Figure of the Day: Day 1,294: Anakin Skywalker (Battle Damage!)

ANAKIN SKYWALKER Battle Damage!
Revenge of the Sith Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 85173 No. 85562
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: III-50
Includes: Robe, alternate arms, lightsaber, alternate head, removable legs
Action Feature: Figure can be dismembered
Retail: $5.24-$6.99
Availability: Fall 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Anakin loses his battle with Obi-Wan Kenobi on the volcanic planet of Mustafar. Gravely wounded, Anakin falls into a burning lava pit and is left for dead. But the galaxy has not seen the last of this powerful former Jedi. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: This Anakin Skywalker is a high point in Hasbro toy engineering. They succeeded in making a figure that looks good, has a great pose, sports a useful action feature, and comes with pretty much every accessory that's reasonable for a figure with this sort of action. You can make a regular, hood-up, dark side Anakin Skywalker (or Darth Vader) or you can remove the outer garment and transform him into the burned, shriveled, disgusting and forsaken husk that crawls out of the fires of Mustafar.

While some fans may lament the traditional knee joints, sacrifices have to be made when making a reasonably cheap figure with all these extra parts, so I'd let it slide. With 8 points of articulation (the standard 6 plus rotating knees) he's not exactly a hugely articulated release, but you'll have a lot of fun ripping off his legs at the knee or swapping out his arms with hacked-up stumps and burned-off flesh. The head sculpts are pretty good, Anakin's is pretty pale and the shriveled bald and scarred Darth Vader noggin is downright ghoulish. Burned, tan, and with dark circles around his eyes, it's pretty remarkable for a basic 2005 figure. I keep forgetting how great this figure is, particularly for its initial retail price. I'd suggest getting two of it so you can keep one permanently set up as a horrible scarred and beaten half-a-man in your Mustafar playset.

Collector's Notes: Collectors often point to Hasbro not making figures for being too grisly or violent. To them, I say do you even pay attention? This is a figure where you can cut off his arms and legs (by his best friend, no less) and then burn him and leave him for dead. This is pretty horrifying when you get right down to it, so don't think that a torched building or a damaged creature is an unrealistic thing for Hasbro to do. Heck, Amanaman even comes with a dead humanoid corpse. It's worth noting that this specific release of Anakin qualifies as "worthless" on the secondary market now, so do make sure you seek him out and buy one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,294: May 31, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,293: Wes Janson

WES JANSON Snowspeeder Pilot
The Legacy Collection Evolutions
Item No.: Asst. 87874 No. 87602
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: I
Includes: Blaster, helmet, additional figures
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $19.99
Availability: July 2008
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: The legacy of Rebel pilots is one of uncompromising independence and gritty determination. These are the pilots who crushed the Empire and became the architects of the elite squadrons to come. Dorovio Bold flies an X-wing at the Battle of Yavin, going cannon-to-cannon against Imperial fighters. During the Battle of Hoth, Wes Janson toppled an AT-AT walker with a skillfully unorthodox maneuver. Ten Numb helped achieve victory at the Battle of Endor flying a weapons-packed B-wing. From hotshots to heroes, Alliance pilots built a legacy that has given birth to countless tales of glory throughout the galaxy. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: In 2008 the Evolutions line evolved rather quickly, from the premiere destination of new, super-articulated premium sculpts to a place where Hasbro frequently reused some of their more popular molds. Not that I blame them, but with three packs of Rebel Pilots over about a year and a half, it got pretty samey pretty quick. At the time of their release, these pilots and Wes Janson were pretty exciting and new-- this was our first-ever truly super-articulated Snowspeeder pilot and unless I'm mistaken, the only Snowspeeder pilot figure to be a completely new sculpt since the 1996 X-Wing pilot Luke. Hasbro did a good job doing it right from the get-go here, giving fans the super-articulation they expect and an easily reused body so they can make additional pilots in the future. Wes has a thermal cap on under his helmet, a strange facial expression, and a lot of detail in his suit. Actually, his face is the one thing i dislike about this figure, because he just looks strange. I know they can't all be perfect, but geez, this is a creepy guy. At least you can leave his checkered helmet on and basically ignore the fact he's probably looking you up and down through the window while you undress. With a trigger finger sculpted for his blaster and lots of straps, Hasbro did really good here-- after all, what can you do to make White Guy in Orange Suit interesting after so many releases? The added bulk and off-white accessories did a lot to make him distinctive, so he's worth picking up for your Hoth dioramas and vehicles. And he's probably pretty cheap these days.

