Figure of the Day: Day 117: Gonk Droid

Jawa and "GONK" DROID
Power of the Force Collection
Item No.: Asst. 84185 No. 84198
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, CommTech Chip
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: September 1999
Appearances: Star Wars


Bio: Power droids are boxy droids with two legs that serve as mobile batteries, capable of powering a variety of machinery and vehicles. They are commonly encountered, due to their versatility. Some models of power droid are colloquially referred to as "gonks." (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' floor.

Commentary: Around the time of Episode I, fans were making a bigger ruckus for making the "un-remade" figures from the vintage line, like Gonk, the Power Droid. While some lamented that the new version isn't a big improvement over the old one, well, it kinda is. The vintage one had moving legs. The new one has a button for a "walking" motion. So it does more than the original, and while not as colorful as the 1979 figure, it's still plenty good. The biggest flaw in the figure's design is the aforementioned walking motion because it makes it very difficult to place the legs in a position in which they can allow the figure to stand. (Although it's not impossible to do without one, you might want to save a clear rubber band from a toy's packaging to help him stand upright.)

As far as droids go, he's one of the most unique. After all, he's a walking battery, you can't get much cooler than that short of, oh I don't know, designing a toy so you can plug him in to "power" it. Now admit it, that'd be pretty awesome. Transformers managed to make Mini-Cons that unlocked special features on larger toys, surely a similar mechanic can and should be adapted with droids and vehicles some day. (Although that would make them more toys, and not collectibles, which would surely annoy many collectors.)

Collector's Notes: It's a dime a dozen and it comes with a Jawa. Go buy one, your Sandcrawler needs it. Much like Wedge, "Gonk" became very popular in the 1990s, but some have said that it was mostly thanks to the Internet discussion boards of the time making him into sort of a joke and sort of something cool, somewhat like what happened with Willrow Hood over the past 6 years. The key difference being that if I say "Willrow Hood" to you and "Gonk" to you, odds are that you'll actually know who Gonk is.

Day 117: August 31, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 116: Wedge Antilles

WEDGE ANTILLES Rebel Pilots
Power of the Force Cinema Scenes
Item No.: Asst. 64035 No. 84057
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, display base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Fall 1999
Appearances: Primarily Return of the Jedi

Bio: For generations, an evil power has spread throughout the galaxy. It began with Darth Sidious' sinister plot to conquer the planet Naboo and peaked with the Empire's domination of the galaxy. Throughout the era, brave starfighter pilots flew into space to fight this power. Naboo pilots braved impossible odds to save their planet from the superior forces of the Trade Federation. years later, X-wing pilot Wedge Antilles, B-wing Pilot Ten Numb, and A-wing pilot Arvel Crynyd were part of the assault on the second Death Star. Their success at the Battle of Endor released the iron grip on the galaxy. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelf. Shock.

Commentary: This particular Wedge Antilles action figure is a 1998 Biggs Darklighter figure with a new head and removable helmet. It was released in 1999. The first Wedge figure was released in 1997, using a Luke Skywalker body with a new head that, upon its initial release, was painted all wrong. And in 2005, the 1999 Wedge head came back, this time placed on Dutch Vander's body as an Internet exclusive. See a pattern here?

So, what's the deal with this figure? It's pretty good, but not great. The head sculpt is OK, but not fantastic. The body has the traditional six points of articulation. I hate to give such a cop-out commentary, but there's little to say about this figure beyond it being "nothing special" to a fault. I'd love nothing more than to rag on it, or laud it, but it's so plain looking in 2006 that it's difficult to do either. As he comes with two other good figures, that will probably make you want to get this one, but by himself he's not so great and is outclassed by the 2005 Wedge figure. Which, really, ain't all that great either.

Collector's Notes: In 1999 and 2000, this figure was actually considered to be somewhat rare. It also shifted the balance of collector power in the tally of "Imperial Officers vs. Rebel Pilots" in the war of which can get the most nearly-identical figures to market. (I think Imperials are ahead this week.) Today, the Rebel Pilots 3-pack goes for a few bucks, with closed eBay auctions as low as $5. It's a far cry from the $30-$40 people were asking shortly after its release. Most shocking of all is that of all the closed auctions, those for individual figures from this set close higher than a sealed-box three-pack. So buyer beware!

Day 116: August 30, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 115: A-Wing Pilot

A-WING FIGHTER PILOT from A-wing Fighter vehicle
Power of the Force Starfighter Assortment
Item No.: Asst. 69590 No. 69732
Number: n/a
Includes: A-wing Fighter vehicle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Spring 1997
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: As a generic figure with no bio card, we really can't give you one. So let's just say "he loves fast cars and fast women," that could apply to anybody.

Image: Adam Pawlus' hallway on a stack of boxes next to a glow-in-the-dark cup with an AT-AT that was exclusive to the Harkins Theaters chain in 1997. No joke.

Commentary: There's not a lot to this figure. He has the basic six points of articulation, and since he was designed as a pilot figure (and therefore will be spending his life sitting) Kenner decided to cheap out and not give him foot holes. They went a step further, though, and decided the bottom of his boots didn't need any special sculpting or decorating either. So in that respect, this isn't a stellar figure, it was designed to serve the purpose as a pilot and no thought was given to making it a good, stand-alone figure for future repackaging or reuse. Oh well.

As far as authenticity goes, it's generally assumed that the helmet is wrong here. What he's wearing is likely what goes under the helmet, although supposedly you can see it in some scenes of Return of the Jedi. Regardless, it doesn't match the Action Fleet pilot's helmet. The sculpt is simple, a little bulky, and very much a product of its time-- in 1997, when this figure was released, Hasbro was just barely starting to transition away from the muscular, barrel-chested figures of 1995. The figure holds up reasonably well and is a great pilot figure, but with no weapons, he's not much to look at. Unless you have an A-wing Fighter for him to fly, he really doesn't serve much of a purpose anyway, so get one when you get your A-wing.

