Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,664: Princess Leia Organa (Endor)

PRINCESS LEIA ORGANA in Ewok Celebration Outfit
Power of the Force Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 69570 No. 69714
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, Freeze Frame Action Slide
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99
Availability: January 1998
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: An accident during a furious speeder bike chase leaves the princess without a way of finding her Rebel companions. Befriended by Endor's Ewok civilization, Leia is once again united with her friends, but under different circumstances. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' old apartment... one of them.

Commentary: There weren't a ton of previously-unmade figures in the early days of the line, but Princess Leia in her Endor dress stood out as something even the old-timers didn't have at the time. With six points of articulation, she's pretty good-- the sculpt isn't bad for its day, but this is a design which straddles the fence between the early days of the line, when everything functioned as a toy, and a more collector-friendly era where things like being to sit aren't as important.

She was repainted in late 2006, and retooled in late 1998 to include some cloth bits and pieces. The original release is pretty good, and since there's really no better sculpt you may as well get this or any of the versions on the market today.

Collector's Notes: The figure wasn't a huge seller, and her price remains low. There aren't many figures from the pre-Phantom Menace days which haven't been revised, but this is one of them.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,664: October 31, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,663: Clone Trooper Redeye

CLONE TROOPER REDEYE Droid Attack on the Coronet
The Clone Wars Toys R Us Exclusive Set
Item No.: No. 32795
Number: n/a
Includes: Another clone, a big spider droid, three mini spider droids, two blasters, three stands, cards
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: September 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: A spider assassin droid attacks clone troopers in the cargo hold of the Coronet. Duchess Satine is on board the ship, heading to Coruscant to meet with the Senate. The Mandalorian splinter group Death Watch, which wants the duchess out of the way, has sent a spider assassin droid to attack her. The deadly droid strikes two clones as assassin droid spawn slip away to carry out the treacherous mission. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' basement.

Commentary: If you can't get enough of the clones, here's Clone Trooper Redeye. He was introduced and killed within minutes, and the figure is lacking the helmet lights seen on the episode. (Figures with lights will be appearing any day now.) The figure itself is kind of strange-- my sample had oddly-bent legs which couldn't be easily fixed by boiling water, plus his belt assembly was upside-down. I didn't notice this until I opened it, so I checked the store and sure enough, all of them were built this way. Redeye's construction is based on the newer "Stone" body, which has no ankles, plus his wrists only swivel and do not bend.

The deco is similar to 501st figures, with dark blue stripes on his arms. A circle with various lines on it decorates the helmet along with a small triangle, but other than that it's another nifty troop figure. Other than the deformed legs and flipped belt, I'd say it's a perfectly fine Clone figure. Mixer doesn't have these problems, which is odd seeing how one figure from the set is fine and the other has some serious problems. As a single figure I don't find this one incredibly exciting, but it's a neat gift set. It'd be even better if he had the flashlights on his head, but it's still "good enough."

A nifty bonus on this set is a trio of Assassin Droid Spawn, tiny little spider robots which can't stand on their own and cannot easily be stuck to a figure. So they're like garnish, I guess, throw some around and hope it looks OK.

Collector's Notes: At $25 it's a reasonable value. If you love clones you should have one by now, it's a nice addition to the animated line but I wish it was just a little better in terms of quality control. If by some miracle you get two of these sets on clearance, you might want to do some head-swapping with the Clones to ensure you get one of each as a "good" figure.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,663: October 28, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,662: Fixer Loneozner

LAZE "FIXER" LONEOZNER & Camie Marstrap
The Legacy Collection Celebration V Exclusive Comic Pack
Item No.: No. 19671
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, Camie figure, Empire comic book #8 reprint
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: August 2010
Appearances: Star Wars deleted scene, Empire comics

Bio: Fixer and Camie meet their friends Luke Skywalker and Biggs Darklighter at Tosche Station to work on their T-16 skyhoppers. As they make plans to go swooping through Beggar's Canyon to bulls-eye womp rats, they share their dream of leaving behind the remote desert planet of Tatooine to seek out fame and glory as part of the Rebel Alliance. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' bathroom.

