Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,622: Wicket the Ewok

WICKET Ewok
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 97568 No. 21488
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: VC27
Includes: Pouch, green hood, brown hood, spear
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: October 2010
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Celebrate the legendary Star Wars saga that changed the universe forever! This collection brings to life the incredible story of good versus evil that captured our imagination and took us to a galaxy far, far away. Iconic Star Wars heroes and villains are captured with incredible detail and premium features to commemorate each epic tale in the Star Wars saga. May the Fore be with you! (Taken from the figure's packaging. There is no bio.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' apartment complex common area. Figure is pictured with alternate accessories, included. Note: this figure does not blink.

Commentary: The original 1998 Wicket sculpt did Hasbro (then under the Kenner brand) a lot of good, as numerous figures were tweaked versions of that design. While not bad for a generic Ewok, the mold wasn't really ideal for Wicket as he was really big and kind of funky. This new one is more appropriately sized, with more articulation and gear. It also costs about three times as much as the 1997 release. Such is progress! The new figure is an entirely new sculpt with nine points of articulation-- but it's worth noting the hoods restrict the neck movement a little bit. The very fuzzy sculpt is augmented with a lot of paint, and the face paint seems more dirty than it does seem true to the creamy fur on the face of the movie suit and original 1984 Kenner figure. He's no slouch-- the body is unquestionably better with so much more movement and detail at a more compact size, if Hasbro repainted the face I wouldn't complain when the variation hit.

What makes this figure really special-- more so than the wrist and ankle joints-- is its gear. The spear is nice and everything, but Hasbro decided to give children of the 1980s a treat by including a second hood. The primary one (as worn in the package) replicates the garment from Return of the Jedi, while the green hood and pouch are inspired by the second season of the ABC-TV Ewoks cartoon from roughly 1986. Rather than having a "bib" hanging down over his belly, the animated designs for Wicket, which were also used in a number of coloring books, valentines, and other merchandise, sported a cape. Granted, most of these used a tan or brown color, so the green one is a genuine treat for fans of the show, who know it's meant to be from the year that Ewoks saw a change-up in its voice cast and animation. I applaud this weirdness. It also leaves the door open for an orange or brown "season 1" redeco down the road, minus the pouch. (Hasbro: that's about as subtle as my hints get without labeling them. [Too late, sorry.])

Despite the price, I like this figure. It's weird-- at a retail store, paying $9 for arguably the best Wicket toy we'll ever get seems like a stretch, but if Hasbro put the very same toy at Comic-Con as an exclusive for $20 I'd pay it with a smile. Weird, hunh? I really dig the nod to the cartoon, as very few of these have been made in the modern line's rapidly approaching 2,000-figure run.

Collector's Notes: This figure sold pretty well and shipped from Hasbro as late as July 2011, if not more recently, as you are in the future. The price is creeping up on eBay, but that may be in response to rising prices at retail. I'm going to guess it'll go up over time due to the cartoon accessory, as even if this figure gets reissued down the road, I can't imagine they'll include the same season 2 gear again. So pay the $9 and get it over with.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,622: September 1, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,621: Clone Trooper

CLONE TROOPER Damaged Green
Original Trilogy Collection Clone Trooper Troop Builder Four-Pack Assortment, Entertainment Earth Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 85688 No. 85774
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster Pistol, collectible poster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $34.99 (part of a four-pack)
Availability: Spring 2005
Appearances: Primarily Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and The 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. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: This mold got a lot of mileage in early 2005, after the Clone Trooper was a plain white figure in late 2003 and largely absent in 2004. This edition is green, which, depending on who you ask at Hasbro or Lucasfilm, is (or isn't) the correct green as seen on screen. Gentle Giant seems to think the sergeant is actually browner, and Sideshow agrees. So to date, Hasbro hasn't done that more olivey version. Maybe with the new "Vintage" 2011 mold... or not, this could be another "Is Han's Jacket Blue Or Brown?" thing that gets played up for repaints and variations until we're all dead.

With 14 joints, this figure is largely one of the best molds from its era, and was still an exciting figure up until just recently. Heck, in some respects, it's still exciting-- the arms have a much larger range of movement than the 2011 sculpt, but it's also a little bit chunkier. So if you like your clones on the chubby side, this is the one for you. The added green "damage" is unique to this release, and dresses up an otherwise plain figure quite nicely.

