Figure of the Day: Day 948: Grand Moff Tarkin

GRAND MOFF TARKIN Death Star Briefing
The Saga Collection Diamond Exclusive
Item No.: No. 87268
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Imperial Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: January 2007
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Ambitious, brilliant and dedicated to the Emperor's New Order, tarkin intends to crush without mercy all resistance to the Emperor's rule. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' living room.

Commentary: Since the 1997 release of the character, fans have been asking for a better version of Grand Moff Tarkin. Never mind the fact that it was above average for its day and arguably has the best Peter Cushing head sculpt so far, fans wanted something better. In 2005, Hasbro made a new Revenge of the Sith Tarkin, and this figure is based on that mold. The complaints on its release were loud, because the boots, rank, and parts of the uniform weren't exactly accurate to the original Star Wars film. It does have cut elbows, normal wrist joints, shoulder joints, neck articulation, a moving waist, and sort-of-acceptable hip joints... but even in 2005, fans expected better. The "skirt" prevents sitting, and the head is just a little off from what it should be-- I think it's the hair is too white and the skin is too pale. A 2007 comic pack release had a much better head in terms of deco, but a green uniform, so I suppose you could swap them out to bash your ideal Tarkin together. The sculpt is decent, but it's a 1977 character being based off a 2005 design, and the actor was long dead. So it ain't perfect, but I can't imagine there being a new version of Tarkin based on the original film for another few years. For the time being, this is arguably the best Tarkin from the original Star Wars your money can buy.

Collector's Notes: This set lingered. A lot of web stores are out of it, but Suncoasts, movie stores, comic shops, and other smaller toy stores may still have it. On eBay, it isn't hard to get the set for under $20 before shipping is factored in. Given the set has six pretty great Imperials and yet another Darth Vader, I'd argue it's worth your money.

Day 948: January 30, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 947: R4-E1

R4-E1 Astromech Droid Pack Series II
The Saga Collection Entertainment Earth Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 87055 No. 87057
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: January 2006
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Resides in Mos Eisley on the planet Tatooine and is owned by the smuggler BoShek. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' slab of cardboard.

Commentary: While there are a variety of reasons to make a figure, "because it's funny" is justification for a tiny number of new toys every year. The droid R4-E1 was one of them. The reason behind the astromech packs-- "let's take existing molds and add new colors"-- is obvious enough, but the droid selection took on a life of its own. "Let's do this one because it's in the 12-inch line!" And that's why there was an R2-A6. "Let's do this one because the Imperials need a droid!" And there's your R3-T6. "Hey, I know, let's make BoShek's droid!" That's why you have this one. I've heard varying stories as to the reason for Hasbro producing a BoShek action figure, many of which come back to a combination of "because you elevated his fame in your column" and "we were in a meeting and said we could make enough of this to sell through." As BoShek became a bit of a sore spot, I figured what the heck-- let's do one more and make his droid. It's not like there were a lot of red astromechs at the time, so this one seemed like a good choice.

The figure is based on the R4-M9 mold originally sold in-- you guessed it-- the wave with BoShek from 2002. No changes were made to the figure's sculpt, but the coloring is significantly different. There are loads of red and silver panels, plus other little cream colored painted details. He has articulated "feet," "shoulders," and a retractable third leg as well as the rotating dome. Sadly, by 2009 standards the figure is a little dated. We've since received a superior mold with the 2008 build-a-droid figures, but it seems unlikely Hasbro will want to revisit this fairly obscure and generally in-jokey toy. While most fans don't need a reason to buy an astromech repaint, we'd say this one is worth a shot if you do Mos Eisley dioramas or just like making sure everybody's favorite balding mutton-chopped spacer has a buddy.

Collector's Notes: It took a while, but these sets are (seemingly) totally sold through. Your best bet is eBay and various collector shops.

Day 947: January 29, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 946: Han Solo (Mynock Hunt)

HAN SOLO Mynock Hunt
Power of the Force Cinema Scenes Collection
Item No.: Asst. 69650 No. 69868
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Breathing Mask, Blaster, Display Stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99-$19.99
Availability: Fall 1998
Appearances: Primarily Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Fleeing the fierce Imperial assault on the frozen planet Hoth, the Millennium Falcon and the Rebel crew fly into the midst of a waiting Imperial war fleet. Unable to engage the Falcon's malfunctioning hyperdrive system, Han Solo steers recklessly into an asteroid field. Solo maneuvers the Corellian freighter through the deadly storm, missing large rocks by mere inches before locating sanctuary in the cave of a huge asteroid. Inside the cave it become apparent that the Falcon is in danger of being ravaged by mynocks. Large, winged parasites with an appetite for the mineral and energy-rich bulls of starships, mynocks can cause critical damage to star-freighting vessels. Forced to hunt the creatures before irreparable harm is caused to the Millennium Falcon, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, and Han Solo don breathing gear and venture outside. But the mynocks become a secondary concern once the Rebel crew discovers that the cave they're parked in is not a cave at all, but something large and very alive. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: When Kenner finally delivered its first modern Bespin Han Solo in 1997, nobody was really prepared for the deluge of remolds and repaints to come. This particular version is very similar to the 1997 original with the key distinction of an added removable gas mask. Han's limbs were repositioned slightly, giving this figure a fairly simple method of distinguishing itself from the basic carded release, the exclusive Millennium Mint Coin release, and of course the Princess Leia Collection release. All these figures had six or fewer points of articulation, but this was the only one to have the breathing mask and, of course, the mynock. The figure itself isn't remotely worthwhile by current standards, as his articulation and sculpt weren't even particularly fantastic for his own time. As such, only get this one if you feel a burning urge to own the set-- it's unfortunately no longer an especially special release.

