Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,403: Mace Windu

MACE WINDU with Jango Helmet Bomb
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. ? No. ?
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: ?
Includes: Lightsaber, bomb helmet, stand, card, die
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: August 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Like the men under his command, the ARC trooper commander faces even the most threatening situation with unfailing courage. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's living room.

Commentary: If you're anything like me, when you initially saw Hasbro was doing another animated Mace Windu you basically shrugged and said "eh, whatever." Not because this was a bad figure, but the 2009 release was just fine, thank you, and it's not like this is a new costume. Well guess what? We're all wrong. This new 2010 version is Hasbro's most fun Jedi action figure to date, and that's no small praise. Hasbro set out to make a figure with the kind of quality that even the surliest of toy critics can't deny is a damned fine effort, even if you don't like the cartoon figures or Mace Windu. The arms and torso are very similar to the 2009 release, if not identical, but the legs, lower torso, and head realy do make this a solid figure.

The character has had a lot of ups (the 2008 mail-in version) and downs (the face of the 2007 release), but there's no denying that this animated version should meet the exacting standards of kids and adult fans. For any figure to be truly successful in my book, it needs to look good, stand, and have the ability to sit in any appropriate vehicles or playsets. This Mace Windu has a cloth robe piece, which means unlike the 2009 version he'll sit just fine in his recently released Toys "R" Us exclusive Jedi Starfighter. His unique structure combines the extremely thin aesthetic of the current TV show with a chunky, almost comic-like boot sculpt which adds a lot to the personality of this figure. If you like posing your toys, the range of motion here is vastly improved by Hasbro's use of what I assume to be some form of magic. The hips can swing out, and the figure itself is super articulated. The sculpt is true to the design on the show, and he has no problems holding his weapons.

But wait! There's more. Hasbro debuted a new type of articulation here, previously unseen in Star Wars or Clone Wars. Mace Windu's ankle joints have been altered to be, in my opinion, vastly improved. The ball joints of old are gone, these new ones allow the ankle to bend forward and backward, as well as rock side to side. There's also a little room to swivel, giving the figure what I believe to be the best (and most useful) range of motion yet. The only thing Hasbro could do to make this figure better would be some newfangled wrist joint, but we're doing just fine here. The hands seem to look great when holding his Jedi weapon, so Hasbro effectively nailed this one. And I didn't even tell you about his bonus accessory yet!

The last piece in this set-- which would have been nice in the recent gift set-- is Jango Fett's helmet. It splits down the middle to reveal a bomb, just like in The Clone Wars cartoon that aired earlier this year. The sculpting is more in line with the animated line, and it's a darned clever idea for an accessory. Sadly, a lot of collectors probably will pass on this figure not realizing it's a new sculpt with additional articulation. In the package, he looks a lot like the 2009 release and not the best-ever Jedi figure out of Hasbro. As such, if you see it, I suggest you buy it or at least insist someone let you play with theirs for about five minutes.

Collector's Notes: I see this figure a lot, because he doesn't stand out as "new" on the pegs. This animated Mace Windu drops the shoulder armor, helmet, and swing mechanism from the previous release and makes something that should be friendlier to collectors and, presumably, kids. If you only buy one more Mace Windu figure ever, this might be the one to get.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,403: October 29, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,402: ARC Trooper Commander

ARC TROOPER COMMANDER ARC Troopers
The Clone Wars Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 94743 No. 19682
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Pistols, rifle, stand, rangefinder, pauldron, display stand, wrist communicator, game card
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: September 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Like the men under his command, the ARC trooper commander faces even the most threatening situation with unfailing courage. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: The backdrop from his battle pack.

Commentary: Let's get this out of the way: the ARC Trooper Commander is Fordo form the 2003 Clone Wars show. For the uninitiated, Fordo is the baddest-ass Clone to appear in any of the many television projects bearing the Star Wars name and anyone who says otherwise is a damned filthy liar. Hasbro effectively introduced this figure at the summer conventions as Fordo, and this is unofficially Fordo because Fordo doesn't appear on the new cartoon. His deco matches closely, and his two pistols are closely modeled after the character's earlier appearances (note the lack of red dots on his breastplate). His rangefinder has a white tip, he has red armor, and the wrist communicator on his left hand. Since the style of the shows is quite different, it's a great port of a popular character. It's really, really good.

With 14 points of articulation, this figure is essentially a reworked 2008 Captain Rex. The pivoting/swiveling wrists are still here as are ankle joints, but there are two new elements. The kama/wasitcoat/skirt is a new sculpt designed especially to fit "Fordo"'s weapons, and the helmet is also a new sculpt. Unlike other clones, the helmet is not removable (thank you Hasbro) and the rangefinder is both fully articulated and removable. His legs seem to have a full range of motion, but the skirt itself is stiff and may prevent him from sitting in a vehicle. That's OK though-- the figure is so good, you'll want it out on your desk. As repainted and reworked clones go, this one makes me incredibly happy, and he's one of very few characters from that show to transition to the new toy style. Heck, he might be the only one from that show to get a toy without actually appearing on the new show.

The other figures in the set are all different enough to make its purchase worthwhile, but this one just makes me incredibly happy. OK, so I'm easy-- but if you saw those episodes I think you'll agree that this is a must-own figure. This is one of my favorite figures of 2010 because if you look at the holsters and wrist commlink, it's obvious Hasbro really did rework this figure to be as Fordo-y as humanly possible. Having said that, I almost feel ungrateful saying "now how about other 2003 ARC Troopers and Gunners in the animated style? I'd buy 'em." (Seriously though, this is a wonderful figure.) I would very much like Hasbro to see more ARC Trooper gift sets like this one... but with different figures, of course. I'd buy 3-4 a year, easily.

