Figure of the Day: Day 1,164: Geonosian Warrior

GEONOSIAN WARRIOR First Release
Saga Basic Figures Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84867
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0215
Includes: Staff, lightning effect
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: April 2002
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Image: Adam's Geoniosis Arena playset. I used this one to shoot a bunch of figures. I totally suggest you go buy one.

Bio: Geonosian warriors are the inhabitants of the rocky planet Geonosis. These warriors aid Count Dooku in his effort to incite a civil war. (Taken from the figure's package.)

Commentary: Because of today's movie development process, toys are started long before the movie completes post-production. As such, digital characters like the Geonosian Warrior are not fully realized before Hasbro gets the specs to make toys. Rather than waiting to see the final edition in the movie, they fudge it based on early models and concept art, and sometimes they do such an awesome job you'd never know. Other times, well, it's a little obvious, and that happened a couple of times with Attack of the Clones. Long gone are the days of waiting it out, this release took its cues from early models which were developed before the creature's clothing. So while it's a great interpretation of the alien species, it's totally nude and ready to party down. As such, depending on your feelings as a collector, this is arguably more of a curiosity than one of Hasbro's great releases. However, in a crowd, it's pretty tough to tell who is or isn't wearing pants, so this figure is probably just fine for your diorama needs. Also, it's cheap.

The figure has an awkward pose and very limited articulation with joints at the neck, shoulders, and hips. He can stand, but balance is something of an issue because his legs are going every which way. He also doesn't seem to like to hold on to his staff too much, so he can be a bit of a trial in some places. But since Anakin Skywalker is going to hack these up real good anyway, well, it's no bother. (Speaking of which, there is a Geonosian out there specifically designed to be sliced up by Anakin. But this isn't it.)

It's a very below-average figure by modern standards but it looks pretty neat and as troopers go, is a fun little release simply because it is different from what appeared on film. Hasbro made an updated warrior in the new Target Geonosis sets, so you may want to get that too-- but I'd make sure you have one or two of these in your stash, just for fun.

Collector's Notes: This figure was a one-timer and has been redone in a few forms. This is probably one of the least interesting versions of the character, but he's totally naked, so there's that.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,164: November 30, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,163: Darth Vader

DARTH VADER Sith Lord
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87275
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #3016
Includes: Lightsaber, removable helmet, cloak
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Spring 2007
Appearances: Star Wars

Image: Adam's back yard. There was a slight breeze.

Bio: Darth Vader has waited many years to confront his former master. But Obi-Wan has one last lesson for his former Padawan, the Force transcends time and space. As Vader witnesses Obi-Wan become one with the Force, his victory is bittersweet, for he is deprived of the satisfaction of seeing Kenobi's lifeless body at his feet! (Taken from the figure's package.)

Commentary: I actually thought I reviewed this Darth Vader figure already, and apparently, I did not. Well. The body is largely based on the 2005 Evolutions sculpt, but with a new head, torso, and heavily revised arms to have the unique gloves and robes only used in the original Star Wars. The figure is now able to easily sit, thanks to his cloth parts, and pilot pretty much any vehicle that it would make sense for him to fly around in. Given the Darth Vader TIE Fighter and Sith Starfighter, this is a nice thing for Hasbro to consider-- kids might buy and play with these toys. It just so happens that what's good for the kid goose is also great for the collecting gander, proving once more that metaphors should be flogged until dead.

The figure looks better than most Darth Vaders from Hasbro. The lightsaber is great, the helmet fits nicely, and underneath is a slightly aged version of the Hayden Christensen head you've started seeing in 2005. (Since he turns into Sebastian Shaw in under 5 years, one can assume much drinking and smoking was involved.) It's easy to get a good pose out of this one, and both hands were designed to grip a lightsaber-- unlike the Evolutions body. His final accessory (not shown) is Obi-Wan Kenobi's crumpled cloak, which also has a lightsaber sculpted on top. What makes the accessory particularly stunning is that Hasbro went through the trouble to detail it. The lightsaber is silver and black, and the brown cloak has additional dark brown on it to show definition and detail. There are even boot prints and a foot peg to admire, but unfortunately the peg is hard to get positioned under Vader's boot just right. Still, it's a neat extra to have handy for that giant Death Star playset that we will never, ever see come out of Hasbro. That's right, I said it.

Collector's Notes: This figure was originally released as part of a tin gift set (with Leia, a Sandtrooper, and C-3PO) in 2006, but since the same exact figure came out in 2007 with a coin and an added Obi-Wan robe accessory, I'm going with that as the definitive release. The figure was also repackaged in the Diamond/Previews Exclusive Crimson Empire Squall/Crucible set. Variant hounds, take note: this figure comes with either a gold or a silver coin on its basic carded release. Odds are if you're a hardcore collector, you'll end up with at least 3 of this figure from varying gift packs. Each one, so far, has something new of merit to offer you.