Collector's Notes: This was a very hard to find set for quite some time, resulting in prices having shot up to about $50-- they have since dropped considerably, and a many new Bespin Han Solo figures were released with varying degrees of quality. As part of a set, it's quite nice, but it's arguably more interesting to boxed collectors than those who play with their toys. The gas masks were rereleased in 2008 as part of the Millennium Falcon-themed Battle Pack featuring Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, C-3PO, and R2-D2. Nothing to see here, folks, move along.

Day 946: January 28, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 945: Doda Bodonawieedo

DODA BODONAWIEEDO Max Rebo Band Pairs
Power of the Force Wal-Mart Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 69670 No. 84021
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: 3 of 3
Includes: Rodian slitherhorn, Max Rebo
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $11.99
Availability: Fall 1998
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Doda Bodonawieedo was a Rodian slitherhorn (traz) player for the Max Rebo Band. He was also an information broker and was a part of the Shawpee Gang. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' now-dead tower.

Commentary: Seeing an opportunity to make sure fans get the most musicians, Kenner cranked out a trio of two-packs in 1998 for Wal-Mart. Each set had an "original" and "special edition" member, meaning if you were an older fan you had to buy Doda Bodonawieedo in order to get the truly awesome Max Rebo. While not awesome, Doda most certainly doesn't suck. He's colorful, has a good sculpt, and his head is a little tiny when compared to any and all Rodian figures released since 1999 (like Greedo and Pax Bonkik.) He'll fit right in any diorama you might elect to make, but he has a little problem standing. Articulation is limited to a mere six points, two of which are completely obstructed by his long tunic or dress or whatever you want to call it. While sculpted to hold on to his Rodian slitherhorn (really, that's the name) his hands are sculpted a little too large to keep a solid grip on the instrument, meaning you might want to be very careful when setting him up. Heck, break out the clear rubber bands, you'll be glad you did. It's very unlikely Hasbro will revisit this figure, so it's not a bad idea to assume this is the only sculpt you'll ever see and buy it.

Collector's Notes: Depending on your luck, you might have seen him around in 1998 and again in 2007/2008. The 1998 release was packaged with Max Rebo, and the 2007 boxed set had those figures as well as Sy Snootles, Droopy McCool, and Barquin D'an. Don't overpay for this one, but I'd say the 2007 release will probably give you more bang for your buck. Joh Yowza, Rappertunie, and the various dancers are in a separate 2007 5-pack, or sold in other configurations. Oh, and you can get Ak-Rev and Umpass-Stay, the two drummers, as individually carded figures from 2007 and 2008. You might as well, really, as alien musicians are super cool.

Day 945: January 27, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 944: Obi-Wan Kenobi

OBI-WAN KENOBI Jedi Knight
Episode I Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84085 No. 84244
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, comm unit, CommTech chip
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: January 2000
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: As the invasion of Naboo rages outside, Jedi apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi battles the evil Sith Lord, Darth Maul, in a fierce lightsaber duel. The outcome could change the galaxy forever! (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: In 1999, Hasbro decided its Jedi figures should have elbow and wrist joints. By 2000, they were eliminated as seen on this Obi-Wan Kenobi figure which was a sort of a mixed bag as progress goes. Hasbro wisely included what it referred to as "soft goods"-- that is, cloth and fake hair-- to distinguish the figure from other, similar releases. In the photo, you can see a rooted hair Jedi braid as well as a cloth skirt piece which allows for enhanced movement. Sadly, the figure only has six total joints, making it about on par with your average figure from 1995-1998. The likeness is really no better or worse than other figures from the era, although there's obviously room for improvement. You might also notice Obi-Wan Kenobi has a slightly more muscular build than other releases, leading one to wonder if this figure was developed earlier and just released after Hasbro put its best foot forward.

Accessory fans will no doubt enjoy the fact that this figure has a communicator which can be held in his hand (see picture) or attached to a peg on his belt for storage. This kind of little bonus feature goes a long way into making a figure more fun, giving you another way to play with it beyond "stand," "sit," and "fight." Sadly, this sort of interactivity was dropped from the action figures except for the occasional lightsaber hilt which could be pegged to a belt, leaving weapons to be the only extras you generally got to have to hang off your figures. Ah well. Still, it's neat and totally worth getting for this unique gimmick. As one of the figures from that transitional period where Hasbro started adding more and more articulation and long skirt pieces which hindered movement, this one stands out as a rare foray into making the figure function better as a plaything at the expense of making it more collector-friendly, and personally I think it worked out nicely.