Commentary: Too soon? Back in 2010 when Fixer was announced, it was after the cancelation of the comic pack line and-- we all assumed-- this figure would have gone with it. An obscure part of the franchise, Fixer is one of Luke's friends who was removed from the original film and known mostly to people who really follow deleted scene stuff and maybe the comics. Part of the problem is that as of 2010, few people have seen these deleted scenes and by 2010 the collecting pool felt like it was drying up a bit. The set not only didn't sell out at Celebration V, but there was no line at the Hasbro booth-- you could walk up almost any time during the show to grab this with no problems. It went from being a fan-demanded, screaming-out-for-mercy please-release-this-set item to "eh" overnight, which is an increasingly notable occurrence in this hobby. We have no attention span.

It's a good figure, and he meets most of the needs of fans with 14 points of articulation and a great sculpt. His jacket is molded as part of the torso and is not a separate removable piece, which I prefer, and his only accessory is a small blaster. The sculpt is pretty good, possibly great, but we've seen so little of the character in film that the stills are really our main point of reference, and it pretty nicely matches those photographs. It's just that in the movie, he's dirtier and his hair is more messed up.

If your collecting focus is on the original trilogy or the original film specifically, this is a must-buy, why-don't-you-already-have-it figure. It's a shame it was a Comic Pack release rather than Vintage, because odds are those would have been more popular. As it is, it's a nice set, with a nice package, and is unquestionably worth tracking down. The sculpt is unique, the design is good, and it brought fans something that, really, none of us genuinely thought we'd ever see. Good things come to those who wait... and collect toy lines which, seemingly, will never end.

Collector's Notes: Starting life at $15, the set is worth about $20. I'd say it's worth it, but this is a set which is mostly going to excite hardcore, long-haul collectors over the age of 25-- the people who saw the old storybooks or items which spoke of additional Star Wars scenes long before the internet. I see this as something of an amazing holy grail piece, and I'll be curious what the Blu-Ray will do to make this set more exciting to collectors, if anything.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,662: October 27, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,661: Bastila Shan

BASTILA SHAN Never Before Made as a Star Wars Figure
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 97568 No. 32240
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: VC69
Includes: Lightsaber hilt, full lightsaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: September 2011
Appearances: Star Wars

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. There is no bio.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: The first and presumably only Bastila Shan has been a few years in the making-- fans have asked for her, and if history is any indication this Knights of the Old Republic character is probably going to be super-hot stuff in a couple of years. Video game collectibles, Star Wars or not, tend to have fans more willing to shell out the cash for things. Oh, and let me get this out of the way: I never played this game and shrugged when I heard she was being made as a toy. There's nothing wrong with the figure but this wasn't a figure I really felt I needed in my collection... but it showed up in the mail, so.

The painting on the cardback looks a little bit like Jennifer Connelly, while the head sculpt looks vaguely like the game-- female figures at this scale are hard to detail properly, while the hair seems nearly perfect the face deco seems a little blah. Her face on the illustration and in the game stills seems to be a little more colorful, darker. There's nothing wrong with the sculpt but I bet Hasbro could refine the paint applications to better resemble the existing illustrations. The outfit matches many of the illustrations nicely, but there are multiple outfits from which to choose. This one is mostly yellow with some brown, the legs are designed in a way where she can swing her legs forward and, were you so inclined, she can sit in a ship. The detail on the outfit is quite good, with lots of folds and wrinkles. It's a nice sculpt, but again, a little improvement on the deco would be nice. There's no real shading or dirt here, so Hasbro clearly cut corners on paint... well, maybe that's harsh. But they certainly didn't go out of their way to add a lot of color.

With 14 joints she has no problems holding on to her double-bladed lightsaber, which is great. She can also plug the unlit version to her belt, so Hasbro just flat-out did a good job designing this one. While she doesn't really fit in to the line as a whole, those who specialize in video game figures will probably just be delighted she exists. The face could be a little better, but the packaging is great and the sculpt is certainly good enough for now. If you want a Bastila Shan figure, get this one-- because you don't have many other options.

Collector's Notes: A new release, she hasn't exactly had a wide release just yet. I don't expect her to last for long. Unless Hasbro decides to reissue Darth Revan, Malak, and Shan in some sort of boxed set I expect fans to be upset and have to live without. (I'm assuming you all got Darth Nihilus.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,661: October 26, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,660: AT-TE Clone Trooper

CLONE TROOPER AT-TE
The Clone Wars Vehicles
Item No.: Asst. 87629 No. 87603
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, AT-TE
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $99.99
Availability: July 2008
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: The All-Terrain Tactical Enforcer (AT-TE) blasted its way into battle for the first time at the Battle of Geonosis and proceeded to unleash its aggressive power all through the Clone Wars. This armored assault vehicle moves with unyeilding intimidation toward enemy fortifications, plowing through energy shields and firing its six laser cannons and a heavy projectile cannon all the way. Its interior can hold a squad of clone troopers that can be quickly deployed for ground combat. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' puzzles.

