Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,664: Princess Leia Organa (Endor)

PRINCESS LEIA ORGANA in Ewok Celebration Outfit
Power of the Force Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 69570 No. 69714
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, Freeze Frame Action Slide
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99
Availability: January 1998
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: An accident during a furious speeder bike chase leaves the princess without a way of finding her Rebel companions. Befriended by Endor's Ewok civilization, Leia is once again united with her friends, but under different circumstances. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' old apartment... one of them.

Commentary: There weren't a ton of previously-unmade figures in the early days of the line, but Princess Leia in her Endor dress stood out as something even the old-timers didn't have at the time. With six points of articulation, she's pretty good-- the sculpt isn't bad for its day, but this is a design which straddles the fence between the early days of the line, when everything functioned as a toy, and a more collector-friendly era where things like being to sit aren't as important.

She was repainted in late 2006, and retooled in late 1998 to include some cloth bits and pieces. The original release is pretty good, and since there's really no better sculpt you may as well get this or any of the versions on the market today.

Collector's Notes: The figure wasn't a huge seller, and her price remains low. There aren't many figures from the pre-Phantom Menace days which haven't been revised, but this is one of them.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,664: October 31, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,663: Clone Trooper Redeye

CLONE TROOPER REDEYE Droid Attack on the Coronet
The Clone Wars Toys R Us Exclusive Set
Item No.: No. 32795
Number: n/a
Includes: Another clone, a big spider droid, three mini spider droids, two blasters, three stands, cards
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: September 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: A spider assassin droid attacks clone troopers in the cargo hold of the Coronet. Duchess Satine is on board the ship, heading to Coruscant to meet with the Senate. The Mandalorian splinter group Death Watch, which wants the duchess out of the way, has sent a spider assassin droid to attack her. The deadly droid strikes two clones as assassin droid spawn slip away to carry out the treacherous mission. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' basement.

Commentary: If you can't get enough of the clones, here's Clone Trooper Redeye. He was introduced and killed within minutes, and the figure is lacking the helmet lights seen on the episode. (Figures with lights will be appearing any day now.) The figure itself is kind of strange-- my sample had oddly-bent legs which couldn't be easily fixed by boiling water, plus his belt assembly was upside-down. I didn't notice this until I opened it, so I checked the store and sure enough, all of them were built this way. Redeye's construction is based on the newer "Stone" body, which has no ankles, plus his wrists only swivel and do not bend.

The deco is similar to 501st figures, with dark blue stripes on his arms. A circle with various lines on it decorates the helmet along with a small triangle, but other than that it's another nifty troop figure. Other than the deformed legs and flipped belt, I'd say it's a perfectly fine Clone figure. Mixer doesn't have these problems, which is odd seeing how one figure from the set is fine and the other has some serious problems. As a single figure I don't find this one incredibly exciting, but it's a neat gift set. It'd be even better if he had the flashlights on his head, but it's still "good enough."

A nifty bonus on this set is a trio of Assassin Droid Spawn, tiny little spider robots which can't stand on their own and cannot easily be stuck to a figure. So they're like garnish, I guess, throw some around and hope it looks OK.

Collector's Notes: At $25 it's a reasonable value. If you love clones you should have one by now, it's a nice addition to the animated line but I wish it was just a little better in terms of quality control. If by some miracle you get two of these sets on clearance, you might want to do some head-swapping with the Clones to ensure you get one of each as a "good" figure.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,663: October 28, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,662: Fixer Loneozner

LAZE "FIXER" LONEOZNER & Camie Marstrap
The Legacy Collection Celebration V Exclusive Comic Pack
Item No.: No. 19671
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, Camie figure, Empire comic book #8 reprint
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: August 2010
Appearances: Star Wars deleted scene, Empire comics

Bio: Fixer and Camie meet their friends Luke Skywalker and Biggs Darklighter at Tosche Station to work on their T-16 skyhoppers. As they make plans to go swooping through Beggar's Canyon to bulls-eye womp rats, they share their dream of leaving behind the remote desert planet of Tatooine to seek out fame and glory as part of the Rebel Alliance. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' bathroom.

Commentary: Too soon? Back in 2010 when Fixer was announced, it was after the cancelation of the comic pack line and-- we all assumed-- this figure would have gone with it. An obscure part of the franchise, Fixer is one of Luke's friends who was removed from the original film and known mostly to people who really follow deleted scene stuff and maybe the comics. Part of the problem is that as of 2010, few people have seen these deleted scenes and by 2010 the collecting pool felt like it was drying up a bit. The set not only didn't sell out at Celebration V, but there was no line at the Hasbro booth-- you could walk up almost any time during the show to grab this with no problems. It went from being a fan-demanded, screaming-out-for-mercy please-release-this-set item to "eh" overnight, which is an increasingly notable occurrence in this hobby. We have no attention span.