Collector's Notes: Hasbro has made other figures intended to be (or inspired by) Fordo. In 2003, they repainted the standard ARC Trooper figure in red, which was a shorter run and hard to find item. In 2005, they released animated-style figures specifically designed to be Fordo from the show. A red ARC Trooper was made as a Wal-Mart exclusive in 2009, but they called it "Alpha" despite "Alpha" being blue in most of his appearances. Oh, and Target got a red ARC Trooper in this color scheme in 2008 but it didn't have a specific name, it was also merely called "ARC Trooper Commander." The 2006 Fordo figure doesn't really look that close to Fordo except in color, as it's missing the rangefinder and that's sort of an important piece.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,402: October 28, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,401: Nien Nunb

NIEN NUNB B-Wing Pilot
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 93130
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD19
Includes: Blaster, helmet
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $7.99
Availability: September 2009
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Nien Nunb is a B-Wing pilot who attends the Rebel Alliance briefing prior to the Battle of Endor. Because of his great skills as a pilot and navigator, he is later given the temporary assignment of co-pilot for the Millennium Falcon during this crucial battle. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' old desk.

Commentary: I honestly believe that Hasbro and/or Lucas was in error by naming this figure Nien Nunb. The white Sullustian pilot was, in the 1990s, identified in publications as a prototype prop costume for Ten Numb, who wore a red suit on the film. (Unless that was a mistake, heck, maybe it is.) The red suited dude shaking Wedge's hand in the Endor celebration is, supposedly, Ten Numb. Do you see any white-suited Sullustians on screen in Return of the Jedi? I don't. It's Ten, dammit, and I admit I may be totally wrong on this but I digress. Back to the toy.

This was a pretty obvious repaint. Hasbro had a white Ten Numb which was released in 2008, and since there was a red-suited pilot of that species (despite the body being tall), it was an easy repaint. So here it is. Is it cool? Sure. Identity aside, Hasbro did a really nice job on this figure and the B-wing pilot is a pretty cool design, despite being one of the least-valuable action figures from the real Vintage action figure line. (Seriously, want a carded one? It'll cost you less than a nice meal out. $12.50 for a Power of the Force one.) This one is a lot nicer since it's super-articulated, has a really cool blaster, and is an alien. That's a big plus. The coloring is good, his big black eyes practically speak, and that giant helmet is superb. As a thing you keep around on your desk because it looks cool, this is a really nice figure and I somewhat wish I bought more on mega-clearance in 2010.

If you ignore the name and just take it as "cool Rebel pilot toy" or are less nutty about these things, I think you'll love this one. Any toy derived from Return of the Jedi (or the years following) tend to be better than toys that are not. It's science fact, don't dispute it, everybody loves Ewoks and Lumiya and Vlix.

Collector's Notes: These hung around and may still be rotting at a Wal-Mart near you. Don't overpay for it, but do consider getting one. It's certainly nice enough, whatever his name really is.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,401: October 27, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,400: Han Solo

HAN SOLO Scoundrel
Original Trilogy Collection Vintage Figures
Item No.: Asst. 85213 No. 85224
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 2004
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Han Solo became caught up with the Rebel Alliance, courtesy of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa, whom he helped rescue from the Death Star. Solo helped Skywalker destroy the Death Star when it attacked the Rebel base at Yavin 4, where they had taken Organa. Solo became an unofficial member of the Rebel Alliance, and fell in love with Organa. He helped destroy the Second Death Star at the Battle of Endor. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' old desk.

Commentary: It's rare where I can point to a figure that's six years old and say that Hasbro perfected it and should never bother upgrading it. This Han Solo is one of those figures. Since being released in 2004, Hasbro has never done a basic Star Wars Han Solo again and, to date, never bothered to reissue this one. (A retooled version was released in 2007 and another in 2009, plus other figures based on this design were released-- but this one was perfect and this configuration is a one-time release.) If you only have one Han Solo in your collection, this is it. You simply will not get a better one at press time, and unless Hasbro has something super-special in store that adapts Pre Vizsla's hip joints and a better head sculpt, you probably flat-out can't improve on this one. It's Han Solo, space adventurer, minus any wacky Stormtrooper helmets or iPod headphones.

Han has 14 points of articulation, blue pants with red stripes, and a holster that not only carries his blaster but hangs in a way that doesn't look like it's breaking or ill-fitting. While a separate piece, the holster doesn't prevent him from doing too much sitting, but it does inhibit movement at the hips only slightly-- and this is something it doesn't seem Hasbro is actively aiming to improve right now. This isn't a knock at the team, it's just I don't know how you can have a separately molded belt that hangs down on legs that are expected to bend. (If you can figure it out, NASA has a large cash prize waiting for you.)

The likeness and pose are, in more ways than one, vintage Han Solo. He can replicate the pose of his 1978 figure or any of a number of famous photographs, while the head sculpt is one of Hasbro's better efforts. The torso with its non-removable vest seems nothing short of perfect, and the scale of this figure is also right on the money. Hasbro managed to make a slightly friendlier version of the cocky space pirate, but you can pose him to add a little bit of snark if you'd like. This is the best Han Solo you may ever see in this line, so add it to your shopping list.

Collector's Notes: I actually bought a spare one of these for $1 at a Wal-Mart in 2005. Proof that the mass market has no taste? I think so. There don't seem to be many on eBay but the few I see are about $10. That's fair. Go get one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,400: October 26, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,399: Nrin Vakil

NRIN VAKIL & Ibtisam
The Legacy Collection Wal-Mart Exclusive Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 12974 No. 87885
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, blaster, Ibtisam, comic book
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $11.99
Availability: March 2009
Appearances: Star Wars: Rogue Squadron comic books

Bio: Ibtisam and Nrin Vakil seem destined to be enemies: Ibtisam is a Mon Calamari and Vakil is a Quarren - two species that have been foes for centuries. Yet an unlikely friendship evolves on a mission to Malrev. Ibtisam finds herself becoming attached to the stoic Nrin Vakil, while Nrin's initial animosity turns to respect for the courageous Mon Calamari, proving that the bonds of friendship can rise above the blind hostility of the past. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Galactic Heroes diorama. I really like how it turned out.

