Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,345: IG-11 (Nevarro Marshal, The Vintage Collection)

IG-11 (Nevarro Marshal)
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch basic figure
Item No.: Asst. G2786 No. G2616
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #388
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: March 2026
Appearances: The Mandalorian

Bio: The Mandalorian returns the blasted fragments of the assassin droid hero, who undergoes a total rebuild - complete with reprogramming and marshal stripes that denote IG-11 as Nevarro's protector. (Taken from the cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: IG-11 (Nevarro Marshal) is one of those ideas that just makes sense from a production standpoint. Back in 2021 IG-11 [FOTD #2,871] formed the basis for at least three versions of the character - and that one currently sells for a bit of a premium. The most recent version of the character (a very nice figure, with two smaller buddy figures) was blown out at Ross for $4.99 this one has the advantage of different colors and accessories. Its success will probably have to do with the size of the production run, so if it comes and goes quickly you might not see it on markdown shelves. I sure as heck haven't seen many of it in stores yet as it seemed to sell through almost immediately, but I assume more shipments could be coming.

This 2026 release uses the same basic body as the 2021 version, but replaces the vest with a belt and adds some more color. This figure matches The Mandalorian season 3 finale, where the droid gets his repaired torso back as well as a holster and a vest. He has red and cream markings on his body now, plus a matching belt buckle to denote his status - somehow being the marshal of an entire planet. The various hoses and greeblies are pretty much the same as the previous version of the droid, with deco more or less perfectly matching the TV show. The one element that isn't a perfect match - and I wouldn't have noticed if someone hadn't pointed it out to me - is on the chest. On the cardback photo and TV show reference, the red stripes go a little above the nub on the center of the chest. On the figure, they stop at the nub. Would I ever have noticed were it not pointed out to me? No. I don't assume we'll ever see a variant (as virtually nothing gets a second production run under the same item number in The Vintage Collection anymore), but it's an interesting thing to note if you're wondering if you got a bad one. You didn't - they're all like this.

Articulation is quite good, with the spread-out fingers and ankles that both bend and swivel. The hips have a good range of movement, and the ball joint in the arms is pretty great at allowing him to have numerous poses. The head is multiple swiveling parts, too, allowing him to be posed as you see fit. Hasbro did a real nice job on this guy the first time, so they're able to reap dividends from its reuse as needed. The new blaster and holster fit really nicely, and it's quite amazing how so many of the color breaks on the mold just happen to fit the mold breaks on the plastic figure. I wonder if it was planned accordingly when they were redesigning IG-11 for the show?

It's funny to me that Mando himself keeps changing his outfit, but it's largely the same after the end of the first season. Sure, he swaps out parts, but still looks effectively the same. IG-11 has had several looks - his first appearance, partially exploded, a statue, a T-800 skeleton trying to kill Grogu, a mobility device for Grogu, and now this new version with new colors - and they all look surprisingly different. How toyetic! I am a little burned out on all of Hasbro's trooper variants, but for some (admittedly hypocritical) reason I'm still interested in deco changes on droids, or Han's jackets, or stuff like that. I would recommend checking this one out if you're a fan of the TV show. I would also recommend re-watching season 3 of The Mandalorian, because I found it held up nicely on a rewatch last year. I have no idea if he'll appear on the movie, but I'm not currently betting on it. I am, however, expecting Boba Fett might have a cameo.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,345: May 14, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,344: Imperial Droid (With Probe-Mate Hyperspace Pod, Droid Factory, Boxed)

