Figure of the Day: Day 390: Fixer

FIXER Republic Commando Delta Squad
The Saga Collection Shared Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 84851 No. 84922
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, backpack, 6 other action figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $33.99-$39.99
Availability: December 2006
Appearances: Star Wars: Republic Commando

Bio: Second in command of Delta Squad, Fixer handles code breaking and computer slicing. Always at the front of a charge, he urges his squad mates on under fire. Off the battlefield however, he prefers the company of a good, quiet power droid to his fellow Deltas. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' back yard.

Commentary: In 2006, someone at Hasbro looked at Scorch and said "hey, let's make more of these," and the Internet shared exclulsive gift set from Republic Commando was born. Fixer has 10 points of articulation, a removable backpack, and a gun. That's about all there is to say, really. The shoulders are not ball-jointed, but the figure is pretty good at holding his weapon. There's a limited spray of dirt on the figure-- which, sadly, does not match the damage on the other clones in the set. Still, it's visually more exciting than a box of totally clean clones. While many complained about the fact that the figure lacks knee joints, you have to remember this was designed to be a part of a reasonably cheap gift set-- you get seven figures for about $34, or about $4.85 per action figure. That's over $2 cheaper than the going rate of a basic figure at most stores, so you can't really expect perfection at that price. As the figure can hold his gun and basically sit, there's really not a whole lot more you can ask from this release at the price, except repaints, and how can Hasbro resist the allure of a redeco? After all, we fans can't.

Collector's Notes: While the first run of this set sold out pretty quickly, a new production run is coming soon for those who missed out.

Day 390: May 31, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 389: R2-D2

R2-D2 Droid Factory Flight
Saga Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84851 No. 84922
Number: 0309
Includes: Two lightsabers, removable arm
Action Feature: Pop-out rockets, moving magnetic tools
Retail: $4.99
Availability: February 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Accompanying Padme on a rescue mission to the planet Geonosis, R2-D2 is chased into the huge battle droid factory, where he uses his jet-flight function in an attempt to escape his pursuers. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: This figure can: move his dome and feet. This figure cannot: do much else. As a figure developed around several action gimmicks, this R2-D2 works as a toy on some levels and fails on others. For example, the stiff droid has hooks on his back to wrap around the "cable" that holds his various magnetic tools to his person. Because of this R2-D2 can't fit in any "droid socket" in a vehicle. There is a retractable leg, which causes the rockets to pop out-- a nice feature, sure, but it's a little awkward. Oh, and just looking at this droid, you can tell something is up because it looks like it was colored by a bootleg toy maker and not some pro toy colorist. There's really no reason for it to look so... plasticy? Toy-ish? I know action figures aren't meant to be art pieces, but the vintage R2-D2 from 1978 looked a little more like the movie than this one in many respects. If you collect based on how a figure looks, there's really no reason to get this one. While it used to be cool as a "rocket arm" R2-D2, we've since gotten two better versions-- so the only thing this one has going for it is that it has a magnetic tool to "drag" C-3PO's head, if you happen to have one of the C-3PO Deluxe figures with that feature. Otherwise, there really isn't much to like here.

Collector's Notes: You should have no problem getting this figure cheap. Also, after I wrote this article, I found out Hasbro is going to reissue it this Fall as part of the "Capture at the Droid Factory" Battle Pack. From the image, it looks like there will be minimal (actually, no) changes.

Day 389: May 30, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 388: Anakin Skywalker

ANAKIN SKYWALKER Hangar Duel
Saga Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84851 No. 84605
Number: 0222
Includes: Two lightsabers, removable arm
Action Feature: Arm is removable for battle-damage, turn dial on back for dueling action, lightsaber is Force-attracted to magnet in right hand
Retail: $4.99
Availability: April 2002
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: During the epic battle on Geonosis, Anakin Skywalker duels with the evil Darth Tyranus within a secret hangar. Anakin demonstrates his tremendous power by wielding both his and Obi-Wan's lightsabers to battle the skilled Sith Lord, who fights in the classic "old style" of ages past. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves. Standing on top of an Episode I holographic communicator.

Commentary: I have little doubt that this figure helped to make many of the now forgotten "haha N-Sync Jedi" jokes of 2002. Anakin Skywalker as a character is a topic I won't get in to here, but as a figure, he probably could have been painted just a little bit better. The sculpt here is excellent, it's just that in this size, exaggerating the hair or skin color is often necessary to make a more "realistic" looking product. Here, it needs a little work. The figure itself is pretty good, though, with 10 points of articulation, a few action features, and more weapons than you might be able to expect. Both lightsabers have removable blades, but the green one has a metal handle which can fly up into a magnetic hand. While this magnetic feature is quite cool, the one in the arm of the first release is not. The magnet in the arm is so weak that if you have the figure in your hand and gently place it on a flat surface, the arm will likely fly right off. Later releases changed this (see below) because it's a pretty big design flaw.

Speaking of design flaws, this was the first regular Anakin figure from the movie, and he couldn't sit down-- while this may not seem like a huge deal, it was released at the same time as Anakin Skywalker's Speeder vehicle, which didn't have a figure that could sit in it particularly well until 2005. Not that this is particularly relevant to the figure, I'm just required by law to get a dig in when Hasbro/Kenner releases a vehicle where the figure(s) designed for it aren't particularly compatible. The figure itself has a decent sculpt, stands fairly well, and sports a fun "dueling" action figure that doesn't get in the way of the figure's look or play ability. As such, if you can get this one, it's a pretty decent addition to your collection. The "perfect" Episode II Anakin figure does not yet exist, but this is probably one of the two best you can buy today.

Collector's Notes: This figure comes in two flavors. The initial release had a magnet holding the peg in the arm in place, while later releases got rid of the magnet and went for a straight peg. The magnet doesn't hold very well, and the figure's arm can drop off easily. The peg version is fairly good at staying put. The packaging was changed slightly for the peg release, and this came much later in the toy's run-- so if you bought it at "Midnight Madness 2002" then you got the magnet one. I can't say enough nice things about the pegged version-- get that one if you have a choice. It's also worth nitpicking that this figure, like many, has lightsabers that are not true to the scene in the movie from which this figure was designed. Oh well.

