Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,621: Clone Trooper

CLONE TROOPER Damaged Green
Original Trilogy Collection Clone Trooper Troop Builder Four-Pack Assortment, Entertainment Earth Exclusive
Item No.:
Asst. 85688 No. 85774
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 Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: This mold got a lot of mileage in early 2005, after the Clone Trooper was a plain white figure in late 2003 and largely absent in 2004. This edition is green, which, depending on who you ask at Hasbro or Lucasfilm, is (or isn't) the correct green as seen on screen. Gentle Giant seems to think the sergeant is actually browner, and Sideshow agrees. So to date, Hasbro hasn't done that more olivey version. Maybe with the new "Vintage" 2011 mold... or not, this could be another "Is Han's Jacket Blue Or Brown?" thing that gets played up for repaints and variations until we're all dead.

With 14 joints, this figure is largely one of the best molds from its era, and was still an exciting figure up until just recently. Heck, in some respects, it's still exciting-- the arms have a much larger range of movement than the 2011 sculpt, but it's also a little bit chunkier. So if you like your clones on the chubby side, this is the one for you. The added green "damage" is unique to this release, and dresses up an otherwise plain figure quite nicely.

Collector's Notes: This figure is a one-timer so far, although the clean green version has been repackaged a few times. Of the four packs, the battle damaged color set from which this very figure hails was always the first to sell through.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,621: August 31, 2011

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,620: Darth Vader

DARTH VADER vs. Prince Xizor
Shadows of the Empire Comic Pack Assortment
Item No.:
Asst. 69590 No. 69567
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, cape, Xizor figure, comic book
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $11.99
Availability: Summer 1996
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith, has instilled terror throughout the galaxy since the beginning of the Empire. His devotion to the Emperor and mastery of the dark side gives him more power than any single individual in the galaxy except for the Emperor himself. Draped completely in black and wielding the ability to take a life with a mere gesture, Darth Vader stands as the incarnation of evil. His dislike of Prince Xizor is intense and his distrust well-founded. Though Vader would gladly eliminate Xizor, Emperor Palpatine has need of Black Sun's shipping operations to speed construction of the new Death Star. Xizor had best watch his back however, as Vader's control of the dark side of the Force makes him a most formidable foe. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: Oh, it warms the heart. This Darth Vader was essentially done in the 1990s Kenner house style, which involved limited articulation, an acceptable likeness, and lots of muscles-- just like Batman, or someone from ALIENS. Back then five points of articulation were still the norm for most American toy action figures, so even when you put a figure in an early comic book 2-pack like this one, Kenner wasn't particularly motivated to make it significantly better than the previously-released version of the character. The bulk of the figure is essentially the same as the 1995 single Darth Vader figure, but the cape, an arm, and a leg seem to have been updated to give the figure more of a dueling pose.

The bulk of you will not want this figure. There are other, better Darth Vaders and this one didn't even have the "skirt" part of the costume yet, that wouldn't become part of the figure line until 1998. Back in 1996, Kenner designers still made an effort for these to be playthings which could sit and not pop apart at the elbow joint, because there were no elbow joints. If you're like me and have a soft spot in your heart for the old Kenner toys of the 1980s and 1990s, along with Aliens vs. Predator and Terminator 2 and their many other movie lines, you're going to want to track these down. Star Wars was one of very few lines to survive the transition from "Kenner" to "Hasbro," and the Kenner style was bred out of the line starting in early 1999. Figures like this are pretty far removed from today's incarnations, almost as much so as they were from the original Vintage toys of the 1970s and 1980s. Were I a new collector I'd just focus on the pre-Hasbro days of the line and call it a day, but odds are you're going to skip this one. It's OK-- you had to be there for these guys.

Collector's Notes: This figure shipped on a single card, seemingly exclusive to J.C. Penny, in late 1997. The figure had a more flexible rubbery cape, and came on a green Power of the Force card. Stock of the figure was later sold to other outlets, or at least one outlet-- Entertainment Earth had the single card 4-packs, which also included an AT-ST Driver and Endor Han Solo. The Darth Vader vs. Xizor 2-pack is, today, only worth about $3-$10. It was one of the first "comic packs" back when the line only had 2 items and a full-size comic reprint was something of a novelty, as minicomics were the norm in the 1980s. I like this set a lot. I hope some of you do, too.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,620: August 30, 2011

Monday, August 29, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,619: Jaster Mereel

JASTER MEREEL and Montross
The Legacy Collection Entertainment Earth Exclusive Comic Packs
Item No.:
Asst. 87504 No. 94958
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #18
Includes: Helmet, blaster pistols, rifle, jetpack, cape
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: November 2010
Appearances: Jango Fett: Open Seasons comic books

Bio: Mandalorian leader Jaster Mereel and his second-in-command Montross play pivotal roles in the dark past of Jango Fett. Mereel and Montross change the life of the future bounty hunter during the Mandalorian Civil War in the decades before the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: One of the most fascinating things about Boba Fett and the entire concept of the Mandalorians is if you don't like one origin story, you'll probably get another one to pick from down the road. Originally coined as an alias in the early career of Boba Fett, a comic book series established Jaster Mereel as a Mandalorian warrior who fought alongside Jango Fett and Montross, which doesn't quite fit with the current incarnation of the planet Mandalore as seen in The Clone Wars TV show. Rather than to try to make sense of it, as Lucasfilm seems intent on doing, I'd suggest you just enjoy them for their unusual differences and embrace the non-continuity which exists.

Jaster is a retooled 2008 Jango Fett, a body which has been used for Starkiller, Fenn Shysa, and probably more as Hasbro sees fit. It's a decent body, and really a good choice for an exclusive or collector-targeted figure. The mobility in the joints are good, but not great, so odds are this figure's life will be spent either carded or on a display shelf. He has 14 points of articulation, has a new head sculpt, and his weapons and holsters are also new. The pistols fit in his holsters just fine, while the rifle has a unique Mandalorian marking-- a Mythosaur skull or a Bantha skull or whatever the Hell they say it is this week-- sculpted on the weapon. His deco matches the Jango Fett: Open Seasons comic art nicely, and under the helmet is a newly-sculpted head which I've heard more than a few fans describe as John Kerry with a broken nose. The hair is a little messy and chunky, and the character in his face is a little more gritty than the 2007 Elite Forces of the Republic Mandalorians. I like this one-- I realize I don't need it but the cloth cape and weapons do make for a nice figure. Given the size of the line you can probably skip it, but I'm a big fan of recolored Mandalorian figures. The only thing stopping me from buying more is a lack of new ones to get.

