Figure of the Day: Day 273: Tanus Spijek (Elom)

TANUS SPIJEK Jabba's Sail Barge
Saga
Item No.: Asst. 84715 No. 84747
Number: 0410
Includes: Blaster, display base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99
Availability: Spring 2004
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Lurking in the shadows of the Hutt's palace was Tanus Spijek, a former spy for the Rebellion. He was hired by the Alliance to carry messages between Alderaan and the Rebel base on Yavin 4. Spijek was an Elom, a primitive, peaceful species sympathetic to the Rebellion after their enslavement by the Empire during the Galactic Civil War. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: In 2004, Hasbro continued its then-recent policy of developing multiple figures around a similar base sculpt all at once. Tanus Spijek (or "Elom") shared parts with J'Quille, another character from Jabba's Palace, in an effort to keep production costs down. The two look very different, and you probably wouldn't immediately assume they shared a body and arms until you put them side-by-side. This particular figure is a little more skunk-like, with a tail, dark fur, and a white stripe on its back. The design is excellent, and as a figure that fans have seen in a movie for over 20 years before getting a toy, its release was quite exciting. Still, it was a little bulky, and the arms are a little awkward for posing around the rifle the figure comes with. But hey, they can't all be perfect, and the figure really doesn't need a gun in the first place. As diorama fodder, this is one of the best figures you can buy-- so if you have the chance, get yourself one.

Collector's Notes: Depending on where you lived, the figure was a fast seller or a slow seller. I heard from both camps in 2004, which probably means that overall, things were OK with this one.

Day 273: February 3, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 272: Count Dooku

COUNT DOOKU Sith Lord
Revenge of the Sith Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 85174 No. 85285
Number: III-13
Includes: Lightsaber, cape, display base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.24-$6.99
Availability: April 2005-present

Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Count Dooku is the leader of the Separatist movement. A renegade Jedi, Dooku has torn apart the galaxy with his plan to bring down the Republic. He is known as Darth Tyranus, a Dark Lord of the Sith. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: As far as bang-for-the-buck goes, this is probably the best Count Dooku out there. With tons of articulation, hands and a head you can "cut off," and a great sculpt, you might be left wondering if anyone would ever be able to make a better one. (The Evolutions/Tin version, while quite good, is basically on the same playing field.) This figure can be posed in a variety of fight-friendly poses, has an excellent likeness of Christopher Lee, and is cheap. If you only want one Count Dooku figure, this is the one for you-- there's not much else you can ask for out of a figure like this except for a few minor things (like where the "wrist" joint goes-- this figure has it in the sleeve, rather than on the wrist), but man, this is one great figure. The cape is very nice too-- but with only one color, it isn't as good as the later releases. This figure also has the best knee joints in ever, as they're mobile, well hidden, and look superb.

Collector's Notes: As an added bonus, this figure is available in the 2006-style "Greatest Battles" packaging. This figure can still be found in toy stores, but not all toy stores.

Day 272: February 2, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 271: Grievous' Bodyguard

GRIEVOUS' BODYGUARD White version
Revenge of the Sith Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 85173 No. 86680
Number: III-60
Includes: Energy pike
Action Feature: Squeeze legs for attack
Retail: $5.24-$6.99
Availability: Fall 2005

Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: General Grievous is surrounded by droid bodyguards. They protect the commander of the droid armies with impenetrable electrostaffs as the Republic forces attempt to stop this dangerous and deadly enemy. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: First appearing in the Clone Wars cartoons, the Grievous' Bodyguard action figures were something fans were looking forward to-- that is, in theory. The figures turned out fairly well, but the action feature combined with the accessories really didn't quite work out. You see, you squeeze the legs to get an "attack strike" out of the figure, but the plastic cape tends to get in the way. As such, many fans view this figure-- while good-- as being one that needs some work.

The sculpting and detail work is fairly simple, and this redeco of the first bodyguard is quite striking in its appearance. With a little more dirt and some nifty patterns on his cape, it'll liven up any Trade Federation or Separatists diorama, but, sadly, those dioramas tend to be a little small. This figure is well worth snagging if you have the chance, just keep in mind that a lot of its mystique comes from it being slightly harder to get than a lot of other figures.