Most notable about this set is that cloak accessory-- for fans that say Hasbro is afraid of adult themes or dying, and decapitated figures or drug dealers aren't enough for you, here's the only corporeal remains of a great Jedi hero. Which Vader stomps on. Surely that's worth something.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,163: November 27, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,162: Concept Anakin Skywalker

ANAKIN SKYWALKER Episode III Concept Art
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 87982
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Cape, lightsaber (lit), lightsaber (hilt), HK-47's right arm
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: June 2009
Appearances: n/a

Bio: In this concept art by Sang Jun Lee, Anakin wears the "dark Jedi" apparel that outwardly reflects his inner conversion to the dark side of the Force. The outfit was designed to echo the clothing worn by his son Luke during the climactic battle with Emperor Palpatine. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's TV tray.

Commentary: One of the unfortunate side effects of capes and certain garments is that on some figures like this Anakin Skywalker, it's almost a wasted effort. While it's fantastic that the engineers at Hasbro made this figure super-articulated with the 14 joints you've come to expect, the figure is rendered incapable of sitting due to his cape. And his cape caused the figure to have a slightly longer neck, which makes him look a smidgen goofy without it. In short, the cape sculpt is acting as his shoulders-- so it's good to leave it on. His lightsaber hilt plugs into his belt and the sculpting on the figure is totally great.

With lots of black sculpted leather, this figure doesn't really fit in with the rest of the prequel line. Heck, with his fairly accurate likeness, it's not necessarily a good fit with the other concept figures, but it's still pretty swell. If anything, it's probably worth getting to display along with your Concept Grievous, which is one of Hasbro's greatest modern-era Star Wars action figures. It looks like they'd have a good fight.

Collector's Notes: Early Hasbro photography shows this figure with a red lightsaber. None were produced with a red lightsaber as Lucasfilm dictated the change. A one-timer, this Anakin may go down as being desirable because a) it's part of an insanely popular subseries and b) it's part of a hard-to-find wave. Good luck! And does anyone else thing it's weird that this figure shipped as part of an Attack of the Clones wave? Oh, one last thing-- this Anakin kicked off a series of concept-inspired figures, which would also include IG-88, a second Snowtrooper, Ki-Adi-Mundi, and, arguably, a new Plo Koon.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,162: November 26, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,161: Battle Droid (Sliced)

BATTLE DROID Sliced Variation
Episode I Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84085 No. 84092
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, Backpack, CommTech Chip
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: May 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: The greedy Trade Federation has created an army that requires no food, no drink, no sleep. Millions of these high-tech battle droids amass into a virtually unstoppable armed force. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's TV tray.

Commentary: Here's another one! While not as popular as their Clone counterparts, the Battle Droids comprise a huge sub-collection in Star Wars with numerous molds, deco variants, and nifty action features. Plus as an added bonus, they tend to fold up nicely, or are thin and many can be kept in a small place. Since 1999, the very first couple of molds used to make these figures tended to be the best, with a great level of detail and a ton of articulation. The newest Target exclusive droids have more joints, but this early figure still stands up nicely. Literally-- its limbs are thicker and stronger than later droids, and if you have him standing on a shelf he's much less likely to fall over due to gravity.

With 9 points of articulation, these were some of the most amazing figures you could get in 1999. Elbows, knees, and the ability to sit weren't things you tended to see all on one figure, plus they could more or less collapse into little balls like in the movie. (Just not as well as the newer ones.) If you need a figure for a vehicle pilot, or to populate a diorama, these are some of the best you can hope to get. Due to the fact that all four variants shipped one to a case when other figures with no variants shipped four to a box, these guys are significantly less common than the likes of Darth Maul and their ilk. They're still pretty cheap, not totally worthless, but probably a better value than buying whatever droids are currently at retail were you to pick them up on eBay.

Collector's Notes: This is one of four color variants of this mold, and the same paint job was applied to Saga Legends Battle Droids starting in 2007. The articulation is, of course, quite different.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,161: November 25, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,160: Imperial TIE Fighter and TIE Interceptor Pilot

TIE INTERCEPTOR PILOT with TIE Interceptor
The Legacy Collection Toys "R" Us Exclusive
Item No.: No. 92287
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, helmet, TIE Interceptor vehicle with blast-off panels and removable ejector seat
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $49.99
Availability: September 2009
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: The elite TIE Interceptor starfighter slices through space with its dagger-like wings and ultrasleek design. Designed for speed and firepower, this Imperial fighter has four additional laser cannons mounted on its wings that the pilots use with devastating accuracy. As a space superiority fighter, the TIE Interceptor challenged the Rebel Alliance and was used extensively at the Battle of Endor. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's stove.

Commentary: Believe it or not, it's 2009 and there's still no such thing as a TIE Interceptor Pilot (or TIE Fighter Pilot) that's super-articulated. This one comes very close, but there are no ankle joints-- not that this is a deal breaker, of course, given that the figure exists mostly to occupy a chair inside a fully-enclosed vehicle. It's not like he'll be doing a lot of running around. Hasbro opted to include a holster on this figure, but it's a pretty unfortunate addition. Not only is it glued over the figure's molded belt, but it's generally aligned poorly, hanging off to the side. Also, the blaster's unusual shape gets in the way of the figure's arm, and is actually better left off to the side depending on how you store or display this one.

