Figure of the Day: Day 487: Clone Trooper (Clean White)

CLONE TROOPER Revenge of the Sith
30th Anniversary Collection Saga Legends
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 87422
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, antenna, generic "Episode III" coin
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Spring 2007
Appearances: Clone Wars, Revenge of the Sith (I think)

Bio: Equipped for all terrains and environments, the genetically engineered clone troopers combat the relentless droid armies of the Separatists. They are led into battle by the Jedi, who serve as Generals during the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: Fans can't get enough of the Clone Trooper army. I have no doubt this is carved into some form of grand obelisk in Rhode Island when Hasbro is figuring out its assortments every year. We're probably pushing 100 flavors of Clone, between all the commanders, styles, variants, and molds, and this one is one of those just-different-enough releases that you're going to want to get. The figure takes the mold from 2005 with 14 points of articulation, and drops the battle damage markings. That's it, otherwise it's the same freaking release. Battle damage can make or break a figure, as I got to see first-hand in 2005 and 2006 when Entertainment Earth sold clones with and without blaster damage. (The damaged ones were way more popular, selling out first.) These clean clones are pretty nice, although clean ROTS clone figures are available in other configurations, like with a quick-draw attack, or the deluxe 3-packs, or with a jetpack. They just aren't super articulated. The somewhat-glossy visor over the eyes is a nice touch, and I hope Hasbro makes these shiny on all future trooper releases-- it just looks really slick in the right light.

Collector's Notes: This is a great example of Hasbro phoning in another must-buy figure. It's a Clone variant most fans want more of, plus it has a coin with it you'll no doubt want to add to your collection. So you might find yourself wanting to buy a few of these, or at the very least, one just for the coin. So far it's been somewhat easy to get thanks to the heavy case packing, but if repaints don't float your boat, you can pass on this one and not miss much of anything. The plain white Clone Trooper saw the most action during Clone Wars episodes 22-25, so I've been sticking mine with Jedi like Foul Moudama. Hey, even giant hairy Jedi need their own clone squads, even if they have to share with their Ithorian homies. With any luck, Hasbro will keep this figure in rotation for a while as the demand for them seems steady as new trooper fans are born every day.

Day 487: September 5, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 486: C-3PO (Ilum)

C-3PO Ambush on Ilum
The Anniversary Collection Target Exclusive Battle Pack
Item No.: No. 87213
Number: n/a
Includes: Removable limbs, four other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: January 2007
Appearances: Clone Wars

Bio: This uptight protocol droid, sworn to serve and protect Senator Amidala, provided a much needed distraction. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room next to the R2-D2 figure from the same set.

Commentary: This figure is all sorts of wrong. You see, in the original Clone Wars animated series, C-3PO went to Ilum before he got his shiny gold plating, meaning Hasbro should have used the ever-popular AOTC deco figure in this pack. When you get right down to it, this figure is the same as the 2005 Revenge of the Sith C-3PO except this one has white grime on his feet. There should probably be some on his head and shoulders too, but this is what you get. The figure is based on one of the best C-3PO molds, and has six points of articulation. The waist joint allows him to pivot forward and back a little, which is good for those panic-inspired poses we love so much. If you can get past the fact that the figure's deco is completely wrong, it's a nice figure-- maybe it'd make a nice Hoth C-3PO, if it had the silver leg anyway. So basically, this figure is just inaccurate enough to make you mad, unless there's an episode of Droids I'm forgetting where our two heroes end up on a snow planet.

Collector's Notes: When you get right down to it, this gift set is a "sum of its parts" kind of item. Each figure, by its lonesome, is merely OK. Another R2-D2 and C-3PO with a snow Padme with limited articulation and two Chameleon Droids for $19.99 is a spiffy deal at just $4 per figure, but at $6.99, this C-3PO would be a little disappointing. As such, get the whole set for about $20 or less-- emphasis on "less." I picked up a few of this set for $4.24 each when a local Target was choking on them, and while I'd love to trade 'em away someday, the going rate is about $7-$10 for the whole set, meaning you can get this for an incredibly low price, and you should. For $10, you should stock up and give them away as presents.