Day 388: May 29, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 387: Ayy Vida

AYY VIDA Outlander Club Patron
Saga
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84723
Number: 0338
Includes: Stool, glass
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Fall 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: The consort of local crime boss Hat Lo, the beautiful Twi'lek Ayy Vida has been tainted by the criminal underworld. She continues to look for an opportunity to escape Lo's repressive clutches. After catching the eye of a dapper Republic Guard one night at the Outlander nightclub, she hopes the guard will rescue her. Her hope is in vain for he is an imposter, one of many poseurs who frequent the clubs for their own nefarious purposes. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: In the immortal words of Mr. Laupin, "She'll go there. And maybe she'll bring a friend." Ayy Vida is dressed like a total party girl in a collar and skin-tight latex (I think) outfit, which matches her dyed skin. Hawt. The figure initially resembles a retooled Shakka, although dressed in what may be considered a far more pleasing manner. Because of this, she's not a perfect match for the stock photography, but still a great addition to your Outlander dioramas. The figure is one of too few female figures in the line, has eight points of articulation, is nearly naked, and is drinking. In other words, the kind of houseguest one can only wish for. While the figure does little to break new ground in the world of toymaking, she has done wonders for the world of in-universe Star Wars club fashion, and to Ms. Vida, we salute you.

Collector's Notes: This figure was introduced as the SKU she shipped in was discontinued-- meaning she basically shipped in one case at one per case for a few weeks, and was clearanced. As such, she was a little hard to get, but as nobody cared, she stuck around for a while. Fans of the Coruscant Outlander Nightclub will also want to get Elan Sleazebaggano, Achk Med-Beq, Lt. Dannl Faytonni, and the club version of Obi-Wan Kenobi-- each includes tables and chunks of the bar to recreate some elements of the scene in your very own home.

Day 387: May 28, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 387: Dengar

DENGAR Executor Meeting
Saga
Item No.: Asst. 84715 No. 84771
Number: 0417
Includes: Blaster, backpack, display stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Spring 2004
Appearances: Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi

Bio: Dengar was one of the elite bounty hunters hired by Darth Vader to capture the Millennium Falcon and her crew. The grizzled hunter Dengar was called "Payback" because personal vendettas fueled much of his career. He was once a daring swoop racer until a competitive rival, Han Solo, ended his career when their swoops crashed. Although Dengar was to blame for the accident, he held Solo responsible and leaped at the chance for revenge. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Jabba's Palace diorama.

Commentary: For some reason, it was decided that every character had to have some elaborate backstory, even Dengar, because there was probably some rule against someone just being there and taking a job. This update of the figure was the third-ever Dengar action figure, and easily, it's the best of the three. The vintage one was great, and this one updates that classic figure by adding lots of detail and articulation, and restoring the backpack that was missing from the 1997 release of Dengar. So basically, what you have here is almost the world's best Dengar action figure that could ever hope to be. I say "almost" because sure, you could add ball-jointed knees, elbows, and ankles. The figure has 10 points of articulation, which for a figure that stood there and did (and said) nothing, is quite good. If you have any affinity for Dengar, this is a figure you need to have. If you don't care, well, this is the one that sucks the least.

Collector's Notes: Fans were pleased, but not super-pleased, when this figure was released. It's not particularly hard to find or expensive today, and it was also reissued in a box set in early 2006 called "The Hunt for the Millennium Falcon Bounty Hunter Pack," and it was a Diamond/Previews exclusive. Unless Hasbro decides to do a "vintage" Dengar in the future (and I'm not optimistic), this is probably as good as it's going to get for at least another five or six years, so be sure to pick it up if you get the chance.

Day 386: May 27, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 385: Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader

ANAKIN SKYWALKER Changes to Darth Vader
Revenge of the Sith Deluxe Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84845 No. 84987
Number: n/a
Includes: 2 lightsabers, arms, armor, cape, cloak, and more!
Action Feature: Anakin transforms into Darth Vaer
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 2003
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Anakin Skywalker, hero of the Republic, turns to the dark side of the Force and joins the evil Sith. After nearly dying in combat, one final change erases all traces of his former self. No longer Anakin, he is now Darth Vader. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.



Commentary: When I first heard about this Anakin Skywalker figure, I cringed-- I assumed it'd be like all those Batman figures I bought where it turns from Bruce Wayne to Batman and neither outfit looked any good. While it isn't perfect, it does have some things going for it that other Sith Anakin figures can't even dream of being able to do. Things like sitting. Anakin's lower robes are fully removable for his transformation into Darth Vader, so you can get them out of the way and he can sit in his Jedi Starfighter with absolutely no problems. This is why I think everybody should own this figure. Kids may enjoy the transforming bits, and it's fun to throw on some armor, push down his head, and say "presto, new figure!" but when you look at them both, do either really look awesome? Each has a few high points, like Darth Vader's helmet looks really good in this set, but the armor isn't quite a perfect fit and you can still see some of the brown Jedi outfit under the armor. Obviously, this is not your one-stop figure to meet all your Anakin or Darth Vader needs, but if you're looking for something that's fun to play with, or for something for your kids, you should totally get this one.

Collector's Notes: A small "warehouse find" resulted in these coming back in stock at Entertainment Earth, but other than that, they've been off the market since late 2005. It's worth about the same as it was when it first came out, so expect to drop about $10-$13 for this one. If Hasbro ever makes a Darth Vader with a ball-jointed head, I really, really hope they use this helmet sculpt as the basis of the head.

Day 385: May 26, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 384: Clone Trooper

CLONE TROOPER ARMY Army of the Republic
Clone Wars Deluxe Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84845 No. 84987
Number: n/a
Includes: Binoculars, 2 more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones, Clone Wars

Bio: Virtually indistinguishable from one another, Clone Troopers are identical in physical appearance, mental capability, and stamina. Part of a clone army, they are grown in the cloning facilities of Tipoca City, a luminescent city of industry emerging from the raging seas of Kamino. Although clone troopers share the same modified genetic code, their genetic structure has been altered to make them less independent than their genetic host, and their growth has been accelerated to twice the normal rate of a human. Grown and trained specifically for military combat, the Clone Army was mysteriously commissioned ten years earlier. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' AOTC Clone Shelf.

Commentary: The Clone Trooper Army 3-packs were sort of awesome, sort of crappy, and sort of a pain all at once. It was nearly impossible to find all 5 variations on this set, which, between them, had only 8 different figures. So even if you bought the fewest possible packs, you'd still wind up with at least 12 figures when all you might want were those 8-- but thankfully, they're Clones, and extras are usually welcome. This particular Clone was the best of the four molds used in the set, as it had a set of binoculars to hold as well as a rifle molded to his hand. As such, there's more room for variety. With non-moving legs, you're basically stuck with one pose and limited arm articulation-- still, it's not a bad figure, and for those building a huge army, it's worth getting. There's just not a lot you can do with this Commander other than stick him on a shelf or a diorama.

