Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,360: Guard Droid (with STAP, ActionVerse)

GUARD DROID
& Mercenary STAP

ActionVerse Target Exclusive Vehicle
Item No.:
Asst. E7763 No. F9798
Number: n/a
Includes: 2-part green display base, cape, STAP vehicle, two red rockets
Action Feature: Blaster fits in holster
Retail: $21.99
Availability: April 2024
Appearances: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Bio: -1 series mercenary sentry droids were a variant of B1-series battle droid that existed in the galaxy by the early New Republic Era. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary:
Not planned for the 3 3/4-inch collector lines (as far as I know), this Guard Droid was something I saw at Target and planned to skip. Heck, the whole line is something I planned to skip because I wasn't in the mood for yet another new scale... but I'll buy a clearance vehicle for 66.66% off. This is a particularly interesting piece in light of the history of this toy line, because back in 1998 we got an Episode I sneak preview STAP with Battle Droid and it was $19.99. It was similarly jointed, and that was 28 years ago. If you're wondering if there's a collector tax of sorts, wonder no more - but that "tax" is also what happens when your toys stop being toys. If Hasbro made a 3 3/4-inch version of this same exact vehicle with movie-accurate bodily proportions at the very same price, I'd be screaming from the rooftops about how you should buy it, until they hauled me away.

Hasbro's figures-for-adults have exceeded their mandate, and fan tastes are a little too fancy for the price points they want. At $21.99, this whole set is $2 more than a 3 3/4-inch The Vintage Collection figure. It really does raise the question of "what are wrist and ankle joints worth to you?" The Guard Droid lacks ankle or wrist joints, but everything else is really good. The ball-jointed neck is perfect. The shoulders, hips, knees, and elbows all bend and swivel. He even has a very nice plastic cape - other than the beefy proportions I think most fans of all ages would be generally happy to have a 3 3/4-inch figure of this quality. I just don't want another (most likely temporary) scale in my collection, but I can't deny Hasbro did a nice job painting the blue, rusty, and brown parts that give us a surprisingly ornate kiddo action figure for the asking price. It isn't a perfect match for the movie, but it's not bad at all. For the money, I'm generally impressed. It's good enough, but I also don't agree with the general sense of fans demanding everything be a tiny prop replica with every detail that's perfect, and money is no object. The head is a little wide, and it's all a little silly - but it evokes the vibe from the movie.

While there's no handheld blaster in the box, Hasbro instead gives you a full-blown vehicle and a stand that's also a micro playset. Grogu can hide in the side of the 2-piece green display base, effectively giving him a little cave in a tree. That's a great, clever idea on Hasbro's part. The STAP plugs in the base nicely, and if you have any trouble you can pop it apart to remove it. There's a peg and a hole to keep it upright. Will it snap off? I have no idea, I'm old and not going to snap it. The ship itself is made out of a great hard plastic and has two firing rocket launchers. Each launcher is activated by its own unique button, so you can pick which one goes off. The red fireblasts look bright and shiny, making them easier to find in the carpet than a brown rocket. Unless, of course, your carpeting is covered in fresh blood or berries. If either of those things are happening, get the appropriate help. Our Guard Droid friend has no problems reaching the foot pedals and the handlebars, making this an absolutely ideal example of Hasbro making a toy with figure/vehicle compatibility that works without flaw.

If I bought this set at full price, particularly in this economy, I would tell you it's very good and Hasbro's changes to the STAP & Battle Droid format work well even after their cost-cutting. By changing scale, Hasbro made something I think a lot of fans have no reason to consider or even look at despite the fact their engineers cooked up a really solid-feeling toy that is a heck of a lot more fun than more expensive items on the toy aisle. For those of you who like toys, I'd strongly recommend picking it up on sale. I'll probably pick up other vehicles (and maybe figures) as they hit sale shelves. I'm a big supporter of buying what you like at full price, but I didn't want this scale because it doesn't fit in well with any of the many toy lines I collect. It's a great one-off, though, and Hasbro's toy designers should be proud that they managed to deliver a toy concept from the 1990s at the same price and same quality given all the production and freight challenges they face in 2026.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Target. It was on clearance for $6.59.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,360: July 7, 2026

Thursday, July 2, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,359: Ahsoka Tano (Peridea, The Vintage Collection)