On the bright side, he looks good. The helmet is sculpted well, the head is the typical Clone Trooper design (which may not be entirely accurate in the context of the films), but at least he has a waist joint. The figure is a repaint of a pilot which was released just weeks before this one, and it had "elite" markings on his helmet as seen in very few behind-the-scenes photos and as practically not seen in the movies. If you want the best-yet plain TIE Fighter Pilot, the Toys "R" Us TIE Interceptor is the only place to get it right now. Unless Hasbro reissues it on a regular package, which seems like something to expect in the next two years.

Collector's Notes: This was the first way to get this particular TIE Pilot without the "elite" markings on his helmet. A similar (if not identical) figure just hit with a regular TIE Fighter as a Target exclusive. For the purposes of this column, they're identical.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,160: November 24, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,159: R7-Z0

R7-Z0 Astromech Droid
The Legacy Collection Droid Factory
Item No.: Asst. 87730
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a, parts are accessories which come with other figures
Action Feature: Collect the parts to build R7-T0
Retail: n/a
Availability: July 2008
Appearances: n/a

Bio: R7-Z0 was an R7-series astromech droid which was primarily colored white with a black dome and yellow-green access panels. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's TV tray.

Commentary: There's little to no backstory for the droid R7-Z0, but at least he looks pretty cool. The first-ever R7 droid toy came out in 2008, and the design was indeed refreshing. the unique dome has ridges and ribs on it, plus a big and almost triangular eye. The body was redesigned with a whole suite of new panels, unlike the shared body type used in nearly every other astromech droid to date. With greenish yellow markings and a big red eye, it definitely stands out on a shelf, but isn't nearly as ornate as the repaint of this figure, R7-T1.

The figure, after assembly, has all the articulation you'd expect on a droid of this scale. The dome twists, the legs and ankles move, and the third leg can come off if it's getting in the way. Also, each leg has a plug-in rocket, much like R2-D2 in the prequels. It's a pretty good design overall, and it's great to see Hasbro finally make these little guys. It seems unlikely we'll see repaints of the R7 build-a-droid mold in the near future, but hey, at least these are still out there for those who are interested. It's also worth noting that, again as far as I can tell, this droid has not made any appearances outside a guide book as a line art illustration.

Collector's Notes: This figure's parts were available in July of 2008 with select figures like Ak-Rev, Bane Malar, Darth Vader, and Yarna D'al' Gargan, some of which may still be easily available at a store near you. Probably not Darth Vader, though.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,159: November 23, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,158: Queen Amidala

QUEEN AMIDALA Battle) with Ascension Gun
Episode I Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84095 No. 84273
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Grapple gun, CommTech chip base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Spring 2000
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Cornered in the Theed palace by battle droids, Queen Amidala and her entourage escape through a palace window. Using ascension guns, the heroes are pulled up to the throne room level to challenge the Viceroys for control of the palace. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's back yard.

Commentary: In the early days of the prequels, Hasbro wasn't shy about cranking out numerous Queen Amidala figures. It has since slowed down a bit, but in the first year there were about 4 figures based on Natalie Portman's character, two of which were basically the same. This figure wears the same costume as one released in 1999, but now it has a cloth dress piece ("soft goods"), a neck with an added joint to allow her to look up as she aims her gun, and a redesigned body to better work as an action-packed wall climber. The purple and gold outfit has all the detail you might expect, and the head sculpt is pretty good for its day. Sure, Hasbro could do better, but they haven't revisited any of the outfits from Episode I that have already been done as of this figure, and it seems unlikely that they ever will. As one of very few Natalie Portman figures with the ability to sit, she's probably worth picking up. Particularly if you have a Flash Speeder vehicle in need of butts to put in the seats.

Collector's Notes: This figure was surprisingly tough to get in 2000, and hasn't been in circulation since. She continues to have a high asking price, but nobody seems to be paying for it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,158: November 20, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,157: Battle Droid

BATTLE DROID Armored Scout Tank driver
The Clone Wars Figures and Vehicles Assortment
Item No.: Asst. 91349 No. 91364
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Backpack, 2 rockets, scout tank
Action Feature: Seat rocks, rockets fire
Retail: $16.99
Availability: August 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Armored Scout Tanks (ASTs) are light reconnaissance vehicles driven by pilot droids. Specially programmed battle droids operate the vehicles and fire upon the enemy with twin laser cannons. These repulsorcrafts are deployed in small units for hit-and-run missions or used to support larger military campaigns during the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's back yard.

Commentary: Included with the Armored Scout Tank, this Battle Droid features "pilot" coloring, just like in the movies. Its blue decoration sets it apart from other animated droids, despite having the same basic sculpt. You still get a good range of movement on this guy despite only having 8 points of articulation-- Hasbro really made them all count. He can sit or stand, plus pilot his vehicle as was the intent. If only he had a blaster!

