Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,730: Anakin Skywalker

ANAKIN SKYWALKER Ambush on the Vulture's Claw
The Clone Wars Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87752 No. 87988
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: Fall 2009
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Anakin wears a rough poncho to hide his identity as a Jedi from the Trandoshan trader. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: I love this set, but Anakin Skywalker isn't necessarily the selling point. Gha Nachkt was amazingly cool, but Anakin is basically more of the same. Basically, it's the 2008 figure with a poncho-- it's cloth, it has a nice stripe, and it's what makes this a new figure. It's not quite "New Hat Malibu Stacy" but... well, it sort of is. Hasbro has always been skilled at making a gift set where there's one cool, unquestionably new figure plus three or so others which you could probably take or leave. Anakin is one of those-- I like that it exists, but it's not like the poncho is a fantastic extra, it's just pretty much OK. If you don't have any Anakin figures, I'd suggest just getting this set because it's a fine way to get him, plus a few others, at an OK price.

Collector's Notes: While extremely hard to get when it came out, the set doesn't seem to be selling for a big markup on eBay. Few are selling at all due to the high starting bids, but you should be able to get it at or under $30. I would say this set's parts are basically worth $30ish, but mostly because I'm dumb enough to think $20-$25 would be a worthy price for the super-cool Gha Nachkt.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,730: January 31, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,729: ARC Trooper (Fordo)

ARC TROOPER Season III Series
Clone Wars Cartoon Network / Tartakovsky Animated Series Action Figures
Item No.: Asst. 85661 No. 85471
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Two blasters, display stand
Action Feature: Working holsters
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Early 2005
Appearances: Clone Wars 2003 series

Bio: Through the creative vision of Lucasfilm Ltd. and the Cartoon Network, the Clone Wars are brought to life in an exciting new series of short animated chapters. A unique animation style captures the drama of this epic period in galactic history along with its outstanding heroes and adversaries. Noble Jedi warriors lead Clone Troopers into battle against the evil Separatist forces and their droid armies. Anakin, Obi-Wan, Yoda and their comrades struggle against the rising power of the dark side and confront personal challenges against a backdrop of war-torn planets. (Yes, this press release was taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: Fans are still asking for the perfect movie-style ARC Trooper based on the original animation designs from the Clone Wars cartoon series of old, and we've had a few close ones. Of course, so many of us forget there was an animated figure based on this series in 2005, and it-- plus the rare 2010 CG-based release-- are both excellent takes on this fan favorite. Everybody loves Fordo, the red ARC Trooper commander. If anyone says otherwise they are lying, please punch them in the incisors for me.

For various reasons, I did not have this figure in my collection until late 2011. As with the other figures in the line, it's more of a collectible figure or statue than a plastic plaything. The ARC Trooper has four points of articulation, including a ball-jointed head which is fantastic for display purposes. His bright red armor markings come through crystal-clear, plus my favorite thing about the figure is his sculpt. Hasbro did a really good job ensuring that he can signal with his right hand and, were you so inclined, it can also hold his second blaster. Both blasters can fit in his holsters, but just barely-- it's a tight squeeze.

The detail closely matches the series, save for one thing: the animation model has tons of black lines detailing armor, bringing it to life as a delightful drawing. The action figure has very little of this, and I'd be curious to see if a fan customized this figure with a Gundam marker bringing out those panel lines and seeing just how much better (or worse) it looks. While the helmet isn't perfect, it's quite good and the figure makes for an excellent, low-cost desk decoration.

Collector's Notes: The figure has sold for as little as 99 cents on eBay, and was also sold in a 3-pack as well as individually. I would suggest buying it in a lot with other figures from this animated line to keep your costs down, plus they're all neat enough to warrant your wanting the entire collection. It's a small line, and they're all unusually timeless for Hasbro figures-- they look just as good today as they did in 2005, although I still believe another nickel spent on deco would make them even better. They are worth your while. Buy them.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,729: January 30, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,728: Battle Droid

BATTLE DROID B'Omarr Monastery Assault
The Clone Wars Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87752 No. 87780
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Energy bolts, 2 STAPs, Battle Droid
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: July 2008
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Jabba the Hutt's kidnapped son is being held in a B'omarr monastery built on top of a sheer cliff. Anakin begins the difficult ascent up the cliff with battle droids firing down on him, and droid-piloted STAPs racing into combat, laser cannons blasting. Casualties are mounting, so Anakin makes a daring move. He leaps into the air to take command of a STAP and dispatches battle droids with his lightsaber, clearing a path to the summit. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: This Battle Droid figure was one of many cranked out in 2008 with the launch of the movie and TV show. It's a little off-model-- the head in particular-- but it was resculpted a little bit to better fit the STAP. (I appreciate this, as there's little I hate more than a pilot that can't fit in its ship.) This figure has redesigned arms, the forearms are rotated slightly so he can grip the controls of his vehicle. The legs are spread to fit on the pedals, plus he has a backpack like all Battle Droids tend to. His legs have a lot of blast marks, and he seems dirtier than most Battle Droids out there too. It's a different-- although perhaps not significantly so-- take on the trooper. If I could buy one or two more easily, without the STAPs, I probably would.

While he doesn't include a blaster, he does have some bright blue energy bolts which look like he just got shot. Personally I think painted versions of this kind of damage looks better, but it's still cool and a welcome addition to your unnecessarily large armies.

The STAP itself is also quite cool, with Separatist logos, blue markings, some gold coloring, and tons of filth. If you get in close, you can see some amazing scrapes and grime on this thing. It's almost a shame that Hasbro hasn't applied this level of detail to all of its ships. They do a good job, but this one seems exceptionally nice. Perhaps they put the toy money into the deco? The set includes 2 STAPs (old mold from 1998), plus retooled versions of Anakin and the Battle Droid-- so it couldn't have been much to develop this one.