Collector's Notes: For whatever reason, Hasbro has been reluctant to reissue these "army soldier" Clones of limited articulation, which is a real shame as they'd make nice bonus items in other sets as they can't cost too much to make. The prices on these once hard-to-get figures have dropped as other Clones came out and grabbed fan interest, so if you want them odds are you can find them without too much work these days. Back in the day, at least where I lived, the pack with this clone and the green one proved impossible to find locally.

Day 384: May 25, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 383: Spider Droid

SPIDER DROID with Rotating Turret and Firing Cannon
Saga Deluxe Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84859 No. 84957
Number: n/a
Includes: AT-RT
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: May 2005
Appearances: Attack of the Clones, Clone Wars, Revenge of the Sith

Bio: The Dwarf Spider Doid is a squat, multi-legged droid of destruction deployed during the Battle of Geonosis. These mobile tanks typically serve the Commerce Guild in hunting down evading operatives, but when the Galactic Republic engages the Separatist armies in a full-scale ground assault, Dwarf Spider Droids are deployed to counter the Republic's massive clone army. Their striding legs are ideal for the rugged terrain of Geonosis, and their crimson eyes radiate with infrared photoreceptors for targeting the enemy through dense clouds of battle. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' bathroom. Aren't you special, you get to see where somebody can drop a Count Dooku.

Commentary: Essentially a glorified and overpriced wind-up toy, the Spider Droid can't do much. You assemble it, you wind it up, and when you push a button, it shoots. That's all there is to it. You can admire its battle damage paint, though, and it's pretty good. At the same time, you can curse the plastic Hasbro made it out of-- in the interests of being durable, the legs are a rubbery, gummy plastic that warps if the figure is left standing in a room that it deems too warm. As a toy collector with a whole mess of Zoids wind-up kits (developed by Tomy, distributed by Hasbro/Kenner/Tomy/etc.) I know that they can use a less rubbery plastic in constructing wind-up toys that will, over years, never, ever sag-- so there's no excuse for this kind of rubberyness. Also, you may note the antenna is bent in the photo-- the sad thing is that it's much, much straighter than when I opened it in 2003. This figure is a neat concept but suffers from poor materials choices and packaging which bends it out of shape before it's even opened. Ishould never have to "fix" a figure after making a purchase, it should be perfect-- or at least good enough as the toymakers intended-- after I assemble it out of the box.

Collector's Notes: This figure was reissued in Clone Wars packaging in 2003 with, as far as I can tell, no significant changes. As such, pick your poison. The Revenge of the Sith release is in different colors, so if you have this one, you'll want that one too. I love the concept of the Spider Droid but the choice of materials makes me not want to tell everyone to run out and get it, unless, maybe, if you live in a really cold climate and it'd be less likely to sag.

Day 383: May 24, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 382: AT-RT Driver

AT-RT DRIVER Pack-In Figure
Revenge of the Sith Vehicles
Item No.: Asst. 85194 No. 85347
Number: n/a
Includes: AT-RT
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: May 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: The Republic forces use AT-RT (All-Terrain Recon Transport) vehicles for reconnaisance and ground support. Lightweight and maneuverable, they walk on long legs and are controlled by specialized clone troopers with distinctive armor. (Taken from the figure's box. Which, interestingly, shows a white AT-RT Driver one the sides.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: With only about four points of articulation and very little deco, this isn't the best AT-RT Driver money can buy-- we covered that one a few weeks ago. No, this one is a pack-in with a vehicle which means it's a cheap figure whose sole purpose in life is to warm a seat. The sculpt isn't all bad, but there's really nothing here to make you jump out of your seat with glee-- aside from the vehicle that's packed with him, that is. In less then five months after his release, Hasbro cranked out a better, super-articulated version of the driver with a removable armor chest plate, a firing rocket launcher, and a normal gun. So why do you want this one? I really don't know.

Collector's Notes: This set wasn't exceedingly rare, but it was popular and a later release-- so it's entirely possible you missed out on it and now gotta pay through the nose (well, maybe $30) on eBay. Rumor has it this vehicle-and-figure-set will be reissued this year, but the details are still a little fuzzy.

Day 382: May 23, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 381: Obi-Wan Kenobi

OBI-WAN KENOBI Outlander Nightclub Encounter
Saga Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84717
Number: 0339
Includes: Glass, bar
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Fall 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker chase the assassin, who attempted to take the life of Senator Amidala, into the Outlander nightclub on Coruscant. As Obi-Wan bides his time, waiting for his quarry to make a move, he is approached by one of the low-life Slythmongers. Using the Jedi gesture of influence, he convinces the Slythmonger to reform his corrupt ways. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: A Jedi hero action figure is going to include a drink and a bar? I never thought I'd see the day, but in 2003 we saw Hasbro release Obi-Wan Kenobi specifically from that sequence of the film. The figure includes half of a bar (which can store drinks behind it) and a drink, plus was the most articulated (at the time) version of the character. In theory, this was great-- however it was 2003, and "super articulation" was just coming into its own with the release of the Clone Trooper still a few months down the road. Still, this was the best at the time, which as good and bad-- you see, Hasbro still hadn't quite figured out how to do Obi-Wan Kenobi's hair from Episode II, and as such, the beard and the whole head just looks bad. It's like releasing a tiny Padme figure with no makeup-- unfortunately, when you get down to a tiny scale, some things benefit from exaggeration or precision because otherwise they just look odd. This is one of those figures. If the head was better, I'd dare say it's one of the best Obi-Wan figures we're ever going to see, but it wasn't, so it isn't.

The figure has a lightsaber molded to his belt, and features over 11 points of articulation. It's an OK figure, but it isn't one that's going to win a lot of contests. Still, for the bar, at the right price, this figure is totally worth plunking down some cash on. There aren't many chances to buy Star Wars scenery, so be sure to get them when you can.

Collector's Notes: This item shipped near the end of the 2003 line of Saga, and as such was clearanced out quite violently shortly after its release. If you lived in the right area, you could get this entire wave at Target for a couple of bucks each. As people were sort of Attack of the Clones-d out by then, a lot of people didn't seem to mind.

