Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,181: Osha Aniseya (The Vintage Collection)

OSHA ANISEYA Debut! And probably only release
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. E7763 No. F9789
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #327
Includes: Backpack, blaster, holster, droid buddy Pip
Action Feature: Backpack and holster are removable
Retail: $16.99
Availability: September 2024
Appearances: The Acolyte

Bio: Set at the end of theHigh Republic, a former Padawan reunites with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes, but the forces they confront turn out to be far more sinister and personal than anticipated. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: For better and for better than that, Osha Aniseya is a figure I could've reviewed without opening her. She's pretty much perfect. I assume that this is going to be a figure that, in the years to come, fans get angry that she was packed one per case, that they missed her, and that future fans will probably really like The Acolyte. Mostly because it got cut short. But today? She's at Walmart, and not selling - maybe she'll go to clearance, and you should buy her if you like a nice figure. She can hold all of her gear, her joints are all smooth, and the sculpting is excellent. What's not to like? I'm being semi-facetious, because while this is one of Hasbro's very best figures, it comes from a show that long-term collectors by and large did not bother to watch. The design was all over the map, with characters like Osha looking like she could be in the Rebellion, but she was flanked by prequel-esque Jedi designs that are not exactly something I find exciting. High Republic Jedi are usually shown with jewelry or armor bits, something to set them apart - but it's Osha's day, and she is not a violation of your collection's quality control.

If Hasbro can make more figures of this quality, the $16.99 price point isn't something I'd complain about as much. R2-D2, I'll complain, because that was a build-a-droid mold from 2008. Osha is all-new, with a separately molded vest, a backpack with straps that work - no peg/hole here - an optional blaster holster, plus a pouch for Pip her droid assistant, that sits on her hip. The detail is good, with steel-toed boots (you can see the steel) as well as painted straps on her droid pouch. Her belt buckle is painted, there's a patch on her vest, the eyes and face are all printed nicely, and the separately-molded wig has good detail too. I don't care what you feel about the show, the Hasbro and Lucasfilm/Disney people who sculpted this did an excellent job.

Articulation is on par with the current best figures, as she's relatively easy to pose and the joints are soft enough to allow for subtle movement changes, letting the figure look like she's thinking, walking, or working. If you were given this figure before the show came out, you'd say "I love this, this is amazing." (I feel you can convince fans to like a movie or show if you give them the toys first. We're literally invested in it.) But as a wise man once said, what's better than a perfect toy? A perfect toy with one tiny flaw we can pick at all night - and that's her wrists. The high swivels are great, the hips aren't restricted, the rocker ankles are good, the elbows are great, but the wrists? Swivel-only. Bend-and-swivel would be preferred, so she can work, or shoot, or maybe grab a lightsaber one day. But alas, she cannot, and that annoys me. (Given most collectors never open their toys, does it even matter? No, but I play with these things so it matters to me.)

Her accessories are good too. The holster and backpack are molded in color, with a gold bottle painted on the side of the backpack. The blaster is a single color, and looks great. Pip is what impresses the most - the plastic pal who's fun to be with has more paint than some entire figures, with an orange body with black stripes. And silver eyes. And other black details. It's tiny, and a great amount of attention was given to something that will sit in her hand, or in a holster. I can't complain. This is really good for its size, and of course raises expectations for future toys.

If your relationship with Star Wars toys allows you to let Osha hang out in a Cantina or Jabba's Palace as some cool spacer, you should get her. I personally found the show's pacing to be dreadful, but as future fans can binge it, they may find it snappy and fun. I really like the way she turned out, and I can't fault her overall quality. She's better than a lot of other figures, with nifty pants and great leg joints that let her look like she's doing more than standing, praying she doesn't topple forward. Hasbro: nice job. It is unfortunate the reception of the show will not drive a lot of fans to buy what may be some of your very best work. And now we wait to see if Yord Fandar and The Stranger were far enough in development that we get them next year.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,181: October 17, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,180: X-Wing Pilot (Miralan, The Vintage Collection)

X-WING PILOT (Mirialan Female)
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Shared Exclusive Action Figure Set
Item No.: No. F9395
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 4 Pilot figures with 3 Rebel Blasters like the Troopers and 3 Rebel Blasters like Luke's Pilot blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $54.99
Availability: September 2024
Appearances: ???   

