Figure of the Day: Day 298: C-3PO

C-3PO with Removable Arm
Power of the Force Flashback Collection
Item No.: Asst. 69680 No. 84041
Number: n/a
Includes: Flashback Photo, removable arm
Action Feature: Arm pops off
Retail: $5.99
Availability: Spring 1999
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: C-3PO, the always proper, overly anxious, human-cyborg relations protocol was a key member of the tightly knit Rebel Alliance that fought against Darth Vader and the evil Galactic Empire. But buried in the dust of history is the fact that the droid and Vader actually shared a common bond many years prior, when the evil Lord was a promising young man named Anakin Skywalker. As a gifted mechanical builder, Anakin cobbled together a skeletal-looking protocol droid and named it C-3PO. Many adventures and a gold-coated facelift later, C-3PO would once again cross paths with his equally-rebuilt creator in a less than happy reunion. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: Before release, Hasbro referred to this figure as "Shop Worn" and "Desert Worn" C-3PO. The decision to include a classic C-3PO into the assortments-- again-- in 1999 was a bit of a surprise, given Hasbro made a nearly perfect dirty C-3PO in 1998, and a downright excellent clean one in 1998. This one has some amazing dirt sculpting, and top-notch gritty deco. Unfortunately, the head sculpt was one of the worst in the modern line, with a face that looked a little too thin and long and really funky looking eyes. If you can get past the head, the figure is excellent-- sure, it has nothing special in the way of articulation, but it showed Hasbro was willing to try something new when creating grime on an action figure. The removable arm was a nice bonus, so you could simulate Tusken Raider attacks.

Collector's Notes: In early 1999, this figure shipped alongside Aunt Beru and Anakin Skywalker (flesh & blood) which rounded out what may have been one of the most kid unfriendly trios of action figures to ever constitute a single wave. Still, it sold fairly well and I don't recall seeing this one on clearance. The figure has been reissued in 2003 as part of one of the many waves of repackaged figures.

Day 298: February 28, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 297: Aayla Secura

AAYLA SECURA Battle of Geonosis
Saga Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84928
Number: 0311
Includes: Lightsaber, Force Effect, Display Base
Action Feature: Magnet in hand attracts lightsaber
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Spring 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: An agile and adept Jedi Knight, Aayla Secura wields her blue lightsaber with graceful precision and sensuous form. Many adversaries are lured by the sultry Twi'lek's notable style, but few are a match for her empathic reponses and shrewd parry. Although often more impetuous than her fellow Jedi, Aayla never relinquishes to anger or agression - an indispensible Jedi trait during the galaxy's current state of turmoil. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: With lots of articulation and a huge fan following from Dark Horse Comics' Republic series, what could go wrong with Aayla Secura? Well, my first figure snapped and several joints were so stiff, they would never move. My second Aayla proved slightly more poseable, but just because a figure has 10 points of articulation designed for high kicking and action poses doesn't mean it's any good. Of course, the figure is pretty good-- the sculpt is excellent, and the decoration is great. She looks a little bit meaner, which tied in to her earlier appearances in the comics, and of course her pose is very much an action-oriented one. The texture on the outfit is great, and this release showed a lot of promise for figures that would come later. Due to the paint used, the thin plastic at the joints, and what some consider a less attractive face, this isn't the best Aayla out there you can buy-- but on the cheap, she's pretty good. If you're not a collector who aspires to collect them all, you can skip this one.

Collector's Notes: As a comic book character that made the transition to the movies, fans went nuts over Aayla. Here's some fun trivia: the first sketches and sculpts for this figure were revealed at Celebration II in 2002, where the figure was initially proposed to have her lekku going up-- in other words, she looked more like the mini Unleashed figure. Given that a super-poseable version came out in 2005, this figure isn't exactly in demand these days. She'll probably cost you about $5.

Day 297: February 27, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 296: Jedi Spirits Obi-Wan Kenobi

OBI-WAN KENOBI Jedi Spirits
The Power of the Force Collection Cinema Scenes
Item No.: Asst. 84035 No. 84058
Number: n/a
Includes: Display Base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Fall 1998
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Yoda-- three individuals with lives intricately intertwined. Before Obi-Wan Kenobi was forced into a life of hiding, before Anakin Skywalker gave in to the dark side and became Darth Vader, even before Yoda was known as the last Jedi Master, a young Anakin was presented to the Jedi Council for permission to train the boy in the ways of the Force. Many years later, the Galactic Republic crumbled and the evil Empire rose in its place. Only after the defeat of the Empire, at the hands of Anakin's son Luke Skywalker, would the three great Jedi be reunited after death as spiritual guides for Luke and the New Republic. (Taken from the figure's box back.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: Hey kids, do you want a dead action figure? Obi-Wan Kenobi is here for you. Screwed to the stand (with actual screws), this figure is more of a display piece than a toy. The arms are ridiculously stiff, and you really can't pose him. And he can't hold anything. Actually, this figure can pretty much just stand there and look like a ghost-- if you don't like the idea of a blue statue, you should skip this one. If you need diorama fodder, though, this is a pretty fun set especially for its day. The sculpt is decent, but it's a POTF2-era sculpt, meaning that it isn't as realistic as it could have been, nor was the detail as good as you might expect. The set is good, so if you see it and like the idea, you should buy it. Otherwise, well, save your money for the inevitable all-new Jedi Spirits which will hit the market by 2009, were I a betting man.