IMPERIAL DROID with Probe-Mate Hyperspace Pod
Star Wars Droid Depot
Item No.: ???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: Droid, stand, pod
Action Feature: Removable dome
Retail: $29.99
Availability: August 2025
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: All different types of droids populate the Star Wars galaxy. Each droid is different and has their own unique personality and colors. These two were first featured in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. May the Force be with you... and your Droids! (Taken from the packaging. Wait... these two?)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: The Empire Strikes Back was released 46 years ago! This Imperial Droid would probably better known as a Probot or Imperial Probe Droid by most fans, but hey, that's what the box says. The main figure mold is the Viper Probe Droid [FOTD #2,980] from Obi-Wan Kenobi, released in 2022. I consider it to be a pretty good figure, and almost identical. Disney tweaked the silver highlights on the droid in a few spots, but they're largely very similar. It would seem the silver paint is much brighter, and the red is a little brighter, but otherwise? It's more or less the same figure. If you have one, you may not need the other. And I use the word "may" because the Kenobi Probe came with 3 other droid figures, and this The Empire Strikes Back Probe comes with what effectively amounts to the first all-new The Empire Strikes Back vehicle mold in over 15 years and the first all-new classic trilogy ship since - someone correct me if I forgot something - the Sail Barge. Yes, we really haven't had many new original trilogy-era vehicles from Hasbro in quite some time.

Is the droid the right size? It's hard to say - the measurements on Wookieepedia say 1.5-1.6 meters, which means about as tall as Leia, probably. But where you you measure from? The longest leg? Hover height? Do you count the antenna? It's hard to tell, and looking at behind-the-scenes photos frequently have the droid hovering, elevated on a stand, in front of other characters or actors making it difficult to get a straight comparison with a normal sized person. Hasbro has made their Probe Droids bigger, and fans tend to react strongly to "corrections" even if they're correct. Things like Han's jacket or Jabba's height seem obvious to some and beyond argument to others. For the sake of brevity, let's say it's close enough for jazz.

That last probe droid sold for $50 in a 4-pack, which was a pretty decent deal. Give or take inflation, let's say he'd be about $15 today, making the Probe-Mate Hyperspace Pod about $15 - an excellent price. For me to consider something worth about $20, it needs to be roughly Speeder Bike size. And it is! According to Wookieepedia, the hyperspace pod is about 3.4-3.5-meters long. The toy is about 7-inches long. Ballparking 3 3/4-inch scale figures as 1:18 scale, that means the pod is about the right size. Functionally, it's a little tight. The droid fits inside with his display stand, but the interior panels nudge the antenna. If the antenna could telescope, I'd say it's perfect - but it's not. I do not recommend storing your droid in the pod.

The pod itself is kind of remarkable. As a kid I could never make it out in the movie, as it was small and blurry. Looking at Jazwares' Micro Galaxy Squadron toy or Wookieepedia's image, it looks like it's closer to the latter. Is it right or wrong? Let's say it's good enough, as I don't have sufficient reference handy that I can recall. The toy is a base, a lid, and 5 identical fold-down panels. It's incredibly efficient, and you can see Disney has effectively made a whole ship out of 3 fairly simple parts that can be assembled by hand with no screws or fasteners. Is it cheap or brilliant? I'd say both. The light paint on the panel is really all I need, and while weathering would be nice I can't argue with the price. Even with the theme park mark-up, it's a decent ship and I don't know if a Hasbro equivalent would be under $50. The plastic feels nice, and it has a nice hollow "chonk" sound to it that reminds me of Kenner's old mini-rigs.

Would Hasbro be held to a higher standard? Probably, because fans expect too damn much and Hasbro really wants to sell top-of-the-line stuff. Disney seems to be going for more of a middle ground, and I'm thrilled to have an all-new Hoth figure-scale toy for the first time in decades. It's so rare to see anybody pull out a figure or especially a ship from the original trilogy that hasn't been done one or two (or 14) times, so I would say this was worth my while of calling in a favor so I could get it after missing the initial sale. I'm sure your model maker buddy could do a better job painting it, but for a theme park souvenir I couldn't ask for much more. Given the typical 3 3/4-inch figure at a store is $20, $30 is fine for something like this and I hope Hasbro considers making some slightly compromised but cheaper toys in the future. I don't need perfection - I just need something cool and fun.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Greg (hi Greg) who stopped by a Disney park to get me one in Spring 2026. It sold out online almost immediately, so thanks much for the help there.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,344: May 12, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,343: Marrok (The Vintage Collection)