Collector's Notes: This set shipped last year as an online Entertainment Earth exclusive and is still available. It, and the other sets in the wave, were originally planned for a retail release but were instead produced in a limited quantity as an online exclusive. As always: this site is supported by that one ad banner, so if you feel like buying this figure (or anything from our sponsor) please click the "BUY THIS FIGURE" link below and order anything you were going to buy anyway. We get a cut, it costs you nothing, and helps us out a whole lot. Thank you for your support!

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,619: August 29, 2011


Friday, August 26, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,618: Scout Speeder ARF Trooper

ARF TROOPER Republic Scout Speeder
The Clone Wars Class I Vehicle (Mini-Rigs)
Item No.:
Asst. 29960 No. 28633
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: I
Includes: Blaster, stand, guns, Republic Scout Speeder vehicle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $18.99
Availability: July 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Advanced Recon Force (ARF) troopers use Republic scout speeders on reconnaissance missions. The speeders are heavily armed with laser cannons, laser blasters and light blaster cannons. With room for two troopers, the speeders pack a lot of firepower in a compact vehicle. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: While the overall accuracy is debatable, the ARF Trooper mold is one of Hasbro's crowning achievements in Clone design. It uses the super-articulated body of the 2008 Clone (with its fancy wrists and ankle joints) and adds ball-jointed hips which allow the figure to sit in vehicles with little trouble. Between Waxer, Boil, and various other ARF repaints you no doubt have a few of these by now-- but this one is different, sort of.

He does suffer from some distortion from the packaging, which can be easily fixed by some boiling water. His deco isn't too complicated: Hasbro added some red to his visor and shoulders, while leaving the rest of the figure mostly white. The color matches the vehicle nicely, and the white Republic logo on his shoulders are a good bonus. A little silver on the sides of the helmets bring it to life, but it's still pretty plain. On the bright side, this is an excellent figure overall, especially if you compare it to the 4-10 points of articulation releases hoisted on the Marvel vehicle lines. I would not necessarily advise you buy this figure on its own merits, but if you don't have any animated ARF Troopers, you need to get this. If you like vehicles, you need to get this. If you don't care for them, well, save your money-- the entire package is a good one, and I would definitely say you should buy it for any young fans in your life.

Collector's Notes: This wave is pretty new, and this vehicle seems to be getting the best distribution, shipping in the most revisions of the Class I vehicle assortment so far. You should be able to get one easily, and you should. For more on the vehicle, I did a write-up on the Republic Scout Speeder in July.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,618: August 26, 2011


Thursday, August 25, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,617: Dorovio Bold

DOROVIO BOLD Rebel 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: Return of the Jedi (presumably a deleted scene)

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' old desk.

Commentary: In the Evolutions Rebel Pilot packs, only the girls got holsters. The first female Rebel pilot to see release was Dorovio Bold, a plucky young lady with black hair and a gnarly helmet with little hearts on it and outlines that remind me loosely of 1980s arcade cabinet graphics. (That's a good thing.) The body is smaller than the boys, and her blaster fits right in her holster. Hasbro's decision to include the grey straps around the boots and between the legs hinders her ability to sit, so as a pilot toy she's not exactly a real winner. (The "one size fits all" approach for kids and collectors doesn't always work for action figures.) The lack of complaining from the collector community shows just how few people are opening or playing with these, or maybe it's just me. I'd scream bloody murder if my AT-ST Driver wouldn't fit in my AT-ST. Anyway.

Dorovio has 14 points of articulation and is, unquestionably, a super-articulated action figure. I think most collectors are probably glad Hasbro waited to create the female pilot body, because now any female pilot Hasbro makes will be, at worst, super-articulated. As an unknown deleted movie character who was unnamed for years after the movie wrapped production, she's the very definition of obscure. Of course, maybe she's in the movie and we just haven't found her yet-- we'll know for sure after those Blu-Ray discs hit in September I assume.

Collector's Notes: In 2008 Evolutions packs transitioned from slightly scarce and desirable items to pegwarmers, largely thanks to lots of similar product and repacks all hitting at once. (A second Rebel Pilots pack hit around the same time as the first, using the same bodies.) Today this set can be had for $15 or less, and it's totally worth it at that price.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,617: August 25, 2011

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,616: Logray

LOGRAY Ewok Medicine Man
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 97568 No. 28656
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC55
Includes: Spear, hat, pouch, staff
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $8.99
Availability: June 2011
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Celebrate the legendary Star Wars saga that changed the universe forever! This collection brings to life the incredible story of good versus evil that captured our imagination and took us to a galaxy far, far away. Iconic Star Wars heroes and villains are captured with incredible detail and premium features to commemorate each epic tale in the Star Wars saga. May the Force be with you! (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: Back in 1998, the Ewok 2-pack features Wicket and Logray, and the latter of which was more or less good enough. Wicket seemed oversized and awkward, but Logray? He more or less fit the bill. Today we've seen Ewoks greatly improved with more articulation and gear, so the 2011 incarnation of Logray really needed to be something special-- and he is! Mostly. He succeeds in sculpting, but in deco, I'm already looking forward to a tweaked repaint in a gift set.

Hasbro made a new body, complete with lateral hip movement, wrist joints, ankle joints, and for the very first time elbow joints on an Ewok. To date this is the only Ewok to sport elbows, so it seems Hasbro is trying to make sure that these shorter and more expensive figures are aspiring to be better. The head is worth noting because it can actually turn easily-- the headdress doesn't get in the way, and the joint isn't so stiff he can't look around. It's weird lavishing praise on features which should always work properly, but here we are. There are no knee joints, but that'd be ridiculous. In addition to a newly-sculpted staff, he also includes a spear for fighting. Two weapons! Nice touch. The pouch is nice, and the figure sculpt looks less mean than the 1983 original but a little less adorable than the 1998 release. They did a nice job making sure the fur looked good, and the paws are great too-- even the paint on the paw pads is nicely done. I'm sure this figure cost slightly less than other figures in the pack, but Hasbro was good about ensuring a few extra pennies were spent on the paint here and there to make up for his shortness.

