Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,686: Nikto Jedi

NIKTO JEDI Jedi Warriors
Saga Toys R Us Exclusive
Item No.: No. 26720
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, hilt, stand, other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: 2004
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Jedi Knight. A renowned Jedi swordsman, Fi-Ek Sirch hails from the planet Kintan. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's printer.

Commentary: This Nikto Jedi was given a name in this set, although it wasn't the one that headlined the box-- why kick it into the bio? How odd! Anyway, it's a reworked version of the 2002 Nikto Jedi Knight, with two big differences. One, his outer cloak is missing. Two, his arms are a new color to match the robes under the cloak. Other than that, and a missing lightsaber effect that's hard to describe, it's basically the same as the 2002 release. Oh, and his lightsaber hilt has some more black paint on it.

This Jedi warrior is articulated at the neck, shoulder, wrists, and waist. It can't stand on its own, so be glad the set included some clear oval-ish constructs to prevent face-planting. Overall, it's basically a statue and that was how the lesser characters were during the second prequel. The main guys had action feature, the secondary guys were display pieces. I like this figure because it shows just how different a little bit of color and a removed accessory can make a figure.

Conversely, I hate this figure because of my growing dislike for the removable hilt lightsabers. The blade comes out, but it was partially glued in so it sort of sags and feels like it's going to break. It's very unpleasant, and it makes me glad that Hasbro has largely went back on this idea and now primarily makes one-piece lightsabers. I've had this stored in its original box as I was nervous the blade would snap after the figure fell over, and I'm still tempted to permanently glue it in there because... it just doesn't look good. With the 2011 Vintage release, there is no reason to buy this one unless you're a nutty collector, and even then be aware it's pretty fragile so if you wish to avoid heartbreak and/or repair, I'd say don't buy it.

Collector's Notes: Unsurprisingly, this set is now effectively worthless. The main selling points were this figure, being the only unique figure in the set, plus an exclusive restraining device accessory for Obi-Wan Kenobi that Count Dooku used on Geonosis. But more on that later. This set is worth the $10 or so asking price these days, although if you aren't into variants or accessories this is a pretty boring set by 2011 standards.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,686: November 30, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,685: Magnaguard

MAGNAGUARD Feisty
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 97568 No. 20830
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC18
Includes: Pistol, staff, energy bolts, cloth cape, removable hat
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: August 2010
Appearances: 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 Force be with you! (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's TV tray.

Commentary: This Magnaguard is, arguably, as good as they get so far. It mixes cloth and plastic elements to make his cape with an incredible body sporting tons of moving parts. While the animated ones also turned out to be quite excellent, this one is as good as they get for the movie design and is, depending on your preferences, the better droid. When you get it, take note that the hood for the head wasn't put on particularly well-- you can adjust it slightly so his "mouth" pokes through the bottom part of the hood's opening. The design is good, but the assembly, not so much.

Covered in dirty deco, the figure looks much closer to the movies than its 2005 counterpart. Its torso is a little thick, but it's still a fairly solid piece with good accessories. The tattered cloth robes have a nice printing on them that isn't the kind of thing you usually see at this scale. For all your dueling purposes, and some of your display purposes, this is a great figure. Due to its construction it may require additional support-- beyond just the peg on a display stand-- to stay upright for long periods of time. His red eyes and skeletal form will look great on your shelves, provided he doesn't topple over and destroy anyone standing in front of him. If only the Grievous figures were this good!

Collector's Notes: He's more or less gone now, but arguably worth the asking price. If you have the chance, be sure to get this one (or any future repaints) for your stash-- you'll be glad you did. It currently goes for slightly more than retail on eBay, closer to $14 in some cases.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,685: November 29, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,684: Han Solo

HAN SOLO Millennium Mint Coin Collection
Power of the Force Millennium Mint Coin Collection
Item No.: Asst. 69675 No. 84022
Manufacturer: Kenner
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, stand, coin
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: 1998
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Han Solo became caught up with the Rebel Alliance, courtesy of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa, whom he helped rescue from the Death Star. ( Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's room.

Commentary: This Han Solo figure isn't as interesting as his accessories. The figure is the same as the 1997 Bespin Han Solo with some added paint on his boots, but this really doesn't add to the figure and its six points of articulation. What does make a difference is a small splash of silver on the barrel of his gun, which was a new and unique detail which we still don't see a lot of on new Han figures to this very day-- the latest release was unpainted.

His sculpt is good, but it's a 1997 figure meaning it's going to be unquestionably bad for most of you. I like it because I'm a fan of the now-defunct Kenner house style, which basically meant we got simple figures, often with big guns, for about five or six bucks. He can stand and sit, plus his display stand makes it a lot easier to keep him from toppling over. In the stand is a place to display a coin, based on a 1980s sculpt but now cast in gold with a new flip side. This predated the 30th Anniversary Collection figures and their coins by about 10 years, so it was a nice glimpse into the thought process inside Kenner which is probably very similar to ours. That is, "Hey, remember that thing? We should do that again."