Bio: Mirialans were a near-human species native to the planet Mirial. They had skin tones ranging from green to yellow or pink to purple. Most had traditional geometric tattoos on their faces which symbolized personal achievements. (Taken from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: I am of two minds of these trooper sets. I love getting Stormtroopers or generic guys. The X-Wing Pilots and unmasked figures are a little squirrelly. Hasbro's copy places these figures in Ahsoka, and their helmet designs look similar to ones on the show - but I don't recognize this Mirialan from the show. Given the hubbub about SKU count and the capacity to make new products, it's a little weird to see effort going into a set that's X-Wing Luke's body with four new heads. It's certainly interesting, but not as interesting as getting actual characters from one of the shows, or comics, no matter how obscure. Back in the 1990s and 2000s I was a lot more interested in "let's make up new stuff" because a few thousand figures in, I'm starting to be concerned we'll never get the original Power of the Force Imperial Dignitary Sim Aloo and I'm about 335 days away from assuming a mass release of Vlix is being saved for when my body is in the ground. As a kid I loved the idea of figures with no story and going on fun new adventures. As an adult, I still do - but these are less toys than collectibles, despite the packaging.

All four figures are basically the same, and the savings were passed along to us. The Mirialan is a green-headed lady person on Luke's body with a ponytail. They did a very nice job sculpting the face, which is expressive and has great eyebrows. And eyes. The tattoos are no slouch. Really, they poured a lot of love in the design and it shows. They even painted her lips, which is the kind of thing we didn't get on toys when we were kids, or much at all until more recently. Her hair is a separately molded piece, and it looks amazing. If you got this 20 or 30 years ago, your mind would be blown, although you would probably still be surprised it's on a Luke body.

The Luke body was OK for its time, but today it's not great. I'm a big fan of functionality, and this body had some rotten hips. Old Kenner figures and new "kid" Hasbro figures usually have hips that only swing forward - these are what you want when you have a vehicle pilot. This particular body has a joint that is similar to the shoulder joint, with the peg going up into the abdomen rather than the side. This means you have to do a ton of fidgeting to get her to sit in anything, it's not fast and it's certainly not fun. This kind of articulation is good for dioramas and playsets, but Hasbro doesn't make either for X-Wing pilots and certainly not for post-Return of the Jedi Rebel pilots. For a figure that will just stand around, they're great - but these white boxed figures beg to be opened and enjoyed, there's just not a heck of a lot of good places for them to live other than on your shelf with your thousands of other figures.

Her flight suit does look good, given how much of it is molded in color I assume it's also slightly cheaper to manufacture. Sculpted details are crisp, and painted elements - like the glossy boots and gloves - look excellent.

The figure's deco is as good as can be expected, with an otherwise good sculpt and a nicely painted helmet clearly inspired by the paint on the props on Ahsoka. It fits perfectly, and isn't too snug or too loose - Hasbro should, again, be proud of the engineering of what was done here. She has a good head on her shoulders. If Hasbro had a pilot bar or some similar locale, she'd be right at home. Maybe she'll hang out in the Cantina next year. I feel like a bit of an ingrate for poo-pooing the choice - they did a good job - but as aliens go, "human but green" is about as boring as they come. Unless they're reusing this tooling later for another human figure in one our species' many fine colors, in which case, kudos for planning ahead.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,180: October 15, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,179: Bo-Katan Kryze (Walmart Exclusive 2-Pack, Epic Hero Series)

BO-KATAN KRYZE | Moff Gideon - Duel for the Darksaber
Epic Hero Series Deluxe Walmart Exclusive Figure 2-Pack
Item No.: No. F9376
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Fire gauntlet, Cape, 2 jetpacks, Darksaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.84
Availability: August 2024
Appearances: The Mandalorian   

Bio: A gifted warrior, Bo-Katan Kryze is a legendary Mandalorian. (Taken from the packaging)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Walmart now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: I don't think there's a collector out there who was super excited to see Bo-Katan Kryze get a figure with a new shoulder pad in The Vintage Collection, mostly for reasons previously established in the cultural vernacular. She's cool, but this minor change on a $17 figure just sort of makes collectors angry. But on a cheaper figure? I'm not exactly made of stone here - I love old Kenner figures, and this particular line is a lot like Kenner's toys from the 20th century. You may begrudge a mere 5 points of articulation, but the figure is sturdy and charming. (Also, there are two versions of her - the single card has a blaster, the 2-pack swaps it for a jet pack and yes, we'll review that version too.)