Collector's Notes: This vehicle was one of many toys clearanced out in he Great Clearance of 2000, in which Toys "R" Us and Kay-Bee bought tens (or hundreds) of thousands of toys from Hasbro's warehouse at an alleged price of $0.03 a piece, and then sold them for $2-$20, depending on what it was. For about $5-$10, this is a nice figure especially when you consider the A-wing Fighter (in the vintage days) was considered one of the rarest vehicles out there. $20 was the orignal price, and you should have absolutely no problem getting a sealed specimen for about that if not less-- with a little luck, anyway.

Day 115: August 29, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 114: Gasgano

GASGANO with Pit Droid
Episode I Collection 3
Item No.: Asst. 84105 No. 84116
Number: n/a
Includes: Pit Droid, CommTech Chip
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: May, 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: With his multiple arms, thrill seeker Gasgano is uniquely suited for the extreme sport of pod racing. Piloting a cockpit pulled by two dangerously powerful engines, he relies on a crew of pit droids to keep him in the race when the action heats up. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: With the advent of Pod Racers, it seems Hasbro and Lucasfilm aimed to combine the appeal of NASCAR, the cantina scene, and racing video games into one big happy melting pot. Characters like Gasgano made for great action figures, but the glut of Pod Racer-based toys in a variety of scales quickly dashed the appeal of such a line, making it so we're still waiting to finish our set of Boonta Eve Race drivers over 7 years after we first met them.

The figure itself is pretty good. His unique ball-jointed arms (some of the first in Star Wars figures) pop right off, so be careful you don't lose them. The figure can't really sit, so he's basically a statue with a few moving parts-- 4 arms, his waist, and his head. The figure is a nicely designed one but there's not a lot of detail, and his shape is very much like old-fashioned Colorforms aliens in a lot of respects. If you like what you see, and need another Pit Droid, this is a fantastic figure to buy. The only problem is, he has no vehicle to pilot and no scenes that he really belongs in outside the races, so your uses for such an action figure might be a little low. (I still love it, though.)

Collector's Notes: This figure has never been remade. If you want a Gasgano, this is your one and only option. The good news for you is that Episode I figures are so undesirable, they rarely get any bids on eBay, so you should have no problem tracking him down for his original retail price or even cheaper. And for less than $7, he's a lot of fun.

Day 114: August 28, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 113: Garindan

GARINDAN Escape from Mos Eisley
The Saga Collection
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 86800
Number: 034
Includes: Blaster, Commlink, Cloak, Personalized Display Stand, Bonus Holographic Figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Spring 2006
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: This Mos Eisley-based spy trails the two wanted droids, C-3PO and R2-D2, as they meet up with Luke and Obi-Wan at Docking Bay 94. He uses his comlink to inform the Imperial stormtroopers of the location. His actions enable the stormtroopers to engage the Millennium Falcon's new crew just before they make a daring escape. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: In 1997, Kenner first made Garindan and it was considered fantastic, with its molded commlink, plastic cloak, and reasonably non-muscular build. Today, Hasbro's remake of the alien brings near super-articulation, even better sculpting, a cloth cloak, holsters for accessories, and much, much more. Actually, not so much more. Pretty much exactly just what I wrote there. Since the figure can sit, be posed in a variety of ways, and has amazingly improved detailing, it should be a painless purchase. Of course, there's more to it, as he has little pointy ears under his hood, which is really the area the figure tends to fall apart. Everything on it is nearly perfect, except the hood doesn't always rest on the head perfectly-- although it does so better than most (if not all) other cloth hooded figures, so it shows Hasbro is indeed aiming for big improvements and we'll probably see even better cloth capes with hoods in the coming year.

The figure isn't perfect, but it's getting there. Surely, in another 9 years we'll get a version with knees and ball-jointed elbows, which are really the only two features this figure lacks. His boots have articulation, as do his shoulders, wrists, elbows, waist, and hips. Oh, and he's got the obligatory ball-jointed neck required on pretty much every action figure since the Saga Collection started. It's a fine example of an upgrade, but for the picky people expecting it to be everything, well, it isn't. But it's very, very good and I don't feel it wasn't worth the money, so get one if you see it.

Collector's Notes: Now available pretty much anywhere, this figure is one of many new releases based on the original film-- and naturally, people are snapping it up. Cantina aliens still seem to be quite popular even if they're characters people bought before, so hopefully continued decent sales of figures like Garindan will lead to even more Cantina aliens in the future. Before Garindan (and Momaw Nadon and Hem Dazon) were re-released, the last wave with more than one Cantina alien was early 2005, when Hasbro put out the equally impressive Trevagg, Myo, and Dannik Jerriko figures. Well, the pipe smoker kinda sucked, but the other two where fantastic. Here's hoping for more!

Day 113: August 27, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 112: Captain Fordo

CAPTAIN FORDO The Hunt For Grievous
The Saga Collection Toys "R" Us Exclusive
Item No.: No. 87116
Number: n/a
Includes: Blasters
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: Summer 2006
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Leader of the task force known as The Muunilinst 10, Fordo is known for his aggressive fighting tactics and prefers to employ firepower over finesse. Fordo was once awarded the Chancellor's Service Medal, which he refused and transferred to a fallen member of his task force. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: Almost perfect, but not quite. The second "red ARC Captain" was this figure, Captain Fordo, part of the Hunt for Grievous Battle Pack. Rather than sculpting a new figure, Hasbro took the head of the Super Articulated Clone Trooper (Clone Wars, Entertainment Earth Clone Troop Builders) and the body of the Episode III Clone Commander to make a fairly good quick-and-dirty Fordo. The problem is that while it looks OK in the box, it loses lots of points for authenticity. And when you're making a figure to look like a flat, simple drawing, that's a bad thing.