As a display piece, this is a neat item-- only 7 different Millennium Mint Coin figures were made, so the entire set could go on a small display and not look too awkward. Hundreds of these things would have been weird, although I do wish Hasbro adopted the idea of a stand for the coin AND for the figure for the more recent collections... it's nice to actually see these things. If you have the guts to buy toys from the 1990s, this isn't a bad one-- although if you have the Mynock Hunt Han Solo (1998 Battle Pack) or the aforementioned individually packaged Bespin Han Solo, this one offers little new in the figure department... but oh! Those accessories!

Collector's Notes: He's cheap if you want him, which you probably don't, but the coin stands are pretty cool. If you want it, you should be able to get it for $7 or even less-- this old stuff has little in the way of fans.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,684: November 28, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,683: Cat Miin

CAT MIIN Separatist
Revenge of the Sith Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 85173 No. 86700
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #III-62
Includes: Mustafar display stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.24-$6.99
Availability: Late 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: As adminstress and chief aide to Commerce Guild President Shu Mai, Cat Miin oversees the distribution of raw materials to the Separatist Droid Army. She accompanies Shu Mai when the council is instructed to go to Mustafar and await the arrival of Darth Sidious’ new apprentice, Darth Vader. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: You know it's a good sign when you do one of these and draw a blank. Cat Miin is a figure from one of Hasbro's token repaint waves-- for several years between 2005 and 2007, we were treated to one or more assortments where all of the new figures were effectively just repaints with different accessories. It was a great way to get some weird characters in a hurry, but when you get right down to it nobody wanted Cat Miin and her lowered production proved it. She may be one of the shortest-run figures from the Revenge of the Sith era, and today commands seven bucks. Give or take a few pennies.

The figure is based on a 2003 Shu Mai mold, painted in far less colorful clothing but with one really neat added feature-- a chest wound. It's subtle, but there's a yellow burn in her chest which I believe has to represent Anakin's little killing spree near the end of the movie. I like the idea, but I don't know how many people were buying these figures to use as corpses. Her outfit is painted well, and the silver looks pretty good. There's even a paint wipe on her wrinkled head, which is nice because the figure isn't much to write home about.

Cat has three points of articulation: the neck, and the shoulders. The original sculpt came from when Hasbro was just starting to put ball jointed necks all over the place, but the arms merely swivel and with no weapons, there's not much she can do. The plastic skirt and legs are a hard plastic, and there's zero chance of her standing. Due to her own unique leg design, getting her to stand is difficult without assistance, and this is one of the main reasons articulation can be really important. Those hip joints aren't just there so she can pilot a ship, but they help a figure balance so she doesn't faceplant and effectively serve zero purpose on a collector shelf or toy box. I'm glad she has a stand, but even as a collector figure it somewhat disappoints. Hasbro did a nice job dolling her up, but ultimately it's sort of a snooze.

Collector's Notes: She's scarce but cheap, because nobody cares. That's an interesting side effect of this line: it's so vast, that just because something is rare doesn't mean it's expensive.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,683: November 25, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,682: Cortosis Battle Droid

CORTOSIS BATTLE DROID Wal-Mart Exclusive Droid Factory Packs
The Legacy Collection Droid Factory
Item No.: Asst. 91939 No. 91929
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 2 of 5
Includes: Anakin Skywalker, Darktrooper arms
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $17.00
Availability: July 2009
Appearances: I, Jedi

Bio: In Star Wars: The New Droid Army video game, Anakin Skywalker must stop the creation of a new battle droid army after the Battle of Geonosis. This time, the Techno Union is creating battle droids with shells made of cortosis, a material that blocks lightsaber attacks, making these droids a particular threat to the Jedi. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: The Cortosis Battle Droid is an upgraded Super Battle Droid, and was part of the weakest two-pack in the second (and final) Wal-Mart build-a-droid program. I'm not sure if it was as a result of Hasbro raising wholesale prices or Wal-Mart jacking up retail, but the sets cost nearly twice as much and didn't provide as much newness-- this droid has a unique deco and new limbs, but his companion Anakin Skywalker figure was largely unchanged from its previous releases.

The droid is an upgraded 2008 Super Battle Droid, and I must say I do like how it turned out overall. The big red dot on his head, the dark grey panels, and the gun hands make it look a lot meaner-- and a little less logical in its design-- than its siblings. Gun fists mean he can't pick up things, but as a video game villain I can appreciate wanting to do something weird which is meant to be hacked apart anyway. The articulation is good, about as close to super-articulated as this design can get. (No ankles, no wrists, no neck.) For those building armies it's a great addition, but on its own the robot could stand to be more exciting.

Collector's Notes: The reason you will buy this set is for its build-a-Darktrooper piece. The set on eBay is frequently listed, but does not sell-- so odds are it's overvalued by sellers and when they start listing them cheaply, you should be able to get one for under $15. At the time of its release, figures were about $8 each so $17 for two full-size figures and arms for a much larger figure could be taken as a decent (but not great) value. Collectors fumed at the price, especially as the 2008 build-a-droid sets were better and significantly cheaper at $10 per two-pack.

An incomplete sample of the build-a-droid Darktrooper figure from this collection recently closed at $60. I wasn't able to find one, but in the past, I've noticed that while the complete Darktrooper goes for $60 or more, the lot of the 5 2-packs-- complete WITH the part-- often goes for less. Proof that collectors are insane? I would say "yes."