So what does this one have to offer to completists? Not much - The Vintage Collection Bo-Katan [FOTD #2,893] is one of Hasbro's finest figures. And I mean ever - even four years later the amazing tiny pea-sized head has an excellent likeness, great hair, good deco, and articulation that raises the bar so high, everything that came before is questionable. So Hasbro didn't try to one-up it - instead they decided to make a figure that's sturdy, stands without assistance, and generally looks cool. You get no unmasked head and no battle-damage, the Nite Owls symbol is gone. It's basically on par with the effortlessly charming The Retro Collection Bo-Katan [FOTD #2,939], with different accessories and superior paint.

Her Epic Hero Collection sculpting is better, and a smidgen bigger. She only has one weapon - a big Darksaber - plus a painted rocket pack. There are places on her armor to plug in accessories like the flame throwers with Gideon/Paz/Boba, and who knows what else will come down the road. I had no problems getting her to stand, sit, or hold her gear. If you owned real toys made for kids in your life in addition to toy-flavored collectibles, you'll appreciate that everything fits and works. The sculpted details are good, but this also highlights the lack of paint on some of them. Her holsters, knee pads, hand armor, belt buckle, and straps on her neck are unpainted - the Retro figure had those decorated, and also, cost another couple of bucks. This figure has silver chest armor, as opposed to Retro being unpainted. You can see the push and pull with the budget on a figure like this, which is more for a mass-market kid audience. For that purpose I think it's pretty good, but I do wonder if the economies of scale could result in an alternate universe with a one-size-fits-all line that's closer to a Spin Master figure - that is, elbows, knees, and a low price - rather than splitting the market into multiple SKUs which will no doubt sell fewer units each.

Despite the deco shortcomings, she does look pretty neat and like a lost 1990s toy. She won't be the cup of tea for most collectors, and I know this because they send me mean emails. Each figure line has different aspects of it that work, and a sturdy, durable figure that looks pretty good but isn't meant to be a tiny replica for a difficult to please person in their 40s-60s is what the toy market is all about. I'd love to see more stuff in this style, mostly because I don't have to worry about them falling over or costing me a ton of money if they aren't great. Minus that one armored Darth Maul, that's going to be the figure whipping boy for "this isn't worth the money" until I die. Collector's Notes: I got mine from Walmart. As Walmart exclusive toys for kids tend to be made in pretty big numbers, and in this case is shipping to even the smaller Walmarts (but not grocery stores), you'll probably have no problems finding this set.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,179: October 10, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,178: C4-R4C (Droid Factory)

C4-R4C Better Red than Repack-ed
Star Tours Droid Factory Ahsoka Set
Item No.: ???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: 3 more droids
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $49.99
Availability: January 2024
Appearances: Ahsoka

Bio: All different types of droids populate the Star Wars galaxy. Each droid is different and has their own unique personality and colors. These four are featured in Star Wars: Ahsoka. May the Force be with you.... and your Droids! (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

 Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: This one isn't bad. I'm not sure why one droid in this set has the toe cables and C4-R4C does not, but the dark reddish droid is pretty good overall even though it seems to be a generational holdover from 2008. While it would be nice to have a new mold with slightly more accurate proportions, that's not happening. As such, your goal here is to determine if this Disney figure is good enough to warrant buying, mostly because it's a nothing droid. Since we're in a world without any decent Ahsoka playsets and virtually no background characters and few bad guys, there's not much for this droid to do if you buy it. Sure, you can find the dome in the background of an episode, but when you get right down to it this release is for completists. If you simply must have all the droids, or like the color, this is a figure for you.