Collector's Notes: This figure is a one-timer so far, although the clean green version has been repackaged a few times. Of the four packs, the battle damaged color set from which this very figure hails was always the first to sell through.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,621: August 31, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,620: Darth Vader

DARTH VADER vs. Prince Xizor
Shadows of the Empire Comic Pack Assortment
Item No.: Asst. 69590 No. 69567
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, cape, Xizor figure, comic book
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $11.99
Availability: Summer 1996
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, has instilled terror throughout the galaxy since the beginning of the Empire. His devotion to the Emperor and mastery of the dark side gives him more power than any single individual in the galaxy except for the Emperor himself. Draped completely in black and wielding the ability to take a life with a mere gesture, Darth Vader stands as the incarnation of evil. His dislike of Prince Xizor is intense and his distrust well-founded. Though Vader would gladly eliminate Xizor, Emperor Palpatine has need of Black Sun's shipping operations to speed construction of the new Death Star. Xizor had best watch his back however, as Vader's control of the dark side of the Force makes him a most formidable foe. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: Oh, it warms the heart. This Darth Vader was essentially done in the 1990s Kenner house style, which involved limited articulation, an acceptable likeness, and lots of muscles-- just like Batman, or someone from ALIENS. Back then five points of articulation were still the norm for most American toy action figures, so even when you put a figure in an early comic book 2-pack like this one, Kenner wasn't particularly motivated to make it significantly better than the previously-released version of the character. The bulk of the figure is essentially the same as the 1995 single Darth Vader figure, but the cape, an arm, and a leg seem to have been updated to give the figure more of a dueling pose.

The bulk of you will not want this figure. There are other, better Darth Vaders and this one didn't even have the "skirt" part of the costume yet, that wouldn't become part of the figure line until 1998. Back in 1996, Kenner designers still made an effort for these to be playthings which could sit and not pop apart at the elbow joint, because there were no elbow joints. If you're like me and have a soft spot in your heart for the old Kenner toys of the 1980s and 1990s, along with Aliens vs. Predator and Terminator 2 and their many other movie lines, you're going to want to track these down. Star Wars was one of very few lines to survive the transition from "Kenner" to "Hasbro," and the Kenner style was bred out of the line starting in early 1999. Figures like this are pretty far removed from today's incarnations, almost as much so as they were from the original Vintage toys of the 1970s and 1980s. Were I a new collector I'd just focus on the pre-Hasbro days of the line and call it a day, but odds are you're going to skip this one. It's OK-- you had to be there for these guys.

Collector's Notes: This figure shipped on a single card, seemingly exclusive to J.C. Penny, in late 1997. The figure had a more flexible rubbery cape, and came on a green Power of the Force card. Stock of the figure was later sold to other outlets, or at least one outlet-- Entertainment Earth had the single card 4-packs, which also included an AT-ST Driver and Endor Han Solo. The Darth Vader vs. Xizor 2-pack is, today, only worth about $3-$10. It was one of the first "comic packs" back when the line only had 2 items and a full-size comic reprint was something of a novelty, as minicomics were the norm in the 1980s. I like this set a lot. I hope some of you do, too.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,620: August 30, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,619: Jaster Mereel

JASTER MEREEL and Montross
The Legacy Collection Entertainment Earth Exclusive Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 94958
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #18
Includes: Helmet, blaster pistols, rifle, jetpack, cape
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: November 2010
Appearances: Jango Fett: Open Seasons comic books

Bio: Mandalorian leader Jaster Mereel and his second-in-command Montross play pivotal roles in the dark past of Jango Fett. Mereel and Montross change the life of the future bounty hunter during the Mandalorian Civil War in the decades before the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: One of the most fascinating things about Boba Fett and the entire concept of the Mandalorians is if you don't like one origin story, you'll probably get another one to pick from down the road. Originally coined as an alias in the early career of Boba Fett, a comic book series established Jaster Mereel as a Mandalorian warrior who fought alongside Jango Fett and Montross, which doesn't quite fit with the current incarnation of the planet Mandalore as seen in The Clone Wars TV show. Rather than to try to make sense of it, as Lucasfilm seems intent on doing, I'd suggest you just enjoy them for their unusual differences and embrace the non-continuity which exists.

