Figure of the Day: Day 1,099: TC-70

TC-70 with Jabba the Hutt
The Clone Wars Jabba's Palace Battle Pack
Item No.: Asst. 87752 No. 87782
Number: n/a
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Includes: Jabba figure, railing
Action Feature: Light-up eyeport
Retail: $23.99
Availability: Spring 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars Movie
Image: Adam Pawlus' shelves.

Bio: The Hutt speaks in his native language of Huttese, so the calm and professional protocol droid TC-70 trtanslates for her master. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Commentary: Figures like TC-70 are proof positive that Hasbro ain't stupid. Within about 6 months of making C-3PO, the same mold was trotted out for another protocol droid, which is one fans were asking for anyway. Hooray!

The figure is almost exactly the same as C-3PO, except for the coloring. The same 14 or so joints are present so he can sit, stand, gesture, tilt his head, and otherwise emote through the use of his plastic parts. While the coloring seems a little brighter than the movie, you still get the feeling it's a droid that has seen some abuse, as seen by the various replacement parts on his chassis. The sculpt feels like a protocol droid, it looks like one, really, there's not too much to say here beyond that Hasbro did an admirable job replicating a fairly minor character from a movie that, by most box office standards, flopped. I'm quite glad to have it because the mold is a good one, I love cartoony things, and it's also from Jabba's palace. If you think you might appreciate this one, let me assure you, you will.

Collector's Notes: This is a new-ish release, packaged a little heavier than other Battle Packs and also apparently not being as popular. As such, you should be able to find one without considerable difficulty. Due to the quality of the Jabba figure, I'd suggest you do so if you're a toy fan. Hasbro finally made a top-notch hutt, which we'll look at in the future.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,099: August 31, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,098: Quinlan Vos

QUINLAN VOS with Vilmarh Grahrk
30th Anniversary Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87517
Number: 05
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Includes: Villie figure, blaster, lightsaber, reprint of a comic book
Action Feature: Blaster fits in holster, lightsaber has removable blade
Retail: $9.99
Availability: April 2007
Appearances: Comics: Too Many To List
Image: Adam Pawlus' place.

Bio: Quinlan Vos awakens with no memory of who or what he is, and immediately finds himself in peril, in the midst of a fierce blaze and attacked by bounty hunters. He is saved by Vilmarh Grahrk, who helps him escape and explains that bets are being placed on Quinlan's chances of survival. Villie reveals that he has a personal stake in the outcome, but changes his outlook when he sees Quinlan's Jedi skills in action. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: This was a winner of a fan's choice contest, but Hasbro already had it slated for production. Good thing it was in the comic pack, because the wave that the runner-up appeared in turned out to be somewhat rare. This Quinlan Vos figure, on the other hand, was pretty easy to come by due to it being shipped widely and for a long time, showing the value of the comic pack assortment. (Please don't ever take it from me, Hasbro.) While I can't say I'm the world's biggest fan of the character, he does look significantly more distinctive than most of the human Jedi from the films by virtue of his yellow paint stripe on his head and the unique body armor. His head is a little small-- or maybe the hair is too big-- but it's basically a good figure, with excellent arm articulation and virtually no leg articulation. The hips are jointed, but the holster when combined with his lower robes tends to prevent some level of movement, making this an-- as Hasbro's marketing once put it-- a "stand there and look good" figure rather than an "action" figure.

In and of itself, the figure is nothing special. The comic won't convince you to like it. If you stuck with Vos' storylines in the comic books you probably already own two of these. If you're not already a fan, this figure won't do much to make you one. The sculpting is good, the articulation is OK, but it's basically just some dude with funny hair and a lightsaber unless you have the personality to associate with it in your memory banks.

Collector's Notes: As values go, this was one of the better ones in the past few years. If for some reason you stumble on it-- and some stores are suddenly getting old inventory from the back, like what I'm seeing-- don't hesitate and BUY. This is a great figure if you're a fan of the comic character, which is to say, if you're someone that read comics between roughly 2000 and 2005. Since then, the character has been effectively dropped despite starring in several stories.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,098: August 28, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,097: 501st BARC Speeder Clone Trooper

CLONE TROOPER and BARC Speeder Bike
The Clone Wars Figure & Vehicle Assortment
Item No.: Asst. 91349 No. 91361
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Figure, bike, rifle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $16.99
Availability: June 2009
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith, The Clone Wars


Image: Adam Pawlus' place.

Bio: Clone troopers ride Biker Advanced Recon Commando (BARC) speeder bikes on scouting and escort missions. BAC speeders give the troopers greater range, speed, mobility, and firepower than foot patrols. They prove so useful to elite units like the 501st Legion that they are soon made available to the entire clone trooper army. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Commentary: While the first animated 501st Clone Trooper was a Wal-Mart exclusive in 2008, this one better matches Captain Rex. The same basic clone body type is recycled here to the same great success, and it sports the the 2009-style helmet with the notch in the chin and what seems to be a bigger forehead. All the same great articulation is here, no lateral leg movement or anything, so if for some reason you stumble on a cache of these and want to do some army building, if it's cheap, this is a good item to pick up en masse. With a basic black rifle, it's a pretty great overall release. Assuming you want the bike, of course, otherwise it's a pretty expensive set. If I had the means to get several of this figure for my army and vehicle-packing purposes, I would do so. Unfortunately, I'm too cheap.