If you've been buying build-a-droid figures, you know what this is - a removable dome, removable legs, and that's about it. It looks fine, and is molded in a dark red with some silver and white panels. What makes it stand out from other Disney droids is a very healthy slathering of dirty weathering printed on the shell. The rust and subtle weathering looks pretty good, but it's not as amazing as some other releases - it's still very obviously a new factory-fresh figure with some extra paint, but at least we're getting a little more than we used to. Given how much money Disney is saving on the molds for these sets - which frequently have 1 new figure or 0 new figures - surely they can and sometimes do give us more paint than would be necessary for this figure to be considered "good enough." Sure, you've got rolling wheels and removable limbs, but anyone who has been in this for the long haul will likely put it on a shelf and never look at it again. And that's assuming they ever open the box. It would be great to live in a world with more figures, playsets, and vehicles so this guy serves a greater purpose than "collectible," "keepsake," "souvenir," but it seems the toy world is increasingly content to not ask what purpose the toy serves beyond a thing you buy. It's a very decent thing, surely, with really nice dark silver panels on the back absolutely slathered in damage that arguably makes this figure more interesting from behind. If you get it, be sure to see that baby has back.

I would not recommend this gift set on the strength of this figure alone, but he probably has the best deco in the box. If you're a droid fanatic, you already bought it and were likely impressed by the colors. If you don't need another dozen droid repaints, you probably see this as a massive waste of development dollars. I think I would be more enthusiastic if Ahsoka had greater toy support, as "main characters, some retool troopers, and token droid repaints" make it hard to get jazzed up over a show that was a little slower and if asked to give real plot points, this figure had nothing to do with the story and the story was pretty limited in the first place. Since two of the four figures in this set are genuinely unique, its ability to capture your dollars will probably come from the strength of this droid and RD-3 [FOTD #3,168], neither of which I found to be incredible. It's different enough to be distinctive, but even I can't keep names straight for toys with no meaningful presence on-screen or in the guide books that don't yet exist, but should!

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Disney Store.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,178: October 8, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,177: Emperor's Royal Guard (The Retro Collection)

EMPEROR'S ROYAL GUARD He's Back!
The Retro Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure Hasbro Pulse/Shop Disney 6-Pack
Item No.: No. F6988
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Staff, plus Mon Mothma, Yak Face, Wicket the Ewok, Gamorrean Guard, and Admiral Ackbar
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $72.99
Availability: November 2023
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Star Wars Retro Collection includes Star Wars action figures from the 40-plus-year legacy of the Star Wars Galaxy, including movies and live-action series. (Stolen from the marketing copy. Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: I'm kind of a fiend for Retro figures because they're kind of scarce and I feel like they're an endangered species. I open some immediately, and there are some I still have carded and unopened so I can enjoy a little treat later - this Emperor's Royal Guard is one that is, as of my writing this sentence, still mint on card and has been for just under a year. As a kid, the original figure was not a favorite like an Ewok or Luke or any given alien. The helmet was fine, the stick was fine, the robes hid any detail on the figure - he was basically a sheet ghost with a helmet head. I'm not sure why it didn't click, I like ghost toys a lot, but I definitely didn't make the connection as a kid. This was just some dork in a tablecloth who stood around and didn't get to do anything cool, so getting one as a gift was not necessarily as exciting as a Biker Scout or the pig guards. Now let me go get and open the figure.

Figures like this - and 4-LOM (the bug guy in the robe, as Kenner named him) - are good candidates for The Retro Collection because they largely get to bypass the line's shortcomings. For some reason, Hasbro's factories sculpt the details in a softer way. With only the helmet and one arm exposed, the softer sculpting isn't something you're even going to notice - all that matters is that the colors are pretty much on the money and that the helmet is shiny, with a painted black visor. The pike is much taller than the actual movie, but it's close to the Kenner original - if lighter - with pretty good sculpted details. At first blush I'd say they did an excellent job with the staff, and I had to go get my original 1983 figure I've had since it came out to even realize that it might be as close as a Retro accessory might get to the original Kenner sculpt, and without a side-by-side comparison of the original article I might have a hard time telling them apart. Hasbro's getting better at this.

The figure's helmet is a little less glossy for 2023, but the paint is a smidgen better. I really wish Hasbro put the Emperor's Royal Guard as a non-exclusive figure so fans could get as many as they wanted, and put The Emperor proper in the gift set (or skipped him completely) because nobody could afford to army build this guy at $73 per boxed set... but gosh, what a boxed set. Thee figures weren't perfect copies of the originals, but they're pretty good - this guy arguably has better robes because they're not as fuzzy, but that could just be my memory. I feel like my 1983 Kenner guard always had a little fluff to him, and the new one doesn't, and the cut seems better but that could be the seven years he spent as a toy and in a carry case before being placed in a specially-crafted Kenner display case I have to this day. (Thanks for selling me one, Jim Drye of Mesa, AZ, I hope you're still out there.) But I digress.

