BARON SOONTIR FEL and Ysanne Isard The Legacy Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 19683
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #17
Includes: Blaster, helmet, hat
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $17.99
Availability: November 2010
Appearances: Rogue Squadron stories
Bio: Soontir Fel and Ysanne Isard are one-time allies who find themselves on opposite sides after the fall of the Empire. Fel is a starfighter pilot and an Imperial hero who defects to the New Republic. Isard is the devious director of Imperial Intelligence who manipulates events to reach the pinnacle of power. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)
Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.
Commentary: When Hasbro revealed its Captain Needa figure design, we were told it was a modular sculpt which would allow for more Imperial figures to be easily developed-- we didn't get many, but we now have a new one with this Baron Soontir Fel action figure. Channeling the powers of Adam Scott, this figure has a distinctive new head sculpt and different arms-- these seem to be the 2007 Death Star Trooper arms, which makes sense because Needa used that figure's legs, too. It's a nice mix.
The previous Baron Fel figure from 2007 was weak at the time-- while it had the articulation and some of the technology of its day, it looks like it came from a different line and lacked the important feature that any Baron Fel figure needs-- the beard. No beard? No deal. This one has a beard, plus a unique black X-wing helmet and an Imperial Navy cap, too. It's a step in the right direction, although I think lots of fans are still waiting for both proper Imperial and Rebel versions of Baron Fel as a pilot-- both of which are rather conspicuously absent after all these years. Of course, Hasbro hasn't had an individually carded TIE Fighter Pilot for sale since 2004, it seems like they have a record they're trying to break at this point.
Baron Fel has a unique 181st Squadron stripe down his uniform's sleeves, made from red and black paint. This is pretty cool. Fans of the Empire and the immediate post-ROTJ Expanded Universe (as interpreted in the 1990s) should like this one, although it seems that this is the second Baron Fel figure that doesn't give us either of the two pilot figures we were hoping we would see soon. Ah well. Hopefully Hasbro will pop this one's head on a Rebel and/or Imperial Pilot body soon!
Collector's Notes: The figure was "canceled" as a mainline item (check the SKU, it was meant to be part of the basic comic pack assortment at some point in history) but fate decided mainstream retail didn't want the comic pack line. We define "fate" as "keeping the same comic pack SKU from 2007-2009 when Battle Packs get refreshed every 18 months." So it's an online exclusive, which probably means it will ultimately be slightly easier to find than the final non-exclusive wave of comic packs from 2010. Also, I work for the company who sells this as an exclusive, so take that as you will. (We did not, however, have anything to do with its development-- we just sell the thing.)
--Adam Pawlus
Day 1,453: January 7, 2011
OK, so now we have Dante. Where's Randall?
ReplyDeleteThe "my right ankle looks broken" Death Star Trooper legs really, really should not be used again ever.
ReplyDeleteThey should've used a black shoulder joint (with a little red paint on the edges of the slot)so that the stripe on his sleeve would not be broken up.
ReplyDelete