Day 381: May 22, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 380: Snowtrooper

SNOWTROOPER Toys "R" Us Exclusive
Power of the Force Millennium Mint Coin Collection
Item No.: Asst. 69675 No. 84028
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, coin, display base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Spring 1998
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: The snowtroopers, also known as cold assault stormtroopers, were Imperial stormtroopers trained to operate in arctic climates. Some snowtroopers were deployed under Death Squadron's Blizzard Force, as well as other arctic forces. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: When Kenner first said they were going to bring back the coins in 1998, fans were initially skeptical, and elated, all at once. The actual coins had the front of the 1984 series and an all-new more generic back, plus they were cast in gold. Still, most fans didn't see them as being worth a $9.99 price even though figures like the Snowtrooper were repainted to be a little more movie-authentic. The figure is the same as the 1997 release, but with subtle differences. How subtle? Well, if you don't put it side-by-side with the old one, you're not even going to notice. This one sold fairly well because it was a Snowtrooper, and then, like today, troopers were popular.

With five points of articulation, this figure is still pretty good despite his towering height and inability to turn his neck. Fans wanting only the bestest figures with the craziest articulation should pass on this one, but the coin display base in the picture is neat enough to warrant purchasing at least one or two of these guys. I actually kinda wish Hasbro would remake this base, so I could put my 2007 figures with their modern coins in it as it'd look really cool.

Collector's Notes: This item shipped in wave one with Han Solo (whose gun was painted with a silver tip) and Chewbacca (who had grey fur patches painted on). Later releases were a bit more interesting-- the Luke and Leia in Endor Poncho figures featured a lot of new sculpting, C-3PO was entirely new, and the Emperor was changed quite a bit from the electronic version on which he was based. Still, it's a little sad to think back at these being $10 each and today we're getting brand new sculpts for $7 with a coin, or in 1984, we were getting brand new sculpts with a coin for like $2.49.

Day 380: May 21, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 379: Tusken Raider

TUSKEN RAIDER Sand People
The Saga Collection Vintage Collection
Item No.: Asst. 87129 No. 87065
Number: n/a
Includes: Rifle, cloak, gaffi stick
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $10.99
Availability: Summer 2006
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Holy crap, Tusken Raiders are cool. And freaky. Kids love their howls. (Taken from the figure's cardback, I swear.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves, specifically the Early Bird Kit stage. Man I love that thing.

Commentary: One thing I love about the Tusken Raider is that this particular action figure looks a lot like Kenner's early concept drawings-- just click on the picture to see. It isn't identical, but it does look pretty slick. This new Tusken Raider features real cloth robes for the very first time, which is arguably a good thing. The cloak is very bulky, and the inner cloak (skirt) is excessively so. Still, the figure has a great range of articulation and if you futz with it, it looks better than almost anything else you can buy in the way of Tusken Raiders. The figure's deco is excellent, the texture of the soft goods is incredible, and the figure has 14 points of articulation-- but the elbows aren't ball joints, so fans will no doubt say "hey Hasbro, you can give it another try and we're still interested." Because they can, and we are.

The texture sculpted on the figure's chest is good, the paint wipe brings out a lot of detail you might not ordinarily see. However, the bulky cloak obscures this fine craftsmanship, resulting in a figure that looks less stunning and more... meh. When I first saw the figure I didn't much care for it, but it's a lot of fun to play with and it does look good in dioramas. With awesome packaging, two weapons, and the best articulation of any Tusken on the market today, this is an awesome figure you just gotta get. Thankfully for you, you've got options.

Collector's Notes: The 2006 Vintage line wasn't quite a huge hit, with two figures (Luke X-Wing, Biker Scout) being hugely popular, two figures (Han Solo, Greedo) being not very popular, and this one was popular or not, depending on the store. I had no problem finding them, and in 2007, the figure was repackaged with the Toys "R" Us exclusive Bantha & Tusken Raiders Battle Pack for $44.99. As such, if you want the figure and a Bantha, consider the Battle Pack. A downside, though, is the legs on the Battle Pack version are spread a little bit more than the regular version, so you may still wish to own both even though there are no significant changes between the two. (There is a red/dark brown variant, though, and we'll get to that one later.)

For those who don't know: modern "vintage" figures are brand new figures made with the latest toy techniques, but are packaged on replicas of the packaging used from 1978-1984 (so far). These provide a cheaper, and in some cases more interesting looking, alternative to the original Kenner products which often fetch tens or hundreds of dollars. In 2007, Hasbro will release six more of these "vintage" figures, including Bossk, IG-88, a Snowtrooper, Luke Skywalker (Bespin Fatigues), Han Solo (Hoth Battle Gear), and Princess Leia Organa (Battle Poncho). These should be available this May or June, and you can pre-order them online now at stores like Entertainment Earth-- but they should be available everywhere fine toys are sold. (And in some cases, the 2006 figures are still available at some toy stores.)

Day 379: May 20, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 378: Pit Droid

PIT DROID Overpriced Bonus Figure
Episode I Overseas Bonus Packs
Item No.: Asst. 84085
Number: n/a
Includes: Power Converter plus either Darth Sidious Holograph or Naboo Royal Guard
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Spring 2000
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Small in stature and mechanically adept, pit droids scurry to service Podracers in the height of competition. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray, with a "broken" Hyperdrive from the second wave of Episode I accessory packs. You know, the ones nobody ordered because wave 1 sucked so hard at retail.

Commentary: There are very, very few figures that were essentially unavailable in the USA-- but there are a few. The Tiger Games Darth Maul action figure (with dirty boots & cape) was virtually unavailable, but FAO picked them up. The bonus Battle Droids were eventually picked up by the Fan Club. There are even rumors of the Qui-Gon and Eopie sets showing up in a few isolated places. But the bonus Pit Droid figures? We done got screwed there. Some of these little buggers worked their way up into the triple digit price range, which takes some real doing for a modern action figure.

The figure itself is nothing special. It's just a pit droid, right? Well, yes and no. The mold is unique to these "bonus packs," and these sets were only sold in Asian and European markets-- as far as I know, none were sold in the USA outside collector circles. These are also a nightmare for variant hunters-- you see, each unique droid mold is available in three colors and with at least two figures. This little guy also comes in a tan color and a dark brown color, and was sold with either the Holographic Darth Sidious figure or the Naboo Royal Guard. So if you want all the versions of just this mold, that's 6 figures, and let me tell you, they're plenty expensive.

Hasbro did a great job of giving this guy a nifty little pose so he has personality and looks as inquisitive and potentially dangerous as he did in the movies and, later, the comics. (Those guys totally tore up Villie's ship.) The figure has five points of articulation (arms, legs, and a ball-joint neck) and no foot pegs-- so he's at the whim of your sneezes if he falls over as no stand can work with him. A pity. Still, he's great diorama fodder, or he will be when these bonus droids are no longer prized collectibles and turn into what they were supposed to be-- goofy little toys that were meant to be supremely cheap and affordable.

