Figure of the Day: Day 838: Han Solo (Sandstorm)

HAN SOLO Sandstorm
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 87673
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD01
Includes: Goggles, scarf, blaster, droid piece (R4-D6 left leg)
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: July 2008
Appearances: Return of the Jedi on the cutting room floor

Image: Adam Pawlus' skiff, on a TV tray.

Bio: With the help of his friends, Han has freed himself from Jabba the Hutt and a grisly death in the Sarlacc Pit. As he and his companions walk through the desert to the Millennium Falcon, they must fight their way through a fierce Tatooine sandstorm. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: As a young writer on the Internet, one of the most exciting topics for me to read up on (and share info about) were the various deleted scenes from the trilogy. (You see, back in the 20th century, there were only three theatrical pictures, which we called "talkies.") The thought of seeing them in motion was unthinkable, but not nearly as unthinkable that I might one day have an action figure from one of them like this Han Solo. Proving that you can indeed get blood from a stone, this figure is at least the fourth release to be based on the 2006 "Vintage" Han Solo in Trench Coat figure. A super-articulated action figure, this release sports new accessories, a new belt, and a new head-- but is largely the same as the original. Minus the vest and coat.

As such, he's a pretty great figure on a variety of levels. He's very different in his appearance when compared to other Han figures, as we generally don't see him sporting goggles, or an old lady's shawl. It becomes him, and these accessories are largely removable without too much effort. The goggles are a tight fit, and you have to pop off Han's head to remove the scarf-- an action which is becoming increasingly common but no less disturbing over time. The rest of him holds together nicely, and can stand or sit without too much trouble. His blaster fits into his belt nicely, and the overall look is pretty good. Replicating hair disturbed by the wind can't be easy, and Hasbro's anonymous sculptors did a nice job making it look good without looking too goofy. While my first reaction to the thought of yet another post-Carbonite Han Solo wasn't too positive, I must say I'm thrilled with the end result and probably gave this figure more play time than any Han figure since, probably, 1999's CommTech release. It's a blast. For a figure that's roughly 78% recycled parts, I'm going to have to say this is one of my favorites so far for 2008, which is no small praise.

Collector's Notes: Currently available, this figure will likely show up again in some gift set with one or two more figures that you haven't yet bought. Even with this in mind, it's worth getting him if you think he's decent and if you could stand to own more droid parts. I'm a fan of (most of) the entire series, so I'm a little biased. But I think you'll like it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 838: August 29, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 837: K-3PX

K-3PX Wal-Mart Exclusive
30th Anniversary Collection Droid Factory
Item No.: Asst. 12980 No. 87665
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 2 of 6
Includes: Darth Vader, piece of C-3PX
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: May 2008
Appearances: Star Wars comics

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Bio: The protocol droid K-3PX is in the service of the evil Darth Vader who is determined to crush the Rebel Alliance. (Taken from the set's box.)

Commentary: When fans started demanding Marvel characters for the Star Wars line, I don't think anyone seriously expected to get K-3PX. Based on the 2007 4-LOM mold with a new body and head, this new droid has a wonderful range of motion and fills that all-important need for more black figures. This servant of the Empire appeared briefly in the old comic series, but apparently he struck a chord with the right people. The tooling doesn't really do anything to wow you (any more than 4-LOM anyway) and the deco is pretty great. In the comics, K-3PX had a bit of a blue tint, but then again, so did Darth Vader and a number of other characters. If you like the idea of owning what amounts to a super-articulated protocol droid-- meaning this little guy has more joints than the best C-3PO on the market today-- this is totally up your alley. His head is a little weird, but he'll fit in nicely with your shelf of other black repaints, or on your "Darth Vader's fill-in-the-blank" display. As Vader has a lot of toys.

Collector's Notes: For ten bucks, this set was basically a steal, even if you aren't too keen on getting yet another Darth Vader figure which has been released multiple times with no deco or tooling changes. The figure may still be available at a Wal-Mart near you, so I suggest you go looking and get one. And if you don't find one, check their web site-- and if they're out of it, well, keep hunting. You should get one, it's just that neat.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 837: August 28, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 836: Battle Droid

BATTLE DROID Battlefront II
30th Anniversary Collection Previews Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 87561 No. 87478
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, display stand, additional figures
Action Feature: Removable limbs
Retail: $39.99
Availability: Late 2007
Appearances: Star Wars: Battlefront II

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Bio: Many of the best known battle droids were those used by the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars. By the time of the Battle of Yavin, however, battle droids were extremely rare, most likely due to the Clone Wars, or because the Empire didn't want an army that could be easily built and used against it. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Commentary: While Battle Droids were introduced as the army builder of 1999, fans didn't really flock toward them. As time went on, the sculpts got a little flimsier and cheaper, to the point where they started packaging two of them in a set for a mere $7. (That's the mold they use here.) The figure's head, arms, and legs are removable and can be exchanged with any of at least a dozen different repaints of the figure, leading you to make your own freakish customized figures. (The limbs can also be swapped with a couple of C-3PO figures.) This one has a sort of weak brown camo pattern on it, and he carries the blaster originally sold with the Jet Pack Clone Trooper of 2005. The end result is a decent looking figure, but it's unfortunate that the figure doesn't have elbow joints or hands which are more conducive to gripping his weapon.

