Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,388: Geonosian Warrior (Vested The Vintage Collection)

GEONOSIAN WARRIOR (No wings, 2 per box)
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Hasbro Pulse Exclusive Action Figure Set
Item No.: No. G3213
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Sonic Blaster, duplicate figure, 2 additional figures with wings
Action Feature: Blaster
Retail: $67.99
Availability: September 2026
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Referred to by clone troopers as “bugs” throughout the franchise, these Geonosian drones first appeared in the second film of the prequel trilogy. (Stolen from Hasbro Pulse's marketing copy.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: I was on the fence about skipping this set, mostly because Hasbro gave us two great Geonosian figures already - but these did have something new to offer. Sure, the engineering and digital sculpt of these silver-armored Geonosian Warrior (no wings) figures are more or less the same as their winged companions... and similar to the Picador and Poggle the Lesser. But as far as I recall, this specific costume does not exist anywhere else in the Hasbro 3 3/4-inch line. I also didn't remember seeing it in guide books. I had to go to the movie to find this specific costume, and they were in the grandstands. This makes the figure unique in that it is both new, and potentially just different enough to make you mad. The Picador and these guys have pretty much the same build, the same head, the same body, but different hands, armor, and accessories. (And in some cases, wings.) They're not wildly different looking, which is good because they match the movies. But it does make me wish George Lucas and team made some a little greener, some a little browner, and just mixed them up visually a bit. (Heck, maybe they did and we'll find out the lighting made it hard to tell.)

It's easy to forget that back in 2002 - 24 years ago - we got our first playset of the Geonosis Arena. It was pretty big, and you could connect smaller add-on pieces to it. I'd love to see Hasbro do more sets just like it, because it was a great idea - and it's the best place for this figure to hang out. With the HasLab Gunship you could probably buy a few, get some sand, and set up a big battle on a table in a room in your house... and that would set you back thousands of dollars on top of the extra room you probably don't have. As such, the main customer for these figures are likely to be fans in their 30s and 40s that liked the prequels and still have that old playset. It got kind of expensive when you weren't looking. There aren't a ton of vehicles for these guys either, nor are there grandstands to fill as of yet. (Honestly, I was expecting there to be some sort of build-an-arena playset this year rather than the Orray, but the Orray is a more fun item.) But I digress. Let's talk bugs.

 

I was not remotely excited about this figure until I opened the box. I got the set to get free shipping on another order - and it was probably worth it. I like the distinctive vest-like armor that also looks like coveralls. The armor texture detail was very nicely sculpted, and I was surprised to see multiple metallic deco hits. There are little gold bits, and a larger brass-like patch over the groin. I was surprised to see painted gold rivets on the back of the figure, mostly because it was something I would have costed out on account to it likely never being noticed. Well, I noticed, kudos to you Hasbro. Some white elements are also painted. Is it true to the movie? Good question - it's hard to find good reference, so I'm going to say it looks fairly close to the scenes I eyeballed and it's interesting unto itself as a costume.

The clothes make the main - naked Geonosians had little impact on collecting, and that's most of what we got back in 2002 and 2003. They were based on earlier maquettes, while these new guys have the benefit of being modeled after nearly two and a half decades of looking back. I love the skin textures, and there are some nice colors too. The back of the figure's tail or abdomen - I don't know biped bug anatomy - has some brown on it, setting it apart and highlighting the various sculpted bands. The figure has a nice pivoting waist which is obscured but not hindered by the armor, and he has the same range of motion of the aforementioned Picador. You get swivel thighs, ball-jointed hips, rocker ankles, and just so many moving parts that it's almost overkill. Hasbro did a great job making what could well be the last Geonosian mold you'll ever need, and while I could say "swappable hands would be nice" I'd never make use of them. The closed right hand can hold the blaster, the open left hand can cradle it. It's one of the biggest opened hands I've ever seen at this scale, which is necessary because even this smaller sonic blaster is still pretty big compared to Republic issue firearms.

It's rare that Hasbro can make a figure and use the same mold for multiple releases but change out the armor and say "it's a new guy." (Ewoks, maybe Wookiees?) I'm sure it's a great cost-saving species, and this one has a fairly decent size sonic blaster. The first one we got in 2002 really could fire, and also was huge. This one will no doubt appear smaller, but it's a bit closer to the right size. I htink it's a tad small but that's also fine by me, it doesn't make the figure topple over and Hasbro did a nice job painting it. It's molded in gold with some dark brown around the barrel and the signature green inside. It's a good accessory. Most reference photos show them firing the blaster left-handed, which these figures can't do, but it's not like we can do much about it. If Hasbro ever does a carded variant someday, it might be nice to swap the CAD files' orientation and see if they can make them in the opposite stance.

