day.  I dig it - it's a lot more fun than the various build weapons that had nothing to do with anything last year.  Impressively, Vader can stand while holding the heavy weapon - nice job, Hasbro!  That's a rarity with spring-loaded accessories.

You don't need another Darth Vader, but it's a new movie and really who doesn't want a new Darth Vader?  Your existing figures are probably just fine, but if you need a souvenir for the new movie this is a good one.  He has a nice gesturing left arm that can't hold his lightsaber, but it's a decent enough toy overall.  I like it more than the one they gave us last year.  If you see one, go ahead and get one.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,292: October 19, 2016

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,291: Kanan Jarrus (Stormtrooper Disguise, Rogue One)

KANAN JARRUS Stormtrooper Disguise
Rogue One   Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. B7072 No. B7278
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, blaster, pauldron, projectile, launcher
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: September 2016
Appearances: Star Wars Rebels

Bio: Kanan Jarrus was a Jedi Knight among a small group of rebels known as the Ghost Crew.  He carries a lightsaber and a blaster - an uncommon practice for a Jedi.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: There have been many versions of Kanan Jarrus so far, but this one - shockingly - isn't just a Stormtrooper with a new head.  The figure is a whiter plastic, and it seems each and every part is new - you'll notice details which differ slightly from previous Stormtroopers.

The head sculpt is completely new, with one of the most expressive faces on a Star Wars figures in years.  Most faces are just a boring, resting face - once in a blue moon you'll get a screaming face or closed eyes, but this Kanan has a head that shows what he's thinking.  Or smelling.  A raised eyebrow and sneer shows determination or loathing for the Sith... or perhaps he just smelled a fart.   You decide.   It's incredibly distinctive and a real departure from what Hasbro has done, well, almost always.  Smiles are rare, frowns aren't particularly common, and so many aliens/droids/helmets are incapable of emoting anyway.  Hasbro deciding to make an all-new sculpt from head to toe is curious, but the decision to give the ball-jointed head this much personality is most intriguing.  I hope we see more of this as the Rebels trickle continues.

Articulation is exactly what you've come to expect, with 5 joints.   The ball-jointed neck is the most interesting change of pace from the previous animated Stormtroopers, but the helmet is nifty in that Hasbro cut out chunks of the interior to fit Kanan's hair.  Thank you, Hasbro!  Sometimes it's a tight fit or scrapes, and while this is indeed a tight fit I appreciate the foresight of mixing up the helmet to make it fit better.

The energy launcher is, well, it's there.  It fits in his right hand quite nicely, and it launches adequately.   His lightsaber and blaster also fit nicely, giving you options.  Heck, you can even pop that pauldron off and use this as a standard Stormtrooper, which is what I plan to do if/when it hits clearance.

As this is an all-new figure instead of a simple head swap, I remain surprised.   It's a win for Hasbro, although not necessarily one for the bean-counting we see so much of in product development.    If you buy Rebels figures you've probably got this one already, and if you don't he's a good place to start.   I'd go as far as to say if you only buy one cast member from the show, this is a good choice.   Here's hoping the line goes long enough to get Kanan's changing look in from the end of Season 2 and the beginning of Season 3.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,291: October 18, 2016

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,290: Sabine Wren (Rogue One)

SABINE WREN Take Two
Rogue One   Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. B7072 No. B7282
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, 2 blasters, zipline gauntlet
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: September 2016
Appearances: Star Wars Rebels

Bio: A Mandalorian Warrior, Sabine Wren is an explosive expert and graffiti artist - qualities that make her an excellent fit as one of the first Rebels against the Empire. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Available very briefly in 2014, the first take on this Rebel sold out quickly - and had a helmet deco variant which I'm still looking for to this day.  The new Sabine Wren debuted the same week as the season three version of her costume.  The figure is based on the season two version.   Ah well.  It's still cool! You'll still want it.   Packed at one per case, along with Stormtrooper Kanan, I'm going to bet this is one you're going to want to snap up first.

Sabine Wren now stands above her previous figure.  Her colorful removable helmet makes her even taller.   She still has only five points of articulation, but sports a much more dynamic pose - this is sort of in line with what we got in 2002 with the "Saga" line.   Her right arm is posed down, casually.   Her left arm looks like it was posed to grip her blaster while it's still in her holster - very cool.  It seems that this is a "collector" figure, mostly due to the character and deco, but the pose is very non-traditional compared to the rest of this line so far.   She's more like a tiny statue developed on Hasbro's budget, even though her joints all work exquisitely.