Jaster is a retooled 2008 Jango Fett, a body which has been used for Starkiller, Fenn Shysa, and probably more as Hasbro sees fit. It's a decent body, and really a good choice for an exclusive or collector-targeted figure. The mobility in the joints are good, but not great, so odds are this figure's life will be spent either carded or on a display shelf. He has 14 points of articulation, has a new head sculpt, and his weapons and holsters are also new. The pistols fit in his holsters just fine, while the rifle has a unique Mandalorian marking-- a Mythosaur skull or a Bantha skull or whatever the Hell they say it is this week-- sculpted on the weapon. His deco matches the Jango Fett: Open Seasons comic art nicely, and under the helmet is a newly-sculpted head which I've heard more than a few fans describe as John Kerry with a broken nose. The hair is a little messy and chunky, and the character in his face is a little more gritty than the 2007 Elite Forces of the Republic Mandalorians. I like this one-- I realize I don't need it but the cloth cape and weapons do make for a nice figure. Given the size of the line you can probably skip it, but I'm a big fan of recolored Mandalorian figures. The only thing stopping me from buying more is a lack of new ones to get.

Collector's Notes: This set shipped last year as an online Entertainment Earth exclusive and is still available. It, and the other sets in the wave, were originally planned for a retail release but were instead produced in a limited quantity as an online exclusive. As always: this site is supported by that one ad banner, so if you feel like buying this figure (or anything from our sponsor) please click the "BUY THIS FIGURE" link below and order anything you were going to buy anyway. We get a cut, it costs you nothing, and helps us out a whole lot. Thank you for your support!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,619: August 29, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,618: Scout Speeder ARF Trooper

ARF TROOPER Republic Scout Speeder
The Clone Wars Class I Vehicle (Mini-Rigs)
Item No.: Asst. 29960 No. 28633
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: I
Includes: Blaster, stand, guns, Republic Scout Speeder vehicle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $18.99
Availability: July 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Advanced Recon Force (ARF) troopers use Republic scout speeders on reconnaissance missions. The speeders are heavily armed with laser cannons, laser blasters and light blaster cannons. With room for two troopers, the speeders pack a lot of firepower in a compact vehicle. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: While the overall accuracy is debatable, the ARF Trooper mold is one of Hasbro's crowning achievements in Clone design. It uses the super-articulated body of the 2008 Clone (with its fancy wrists and ankle joints) and adds ball-jointed hips which allow the figure to sit in vehicles with little trouble. Between Waxer, Boil, and various other ARF repaints you no doubt have a few of these by now-- but this one is different, sort of.

He does suffer from some distortion from the packaging, which can be easily fixed by some boiling water. His deco isn't too complicated: Hasbro added some red to his visor and shoulders, while leaving the rest of the figure mostly white. The color matches the vehicle nicely, and the white Republic logo on his shoulders are a good bonus. A little silver on the sides of the helmets bring it to life, but it's still pretty plain. On the bright side, this is an excellent figure overall, especially if you compare it to the 4-10 points of articulation releases hoisted on the Marvel vehicle lines. I would not necessarily advise you buy this figure on its own merits, but if you don't have any animated ARF Troopers, you need to get this. If you like vehicles, you need to get this. If you don't care for them, well, save your money-- the entire package is a good one, and I would definitely say you should buy it for any young fans in your life.

Collector's Notes: This wave is pretty new, and this vehicle seems to be getting the best distribution, shipping in the most revisions of the Class I vehicle assortment so far. You should be able to get one easily, and you should. For more on the vehicle, I did a write-up on the Republic Scout Speeder in July.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,618: August 26, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,617: Dorovio Bold

DOROVIO BOLD Rebel Pilot
The Legacy Collection Evolutions
Item No.: Asst. 87874 No. 87602
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: I
Includes: Blaster, helmet, additional figures
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $19.99
Availability: July 2008
Appearances: Return of the Jedi (presumably a deleted scene)

Bio: The legacy of Rebel pilots is one of uncompromising independence and gritty determination. These are the pilots who crushed the Empire and became the architects of the elite squadrons to come. Dorovio Bold flies an X-wing at the Battle of Yavin, going cannon-to-cannon against Imperial fighters. During the Battle of Hoth, Wes Janson toppled an AT-AT walker with a skillfully unorthodox maneuver. Ten Numb helped achieve victory at the Battle of Endor flying a weapons-packed B-wing. From hotshots to heroes, Alliance pilots built a legacy that has given birth to countless tales of glory throughout the galaxy. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' old desk.

Commentary: In the Evolutions Rebel Pilot packs, only the girls got holsters. The first female Rebel pilot to see release was Dorovio Bold, a plucky young lady with black hair and a gnarly helmet with little hearts on it and outlines that remind me loosely of 1980s arcade cabinet graphics. (That's a good thing.) The body is smaller than the boys, and her blaster fits right in her holster. Hasbro's decision to include the grey straps around the boots and between the legs hinders her ability to sit, so as a pilot toy she's not exactly a real winner. (The "one size fits all" approach for kids and collectors doesn't always work for action figures.) The lack of complaining from the collector community shows just how few people are opening or playing with these, or maybe it's just me. I'd scream bloody murder if my AT-ST Driver wouldn't fit in my AT-ST. Anyway.