Unfortunately, while the design was good and the paint quality is excellent, the stripe alignment is a problem. The waist joint establishes a visible seam where above the waist, we see stripes which don't quite align with the bottom half-- the light ones are thicker on top than they are on the bottom. I hope it varies by figure, because I'm not happy with the alignment on my sample. Thankfully the deco on the weapons (can you believe we're getting multiple paint apps on a weapon for an Ewok?) and headdress are good, as is the detail on Logray's pouch. It's obvious Hasbro was trying hard to make the bitter pill of $9 for a single Ewok easier to swallow, but the overall quality of this item as opposed to the Paploo & Nho'Apakk set is something of a coin toss. The 2-pack provides you with a lot of bang for your buck, but Logray has more work put into it-- and if Logray's stripes were aligned better, I would say I might prefer the overall quality of the product at this increasingly higher price point. But they weren't. So I don't.

Collector's Notes: This wave is pretty new, and Logray seems to be shipping in a few waves. If you see it, it might be worth getting, as long as paying $9 for an Ewok doesn't make you wretch. I've only seen him in the wild two or three times so far. (As of RIGHT NOW it's in stock at our sponsor below... but you're in the future, so go check. Did you know the only money I get from these sites is a cut of the sales through those sponsor links? It's true! It doesn't cost anything extra when you order, so IF you order there anyway, please click through the below sponsor link.)

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,616: August 24, 2011


Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,615: Palso Thern (B-Wing Pilot)

PALSO THERN B-Wing Fighter Pilot Blue Seven
The Legacy Collection Battle Over Endor
Item No.:
Asst. 97639 No. 21452
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #2 of 2
Includes: Pistol, helmet, hoses, 3 additional figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99-$31.99
Availability: January 2011
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Bravery. Skill. Loyalty. These are defining characteristics of the starfighter pilots on both sides of the conflict at the Battle of Endor. Whether they are Rebels or Imperials, these elite pilots are all focused on the same goal: victory. They are deeply aware that they are deciding the future of the galaxy, and will do everything they can to complete their mission. (Taken from the figure's packaging. Note, there's no character-specific copy on the packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: It's not very surprising why Palso Thern has a generic bio on his package, as these sets are of increasingly obscure pilots to the point where I doubt most collectors would know if the character had a name before the release of this action figure. (He didn't.) So Hasbro's picking characters out of stills from the movie, Lucasfilm is making up names, and you're buying-- which I guess is a good thing but it's not like we need more B-Wing pilots, really. This figure reuses the 2008 B-Wing Pilot body, which we've also seen on Ten Numb, Nien Nunb, and Keyan Farlander. Speaking of Mr. Farlander, Palso Thern is very close to him in appearance. Thern's straps are silver (as opposed to unpainted cream plastic), his lower pant legs and boots are recolored, and there are tiny details changed on his chest panel. But other than that? I'd say you were hard-pressed to say the figure is significantly different. Thern's helmet fits awkwardly, he's blonde, and to make matters worse he's very pale which means his head basically has lost all detail. A little melanin goes a long way, even fake plastic melanin is good to have. (Ask Barbie.)

He can be stuffed into a B-Wing if you're so inclined, but Keyan Farlander (soon to be single-carded) is probably a better purchase unless you want the entire set of figures, and you probably do. However, if you get this one, it's not like the figure you cram in a vehicle cockpit has to be great-- just good enough, and Palso Thern is certainly good enough. The new head sculpt is a nice touch but there's nothing here that would qualify as exciting.

Collector's Notes: Since debuting in early 2011, the set remains available-- and depending on which Toys R Us you shopped at, this exclusive action figure set may have gone up as high as $7 above its issue price. The set also includes Major Mianda, R2-T7, and the slightly better-known Grizz Frix. He also fits nicely in the new Vintage B-Wing at Kmart, but there's a reissue of Keyan Farlander coming if you just want an individual pilot.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,615: August 23, 2011

Monday, August 22, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,614: Jango Fett

JANGO FETT Bounty Hunter
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 97568 No. 24993
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC34
Includes: 2 blasters, poncho, helmet, removable rocket, jetpack, headset
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $7.99
Availability: January 2011
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Celebrate the legendary Star Wars saga that changed the universe forever! This collection brings to life the incredible story of good versus evil that captured our imagination and took us to a galaxy far, far away. Iconic Star Wars heroes and villains are captured with incredible detail and premium features to commemorate each epic tale in the Star Wars saga. May the Force be with you! (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Clone Wars Slave I vehicle.

Commentary: Since 2008 Hasbro has been playing around with its Evolutions Jango Fett mold with this being the latest and greatest incarnation of the figure. As pricing goes, it's not exactly an improvement, but those seeking the (arguable) best will be well-served with this Kamino-specific version of the Fett father. The deco is closer to what fans asked for over the past few years, with a less-purple bodysuit and very dark blue gloves. The body sculpt is essentially the same, except some spiky climbing gear has been added to the gauntlets. The head deco is better than previous incarnations, with the scarring and stern expression seemingly more realistic and less painted-on than previous releases. The range of motion incorporates the same 14 joints, and the arm movement remains stiff courtesy of the wiring hooking the gauntlets up to the rest of the arms.

My favorite new addition to the figure is the jetpack accessory, mostly because it shows a really pleasant level of creativity that we don't see as much in the hobby. Rather than having a boring peg reach down to secure the rocket in place, Hasbro's clever sculptors added a "flame" to the bottom of the rocket, so when you remove it, it looks like it's shooting out. This kind of thinking really deserves to be rewarded, because it's such a great idea it's a wonder Hasbro didn't do it 10 years ago. Don't miss this one, unless you have a rule against upgrading your figures. It's close enough to earlier releases where you may not care-- and I personally believe Hasbro will attempt at least one more all-new (and probably Geonosian Arena-based) Jango mold between now and when the line ends-- but as far as today goes, and as the accessories go, this is basically as good as it gets.