Commentary: A great shortcut in storytelling is to put people from warring races together to see what happens. Sure, you sometimes will get a Romeo & Juliet, West Side Story, or something that tends to go down as a classic. But sometimes you get Grease, and Grease sucks. With the Rogue Squadron comic books, we got the pairing of Ibtisam, the Mon Calamari, and Nrin Vakil, the Quarren. They appeared in several stories together, but what really matters here? Toys. And they do make nice ones.

Hasbro took an X-wing Luke body and gave him new arms and a new head. Presto! New figure. That's how you make a pilot. As a bonus it also has a barely-longer torso, so it isn't quite as short as Commander Skywalker. Fully articulated with 14 points, the squid-themed alien is decorated better than any other Quarren, with a lot of extra detail in the face and hands. If you get a good look at him in person, note the exquisitely painted eyes, the carefully decorated tusks, and the slightly darker shade of the wrinkles and folds on his person. Hasbro really did a nice job here, putting a lot of its money into making sure that the new parts looked good-- and they do! He even has a new helmet for his uniquely shaped head, which no other figure has used to date. This figure is excellent, and its only real flaw is poor timing-- in 2008, some fans tired of the Expanded Universe to the point where some items performed below expectations. Also, by this time, the character wasn't as popular, and we've been swimming in pilots. It's a shame it didn't do better, because it's a great example of Hasbro making a lot out of its existing tooling and going the extra mile to make a reused body into something really nice.

Collector's Notes: This set, despite being really nice, did not sell well. It's possible (although decreasingly likely as of now) that you might find one at a local Wal-Mart if you live in the right area. It's worth owning for its retail asking price, especially if you love alien pilots. No other versions of this character exist in action figure form.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,399: October 25, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,398: Shaak Ti

SHAAK TI Arena Battle
The Legacy Collection Target Exclusive Geonosis Arena Packs 2010
Item No.: Asst. 97645 No. 97649
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #4 of 6
Includes: Lightasber blade, hilt, Geonosian figure
Action Feature: Lightsaber hilt plugs into belt
Retail: $12.99
Availability: Ocotber 2010
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: The Jedi Knights rush to Geonosis to rescue Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Padme from execution. The Jedi brandish their lightsabers against the Geonosian warriors and the massive army of battle droids, super battle droids, and droidekas. All hope seems lost that any Jedi will survive this battle, then Yoda arrives with an army of clone troopers. Although many Jedi are lost that day, others survive this climactic battle that ushers in the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Geonosis backdrop, which will be thrown away by the time you read this.

Commentary: A retooled version of the 2005 Shaak Ti, this Attack of the Clones version makes two significant changes. One, new arms with ball-jointed elbows. Two, new deco. That's pretty much it, if you have the 2005 figure on a shelf and never play with it there's no real reason to upgrade to this version. Due to the lighting of all the pictures I'm seeing of the Geonosis Arena battle, I'm not entirely certain these colors are any more or less authentic than previous releases, but she does look a little more bright in places. It seems the lower part of her dress is usually represented as being much darker, and part of the fun of "movie magic" is finding out that the color of something you see on the screen isn't necessarily the color of the actual prop for one reason or another. But for the sake of keeping it brief, let's assume this is an acceptable color.

This will probably be your go-to figure for any Jedi Council or Arena scenes, as she can sit well and her arms are capable of being posed, which means she's slightly better than the previous versions. The added arm articulation is a nice improvement, but the cynic in me thinks that Hasbro could have released this with the new deco and no changes and most fans would be exactly as excited as they are for this release. (Which is to say, not particularly from my findings.) If you don't have any Shaak Ti figures, this is the one to get because she is, to date, the best in terms of sculpt and articulation. Unless you buy animated stuff, in which case The Clone Wars release is easily better than any of the movie ones so far.

Collector's Notes: Shaak Ti is packaged with a Geonosian Warrior who, it seems, is merely a repaint of the 2009 Target version of the figure. This set is expected to stick around for a bit but you never know with Target exclusives. This is the first movie version of Shaak Ti since 2005.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,398: October 22, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,397: Clone Trooper Chopper

CLONE TROOPER CHOPPER Clone Troopers from The Hidden Enemy Animated Series Episode
The Clone Wars Target Exclusive Gift Set
Item No.: Asst. 19540 No. 19542
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Stand, blaster, helmet, droid finger necklace
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: October 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: The clone troopers are stunned when they discover that one of them is a traitor to the Republic. When a droid battalion avoids an ambush, Captain Rex and the Jedi start looking for answers and uncover a breach in security. Sergeant Slick and troopers Gus and Chopper all fall under suspicion and are questioned about their actions, as Rex helps the Jedi and Clone Commander Cody search for the traitor. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: Every now and again on The Clone Wars you get to see a trooper that's a little more interesting than his brothers, like Chopper here. Sure, he looks just like any other clone at first, but the dude cuts fingers off droids and puts them on a rope. That's hardcore. This figure is, essentially, the same 2008 Clone Trooper body with a newly decorated bald head. He has all the articulation you love, a removable 2009-style helmet, and a bunch of droid fingers which he keeps as trophies. Totally cool. He has a pistol and looks just a little crazy, which is how I like my potentially traitorous clone troopers.