I think this is a pretty good figure. I think Hasbro overcharged us a bit for it, but I also heard rumblings of the edition size and it makes sense that it wasn't an $8-$10 figure. The whole set will probably leave you hemming and hawing about the price, but given it had freaking Yak Face in it in addition to Mon Mothma, it's a risky collection of oddballs. I wouldn't say this is a perfect rerelease, but it's so close and generally as good as the original (at least, for the parts that stick out of the robes) that I can't complain too much. Hasbro did a nice job, and I admit I am a little sad thinking that this could very well be the last Kenner-style Return of the Jedi action figure I ever rip off a cardback. I hope that's not the case - it would be very nice to get just a few more between now and when Star Wars figures finally become unprofitable. I've still got Ahsoka in her poncho and Grogu with his backpack to crack open, and the pre-ordered sets... and I hope there are more to come.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,177: October 3, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,176: Professor Huyang (The Vintage Collection)

PROFESSOR HUYANG Live Version
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. E7763 No. F9778
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #311
Includes: Backpack with 2 removable collapsed arms or 2 extended arms, data pad, tool
Action Feature: Removable backpack with swappable limbs
Retail: $16.99
Availability: April 2024
Appearances: Star Wars Ahsoka

Bio: A repository of ancient Jedi lore, Huyang oversaw the construction of lightsabers in the Jedi Order for centuries, keeping an exacting record o every lightsaber constructed under his supervision. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: Sometimes, it's more fun to review a figure late - you get weird insights. Roughly 3 3/4-inch Professor Huyang came out earlier this year twice - once as a Disney-made figure, and then this taller figure. You might be asking "Which one is better?" and the answer will irritate you. Hasbro's is taller, with more gear, and more articulation. Disney's has some details painted in that Hasbro skipped, but it also includes an additional three droid figures you can't get from Hasbro. There's no conundrum for the completist, but fans on a budget who just want to keep one of them will probably err toward the wrong-sized, slightly-better-looking, droid-friended version from Disney. For display purposes, assuming your focus is beyond droid figures exclusively, you should probably get the more emotive Hasbro toy.

The figure itself has better articulation than the Disney release. They share bending elbows, but only Hasbro's has a thigh swivel and a double-jointed neck. He stands surprisingly well for a tall, skinny guy, no doubt thanks to the extra joints. The ball-and-socket hips and swivel thighs make a huge difference, and in his time standing on my desk he hasn't fallen over often. The hands are great at gripping the tool and the datapad, and the articulation helps him to emote too. The best figures have a decent face and enough articulation so that you can make it look like it's thinking, and Huyang fits the bill. It helps that the face on the TV show is a non-moving metal mask, so there's really no way Hasbro could mess this up short of making it the wrong color. While I do think painting the figure, rather than molding it in-color in a slightly translucent sheen, would help, it would no doubt further drive this figure's price up past the point of a basic $16.99 release. As it is, it seems to be one of the better figures in this assortment and is certainly one of the very best 3 3/4-inch droids we've ever seen. He's by no means perfect - that would probably take another $2-$3 on the retail price - but he's good enough that if this winds up being the only one we ever see, I can say Hasbro did good enough.

In terms of accessories, they're good, and they're ample, but they're not great. Again, we're dealing with the budget. Disney's Huyang figure has a lot of deco hits on the side, but the arms aren't articulated or removable. Hasbro's backpack is light on paint and the arms are devoid of deco, presumably an acceptable loss given how so many collectors are never going to open up the figure and look at it. The backpack pops off easily and the default collapsed limbs are relatively easy to pop out. The alternate arms are very good, with visible non-functioning joints and one of the tiniest droid thumbs I've ever seen. I would love a little more paint here, but again, that's life. His datapad and tool are also undecorated, and part of me wonders if they're even necessary - would I like the figure more if Hasbro traded them away for more paint? Maybe. There are very few droids where I feel the accessory is necessary. If and when Hasbro ever revisits EV-9D9, I don't need a computer console. But when they do (and redo) C-3PO, accessories are everything - would any of us have re-purchased the character without a net, or a throne, or Salacious Crumb in the package? ...probably, we love C-3PO. And I like Huyang - I would be very interested in seeing a deluxe version of even an alternate version with less articulation and more paint, were Hasbro so inclined.