So, what's good? Well, the figure has an excellent range of articulation, a blaster rifle, and two tiny pistols to call his own. He's colorful, and looks fantastic. The problems are, well, problematic. The shoulder pauldron doesn't fit well without the aid of the infamous clear rubber bands used to hold the figures in the box. The figure has no rangefinder on his head. As it was an Episode III Clone body, the armor isn't at all accurate to the unique armor used by the regular ARC Troopers, and Fordo is little more than a red ARC Trooper with a few other tiny tweaks. Also, the weapons don't match the dueling pistols seen in the cartoon as they're too tiny. This is a good figure. Compared to the red ARC Trooper from 2003, it's a lateral move. But as this figure needs a rangefinder to just be merely OK, it's a bit of a disappointment. It's not that it sucks, it's just that it's obvious this was cobbled together quickly despite fan wishes for a new and improved ARC Captain.

So, in short: it's OK. Not good, just OK. There's significant room for improvements, but for the cost and the packaging, it's an OK value. (The Hunt for Grievous set includes 3 blue ARC Troopers, 1 blue Heavy Gunner Clone Trooper, and Fordo for about $25. As current figures sell for $6.99, that's a decent deal.)

Collector's Notes: Fordo's a fun figure, and his boxed set, The Hunt for Grievous, was hugely popular. Due to Amazon's divorce from Toys "R" Us, lots of backorders were cancelled, and fans were worried that their orders would be dropped. Sure enough, they were. Given the rampant, crazy popularity of the Clone Wars ARC Troopers and anything related to them, this item got a lot of undeserved hype. It's a fun figure with almost a full range of motion, but it's just so unfortunate that fans were treated to this and not a new mold. Of course, the good news for Hasbro is that it seems a lot of fans missed out on this set and an all-new ARC Trooper mold (in blue or red) is something fans would still really want. Although if I can just chime in to any toy developers out there, can we wait for 2008 at this point? I just got a black Stormtrooper and I'm a little clone-d out right now.

Despite the griping, the figure is still lots of fun, and for a kid, would be a delightful item to have. Despite a litany of fan complaints, my only real problem with the figure is the lack of rangefinder. That's a key aspect of the character and without it, it seems incomplete. It's still lots of fun to mess with, but, unfortunately, these sorts of things leave the door wide open to revisit this figure for a third time. None of this matters, though, as the item is presently so popular that most people are worried about getting to see one, and not so much worried about how it looks when they find it. Heck, I hit Toys "R" Us stores daily for a few weeks when I got wind of the fact that my Amazon order might not have come through, so for me, I'm always going to think of the amount of time I spent getting this toy more than I will about the toy itself.

Day 112: August 26, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 111: Queen Amidala (Celebration Ceremony)

QUEEN AMIDALA Celebration Ceremony
Post-Original Trilogy Collection
Item No.: Asst. 85172 No. 85316
Number: 0504
Includes: Globe of Peace, base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99
Availability: Winter 2005
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Queen Amidala and the inhabitants of Naboo celebrate their victory over the invasion of the Trade Federation. The Queen wears a decorative parade gown as the jubilant crowd cheers their freedom. The Gungans present Amidala with a Globe of Peace to thank her for her heroic efforts to protect the inhabitants of Naboo. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' floor.

Commentary: Hail to the queen, baby. Since 1999, fans have been clamoring for more new versions of Queen Amidala, and this version took 6 years to hit the market. When fans thought it was too late to expect Episode I figures for a while, Hasbro came through in spades at the top of 2005. This figure has a ball-jointed neck and can't stand worth a damn without a display base, which is probably fine given the figure engages in no actions on screen and really serves no purpose other than to stand there and look good. With jointed elbows and shoulders, her arms can move just a little-- and aside from what I've mentioned thus far, she's basically a statue, but unfortunately, is not a statue. The oft-derided "chess piece" style of figure, where everything under the dress/gown/cloak is just a single piece without individually sculpted legs, is not being used here. Which is too bad, because as a uni-leg figure she'd no doubt be able to stand a little bit better.

The figure itself is an excellent representation of the costume from the end of the first prequel. Her main fault, aside from stability, is her difficulty in holding the Globe of Peace. She tends to drop it a lot, and is unable to "grip" it in any meaningful way. To use Hasbro's own marketing copy, she's not an action figure so much as a "stand there and look good" figure. The likeness is good, as far as we can tell, but it's hard to get past the unique makeup foisted upon the character and really get a good look at the craftsmanship, or lack thereof. I mean, she's got clown paint on. It's hard to be impartial here.

Collector's Notes: The post-OTC lineup included 16 figures which tended to vanish quickly in most markets. 8 of them were brand new, never-before-seen sculpts and of those, 7 were characters totally new to the action figure line. The other 8 were repackaged figures, and the entire series is quite popular with collectors who were paying attention during the pre-Revenge of the Sith months. Today, the young Queen actually goes for a fairly decent price, often commanding a fairly hefty hunk of change. (Unless she's out of the box, then she's just kinda expensive.) The figure was supposedly made in decent numbers, but it seems popularity is everything. Due figure's unique costume, top-notch packaging, and overall lack-of-overexposure, we give this one a high rating. Go buy one if you can!

Day 111: August 25, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 110: Obi-Wan Kenobi

OBI-WAN KENOBI Final Duel
Power of the Jedi 25th Anniversary Collection
Item No.: Asst. 84485 No. 84671
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: Spring 2002
Appearances: Star Wars


Bio: Obi-Wan Kenobi, later known as Ben Kenobi, was a legendary Human Jedi Master trained by Masters Yoda and Qui-Gon Jinn, and taught both Anakin and Luke Skywalker in the ways of the Force. He fought as a High General for the Galactic Republic in the Clone Wars. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves. In the background note an unpainted test shot of Transformers Energon Rodimus, and on the right is part of an alien creature toy packaged with the Fisher Price Adventure People Alpha Star. (The mold is a little different than final production.) I have no idea why my 25th Anniversary sets are with my prototypes, but hey.