Collector's Notes: Since Hasbro redecorated Evolutions Boba Fett as a single figure and now Jango, the only real reason to get the Fett Evolutions pack is the Mandalore figure... which is, unquestionably, worth it. This figure pops up from time to time but most Vintage core characters tend to sell well, so he tends to be harder to get than others.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,614: August 22, 2011


Friday, August 19, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,613: Alum Frost

ALUM FROST Training Uniform
The Legacy Collection Previews Exclusive
Item No.:
No. 87924
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Pike, helmet, 5 other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $34.99
Availability: December 2008
Appearances: Crimson Empire comic books

Bio: Each member of the Royal Guard has undergone grueling tests of combat reflexes and stamina, and is trained in the deadly art of echani. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: The correct reaction to being presented with this figure should be "who's that?" Alum Frost was a minor character in the Crimson Empire comic series, one of the training buddies of the main characters who got killed pretty much upon meeting him. The orangey-red figure does match his comic persona nicely, down to the green symbol on his helmet and back, but did you need him in your collection? Not really. Some figures come out not because they're demanded, but because they're easy-- Hasbro managed to recycle a lot of tooling in this set while only creating 2 new heads, a new torso, new arms, and a new weapon to crank out four new figures. The legs are recycled from a training gear Clone Trooper, which is funny, because that Clone Trooper was poo-pooed for its leg movement. Under the helmet is a bald head which, I assume, is modeled after someone in Hasbro or Lucasfilm, but I have no idea who. The plastic quality of the head is acceptable, if a little pale, and the paint job in the face could be better. If you like the idea of getting Royal Guards in training he's pretty neat, but not particularly Star Wars-y.

Collector's Notes: The set performed poorly. How poorly? It was closed out at Walgreen's and other strange places for less than half sticker price. This wasn't an items fans wanted, or if it was, it came about five years too late. The set is essentially 2 figures collectors already owned plus one guy repainted four times. It was frequently derided as a batch of "Power Rangers" which I thought was harsh-- Power Rangers are a little more colorful and came with better vehicles and mech toys.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 1,613: August 19, 2011

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,612: Airborne Trooper

AIRBORNE TROOPER Order 66
30th Anniversary Collection Target Exclusive Series 1
Item No.:
Asst. 87356 No. 87359
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 5 of 6
Includes: Pistol, satchel, rifle, helmet, Anakin figure with accessories
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $9.99
Availability: March 2007
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: After he becomes a Dark Lord of the Sith and the Emperor's new apprentice, Anakin storms the Jedi Temple with his personal legion of clone troopers, including an elite division of airborne troopers. Together, they eliminate all the Jedi inside, sparing no one. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' old desk.

Commentary: You can put pretty much any figure in the 501st deco, even the Airborne Trooper, and it's going to look neat. This clone trooper never quite appeared on-screen, but it looks like it'll fit in with your legions of 501st-themed figures. Based on a modified Evolution Clone Trooper mold, the figure has good articulation and excellent deco. The 501st markings are present in their usual blue color, with lots of black scuffs and scrapes that, if you don't think about them too hard, look pretty great. Some white paint on this belt looks pretty awful, but if you can get beyond that it isn't all bad. 14 points of articulation await you, and due to the figure's kama he won't be able to do much sitting. His helmet fits-- thank the lack of a pauldron to get in the way-- and a spare hand blaster is tucked away in a satchel which hangs under his arm. It's a well-armored figure with a unique helmet design, so why not get one?

Collector's Notes: The set-- like most Order 66 sets-- aren't very expensive these days. Expect them at or under original retail, which was good for when they came out. (Two figures for ten bucks in 2007 or 2008 was still quite a deal.) This configuration of the mold (Airborne Trooper) also exists in purple for Mace Windu, orange for Obi-Wan Kenobi, and as a Battlefront II-inspired Sharpshooter.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,612: August 18, 2011

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,611: R4-P17

R4-P17 Astromech Droid
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 94736 No. 21467
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW30
Includes: Stand, game stuff
Action Feature: Pop-up scope, opening arm panels, removable third leg, retractable tow line
Retail: $6.99
Availability: September 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: R4-P17 is Obi-Wan Kenobi's astromech droid. The faithful little droid provides navigational and technical assistance on board the Jedi's starfighter. Rebuilt by Anakin Skywalker, Arfour's original dome was replaced with an R2-series dome. The droid accompanies Obi-Wan on many missions during the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: The R2-D2 2008 mold provides the basis for all animated-style astromech droids to date, but the arms were retooled slightly. R4-P17 shares the sculpt with R3-S6 (Goldie), R7-A7, R8-B7, and whatever else comes out next, effectively being the same as Artoo except the arms no longer have the ability to connect to separate rocket boosters. The figure fits well in most astromech droid sockets, and as Obi-Wan's droid is a required purchase if you have Obi-Wan Kenobi's Jedi Starfighter vehicle. (It came out over a year before the figure.) He's cute, he's fun, and he has lots of action features-- the side panels on his body open up to reveal claw arms, and there's a panel on his back with a string and a hook on the end of it. Oh, and he's got rolling wheels. I like this one a lot, and I hope Hasbro keeps repainting it.

Collector's Notes: He's not super-rare and he still pops up, so don't overpay for this one. But do pay for this one.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,611: August 17, 2011

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,610: Star Corps Clone Trooper

CLONE TROOPER Betrayal on Felucia
30th Anniversary Collection Target Exclusive Battle Pack
Item No.:
No. 87367
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Rifle, pistols, helmet, more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: February 2007
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: The clone troopers in the 327th Star Corps serve with Aayla Secura during the Clone Wars, under the command of Commander Bly. The troopers have taken part in battles on many worlds including New Holstice, Honoghr, Anzat, and Saleucami. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: Up until (and including) 2005, Hasbro had been pretty conservative with its trooper output. Clone Trooper figures like this one were something to be celebrated-- even though this Star Corps trooper is very similar to a 2005 release, it now lacks battle damage and dirt, thus making it new and different enough to be interesting. Slightly more yellowish compared to the barely sorta greenish tint of the 2005 Evolutions Star Corps Clone Trooper, this one may qualify under the "Just Different Enough To Make You Mad" policy. I think as a trooper collector, it's easily altered enough to be unique. The striping is barely thinner (although this may be a batch thing), with no scuffs, which makes it distinct. The sculpt is pretty great, with one big shortcoming: the helmet. A removable helmet and a removable pauldron don't play nice together, so you can see his chin peeking out from underneath the helmet, giving the enemy droids a nice soft spot to shoot. Ah well. Without the pauldron, it's a perfect fit. I like this figure (and this set, for what it aspired to be) but unless you need every version of every clone, the entire Betrayal on Felucia Battle Pack is a skippable item as other releases are similar (or better), save for the exclusive Star Corps trooper with a non-removable helmet. Which I like better. So I guess it's essential.