Collector's Notes: The 2008 Evolutions sets were not great sellers in most areas-- they stuck around and pretty much caused the line to end up as a Wal-Mart exclusive, which also underperformed and was eventually dumped at Ross stores. For this set, if you pay more than original retail, you're a chump. $10-$15 may even be too much just because there's very little interest in this pack on the secondary market at press time.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,293: May 28, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,292: Battle Droid (Orange)

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

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

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: If you like Battle Droid figures with removable limbs, well, here's another one. Five points of articulation, the same Saga Deluxe/Saga Legends sculpt, and you can pop off the backpack, head, and limbs. Since this figure is arguably prohibitively expensive to troop-build, odds are you'll just get one or two and call it a day like I did, and it's a good enough figure to pick up once. With a little bit of grime and orange, Hasbro made this one stand apart from other figures it has released so far. To date, this is the only orange-shouldered Battle Droid, which would make this a worthy purchase for fans of the video games or droid variants. And you droid variant hunters are a dedicated bunch.

Collector's Notes: This set was the slower seller of the two, the other being a batch of Clones, but it did well enough for both to get reissued in the blue-and-white packaging as Toys "R" Us exclusives after Diamond's exclusive run was finished. Arguably, the Battle Droids set was a lousy deal-- sure, you got 7 figures, but one was assembled backward, 4 were "half" figures in basic figure 2-packs which originally cost $7 each, one was missing its major accessory, and one was half of a "deluxe" figure. So yeah, not exactly a great value, but distinctive enough to be interesting and worth buying. Today, the set can be had for under $20 on eBay if your timing is good.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,292: May 27, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,291: Red Leader Garven Dreis

GARVEN DREIS Red Leader
The Legacy Collection Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87752 No. 87781
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, helmet, additional figures and transport vehicle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: Spring 2009
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Garven Dreis commands a Rebel fighter squadron during the Battle of Yavin. Capable and respected, Dreis is referred to as "Red Leader" by those under his command. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's back yard.

Commentary: Arguably Hasbro's best execution of the Battle Pack concept as far as collectors are concerned, the "Scramble on Yavin" set was, in many markets, more than a little hard to find. Garven Dreis is the least interesting part of the set, which includes an awesome astromech repaint and a top-notch newly sculpted Rebel tech figure. Rather than fix the sculpt for whatever reason, Hasbro just took the "Vintage" X-Wing Pilot Luke body, changed the deco slightly, and slapped on a new head. Sure, it looks good by itself, but next to other pilots he does seem a little on the short side. Again, a great argument not to put your pilots in a lineup together. With the traditional 14 points of super-articulation, the figure should meet most of your demands for a good pilot. The legs are a little stiff, but you can cram him in an X-Wing with little problem. The helmet detail and head sculpt are excellent, and really the only "new" aspects of this figure. Still, we've bought more with less, am I right guys?

Collector's Notes: According to the information online at the time, this item shipped one per box for one round of assortments. So if you saw a place swimming in the Clone Wars Jabba set, it's possible you missed one of these-- although I will say I did find a good number of them in the wild in early 2010, so all you really gotta do is waste several days across two states to find it. There was a pretty swell Red Leader X-Wing sold as a Toys "R" Us exclusive for the fairly low price of $30 a few years ago, and this Battle Pack augments it nicely. Actually, I'd say it's a required companion piece for it. At press time Hasbro has stated they do not plan to rerelease this set or these figures, but if you complain enough, I think we'll get lucky eventually. And honestly, hopefully they'll give Garven a new taller torso-- he's the only one in the set I'd like to see changed in some way.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,291: May 26, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,290: Chewbacca

CHEWBACCA Millennium Falcon Co-Pilot
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 91418
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD31
Includes: Bowcaster, headset, bonus droid part
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: October 2009
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Chewbacca must quickly prepare the Millennium Falcon to leave Tatooine when stormtroopers arrive in pursuit of the ship's new passengers. The Wookiee fires up the engines as Han Solo exchanges blaster fire with the Imperial troopers. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's back yard.

Commentary: In 2004 Hasbro introduced this Chewbacca sculpt and they aren't shy about rereleasing it several times over. There's a regular Star Wars version, a damaged "Sandstorm" version, two Hoth versions, the basic "Endor" version, and surely there will be others in the future. This one is a nicely decorated, super-articulated version with what basically looks like an iPod, but you and I all know it's the internal communications equipment on the Millennium Falcon. Aside from the improved fur paint job, and the retooled head, this is the same basic Chewbacca figure you've come to know and love. If you're looking to flesh out a diorama or ship display, he's probably worth getting, but ultimately he offers little that you haven't already seen. It's great Hasbro is using their best Chewbacca figure when making new ones, but a little bit of gear may not be enough to get you to re-re-rebuy this figure, even if it is the only one to include a headset so far. Kudos to Hasbro for finding another variant to scrape off the bottom of the barrel after 33 years, particularly when it turned out fairly well.