Commentary: It doesn't look new, but this figure of Obi-Wan Kenobi is actually a brand new sculpt sold in 2002. He has much less in the way of articulation, and his oddly designed figure can't stand without his display base. (Well, he can, but not well.) The hood of his Jedi robes is a separate piece from his head, leaving it to rest oddly at times. In short, this figure was ALMOST really good. The figure has an excellent sculpt, top-notch painting, and a decent pose, but, unfortunately, the fact that the hood tends to lean away from his head makes it a less than desirable figure and more of a statue than anything else. Packaged, this is a nice item.

Collector's Notes: The 25th Anniversary 2-Packs (and Jorg Sacul) were really the only commemorative toys made for the quarter century mark of the franchise, which is unfortunate. The sets didn't do especially well, mainly because the other items were Luke & Leia and Han & Chewie-- really nothing new, at least not from the character front. During Power of the Jedi, fans wanted huge improvements and new characters, and these figures didn't offer that. There's really no reason for you to pick this one up unless you want a complete set. The Darth Vader figure that Obi-Wan was packaged with was later reused for the Celebration III Darth Vader.

Day 110: August 24, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 109: Bubo

BUBO Jabba's Palace Court Denizens
Saga Collection Ultra Assortment
Item No.: Asst. 84716 No. 84741
Number: n/a; n/a
Includes: Chain
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Spring 2004
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Buboicullaar (commonly called Bubo) was an intelligent frog-dog in Jabba's court who acted as a spy. He despised Ree-Yees and ate the detonator link to his bomb out of spite. He joined the B'omarr monks and had his brain removed. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: When in doubt, repackage! Bubo came in a pack of 3 Jabba's Palace Court Denizens along with Ghoel and a B'omarr Monk. The B'omarr was a repaint of an older figure, but the others were new, and not too fancy either. Bubo has moving arms and a head and a chain, and that's it. As an oddly shaped figure, by and large, what you see is indeed what you get. This is a great figure for dioramas, but it's not exactly fun as all he can do is stand there, and remind you that it is possible for an alien to have the same basic body type as Slimer from The Real Ghostbusters while having a chain around his neck.

Collector's Notes: As part of the great burst of Jabba's Palace characters in 2004, these were exciting additions to the line, but not overly exciting characters. Collectors tend to want what they don't have, and these figures most certainly qualify as unique and mostly new additions to the line. If you like Jabba's Palace, these should be in your collection.

Day 109: August 23, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 108: R2-D2

R2-D2 Dagobah
Original Trilogy Collection
Item No.: Asst. 84715 No. 84781
Number: OTC-04; n/a
Includes: Base
Action Feature: Press button for authentic movie sounds, and lights
Retail: $4.99
Availability: June 2004
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: The brave droid R2-D2 has helped the Rebel heroes many times. He goes with Luke Skywalker to the planet Dagobah, where Yoda teaches Luke the ways of a Jedi Knight. Luke tries out his new skills by lifting R2-D2 into the air using only his mind, causing the droid to scream in surprise. When Luke leaves to save his friends from the evil Empire, R2-D2 goes with him, ready to help the Rebels once again. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: As far as evergreen figures go, few are as popular as R2-D2. While essentially the exact same robot in all 6 movies, there have been dozens of unique action figures each with unique "dirt," or action features, or electronics. This one has true-to-film sound effects, a blinking eye, a revised sculpt, and so much dirt you wouldn't believe it. Except you can see it, so you can probably believe it. Fun for kids and adults (and diorama builders), this R2-D2 has pretty much everything you could want short of head articulation and a third leg. For fans of Dagobah, this is a must-buy, as it looks great and has marvelous sound effects. If dirt and noise don't appeal to you, though, this figure really doesn't have a lot to offer.

The display stand, featuring Dagobah's swampy ground, is also notable in that it connects to other, similar bases. The same base is also packaged with Yoda and the Spirit of Obi-Wan Kenobi from the OTC line, and all of these stands can connect to one another.

Collector's Notes: This one isn't dirt cheap, but can be had for a fair price. Like most OTC figures, it sold briskly at retail and most fans loved snapping them up for their unique packaging. Due to the nifty cardback, you might want to buy two-- the packaging is just that great.

Day 108: August 22, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 107: Yoda

YODA Jedi Master
Saga Collection Collection 1; Hall of Fame Collection
Item No.: Asst. 84851 No. 84615; Asst. 84715 No. 84795
Number: 0223; n/a
Includes: Base, energy blast, lightsaber, cane, removable stand chunk
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: May 2002-2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: The oldest member of the Jedi Council. Yoda is a wise and cautious Jedi Master, When Obi-Wan informs the Council of the Separatists' plans, Yoda assembles the Clone Army to subdue the rebellion. Yoda's unassuming size masks his enormous powers. His skills in The Force are not limited to wisdom and guidance, but are matched by his dexterity and fighting prowess. Nevertheless, his suberb skills are tested when he battles the highly proficient Count Dooku on Geonosis. (Taken from the figure's Hall of Fame cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: There was a huge surge of interest in Star Wars when new movies came out, and Yoda was an instant hit, being scalped and sold for $25 in no time flat. Even some toy stores held Yoda behind the counter due to "rarity" rumors, requiring you ask if you want one, and only one, because they wouldn't sell you two. It's always a good sign for something to be crazy hot, especially if it's well-deserved. This figure was quite possibly the most decked-out Yoda ever, featuring multiple accessories, a display stand that could levitate, and so much more, plus a decent amount of articulation. Not a fantastic amount, mind you, but a decent amount.

This is a great figure for dioramas and displays, and if you own a Republic Gunship, this is an ideal figure for it. It's fun, it's loaded with parts, and it has a great sculpt-- and it's also the very first figure modeled after the all-digital Yoda.