Collector's Notes: As with most recent toys, this set remains somewhat cheap. You should be able to get one for $15-$20.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,728: January 27, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,727: Vulture Droid

VULTURE DROID Brown Variant
Revenge of the Sith Deluxe Figure
Item No.: Asst. 85182 No. 85774
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Rocket, buzz droid
Action Feature: Firing rocket action
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Late 2005
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Vulture droid starfighters are highly maneuverable and effective in battle. When not in flight, they can change into a walking mode allowing them to be used in surface patrols. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: This Vulture Droid figure was one of few figures I was unable to find at retail during the first go-round. It started showing up, but why? Why would Hasbro take a mold from one movie and paint it up as the version from six years prior out of the blue? I have no idea, and until a couple of weeks ago it, too, sat unopened in a box. Now that we're on the verge of a Phantom Menace reboot, it's neat to look at this older mold and say that, yes, it still looks pretty good. The detail inside the wings is quite striking, and there are numerous sculpted panels and cannons. It's smaller than the "super" mold we'll see returning any day now, but at 7-inches from tip to tip of his wings, it ain't bad.

This is a repaint, the previous version had blue stripes and bright green eyes. This one is mostly a greenish brown, with some metallic bits and bright red eyes. The size is small enough to fit in kid hands without feeling puny, although the only moving parts are its firing rocket and the two articulated wings. A pop-up "head" would have made this a slam-dunk. Still, as deco goes this as (at this time, anyway) my favorite toy Vulture Droid in terms of overall realism. The Revenge of the Sith blue one is cool because of its freaky colors, but this one just seems right to menace the Naboo on behalf of the Trade Federation.

As a bonus it comes with a small, non-articulated Buzz Droid. It's slightly different than the mold with the Tri-Fighter, and has a little bit of paint bringing it to life. There's some yellow on the shell of the robot, plus red "eyes. You'll also notice a grey plastic body and a painted dark gunmetal grey on the arms and shell, too. For ten bucks it's a nice item, and I'm happy that after having hunted it down for five years-- and waited for the price to be right-- I now finally have one.

Collector's Notes: I bought this figure off eBay for about ten bucks roughly a year ago, which helped to cap my modern movie collection off nicely. I saw a few at toy shows over the years but they were always $20-$25, or as I like to say, on the "kindly choke on it" price range. It's not common on eBay, but it's also not really worth anything.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,727: January 26, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,726: Obi-Wan Kenobi

OBI-WAN KENOBI vs. Grievous Bodyguard
Revenge of the Sith Battle Arenas
Item No.: Asst. 85241 No. 85456
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Display stand base, Magnaguard figure
Action Feature: Dueling action, sort of
Retail: $19.99
Availability: April 2005
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Battle as Obi-Wan or one of General Grievous' bodyguards, as they face each other on the sinkhole planet Utapau! One remains - the other falls! (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: This Obi-Wan Kenobi figure has sat unopened in my toy stash for over seven years. Seven years. For some reason, this Battle Arena just never got opened up, most likely due to my having several other fine and/or dandy Obi-Wan and Grievous Bodyguard figures from other parts of the line. I never felt I was missing anything, and this is as someone who feels a need to get his mitts on damned near every action figure Hasbro makes. While it's an interesting figure in terms of construction and its purpose, it does prove one of the things I keep saying in the Q&A column-- collecting is best done when a line is older. The perspective you gain from being a few years removed from a product line often helps you make better decisions and, in this item's case, results in cheaper pricing. It also can show the benefits of being obsessive about this-- Obi-Wan Kenobi just might be Hasbro's best take on the character as an actual plaything for kids.

The figure itself is not a good stand-alone action figure. It's acceptable-- but given its price at the time, it wasn't much of a deal. Obi-Wan has a bizarre swivel thigh joint, a waist joint, a right wrist joint, jointed shoulders, and a moving neck. This is actually enough to get the figure to be able to stand up without the support of the included display stand which effectively turns action figures into a low-rent copy of the Mattel Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots game. As a figure to hand a kid to play and fight with, though, this is actually a good example of Hasbro correcting its mistakes from Attack of the Clones figures. This time around, the lightsaber is designed to hold up to more abuse rather than just snap if it falls over. It is, unfortunately, embedded in his hand but that means you'll never lose it. The lightsaber, I mean-- if you lose his hand you're out of luck. The limited articulation prevents use in vehicles, but he's actually damn near perfect for holding up and slashing other action figures. It's somewhat remarkable really-- as collectors we rarely examine this sort of thing, but few if any Jedi figures can actually fight your other toys. If you take your average Vader figure, put a lightsaber in his hand, and have him start mowing down Rebels, the lightsaber will fall right out of his gloved hands. (There are exceptions, but most of them weren't designed for battle.) Obi-Wan here will never drop his lightsaber, I had him "fight" a bunch of figures on my desk a I write this and you know what? It works. It works very well.

The sculpt is good, as is the paint job. You can see a darker shirt inside Obi-Wan's sleeve, his lightsaber is painted in three colors, and his outfit is, on the whole, devoid of dirt. The face sculpt is vintage 2005 and could use a little more personality, paint could probably beef up his eyes and add some excitement to an otherwise bored-looking toy. Since his right hand has a dedicated lightsaber, it's no surprise his left hand was posed with looks in mind and won't be able to hold many (or any) accessories. His fingers are sculpted separately, and that's a nice touch. His outfit is nicely textured, but again, this is a figure from 2005-- it looks pretty great, but things have evolved since then and I doubt many (or any) of you will find this satisfactory after having bought so many Kenobi figures with over 12 points of articulation.

This figure-- indeed, this entire Battle Arena segment-- does show that you can make figures designed for play but certain kinds of play will cost you niceties like articulation. Having said that, his lack of joints is oddly refreshing and I think he will make a good display piece. While this likely will never be your go-to Obi-Wan from Revenge of the Sith, I can't deny that it was fun to pick up a figure and have him row down a couple of small Transformers and M.U.S.C.L.E. men without feat of snapping the blade off at the hilt. Oh-- the figure also comes with a big, bloated arena accessory. I can't say I'm particularly fond of it, but I'm old and it wasn't meant for me anyway.

