Figure of the Day: Day 395: J'Quille

J'QUILLE Jabba's Sail Barge
Saga
Item No.: Asst. 84715 No. 84744
Number: 0409
Includes: Blaster, display base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99
Availability: Spring 2004
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: A Whiphid from the planet Toola, J'Quille was a spy sent into Jabba the Hutt's palace by Lady Valarian. His plans to assassinate the Hutt were rendered moot when Jabba was killed during the Rebel's rescue mission at the Pit of Carkoon. J'Quille was one of the survivors of the fight at the Sarlacc pit. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Jabba's Palace diorama.

Commentary: Expanded Universe "spy" mumbo jumbo aside, J'Quille was a figure many fans have been waiting for. Better known as "Toothface" to those who watched making-of Return of the Jedi specials, this big hairy thug wasn't seen much outside publicity shots. By using the same mold for two figures, Hasbro managed to crank two unique hairy characters out of its factories by saving costs. Who was the other lucky figure? Tanus Spijek, also known as Elom. The figures had different heads, hands, and a few other parts, but were largely the same-- each had 10 points of articulation, the same gun, and was very, very hairy. And toothy. There really isn't a lot to say about this guy-- the figure is what it is. It's not like certain Cantina characters where I can sit back and laud the articulation, swoon over the holster, or admire the pose as a toy engineering marvel. This figure has cut joints, and from a design standpoint, really isn't much to speak of. It is cool, though, so if you like cool aliens and have lots of dioramas to fill out, this is one of the best figures you can get. I have a soft spot for this figure, but it's basically because it's a "new" (as in, not available in 1985) alien from Jabba's Palace and I freaking love to see new alien figures that aren't "guy in brown robes with new head." And we're getting two of those from the cantina this year.

Collector's Notes: This figure came and went pretty quickly, but most fans aren't exactly drooling to get one these days. Still, it's not exactly a common figure, but you should have no problems finding one for your palace diorama. This figure is mostly notable for its body sharing, something Hasbro was very fond of in 2003 and 2004.

Day 395: June 5, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 394: Darth Vader (Anakin Skywalker)

DARTH VADER Mustafar Final Duel Playset
Revenge of the Sith Collection
Item No.: No. 85243
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, playset, Obi-Wan figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $29.99-$39.99
Availability: Late 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Darth Vader takes on Obi-Wan Kenobi in a final duel on a planet of erupting volcanos! Vader, who was once the Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, has turned to the dark side and now fights on the side of evil against his former Master. Vader and Obi-Wan meet in a climactic confrontation and fight to the finish while dodging blasts from a volcano and overcoming dangerous obstacles! Re-create this ultimate battle that decides the fate of the galaxy for the next generation! (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: Some figures are exciting because they're great new characters, or break new ground. Others are interesting because they are obviously victims of the almighty budget. Darth Vader (or Anakin Skywalker, but it says Vader on the box) has very little articulated, painted flesh coloring for his face, and a big stupid open mouth. Very few action figures look cool with an open mouth-- most look like a blow-up doll or just plain dumb. The 2002 Mace Windu figure looked OK because it really did look like Samuel L. Jackson screaming, but a lot of other figures just come off as dopey. With fewer than 6 points of articulation, all above the waist, there's very little nice to say about this figure. If you didn't buy one, but bought every other Episode III Anakin or Vader, you'd be covered. Moving arms, neck, and waist aren't exactly exciting, but if you consider that the playset was about $30, had two figures, and was fairly large, the value was certainly there. It's just that it's a boring playset that wasn't a fun environment for the most part-- although it did have some nice play and connectivity features.

Collector's Notes: Even with the complaining, the figure is notable for a few reasons. One, he (and Obi-Wan) were packaged with one another's lightsabers in their hands on pretty much every sample. It isn't known if this is a factory error or because of the abandoned concept of the two fighting with one another's lightsabers (of which evidence remains in the film). Two, this item was sold in a bigger box with four Clone Troopers as a Sam's Club exclusive. As you can see the figure itself isn't too snazzy, but there are some nifty stories surrounding it. Just remember you really, really don't need to add this one to your collection.