The vehicle itself is also a repaint of an older toy originally sold in 2000. This time around, it's painted blue and silver, plus it costs $6-$7 more. At $17, it's priced very close to the full-size Federation Tank at some stores, so you may want to look twice before making a choice unless you're after this specific figure. While there's nothing wrong with this figure, it doesn't do or offer anything unique over its carded counterparts save for the blue shoulders, which, not surprisingly, is enough for me to want one.

Collector's Notes: Currently in rotation, odds are you'll be able to get these without too much trouble until early next year. And then who knows.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,157: November 19, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,156: Mace Windu

MACE WINDU Force Combat!
Revenge of the Sith Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 85173 No. 85283
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #III-10
Includes: Lightsaber, Sith lightning
Action Feature: Squeeze legs for swinging action
Retail: $5.24-$6.99
Availability: March 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Mace Windu is a courageous fighter and respected member of the Jedi Council. In a desperate attempt to save the galaxy, Mace leads a daring confrontation against Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's back yard.

Commentary: For whatever reason, Hasbro has struggled a little with Mace Windu. Sure, the 1998 mail-in figure looked great, but most of them since have been all over the place. This particular one had great arm articulation-- the best-ever for the character when released-- plus a great costume sculpt, which, of course, Hasbro had plenty of chances to nail down. Unfortunately, there seems to be a bit of difficulty making it look like Samuel L. Jackson's head, outside of being black and bald. This figure looks a little bit like him, but due to his exaggerated shoulders and very thick neck, doesn't really do the actor justice. The super-articulated version from 2007 is different, but doesn't exactly fare significantly better overall.

This figure's best selling point is its action feature. You can put some Sith Lightning on him, and squeeze his legs so he swings his arms and can shake it off. It's pretty neat, not necessarily useful in displays, but a fun little way to mess with the figure when you're bored and have one on your desk. Despite having a plastic "skirt" blocking his legs, the plastic is generally quite flexible, and can sit in some vehicles. Overall, this figure works well as a toy, so if you enjoy action features and unique accessories, it's worth picking up if you can get one for cheap. And most likely, you can.

Collector's Notes: This figure sold in 2005 and was repackaged in 2006. The same figure was reused for the Mace Windu's Attack Battalion Battle Pack for Target, but it swapped out the lightning for a cloth cloak.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,156: November 18, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,155: Luke Skywalker

LUKE SKYWALKER Jedi Adventurer
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87970
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #07
Includes: Two lightsabers, Lumiya, comic book
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99
Availability: September 2009
Appearances: Star Wars Marvel comic books

Bio: Luke Skywalker is defeated in a battle with Lumiya, the Dark Lady of the Sith, who wields her lightwhip with devastating precision. But this confrontation is far from over. Lumiya wants to punish the Jedi who caused her to become more cyborg than human, while Luke tries to persuade his opponent to turn away from the dark side. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's back yard.

Commentary: Based on a storyline in the 90s of Marvel Comics, this super-articulated Luke Skywalker draws heavily from both new and existing figures. The legs are the same Jedi Luke legs Hasbro has been using since 2007, but the rest of it is new, or new enough. The upper torso is very similar to the Vintage Bespin figure, with new arms and a new lower torso. The head is also new, or at least modified a bit from previous releases. The figure has no problems standing or sitting, plus can hold weapons in both hands as long as the clear rubber bands in the package didn't do too much damage in transit. (They often do. And no, there's no easy way to tell.) Unlike previous comic 2-packs, this set seems like it may be colored realistically-- it isn't bright, crazy colors from the comic art, or if it is, Hasbro toned it down just enough to not look crazy. For this, I am glad.

Were I a kid, this would be my default Luke figure. Unlike other post-Return of the Jedi Luke Skywalker toys, he's actually capable of sitting, and it looks more like it stepped out of the 1980s. In short, it's a solid design and a surprisingly good toy that's ready to pilot any of your many vehicles. While I would have bought the set for Lumiya simply out of the desire to own a figure of the character, this Luke figure is a genuinely great one, perhaps one of Hasbro's best, and is absolutely worth picking up despite it not being in any of the movies. Because, c'mon-- two lightsabers!

Collector's Notes: This set is new, although it seems to be shipping in small numbers and/or is quite popular. It's expected to ship a while longer, as long as the comic pack line does well, but there's less and less expectation that it will continue in the future.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,155: November 17, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,154: Deena Shan

DEENA SHAN in Rebel Commando Suit
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87773
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #15
Includes: Blaster, Luke, comic book
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $11.99
Availability: January 2009
Appearances: Star Wars Rebellion comic books

Bio: Luke receives a message from his old friend Janek Sunber, a lieutenant in the Imperial Army, saying he wants to join the Rebellion. Everyone thinks it's a trap except Luke. The Jedi goes on an unauthorized mission to find Sunber and is joined by Deena Shan, who is looking for adventure, and a chance to prove her worth. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's carpet.