This is a figure for die-hards only-- if you love the games, love to collect all the droids, or just have to have everything, you'll love this. Other fans are best served with the regular Battle Droids 2-packs, which give you a bigger bang for the buck.

Collector's Notes: This set is still available, and as it isn't a wonderful deal, it's pretty easy to get. The set includes 2 more Battle Droids (different colors and guns), an Ammunition Droid, a Destroyer Droid, a Super Battle Droid, and a Magnaguard Droid. Most of the figures are, in some way, inferior to other releases. If you figure out what the set would cost as individual figures, you're looking at about $35 worth of product-- so it's hard to really say this is a good deal, as most multi-packs usually are.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 836: August 27, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 835: Biggs Darklighter (Imperial Pilot)

BIGGS DARKLIGHTER Imperial Pilot
The Legacy Collection Imperial Pilot Legacy
Item No.: Asst. 87874 No. 87650
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, helmet, two clones
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: July 26, 2008
Appearances: Star Wars: Empire comic book series

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: Biggs Darklighter was a starfighter pilot of the Alliance to Restore the Republic and childhood friend of Luke Skywalker. Darklighter flew a T-65 X-wing starfighter with Red Squadron during the Battle of Yavin as Red Three. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Commentary: From 1977 to 2006, Biggs Darklighter had exactly one action figure. Since 2007, he's had three-- one and a half of which are new sculpts. This one is based on the 2004 TIE Fighter Pilot body, with a few changes. From the waist down, he's essentially that old figure. His arms, head, torso, and helmet are completely new. He's not quite super-articulated as he has no ankles, with the detail on his costume being decent for a toy that's 50% four years old-- oh, and they got a holster on him, too. That's a first for an Imperial Pilot.

The strangest thing about this figure is his helmet. If you read the Empire comics on which it is based, there were notes in the comic indicating that the unusual cut-away helmets were used purely for artistic license so you, the reader, would be able to identify one character from another. (Sensible.) The problem is Hasbro missed the memo, so what you have here is an interpretation more than a replica-- it's like the Marvel-based figures. The artists didn't intend for them to be goofy covers, it was just the limitations and aesthetics of the medium circa 1977 coming in to play. Likewise, the artistic license employed for the comics was brought to the world of toys, which is both good and bad. Good, because it's something different. Bad, because we still don't have a normal super-articulated TIE Fighter Pilot yet.

Ultimately, it's a neat figure. This particular Biggs Darklighter really isn't like anything you have, and the enhanced articulation is always nice to see. Since this is the only TIE Fighter Pilot on the market today, it might be worth getting, despite the big goofy helmet. (You can tell in the picture that the helmet is positively huge when compared to the rest of the head.) I really do feel Hasbro would have been better served with an enclosed helmet, but what do I know, I just buy these things.

Collector's Notes: A new release, and a popular one-- two of the three figures in this set are squarely non-film items, making it a unique little release well worth picking up. It's not yet known how popular it will be in the long run but I expect it to sell well as fans require more pilots to populate their ships. The other figures in the set are a Clone Pilot based on a combination of Attack of the Clones and Clone Wars concepts while the final figure is a super-articulated (save for the ankles) pilot from Revenge of the Sith, now with a removable helmet.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 835: August 26, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 834: Clone SCUBA Trooper

CLONE SCUBA TROOPER Battle of Mon Calamari
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 87610
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD10
Includes: Blaster, fins, backpack, build-a-droid piece
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: July 26, 2008
Appearances: Clone Wars

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: Clone SCUBA troopers accompany Kit Fisto when the Republic sends support to the Mon Calamari, who are under attack by the Quarren. Clone SCUBA troopers have special gear that helps them more effectively battle in aquatic conditions. (Taken from the cardback.)

Commentary: As a kid, did you like Star Wars as much as you loved The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau? Then you're going to need a few Clone SCUBA Trooper action figures. Based on a single three-minute episode of the 2003 Clone Wars series, this figure was one of the many new (and numerous) creations seen in the undersea battle-- many of which would make excellent toys, and several of them already have made nice toys. While I was looking forward to this one, I was somewhat stunned by how it turned out. Removable swim fins, a removable SCUBA backpack, a new undersea blaster, and a few other surprises really made it shine. For example, it's not just a black and white figure with no added deco-- Hasbro added a little keelkana on the backpack, bringing the eel-like figure to the action figure line if only in illustration form. The nifty black and white look is really stunning, and the extra little swim fins, while goofy, remind me of some old great G.I. Joes like the Hydro Viper. It's possible kids will like this figure more than collectors, as it begs to be used as a pool or tub toy, and there are relatively few undersea Star Wars toys. Like, almost none.