AHSOKA TANO
(Peridea)

The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.:
Asst. E7763 No. F9798
Number: #338
Includes: Two lightsabers
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $16.99
Availability: October 2024
Appearances: Ahsoka

Bio: Ahsoka Tano's quest to stop Grand Admiral Thrawn brings her beyond the galaxy once more to the World Between Worlds, where she gains newfound wisdom. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:
A good figure that people decided they didn't want, Ahsoka Tano (Peridea) is "Ahsoka the White," which makes her previous live-action costume her take on "Gandalf the Grey." Disney-era Star Wars seems intent on keeping people in the same clothes day after day after year, so a new costume (and new toys) can be pretty refreshing. Poor Fennec Shand wore the same armor since her The Bad Batch appearances, which is just kind of ridiculous - Ahsoka had numerous costume changes during The Clone Wars, so it's good she has yet another one. It shares parts with the previous The Mandalorian and Ahsoka live-action The Vintage Collection figures, with a new head, hew belt, and new boots.

I don't know that her lekku are a big improvement, the stripes are a different layout and it's not a perfect match for the show. Does that matter? Good question, I'm glad I asked it - not really. Unless you hold this up to the TV screen, you won't notice - but in the era of $17 (now $20) figures, plus the fact that the figure lagged the show by a year, I think accuracy is fair to expect. The face is improved, with a better paint job and skin color to more accurately match the show with a darker, more saturated color. The white markings are very similar, and there's a new "hair band" to mask the transition from the face to the head tails. For the improved face, I would say this is the kind of thing that makes the purchase worth it.

The body is functionally the same as previous releases, which is good. Hasbro did a really great job with the pants. They're not quite as baggy as on TV, but that's good - if they were, the figure's legs couldn't swing forward. The ball joints let her sit well, so if we ever get vehicles for her? She's all set. The arms have the standard amount of movement, her wrists bend and swivel, and the knee joints are just superb. The knees are hidden in the pants! How great is that? The ankles rock, and that's good - but they're stiff, so you have to get it just right or she just might face-plant. The new belt has a separately sculpted braid - with paint! - that looks better than the previous one, and the painted metal ring also looks great. Her shins and forearms have armor, and the silver has a decent shine to it. Despite being a retool, I can't knock Hasbro for taking shortcuts. They improved her where it was needed to authenticity, mostly, and didn't fix what wasn't generally broken.

I would have liked hilts for her belt - we didn't get those. Instead she just has the same two milky-white lightsabers she's had before. There isn't anything wrong with them, but again, for $17? I'd like some hilts or removable blades. I assume a cloaked version of Ahsoka the White will come in 2027 for the show, unless Hasbro has decided it has tired of seeing this mold on markdown shelves. It's not a bad figure, but the edition size for the Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth. She's sold out, and about $10 on the secondary market - get her before the show returns next year.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,359: July 2, 2026

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,358: BB-PR0UD (Pride Collection, Droid Factory)

BB-PR0UD
Rainbow Edition

Star Wars Droid Depot Pride Collection
Item No.:
???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: Pulls apart
Retail: $12.99
Availability: May 2022
Appearances: n/a

Bio: A In celebration of Pride and the company's Pride collection, The Walt Disney Company is giving funds as part of our ongoing commitment to organizations around the world that support LGBTQ+ communities. (Taken from the packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary:
The first BB droid in the Pride Collection and the second in the line, BB-PR0UD predated BB-YOU [FOTD #3,063] by about a year. Both make use of the same mold, but the color patterns are a little different. BB-YOU seemed to be more of a general riff on the traditional Pride flag, while BB-PR0UD... I don't know. There are a lot of different LGBTQ+ flags, as seen in the fun parties or on the backpacks of your better friends, but I can't quite place the specific dark indigo blue (I think) plastic with the specific splashes of color unless maybe someone is a fan of the Indigo Girls? I come at this from a place of ignorance, so use that comment field if you are the designer or are better informed than I.