If you're a prequel completist, you need this set - this is a new trooper costume that you don't have from a previous release. That makes it notable, because it's very rare that I can pick up a figure and say "this is new, actually." At $68 for 4 or $17 each, it is not a bargain. You don't get extra hands or gear or hats like you did with Embo, and there aren't unique paint jobs on each troop like we got with the Remnant Troopers from The Mandalorian and Grogu. The set has 2 each of 2 different styles of figure, and it's not obvious that you don't already have them. If you need every version of every alien, you need this. If you don't have the recent Picador or Sun Fac, I'd recommend this set to augment your existing bug clans. But if you don't like the prequels at all? You probably haven't made it this far. This is a good use of the troop box format, and it's always nice to get something new from the actual films.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,388: October 13, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,387: R2-D2 (D-Squad, Droid Factory)

R2-D2 (D-Squad)
Star Wars Droid Factory
Item No.: ???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: Card, RX base
Action Feature: Comes apart
Retail: $19.99
Availability: September 2026
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: All different types of droids populate the Star Wars galaxy. Each droid has their own unique personality and colors. This droid served Colonel Meebur Gascon and the droid unit D-Squad to infiltrate a Separatist Dreadnought. Join R2-D2 on his 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: Figures like this show a depth of fanaticism, an attention to detail, and a sign that someone probably should stop me from having a credit card. R2-D2 (D-Squad) is a figure I've been anticipating for a while, but I was not expecting it to be a theme park exclusive, nor $20, nor actually $33 after tax and shipping. I assumed Hasbro might put out an R2-D2 with swappable legs, or maybe we'd see a decal kit, or something. There are other differences on this R2-D2 from previous Disney releases, but the important thing to remember is that scene from the movie Mystery Men where Mr. Furious is spun around during a slow-motion costume reveal that while his outfit seems to be unchanged, they did in fact add flames to the back where you can't see them. And if that reference means anything to you: good, you're in the right place.

The main reason to buy this set is if you liked the D-Squad episodes of The Clone Wars. I very much liked those episodes, as they were super weird and actually just kept throwing weird and fun ideas against the wall in a story that I doubt we would see as creators are increasingly scared of fans. It looks like Disney has at least 3 of the 4 astromechs planned for the line this year, and I wouldn't be surprised to see group filled out by the 50th anniversary. The gist of the episode is this: the Republic puts R2-D2, a tiny frog Walter Matthau, and four other droids on a mission to blow up other droids. Upgrades from a mad scientist are doled out to each astromech, and you can tell where they are by some black and red caution marks - that's what makes this R2-D2 interesting. He got some upgraded rockets. Did Disney include rocket legs in the set? No. There's no new tooling here, it's the same basic R2-D2 mold you've bought as R2-D2 and possibly hundreds of other robots by now. What makes it unique is that R2-D2 from Disney rarely has the foot wires - this one has them.

Deco is similar but not identical to other releases. The greeblies are frequently painted this time, so when you look on the dome's holographic projector or that long, rectangular bar on the back you will find them filled with black paint. The little dots over the red dot on the back are painted, but interestingly the panel to its left is left silver. Usually it's painted in blue, and it's worth noting nearly every panel is painted more cleanly and centered than previous recent releases. I should also note, that unpainted silver panel on the back seems to be par for t he course for most prop photos - but for all I know it's a Mandela Effect thing and I need to see if it changes from movie to movie. Depending on how persnickety you are about details, this sort of thing might be very appealing to you until you start doing the math of "my cartoon droid in realistic style is more movie accurate in some ways but lacks the dirt and grime of the cartoon." Pobody's nerfect.

With a rich silver paint on the dome, and sadly a lack of metallic shine in the blue on said dome, this is a pretty good figure. If you don't have an R2-D2 - and is that even possible - this is a perfectly good one. I wish they retained the "action feature" just because that seems like something I'd go nuts for as a child, and I have a weird fondness for black and yellow caution tape and coloring on toys. Was it worth $30? Not really. Would it have been worth $20 at the theme park? Probably, but after I paid for parking it'd be $30. The mouse demands the $30 sacrifice, and I think this is one of those things that's more of an emotional need to complete D-Squad than it is to have a particularly fresh R2-D2. It's good. They did a nice job. It is not exceptional, nor was it a good deal. I assume we will some day see a D-Squad gift set, because it's what I would have made. If you live in a future where such a thing exists, get it unless you really, really need a red RX droid's foot.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,387: October 8, 2026

 

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,386: Bodhi Rook (The Vintage Collection)