Collector's Notes: A loose sample of this figure-- sans arena-- sold for $1.25 on eBay. Complete samples with the companion figure go for closer to $10. I'd say it's worth at least half that. Off the top of my head the figure was not reissued, although if it appeared in one of the many forgettable Wal-Mart exclusive DVD packs, my apologies. I might suggest tracking this down if you have children who are more likely to make their figures fight than to pilot vehicles. While I dislike figures that can't sit in vehicles as a rule, I will say that this one was extremely well designed when it comes to its function-- this shows a kind of thinking we rarely see from Hasbro since the end of the prequels, and depending on how the new "Movie Action" figures go, this could be a lost art. Which is a shame, I would totally buy a Darth Vader made like this. In the world of action figure collecting, a "toy" is a novel thing.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,726: January 25, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,725: Battle Droid

BATTLE DROID Naboo Invasion
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 37499 No. 30787
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC78
Includes: Blaster, antenna, backpack
Action Feature: Folds up nicely
Retail: $9.99
Availability: January 2012
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

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. No specific character information.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' new (temporary?) photo setup.

Commentary: I mistakenly thought this Battle Droid was the same mold from a previous release-- it isn't. Brand new! New gun, new backpack (sits higher on the back than I expected), and yes, sculpted eyes. You might remember the last new version-- the Geonosis Arena sculpt from 2009-- had painted eyes, and they were painted really badly. This one? Pretty much perfect. The shoulders and hips don't have the same lateral range as the last one, but everything else is fantastic. I haven't had it long enough to know what gravity-related problems he'll have standing up over time, but it's an otherwise fantastic figure. Functionally, it's the same as the previous release except it folds up a little bit nicer.

He can collapse in a little ball. He has jointed ankles. He has a nicely detailed paint job. The head sculpt has never been better. And why don't I think it's fantastic? Well, the backpack seems to sit too high on the back, and it's way too clean. There is no way to hold a gun with both hands. The backpack no longer has a hole to carry his gun, which has been on nearly every Battle Droid since 1999. I don't get why they left it out, it was one of my favorite features. It's a big improvement as the sculpt goes, and the antenna makes me thing we'll see OOM-9 as a repaint some day. We'll see, I guess. It's worth picking up, but I wouldn't suggest army-building it at the price. Hasbro has said army builders have been less popular lately, I say it's because $10 a pop is too high to build a squad. $10 is a one-of-each price. When you get right down to it, the functionality of this figure is not greatly improved from the 1999 versions, although its look and feel will make you wish Hasbro had a cheaper way to build an army of these guys in a hurry.

Collector's Notes: This one just came out. There's a street date on it, but I saw them in a bunch of Wal-Marts a couple of weeks ago, and a few Targets over the weekend I believe. Toys R Us put them up on the web early, and after that I stopped keeping track. Long story short: it might be at a store near you. I like the packaging and cardback-- the new back of the card, unlike every Vintage figure since 2004, doesn't look boring. It also has a Phantom Menace logo, which-- if you're like me-- is exciting so you can have one "vintage" carded figure from every movie on display and then move on.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,725: January 24, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,724: PROXY

PROXY Communications Droid
The Legacy Collection Toys "R" Us Exclusive Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Figure Packs
Item No.: Asst. 97910 No. 97912
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #2 of 2
Includes: none
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $29.99
Availability: April 2010
Appearances: The Force Unleashed

Bio: This prototype holodroid has been Galen Marek's companion for many years. PROXY is a one-of-a-kind droid that uses advanced hologram technology and built-in servos to alter his appearance, becoming virtually anyone. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's old kitchen.

Commentary: Oh PROXY, you were one of the more memorable characters in The Force Unleashed. As a plot device, this character seemed to have more personality than a lot of his human counterparts, given a hard-working personality and the kind of can-do attitude about attacking your employer rarely seen outside a Pink Panther movie. An entirely new mold, the figure is super-articulated, super-thin, and a really nice recreation of the digital character. Leg articulation isn't perfect, but when it comes to exclusives like this, or weird Expanded Universe designs, they rarely are.

The skeletal robot basically sweats mist and projects holographic images on it, giving him the illusion of being other people. I don't think the concept-as-technology holds a lot of water, as it were, but it was fun to see him take on random character skins as "training programs" for Starkiller. If you get in real close, you can see wires, pistons, and other cables holding him together making him look like a part of the typical "used" Star Wars universe while technically being one of the highest-tech pieces of military equipment available to the Empire. Heck, even Darth Vader's suit looked like an Apple product despite being cobbled together after an accident. I mean, I assume that sort of attire isn't off-the-rack, but since I shop mostly out of dumpsters I am not up on galactic couture.

The deco here is good, there's a lot of grey but silver, purple, and yellow break it up nicely. A little more purple around the elbows and slightly darker "metal" parts would really sell the look, as the colors are a little muted compared to the rich blacks and vibrant purple seen on the in-game character model. Should Hasbro ever decide to rerelease and repaint, this figure could go from great-- and it is great-- to superb just by selecting slightly different materials. If you stumble on this set in your journeys, I do suggest buying it-- the Mandalorian Starkiller, PROXY, and redesigned Jumptrooper alone made this a worthwhile purchase. (The clear Stormtrooper less so... I'm terrified about keeping it from discoloring.)

Collector's Notes: The set came out during a real lull after the end of red-and-white Legacy and before Vintage launched, and also sat around for a bit. But because this is a good figure, the secondary market picked up on him and just this one robot will cost you about $15-$25. And the whole set was $30 when you skipped it-- see what you get for passing up a good deal? You get screwed. The boxed set is also a little more expensive than its issue price, but it appears to be cheaper than buying the figures separately. While I personally dislike seeing figures shoot up on the secondary market, it's nice to see that things fans asked for sometimes command a premium-- I'd rather see something good gain value than something "rare." And now that Hasbro is aware how much this guy costs, I'd say it's high time to rerelease it wouldn't you?

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,724: January 23, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,723: Battle Droid

BATTLE DROID Separatist Droid Speeder
The Clone Wars Class I Vehicle (Mini-Rigs)
Item No.: Asst. 29960 No. 29958
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: I
Includes: Blaster, backpack, stand, Speeder vehicle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $18.99
Availability: July 2011
Appearances: n/a

Bio: Battle droids operate Separatist droid speeders to attack the clone trooper army. The speeders may be lean in size, but they have plenty of built-in laser cannons to unleash on the troopers. The wings move to enhance its maneuverability during combat. (Taken from the figure's product info page on Hasbro.com.)

Image: Adam's toy room.