Collector's Notes: A very similar figure with a different gun was sold individually carded in 2008. A paint variation there makes it very distinct from this one, although one of those variants is close enough to this release where you may not know the difference. It's good for army building, for sure.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,610: August 16, 2011

Monday, August 15, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,609: Mij Gilamar

MIJ GILAMAR Elite Forces of the Republic
30th Anniversary Collection Entertainment Earth Exclusive Mandalorians & Clone Troopers Set
Item No.:
Asst. 87467 No. 87454
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, jetpack, clone blaster rifle, 6 more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: November 2007
Appearances: n/a

Bio: Mij is one of the Mandalorians chosen to train the clones on Kamino. He is a natural leader and a skilled warrior who can instill in the clones an unyielding commitment to protect the ideals to which they have sworn their allegiance. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' old desk.

Commentary: Remember when exclusive boxed sets got you lots of weird stuff pretty cheap? I do! I worked at Entertainment Earth when this exclusive set came out and it was pretty exciting stuff-- not just because it gave us some of the very few NEW Mandalorian figures we've had in some time, but because Mij Gilamar shares the face with a former member of the Star Wars team who was responsible for the Cloud Car not coming out for several years. (His name is Brian, in case you see him. But be nice. He's good people.) The character was invented for this boxed set, but the armor is similar to illustrations which previously appeared in the Star Wars Insider magazine.

The figure's body is based on the tried and true new head + repaint = new character plan, which numerous companies have used to great success over the years. The legs are also new, but the torso and arms are borrowed from the 2002 Kamino Jango Fett action figure. The arm articulation is pretty weak, with rotating elbows and shoulders with no wrist movement. The legs are great, with ball-jointed knees and ankles. The head is normal. This is one of those figures you buy because it looks cool, and it's a pretty decent toy. Sure, it flies in the face of the always-in-motion continuity of Star Wars and Clone Wars, but it's a really cool toy and a great relic from the pre-The Clone Wars days where you could tell the story of those battles with new action figures.

Collector's Notes: Oddly, history has been very kind to this figure with loose samples going for $20-$35. The boxed set is about $90. (Wow.) As a plaything, it's obviously not worth those prices, but as one of few non-Fett Mandalorians odds are you'll want to get all of these guys. He was sold with Isabet Reau, Dred Preist, two Clone Troopers, and a pair of black ARC Troopers. I dug the built-in army-building aspect.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,609: August 15, 2011

Friday, August 12, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,608: Undead Geonosian

GEONOSIAN Undead
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 94736 No. 25274
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW34
Includes: Display base, card, die, sonic cannon
Action Feature: Pop-out arms and legs
Retail: $6.99
Availability: November 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars TV show

Bio: Undead Geonosian warriors lurk in a vast underground hive. They are under the control of their queen, Karina the Great, who uses a green worm to bring dead Geonosians to life. Obi-Wan, Anakin, and a squad of clone troopers battle these mindless zombies to rescue Luminara Unduli from her Geonosian captors. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV stand.

Commentary: Once a trend-setter, now a trend-follower? In the past few years we've seen a pop-culture staple, the zombie, take over pockets of our Star Wars' expanded universe. This Undead Geonosian was Hasbro's first entry into the zombie Star Wars world, sharing elements with a normal Geonosian, showing Hasbro planning ahead to get the most out of its molds. The figure is painted greyish with decaying eyes and wings, a tongue sticking out (or is that a brain worm?), and some bright gold armor. Most Star Wars figures are weird, not freaky. The modular design has pop-off wings and armor, so you could probably make a bunch of different ones-- that is, if you found enough of them. This one wasn't particularly common. The sculpt and deco were great, but there's a problem: gravity.

The figure will not stand on his own for a long period of time. If you pop him on a display stand, he will sag and topple over with time, especially if the room is hot. So if you're going to display this one, be sure to give him extra support by leaning him up against something, or buy some tiny metal doll stands to clamp him upright. These bizarre leg joints and new CG designs aren't conducive to display.

Collector's Notes: eBay prices are cheap on this one, so if you can't find one in the wild you should be able to score one somewhat cheaply.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,608: August 12, 2011


Thursday, August 11, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,607: R5-D4

R5-D4 Star Wars
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 97568 No. 30240
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC08
Includes: Removable parts
Action Feature: Swappable droid parts
Retail: $8.99
Availability: January 2011
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Celebrate the legendary Star Wars saga that changed the universe forever! This collection brings to life the incredible story of good versus evil that captured our imagination and took us to a galaxy far, far away. Iconic Star Wars heroes and villains are captured with incredible detail and premium features to commemorate each epic tale in the Star Wars saga. May the Fore be with you! (Taken from the figure's packaging. There is no bio.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' G.I. Joe box.

Commentary: Despite being a minor character, R5-D4 managed to carve out a big history thanks to the lack of toys available in the 1970s. The first figure in Kenner's original action figure line to recycle a body, the 1979 original is a fairly famous figure among fans and because he lucked out into the world of toys, he has a fame unmatched by other astromechs who aren't R2-D2. (See: Skippy the Jedi Droid, Servotron's song "Red Robot Refund.") Heck, even when I was a little kid, my dad knew who R5-D4 was, although I never really figured out why he knew its name. Despite being minor in the grand scheme of things, R5-D4 benefitted greatly from being out the door early at a time where lots of very creative, very impressionable people were paying close attention.

So now in 2011, we have the fourth 3 3/4-inch action figure of R5-D4, which is surprising given most fans assumed the 2006 release was really great and likely to be the last one. Guess who was wrong! This new version of the droid is a redeco of the 2009 build-a-droid mold, so you can pop off his dome or legs if you're so inclined and swap them with other build-a-droid action figures. The deco is pretty good, but a few panels are missing so fan may prefer the 2006 release as overall authenticity goes. This one is still loads of fun, but I think the man reason it exists is so Hasbro could make another one of the original figures on a new Vintage cardback. It looks gorgeous, so I'm pretty happy they made it. Not that I needed another droid, but I'm not complaining.

Collector's Notes: Wave 5 got middling distribution in early 2011, showing up in some stores (and regions) more heavily than others. You may or may not have seen a lot of this one, he shipped only in wave 5 so far. He still pops up as of today.