Day 486: September 4, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 485: Aurra Sing

AURRA SING Jedi Hunter
The Saga Collection Wal-Mart Wave
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 87205
Number: 070
Includes: Lightsaber, pistol, rifle, display base, removable soft goods
Action Feature: Blaster pistol fits into right holster
Retail: $6.76
Availability: Spring 2007
Appearances: The Bounty Hunters: Aurra Sing (Comic)

Bio: Once a promising if headstrong Padawan, Sing now trades in dark professions: pirate, assassin, and bounty hunter. She specializes in hunting down Jedi under the mistaken belief that they abandoned and betrayed her, and she brandishes the lightsabers of her victims as prized trophies. During the Clone Wars, her quest for vengeance once took her to Bespin, where she met a young Boba Fett. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: Sometimes Hasbro puts out a repaint, we roll our eyes, and hope the next figure is better-- not so with Aurra Sing. A little paint goes a long way, especially when you aren't afraid to accessorize. Not content to merely repaint the 2001 figure with a little black, Hasbro painted a "hood" on her head, added a cloth scarf, painted on some arm bands & gloves, enhanced the face a little, and generally made you feel like you're getting a new mold. It's not easy to take an old mold and make it feel new again, but hey, there's a good reason we keep coming back for more figures every year. The figure has limited articulation-- technically, only five points, which is very low for the modern line. You get a normal neck, v-crotch legs (that's Ewok style, kiddies), plus two ball-jointed arms. (Well, close enough to ball-jointed, anyway.) The eyes on the figure vary-- so watch for that-- and overall, the figure is a little more "realistic" than she should be. In the comic and in the movie, Aurra had a lot of makeup, virtually taking it to raccoon levels for Tim Truman's The Bounty Hunters: Aurra Sing one-shot in 1999. With the added accessories and display stand, this may be the best bang-for-the-buck individual Aurra Sing money can buy, but if she ever gets a super-articulated release (and she probably will), odds are those of you who are particularly picky will want to wait for a new, better version.

Collector's Notes: Hasbro doesn't do a lot of comic book-style figures, aside from a short burst in 1998, and a couple of token releases during Power of the Jedi. In The Saga Collection basic figure assortment, there were roughly 8 figures from the comics, games, and novels, which helped pave the way for the abundance of non-movie figures we see in 2007. This includes comic book two-packs, an entire Expanded Universe wave, numerous gift sets, and exclusives we probably haven't even seen yet. While Aurra may have made for a particularly exciting comic book two-pack, I'm glad they made the figure in the first place, and who knows-- since she was somewhat hard to get, maybe we'll see her in a new comic two-pack some day.

Day 485: September 3, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 484: Princess Leia (Endor)

PRINCESS LEIA ORGANA Endor
30th Anniversary Collection Tins
Item No.: Asst. 87154 No. 87205
Number: 6 of 6
Includes: Darth Vader, Scout Trooper, Rebel Endor Trooper
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $29.99
Availability: Fall 2006
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: After becoming separated from the Rebel strike team she had helped lead to the forest moon of Endor, Leia finds herself surrounded and befriended by the native Ewoks, who later help her team defeat Imperial forces. (Taken from the figure's inner cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Ultarama.