Collector's Notes: Available on and off, it's entirely possible if you live in a less densely populated area, you can still find it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,290: May 25, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,289: Clone Trooper (Space Gear)

CLONE TROOPER Space Gear
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87638 No. 87941
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #21 (2008 series) or #02 (2009 series)
Includes: Armor, rocket, breathing gear, blaster rifle, blaster pistol, backpack
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: Early 2009-present
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Clone troopers are outfitted with additional gear when a battle calls for them to leave their ships and venture into the vacuum of space. Wearing specialized breathing equipment, they can move through space to board enemy ships for attack or seizure. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's living room.

Commentary: One of the neat things about The Clone Wars is the specialized Clone Trooper figures. Unlike many of Kenner and Hasbro's other figure lines, the various "space" and "snow" variations on the standard trooper actually appear on the TV show. This one was one of Plo Koon's men, and the armor basically looks like it does on the show-- a couple of the marks are a smidgen off, but hey, close enough. The canine-esque markings on the helmet are pretty nifty, but what I really like about this figure is how Hasbro managed to augment the basic Clone mold without resculpting it. You may not want the Space Gear on at all times, and it slips right off if you'd prefer. Score one for variety.

The body is the 2008-style sculpt, with the original style helmet and the famous ultra-articulated wrists. As such, you have a pretty good idea just what to expect from the design. The rocket-firing backpack is a nice extra, as is the small holster and bonus pistol right under the breathing gear. Nice!

Collector's Notes: Available for a while, you shouldn't have too much trouble tracking these down. The same basic design was used on Target's exclusive Sinker and Boost figures. (We thought those were out of rotation but saw them earlier this month, too. And on sale as of this week in some stores.) If you're building armies, this isn't a bad one to have.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,289: May 24, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,288: Plo Koon

PLO KOON Jedi Master
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 92284
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD45
Includes: Lightsaber, mask, Lightsaber gauntlet
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: November 2009
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Plo Koon is a Jedi Master whose homeworld is Dorin, where the atmosphere is mostly helium and another gas unique to the planet. He wears protective goggles and a face-concealing antiox mask whenever he is in oxygen-rich environments. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's living room.

Commentary: Hasbro decided to go absolutely bonkers and put everything I could ever ask for in a Plo Koon figure. The bad news? It's too much. The good news is that the figure's 14 points of articulation, fantastic sculpt, flexible cloth pieces, and awesome accessories make it the best version yet. The downside? His goggles and mask are removable, and will not stay on to save his life. Which is probably the right thing to say given it's his lifeline, if he can't breathe, well, that's it. The level of detail far surpasses all previous versions and his ability to easily sit, stand, or assume a number of action poses makes this a great figure. The head (see picture) has a lot of detail under the mask, which you will no doubt see when it falls off repeatedly. If you end up with extras of the figure, I suggest gluing one down. Failing that, maybe Hasbro will redo him with a new head with permanently attached gear in a future release.

If you're on the fence, get it, but be very careful with it. Those prone to losing small pieces will probably experience a little heartbreak with this one.

Collector's Notes: Because of his being in heavy rotation in later Legacy cases as well as being very similar in appearance to his previous releases, odds are you'll be able to stumble on one of these at retail. If the price is right, grab one. Or two, and some glue.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,288: May 21, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,287: R2-D2 (Dagobah)

R2-D2 Jedi Training on Dagobah
30th Anniversary Collection Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87503 No. 87214
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 4 other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99-$24.99
Availability: Spring 2007
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Cheerfully trundling into even the most dangerous situations, R2-D2 often found himself in deeper than he'd intended. Such was the case when he toppled off Luke's mired X-Wing and into Dagobah's sludgy water. Thankfully, he proved to be less delicious than he looked to the local dragonsnake that called the swamp home. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's living room.

Commentary: Hasbro really likes this R2-D2 mold. It's been painted in normal, snow, and now swamp versions-- and it isn't even all that good. Starting life as R2-Q5, the head had a hole drilled in the top to allow for drink service accessories in 2004. This version came out in 2007 and kept the hole, but added a lot of mud to give it a Dagobah feel. As this wasn't the first version of this deco, you might be left wondering which is better-- the 2004 beeping one, or this one? I'd go with the beeping one, but this one does have more articulation and a retractable third leg. If you're going to get this gift set anyway, it's a nice figure, but the individually carded Dagobah R2-D2 is a heck of a lot more fun. Neither is "perfect," to date all of the Dagobah R2-D2s are made using pre-2005 molds which are all just a little bit off in different ways, specifically the panel sculpting and the proportions. Still, it's a nice figure given it's just a simple repaint.