Commentary: You've no doubt got too many Battle Droid figures, but this one is different-- Hasbro revisited the sculpt and added some stuff to it. For example, it has knee joints, even though it doesn't need them for this vehicle. His forearms are longer, the torso no longer has a waist joint, and the head is redesigned to look more like the show. It's Battle Droid 2.0, which seems to be about as different and refined as the new Clone Trooper body (first used with Stone) was to the original 2008 form. It's an upgrade, mostly, and the unique blue markings are pretty slick if not necessarily something you need to add to your collection. While not a match, the look reminds me of R2-D2's Battle Droid squad from the Citadel episodes.

My main beef with the new version is the backpack-- the peg is a little tough to push in, and it's extremely easy to knock loose. I'm not even sure how that's possible, but it is. The ball-jointed legs and shoulders had more range in the previous version of the mold, which actually might have been better for sitting on this vehicle-- he does fit just fine, though. The vehicle itself is a nifty little speeder inspired by the mini rigs of old, with moving wings and a dropping bomb. Its main flaw are two cannons right on top of the vehicle which pop off if you look at it funny. Don't touch them, they will shed. Hasbro could have (and should have) used another form of fastener, like the T-shaped peg used on the 1995 Boba Fett or the small pegs used on other vehicles like the Y-Wing Scout Bomber or Republic Scout Speeder. These have a longer slot with a weird fin-shaped peg, and it just doesn't work well. You may need to glue them in place.

Overall, I like the droid-- it looks better and with its knees, it's a better plaything in many respects if they just fix the backpack to stay on better. It isn't perfect, but it seems like very time a troop mold is revised you gain a few things and lose a few others. I'd say get it, but be prepared with some glue if you don't like how it behaves.

Collector's Notes: To date, I believe this is the only Battle Droid to use this specific mold-- correct me if I forgot one, Hasbro has been stingy with new Battle Droids of any kind and they all seem based on the 2008 sculpt. This set is somewhat common (or was late last year), so you might find it easily on your travels. Or you might not. Heck if I know what's sitting where you live.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,723: January 20, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,722: Endor Rebel Commando

REBEL COMMANDO White 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: $7.99
Availability: October 2010
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 toy room.

Commentary: Hasbro claims that bizarre bureaucratic issues regarding SKU counts and other nonsense from their internal bean counters prevented things like running changes on troop builders since late 2009, and while I'd love to believe that to be true it doesn't explain the Rebel Commando. This version was released in October 2010, but an unannounced new head sculpt was created and sold in 2011 on a limited basis-- so far, anyway. Could this mean we'll see more? Was this a fluke, a surprise that got past them? Were we being lied to? I honestly have no idea.

The figure itself is an interesting mix of new and old parts. The legs are from Major Panno, a 2009 alien figure. The backpack and helmet are quite similar to previous releases, as are the weapons. The head and torso are new, as is the bandolier-- which features a particularly clever design in which the rank badge is removable with the aforementioned torso accessory, leading to a modular design which will probably never be used since we rarely see these guys without a coat of some sort. Heck, even the long coat used on this figure and its variant is pretty weird, there was no analog for it in the original 1983 line yet here it is in the modern "Vintage Collection." I appreciate variety, but I can't say I entirely understand it.

The coat is made from a colorful camo fabric, and the helmet is re-re-recycled from a 2002 Endor Rebel and at least 7 action figures. To date, no Endor Rebel character (including Luke or Leia) has been given a removable helmet with a chinstrap. Heck, I don't even need it to be removable-- a chinstrap would be nice. The range of motion is pretty good on his arms and legs, however the coat does inhibit movement.

Collector's Notes: While not a pegwarmer per se, this figure did hang around a bit, and Hasbro has said there was some degree of troop builder fatigue in the line. (I disagree, other than the endless Sandtroopers and sub-par EP3 Clones, we aren't getting enough generic guys.) Anyway, you can probably find him right now and odds are he'll be even cheaper if you can wait 1-2 years.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,722: January 19, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,721: Anakin Skywalker

ANAKIN SKYWALKER Season III Series
Clone Wars Cartoon Network / Tartakovsky Animated Series Action Figures
Item No.: Asst. 85661 No. 85470
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Anakin lightsaber, Ventress lightsaber, display stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Early 2005
Appearances: Clone Wars 2003 series

Image: Adam Pawlus' photo area.

Bio: Through the creative vision of Lucasfilm Ltd. and the Cartoon Network, the Clone Wars are brought to life in an exciting new series of short animated chapters. A unique animation style captures the drama of this epic period in galactic history along with its outstanding heroes and adversaries. Noble Jedi warriors lead Clone Troopers into battle against the evil Separatist forces and their droid armies. Anakin, Obi-Wan, Yoda and their comrades struggle against the rising power of the dark side and confront personal challenges against a backdrop of war-torn planets. (Yes, this press release was taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's toy room.

Commentary: Despite not being from Season 3 of the original Clone Wars animated program, this Anakin Skywalker was put in stores around the same time that it aired. While I previously did not feature this line, popular demand from a poll in 2011 said you wanted to read about these-- so here you go. This Anakin was a collector's figure, having less in common with action figures than with statues. Packaged with no twist ties or rubber bands, the card art was slick, clean, and gorgeous. The back had animation art from the episode as well as pencil sketches, with lots of white and big bold colors. As packaging goes, this may be some of Hasbro's most graphically pleasing work, despite never having been hailed as a fan-favorite sub-line. This line of animated figures came out long after the announcement of "realistic" Clone Wars toys, and were designed with collectors in mind. (That means they're not going to fit in vehicles.)

Modeled after his fight in the rain with Asajj Ventress, this action figure is wet in appearance with an angry face and matted-down hair. He is well-muscled, visibly in touch with his dark side, and features a mere 5 strategically placed joints. Each shoulder is poseable, as is his robotic wrist, his neck, and his waist-- other than that, he's a statue. I liked this line because it provided maquette-like collectibles at action figure prices, allowing limited articulation to give the character some personality without burdening the design with cuts all over the place. It looks spectacular and was the first version of Anakin in this costume to be made as an action figure, with a realistic (and dorky-looking) version coming later in 2005.