Collector's Notes: While somewhat difficult to get at first, the figure eventually trickled out enough to be considered mostly widely available. As far as sitting in a vehicle goes, you will never find a better Obi-Wan figure from the first prequel. Or at least, you won't as far as the space-time continuum works in the whole unknown future thing. A new version of Obi-Wan from the first prequel is scheduled for 2009, if the rumor and information mill is accurate.

Day 944: January 26, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 943: Battle Droid

BATTLE DROID Sith Lord Attack
30th Anniversary Collection Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87503 No. 87195
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Backpack, blaster, blast effect, 4 more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: November 2006
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: The simple-minded drone warriors of the Trade Federation were easily dealt with by the Jedi, but were nonetheless fearsome because of their overwhelming numbers. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: In this Battle Pack, most of the figures were pretty much straight reissues or had a new accessory. This Battle Droid is a modified version of at least one previously released figure, seeming to be the most like the 2000 "Boomer damage" version of the trooper. With about 9 points of articulation, this figure will stand out as a similar-but-different trooper in your growing separatist army. If nothing else, he's like the Boomer figure minus the dirt damage and "energy" pieces. His added blast-effect gun is nice, and for those who have to have everything I'd consider this one different enough to be a worthy addition to your horde. You basically know what to expect in articulation-- shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and head-- and that's about it. He may have some difficulty standing, but at least he has a few more joints than other, recent Battle Droids from the 2-packs. It's not a particularly stunning Battle Droid, but it's one of the better ones. As such, buy if you can get it at the right price, or need other figures from the Sith Lord Attack Battle Pack anyway.

Collector's Notes: First released in late 2006, the set includes Darth Maul (POTJ 2-pack), Red Security Battle Droid (POTJ), Obi-Wan Kenobi (modified 2000 soft goods version) and Qui-Gon Jinn (2000 soft goods version). It's not stunning, but it does look nice in the box. Loose figure fans won't have much to get excited about here.

Day 943: January 23, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 942: Jango Fett

JANGO FETT with a real poncho, or maybe a Sears poncho
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87459
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #3057
Includes: Poncho, holsters, blasters, helmet, backpack, greaves
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: November 2007
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: When Jango Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi meet, the Jedi's questions and the bounty hunter's replies are civil and bland. But beneath the surface of this polite conversation runs an undercurrent of suspicion and menace as they size each other up, both anticipating that they will meet again under less agreeable circumstances. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: When a character is introduced in a film and killed within two hours, what do you do? There are toys to sell, so Hasbro took a while to get to different versions of Jango Fett. This particular one takes a cue from the various quick-change outfit figures from Kenner and Hasbro over the years, in which you have a fairly mundane Jango figure with snap-on armor, guns, the poncho, and the whole deal. In some respects it's neat, but he's still got his boots on when you take off the other parts of his boots. Which looks weird. It's like Bruce Wayne having on Batman's gloves-- it ain't right. Out of his armor, he looks like an average guy with boring pants and a blue shirt, giving you one of very few alternate outfits for the galaxy's favorite bounty hunter's dad. The poncho fits, but is a little baggy, and it's a royal pain to remove the holsters and belt. It's such a pain that I'd suggest buying two of this figure with one permanently dressed in his armor and the other permanently not, so you can best avoid breakage of what I presume will be a fragile accessory as time goes on. I really do expect the belt parts to bust here-- they're tight.

So it's an OK figure. I think Jango fans will like it as their 3rd or 4th Jango, but if it was their one-and-only it kind of sucks. Get a real good, armored one and this one only as an extra.

Collector's Notes: First released in late 2007, the figure was repackaged in "Saga Legends" 2008-style packaging. It's still shipping, as far as I know the figure has had no significant changes.

Day 942: January 22, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 941: Galactic Marine

GALACTIC MARINE Wal-Mart Exclusive Clone Trooper
30th Anniversary Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87557 No. 87559
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, Backpack, Helmet, Commander Keller figure, comic book
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $11.87
Availability: January 2008
Appearances: Dark Horse comics

Bio: The Clone Wars are over. The Galactic Republic army is defeated, and Order 66 has eliminated most of the Jedi or forced them into hiding. Wild rumors are spreading that the Jedi tried to overthrow the government and cannot be trusted. On the planet Toola in the Outer Rim, Commander Keller is hunting down two fugitive Jedi who survived Order 66. With the help of a Galactic Marine, Keller tracks them through the deep snow as they head toward Ithaqua Station. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: When fans saw the purple version of this figure, they demanded a snow-friendly Galactic Marine for their very own. And rightly so-- it's a shame it had to end up as a comic pack retail exclusive, but hey, you got one. Consider yourself lucky. The figure is basically the same as the standard Galactic Marine except now it's largely an off-white color with some grey. He's super-articulated, but his skirt prevents much leg movement. Also, his feet are fairly rounded at the bottom of the boots, meaning he's likely to fall over without careful support or the right pose. It's tricky, but it's a great figure from a brief scene in a fairly nice comic book. If you bought the previous versions you know exactly what to expect here-- the head is more or less based on Bodhi Taylor's, the gun is the newer, thinner one, and he could almost stand in for a Snowtrooper in the right diorama. The deco is sharp, and it didn't turn out sloppy-- It's a keeper. Hopefully Hasbro will make single ones for the army builders some day.