MARROK We're #1 (or #3)
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch single figure
Item No.: Asst. G2786 No. G2616
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #386
Includes: Cape, lightsaber, lightsaber hilt
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: March 2026
Appearances: Ahsoka, Tales of the Empire, Maul: Shadow Lord

Bio: Fully encased in battle armor, the Inquisitor Marrok carries a red double-bladed lightsaber with a circular hilt. (Taken from the cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Marrok was kind of an interesting mystery in Ahsoka three years ago. He looked sort of like an armored black knight, he carried around Inquisitor lightsabers, and it seems he was made of gas. Or will be made of gas. As I write this, we just saw him on the cartoon Maul: Shadow Lord as another more or less generic bad guy. Since Rebels ended, the Inquisitors don't seem to have a lot of motivation other than "I am Marrok, and I like my job." Like many characters, it seems team Lucasfilm just want to keep people wearing the same clothes for 20 years worth of story. One thing we do know about him is that he seemingly exists after the Empire falls, while the rest of his peers seem to have been disposed of. Maybe the interesting story is still coming, because there sure seems to be something going on beyond "is menacing, wears black, and has a red lightsaber."

Weirdly, we got a Marrok from Ahsoka in Retro and Black Series, but not Vintage - so this is your stand-in. The colors aren't identical as his live-action costume has a little more dirt or rust plus some color on the buttons, but other than that? It's pretty much the same. Hasbro could probably repaint this for an Ahsoka product in the next year, or whenever that show will air. Articulation is standard for The Vintage Collection, with no extra flourishes in the shoulders. His rocker ankles made me realize the costume has pointy bits on his boots, plus he has armor hanging off his shoulders. The helmet still looks cool, and it still looks like it was made by a particularly skilled blacksmith. The cape is draped over his shoulder, and you can mount his hilt under it if you like.

 

The sculpting is good, and the joints are well-integrated into the armor. Hasbro is better and better at making the textures look different, so you'll notice the body suit sets itself off from the metal-looking armor. All of the pieces fit together well, with lots of movement in the mid-torso joint and the hips swing forward fully. If they ever make an appropriate vehicle, this guy should be able to pilot it easily. Sadly we're moving into the "adult collectible" phase (or "endgame," probably) of the hobby where an increased emphasis on high-endedness will probably make this sort of thing unlikely. It's a shame, this design is super cool and would be a lot of fun if it were treated more like a toy, what with the spinning double-bladed lightsaber on the show and everything.

I wouldn't not recommend this one. If you see it in stores, give it a look. It might go with the Shin Hati and Baylan Skoll figures you find at Ross. Hasbro did a really nice job with it, but like so many figures we're in an era where people are no longer super fixated on the new thing for very long. Or the old thing, because Disney is giving us so much new stuff that you might not ever be in a position to consider a rewatch of these fairly fun shows. Is it worth $20? Well, maybe. The secondary market prices on The Black Series Marrok are approaching $90 and The Retro Collection is still holding SRP. I assume this guy, barring overproduction on Hasbro's part, is something you'll want to pick up before it runs out.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,343: May 7, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,342: Poggle the Lesser (The Vintage Collection)

POGGLE THE LESSER Take Three
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch single figure
Item No.: Asst. F6878 No. G2602
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #391
Includes: Cane
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: March 2026
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Poggle the Lesser was a powerful figure within the Confederacy of Independent Systems, commanding hte droid armies that fought the Republic for control of Geonosis. (Taken from the single-figure packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Older fans like to dunk on the prequels, but they did a nice job there. The design work is amazing, with weird backstories and some genuinely great nomenclature. The sequels didn't top Poggle the Lesser, a bizarrely-named, strange-voiced, uses-his-rival's-leg-as-a-walking-stick antagonist from Attack of the Clones. Maybe he'd be more popular if Hasbro put out the figure in year one - we got our first basic figure in 2003 with a redeco in 2006. That means he's been off the market for about 20 years - so this is a good time to try again, now with knees, elbows, wrists, and other added articulation.