When it comes to deco, the level of detail is much sharper than there are more paint applications than her previous outing.  They also changed her skin color, so she's not another white girl.  The hair fades form a dark bluish black color to the green tips, and the face is painted quite well.  Her lips and eyes don't quite pop like the art on the show, but she more or less looks like she should with the "5" on her shoulder, painted checkers on the shoulder armor, armor on the opposite shoulder painted with a small creature, a screen on her gauntlet, painted knee pads and gauntlets... they did a nice job.  They also didn't paint numerous elements, like the spots on the front of her boots and her elbow pads.   This is most likely due to making sure the figure comes in under budget, because the extra deco on the hair and helmet and everywhere else doesn't come cheap.  Maybe she stole a few pennies from the Stormtrooper and K-2SO.   But I digress - they did a nice job making a better figure with functioning holsters than last time.  I'm sure customizers with a magnifying glass could improve on her considerably, but Hasbro might find this a challenge even in The Black Series given just how much is going on here.

Both silver blasters fit in her hands and holsters without much fuss, but the thing Hasbro wants you to pay attention to is the "zipline" accessory.  It's OK - thematically appropriate, interesting, and creatively non-lethal in a line where "Wars" are the theme and 50% of the title.   The wrist bit is modeled after Boba Fett's gauntlet, with a string going through it sporting hooks on either end.   You can attach them to something, and she can slide down it to adventure or safety or whatever you so choose.   It's OK.   I like that it works, that it fits, and that she can carry it without tipping over.  I also love that it's recognizably Star Wars-y, which The Force Awakens' Combine weapons largely were not.  "It's a gun!"  "It's a claw!"  Who cares?   Giving Sabine a functional (and fun) accessory that looks like it belongs in this particular franchise was a good move.  I don't know if kids will find her to enjoy it, but I hope so - it's worthwhile.  And splendid.

Get yourself Sabine.  It's a girl figure, it's from a popular and unmerchandised facet of your hobby, and it's a Mandalorian.   Your skipping this figure for any reason other than budget means you are making a bad move.  This is the best 3 3/4-inch Sabine yet and by virtue of being wave 1 in a launch line, you might actually find her this time.  Do so.   Hopefully Hasbro can do a Season 3 version and a super-articulated one down the road, but I'm not holding my breath.   The Clone Wars toys petered out long before the show, much to my disappointment.  Rebels  has been delivering a pretty good (if small) selection of wonderful vehicles and very good figures, I hope they continue after the show's end.  I mean, who among us wouldn't want Hondo Ohnaka, a couple of Ugnaughts, or even another plain Stormtrooper or six?

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,290: October 13, 2016

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,289: Imperial TIE Fighter Pilot (Rogue One)

IMPERIAL TIE FIGHTER PILOT TIE Striker
Rogue One   Vehicle Pack-In
Item No.: No. B7105
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, 2 Nerf darts, TIE Striker
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: September 2016
Appearances: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Bio: A streamline variant of the classic TIE fighter, the TIE striker is used for atmospheric patrols over important ground-based Imperial installations.  The TIE striker's versato;e design also allows it to soar in space, where it can accompany traditional TIE fighters in chasing down enemy starships.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Troopers and pilots are popular, but the Imperial TIE Fighter Pilot is an odd one in terms of revisions.  Despite being one of the figures released in the modern era  back in 1996, and despite over a dozen releases and variants, Hasbro hasn't done a super-articulated version or a completely new sculpt of the movie pilot since 2004.   That one kept getting tweaks like new legs and other alterations, but never a complete revision, and never ankles.  This new one?  No ankles.  It has 5 points of articulation, and the chest console is seemingly glued in place - mine was a smidgen off-center.  At first glance I thought it was a taller figure than the rest, but comparing it to the new Stormtrooper it's actually shorter - and a little plumper.

As one might hope, it can sit perfectly in the TIE Striker vehicle - even its new, strange update of the blaster mounts perfectly in the lid of the ship.   This is one of the reasons I'm not freaking out about the off-center console - we're probably going to see this figure again and again, now that Hasbro has it.  I wouldn't be at all surprised if it got packaged with new TIE variants, or maybe some day a 100%-new TIE Fighter - which, depending on how generous you're feeling, we really haven't had since the old days.   It's a much better pose than most of the pilots, and it'll look great on a shelf.  It's just going to stay in that pose, but given the shoulders and elbows of previous figures I'm actually not going to complain.