Commentary: There aren't a ton of comic book characters getting original sculpts, but it seems Hasbro really likes Deena Shan from the Star Wars: Rebellion and Star Wars: Empire comic book series. Why? I don't know. But here she is, in some skin-tight suit. While photographing the figure, she fell over, and I ended up noticing that Hasbro went out of their way to sculpt a really well-defined butt for her. Like, wow. You will be impressed. Luke, on the other hand, has zero definition. If you're going to spend some time making a nice ass, I think Hasbro's designers put their eggs in the right basket, so to speak.

Deena is essentially super-articulated and has a holster for her blaster. She can sit or stand, and the black suit with white, copper, and blue markings looks like it came out of the comic. Her hair and makeup were exaggerated slightly, which is probably better than understating it-- the last thing you want is a blonde man-boy with boobs. (Or maybe you do want that, who am I to judge?) The resulting figure is pretty good, and as she comes in a set with two newly sculpted heroes, it's not a bad buy. If you can find it, that is.

Collector's Notes: This set is newish. It just got repackaged and you shouldn't have too much trouble getting one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,154: November 16, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,153: Saleucami Clone Trooper

SALEUCAMI TROOPER Clone Trooper
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 89602
Number: #BD20 (2008 blue card) #BD25 (2009 red card)
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Includes: Blaster, build-a-droid part
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: September 2008
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Image: Adam Pawlus' place.

Bio: During the final days of the Clone Wars, Stass Allie leads clone troopers on the desert world of Saleucami. While patrolling on a speeder bike, Allie is struck down by clone troopers who receive Order 66, which directs them to treat all Jedi as a threat to the Republic. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Commentary: The Saleucami Trooper started life as a Wal-Mart exclusive Commander Neyo-- only now he's missing the dirty battle damage, so that makes him the generic trooper. Nothing too fancy, I know, but that's how these things work. This trooper uses the body that was first used as the 2003 Super-Articulated Clone Trooper with a new helmet and new belt-- so you basically know you can expect 14 points of articulation, all sorts of ball joints, and other goodness. He can hold his gun just fine, he's bright white and seems less prone to discoloration as a result, but we can't prove this yet.

In short, if you picked up the Treachery at Saleucami Battle Pack, or the 2007 Commander Neyo, you basically have this figure. It is, however, different than those releases due to the missing battle damage and as such should prove worth picking up for those who build armies, collect variants, or, like me, still buy figures that are just different enough to make you mad.

Collector's Notes: Hasbro has been shipping this one on and off since his introduction on a basic cardback, so he shouldn't be too hard to get.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,153: November 13, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,152: Whorm Loathsam

WHORM LOATHSOM Firing Missile Launcher
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87638 No. 91230
Number: #CW15
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Includes: Pistol, rocket, launcher
Action Feature: Firing rocket
Retail: $7.99
Availability: August 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars Movie

Image: Adam Pawlus' yard.

Bio: Separatist General Whorm Loathsom meets with Obi-Wan Kenobi to accept the Jedi General's surrender on Christophsis. Loathsom draws angry when the discussion drags on and, with his immense strength, throws a heavy table aside. He demands an end to the proceedings- which he gets, but it's not the conclusion he's expecting. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Commentary: Love him or hate him, Whorm Loathsom is a great example of what Hasbro is capable of with this cartoon line. He's big and colorful, bulky and articulated. Shaped incredibly differently than other releases, this guy has a goofy hat, tiny legs, and excellent arm articulation. While his legs are tiny, he still can fit in the top of the Federation Tanks, stand around and look neat, plus hold his smaller blaster just fine. (I didn't much care for the rocket firing one.) Its feel is very different than most other Hasbro Star Wars figures, so you might find it a little bizarre to futz with a figure that has giant elbow joints and little puny hands. The fact that he has two neck joints is a sign of good design, and let's face it, it's nice to get new aliens as toys in a line that's basically Jedi and over 50% repaints of a single figure. Good job on this one, Hasbro, please keep the other creatures coming!

Collector's Notes: A new one-timer (so far), there are no known plans to reissue this one since he just came out. I expect to see him again a few times, but I'd still get while the getting is good.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,152: November 12, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,151: AT-TE Gunner Clone Trooper

AT-TE GUNNER AT-TE Assault Squad
The Clone Wars AT-TE Assault Squad Battle Pack
Item No.: Asst. 87752 No. 87881
Number: n/a
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Includes: Blaster, rifle, rocket, launcher, 3 more clones and accessories
Action Feature: Firing rocket
Retail: $23.99
Availability: Early 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars Movie

Image: Adam Pawlus' yard.

Bio: The AT-TE Gunner aims his blasters at attacking battle droids and opens fire with calm deliberation and pinpoint accuracy. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Commentary: Hasbro realizes that fans love Clone Troopers, and this AT-TE Gunner was one "new" figure in a set of repaints. With a new head, torso, and shoulders, the figure stands apart from other clones released in his day in that he actually has armor on top of his armor. It's pretty cool, but one of the neater features that this revised Clone sports is the ability to hold his arms even closer to his body. This may not sound like much, and truth be told it isn't, but it's really neat to see Hasbro redesign a figure in such a way that they may have unintentionally improved its range of movement.