The 2003/2006 sculpt was very good, being based on digital assets and having all the wrinkly skin and intricate armor detail you might want - but it was still painted like a toy of its era. This new one has a bigger budget, with more detailing of the leather-like stuff covering his lower waist, more mottling in his beard, livelier eyes, and many - but not all - of the gems now painted. The turquoise bits were left unadorned, and the red gems seema little too bright, but otherwise? They did a nice job. The bug brooch looks good, the golden bangles are colored well, and the skin seems generally about as good as you can expect at this price point. I'm not sure if the vest color is quite right - but I'm not going to knock it. There are a lot of paint apps here and Hasbro did a great job making him feel a little more finished. Even the wings have a nice shimmer to them!

The sculpt is mostly great. The bug skin? Perfect. The clothing texture? Top-notch. The only parts I'm not fond of are the artistic decisions, which generally coincides with how I feel about most "collector" figures in general. The figure seems to have perfectly replicated a basic pose of a digital model. That's good, right? Mostly, yes. The problem is that it missed some key details or quirks that make the figure seem alive. If you look at the digital model from the movies, you'll notice the bangles around his wrists are sort of a cluttered, messy, jangly thing. The figure is tight and orderly. The figure stands upright with his head held high, and excellent posture. The movie character was something of a hunchback, with his Wookieepedia portrait tilting his head in a way the figure just can't do. They nailed the details, but this goes to show you that even a super-articulated figure needs work on its pose in order to give it the right personality. It's not bad. It's no worse than what we had before. But if Hasbro does Version 3.0 some day, I would recommend making him a little slouchier, a little messier, and generally more alive.

His one accessory is a cane, and it's also about as good as the last one. The movie model has some gold on the top, and a few cracks, and some weathering. This one is mostly clean except for some gold adornments. The sculpt is good, but it's a little too nice and clean. If this were still a $17 figure I'd have little reason to complain, but as we're at $20 and probably not that far off from $23, I want either a perfect figure or a cheap figure.

Articulation is very good, with the shoulders inset in his torso nicely. The hands move well, the feet rock a bit, and he has the knees, thighs, hips, and any other joints you might want. Thin-legged figures with unusual poses can dip and fall over with time, so the articulation is very welcome here as a correcting mechanism to the aging process. I suspect Poggle figures will slowly lurch forward over the years, so at least you can to in there and move the ankles and knees a bit rather than warp a single-piece leg. He's not going to sit in any vehicles, or probably at any war room tables, but at least he can stand as the manufacturer intended.

Hasbro did a great job on the craft, but I would like to see a slouchier, nervier pose if we ever see him again. Poggle the Lesser is an awesomely weird alien out of the George Lucas catalog, but he's not a being who you would say holds his head high. I think the final deco details - even with the missing turquoise - are a good choice as it looks more like he would on a red-tinted Geonosis or Mustafar. This is probably the very best Poggle the Lesser collectible of any kind you can buy today, and it's certainly one that's loaded with personality, jointed wings, and precious metals galore. If you have that 2002 Geonosis Arena playset, he'd love to hang out there. I assume I will not see a higher-grade 3 3/4-inch version of this figure, so I can recommend this one as the best figure you'll probably ever get. The amount of fine detailing here is impressive, and I imagine followed a style guide to the letter. Companies just need to start making messier figures that love drama.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,342: May 5, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,341: DD-BD (Droid Factory, Carded)

DD-BD New Mold, New Silhouette
Star Wars Droid Depot
Item No.: ???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: Collector card, TC-332 left arm
Action Feature: Removable dome
Retail: $19.99
Availability: April 2026
Appearances: Solo: A Star Wars Story