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,682: November 24, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,681: Gungan Warrior

GUNGAN WARRIOR with Fambaa
Episode I FAO Schwarz Exclusive
Item No.: No. 84369
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Prod, Fambaa
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $75.00
Availability: Fall 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Giant swamp lizards called fambaas are key to Gungan defense on the battlefield. Working in pairs, the forward fambaa's apparatus fires energy into a receiver mounted on the rear beast, creating a bubble-like shield that unites with other fambaa shields to from an enormous canopy of protection over the Grand Army. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's former back yard.

Commentary: The very first Gungan Warrior was packaged with a very expensive, very large exclusive which was sold at a high-end toy store not available in most cities. As an army builder, I found that frustrating-- especially since this one was pretty good. With six points of articulation, the figure was designed to do little more than stand on a platform inside the massive Fambaa, a huge lizard with zero points of articulation which was priced about $30-$40 too high for something that did essentially nothing. It was basically a very expensive version of the cheap hollow vinyl dinosaur toys, but if you wanted one of every action figure? Tough. You had to get a Fambaa.

I will say I like the figure enough that I'm not sorry I made the purchase. The armor was sculpted quite well, and the detail on the figure is very good overall. The skin pattern, specifically on the arms, is quite remarkable and something Hasbro has phased out of Gungans released since 2009 (so far, anyway.) If you get in close, you can see all these little textures on the figure, which does a lot to bring it to life-- granted, another fifteen cents of paint applications could have made him gorgeous, but that was twelve years ago and too bad. If you like Gungans-- and I might take flack for this, but I do-- this is an essential buy as the mold has not yet been reused.

Collector's Notes: After lingering on FAO shelves, the set is now worth about $20-$40. And yes, that's sealed in the box. Much like the Ewoks of old, the Gungans will likely always remain relatively cheap because the collector market won't drive up the prices. I'm not sure how many of these were produced, but there's no shortage of the supply. Don't let that stop you, though-- if you like Phantom Menace stuff, this is a really neat piece, and the entire toy program for that movie is better than people on the message boards would have you think. Having said that, the Fambaa comes in a swell window box (that's good!) and has fewer play features than your average $9 action figure these days (that's bad!) so buyer, be aware! Not "beware." I think you don't need a sense of foreboding when it comes to buying a Gungan and his giant elephant-lizard friend.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,681: November 23, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,680: Sandtrooper

SANDTROOPER Black Shoulder Pauldron
The Legacy Collection Saga Legends
Item No.: Asst. 87995 No. 92090
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #SL21
Includes: Weapons crate, blaster, backpack, pauldron, grenade, prod
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: July 2008
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Jedi mind tricks often work on the weak-minded. Such is the case when a squad of sandtroopers asks Jedi Maser Obi-Wan Kenobi about the two droids that are with him in a landspeeder. Obi-Wan tricks them into concluding, "These aren't the droids we're looking for." (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's former back yard.

Commentary: While Rebelscum has a sample of this figure on a 2007-style coin Saga Legends cardback, I'm convinced this Sandtrooper never saw actual release on the card. It seems it was only a few rare samples, which (so far) seem to not have been distributed outside Hasbro. I could be wrong... but I'm going to say I'm right and my guess is nobody will prove me wrong.

The figure is based on the 2004 Stormtrooper Vintage body, which means it was revised as a Sandtrooper in 2006 and repainted and rereleased several times since then, repackaged with other gear and for the longest time this was the easiest agent of the Empire to army-build. With 14 points of articulation, it's a neat figure but it's also one you could fake. The plain white body has been released before, and a black shoulder pauldron has appeared on other figures-- so with some creative swapping, you could have fudged this one before it was released. It's a nice addition to your army, but it's also entirely possible you had far too many Sandtroopers at this point. You can also leave his gear off to end up with a plain Stormtrooper, which is a pretty good selling point on this one.

Collector's Notes: While it's no longer shipping, a lot of them are out there and if you want you might-- just maybe-- be able to pick one up.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,680: November 22, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,679: Flying Geonosian Warrior

FLYING GEONOSIAN with Sonic Blaster and Attack Pod!
Saga Deluxe Figure
Item No.: Asst. 84859 No. 84902
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Sonic blaster, attack pod, projectile
Action Feature: Press button to flap wings
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Summer 2002
Appearances: n/a

Bio: Inhabitants of the planet Geonosis, these winged warriors engage in a vicious battle on the side of the seceddionist forces. Skilled fighters with weapons for which the Jedi Knights have no known protection, the Geonosians threaten to overwhelm the beleaguered Jedi who have come to the aid of Anakin, Padmé and Obi-Wan. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: I thought I reviewed this Flying Geonosian warrior, but couldn't find it in my archives-- so here it is! This 2002 release was a heck of a nice figure, although not really worth the ten bucks. At the same time for $5, you could get a Geonosian with a Massiff or a Geonosian with a spear. This figure has slightly more going on, a better costume, better deco, and more gear... but it's still an awkward toy. As most early Geonosians were not posed with standing in mind, this figure is difficult to get standing on his own. He has no foot holes, so all he's going to do is, most likely, topple over without added hand support or a separate small doll stand to keep him upright. This is not due to age, it's just the design-- with legs like that, he can't hold himself up.