Collector's Notes: R2-D2 is essentially the same in both releases of this battle pack. The first (30th Anniversary) and the second (Legacy Collection) aren't different, but the Darth Vader figures and Obi-Wan's lightsaber are changed just slightly. So if you're a big variant hunter, odds are you'll end up with two of these.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,287: May 20, 2010

May 21 is the 30th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back! Since this is posted late on May 20... this is the anniversary post.

Figure of the Day: Day 1,286: Asajj Ventress

ASAJJ VENTRESS with Tol Skorr
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87630
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #01
Includes: Lightsabers, probe, additional figure, comic book
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $11.99
Availability: July 2008
Appearances: Clone Wars comics

Bio: Asajj Ventress & Tol Skorr are on the trail of Quinlan Vos; Count Dooku wants the Jedi brought back to him to face punishment. They locate Vos on a ruined exploration vessel, but meet with unexpected difficulty when Obi-Wan Kenobi arrives to find out what happened to the missing ship. Ventress has battled Kenobi before and yearns to put an end to the Jedi. Kenobi and Vos must work together if they hope to escape these two relentless and ruthless foes. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's living room.

Commentary: For a character from the periphery parts of the Star Wars galaxy, Asajj Ventress has had quite a few variations on her design. She didn't look quite the same in the comics as she did on the original TV show, and the new show looks even more different. This figure is squarely based on the comics, leaning more toward her earlier look. With enhanced articulation from her earlier releases and some cloth bits, she's one of the better "realistic" interpretations of the character. However, with a fair amount of brown in her costume and a little less in the way of lipstick, she looks more like some bald dude in a dress with boobs. Nothing against bald dudes in dresses with boobs-- yours is clearly a harder lot in life-- but she could use a little more... uh... something. The smaller a figure gets, the more exaggerated certain details need to be to "read," like skin color, make-up, and of course, knockers. Thankfully Asajj's sculpt looks about right for the comics, as are the unique markings on her head. (These were absent in the first animated series.) Overall, it's a pretty solid design, but since she has a much stronger costume in either of the two animated series, this is one of those figures you should pick up after you got some of the other ones. Although that little probe droid of hers is pretty swell, Tol Skorr isn't exactly a compelling reason to get this one.

Collector's Notes: While not bad, the set is simply not very exciting. Tol Skorr is a really weak choice for this assortment and this pack will probably be one of the armchair scapegoats of people who discuss why the Comic Pack line ended. It seemed Hasbro was banking on the comics themselves to push the figures, which, in theory, seemed like a good idea except you'd probably need to be familiar with the book to care about the set in the first place. Heck, when I heard about this set, I was wondering why Skorr the Bounty Hunter would be packed with Asajj Ventress.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,286: May 19, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,285: Antares Draco

ANTARES DRACO and Ganner Krieg
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87696
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #05
Includes: Lightsaber, comic, Ganner Krieg figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99
Availability: July 2008
Appearances: Star Wars: Legacy comic books

Bio: Imperial Knights Antares Draco and Ganner Krieg go on an unauthorized mission to save Marasiah Fel, the daughter of Emperor Roan Fel. The Sith hope to capture the deposed emperor by threatening Sia's life, but Roan refuses to risk a rescue attempt. Draco cannot stand by and let the woman he loves fall into the hands of the Sith, even though he knows he and Krieg will be walking into a trap. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's yard.

Commentary: This was an interesting release because it was one of the first Legacy (comic series, and also toy line) releases. Antares Draco... well, he didn't have a great personality, but he did a lot of fighting and showed up a few times to do some stuff. The same body was used for Ganner Krieg (his partner in the pack) and each have about 14 joints, a cloth cape, and a crappy hood that sort of goes up over their heads. It's not exactly spectacular, but the figure itself looks pretty good overall. I mean, how many "clear" or "white" lightsabers do you have? Probably not many. And Imperial Knights are a neat idea, even if (like a lot of Jedi or hero characters) they're pretty darned dull most of the time. Blah blah honor, blah blah defend, blah blah gonna nail this chick. The sculpt is good, the articulation is good, so if you like the comic series and generally like the design, this is a quality product. The hair sculpt is pretty good, he seems a lot more lively than a lot of other figures and as comic characters go, does seem to be a little more human than some designs. Ultimately, I'd say go ahead and get one if you can. Krieg looks a lot more like an SCA reject, and any more jokes I'd make about his hair would probably get me an angry email from someone I used to know who may or may not be out there somewhere. SO. Let's just buy this set, shall we?