Collector's Notes: This is the only version of Chopper to date and odds are the only one you're going to see. It wouldn't stun me to see it reissued down the line but, so far, Hasbro has been pretty good about keeping exclusive clones from the cartoon outside the main line. Because this set has three unique and new characters, it's probably worth snagging-- even though my sampling of stores shows that it's the "Hostage Crisis" episode that's selling out first so far. The set comes with Rex in addition to Gus and Sgt. Slick.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,397: October 21, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,396: R2-D2

R2-D2 Arena Battle
The Legacy Collection Target Exclusive Geonosis Arena Packs 2010
Item No.: Asst. 97645 No. 97652
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 6 of 6
Includes: C-3PO figure
Action Feature: Pop-out claw arm, tow cable behind figure, light-up clear eye
Retail: $12.99
Availability: Ocotber 2010
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: The Jedi Knights rush to Geonosis to rescue Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Padme from execution. The Jedi brandish their lightsabers against the Geonosian warriors and the massive army of battle droids, super battle droids, and droidekas. All hope seems lost that any Jedi will survive this battle, then Yoda arrives with an army of clone troopers. Although many Jedi are lost that day, others survive this climactic battle that ushers in the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: I thought this R2-D2 was the new smaller size, but it turns out it's a heavily modified "vintage" mold as far as I can tell. The removable third leg and original arms are the same as the 2004 release, but the body and dome have seen some reworking. The figure is covered in a light dusting of rust-colored Geonosis dirt, but aside from that looks like most R2-D2s on the market. The head swivels and can "reel in" a hook from the back of the figure which you can tie around C-3PO's head to drag it around. In the front, there's a new panel that opens on the right to reveal a different claw arm than you've expected. In short, this figure feels like a movie version of the 2008 animated-style The Clone Wars R2-D2 action figure, but with fewer accessories.

Two particularly notable details on the head are the lack of a periscope and the heavily changed deco. No longer is it chrome but, like the 2009 Sandcrawler R2-D2, this one has brushed silver. His head doesn't have a red light but rather a blue one, and the central eye is, oddly, clear. At first I thought it might be a light-up mechanism or something, but it's just a botched light-up eye port design. Clear plastic doesn't look good and I really have no idea why Hasbro elected to use it.

R2-D2's body has been heavily modified, with a highly detailed compartment on his back to house the hook and a lightly detailed one on the front. Both have a bunch of silver "stuff" in there which resembles panels, wires, bolts, and what have you which does add a little more oomph to the figure. One detail on the body that bothers me a little is that it seems the two blue designs right under his head are spaced further apart than usual. Just a smidgen-- like a millimeter or two-- but it does give it a slightly different look. Hasbro's track record with Attack of the Clones-specific R2-D2s since 2003 have been wonky, but this one is an improvement. While not perfect, it's quite good, and fun to mess with-- had that central eye been blue or black, I'd probably rate this one much more highly, but it isn't necessarily any better looking than any R2-D2 already on the market, and the animated one has more features. Still, it's nice, and the companion C-3PO figure is also really slick.

Collector's Notes: The 2009 sets sat around for about a year. It's unlikely the 2010 sets will too, but well, history says you don't need rush to get these. An all-new R2-D2 body will be showing up any week now based on Return of the Jedi so you may not want to jump on this one unless you, like me, wanted the new C-3PO really badly.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,396: October 20, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,395: Senate Commando

SENATE COMMANDO Blue and Awesome
The Clone Wars Target Exclusive Two-Pack
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 87340
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, second figure, game card, stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: October 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: A Senate Commando captain and his elite commando team confront suspicious arrivals to the Senate building. The captain and troopers rush to the platform where Cad Bane has landed without permission. They are prepared for a fight if necessary, but are taken by surprise when Bane springs his trap. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: This Senate Commando figure is new, but reuses a lot of old parts. The body is a reuse of Captain Argyus, which itself is essentially a Clone Trooper with a new head, a new left shoulder, and new forearms. (The mold was notable for having the elbow armor attached to the lower arm.) The helmet is new, but the rest of the figure is recycled. Because of the reused parts, this blue figure has a ton of articulation. Along with the mega-jointed wrists, there's a grand total of 14 points of articulation, which is essentially "standard" for the line now. Since the helmet looks cool and it's very similar to previously released figures, there's not a lot of insight to offer you here. He includes the longer rifle and looks pretty cool. It's a nice design, so don't wait and miss it-- just grab one now. If you don't like it, you can send it to me, I could use a few of these.

Collector's Notes: This is the first generic cartoon Senate Commando. So for those keeping score, there are two different captains and one generic trooper. Hopefully Hasbro will card this one individually later but for now, this is it. It came out as part of Target's massive exclusive onslaught in October 2010, which, if you bought everything, would set you back over $200 easily.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,395: October 19, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,394: Shahan Alama

SHAHAN ALAMA Bounty Hunters from Hostage Crisis Animated Series Episode
The Clone Wars Target Exclusive Gift Set
Item No.: Asst. 19540 No. 19543
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Knife, stand, pistol, additional figures, crappy DVD
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: October 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Bounty hunters and droids take senators hostage on Coruscant. Robonino, Shahan Alama, assassin droids and commando droids help Cad Bane force the release of Ziro the Hutt. The villainous posse infiltrates the Republic Senate, captures a small group of senators, and frees the imprisoned crime lord. Cunning and ruthless, the criminal gang gets the best of clone troopers, Senate commando guards, and even Anakin Skywalker before fleeing the planet. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: One of the fascinating things about the TV series The Clone Wars is that they take a lot of shortcuts-- for example, a lot of bodies are reused and recolored with new heads to popular backgrounds. Sound familiar, toy collectors? the Weequay were cited as being modular and extensively reused models, but the real stunner is that Shahan Alama is more than a head swap of Hondo Ohnaka. Actually, the only part the figures may share is the torso, as far as I an tell it looks very similar but I am not 100% sure. Shahan has new arms, including a cyborg arm, plus jointed knees-- which Hondo did not.

The new parts are great-- I love the robot arm and the armor is actually a separate piece, so it doesn't hinder movement and it actually looks more natural than most other similar armor on other toys. The belt is nice, and he has no problems holding on to his knife or blaster. It seems the weapons and his hands were made for one another, which is a nice change of pace. Short of ankle articulation, the figure is essentially perfect with great mobility and a top-notch sculpt. The figure isn't impressive, but it is very good-- I mean, to keep the animated look and feel, there's only so much you can do before it looks weird. This one looks great, and I hope Hasbro reuses the molds and makes more Weequay pirates as soon as they see fit.