Collector's Notes: So far, Obi-Wan Kenobi has had three distinct versions of himself made as a dead action figure. This one is the second. The first used the same basic sculpt as this release, but had different arms and was unpainted. The third was a totally different sculpt, which had a lot more color and articulation on it. The third release (2004 Original Trilogy Collection and 2007 Jedi Training on Dagobah set) should be the best of them-- but this one's good too if you also want an Anakin and a Yoda. Another three-pack of Jedi Spirits, which was unlicensed (or at least, not a Hasbro or Kenner product) was sold in Japan in 1998 and used a different sculpt.

Day 296: February 26, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 295: Tessek

TESSEK Jabba's Accountant
Power of the Jedi Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84455 No. 84639
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster pistoll, Force File
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Summer 2001
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: When the Empire invades Mon Calamari, Tessek escapes and becomes an accountant for Jabba the Hutt. Tessek despises Jabba and hopes to kill him and acquire his fortune. Unfortunately, Tessek doesn't realize his plans are known to Jabba's trusted servants... and to Jabba himself! (Taken from the figure's Force File.)

Image: Adam's toy shelves.

Commentary: Wait-- Squid Head is an accountant? The fleshing-out of character backgrounds revealed that what a lot of fans always assumed were cool mercenaries, awesome bounty hunters, and alien drunkards were-- unfortunately-- working stiffs just like you or me. Kids who grew up in the 1980s knew Squid Head as whatever they imagined, but when the modern Tessek figure was released it was accountant o'clock, like Norm on Cheers. And in all fairness, Norm is pretty cool.

Tessek is a great figure. His sculpt is so good, it looks like it came from an on-set still from Return of the Jedi, and the skin was carefully decorated to look like a high quality release. Not to knock Gentle Giant or Sideshow, but if they ever try to do Tessek, their work is cut out for them. There's a ridiculously high level of detail on this figure, from the cloth garments (rendered in plastic) to the gold belt to the suction cup fingers. Oh, and his turquoise eyes. And tiny blaster that fits in his holster, which is snuggly out of sight. While more articulation would be great, this figure's seven points are just fine considering that he has one of the best sculpts of the entire modern action figure line. If you see Tessek, you must buy Tessek. And if you are the sculptor of Tessek, please drop us a note and say hello because you do awesome work and we just want to make sure you know that. Few figures make you as glad to be a part of this hobby as this one, so kudos Hasbro-- this is a job well done!

Collector's Notes: At first, this figure-- as well as R2-Q5, Lando Calrissian, and Jar Jar Binks whom he shipped with-- were quite hard to find. It didn't last, but the figure was one of very few to deserve the hype-- it's excellent!

Day 295: February 25, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 294: Obi-Wan Kenobi (Naboo)

OBI-WAN KENOBI Naboo
Episode I Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84085 No. 84114
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, lightsaber hilt, CommTech Chip
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Spring 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: The young Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi and his mentor, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, help Queen Amidala and her forces in their attempt to liberate the planet Naboo from the overwhelming onslaught of the Trade Federation. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's toy shelves.

Commentary: A great figure with a good likeness and decent Jedi robes, this Obi-Wan Kenobi may not be super poseable, but it's super-cool. It comes with a lightsaber that's switched off you can hang on his belt. It comes with a normal lightsaber for fighting. Sure, he can't sit down-- but the figure has a great pose and decent enough articulation so that you can get a lot out of it as a display piece and, to an extent, as a toy. There's two joints on the right arm, but beyond that, it's all standard fare. Oh, and the robes restrict the leg movement. Beyond that it's awesome. The robes are very nicely done but not as crazy-textured as modern figures. I love it though, so go buy one.

Collector's Notes: This was the second-ever prequel-based Obi-Wan Kenobi figure, and arguably the best from The Phantom Menace. To date, it's never been reissued but was common enough in 1999 so that most fans can still get one on the cheap.

Day 294: February 24, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 293: Luke Skywalker in Stormtrooper Disguise

LUKE SKYWALKER in Stormtrooper Disguise
Power of the Force Collection 2 or 1
Item No.: Asst. 69605 No. 69604
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, blaster, and in some cases, a Freeze Frame
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Fall 1996
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Disguised as stormtroopers and fighting off a regiment of Imperial troops inside the Death Star, the escaping band of heroes finds refuge in a garbage receptacle. The Rebels realize their problem has changed when the walls begin closing in. (Taken from the figure's 1998 cardback.)

Image: Adam's toy shelves.

Commentary: In the vintage days, a few figures achieved legendary collectible status. So when it came time to do the modern line, Kenner cashed in on a decade's worth of fame and secondary market values with a new version of Luke Skywalker in his famous Stormtrooper disguise, which was a mix of new and old parts. The Stormtrooper armor parts were largely based on the 1995 Stormtrooper, except the limbs were straighter and most fans considered this to be one of the best poses of the then-new Stormtrooper army. Today, the figure doesn't hold up quite as well, but at the time it was a blast. The figure had a removable helmet, which was somewhat difficult to do in those days without a bulbous piece of head gear or a tiny pea-sized head. Sure, the figure was beefy. Yeah, it only had six points of articulation. But you know what? It rocked. Fans bought it in droves and Kenner kept it in circulation on the pegs for roughly two whole years, which is really a good lifespan at retail for a basic action figure in this day and age. If you're a collector who wants something special, be sure to get one of these. Kids should love it too.

Collector's Notes: This was a common figure, and to this very day, Hasbro has yet to release another Stormtrooper Luke with removable helmet and movie decoration. Later this year, we'll be getting a "comic book" version with blue and red highlights, as well as enhanced articulation. Fans are praying for a movie version of this new figure, but for now, this is pretty much your only removable-helmet Stormtrooper Luke option.