The gunner sports the same basic articulation structure as seen on every animated Clone Trooper from this line, and is decorated to match his squad mates. A newer, individually carded gunner suggests that Hasbro got it wrong with this one, but both look unique and are worth picking up for army builders. Just because the vehicles can fit so many figures, I'd suggest getting this set just to fill seats. Although if you're picky about all your clones matching and you prefer the 2009-style helmets, well, skip this one.

Collector's Notes: A pretty great set, the figure had a unique helmet sculpt which was never used again. Future similar figures had a retooled helmet mold with a different "chin" and other modifications. Similar clones using the new sculpt have been released on an individual card and with the Turbo Tank.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,151: November 11, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,150: Jabba the Hutt

JABBA THE HUTT with TC-70
The Clone Wars Jabba's Palace Battle Pack
Item No.: Asst. 87752 No. 87782
Number: n/a
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Includes: TC-70 figure, railing
Action Feature: Move hands to open mouth
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: There's a fine line between "figure" and "creature" or "vehicle," but since I tend to draw the line mostly at characters, Jabba the Hutt is a really cool figure. While lacking some important Jabba details, he is clearly the best-ever Jabba the Hutt Hasbro has engineered. My main gripe about this and all modern-era Jabba the Hutt figures is that they left off a key subtle detail that the original Kenner sculptors got right back in 1983, and that's Jabba's arm tattoo. There's a very specific design that the Kenner toy elves sculpted right into his arm, and Hasbro/Kenner missed these in their 1997, 1999, 2003, and now 2009 releases. It's rare that a company gets it right the first time and then messes it up, but well, there you go. Oops.

This release of Jabba is awesome if you can get past that one quibble in that Hasbro has finally put the attention needed into his most distinctive features-- his face, and his hands. Really, there's not much this giant sack of filth can do beyond talk, eat, glower, and gesture. This figure can basically do those things due to the smart choice to include a geared mechanism in the jaw that connects to his arms. This makes posing the figure a little tricky, but to see Jabba's mouth open and close so you can make him "talk" is tons of fun. I only wish they had an empty belly so he could eat stuff, too. It's a wonderful release and a smart design, although when Hasbro does this sort of rubbery plastic I do fear for its long-term survival and disintegration in harsh environs.

His arms have been carefully crafted as well, sporting ball-jointed shoulders and elbows in addition to swivel wrists. For a figure that usually only gets a shoulder joint, it's quite impressive-- although his hands do feel very tiny compared to previous releases. Such is life when you're dealing with stylized designs such as this! Either way, it's a lot of fun and well worth picking up.

Collector's Notes: A slow seller as the Battle Packs go, this set will likely be in demand as soon as Hasbro gets out more animated aliens and bounty hunters. Until then, it sticks out a little oddly in a series populated mostly by robots and white-armored troopers. In short, as of today, he's pretty much all alone when he should be the centerpiece of a toy box. Where are his henchmen? Or at least some thugs?

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,150: November 10, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,149: Clone Pilot

CLONE PILOT Clone Trooper
The Legacy Collection Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87752 No. 87990
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, helmet, turret, second figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $23.99
Availability: August 2009
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Image: Adam's back yard.

Bio: Clone Troopers arrive on Geonosis in Republic Gunships to support the Jedi, who are battling Geonosian warriors and battle droids. Troopers in armored spheres operate the bubble-turret cannons that extend with laser fire in this opening salvo of the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: For whatever reason, Hasbro released a Clone Pilot with a turret in 2002 and then never reissued either ever again. Why? Is this out of spite? With five (soon to be six) Republic Gunships on the market, what's the reason for starving the market of these much-needed accessories? Finally in 2009, Hasbro released a giant turret with a pair of pilots. And odd combination, but it's still a pretty nice set.

The Clone Pilot is a retooled figure. The body and limbs are from the 2003 Super Articulated Clone Wars Clone Trooper, which has since been repackaged a kajillion times. The figure's neck was retooled with a Jango head, and now a removable helmet is present for your... helmet removing needs. With 14 points of articulation, this figure is based on the design which set the gold standard for movement on these action figures, so you're getting something good. Unlike most other Clone Pilots, the armor is totally clean. In short, it's the best-possible Attack of the Clones pilot you can buy on the market today. Both figures in this set are essentially identical, although one has its legs stretched out a little bit. Since the deco is the same, I consider both to be the same figure.

The one huge drawback with this set is its cost. In 2002, you could get a smaller turret and a pilot for $4.99. Here, two figures and a turret are $23.99, give or take a buck. To outfit your Gunship will set you back about $50, which is pretty unreasonable. Were Hasbro a little more crafty with the packaging, they could surely fit two into a single Battle Pack box, or perhaps one and one figure in the "Mini Rig" assortment. As it stands, the set is a pretty rotten value if you're looking to outfit a fleet. The actual Republic Gunship costs $50, and has sold for as little as $30. $25 for half the weapons needed to upgrade it is nothing short of obscene.