BODHI ROOK Now with More Joints
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch basic figure
Item No.: Asst. F6878 No. G2608
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #403
Includes: Clear goggles, blaster with strap, backpack
Action Feature: Cable unwinds from backpack
Retail: $19.99
Availability: August 2026
Appearances: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Bio: A former Imperial pilot, Bodhi has strong piloting and technical skills that he will use for the Rebellion. (Taken from the cardback. This same bio was used for the 2017 figure.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Maybe it's because I'm old, but I wasn't super thrilled to hear we were getting a new Bodhi Rook mostly because I was pretty happy with the one I had. And I also spent very little time building out Rogue One as a collection. Hasbro hasn't really brought many new 3 3/4-inch characters or costumes to the table in years, other than a new Scarif Shoretrooper variant and a droid. They've gone back and redone some figures - like Bodhi - which is great for new collectors and arguably good for those who weren't happy with the first ones. Hasbro's The Black Series version of the pilot is selling for about half price on Amazon these days, so you might be wondering if a new 3 3/4-inch version is worth paying more for than the 6-inch one or replacing your original kid toy Bodhi Rook. I'm here to say: probably, but I was surprised the backpack seems to be the same as the old kid one.

Hasbro made a very nice 3 3/4-inch Basic Bodhi Rook [FOTD #2,337] way back in early 2017. What's interesting is that I noticed some details at the time were a little rough, particularly the beard paint - but Hasbro painted the zipper on the vest back then. This new one? Not painted. I noticed the sculpted detail was quite good in the 2017 version, and seemed generally pretty sharp. Despite coming from what seems to be the same digital model used for the 6-inch and 3 3/4/-inch figures, this new one seems a bit softer in spots. The original bluer jumpsuit has more wrinkles and more personality, with sleeves that were a little too long and pockets on his pants that just seemed more believable. However, 2017 Bodhi didn't have the patches around his wrist painted, nor did he have silver paint on the thing in his front pocket. So when it comes to deco, I'd say the new 2026 model is better overall but I do have to wonder why they left off the silver buckles and zippers unpainted.

The new head is better. No arguments there. The beard didn't look good in 2017, so the new digital printing brings his glossy eyes to life and his stubble down to a more realistic levels. (It could be darker, but it's fine.) The eyes are perfect, and the hair looks good - if a little lighter. I think the eyebrows could be thicker, but that's a recurring comment lately. His hair sculpt has a tad more detail this time, but is probably derived from the same CAD files as before. The skin color is a little different, but I wouldn't say either is better in that department. The old one looked fine, and this new one also looks good.

One big departure is his goggles. The original kid figure had them molded to his face - and they looked great. But the color was wrong. The new one has all-clear goggles (oddly, including the strap) and I think it works. It looks fine at this small size.

His blaster has an added strap to it, which is nifty and changes up the personality of the figure and the accessory. I like this, good call Hasbro. The previous versions in both sizes had the blaster, but no strap.

His backpack seems the same as the previous kid one. Not exactly the same, but close enough. The color is almost identical, the painted detail seems the same, and all the wrinkles and textures match. For all I know, they reused the old mold. It looks like cuts are in the same place and the only real significant difference I could see is that the 2017 backpack has partially twisted straps, and heck if I know if that's in the mold or just the plastic bending over time. You can pull the string out of both, and crank it back in. It works nicely.

So which one is better? This new one. But not completely. The new figure's vest doesn't seem removable, so you can't swap it with the old one that has the better paint job unless you rip off his limbs first. (I'm not doing that.) The new blaster is better. Both backpacks are the same. The new head and goggles are better. Overall, the new one is superior but if you're happy with your 2017 $7 model, it's not like we have had any new playsets or ships to go with this guy. If prices were equal - and today, they're close - I'd recommend a fan with no Bodhis just to buy the Vintage one. The joints are nice, and if they ever made a HasLab of the "Rogue One" cargo ship you'd want this figure to pilot it. His joints are best in class, with elbows that bend more than 90 degrees and wrists that swivel and bend nicely. Hasbro did a bang-up job engineering this guy's joints, and that is what most fans are wanting to pay for these days. Me, I just want a tiny icon/avatar of a figure to put in ships and on shelves. This is why I'm less excited about him, despite the fact that he is excellent.

Collecting Star Wars figures trades on your ability to accept "good enough," or if you're chasing "perfect" figures over time. I was disappointed this new figure didn't have the zipper or painted metal bits on the vest, and I would hope and expect a new figure to utterly replace my old ones. This one gets there almost all of the way, so I guess the big question I have for you is "how badly do you want to keep your $20?"