Day 293: February 23, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 292: Anakin Skywalker

ANAKIN SKYWALKER Trade Federation Cruiser
Revenge of the Sith Battle Arenas
Item No.: Asst. 85241 No. 85439
Number: n/a
Includes: Count Dooku figure, arena base, display stands
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: April 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Re-live the incredible battle between two of the most powerful Jedi of all, as they fight to the finish on a Trade Federation Cruiser! Only the strongest Jedi remains - will it be the light side or the dark side of the Force? (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam's Revenge of the Sith Republic Gunship.

Commentary: At first, I thought this Anakin Skywalker figure was a pile of junk-- and I was wrong. For the $20 arena price, it's not a good deal-- but if you got it in the Wal-Mart DVD 3-pack, or on clearance, it's a heck of a nice figure. The head sculpt is actually excellent, the hair is colored differently than pretty much any other Anakin figure, and the sculpt, while simple, is very good. There's not a lot of detail here, but for what they were trying to do, it worked out nicely. The lightsaber is part of the figure-- that is, it's molded to the hand. The figure is also posed somewhat oddly, but that makes it perfect for hanging out in a Gunship or in select battle stances. If you're looking for something that's a good toy, a definite curiosity, and not much of a collectible, this is a must-buy figure. Anakin fans, you can do much worse-- and I'll be sure to show you much worse in the coming weeks.

Collector's Notes: This figure was put in a 3-pack box for the DVD release of Episode III on DVD at Wal-Mart for $10, too. You should be able to get it for cheap, and in some markets, it might still be on the clearance shelves at Wal-Mart.

Day 292: February 22, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 291: Sandtrooper

SANDTROOPER Tatooine Patrol
Power of the Jedi Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84445 No. 84579
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, backpack, binoculars
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: 2001
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: For missions on arid planets such as Tatooine, the Empire sends in desert stormtroopers called sandtroopers. With rare exceptions, these Imperial soldiers are completely loyal to the Emperor, and are prepared to carry out their orders with ruthless efficiency. (Taken from the figure's Force File.)

Image: Adam's Transformers shelf. Long story.

Commentary: Many collectors considered this Sandtrooper to be the first truly acceptable modern Imperial trooper figure. With normal shoulders, good articulation, a decent pose, plenty of accessories, and above-par deco, what's not to like? Each figure has the basic six joints plus swivel elbows, and a special backpack that you can plug the binoculars and gun on. That's great on paper-- but the downside was that the accessories don't stay on too well. Still, they will stay on if you're patient.

There's not much to say other than it's very good, but not the best Sandtrooper. In 2005, Hasbro made a new sculpt for the Evolutions multi-packs, and those are super-crazy articulated figures with plenty of customization potential. So your best squad-building can be done by buying many different Sandtroopers and swapping weapons, accessories, and so forth. This release is a very good one, so be sure to get at least one if you're a fan of all things Imperial.

Collector's Notes: This figure was rereleased on a card in 2005 in the post-Original Trilogy Collection line, and was the rarest of the bunch. The same mold was repainted for a four figure mail-order exclusive set of Sandtroopers, each had a different color shoulder pad. Finally, the mold was reused for a few basic Stormtroopers-- they just left it white and left off the Sandtrooper-specific accessories. It's a good mold and Hasbro isn't afraid to use it.

Day 291: February 21, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 290: Endor Rebel Soldier

ENDOR REBEL SOLDIER Return of the Jedi
Saga Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84802
Number: 0233
Includes: Helmet, backpack, blaster, blast effect
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: April 2002
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: When Han Solo, Leia Organa and Luke Skywalker land on the forest moon of Endor to destroy the shield generator protecting the Death Star II, they are accompanied by a squadron of commandos. Loyal and courageous, these soldiers are inteprid fighters for the cause of the Rebellion. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's shelf with something or other.

Commentary: Fans supposedly love in-jokes, and the Endor Rebel Solider is a great one. Hasbro decided to sneak in the face of long-time toy designer and Kenner employee Mark Boudreaux, who has been on the brand since the vintage line nearly 30 years ago. Since the Rebels' faces didn't stand out, the designers decided that this would be fun-- and it was! The figure itself is fairly good, with an action stance featuring wrist and biceps articulation, as well as hips, neck, waist, and shoulders. There's a good level of detail in the cloth sculpting, and the removable helmet has been reused on countless other Endor Rebel figures, from four more troopers to Luke and, coming soon, Leia. (In other words, every possible figure and then some.) Some fans complain that the figure is basically a statue and forced in one pose, and they're more or less right-- but still, when building an army, a couple of statues are OK in my book and this figure is worth getting just because it's a rare chance (outside of G.I. Joe) to own a toy based on a toy designer. Which is freaking awesome.

Collector's Notes: There are two different head sculpts for this figure, and they come in the same packaging. As such, we'll treat them as separate, different figures. I should also note that the figure was sold in 2004 in an Endor-themed multipack, Endor Ambush.

Day 290: February 20, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 289: WEG-1618 (Star Tours)

WEG-1618 Star Tours
Star Tours Collection 2
Item No.: No. 10239
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $10.00
Availability: 2002
Appearances: Star Tours

Bio: WEG-1618 was a droid that worked for the Star Tours travel agency. He has a skill for wiring, and can be found repairing doors. On his spair time, he tinkers with an R5 unit, getting strange results. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's shelf of the damned.