--Adam Pawlus



Day 1,607: August 11, 2011

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,606: Flamethrower Clone Trooper

CLONE TROOPER Flamethrower
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 94736 No. 20805
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW26
Includes: Stand, flame (clip-on), flame (flamethrower), helmet, backpack, flamethrower, blaster rifle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: Fall 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: A clone trooper uses a flamethrower to fight Geonosian drones. The trooper's squad is battle their way through a cave to reach the rest of the Republic invasion force. Their mission is to wipe out a droid factory manufacturing powerful new weapons. The clone trooper aims his flamethrower at the attacking drones to clear his path. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: Since 2010 Hasbro has had made a good effort in getting Geonosis-specific Clone Trooper animated figures on the market. This one is a slight remold (and a total repaint) of the snow gear Captain Rex of early 2010, down to the removable helmet dome and backpack. The figure's big change is a cloth skirt allowing him to sit if you're so inclined, plus it allows more movement in the legs. The large flamethrower accessory-- which, let's be frank, cannot stand with the figure easily with the flame in it-- brings all sorts of new balance issues so you probably will need to buy some additional means of support to display this figure with the flame attached. (Fishing wire, perhaps?)

The earthy red deco looks great, with orange highlights matching the bulk of Obi-Wan Kenobi's 212th Battalion figures. If the flamethrower is too much for you, the flames can be removed (or snapped on to a droid), or you can just use a normal blaster rifle. It looks great, and is another fine example of Hasbro following the animation's lead to reuse an existing design to get more mileage out of the work which has already been done. I should also note, the shoulder armor is removable-- so be careful, or you will lose it. I feel this was something of a mistake, as it's a potential hazard for lost parts. Or choking, I guess, I'm more worried about missing pieces.

Collector's Notes: You should be able to score one of these for $10 or so, or at retail. It's a nice one, not particularly rare, but quite distinctive on a shelf.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,606: August 10, 2011

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,605: Savage Opress

SAVAGE OPRESS Shirtless, First-Ever Savage Opress Action Figure
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 94736 No. 29640
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW55
Includes: Stand, staff, firing staff, missile, dice, card
Action Feature: Battle Axe Fires Missile
Retail: $8.99
Availability: August 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Savage Opress is a dangerous assassin whose strength and abilities are enhanced by the Nightsisters, mysterious witches on the planet Dathomir. Opress uses menacing battle axes to deliver death and destruction at the command of Count Dooku and the Sith Lord's former agent Asajj Ventress. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: This is a fast turnaround-- on Saturday I got two new waves of The Clone Wars, with a third due early next week. With 9 new figures in the cartons I got, there were 4 new Clones, 3 new (or new outfit) Jedi, 1 Bounty Hunter, and 1 villain. The ratio of good to bad is getting a little depressing, but as it is a line for kids I'm just happy the line isn't 100% variations on Anakin. Other than Jet, all the figures come on redesigned packaging highlighting the gear in a larger bubble rather than focusing on the trading card battle game, which is now literally in the background-- the card is taped to the cardback inside, so the chances of you throwing it out just went up 40%. So how is the very first version of Savage Opress?

The figure is about on par with your standard "hero" figure. He stands 4 1/2-inches tall and sports limited coloring, just like in the show. The figure is molded in a pale yellow, I'd almost argue too pale, but it is what it is. He has silver gauntlets and silver armor on his boots, plus his costume is painted various shades of grey. The pale Zabrak is also colored in big black tattoo, he's a man now thanks to you. (It'll be there when he dies.) It's basically Darth Maul II, except with a better character arc. The dude is actually a sympathetic monster on the series, rather than a really cool mostly-silent right hand of a shadowy evil. So the deco, in short, is good-- even his eyes and bared teeth look great! The mouth is distorted in an almost cartoony way, but given the size of the head and the nature of trying to give a toy this small facial emotion, I think this is obviously the right way to go.

Given the increasing and decreasing articulation on all figures, this one falls squarely on the conservative-but-good side. He has ball-jointed knees, shoulders, elbows, and neck plus standard swiveling wrists, hips, and waist. There are no ankle joints, which is something of a bummer given the active nature of the character-- I normally wouldn't call out for the fancy bend-and-swivel wrists but in this case, with his weapons, he could really have benefitted from the extra movement. (As I write this I don't have the armored one in-hand to compare which is better, I expect it to be the same.) His range of movement is good, but the plastic "skirt" restricts the legs as usual-- other figures in this wave like Saesee Tiin have cloth robes, so I'm not sure what Hasbro does to decide on who can and cannot sit. The sculpt is simple, like the animation model, quite smooth. His horns are long and pointier than most Maul figures, and the poses you can pull off are rather well done.

Lastly, there's his gear-- rather than include only one non-firing staff, Hasbro included a bigger, better painted version of the weapon that fires a dang rocket. As the character carries a large weapon on the show, I like having the option of giving him a meatier weapon with which to attack his creators, or the Jedi, or maybe the errant Zeltron. The larger weapon has a gold blade and must be gripped by handles, and the firing rocket is the marble-shooter type. It is impossible to fire the rocket while he olds onto it. It's also very difficult to fire it at all-- the bendy PVC nature of the plastic does not allow you to easily push the rocket free of its claw to attack an enemy, so in short, it doesn't work. Odd-- normally you don't get the firing rocket weapon that a) looks good and b) fails as a toy. If you hate the big rocket axe, a standard version is included with a silver blade that looks pretty good. But the big one looks cooler.

Given the nature of the character I expect a third version of this figure by the end of 2012. In its current form, it's a B, or a B- by the standards of the 2011 Vintage and 2008 animated releases. I'd suggest fans get one if they like the character and the series, because it looks cool and would look nice on your desk at work. Admit it-- dude with the crown of horns is awesome. We're 5 years overdue for a new Darth Maul sculpt, so I hope whoever did Savage's head gets a crack at Hasbro's next new version of the Sith Lord too.

The timing of this figure's release is interesting-- nearly a year after his debut, but basically just in time for DVD and Blu-Ray. Based on the assortments Hasbro revealed so far (you DO study the case packs too, don't you?) it seems they're positioning him as an "A" player in the toy aisle. No new character has shipped in three consecutive assortments in quite some time, let alone with two distinctive costumes. This one is likely to be Hasbro's next big cash cow.