Collector's Notes: A collector was kind enough to let me know when he was quitting and getting rid of his Pit Droids a few years ago, and to my benefactor, I still thank you. You're good people. These little guys were the bane of my existence for several years and I'm quite pleased that they're getting reissued in the USA for all fans to enjoy later this year-- hopefully with no changes-- as part of the Saga Legends collection. Here's hoping people will plunk down the cash for them. Prototype images for "deluxe" accessory kits featuring bonus Pit Droids showed up as well, so it's possible there was an intention to release this little guy in US stores, but when the prequel line was being swept under the rugs and accessory packs were shelved, so went these figures. Kudos to Hasbro for listening to fans' cries of not being able to afford a complete set and reissuing these. And I say this as someone who got them when they were super-rare. I want more. It's not in anyone's best interest for a toy to be collectible when Hasbro and retailers can still sell more and make money off it.

Day 378: May 19, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 377: Cloaked Chameleon Droid

CLOAKED CHAMELEON DROID Ambush on Ilum
The Anniversary Collection Target Exclusive Battle Pack
Item No.: No. 87213
Number: n/a
Includes: Removable limbs... and four other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: January 2007
Appearances: Clone Wars

Bio: So named because of their ability to seamlessly blend in with their surroundings, these modified probe droids launched devastating sabotage and sneak-attack missions across the galaxy. They destroyed the crystal caves on Ilum, and nearly dispatched two Jedi Knights in the process. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: Nothing gets me more jazzed than more new Clone Wars figures. Sure, they aren't always perfect-- but seeing all-new characters like this Chameleon Droid makes for an exciting shopping trip. It's not every day we get figures inspired by a Star Wars cartoon, so this entry was quite exciting. This particular figure is partially "cloaked," so bits of its legs and body are molded in clear plastic so it can be partially invisible in the snowy Ilum wilds. The figure ships unassembled, so you have to plug the four limbs into the body. There's a fair amount of articulation but not exactly a lot. It's a nice big figure with good deco, and so far, it seems that the joints are strong enough to keep it standing. This is something of a worry for me over time as gravity is not always kind to toys with unique constructions such as these, but I guess we'll know for sure how these hold up in a year or two. You know, when we look at the fully painted version. If you like droids, you need this. If you're an Expanded Universe fan, you should totally get this. The metallic paint looks wonderful, and Hasbro's decision to not paint snowy deco on either Chameleon Droid is very much appreciated.

Collector's Notes: I picked up a few of these on clearance at Target for under five bucks a whack. As I am shameful. The set was quite popular so you might be able to get one cheap now that there's a perception of it being "common" before people realize it kinda dried up. Hop to it. Chop-chop.

Day 377: May 18, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 376: Battle Droid

BATTLE DROID C-3PO with Droid Factory Assembly Line
Saga Deluxe Collection
Item No.: Asst. 84859 No. 84899
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, removable limbs, assembly line, C-3PO figure
Action Feature: Use accessories and magnet in head to "swap" droid heads!
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Spring 2002
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Departing Tatooine on his first adventure, C-3PO joins Anakin, Padme, and his new counterpart R2-D2 on a rescue mission to save Obi-Wan Kenobi. The worrisome droid gets into trouble while helping them investigate a mysterious droid assembly plant. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV trays.

Commentary: Is it good? Is it bad? Fans argue about this Battle Droid a lot. Originally, it wasn't meant to be a stand-alone figure, but part of a "Droid Factory" deluxe figure set with C-3PO where you could swap all of their parts-- in short, it was a fun toy. It included a crane with magnets on it so you could "remove" and "swap" their heads to result in the robotic chaos you saw at the end of Attack of the Clones. This droid itself was a brand-new mold at the time, with only five points of articulation, but lots of removable parts-- you can pop off his head, arms, legs, and backpack and stick any or all of them on the C-3PO torso. In short, it's a toy first and a collectible second.

If you need ball joints, scores of articulation, and battle-damage, this is not a figure for you. But if you don't, this is a great figure-- at the time, it was also the very best Episode II C-3PO, and technically still is since the only "better" one was this figure modified only slightly. But I digress, we're talking about the Battle Droid here. It's a good figure, will stand up and not topple over due to gravity, has a "blast effect" for its gun, and the gun can plug into its backpack. While the Episode I Battle Droid mold is my favorite, this one ranks in at #2 just because it doesn't feel too rubbery or topple over due to its cruel mistress, gravity. Plus its Droid Factory display base is really cool. This is part of one of the best Deluxe figures Hasbro has ever done, so why not pick it up when you see it next time?

Collector's Notes: Bits and pieces of this figure were reused later, and this figure was also modified for later releases-- for example, only the first release (seen above) had the magnet in his head. After the 2-pack, in 2006, Hasbro re-released the C-3PO with the head and backpack (and gun) of this figure. Later in 2006, Hasbro released two of these figures in a pack, but in "Kashyyyk" deco. In 2007, Hasbro will release the same 2-pack in new colors, like tan, maroon, and in various degrees of battle damage. The original deluxe 2-pack wasn't a strong seller, though, and I picked up a few at a grocery store on clearance for $2 each just because I wanted more Battle Droids. As such, you can assume correctly that I like this figure. On the secondary market, this droid and C-3PO and the whole package is worth about $1-$7, meaning it's worth LESS than original retail. This is disgusting when you consider that the C-3PO from this set with a Battle Droid head and backpack sold for $7 under The Saga Collection and will again sell for $7 under Saga Legends. Fans are much better served by buying older figures from eBay than reissues in times like this.

Day 376: May 17, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 375: Princess Leia Organa (Dark Empire)

PRINCESS LEIA from Dark Empire Comics
Power of the Force Expanded Universe Collection
Item No.: Asst. 69605 No. 69884
Number: n/a
Includes: Cloak, lightsaber, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99
Availability: Fall 1998
Appearances: Dark Empire

Bio: Six years after the destruction of the second Death Star, the galaxy is thrust into turmoil. A reborn evil threatens to enslave the galaxy, and the Republic's closest friend - Luke Skywalker - may become their greatest enemy... Hoping to free her brother Luke from the evil of the dark side, Jedi Leia prepares to match her power against that of a reborn Emperor. Boarding his colossal warship, Leia is overwhelmed by the oppression of the dark side. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV trays.