Collector's Notes: I would call the set of four figures acceptable for the price-- you get two new alien bounty hunters, two robots, and a DVD with nine minutes of Bounty Hunter footage from the saga. It's a waste. Making these things may be cheap but I would have to wager a print catalog or an entire episode of the show would be a more effective sales tool. This thing just kinda sucks. The figure is good though, and the boxed set featuring Shahan, Robonino, and the pair of Commando Droids is hitting stores this week in the USA. With two mostly new figures and two good repaints, it's worth a look. This is a great example of why this is a fun line to collect, it's rare that we get criminal gangs in the movie line.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,394: October 18, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,393: R5-X2

R5-X2 Remote Control
The Legacy Collection (US Target Exclusive, pictured), 30th Anniversary Collection (Japan Wide Release/StarWarsShop.com exclusive)
Item No.: Asst. 89051 No. 87849
Manufacturer: Hasbro (US), Tomy (Japan)
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber remote
Action Feature: Beeps, moves, lights up
Retail: $16.99 (US), $20 (Japan)
Availability: 2009 (US), 2005 (Japan)
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: R5-X2 was an astromech droid from the R5-series. He belonged to Jabba the Hutt, and was used to calculate betting odds at podraces. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: Astromech droids are a repaint fans can get behind-- particularly when they belong to a gangster. R5-X2 was one of Jabba's possessions, and based on a mold of a Japanese remote control R5-D4. Since the basic design of the body was done in 2005, you'll note it may seem primitive given how far our droid figures have come. The wiring is tied right to the feet, the panels are a little less remarkable, and the proportions are a little off. The head design doesn't quite match the movie, as some prequel R5 units had different looking heads than the other films. Basically, Tomy (and Hasbro) did what made sense financially: take R5-D4 and give it the best R5-X2 paint job that was sensible at the time. For the purposes of displays or dioramas, it certainly meets the mark of "good enough" but if Hasbro felt like using a more modern Droid body and a new head, it could be slightly improved-- but this one has a little remote control, and it beeps, and it moves. Any imperfections in authenticity can be forgiven if a toy is really fun, and these RC droids are a blast. Some collectors love them, some hate them, but I think it's safe to say every Star Wars fan you know should get a chance to play with one, or keep one on their desk at work. They're really nice toys, if the price isn't a big issue for you.

Collector's Notes: This assortment seemed to come and go, depending on who you asked, it may or may not be hard to get. eBay's prices don't make it obvious what the reality was, because some go for about what they cost at retail, and some command a slight premium. Since this is the only R5-X2 figure from Hasbro so far, it's not like you have an alternative yet. The Japanese release is still available at StarWarsShop.com for $19.99 at press time.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,393: October 15, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,392: Clone Trooper Denal

CLONE TROOPER DENAL Clone Wars
Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87638 No. 91266
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW20
Includes: Blaster, helmet, firing rocket, dummy rocket, backpack
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: August 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Denal is part of a mission to destroy a Separatist listening post. He and the team use rocket packs to reach the post. The clone trooper battles deadly droids and, although injured, helps Captain Rex reach the reactors and plant thermal detonators. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: While he has an awesome helmet and cool rocket pack, there isn't much else remarkable about Clone Trooper Denal from the front. His deco is very similar to any other ordinary blue-striped 501st animated clone, but he has those... tears or something on his helmet, which adds a little character. The figure's head is essentially the same as 80% of the other Clone Trooper heads, with the flat hair and familiar facial expression. It's by no means bad, just nothing new. If you're clone crazy, you know you need this one, but if not it may not be of much interest. I love the design and the articulation is pretty excellent, but when you get right down to it, it's another Clone redeco. There's nothing wrong with it, but considering it's hard to get these days you may balk at paying a premium for it.

Collector's Notes: Thankfully he isn't very expensive yet. On eBay, he's about $10. Also, on the show, Denal was killed and Cad Bane stole his armor-- and Hasbro has a planned figure in the works. If you leave the helmet on, they're pretty much the same design.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,392: October 14, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,391: Clone Trooper (Pilot)

CLONE TROOPER Clone Wars
Revenge of the Sith Evolutions
Item No.: Asst. 85553 No. 87050
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, pilot helmet, trooper helmet, additional figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Fall 2005
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

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 box.)

Image: Adam's desk. Both figures are the same figure-- one figure includes both helmets, I just happen to have two of them there.

Commentary: Going through my boxes it's amazing to see what figures I missed in this column-- this Clone Trooper being a prime example. Back in 2005 Hasbro positioned its "Evolutions" line as a successor to Vintage with a better bang for your buck, incorporating prequel characters, and (generally speaking) a vastly superior number of accessories. The first few sets pulled it off nicely, particularly the Clone-based ones. With this Attack of the Clones figure, the company took one step forward and one step back. The big improvement was the decision to make it two different troopers in one, as both "pilot" and "trooper" helmets were included on a nicely battle-damaged body with yellow Clone commander stripes. The result may not be a perfectly authentic clone pilot, but it is indeed a pilot-- a figure that, on the whole, has been in shorter supply since 2002. (AOTC-based movie pilots were available in 2002, 2005, and in 2009. And weren't always easy to get.)

Rather than just put a new head on an old body, Hasbro created an all-new sculpt here (which it later repainted). In a departure, Hasbro removed a joint-- there's no waist joint here, so the figure has super articulation minus that one spot. Considering most pilots stand or lean in their vehicles, which at the time consisted of Republic Gunships mostly, the extra joints weren't necessarily a requirement. The sculpt was very good, but the deco is remarkable. Hasbro has tried a lot of experiments in battle damage, and this one has a pretty striking pattern. Before this one, "battle damage" usually meant black dots or a sticker, or some iffy spray job. These looked like dents and blast marks, which was a step in the right direction. While not the best jointed Clone ever, the deco (and helmets) make this one absolutely worth owning twice over-- it'll add a little variety to your army which, I assume, is pretty big by now.