If you enjoyed the Clone Wars micro series of 2003-2005 or just love Clone Troopers, this is a can't-miss addition to your army. Without a love for the story or a desire to be ready for separatists or Jedi traitors under the sea, this might be a figure you could skip. However, if you did, you'd be missing out on a fairly awesome super-articulated creation that I'd like to run out and buy more of right now were they easily available.

Collector's Notes: A new release, Hasbro seems to be cranking this puppy out and fans are eating it up. You might want to get the swimming version of Kit Fisto to go along with it, as well as a few Mon Calamari Warriors and Quarren Soldiers. This figure (and the entire wave) was at one point scheduled to be wave #3 of the 2008 30th Anniversary Collection, but was moved to the second wave of Legacy for some reason or another. The first releases of this figure came with R4-J1's head and third leg, it's likely future shipments will come with something else.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 834: August 25, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 833: M'iiyoom Onith

M'IIYOOM ONITH H'nemithe
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87273
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #3022
Includes: Blaster, drink, rounded bar section
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: September 2007
Appearances: Star Wars

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: This female H'nemthe was stranded on Tatooine because of a dubious passage tax and was biding her time in the Mos Eisley cantina when Luke and Obi-Wan came in looking for a pilot. She has a razor-sharp tongue that is used in a deadly mating ritual. (Taken from the cardback.)

Commentary: When Star Wars was first released, most of the characters had fairly simple names. "Walrus Man." "Greedo." "Death Star Droid." As time went on West End Games and Decipher started naming and renaming a wide variety of aliens, leading us to increasingly unpronouncable and difficult to spell names like M'iiyoom Onith. (Legend has it her original name was "Yam Nose.") Since she was seen snuggling with Feltipern Trevagg (seriously, who names these things?), she was identified as a good candidate for an action figure and in 2007, she finally saw plastic a full three decades after she appeared on the big screen. With cut joint elbows, ball-jointed knees, and loads of detail, there's a lot to like here. The facial details are good, not Hasbro's best but certainly very nice. The textures on the costume seem to be far more well-designed, with little bits and pieces popping out and multiple layers of costume represented in just a few millimeters of plastic. Her working holster is a great touch (even though we never saw much outside her head in the movie), and alien fans should find her another worthy addition to their collection... even if her brown outfit is ultimately boring, and the character itself fairly unremarkable.

The big selling point here was the curved cantina piece. Never mind the fact it has stools despite the bar never having stools, it was a highly popular accessory and the real selling point here. Fans picked it up to attach it to the Cantina sections they had from the 2002 Wal-Mart packs, or the 2004 Kmart packs (they're the same pieces.) While your mileage may vary, I found mine didn't fit particularly well and it seems one may have to modify the tabs and slots for an appropriate fit-- which is a real shame, considering LEGO, Playmobil, and other companies seem to have no problem getting accessories to fit together, yet Hasbro frequently experiences such issues. Oh well. It's still neat enough to pick up, even as a stand-alone piece for use on your desk.

Collector's Notes: A one-timer so far, M'iiyoom is a nicely designed figure which Hasbro probably managed to contribute a great deal of its look and feel. She came and went in a hurry, but there seems to be no genuine demand for her on the secondary market. Appropriate, as there wasn't any real demand for her before Hasbro announced her, either.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 833: August 22, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 832: Han Solo with Torture Rack

HAN SOLO with Torture Rack
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87391
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #3038
Includes: Coin, torture rack
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: November 2007
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: Han and his friends go to Bespin to escape the Empire, but Han's friend Lando turns them over to their enemy, Darth Vader. Strapped to a rack, Han is tortured with no idea why, telling Leia afterwards, "They never even asked me any qestions." (Taken from the cardback.)

Commentary: First thing's first: he doesn't have a blaster. Despite one appearing in the package illustration, this Han Solo has no gun and no holster-- it's simply a distressed man with a torture rack. Surprisingly, Hasbro did a bang-up job with the figure. Wisely reusing the legs from the 2006 Han Solo with Trenchcoat, the figure has a new torso, head, and arms to complete the Bespin ensemble. Like most recently released Han Solo figures, he has 14 points of articulation. Unlike most figures, he can sit-- the lack of the holster allows him to be seated quite easily in the recently released Millennium Falcon, and other vehicles. Handy! The likeness is good, the costume is pretty great, the only real downer here is that without the holster, his lower half looks really scrawny. Perhaps it's the pose, but this is a figure that could definitely look a little bit stronger. Odds are Hasbro will revisit this figure in 2009 or 2010 to create a non-tortured version of the character in this costume.