When it comes to deco, neither has a clear edge. Hasbro's Huyang has lots of painted neck and forearm details. Disney's has painted waist cables and an apron with greater contrast and weathering. And metallic paint on his dome, and extra paint hit on a chest bolt, and additional upper arm deco. It really is kind of maddening that neither looks better, and figures like this probably make a pretty compelling argument to do a deluxe release for this and other reasons. Had the backpack arms been fully articulated too, I think fans would begrudgingly go for it because you can see Hasbro starting to bump into budget restrictions on this figure in ways they don't for, say, R2-D2 and his being a mold from 2008 with a mere three points of articulation and removable third leg for $17.

Huyang has four extra accessories, and at least 26 points of articulation. I wouldn't mind seeing Hasbro not only consider deluxe figures for characters where the extra couple of bucks would make a difference, but maybe, just maybe, make a "basic" assortment for figures like R2-D2, a Jawa, Grogu, Yoda, an Ewok, or Salacious Crumb where you can't really make a case that there's $17 worth of toy there. If any figure is worth $17, it's Huyang. Heck, when it comes to Grogu I remain surprised he wasn't a pack-in accessory in a zillion poses so every figure came with a different Grogu much like how figures once came with coins.

Given the nature of a The Vintage Collection figure, and budgets, and the timing of the release (and how far in advance Hasbro started to work on it) I would say this is an excellent figure. I wouldn't be upset to see another take on him if he appeared in a movie or a second season of the series, and I certainly would love it if Hasbro tried to do something really fancy like die-cast metal 3 3/4-inch droid figures with lots of paint and maybe less articulation. But I'm not in product development. Hasbro pat yourselves on the back here, you did a good figure for the price and I would be very interested in seeing what another few bucks could get us... or if this is good enough before hitting $30.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,176: October 1, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,175: Moff Gideon (Walmart Exclusive 2-Pack, Epic Hero Series)

MOFF GIDEON | Bo-Katan Kryze
Epic Hero Series Deluxe Walmart Exclusive Figure 2-Pack
Item No.: No. F9376
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Fire gauntlet, Cape, 2 jetpacks, Darksaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.84
Availability: August 2024
Appearances: The Mandalorian   

Bio: Imperial Moff Gideon once wielded the the ancient Darksaber, an artifact of great importance to Mandalorians. (Taken from the packaging)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Walmart now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: You should give this figure a look. Unlike the Maul set, you get your money's worth in the Moff Gideon & Bo-Katan Kryze 2-pack - more so if you didn't buy the single figures. Each figure has different accessories in the vein of "just different enough to make you mad," but I'm willing to play ball because I like the format enough. The Gideon figure and his cape are the same as the single-carded release, but Hasbro dropped the staff in favor of a new backpack and a repainted gauntlet with a flame shooting out of it - which you've already seen with Boba Fett and Paz Vizsla. Which version should you get? It's all about the accessories, and if this one goes on clearance (and I bet it will) I'd favor what's cheapest. 

For those who don't want to read the whole thing, Walmart's main selling point on the exclusive?  Backpack.  Flamethrower.

We'll look at the single version soon, but I'm stating with this one because it was a surprise. Hasbro never announced it, which is a pity given it's the first figure they made of this figure in this outfit - it's of interest to collectors. It's a new figure sculpt, and it's pretty close to what you saw on the show. His armor isn't as glossy, and the lights on the TV show chest are missing. Other than that, it's pretty much what you expect out of a toy action figure - black armor, red trim. There's not a ton of detail on the show model, so it translates nicely to the toy with a slightly brighter color of red for his various highlights. He has five points of articulation and various connection points to bolt on a backpack, his cape, or a flamethrower. He has no traditional weapons, but you can bolt on that flamethrower and it fits nicely. You also have to choose between an exclusive-to-this-set jet pack, or his cape. They fit in the hole nicely, and as I write this Gideon has the jetpack and Maul has the cape. It's a really good cape with red lining that stays on nicely, and the jetpack sticks well too.