It's a good figure, and he meets most of the needs of fans with 14 points of articulation and a great sculpt. His jacket is molded as part of the torso and is not a separate removable piece, which I prefer, and his only accessory is a small blaster. The sculpt is pretty good, possibly great, but we've seen so little of the character in film that the stills are really our main point of reference, and it pretty nicely matches those photographs. It's just that in the movie, he's dirtier and his hair is more messed up.

If your collecting focus is on the original trilogy or the original film specifically, this is a must-buy, why-don't-you-already-have-it figure. It's a shame it was a Comic Pack release rather than Vintage, because odds are those would have been more popular. As it is, it's a nice set, with a nice package, and is unquestionably worth tracking down. The sculpt is unique, the design is good, and it brought fans something that, really, none of us genuinely thought we'd ever see. Good things come to those who wait... and collect toy lines which, seemingly, will never end.

Collector's Notes: Starting life at $15, the set is worth about $20. I'd say it's worth it, but this is a set which is mostly going to excite hardcore, long-haul collectors over the age of 25-- the people who saw the old storybooks or items which spoke of additional Star Wars scenes long before the internet. I see this as something of an amazing holy grail piece, and I'll be curious what the Blu-Ray will do to make this set more exciting to collectors, if anything.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,662: October 27, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,661: Bastila Shan

BASTILA SHAN Never Before Made as a Star Wars Figure
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 97568 No. 32240
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: VC69
Includes: Lightsaber hilt, full lightsaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: September 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 Force be with you! (Taken from the figure's packaging. There is no bio.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: The first and presumably only Bastila Shan has been a few years in the making-- fans have asked for her, and if history is any indication this Knights of the Old Republic character is probably going to be super-hot stuff in a couple of years. Video game collectibles, Star Wars or not, tend to have fans more willing to shell out the cash for things. Oh, and let me get this out of the way: I never played this game and shrugged when I heard she was being made as a toy. There's nothing wrong with the figure but this wasn't a figure I really felt I needed in my collection... but it showed up in the mail, so.

The painting on the cardback looks a little bit like Jennifer Connelly, while the head sculpt looks vaguely like the game-- female figures at this scale are hard to detail properly, while the hair seems nearly perfect the face deco seems a little blah. Her face on the illustration and in the game stills seems to be a little more colorful, darker. There's nothing wrong with the sculpt but I bet Hasbro could refine the paint applications to better resemble the existing illustrations. The outfit matches many of the illustrations nicely, but there are multiple outfits from which to choose. This one is mostly yellow with some brown, the legs are designed in a way where she can swing her legs forward and, were you so inclined, she can sit in a ship. The detail on the outfit is quite good, with lots of folds and wrinkles. It's a nice sculpt, but again, a little improvement on the deco would be nice. There's no real shading or dirt here, so Hasbro clearly cut corners on paint... well, maybe that's harsh. But they certainly didn't go out of their way to add a lot of color.

With 14 joints she has no problems holding on to her double-bladed lightsaber, which is great. She can also plug the unlit version to her belt, so Hasbro just flat-out did a good job designing this one. While she doesn't really fit in to the line as a whole, those who specialize in video game figures will probably just be delighted she exists. The face could be a little better, but the packaging is great and the sculpt is certainly good enough for now. If you want a Bastila Shan figure, get this one-- because you don't have many other options.

Collector's Notes: A new release, she hasn't exactly had a wide release just yet. I don't expect her to last for long. Unless Hasbro decides to reissue Darth Revan, Malak, and Shan in some sort of boxed set I expect fans to be upset and have to live without. (I'm assuming you all got Darth Nihilus.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,661: October 26, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,660: AT-TE Clone Trooper

CLONE TROOPER AT-TE
The Clone Wars Vehicles
Item No.: Asst. 87629 No. 87603
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, AT-TE
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $99.99
Availability: July 2008
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: The All-Terrain Tactical Enforcer (AT-TE) blasted its way into battle for the first time at the Battle of Geonosis and proceeded to unleash its aggressive power all through the Clone Wars. This armored assault vehicle moves with unyeilding intimidation toward enemy fortifications, plowing through energy shields and firing its six laser cannons and a heavy projectile cannon all the way. Its interior can hold a squad of clone troopers that can be quickly deployed for ground combat. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' puzzles.