The figure reminds me a lot of Chuck Jones' art, for some reason, so I dig it. With big sparks coming out of the lightsaber hilts, bold poses, and lots of personality sculpted into the face, these are unlike any other figures in the Hasbro canon and there are only about 14 carded figures and an additional 6 figures exclusive to 3-packs, counting all major variants. It's a tiny line you may wish to collect as it doesn't take up a lot of room.

Collector's Notes: The figure was sold single-carded only, and was available for a short window of time. (The initial two series were Target exclusives-- this wave was the first batch of new figures to be sold everywhere.) Due to the coming of Revenge of the Sith, the line came and went quickly. Today, the figure sells anywhere from $0.01 (seriously, plus shipping, it closed for this) to as high as $10 on the secondary market. I would suggest seeing if you can buy the entire line-- or close to it-- as a cheaply priced collection. It is extremely unlikely that Hasbro will ever return to this style of product.

Other Notes: Due to some communication errors, I was supposed to be mailed one of these in 2005 and it never came. I didn't actually get this figure until late 2011, over 6 1/2 years after its release. Interestingly, I found it on eBay in a lot with the other figures from the line I skipped plus several extras I didn't need, and the price of the entire lot was significantly lower than buying the 3 figures I needed individually. So as you can see, I followed my own advice in Q&A which you people keep calling me out for offering, and it actually paid off. Sometimes, yes, it DOES pay to wait a few years and buy a whole collection rather than 2-4 individual figures.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,721: January 18, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,720: R2-T0

R2-T0 Wal-Mart Exclusive
30th Anniversary Collection Droid Factory
Item No.: Asst. 12980 No. 87756
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 5 of 6
Includes: Watto, piece of C-3PX
Action Feature: Rotate dome, retract central leg
Retail: $9.99
Availability: May 2008
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Bio: Watto sells used droids and mechanical parts in his shop on Tatooine. One of the droids for sale is R2-T0. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's toy room.

Commentary: Arguably the best of the Wal-Mart Droid Factory sets in terms of deco, Watto and R3-T0 bring you characters you didn't think you wanted. While not a perfect match to the movie, it's not like you could pick him out easily and it looks like the paint job is extremely good all the same. In the movie stills, the droid was shown with arms and gadgets popping out-- but this sort of thing costs money, so Hasbro repainted the R4-G9 mold and made a perfectly good robot out of existing parts. This is the mold with the retractable third leg and rolling wheels, and it's the basis for most of the best R2-style droids since 2005. His head turns, his legs move, and his feet are articulated. It's a good design.

The main reason to buy this figure is the astonishingly good paint job. Again, it doesn't perfectly match the movie (which has even more dirt) but it's an amazing figure in its own right. If Hasbro came to you and said "We made this up, but we think collectors would like it" I think you'd agree. Mostly a dirty blue, R2-T0 has green panels, some red markings, a ridiculous amount of scrapes, and a big black shiny eye-- just the way it should be. While Hasbro has done some cute R2 repaints over the years, this is the one that-- with paint alone-- knocked my socks off. Sure, R2-KT is cute. Yes, I thought Goldie was nice as an evil robot goes. But for my money there's nothing more amazing than R2-T0 in terms of "so did that toy get hit by a bus?"-ness. The companion Watto figure is, at this time, notable as the finest Watto to date so you probably won't be sorry if you get this 2-pack.

Collector's Notes: The set is worth about $10 on the secondary market, if not less. You might get an even better deal by picking up all six droid factory sets so you can also build C-3PX.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,720: January 17, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,719: Sky Trooper

SKY TROOPER Ambush at Star Tours
Star Tours Ambush at Star Tours Gift Set
Item No.: No. 33245
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, backpack, three other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.95
Availability: May 2011
Appearances: Star Tours

Bio: Sky Troopers use custom jetpacks to fly easily thorough sky and space. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's kitchen. Stand not included.

Commentary: While the Darth Vader from this set has a new accessory, the only real new figure is the SKy Trooper and Hasbro was kind enough to throw two in the box. The idea is that you get that Vintage 2004 Stormtrooper mold decked out with more space gear. "Like the Space Trooper I already bought?" you ask? Sort of. This time it has a new, slightly more awkward jet pack and new deco, and the new deco is the reason to buy him. It's both sort of Imperial Chic with grey stripes, maintaining the style we've seen on our clones more since 2005. The pattern feels vintage 1980s, which, for me, works quite well. He includes a clone blaster for some reason, and has the typical 14 points of articulation.

If you like the look of the figure, you're probably going to dig him. The only thing that could make him better would be a flight stand, because what's the point of a jet pack trooper who just stands around? Cody gets an exception, but for the rest? I demand flight!

Collector's Notes: This set is most likely available at a Disney theme park (not) near you right now. For $40 it's not a good deal, and it sells for $40-$60 on eBay. My pal Shannon is kind enough to act as my mule on these items, and for that I am happy-- but I wouldn't necessarily drop an extra $30 to get this set on the secondary market. Basically, you're paying $40 for a Boba Fett you probably have, a Darth Vader you also probably have, and the two Sky Troopers-- and unless you want two, it's kind of expensive.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,719: January 16, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,718: El-Les

EL-LES Clone Trainer!
The Clone Wars Basic Figure
Item No.: Asst. 94736 No. 28523
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW47
Includes: Pistol, rifle, stand, battle game stuff
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: February 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: The Arcona drill sergeant El-Les trains clone troopers on Kamino. His extensive experience as a bounty hunter makes him well-suited to teach battle skills to the cadets. Always armed, the blasters El-Les carries are the models favored by many bounty hunters. The long-distance marksman rifle is designed for pinpioint targeting accuracy. His compact pistol is easy to conceal, so that he does not reveal his purpose as he closes in on his quarry. (Taken form the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's TV tray.

Commentary: As a companion to the more vocal (and arguably interesting) Sgt. Bric mail-in figure, El-Les is an Arcona bounty hunter/clone teacher appearing on only one episode of The Clone Wars so far. Minus a lack of ankle joints, El-Les is a super-articulated figure with some pretty decent sculpted detail. He's lanky, he has ribbed armor, and there's a fair amount of color like a yellow marking around his neck and a communicator on his wrist. Heck, most Anakin figures don't even have one of those yet! For a character that stands around offering exposition, he got a pretty good figure. The Lucas animation people didn't make him a particularly tough bounty hunter, resulting in a character that seems too forgiving and maybe even a little weak when put against the irate Bric. Heck, even next to Ahsoka, El-Les doesn't really seem like a heavy-hitter.