Collector's Notes: This set is scheduled to ship for a while longer and seems really popular-- since you need 2 turrets to outfit a single gunship, odds are this will be a good seller for as long as Hasbro produces it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,149: November 9, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,148: Jawa

JAWAS with Ion Blasters
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87638 No. 87996
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW08
Includes: Ion Blasters
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: August 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Image: Adam's TV tray.

Bio: These Tatooine scavengers hunt for lost or abandoned equipment- machinery, droids, or even starfighters that appear unoccupied. Jawas look almost identical to outsiders, but among each others, they can easily identify differences in lineage, health, and other details. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: 2-packs with at least one Jawa have been a modern line tradition since 1996. This is the first time we've seen cartoony ones, and it's worth noting that they're the most collector-friendly in a while. Today, we look at the taller of the two. The big Jawa has no light-up eye port, a working holster, and tons of articulation. There are ball-jointed elbows and shoulders, normal wrists, quasi-ankles, a waist, and a neck.

The sculpt is true to the animation model, with big bright eyes and brown (but not dingy) robes. He can hold his blaster just fine, although it is a little strange that the bottom of his robes don't touch the floor, and are pleated (creased? I don't know clothing lingo) like what I might expect in a dress. Maybe these are she-Jawas, or maybe they like dresses. I don't know which. But I do know that this figure has a lot of articulation and looks really slick, and it's nice to have as a figure in this animated line that isn't a clone, a robot, or a Jedi. So few aliens are in The Clone Wars toy line that it's a treat. Since you get two figures, it's a good deal too.

Collector's Notes: This 2-pack has been in heavy rotation since its introduction, and no doubt will continue to sell for a while. Still, get while the getting is good, as it's a great set. Here's hoping Hasbro has an excuse to do a Tusken Raider some day soon!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,148: November 6, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,147: Darth Maul (Sith Training/Concept)

DARTH MAUL Sith Training
Saga Basic Figures Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84851 No. 84905
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0242, #053
Includes: Lightsaber, droid, droid stand, lightsaber blades, display stand (2006 only)
Action Feature: Turn dials for arm and wrist movement
Retail: $4.99-$6.99
Availability: September 2002, Late 2006
Appearances: n/a

Image: Adam's desk.

Bio: The chosen apprentice of the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, Darth Maul has undergone years of demanding and sometimes brutal training to become an incredible warrior for the ancient order of the Sith. After expertly wielding his lightsaber to prove his skill, he bows respectfully before his master. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: Why is it that Star Wars' most popular characters have the fewest costume changes? Hasbro must have been banging their heads against the wall before realizing they can mine the various behind-the-scenes books for new costumes for the likes of Darth Maul here. This costume was based on one of many, many illustrations generated of the Episode I Sith Lord. Trading in his traditional all-black robes, these new ones have red highlights. A new design gives the costume a leathery look, complete with gloves that seem similar to those of Darth Vader in the original film. It's nice to see Hasbro wasn't content just to make another black outfit, there are numerous alterations to the coat design.

This figure is particularly interesting in its design-- it's unlike anything else Hasbro has created. Rather than include the now-common ball joints or even the old hinges for the knees, Maul's legs are made of three separate swivel joints. The boot is one piece, the upper leg is another, with a third "knee" piece swiveling to allow for various standing and kneeling poses. Not matter what you do his legs are going to look somewhat bent, so you're pretty much guaranteed to get some sort of action pose out of this guy. The rotating arms are controlled by two dials on the figure's back, giving this action figure a puppet-like play feature. Generally, we get "squeeze the legs" or "push the button," so this is a feature unique to this figure.

The final feature on this figure is the magnetic wrist. Like many 2002 Jedi and Force-users, he has a magnet in the palm of his hand which can "grab" his metal lightsaber to varying degrees of success. On this figure, it basically works. There's a lot more going on with this Maul than most others, and while this isn't the definitive Sith for your collection it is so totally different than other figures you may have bought that you should totally pick it up to futz with it. I keep a spare on my desk at work.

Collector's Notes: This figure was available in blue Saga packaging in Fall of 2002. In very late 2006, it was introduced in black-and-silver The Saga Collection packaging as one of several repackaged and repainted figures. If you can only get one of the two, know that they're virtually identical but that the 2006 release also includes a stand. So all things being equal, the packaging and contents of the 2006 release are superior. The figures are virtually identical.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,147: November 5, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,146: Lando Calrissian (General/Pilot)

LANDO CALRISSIAN in General's Gear
Power of the Force Basic Figures Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 69570 No. 69756
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, Cape, Freeze Frame Action Slide
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: January 1998
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Image: Adam's back yard.

Bio: Proving his impressive flying capabilities and natural leadership qualities during the battle of Taanab, Lando is appointed General in charge of the attack on the second Death Star. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: There was actually a time in the history of Star Wars where a sixth joint-- the waist joint-- was still a sign of improvement over the vintage era. This Lando Calrissian was released near the end of that era, as other joints were slowly being introduced to the line. This figure shows the transition of its day, as it's a figure with lots of sculpted details like a gun in a chest holster, a nifty fabric pattern on a plastic cape, and a nice rank badge on a body with a giant beefy chest. For some reason Kenner decided to make all its first Lando action figures with superhuman proportions, and this lasted until about 2001.