Day 394: June 4, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 393: Red ARC Trooper

ARC TROOPER Army of the Republic
Clone Wars Collection
Item No.: Asst. 85205 No. 84753
Number: 0343
Includes: Blaster Rifle, removable armor (waistcoat, shoulder pauldron, rangefinder)
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99-$5.99
Availability: Late 2003
Appearances: Clone Wars

Bio: The ultimate supercommandos, the ARC (Advanced Recon Commando) troopers are clones who were personally trained by Jango Fett. Only a select number of ARC troopers were bred and trained before Jango's untimely demise at the Battle of Geonosis. Activated shortly after the start of the Clone Wars, ARC troopers are used for only the most dangerous missions in which a substantial amount of independent thought and iniative is required. They are equipped with highly advanced clone trooper armor and formidable heavy weaponry. Whether they are fighting on their own or at the side of the Jedi, the ARC troopers are a symbol of the Republic's military superiority over the droid armies of the Confederacy. (Taken from the figure's cardback. Which is the same as the blue figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: While released for a few short weeks in late 2003, this red ARC Trooper quickly became a fan favorite due to the awesome red ARC Trooper in the Clone Wars cartoons. He had two guns, could signal with his hands, and do all sorts of crazy stuff-- which this figure couldn't do. No, this figure took the existing blue ARC Trooper, changed it to red, and that's it-- so you got a rifle, and the same figure with questionable articulation. Sure, it has ball-shoulders, but swivel elbows and normal neck, waist, hip, and shoulder joints really don't make it exciting. Of course, sometimes that doesn't matter-- the character is just so gosh-darn exciting that fans like myself had to have it. If you were one of the lucky (and smart) fans to buy extra Clone Trooper pilots, you might even have extra guns so you could give this guy extra armaments. Out of the box, this is a pretty imperfect figure, but it didn't matter. Sometimes, being rare is more important than being great. Still, if you like Clone Wars, you totally need to get this one or some other red ARC Trooper figure. As red ARC Troopers are muy, muy excellente. Muy.

Collector's Notes: This figure was exceedingly hard to get in many markets, leading some fans to believe it doesn't exist. Well, obviously, it does exist. Another red ARC Trooper (named Fordo) was released in 2006 as part of a Toys "R" Us exclusive Battle Pack, except it used a completely different mold and didn't have a rangefinder-- which is an important part of the character's ensemble. It's quite surprising Hasbro didn't reissue this one given how much it tends to go for on eBay, which is to say, more than it cost when it first came out. Which is really rare given collectors have an attention span of about a year when it comes to "rare" figures.

Day 393: June 3, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 392: Tusken Raider

TUSKEN RAIDER with Bantha
Power of the Force Deluxe Beast Assortment
Item No.: Asst. 69655 No. 69769
Number: n/a
Includes: Gaffi stick, bantha
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $29.99
Availability: Summer 1998
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: An immense, shaggy beast, the Bantha lumbers across the barren Tatooine landscape. Suddenly, the peaceful image is destroyed as its master, a vicious Tusken Raider, erupts in a violent ambush on farmboy Luke Skywalker. Known throughout the galaxy, Banthas are magnificient creatures that stand over four meters tall. The peace-loving herbivores are able to survive for weeks without food or water, making them the perfect pack animal for Tatooine's infamous Sand People. They also serve as beasts of burden for the planet's moisture farmers and are raised in some parts of the galaxy for food and clothing. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: The toy room of Adam Pawlus.