The sculpting and deco of the figure are great. The head has just enough detail, the toy matches the animation model to my liking, and I appreciate that his rifle has painted detail. Even if it is, you know, completely unnecessary. I'm actually a little surprised they opted to not include a spring-loaded weapon with this guy to appeal to the kids, but I do have a hard time reconciling Hasbro's "we're making this for kids" line with the product they release. There's a lot to like here, but most of it is going to come from just how interested you are in this guy as a character, or at least as an accessory for your clones. He doesn't disappoint, so grab one.

Collector's Notes: Unlike most non-major-character characters, Hasbro kept shipping this guy for a while-- so his being at your store could be a sign that you just missed Wave 10 right now.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,718: January 13, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,717: Lemmet Tauk

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

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

Image: Adam's old kitchen.

Commentary: While most of the figures are-- or I figured were-- young initiates to the Emperor's personal guard, Lemmet Tauk looks older thanks to his beard. I mean, I suppose he could be a young military person but the look is more or less of a slightly older man. The body is the same as the other figures in the set-- the legs are recycled from a 2007 Clone Trooper, while the rest is, well, it is what it is. If you leave the helmet on, it's a perfectly good figure although it doesn't necessarily reek of the Empire. It's quite ornate, with sculpted gloves and big shoulder pads which seem almost too fancy for a trainee-- particularly when the trainees are disposable. The life expectancy is pretty short for a guardsman-in-training, but I suppose the dental benefits if you get the gig must be astounding.

With 12 points of articulation, the figure doesn't sound half bad. The problem is that he has very few ball joints, and the legs are posed in a way that limits mobility and cool action poses. I don't mind the design of the outfit, but I do sort of wish they had waited a few years to get to him. If we waited until now, it would probably play a lot better as a toy and as a display piece. Get it cheap if you can... and you probably can.

Collector's Notes: The complete set goes for about $20 these days, which is arguably worth it just for the Palpatine and Darth Vader if you don't already have them. I'd say go for it at that price.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,717: January 12, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,716: Clone Trooper

CLONE TROOPER with Speeder Bike
Clone Wars Deluxe Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84845 No. 84846
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster pistol, grenade, helmet, armor, bike
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 2003
Appearances: Clone Wars

Bio: The Clone Troopers use speeder bikes for reconnaissance and fast-strike attacks during the Clone Wars battles. Small and swift, the speeder bikes provide the Clone Troopers with an excellent means of gaining information on the Separatist forces by approaching close to the opposing armies and retreating quickly with valuable intelligence. Their streamlined design and highly reactive maneuverability allows Clone Troopers to coordinate surprise attacks on small units away from the main Separatist armies. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's old desk.

Commentary: A repaint and remold of the 2002 figure, this Clone Trooper also includes a speeder bike except this one is painted differently and had some modifications made to it. The bike has a rocket launcher and a retooled pack on the back, while the figure has been repainted to have dirt on his boots.

The figure is a neat one, showing lots of promise-- but the execution could be better. The figure is sculpted with a black bodysuit, snap-on armor fits on his body and limbs to complete the look. The articulation is a little awkward, but it's largely good for posing the figure on the bike. As a toy, it's not very good-- keeping him on the bike with his armor attached is quite tricky, a simpler design may have made for a better toy. Newer figures may be able to fit on the bikes better, and the bike itself is a little soft in spots which makes it hard to display in the long term. You'll need to be careful with this one.

Collector's Notes: It's not even worth retail any more, and the main reason to get this-- or its 2002 predecessor-- is to store it inside one of your Republic Gunships.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,716: January 11, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,715: AT-AT Commander

AT-AT COMMANDER Bounty Hunter
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 97568 No. 97573
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC05
Includes: Blaster, helmet, chest armor, goggles
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99-$9.99
Availability: June 2010
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: The vintage line does not have character-specific bios. It just reminds you that these are very old figures. In the case of this figure, you get a summary that tells you nothing of the character along with a photo and a caption saying the original figure card front was used from 1980-1982. Whoopee.

Image: Adam's old kitchen.

Commentary: A mix of new and old parts, this AT-AT Commander is a very good and very unnecessary figure. So why make it? Hasbro had a giant AT-AT hit stores around the same time as this figure, and the last General Veers was sold in 2006-- so for the newcomers, they're going to want a commander for the ship. As an added bonus, it checks off an update for a classic Kenner figure of the same name, so woo-hoo. The bad news is that it was a bit of a slow seller and was still available late last year. Heck, it might still be available now.

He used a mix of super-articulated parts from Janek "Tank" Sunber and Captian Needa, resulting in a figure that's technically superior to Veers from 2006. (Veers was also friggin' tall.) If you must have a commander with plenty of joints, this is the one to get. The detail is good, and the head sculpt doesn't look like anyone in particular. Were it not for the armor under his belt, you could even use this guy as a spare generic Imperial Officer of some sort!

The figure has no problem standing around in the commander's area in the big AT-AT and it looks pretty good too. Getting the goggles and helmet just right can be a bit of a chore, and I'm a little concerned the goggles will stretch or break over time if you aren't careful. The helmet is also a little bulky, but I'm not sure if they could make a decent one in a much smaller size-- although Veers did look pretty good, didn't he? Hmmm. Well, I guess with that in mind, if you have Veers be happy. If you need more, get an AT-AT Commander. Ultimately you don't need two of a similar character, but has that ever stopped you before? Oh, and his holster is pretty good-- it feels better than Veers' to me in terms of functionality.