The indigo base figure provides the manufacturer with a challenge when it comes to paint. Dark plastic will bleed through bright colors unless you apply thick, even layers of pigment on top. Hasbro and 1980s toymakers tended to forget this, which is why your Battle Beasts Hardtop Tortoise's orange armor looks a little sloppy even when it was new. On the other hand, anything Onell Design does tends to have significantly thick shells of shiny paint covering any blemishes. This droid has some issues with the orange and yellow being a bit thin for my taste, but you might be fine with it given that it gives the droid's fresh coat of paint a vaguely weathered look. In addition to six rainbow-ish colors, this droid also has silver and black highlights on some of the panels.

If you pop off the chassis, an inner gray orb has numerous painted silver elements plus a few red and blue lights. Kudos to Disney for having done it, it's detail a lot of fans will never see and it was back when these guys were a then-princely sum of $12.99. (You'll remember, Hasbro usually included BB droids as accessories rather than full-fledged action figures when it comes to smaller figure lines.)

In hindsight, I really don't get why Disney didn't just rerelease the in-demand and still expensive rarity R2-RNBW. This is fine - it's a unique color of BB droid with a lot lots of bright color flourishes, and I can't complain about that too much. But as a collector with thousands of figures (and about 10 of the 11 Pride Droids plus honorary members) this doesn't add much new to the overall collection. I assume Disney is done with BB droids unless we get a cameo in Starfighter or the Rey movie, and I hope we get a protocol droid next year, because I don't know what I need with more BB-series droids. The good news is that it's inexpensive on the secondary market, so there's nothing stopping you from picking a unique droid up today.

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

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,358: June 30, 2026

Thursday, June 25, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,357: Imperial Remnant Stormtrooper (Pauldron, The Vintage Collection)

IMPERIAL REMNANT STORMTROOPER
(Pauldron)

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:
We've looked at two of the four figures in the Imperial Remnant Stormtrooper set - this one has shoulder armor. The black pauldron may sound like a Disney bomb from the 1980s, but it's an adornment over the figure's right shoulder. Otherwise, it's pretty similar to the other figures in the four-pack.

Now that we've seen The Mandalorian and Grogu we can all say that the Empire had very little to do after the first reel of the movie. After Mando finishes his first mission, we don't see a lot more troopers - and these guys basically just stood around and got shot. That's not out of the ordinary, and it was probably wise to release these figures before anyone saw the movie and went "Wait, were there Stormtroopers in that movie? I forgot."

For The Black Series, Hasbro merged the "ammo pouch trooper" and "pauldron trooper" together - you can configure it any way you want. Having seen the 6-inch one in person, I am happy to stick with the little guys. There's something about the white plastic that looks a little ghostly, and the added dirt does it no favors. There are also at least two single-box slots taken by Stormtroopers so far, as opposed to The Vintage Collection where Hasbro put four in a single $67 box. (That's a "savings" of about $12, or 15%, if these were single figures. I wonder if Hasbro would have sold more as a single trooper, though.)

So why is this 3 3/4-inch Remnant Trooper worth a look? Well, it's very similar to the other figures in the set. This means you still have the no-longer-exciting old hip joints, but the arms, knees, ankles, neck, and waist are all great. The wrists bend and swivel, making this a figure that takes a pose pretty well. For displays, dioramas, and miniature photography? Great figure. If you just want to play with this figure? It hates you, and you have to spend time massaging the hips in place rather than just having him bend and sit like the old days. I realize many collectors have matured beyond how they interacted with their toys when they were children, but I have decided that is not as much fun. Once I get this guy situated, I'll probably not touch it for years. That is no knock on the quality of the figure, because the sculpt (other than the hips) is excellent and the deco is some of Hasbro's best at any scale. I just have a lot less fun with toys if it's a challenge to put them in a stable pose. It can be done, but Retro is easier.

You get rifles and smaller, traditional blasters (without the added Rogue One greeblies) in this set. Offered without deco, they look fine and can be held reasonably well. The hands do their job well, and I haven't had a problem with anyone dropping anything since getting the set.

I like what Hasbro did here. By giving fans four troopers at once, they can easily army-build. Also, it probably means Hasbro is done with this trooper at this size and nobody is watching a livestream when another flavor of trooper gets announced as a 6-inch exclusive and groans. (The figures are generally very nice, but it has gotten a little monotonous.) If you like troopers, this is a very good set - and we've got one more of these guys to look at to go. I can't imagine Hasbro will do a superior weathered Stormtrooper this or even next year, so I'd recommend getting it. If it goes on sale? Buy two. I would not put it past Hasbro to want to sell one of these guys on a card later, and it'd probably sell. I don't think it's necessary, given the 4-pack is still available as I write this.