Collector's Notes: In 2005, the same bike was sold with the first decent Stass Allie figure for $10. Wal-Mart had an exclusive of it with a pair of Saleucami troopers in 2007 for about $23. So at $17, you might not be smiling so much to buy it again with another repaint. This item is scheduled to ship for a short while, possibly extending into a long while.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,097: August 27, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,096: R2-C4

R2-C4 Astromech Droids Series #1
Saga Collection Entertainment Earth Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 87055 No. 87056
Number: n/a
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: Twist dome for retractable third leg
Retail: $39.99
Availability: January 2006
Appearances: The Phantom Menace


Image: Adam Pawlus' place.

Bio: Serves Queen Amidala and her retinue. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Commentary: This one did not turn out as I had hoped-- of the entire set, R2-C4 doesn't quite fit with the deco on the others. For starters, he is the only one in these 5-packs with a light-up eyeport. He has dirt, and the others don't. Based on the familiar and beloved R4-G9 mold, this figure is basically the proportions you'd want on the most fantastic droid in the entire saga. This isn't that droid, but hey, it's a quality product! Called R2-D3 before the figure came out, this is the yellow astromech that looks just like R2-D2 on Amidala's ship from the first chunk of the movie. It's a good replica of that robot, and for those of you like me-- and there are many of you-- you're probably going to be glad it exists just so you have another astromech for your droid pool. It doesn't bring much new to the table other than being a good design in yellow, which is a plush.

The figure moves at the dome-- which raises and lowers the middle leg-- and has jointed "feet" and "shoulders." So in short, it does everything a droid should short of fixing your broken machinery.

Collector's Notes: These aren't too uncommon, and you can get the boxed sets on eBay these days now that they've sold out from Entertainment Earth. The individual droid, out of the box, is probably going to set you back $15-$20, and the set tends to go for much cheaper. My advice: get the boxed set.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,096: August 26, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,095: McQuarrie Concept Obi-Wan Kenobi

OBI-WAN KENOBI McQuarrie Concept
30th Anniversary Collection Comic-Con Exclusive
Item No.: No. 87417
Number: n/a
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Includes: Lightsaber, hilt, Yoda figure, coin (stand is not included)
Action Feature: Clip holds lightsaber hilt
Retail: $14.99
Availability: July 2007
Appearances: n/a

Image: Adam Pawlus' yard.

Bio: In his sketches, concept artist Ralph McQuarrie evokes the graceful power of a ninja master or samurai warrior in his drawing of Obi-Wan.

Commentary: An odd pairing-- a concept from Star Wars packaged with a concept from its sequel-- but Obi-Wan Kenobi is a strange look at what might have been. Loaded with articulation, the figure has 12 points of movement-- meaning that in this case, the knees are missing. He can basically sit or stand without too much fuss, but when it comes to the McQuarrie figures it seems we buy them less for the "toy" appeal than the "shelf" appeal. This is a sub-collection you get to display to show off how enlightened you are to alternate versions of your favorite characters.

Obi-Wan Kenobi is notable in that he really does look a fair amount different from what we saw on the big screen. No facial hair, no toupee, and lots and lots of purple. Overall, the McQuarrie Concept figures might have made the line more toyetic, with bright colors all over the place to make them pop a little more on the shelves. I mean, when you compare this purple and white figure, complete with red trim, against the earthtoney subtlety of the standard release it's quite striking. As collectors I daresay the regular version is a little more attractive and less goofy, but the toy junkie in me sees this as a particularly worthwhile edition of a character that's probably on version #47 by now. As to if you should get it or not, I'd say if you like how it looks, go for it. Otherwise save your cash.

Collector's Notes: That white cloth robe piece? Gets dirty. Be careful. On the bright side, this set isn't too expensive if you're patient. But do expect to pay a slight premium over the issue price.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,095: August 25, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,094: Obi-Wan Kenobi

OBI-WAN KENOBI Sith Lord Attack
30th Anniversary Collection Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87503 No. 87195
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, cloak, 4 more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: November 2006
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Image: Adam Pawlus' grill.

Bio: Though Obi-Wan sometimes found himself at odds with his teacher Qui-Gon Jinn, the two Jedi fought as one against the terrifying onslaught of a deadly Sith lord. (Not taken from the figure's packaging.)

Commentary: I was struggling on including Obi-Wan Kenobi in this column because it's tricky to determine just what constitutes a "new" figure, and this one is just different enough. He's one accessory shy of being pretty great as it is. Kenobi's body is largely the Power of the Jedi cloaked release, only now it has a little tab on his belt to hang a communicator-- which is not included. (Qui-Gon has one, though.) The cloth robes are nothing special, but if you leave the rubber band on which came in the packaging it actually looks pretty good-- the hood being held back does add a little bit to the figure's look and feel.

If you want a boxed set to re-enact a battle, this is it. Obi-Wan can't sit particularly well, but these figures were meant to fight. With that in mind, you could do far worse.