Commentary: Move the head, move the arms, move the legs. That's about all the fun you'll be getting out of the lanky, tall, and gawky WEG-1618, another of the many varied (and ultimately not very popular) droids from Star Tours. With no accessories, no lines of dialogue in any form of fiction, and no action features, all he has is his sculpt and his paint job. The deco is good, and the sculpt is accurate, but the problem is that the droid looks like an animatronic skeleton and/or a pile of junk welded together to create some sort of droid-like figure. For the hardcore droid fan, it's cool. For those who adore a good exclusive, it's pretty neat. For the new collector who doesn't know who this and doesn't care to find out, well, do I need to go on? It's an obscure figure to the point where a lot of fans didn't buy it for their collections and don't really care. As such, if you like how it looks, get one. I think it's a nice robot to have, but mostly because it's so weird. Were it not labeled with the Hasbro and Star Wars brands, odds are I wouldn't have bought it unless it was significantly cheaper.

Collector's Notes: Nobody cares about Star Tours. The figures get consistently low reads in the column, and actually seem to be the lowest read of any figures-- interesting, considering how difficult it is to get many of these figure. This particular one goes for $10 or less, easily, and also serves as an example that just because some fans really like something from the Expanded Universe doesn't mean a) anyone else knows what it is or b) that they'll care when given the chance to buy it. Which is a bit of a shame given that these are some very interesting droid designs, it's just that nobody seems to care about them.

Day 289: February 19, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 288: Kabe

KABE and Muftak
Power of the Force Internet Exclusive
Item No.: No. 84071
Number: n/a
Includes: Knife
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99
Availability: Summer 1998
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Kabe, a Chadra-Fan, was a regular visitor of the Mos Eisley Cantina, and always drank juri juice. She was the adopted daughter of Muftak, a Talz. Whenever Muftak and Kabe would go to the Mos Eisley Cantina, Kabe would drink too much juri juice, and Muftak would have to carry her home. She was a petty thief and would often pick the pockets of other bar patrons. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's toy shelves.

Commentary: While short and squeaky, fans went nuts when Kenner announced Kabe as coming in 1998. Fans can never get enough of Cantina aliens, and this short little gal appeared to ask for a drink, and until the Expanded Universe came along, nobody gave her much thought. Since she's a bit more well-known courtesy of all these short stories and RPG manuals, it's good to know Hasbro put in some extra details for the fans to appreciate-- like some gold painted in to the dress, gritty paws, and a separately sculpted vest. With only four points of articulation, she isn't going to win any awards as being a crazy fun toy, but that's OK-- she isn't exactly a pretty figure in the first place. Her face doesn't match illustrations too closely, as the nose and mouth are often shown as being a lighter color, while the fur is slightly darker. When you're talking of a super-obscure alien from 1977 where photos were taken mostly in less-than-great conditions, odds are this figure is about as good as they're going to get-- so pick her up, and enjoy.

Collector's Notes: These were blown out at stores like Factory 2U and Entertainment Earth for reasons I haven't yet quite understood, meaning there's a fair amount in circulation and they aren't too expensive. Snag one if you see it or maybe buy new version of Kabe was sold in early 2007 at Wal-Mart stores as an exclusive. At press time we have yet to secure the figure and cannot verify if it's different than this original release, but both use the same mold and same basic colors. (It does look as if the newer release is slightly better decorated, though.)

Day 288: February 18, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 287: Adi Gallia

ADI GALLIA with Lightsaber
Episode I Collection 3
Item No.: Asst. 84105 No. 84124
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, cloak, CommTech Chip
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: May 3, 1999
Appearances: Episode I

Bio: A member of the esteemed 12-member Jedi Council, Adi Gallia and her colleagues must make the fateful decision whether or not Anakin Skywalker will be trained as a Jedi. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: The toy shelves of Adam Pawlus.

Commentary: In 1999, fans decided they wanted all of the Jedi Council members and Pod Racers from Episode I. With Adi Gallia, Hasbro hit the ground running to make sure fans got their fill of Jedi warriors, unfortunately it took a while to finish the set and as far as Pod Racers go, well, that's another column. Adi Gallia turned out fairly well-- she has a good sculpt with excellent texturing on her garments. Her deco is OK on some samples and not so great on others, so be sure to look her over when you buy one. Her red lightsaber was assigned to her before the idea of "All Jedi have green or blue Lightsabers" was handed down, although it is consistent with most Expanded Universe materials released at the time. So points to Hasbro for getting it as correct as everybody else did.

The figure has seven points of articulation, which, when her cloak is on, are pretty much all rendered useless. So once you take it off, she can be posed in a few meaningful ways, but she isn't super-articulated and she can't even sit particularly well. As such, there's room for improvement, but given the character's overall lack of popularity, I'm not expecting a new version. If you want all the Jedi, you may as well go back and buy this figure-- she's good enough, she's an excellent figure from 1999, and she's probably not going to return to stores again any time soon.

Collector's Notes: I had a real hard time finding a good sample of this figure for my collection-- the eyes are generally painted poorly. Also, Adi Gallia is known for using her backhand lightsaber technique-- but I decided I like it this other way better. Another Adi Gallia was sold for the Jedi Council figure packs, which used this mold with retooled legs. The exact same figure was used to make a Jedi Council Stass Allie, which I guess is someone's way of saying that all people with this hat look alike to toy executives.

Day 287: February 17, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 286: General Grievous

GENERAL GRIEVOUS Demise of Grievous
The Saga Collection Target Exclusive
Item No.: No. 87067
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, staff, flames
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99
Availability: Spring 2006
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Half alien. Half machine. All evil. Before he was the leader of the Separatist droid armies, General Grievous was a ruthless Kaleesh warlord who was badly injured in a shuttle crash. His body and brain were rebuilt, and after extensive training in the art of lightsaber combat, Grievous became one of the most feared enemies of the Jedi Order. His fateful confrontation with Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi proved that even a living, breathing technological terror like Grievous was ultimately no match for the power of the Force. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: The toy shelves of Adam Pawlus.