Collector's Notes: As with many figures, this can be had cheaply, in part due to its long shelf life. Lots of them were made, and a lot of them were bought and kept safe from people opening them meaning you can get one yourself. I wouldn't be surprised to see this figure reissued again someday, but if you want one now thankfully it won't break the bank. Its popularity has fallen, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth a look.

Day 107: August 21, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 106: Boss Nass

BOSS NASS with Gungan Staff
Episode I Collection 3
Item No.: Asst. 841105 No. 84119
Number: n/a
Includes: Staff, cloak, CommTech chip
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: May 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Boss Nass is the leader of the amphibious Gungans who live in the Naboo underwater city of Otoh Gunga. He initially resists the Jedi's pleas for help against the Trade Federation invasion, but later comes to realize that the fate of the Gungans and Naboo are intertwined. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: In 1999, Hasbro released this figure of Boss Nass based on the various renderings seen in publicity materials and, I assume, little else. The figure really looks just like the publicity images, and as such, upon release, most fans thought this figure was fine-- actually, he was considered by many to be one of the better figures developed by Hasbro for the first prequel. With only three quasi-meaningful points of articulation due to his giant robe, this figure looked good and sometimes needed a little help staying together-- note the rubber band in the image to the left.

Flash forward to 2000, Hasbro lets the world know they're redoing this figure from the ground up. Fans were confused, but as you saw in a previous entry, the upgraded Boss Nass (Gungan Sacred Place) was a heck of a nice figure, and looked much better (and bigger) than this release. But I digress. The Episode I Boss Nass is more or less a good artifact, but not much of a collectible or a toy. Since this figure was rendered obsolete in about a year after its release, fans don't have a lot of nice things to say about it and due to its scale, it really doesn't serve a purpose in a diorama if you have the newer, better figure.

Collector's Notes: Today, this figure is largely worthless-- and we mean that in a variety of ways. It's not that it's bad, it's just that it's been outclassed by its successor to the point where this is practically a figure of the 1970s compared to most modern figures. It's an awesome curiosity, and those who collect them all no doubt already have one. But for everyone else? You can skip this particular version of the Gungan boss.

Day 106: August 20, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 105: Zam Wesell

ZAM WESELL Bounty Hunter
Saga Collection Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84851 No. 84655
Number: 0218
Includes: Blaster, face mask, removable arm
Action Feature: Quick-draw action, magnetic arm battle-damage, working holster, removable mask
Retail: $4.99
Availability: April 2002
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Zam Wesell is the dangerous, heavily armed bounty hunter mysteriously hired to eliminate Senator Amidala. Swift to action, Wesell is a refined, unrelenting assasin and an excellent tracker. Her quarry's almost nonexistent survival rate confirms Wesell's eminent reputation and unsurpassed markmanship. Wesell gets more than she bargained for when her assassination attempt is foiled by the Senator's Jedi protectors, who pursue the bounty hunter on a harrowing chase through the Coruscant skyline. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: In early 2002, Hasbro released some sneak preview figures, and just a few short months later released a new, more articulated and action-packed version of Zam Wesell. For this release, Hasbro gave her a magnetic "battle damage" arm that, for the record, is the best magnet Hasbro ever used in one of its toys. It's just strong enough to hold, but not so strong that you can't "slice" off her arm if you wanted to. Unfortunately, it was not a feature Hasbro would continue to use and refine, making this figure an interesting high point as far as magnets go. Her quick-draw attack also worked admirably, allowing her to fire on foes quickly without getting too much in the way of her range of movement.

With over a dozen points of articulation, a fantastic paint job, unique coloring, and a face-change-mask, there's a lot to like in this figure, and seeing how she's easy to get, she's one you should go after. Of course, she still can't fit inside the Zam's Speeder vehicle, because, well, I have no freaking idea what the designers were thinking when they made that thing.

Collector's Notes: Zam makes for a good figure, even if her character didn't offer a whole heck of a lot. There are very few purple figures, and very few female figures, which makes this a figure that, I believe, is a welcome addition to any collection. With so much of Star Wars being black or white with accents, a figure like this actually stands out on a shelf of 400 figures. And that takes some doing.

In 2002, in some markets, Zam was what you might call a slow seller. A Toys "R" Us near Arrowhead Mall in Arizona was stuffed to the brim with Zam Wesells, and little else. It took so long for the figures to move that it appeared the store never restocked, but the sheer number of Zam figures, which never shipped above 1 or 2 per case, showed just how popular Star Wars was, and how popular Zam wasn't. The same store also had a massive supply of Jango Fett (Pilot) figures. But I'll always remember the endless supply of Zam figures, because the glass is half-empty.

Day 105: August 19, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 104: R2-M5

R2-M5 Astromech Droids Series #2
Saga Collection Entertainment Earth Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 87055 No. 87057
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: Turn the figure's head, and the third leg retracts/extends
Retail: $39.99
Availability: January 2006
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Loyally serves the Naboo royalty. (Taken from the figure's box. Short, ain't it?)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: You want droids? You got droids. I've always got a kick out of robot toys, so when given the chance to make figures like R2-M5, even though I'm still not entirely sure if that's the correct name for him as he'd also been identified as R2-D1 elsewhere, well, how could I say no? As one of the many droids from the prequels, this guy is basically little more than R2-D2, but where he's blue, now he's red. There are a few other panel lines and details drawn in, but this repainted R4-G9 mold tends to work really well as everyone's basic astromech unit.

There's not a lot you can do with an R2 unit toy as far as articulation, but this figure manages to cram in everything you could hope for at this scale. It sports a rotating dome, articulated feet, and articulated legs. I suppose you could articulate the holographic projector, but at this 3 3/4-inch scale, that seems a little unrealistic. The figure also has wheels so he can roll instead of the traditional foot holes on most figures, as R2-M5 really has no use for a display stand.