Collector's Notes: This figure is very similar to the 2006 basic carded Obi-Wan Kenobi, but there are key differences like rooted hair. This set of figures didn't last forever, but it's a pretty wonderful representation of the final battle of the first prequel. There are better versions of many of these figures, but this set was a great deal overall.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,094: August 24, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,093: Boba Fett (Deluxe)

BOBA FETT with Wing-Blast Rocketpack and Overhead Cannon
Power of the Force Deluxe Figures
Item No.: Asst. 69610 No. 69638
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Rocket, backpack
Action Feature: Flip-out wings, poseable cannons, firing rocket
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Early 1997
Appearances: n/a

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Bio: Hey kids, it's Boba Fett! (Not taken from the figure's packaging.)

Commentary: This deluxe Boba Fett seems like some sort of sick joke. For years, fans have wanted a rocket-firing Boba Fett because thousands of children were denied one in the 1970s, so this twisted wish fulfillment seems like more of Kenner being cute than anything else, but it was made out of the 1990s and that was a pretty good era for toys as toys. Kenner would often expand its own concepts and build figures to have large accessories with moving parts because-- shock!-- kids enjoyed playing with them. For a few more bucks, you could get what amounted to a retooled basic Boba Fett figure and a much larger jetpack. This one had flip-out wings, a big skull on the side, and yes, a firing rocket. But look at this thing, it's just hideous. I admire it as one of the final entries in Kenner's proud action figure accessory tradition (see also: The Real Ghostbusters, Batman: The Dark Knight Collection) before realism and authenticity became job #1. This toy actually worked well as a toy, it slid right on the T-bar on Boba Fett's back and stayed on without the figure falling out. It looks like something out of a 1980s sketchbook, like it might have been a release during the original Return of the Jedi line.

The figure itself is basically a mishmash of the 1995 basic figure and the 1996 Shadows of the Empire version, only slightly taller. Had Kenner included the rifle, a basic backpack, and a cape, this would probably have been the best Boba Fett you could buy until the 300th Figure release in 2000. There are only 6 points of articulation, but hey, it's pretty good for what it aspired to be. I can't think of many reasons for your average collector to want this unless you're a big fan of Kenner's own creative designs, of which this is one of the better ones. Sure, it's goofy and unrealistic, but it does seem to fit the vocabulary of the look and feel of Star Wars somehow. In some respects I'm almost disappointed we didn't get to see more stuff like this, but hey, maybe some day those designers will open their sketchbooks to us so we can see what else was on tap.

Collector's Notes: This figure actually seemed to sell OK in its time, which is notable because I can't tell you anyone that was particularly happy to see it. But Boba Fett sells, and so did this one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,093: August 21, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,092: R2-D2 (Droid Factory Battle Pack)

R2-D2 Droid Factory Capture
30th Anniversary Collection Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87503 No. 87598
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Rocket effects, other figures
Action Feature: Press down on third leg to retract, extend boosters
Retail: $24.99
Availability: Fall 2007
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Image: Adam Pawlus' dish.

Bio: The spunky droid cannot sit idly by as events take place around him. He ventures into the droid foundries after Anakin and Padmé, followed by the protesting C-3PO. He uses his anti-grav boosters to stay clear of the dangerous machinery below. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Commentary: I first reviewed the original release of this R2-D2 2 years ago, just after this one was announced, assuming there would be no changes. Well, I was wrong-- arguably the worst R2-D2 of all time has now been made worse. It retains the body of the original release, but drops the bulk of the action features that would have made it interesting. By dropping the various string and magnet pieces, the figure goes from below par to downright crappy. You can't move his legs, but his feet have limited articulation. The dome spins, but has the most hideous deco of any R2-D2 action figure since the original line ended in the 1980s. It's just ugly-- if you put it in a lineup with other releases, you might even assume it was a knock-off. Why is his eye silver? Why don't the blast effects fit on the rockets as tightly as the original release? WHY, HASBRO?

To make this figure look even worse, it was packaged in a Battle Pack with some of Hasbro's finer efforts, including the best-available Anakin Skywalker, a really fun C-3PO with swappable limbs, a really slick Destroyer Droid, and a pretty good Jango Fett made of parts from previous figures. If you're an R2-D2 junkie, this figure absolutely qualifies for the "just different enough to make you mad" award. It just sucks. If you can avoid it, you might as well.

Collector's Notes: The set is worth the asking price-- this figure, is not. You can have a lot of fun with this set, but unfortunately everything that made this R2-D2 barely neat as it was didn't see the light of day here. The gift set is still available online, and can be had for $20 without too much fuss.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,092: August 20, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,091: C-3PO (Coin Edition)

C-3PO Toys "R" Us Exclusive
Power of the Force Millennium Minted Coins
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87792
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Display stand, coin
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Summer 1998
Appearances: Star Wars

Image: Adam Pawlus' couch.