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

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,357: June 25, 2026

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,356: B2EMO (Droid Factory build a figure)

B2EMO
Just Different Enough to Make You Mad

Star Wars Droid Depot
Item No.:
???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: Collector card, TC-332 left leg
Action Feature: Removable dome
Retail: $19.99
Availability: June 2026
Appearances: Andor

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 helped Cassian and his friends build a new life on the grain fields of Mina-Rau, forging bonds with other droids and the children of their settlement.. Join B2EMO 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:
Someone recently asked me "do you have any regrets in collecting?" B2EMO might be it. Is it a bad figure? No. But I got B2EMO [FOTD #2,995] the first time for $15 back in 2022, and this is the same figure minus some dirt, some green, and a blue droid leg. You don't need both, unless you need the droid part. And you probably do.

Since Disney shorted the market - twice now - fans who just want the droid should probably go after The Black Series version, which seemingly nobody wants. (It is my unconfirmed belief that 3 3/4-inch fans are more hardcore, and 6-inch fans are more casual. For now. This might change in 10 years as collectors turn 70.)

If you missed the figure the first time, he's pretty neat, but that was when he was around $23 shipped. Now he's around $33 shipped, which is kind of absurd given that you can get a 6-inch Cassian with B2EMO for the same price. Disney's 3 3/4-inch scale droid has four feet which can swivel or extend in front of and behind his body. The head can turn, plus it can telescope up slightly. There are four wheels, but they really don't roll well - Disney would be well-served to trim them out of future droids and cut costs. The sculpt is quite nice, and matches what you see on the show about as well as you might expect. It is also worth noting Hasbro has no 3 3/4-inch scale B2EMO figures - their only figure was a the 6-inch SDCC exclusive.

So what's new with this version?

Paint. Instead of silver damage, this new version has a lot of black wipes all over. I think this was a good call, but poorly executed. The model from the show had more of a "wash" effect with black dirt getting in his panels and grooves, which brought out the detail - and this figure does not. From a distance, though, it does look a smidgen better than version 1.0. This version also adds 3 green markings to the head, and changes the belly equator's pattern up while making it lighter green too. Side by side, it's easy to tell which one is new and which one is old. If you only had the first release, it's very possible you didn't notice they're different. Based on prop photos he could be even more beat-up and dirty, but that was not the way they went.

If Disney is feeling saucy, there's a "clean" variant from the Kenari flashbacks where B2 has non-worn green markings, all red feet, and a relatively clean body. It should require a retooled foot, but honestly, the green holiday B2 didn't retool anything. It looked fine with four green feet.

Given Hasbro has not really built up Andor as as toy line (no Syrill, no aliens, no prison stuff, no TIEs, and so on) you might not feel a need to buy this or collect that show's toys. It was pretty lacking, and people didn't show up for it - and I think the lack of toys kept some people from checking out the show, and the lack of toys prevented people from being excited to collect. It's very spare, and this guy - super popular B2EMO - was never sold widely in stores, online or off. He was always an exclusive. If you must have a toy of the character to go with your 3 3/4-inch figures, get this one. You can always sell off the blue droid leg to recoup your costs, if you aren't in to that. I don't think Hasbro would have necessarily done it any better, so kudos to Disney for fixing it up a bit. Having said that, at $20 (at the park) to $33 (by mail) you will unlikely feel you were sold this figure at a fair price. If Disney does another Droid Factory campaign to build a figure, I hope it is more original and less competitive next time because all six figures (plus BAF) will have cost me about $200ish. And I don't feel good about that.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Shop Disney. It sold out online within an hour and shot up quickly on eBay, so check the theme park not near 95% of you.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,356: June 23, 2026

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,355: Mandalorian Privateer (Playset Pack-In, The Vintage Collection)

MANDALORIAN PRIVATEER
Vintage Debut

The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Playset Pack-In Action Figure
Item No.:
No. F9260
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #326
Includes: Blaster, jet pack
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $59.99
Availability: November 2024
Appearances: The Mandalorian