Collector's Notes: Can you get this set for (or under) $10? Do it. More than that? I'd say your love for the comic should determine that. It looks like at press time, we're only going to get about a dozen Legacy characters, so why not get 'em all? It's not a tall order... yet.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,285: May 18, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,284: 181st Squadron TIE Pilot

181ST SQUADRON TIE PILOT and TIE Interceptor
30th Anniversary Collection Toys "R" Us Exclusive
Item No.: No. 87477
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, TIE Interceptor
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $34.99
Availability: 2007
Appearances: Expanded Universe

Bio: The elite TIE Interceptor starfighter slices through space at blinding speed with its dagger-like wings and ultrasleek design. under the command of Baron Fel, the pilots of the 181st Imperial Fighter Group fly these fast, deadly fighters on the side of the Empire during the Battle of Endor. The red stripes on a 181st unit's elite TIE Interceptor are badges of honor, indicating that the pilot has destroyed ten or more enemy vessels. Each pilot's uniform
also displays the red stripes, crediting him for his victories in battle. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam's yard.

Commentary: I really like this 181st Squadron TIE Pilot and his fighter because it was something different. Not super-different, but you know, not yet another movie vehicle that has slight improvements, Hasbro did some creative stuff here. For example, the pilot looks more like what I assume many of us expected from a Baron Fel figure. (Hasbro still hasn't nailed him yet.) The white body and red stripes are pretty distinctive for a figure that's otherwise a run-of-the-mill 2004 mold. The articulation is really nothing special, but he can sit just fine and that's what matters for a figure like this. Because he looks so unique, I'd say fans of the Empire should track it down because seriously, how many all-black pilots can you have? (Answer: hundreds.) The ship is nice too, so give this one some consideration if you can get beyond the fact that it doesn't have 14 points of articulation. Seriously kids, there was a time when all figures didn't have ankle joints!

Collector's Notes: This set had a bit of a price flux when released, and, for me anyway, was a pain to track down at first. Because the figure comes with a TIE Interceptor covered in kill marks, how can you not love it? Not many show up on eBay at press time, so I dunno if it's a premium-priced item or not really. If you had to dump $50 or so on the figure and pilot, I'd say it was worth it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,284: May 17, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,283: BARC Trooper

BARC TROOPER and Tsui Choi
30th Anniversary Collection Order 66 Series 2
Item No.: Asst. 87356 No. 87668
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 3 of 6
Includes: Giant gun, Jedi companion figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: March 2008
Appearances: Clone Wars

Bio: Jedi Master Tsui Choi travels to Eriadu at the end of the Clone Wars, encountering a squad of clones including BARC troopers. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam's yard.

Commentary: Oh, here's one you'll like. The BARC Trooper is a mix of the Episode III Clone Trooper body with Commander Neyo's helmet with some new paint. I like it. It's based on a comic design, which may be based on an unused movie concept, but it's tough to tell at times. If you like having a neat trooper with 14 points of articulation, a giant gun, and an all-new sculpt of a Jedi packaging-mate, it's hard not to dig this one. As we have written a lot about this particular body, uh, yeah. Here he is. And he's yellow, which is cool, and not obviously part of another, bigger squadron. It's a nice one-off.

Collector's Notes: This figure was launched in March 2008 as a Target exclusive in a 2-pack. Around August, he got reissued as a Saga Legends carded figure for $8. So to reiterate: the 2-pack was about $10, and the one figure was about $8.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,283: May 14, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,282: Padme Amidala

PADME AMIDALA Ambush on Ilum
The Anniversary Collection Target Exclusive Battle Pack
Item No.: No. 87213
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Removable cloth cloak, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: January 2007
Appearances: Clone Wars

Bio: The frigid ice world of Ilum was one of the most sacred locations of Jedi power in the Republic. Nearly every Jedi made a pilgrimage there at least once during their training to receive visions in the Force-rich caves and construct a first lightsaber. The Jedi temple there was subject to a vicious Separatist attack that might have dealt irreparable damage to the Jedi Order had it not been for the timely intervention of Padme Amidala. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's yard.

Commentary: Since her appearance in The Clone Wars, Padme Amidala has been on a short list of figures fans wanted from that animated series. Hasbro wasn't exactly known for newly-tooled figures in their exclusives at this point in the line's history, so it was a bit of a surprise that they actually up and did one. She looks more like an idealized "Padme" than Natalie Portman, but it basically looks like a good action-posed figure good for standing and shooting at things, and little else.

Thankfully a super-articulated version would come out in 2008, but seriously, who ever expected to get this one twice? She only has eight points of articulation, and the hood sits sorta funny on her noggin. Those wrist joints are good for positioning her aim, but not for much else. Hey, it looks decent enough, and fans of Padme or the Expanded Universe should add this set to their stash. Of course, I'd advise you to buy everything based on that Clone Wars series.