Bio: The Star Wars Mint is officially re-instituted with this limited edition series! New gold-colored coins feature character images from the classic silver-colored coin release-all with brand new reverse-side stampings specially designed for this exclusive commemorative offering. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Commentary: Sometimes Kenner really did a great job, like with this C-3PO. It's so good, that when Hasbro made a "Vintage" figure in 2004 and also reissued this figure on a basic card, it was pretty obvious that this was the better of the two. Aside from some more paint to bring out the eyes, this is really about as good as C-3PO figures got until the 2005 Revenge of the Sith release, and by today's standards this one is still pretty great. The design is based on parts of the Purchase of the Droids C-3PO (1998) and Removable Limbs C-3PO (1998), minus any action features or unique dirt deco. At first it looked like it was just the 1995 figure with new paint, but a ton of tiny sculpting refinements show that Hasbro did a bang-up job in making sure that this was one of the finest and most authentic movie-based C-3POs of its day. Little details, like incorporating the silver shin, definitely helped make this figure stand out against what we saw in the first couple of decades of C-3PO toys.

The coin and premium deco were this figure's selling points, because in its day basic figures were $6 and Hasbro had to do something to justify them. The coin itself was the front of the 1985-era coin with a new reverse side, which unfortunately didn't include any of the biographical information but rather incorporated a fairly generic design with lightsabers and a few words that looks like it could have been cribbed from any crappy fan web site circa 1997. Unlike some of the other figures in this line, the figure was genuinely the reason to make this purchase.

Collector's Notes: The MMC figures were pretty haphazard in their distribution-- some cities had tons of one, but none of another. C-3PO and the Emperor were kinda tough to come by in my neck of the woods. The same C-3PO figure was later reissued on the basic packaging of the Original Trilogy Collection line in 2004, without the coin. It was also used in the Saga-era "Hall of Fame" assortments. My advice to you regarding the purchase of this figure depends entirely on how many C-3PO figures you need. If you can get a cheap OTC one, I'd say that's the way to go.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,091: August 19, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,090: Anakin Skywalker (Comic Pack)

ANAKIN SKYWALKER Wal-Mart Exclusive Comic Version
30th Anniversary Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87792
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Dooku figure, comic book
Action Feature: Squeeze legs for lightsaber slashing attack
Retail: $11.87
Availability: May 2008
Appearances: Dark Horse comics

Image: Adam Pawlus' couch.

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.)

Commentary: While I initially embraced the Marvel-deco figures as a sort of bizarre, pop-arty, quasi urban vinyl take on my favorite toy line, that's because it was Marvel. And with Marvel, you were looking at the cheap printing technology of 1977-1985, which often resulted in vibrant colors and some interesting coloring errors. With Dark Horse, what you're getting is less the technology driving the look than the appearance being pretty solid-- if it's a movie adaptation, odds are it's going to look a lot like the movie. This Anakin Skywalker figure is based on the Revenge of the Sith comics, but if you didn't know any better you might assume it's a movie figure.

Rather than being dark brown, the figure's costume is now a black and blue hue. He retains all the mechanisms of the 2005 basic carded version of this figure, which includes a slashing action when you squeeze his legs and a right hand you can pop off. Normally, there were alternate hands, but this release dropped those. The blacker costume Anakin is sort of neat and fits in nicely with the concept drawings, but now that we have an actual concept Anakin figure there really isn't much use for this one other than being a curiosity. Although for kids, packaging a lead hero and villain together for $12 with a comic book is a great idea, it's just that neither of the two figures are particularly enticing for collectors unless this somehow pushes one of your buttons. If the colors were wackier, I might be more excited.

Collector's Notes: As always Wal-Mart's distribution varies by store-- not even by region-- so it's possible you were drowning in these, or you never saw them. I haven't seen one for sale lately but I had numerous opportunities to score these in my toy hunts during 2008, so I wouldn't suggest paying a premium for it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,090: August 18, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,089: Commander Fox

COMMANDER FOX Clone Trooper
The Clone Wars Target Exclusive
Item No.: No. 87954
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster rifle, twin pistols
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99
Availability: July 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars Movie

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: Commander Fox heads a squad of clone troopers who accompany Padmé to the palace of Ziro the Hutt. She hopes to reopen negotiations with the Hutts, who have been tricked into believing the Jedi abducted Jabba's son. The commander finds a hostile reception when the group arrives at Ziro's lavish palace on Coruscant. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Commentary: Every couple of years I think that the asinine "premium" figures for Target are over and done with, and then Hasbro proves me wrong. Commander Fox is a neat figure, don't get me wrong-- but not a $13 toy by any stretch of the imagination. The figure takes Obi-Wan Kenobi's helmet alternate head and squeezes it awkwardly on the body of Captain Rex, repainting the whole thing into a uniformed whole with a neck that's visually too long. As a cheap exclusive, or as a standard basic figure, odds are fans would complain that they could have done a slightly better job. What shocks me is that once you slap on that $13 price tag and make it harder to get, people shut up real quick.

The figure hits most of the marks you want in a Clone, which is to say you get the extra wrist articulation and a grand total of 14 places to move him around. He can sort of sit, but the skirt gets in the way for the most part. I give Hasbro points for a clever reuse of existing molds, but it's pretty lame that they left out the battle-damaged deco as seen in the movie, particularly because at $13 retail, I'm sure there's a little more room in the budget for deco since it obviously wasn't used on tooling. Speaking of tools, I felt like one when I bought it a year ago, but it's grown on me slightly-- just because the entire animated line has really ratcheted up its game into an overall great offering. Of which this is a drop in the bucket.