Collector's Notes: As a tail-end Revenge of the Sith figure, this one turned out to be harder to get. It was a last-minute addition to the line, and Hasbro was in a hurry to transition away from Episode III as, I'm told, they felt the first two prequels' presence remained on the shelves too long. So in a move for a more timeless line, a few figures-- like this poor fellow-- got yanked from assortments quite quickly, leaving many fans hoping for a reissue. Also, this is the second release of this figure-- the first release had different coloring and is much more common. The easiest way to tell them apart is the capes, release #1 is dark grey, and #2 is white. It shouldn't be too hard to get either version for less than $10, with a little work.

Day 271: February 1, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 270: Chewbacca

CHEWBACCA Wookiee Rage!
Revenge of the Sith Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 85173 No. 85278
Number: III-05
Includes: Bowcaster
Action Feature: Squeeze legs for "Wookiee Rage"
Retail: $5.24-$6.99
Availability: April 2005-present

Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: The Wookiee warrior Chewbacca battles beside fellow warrior Tarfful to save their home planet from the invading Separatist forces. Yoda leads the courageous fight to save Kashyyyk from domination. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: For Revenge of the Sith, most figures were based off of the new movie. Chewbacca here is an oddity, because it seems he's actually more of a cross of the original 1978 action figure and his appearance in the original Star Wars, what with his bright eyes and open mouth and bowcaster. It's a fun little action figure, and he has the best ever action feature-- labeled on the package as "Wookiee Rage," all he does is rear his head and arms back and howl. This figure is Hasbro marketing at its finest. I'd buy a t-shirt that reads "Wookiee Rage!" on it. I'm not being snide, either. I am that much of a nerd. It doesn't do much, but it doesn't take away from the figure too much and the novelty of the name of the action figure actually makes owning this one well worth it, just to talk about to people who aren't too aware of the little nuances in the hobby like this one.

The sculpt is excellent, with lots of sculpted strands of hair and a nice face giving Chewie a great personality. The figure's deco could be better, as along with Tarfful this poor soul has a lot of brightly colored streaks in his fur that looks like some sort of weird mud or other brownish materials which we can't discuss here for reasons we can't go in to. It's obviously Chewbacca, and with 10 points of articulation, he's a pretty strong figure. Obviously he's been outclassed by Vintage/Early Bird/Tin releases which would come both before and after this release, but as a kid's toy this is a pretty solid release. Except the completely worthless knee joint, which allows the leg to rotate but not bend. Seeing as how Hasbro figured out how to do a Wookiee knee right with the Sneak Preview Episode III Wookiee Warrior, it's really quite confusing to think that they screwed it up with this later and arguably more popular release.

Collector's Notes: Since 2005, Hasbro has made sure to have this figure on the market regularly. In 2005, it was sold individually and in the Rebel vs. Empire Battle Pack. It was repackaged in 2006 for the Episode III Heroes & Villains Collection. In 2007, Hasbro is repackaging it yet again as part of the as-of-yet unreleased Saga Legends collection. If you want it, you should have no problems getting it for $7 or less. If you buy it to keep in the package, you simply must buy the 2005 version with the big "Wookiee Rage" sticker on it. Best. Marketing. Ever.

Day 270: January 31, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 269: Clone Pilot (Black)

CLONE PILOT Black Variant
Revenge of the Sith Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 85173 No. 85423
Number: III-34
Includes: Blaster, cannon, projectile
Action Feature: Firing red rocket
Retail: $5.24
Availability: Fall 2005

Appearances: n/a

Bio: Clone trooper pilots are specially trained for the skills needed to fly attack and troop ships. As part of the Grand Army of the Republic, the clone pilots engage the Separatist forces across the galaxy. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: In Japan, Takara and Tomy were two toy companies that learned one true thing about collectors: if they'll buy it once, they'll buy it twice if you release it again in black. Despite not appearing in the movies or, as far as I can tell, any Expanded Universe tales the black Clone Trooper Pilot is basically a redeco, but is that a bad thing? I daresay no-- but the timing was a little too soon. People were still giddy for more figures from the final prequel, and this doesn't really qualify. It's an awesome looking figure, and seeing how post-Revenge of the Sith territory is being explored by the toy line, it's totally awesome today, in 2007. It will be more awesome if Hasbro gives us some new vehicles or at least a redeco of the upcoming V-Wing to use with it, but I digress.