Commentary: In 2008 Hasbro managed to launch its Clone Wars line with a large selection of toys, thanks in part to the infinitely repaintable Clone Trooper mold. The version with the AT-TE was unique in that he had two insignias on his arm, one on each shoulder, plus a gunmetal silver blaster. Other than that, he's quite similar to the normal first-release "dirty" clones, right down to the unique pattern of grime and the wonderful range of articulation we've come to love. (As you can see, he has the swivel-and-bend wrists.) A similar Clone was sold in a Target-exclusive battle pack, although it only had one shoulder marking-- so it's different, you see. It's a good, durable figure which works well as a pilot, although it would be nice of the hip articulation was designed to be more conducive to being in the seated position. Given the variety of Clones out there there's really no reason to go after this specific one-- unless you want the AT-TE, which I have to say, I think you kinda do. If you're a clone fanatic, it's just different enough to be interesting.

Collector's Notes: The AT-TE hit closeout stores in 2009, as low as $25. This is a familiar trajectory with large toys. They start expensive, get blown out, and later, shoot back up on the secondary market. A clean (without dirt) version of this figure has surfaced on eBay but has never been released officially by Hasbro in the USA (and presumably nowhere else either).

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,660: October 25, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,659: Wedge Antilles

WEDGE ANTILLES Delayed and a Pain
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 97568 No. 21489
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: VC28
Includes: Blaster, helmet
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: May 2011
Appearances: Star Wars

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. There is no bio.)

Image: Adam's basement in one of a few studio tests... of questionable value.

Commentary: There's a story behind Wedge Antilles and we don't know the whole thing yet. Originally slated for wave 3 of Vintage at the end of 2010, the figure got pushed back and the assortment was thrown into a weird revision spiral, which resulted in this figure being shipped at a tiny ratio compared to his casemates. Hasbro delayed him to fix or tweak him, but now that we have the final figure in-hand it's hard to figure out exactly what it was they did. I dug through my photos from Celebration V and it seems the body is indeed the same one they debuted at the show, but there are few or no good looks at the head I could see. From the original prototype, the head was retooled, but aside from that the figure is basically just a Vintage Saga X-Wing Luke with a new head and nice deco.

The reason to buy this figure is for the a) packaging or b) head. The face sculpt and deco is unquestionably an improvement over the last few Wedge figures, although it would be nice if they used the taller body without the lightsaber hole in the belt. His articulation is as good as ever with 14 points, and the helmet is quite snug. How snug? Well, when I tried to take it off the head came with it and it was sort of a trial to pop it back out.

I only have the one-- and to date I believe this is the only Vintage figure I have yet to see on retail shelves-- and mine had some extra paint on the chin, which was easily scraped off. This is a superior sculpt than the 2009 Wedge X-Wing pack-in figure, but given the cost you might want to weigh your options as to which version is best. For carded collectors, I think this is the best. If you plan on leaving the helmet on the figure, though, the X-Wing WITH Wedge and his droid may be a cheaper solution, depending on where you shop. On paper this is just another pilot figure and offers little new, but to fans: it's Wedge. It's Wedge on a vintage cardback. And for that reason, this figure is arguably worth a premium.

Collector's Notes: Hasbro has promised to bring the figure back at two public conventions now-- San Diego and New York Comic Cons in 2011. It is assumed they will make good, although a few "where is this?" items have seemingly fallen off the table for the time being. This is the first retail-carded single non-exclusive Wedge Antilles figure, and as the character has had a history of bizarre problems it's no surprise that this would be wonky, too. Not counting the variations, there are no fewer than 5 different orange flight suit Wedge Antilles figures, plus a dress uniform one from the comic packs and a major helmet variant from the initial POTF2 release in 1998. If you only collect Wedge toys, you could probably assemble more than a dozen toys for your shrine.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,659: October 24, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,658: R7-D4

R7-D4 Plo Koon's Astromech Droid
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 94736 No. 32846
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW64
Includes: Removable limbs, dice, card
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $8.99
Availability: August 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: R7-D4 is Plo Koon's astromech droid that provides navigational and repair assistance on the Jedi's starfighter. The Jedi flies many challenging missions during the war, and his resourceful astromech works quickly to keep the Jedi's vessel in flight despite numerous encouters with Separatist vessels and droids. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's old kitchen.