Collector's Notes: Depending on your region, this figure sold rather quickly. It came packaged in the "premium" format, which is a fancy way of saying that you got charged for a $13 repaint in a clamshell. Today the figure commands a premium price on the secondary market of about $20-$30. Perhaps I'm just bitter that Wal-Mart's exclusive 501st clone came in basic packaging, included a 501st Membership Card, and was under $7.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,089: August 17, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,088: R5-A2

R5-A2 Wave 5 Build-A-Droid
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures Wave 5
Item No.: Asst. 87535
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: n/a
Availability: January 2009
Appearances: Star Wars

Image: Adam Pawlus' back yard, which looks more like Yavin IV than intended.

Bio: R5-A2 was an abandoned astromech droid who roamed the streets of Mos Eisley on Tatooine. He was checked for the Death Star plans and received a memory wipe. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Commentary: I always thought R5-A2 was a funny droid before I even knew his name. Why? Well, R5-D4, in the original Kenner line, was a lame robot that was basically "not R2-D2." If you wanted an astromech, you had two options, and R2-D2 was clearly superior despite being off-model and generally crappy. And this droid looked like R5-D4 left out in the sun. Kudos for Hasbro releasing such a potentially useless and oh so very orange robot, even if the fact that Hasbro made a toy of it is the most notable thing about this particular automaton.

The figure comes in four pieces-- the dome comes with a central leg, and each outer leg plus the body come separately with other figures (see below). There are no action features to speak of, aside from the ability to swap his parts out with other build-a-droid figures. While nothing to sneeze at, this figure is obviously made for a core group of collectors that will buy every droid Hasbro makes. Which, in turn, means they're going to choke down a whole mess of other figures. For a robot which appears in the desert and promptly disappears, it's nice to see Hasbro make it. Even if it's missing the dirt and sun-bleaching that would make sense for an aimless desert wanderer. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy it exists, but the one thing these droid parts are sorely missing is a dirty paint wipe. Which, I admit, sounds positively filthy.

To date this is the only R5 figure released in the build-a-droid format. The body and limb molds are shared with numerous other figures, though.

Collector's Notes: The figure's parts shipped only in three case mixes, dubbed "wave 5." Figures that may include R5-A2 parts include Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker (Sandstorm), Commander Faie, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker (Stormtrooper), Han Solo (Stormtrooper), Dice Ibegon & Trinto Duaba, Wioslea, Pons Limbic, General Grievous, Jawa & WED droid, Spacetrooper, Felucia Star Corps Clone Trooper, Kashyyyk Trooper, SCUBA Clone Trooper, Quad Cannon Clone Trooper, EVO Trooper. Obviously, ask the seller which part(s) are included prior to purchase. While not essential, it is a striking little droid.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,088: August 14, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,087: Chewbacca (Hoth Recon)

CHEWBACCA Hoth Recon Patrol
The Legacy Collection Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87752 No. 87789
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Bowcaster, 4 additional figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: July 2008
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves. Note the MicroCollection-esque pose.

Bio: Chewie does his best to keep his friend Han out of trouble and uses his mechanical skills to repair the ever-malfunctioning Millennium Falcon. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: The mold for the Early Bird Chewbacca figure is a fan favorite, so it's no stunner that the mold would get repainted, this time with Hoth snow. This isn't the first time that this basic body mold has been given the Hoth treatment, a version with a different head was sold in a tin gift set in 2006-2007. But this one is different. How different? Not different enough that you should bother to buy both versions. The key difference is that this one has a different head and slightly less snow. If anything, this is the more subtle of the two, and arguably, it's in a better gift set. Also, it's cheaper. So how can you go wrong?

The figure's body uses the same legendary construction first seen in 2004 in the Vintage Original Trilogy Collection Chewbacca, which sported multiple waist joints and more than exceeded what most fans would call "super articulated." All the ball joints were there, and they're still here too. The only thing this figure really has going against it is redundancy. Since 1999 there have been no fewer than four snow-enhanced versions of the Wookiee, two of which share this basic body type. Given that Chewie was only out in the snow for a brief scene, it's a little much. Thankfully this figure's more subtle face and deco make it fit better as a Chewie for inside the Hoth hangar, rather than the one that goes out and blasts the probe droid. That's how specific it's getting now-- how wrong is that? If you have any of the vintage-body Chewbacca figures, you've basically got this one. There's nothing particularly special about it, other than it's another variation to add to your never-ending collection of figures based on a single character that never changed his outfit, which was little more than a belt and a purse in the first place.

Collector's Notes: The Battle Pack seems out of circulation, but these things come and go. If you have the means to get the set, it's better than the sum of its parts. Individually, this Chewbacca isn't anything special beyond it being another version of a special figure. Which, I suppose, does make it special.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,087: August 13, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,086: Luminara Unduli

LUMINARA UNDULI Jedi Master
Revenge of the Sith Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 85174 No. 85359
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: III-31
Includes: Lightsaber, display base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.24-$6.99
Availability: March 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Image: Adam Pawlus' back yard.