The torture rack itself is big and fairly impressive. It's also fragile-- those wires decorating its exterior can snap easily and accidentally, so take care when removing it from the package. Molded in a greyish, silvery plastic, the device has lots of highlights on it which give you the sense that it's either rusty or lit up with orange lights. I'm not quite sure what they were going for, but it worked nicely. The straps are glued down on one side, and tabbed in place on the other. Again, be careful when removing the figure so as not to rip them out. The entire package is quite impressive for the money and is well worth picking up at even a slight premium.

Collector's Notes: A super-articulated Han Solo and a giant accessory for $7? It's a fantastic deal. While the tortured look may not be ideal for all fans, I can say that this is one of the first figures I grabbed when I got my new Falcon together and he is an ideal candidate for its many seats and stations. Get one, you won't be sorry. (But hold off on buying a second as it's quite likely a revised Bespin Han will be sold soon.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 832: August 21, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 831: Tri-Droid

TRI-DROID Big, Big Droid
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87545
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0805
Includes: Stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: February 2008
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: Infinitely scalable and highly versatile, tri-droids in various forms saw combat on a number of worlds during the Clone Wars. Most were sized to integrate seamlessly into the Droid Army ranks, but their efficiency of design allowed for even more massive versions that towered over the forces of the Republic. (Taken from the cardback.)

Commentary: Is bigger better? The Tri-Droid may well be the largest figure ever to be sold on a basic card. That's the good news-- the bad news is that it kind of sucks. The figure is heavy, and the legs sometimes become misshapen under its own weight. While this tripod of a droid has a great design, wonderful sculpting, above par articulation, and all that jazz, it's worth noting that it truly is a wonderful looking figure. Once removed from the package, I immediately had issues with its "feet" becoming deformed under its own weight, meaning fans will need to be extra careful with this one so it won't get bent all out of shape. For me, that's sort of a dealbreaker-- if you design a figure that can't stand under its own weight, or the limbs get easily bent with time and gravity, we have a problem. And we have a problem here. As such, if you're the kind of person who doesn't like seeing their figures warp, don't get one of these.

Oh, and it's also too small, if you can believe it. The droid in the movie is slightly larger. The Tri-Droid includes a display stand, but has no proper feet, nor any foot holes. So just be ready to use your stand with other figures.

Collector's Notes: A figure that came and went rather quickly, it has so far been repainted once for a Battle Pack. Beyond that, it has yet to make a return appearance, but no doubt will in the next year or two. Some assembly is required.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 831: August 20, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 830: Yoda (The Clone Wars)

YODA Firing Force-Blast
The Clone Wars Animated Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87638 No. 87658
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #03
Includes: Lightsaber, cane, projectile
Action Feature: Arm has projectile launcher
Retail: $7.99
Availability: July 26, 2008
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: Yoda is alarmed by the growing darkness that is spreading throughout the galaxy. While he monitors Obi-Wan's and Anakin's recent rescue of Jabba the Hutt's kidnapped son, he is faced with his own challenge- leading clone troopers under his command into another grueling battle against the vast droid army. As he destroys one droid, another one quickly takes its place. (Taken from the cardback.)

Commentary: One of the big issues with the Star Wars action figure line is that of value. Yesterday, we looked at the Yoda with a Kybuck, which gives you two great figures for a pretty good price. On the other end of the spectrum is this animated Yoda, which has few accessories, little articulation, and a nice sculpt. In short, this is a statue. And it's small. Seeing as the retail price just recently went up to $7.99, this really doesn't feel like a good deal at all. Thanks to Yoda's popularity and the fact kids and collectors will buy it just because it's Yoda, it's sure to do well. It should also offset the costs of other figures in the case... but is it worth getting? Yeah, actually it is.

The sculpt is pretty great-- it's not a perfect match to the animated character, but it's a great plastic reinterpretation complete with giant eyes, a big head, and a smooth costume. His right arm is fairly poseable, but his left arm only moves at the wrist. In order to incorporate a projectile launcher into his sleeve, this had to be done-- on the bright side, they also tooled it to accept a cane so if you don't like the whole blue missile thing it will still look decent on your shelf. His only leg articulation is at the ankle, which is better than nothing, but it really won't help you to get much in the way of dynamic action poses out of this guy. If the line continues, it's a pretty safe bet we'll see multiple Yodas and at some point get one with actual hip joints and both arms jointed... but today, this is it. He's good enough to warrant a purchase, but he doesn't really impress in the way that other figures do with swappable body parts and scores of extra weapons. It's Yoda-- and it has just about everything a good Yoda should. If you like how he looks, buy one for your desk at work. If you don't, well, he's not much of a toy.