As a toy he's fairly fun-- his wings have limited articulation, plus a switch on the back lets you make them "flap" and that's always a good time. He has 5 joints, but the arms are done in such a way where you probably can't do a heck of a lot with him other than pose him aiming his sonic blaster. It's rare to see Hasbro sculpt a figure with an arm fully extended perpendicular to his body, so you pretty much are forced into a single position here. Hasbro has greatly improved sculpting on Geonosians with time, but little things like how to have the stand up aren't really seeing a whole heck of a lot of improvement-- they're going to need support, so if you want to set up a nice shelf for a few years, well, tough. You're going to have to buy some stuff to keep them from toppling over.

I like the sculpt and the wing mechanism is really fun, I just wish they made it so he could stand up without my buying an additional product. I expect to see this figure return in 2013 if Hasbro continues the Movie Heroes assortment, as just the figure without the pod is a nicely action-packed figure and for $8 or so, probably fits the bill of that upcoming assortment. It's not the most exciting thing, and I certainly wouldn't advise you pay a premium for it on the secondary market, but the mold is unique to this release and has yet to be reissued.

Collector's Notes: While somewhat scarce in 2002, this figure is now commonplace on the secondary market. Loose samples are as little as $1, while packaged ones are as low as $2. And to think, some people out there are still sitting on these expecting their investment to climb-- it's not going to happen. To put this in perspective, this figure is now about 9 years old. That would be like a Return of the Jedi figure from 1983 around 1992, when everything started skyrocketing and at that point, most packaged figures were going for at least retail or significantly above. For those of you holding out hope-- most of you would never read a column like this one-- give up on your dreams of getting your money back from this stuff.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,679: November 21, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,678: R2-MK

R2-MK & Jedi Mickey
Star Tours Gift Set
Item No.: No. 16990900
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Display base, Jedi Mickey, removable hat
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $18.95
Availability: Summer 2010
Appearances: n/a

Bio: Whether he is fighting the Separatist forces in the Clone Wars, or helping the galaxy with their struggles against the Galactic Empire, Jedi Master Mickey Mouse is ready to use the Force at anytime. Aided by his new friend astromech droid R2-MK, these allies can complete any mission in the galaxy. Join Jedi Mickey and R2-MK on their many adventures across the stars! May the Force be with You. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: The box' insert.

Commentary: Let's start this one off with some controversy-- specifically, is this really a Hasbro product? When I mentioned it to a few Hasbro employees, they seemed to think it was developed by Disney theme parks, but that seems unlikely given that R2-MK is based on Hasbro's own R4-G9 mold. The figure has removable mouse ears, plus the legs were retooled-- the most obvious change being a pair of massive holes in his feet so he can fit on the display stand packaged with this set.

Aside form the holes, it's just another R4-G9 repaint. The hat fits right on the dome, sitting nicely until it's removed. A vac-metalized red dome looks good now, although I'm nervous about it staying that way down the road-- certain kinds of deco, specifically vac metal that isn't silver or gold, tends to crack or flake if not cared for. R2 has a purple eye which lights up, and a whole mess of red, black, and yellow markings to make him look more like Mickey Mouse than, in many respects, Jedi Mickey does. Since I'm a sucker for cool astromech droid repaints I'd suggest buying it, but you're basically going to be shelling out $19 for just the droid since Mickey is very similar to the 2-pack with Yoda from a few years ago. It's an overpriced set-- especially compared to the other gift sets-- but this is how collecting seems to work.

Collector's Notes: You can get this on eBay for (or less than) retail price, so keep that in mind if you decide to pick this set up in your travels.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,678: November 18, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,677: Obi-Wan Kenobi (Geonosis)

OBI-WAN KENOBI Assault on Geonosis
The Clone Wars Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 35566 No. 35577
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, stand, chest piece, more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $26.99
Availability: July 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Obi-Wan Kenobi, later known as Ben Kenobi during his exile, was a legendary Jedi Master who played a significant role in the fate of the galaxy during the waning days of the Galactic Republic. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' spare room.

Commentary: I don't know if this figure should make you mad, because I like Obi-Wan Kenobi with its filthy, Geonosis-themed deco. The figure (which is based on the 2009 super-articulated redesign of the 2008 action figure) has dirt on his face, boots, and chest armor plus some muddy printing on the cloth parts of his robes. He's basically super articulated and looks really fantastic. It would be nice if the head sculpt was updated (the 2008 Kenobi wasn't Hasbro's finest) but it does prove you can add some fun personality through a light dusting of filth.

If you don't have any animated Kenobi figures, this mold is one of the best based on the original 2008 animation design. I know not everybody wants a filthy figure, but it does make this otherwise repetitive release a thing worthy of your attention.