Dorovio has 14 points of articulation and is, unquestionably, a super-articulated action figure. I think most collectors are probably glad Hasbro waited to create the female pilot body, because now any female pilot Hasbro makes will be, at worst, super-articulated. As an unknown deleted movie character who was unnamed for years after the movie wrapped production, she's the very definition of obscure. Of course, maybe she's in the movie and we just haven't found her yet-- we'll know for sure after those Blu-Ray discs hit in September I assume.

Collector's Notes: In 2008 Evolutions packs transitioned from slightly scarce and desirable items to pegwarmers, largely thanks to lots of similar product and repacks all hitting at once. (A second Rebel Pilots pack hit around the same time as the first, using the same bodies.) Today this set can be had for $15 or less, and it's totally worth it at that price.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,617: August 25, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,616: Logray

LOGRAY Ewok Medicine Man
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 97568 No. 28656
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC55
Includes: Spear, hat, pouch, staff
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $8.99
Availability: June 2011
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Celebrate the legendary Star Wars saga that changed the universe forever! This collection brings to life the incredible story of good versus evil that captured our imagination and took us to a galaxy far, far away. Iconic Star Wars heroes and villains are captured with incredible detail and premium features to commemorate each epic tale in the Star Wars saga. May the Force be with you! (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: Back in 1998, the Ewok 2-pack features Wicket and Logray, and the latter of which was more or less good enough. Wicket seemed oversized and awkward, but Logray? He more or less fit the bill. Today we've seen Ewoks greatly improved with more articulation and gear, so the 2011 incarnation of Logray really needed to be something special-- and he is! Mostly. He succeeds in sculpting, but in deco, I'm already looking forward to a tweaked repaint in a gift set.

Hasbro made a new body, complete with lateral hip movement, wrist joints, ankle joints, and for the very first time elbow joints on an Ewok. To date this is the only Ewok to sport elbows, so it seems Hasbro is trying to make sure that these shorter and more expensive figures are aspiring to be better. The head is worth noting because it can actually turn easily-- the headdress doesn't get in the way, and the joint isn't so stiff he can't look around. It's weird lavishing praise on features which should always work properly, but here we are. There are no knee joints, but that'd be ridiculous. In addition to a newly-sculpted staff, he also includes a spear for fighting. Two weapons! Nice touch. The pouch is nice, and the figure sculpt looks less mean than the 1983 original but a little less adorable than the 1998 release. They did a nice job making sure the fur looked good, and the paws are great too-- even the paint on the paw pads is nicely done. I'm sure this figure cost slightly less than other figures in the pack, but Hasbro was good about ensuring a few extra pennies were spent on the paint here and there to make up for his shortness.

Unfortunately, while the design was good and the paint quality is excellent, the stripe alignment is a problem. The waist joint establishes a visible seam where above the waist, we see stripes which don't quite align with the bottom half-- the light ones are thicker on top than they are on the bottom. I hope it varies by figure, because I'm not happy with the alignment on my sample. Thankfully the deco on the weapons (can you believe we're getting multiple paint apps on a weapon for an Ewok?) and headdress are good, as is the detail on Logray's pouch. It's obvious Hasbro was trying hard to make the bitter pill of $9 for a single Ewok easier to swallow, but the overall quality of this item as opposed to the Paploo & Nho'Apakk set is something of a coin toss. The 2-pack provides you with a lot of bang for your buck, but Logray has more work put into it-- and if Logray's stripes were aligned better, I would say I might prefer the overall quality of the product at this increasingly higher price point. But they weren't. So I don't.

Collector's Notes: This wave is pretty new, and Logray seems to be shipping in a few waves. If you see it, it might be worth getting, as long as paying $9 for an Ewok doesn't make you wretch. I've only seen him in the wild two or three times so far. (As of RIGHT NOW it's in stock at our sponsor below... but you're in the future, so go check. Did you know the only money I get from these sites is a cut of the sales through those sponsor links? It's true! It doesn't cost anything extra when you order, so IF you order there anyway, please click through the below sponsor link.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,616: August 24, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,615: Palso Thern (B-Wing Pilot)