Collector's Notes: The roll-out for this figure, and his wave of exclusives, was more than a little strange. Depending on where you lived and shopped, it could pop up at any time over several months. For all I know, your local stores may still have these.

Day 941: January 21, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 940: Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi

BEN (OBI-WAN) KENOBI 1995 Edition!
Power of the Force Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 69570 No. 69576
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, cloak
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: August 1995
Appearances: Star Wars

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Bio: Trained by the Jedi Master Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi learned the ways of the Force and became a Jedi Knight. He successfully defended teh Old Republic in the Clone Wars and was hailed as a hero. He took on his own apprentice, the young Anakin Skywalker. (Taken from the figure's cardback. It goes on like this for a paragraph and change.)

Commentary: Back in 1995 fans were elated to have new Star Wars figures for the first time in nearly 10 years. As such, as a group we gobbled up figures like this Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi action figure like nobody's business. The likeness was very good, and continues to be above average even in 2008. A few attempts to redo the character's head haven't improved his look much, although it's possible the one due out any day now will be superior. This version has a hard, clamshell plastic robe covering his body which, sadly, doesn't stand too well. He tends to topple over unless posed with a base or leaning against something, so be careful here. He has only six points of articulation, and his pose is fairly benign. He won't be doing any cool action poses, but at least he doesn't look like he's dancing. Of the first seven figures to hit stores (you'll recall Leia and C-3PO were delayed), I'd argue Obi-Wan's sculpting and likeness have stood the test of time better than any of the others. He isn't overly muscular, his face doesn't have a strange expression on it, and there isn't anything really missing in his costume like Vader's "skirt" or Leia's second X chromosome. While versions with greater articulation have been released, few are truly greater than this figure-- as such, I'd say get one if you can do so cheaply, as we'll continue to get newer versions over time and, eventually, one of them should be unquestionably better than this one-- but I haven't seen it yet.

Collector's Notes: Several variants exist. You can get him with a short lightsaber, or a long one. He comes on an orange or a green cardback, and the green cardback could have a sticker, a photo, or a Freeze Frame on it. And there's more variants on top of that-- which is why nobody cares for them these days. The figure can be had for basically free. If you know a collector with one and ask nicely, he may be sick of it and give it to you. Or you can get it on eBay for about a dollar.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 940: January 20, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 939: Anakin Skywalker

ANAKIN SKYWALKER with Assassin Droid
30th Anniversary Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87528
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #11
Includes: Comic, lightsaber, Assassin Droid
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 2007
Appearances: Clone Wars

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Bio: The battle is going badly for the Republic on Jabiim. Separatist forces are launching their final strike, and Republic forces are in retreat. Only a handful of Padawans, whose Masters have been killed in battle, stand between the Republic forces and the approaching Separatists with their Pollux A-Series Assassin Droids. The Padawans decide to fight the Separatists, giving the Republic forces time to escape. Anakin chooses to join them in their brave yet futile last stand, but fate has other plans for young Skywalker. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: As Anakin Skywalker figures go this is another favorite. The numerous comics and books allow for dozens of variations on his regular costume, this one allowing him to trade in his floor-length robes for a sort of a quasi duster instead. While this stiff plastic coat does get in the way of him sitting, it does make him look especially cool. While not a movie figure, it looks like it could be and that's part of its brilliance. Most of the costume appears to be taken straight from the films, with added mud and dirt to simulate his time during the rainy war on Jabiim. Articulation fans will largely be pleased here, as he is almost super articulated. The only thing missing are ankle joints, and his "skirt" blocks some of the hip movement. This is a figure that's mostly going to be doing standing and fighting, so if you aren't bothered by his inability to sit you're going to like this one. While there are many Anakin figures from the Clone Wars era, they're mostly all pretty fantastic-- this one is no exception. As such, I think you'd like it if you got one, especially since he has a wonderful companion droid figure.

Collector's Notes: A popular set, it was repackaged in 2008 and offered for quite a while. If you aren't picky as to the packaging, you can get this one for a cheap price.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 939: January 19, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 938: R4-J1

R4-J1 Astromech Droid
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures Build-A-Droid
Item No.: Asst. 87535
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: n/a
Availability: July 26, 2008
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: Purchased by an Outer Rim scavenger decades before the Battle of Yavin, R4-J1 scoured junkyards for parts after developing a scavenging rountine of its own. During this time, the droid developed an unusual trait that caused it to jury-rig devices it was supposed to repair. Seen in Mos Espa when Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala are riding the rickshaw RIC-920 to find Watto on Tatooine. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Commentary: Hasbro's desire to give us droids, and our desire to take them, finally met up in 2008. This R4-J1 was a figure most fans assumed was a Hasbro creation, but I have it on decent authority you can actually see it in Mos Espa. I need to look, but rather than do the research, I'll just write about the toy. Taking the same R4 mold we got in the first wave of figures, it's now a creamy color with green splotches. I think it's wonderful. The figure has a head that pops into a hole in the body, and the three legs pop in as you'd expect. Since it's a new mold, the sculpting is years beyond the R4 body we've been given since 2001-- note that this one has actual wires on the feet and a slightly less skinny body. As pack-ins go, this one is great-- get one for your droid shelf, and hold on to it for the day Hasbro or someone gets the sense to release ships with more droid sockets. Otherwise, what you have here is a great addition to nearly any diorama.