Bio: After being seized by a strike team lead by Din Djarin and Bo-Katan Kryze, a team of Mandalorian privateers led by Axe Woves now commands Moff Gideon's Imperial Light Cruiset. (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 eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:
This Mandalorian Privateer figure was released a couple of years ago and I opened the box right away, because I wanted to try out the Imperial Light Cruiser playset. Then I just kept putting off opening him. He's not a bad figure, but with the many blue Mandos like the Mandalorian Fleet Commander [FOTD #3,243] I already had more than a few figures with a similar - but not identical - configuration. Hasbro does a great job repurposing its tooling like the show reuses costume parts, but as a toy collector it can be a bit much to keep track of all the variants when the extent of enjoyment may be saying "yup, this one's different" before putting it away.

He has the same basic configuration as the commander, but many of the colors are shifted around. The thighs are now silver, the shins are now blue, the chest and shoulders are now also blue, and the helmet is a little more blue. They use the same helmet, jet pack, and blaster while sharing the same costume molds - which makes sense, it's practical. The same belt is used, which means you get no holster here - be sure to store the blaster in his hands. The figure features the modern hip joints, meaning you'll have an easier time getting him to stand or sit. His shoulder armor is connected to his body, so be careful when posing the arms - it will bend those elements up a bit.

Hasbro also made a 6-inch Privateer, with slight changes to the costume configuration - notably blue thighs and a stripe on the helmet. I doubt it will make it out as a 3 3/4-inch figure at this point, because it seems the mania from doing every last repaint may have subsided for now. If it didn't come out in the wake of movie product, I assume the appetite for it (especially at $20) has diminished and this is an army people may no longer feel the need to build.

It's a good figure. As a playset pack-in, it's a pretty good choice - you can army-build it, or customize it, or sell it if you bought several playsets to make a big diorama. But I didn't find it to be compelling, only because we have so many nameless Mandalorians at this point that without new colors (or a face) it's hard to find a reason to open these. Well, beyond writing this review. The good news is that the entire package is quite cheap on eBay thanks to an appearance at Ross, so you can get yours for less than I paid for mine.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth. Reportedly it showed up at Ross last year, although I never found any there.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,355: June 18, 2026

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,354: Chopper (Imperial Disguise, The Vintage Collection)

CHOPPER
(Imperial Disguise)

The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch basic figure
Item No.:
Asst. G2786 No. G2616
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #350
Includes: Alternate radar dish
Action Feature: Arm opens on torso, removable radar dishes, jointed hands, tilting neck
Retail: $19.99
Availability: July 2025
Appearances: Star Wars Rebels

Bio: With help from his fellow Spectre crew member Sabine Wren, Chopper (C1-10P) could join his team's underccover missions in disguise, painted as an Imperial droid. (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:
Is there any figure as satisfying as the sensible repaint? Chopper (Imperial Disguise) was a figure I expected us to see when the show was still running, because Hasbro loves a repaint. Well, we finally got him about a year ago - they took the basic droid body, removed an accessory, reduced the paint a bit, and gave us something new. The orange dome is now black with red, and looks great. The body is mostly unpainted, which matches the show. Typical Chopper figures have lots of painted panels and cables, while this one keeps it plain.

He has an alternate radar dish, and I'd have been fine if they left it out. I don't know where to store it, and it's going to get lost - but I guess you have an option if you want a tilted dish.

Articulation is really nice. The ankles move, the wheel sort of turns, the third leg pops out, but what's really exciting is the dome. This figure can spin and tilt in any direction, mimicking his ability in the cartoon. Each arm is jointed at the dome, but not at the "wrist" or "eblow" like Disney's exclusive version of the robot. Since a proper Chopper in these colors doesn't exist in Disney's mold, though, it's moot - you're going to want to get this one. It's also worth noting Hasbro's Chopper mold also has a flip-out arm in the body, with a dark grey interior behind it.

Is it perfect? No. Is it as good as you're going to get? Probably. Hasbro left the back of Imperial Chopper's body nearly completely unpainted, and also neglected to paint the cables on the back of his feet. The animation model doesn't seem to have cables, but the live action one does - so maybe that's why they skipped them here. It's too much work for a repaint, even if it's a repaint of a short figure that probably could have stood to not be full price. But if you want 3 3/4-inch scale Chopper in these colors, this is your one option.