Commentary: In 2008 Hasbro managed to launch its Clone Wars line with a large selection of toys, thanks in part to the infinitely repaintable Clone Trooper mold. The version with the AT-TE was unique in that he had two insignias on his arm, one on each shoulder, plus a gunmetal silver blaster. Other than that, he's quite similar to the normal first-release "dirty" clones, right down to the unique pattern of grime and the wonderful range of articulation we've come to love. (As you can see, he has the swivel-and-bend wrists.) A similar Clone was sold in a Target-exclusive battle pack, although it only had one shoulder marking-- so it's different, you see. It's a good, durable figure which works well as a pilot, although it would be nice of the hip articulation was designed to be more conducive to being in the seated position. Given the variety of Clones out there there's really no reason to go after this specific one-- unless you want the AT-TE, which I have to say, I think you kinda do. If you're a clone fanatic, it's just different enough to be interesting.

Collector's Notes: The AT-TE hit closeout stores in 2009, as low as $25. This is a familiar trajectory with large toys. They start expensive, get blown out, and later, shoot back up on the secondary market. A clean (without dirt) version of this figure has surfaced on eBay but has never been released officially by Hasbro in the USA (and presumably nowhere else either).

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,660: October 25, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,659: Wedge Antilles

WEDGE ANTILLES Delayed and a Pain
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 97568 No. 21489
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: VC28
Includes: Blaster, helmet
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: May 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 Force be with you! (Taken from the figure's packaging. There is no bio.)

Image: Adam's basement in one of a few studio tests... of questionable value.

Commentary: There's a story behind Wedge Antilles and we don't know the whole thing yet. Originally slated for wave 3 of Vintage at the end of 2010, the figure got pushed back and the assortment was thrown into a weird revision spiral, which resulted in this figure being shipped at a tiny ratio compared to his casemates. Hasbro delayed him to fix or tweak him, but now that we have the final figure in-hand it's hard to figure out exactly what it was they did. I dug through my photos from Celebration V and it seems the body is indeed the same one they debuted at the show, but there are few or no good looks at the head I could see. From the original prototype, the head was retooled, but aside from that the figure is basically just a Vintage Saga X-Wing Luke with a new head and nice deco.

The reason to buy this figure is for the a) packaging or b) head. The face sculpt and deco is unquestionably an improvement over the last few Wedge figures, although it would be nice if they used the taller body without the lightsaber hole in the belt. His articulation is as good as ever with 14 points, and the helmet is quite snug. How snug? Well, when I tried to take it off the head came with it and it was sort of a trial to pop it back out.

I only have the one-- and to date I believe this is the only Vintage figure I have yet to see on retail shelves-- and mine had some extra paint on the chin, which was easily scraped off. This is a superior sculpt than the 2009 Wedge X-Wing pack-in figure, but given the cost you might want to weigh your options as to which version is best. For carded collectors, I think this is the best. If you plan on leaving the helmet on the figure, though, the X-Wing WITH Wedge and his droid may be a cheaper solution, depending on where you shop. On paper this is just another pilot figure and offers little new, but to fans: it's Wedge. It's Wedge on a vintage cardback. And for that reason, this figure is arguably worth a premium.

Collector's Notes: Hasbro has promised to bring the figure back at two public conventions now-- San Diego and New York Comic Cons in 2011. It is assumed they will make good, although a few "where is this?" items have seemingly fallen off the table for the time being. This is the first retail-carded single non-exclusive Wedge Antilles figure, and as the character has had a history of bizarre problems it's no surprise that this would be wonky, too. Not counting the variations, there are no fewer than 5 different orange flight suit Wedge Antilles figures, plus a dress uniform one from the comic packs and a major helmet variant from the initial POTF2 release in 1998. If you only collect Wedge toys, you could probably assemble more than a dozen toys for your shrine.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,659: October 24, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,658: R7-D4

R7-D4 Plo Koon's Astromech Droid
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 94736 No. 32846
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW64
Includes: Removable limbs, dice, card
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $8.99
Availability: August 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: R7-D4 is Plo Koon's astromech droid that provides navigational and repair assistance on the Jedi's starfighter. The Jedi flies many challenging missions during the war, and his resourceful astromech works quickly to keep the Jedi's vessel in flight despite numerous encouters with Separatist vessels and droids. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's old kitchen.

Commentary: Since Hasbro effectively designed Plo Koon's last droid, this R7-D4 actually appeared on the TV show-- sort of. I mean, you can actually see the body on the show, there's prior art to use as reference material. Most surprising about this figure is a new body type, similar to the animated R2-D2 from 2008 with a few notable changes. First of all, the legs and dome are all removable. The third leg even rotates, with a round peg joint. These are not the same size as the 2008 and 2009 build-a-droid figures so you can't easily put a movie dome on an animated body. The construction feels quite solid, and while the opening doors on his body still reveal tools, the sculpting is sharper and the silver looks even better this time around. The legs/arms no longer sport holes for the booster rocket accessories, and the back of the body no longer has the compartment with the tow cable. The head no longer features a periscope.