Collector's Notes: The set is pretty good, and as of now the set is fairly easy to find. If the price is right, particularly on sale, be sure you pick it up. The super-articulated version of Kenobi, without the dirt, was also packaged with the Freeco Bike in 2009 and with a BARC Speeder with sidecar in 2010, both are delightful vehicles.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,677: November 17, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,676: Han Solo

HAN SOLO The Search for Luke Skywalker
The Legacy Collection Target Exclusive Gift Set
Item No.: No. 33237
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Pistol, helmet, Hoth Rebel Trooper figure and Tauntaun
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: October 2011
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: When Han Solo orders a deck officer to locate Luke, C-3PO tells him no on can find Commander Skywalker anywhere. Han realizes that Luke is still outside and leaves to find his friend, even though the nights on Hoth are perilous. Han rides a native tauntaun into the icy night, a daring search that saves Luke's life. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo studio of sorts.

Commentary: If this Han Solo has his hood up, it would be your new favorite figure. Unfortunately, it doesn't. Han is a mix of new and old parts, combining the previous Vintage/Saga Legends/etc. releases from the waist on up with a new set of legs and a new waist piece with cloth so he can better sit or ride his steed. The blue color is a definite nod to the Vintage collectors and children of the 1970s and 1980s, although I've heard a lot of complaints that it should be a different color. (I hear what you're saying but to me, Han wears blue on Hoth so tough.) Some of the cloth got stuck up in the figure's guts, so if you tug his coat down a bit it gets to be a more consistent length. Thankfully, the cloth frees up his hips so he can easily sit on large snow-dwelling reptomammals.

This figure will essentially do what you need him to do, and if Hasbro stuck it with the hood up on a vintage cardback you'd probably happily pay ten bucks to buy him again. I'd say the set is well worth the asking price, as Han is a well-executed design. His holster holds his blaster. He can ride the Tauntaun. His hands hold the reins. It's everything you could want... minus the hood. Oh, and the Thermal Hat? Still sucks. I don't get why they didn't just leave it out, it fits awkwardly and doesn't add much to the figure. An alternate hood-- or no hood at all-- would probably be more welcome.

Han does sit on the Tauntaun, but it's going to take some degree of futzing to get it right. The figure's feet are difficult to place properly, but it does look pretty good once you get it right. Unlike some earlier releases, he has no problems grasping the reins, so it's a decent pairing.

Collector's Notes: Arguably, to date anyway, this is the most pressing reason to buy this gift set. That, and it's a good deal-- all 3 toys in one box for $25, or a Tauntaun in a retro box by itself for $25. This isn't tough math.

Other: I've been asked if it's easy to swap this head with one of the hood-up heads on other Hoth Han figures-- the answer is yes. The other Han Solo figures which share the same body also use the same ball joint, so you could pop on a Droid Factory, Saga Legends, or Legacy Collection Battle Pack version of the figure's head with the hood if you're so inclined. The Droid Factory release from 2008 seems to match the color the best, but it's not perfect and you'll probably want to paint it anyway.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,676: November 16, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,675: R8-B7

R8-B7 Rise of Boba Fett
The Clone Wars Toys "R" Us Exclusive Ultimate Battle Pack
Item No.: No. 20850
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Stand, third leg, game card, tons of other toys
Action Feature: Pop-out arms, removable leg, pop-up scope
Retail: $109.99
Availability: August 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: R8-B7 was Mace Windu's astromech droid for a brief period during the Clone Wars. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' floor.

Commentary: Hasbro really knows how to push my buttons in terms of big and expensive releases. This R8-B7 astromech droid belonged to Mace Windu and was dispatched mere minutes after his introduction, serving largely as a device to show how much trouble our hero R2-D2 was in during an investigation of a fallen ship.

The body is based on the R2-D2 mold from 2008, complete with pop-out claws and even (and this is the surprising part) the holes in the legs for the arm jets. The arm jets were not included, but it still looks really cool with its blue dome, grey body, and school bus-yellow markings. If you love droids, this gift set is really going to hurt at $100 or more, but at least you get two new vehicles, Bossk, and Boba Fett with it.

Collector's Notes: I ran out and bought this set early, at full price, because I am stupid. Hasbro and Toys R Us routinely do big sets for Q4 and they almost always put them on sale with a significant discount. I do believe I got my money's worth with 3 new figures, a new Starfighter repaint, and a big Slave I... but if you weren't excited about the vehicles this isn't exactly a bargain. Be wary of the packaging-- people tended to steal the figures from the set at retail.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,675: November 15, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,674: Mandalorian Warrior

MANDALORIAN WARRIOR & Mandalorian speeder
The Clone Wars Figures and Vehicles
Item No.: Asst. 91787 No. 25578
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blasters, stand, jetpack, bike
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $17.99
Availability: June-ish 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Mandalorian commandos in the Death Watch splinter group ride security speeders for quick-strike attacks. Like all Mandalorians, they are highly skilled warriors who have perfected the art of battle. Their repulsorlift speeders are customized with binders to capture enemies during raids. The design of their helmets pays homage to battle helmets worn by Mandalorian warriors in the past. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's old kitchen.

Commentary: The Mandalorian Warrior mold is one of Hasbro's finest. Ever. To date, there have been about 7 figures based on this body type, with two flavors of armor. This is the darker one, with nearly black armor while others are a lighter grey color. This is the only trooper with the dark armor-- Pre Vizsla is colored similarly.