Collector's Notes: These sets were incredibly hot in 2005, so much so that two of the figures from this very set would be rereleased and repainted a few times. The Sandtrooper had a variant, a repaint, and an individually carded release. The Star Corps trooper saw multiple repaints in several sets, plus a few redesigns. But this Clone? Just a couple of repaints, and the yellow-striped version is exclusive to this set. eBay pegs the value of the entire Evolutions set this Clone comes from at about $10 before shipping, which, really, is pretty sad. Any one of those three figures could probably sell just fine in Saga Legends.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,391: October 13, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,390: Embo

EMBO Bounty Hunter
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 94736 No. 21468
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW33
Includes: Hat, twin daggers, articulated bowcaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: September 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Embo is a bounty hunter hired to protect Felucian farmers from pirates. Working with three other bounty hunters, Embo guards the village's valuable spice crop. But his small group is outnumbered by the pirate gang, and reluctantly accepts the help of Jedi who arrive at the village after their ship crashes on Felucia. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's kitchen.

Commentary: In 2008 and 2009 Hasbro insisted that The Clone Wars was developed for kids and as such would have fewer collector-friendly accessories, and probably less articulation. In 2010 we have figures like a new General Grievous, Pre Vizsla, and now Embo which pretty much say that notion is total bunk. These figures are far too good to not be at least somewhat designed with collectors in mind. Embo improves on traditional Star Wars development with his large hat, specifically because it has a peg which sets inside Embo's head. This prevents it from flying off as much as, say, Cad Bane's. His bandolier has attachments for all his weapons-- there's a peg for his bowcaster and two slots for each of his small daggers. These are not normal features on most Hasbro figures.

Embo's sculpt is above that which is expected-- there's a fair amount of detail and 12 points of articulation. His head may pop off easily, but all in all it's pretty solid. The figure's joints don't pop off, much of the articulation is masked by the figure's design and functional costume, plus Hasbro gave him soft goods rather than a plastic outfit so he can actually get some decent poses. There's also a nice little design printed on the garment, which is something you don't see too much of in this line. It's not yet known which (if any) of the other characters from The Seven Samurai episode's cast will see production, but given the quality of this one it seems Hasbro is already banking on there being a decent fan following for this group. One bonus about this figure-- he (or his design) appeared in Jabba's Palace during Season 3. So you can use him there, too!

I can't close out this entry without saying how surprised I was with the quality of his bowcaster. It's articulated. So those prongs that stick out on the sides? They fold back for storage. Wow. Hasbro really went all-out and did a good job on this one.

Collector's Notes: From the buzz I hear from fans, this should be a popular figure. Which, given how most of you seem to hate on the cartoon line, is a positive sign. Since he's new it's unknown how his popularity translates against sales. We aren't hearing many rumors on Sugi, Rumi, or Seripas just yet.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,390: October 12, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,389: Clone Trooper (crawling)

CLONE TROOPER ARMY White, Belly-Down
Clone Wars Deluxe Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84845 No. 84987
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 2 more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones, Clone Wars

Bio: Virtually indistinguishable from one another, Clone Troopers are identical in physical appearance, mental capability, and stamina. Part of a clone army, they are grown in the cloning facilities of Tipoca City, a luminescent city of industry emerging from the raging seas of Kamino. Although clone troopers share the same modified genetic code, their genetic structure has been altered to make them less independent than their genetic host, and their growth has been accelerated to twice the normal rate of a human. Grown and trained specifically for military combat, the Clone Army was mysteriously commissioned ten years earlier. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: Back in 2003 Hasbro started to get what Clone Trooper action figures should do for them-- act as a cheap cash cow. One mold could be painted many times over, and this particular figure was a shining example of that. The same SKU had multiple configurations, many of which contained this specific figure. The trooper is down on his belly, not quite sniping, not quite crawling, but clearly ready for some sort of muddy combat. Considering that, at the time, Hasbro hadn't released a lot of troopers in 2003 this was a fast seller because people wanted Clone Troopers. Good, bad, it didn't matter that this one couldn't stand or sit-- it was a figure, dammit, and that meant something. With very limited articulation, really the only meaningful thing he can do is move his head around. While a little more exciting at the time, in part because it recalled the MicroCollection and MicroMachines lines, today it's pretty iffy. If you build dioramas, it may have some value, but otherwise there isn't much you can do with it. You can't set it up for other figures to knock over, it just lays there, motionless, wishing to be played with but most likely becoming part of the scenery. I would say that this is another reason why "dead" figures aren't appealing-- it's just not exactly a fun toy. The sculpt is good, and the deco shortcuts-- all the grey has been removed-- are interesting to note, plus the set had 3 figures for $10. You got a lot for your money, sure, but you might have some difficulty finding something for this particular figure to do. It was a clever idea, but "posed soldier play" has never been a big part of what made Star Wars successful.

Today this set is mostly a curiosity. The super-articulated bodies have all but eliminated the need for this kind of cheaper figure, so odds are this relic has now seen the end of its run. Similar figures were released for the final prequel in 2005 before seeing what seems to be permanent retirement in 2006.

Collector's Notes: This mold was repainted in red, as every figure in this set had one alternate deco available. Individually, packs with this figure go as high as $15-$20. This is also what a lot sells for. Happy shopping!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,389: October 11, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,388: Royal Starship Astromech Droid R2-R9

ROYAL STARSHIP ASTROMECH DROID later named R2-R9
Episode I Royal Starship
Item No.: No. 84146
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Giant freaking vehicle
Action Feature: Light-up projector
Retail: $99.99
Availability: Fall 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: R2-R9 was an R2-series astromech droid. This droid, along with most other astromech droids on Queen Padmé Amidala's ship, was destroyed when it tried to fix the deflector shield generator while escaping the Trade Federation blockade of Naboo. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: Some fans liked the fact that the (at the time) biggest-ever new vehicle in the modern line included an exclusive and then-nameless Astromech Droid later called "R2-R9." Some loved the fact Hasbro had a brand new droid sculpt that really was miles ahead of the previous R2-D2 toys. Others were annoyed that you had to pay $100 to get it. Both were right. This figure was the first-ever "super articulated" astromech that wasn't R2-D2. He had a retractable third leg, all three jointed ankles, and moving shoulders in addition to the swivel dome without any action features to muck up its appearance. Even better, it had a light-up projector, rather than a light-up eye, making it more authentic than pretty much any figure to follow in that capacity. I was enamored by the fact that Hasbro actually made an R2 unit with a big black eye for once, so this was a fast favorite for me. Heck, I still dig it, even though better sculpts have been made and the character/appliance has been one-upped. He's still cute.