PALSO THERN B-Wing Fighter Pilot Blue Seven
The Legacy Collection Battle Over Endor
Item No.: Asst. 97639 No. 21452
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #2 of 2
Includes: Pistol, helmet, hoses, 3 additional figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99-$31.99
Availability: January 2011
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Bravery. Skill. Loyalty. These are defining characteristics of the starfighter pilots on both sides of the conflict at the Battle of Endor. Whether they are Rebels or Imperials, these elite pilots are all focused on the same goal: victory. They are deeply aware that they are deciding the future of the galaxy, and will do everything they can to complete their mission. (Taken from the figure's packaging. Note, there's no character-specific copy on the packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: It's not very surprising why Palso Thern has a generic bio on his package, as these sets are of increasingly obscure pilots to the point where I doubt most collectors would know if the character had a name before the release of this action figure. (He didn't.) So Hasbro's picking characters out of stills from the movie, Lucasfilm is making up names, and you're buying-- which I guess is a good thing but it's not like we need more B-Wing pilots, really. This figure reuses the 2008 B-Wing Pilot body, which we've also seen on Ten Numb, Nien Nunb, and Keyan Farlander. Speaking of Mr. Farlander, Palso Thern is very close to him in appearance. Thern's straps are silver (as opposed to unpainted cream plastic), his lower pant legs and boots are recolored, and there are tiny details changed on his chest panel. But other than that? I'd say you were hard-pressed to say the figure is significantly different. Thern's helmet fits awkwardly, he's blonde, and to make matters worse he's very pale which means his head basically has lost all detail. A little melanin goes a long way, even fake plastic melanin is good to have. (Ask Barbie.)

He can be stuffed into a B-Wing if you're so inclined, but Keyan Farlander (soon to be single-carded) is probably a better purchase unless you want the entire set of figures, and you probably do. However, if you get this one, it's not like the figure you cram in a vehicle cockpit has to be great-- just good enough, and Palso Thern is certainly good enough. The new head sculpt is a nice touch but there's nothing here that would qualify as exciting.

Collector's Notes: Since debuting in early 2011, the set remains available-- and depending on which Toys R Us you shopped at, this exclusive action figure set may have gone up as high as $7 above its issue price. The set also includes Major Mianda, R2-T7, and the slightly better-known Grizz Frix. He also fits nicely in the new Vintage B-Wing at Kmart, but there's a reissue of Keyan Farlander coming if you just want an individual pilot.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,615: August 23, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,614: Jango Fett

JANGO FETT Bounty Hunter
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 97568 No. 24993
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC34
Includes: 2 blasters, poncho, helmet, removable rocket, jetpack, headset
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $7.99
Availability: January 2011
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Celebrate the legendary Star Wars saga that changed the universe forever! This collection brings to life the incredible story of good versus evil that captured our imagination and took us to a galaxy far, far away. Iconic Star Wars heroes and villains are captured with incredible detail and premium features to commemorate each epic tale in the Star Wars saga. May the Force be with you! (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Clone Wars Slave I vehicle.

Commentary: Since 2008 Hasbro has been playing around with its Evolutions Jango Fett mold with this being the latest and greatest incarnation of the figure. As pricing goes, it's not exactly an improvement, but those seeking the (arguable) best will be well-served with this Kamino-specific version of the Fett father. The deco is closer to what fans asked for over the past few years, with a less-purple bodysuit and very dark blue gloves. The body sculpt is essentially the same, except some spiky climbing gear has been added to the gauntlets. The head deco is better than previous incarnations, with the scarring and stern expression seemingly more realistic and less painted-on than previous releases. The range of motion incorporates the same 14 joints, and the arm movement remains stiff courtesy of the wiring hooking the gauntlets up to the rest of the arms.

My favorite new addition to the figure is the jetpack accessory, mostly because it shows a really pleasant level of creativity that we don't see as much in the hobby. Rather than having a boring peg reach down to secure the rocket in place, Hasbro's clever sculptors added a "flame" to the bottom of the rocket, so when you remove it, it looks like it's shooting out. This kind of thinking really deserves to be rewarded, because it's such a great idea it's a wonder Hasbro didn't do it 10 years ago. Don't miss this one, unless you have a rule against upgrading your figures. It's close enough to earlier releases where you may not care-- and I personally believe Hasbro will attempt at least one more all-new (and probably Geonosian Arena-based) Jango mold between now and when the line ends-- but as far as today goes, and as the accessories go, this is basically as good as it gets.

Collector's Notes: Since Hasbro redecorated Evolutions Boba Fett as a single figure and now Jango, the only real reason to get the Fett Evolutions pack is the Mandalore figure... which is, unquestionably, worth it. This figure pops up from time to time but most Vintage core characters tend to sell well, so he tends to be harder to get than others.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,614: August 22, 2011