Even if you don't like the show, this is a neat figure - the coloring matches the panels and rooms on the first Death Star. If we ever get a Death Star playset again, this would be good hall filler. (I would like a Retro one, too.) I'd recommend getting this one since he's still at (or under) original retail price.

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

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,354: June 16, 2026

Thursday, June 11, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,353: R5-PR0UD (Pride Collection, Droid Factory)

R5-PR0UD
Rainbow Edition

Star Wars Droid Depot
Item No.:
???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: Pulls apart
Retail: $17.99
Availability: May 2026
Appearances: n/a

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 were featured in the colorful and peaceful world of Takobo. Join R5-PR0UD 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:
Now an annual tradition, R5-PR0UD came in slightly cheaper than some other single-carded droids but still $3 over last year's model. I think you can thank tariffs and an economy that will charge a little more for things just in case something else disrupts the markets, but at least Disney didn't skimp on paint applications. There are plenty of colored panels here, and my sample had better aligned paint than the one used on Disney's product page. I can live with that.

The series has been going since 2021 with at least one carded droid per year. There's even a boxed set of six solid color robots. As a collection, it's a pretty neat one - and it makes sense to have a "souvenir" Droid set. I'd rather have droids that appear in the movies, but this one looks good with a more off-white plastic chassis and lots of bright color panels. I was surprised the big, middle panel has a silver vent painted on it this time. The six colors of greeblies near the shoulder are very precisely painted, and fairly impressively done. The silver paint on his feet are so well done, I hope Hasbro takes note if they ever go back and do a blue Snaggletooth Retro figure. Every single panel was done with a level of precision that seems better than most of Disney's droids - which are good. Given multiple colors fill some of the larger panels, it's necessary to ensure they're exact and not merely close enough. I think they did a nice job here, because if for some reason you can't get behind "pride" (for example, "completism with R2-RN8w still being impossible to get) you can at least take solace in knowing you can have a figure that looks like a Japanese Lucky Draw prize for a kid that won a TV Boy coloring contest.

The droid mold is the same as it ever was, but at least Disney is showing off what it can do. The silver isn't reflective, but it's much shinier than most other droid figures. The technical perfection needed to get silver outlines in some of those panels is worthy of praise, although it may be a little too subtle to show up well in all photos. I'm impressed with this one on a technical level, and here's hoping next year we'll get a Protocol Droid or, if they're feeling it, something with the B-R72 mold.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Disney Store's web site. It did not sell out.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,353: June 11, 2026

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,352: The Mandalorian and Grogu (The Vintage Collection)

THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU
Gear Galorian

The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Deluxe Action Figure
Item No.:
No. G2532
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #395
Includes: Jet pack, pistol, rifle, knife, sword, Grogu shoulder sitter
Action Feature: Grogu slots on backpack, pistol fits in holster
Retail: $27.99
Availability: March 2026
Appearances: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Bio: The Mandalorian and his young apprentice Grogu embark on a thrilling adventure as they travel the galaxy. (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 eBay now!

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Commentary:
This gets long, but it's the best version of this character yet - and you're charged accordingly. You can pose him with a sniper rifle. His son can hang on his back. He has an extra hand, and an alternate sword, and a knife I assume we'll all lose. Considering version 1.0 was $12.99, $27.99 is a lot to ask. At least you know it has more stuff, and a revised sculpt, and the articulation is as good as Hasbro ever gives us at this scale.

This The Mandalorian and Grogu set for this year's movie occupies a territory between "the best" and "boring." I waited to open it until after the movie. I didn't grasp the significance of the accessories being new or if the armor had many changes until seeing the movie. I can tell you that this seems to have a lot of new sculpted parts, with a chest plate bigger than TVC #312A. The helmet has some added grooves in it. The thigh plates aren't the precise same shape or color. But there's absolutely no way you could tell without a side-by-side comparison, and Hasbro has made so many versions of Mando that I have lost count. I haven't reviewed or opened them all, despite each new release having something unique about it. If what you had was amazing, and what you are being asked to buy yet again is slightly more amazing, it might be hard to spend the money unless you demand The Very Best.