It's a solid figure-- there's not a lot of clever little details you can put into a pilot's suit that was obscured on the big screen and was supposedly a lower-detail render from Industrial Light & Magic, but hey-- Hasbro did good. There's a decent pose that-- GASP-- allows the figure to sit in the vehicles! What a novel idea. This alone makes it a winner in my book, but adding glossy black paint to offset the more matte coloring of the suit certainly makes it look more interesting. With 12 points of articulation, it's a good figure-- but I do have to say I wish the exposed skin on the pilot's face was a smidge darker. It seems the black pilot's skin is a little less peachy than the white version, but still... these are supposed to be Jango clones, and the coloring isn't quite perfect. But as an action figure in its own right, man, this is a fun little toy and a great figure to have sitting in your vehicles. And hey, Hasbro-- how about making some Clone vehicles, hmm?

Collector's Notes: This is the repaint-- the original one was grey and white, like the AT-AT Drivers. There's still at least a few more redeco opportunities for this mold, like the pilot Odd Ball, and the decoration as it appears on the packaging (which is different than the white version of the figure). In most markets, the black pilot was harder to find than the white, although your mileage may have varied. The white one was a pegwarmer in many areas, which is a shame as it's a good figure and a lot of us bought several to pilot our gunships and ARC fighters.

Day 269: January 30, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 268: Jango Fett

JANGO FETT Final Battle
Saga Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84851 No. 84505
Number: 0231
Includes: Blasters, backpack, flame blast, removable head
Action Feature: Spring-loaded flame blast, magnetic head can be "decapitated"
Retail: $4.99
Availability: 2002

Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: The bounty hunter Jango Fett is a shrewd mercenary mysteriously linked to the growing Separatist army and the unexplained assassination attempts on Senator Amidala. His battle scarred suit of armor and muscular frame are physically imposing, and hidden beneath his sleek, domed helmet lies a coarse, pitted face hardened by a life of dangerous work and ruthless operations. Armed with dual pistols, a jetpack and flamethrower, Jango Fett is a mobile arsenal fully equipped for combat. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: Few toys are real toys in the Star Wars line, but Hasbro put a lot of fun action features that don't suck into this particular Jango Fett. Who ever expected Hasbro to make a figure where you could cut off his head? Or that had scene-specific knee articulation? Or a firing flamethrower accessory? I sure never saw it coming, and those of us that grew up on the original Kenner toys were both intrigued and dismayed when Hasbro pushed action features heavily in their line starting in 2002. Thankfully, this was one of the better figures, with incredible paint deco, above-par articulation, and, for better or worse, a scene-specific pose. The sculpting is great, and the look is nearly perfect-- except for the large gauntlet which holds the springs for the spring-loaded flamethrower. This is a heck of a nice figure, if you're a kid or if you're a collector. The fact you can cut his head off may be a little grim for some kids, but hey, if they saw the movie then it's nothing they probably haven't watched on DVD with the freeze frame feature at least a couple of times.

Collector's Notes: Since first appearing in 2002, this figure has gone on to become a staple of Battle Packs, appearing in the Jedi vs. Separatists set in 2005 and the Battle of Geonosis set in 2007. The later releases would be virtually identical, except they generally included one of his two blaster pistols. If you want the figure with both guns, be sure to get the original release. As far as articulation goes, this is probably the best Jango Fett on the market today. Fans are still requesting a super-poseable upgrade of the popular character, and I for one hope Hasbro gets with the program and cranks one out. I'm not the world's biggest fans of resculpts, but Jango is worth it.

Day 268: January 29, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 267: Mon Calamari Officer

MON CALAMARI Officer
Power of the Jedi Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84455 No. 84644
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: 2000

Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: A peaceful race of amphibians, the Mon Calamari species have adopted the name of their watery homeworld. Unfortunately, they were a target for Imperial enslavement. After striking back and regaining their freedom, the Mon Calamari joined the Alliance and focused all their energies on defeating the Empire. (Taken from the figure's Force File.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: Another favorite of mine, the Mon Calamari Officer was one of three figures from Power of the Jedi developed in a hurry as a stopgap way to get more Trilogy product in the post-Episode I marketplace. (The others being K-3PO and a Princess Leia Endor figure.) This figure had a few changes made besides the paint, like the newly sculpted helmet, a new blaster, and shoelaces added to his boots. How he ties them, I do not know. But it's a mystery.

By and large, the figure is a 1997 Admiral Ackbar with a few changes-- so it's not as ornate as his fellow figures in this assortment, still being a little beefy and everything. The sculpting is good, the paint is excellent, and as a trooper, this is a real winner. After all, the number of non-human, non-armored troopers of any alien race is pretty small, and to have more lobster people always makes the 4-year-old in me very, very happy. It's a fun figure with only six points of articulation, but he can sit in most vehicles quite easily and is a lot of fun to mess with. The helmet design is especially cool as it fits on snuggly and doesn't really pose any problem-- which is nice, as sometimes, they're a little tough to get on or off.