Collector's Notes: His parts and pieces come with the SCUBA Clone Trooper, Obi-Wan Kenobi in Clone armor, IG Lancer Droid, and the Heavy Gunner Clone Trooper. He shipped only with Wave 2 figures, so he may be tough to get in the long run.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 938: January 16, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 937: Count Dooku

COUNT DOOKU Wal-Mart Exclusive Comic Version
30th Anniversary Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87792
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, Anakin figure, comic book
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $11.87
Availability: May 2008
Appearances: Dark Horse comics

Bio: The Separatists have kidnapped Chancellor Palpatine and are fleeing Coruscant with their hostage. Boarding the enemy vessel, Anakin and Obi-Wan battle their way to the Chancellor and are challenged by Count Dooku, who is eager for another lightsaber duel with the two Jedi. Dooku defeats Obi-Wan, but is overpowered by Anakin when the chancellor urges young Skywalker to use the power of the dark side. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: Hasbro struck gold with its comic pack line, taking new figures and new comicy versions of old favorites. The problem is that some of them are overwhelmingly dull, like Count Dooku here. He's different than the standard release from the basic 2005 Revenge of the Sith figure, but you might not notice that at first. It's worth noting that his beard is all white, his colors are darker, and his cape liner is much, much more dark and red than the basic carded version. There's not much else to mention here that hasn't been said about the basic figure, showing that Hasbro kind of missed what made comic pack figures interesting. This is, of course, new deco and accessories or wildly distinctive decoration. This figure is a great Count Dooku if you just want one, as it has good articulation and a decent likeness. But for comic fans, there's really nothing special here. Move along.

Collector's Notes: The roll-out for this figure, and his wave of exclusives, was more than a little strange. Depending on where you lived and shopped, it could pop up at any time over several months. For all I know, your local stores may still have these.

Day 937: January 15, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 936: Darth Vader

DARTH VADER in blue
30th Anniversary Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87505
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #02
Includes: Lightsaber, torture droid, Rebel figure, comic book
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Early 2007
Appearances: Marvel comics

Bio: The fearsome Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Vader stops at nothing in his mission to recover the plans for the Death Star, a fact that this Rebel Trooper learns to his deep misfortune. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: In order to flesh out its comic pack line early on, Hasbro took the deco quite literally from the pages of Marvel's early Star Wars comics to give us all crazy figures like this Darth Vader. Because it's such a radical departure from the rest of the line, these brightly colored figures make up a wonderful subset of toys that look more like a piece of pop art than a Hasbro toy. Modeled off a 1999 mold, the Vader isn't much of a toy but he can sit and stand (with a stand). The main reason you need to buy this figure-- and there's two variations of it, so be careful which one you get-- is because it looks super-cool. The first release (pictured) has this ridiculous bright blue on it and it's pretty stunning. Hasbro has done up about 14 Marvel-colored figures (including some new characters) and I have to say, as a collector, I'd almost be happy with just those. Put those things in a shadow box in a desk in your office and it looks like some weird little art installation rather than a bunch of goofy toys. If you can get behind the strange colors and old molds, these are wonderful figures. And as we're all big Vader fans (I assume), there's no reason to not get this one. At least if you buy this Darth Vader figure, it'll look really different for once.

Collector's Notes: There are two versions of this figure-- this one is the first release. A variant was darker blue and much more subdued, which seems to be the rarer of the two. I think this one is the best, which is why you're seeing it in the picture.

Day 936: January 14, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 935: Jodo Kast

JODO KAST Bounty Hunter
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 89597
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD13
Includes: Blaster, droid part
Action Feature: Push down rocket for quick-draw action
Retail: $7.99
Availability: September 2008
Appearances: Various comics, West End Games RPG supplements

Bio: Wearing Mandalorian armor, this cunning and ruthless bounty hunter lets everyone assume he is Boba Fett to take advantage of Fett's notorious reputation. Unfortunately, the real Boba Fett is not flattered by Kast's impersonation and intends to stop him. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: The worst thing about a figure like Jodo Kast is that it isn't that great. As cheap repaints go, Hasbro had an easy one here. Basically, all fans wanted was a repaint of the Vintage Boba Fett (2004) mold and they'd be happy. Instead, Hasbro used the 2006 Boba Fett, which had the Vintage Fett's legs and the body and arms of a 2003 figure. Combined, it's kind of ungainly and certainly not good by 2008 standards-- it has swivel elbows, decent leg articulation, and not much else. The sculpt isn't as crisp as more recent figures, and since Jodo doesn't have a cape, there's a visible hole in his back. It looks like something might be missing-- in a way it is, but some fans might not realize that Hasbro's shortcut is the reason, and nothing in particular is missing.