Deco is sharp - as is the texture.  The body suit is lovingly fabric-y, with creases and bumps that compliment the many pockets and patches.  Each shoulder gets an Empire symbol,  with the left arm getting some nice coloring and the chest having a nice big red square - a rarity on these figures.  I can only assume it's based on the flight uniforms we see (or don't see) in the new movie, and it doesn't seem to have any specific pilot markings to identify it with a tear or a stripe or other adornment.   This is a standard issue pilot.

Short of giving it grey gloves and boots - which, Hasbro, I would love you forever if you do - this is probably the closest looking and feeling TIE Pilot variant we have when trying to modernize the 1982 original.  I'd be beside myself with joy if Hasbro carded it individually in "Kenner colors" at some point, or just in the normal ones.  It's a nice pilot - it's a good trooper. The helmet and suit detailing look great, and the joints and pose show how far we've come since the good - but admittedly aging - 2004 figure came to be.  It lacks articulation, but it looks more authentic than any other pilot figure at this scale and it fits in the ship.  It works for me.  I wouldn't necessarily recommend getting the ship just for this figure, but it's a fantastically weird ship that looks like the missing link between the Revenge of the Sith Jedi Starfighter and the regular TIE Fighter.   It's also quite long.   Since I utterly love new vehicles, especially trilogy-era vehicles, you know I love it.  It doesn't do much other than shoot and flap its wings.  Oh, it can shoot - the green darts have quite a bit of range, and the toy can store 2 on each wing as well as one in the launcher.  It only includes two.   If the current going rate seems excessive, know that I paid that for a B-Wing in the box back in 1989 with a smile.   I love ships.  It's a shame we're only seeing (so far) 4 brand-new molds and of them only two are completely new vehicles, but I'll take 'em.  Heck if I know when the next time Hasbro will have a chance to give us new Rebel and Imperial craft.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,289: October 12, 2016

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,288: Kylo Ren (Rogue One)

KYLO REN Projectile Firing
Rogue One   Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. B7072 No. B8609
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, hood, projectile, launcher
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: September 2016
Appearances: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Bio: A dark warrior strong with the Force, Kylo Ren commands First Order missions with a temper as fiery as his unconventional lightsaber. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Short of battle damage and a scarred face, this Kylo Ren is unique.   How?  It's the only 3 3/4-inch figure to feature a removable plastic hood in addition to a helmet.  Most helmeted Kylo Ren figures have a plastic hood sculpted to it, and this one doesn't.  That's why it's special.   It's the unmasked Kylo Ren [FOTD #2,265] body with a different head, basically.   That's the long and short of it.

The helmet's great.  Armor Up Kylo Ren also had an unhooded helmet, but the hood couldn't fit over said helmet.   His hands have a fist clenching a lightsaber, and another hand doing a "Force" pose.  It ain't bad.  The legs have the slightly spread pose which will no doubt be a nightmare for cramming in a vehicle down the road, but the split robes exposing a little pant leg is what sets this figure and the unmasked one apart.    He's got no problem holding his lightsaber, and the launcher accessory has a rubbery grip that opens a bit to grip his arm.

The projectile is a tight fit in the launcher, with a red energy tip that pops off on a ball joint.   It looks like it was forged from the same junk drawer that gave up parts for his lightsaber, and it shoots a couple of feet.  It's not as magically soaring as a Nerf dart, and it couldn't make it to my couch a few feet away - whereas the A-Wing's Nerf dart shoots so far and fast, it bounces off the wall across the room.   I know, I know.  You hate Nerf.  But it works real well.

Since Kylo Ren has the same sculpted costume as before, you know that you're going to be impressed by the cloth texture and folds in the fabric.  Depending on your standards, this is a new-enough figure.   A new head on an existing body with a new weapon isn't wildly different, but it's different enough that I can say I'm glad Hasbro did it.  It's not like "Here's another Luke you already own but with a backpack."  The new head makes a difference to me, at least, so I'm not going to whine that Kylo Ren took up 2 slots in a Rogue One case that seems to totally lack the film's heroes in wave one. And also a lot of wave two.  Based on some early grocery store street date SNAFUs, it would seem not entirely unlikely that this will be the pegwarmer in the first few weeks.  It also wouldn't surprise me if he got snapped up by the non-hardcores as time goes on, because it's Kylo Ren and people still buy him.  If you want an unhooded, helmeted one this is the one to get.