Bio: Luminara Unduli is a trusted advisor to the Jedi Council and a formidable opponent with a lightsaber. An extraordinary Jedi warrior, Luminara leads a battallion of clone troopers through the dense jungles of Kashyyyk. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: Behold, the best Luminara Unduli ever... so far. Which means this is as good as she'll likely get, unless an even better animated version comes out. In 2002, the first release was a marvel-- a statue, sure, but a marvelous one. Her flowing dress really stood out like no other, and in 2005 Hasbro managed to translate this garment into cloth so you can decide how she sits, stands, or fights. Really, it's no small feat-- the quality of cloth used here is some of the best we've ever seen out of Hasbro in this scale. She has no problems standing, and her two-piece lightsaber seems to be less fragile than other releases over the years. (The blade is removable, but the peg is so thin that many of these snap.) With 12 points of articulation, she's close to perfect-- good enough, certainly, but some fans may be upset at the lack of ankle joints, or ball-jointed elbows. She has swivels, but you may wish you had more.

Anyway, to make a long review shortish, this is the best Luminara you can buy today. As such, get one if you can, even if you have to pay a slight premium. She's great!

Collector's Notes: The figure hasn't been reissued, but was repainted as a Target exclusive in 2008. Unless you compare them side-by-side, it's pretty easy to mistake them for being the same release.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,086: August 12, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,085: Obi-Wan Kenobi (Cantina Showdown)

OBI-WAN KENOBI Cantina Showdown Cinema Scene
Power of the Force Wal-Mart Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 69650 No. 69738
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, additional figures, display stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: 1997
Appearances: Star Wars

Image: Adam Pawlus' back yard.

Bio: On the run from Imperial stormtroopers, Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker enter the seedy Mos Eisley Cantina in hopes of finding swift passage to the planet Alderaan. Inside, among the gallery of criminals are the murderous Dr. Evazan and the brutal Ponda Baba--both of whom are thirsty for a fight with Skywalker. Reaching for their blasters, the villains are suddenly cut off from Luke by the pulsating blaze of Obi-Wan's lightsaber! Will Obi-Wan triumph and save the Rebellion's only hope? (Taken from the figure's box.)

Commentary: I thought I reviewed this Obi-Wan Kenobi ages ago, and it turns out I didn't. It's pretty unremarkable-- the 1997 release was never reused, and it couldn't do much either. Once you got the robes off, it had the standard 6 points of articulation but couldn't sit in a seat due to its pose. The face is basically the same used from 1995 to 2004, and the lightsaber and overall looked was based on that first 1995 figure. Which is to say, it was OK. Nothing special by today's standards, but as Obi-Wan was one of the better initial offerings this figure has a leg up on other releases of its day... as a display piece. It just isn't much of a toy.

With the other figures and the diorama packaging, it's a pretty neat set. It was obviously better when compared against its peers, but as it had the first-ever Dr. Evazan toy it was more popular than it probably deserved to be. But hey, at least it was a decent mix of figures for the money. Just not much to speak of by today's standards.

Collector's Notes: This set was clearanced out for as little as $2-- so don't overspend for it if you have the chance to get one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,085: August 11, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,084: Qui-Gon Jinn (with Eopie, 2000)

QUI-GON JINN with Eopie
Episode I Beast Assortment
Item No.: Asst. 84125 No. 84354
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, removable poncho, Eopie creature
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99+
Availability: Summer 2000
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Image: Adam Pawlus' back yard.

Bio: Riding atop an eopie, Qui-Gon Jinn hauls a T-14 hyperdrive generator to the outskirts of Mos Espa where the Queen's disabled Naboo Royal Starship waits to be repaired. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Commentary: It truly is amazing what becomes "collectible." At one time commanding as much as $120, this Qui-Gon Jinn with Eopie has gradually declined in value as people realized a) they don't like the prequels that much, and b) other, more exciting toys shipped out of Hasbro. The Qui-Gon figure in particular is nothing special, particularly when you compare it to the rest of the line. It has a button on the back of his belt which activates an "attack" action, like the deluxe figure. It has a removable cloth poncho, like the 2000 Power of the Jedi release. It has a green lightsaber... because they all do. Since this figure was paired with a fantastically rare creature, it did well. "Rare" is the key word, because the farting, feature-free Eopie isn't much of a toy, yet holds a certain legendary status because it was so hard to get. That doesn't mean it's any good, just that certain people didn't get it and whined and whined and now it's coming back out again. Minus one key thing-- the figure I'm reviewing here. A different version of Liam Neeson's character will be included instead.