Collector's Notes: This Battle Pack is basically worthless. So get it for cheap and love it! The whole set should cost you $10 or less these days.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,282: May 13, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,281: Sandtrooper

IMPERIAL SANDTROOPER with Dewback
The Legacy Collection Wal-Mart Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 93212 No. 93213
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, Staff, Backpack, Dewback
Action Feature: Pose and stuff!
Retail: $30.00
Availability: Fall 2009
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Dewbacks are large, domesticated lizards that are used for transportation on Tatooine. Sandtroopers stationed on the desert planet ride dewbacks, and Tatooine natives use the reptiles to haul goods. Dewbacks easily withstand intense daytime temperatures that cause mechanical equipment to malfunction. Sandtroopers used dewbacks to search for R2-D2 and C-3PO after the droids escaped Imperial forces on the Tantive IV. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's yard.

Commentary: When we first found out that this Sandtrooper was going to have ball joints for his hips, fans were excited. "Oh boy," they said, "here's hoping Hasbro cards him later!" Well, so far, there's no sign of that so the Dewback is really your only source for this maximally-articulated figure. Short of maybe adding better wrist joints, this may be as good as it gets for us. At first glance he looks like a retooled trooper, but he's really all-new. The helmet has flat lenses truer to a Sandtrooper, the legs are, of course, new, and the body is barely changed. I mean, it's Stormtrooper armor, there's only so much you can do other than the "diamond knee" Sandtrooper variant which, to date, has not been done up as a licensed product. (Or to my knowledge, even fan costumes.) This figure can sit on top of a Dewback fairly well, but it's still an awkward fit. Hasbro is still trying to perfect this kind of joint, apparently neglecting to consider that it was perfected around 1982 with the 3 3/4-inch G.I. Joe line. But I digress.

For now, this is the best Sandtrooper you can buy in terms of articulation and, of course, accessories. Because the Dewback is a damned good accessory.

Collector's Notes: This exclusive didn't seem to get blown out, but the history is still being written there-- a lot of late-2009 Wal-Mart exclusives did end up on the closeout shelves at Ross stores at a fraction of the price, while others ended up at Toys "R" Us at more than full price. The Dewback itself was apparently originally sculpted as an Episode I variant, but changed during production into this model. (The original sculpt makes the rounds on the infotainment sooperhiway.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,281: May 12, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,280

BATTLE DROIDS Tan Variant, Sliced
Saga Legends
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 87340
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, second figure, coin
Action Feature: Remove limbs and reassemble!
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Fall 2007
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: The Separatists utilize battle droids as their primary infantry forces. When assaulting strategically important worlds, these droid forces can be painted with special markings to help them blend into their environment. Though not individually a threat, attacking en masse these droids can become a formidable fighting force. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: What, another Battle Droid? Crap. I love buying these things but am getting pretty sick about writing about them. This mold started life in 2002 as one half of a deluxe figure, and then had a second life as a series of action figure 2-packs which, as far as I can tell, are getting yet another refresh this August. I really dig the mix-and-match limbs, which, as you recall, can connect with a couple of C-3PO action figures. You can also cobble together some pretty cool "junk droid" figures, which I really love. They're a little bendy, unfortunately, so you'll want some display stands or, perhaps, just to use them as "junk" in dioramas. The concept was a strong one, and I'm glad Hasbro keeps these in circulation so those of us who feel we simply must buy new Saga Legends figures for whatever the new gimmick is can get a few more of these rather than yet another Darth Vader.

Collector's Notes: He was packaged with another tan droid with "blast marks." A very similar variant exists, basically the same exact figure but without the "slice" marks. So if you want to army build a mold, you can really go nuts with this one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,280: May 11, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,279: Jar Jar Binks

JAR JAR BINKS Mos Espa Encounter
Episode I Cinema Scene Assortment
Item No.: Asst. 84115 No. 84161
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Chuba, CommTech Chip, extra figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Summer 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: While wandering with Anakin Skywalker through the maze of Mos Espa's outdooor marketplace, Jar Jar Binks spots a juicy chuba hanging temptingly from a vendor's cart. Unable to resist, Jar Jar lashes out with his sticky, elastic tongue, and accidentally sends the tasty treat flying into the soup of the galaxy's fiercest podracer - Sebulba. Enraged, the Dug racer leaps from his table and viciously attacks the unfortunate Jar Jar, leaving young Anakin to rescue his Gungan friend. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' yard.

Commentary: When the Mos Espa Encounter set first hit, fans took note of its unique, unmasked Sebulba. Less enticing was Jar Jar Binks, already a disliked character but this version was particularly bad. His skin color was really off-- the reds were quite bright, while the creamy parts seemed more yellow. The figure is really only notable for his uniquely cautious pose-- he seems like he should be avoiding or getting away from something, which is appropriate for the scene this one came from. The face was a little more expressive than some Jar Jar figures from 1999 but ultimately failed to really capture his personality in the way that some-- well, few-- later releases would. This is certainly not a figure worth paying a premium for, but if you can get the set on the cheap it's decent enough. Other Jar Jars will likely be more useful as a diorama maker, or if you're a collector it's worth noting that it's one of the worst.