Commentary: The Expanded Universe figures were fun. They were original designs fans wanted, and in 1998, had the misfortune of coming out right as retailers said "whoa, we don't want any more of this assortment," thus depriving them of a chance to do well and Kenner/Hasbro said that this was a direct result of these being bad choices or poorly selling figures. Nevermind the fact that many fans never once saw Princess Leia from Dark Empire or any of a number of the comics-and-games-based figures in a normal retail store. (Why do you think the Darktrooper is coming back, after all?) These were really good figures too, with lots of parts and pieces to make them fun, even if some of the design choices were weird. For example, Leia was pregnant during Dark Empire-- does this figure look like she has a baby bump to you? She also doesn't have her "baseball" cap from the series, which was on a pretty memorable cover. She does, however, have a Jedi cloak, an all-new hair style, a fairly generic red lightsaber, and a blaster as well as six points of articulation. It's also worth noting that her hair is flexible, otherwise you wouldn't be able to put on/remove her Jedi cloak. It's a good figure, one of the better releases of her day, but obviously she isn't as awesome in 2007 as she was in 1998. As such, she's worth picking up if you're a fan of the comics, or if you're looking for something different. For all of the fans that demand all figure be super-articulated or you can't be bothered to part with your Lincolns, well, obviously save that vast fortune for your next lunch at KFC.

Collector's Notes: What's not to like? It's the only version of Leia in this outfit on the market today, she has a package with a pop-out diorama, and she looks different than every figure in the Star Wars collection-- this is no small feat. While there are rumors that this figure might find its way to stores again through the Comic Packs, nothing has been confirmed and for now you can probably expect to drop $10-$15 to get this figure if and when you see one for sale.

Day 375: May 16, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 374: R2-D2

R2-D2 Marvel Star Wars #4
30th Anniversary Star Wars Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87518
Number: 6
Includes: Stormtrooper Luke action figure
Action Feature: Twist dome, leg retracts; lightup eye port
Retail: $10.99
Availability: April 2007
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Luke, Han, and Chewbacca have rescued Princess Leia - but now they have to escape from the Death Star! After being hunted by stormtroopers and narrowly escaping a crushing end in a garbage masher, the four are reunited with the droids and nearing the safety of the Millennium Falcon. But tragedy looms as they watch Darth Vader and Ben Kenobi face each other in a lightsaber duel to the death! (Taken from Hasbro's press materials.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' crappy photo studio.

Commentary: Ever since Hasbro released the awesome R4-G9 astromech droid in 2005, fans were saying "hey, when can we get R2-D2 based on this mold?" R4-G9, you see, had a place to plug in a holographic projection, a fully retractable third leg, wheels, and no pop-off panels or anything that might offend the eye. Early in 2006, Hasbro released photos showing such a figure, but instead re-released the "Vintage" R2-D2 with new dirt. So in 2007, we get two versions of R2-D2 based on the R4-G9 mold, and none of them are "normal"-- one is covered in flames, and this one is in comic book-inspired deco.

This one is pretty minimalistic. The dome is basically white. The legs are totally unpainted, with a few bits of color on the feet. There's a few odd bits and pieces painted in blue or metallic black, and the end result is some sort of pop art take on R2-D2. It looks like R2, and it's weird, sure. But due to the vast number of droids in Star Wars, this figure also functions well as a random, generic droid or as a good base for a custom figure-- after all, there's less paint to remove in many places. If you like this style of astromech mold (and odds are you already know if you do), this is a neat figure to buy. Totally worth it. So get one if you see it.

Collector's Notes: Having just been released, I'm actually FOTD-ing this figure just days after I got it and long before I ever saw one in the wilds of retail-- so I have no idea how popular it is yet. However, it comes packaged with a Stormtrooper Luke, so it should be snapped up by the kids if collectors don't buy it. It's a great set for the money, and you're probably only hurting yourself by not buying it. I mean, $11 for a Stormtrooper and a droid. You gotta get it. And hey Hasbro, if you're reading, when can I get my new modern Droids-style animated R2-D2?

Day 374: May 15, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 373: Princess Leia Organa

PRINCESS LEIA ORGANA The First Attempt
Power of the Force Collection
Item No.: Asst. 69570 No. 69579
Number: n/a
Includes: 2 blasters
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: September 1995- early 1998
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Princess of Alderaan, Imperial Senator, Cell Leader of Rebel Alliance. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: The figure stands on one of two Death Star playsets produced during the 1990s line.

Commentary: Before I started this review, I was going to write that Princess Leia Organa wasn't that bad-- but the lighting for this figure made her look even worse than the figure I hold in my hands. So maybe you guys were right. In 1995, this figure was the stuff of legends.* She made her debut in the awesome but now-defunct Star Wars Galaxy magazine from Topps, and when fans got her in their hands, they were not pleased, and coined names which they deemed clever for this release. "Han in drag." "Monkey faced Leia." And so on. The figure's aesthetics aren't any worse than Han Solo or Luke Skywalker, neither of which do any favors to their respective actors in the face department. Of course, all the insults in the world didn't keep this figure from being a sell-out success for many months, keeping her price high and her availability low. She could have her cape and skirt removed so she could sit, she included two guns (which she has some difficulty holding), but as a toy, she performed admirably. She was also one of the first beacons of fan rage on numerous levels, with fans wishing Kenner would try again-- and they would, setting into effect an endless parade of resculpts every few years for not just Leia, but almost the entire line.

Collector's Notes: She was the 8th figure released, before C-3PO but after everybody else, and as the only figure whose cardback Leia appeared on was Leia, fans immediately became stupid. The asking price online and at collector stores shot up to $20-$40. Fans insisted that Carrie Fisher saw the face and demanded a recall. There were even variants on the figure-- her belt had two or three rings on it. (Three rings pictured.) To top it all off, she was packed at 1 per case in the first two assortments to feature her, making this figure quite popular despite most fans insisting that they hated the figure. It wasn't until the summer of 1998, when Kenner released an all-new sculpt version of the princess, that fans really regained their composure and let this one go. Even if it sucks, it seems, fans need to own the space princess with her Cinnabon hair. (Of course, there have since been multiple other new versions, but it took a while.)