Collector's Notes: This figure (and the whole droid pack series) caused a bunch of arguments, although not the ones I expected. A few minor details on each figure were incorrect, but most of the complaints/concerns came from a) where the figure appeared in the movies and b) how we had the audacity to release figures as repaints of R4-G9 and not using the "superior" molds for R2-R9 or R2-Q5. In the case of this droid, he appears in a lot of publicity photographs (which is why I wanted to have one) as well as the hangar on Naboo and in images of the Queen's starship. And, of course, you can use your imagination and use him in any situation you wish.

Day 104: August 18, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 103: Sandtrooper

SANDTROOPER Escape from Mos Eisley
Saga Collection
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 86830
Number: 037
Includes: Shoulder pauldron, blaster, backpack, detonator, prod, display stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: May 2006
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Jedi mind tricks often work on the weak-minded. Such is the case when a sqaud of sandtroopers ask Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi about the two droids he's escorting in a landspeeder. Obi-Wan makes short work of these sandtroopers, and they conclude that "these aren't the droids we're looking for." Luke Skywalker is amazed at Obi-Wan's ability to easily fool their pursuers. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: Fans love troopers, so Hasbro made a new Sandtrooper by taking the 2004 Vintage Stormtrooper, retooling the back, and giving it new accessories. As such, it's not entirely authentic to the film (different lenses on the helmet, for example) but it's darned good and for many fans, a dirty Stormtrooper is better than no Stormtrooper at all. With a full range of articulation (14 points), a holster, and removable accessories on its back, this is an excellent figure-- it even has a Dewback prod!

Easily customized for other ranks, this figure is a fan favorite and can be displayed in a variety of ways. Just switch shoulder pads, or perhaps change up the weapons, and it's like your duplicate figures turn into a unique army in no time. All you need, of course, are other troopers to use and swap parts from. The only thing this figure has going against it is the unusual dirt patterns which really don't look particularly natural. Still, it's a minor flaw all things considered.

Collector's Notes: While similar to the "Evolutions" Sandtrooper figures, there are significant differences in the sculpts, from the helmets to the waist articulation. This figure is, as mentioned above, based on a Stormtrooper and not a wholly (or at least mostly) original sculpt, as other Sandtroopers have been in the past. Numerous figures were buying this figure in absence of real Stormtroopers and painting them to be plain white, showing that there's a real unfilled demand for the basic white shocktrooper of the Empire.

Day 103: August 17, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 102: Death Star Droid

DEATH STAR DROID with Mouse Droid
Power of the Force Collection 3 Fan Club Exclusive, Toys "R" Us Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 69705 No. 69862
Number: n/a
Includes: Mouse Droid, Freeze Frame Action Slide
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $1.97-$19.99
Availability: Fall 1998
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: A Death Star Droid approaches what appears to be a routine prisoner relocation. The two stormtroopers are actually Han Solo and Luke Skywalker conspiring to rescue the imprisoned Princess Leia. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: Nothing really annoyed fans as much as the decision to make the final 4 figures of 1998 (at the time, figures many assumed to be the end of the POTF2 line) exclusive to the Fan Club, especially seeing as it meant a price hike of $4 per figure in addition to limited distribution. The Death Star Droid was a figure many fans loved to see, especially seeing as it was the first-ever black protocol droid, and the finest figure of 5D6-RA-7 ever. The MSE droid was a nice touch, too.

With six points of articulation, the figure was typical for its day. It seems to have aged well and looks great next to most modern figures, despite being mostly one color and a fairly simplistic sculpt. Its accessory, the MSE droid, is hollow and has wheels that are merely for looks, so don't expect it to do much rolling.

Collector's Notes: Initially, this figure was announced to be part of the main line. Due to (alleged) low orders from the major toy chains, the item was removed from main line distribution in the USA and became a Fan Club exclusive. Internationally, this item was a main line item. In the year 2000, the item eventually found its way to retail as part of the legendary Toys "R" Us blowouts for a mere $1.97, along with Fan Club exclusives Pote Snitkin, Hoth Leia, the AT-AT Driver, and Wuher. The mold was reused for the Sandcrawler Droid in 2004.

Day 102: August 16, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 101: R3-T6

R3-T6 Astromech Droids Series #1
Saga Collection Entertainment Earth Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 87055 No. 87056
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: January 2006
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Calculates hyperspace coordinates for the Empire. Does not survive the assault on the first Death Star. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: In 2005, I was granted an opportunity to help develop an exclusive, which is an anecdote I'll probably keep repeating until I die. One of many figures I've always wanted to see was R3-T6, a tiny, clear-domed droid in the service of the Empire aboard the first Death Star. As I've felt Hasbro doesn't make enough Imperial toys*, this was one of a few droids at the top of my list for production. He's based on the existing R3-T7 body (2002 Sneak Preview figure), and is exclusive to a 5-pack. He has a retractable third leg as well as articulated feet, legs, and of course, a rotating dome.

This figure is mostly there for droid fans, and for fans who need more figures for their Death Star dioramas. That, and it's rare to see an Imperial Astromech that isn't mostly black-- it's refreshing, isn't it? The figure is very much "what you see is what you get" and is fairly faithful to the props used on film. As its dome is virtually unpainted, it's a fantastic figure for customizing, and of course, for getting a good clean look inside its head.

Collector's Notes: At this time, this figure is still available from Entertainment Earth. Those uninterested in buying the 5-pack would be well-served to go to eBay, as fans break up the set and sell the figure for a few dollars. (In R3-T6's case, $5 or less before shipping.) The R3-T7 (light green with lightning bolts) mold was not only used for R3-T6, but also R3-A2 (orange, Toys "R" Us exclusive) and R3-Y2 (dark green, EE exclusive).

Day 101: August 15, 2006

* - This is no fault of Hasbro's. Much like aliens from Jabba's Palace, one can never have enough Imperial toys.