This particular release was unique to this set. Qui-Gon was designed to sit on the Eopie, to stand and look normal, and to fight-- truly, no small feat for a figure with only 6 points of articulation and a button mechanism. If you take off his poncho, you'll note Hasbro wisely dropped the "skirt" below the belt for optimal articulation and the ability to sit on his creature companion. When his poncho is on, you won't notice it's gone. The outfit's sculpting is on par with the other versions from this era, which is to say it's a little bit more heroic in its proportions. Qui-Gon's face and eye paint are largely superior to others from the time, meaning this is one of the better looking Liam toys you can pick up-- assuming the lack of articulation isn't a problem. The cloth poncho is a nice touch,

Collector's Notes: This was the rarest Episode I toy that wasn't a bonus pit droid for quite some time-- it was, as far as can be told, never sold in the USA. Units in US packaging were sold in Japan, but with a sticker. These were also sold in the UK in multi-lingual packaging, which is where this sample came from. A new mail-in version is available now but the differences between the Qui-Gon figure are significant... the Eopie changes are unknown. Courtesy of this new release, odds are the 2000 original is on the fast track to worthlessness. Such is the collecting game.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,084: August 10, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,083: Clone Emperor Palpatine

CLONE EMPEROR with Luke Skywalker
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87745
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #12
Includes: Lightsaber, removable cloak, holocron, lightning bolt
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $13.99
Availability: January 2009
Appearances: Dark Empire II (comic series)

Image: Adam Pawlus' barbeque.

Bio: Luke Skywalker has discovered the existence of another Jedi, helping him further his goal of reestablishing the Jedi Knights. While he makes plans to go to Ossus to locate important Jedi artifacts, Emperor Palpatine is reborn in the body of another clone, and he makes immediate plans to crush the Alliance and the fledgling Jedi Knight. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: While few fans were actively begging for a new Clone Emperor Palpatine figure, Hasbro went ahead and did one. And they did a freaking amazing job, too. The 1998 release was pretty good, but this one ups the ante by tacking on tons of articulation, lots of accessories, and a fully realized costume underneath the main costume. You don't get that often. Were this figure released as a basic carded release, odds are Hasbro wouldn't have packed so much stuff with him. It's really a good use of the comic pack format, including extra bits and pieces in addition to a comic book reprint.

Under the cloak is a creepy decaying old man with blue liver spots and presumably some form of electrical tape. (Kinky.) The coloring on the skin really does look like it came out of a comic book, with big blue and greenish circles that give the key villain of the franchise an especially otherworldly look. The design benefitted from a few years of information, for example, what Palpatine looked like when he was younger. The stylized comic art of Cam Kennedy can be interpreted in a variety of ways, and it's good to see Hasbro not making chunky, literal interpretations of the characters but rather take a few colors here and a costume there while synthesizing something that would look more at home in the modern movie-styled line. You know, like what they didn't do with Tobbi and Fenn.

This figure is a very nicely done release and an example of how far Hasbro has come since 1998. That original Clone Palpatine was a high mark for a lot of us, so seeing a release like this incorporate soft goods and plastic armor in new and interesting ways shows that Hasbro actually not only learned a whole lot about how to do the line even better, but has the power to surprise us.

Collector's Notes: This one seems to be done for now-- if you missed it, go get it. Hasbro has been good about rereleasing a number of comic packs as they go forward, so you might have a chance to get one in new packaging down the road. I wouldn't assume that you would, of course, so go ahead and grab this one if you see it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,083: August 7, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,082: Ahsoka Tano

AHSOKA TANO with Rotta the Huttlet
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87638 No. 87810
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #09
Includes: Lightsaber, backpack, Rotta figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: September 2008
Appearances: The Clone Wars (movie/TV series)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: Anakin's padawan Ahsoka both amuses and exasperates her master with her plucky attitiude and impertinent comments. She is tasked with keeping Jabba's son safe as she and Anakin try to escape their attackers. She affectionately nicknames the child "stinky" because of his odor, the characteristic stench given off by the Hutt species. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: Female Jedi are far and few between, particularly if they are characters with any dialogue. Ahsoka Tano has a lot to say, often to the point where she may have acted as an element to shake some fans off the whole Clone Wars bandwagon. Kids like her, though, or at least they do from what I saw people buying at retail. The figure is a pretty accurate recreation of the cartoon character, plus Hasbro basically put their best foot forward with her. Aside from a lack of ball-jointed elbows, she's essentially super-articulated with a grand total of 12 joints. Since there's some cloth forming her lower robes, she can actually sit without too much difficulty. A tiny piece of plastic hangs below her belt, but it doesn't get in the way of movement. Being an animated figure, there's also not a great ton of detail to be had here.

Collector's Notes: There are a few slight variations in how her face is painted, although these could probably be defined as changes in manufacturing more than anything else. It would be to your benefit to examine the face of the figure when you make a purchase. She has also proven to be fairly popular in some regions, which proves who is and isn't buying these toys. Adult collectors claim to hate her, but I've seen kids go away from the pegs disappointed on more than one occasion because the store was sold out of this one. Hasbro also stopped shipping her pretty quickly, and as such as of the time I write this she's selling for $20-$30 on eBay. See? That's what happens when kids want something-- the same thing happened when Transformers Movie Bumblebee was scarce for a period in 2007. While there are currently no known plans for a straight rerelease of this Ahsoka, a space suit version is due any week now and a poncho version should still be on tap for an upcoming battle pack. But if you want Rotta, this is the only way to go for now at least.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,082: August 6, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,081: R3-A2

R3-A2 Battle of Hoth
Saga Toys "R" Us Exclusive
Item No.: No. 26703
Number: n/a
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Includes: Display stand, additional figures of Luke, Leia, Chewbacca, and a Tauntaun
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Spring 2003
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Image: Adam Pawlus' cardboard pieces.