The deco is great, the look is good, the sculpt is an improvement (as a collector) but the lack of so many of the play features that made the original animated astromech body such a great toy are gone. So... it's a toss-up. I'd still like an R2-D2 with this construction (with a more silver dome this time), but I don't have a strong preference as to which body other new astromechs use. Each one is good for different reasons. Since I do own Plo Koon's starfighter, and the color scheme loosely matches my other site (16bit.com) I'm a fan of this one. If you have the means and like figures you can pull apart, get one.

Collector's Notes: Reasonably new, and possibly out at a store near you. Maybe. You'll need to go check.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,658: October 21, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,657: Lt. Oxixo

LT. OXIXO Imperial Pilot
The Legacy Collection Battle Over Endor
Item No.: Asst. 97639 No. 21451
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #1 of 2
Includes: Pistol, helmet, 3 additional figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99-$32.99
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: The backdrop from the packaging.

Commentary: So is Lt. Oxixo different enough to be interesting? Yes, but only barely. Making use of the Evolutions TIE Fighter Pilot sculpt, which is itself modified from the 2004 version of the pilot, Lt. Oxixo makes these pilots into clones and gives him only slightly different deco to set him apart from the pack. This one is new, you see, because the center and top of his helmet is painted silver. Other than that, he's fundamentally the same figure. You've got a removable helmet and holster, and the new design is distinctive, but it's sort of boring at this point. I'm glad they did it, but it's not exactly as exciting as the colorful Rebels with their new heads, colorful flight suits, and possible gender bending.

This is a good design which fits in vehicles nicely, if you need more pilots, and odds are you do. I'd suggest getting him as part of the set, with Sila Kott and all, as you will likely want to have them for your other vehicles. Since the figure is another Clone TIE Pilot-- and there are many now-- the main thing about it that's cool is all the silver on his head. If that doesn't do it for you, you can safely skip this one.

Collector's Notes: Still available exclusively at a Toys R Us at a store near you!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,657: October 20, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,656: Rebel Fleet Trooper

REBEL FLEET TROOPER With New Hat
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 97568 No. 28620
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC52
Includes: Pistol, scanner, bandolier for leg, cap, helmet
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99-$9.99
Availability: July 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's kitchen, with some bad photoshopping.

Commentary: Since 1997 fans have asked for a new Rebel Fleet Trooper, with some versions being better than others. This one is arguably the best. While he doesn't have a working holster (and I don't care), it does have 14 points of articulation, a great sculpt, a non-removable vest, and swappable gear to get more than one figure out of a single release. He can become a tech just by switching his hat, and the included scanner will help make your dioramas more interesting. On his right leg is a small hole which allows a tiny bandolier to plug in, giving you one more easily-lost accessory for your collection.

The blue shirt, black vest, and grey pants are all sculpted nicely and the vest as part of the torso is overall a better look than the removable one. It's a good upgrade of a famous trooper, the best yet, and my guess is Hasbro won't likely get to a better one. It's a shame it's being released now, when army building is both difficult and cost-prohibitive due to current pricing. I'd say get at least one or two-- they'll flesh out your displays of the cheaper Rebel Trooper figures quite nicely.

Collector's Notes: Released over the summer, the figure remains elusive in many markets. He does ship in some current and future assortments, so no worries!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,656: October 19, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,655: Twin-Pod Cloud Car Pilot

TWIN-POD CLOUD CAR PILOT Unlikely Remake
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 97568 No. 97584
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC11
Includes: Pistol, helmet
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99-$9.99
Availability: June 2010
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

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's toy room.

Commentary: Hasbro doesn't usually do a great job ensuring a pilot and his ship hit stores at the same time, particularly if a good pilot figure already exists. This wasn't the case with the Twin-Pod Cloud Car Pilot, which saw a really nice figure in 2010 despite a great one existing in 2004. This time around he has a removable helmet, a moustache some enhanced deco, and no communicator accessory. The gun fits in his holster, and most shocking, the figure fit in the then-new 2010 Cloud Car vehicle. With a great sculpt and a strong design, one would like to think it would be a huge hit but it's aimed at a specific kind of collector. Heck, I wanted a few of these guys and only bought the one myself. With unique detailing, special knee pads, and lots of yellow and red sprucing up that white suit, it's a very retro-futuristic figure. I like it, and if you collect vehicles it's a required purchase.