Figure of the Day: Day 100: Carnor Jax

CARNOR JAX Crimson Empire
Expanded Universe Internet Exclusive (EntertainmentEarth.com, ShopStarWars.com, HasbroToyShop.com)
Item No.: No. 87264
Number: 1
Includes: Staff, blaster, removable cape, removable helmet
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: September 2006
Appearances: Crimson Empire

Bio: Carnor Jax was a Royal Guard and aspiring Sith Lord who made a bid for the vacant Imperial throne. With his master, the self-proclaimed Dark Lady of the Sith Lumiya, Carnor Jax was responsible for the failure of the last of the reborn Palpatine's clone bodies and the extermination of the Prophets of the Dark Side. (Taken from Wookieepedia. [I have yet to see the final packaging for bio information.])

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray. It should be noted that this is an advance sample, although I've been told that this loaner is more or less final product.

Commentary: Hasbro's newfound commitment to the Expanded Universe begins (again) here. The Kir Kanos and Carnor Jax 2-pack is the first in a series of 2-packs that each feature a comic book and two action figures for a decent price. This particular figure fulfills a common fan request: that Hasbro convert a Royal Guard into the characters from the Crimson Empire comic books. While fans largely expected a minor tweak to the neck and a new head, it was a little surprising just how much actual new work Hasbro put in to the creation of this figure (and its sibling, Kir Kanos, which is pretty much the same figure except the paint and head.)




So, Carnor Jax. This figure takes the upper shoulders, lower legs, and upper legs from the 2005 Royal Guard figures, and adds an all-new torso, an all-new crotch, an all-new head, and all-new hands. Oh, and the small Biker Scout pistol? That's recycled. But the helmet is new, as is the double-bladed Force Pike. While the body looks like the same as the old one at first, if you look at the figure's back, it's quite different than the old one. For example the 2005 guards have an armored back, and these two figures have a back that's rather plain. The armor has been retooled on the front as well, but it's subtle-- similar, yet different enough. His face has a subtle sneer on it, and as far as I know this is the first time we've seen Carnor Jax out of his helmet without being dead. (Yeah yeah, spoiler alert.)

The good news about this figure? It's more new than old. New capes, new heads, new everything. The bad news is that the retooled body restricts one of the points of articulation. Sadly, the figures are no longer moveable at the waist. The neck has a ball joint, though, and you can get the figures to assume a number of battle-ready poses. The articulation's almost just as good as the Royal Guard's last year, and they're a lot of fun. The cape is easily removable, and it's nice to have another Sith Lord of sorts in the toy line, even if he doesn't have a lightsaber or isn't named "Darth."

Collector's Notes: The figure presented (and reviewed here) was an advance sample that you may have seen in San Diego in July. There may be some minor changes between this and the final release, but hey, it's worth previewing here I'd say. It should be available online next month, but preorders are available now and if you like Expanded Universe offerings, you might want to buy this one. Solidarity.

And I should also point out that the visor does NOT look pink in person, nor does the cloak appear to have a heavy red tint.

Day 100: August 14, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 99: Super Battle Droid

SUPER BATTLE DROID Droid Army
Clone Wars Deluxe Figures Collection
Item No.: Asst. 84845 No. 84992
Number: n/a
Includes: Packaged with red Battle Droid, Destroyer Droid figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones, Clone Wars, Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Battle Droids are produced in massive foundries on Geonosis. Despite a treaty forbidding the expansion of those armies, Geonosian foundries are currently running at maximum capacity, with thousands more battle droids secretly massing on Geonosis. Destroyer Droids, also known as droidekas, are engineered specifically as mobile machines of destruction, capable of eliminating practically any opposition. They roll into battle in the shape of a wheel, then unfold to full-standing combat stance for assault. Super Battle Droids operate independently rather than in groups, making them stronger, more efficient models of technological weaponry. (Taken from the set's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy hole.

Commentary: In 2003, it hit Hasbro-- it's time to put out low-cost army building packs! For a mere ten bucks, you could get this Droid Army set with a Super Battle Droid. This newly sculpted figure had all sorts of dents and dings, and four points of articulation. Given the droid's design, it's a pretty solid figure for the price, it's a more solid design than some other Super Battle Droid figures and its unique pose is a great addition to any diorama. The grit and dirt looks great, and the overall design makes this one of the best (if not best) action feature-free versions of this particular piece of separatist weaponry. As seen in the image, a display stand helps a lot, which does speak of the chief design flaw of this toy-- he falls over. If you can get past that, though, the final product is quite good and his other two brothers in the set are pretty great too. Why not get one? It's worth your while.

Collector's Notes: There's not a lot to say about this. It shows Hasbro's progress in refining this design by adding "flaws" to the armor, and even with its limited articulation it just looks so gosh darn good that this item, formerly part of a pegwarming set in many markets, should be a must-own collector's figure. The entire set can be had for as little as its original retail price, about ten dollars, if you shop around-- like many Clone Wars items, most collectors have gravitated toward this Expanded Universe release and its popularity is causing it to actually be worth something. Unlike pretty much everything else from 1995-2005.

Day 99: August 13, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 98: Padmé Amidala (Lars Homestead)

PADMÉ AMIDALA Lars Homestead
Saga Collection Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84843
Number: 0336
Includes: Cloak, display base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99-$5.99
Availability: Fall 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: While being guarded by Anakin Skywalker after attempts were made on her life, Padmé accompanies Anakin to Tatooine on a mission to rescue his mother. Tormented by nightmares, Anakin decides he can wait no longer to go to her aid, and Padmé chooses to stay by his side, even if it means going against the decisions of the Jedi Council who are trying to ensure her safety. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy hole.

Commentary: With the advent of the ball-jointed neck, figures like this Padmé Amidala had new and interesting features that could really only be exploited by popping off their heads. With a great sculpt and a colorful costume (as there isn't a whole lot of bright blue in Star Wars), this is a figure that makes a lot of fans happy, mostly because it shows a lot of skin, I presume. The figure has very limited articulation and upon its release, I commandeered her display base for Asajj Ventress. This version of the former queen can stand find with no added support, and as such, is a great figure. Except, like many complain, she's essentially a statue-- you buy her to look at her. She won't be sitting in any vehicles, nor will she be taking a seat at the bar. If your figures spend their lives on the shelf, this is a figure for you-- it looks great and does little. If you buy it in the package, take note: her cloak is packaged off to the side.