Commentary: Aside from the arms, this Tusken Raider is pretty much all-new-- for its time. Back in 1998, this figure was revolutionary. Each leg had a knee joint and a swivel in the thigh-- that sort of thing was unheard of! It also featured the first modern use of soft goods, a little cloth "loincloth" of sorts between the figure's legs existed to assure their modesty was preserved. The figure's head was retooled and while it wasn't as good as some later figures, for its time, this was a surprisingly exciting release. After all, the 1997 Tusken had his head sculpted so he was looking down, which is much less exciting than a figure whose eyes can look up and meet his prey. While primitive by modern standards, the figure was specially designed to sit on a Bantha which was a pretty big deal. After all, don't forget that in the vintage line we'd likely have had to deal with the infamous "trap door" mechanism. Changing the figure rather than the creature was probably for the best, and the end result was a figure that still is interesting today. And I do most certainly mean "interesting" in that sort of vague "notable but not like good" way. Sort of like "may you live in interesting times." Still, it's a decent enough figure-- as a rider. This isn't a figure that would look good in a Tusken clan made of figures made in 2000 or later.

Collector's Notes: While overpriced, interest in this set remained strong even after they were clearanced out for as little as ten bucks. The figure itself isn't as exciting as its beast of burden, but still, it's worth tracking down as an evolutionary step in the line-- and for the Bantha, which even alongside the 2006 model is still quite cool. Of course, I'm a big fan of the Bantha as a creature with five and counting. All I need are three more, a fourth with a red nose, and a Landspeeder full of presents and I've got my new Christmas display. It's also worth noting that this is the second modern Tusken Raider action figure. Since its release, there have been several more in Power of the Jedi (a sniper), Saga (a sniper with a massiff, a female with a kid, a decapatation-friendly Tusken), an OTC release, the 2006 Saga Vintage version, and of course the tan and red clans at Toys "R" Us today. You can build quite the family of Tuskens if you're so inclined. Oh, and A'Sharad Hett, the Tusken padawan, is also coming this year. Still no word on Sharad Hett, the Tusken Jedi from the surprisingly good Outlander graphic novel/comic series.

Day 392: June 2, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 391: Twi'Lek Jedi Knight

JEDI KNIGHT Army of the Republic
Clone Wars Deluxe Figure Collection
Item No.: Asst. 84845 No. 84836
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, 2 more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 2003
Appearances: Clone Wars

Bio: A noble order of protectors unified by their belief and observance of the Force, the Jedi hearken back to a more civilized, classical time in galactic history. Their order is ancient, spanning over a thousand generations. As the Galactic Republic grew over the centuries, the Jedi came to serve it as guardians of peace and justice. Headquartered on Coruscant, the Jedi trained, studied, and planned from the impressive Jedi Temple, a towering edifice rising high above the surrounding structures on the city-planet. As the Clone Wars descend darkly upon myriad worlds, the Jedi battle to return security and order to the troubled galaxy. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: The toy room floor of Adam Pawlus.

Commentary: While many fans lament the lack of articulation with figures like this Jedi Knight of Twi'lek descent, it all boils down to costs. After all, you have to make concessions when you put three action figures in a package for $9.99. The figure has four points of articulation, which is just enough to get it to stand up, assume a battle stance, and hold a lightsaber. The figure can't sit, can't assume most poses, or really do much other than fight. For kids, it's a good figure, but collectors might be upset that this figure can't do much other than be on a shelf. (Ironic.) Anyway, the sculpt is good, the paint is OK, and for a figure that technically cost about $3.33, it's actually very well done. A little more work on the face would have been nice, and the figure could benefit from more joints, but the end result is a fairly good, fairly cheap action figure. Also, this figure will most likely require a display stand or it will fall over-- so be sure you have extras.

Collector's Notes: Interest in this 3-pack has shot up since I reviewed the human from the set a few months back, so now it actually costs more than its original retail price before shipping most of the time. Given you get three unique Jedi warriors available nowhere else, it's probably worth getting. There are no other male Twi'lek Jedi action figures to be had yet, so why not get this one?