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,386: October 6, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,385: RA-7 (Silver Droid Factory)

RA-7 PROTOCOL DROID Silver
Star Tours Droid Factory Customizable Figure
Item No.: ???
Manufacturer: Disney?
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: Removable limbs
Retail: $12.95
Availability: April 2017
Appearances: n/a 

Bio: The RA-7 protocol droid, also known as the RA-7 inventory droid, the RA-7 series protocol droid, the "insect droid" due to its large photoreceptors, and nicknamed the "Death Star droid" due to its use aboard the first Death Star, was a model of protocol droid manufactured by Arakyd Industries. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's photo lab. 

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: Another guy sitting in a box, this RA-7 Protocol Droid (Silver) is basically a nod to the Kenner Death Star Droid, or MB-RA-7, or the Sandcrawler droid, or whatever does it for you. It uses a mold Disney has done in a few different colors, and this color shows more of the generation loss and/or artistic license. As far as we've seen so far, you can get in blue, silver, or black.

This one wasn't a remake of Hasbro's mold. Disney added jointing more consistent with the C-3PO molds around 2008, so you get ankles and swivel wrists and better elbow movement. That's good! The mold itself is a little bit less detailed. The mouth doesn't look quite right, the chest detail isn't a perfect match. If you have a big collection and could imagine that this is Sega to Nintendo, Pepsi to Coke, Tyco Super Blocks to LEGO, The Corps to G.I. Joe, I think it works. Just to have as a guy to populate your droid ranks, it's fine - but do we really need more at this point? I'm feeling the answer there is "no." Or at least, not without new places to populate.

You could toss this one in your Disney Sandcrawler or really any diorama you please. The midriff is painted black with brightly painted wires, and the eyes are a glossy black. Everything else is unpainted, so this must have been dirt cheap to produce without real packaging.

I wouldn't consider it a crucial addition to any collection, but maybe you will. I think for many fans, the Death Star Droid [FOTD #2,861] with the extra dirt and black bits is the go-to definitive take on this design - at least for right now. And that came out in 2021, with a much older mold. As it's pretty cheap, I'd recommend that any new fan go get that one. There's a bit more painted detail, a better forehead sculpt, more going on in the mouth, and it has a few details on the chest lacking in Disney's release. Obviously you go get whatever works for you, but Disney's take is rare and expensive. Hasbro's is your best bet, at least until something better or chrome-r comes along.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Disney Hollywood Studios. Thanks Shannon!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,385: October 1, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,384: Anakin Skywalker (Ewok Village Spirit, The Vintage Collection)

ANAKIN SKYWALKER Mail-Away or POTF2 Style
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch basic figure
Item No.: Asst. F6878 No. G2610
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #405
Includes: Cloth robes
Action Feature: Removable robes
Retail: $19.99
Availability: August 2026
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: On Endor, Anakin watched over Luke and his friends Yoda and Obi-Wan as they celebrated the galaxy’s new freedom . (Taken from the cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: We haven't received a new version of this particular iteration of Anakin Skywalker in quite a while. It's kind of a strange one to explain, but here goes. Back in the 1980s, Kenner had this Spirit of Anakin Skywalker as its last mail-away figure - carded samples were scarce. In the USA, it came on a coin card Power of the Force package while overseas, it was a trilogo Return of the Jedi cardback. The figure had grey robes which did a surprisingly decent job of conjuring the image of a blue-tinged apparition in an era before "clear blue" was a real consideration. We got an attempt to update this figure as Anakin Skywalker (Jedi Spirits) [FOTD #3,317] last year, and it got pretty close except for the sheer negligee Jedi robes. This figure in opaque plastic with brown robes is meant to recall the original 1980s carded figure, but does so by giving us a figure in non-toy colors, on a cardback style that hasn't previously existed. But I'm a stickler for such things and it is baffling to me that Hasbro isn't doing Power of the Force cardbacks, even if they had to swap out the coin with a POG for cost reasons.

But how is the figure? Fine, more or less. It's very similar to the 1999 Flashback Photo Anakin Skywalker [FOTD #7]. That figure makes a very compelling argument for the plastic robe - sure, this new one hangs fine, but the plastic one hangs with intention. Anakin's movie shot and previous figures always have it fairly open so you can see the robes on his torso, while this one is packaged with it wrapped closed. If anything, it just makes an argument to rerelease the figure in Retro if you want to eventually get the original 92 (let's be honest, 116) remade. Once removed from the cardback, 2026 Anakin can be posted to look acceptably. But I still prefer the legs-can't-move 1984 and 1996 versions in terms of functionality (it's one of few figures that has no need to sit or be posed) and how it looks on a shelf. The new likeness seems to be more like the cardback than the actor, but hey, why not. It's what people probably remember. If the eyebrows were a smidgen darker, I'd say this head is probably difficult if not impossible to improve upon. Also, Sebastian Shaw was 78 in Return of the Jedi with Darth Vader being around 46. As a kid, you probably didn't think anything of how old the old Jedi looked, but if you're reading this feature you might be older than that today. And you don't look that old.