Bio: All different types of droids populate the Star Wars galaxy. Each droid is different and has their own unique personality and colors. This droid can be found in the mining operations control center of Kessel. Join DD-BD on their adventures throughout the galaxy. May the Force be with you... and your Droids! (Taken from the packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: The most exciting Star Wars figures are new ones. I have no snark for DD-BD, a brand-new admintech droid, from a brand-new mold, that doesn't look like anything else we've bought. Sure, the feet are not unlike a Power Droid, and yes, his design seems not unlike an Astromech. The figure stands about 3-inches tall, is cast mostly in white, and has silver, grey, and red painted elements. Is it as filthy as the photo or the movie design? No, they left off the grime but did keep a little weathering. It's very good.

My main complaint about The Vintage Collection has been fan acceptance of things like articulation over innovation, or fresh characters. I have no doubt fans will gripe that DD-BD has but only 3 points of articulation. The dome, and both legs, are capable of movement. And that's it. The dome swivels, and each leg can swing forward and backward. You can pop the dome off, but it doesn't swap particularly well with R2-units. Functionally, it's on par with anything you could've expected from the 1978-1998 Kenner reign with better sculpting and deco.

There isn't a lot of paint, but it's precise and generally crisp. Under the dome are a bunch of silver greeblies - nothing special here, nothing bad either. Outside, you have perfect rectangular red panels. Cables are painted silver or in a gunmetal gray. There is a very, very, very subtle amount of gray "weathering" around some of the panels that's hard to see in normal ambient lighting. The painted bolts and projectors look great, and the silver cap on his head has a hole in it for hats. I just put the rabbit ears on top, and they fit well. Glorious.

On the day this came in the mail, I overheard a fan in a collector shop railing against "bad figures" that don't have ankle joints. That just rankles me to no end. When it comes to troopers, or acrobatic heroes? I want a lot of articulation. When it comes to droids, or aliens that stand in one place or sit on a barstool? Just charge me a fair price for the quality of figure that was manufactured. I won't argue that $19.99 (plus $10 shipping, plus tax) is an eye-wateringly high price to pay for this figure. But, it's also new, and interesting, and unlike anything else I've bought from Hasbro, Kenner, or Disney over the past nearly five decades. If I'm going to pay a premium for something, it's going to be this.

I don't dislike super-articulated figures but I do loathe being bored. I have a lot of great figures that make me happy, and this build-a-TC-332 program is about 50% "cool" and 50% "UGH." I don't need another pink droid, or B2-EMO, or R5-K6. But I'm happy to buy CU-28, DD-BD, and soon R4-6D0. (BDX set, jury's still out.) If Disney - and hopefully Hasbro - are willing to innovate and bring us new things... REAL new things, not just "this guy you have, with ankles" I hope they continue to be rewarded with quick sell-throughs and hopefully reruns. Even if you have an axe to grind with the Disney era, you can't deny the creature and droid work in the current era of TV and movies hasn't been good. We used to rely on toys and guide books and trading cards to show off this amazing craftsmanship, but Disney seems to be tightening the reigns there. Thank goodness we got this guy, and I wouldn't be surprised if this winds up being my favorite figure of 2026. Not that Chalmun or Arleil Schous won't be good, but it's superbly rare that we get a completely new body type in this line - and the Wookiee uses Chewbacca parts, and Arleil stole Jod Na Nawood's pants. If you have the means, and you love droids, go get DD-BD and then tell Hasbro you also want more figures like this, too, lest Disney steal their lunch money.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Shop Disney. It sold out online within 90 minutes, so check theme parks for availability.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,341: April 30, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,340: Imperial Remnant Stormtrooper (Replaced shin and shoulder, The Vintage Collection)

IMPERIAL REMNANT STORMTROOPER (Shoretrooper Shin)
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Hasbro Pulse Exclusive 4-Pack
Item No.: No. G32115
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster pistol, blaster rifle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $67.99
Availability: April 2026
Appearances: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Bio: Figures inspired by the live-action Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu movie. (Taken from the web site description. They're really not trying hard for this movie.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: I wanted to grouse about the Imperial Remnant Stormtrooper four-pack, mostly because it only has one new body part and still has those same, old, tired hip joints and not the newer, better style we see on other figures. We've seen this mold reused for numerous movie troopers, video game troopers, TV troopers, and I would like to think that Hasbro would splurge for some retooling to make it perfect. Well, no dice. It's still very good, and for a standing-around figure it'll do. At $67.99 for four, though, you won't feel like you're getting a good deal anymore.