Collector's Notes: This mold, in the state used here, was never reused or repainted. This droid was remade using different molds later on, but this particular version is unique. The droid isn't really worth a high price, but if you want one by itself it should set you back about $15-$20. The entire vehicle, with the droid, is closer to $100. I suggest getting the whole thing if you bother at all. It's interesting that this is similar to the going rate in 1999-- the ship was $100 and people sold just the droid for $20. It's actually somewhat disappointing.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,388: October 8, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,387: Clone Commando

CLONE COMMANDO with Super Battle Droid
30th Anniversary Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87556
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #16
Includes: Gun, backpack, Super Battle Droid figure
Action Feature: Flames, bomb plug into figure
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 2007
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Only one clone commando lives to report what happened on the derelict factory moon of Asturias. While the commandos are escorting Director Lorca Oviedo, Oviedo's ship malfunctions near Asturias. Coming out of hyperspace, they are attacked by Separatist forces and crash on the moon. The commandos are attacked by super battle droids, droidekas, and battle droids, as a twisted web of lies and betrayals threatens them all. (Taken from the toy's cardback.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: In 2006 the reaction for Scorch, a clone action figure from Republic Commando, was so great we got the rest of his squad quite quickly-- and by the end of 2007 we even got this all-white Clone Commando in a comic pack. Based on a Tales story, this figure reused the same basic design and tweaks it. The unique character coloring is gone, as are the distinctive backpacks and armor bits. The figure is as you see it, reasonably devoid of extra gear in addition to ankle and knee joints. Fans cried bloody murder that these figures had a mere 10 points of articulation when many of their peers were 12 or 14. While I understand the desire for added joints, I dislike added costs, so I can get behind this figure being what it is pretty easily. He can stand and hold his weapon just fine, and the all-white look is unique given that, at the time, many of the Clone figures were brightly colored.

The sculpt, while good and largely accurate to media portrayals, does little to wow anybody. It's still good, it's just that Hasbro figures have seemingly hit a ceiling in 2007 where there wasn't much you could do. Once you hit "awesome" it's hard to go beyond that without really redoing how the line works, and while I think in 2010 we're seeing some dramatic improvements, the figures of 2007 are still fantastic. Along with his companion droid figure, this is a wonderful set. Get it.

Collector's Notes: While fans moaned, this is a good set. How do I know this? It sells for a lot on eBay. The free market has spoken, this assortment largely didn't sell in some stores, but this figure set sure did. Expect to pay $30 or more if you want one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,387: October 7, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,386: Clone Trooper

CLONE TROOPER Damaged White Style 1
Original Trilogy Collection Clone Trooper Troop Builder Four-Pack Assortment, Entertainment Earth Exclusive (and others)
Item No.: Asst. 85688 No. 85777
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster Pistol, collectible poster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $34.99 (part of a four-pack)
Availability: Spring 2005
Appearances: Primarily Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and The Clone Wars

Bio: Virtually indistinguishable from one another, clone troopers are identical in physical appearance, mental capability and stamina. Part of a clone army, they are grown in the cloning facilities of Tipoca City, a luminescent city of industry emerging from the raging seas of Kamino. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: If you bought the four unique Clone Trooper army builders from 2005, you may have noticed that the four white "battle damaged" clones each had a unique pattern of "damage." Some said "mold," but blast marks are blast marks. With 14 points of articulation, the sculpt reuses the super-popular 2003 figure which, in a lot of ways, is the common ancestor for nearly every now-modern figure being released in 2010. So back to the damage-- this one has two distinct splotches on the front which, if memory serves, Hasbro said something to the effect that it made more financial sense to do dirt on the front than on the back. (If this memory is correct, I agree with them.) Both markings are on the figure's left-hand side, with one splotch of paint on the chest plate and another on the shin, just above the knee. For whatever reason, Hasbro has continued to use this mold but neglects to put any battle damage of any sort on the figure. Seeing how this clone mold has been in constant circulation since 2007, frankly, I can't see why they don't try this or another form of "damage" on the figures. Even though Saga Legends is the kiddie line, half a penny's worth of black paint could make this mold desirable to adult fans yet again.

But I digress. This is a solid figure, one of four unique patterns, and it's pretty good. If you do dioramas or displays, this set is a must-buy simply because there are no other official "damaged" clones using this mold other than this specific collection. (Also, I had a hand in how it took shape, so yes I am biased. But you would be too, just look at these figures. They're great.)

Collector's Notes: While it's hard to see in the picture (and in person), this figure's plastic was mixed before Hasbro seemed to crack the code to make figures not yellow. As such, it's not uncommon for the figure to have an off-white or slightly yellow torso. The white plastic for the body is different than that of the arms, which, really, has been a problem with these figures since 1978 and the infamous "green limbs" Chewbacca. (For the kids out there, that's a sun-damaged figure and not a variant.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,386: October 6, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,385: Darth Sidious

DARTH SIDIOUS Senate Duel with Yoda
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 97568 No. 20819
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC12
Includes: Hood, lightsaber, Sith lightning
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: August 2010
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Darth Sidious, also known as Darth Sidious, was the last Chancellor of the Galactic Republic and the first Emperor of the Galactic Empire. He was a Dark Lord of the Sith who followed the Rule of Two and was the most powerful Sith Lord the galaxy had ever known. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: After seeing the pictures and hearing the complaints, this Darth Sidious went from being a long-awaited fan request to a turkey. But after getting it, I'm not complaining-- it turned out pretty well, particularly as a toy. While it does retain some of the feel of the Evolutions Palpatine of 2005, this mostly (if not entirely) new figure (I'll cop to not checking it against my entire archive) turned out great. I've got him standing in weird action poses and he doesn't fall over-- this is a winner! The opened snarling face is great, and while there are bits that remind me of previously released versions of the character, the mouth is undoubtedly new. His exposed hands have dark fingernails, which is another really nice touch.