Collector's Notes: This figure came out as part of the long-suffering first wave of 2010 Vintage figures, and hung around for a while. The wave was notable in that it proved how the market works when collector apathy sets in-- Darth Vader and Boba Fett repacks will sell quickly, followed by core characters like Han, Leia, and Luke... with troopers or lesser bounty hunters slowly selling out later. A bad wave 1 can disrupt distribution for an entire assortment for months or even years to come, and well, this one did. So if you see one out there, curse him for me.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,715: January 10, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,714: Stealth Operations Clone Trooper

STEALTH OPERATIONS CLONE TROOPER or, Commander Blackout
The Clone Wars Toys R Us Exclusive
Item No.: No. 32249
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Stand, blaster, card, die
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: September 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars TV show

Bio: A seasoned veteran of many covert military operations, the stealth operations clone trooper shows a rookie trooper how to survive the dangers of a stealth combat mission - particularly one led by Anakin Skywalker. A routine relief operation turns into an all-out fight with a ruthless enemy. The battle-hardened trooper is tough on recruits, to make them ready for unexpected attacks and able to jump into action. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's basement.

Commentary: Nowhere on the package describes this figure as Commander Blackout, but this Stealth Operations Clone Trooper is referred to as that name on the box, and "Stealth Ops" on his trading card. A different clone called a "Stealth Ops Clone Trooper" was released about the same time, so this might be sort of confusing-- two nearly identical figures with nearly identical names issued at the same time. But how can you tell them apart?

The exclusive "Operations" version has only a blaster and the Galactic Battle Game gear, while the "Ops" version includes a rifle, a pistol, a jetpack, firing rockets, and a harness. Oh, and it's probably cheaper, too. That's the exclusive game for ya! The good news, though, is "Operations" has better deco-- note his helmet, while similar the other figure he has some yellow markings. And... well, I guess that's it really.

The body is the newer Clone body, with no ankle joints and only swiveling wrists. This means it's proportionally closer to the show, while being slightly less good at sitting down-- had Hasbro ever made that Stealth Ship from the series, he wouldn't be able to sit in it very well. Well, OK, he COULD-- but once you swing the legs forward, they do get a little loose until he morphs back into place. This is a fantastic stand-around-and-look-good figure. I dig it. But as an actual crew member for a vehicle, he may let you down.

Collector's Notes: A variant exists-- to add to the confusion, the exclusive figure sometimes shipped without the big silver "R" exclusive sticker. This means that at a glance, it's tough to tell that the exclusive version is an exclusive, and since Toys R Us mixes him up on the pegs odds are it's just going to confuse a bunch of people. Get him if you can-- but if you can't, there's at least one similar figure out there to be had. (Although to date, this is the more common of the two stealth clones.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,714: January 9, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,713: Plo Koon

PLO KOON Cold Weather Gear
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 94736 No. 29651
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #CW53
Includes: Stand, lightsaber, snow shoes, mask, game stuff
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $8.99
Availability: August 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars comics

Bio: Plo Koon fights to free an ice-covered world from the Separatists. The Jedi general wears a special mask to protect him from Khorm's harsh environment. Traction spikes make it easy for him to move quickly over the snow and ice, as he fights a ruthless warlord and battles droids who are controlling an important source of fuel. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's former kitchen with Kit Fisto.

Commentary: Hasbro understands getting the most bang for its buck, which is why Plo Koon shares parts with Kit Fisto, both of which were released at basically the exact same time. The two share a number of parts, like bits of the torso and legs, which no doubt helps on keeping costs down. Both figures come from the comic books, which is a little odd as I think these may mark the first animated figures to come from print. Plo does not have articulated ankles, and the coat gets in the way of sitting, but aside from that is a great figure. I love that they included a snow mask for his regular mask, and the fact that it actually fits properly is a nice bonus. The snow shoes snap on to his feet nicely, but they're also sort of annoying-- Plo can't use his display stand and the shoes at the same time, which means either the stand is unnecessary or you're going to lose your shoes. Either way... hey, gear.

The figure looks good and seems pretty close to the comic book inspiration. Keeping elements from the TV show like his gloves and gauntlets while wrapping up his legs like a Tusken Raider, this is a figure with some excellent detail work and a folded-down hood for his jacket. As the hood is a separate piece, it's worth noting they gave Kit Fisto a completely different one to continue the illusion of the two wearing unique garments. If you like the look of this figure, I think you'll have a good time with it. As always cloth coats for improved sitting are preferred, but I'm more or less surprised we got any comic book figures for the animated line. I expect much complaining that we got these before a new TV show character, but the way Hasbro is with core characters in this line it seems that "snow" and "urban camo" figures are almost a requirement. I'd say get the figure if you're in to snow stuff-- the line seems to have a pretty good chunk of cold guys with Kit, Anakin, Obi-Wan, Rex, and at least one other Clone so far.

Collector's Notes: Despite being around for several months, this wave has not yet reached a saturation point. I've seen them come and go all the time, but now that we're on the cusp of a package transition it leaves one wondering if the "final wave" problem might end up being a final three waves problem. eBay prices are quite low given how difficult the figure is to find, particularly in lots. If you don't like risk I suggest grabbing it the next time he shows up in a lot at an average price of $8-$9 per worthwhile figure, or ordering a case if that's the kind of thing that you do. (Based on the mix, it's probably not the kind of thing that you do.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,713: January 6, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,712: Heavy Trooper

HEAVY TROOPER Battlefront II Clone Pack
30th Anniversary Collection Diamond/Previews Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 87561 No. 87466
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Rocket launcher, rocket, 5 more figures
Action Feature: Squeeze legs to reposition arms
Retail: $39.99
Availability: November 2007
Appearances: Star Wars: Battlefront II

Bio: These front-line troopers receive special training to take out enemy vehicles, using powerful rocket launchers and other heavy weapons. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's former apartment.

Commentary: Hasbro wisely realized just how much mileage they could get out of their clone molds, and the Heavy Trooper was what Bacara got. It's the same sculpt as the 2005 figure, complete with the squeeze-the-legs-to-aim-the-gun action. (It's a nice action.) The big deal here is the new color and the gun, which for Clone fanatics is more than enough reason to shell out the cash to get one. The figure is now painted in a gray color rather than maroon (or camo, or blue) and sports some "battle damage" scrapes and markings. There are some silver highlights, but he's still the "can't really sit" figure from 2005, more or less.