Commentary: As I like to say, a little paint goes a long way. The 2006/2007 version of Princess Leia Organa in her Endor Dress/Bright Tree Village Attire/Hippie Disguise is unique because it takes elements of both 1998 Endor Leia figures and combines them into a single figure. The mold itself was originally used in the Princess Leia Collection 2-packs, a series of action figure sets designed mostly (at least this is what Kenner people told me) by the Kenner Girls division, who also did the first round of Buddies*. The figures had limited soft goods, rooted hair, and a bonus action figure in every set. The weird thing, though, was that the original "PLC" Leia had very dark red all over her face, bloodshot eyes, and essentially looked like-- and I realize this is crass-- she's about to go into rehab. In short, not something you want little boys or little girls to play with. Her costume was very dark brown, her sandals were metallic, and well, the coloring was pretty weird. The basic carded figure from 1998 had great coloring, good deco, and a nice face. Well, this figure applies that conservative, decent deco to the rooted-hair-and-cloth-dress mold, and the end result is pretty good. At first, I saw this and said "wow, how worthless, there's nothing new here" but it turned out I was totally wrong. It's just that this figure plays like the figure designed to be a better toy, and looks like the old figure designed to be more pleasing to collectors. In short, it's a good figure, and even though all she has is six points of articulation, she's probably the best you can get unless Hasbro decides to do an all-new version soon.

Collector's Notes: If you collect significant redecorations in your collection, this makes three versions of Endor Dress Leia you'll want to buy. This figure comes in a tin set with two figures you'll want, and another you might want. The others? A Biker Scout with flip-up helmet, a retooled Endor Rebel Trooper with a bald head and removable helmet, and the 2004 Vintage version of Darth Vader, which is a very nice action figure in that it's the most super-articulated version of the Sith Lord without a removable helmet and with a place for a saber on his belt.

Day 484: September 2, 2007

*- The Buddies were Kenner's answer to Beanie Babies. The line is super-cool if you can bring yourself to buy plush. If you do, track down Max Rebo, the Jawa, and Jabba the Hutt. And then, the rest.

Figure of the Day: Day 483: Clone Trooper

CLONE TROOPER ARMY Army of the Republic
Clone Wars Deluxe Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84845 No. 84987
Number: n/a
Includes: Non-removable rifle, 2 more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones, Clone Wars

Bio: Virtually indistinguishable from one another, Clone Troopers are identical in physical appearance, mental capability, and stamina. Part of a clone army, they are grown in the cloning facilities of Tipoca City, a luminescent city of industry emerging from the raging seas of Kamino. Although clone troopers share the same modified genetic code, their genetic structure has been altered to make them less independent than their genetic host, and their growth has been accelerated to twice the normal rate of a human. Grown and trained specifically for military combat, the Clone Army was mysteriously commissioned ten years earlier. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: It seems about 30% of all figures these days, if you could see their face, would have Jango Fett's head-- and this Clone Trooper would be no exception. If you know, its helmet could come off. The limited articulation helps keep this figure cheap, as you can move it at the neck, waist, wrist, and shoulders. And that's it. If you like its default pose, wonderful-- you're going to love the figure. If not, well, why are you reading this? The figure has white plastic and black paint, so there's no battle damage, there's no grey details, and unless you're a fan of customizing or making a diorama, this figure might not have much to offer you. Of course, I'm Clone crazy, so I have a few of these and I find them great for filling out gunships or flanking Jedi on a shelf. As toys, these figures kinda suck-- sure, I guess you can knock 'em over and pretend they're fighting, but since it can't sit or really be posed, what you're buying is a nice, low-end statue. Not that there's anything wrong with that, the same can be said about many of Hasbro's more popular figures since 2000.

Collector's Notes: For whatever reason, Hasbro has been reluctant to reissue these "army soldier" Clones of limited articulation, which is a real shame as they'd make nice bonus items in other sets as they can't cost too much to make. The prices on these once hard-to-get figures have dropped as other Clones came out and grabbed fan interest, so if you want them odds are you can find them without too much work these days. Back in the day, this figure was fairly easy to get by virtue of it appearing in most of the sets.