If you want to have the first Mandalorian to appear outside the movies, here he is in all his repainted glory. I have hopes Hasbro will do a better one in a comic pack some day, but for now this is it. It's not bad, but not Hasbro's best work.

Collector's Notes: Anything Mandalorian tends to sell, and this guy has been a frequent seller. He's been re-shipping in new assortments with newer droid parts, so packaged collectors might end up with multiple versions if they're all about the droid part stuff.

Day 935: January 13, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 934: Chewbacca

CHEWBACCA Sandstorm Scene
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 87675
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD03
Includes: Bowcaster, droid part
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: July 2008
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Wounded during the battle to escape from Jabba the Hutt at the Pit of Carkoon, Chewbacca quickly bandages his injured leg. He walks resolutely through one of Tatooine's sandstorms to reach the Millennium Falcon, where he can treat his wound in the ship's medical bay. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: While fans still haven't really seen any footage of the deleted sandstorm scene from Return of the Jedi, Hasbro realized they could make new figures and we'd pick them up-- like this Chewbacca. On one hand, I'm upset at such a shameless grab for my dollars, but on another I gotta give it up to them for doing something new and different rather than cranking out the same figure again. This particular Wookiee is based on the 2004 "Vintage" body, but features a new head, altered arms, and a new bandaged leg. This basically makes it a slightly altered version of the best Chewbacca toy your money can buy, which to me makes it fantastic. He comes with his standard bowcaster, which is a decent choice but if you really stop and think about it, shouldn't he come with a pike or a pistol he stole from one of Jabba's guards? The figures had varying paint, and I picked up a few for various error reasons. This one in particular has unusually thick black lines around his eyes, which I thought was somewhat neat. Other than that, the deco is pretty by-the-book. There are brown claws, varying colors of highlights, and honestly this may be one of Hasbro's best-painted Chewbacca figures because they avoided the random and often ugly bright tan highlights we saw on the figures since about 2005. If you need a Chewie to hang out outside the Falcon, this is the one to get. It's snazzy, but not really representative of anything in the films-- so it's not an essential figure, but certainly a neat one.

Collector's Notes: A lot of fans didn't like this one, but I thought it was awesome. It shipped in good numbers through at least the end of last year, as it eventually shipped on a new-style "blue lens" packaging where the big Stormtrooper on the package changed color. So it's not uncommon yet. Hasbro made companion Luke and Han figures which turned out really nicely, and it's hoped that a Lando and Leia might see production in the next few years.

Day 934: January 12, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 933: Luke Skywalker (Jabba's Palace)

LUKE SKYWALKER Jabba's Palace
Saga Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84715 No. 84731
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0404
Includes: Lightsaber, cloak, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99
Availability: January 2004
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Hiding his identity, Luke went to Jabba the Hutt's palace on a mission to rescue Han Solo, frozen in carbonite and a macabre wall sculpture in the crime lord's abode, Luke attempted to use Jedi mind tricks to influence the Hutt to free Solo, but the loathsome slug of a gangster was immune to such techniques. Jabba captured Luke and cast him into the rancor pit for a battle to the death. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: Around 2002, Hasbro let fans know two versions of Luke Skywalker in his Jedi Knight outfit would be coming, one would be collector-friendly and the other would be a little... less so. This was the collector one. Featuring a cloth cloak, a blaster, and a lightsaber, Hasbro attempted to recreate the 1983 Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker toy with modern bells and whistles. For the most part, they succeeded-- he had jointed knees (still more or less a novelty at the time), swivel wrists, swivel elbows, shoulders, and the normal articulation you've all come to love. While not a super-articulated figure, it really was an example of some of Hasbro's finer work for the time. His hands were sculpted to have a few different uses, like parading around Jabba's palace and also holding a weapon.

As a toy, it basically works but it has difficulty sitting. Other than that, it's a pretty good example of some of Hasbro's better basic figure work around the time that the "new standard" was ushered in by the super-articulated Clone Trooper in late 2003. So at the time, it was a bit of a letdown because we had, just a month earlier, seen a figure which gave us all a glimpse of what the future holds for the line. A future, I might add, which still hasn't come to pass-- the 2007 attempt was a huge step backward, with its odd tan, huge hands, and awful attempt at the costume. The 2008 Sandstorm version was a little better, but lacks the vest-- so I guess we're all still game for yet another version, despite at least one "new" Return of the Jedi Luke figure being sold each year since 2003-- except 2005.

Collector's Notes: Hasbro really likes this mold. It was immediately recolored as a holographic figure just one wave later, and it's been repackaged numerous times to varying degrees of success. A memorable late 2008 reissue appeared as a Target exclusive and featured some of the worst paint you'll ever see out of Hasbro in the Battle at the Sarlacc battle pack. In 2006, the base figure and lightsaber were given a helmet, a poncho, and a belt as well as a new hand and revised legs to recreate the Endor version of the figure.