Collector's Notes: In addition to his basic carded release, this figure will be packed with a squad of Clone Troopers for a Target exclusive battle pack. It's a safe bet it will come out again in some other capacity as well as Yoda tends to be a strong seller, and this one looks pretty good.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 830: August 19, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 829: Yoda with Kybuck

YODA with Kybuck
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87334
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #3032
Includes: Coin, lightsaber, hilt, cloak, bandolier
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Fall 2007
Appearances: Clone Wars

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: Yoda recieves a kybuck as a gift for healing an ailing Wookiee princess on Kashyyyk. The Jedi Master forms a bond of friendship with this swift herbivore. When General Grievous attacks Coruscant during the Clone Wars, Yoda sometimes rides the kybuck during skirmishes but keeps the creature safely away from any danger. (Taken from the cardback.)

Commentary: How often can one buy a figure with an accessory where the accessory is bigger than most figures? Not very. Hasbro's Yoda with Kybuck set is a preposterous deal, mainly because you get a decent Yoda figure and a giant creature for seven bucks. Based on the first appearance of Yoda in the 2003 Clone Wars series, this set is a great realistic take on a new creature. Yoda is similar the 2005 release, but with a few modifications. First, there's the cloth cloak with ear holes. It's a nice touch, and it also has a hole in the back for the lightsaber holster to poke through. He's also got new pants-- they're a cream color now, and previous releases generally show him with a shirt and pants that are both the same color. Kudos to Yoda's tailor. While his new cloak isn't a perfect fit, it's pretty nice and it helps to make him look like a killer lawn gnome. Its pointy hood is hard to ignore, and harder to correct-- the material's thickness prevents it from going down without using some other physical means to fold it back behind his head. The figure has numerous joints, but won't meet fan demand for a super-articulated figure. Although I must say for its size, it's about as good as you can hope for.

His partner is a Kybuck, which the bio tells us means he's a creature from Kashyyyk. While some assembly is required, he pops together quickly and has as much articulation as a lower-end figure. With arms, neck, tail, and leg movement, he doesn't fail to impress. He's also quite tall, and loaded with detail. The translation from a two-dimensional stylized cartoon to a fully-realized three-dimensional toy went quite smoothly, save for one little quibble-- Hasbro left off the blinders around his eyes. It's not a deal-breaker, but one recurring theme in this line is that Hasbro frequently stops just one or two steps shy of perfection. Granted, I'm sure perfection would raise the price a dollar or so, but perfection would be nice.

The whole package is totally worth buying. Even if you have 50 Yodas, this set revises Yoda to look different enough to warrant your attention, and the Kybuck isn't so much the icing on the cake so much that it's like having a second cake with the cake. So this set is like getting two cakes. Who doesn't love cake?

Collector's Notes: After being part of the obscenely popular 2007 Wave 5, Hasbro was kind enough to reissue this figure in 2008 as part of the Saga Legends line. Given that it's a lot of toy for the money, and kids should like it, it should continue to be a big seller. Get it, you won't be sorry. Get extras for your future offspring too.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 829: August 18, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 828: McQuarrie Concept Snowtrooper

SNOWTROOPER McQuarrie Concept
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87390
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #3045
Includes: Blaster, coin, face cover (stand not included)
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Fall 2007
Appearances: n/a

Image: Adam Pawlus' floor, in front of a box.

Bio: The stormtrooper's uniform was modified for differnt environments, yet retains the featureless uniformity captured by McQuarrie in his art. Snowtroopers have additional head, chest, and leg coverings to insulate them against the cold and help them to blend into snowy surroundings. (Taken from the cardback.)

Commentary: As the McQuarrie Concept figure series went on, fans kept gobbling them up because they were all new sculpts and all pretty amazing. After a while, we started getting away from major characters, and away from the designs fans were used to seeing in concept art books. This Snowtrooper is by no means obscure, but the number of fans who currently collect action figures that are also proud owners of The Empire Strikes Back Sketchbook are probably few. The figure itself is very Star Wars-y in design, and it just goes to show how important Ralph McQuarrie was in making a good design. Unfortunately, the sculptors at Hasbro seemed more interested in making a great statue, and even then, his oddly positioned legs don't make him that great of a statue. If this figure hand ankles, it'd be a lot easier to pose. Sadly, he's not much of a sitter-- but given the target market for these art-driven toys, that's OK.

The sculpt and deco are both excellent, borrowing heavily from the original sketches. The removable face piece is here, the unique blue symbols on the left side of the helmet are here, even the awkward gun is here! It really does feel like a little work of art has come to life, right down to the dual-fingered gloves. It almost looks like he'd fit right in on Hoth, but there's just a little more yellow, blue, and brown than you would expect from the opening scenes of The Empire Strikes Back. I'd say that this design probably influenced Kenner's Mini-Rigs of 1980-1982 a great deal, as he looks like he would fit right in with the MLC-3 or maybe even the MTV-7.