Collector's Notes: This figure has never been rereleased and was considered a dud when he hit. You probably shouldn't pay more than a few bucks for it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,279: May 10, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,278: Sandtrooper

SANDTROOPER in Muddy and Dirty Flavors
Revenge of the Sith Evolutions
Item No.: Asst. 85553 No. 85726
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD30
Includes: Grenade launcher
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: Summer 2005
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: The evolution of the galaxy's most powerful army is captured in these figures! The clone troopers fight for the Republic, to try and save the galaxy from chaos. But secret plans change their loyalties, and they help the evil forces of the Sith to take control! No longer known as clone troopers, they are now stormtroopers, the loyal soldiers of the Emperor, enforcing his harsh will throughout the galaxy! (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's yard.

Commentary: This figure was unique because Hasbro generally doesn't make significantly new Sandtrooper sculpts. From the ground on up, this was released in 1995 not as a modified Stormtrooper, but as something new and different. The most obvious change from previous figures is a lack of a waist joint, but a bizarre addition of a fully-removable belt. It looks good, but it's not perfect-- there are all sorts of little differences between Stormtroopers and Sandtroopers which it seems not everybody knows about just yet. The figure has a good range of movement with 13 joints, and has little problem posing with his gun-- although his hands are quite stiff, so getting it in there could be tricky. He looks excellent in either version, so I'd definitely suggest picking up one or both. It's fun, and I'd say better than the ones that came with the prod later.

Collector's Notes: This figure has been on the market for a while, on and off from 2005 to 2008. The lighter brown version came first, by the way. The Evolutions pack came first, and later samples shipped in the Saga Legends assortment, creating quite possibly the most variants ever on a single SKU-- but I could be wrong. This mold would be repainted with a grey pauldron as a super-dirty release, and a few years later would be released sans sand gear as a plain white Stormtrooper.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,278: May 7, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,277: Luke Skywalker (Stormtrooper)

LUKE SKYWALKER in Stormtrooper Disguise
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 87834
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD30
Includes: Helmet, blaster, grenade, droid part
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: January 2009
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Luke Skywalker and Han Solo subdue a couple of stormtroopers and steal their uniforms. With their faces hidden by the helmets, Luke and Han can now walk through the Imperial battle station and search for a way to escape. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: It took a while but Hasbro finally essentially "perfected" Luke Skywalker in Stormtrooper Disguise. This is based on the 2004 body, which was painted up in comic book colors a few years ago, and now comes to you in basic white. Luke seems just a smidge smaller than Han Solo in a similar outfit, but has a distinctive helmet which is closer in line to the 2007 basic carded Stormtrooper in that the lenses on the helmet and the black band around the forehead touch. It's a little off and stands out in most crowds of Stormtroopers, but what are you going to do? Luke has 14 points of articulation-- as expected-- and can hold his blaster without too much trouble. In 2003 this figure would blow your mind-- but today, it's just another great release that doesn't really demand any great attention. In a way it's sad, and in another way it's pretty cool.

Collector's Notes: A strong seller in 2009 and 2008, this figure was repackaged a few times and he came with multiple droid parts. As such, any premium you pay for this one will likely be due to popularity, as plenty were produced and he isn't remotely "rare." If by some miracle you find a cache of them cheap, buy 'em all and glue down the helmet. This figure is just as good as your average Stormtrooper these days.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,277: May 6, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,276: Dllr Nep

DLLR NEP & Plourr Ilo
30th Anniversary Collection Shared Exclusive Comic Pack
Item No.: No. 93272
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, blaster, extra figure, comic book
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $17.99
Availability: March 2010
Appearances: X-Wing Rogue Squadron comic books

Bio: Plourr ilo and Dllr Nep are X-Wing pilots in Rogue Squadron. Plourr is a princess who joins the Rebel Alliance to fight the Empire. The Sullustan pilot Dllr Nep takes part in several dangerous missions during his time with the elite squadron. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's yard.

Commentary: Is this the end of an era? The awesome comic packs line seems to be coming to a final end this year, after bowing in 2006 as, appropriately, a shared exclusive. Dllr Nep is another Sullustan pilot, using the 2006 Vintage Luke Skywalker Pilot body and a brand new head with a brand new helmet. So yeah, it's another 14 points of articulation figure, and Hasbro wisely reused the shorter Rebel pilot body too. Unfortunately he still has a lightsaber hole on his belt, but eh, Hasbro is cutting corners on these and a Dllr with an extra chunk out of his belt is certainly better than no Dllr at all. This musically-inclined hero has a lot of detail on his face and a number of paint applications. His big black eyes are striking, and the same can be said of his bright beard. There are multiple colors used to bring his face to life, and it's really nice to see that Hasbro put all of their money into making the best possible head they could. The helmet fits nicely and there's really not too much you can complain about unless you have some objection to the reuse of an existing body. When it comes to Rebel pilots, at this point, I expect it. I'd put the figure as worth getting if you're a fan of this division of the Rebel forces, but if you're not? Save your cash. Odds are you have a lot of pilots.