Day 933: January 9, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 932: Clone Emperor Palpatine

CLONE EMPEROR PALPATINE Expanded Universe
Power of the Force Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 69605 No. 69886
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, removable hand, removable cloak, on-package backdrop
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. With the power to transfer his consciousness to genetic clones, a younger, stronger Emperor Palpatine is perilously close to gaining total control of the galaxy forever. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: If there's one thing fans like, it's bad guys. If there's one thing kids don't seem to like, it's the Emperor. That's why this Clone Emperor Palpatine is neat. It takes a familiar face, de-ages him a little bit, and throws him in a newish story. An entirely new mold which was never reissued, the figure had a fairly good streak of popularity among collectors due to it being a version of the Emperor that wasn't an old guy in a black hood. This time around, he had armored hands and a lightsaber to accent his fairly vampire-esque outfit. Underneath, Kenner designed him a unique set of robes and shoulder armor which is sure to please-- or rather it would, had anyone looked underneath his baggy exterior garment. He's fairly mobile for a figure in a big clamshell, which is great as the added wrist joint made him a better-than-average figure for his day.

Rather than literally interpret Cam Kennedy's artwork from Dark Empire, Kenner's deco artists used their heads and opted to not make him a freakish green guy. This resulted in a stronger, less-distracting figure. While some of the original art's influence can be seen with highlights on his robes, this toy took the look and feel of the artwork and translated it into a fairly realistic take on the outfit. This was nice to see, and given how likely Hasbro is to color an item exactly as it appears on the page, it might be something out of the distant past. The new version, while nice, is basically a naked guy underneath. I kind of like seeing my villains as a little more dressed and a little less... blue liver spots. So this was a strong figure in its day, and I think it still is worth owning despite a new version being on shelves today.

Collector's Notes: This was a bit of a sleeper when it hit as it came and went quickly-- and fans took notice. Demand shot up for a period of time, but time tends to dampen fan enthusiasm for a hard-to-get figure. It's still a neat figure, although the new one in stores now may make fans less excited about owning this older version from a nearly 20-year-old comic.

Day 932: January 8, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 931: Super Battle Droid

SUPER BATTLE DROID with Yoda with Force Powers!
Saga Deluxe Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84859 No. 84900
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster effect, crane, base, Yoda
Action Feature: Falls over, generally sucks
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Spring 2002
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: The oldest member of the Jedi Council, Yoda is a powerful Jedi with enormous powers. Engaged in battle against a formidable and deadly Super Battle Droid, Yoda reveals his superior skill in the Force as well as his dexterity and fighting prowess. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: With Episode II, Hasbro had another army-builder-tunity with the Super Battle Droid. They made a version with Play-Doh you could mold, another one blew up, and then there was this one-- the crappy one Yoda could beat up. The sole purpose of this figure is to be a target for Yoda to knock over, and it isn't much of a challenge. You see, the figure really can't stand on his own. The Yoda in this set included a magnet, so he could be moved around and look all cool. This droid just falls over due to how the legs were designed. He desperately needs a display stand, yet does not have one. So really, this figure is best as a sort of a filler in a diorama, as his deco is OK but there's not much he can do other than aim or fall over, so he'll need your support. With only four points of articulation, this figure does not impress and it's a shame Hasbro carded a new version individually in 2005. It's not good, and I don't like it. I don't expect you will either. All I ask for is a figure that can stand... and I don't get it here.

Collector's Notes: As the Yoda this figure came with is nothing special, there's not much to go crazy for here. This Super Battle Droid figure has been offered a few times with different paint, and still basically sucks. The 2007 mold is way better, and the 2008 Saga Legends version is arguably the best overall.

Day 931: January 7, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 930: C-3PO

C-3PO Purchase of the Droids
Power of the Force Cinema Scenes
Item No.: Asst. 69650 No. 69778
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Uncle Owen, Luke Skywalker, 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: 10 years after its release, I can honestly say that this C-3PO still impresses me. Sure, we've seen better articulation, but deco on a C-3PO figure really hasn't ever been done better. With the standard articulation of his era, he can move his head and arms and legs, which is about as good as C-3PO figures pre-2006 ever got. The vast amount of sludge is astounding-- this is as dirty as C-3PO ever got as an action figure. Hasbro also had the sense to include the restraining bolt on his chest, which is something you generally don't see on Threepio. The figure looks a little cleaner in this picture than it does in person, but it's pretty stunning still. Look at all the grime around the eyes, all the mud caked on the joints, and so forth. It's a little exaggerated from the movie, but it's pretty much stunning for its time. Hasbro tried to do something new, and it really paid off. Sadly, most of the recent figures we've got for C-3PO are clean gold, or maybe have some muck on their feet. This one is a freaking mess, and I love it. Nearly 11 years later, it's still wonderful. Get one.

Collector's Notes: When reviewing other figures from this boxed set, I said it was worth it just for the C-3PO. I stand by this comment. It's pretty cheap on eBay so go get yourself one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 930: January 6, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 929: Clone Trooper (Coruscant Landing Platform)

CLONE TROOPER Coruscant Landing Platform
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 89594
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD17
Includes: Blaster, antenna, droid part
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: September 2008
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Clone troopers are stationed on Coruscant to maintain order and provide for the many distinguished visitors who come and go from the planet. The troopers must be constantly vigilant against plots and attacks from the Separatists and their supporters. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: You know what I can't get enough of? Clone Trooper figures.