The figure's new robes are of a better material and cut than the Spirit version. The clear blue see-thru mesh was just plain not appropriate for the purpose, and this one blocks you from seeing what's under the robe. That's good! It has a hood, and the cut is fairly clean. I think this is an accessory Hasbro could improve on a future release, as there were some signs of folding and rumpled-ness that we just plain don't get - or possibly can't get - with a cloth piece at this size.

While the figure itself is very good with rocker ankles, bend-and-swivel wrists, and everything you expect from a $20 figure, these joints are kind of a waste of expenses. The robes restrict a bit of movement, and the lower plastic robes restrict all movement. Fans would sometimes deride figures from being a chess piece, but you know what? For a few figures, that's a more sensible and cost-effective way to make a figure. We never see Sebastian Shaw Anakin do much other than move his head - so why pay for layers of plastic robes and joints you won't see and not use? (To charge you $20 for what could have been a really good $10 figure, of course.)

I prefer this figure to the blue robed ghost version, and will probably keep the Hayden head on the Spirit from now on.

The question of super articulation versus not, or Vintage versus Retro, is normally one of taste - but like with Andor Mon Mothma, I think there really is a case to be made from not-premium figure assortments. R2-D2 3 3/4-inch? Not premium. A Jawa? Not premium. This Anakin? It is premium - but unlike other Jedi, you get no lightsaber, no hilt, no swappable hands. Really, this figure exists to remain carded or to go on a display shelf of some sort, so you will not benefit from the extra engineering here. I recommend this as a neat carded figure, particularly for those putting together a modernized set of the original line. This is very much the figure I would want on my Endor display if we ever got (or I ever 3D print) a new Ewok Village. But if I ever want to fuss with a Sebastian Shaw Anakin figure, I'm going to the POTF2 version or the mail-away from when I was a kid. This new one's ankles and robes are easily knocked out of whack, and the simpler 20th century figures more or less get the job done just fine. TVC 405 a much more impressive take on those old figures, but sometimes impressive isn't what makes for the best action figure. And it may be bias talking, but I prefer the old mail-in one overall. The gray robes were a creative way to make a Jedi Spirit and I wouldn't mind seeing them rerelease Obi-Wan and Yoda in similar colors to match it. (Yes I know about Stan Solo's spirits. No he did not use the right molds for the job.)

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth. Two cases of Vintage showed up at the exact same time, which seems like overkill in a light year - I wish they spread these out a bit more.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,384: September 29, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,383: Embo (The Vintage Collection)

EMBO Live-Action Debut
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch basic figure
Item No.: Asst. G2786 No. G2623
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #406
Includes: Hat, bowcaster, alternate hands two bowcaster chunks
Action Feature: Removable hat
Retail: $19.99
Availability: August 2026
Appearances: Star Wars: The Mandorian and Grogu

Bio: The bowcaster-wielding Embo is a lethal warrior and seasoned bounty hunter tracking prey since before the Clone Wars. (Taken from the cardback. And despite it being from a new movie in a movie year, that is a fabulous, useful bio that isn't the movie's log line so good job everyone.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: I almost want to bet you money that Embo was designed as a "deluxe" figure. And it's kind of a back-handed compliment. Hasbro overdid it here, which is good if money is no object and probably not great in terms of efficiency. Maybe the tools were set up that all the extra parts were easy to include at minimal extra cost, but and extra set of hands - with wrist hinges - on a basic The Vintage Collection figures? A two-piece bowcaster? Soft goods? Extra I guess bowcaster pieces that you can use to club someone over the head with? There's a lot here. Comparing him to other deluxe figures, there's actually a bit more going on here - so I assume the "deluxe" ones may be sold in sold cases separately due to popularity. I do not understand why Baze Malbus got the distinction instead of Embo, though, there just seems to be more going on here (and the character was already expensive on eBay thanks to his 2010 cartoon figure [FOTD #1,390].