Collector's Notes: Most McQuarrie figures were cherry-picked by fans. A lot of collectors decided that was all they were going to buy, and their blue-striped packaging made them stand out at retail, causing a lot of dealers to snap them up as they were unique. Because of this, you may have to go to the secondary market. The good news is that it only goes for a buck or two above retail, so go get one if you're so inclined. Heck, buy the set of them all, you won't regret it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 828: August 15, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 827: Obi-Wan Kenobi

OBI-WAN KENOBI Clone Armor
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 32532 No. 32537
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD09
Includes: Helmet, cape, lightsaber, lance, droid piece
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: July 2008
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Bio: Obi-Wan and his clone troopers go up against Durge and his IG lancer droids on the planet Muunilinst. The Jedi general and the Separatist bounty hunter engage in an explosive jousting match that pits two powerful warriors against one another. (Taken from the cardback.)

Commentary: After a pretty lackluster first attempt in 2005, Hasbro gave this armored Obi-Wan Kenobi a second attempt in 2008 just before the new animated series kicked off. Thankfully, this one was packed with improvements, yet unfortunately still wasn't quite perfect. Eschewing removable snap-on armor, this release is already more solid than his predecessor, and his cloth cape is much less of a hassle to work with. Hasbro's decision to include soft goods around the waist paid off nicely, as you can place this figure on a Speeder Bike with no real problems. With 14 points of articulation, including the new and improved hip joint, this is a figure that's so good it's almost a sure thing that it will come back again in another form, most likely with a bike this time. He looks like a Clone with Obi-Wan's head and a cape-- which is exactly what he should look like.

As to the downers? It's all in his head. The face looks more cartoony, with bright red hair and an angry expression on his face. Since his hair is a little bit more bulky, his helmet was upsized to be longer and wider than that of a typical trooper. Also, the new wrist articulation would have been nice, but odds are the added accessories ate up a few extra cents in product development. It's a fun figure, and easily the best armored Obi-Wan toy money can buy. Plus if you don't like the head, that's refreshingly easy to take care of...

Collector's Notes: The deco on the head of this figure varies wildly. I popped open a case, and noticed significant difference in how the facial hair was painted. As such, it may be worth your while to look through a few before deciding which one to buy and/or open. Also, the head is easily swapped with the Revenge of the Sith Pilot body-- which means if you have extra of any of a number of figures released since 2005, you can just switch them out if you want. Finally, the lance is designed to come apart-- so if it busts into two pieces at the grip, that's OK, it's supposed to.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 827: August 14, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 826: Hoth Rebel Soldier

HOTH REBEL SOLDIER Hoth Survival
Saga Target Exclusive Accessory Sets
Item No.: Asst. 32532 No. 32537
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Backpack, rifle, scanner, missiles, gas masks, sentry droid, power box
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 2002
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Bio: After going through Luke Skywalker's closet, this Rebel Soldier decided to hit on some of the snowbunnies on Hoth. (Taken from Adam's wacky "let's make up something" pile.)

Commentary: When an exclusive needs to be done in a hurry, sometimes creativity takes a back seat to practicality. This Hoth Rebel Soldier is made up of the body of the 1997 Luke Skywalker (Hoth) figure with the head of the 1997 Hoth Rebel Soldier figure. By his release in 2002, the sculpting already looked a little dated. Only six points of articulation and an iffy head sculpt aren't enough to get fans excited at times, but that's where all the accessories come in. The figure was really just bait on the hook-- Hasbro wanted to sell fans accessories, and after the Episode I line didn't do so well, this attempt allowed a figure to be packed in to sweeten the deal. If $5 or $6 for a figure with a gun proved successful, surely a $10 figure with a dozen guns would be a huge hit-- right?

Sadly, this wasn't the case. Accessories included a blaster rifle, a sentry droid (as far as I can tell, a Hasbro creation), gas masks, and a lot more. For diorama builders, it was pretty great, but there wasn't enough genuinely useful items to clinch the sale for most fans. As someone who typically loves extra gear, I opted to save my money and just got one of these. A new figure or something more than a simple head swap would have made the set, but as it was, it was just a figure nobody wanted with more gear they also didn't want. I wouldn't suggest you track this down unless such items appeal to you, or you're hard up for Hoth figures.