The figure includes a bike, which, I have to say, was the most dull of the small vehicles in 2010. It's tiny and doesn't do much, but at least it has this great figure with 14 points of articulation. Hasbro wisely gave him ball-jointed hips, so all troopers so far share this trait. It's a rare instance of Hasbro doing a perfect job the first time which, I assume, is saving them money over the long haul as collectors will probably be happy to buy this figure with its working holsters for years to come.

Collector's Notes: At press time, there are 7 Mandalorians from the cartoons and 2 vehicles with 7 seats between them. It's one of very few times where the figures and the vehicles match up 1:1, so if you collect them all you probably have enough figures to fill some ships.

Despite 7 figures being based on this sculpt, all of them are actually somewhat tough to get. Hasbro also hasn't exploited the design yet-- if they made up new designs for the armor similar to Clone Troopers, they could probably sell a ton more figures. I mean, I'd buy them...

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,674: November 14, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,673: Plourr Ilo

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

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

Image: Adam's old back yard.

Commentary: Before being dumped at Ross, Plourr Ilo was a shared exclusive sold mostly, perhaps exclusively, to online distributors. It was originally developed for Wal-Mart as an exclusive until they objected to some language in the comic book, which I found amusing given what appears in various other forms of media I've purchased at the store over the years.

Anyway, this is a good figure. Plourr makes use of the increasingly popular female pilot body from 2008, which has been used on no fewer than four characters so far. It's a good design-- it's one of the few Rebel pilot molds to sport a working holster, plus it's just generally pleasing. The figure can basically stand and sit just fine, although the plastic leg straps are an increasing annoyance for those of us who actually use pilots as vehicle drivers.

Her head is really the only new element, which turns a bald chick into bald chic. (Eh? Eh??? Eh.) The sculpt is pretty good, but where Hasbro knocked this one out of the park was in its deco-- the face is actually (for the scale, heavily) made-up with red lipstick and a lot of rosey coloring which serves as a contrast to her shiny bald head. As figure head deco goes, particularly in humans, this is some of Hasbro's best work. It feels more real because of the paint, the fact that they painted her mug rather than leave it a plain plastic color makes it feel like a premium figure. If Hasbro spent the half-cent per face on its Vintage figures, they could probably add a lot of value to them visually which, at $10 a whack, would be nice. But we're talking about Plourr, and Plourr is good.

Collector's Notes: I've seen this set dumped at Ross for about six bucks after it was sold online for a few months, meaning the secondary market price should be somewhere in the middle. If you can get it cheap-- under $10-- this is a fantastic 2-pack you simply must own. (If you love pilots, I mean, it's fantastic.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,673: November 11, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,672: Aerial Recon Trooper

AERIAL RECON TROOPER Bantha Squad Clone Trooper
The Clone Wars Anti-Hailfire Droid Battle Pack
Item No.: Asst. 94743 No. 19680
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, firing rocket, non-firing rocket, backpack, helmet, stand, more figures
Action Feature: Firing rocket pack
Retail: $24.99
Availability: June 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Aerial recon troopers monitor the enemy forces from the air and relay the location of the hailfire droids to their squad members on the ground. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's old kitchen.

Commentary: Hasbro, at times, is allowed to make up some original designs for its toys in this line. I'm fairly confident that Bantha Squad's Aerial Recon Trooper is one of these, made up of bits and pieces of other figures from 2008 and beyond. The torso seems to be based on (or similar to) figures from 2009, the helmet was previously used on Echo, and the body is similar to that used for the basic 2008 Rex, Cody, and troopers.

What's really neat about this set is the armor design. The dark green color is complimented by a beige, and the jetpack is just plain cool. What I love is the Bantha motif, with horns on his helmet and other Bantha-esque elements on the other members of his team. This is my favorite figure from the set, and I wish I had lots more just like it. (I even got an extra of this Battle Pack which I'll probably crack open after I finish moving in to my basement.) It's already standing around on a shelf because, well, it's awesome. That's a good enough reason right?

I like this set a lot. I've got too dang many clones but I really like this one a lot. Get it if you can!

Collector's Notes: This set sat around a bit in 2010, but now it's starting to dry up. I don't expect it will ever be reissued-- Hasbro has been stingy bringing back most of its Clones since 2009-- but I would love to see it repackaged as an individually carded figure. I guarantee kids would buy it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,672: November 10, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,671: Hoth Rebel Trooper

REBEL TROOPER The Search for Luke Skywalker
The Legacy Collection Target Exclusive Gift Set
Item No.: No. 33237
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Pistol, helmet, backpack, rifle, medical device, Han figure and Tauntaun
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: October 2011
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: The Rebels defend their base on Hoth with every available weapon in their arsenal. They know they can't defeat the Imperial forces attacking them, but they need to delay them long enough to evacuate the base. Rebel troopers blast the enemy from laser towers that ring the base, and fire anti-vehicle cannons and medium repeating blasters at the Snowtroopers and AT-ST walkers. (Taken from another version of the figure's packaging, as this one does not have any information specific to a trooper.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: I was debating on if this was or wasn't a new figure for a while. By how I treat Clone Troopers-- any change effectively makes it a new character, so I decided that the new medical scanner makes this Rebel Trooper different enough to make you mad. Since Han Solo from this set is extremely new, and the Tauntaun is cool, I figure you'll be buying this set anyway. Based on a 2009 body sculpt, this uses the less-frequently seen "masked" hat for the trooper with the also rarely-seen shaved face head. Hasbro didn't recolor the hair-- a shame, as that would have made this an easier call-- as it is, this is similar to a 2010 release with a new accessory, but I believe it's a medical or science accessory, which upgrades this to a new character in my book.