Day 373: May 14, 2007

* - "Yeah, the legend of the dog-faced woman!" Homer Simpson

Figure of the Day: Day 372: Red Leader Garven Dreis

RED LEADER GARVEN DREIS Red Leader's X-Wing Fighter
Saga Toys "R" Us Exclusive
Item No.: No. 32152
Number: n/a
Includes: X-Wing Vehicle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $29.99
Availability: Fall 2003
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: During the Battle of Yavin, the Empire discovered what a threat the Alliance could be. Armed with stolen technical schematics pinpointing the Death Star's weakness, the Rebellion hurled what little resources they had to stop the Imperial menace. A scant collection of battle-weary starfighters darted into the Death Star's shadow, in a desperate effort to spear the battle station's vulnerable exhaust port. One of these starfighters was piloted by the capable and well-repected Red Leader, Garven Dreis. Flying his X-Wing Fighter, Dreis launched his own heroic attempt at destroying the Death Star -- an attempt that resulted in a deadly confrontation with the evil Darth Vader. (Taken from the toy's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: A few years ago, Hasbro and Toys "R" Us decided it would be a good idea to repaint this one X-Wing mold a few times, starting in 2002 at $25, in 2003 at $30, and in 2006 at $45. This is the 2003 version with Red Leader, whose name is hidden in the fine print on the back of the box-- so I'm gonna call him Red Leader. With six points of articulation, this figure takes the 1999 Y-Wing Fighter Pilot head and sticks it on a slightly repainted 2001 Luke Skywalker X-Wing Pilot body. That's pretty much all there is to it. The figure looks pretty generic, and could stand to have a resculpt some day. He fits in the ship just fine, but so what? If he's boring outside of the ship, odds are fans will ignore the fact that he exists and ask for a new one. This wasn't one of the better overall pilot bodies (what's with the arms?) but at least it fits in the vehicle without a hitch. If you're buying the Red Leader X-Wing anyway-- and odds are you should-- this is a nice bonus. For the money, this whole set for $30 was a killer deal, but you won't find it in stores for that price today.

Collector's Notes: Fans immediately hated this release, not so much for the figure, but because the ship was the same mold we were just sold in 2002 with an exclusive R2-D2 repaint and some gear for $5 more. Still, I bought it, and it's a little difficult to find one for sale these days. So let that be a lesson to you: always buy your ships before they hit the secondary market exclusively.

Day 372: May 13, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 371: Speeder Bike Pilot

SPEEDER BIKE PILOT Expanded Universe
Power of the Force Expanded Universe
Item No.: Asst. 69760 No. 69772
Number: n/a
Includes: Speederbike
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Spring 1998
Appearances: n/a

Bio: Whipping through the forests of Endor on a Rebel strike mission against the Death Star shield generator, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia battled Imperial scout troopers atop highly maneuverable speeder bikes. Considered ideal reconnaissance vehicles by the Empire and he Rebel Alliance alike, their maneuverability and acceleration is superior to both landspeeders and airspeeders. This particular speeder bike was designed and built based on production sketches found in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Sketchbook; its creator was renown Star Wars artist, Joe Johnston. (Taken from the toy's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: The notion of concept art based-figures is a popular one in 2007, but it's nothing new-- we've been here before in 1998 with figures like this Speeder Bike Pilot. With only six points of articulation, its main purpose was to make this tiny $10 vehicle seem like a better deal. And today, we have figures with fancy packaging that nobody bats an eye on dropping $10 on. Oh, how far we've come. This is a fairly simple figure, especially by modern standards. The sculpting is a little clunky, but as it's meant to look like a simple sketch from 1983, well, it's a pretty decent three-dimensional translation of the concept. Hasbro has really upped the ante with enhancing the designs and making conceptual figures true works of art, but as a fun curiosity and grandfather of the McQuarrie Concept figures of today, you'd be well-served to add this one to your collection. As well as the two other vehicle-and-figure sets. Quality stuff, folks, much more inspired than the mini-rigs and almost as fun.

Collector's Notes: This was a bit of a slow seller-- these came up at retailers for sale as recently as 2005 (at a Phoenix Wal-Mart I frequent) and 2006 (online at Entertainment Earth) for various reasons. As such, it's not exactly a hot item-- but the vehicle is a lot of fun and you should totally get one if you can for like ten bucks.

Day 371: May 12, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 370: Jawas

JAWAS (The tall one)
Power of the Force Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 69605 No. 69607
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: Light-up eyes
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 1996
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Jawas were typically short humanoid natives of Tatooine. They were often scavengers, seeking out technology for sale or trade in the deep deserts in their huge sandcrawler transports. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: Ahhh, Jawas. Disgusting creatures, but great toys. In 1996, Hasbro put out this two-pack and it sold extremely well in many markets, as a lot of us bought several of them for what we figured was for the eventual release of a new Sandcrawler. Which, it turns out, was released in 2004. The figures are fairly simple, but it's not like they needed to do too much. You have light-up eyes, you have articulated arms, and you have a uni-leg. It might sound crappy, but keep in mind you got a tall Jawa and a short Jawa in a set together for a mere $4.99. The sculpting is good, you can see lots of texture and ragged bits of their cloaks as well as detail around the faces. Sure, it could be a little better, but for the time this was one of the shining beacons of light in the modern Star Wars action figure line-- after all, they aren't muscular, they aren't beefy, and they don't come with blasters as big as they are. (Plus these shipped in the same case as the "Attack" R5-D4-- so you can guess how awesome these looked just by comparison alone.)

This taller figure is pretty cool because it doesn't look quite like the original vintage figure from 1978. I mean, he's taller, a little baggier, and has a delightful light brown color. His right hand is great for holding weapons, as is his left-- the other short Jawa has one hand to hold things and one to... I guess chop things. This is, to me, the better of the two figures-- but since you'll want a bunch of both anyway, such things don't need to be decided or argued. Just get both and be happy.

Collector's Notes: This mold was reused a few times. In 2004, it was repackaged with the Jawa Sandcrawler vehicle, but without its weapons. Also in 2004, Hasbro rereleased these figures with new, dirty paint applications and a display base-- if you only get one set of Jawas, that Original Trilogy Collection set is easily the best overall. Hasbro has several other modern Jawa figures as well. One came with a Gonk Droid in 1999, another was packaged with a Ronto in 1997, and another still is coming in a few short weeks as a two-pack with the LIN Droid. Jawa lovers, you've got options.

Day 370: May 11, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 369: Commander Thire

COMMANDER THIRE Order 66
30th Anniversary Collection Target Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 87357 No. 87358
Number: 1 of 6
Includes: Pistols, helmet, blaster (and Emperor Palpatine)
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: March 2007
Appearances: n/a

Bio: Emperor Palpatine is accompanied by the elite shock troopers, led by Commander Thire. The Emperor wields great power and seeks only those who are exceptionally loyal and strong for this elite unit. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: Let's get this out of the way: this is not how Commander Thire looked in the movie. In the movie, he was basically just a regular Shock Trooper, so that's why I'm glad they did something different for the figure that would go by the name Thire. You can go on calling a plain Shock Trooper "Thire" if you want, but for those seeking a little more variety in their clones (hah), this is a great one. Mostly. As you can see in the picture, the helmet doesn't quite fit perfectly-- this was a problem with the Evolutions mold on which this was based. The waistcoat features twin pistols and the gun is the new, thinner variety. In other words, this is basically a redeco of the Star Corps Trooper from those sets in 2005.