Collector's Notes: The tail end of 2003 was a nasty time and a lot of the figures were a little tough to get, including this version of Padmé. She hasn't been reissued and I think she's got the most defined midsection in the 3 3/4-inch action figure scale. As such, as a collector, she's worth snagging-- Padmé had a lot of great costumes in the second prequel and this one manages to give you two in one! Also take note at the neck on the cloak. The figure's cardback shows the neck clasp area separated, the actual production piece is fully connected. To date, I am not aware of a production change, it just seems Hasbro changed the production piece.

Day 98: August 12, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 97: Logray

EWOKS: Wicket & LOGRAY
The Power of the Force Collection 2; Original Trilogy Collection
Item No.: Asst. 69605 No. 69711; No. 34515
Number: n/a
Includes: Staff, hat, sash, Freeze Frame Action Slide (1998 only)
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99; $19.99
Availability: Spring 1998; Fall 2004
Appearances: Return of the Jedi



Bio: Logray and the Ewoks stand amazed as their newfound idol, protocol droid C-3PO, begins to "magically" levitate as Luke Skywalker uses the power of the Force. (Taken from the figure's cardback; 1998 release.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: Upon its release in 1998, this set of Ewoks: Wicket & Logray was a little baffling. Wicket was huge, or Logray was too short. In 2006, it seems the jury is still out-- the newly released Chief Chirpa seems sized to match Logray nicely, but that means Wicket is gargantuan. But that would also mean Teebo is too big, meaning that in all seriousness, this set probably isn't sized to itself. The Logray figure by itself, though, is pretty great. His hat has decent paint, his articulation is fairly good, but he's a little too cute. The vintage figure from 1983 looked downright mean in comparison, this one better matches the image on the packaging but could stand a little more... true grit? Also, the pointy ears are interesting as it seems that they are not quite so elvish in the movies or on any of the previous toys from over the years.

Collector's Notes: The figure was rereleased in the Endor Ambush gift pack at Toys "R" Us in 2004. As far as I can tell there are no significant changes. Ewok fans, take note: so far in the modern line Hasbro has revisited Logray, Wicket, Teebo, Chief Chirpa, and Paploo, leaving Warok, Romba, and Lumat as of yet un-remade.

Day 97: August 11, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 96: R4-M9

R4-M9
The Power of the Jedi Collection Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84455 No. 84666
Number: n/a
Includes: MSE Droid
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Late 2001/Early 2002
Appearances: Star Wars


Bio: R4-M9 is a standard multiple-use droid used to control and repair vehicles and computers. An Industrial Automaton R4 astromech droid, R4-M9 was stationed on the Star Destroyer Devastator and used by the Empire to search the computer banks of the Rebel Blockade Runner Tantive IV, in order to find data on the stolen plans for the first Death Star. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: As one of two figures with the name, R4-M9 can be had in this version and a teal Star Tours flavor. This version is designed on the opening shots of Star Wars, although a nearly identical droid without the vertical stripes appears in the Rebel hangar on Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back. This figure has an articulated dome, legs, "feet," and a retractable third leg as well as a light-up eyeport. Thanks to the coloring, the eye typically looks dark or black, and the top of the dome doesn't stand out as being awkwardly colored. All in all, it's a fantastic design using the best generic astromech body up until the R4-G9 mold became available. With the accessory MSE droid, this is a fantastic set well worth purchasing.

Collector's Notes: When buying R4-M9, be sure it's the Star Tours or the Power of the Jedi release-- only the latter has the Mouse Droid, and they have unique colors. This figure was recolored as R4-A22 (Entertainment Earth exclusive), R4-E1 (Entertainment Earth exclusive), and R4-I9 (Toys "R" Us Exclusive). If you like droids, there's quite a selection of Astromechs to be had!

Day 96: August 10, 2006

Figure of the Day: Day 95: Eeth Koth

EETH KOTH Jedi Master
The Power of the Jedi Collection Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84459 No. 84662
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Fall 2001
Appearances: Episode I

Bio: Eeth Koth is a Jedi Master and Council member known for his highly developed will power and ability to withstand intense pain. He is an Iridonian Zabrak from Nar Shaddaa, a harsh "smuggler's moon" that forced him to learn fortitude at an early age. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: File one under "resculpt!" The Eeth Koth figure was not only a bizarre sculpt, but also reused for other purposes. Posed in an action battle stance, this figure is one of few whose personality, pose, and abilities in no way match his appearance in the movies. As all he really did in the first prequel was sit around silent, one thinks it would be an easy figure to replicate-- but Hasbro was trying something new, and not entirely awful. With no real meaningful leg articulation, all this figure is capable of is assuming a number of battle poses, but they're neat unto themselves. Eeth Koth is a lot like an Unleashed figure in the 3 3/4-inch size, so fans of extreme poses, this is one for you! The sculpt is great, the facial expression is unique, but as we've never seen Mr. Koth enter fits of rage, it's a little out of "character." I use quotes as he really didn't do much in the movie beyond that what a potted plant might do.

Collector's Notes: Hasbro indicated this figure was going to be new and in the style of Episode II figures prior to its release, and they were right! With its extreme pose and the first-ever removable lightsaber blade, it foreshadowed what was to come in 2002. The sculpt was reused for the questionable Jedi Council Screen Scenes from 2003-2004, with the entire figure being repackaged (sans weapon) and another version being resculpted from the waist down to represent Agen Kolar and, of course, Eeth Koth. This is the best Eeth Koth you can buy today, and the best Agen Kolar was the original sculpt from Revenge of the Sith-- so buyer beware, there's no lightsabers in those multipacks!

Day 95: August 9, 2006