Collector's Notes: This figure, like so many wave 1 Vintage guys from 2010, may still be available at some or all stores near you. Probably all. Which is surprising given you need two of it to pilot the vehicle.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,655: October 18, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,654: 4-A7

4-A7 Spy Droid
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87638 No. 91221
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW13
Includes: Blaster, hologram
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: August 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Anakin, Ahsoka and a clone trooper squad are greeted by 4A-7 at the B'omarr monastery. A spy droid, 4A-7 pretends to be the monastery's caretaker. The droid secretly records the Jedi and his team with the Huttlet and sends the holographic images to his masters as part of a devious plan to undermine the Republic. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: Effectively a modified C-3PO figure, 4-A7 looks a lot like the old Death Star Droids. He has a bug-like head, an antenna... and a gun. 14 points of articulation are employed to give this stiff character the full range of movement, plus his large eyes are a removable piece for some reason. (There's actually a color variant here.) The antenna is a little thick, but probably needs to be for durability's sake. The body is covered in dirt after being molded in a grey plastic, giving it a great appearance. He can stand well, sit just fine, and the overall design fits the Star Wars aesthetic we all love so much. What's not to love here? Unless you hate the TV show, this is a keeper. And, well, he's technically from the movie from August of 2008 but statistically, you didn't see it, so let's just say get one and move on.

Collector's Notes: This figure, like so many minor characters, came and went pretty quickly. Having said that, it's worth about five bucks.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,654: October 17, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,653: Rebel Trooper

REBEL TROOPER Tantive IV Defender
Saga Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. ???
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0254
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: January 2003
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: The Rebel Blockade Runner Tantive IV was on an urgent mission to Tatooine. Princess Leia Organa, armed with secret plans to the Death Star, was on her way to find General Obi-Wan Kenobi when the ship was attacked by an Imperial Star Destroyer. The heroic Rebel troopers were the last line of defense as the ship was boarded by Darth Vader and a platoon of Stormtroopers. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk fan.

Commentary: It's the Rebel Trooper with another head variant! It took a while but Hasbro delivered the head variants on these figures, setting a precedent (at least in the pre-current days) that if they said they would release a variant or make a change, it might take a year, but it would happen. Both heads showed up in early 2003, with the same body (complete with removable vest) and a helmet glued to the newly-tooled heads. This one has reddish hair, which is the most distinguishing characteristic as the three pasty white human faces all look different, but are hard to describe as HOW they're different. Sporting the same articulation as before, he keeps the nifty knee articulation and blaster pistol, and unfortunately the exact same arms. As diorama filler it's quite good, but the 2011 version is unquestionably a better overall figure.

Collector's Notes: At least five heads exist for this one body, so variation hunters, rejoice! Or freak out. What is it you do?

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,653: October 14, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,652: Fi-Ek Sirch

FI-EK SIRCH Jedi Knight
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 97568 No. 28441
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: VC49
Includes: Lightsaber, hilt, cloak
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: February 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 Fore be with you! (Taken from the figure's packaging. There is no bio.)

Image: Adam's Ultarama.

Commentary: After two releases as "Nikto Jedi Knight," Fi-Ek Sirch gets a name and a proper release. With great packaging and 14 joints, the figure gives fans everything they would want in this minor character. The sculpt is good, the lightsaber hilt plugs in the belt, and his tattered cloth robes are completely removable and look significantly different than most cloth elements on these figures. What's more, cloth bits around the waist help legs move easier, but odds are you didn't want him sitting much anyway. (Aren't you glad to know he can? I am.) The face sculpt looks slightly better than the mask, showing off a little more personality, while the outfit is... admittedly hard to talk up. It's not bad, it's actually quite good-- it's just that I can't pull out anything to say "wow, look at that!" It's good. Let's move on.

Collector's Notes: A variant exists. The first release is a very pale blue lightsaber, while later ones are darker. You should be able to find this one at retail.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,652: October 13, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,651: Star Tours Luggage Attendant

LUGGAGE ATTENDANT Star Tours Travel Agency
Star Tours Travel Agency Gift Set
Item No.: No. 33244
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Luggage, four other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.95
Availability: May 2011
Appearances: Star Tours

Bio: The Utai look after the luggage of the Star Tours passengers and serve as ground crew. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's kitchen.

Commentary: If you take a figure and paint him orange, I'm interested. The Luggage Attendant has (arguably) the most boring name in the entire toy line, and that's saying something. Many of the names are unimaginative ("Jedi Knight") but few describe a job that's arguably the least fun thing to do in the storyline. Based on a 2009 release of the Utai, this repaint includes a couple of oversized, opening suitcases suitable for fun and/or games. The figure has 14 points of articulation and is quite short-- he's still a solid release with lots of detail and bright colors, but probably wouldn't have worked as a regular retail figure. It's a good thing he's an exclusive at a theme park, where parents are likely to be less price-conscious.

It's good, and I like it-- if you like Star Tours as a theme, you will undoubtedly enjoy this figure. Otherwise, it's a goofy repaint and may not be worth picking up. Personally, I wish I had one or two more.