Commentary: The love of the overpriced figure stopped here-- so far. General Grievous was an old figure with new parts. This figure was largely based on the Sneak Preview General Grievous from 2005, but with a new head, new forearms, and of course, flames galore. The mean reason to buy this figure is for the flame deco and accessories-- without them, this is a crappy figure. The flames in the eyes can be easily removed, and the figure has about 10 meaningful points of articulation. My sample, when placed on a shelf, tended to fall over a lot. The plastic is a little rubbery, but if posed properly he'll stay put for a good long time. Still, the figure is limited in what it can do in the way of dioramas, so odds are more than likely that this figure will appeal to die-hard Grievous fans and collectors that will buy everything. For the average fan, there are plenty of other Grievous figures to look up, but truth be told Hasbro still has a while before making The Perfect Grievous.

Collector's Notes: While expensive figures sting, expensive figures that can be easily had for 75% off sting worse. As the final (so far) figure in Hasbro and Target's premium pricing figure program, this General Grievous was blown out at most stores for a fraction of its original price, meaning that someone probably lost money on it beyond us poor schmuck collectors. On eBay, the figures typically go for $6 before shipping, although some have gone as high as $10. I'm going to cry now.

Day 286: February 16, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 285: Greedo

GREEDO
Saga Wal-Mart Exclusive Cantina Deluxe Packs
Item No.: Asst. 32539 No. 32542
Number: 3 of 3
Includes: Bar section, 3 glasses
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.86
Availability: Summer 2002
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Greedo is a foul smelling Rodian petty thief who learned the bounty hunter trade from Spurch "Warhog" Goa. On Tatooine, Greedo became one of Jabba the Hutt's henchmen and was the Hutt's first choice to go after Han Solo. After many run-ins, Greedo and Solo confronted each other again in the Mos Eisley cantina...with deadly results for Greedo. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: The toy shelves of Adam Pawlus.

Commentary: People love Cantina aliens, but when a $10 exclusive Greedo with no gun was announced as a Wal-Mart exclusive repaint, fans were hoping for other aliens-- ones they didn't own. The mold was reused from 1999, but the deco was all-new and arguably one of the better painted versions of the figure. Frankly, for $10, there's no excuse for having dropped the gun-- the figure's hand is posed specifically to hold a blaster. And if you're going to spend $10 on Greedo, the 2006 version is probably the one you want, unless you hate cloth vests, in which case this is a fine one-- assuming you want more bar sections.

Collector's Notes: The Cantina packs tended to sell fast in some areas and were clearance nightmares in others. For this reason, the proposed second wave never saw production. A wave of "Outlander Club" exclusives for Wal-Mart based on Attack of the Clones were said to be in the retailer's computers, but no samples or confirmation of what these would be ever surfaced. To date, there are at least 5 modern Greedo action figures. This particular mold has been repainted 3 times. The first releases was in 1999, where the figure included a CommTech chip, a blaster, and was brightly colored with yellow piping on the costume. This is the second release. The third release was similar to this one, only more darker and muted. It was released in 2004 with a display stand and blaster.

Day 285: February 15, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 284: Lak Sivrak

LAK SIVRAK
Power of the Force Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 69605 No. 69753
Number: n/a
Includes: Blade, blaster, Freeze Frame action slide
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99
Availability: Spring 1998
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Lak Sivrak was an Imperial scout who developed a reputation for success and became an important asset to the Galactic Empire. The isolation associated with deep space scout work cutoff Sivrak from the news of the Rebel Alliance’s open opposition to the Empire. In Mos Eisley, hidden away from his employers, Sivrak dreamed of helping the Rebel Alliance as a scout. Finally his dream came true when he met Dice Ibegon, a Florn Lamproid. Lak Sivrak fell in love with Ibegon, and they left the Mos Eisley cantina. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: The toy shelves of Adam Pawlus.

Commentary: Cantina aliens are regularly some of the most-requested figures in the line, and fans were quite pleased when the Special Edition-ed out of existence Lak Sivrak got an action figure about a year after he was erased from the original movie. The figure was good-- he can sit, had unique snap-on accessories, had a great sculpt (which could be improved upon today, of course) and was generally a fun, but average, figure. There's not a lot exciting to speak of about the clothing texture, the face is lacking in detail, but it looks right-- I mean, it's an action figure, and for 1998 it was a very good, solidly constructed one. So if you want a good solid toy, this is a worthy purchase. If you need diorama filler, you can't go wrong. But if you want a perfectly sculpted, super-articulated figure that looks like it was based on scans from real movie props, this isn't it. Cantina alien fans, though, you should probably just buy this one because a new version seems unlikely.

There are some high points, though. Most action figure's mouths are completely unpainted, or at best, are one color. Lak Sivrak has yellow teeth and a black mouth, with grey paint around the face as well as brown fur all over his head. That's a lot of paint operations just for a head in 1998, and a sign that Hasbro (then Kenner) wasn't afraid to drop a few extra cents on deco to make a figure look about as good as it could for its place in the line's history.

Collector's Notes: Lak Sivrak came out at a time when the stores were overflowing with Star Wars product. As such, the figure didn't go down in history as being as good as it may have been. The figure can be had for roughly its original price.

Day 284: February 14, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 283: Shmi Skywalker

SHMI SKYWALKER Target Exclusive
Power of the Jedi Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84455 No. 84271
Number: n/a
Includes: Diagnostic screen, Force File
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Fall 2001
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: As a girl, Shmi was captured by space pirates, seperated from her family, and sold into slavery. Shmi currently serves Watto, a junk dealer on Tatooine, and also earns a small income cleaning computer memory devices. Shmi is devoted to her son, Anakin, who possesses special powers. She can always sense when he is nearby. (Taken from the figure's Force File.)