Lucasfilm seems very interested in keeping many of its characters in the same clothes for decades. The Clone Wars Embo has the same wrap around his waist, the same gloves, the same bowcaster, the same hat, the same armor, even the same (presumably) Beskar-toed boots as his appearances decades earlier. We saw the same with Fennec Shand and some other characters. At least Boba Fett was given the dignity of an occasional change of clothes! Hasbro did a good job with both figures, translating the saturated, brightly-colored cartoon Embo to a wonderful figure and doing the same again this year with the realistic, desaturated version. I kind of prefer the previous version only because the eyes have darker rings, the skin is a lighter grey, and the cloth parts of the outfit have more painted details on them. They're both excellent, but clearly they're two versions of the same guy in the same costume.

Hasbro's Vintage figures adds extra hands - I think this might be overkill. The defauly hands are too small to hold the bowcaster, but the alternate ones are more open with a separated trigger finger. They work much better with the bowcaster and with the bowcaster's bow part tonfa things. I'm really not sure why Hasbro would spend the money on an extra set of samey hands, which aren't functionally better than the trigger hands, particularly given that paint and assembly are required. It certainly adds to the premium feel of the $19.99 figure - which is absolutely necessary unless Hasbro plans on giving the line a price cut. But if Hasbro left out the hands and clubs, I would not have missed them. The two-part bowcaster easily fits in the larger, open hands but do take note that the bow is connected by a couple of pegs and is easily knocked off. Take care to not lose it. The black plastic bowcaster is completely unpainted.

The figure has extra gear on his person, including a removable hat - famous for being a shield, a weapon, and a fashion choice. It's very much like the cartoon version, but it seems to actually have slightly less detail. The cartoon figure has deeper sculpted panels and brighter browns on top, making it a better match for that figure's style. This hat better matches this figure. It fits in his hands so he can be posed like he's going to "throw" it.

The detail on the figure itself is quite good, with decent textures befitting a CGI character in an era where digitally sculpted toys are less likely to have deep groves and exaggerated cuts that show off the detail. It's flatter, in duller colors, and not terribly dynamic. It is, however, true to the movie and looks as good as what we saw (well, I saw) on what is now officially the worst performer on the big screen. The body design is really something because it's thin and tall in ways that would be difficult for a human, so it gives him a distinct silhouette while also not seeming out of place with your other aliens. You could probably have him hang out in the cantina or Jabba's palace without seeming too far from belonging there.

Articulation is great. He has a separately molded scarf around his neck, and the head can move just fine in there. The hips have a great range of movement, as do the knees, ankles, wrists, and just about everything. There is not much about this figure that you wouldn't have found on another existing figure, but it comes together pretty nicely and it actually feels like this wave is where Hasbro spent the extra money we're paying them. No 3 3/4-inch figure feels like a steal at $20, but this one feels like one of the better ones at the price point. Give it a look if you can find it, new "movie" aliens are far and few between. My only real gripe about the figure is that it doesn't make a radical departure from the prequel-era costume, and I would like to think I'd change my clothes after a couple of decades. Admittedly, maybe I haven't.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth. Two cases of Vintage showed up at the exact same time, which seems like overkill in a light year - I wish they spread these out a bit more.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,383: September 24, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,382: Garindan (The Retro Collection)

GARINDAN (Kenner Flavor)
The Retro Collection Target Exclusive 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure Set
Item No.: No. G2554
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, communicator, soft goods shawl
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $64.99
Availability: July 2026
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Rediscover the classics with The Star Wars Retro Collection - inspired by the Kenner originals! (Stolen from the marketing copy. Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: One of the few aliens I would say felt missing from the original Kenner Star Wars line was Garindan. This has nothing to do with design or relative cool-ness, but this guy was an actual antagonist that ratted Luke and pals out to the Empire. He did something. I like Snaggletooth and Hammerhead a lot, but it's weird that Kenner skipped the character that metal miniature makers would make, even without a license. But Kenner also skipped Peter Cushing for 20 years, around the same time we got a Garindan.

I don't really have any complaints here. I wasn't sure about it when I first saw the renders, but the actual figure is quite nice. The whole set makes me extremely happy, except Wedge is a little mid. You could just stop reading here, there is no reason for me to write so much about Garindan. Garindan is good and feels a bit more modern in spots.

 Since I can't quite make out precisely where they drew their inspiration for each element of the costume, I find the pastiche to be charming and worthwhile. If I want a theoretically more accurate one, Hasbro Pulse has me covered - this is someone trying to make a 1980s figure, and largely succeeding. If I want something that looks like someone shrugged after getting a look at the movie and a couple of stills (and I do), this is it. If I had to nitpick and give it a running change, I'd ask Hasbro to make the nose grayer and lenses darker. That's it. If the shirt was bright blue or otherwise wacky it'd be a solid fit for the 1970s, but the earth tones feel like a 1980s or 1990s interpretation of the character. So why does this review go on so long? Enthusiasm, my dear fellow. I am excited, and happy.