Day 391: June 1, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 390: Fixer

FIXER Republic Commando Delta Squad
The Saga Collection Shared Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 84851 No. 84922
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, backpack, 6 other action figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $33.99-$39.99
Availability: December 2006
Appearances: Star Wars: Republic Commando

Bio: Second in command of Delta Squad, Fixer handles code breaking and computer slicing. Always at the front of a charge, he urges his squad mates on under fire. Off the battlefield however, he prefers the company of a good, quiet power droid to his fellow Deltas. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' back yard.

Commentary: In 2006, someone at Hasbro looked at Scorch and said "hey, let's make more of these," and the Internet shared exclulsive gift set from Republic Commando was born. Fixer has 10 points of articulation, a removable backpack, and a gun. That's about all there is to say, really. The shoulders are not ball-jointed, but the figure is pretty good at holding his weapon. There's a limited spray of dirt on the figure-- which, sadly, does not match the damage on the other clones in the set. Still, it's visually more exciting than a box of totally clean clones. While many complained about the fact that the figure lacks knee joints, you have to remember this was designed to be a part of a reasonably cheap gift set-- you get seven figures for about $34, or about $4.85 per action figure. That's over $2 cheaper than the going rate of a basic figure at most stores, so you can't really expect perfection at that price. As the figure can hold his gun and basically sit, there's really not a whole lot more you can ask from this release at the price, except repaints, and how can Hasbro resist the allure of a redeco? After all, we fans can't.

Collector's Notes: While the first run of this set sold out pretty quickly, a new production run is coming soon for those who missed out.

Day 390: May 31, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 389: R2-D2

R2-D2 Droid Factory Flight
Saga Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84851 No. 84922
Number: 0309
Includes: Two lightsabers, removable arm
Action Feature: Pop-out rockets, moving magnetic tools
Retail: $4.99
Availability: February 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Accompanying Padme on a rescue mission to the planet Geonosis, R2-D2 is chased into the huge battle droid factory, where he uses his jet-flight function in an attempt to escape his pursuers. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: This figure can: move his dome and feet. This figure cannot: do much else. As a figure developed around several action gimmicks, this R2-D2 works as a toy on some levels and fails on others. For example, the stiff droid has hooks on his back to wrap around the "cable" that holds his various magnetic tools to his person. Because of this R2-D2 can't fit in any "droid socket" in a vehicle. There is a retractable leg, which causes the rockets to pop out-- a nice feature, sure, but it's a little awkward. Oh, and just looking at this droid, you can tell something is up because it looks like it was colored by a bootleg toy maker and not some pro toy colorist. There's really no reason for it to look so... plasticy? Toy-ish? I know action figures aren't meant to be art pieces, but the vintage R2-D2 from 1978 looked a little more like the movie than this one in many respects. If you collect based on how a figure looks, there's really no reason to get this one. While it used to be cool as a "rocket arm" R2-D2, we've since gotten two better versions-- so the only thing this one has going for it is that it has a magnetic tool to "drag" C-3PO's head, if you happen to have one of the C-3PO Deluxe figures with that feature. Otherwise, there really isn't much to like here.

Collector's Notes: You should have no problem getting this figure cheap. Also, after I wrote this article, I found out Hasbro is going to reissue it this Fall as part of the "Capture at the Droid Factory" Battle Pack. From the image, it looks like there will be minimal (actually, no) changes.

Day 389: May 30, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 388: Anakin Skywalker

ANAKIN SKYWALKER Hangar Duel
Saga Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84851 No. 84605
Number: 0222
Includes: Two lightsabers, removable arm
Action Feature: Arm is removable for battle-damage, turn dial on back for dueling action, lightsaber is Force-attracted to magnet in right hand
Retail: $4.99
Availability: April 2002
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: During the epic battle on Geonosis, Anakin Skywalker duels with the evil Darth Tyranus within a secret hangar. Anakin demonstrates his tremendous power by wielding both his and Obi-Wan's lightsabers to battle the skilled Sith Lord, who fights in the classic "old style" of ages past. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves. Standing on top of an Episode I holographic communicator.