There's no call-out on the package to identify this specifically, just a little piece of art that says "Projectile Firing." Which is accurate - but remember the awesome power of 2005 when, in giant letters, Chewbacca's packaging boasted "WOOKIEE RAGE."  Hell yeah.   Those were the days.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,288: October 11, 2016

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,287: Hera Syndulla (Pilot, Rogue One)

HERA SYNDULLA's A-Wing Pack-In
Rogue One   Vehicle Pack-In
Item No.: Asst. B3672 No. B8929
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, figure, vehicle, 2 Nerf darts
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $29.99
Availability: September 2016
Appearances: Star Wars Rebels

Bio: The captain and heart of the Ghost's rebel crew, Hera Syndulla was a gifted pilot and leader.  Her leadership and the respect she earned from the Phoenix Squadron prompted her promotion to squadron leader by Commander Sato.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: We all love Hera Syndulla, the boss on Rebels and - of course - a scarce figure.   You might have seen her for a few minutes in March 2015, but probably not.   Hasbro didn't exactly overproduce those figures, so other than the ones who shipped in multiple waves or packed with other figures like Kanan and Ezra and the Inquisitor, you probably didn't get a crack at the main crew.  For this reason, the new Hera is a mixed blessing.  It's basically the 2015 figure, but with a new head.

If you got the original Hera from 2015 [FOTD #2,142], you're going to recognize the figure.  Same body, arms, legs, and blaster.   The white straps on her legs remain unpainted, but they're there.  The faux holster still can't hold a blaster, but it's there.  The design was engineered to sit in a vehicle, which is perfect as Hera will be serving as a pilot on the A-Wing which comes in the box.  The main changes are the colors are a little richer, and she has a new head.  The helmet is affixed to her face, so you're not going to slide it off.  It's a clear visor with more or less the same face underneath.  The lekku (head tails) are given painted rings, but they're not as thick as the original figure's.  She has no problems holding the blaster, although I should note that unlike the Imperial Speeder there's no box to store it in on board her vessel.  It rattles around or stays in her hand.

The vehicle, I like.  The A-Wing fighter was an early holy grail as a kid, because I am old enough to remember seeing - and not being allowed to buy - the original Kenner Droids one stacked to the ceiling for $6 a pop.   Yeah.  I got one a few years later for $40, which was pricey, but that was a fantastic vehicle!  Rotating canons.  Levers controlled the cockpit and landing gear.  Battle-alert sound.  Fancy.  That mold was used for a few more A-Wings you know about - plus a couple that didn't ever make it out, doncha know - but none replicated the smooth functionality of the original.  The 2016 version is an all-new mold with fewer - but different - features.

Like the concept painting, the notch in the front is filled in and the cannons are a little beefier and not as spread out.   The 9 1/2-inch long vehicle is shorter than the original, but it looks like it should be a small vehicle - the pilot doesn't take up all that much space in the cramped cockpit, and this vehicle does seem in line with the smaller size.   It has little skids that let it stand on a desk, but no retractable landing gear.   The big mechanism is a much-maligned Nerf dart launcher on the bottom with two clips to store extra darts.   It shoots quite far - across my house! - and you'll probably not see it looking down at it on a desk or a shelf.  I don't see it as an eyesore, but all of you seem to be intent on telling me that I'mw wrong.   I think it just works - as does the red and grey deco, plus "nose art"  behind the cockpit showing Kanan in a piece of art so small I can't see it.   It says "Moonbeam" under him.  It's not as detailed as the show, but it's a toy, and it's 2016.  It's close, and it comes out of the box almost completely assembled - you  just apply 1 sticker and it's done.  Mine didn't even have wrappings, you just immediately free it from the box.