Collector's Notes: My intel tells me this set is still available, so if you're in a Disney park this year I'd suggest buying the set. The new droids are all pretty nice.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,651: October 12, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,650: Kit Fisto

KIT FISTO Jedi
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 97568 No. 24988
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: VC29
Includes: Lightsaber, hilt, cloak
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: January 2011
Appearances: Attack of the Clones (or Revenge of the Sith)

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: In a white styrofoam box.

Commentary: A pretty good number of Kit Fisto figures have come out of Hasbro since his 2002 debut, including shirtless swimming ones, super articulated ones, and even three animation-inspired ones. This is the best (so far) movie one, which manages to capture much of his design with little of his personality. While the cardback references Attack of the Clones, the design is clearly inspired by Revenge of the Sith with a different mask and different looking eyes. The sculpt is good, and the articulation is great-- you get lateral hip movement with cloth pieces to allow movement, plus the lightsaber plugs into his belt nicely.

What's surprising is that Hasbro didn't pull in Kit's trademark smile-- the most famous shot of the character still hasn't been replicated in toy form, and it's been nearly 10 years. Maybe we'll get one for the 3D remake of the movie, if it ends up happening? The sculpt is quite good overall, and the detail is great, but the animated The Clone Wars versions are more fun. So if you're a movie person, get this one. If you just want the best overall figure, get the 2010 animated release.

Collector's Notes: Back when Hasbro made the movie-inspired Kit Fisto Jedi Starfighter in 2006, we were told they would make the next all-new mold able to sit in the ship. And they failed to do that. It's still a good figure, but it's annoying. The figure can be found if you look around these days.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,650: October 11, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,649: Spider Assassin Droid

SPIDER ASSASSIN DROID Droid Attack on the Coronet
The Clone Wars Toys R Us Exclusive Set
Item No.: No. 32795
Number: n/a
Includes: Two clones, three mini spider droids, two blasters, three stands, cards
Action Feature: Head pops off to store mini-spiders
Retail: $24.99
Availability: September 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: A spider assassin droid attacks clone troopers in the cargo hold of the Coronet. Duchess Satine is on board the ship, heading to Coruscant to meet with the Senate. The Mandalorian splinter group Death Watch, which wants the duchess out of the way, has sent a spider assassin droid to attack her. The deadly droid strikes two clones as assassin droid spawn slip away to carry out the treacherous mission. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' box of wires.

Commentary: One of the really cool things in the second season of The Clone Wars was the idea that we might see Mandalore and stuff on it in action. And then in the third season, we got to go see their school program. But before that, we were given cool things like this Spider Assassin Droid (or "assassin probe") which appeared in the middle segment of a three-parter which introduced the planet and its heavily armored army. Similar to Chameleon droids and the famous Probot, this mean figure is too big to fit in a normal blister card easily. It has eight legs, each of which has two (or three, depending on how you count) joints. It's a pretty simple toy, with a strong construction and so far it feels like it's actually a solid plaything. The little droid spawn can't can be stored inside its body, the top section of the head is actually removable. It's quite stiff, but the cap pops off just above the layer of orange eyes. Nice touch! The copyright and other information is stored in this interior compartment.

Due to the limited detail and light grey color palette, it feels almost like this Spider Assassin Droid is a product from a bygone era-- it feels like a real "vintage" toy (1980s) because it's so simple and well-constructed. You can pose its arms menacingly, attacking clones or stabbing at your favorite Jedi figures. I feel like I should be saying more, but there's not much to it. If you like what you see, it's a worthwhile purchase. My guess is I'll be a lot more excited about this item a year or so from now, as it fits the "it works" and "there's nothing bad about it" criteria which I hold up as the most important things a toy can have.

Collector's Notes: At $25 the set seems like a reasonable value. The set seems to be shipping in good order right now, so if you want it you can get it. The clones are repaints using the basic Stone construction (no ankles) without removable helmets, and the three teeny tiny droid spawn are candidates for the most likely to be lost extras of the decade. If it's on sale, grab it. At full price, it's still good enough to make me feel like I didn't get hosed. (Cough cough Death Star Trench Run.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,649: October 10, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,648: ARC Trooper Alpha-17

ALPHA-17 CLONE COMMANDOS
The Legacy Collection Wal-Mart Exclusive Evolutions
Item No.: Asst. 87874 No. 91518
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blasters
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.96-$24.96
Availability: August 2009
Appearances: Rogue Leader comic books

Bio: Elite commandos conduct fierce battles and covert operations from the earliest days of the Clone Wars to the final days of the Galactic Empire. The lethally effective Alpha (Alpha-17) accompanies Jedi generals on missions and trains clone troopers on Kamino. Fi Skirata (RC-8015) serves as a team medic in Teroch Squad and Omega Squad, easing tensions with his sense of humor. Storm commandos receive special training to fight the Rebel Alliance; also called shadow scouts, they wear dark armor that deflects light and energy. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' floor.