Collector's Notes: Originally this set was going to be part of a Wal-Mart exclusive wave. You can tell, because a sticker covers up the Wal-Mart assortment number and sticker residue remains on the bubble (over the comic, just above the figure on the right) showing where the Wal-Mart exclusive sticker had been removed. This set hit at about the same time as the two Wal-Mart comic packs (IG97 and Rom Mohc, General Weir and Storm Commando) and were produced in roughly the same quantities.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,276: May 5, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,275: IG-88

IG-88 Carded Edition
Power of the Jedi Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84455 No. 84587
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Rifle, Bandolier, Force File
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: 2000
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: The most infamous and feared of all assassin droids, IG-88 has made a career as a ruthless bounty hunter. The tall, slender, gray droid was produced at Holowan Laboratories. IG-88 is equipped with an array of head sensors that allow him to see in all directions at once, and a variety of lethal weapons including grenade launchers, missiles and a flamethrower. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's yard.

Commentary: While generally considered to be the #2 man of the first 6 bounty hunters, IG-88 took quite a while to get much respect (read: a carded figure) from Hasbro. The 1996 release was based heavily on the 1980s figure, and this one builds on the 1996 release with some other changes. Most important of all is the new torso, which has a removable bandolier and some added "junk" wire, panel, and gadget detailing. The added deco really brings him to life, with some silver and black paint making it way more than the mostly-grey figures we tend to get used to when it comes to IG-88.

This figure basically amps up what Hasbro can do with this design, adding some detail to the head and giving fans a more "realistic" robot. With only six meaningful points of articulation and one rifle (the second smaller weapon wasn't included) this figure wasn't a total victory when it was released, but it was still a nice step toward the figure we got a couple of years ago. Which is way better than this one. I would suggest getting this one for kids or fans of figures from this specific era, because while good he isn't nearly the ridiculously super-articulated robot we've come to know and love later.

Collector's Notes: For the longest time, this was the best IG-88 you could get-- and then Hasbro made a "Vintage" version and this one most likely no longer interests you. Pay accordingly if you decide to get this one.

Also take note of his hands. Some releases had a hand which was molded shut in a full circle, and others had open claws. Mine had open claws, so I assume that's the more common but I really don't know. Also, this figure was repackaged in a few multi-packs like the Diamond exclusive Bounty Hunters box and the Toys "R" Us exclusive set of Bounty Hunters which also sported Aurra Sing's swoop bike. Odds are if you're an avid collector, you have three of this one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,275: May 4, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,274: Red Bonus Pit Droid, Style 2

PIT DROID Rusty Deco, Arms Akimbo
30th Anniversary Collection Saga Legends (also Episode I bonus figure)
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 84190
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Box, extra figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Early 2000/Late 2007
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Pit droids help repair and maintain podracers with zealous efficiency. Small yet incredibly strong, pit droids often dash onto the racetrack before the vehicles have stopped, risking their mechanical lives in their eagerness to get to work. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's yard.

Commentary: For the longest time, the Pit Droid bonus figures were a true holy grail of the modern line-- they were genuinely rare and frequently sold for more than any other figure in the line. And then Hasbro decided to let fans vote on which figures to reissue, which brought a good number of these formerly exclusive-to-foreign-territory to retail in the USA and helped control the climbing prices. While this particular kind of Pit Droid doesn't frequently show up on eBay in its Episode I bonus pack packaging, well, I got nothing. Let's talk about the droid.

With 5 points of articulation the figure can stand, but has no foot holes to make use of stands. As such, you may have to fidget with him and make sure to not bump whatever shelf becomes his residence. His arms and legs move, and his head has a ball joint. There's not much else to him, but it's nice you get two in a pack at a pretty decent price. As a sculpt from the 1999/2000 era, it's not going to amaze you, but you certainly got your money's worth at retail and I'd even say overpaying for this one wouldn't be a huge crime. After all, you're getting two of what used to be one of the three rarest action figures in the entire line. The rerelease of these droids is one of the best things Hasbro has done for collectors, specifically the ones without the bonus Pit Droids from their first release. Those who had them might be slightly more upset.

Collector's Notes: The bonus packaged version is still a tough one to find, and is basically identical to the carded release in 30th Anniversary Collection Saga Legends. As such, the loose figure fan shouldn't pay a premium for this one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,274: May 3, 2010