Day 483: September 1, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 482: Wampa

WAMPA Hoth Attack
Saga Ultra Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84716 No. 84712
Number: n/a
Includes: Wampa cave, meat
Action Feature: Removable arm for lightsaber damage
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Late 2003/Early 2004
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: The bone-chilling cold is not the only danger that awaits a traveler on the Hoth plains. Despite standing over two meters in height, the Wampa ice creature is nonetheless a stealthy predator. Camouflaged by its white fur and the howlingb Hoth winds, a Wampa surprised Luke Skywalker while he was on patrol and dragged him to its cave as his next meal. When the Jedi freed himself, the Wampa fought him - and lost an arm in the struggle. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves. Note: part of the Wampa Cave comes with a Hoth Luke figure, and is not included in the icy setup you see here. You get the base, and the pillar, but not the piece on top of the pillar.

Commentary: I just love a Wampa. This guy is extra huge and has tons of additional torso articulation, so he can more easily bend over, be turned around, and so forth. (It's the same kind of joint you'd later see on a few Chewbacca figures.) Aside from that, the figure's articulation is nothing to write home about-- you can see jointed shoulders and hips, as ankles, wrists, and other such places to move might look cruddy on a hairy figure of this size. The detail is good, as there's a lot of fur sculpted here with some stains for added "realism." (Of course, depending on your imagination, it also looks like someone had an accident in the bathroom.) The figure has hollow limbs and is somewhat rubbery, which may lead to increased chances of discoloration over time-- so when you store this figure, store him away from your royal guards or anything that has something that could rub off on the big guy. I personally would rather not have seen the blood on his mouth, but hey-- that's me. It's a very good rendition of the Special Edition-era Wampa, complete with his meaty meal that can be posed to look like he's chewing it right off the bone.

Collector's Notes: The Wampa hasn't been in stores since 2004, but Hasbro will be putting it in a Battle Pack for an as-of-yet unknown retailer's exclusive soon with minimal (or no) changes. It's a fun figure, and if it turns out the Battle Pack doesn't come with the snow base, be sure to track down the original. You'll be glad you did.

Day 482: August 31, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 481: Mustafar Sentry

MUSTAFAR SENTRY Spinning Energy Bolt
Revenge of the Sith Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84173 No. 85666
Number: III-56
Includes: Mustafar base, energy bolt weapon
Action Feature: Energy bolt spins
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Summer 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: To guard their secret base, the Separatists enlist natives of Mustafar as sentries against potential intruders. Armed with long blaster rifles, the Mustafarians ride atop giant, flea-like creatures. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: Aliens are supposed to be cool, but the Mustafar Sentry is not. Sure, he's tall, has decent articulation, has a display base, is loaded with detail, and is a rarely seen creature. But you know what? He tends to fall down, even when placed on his stand. His spindly limbs don't help him stand upright. His face isn't much of a face-- where his eyes should be are two big ping-pong ball orbs. His earthtones aren't exactly striking colors. And he can't sit. It's hard to slam a figure with ankle articulation and lots of paint aps, but well, it's just dull. And this is saying a lot given that this figure followed such "excitement" as Zett Jukassa, Bail Organa, Captain Antilles, and the oh-so-thrilling Mon Mothma. I mean, this is an alien, and it's a troop builder, and it's a snooze. It's visually somewhat interesting to look at in that it's different from most other figures, but if you're a collector and you have 500 of these little plastic men, this guy will probably go straight to the back row of your shelves. This is no slight on the craftsmanship, but the character choice. (Although the craftsmanship was kinda dull too.) What can I say, I'm just not a fan.

Collector's Notes: It's not often I can say "buy it on eBay because Hasbro will probably never, ever want to release this again, ever." But here you go-- this is a figure that's kinda iffy, despite being cool on paper. Just because you're an obscure alien with a nifty weapon that came out in a new movie year, and as an added bonus, have no crappy action features, doesn't mean you're any good. What's really baffling is Hasbro made this guy before Commander Cody, Commander Bly, Commander Gree, and the much more visually exciting Mustafarian Lava Miner.