The costume is great, but not perfect. I've heard a lot of complaints (and may have had a few in my head), but comparing it to the publicity shots, the figure seems mostly on the mark. The little jacket cloth piece is actually pretty close to the real thing, it's just a small opening down the front of the garment that the figure lacks. (This is obfuscated by the Boba Fett sticker and darkness on the card.) Other than that, he's a pretty perfect Senate Duel Palpatine figure, and I would say that this is certainly good enough for my liking. If I had to insist on something to be altered, I'd probably toss in a head that doesn't look like it wants to eat my brain-- this guy looks positively evil. I'd love to see a head suited for being seated at his desk too, but if I had to pick, this is the better head. Hasbro did well.

The sculpted costume bits are actually really nice, too. His hood can be posed to reveal the face or obscure the eyes, which I love. His hands look creepy, his sleeves are poofy, and there is a lot of detail under his robes of state. The Vintage line has had a lot of ups and downs in its first two waves, but this is a genuine highlight. It's my new favorite version of the character (as seen in the prequels) now that I can play with it, and while your mileage may vary I would strongly suggest you convince your friend to buy one so you can play with it. I hope you won't be disappointed, because I like this one.

Collector's Notes: This wave surprised me once I got my hands on it-- this figure in particular caused me to do a quick about-face. I see him here and there, and my guess is he'll be phased out due to the fact that Palptine is not exactly one of Hasbro's best-sellers. Since 2005, we've not had many carded versions. There's the 2009 ESB Holographic Incarnation and... whoa, is that really it aside from repacks? Show your support for evil and buy one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,385: October 5, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,384: Clone Commander (Kashyyyk)

CLONE COMMANDER Bogey Squad Comic Pack
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs Wave 7
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 92474
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #09
Includes: Blaster, helmet, Trooper figure, Republic #83 comic book
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: March 2010
Appearances: Republic Comic Books

Bio: After receiving Order 66, the clone troopers in Bogey Squad hunt down Jedi General Quinlan Vos. The squad searches the forests of Kashyyyk to find and eliminate their former commander, who is now considered a traitor to the Republic. The troopers are highly skilled, but they are up against a resourceful quarry. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's neighbor's yard in Los Angeles. (This is what happens when you don't lock the gate.)

Commentary: Hasbro once told me that whenever a line needed a shot in the arm, that's when it was time to release some more Clone Trooper figures. If you look at their release strategy since 2002, it works-- in 2002 we got roughly 3 Clone Troopers. In 2003, we got a few more. In 2005, we got a ton, and the avalanche continued until today-- these figures really do wonders to support the line. This comic 2-pack would probably have done wonders for sales of the Comic Pack SKU, which had been the same 5-digit number since the line's introduction in early 2007, meaning stores never "flushed" the old ones out of the system. Had they done this, the line might have stood a chance of being around today, but Wal-Mart and Kmart decided they don't want to keep stocking the line so choke on that, fan boy.

Anyway, this particular Clone Commander comes inspired from the comic books which followed the last-known appearances of Quinlan Vos. The figure is the exact same tooling as the late 2006 release Commander Appo, meaning it's a III-41 Revenge of the Sith Clone Trooper body with a Clone Commander pauldron and some new paint. Given there have been reasonably few camo Clones out there, this was nice to see, only not a lot of people really got to see them out in the wild. With the 14 standard points of Clone articulation, this figure can't really surprise you but it's certainly delightful enough to warrant tracking down.

Collector's Notes: This assortment ultimately did hit stores, but for a very short time. Since the new packs were 1 per box, a single collector could (and often would) buy up the entire stock leaving you no evidence it had ever been there. As such, this set may actually cost you a little bit now. Were Hasbro to rerelease this one, it would probably sell just fine.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,384: October 4, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,382: Pit Droids

PIT DROIDS 2-Pack
Episode I Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84095 No. 84129
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Tool Thing, CommTech Chip
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Spring 2000
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Small in stature and mechanically adept, pit droids scurry to service Podracers in the height of competition. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' floor.

Commentary: After Episode I hit theaters, fans were torn. Should we like this movie? And what about all those comic relief characters? I immediately gravitated toward the delightfully goofy Pit Droids, with their saucer-shaped heads and seeming love of being sucked through giant jet engines. This little guy was one half of a 2-pack which, at the time, proved to be extremely difficult to find at retail. Back in 2000, figures with only 5 or so points of articulation weren't so unusual, particularly when they're this small. This droid has a ball-jointed head, but his arms and legs are your standard swivel joints. His sculpting shows drastic improvement over the figures of 1999, which showed Pit Droids as being posed like, well, vintage 1970s Star Wars figures. This little guy has his limbs bent like he might actually be trying to fix something, and his big black eye gives him a little bit of added personality. Given that there are several Pit Droids out there to buy today, there's no real reason you need to jump on this one. The two droids in this set were never repainted or rereleased, so unless you aren't a fan of this design, I'd suggest going ahead and getting this one if it's no trouble for you to do so.

The CommTech chip stand-- standard at the time-- isn't useful for this set given their feet don't exactly work with a peg.

Collector's Notes: Given that it has been 10 years I would assume that the window of rerelease on this figure set has closed. Loose sets sell for $4-$7, carded sets go for about $8-$12. I'd say it's worth going as high as $12 on. A pre-release photo of this set showed a slightly different accessory, which, again, would be nice to see if Hasbro ever reissued it. This may be the best Pit Droid set in terms of appearances, so it's worth tracking down.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,383: October 1, 2010