Collector's Notes: Shipping in three assortments right off the bat, Hasbro clearly views the shirtless Savage as a hot seller. I expect you'll find one soon. Or you can buy one right now from the link below from our sponsor, which means I make a buck or two off the sale, and isn't that why we're all here? (Actually it isn't, but hey, couldn't hurt right?) At press time I have not seen these in the wild nor have I seen reports of them, mine came from my place of employment/sponsor/etc.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,605: August 9, 2011

Monday, August 8, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,604: Imperial Naval Commando Officer

IMPERIAL NAVY COMMANDO OFFICER The Force Unleashed: Sith & Imperial Troopers
The Legacy Collection Toys R Us Exclusive
Item No.:
Asst. 33259 No. 33261
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, backpack, pauldron
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: August 2011
Appearances: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game

Bio: The navy commando officer leads a squad that consists of several troopers, a sergeant and a medic. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: The Imperial Navy Commando Officer, like the bulk of the figures from this set, are from the Wii, PSP, and PS2 ports of The Force Unleashed. So rather than just splitting confused fans into "played the game" and "did not play the game" groups, now Hasbro is going down the platform line. I've played through the original game twice, and was wondering if I just forgot these guys. It turns out I didn't, which means I'm glad I have my wits about me but it also means I just bought a 5-pack of figures where the only character from the game I actually played is a repaint of something I already have several of. What the heck is wrong with me?

As another of the Empire's troopers, the designs seem to mix together new and old elements to give you something vaguely new. The helmet is a little like Bacara's, the pauldron is unquestionably Sandtrooper-esque, and the rangefinder is a nod to the Fetts. Of course, in terms of the chronology of the story, the design is most likely a "futuristic" take on the ARC Trooper design. There are more elements on the armor, like a swell backpack that plugs in to a "n" shape on his armor, plus a nifty holster molded right into the side of the leg so it actually works well and doesn't hinder the movement of the figure. This is a job well done, and he has 14 points of articulation as well. There's a lot to like here. An added grenade on the front of his armor is a nice touch, and the armor seems to be a pretty good plastic translation of the in-game polygonal model.

The standard version of the commando also comes in this set, so troop building is a little tough. The officer is almost identical to the normal guy, with a few notable changes. One, the deco on the back of the figure is different as the area in which the backpack plugs is unpainted on the officer. Two, the helmet has been resculpted to have a rangefinder. Three, the pauldron. And... that's it, really.

Collector's Notes: As a new set I've only just seen for the first time less than a week ago, I don't know how tough it will ultimately be to get one of these. Someone tried to hide this behind some Evolutions packs at my store, and it was the last one. I found it, I bought it. People who hide things are getting lazy, so do yourselves a favor and please stop trying. Nobody benefits when you hide stuff, particularly when you forget to go back and buy it. Now if you'll excuse me, a rerun of That 70's Show is about to start.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,604: August 8, 2011

Friday, August 5, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,603: Kit Fisto

KIT FISTO Animated Attempt #2
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 94736 No. 20797
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW23
Includes: Stand, lightsabers
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: August 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Kit Fisto endures a grueling battle in the lair of General Grievous. The Jedi and his former padawan Nahdar Vebb enter the cyborg general's lair while on the trail of an escaped prisoner. Fisto battles Grievous in a fierce duel and emerges alive from the lair, taking Vebb's lightsaber from the general befor he escapes. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Commentary: Since Hasbro put out an animated Kit Fisto in 2009, I was bewildered as to why we'd get another one in 2010 already. It turns out because Hasbro wanted to make a better one, which is the reason we want to hear for this kind of thing. Kit comes with a grin, enhanced articulation, and his former student's lightsaber. (That's right, Nahdarr Vebb fans!) The deco feels greatly improved, with a new head and legs (and lower robes) to give you a more poseable figure. This time around, he has knee joints, lateral hip articulation, plus ankle joints-- a nearly perfect super-articulated Jedi Master. Hasbro did a great job here, plus the animated sculpting was well-preserved so he'll be right at home with your other action figures from the TV series. This is one of my favorite Jedi from the TV line, so I'd say get it if you can.

Collector's Notes: This one has been pretty easy to get since debuting last year.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,603: August 5, 2011

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,602: Captain Rex in Cold Gear

CAPTAIN REX Orto Plutonia/Cold Gear
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 87638 No. 93823
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW50
Includes: Helmet, blasters, rocket firing weapon, rocket, helmet dome, backpack
Action Feature: Helmet dome comes off, rocket-firing weapon
Retail: $7.99
Availability: Spring 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Captain Rex battles Talz warriors on the icy planet Orto Plutonia. The clone captain is ordered to protect Pantoran diplomats from the native Talz, who demand to be left in peace. Rex fights his aggressive opponents with steely determination. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' former back yard.

Commentary: As a line matures, toy companies have to find a way to refresh core characters to help boost sales. In The Clone Wars there were a few built-in outfit changes, and in early 2010 Hasbro decided to go crazy with snow gear from Orto Plutonia. This nifty armor takes cues from original 1970s pre-Empire Strikes Back Snowtrooper armor concepts with some unique markings on the helmet, while maintaining elements of Rex like his twin blaster pistols and blue helmet markings. As a statue, or something to look at, it's fantastic-- but as a toy? Mixed bag.

The "removable helmet" is just a dome that pops off, which is annoying as it pegs into the head and doesn't really add any fun functionality. It just looks wonky, and probably should have been glued down. The plastic skirt piece hinders mobility, so he won't be sitting down easily. Articulation is reduced compared to the normal 2008 Captain Rex, as he has no ankle joints and his wrists only swivel and do not bend. Still, I'd say you should get it-- it's a cool clone figure that looks good. It just isn't going to be a great figure for your vehicles.

Collector's Notes: This one got repackaged a few times, so you should be able to get one cheaply. Ten bucks is too much. The base body was used for additional clones, like a Flamethrower Trooper and a regular Snow Clone packaged with a Freeco bike.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,602: August 4, 2011

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,601: Republic Commando Scorch

REPUBLIC COMMANDO SCORCH Republic Commando Delta Squad
The Legacy Collection Toys R Us Exclusive
Item No.:
Asst. 33259 No. 33260
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, backpack
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99-$49.99
Availability: July 2011
Appearances: Star Wars: Republic Commando video game

Bio: Scorch is an expert with explosive materials and serves as Delta Squad's demolitions expert. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's kitchen.