Collector's Notes: While not the strongest seller of his time, this figure did fairly well and a lot of fans (like myself) snapped up a couple of extras because, hey, how often can you get Admiral Ackbar's teammates? The figure's price range is all over, but you should have little problem getting one for under $10 shipped. And you should get one, he's a cool little figure that Hasbro probably won't revisit with a new sculpt for a while. Which is a pity, as I'd go nuts for an all-new Admiral Ackbar or any other Mon Calamari figure.

Day 267: January 28, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 266: Uncle Owen Lars

UNCLE OWEN LARS Purchase of the Droids
Power of the Force Cinema Scenes Assortment
Item No.: Asst. 69650 No. 69778
Number: n/a
Includes: Display Base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99-$19.99
Availability: 1998

Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Owen Lars was the son of moisture farmer Cliegg Lars and the stepbrother of Anakin Skywalker. He married Beru Whitesun, and after his father's death, he inherited his job as a moisture farmer. Eventually, Beru convinced Owen to adopt Anakin's son, Luke Skywalker, as Anakin had turned to the dark side and became the infamous Darth Vader. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: Who'd have guessed it? In 1998, Hasbro gave us Uncle Owen finally, and we were only too happy to take him. The plastic used for his (and the Luke from his set's) face is a little weird, being somewhat translucent-- but the sculpting work was excellent, giving a certain knowing smile that we've all come to know through the publicity photos we've seen on a million trading cards, magazine articles, and wiki sites. The figure has the basic six points of articulation, and has an outfit that has exceptional-- for 1998-- cloth texture. The figure itself tends to draw different reactions from different fans. Some saw him as a decent stand-in for the Wuher figure we assumed we'd never get. Others see it as a joke, a lame figure of a lame character posed to "pull my finger." I find it a decent figure, although I do have some issues with the quality of materials used to make it. By using a slightly better plastic for the head, it might have been possible to never hear another fan request for a new Owen from the original film-- but in its current state, there's obviously some room for limited improvement.

Collector's Notes: Uncle Owen was a figure a lot of fans didn't expect to see, but Hasbro showed off a prototype in 1997 that made fans very happy. Of course, since then, they've been asking for two more Owen figures-- a young version based on Episode II, which seems possible some day, and a fried-to-a-crisp version which started as a joke, but the endless echo of "me too" makes it seem as if the joke has worn off. The original release of Owen was still easily had online (and in some backwater stores) up until 2006, proving it was a bit of a slow seller. The complete Purchase of the Droids boxed set, along with Luke and C-3PO, can be had for under $10. It's also worth noting it was blown out at Kay-Bee toys on the cheap in the year 2000.

Day 266: January 27, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 265: Battle Droid

BATTLE DROID Droid Army
Clone Wars Deluxe Assortment
Item No.: Asst. 84845 No. 84992
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, Backpack
Action Feature: Splits in half, magnet in torso
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 2003

Appearances: Attack of the Clones, The Clone Wars

Bio: Battle Droids are produced in massive foundries on Geonosis. Despite a treaty forbidding the expansion of those armies, Geonosian foundries are currently running at maximum capacity, with thousands more battle droids secretly massing on Geonosis. Destroyer Droids, also known as droidekas, are engineered specifically as mobile machines of destruction, capable of eliminating practically any opposition. They roll into battle in the shape of a wheel, then unfold to full-standing combat stance for assault. Super Battle Droids operate independently rather than in groups, making them stronger, more efficient models of technological weaponry. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: This particular Battle Droid is a quasi-painful figure. It looks wonderful-- I think it's one of the best looking versions of this trooper ever. If given a stand, he stands upright-- but his rubbery limbs tend to get distorted between gravity and his packaging. If you knock him over, he splits apart fairly easily, and the sculpt is, well, pretty much exactly as good as all the other Battle Droids, but with unique deco. If you love cannon fodder, this is a perfect figure-- if you're looking for some diorama spice and variety, you need this figure-- if you want the best-ever super-poseable Battle Droid, pass on this one. He has poseable arms and legs, and not much else.

Collector's Notes: Three figures for $10-- a great deal. The set also included a Destroyer Droid and a Super Battle Droid. While neither were high-end, super-poseable figures, they looked great and for the price, were wonderful additions to the line.

Day 265: January 26, 2007