Image: The toy shelves of Adam Pawlus.

Commentary: A lot of work went in to making Shmi Skywalker, as you can see in a great face sculpt and her costume, which has amazing texture. Her paint operations weren't quite as sharp and/or amazing, and the plastic used to make her head wasn't as good as it could have been-- but still! While she's essentially a statue from the waist down, her articulated neck, shoulders, and elbows allow her to emote, to hold things, and to stand with quiet dignity. It's not exactly an "action" figure so much as a "stand there and don't fall over" figure. While we see a greater level of detail on our figures today, this was a good release for its day and made a lot of hardcore fans very happy. The ones that bought her, anyway. Nearly 6 years after her release, she doesn't have any features that stand out as being particularly remarkable, but as the only figure the character has ever seen (and likely ever will see), she should be a worthy purchase for a collector with a few bucks burning a hole in his or her pocket.

Collector's Notes: In many stores, Shmi was a poor seller. Fans demanded her, Hasbro made her, and the clearance aisles-- in some markets-- choked on her. Obscure characters are a tricky proposition in Star Wars, and just because a character was an important relation or had a notable rank doesn't mean anybody wants to buy it. She sells for her original price, or less, on the secondary market. It shouldn't be too hard to get her figure for under $10 shipped.

Day 283: February 13, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 282: Clone Trooper

CLONE TROOPER Target Exclusive
Revenge of the Sith Target Exclusive
Item No.: No. 26822
Number: n/a
Includes: Pistol, rifle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99
Availability: Spring 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: The Clone Troopers have played an essential role in helping the Jedi fight the Separatists' droid armies. Armed with sharp-shooting blaster rifle and protected by hard white armor, this clone trooper is ready for battle! (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: The toy shelves of Adam Pawlus.

Commentary: The back of the packaging may as well have had a crude drawing of someone flipping fans off, because this was the second figure in what was a fairly successful program of "premium" figure exclusives at Target. This Clone Trooper (along with Lava Reflection Darth Vader, Demise of Grievous, Lava Reflection Obi-Wan Kenobi, Lava Reflection Anakin/Vader, and the Utapau Shadow Trooper) cost more than twice that of an average figure and the only thing different about most of these releases were deco and a plastic clamshell. This particular Clone was based on concept art, and was the super-poseable Episode II Clone body with a newly sculpted head. So it's a little bit, a tiny bit, more bloated than other Revenge of the Sith Troopers.

The figure has a healthy amount of articulation and a good original design, but when you get right down to it, it isn't a figure that's worth $13-- and $13 was likely the least you would have to pay for it. There's nothing really wrong with the figure except for its price-- the designers did a good job repurposing an old mold for a new movie, and they deserve points for that. The ridiculous 160% increase in price over a basic figure stings, though, and collectors may be able to get this figure today at a far better price than at which it was originally sold in 2005.

Collector's Notes: Depending on where you lived, this was a hard figure to get. I never once saw one in stores and had to resort to-- you guessed it-- eBay, for a markup a bit higher than I would consider fair for an already expensive figure. The same mold was later reused for the Utapau Shadow Trooper. Today, the figure can be had on eBay for $9 or so before shipping, if you're lucky.

Day 282: February 12, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 281: Clone Trooper

CLONE TROOPERS Build Your Army
Revenge of the Sith Deluxe Figure Collection
Item No.: Asst. 85570 No. 85182
Number: n/a
Includes: Two more Clones
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Summer 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: The clone army is the main force of the Republic. Their armor has been adapted to integrate with different environments and also designates special divisions. These troops are fierce, loyal and single-minded in battle. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: The toy shelves of Adam Pawlus.

Commentary: Based on a modified version of a figure from Clone Wars, but with a retooled head and torso. This Clone Trooper has very limited articulation, with his gun molded to his hand. Basically, it's a posed solider-- if you need figures for your Gunships, armies, or other displays, this is the kind of figure you might want to use. With a ball-jointed head, a wrist joint, questionable arm joints, and a waist joint, it isn't going to be doing much but sitting in a pose pretty much exactly like in the picture. It's exciting, isn't it? If it weren't for the deco (which at the time, appeared exclusively on this figure) it probably would've gone ignored. Since a super-poseable version of this Clone came out in late 2006, odds are this one will fall in the cracks of history and be spoken of only in columns like this one.

Collector's Notes: This figure in this pose was made available in three of the four configurations of this deluxe 3-pack. As green is cool, this is a figure worth picking up, I'd say.

Day 281: February 11, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 280: Anakin Skywalker

ANAKIN SKYWALKER Jedi Hero
Revenge of the Sith Evolutions
Item No.: Asst. 85553 No. 85662
Number: n/a
Includes: Robot hand, lightsaber, blade, Geonosis arena chains
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Fall 2005
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Experience the evolution of the greatest villain the galaxy has ever known! These figures capture the fall of Anakin Skywalker and the rise of Darth Vader! Anakin is a young Jedi who fights for all that is good. He emerges as a hero of the Clone Wars but is lured to the dark side of the Force. He joins the evil Sith and becomes the menacing Darth Vader. From hero to villain, his power and influence change the destiny of a galaxy! (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: In 2005, Hasbro decided it was time once and for all to combine the super-awesome articulation of its 2004 Vintage line with extra accessories providing limited customization like many fans have begged for. The results were mostly awesome, with figures like Anakin Skywalker being able to do things that few Anakin figures before it could do. For example, this seems to be the only figure that can sit in the Anakin's Speeder vehicle from 2002 without damaging the figure, or severely cramming it into its seat. He has ball joints all over, with the only missed opportunity for "perfection" in articulation being the ankles-- which have no joints. There's soft goods for part of the Jedi garb and "pleather" for the rest of it, allowing this figure to sit pretty much any way you would please. Hasbro, this is how figures should be done. Hats-off to your sculptors and your articulation-masters, whatever they're called.