Little tiny details in the Beskar armor are indeed barely changed, but it seems that Hasbro had the budget to do a new mold of a guy and spent it on this rather than tweaking and repackaging an existing figure. It's a very good mold, but I imagine long-haul collectors will not appreciate the fact that they're being asked to spend $28 on a figure they may have six or seven other versions of at home. They might appreciate the chest plate is bigger and covers more of the torso. But they may also not have even been aware the previous one was in any way coming up short. Extremely online collectors who need to have the very best version are going to find it here, while those of us who were happy with what we have at home just wanted something new.

A Grogu figure that comes in the package is arguably the biggest selling point. This little guy has a hole in his chest that fits on a large peg on Mando's jet pack. It would be disingenuous to call it a separate figure as it can't stand and both of them look silly when separated. Heh olds on incredibly well, and Grogu's ear and face paint both look fantastic. The sculpting on his robe looks good, plus his tiny hands are holding specific parts of Mando's armor. Hasbro did a nice job with the assets available to them. Grogu's neck can turn, but he has no additional moving parts.

Mando's new gear is specific to the movie, with a sniper rifle, his classic pistol, a sword from the arena fight, and a knife. I am confident I am going to lose one or more of these over time. He also has an alternate right hand with an extended trigger finger for resting the rifle over his shoulder. The hand is very similar, includes extra paint, and requires assembly - so it adds a fair bit to the cost of a figure. (This is $8 more than a current standard release and you could convince me the extra stuff and Grogu is worth $8 for those needing the very best.)

I don't believe this is a great use of the budget, as a pared-down $20 figure probably would have sold better and fans might not have even realized they were missing the extra stuff. He has no problems holding or holstering any of his parts, and it would seem Hasbro went out of their way to make an exquisitely detailed figure with the best-yet articulation and gear for toy photographers. Is it fun for collectors? I don't think that was ever the intent - they know this item is going to sell on Amazon and would be the most popular character, so we're getting the very best figure set that the price point could warrant.

The sword is perfect for his fight with Rotta the Hutt. (There is no Rotta the Hutt figure to buy from Hasbro right now.) The leg articulation is great and would fit perfectly in a ship. (Hasbro doesn't have any ships scaled for this figure in its product line right now - but you may have an old one at home.) It's a weird place to be in when we're getting the top-of-the-line figure like this, but it's kind of a letdown because there are no dioramas to build, no vehicles to pilot, indeed no toys to play with anymore. This guy exists as a souvenir from a very good movie. I suspect more figures are coming, and sure he can pal around with the forthcoming Zeb, but there's no "collection" of stuff to go with the movie. Which dropped to #3 in week 2. Unfortunate - I really do wonder if a massive toy launch with creatures and ships might have helped capture the public's interest, or if what is effectively a season 5 pay-per-view special of a TV show couldn't muster that level of enthusiasm.

I have no complaints about Mando's articulation. It's super easy to get a good pose out of him, although balancing him may take some time. On the bright side, his hands can both grip the rifle and look awesome doing it. Hasbro really did a bang-up job carving out the joints in a way that might make you ask "why can't the other figures do this, too?" and I don't have an answer for you. All I can say is that they really went to town making sure Mando's hip joints, thigh swivels, knees, elbows, shoulders, and wrists all function well enough for an arena combatant with nobody to fight.

If you have no Mando figures, this is the one to get. I'm really happy with the quality of paint, the range of movement, and the amount of gear that you get. I also would like to see if Hasbro could see what they can do to bring costs down so more fans can enter the hobby and participate with the rest of us. In the early 1990s, the secondary market prices would squeeze out fans who weren't in early enough - and we're seeing that again. For those of you seeking incremental steps toward perfection? You need this. For newbies? This is very, very good. But the rest of us know the score - Hasbro will find ways to alter the same costume and improve it, again and again, and we'll probably have another version of this guy if and when a new season or movie see release. That is the way. And if you're happy with what you have at home, keep being happy unless you want to use this specific gear for him to take on the various Remnant figures we got so far.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth. I have found this figure at local sellers of Hasbro wares. This is a good thing for new fans wanting to jump in, but given that scarcity (artificial or otherwise) has driven purchases since 1995? Maybe we're seeing the end of mass interest in The Vintage Collection.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 3,352: June 9, 2026