There aren't a ton of amazing flourishes here, but there are some. His jetpack has paint on the underside, with blue vents and holes where you could connect some sort of flames if they existed. Maybe you can 3-D print some and share your files with the rest of the class. The figure also has a blaster in his holster, but it isn't removable. It's just a nice detail, along with darts in his kneepads and vertical stitches in his pants that are a lot like Darth Vader's. Star Wars has a stock look for its bad guys - black, red, and probably obscured in the face - and this is no exception. The figure can't have the kinds of texture you see on the TV show at this price point, but I think Hasbro made something that is a satisfying release for what amounts to a glorified bureaucrat cosplaying as the king of the natives of a planet he was sent to administer earlier in his career. His helmet has little crown points and everything - it's very silly when you think about it, but the kind of man that sets up his base in a hole on a supposedly abandoned planet instead of one with a decent restaurant or a place to get pants is clearly not a serious man.

Given Hasbro has already produced The Mandalorian, Grogu, Bo-Katan Kryze, Ahsoka Tano, and Luke Skywalker, it would be nice to see them continue The Mandalorian cast in this format. And I mean any weird alien, any guest star. I'd love a Kenner-ized Cobb Vanth or IG-12. It would be a hoot to see those ramshackle Stormtroopers or Frog Lady. These are generally very nice figures for the price.

I wouldn't mind if Hasbro just ditched Vintage and made Epic Hero Series figures the new standard - provided they could shave them down from 4-inches to 3 3/4-inches at that time. I like this figure because he looks good, can use his gear, and remain standing. His legs swing forward fairly well and if Hasbro made vehicles for him, he'd probably fit like a champ. If there's a The Vintage Collection version of this costume I have no doubts it will have perfect deco, an alternate head, and amazing articulation - but it doesn't exist. Instead we have this guy for $8-$10ish, depending on which version you buy. I opened this one first and I think he turned out well enough. I'd recommend it, if only because I believe that this sub-line (which I hope lasts) is a great way to collect the characters in a non-fragile format at a price that doesn't make my wallet just sigh heavily and shake its head. I hate re-buying characters at $20... but $10? Or under $10? I can live with that.

Collector's Notes: I got mine fromWalmart. As Walmart exclusive toys for kids tend to be made in pretty big numbers, and in this case is shipping to even the smaller Walmarts (but not grocery stores), you'll probably have no problems finding this set.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,175: September 26, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,174: Professor Huyang (Droid Factory)

PROFESSOR HUYANG and Mary-Ann
Star Tours Droid Factory Ahsoka Set
Item No.: ???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: 3 more droids
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $49.99
Availability: January 2024
Appearances: Ahsoka   

Bio: All different types of droids populate the Star Wars galaxy. Each droid is different and has their own unique personality and colors. These four are featured in Star Wars: Ahsoka. May the Force be with you.... and your Droids! (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.   

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: Both Disney and Hasbro put out Professor Huyang figures at the same time for roughly the same price. Which is better? Probably Hasbro's. Hasbro's is taller and has more accessories - but there are elements that the Disney version has decorated that Hasbro left blank, and vice-versa. Hasbro's figure is almost a head taller than Disney's. It is bizarre, and sensible, that both have similar articulation - Hasbro has the edge with the thigh swivels - but hey, I'm getting ahead of myself. We're talking about the shorter Disney parks release.

Given both cost about the same, Disney's comes up short in more than just the literal way. It's curious to see where each design team put its priorities, as Disney's has a bolted-on backpack without any articulated back arms. Disney did paint the arm joints, though, while Hasbro didn't - and Hasbro gave hte backpack unit itself a little more paint. Hasbro added weathered paint to the legs, but Disney did not - although Disney has panted torso cables, while Hasbro does not. But Disney painted the chest bolt on his right, and the bicep wires, but Hasbro did not. It's extremely difficult to describe one without looking at the other, because neither provides a more authentic, more complete, or more accurate collecting experience. When placed side-by-side it just shows each company elected to cut different corners.