As far as deco goes, it's a little harder to be as nice to the figure. While the sculpt is certainly there, the face suffers from "I've got a bad paint job" syndrome, which means you get a stupid looking expression on what should have been a mostly good face sculpt. The hair color is good, the costume color is excellent, it's just that with action figures, so much personality is derived from the face-- and AOTC Anakin figures have a pretty ugly record for having utterly ridiculous faces. This is one of the better ones, but it still has a little bit of room for improvement. As I'm no painter, I offer no constructive criticism here. Just the bad kind.

Few figures have as many accessories as this one. First, Anakin has a lightasber with a removable blade, and a belt on which to hang the lightsaber. He has the chains that go with the columns from the Geonosis Arena pillars. He even has a robot hand for re-enacting his post-AOTC and pre-ROTS battles as chronicled in the Clone Wars. If you want, there's a soft good Jedi Robe included with the ROTS Anakin from this boxed set, and you can give that to the younger version if you're so inclined. One of the reasons fans hold Evolutions in such high regard is this set-- and for good reason. Get it if you have the chance.

Collector's Notes: The same figure, but with significantly fewer accessories, was sold in the Episode II Tin gift set as part of the 30th Anniversary Collection line. The figures are almost completely identical otherwise.

Day 280: February 10, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 279: Ketwol

KETWOL Pantsless Freak
Power of the Jedi Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84455 No. 84634
Number: n/a
Includes: Removable pants, Force File
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Fall 2001
Appearances: Star Wars: Special Edition

Bio: An asteroid prospector and part-time scout, the enigmatic Ketwol is often found in seedy spaceports trying to sell precious ores and metals. Ketwol is from a distant sytem in the Outer Rim Territories. An enemy of the Empire, Ketwol has secretly provided the Rebel Alliance with materials and information. (Taken from the figure's Force File.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: Few toys can boast the ability to be displayed Chicago style, but Ketwol here has removable pants. That's pretty amazing, at least to me-- I have thousands of action toys but I think this is the only non-cloth outfit figure that has removable pants. The detail is good, the sculpt is excellent, and the design is pretty good-- considering this guy was designed to be pasted in over a 20-year-old movie, it's hard to maintain the aesthetic of the original. I think this alien tried to do it, and more or less pulled it off. Unfortunately, you can't spin the head around and easily create the "froggy" alien ILM creature shop wizards managed to make from this mask, but hey, one is still pretty good. The removable pants comes from a backstory that this species is short, and doesn't want you to be able to tell. So he has stilts under his pants. Classy.

Collector's Notes: Many fans considered Power of the Jedi to be the best figure line of all time, but it also had some pretty horrible sellers. Ketwol sat around in some stores until after (or during) Revenge of the Sith and while I haven't seen him around lately, I'm sure someone out there can tell me a store in their neighborhood that has a peg of these still. With that in mind, don't pay real money for this one-- it's a good figure and certainly worth (as far as "wow neat" goes) the price, but it's so common you should be able to get it dirt cheap.

Day 279: February 9, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 278: Boba Fett

BOBA FETT Original Trilogy Collection
Original Trilogy Collection
Item No.: Asst. 85213 No. 85271
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, rocket pack
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 2004
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Orphaned at a young age, Boba Fett lived through the Clone Wars and the Galactic Civil War, surviving both, yet never allying outright with either the Galactic Republic, the Separatists, the Galactic Empire, or the Rebel Alliance. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: Everybody loves Boba Fett, except people that suck. This particular figure is arguably the best-- while there's some room for improvement, it's still excellent. The deco is superb, the sculpt is great, the articulation is as good as you can get with Boba Fett, and it's really hard to ask for too much more. As a Return of the Jedi version of the bounty hunter, there's a lot to like here-- and most fans bought one for $10 when he first came out. By and large, these fans were happy with their purchases and I have to say this is still one of the finest figures in my collection. The texture on the "cloth" parts are great, and there's actually some cloth on this figure in the form of his cape. At a premium price, this was a good figure. At a soon-to-be-released basic price point, this is an easy buy.

Collector's Notes: Due to fan outcry, Hasbro will be reissuing this figure on a Saga Legends cardback in 2007. This is largely considered to be a very good thing. At this time, there's only one release of the figure-- the first release-- and Hasbro has yet to make variants in the other Boba Fett color schemes (like ESB-specific, or the yellow-gauntlet "Proto" armor.) This is a figure people love, and for good reason.

Day 278: February 8, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 277: Firespeeder Pilot

FIRESPEEDER PILOT Battle of Coruscant
The Saga Collection
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 85939
Number: 022
Includes: Backpack, hose gun, display stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Spring 2006
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: As the massive aerial battle over Coruscant comes to an end, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker pilot General Grievous' disabled flagship to a dramatic crash landing. A raging fire breaks out once the ship hits Coruscant's atmosphere, but lucky for the Jedi heroes, this brave firespeeder pilot and his crew are ready to put out the flames and help the ship land. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: The Firespeeder Pilot was one of the figures fans were demanding in 2005 because, well, it looked cool. Hasbro heard, and designed the pilot with a lot of articulation, a sort of fire repellant backpack device thing, and all the detail you might want. Oh, and he has a good pose too. The figure looks a little bit like some similarly sized G.I. Joe pilot figures, but it's still a neat figure in its own right. It'd be a neater figure if there were more vehicles for it to pilot, sadly Hasbro has elected to make very few vehicles that don't already include their own figures so this is yet another of many pilots that have no real home in your collection beyond the shelf. Well, in theory. George stuck this one in a few other scenes, too...