Day 481: August 30, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 480: R2-D2

R2-D2 Tatooine Mission
Saga Greatest Hits
Item No.: Asst. 84715 No. 84790
Number: n/a
Includes: Grey or clear display stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Summer 2003
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Princess Leia hides information about the Empire's latest weapon in the memory system of the resourceful, spunky and adventurous R2-D2, just before the consular ship they are on is captured by Imperial forces. She tasks R2-D2 to continue her mission to contact the long-lost Jedi Knight and Republic General, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Commandeering an escape pod, R2-D2 and C-3PO rocket away from the captured consular ship and crash-land on Tatooine. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves. (He doesn't look quite as good from this angle. This is definitely not his good side.)

Commentary: In a rare happening of reverse-battle-damage rereleases, this R2-D2 was a pretty awesome mold for its day. After years of odd, not-like-the-movies bright blue light-up eye ports, this figure won my heart by being a non-damaged R2-D2 with the best feature in the galaxy: a big black eye. The figure has a rotating dome and two articulated "legs," as well as rolling wheels under each foot. Unlike other releases, the third leg is not retractable. The figure would eventually be trumped by an overall better sculpt, but this is a very nice figure even without such details as sculpted wires on his feet or a holo emitter which you could actually plug a "projection" in to. It seems all the panels are painted where they should be, and the emitter was even painted black to give the added illusion of depth. This is an excellent figure for its day, or any day. I still think this is one of the best R2-D2s, and will continue to think so until Hasbro cranks out a release with the R4-G9 mold and a non-metalized dome.

Collector's Notes: R2-D2 was a repaint of the Naboo R2-D2 from 2001. This figure, and the assortment in which he shipped, is notable for paving the way for the next several years of the line. At the time, rereleases weren't entirely common, so this allowed an old figure to come out with new paint for increased sales, and we saw more of this in the Original Trilogy Collection, Episode III Heroes & Villains and Greatest Battles, and of course Saga Legends. It's worth noting this very figure was rereleased in 2004 on the Original Trilogy Collection packaging.

Day 480: August 29, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 479: Chancellor Palpatine

CHANCELLOR PALPATINE Supreme Chancellor
Revenge of the Sith Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 85174 No. 85287
Number: III-14
Includes: Stand, manacles
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.24-$6.99
Availability: April 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Supreme Chancellor Palpatine is captured by Separatist forces and held captive on an enemy cruiser. Obi-Wan and Anakin come to his aid in a daring and dangerous rescue attempt. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: What could make a more exciting toy than an old human in a leather dress and handcuffs? Well, uh, Chancellor Palpatine is a fine example of what Hasbro can get away with in a big enough movie year, which is to say, they can get away with anything. Multiple figures based on Palpatine were released in such a short timeframe that it borders on the brink of madness, and this was one of very few to feature the non-wrinkly, non-Sith Lord face. Replicating the outfit from the Invisible Hand sequence admirably, this figure has a big clamshell cloak over a figure body which had wrist and elbow articulation, plus the usual joints you've come to expect. The outfit's texture is quite amazing, with little ridges seeming to replicate the look of the rubbery leathery getup from the film nicely. The figure's head is essentially the same as the 2002 Supreme Chancellor figure, minus the liver spots/chickenpox. The figure looks as good as can be expected, and has articulation to match. The only thing this figure can't do is sit, which is exactly what the character did in the film while he had handcuffs as General Grievous' "prisoner." So in that sense, the figure isn't as authentic as one might hope. So while a cloth outfit may have been nice, it might not have let the figure look as good as it does, and as such this is a darned fine addition to your collection if you haven't yet had your fill of old wrinkly people. (Personally I like droids and aliens, but hey, this is a fine example of a good figure. Actually, most of Hasbro's prequel Palpatines were shining examples of awesome for their day.)

Collector's Notes: Perhaps because of the sheer variety of 2005 Palpatine toys, this wasn't the fastest seller, but it also wasn't a poisonous pegwarmer in most markets. You can probably get one pretty cheaply today, and unless it gets rereleased in another gift set, you should consider adding him to your shelves. Just don't expect the world as far as articulation goes.

Day 479: August 28, 2007