But, it is a good figure. I think these are wasted on being exclusives on a web site - ramshackle, mismatched troopers are the kind of thing you want to see in a store, on a card, with minor changes so you can buy a new one whenever you see one. Each one in the set has at least one distinctive armor element, so we'll look at them all in depth starting with this shoretrooper leg guy. He scrounged a brown bit of armor from the Rogue One era of trooper molds, while the rest of the figure stays more or less the same mold as previous releases. This is the best Hasbro 3 3/4-inch Stormtrooper mold you can get right now, and as far as I can tell, will continue to be for a while. It has the old, annoying hip joints (rather than the ball-and-socket ones) so you have to kind of dig in there to get it to pose or move. Everything else is more or less modern, with rocker ankles and bend-and-swivel wrists. The shoulders have a very good range of motion, and I was able to finagle a "walking/aiming" pose out of this guy without the use of a display stand. It's still a versatile mold, but it could be better. Other than including a holster, the figure's look is as good as we're going to get for a while - I'd just like to see better joints.

The helmet looks incredible, thanks in part to a very good level of filth. The dirt deco isn't just off-white, it feels like it went through some grime and the trooper didn't spend a lot of time polishing it. Clearly, the Imperial Remnant has never heard that you can wipe dirt off hard, smooth services and water spots on your faucets quite handily with used dryer softener sheets. (Thanks for the tip, Bobbi.) The fine detailing on the helmet is good, with black outlines that help the mouth pop. Maybe we'll see finer detailing someday, but at this size? Their heads are as good as we've ever seen, and the extra paint makes them feel so real I want to buy another set of these. The belt, the belly, each part pops nicely - but weirdly, that brown shin armor is pretty clean. This trooper also has a flourish on his shoulder, as you can see a little band there. I'm not sure if it's a mark of a prosthetic or just a scrounged droid part. Maybe we'll find out in the movie!

The set has six blasters - four more-or-less typical Stormtrooper blasters plus two long rifles. You can assign/lose as you see fit. I have this guy one regular blaster, and it lacks the silver paint mark or the scope we saw on some other variations. He looks great holding it, and the multi-jointed neck allows the figure to tilt his gaze down the scope. It's really nice.

I wish Hasbro could have kept the price down given they have more than made their money back on these molds, and the soft rubber outerpants weren't glued down on mine. They're gorgeous figures, and you'd probably pay a customizer more to dirty up your plain troopers at home. They're better than the previous Remnant dirty repaints by a fair margin, and the added new bits on 3 of the 4 figures make it interesting. I would not pout if Hasbro released these carded to big box stores if only to meet what I assume is a lot of quiet demand. People are going to want to buy these one or two at a time, and I assume they're less of an impulse buy at $68. Get these if you have the inclination, they're gorgeous and I love the specialized armor bits here.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,340: April 28, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,339: Funko Luke Skywalker (Bitty Pop! Arcade Display)