Collector's Notes: At first, fans thought this Firespeeder Pilot was just another one of the amazing suited-up heroes in George Lucas' massive world, an intergalactic fireman. It turned out we were wrong-- these guys could also be seen in the hangars of the various Clone squads that were being deployed to Utapau! Check your DVD for the proof. So you can use these guys with your orange Clone Troopers as well as part of the Coruscant fire sequence if a vehicle ever came out, which it won't, so prepare to despair.

Day 277: February 7, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 276: Security Battle Droid

BATTLE DROID Security
Power of the Jedi Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84455 No. 84249
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, Force File
Action Feature: Lever on back raises arm
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Fall 2000
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Droid soldiers serving the Trade Federation, battle droids are emotionless warriors who follow their masters' orders without question. Security droids, programmed to guard Trade Federation bases and prisoners, are only one type of battle droid. (Taken from the figure's Force File.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: While Jar Jar provided "teh funny," as it were, in Episode I the Battle Droids were often deployed for additional comic relief. While some fans found their goofy voices and catchphrase "Roger Roger" a tad annoying, I dug them and think they're great-- the problem is that the early action figures were the must sturdy (and able to stand) and later issues, well, not so much. As one of the earlier figures, this Battle Droid is pretty solid-- he looks like he does in the movie, has a nifty but ultimately not annoying action feature, is loaded with articulation, and seems to be all the right colors. While I've heard some quibbles on the sculpt for earlier Battle Droids as far as authenticity goes, there's a fine line between "awful" and "good enough," and this is "good enough." If nothing punches me in the face as being overly wrong, I can live with it-- and this is one of my favorite Battle Droids. It's a shame he'd always been a little tough to get, but hopefully Hasbro will crank out more of this poor, pathetic Trade Federation appliance for us to buy so our Jedi can beat the snot out of them, bless their hearts.

Collector's Notes: The figure was first released on a card, as described above. In 2006, it was rereleased as part of the Sith Lord Attack Battle Pack with no significant changes. In 2002, however, it was redecorated in red and sold in an accessory pack as a Target exclusive that was actually pretty cool.

Day 276: February 6, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 275: Jar Jar Binks

JAR JAR BINKS with Gungan Battle Staff
Episode I Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84085 No. 84077
Number: n/a
Includes: Staff, CommTech Chip
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: May 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: A creature from the underwater depths of the planet Naboo, Jar Jar Binks must convince his fellow Gungans to take up arms against the greedy Trade Federation in a battle to preserve the planet. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: Nothing took as much heat as Jar Jar Binks when it came to hate for Episode I. Fans even re-edited the movie to make him seem like a wise warrior, which I found interesting, especially as this particular action figure seems to make it look like that's what the character might be. Later releases had big floppy ears or his tongue sticking out, but Hasbro made their first Jar Jar in a pose with a neutral face, a huge weapon, and a stance that's, frankly, normal. The Gungan outcast has his vest, shirt, and pants, as well as a very ornate pattern on his skin. With a mere six points of articulation, this is a pretty run-of-the-mill figure, but for most purposes, it may be the best. He doesn't have some big awkward pose, he doesn't have a scene-specific head, and he can (more or less) sit without too much trouble. So in short: he's good, but he's plain. There's really nothing to make this a "wowie zowie" figure, but it isn't bad either-- and there are some really bad Jar Jar Binks figures, which we'll be getting to shortly.

Collector's Notes: While Celebration I, the first big Star Wars convention in recent history, had no exclusives they did have a few prequel figures early. And this was one of them. Since this convention took place mere hours before the big toy launch for the prequels, the figure had a very short window of being new, exciting, and desirable. After its initial shipment, it tended to sit around a lot and now you can probably get one for close to nothing.

Day 275: February 5, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 274: Shaak Ti

SHAAK TI Jedi Master
Revenge of the Sith Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 85174 No. 85290
Number: III-21
Includes: Lightsaber, pad, display base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.24
Availability: April 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Jedi Master Shaak Ti is an esteemed member of the Jedi Council and serves as a General in the Clone Wars. Like all Togruta, she has long head-tails called lekku that have protective pigmentation patterns. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: During the Attack of the Clones line, Hasbro made a version of this character that was OK-- but not great. For Revenge of the Sith, Hasbro went all out and gave us the best Shaak Ti we'll likely ever see. She's very close to being super-poseable, and unlike the first version of the figure, has no problems standing up. She has a cloth dress, loads of articulation, a lightsaber, and everything you'd want short of extra dark brown Jedi robes. Her deco is excellent, the texture of the costume is superb, and short of some ball joints on the elbows and/or ankles, there's not much you can do to make this a better figure. I mean, she has a stand and a lightsaber, which is great, but her data pad just knocks it out of the park. So if you want just one Shaak Ti, be sure to get this one and not the version from Episode II.

Collector's Notes: Sadly, this figure did not do very well in some markets. I myself found one for $0.50 in late 2006 sitting at a Wal-Mart, over a year after it first came out. It's the best Shaak Ti you can buy, though, and on eBay it'll set you back about four or five bucks. It's worth it.

Day 274: February 4, 2007