...is what I would have said in 2005. Today, it's a little less exciting to hear yet another clone announcement, even if it's a new deco, or a more articulated version of a previous figure. This grey-striped trooper has been done before, twice in 2005-- both times with inaccurate deco. So I guess this one is exciting because they have all the stripes and dots now, which they were lacking previously. It's also based on the super-articualted body, which is still the gold standard for Revenge of the Sith-style clones. So with that in mind, you basically know exactly what to expect from his construction-- 14 points of articulation, and lods of poses are now easy to get. The bad thing is that the packaging really did a number on his legs, distorting them a little so on my two samples, he stands kinda funny. But hey, that's why Hasbro gave us articulation-- you can fudge that by reposing him a little bit. The figure holds together as well as any other based on this mold, so hey, that's a plus.

The stripey deco is pretty excellent. He has little squares on his arms and torso, lots of stripes, and basically everything you could wish for short of dirt and smudges. As a clean trooper, he's awesome-- I like the deco here a lot. As an added bonus, Hasbro, for the first time ever, painted his antenna. It's removable, as always, but now it has silver smudging on it which looks really neat. It'd look better had the clone been given smudges and damage marks, but hey, it's a start. Nice idea, Hasbro designers! Army builders will no doubt like this figure, and Clone fans, well, you know what to expect. It isn't bad, but it's getting a little old, these movie clones. Maybe we can move on to more multi-colored Stormtroopers as we move forward.

Collector's Notes: In 2005, Hasbro released an Evolutions Clone Trooper loosely based on this design. Also, they had a Battle Pack with a clone also loosely based on this design. Of the three, this one I'm now reviewing has the best articulation and deco as far as marking accuracy goes. Although I will say the Evolutions version had amazing dirty marks that are so impressive you should get one. Yes, even you. I can see you reading this.

Day 929: January 5, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 928: Kir Kanos

KIR KANOS Training Uniform
The Legacy Collection Previews Exclusive
Item No.: No. 87924
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Pike, helmet, 5 other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $34.99
Availability: December 2008
Appearances: Crimson Empire comic books

Bio: Each member of the Royal Guard has undergone grueling tests of combat reflexes and stamina, and is trained in the deadly art of echani. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' living room.

Commentary: Early reactions to this set were mixed, especially as it wasn't immediately obvious that Kir Kanos and his four multi-colored buddies had removable helmets with unique, full heads under their helmets. I'm in the minority (or so it seems) of liking the overall design of the characters from the comics, which has been knocked as Power Ranger-esuqe in the various forums out there. The important thing, to me, is that it's true to the comic designs. So at least they look right, and have unique details like a special symbol on their helmet which is also repeated on the back of their shirt-- I didn't see that coming, it's a nice touch.

Where the figure falls apart for me is in its construction. His crotchial region and legs are borrowed from the "Training Fatigues" Clone Trooper sold in late 2007, and his head is from the 2006 Kir Kanos. (As is Jax's, Alum Frost and Lemmet Tauk both have new heads.) How is this a problem? Thankfully, the legs aren't too restricted so you can force him to sit if you want-- but the arms are terrible. They're standard swivel shoulders, the kind you had on all your vintage figures from the 1980s. These are joined by very loose swivel elbows, which tend to pop apart very easily. (Like when you remove the figures from the box.) The wrists are also swivels, but this is normal and really nothing of any great consequence. He can hold his weapon, but he's not really able to have much movement. In a lot of ways, this figure feels like a big step back from the original Kir Kanos a few years ago, which was really pretty awesome for the most part.

While I can deal with weird articulation, one thing I have a huge problem with is a bad face sculpt. Interestingly, this figure doesn't have a bad face sculpt-- as we've seen it before and it looked pretty good. No, here Hasbro opted to use a low-grade plastic and paint it badly. This ruins an otherwise good figure. A light brown color was used for his eyes and eyebrows, and this seems to melt into the very pale color of flesh used for the head. The details are largely lost, and his eyes look a little bloodshot. As I work somewhere where these are sold, I got to look at a few of them-- and they're all like this. The other characters are slightly better than this one but this one is a bit of a downer. It's not a terrible release, but it comes up short on so many levels it's a little disappointing. Hasbro did wonderful exclusive figures in its boxed sets for Diamond over the years, it makes one wonder what the heck went wrong here.

If I tell you it's awful, you'll probably pick it up and say "it isn't really all that bad," but if I tell you it's awesome, you're likely to disagree. It's that kind of figure, much like how Balls of Fury is that kind of a movie.

Collector's Notes: This is the second figure of Kir Kanos, the first was released as a shared exclusive in 2006. That one is the better of the two. The boxed set-- if you're curious-- includes Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, and 3 other guards. The Emperor has a unique paint job and probably has the best flesh color I've ever seen on the mold, but Vader is the same as the 2006/2007 one. We'll go into those more later.

Day 928: January 2, 2009