LUKE SKYWALKER Arcade Display
Bitty Pop! Mini Figure with Display
Item No.: No. 85545
Manufacturer: Funko
Number: n/a
Includes: Tiny figure in tiny box with 2 3/4-inch scale arcade cabinet
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: ??? 2025
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Insert Bitty Pop! into arcade display. Bitty Pop! box fits under Bitty Pop figure. (Taken from the cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: I've written thousands of reviews, so sometimes I need to write about something because I feel like it. Bitty Pop! Arcade Display Luke Skywalker is part of a series with Ninja Turtles, Tron, X-Men, and other little arcade cabinets. They are a little small for 3 3/4-inch figures, but line up with full-size Pop! Vinyl, Playmobil, 2 3/4-inch Glyos, and other slightly smaller-bodied figures. I suppose if you imagine they're like the Arcade 1-Up scaled-down cabinets they've been selling in Walmart, they could be 3 3/4-inch scale. They just need a riser. The cabinet mold seems to be the same for all figures, with new deco. The art doesn't match any real Star Wars game art, as it's a lot more subdued. The real deal from Atari was a brighter affair, and I assume there were art licensing issues. (Ask anyone who's ever licensed a Konami game about box art licensing!)

For arcade cabinet collectors, it looks more or less normal with coin slots and convex Suzo-Happ style buttons. I don't recognize the stick - it's not like most American bat-top sticks, or most Japanese ball-top sticks. It's a mushroom, and I don't think that's a thing on coin-op machines. If nothing else, nobody can sue them for patent infringement. I would have gone with a red stick top and red buttons, but hey, I'm not on the Funko payroll. Maybe there's significance here.

The figure itself is pretty interesting. Luke stands about an inch high, and has blocks of paint to represent pixels. It's more cutesy than accurate, but fans' eyesight might appreciate the exaggerated cheeks and the square pixels over the round, very-not-8-bit eyes. The errant darker blue pixel on the lightsaber made me smile. Luke has no articulation to speak of, but he does have a tiny black plastic box in addition to the cabinet. If you want to store him in an itty bitty Funko box, you can do that. You can also swap in other Bitty figures in the cabinet.

I mostly write about figures from the perspective of someone who has been buying this stuff for decades, who has many figures, and gripes when a new scale comes out. This item grabbed me because it was something else - it appeals to my interest in video games, pixel things, and tiny replicas of video game stuff. For eight bucks, the value proposition was pretty good and I'd recommend checking these out as diorama elements or as collectibles unto themeselves. It's not amazing, it has no real articulation, and it will not change your life. But it's cool, and I got into toys because I was a kid and I like fun things that make me happy. This one works. Order one online, or check the Funko section of big red big box store. It might not be for you, but it spoke to me and it's under eight bucks. I'm willing to try something new if it's not priced to drain my wallet, so I appreciate what Funko did here.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,339: April 23, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,338: Airborne Clone Trooper (212th Battalion, The Vintage Collection)

AIRBORNE CLONE TROOPER (212th Battalion)
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Walmart Exclusive 2-Pack
Item No.: Asst. G2786 No. G2621
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #399
Includes: Blaster pistol, blaster rifle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: March 2026
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: On Clone Commander Cody's orders, the 212th battalion's specially trained clone paratroopers searched - to no avail - for their missing commander, Obi-Wan Kenobi. (Taken from the cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Walmart now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: Sometimes I see a set, hold my nose, and order it anyway. Not because it's bad - but because I wasn't disappointed in what I have at home. This Airborne Clone Trooper (212th Battalion) is a newer, skinnier, debatably improved version of a 30th Anniversary Collection figure from 2007. The 2007 one had vibrant orange coloring, a removable helmet, battle damage, and even a hidden blaster inside his pouch. It even had a coin, and it was $6.99 (about $11 adjusted for inflation.) Even at the time, that was a really good price. This figure stands well, physically and on its own merits. Having said that, the 2007 one was so good, you might not feel compelled to upgrade. I would not argue if you felt that way.

This new figure was about $20 (in a 2-pack that cost $40). It has no removable helmet, two blasters (one is different), and no battle damage. The new ankles rock better, the helmet pivots better and is a bit more appropriately sized, the waist joint is better, and the wrists move well. The elbow cuts? They're better too. It's much easier to pose this new version, but what's kind of vexing is the part count isn't that much different from the original, much cheaper toy. I prefer the new cloth kama piece to the plastic original, though, so there's that.