The main highlight here is the new accessory-- molded in silvery grey with some added silver highlights and a red window on the top which reminds me a lot of the old INT-4 mini-rigs vehicle. That's the main reason for anyone who already has EVERYTHING to be interested in this specific release. Aside from that, he has a great head sculpt, a cool helmet/hood/hat, and 14 points of articulation to sweeten the deal. Sadly he was not given ball-jointed hips, so he won't be riding the Tauntaun easily. Still, he's neat, he's worth picking up, and I'm glad that after his treatment in early 2009, he's finally getting a few extra shots at being made.

Collector's Notes: This set seems to be selling briskly at press time, so grab it if you can. The Search for Luke Skywalker gift set includes Han Solo, this Rebel, and a Tauntaun for $25 which is actually a really good deal, considering single figures are about $8 or $9 these days.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,671: November 9, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,670: Captain Rex

CAPTAIN REX Hunt for Grievous
The Clone Wars Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 35566 No. 35580
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Twin blasters, helmet, pauldron
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $26.99
Availability: July 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: CC-7567, nicknamed "Rex," was a clone trooper captain during the Clone Wars, the galaxy-wide conflict between the Galactic Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Rex was in command of Torrent Company, a unit of the famed 501st Legion in the Grand Army of the Republic. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's old kitchen.

Commentary: Since Captain Rex is a popular character, Hasbro has to keep coming up with new ways to present him as a toy. This version is based on an episode where he gets shot, but not killed, and is incapacitated briefly. The figure's design is similar to the first Captain Rex and uses the same body, plus has has good worn blue striping on his armor. His pauldron and armor have a sort of a bullet hole on his chest and the one on his armor reminds me of those fake bullet hole stickers they put on cars.

After numerous just-different-enough-to-make-you-mad versions of Rex, I'm thankful that this one has a unique, distinctive feature so if I stumble on one in the wild I can at least tell you which one it is. It brings little new to the table-- if you already have a Rex this one won't add much to your life-- but it's a nice variation on how Hasbro handles battle damage on its product.

Collector's Notes: As part of a gift set with another new clone character and a Grievous redeco, you might end up skipping this one. If it's on sale I'd suggest you get it-- it's pretty common right now-- but at full price you may not find it exciting enough to shell out close to $30 for it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,670: November 8, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,669: Geonosian Warrior

GEONOSIAN WARRIOR Assault on Geonosis
The Clone Wars Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 35566 No. 35577
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Gun, wings, stand, chest piece, more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $26.99
Availability: July 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: The warrior caste was lower station within the Geonosian aristocracy. Members of the warrior caste were winged and divided into two sub-categories - the elite and the regulars. They matured quickly, achieving maturity at age six at which point they were battle-ready. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's photo studio test shot.

Commentary: Hasbro really seems to be getting the most out of its Geonosian Warrior mold, with this being one of the better overall incarnations. Incredibly colorful, this doesn't quite fit in with the other figures in terms of color but looks fantastic by himself. The yellowish-green wings pop nicely, and the face has a light, peachy color around his eyes and mouth. The golden chest armor is removable, as are the wings, plus the sonic blaster has a nice bright green dot at the center.

So far (I opened this in early October and am writing this on an airplane a few days after) it hasn't fallen over yet, so gravity seems to be kind to this figure so far. Previous Geonosians based on the mold toppled over pretty quickly, so I anticipate this to be doing a faceplant when I arrive back home. Still, it's a nice figure and even though it's part of a boxed set I'd say it's still worth your while.

Collector's Notes: It's part of a set with a dirty repaint of Obi-Wan Kenobi and another ARF Trooper figure. So the set itself seems good enough to warrant the asking price, although it might be close enough to things you have that you won't jump on it. I'd still grab it if you can.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,669: November 7, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,668: Endor Rebel Commando (Black Variant)

REBEL COMMANDO Black Variant
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 97568 No. 21487
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: VC26
Includes: Coat, rifle, pistol, bandolier, backpack, helmet
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: July 2011/October 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 Fore be with you! (Taken from the figure's packaging. There is no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo studio test shot.

Commentary: The Endor Rebel Trooper has grown from a weak space equivalent of G.I. Joe to one of Hasbro's most doted-on designs. Since 2002, nearly every new version seems to have a new or different head design which adds to its army-buildingness. After a bald, white head in 2010 Hasbro debuted a black gentleman in 2011 as part of its Comic-Con Exclusive "Revenge of the Jedi Death Star Boxed Set." It was, at the time, assumed by some to be exclusive to the set. Thankfully, it wasn't, so now you can find it in the newer assortments.