At first fans sort of flipped out over the figure. It sparked debates over how we perceived the costume, notably its hood. The "current" approved look look that Sideshow and Hasbro using are a completely full-head-masked alien with something of a shawl worn on the head, with pants and what seems to be some sort of surplus uniform. That's what we're getting in The Vintage Collection in a few months. Kenner's 1997 and Hasbro's 2006 figures had a hooded cape that's a little more Red Riding Hood. Both riffed on a uniform-with-pants and some form of cape look we all saw in the movie. In my imagination, the film costume was a little baggy but I don't know that I ever got a close enough look at it to say "this is right!" or "this is wrong!" Also, Kenner-stylization is a blanket license to do whatever you want, and it seems Hasbro did.

I took for granted that the alien species was an aardvark-esque creature in sunglasses. Now, I'm not so sure - looking at hi-res close-up shots, it seems that maybe the nose is the alien's face and maybe it's just a distinctive mask like a plague doctor had. The picture in Wookieepedia seems to have seams, just like the Retro figure where the snout seems to be separately molded and glued in. Sideshow's figure most definitely seems to treat the head as completely covered in a mask, complete with stitching. Sure, Disney's new canon says they eat bugs with their noses but we've seen authorial intent ignored before and fans (or licensing departments just sort of roll with perception. Look at Max Rebo, who we all agree has legs, and who the cartoons show his species as having legs, but the puppet? No legs.

This Garindan has a lighter colored snoot, like the 1997 Kenner The Power of the Force figure. His shawl seems to be movie-accurate, and Hasbro's factory sourced textiles very similar to the 1983 Kenner Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker figure. I'm impressed. It hangs on his head, and is easily removed if it offends you. His goggles are red tinted, which I think is maybe a nod to one of Ralph McQuarrie's paintings for a book. I don't believe the prop had red lenses. Our spy's snout has more subtle rivet divets than the movie, and I think Kenner would have exaggerated them some more or ignored them completely. The hood feels right, but it doesn't match Sideshow's figure - which has a round, hooded head with what is very obviously not a biological snout. Teach the controversy! It seems Hasbro went with a take based on 1990s interpretations or their own imaginations. And that's what Kenner probably would have done in 1979, so I'm all for it.

The Sideshow shirt - and possibly the movie shirt - are a very dark blue. This one wears a couple of shades of gray. Retro Garindan's torso seems to be made by someone that recognized the basic form of the shirt and belt, but made it looser and more like a robe. Neat! The movie costume's cape around the shoulders is gone, because there's an actual full robe covering the figure's body - and no other officially licensed figure had that. All the others had fully visible boots, and some of the figures had holsters for their blasters. This one has signs of different boots, and also straps around the leg that may well be for blaster or commlink holsters. Hasbro went for a vibe closer to 1984 mail-in Anakin Skywalker, except Garindan's legs can swing fully forward. This may not mean much to you, as I just assume literally everybody has a full Kenner set handy.

Hasbro's sculptors did a very nice job with the pose. Garindan's body language feels like an old Kenner figure with a more pronounced slouch, a slightly bent left arm, and a very bent right arm so he can talk on his communicator. The gloves look fine, and each hand can easily hold the blaster, which is notable for having a different sculpt from the blaster from Dr. Evazan. I expected Garindan's communicator just to be the Cloud Car Pilot one, but it's not - it's a new design. It's not from the movie, and it's not from the McQuarrie painting. I don't immediately recognize it. I like it, it feels authentic and fabricated over lunch.

The sculpt feels like one of Hasbro's best attempts to Kenner things up due to all the changes and off-model (or possibly on-model, depending on the model) design choices. This doesn't match my other Garindan figures except for things like color, goggles, and snout - it's a unique take on the costume. I'm all for it. I think the face paint is a little too modern, with red circles slightly printed off-center in the goggles plus a nose whose paint reminds me a lot of the 1997 figure. Maybe that's my fault. The figure is glossy in spots, and it really does feel like something that's using Kenner's design language in or before 1983.

But how is he as a vehicle pilot? Not great. I spot-checked mini-rigs and some others, and his pants are so big he can't fit in most vehicles. I was surprised to find that if you bend him down a bit, he's one of the best figures for the CAP-2. His pants keep him from falling all the way in, and he can be made to look as if he is crouching in a cramped vehicle. He also fit well in the INT-4, One-Man Sand Skimmer, Side Gunner, and Endor Forest Ranger. He did not pass the Landspeeder Test.