The articulation is good, but it's usually an empty gesture when Hasbro makes a figure basically super-articulated but includes an accessory or two (in this case, the waistcoat) that prevents the legs from moving. So if you cut off the coat, you can make use of the hips and knees to their fullest potential-- otherwise, they're blocked by the belt. It's a decent figure, especially with the helmet off, but be aware that those seeking perfection will not find it here. Again: it can't sit, and the helmet doesn't fit perfectly. Just keep that in mind before you spend $10 or whatever it goes for in your neck of the woods.

Collector's Notes: This was one of the less popular sets in the Order 66 2-packs, at least so far. The ones related to the 501st Legion tended to sell out first, with this set and the Obi-Wan/AT-RT set being the two slower sellers-- at least in some stores. Your mileage may vary. As it's a unique figure that looks decent, I still think it's worth getting-- it just isn't as good as it could be.

Day 369: May 10, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 368: Poggle the Lesser

POGGLE THE LESSER Geonosian War Chamber
Saga Screen Scenes Collection
Item No.: Asst. 84997 No. 84980
Number: 1 of 2
Includes: Cane, half of table, other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: Summer 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Poggle the Lesser was the Archduke of Geonosis before and during the Clone Wars, and was a leading member of the Separatist Council. As planetary leader of the Geonosians and a member of the Techno Union, Poggle controlled the vast droid factories found on his planet. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: There's not a lot of articulation on Poggle the Lesser but sometimes, a little is enough. This being the first release of the character as an action figure (another would follow in 2006), the colors are a bit muted, the pose is a little more action oriented (or at least active), and well, he can stand around. Due to how the figure was designed, he can't do much other than stand around menacingly-- sure, he can move his arms and legs, but the v-hips prevent him from looking normal while being seated. This is a great figure for dioramas, but as a toy, it fails-- he's not going to go in any ships because of his wings, and he's devoid of action features that may make him fun for the kiddies. What you see is what you get, folks.

Collector's Notes: The 2006 release has better coloring and a display stand, but the 2003 release has half a war room table, Count Dooku, and San Hill. Which will you buy? Decisions, decisions. Until San Hill is available separately, or elsewhere, this set should be on your must-buy list if you like prequel toys.

Day 368: May 9, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 367: Princess Leia Organa

PRINCESS LEIA ORGANA Early Bird Kit
Early Bird Kit Wal-Mart Exclusive
Item No.: No. 85868
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, display pegs
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $29.99
Availability: Fall 2005, Fall 2006-Present
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Sent by her father to find one of the greatest heroes of the Old Republic, Princess Leia's ship is captured by a Star Destroyer under the command of the evil Darth Vader (Taken from the figure's cardback [tin release].)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Early Bird Kit.

Commentary: A common thread in all of these features is a simple question: what makes a good figure? Does this Princess Leia Organa figure rock because her sculpt is so damned good, or does she suck because she really only has four meaningful points of articulation? It's the eternal question. I daresay there is no better looking version of Leia from the original film on the market today-- her face is nice, her body isn't some crazy out-of-proportion action stance nightmare, and she can actually hold her gun with no problems. Figures like this show that Hasbro can put out a perfectly awesome action figure if they want to, but things like detail or fantastic paint might have to take priority over articulation and play features.

It's hard to say if articulation would hurt or help this figure, because the dress is sculpted so perfectly, but I feel we're obligated to make suggestions for improvement on a future release-- so here goes. One, swappable heads would be nice so I could have her posed with her hood down. Two, the inclusion of the sporting blaster instead of the Stormtrooper blaster would be nice because we never saw her fire this gun with her hood up. Three, if we're feeling saucy (like Hasbro was when they made the Dagobah Luke figure in 2004), I'd love to see swappable arms too. Some sculpts are too nice to muck up with articulation, so why not just make separate arms I can pop on for different situations? I'd love to see this figure tweaked to look as she does on the vintage cardback photo as the body is perfect, it just needs some slight modifications on the arms and head. Four, and this is me just speculating wildly, the figure might benefit from a smidge of make-up paint. Of course, I still feel this is one of Hasbro's strongest sculpts of all time, at this point any changes on it would switch it over from "awesome" to "best ever." Just remember, that's "best ever" figure, not toy-- there's a difference. As far as toys go, the "Vintage" Leia from 2004 is far, far better because she can do things like sit.

Collector's Notes: This figure was originally sold as part of Wal-Mart's exclusive Early Bird Kit in 2005. In late 2006 (and into 2007), Hasbro released this as part of its Episode IV Collector's Tin gift set with no significant changes. Either version is worth getting, each for different reasons which basically boil down to if you want a tin and which other figures you like better. Also, I can't say enough good stuff about the cardboard Early Bird Display Stand-- it's a shame it didn't do better as it's one of my favorite display pieces.

Day 367: May 8, 2007

Figure of the Day: Day 366: R4-G9

R4-G9 Sneak Preview
Revenge of the Sith Sneak Preview Collection
Item No.: Asst. 85172 No. 85364
Number: 4 of 4
Includes: Display base, planet projection
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: March 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: R4-G9 is an astromech droid that accompanies Obi-Wan Kenobi on a mission to the sinkhole planet of Utapau, where Obi-Wan hopes to destroy General Grievous, the supreme commander of the Separatist droid armies. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: Twist the dome, leg pops out. Lots of articulation. A socket to plug in a projection. R4-G9 has it all, and is one of the best astromech droid molds ever. The proportions are good, the gimmicks are great... what's not to love? It's a shame it was premiered on such an obscure droid, but hey, they reused it time and again to make old droids we always wanted and new versions of old favorites. This new gold droid has a little dirt, a little grime, and tons of personality. Sure, he didn't do much in the movie but he looks cool and that's what really matters with these droids. Fans of droids already bought it, and if you're looking to own all the astromechs, you just gotta get one. If you aren't a droid fan, or think one R2 unit is plenty, you can skip this one without fear of missing out.

Collector's Notes: Aside from being the basis of many, many astromech droids to follow, this figure was rereleased in 2006 in the Saga Collection-era Greatest Battles line. As such, there are two major packaging variants to be had.

Day 366: May 7, 2007