Bio: Developed for service aboard capital warships and battle stations, these droids look much like R2 units except for their clear plastex domes that show off their computer processors. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Commentary: Astromech droid repaints are something fans asked for since the line started, and really didn't get much of until around Episode I. This particular release came much later. R3-A2 was a Toys "R" Us Exclusive repaint of R3-T7, and if you have ever seen pictures of R3-A2 you know that this figure is off-model. The big difference between the movie and the toy is that in the movie, he's lacking the orange square around the central eye. This would mean when Hasbro releases a new version, you can probably either dump this figure or consider it a different character entirely. The bright orange highlights look great, and you can see in the clear dome easily.

As far as articulation goes, he's pretty standard stuff. Twist the dome, move the legs, the third leg can be pulled down, and each foot has an "ankle" on which to swivel. This body type was basically the standard for astromech droids from 2001-2005, with a few more using this form later still. As such, it doesn't quite mesh with today's build-a-droid figures or the repaints of R4-G9 sold over the years, but it's a neat looking little guy and one of few bright orange robots you can add to your toy box.

Collector's Notes: Released once in a boxed set, this little guy has never seen another release. But fear not-- Hasbro has a new version of him planned as a build-a-droid in an upcoming wave.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,081: August 5, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,080: Stass Allie

STASS ALLIE Jedi Knight
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 87549
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD23
Includes: Lightsaber, cloak
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: November 2008
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Image: Adam Pawlus' back yard.

Bio: A skilled warrior, political advisor and healer, Stass Allie serves on the Jedi Council after her cousin and former master, Adi Gallia, is killed by General Grievous. She is leading a mop-up operation on the planet of Saleucami when Order 66 is issued. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: Who says fans don't get what they ask for? This Stass Allie updates a character that never really got a great release, but it's not like the 2005 version was all that bad. Now available with the best likeness so far and super articulation, really, there's no reason to go back to the well on this character unless there's a need for a cartoon version. It's unfortunate that as Hasbro has become more proficient at making a figure that'd make our heads spin a few years ago, the less remarkable these figures seem. Due to being an incredibly minor character, Stass wasn't exactly a fast seller, and her previous releases probably left some fans shrugging and saying "welp, already got her." It's not like this is a bad figure-- far from it. She can be posed in a variety of ways, and the overall detail is about as good as you can expect from Hasbro these days. Since she isn't an alien or a character with some level of recognition from the films, she ended up being little more than another reasonably obscure Jedi to add to your collection. A well-executed figure, just not one that's terribly exciting.

Collector's Notes: This figure shipped throughout Wave 4, and has not been mixed in to later assortments-- although Wave 4 has shipped for a while. Also, this figure was delayed from an early 2008 release, as Hasbro planned on including it with the first batch of 30th Anniversary Collection figures with stands at one point. This is also the third release of this character-- the first was Adi Gallia with a different name in an exclusive Jedi Council screen scene, and the second came with a bike as a deluxe 2005 Revenge of the Sith figure.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,080: August 4, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,079: Spacetrooper

SPACETROOPER with Joe Johnston's head
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 87836
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD32
Includes: Blaster, helmet, hose, backpack, rifle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: January 2009
Appearances: Star Wars

Image: Adam Pawlus' back yard.

Bio: Specialized stormtroopers, dubbed “spacetroopers,” are deployed to Zero-G environments, such as areas outside the Death Star’s artificially generated atmosphere. They wear specially designed suits that have sealed armor and are equipped with rebreather packs. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: How many times can Hasbro reuse the 2004 Stormtrooper body? Many. The Spacetrooper is a fairly extensive retool of this mold, as it takes the same basic body and revises the helmet, tweaks the armor, adds a backpack, and also has an added bonus-- the head of behind-the-scenester Joe Johnston is under the helmet. Which is awesome, and fodder for custom "proto armor" Boba Fett figures. If you already have a basic Stormtrooper, and are the kind of person who buys more than one of any generic trooper, you absolutely need to have this. Glimpsed at for a brief moment in the original film, this figure could probably almost double as a SCUBA Trooper if it had swim fins. The giant rifle looks like some sort of chopped grenade launcher, and the design puts a great new spin on the old design we've bought many times by now.

You pretty much know what to expect with this guy if you bought any of the recent Stormtrooper figures. It moves nicely, has a fair amount of gear, and you can also use it as a basic Stormtrooper if you lose the backpack and hose. Fans of the Empire have nothing to complain about here aside from Hasbro not releasing it earlier.

Collector's Notes: Hasbro confirmed that this was a fan's demand that actually ended up doing obscenely well. This one is even going to be repackaged in the red cards, so you know it's doing well. It's also the only variation on the Stormtrooper left untouched by the vintage line that didn't involve someone in a disguise. So kudos to Hasbro for milking that cash cow one last time, particularly because it turned out so well.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,079: August 3, 2009