Is it a good deal?  Probably in the sense of what you can get at the toy store, but long-time fans will convulse at paying so much for a smaller toy - figure or no.   In 1997, we paid $20 for a larger vehicle with a pilot - but no projectiles.   With inflation, that would make it $30 today.  The cruel hand of time (plus Chinese labor and manufacturing) makes this a pretty decent deal - a new vehicle with a tweaked figure, rather than a tweaked vehicle with a new figure.  I like the Nerf launcher, and I love the vehicle design.  It's not for everybody, but it's not like this hobby is, either.   If you've got the thousands of figures and hundreds of vehicles, you'll need this.  If you love Rebels or just want a Hera or an A-Wing?  Awesome.  If you want your favorite Rebel ship in the colors of your own personal web site?  You're me, and satisfied.  I hope we see a McQuarrie-inspired blue redeco, because that's way more interesting than Hasbro just reboxing it like they did the Imperial Walker, First Order Snowspeeder, Ezra Speeder, Y-Wing Scout, Rey Speeder... am I forgetting any?  Do I sound bitter?  Because I am. Those should not have been brought back.  Go  buy yourself an A-Wing.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,287: October 6, 2016

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,286: AT-DP Pilot (Rogue One)

AT-DP PILOT Imperial Speeder Pack-In
Rogue One   Vehicle Pack-In
Item No.: Asst. B3716 No. B7263
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, figure, bike, rocket
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: September 2016
Appearances: Star Wars Rebels

Bio: AT-DP Pilots are elite ground vehicle pilots for the Empire.  Equipped with unique armor, they are formidable opponents for all of the Empire's enemies.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Repack, retool, redeco, repeat.   You might not have this figure, but even if you do this AT-DP Pilot is a redeco - and seemingly slightly downsized and tweaked - figure is clearly different.   The feet have different markings, too.  It's also a redecorated pilot, slightly shorter and with different textures and a couple of other tweaks, with a redecorated and retooled bike.  It's different enough to be worthwhile, but the $19.99 price is a little wince-inducing when you open the box and see that it's about 90% air with the bike fully preassembled.   Hasbro mastered the skills of the puffer fish when it came to The Force Awakens packaging, and continues it here - with this vehicle making up half the assortment along with the Imperial Walker and Ezra Speeder vehicles.

The AT-DP Pilot is the AT-DP Pilot from 2015 [FOTD #2,134] design, more or less, but like 3% shorter and seemingly squirted out by a slightly different method than the original.  He still has the same 5 joints and basic layout, but he looks completely different in a side-by-side comparison.  The new figure has a matte finish, molded in a light grey that's less blue than the 2015 one.  It also has Imperial shoulder logos rather than the Republic logo, which look so much alike Hasbro has switched them on a fairly regular basis.     The paint masks all seem a little different too, with things being a bit sharper this time.  His helmet markings are also slightly different colors and shapes.   The new one has a lighter pair of markings.  The animation models aren't always colored the same, so some look kind of like this one and some look kind of like the other ones.  There's no real "better" here, if you're a troop fan that understands you can buy the same guy 20 times and it's arguably not always army building, this is a figure for you.   Sometimes they even have light grey/white Imperial symbols with a black inverted Triforce, so there are more ways to do it still.

 

The bike itself is a toy'd up version of the show model.  Ezra's bike was a little more garish, but decent.  The Imperial version adds a firing rocket to the side, spring-loaded despite having what seems to be a "marble shooter" rocket in there.  It's peculiar.   It appears to be removable if you take the toy apart, but I won't be doing that.    The bike has some light weathering deco, which is a real rarity nowadays, so it looks pretty sharp as a physical toy of the old preliminary speeder bike sketches of Joe Johnston - who has had quite a few awesome toys made of his designs, many of which are attributed to another famous concept artist.   The bike itself has adjustable handle bars and foot pedals, as the vehicle was exquisitely designed to fit shorter figures like Ezra or taller figures like this pilot.  You can store the blaster in a compartment in the rear - I love this - and it retains the lightsaber storage on the bottom as well as a little hole that seems like you could plug a tiny gun on there, like the original 1983 Kenner Speeder Bike.

While it doesn't do much other than shoot and look cool, I'd say this is a can't-miss set for the old guard.  It's a concept vehicle in cartoon disguise - you recognize the build, you've seen the designs.   You may have thought about how cool it would be to have one of these since you saw it in the old sketchbooks, so for that reason, I'd say get it now.   If this were $15 I'd say you'd feel it was a good deal, as it's a slight thing - but there's some nice paint, the figure is good, and it's different enough.   Get it if you see it and especially get it if you skipped Ezra's bike.  I mean, we're getting actual, new toys of the Galactic Empire now - no "First Order," no Separatists - this is more or less Mini-Rig and Original Trilogy fantasy land now.  We're living in it.   Purchase accordingly.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,286: October 5, 2016