Commentary: I have little doubt that this figure helped to make many of the now forgotten "haha N-Sync Jedi" jokes of 2002. Anakin Skywalker as a character is a topic I won't get in to here, but as a figure, he probably could have been painted just a little bit better. The sculpt here is excellent, it's just that in this size, exaggerating the hair or skin color is often necessary to make a more "realistic" looking product. Here, it needs a little work. The figure itself is pretty good, though, with 10 points of articulation, a few action features, and more weapons than you might be able to expect. Both lightsabers have removable blades, but the green one has a metal handle which can fly up into a magnetic hand. While this magnetic feature is quite cool, the one in the arm of the first release is not. The magnet in the arm is so weak that if you have the figure in your hand and gently place it on a flat surface, the arm will likely fly right off. Later releases changed this (see below) because it's a pretty big design flaw.

Speaking of design flaws, this was the first regular Anakin figure from the movie, and he couldn't sit down-- while this may not seem like a huge deal, it was released at the same time as Anakin Skywalker's Speeder vehicle, which didn't have a figure that could sit in it particularly well until 2005. Not that this is particularly relevant to the figure, I'm just required by law to get a dig in when Hasbro/Kenner releases a vehicle where the figure(s) designed for it aren't particularly compatible. The figure itself has a decent sculpt, stands fairly well, and sports a fun "dueling" action figure that doesn't get in the way of the figure's look or play ability. As such, if you can get this one, it's a pretty decent addition to your collection. The "perfect" Episode II Anakin figure does not yet exist, but this is probably one of the two best you can buy today.

Collector's Notes: This figure comes in two flavors. The initial release had a magnet holding the peg in the arm in place, while later releases got rid of the magnet and went for a straight peg. The magnet doesn't hold very well, and the figure's arm can drop off easily. The peg version is fairly good at staying put. The packaging was changed slightly for the peg release, and this came much later in the toy's run-- so if you bought it at "Midnight Madness 2002" then you got the magnet one. I can't say enough nice things about the pegged version-- get that one if you have a choice. It's also worth nitpicking that this figure, like many, has lightsabers that are not true to the scene in the movie from which this figure was designed. Oh well.

Day 388: May 29, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 387: Ayy Vida

AYY VIDA Outlander Club Patron
Saga
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84723
Number: 0338
Includes: Stool, glass
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Fall 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: The consort of local crime boss Hat Lo, the beautiful Twi'lek Ayy Vida has been tainted by the criminal underworld. She continues to look for an opportunity to escape Lo's repressive clutches. After catching the eye of a dapper Republic Guard one night at the Outlander nightclub, she hopes the guard will rescue her. Her hope is in vain for he is an imposter, one of many poseurs who frequent the clubs for their own nefarious purposes. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: In the immortal words of Mr. Laupin, "She'll go there. And maybe she'll bring a friend." Ayy Vida is dressed like a total party girl in a collar and skin-tight latex (I think) outfit, which matches her dyed skin. Hawt. The figure initially resembles a retooled Shakka, although dressed in what may be considered a far more pleasing manner. Because of this, she's not a perfect match for the stock photography, but still a great addition to your Outlander dioramas. The figure is one of too few female figures in the line, has eight points of articulation, is nearly naked, and is drinking. In other words, the kind of houseguest one can only wish for. While the figure does little to break new ground in the world of toymaking, she has done wonders for the world of in-universe Star Wars club fashion, and to Ms. Vida, we salute you.

Collector's Notes: This figure was introduced as the SKU she shipped in was discontinued-- meaning she basically shipped in one case at one per case for a few weeks, and was clearanced. As such, she was a little hard to get, but as nobody cared, she stuck around for a while. Fans of the Coruscant Outlander Nightclub will also want to get Elan Sleazebaggano, Achk Med-Beq, Lt. Dannl Faytonni, and the club version of Obi-Wan Kenobi-- each includes tables and chunks of the bar to recreate some elements of the scene in your very own home.

Day 387: May 28, 2007