Commentary: While the Evolutions packs started as a way to get what was once unusual-- "Vintage"-quality figures with 14 joints and superior detailing-- the line dwindled down to being mostly repacks and repaints, and not a place to find new and exciting designs. The line's final wave was exclusive to Wal-Mart, and later Ross, where we got figures like Alpha-17. By this point in the line, he was the 6th figure to make use of this body, and while they did add a new head sculpt it's not like a new slightly-different Clone Trooper head under the helmet is going to sway fans to buying a figure that may look similar to one, two, or three they already have.

The articulation is great, and the design is starting to show its age at this point. The frayed, blowing-in-the-wind plastic "skirt" piece is no longer unique and the gauntlet which is connected to the pauldron is just a little awkward, hindering movement. It's still a nice figure, but the character of Alpha appeared in dozens of comics-- and not once in red armor. An illustration from the Star Wars Insider once showed him in red, but as fiction goes, I don't really place a high level of importance on drawings made to accompany prose-- they don't seem to be subject to the same approvals as the comics do. As a stand-in for Fordo, it's an OK figure-- but now that we have a real Fordo, you can probably let this one go.

Collector's Notes: Since being dumped at Ross stores, the set lost a little bit of its gee-whiz factor. Still, the price shot up-- it's now $20-$30. When it first came out, several Wal-Mart stores had it mispriced at as little as $12.96.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,648: October 7, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,647: Lieutenant Thire

LIEUTENANT THIRE and Clone Trooper Rys
The Clone Wars Wal-Mart Exclusive Set, later individual
Item No.: Asst. 16721 No. 89205
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #1 of 2
Includes: Pistols, rocket, firing rocket launcher, helmet, pauldron, Rys figure with accessories
Action Feature: Removable helmet, articulated binocular goggles, firing rocket
Retail: $12.96
Availability: August 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Lieutenant Thire and clone troopers Rys and Jek accompany Yoda to Rugosa, where they are attacked by battle droids. Thire urges Yoda to leave them behind and go to the Rendezvous site alone, but the Jedi refuses to leave anyone behind. When Rys says their situation is dire, Yoda encourages him to find inspiration in his comrades and himself. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: There are two animated figures based on Lieutenant Thire, the first of which is this exclusive release. The other one, "Commander Thire," is virtually the same except for the back of his hands. Really, that's the difference-- Lieutenant Thire has black "gloves" with white armor on the back of his hands, while "Commander" Thire has red stripes. Otherwise, they're fundamentally the same figure.

Based on the 2008 Clone sculpt-- that's all there was at the time- the figure has the full 16 points of articulation, complete with working holsters, bend-and-pivot wrists, ball-jointed ankles, and the kind of decoration you would come to expect from this era. Being a mostly clear figure with some red markings, Thire matches his small crew nicely and while he isn't as famous as many of the other clones on the show, he turned out well enough. If you're in the market for more clones, he's certainly worth a look.

Collector's Notes: For reasons unknown, these sets debuted as branded Wal-Mart exclusives, and later showed up at Toys R Us in virtually identical packaging. Today they're long gone, and the 2-packs will set you back about $20-$25-- given the nature of the episode being somewhat popular, I'm surprised it's that cheap. Oddly, a single-carded Thire goes for about that.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,647: October 6, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,646: Even Piell

EVEN PIELL Climbing Gear
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 94736 No. 32844
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW58
Includes: Stand, lightsaber, climbing backpack, dice, card
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $8.99
Availability: August 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Even Piell is captured by Separatists and taken to the Citadel, a high-security prison built atop a massive cliff fac. The Jedi Master has information that could tip the outcome of the war. The Jedi launch a rescue mission using mountain-climbing backpacks to scale the steep slopes. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: As Hasbro continues The Clone Wars Jedi figures, they seem to be getting progressively more interesting as toys. We saw Kit Fisto and Plo Koon given snow outfits, while Saesee Tiin got flight gear. So what does Even Piell get? Climbing gear. Unlike some of the other action feature-laden accessories, this one works fairly well. Just pull down on the bottom of the string, and he ascends the rope. It's not a very long rope, but it (again) works and is fun to mess with. I'm pretty happy with this accessory, and would love to see more things just like it: fun and functional. Oh, and it fits him perfectly, it's not hard to get it on his back, and is not annoying in the slightest. I shouldn't be as thrilled for "this toy works as advertised," but it does, and I am.