He's skinny, but nor tall, standing roughly 3 3/4-inches and not towering over the Hasbro figures. Scale is always tough to nail down, but I am reading Huyang is about 1.8 meters - so about 6 foot 2 inches. His shoulders swivel, but don't pivot out. The legs swing forward well enough, as his toolbelt seems to have just enough give to allow him to sit. The knees bend, the ankles bend and swivel, the wrists swivel... it's about as well-articulated as the Disney Protocol Droids. Depending on what you are looking for, this figure might have the edge on paint as he has painted hands, metallic deco on his helmet, the aforementioned waist, nipple, and backpack paint, and slightly better painted shoulders with the rings around each arm. By himself, not making size or detail comparisons, Disney did a good job. The sculpt matches the TV show, the expression is good, the yellow optics are bright, and it looks like the droid you're looking for. Depending on your collection needs - especially if all you buy are droids - this might be the best choice for you. The $16.99 Vintage figure offers more Huyang-ness, but this set has three plastic pals who are fun to be with, and I think most collectors will see that as a priority over a data pad or alternate arms.

Since Disney and Hasbro both have competing figures at the same time, with neither having the clear edge - each has unique painted elements the other lacks - I can't say either is better. Hasbro's is probably the right height, with more gear, but Disney's has a lot more front-facing painted details that look good. Neither seems to be quite the right color, though, and if you believe in magic there's a chance they could revisit the character for Ahsoka season 2. (I'll believe it when they announce a release date.) But I digress - Disney's Professor Huyang is good, but since there's another figure against which to compare him, I can't say either is perfect. Flip a coin, with a little more weight toward this one if you want the other Chopper, C4-R4C, and RD-3 figures exclusively in the set with the professor.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Disney Store.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,174: September 24, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,173: Admiral Ackbar (The Retro Collection)

ADMIRAL ACKBAR He's Back!
The Retro Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure Hasbro Pulse/Shop Disney 6-Pack
Item No.: No. F6988
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Staff, plus Mon Mothma, Yak Face, Emperor's Royal Guard, Gamorrean Guard, and Wicket the Ewok
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $72.99
Availability: November 2023
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Star Wars Retro Collection includes Star Wars action figures from the 40-plus-year legacy of the Star Wars Galaxy, including movies and live-action series. (Stolen from the marketing copy. Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: Hasbro hasn't made a lot of Return of the Jedi Kenner figures yet, but most of them were ones I had as a kid - like Admiral Ackbar. This was the kind of figure that sparked my imagination as a kid - it was a weird lobster guy, with a strange head and webbed hands. He had a ribbed staff and had no problems holding it either. I have no idea where it came from - I don't think we've ever seen it in concept art or as a prop in a photo somewhere, but it's classic Kenner and as much a part of my experience with Star Wars as a lightsaber if not more so. All the jokes I could make about this will make someone angry... so moving on.

The remake is about as good as all the others. Details are softer, paint isn't quite right, the eyes are a smidgen more a-googily-doogily. One black dot is a little higher than the other, but being on opposing sides of his head makes it less likely that I would notice on my sample - and presumably all samples vary. His wrinkly or vaguely armored skin just isn't as crisp as the original, which is possibly the result of a scan not being cleaned up quite right. Having seen the level of sharpness of home-scanned toys, though, I'm not sure I believe that. Maybe the tool master just didn't put in the hours to make something perfect - it's still good, and it looks like what the molds may be after decades of use (or bad storage.). The yellow pants stripes are here, the skin is brighter than the movie skin, and the bib/vest seems a smidgen darker than my original Kenner figures - but the colors vary. For someone who has never owned an original, this is probably pretty good. Anyone who took this figure on adventures as a child will know it's not the same, though.

He's long sold out, but you can get one for a pretty fair/paltry $15 on eBay as I write this. It's long sold out at Shop Disney or Hasbro Pulse, and I've heard whispers that the run size wasn't exactly vast. If you have the money I would recommend you get the 1983 release - but if you're buying the 6-pack for Mon Mothma and Yak Face anyway, this is a heck of a nice design that is distinctly different from the original to anyone who can read the figure for clues, or is old. I am fond of the whole set - I opened Ackbar months ago but the Royal Guard is still carded - and they're the next best thing to a carded original. I wish they were slightly better, or that the eyes were aligned, but on a shelf or on a card, it's pretty good for roughly twelve bucks.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,173: September 19, 2024