I liked the coloring of the original release a little more, mostly because it just popped. The white is a little duller, and the orange is a little paler this time. All the rank markings are where they were last time, though, but the color drift over 20 years means your 212th attack battalion figures likely won't all match any more.

Hasbro's 2027 figure isn't bad, so my grumpiness comes mostly from my satisfaction of the old figure, what with its banged-up black marks and weathered armor, being a perfectly good, much cheaper toy. With a coin. That 2007 figure costs about the same as this new one, and if you ask me which one you should buy? It's a hard choice. I like the coin a lot from 2007, but I think most fans will prefer the soft goods kama and improved range of articulation on the otherwise very similar joints. For 18 years, it doesn't feel like the massive leaps we saw from 1978 to 1998, or even 2002 to 2007. We do see some massive leaps forward with some of our human likenesses and every all-new, never-before-made figure tends to look amazing. It's just when we already have one at home (or in a storage unit) it can be tough to really hold up a higher-priced remake as a beacon of awesomeness, even if it is very nicely executed. If Hasbro included the battle damage, a removable helmet, and a pouch blaster, I'd say this would be clearly a superior figure... but as it stands, I'm having more fun with the 30th Anniversary Collection incarnation. It's a better toy, this is a better figure adults can use to try to impress each other.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Walmart. I got mine online, but I was surprised to see this in multiple stores. I was less surprised to see this set ripped open with the Clone stolen. Arizona gonna Arizona.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,338: April 21, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,337: CU-28 (Droid Factory, Carded)

CU-28 Old Mold, New Droid
Star Wars Droid Depot
Item No.: ???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: Collector card, TC-332 head
Action Feature: Comes apart
Retail: $19.99
Availability: February 2026
Appearances: The Mandalorian

Bio: All different types of droids populate the Star Wars galaxy. Each droid is different and has their own unique personality and colors. This droid can be found in the office of the Magistrate of Nevarro. Join CU-28 on their adventures throughout the galaxy. May the Force be with you... and your Droids! (Taken from the packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: A Star Wars toy that's educational? You'll find out how valuable your science classes are when you pick up CU-28 and if your reaction is "Oh, the scientific symbol for Copper and its number on the Periodic Table of Elements!" or "more like see you next Tuesday am I right?" (Kids, don't ask your parents.) CU-28 is a redeco of GS-C1B [FOTD #3,254], which we got about a year ago as part of a The Book of Boba Fett figure four-pack. That figure was in a set with four figures for $45. This one figure costs $20, and after shipping and tax is about $33. That's inflation for you.

While the prop costume has a couple of raised dots on the chest, the figure is smooth - and otherwise pretty accurate. This is one I'll call "good enough!" I don't assume Hasbro will give us one, given their allergy to droids and aliens, so you can take it from me that this is the best one we'll likely ever get. The copper-colored paint doesn't justify the higher price, but it pads it a bit. The figure was molded in copper plastic, but this finish makes it look a lot better. It's not vac-metal, but again, it's about as good as we're going to get. The green eyes match the show, and the finish is about as good as anything else we've got on a recent Star Wars figure. The wires on the belly look pretty good, too. Unlike GS-C1B, there aren't a lot of other highlights on his chassis - it's just a clean penny, it always comes back to you. Don't curse him for his nature, don't bless him for his wrongs.

For a figure whose parts most likely date back to the 2009-era build-a-droid with modifications, it's pretty good. It's also absurd how many very old molds are still in development (with no price cuts) after all this time. Currently, the secondary market prices for a single CU-28 are silly - $50 or more. I don't think it's worth it, but some people sell bundles/lots of 2 or more droids averaging $30 each. That, I would say, is fair/what I had to pay. It's not a bargain. It's not good. But it's as good as you're going to get for a bright, distinctive robot action figure that I am actually not complaining about owning. Nothing is more exciting than a new character, or a distinctive new costume.* Get this one if you can.

* - ...except Kenner-style Retro figures. Those are the best.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Shop Disney. It sold very quickly.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,337: April 16, 2026