The figure itself is good. Not amazing, but good. With ball-jointed knees and elbows plus swivel wrists, it basically hits all the major markers of a decent action figure. Sitting is a bit of an issue due to the form of the plastic robes, but this toy is all about climbing so I can't complain too much. I have no problem ignoring a sitting problem if the item is otherwise a fun piece, and this is a fun piece. Be sure to snag one if you see it.

With a few scars, painted eyebrows, and a lot of detail in the face, it's a solid release. It's not crazy-detailed like some of the animation models, but it's a great animated action figure and it makes me happy that I keep collecting this line.

Collector's Notes: Even's pretty new, and it's unknown if he'll be shipping for long.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,646: October 5, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,645

CAPTAIN REX includes Propoulsion Pack
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 94736 No. 30513
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW62
Includes: Stand, big pistol, two smaller pistols, pauldron, helmet, large propulsion pack, small rocket pack
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $8.99
Availability: August 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: CAPTAIN REX takes the battle to new heights. When the clone captain needs to reach high elevations, he boosts his rocket pack with a space combat propulsion pack. With this additional gear, Rex can take on battle droids even in space, increasing his chances of stopping even more of the droid army. (Taken from the Hasbro.com.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' stove.

Commentary: This Captain Rex is the first significant redesign since the 2008 release. Making use of various newly-sculpted parts, this figure doesn't have jointed ankles and only has swivel wrists, but he does have those ball-jointed hips the kids rave over these days. With what seems to be a new head sculpt, the figure has a cloth kama (skirt, whatever) and is generally pretty great. The hips look a little odd-- a lot ore black is showing in the crotchial area than usual-- but he can assume a number of poses the previous figure could not, and is clearly more suited to sitting in a vehicle than his previous releases. So the figure is, obviously, pretty good.

The backpack accessory is peculiar in that it looks like they stuck a normal Clone backpack inside a giant one-- and that's exactly what they did. The small pack is removable, if you want to go for a more subtle accessory, and the giant pack is there for all your crazy adventure needs. The guns move, and that's about all it does-- no firing rockets or spring-loaded wings, it just looks cool and has moveable cannons. As a toy I find this a little disappointing, but it does sport a third holster for the largest gun and it still looks pretty neat. Getting the harness around the figure proved difficult for my meaty hands, so you may need to spend some time getting the tabs and slots in order. It ain't easy.

If you need a Rex who can sit down, get this figure. If you want big neat accessories, get this figure. If you have six slightly different Rex figures and don't know why Hasbro would ever release another, skip this one.

Collector's Notes: A new figure shipping in at least two waves. Knowing how Hasbro likes to sell lots of Rex figures, he'll probably be around for a few months if not at least a year.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,645: October 4, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,644: TA-175 Tactical Droid

TACTICAL DROID with Armored Scout Tank
The Clone Wars Vehicles with Figures
Item No.: Asst. 94737 No. 20795
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Scout tank, blaster rifle, game stand and card
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $16.99
Availability: November 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Tactical droid TA-175 drives an Armored Scout Tank (AST) during the Battle of Ryloth. ASTs are light reconnaissance vehicles armed with twin laser cannons and often used for small hit-and-run missions. Tactical droids have more advanced programming to command Separatist troops. Each one has a unique paint scheme, so that no two units are identical. Like all tactical droids, TA-175 is impatient and demanding as he pilots the single-operator AST to assess the battle. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' stove.

Commentary: Of the Tactical Droid figures released so far, TA-175 is my favorite-- he looks good, and lucky for you, he's the most common so far. (The first single-carded Tactical Droid remains... difficult to find.) It shares the same sculpt with that figure, and the same flaws-- the packaging bends the figure oddly, as do the rubber bands, so you may need to repair the structure by dipping him in some boiling water or whatever it is you prefer to do to fix up your misshapen figures.

This design doesn't have knee joints, but he does sport neck, waist, hip, shoulder, elbow, and wrist movement. The wrists can be particularly tricky, so be careful with those-- the fingers are delicate, and while I haven't seen any tear off yet it never hurts to take care with some of these guys. It's a great design and as characters go, it feels like something that would have made a great puppet in Return of the Jedi if they decided not to go with EV-9D9. If the chance comes up, get this figure-- unless I missed one, there are only two Tactical Droid figures to date and given how stingy Hasbro has been with the design, I don't know if we can expect another one any time soon.

Collector's Notes: If you want a Tactical Droid and aren't picky which one you get, this is the cheaper way to go-- the vehicle was originally $17, and TX-20 sells for $20-$40. TA-175 doesn't carry the same gear, but he's got a tank, and is cheaper-- and that's certainly worth a look.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,644: October 3, 2011