Collector's Notes: Another clearance rack victim, the figure was actually sort of part of a line fans wanted-- accessory sets have been highly requested items, but retail sales indicate that it's just a vocal minority that wants them. Today, extra accessories live on as part of the Saga Legends line and in select Battle Packs.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 826: August 13, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 825: Luke Skywalker

LUKE SKYWALKER Purchase of the Droids
Power of the Force Cinema Scenes
Item No.: Asst. 69650 No. 69778
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Uncle Owen, C-3PO, Display Stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: 1998
Appearances: Star Wars

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Bio: Under attack by an Imperial Star Destroyer, protocol droid C-3PO and his partner R2-D2 safely escaped a battered Rebel capital ship and landed on the desert planet of Tatooine. Soon after, the droids were abducted by scavenging Jawas and sold to Owen Lars for use on his desert moisture farm. Luke Skywalker, nephew of Owen and a Tatooine youth, remained unaware that his uncle's purchase of C-3PO and R2-D2 was to help launch one of the most pivotal destinies the galaxy had ever known...his own. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Commentary: There's really no shortage of Luke figures. By late 1997, Kenner unveiled this "new" style of Luke Skywalker which featured a new head and a slimmer build. It was a step in the right direction from previous efforts, but in 2008, the toymakers have yet to make a truly great likeness. This one was one of the worst due to what seems to be a tooling error. As you can see in the photo, Luke's profile is... special. His nose is smushed flat, giving him a unique look. While we have spotted a few with a decent nose, almost every sample I've had the chance to buy was flattened like this one. On the bright side, it makes an ideal face to put a blast shield helmet over, for a variety of practical and aesthetic reasons.

With six points of articulation, he doesn't do anything too incredible, and he looks just like a number of other Luke figures save for one unique feature-- binoculars molded to his belt. That's the big draw with this particular Luke. If the rest of the set doesn't float your boat, your decision to pick up this release is pretty much exclusively relying on if you get a kick out of Mr. Flatnose and his amazing belt. It's very samey in the grand scheme of things, but for the time, a lot of fans enjoyed the release-- mostly for his companion figures.

Collector's Notes: This set was fairly easy to get on closeout, and remained in circulation fairly cheaply until as recently as last year. You can probably get the set for $10 or less, and it's arguably worth it just for the C-3PO.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 825: August 12, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 824: Achk Med-Beq

ACHK MED-BEQ Coruscant Outlander Club
Saga Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84742
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0337
Includes: Glass, blaster, table
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Fall 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Bio: Known confidant of Lt. Dannl Faytonni, Achk Med-Beq wore the uniform of a Republic official while visiting a popular gambling club in Coruscant's entertainment district. He was seen conversing with Twi'leks when a pair of Jedi showed up in pursuit of a changeling assassin. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: This character's entire claim to fame is that this is the guy who did the voice and mannerisms for Jar Jar Binks. Lucas gave him a cameo in Episode II, and that character eventually got the name Ahck Med-Beq, which is, of course, a play on Ahmed Best. The figure itself uses the same body created for Lt. Dannl Faytonni, but adds a new head and recolored hands. Around 2003, Hasbro got religion in the area of repaints. Previously, the company had been astonishingly hesitant to just repaint an existing figure in its Star Wars line, or for that matter, give it a new head. There were a few exceptions, but as of 2003 the company actively developed figures with the intent of reusing the body or other parts one or more times. Both Achk and Dannl were released around the same time, allowing fans to buy these and other Outlander Club patrons to build their very own dioramas.

So, how is the figure? Great! With 14 points of articulation, he's pretty poseable, but this was a figure from before the time Hasbro was big on ball joints. As such, the elbows swivel, but don't bend, and the knee joints are somewhat ugly. Since the figure's main purpose is to stand, drink, and potentially react, it's easy to make it a good one. By adding a table for environment building and a drink just to make him look cool, Hasbro took what could have been a potentially mundane figure and made it stand out as one of the better figures of his era. Nice job, Hasbro.

Collector's Notes: A one-time release in 2003, Achk Med-Beq has yet to return to the world-- even as a repaint or a retool. It's a safe bet he'll not show up again, but the sheer abundance of characters in the line keeps his price down at a healthy $5 or so on the secondary market. Grab him if you can!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 824: August 11, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 823: Romba

ROMBA & Graak
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87409
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #3043
Includes: Spear, knife, hood, Graak figure, coin (2007), display stand (2008)
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Fall 2007
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Image: Adam Pawlus' Endor shelf.

Bio: When the Ewoks mistake C-3PO for a god, Han Leia, and Chewie use this misunderstanding to get past the Ewok's initial distrust of them. The Ewoks eventually welcome the Rebels into their tribe and help them destroy the shield generatior protecting the Death Star. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: If there's one thing Hasbro is great at, it's always leave fans wanting more. Romba was last available in 1985, one of the final figures in Kenner's original vintage line. His update was a long time coming, and the new release comes up short. As in, tiny. More properly sized than in the old days, this tiny furball is almost a head shorter than his ancestor, but features even more articulation than ever. Kenner's original had four joints, and Hasbro's new version sports ten. That's pretty impressive for such a small figure. What's more, he has a belt with a removable knife, and his ankles are ball-jointed. This new sculpt is surprisingly good, and will no doubt be used as the basis for a great many new warriors over the coming years. The only real downside of this figure is the deco-- Hasbro added a very light pink on his nose, lips, and around his eyes. The movie reference (which is somewhat spotty for Ewoks) shows the figure as having a darker nose with no obvious rings around his eyes, and I think dropping the rings would make a big difference on any future reissue. They make him look a little creepy, which I don't think was Lucas' intent for Return of the Jedi. As the only modern Romba, I can't say enough positive about getting him-- just go for it, already, he's adorable.