Commentary: This new set marks the third release of Scorch, the Republic Commando. THIRD. That's pretty impressive, considering the game from which he originated has no known sequels planned-- it also inspired a series of popular novels, and as many of you know (and some of you don't) Star Wars fiction breeds new divisions in the fanbase. Knights of the Old Republic and Rogue Squadron fans are a unique breed, similarly, fans of the Republic Commando novels have a different perspective on the state of the franchise, its story, and the toys. And these sub-categories often are willing to spend a lot of money on their favorite characters on eBay, so it's a good thing Hasbro decided to cash in for themselves and offer fans new, super-articulated version of the quartet plus a token Geonosian Warrior.

This new version of Scorch is an interesting beast because it traded authenticity for articulation. I won't say it's better, I won't say it's worse. I will say it's different. In 2006 fans were pretty vocal about their disdain for the lack of knee joints on the figure, and at the time that sort of thing had not yet become standard issue on new figures. As movement goes, this figure is the figure fans wanted back then-- he has 14 points of articulation, and every joint save for the wrists are essentially ball joints. He can easily hold his weapon, assume more poses, and essentially be the figure many fans always wanted. While the articulation is nice, it lacks some of the elements we saw on the original release-- so I can't say I'm giddy I just dropped $40 on a boxed set which is essentially a lateral move and not a complete improvement.

Hasbro's deco on the first figure may have been more authentic to the game-- the grey is much darker now, the dirt and damage doesn't quite match some of the art. The first one wasn't perfect either, but it was a smidgen closer. The 2006 release had some added white on the back of the helmet, while the backpack remained effectively the same. His blaster is now mostly one color with painted damage, while the 2006 release had some silver highlights. The real bummer is the change to his leg-- the cannister is gone, and the sculpted strap is now merely a flat, painted line. (Similarly, Sev's ankle accessory was left out.) His deco is similar to the first release, but different enough. I cannot recommend buying this set if you have the original, particularly if you're a stickler for gear and the like. If you missed it on the first go-round, it's a nice set and priced much lower than what Delta Squad had been selling for on eBay lately. It's good, and in some respects, it's better-- so go with whatever works for your budget, either way a nitpicker will find something wrong with it. (I prefer the 2006 one overall, but the articulation in the 2011 set is nice.) I know "be happy with what you have" is antithetical to the goal of toy collecting but in this case, there's really no harm in sticking with what you already paid for.

Collector's Notes: There seems to be some confusion about this set. While some units were sold on Toys R Us' web site, and others were sold at Entertainment Earth's booth at San Diego Comic-Con, it's my understanding that more are expect in stores shortly, most likely before the end of October. These should ship along with the Force Unleashed sets in the same case-- as far as I can tell, this run was just an early preview-- when is the last time a Toys R Us exclusive anything Star Wars ended up being tough to get during its initial run? There should be plenty to go around, but the price already varies. Comic-Con had it at $50, but I ordered it via their web site for $39.99.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,601: August 3, 2011

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,600: ARC Trooper Commander (Fordo)

ARC TROOPER COMMANDER Expanded Universe
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 97568 No. 28622
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC64
Includes: 2 helmets, 2 pauldron/belt combinations, kama, 2 blasters
Action Feature: Swappable armor to create different armored figures
Retail: $8.99
Availability: June 2011
Appearances: Clone Wars 2003-2005 TV series

Bio: Celebrate the legendary Star Wars saga that changed the universe forever! This collection brings to life the incredible story of good versus evil that captured our imagination and took us to a galaxy far, far away. Iconic Star Wars heroes and villains are captured with incredible detail and premium features to commemorate each epic tale in the Star Wars saga. May the Fore be with you! (Taken from the figure's packaging. There is no bio.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room Ultarama display.

Commentary: Hasbro obviously loves me. Maybe not personally, but they made this ARC Trooper Commander figure and have made me very happy. I appreciate Hasbro including so many spare parts that you can essentially transform Fordo from his season 1/2 Clone Wars appearance to the 2005 Season 3 Phase II armor with a very distinctive helmet. Hasbro pretty much gave you everything you could possibly want for under $10, with loads of articulation and great deco. (But of course, I've got something to say about the deco. It's me, after all.)

The ARC Trooper Commander's body is based on the early 2011 Clone Trooper. The vintage figure body is basically the same as the clone from a few months ago, save for paint, a new head under the helmet, and the belt has been removed so you can use one of the two included belts to decorate the figure. The head has a new face with a fauxhawk which I believe Hasbro designers said they included because they thought it looked neat (good call), and the armor is normal Phase I/Attack of the Clones stuff. The belt sculpt is clearly decorated and sculpted to look like the aforementioned animated series, and the helmets are essentially "live action" versions of the cartoony, stylized helmets. The Phase II helmet is more like the cartoon, while the Phase I helmet with its white-capped rangefinder looks exactly like you would want this figure to look. Oh, and the cloth skirt is removable easily, so you aren't forced to use it if you don't want to.

Deco is a nifty thing because... well, it sort of says what Hasbro was gunning to do here. The figure is packaged in (and the photo on the box is of) a Phase I configuration, but the paint job is clearly, clearly meant to be that Phase II look. The normal red ARC Trooper is essentially a ranking Clone figure with added bits stapled on, while the unique Phase II Fordo has red kneecaps and elbow decoration on his armor, plus red shoulders, and none of the red arm striping seen on the original incarnation of Fordo. So if you buy this figure and display him loose, the proper configuration was clearly meant to be the Phase II look, but the Phase I parts were included if that's what floats your boat. (I plan on using them to trick out a spare red Captain repaint of the 2011 vintage figure, if one ever gets produced.)

What else... the guns are inspired by the cartoon (chunky, squareish) and the range of motion is just as good as the regular white Clone on which he is based. (Which is to say, awesome except the shoulders.) For those of you unfamiliar with Fordo he is the coolest of the clones. Watch, download, rent, and/or steal the original Cartoon Network 2D animated series to see him in action. You will not be sorry. Buy 2 if you get the chance.

Collector's Notes: A new release (and hot stuff), the figure is shipping in at least two assortments in 2011. Hopefully more. The cardback says this figure is based on the ARC Trooper of 2003 but was "inspired by Captain Fordo." For reasons I've never quite been able to get out of Hasbro-- especially considering the name "Fordo" appears on the box-- this is one of two ARC Trooper figures in the past year clearly meant to be an update of ARC Trooper Fordo from the 2002-2005 Clone Wars television series.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 1,600: August 2, 2011