The figure retains the costume of the previous release, plus sports the same legs as Major Panno from 2009. He has 14 points of articulation and is about as good as you might expect, complete with a holster for his pistol. It has the same increasingly awful helmet from 2002, but I really dig the new head. I may not be able to pick this out of the film, but I'm glad I have the figure and I think it'll look great next to my other Endor stuff.

Collector's Notes: At the time I wrote this (early September) I haven't actually seen this set in the wild-- I ordered mine online the morning before I left for Comic-Con 2011, as is the way of my people. (It was cheaper.) Since all evidence says it has hit stores, that means it keeps selling out, which means it's popular and you'd be well-served to get it the next time you see one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,668: November 4, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,667: Clone Commando Boss

REPUBLIC COMMANDO BOSS 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: Boss leads the elite commando squad and has proven himself to be an exceptional soldier and natural leader. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's kitchen in the backdrop from the packaging. It's a nice backdrop.

Commentary: You can't go wrong doing video game characters as a rule-- especially if the design of a figure, like Boss here, outweighs the "but I haven't played the game!" factor. I don't care if you missed this one on the Xbox, it's still a nice design that fits right in to your movie-esque Clone Wars toy shelves. While not the greatest clone of 2011-- there are far too many awesome figures in the running for that position this year-- it's quite good, and like Scorch before him, another instance of several figures using the bulk of the same body. This time around, the almost super-articulated figure sports 14 points of articulation, just like fans asked for a few years ago. I say "almost" because the shoulder armor was designed with aesthetics over functionality-- some fans will appreciate the detail in the armor, the extra panel lines, the special decoration. Others may enjoy that the "rings" in some figure shoulders aren't visible, and you still can raise and lower the arms. And others are just going to be upset he can't do jumping jacks. There's no pleasing everybody, but since he does have the ability to hold his gun with both hands I'm pretty happy overall.

Decorated with bright orange and some brown scuffs (which honestly don't feel right), the figure's blue visor looks out onto a world of fun. Or something. It's just a nice blue visor, with a black mouth, and a ton of orange on the chest, arms, and even the backpack. It's a great-looking figure and presumably now that Boss has knees and ankles, we won't see another version. Unless Hasbro decides to do a Clone Wars cartoon version, which may sound redundant but let's face it: it'd sell.

Collector's Notes: At the time I wrote this (early September) I haven't actually seen this set in the wild-- I ordered mine online the morning before I left for Comic-Con 2011, as is the way of my people. (It was cheaper.) Since all evidence says it has hit stores, that means it keeps selling out, which means it's popular and you'd be well-served to get it the next time you see one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,667: November 3, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,666: HK-50

HK-50 Build-A-Droid
The Legacy Collection Droid Factory Figure
Item No.: Asst. 87535
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Rifle
Action Feature: Removable parts
Retail: n/a
Availability: Late 2009/Early 2010
Appearances: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords

Bio: The HK-50 droids series was based on the earlier HK-47 assassin droid. Like their progenitor, these droids possessed incredible linguistic skills and highly sadistic tendencies. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's old apartment.

Commentary: It's no surprise that Hasbro tried to get the most out of its tooling investment, so the introduction of HK-50 in the build-a-droid line was more or less an inevitability. (Although if you ask me, reissuing HK-47 would probably have made more people happy.) The bluish metallic droid has a gorgeous paint job, one of Hasbro's best as of late, and might be worth getting just for that.

Since he can stand, sit, and hold his blaster, I'd say this is a worthwhile purchase. Even though he's from thousands of years before the time of the Skywalkers, I'd still say it's worth a look just because it could fit right in with the cast of Droids or work as some random robot in Jabba's Palace.

Collector's Notes: For some reason he's not too expensive on eBay-- I think HK-47 is taking all the attention.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,666: November 2, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,665: Starkiller

STARKILLER or Secret Apprentice or Galen Marek or whatever
The Legacy Collection Toys "R" Us Exclusive Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Figure Pack
Item No.: Asst. 97910 No. 97911
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Cape, lightsaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $29.99
Availability: August 2011
Appearances: The Force Unleashed

Bio: Starkiller is the secret apprentice of Darth Vader and the son of Jedi. Vader trains him in the ways of the Force and promises to reward him with great power. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's kitchen.

Commentary: One of the annoying things about video game figures in the line is that you generally have to play the game to know what it is-- in the case of this Starkiller, even if you played the game, it might not matter. This outfit was console-specific, so Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 owners never saw it. The all-new sculpt turned out quite well, with a fair amount of detail, the best head sculpt for the character yet, and a pretty good lightsaber too. The removable cape is a clever design which Hasbro should consider using on more of its Jedi figures, as the plastic hood clings snuggly to the neck and looks well. If you could buy this figure on a card, you would probably want to do so. It's worth a look, but its not exactly a great toy.

Collector's Notes: The boxed set is, arguably, worth the asking price. It's a nice figure and I think that if you feel you want video game figures, you'll enjoy this one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,665: November 1, 2011