Collector's Notes: Romba was created with future repaints in mind, and Hasbro isn't wasting any time making new figures. Leektar uses the same body, but with a new belt, hood, and head. In 2009, Wal-Mart will have an exclusive comic-based Ewok named Kettch which uses the same mold, but adds chest armor and new coloring. It's also worth noting this set was rereleased in 2008 with a display stand.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 823: August 8, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 822: Mustafar Panning Droid

MUSTAFAR PANNING DROID Stand with a head
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87753
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0808
Includes: Lava base, bukkit, display stand, platform
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: February 2008
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV Tray.

Bio: Obi-Wan and Anakin engage in their penultimate battle on Mustafar. During the lightsaber duel, they must quickly avoid falling into the burning lava when the collection arms collapse. Obi-Wan jumps onto a replusorlift platform, while Anakin leaps onto a panning droid. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: Hasbro revealed that the original plan for the Mustafar Panning Droid was for him to be an accessory, and not an actual carded figure. Part of him would come with Obi-Wan, the other part, Anakin/Vader. Both of these elements would be used to make the Mustafar duel figures a little more enticing, but it appears cost issues resulted in this figure being carded separately-- which seems to have worked out just fine. The resulting robot is a little flimsy, but that's mostly due to the design from Lucasfilm and not Hasbro's own sculpting efforts. With such tiny limbs, it's pretty much impossible to create really sturdy parts. The bucket plugs into his hands, and a set of his hands plugs into the base. It works fairly well, but it could be sturdier-- especially given that both the droid and the base were meant to act as display stands for two other action figures.

As this figure has an unusual shape, I can't help but like it. New kinds of droids are always good to see, and this little guy is about as different as they come. If you think he looks neat, don't hesitate to add him to your collection. It's a nicely designed robot, there's a lot of detail here, and it was designed to function as a toy in addition to being an authentic collectible figure. You can't lose with this one... except that for $7, there's not a lot of figure here. Still, if you're reading this column after 822 entries and likely own several hundred figures, it's hard to come up with a compelling reason to pass on something as unique as this.

Collector's Notes: Available in smaller quantities than the other wave 1 2008 figures, this particular release doesn't seem to be in particularly high demand. As such, I'd advise against paying too much for it. As Hasbro now seems intent on rereleasing every figure they make, it's also pretty likely this will, someday, be in a battle pack.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 822: August 7, 2008

Figure of the Day: Day 821: Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight)

LUKE SKYWALKER Jedi Knight
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87300
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #3025
Includes: Lightsaber, hilt, bone, coin
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Fall 2007
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: Luke's plan to rescue Han from Jabba's palace seems doomed when the young Jedi Knight is thrown unarmed into the rancor pit. But even without his lightsaber, the resourceful Jedi manages to defeat the massive beast by using every item at his disposal, including the bones of its previous victims. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: Hasbro loves Luke Skywalker, and retailers do too. Even though the figures aren't all that great, they're consistent sellers. In a way it's weird, because on paper this particular figure is really good. After all, Hasbro's talented engineers managed to work in a great way to store a lightsaber on his belt, added 14 points of articulation, and gave him that blast-damaged hand specific to the Sail Barge sequence. It should be really great, but sometimes the sum of the parts ain't so great.

Let's start with the head. Luke's skin is dark, as is his hair, and the likeness isn't really there. The hair seems acceptable, but the total face sculpt isn't obviously Luke Skywalker. The soft goods for his tunic, frankly, suck. Hasbro's designers commented that the cloth piece is authentic to the film, but photo reference and numerous action figures sold from 1983 to 2006 say otherwise. Rather than being a proper vest, it's more a towel that goes over the back of his neck and tucks neatly into his belt. I suppose I could be in the wrong, but that would mean every Jedi Luke ever produced by Sideshow, Kenner or Hasbro, is also wrong. I find that difficult to believe. Luke's lightsaber is based on a POTF2-era design, meaning it really doesn't fit in well with the rest of the line in 2007. The lightsaber hilt, however, does fit into Luke's belt quite nicely-- so I can give Hasbro big points for doing a great job there. Seeing a soft goods Jedi cloak would have been a nice touch, but even that wouldn't make this figure a great one. It's just OK-- it's an acceptable toy who can sit or stand or be posed to look neat, but the 2008 Jedi Luke from Hasbro was a big improvement. As such, you can skip this one if you're short on cash.

Collector's Notes: Can't get enough Luke? He's coming back as a pack-in with a Rancor as an upcoming exclusive. It's unknown if Hasbro will attempt to improve the deco or vest in the process.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 821: August 6, 2008