The figure does not hold up well, but the 2004 resculpt isn't much better. This is one of the rare releases where on more than one level, the 1985 release is arguably the best overall-- there's still room for a less-awkwardly posed figure with better likenesses and cloth capes. This figure's wide stance is borderline nuts, certainly not conducive to piloting the Millennium Falcon. The cape is easily removed, but it does tend to get in the way. The gun is huge, as are his hands, and this figure tends to be just a little more exaggerated than most of his peers from its era. It was released alongside an Endor Rebel Trooper, an Endor Dress Leia, and a Bespin Luke, and those three were more acceptable to fans in terms of their proportions. Why Lando gets the short shrift, nobody knows-- perhaps he was sculpted earlier and sat on for a few years?

Collector's Notes: Available briefly in 1998, this figure was never repackaged. There were some package variations, but guess what hippies? Nobody cares. It's basically worthless, so you can get one super cheap.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,146: November 4, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,145: Captain Argyus

CAPTAIN ARGYUS Traitor
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87638 No. 91273
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW31
Includes: Blaster, Helmet, Rocket Launcher, Rocket
Action Feature: Firing rocket launcher, removable helmet
Retail: $7.99
Availability: September 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Image: Adam's back yard.

Bio: Senate commando Captain Argyus assists in the transportation of captured Separatist leader Nute Gunray. A member of the Senate Guard, Argyus fights the battle droids that have attacked the ship in an effort to free Gunray. But Argyus has a secret agenda that will jeopardize the successful completion of this important mission. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: At first glance it appears that Captain Argyus, the first (and so far only) Senate Guard from the cartoon line, is just a clever reuse of the Clone Trooper body, with some minor changes. Yes, even the cool wrists are here, allowing extra aiming and pointing possibilitites.

Hasbro caught some features and fixed them, like the elbow armor. You'll notice the excess armor is now connected to the forearm piece and not the bicep piece. The shoulder on the left has been significantly retooled with the larger, theoretically blaster-proof pauldrony thing. Also, there's a new head and helmet. This pretty much matches the show, where they reuse some digital models to save on costs. (There are some pretty fascinating ones, listen to the movie's DVD commentary to see some.)

The character looks a lot like the TV appearance, except for the hair-- which would not fit under the helmet, so Hasbro made a concession here. Most of the detail is translated fairly well to plastic, although the helmet itself is a little flimsy and prone to becoming misshapen if you aren't careful with it. As such, Hasbro may have been better served overall with swappable heads, like the 2008 Obi-Wan Kenobi (The Clone Wars) release. That way you can keep the big giant hair, and the helmet should be less flimsy. (Not that it's flimsy, of course, but it certainly is overly flexible.)

Collector's Notes: A one-case wonder so far, we eagerly await word of revision cases to know if this figure will make additional appearances at retail. He appears on and off at press time.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,145: November 3, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,144: Padme Amidala (Adventure Gear)

PADME AMIDALA Grappling Hook Launcher
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87638 No. 91277
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW35
Includes: Blaster, Grappling Hook Launcher
Action Feature: Hook launcher fires
Retail: $7.99
Availability: September 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Image: Adam's back yard.

Bio: Padme becomes a hostage aboard the Malevolence, the deadly Separatist ship commanded by General Grievous. The courageous senator escapes her captors and contacts nearby Republic forces. She and C-3PO avoid battle droids to rendezvous with her rescuers, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. (Taken from the figure's cardback. The same outfit was on the Blue Shadow Virus episode too.)

Commentary: It seems after the first Padme Amidala figure Hasbro made for the cartoons, they took a lot of notes from fans. This one doesn't just have some articulation, but she's a full super-articulated animated figure-- except for the ankles. On a thin design like hers, it's quite impressive to see the whole thing come together and remain fairly sturdy, or as sturdy as one can expect for these things.

The first animated Padme from the CG-series seemed much more cartoonish, this figure's head sculpt is slightly more realistic. Not to the extent it might fit in with your movie collection, but pretty close. There's not a ton of special detail here, but there are numerous nice touches Hasbro included which makes her look more female than some other similarly sized figure. For example, she has eyeshadow. There's a little lipstick. Oh yeah, boobs too. She has little problem standing or sitting, and is an unusually thin action figure-- which actually may mean her proportions work better in some vehicles. (Or so was my finding when I trotted out my trusty PDT-8.) There's not a ton of excess color here, but the figure just plain clicks-- this is the best cartoon Padme you can get. So get it.

The rocket-firing accessory grapple thing is too big for the figure. It's well-designed, painted nicely, and fits the look and feel of all the Naboo guns we've seen over the past decade. It's just freaking huge.

Collector's Notes: She's pretty new, but Hasbro's history with female figures in this sub-line suggests that you should buy her on sight and not wait. She likely will go away quickly and shoot up on eBay as soon as she does.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,144: November 2, 2009