Commentary: Since Hasbro effectively designed Plo Koon's last droid, this R7-D4 actually appeared on the TV show-- sort of. I mean, you can actually see the body on the show, there's prior art to use as reference material. Most surprising about this figure is a new body type, similar to the animated R2-D2 from 2008 with a few notable changes. First of all, the legs and dome are all removable. The third leg even rotates, with a round peg joint. These are not the same size as the 2008 and 2009 build-a-droid figures so you can't easily put a movie dome on an animated body. The construction feels quite solid, and while the opening doors on his body still reveal tools, the sculpting is sharper and the silver looks even better this time around. The legs/arms no longer sport holes for the booster rocket accessories, and the back of the body no longer has the compartment with the tow cable. The head no longer features a periscope.

The deco is great, the look is good, the sculpt is an improvement (as a collector) but the lack of so many of the play features that made the original animated astromech body such a great toy are gone. So... it's a toss-up. I'd still like an R2-D2 with this construction (with a more silver dome this time), but I don't have a strong preference as to which body other new astromechs use. Each one is good for different reasons. Since I do own Plo Koon's starfighter, and the color scheme loosely matches my other site (16bit.com) I'm a fan of this one. If you have the means and like figures you can pull apart, get one.

Collector's Notes: Reasonably new, and possibly out at a store near you. Maybe. You'll need to go check.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,658: October 21, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,657: Lt. Oxixo

LT. OXIXO Imperial Pilot
The Legacy Collection Battle Over Endor
Item No.: Asst. 97639 No. 21451
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #1 of 2
Includes: Pistol, helmet, 3 additional figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99-$32.99
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: The backdrop from the packaging.

Commentary: So is Lt. Oxixo different enough to be interesting? Yes, but only barely. Making use of the Evolutions TIE Fighter Pilot sculpt, which is itself modified from the 2004 version of the pilot, Lt. Oxixo makes these pilots into clones and gives him only slightly different deco to set him apart from the pack. This one is new, you see, because the center and top of his helmet is painted silver. Other than that, he's fundamentally the same figure. You've got a removable helmet and holster, and the new design is distinctive, but it's sort of boring at this point. I'm glad they did it, but it's not exactly as exciting as the colorful Rebels with their new heads, colorful flight suits, and possible gender bending.

This is a good design which fits in vehicles nicely, if you need more pilots, and odds are you do. I'd suggest getting him as part of the set, with Sila Kott and all, as you will likely want to have them for your other vehicles. Since the figure is another Clone TIE Pilot-- and there are many now-- the main thing about it that's cool is all the silver on his head. If that doesn't do it for you, you can safely skip this one.

Collector's Notes: Still available exclusively at a Toys R Us at a store near you!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,657: October 20, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,656: Rebel Fleet Trooper

REBEL FLEET TROOPER With New Hat
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 97568 No. 28620
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC52
Includes: Pistol, scanner, bandolier for leg, cap, helmet
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99-$9.99
Availability: July 2011
Appearances: Star Wars

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's kitchen, with some bad photoshopping.

Commentary: Since 1997 fans have asked for a new Rebel Fleet Trooper, with some versions being better than others. This one is arguably the best. While he doesn't have a working holster (and I don't care), it does have 14 points of articulation, a great sculpt, a non-removable vest, and swappable gear to get more than one figure out of a single release. He can become a tech just by switching his hat, and the included scanner will help make your dioramas more interesting. On his right leg is a small hole which allows a tiny bandolier to plug in, giving you one more easily-lost accessory for your collection.

The blue shirt, black vest, and grey pants are all sculpted nicely and the vest as part of the torso is overall a better look than the removable one. It's a good upgrade of a famous trooper, the best yet, and my guess is Hasbro won't likely get to a better one. It's a shame it's being released now, when army building is both difficult and cost-prohibitive due to current pricing. I'd say get at least one or two-- they'll flesh out your displays of the cheaper Rebel Trooper figures quite nicely.

Collector's Notes: Released over the summer, the figure remains elusive in many markets. He does ship in some current and future assortments, so no worries!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,656: October 19, 2011