It's a good action figure. I would have absolutely adored it as a child. It's functional, the hands can hold the accessories with zero reservations, and the shawl stays on acceptably. (It also falls off.) His big feet make him easy to keep standing, and his heavy legs insure he won't fall over if you knock the table. It's by no means the most Kenner-y figure of the wave, but it's satisfying in a way few super-articulated figures can match. I know some people were dying for a vinyl cape, but I don't feel like Hasbro misfired here. This is a good experience and I would absolutely love to know who sculpted which figure(s) because this guy did a great job. And I will laugh incredibly hard if I ever found out this sculptor also did Cad Bane.

That's it for The Retro Collection in 2026. Hasbro tells us the line will grow to 28 figures and 3 bigger items in 2027, so start saving and clearing some shelf space.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Target at a store, where they seem to be widely available right meow.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,382: September 22, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,381: Lieutenant Callahan (The Vintage Collection)

LIEUTENANT CALLAHAN The One, The Only
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch basic figure
Item No.: Asst. G2786 No. G1241
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #351
Includes: Helmet, blaster
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $19.99
Availability: July 2025
Appearances: Star Wars: Ahsoka

Bio: A New Republic E-wing pilot, Lieutenant Callahan and her droid KE4-N4 aid Governor Ryden Azadi on the world of Lothal. (Taken from the cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: After a few decades, it can be worth examining "why." Lieutenant Callahan takes up a slot in a line where, typically, Disney+ content sometimes struggles to sell and we have far more pilots than vehicles. In this case, she seems to be holding a decent price on the secondary market, and I haven't seen her marked down in clearance shops. That's good! She has a unique blue New Republic flight suit, which adapts the existing X-Wing pilot mold with a few clever changes. That's also good! Sure, she's not a droid or an alien, but she serves a function. And I'll take a figure that fills a void in my toy collection any day of the week.

I'd be grouchy if we got this figure with no plans for an E-wing, but we got an E-wing fighter that was pretty good. She fits in it easily, and that matters. The mold makes use of an existing The Vintage Collection body, which I thought would tick me off because some of those older hips are kind of horrible. For this release, Hasbro used a plastic with less friction so I was able to easily bend the legs forward with no real problems. The straps didn't get in the way. She seemed functionally better than other figures with this particular style of hip joint, and if Hasbro can deploy more older figures with this smoother movement I'm all for it. I've been keen to never see this older hip joint style again because it was unpleasant on most older figures, but here? Smooth as butter. The neck, arms, knees, ankles, and everything else also move nicely. I have no complaints here.

 

The figure makes use of a lot of old parts - and that's fine. Why? So did Lucasfilm. The flight suit seems to be a pretty generic jumpsuit, and Lucasfilm often reused the same basic suits (or very similar ones) for various costumes. Maybe the color changed, and I would say it's close enough to what we see on screen that it was a sensible choice. The gloves on the figure may not be a precise match for the show, but this figure's purpose is to be a pilot for a vehicle (sold separately.) The boots, head, vest, and hanging straps are all new parts that look pretty great. The buttons and greeblies on her chest console match the prop quite nicely. The pouch and hoses match. The only thing I think may not match are the code cylinders. The figure has them on the arm, the costume has them on the belt. Would I notice without seeing the image on Wookieepedia? No. I don't know that I would have budgeted for more parts were I in Hasbro's position either, so I'm glad they spent money making the cool white boots and a photoreal head.

I don't know much about actress Michele Weaver but she has been in a lot and the figure seems to do a decent job matching her person. The figure's hair is the tiniest bit fluffier, sculpted tightly and painted well.

Her accessories include a blue helmet with IKEA-like yellow highlights and a clear visor. It looks like the photos, it even has the chin strap. The plastic piece that goes over the chin is black on the figure, and white on the show. Otherwise, it looks like the Hasbro team got it and at this size, I'm not going to complain.

My opinion of the show's overly expository nature for its first season hasn't improved much, but I like all the toys Hasbro made for it.

We don't always get the most exciting characters on the show - I mean, I'm biased for droids and witches - but we got one that adds to the toy box and that matters. We got a ship, and the ship needs a pilot. This one meets my requirements and more or less meets my expectations. Parts reuse are an ugly part of the modern collector toy business, but I'm picking at nits here. If we got Kenner-style Retro figures that are off-model, I'd say it's part of the charm. On one hand, we have high expectations at the $20 price point and on the other, it doesn't bother me that the arm and the belt were tweaked a bit to keep costs down. The colors, vest, head, and helmet are all very good and that's what I need in a pilot figure. I'd recommend getting her if you skipped her and like Ahsoka-era New Republic stuff.  

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,381: September 17, 2026