The gun-- so far exclusive to this figure and this set-- is the high point here. The long black rocket is removable from the launcher, but does not fire-- this is unusual for a Hasbro product, as spring-loaded whatevers tend to find their way into most of the toys where it would be appropriate. Why they neglected to include on here is beyond me-- I would assume it might have to do with a reduced lead time to make the set, but it's hard to know for certain. (After all, we can't ask Hasbro questions about all 2,000 or whatever figures.) This figure looks good and is basically acceptable as a plaything, but it's more of a "pose" figure than an "action" figure. It's kind of funny to see that it has a mechanized feature to aim his rocket launcher... but the launcher does not fire.

Collector's Notes: The set was repackaged in the blue-and-white 2008 "Legacy" colors, making these figures not terrible tough to locate. The price varies based on a variety of factors, but has sold recently for as little as $26. Plus a lot of shipping.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,712: January 5, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,711: Clone Trooper Buzz

CLONE TROOPER BUZZ with BARC Speeder Bike
The Clone Wars Wal-Mart Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 31695 No. 31707
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, stand, game card, BARC Speeder Bike
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $16.97
Availability: December 2011
Appearances: The Clone Wars "Landing at Point Rain" episodes on Geonosis

Bio: Clone trooper Buzz rides a BARC speeder bike on Geonosis. He is on a scouting mission for the Republic forces, as they plan their next move against the Separatist army. With its laser cannons, speed, and mobility, the bike gives Buzz the ability to defend himself against an enemy attack. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo area.

Commentary: The set with Clone Trooper Buzz is basically just a redeco of the Clone Trooper Jesse with BARC Speeder Bike set from about a year back. This is perfectly fine-- Jesse is a good mold, and the speeder with wheels is more fun than the ones without wheels. But anyway, let's talk about Buzz, who's full name is "Clone Trooper Buzz" most likely for the same reasons we got toys whose proper names were "Autobot Jazz" or "Marvel's Firestar." Because of how trademarks and whatnot go, sometimes a word by itself isn't strong enough-- so you add a prefix. Also, sometimes a character name is taken by another product, or another company, and in this case it's a safe bet "Buzz" needed more so it wouldn't be confused with one Buzz Lightyear. (Similarly, Hasbro made the Jedi Knight Kit Fisto around the same time as Mattel tried to remake an old He-Man character named Fisto, but at the time they just renamed him to Battle Fist.)

Lacking the rotary blaster cannon he had on the show, Buzz now sports a bike which is, arguably, more fun to play with. (Besides, you probably have a spare rotary cannon by now.) The figure is based on the Jesse body, which itself is based on the Stone body. It's notable for having swiveling wrists, no ankle joints, and armor more accurately sculpted to fit the look of the show. (The elbows were wrong on most 2008-2009 figures.) With the addition of ball jointed hips for better use of his vehicle, the sculpt is almost perfect-- the belt looks funky and is a little ill-fitting. I originally had thought the belt was upside-down, but this is not the case-- it's just not quite a perfect fit.

Other than that, it's a pretty neat design. I don't know if the name "Buzz" has any significance, but he does have a swell stitching on his helmet and some markings on his shoulder of which I do not know the meaning-- if any. The green paint is a little sloppy in parts, particularly some smudges on his backside and on the top of his helmet. At $17 with a vehicle, odds are you won't want the vehicle. But the figure was enough to get me to pull the trigger just because he did look significantly different from other green clones in my toy box.

Collector's Notes: The set was delayed, apparently by quite a bit-- the date stamp on the box indicates it was made in March of 2011. The item was announced in July of 2011, when Hasbro confirmed an August release date. It hit in December, more or less out of the blue after months of silence.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,711: January 4, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,710: Han Solo

HAN SOLO Skirmish at Carkoon
Saga Toys R Us Exclusive
Item No.: No. 34511
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Handcuffs, sail barge blaster, other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: 2004
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: He escapes being fed to the Sarlacc when his friends come to his resuce. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's toy shelves.

Commentary: I'm not quite sure why Hasbro opted to put this "new" Han Solo out in 2004. Made of new and old parts, this figure creates an unfrozen Captain Solo out of elements of the 1999 Cantina version and the 2000/2001 Bespin Han Solo figure. It kept some of the good parts, but not all-- unsurprisingly, the new right leg has no holster, but it also has no knee joints. The figure doesn't sport ball-jointed shoulders either so when you get right down to it, at least from the perspective of articulation, this figure took the worst elements of those and put them together.

The figure itself looks OK, an improvement over the brow-furrowed unfrozen Han of 1999 and the bulky one from 1996. Han Solo in Carbonite is one of those few figures that could really stand for a complete update, although those just wanted a solid unfrozen Han may be best served by the 2006 carded release, or the 2008 Sandstorm version. This version is for collectors only, if you have to have every last unique mold, this is one you just have to buy. Seven points of articulation weren't very exciting in 2004, and they're not very exciting today. The coloring is good, but the shirt is wrong and the head sculpt feels off. Harrison Ford's head seems like a tough one to capture in this scale, so you might just want to give this one a pass.

Collector's Notes: The set itself is rather neat-- you get Klaatu, Barada, and Nikto from the then-hard-to-find Cinema Scene set featuring Jabba's thugs, although now they have black weapons. (Variant!) The other big accessory in this set is the Sail Barge Cannon, originally sold with a Deluxe Slave Leia in 2001. It's a nice accessory, and from the look of things it'll be the largest chunk of the barge Hasbro ever makes. I would suggest getting the gun, but to date there is no way to do so without also buying some of those older figures which you may no longer want or need. Since this set is basically worthless at under $10, or much less, I think it wouldn't kill you to get it just to toss out the figures and keep the gun. (But don't do that.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,710: January 3, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,709: Boba Fett

BOBA FETT Prototype Armor
The Vintage Collection Mail-In Premium
Item No.: No. 36623
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC61
Includes: Jetpack, two blasters
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99 + 5 UPCs
Availability: September 2011
Appearances: n/a

Bio: This limited edition figure depicts the first costume ever produced for Boba Fett. The all-white armor reflects the character's iniital concept as a "super trooper" before he evolved into the bounty hunter he is today. This prototype design was unveiled on June 28, 1978 in a screen test shot and is being worn by the assistant film editor for The Empire Strikes Back. In the 20-minute screen test, the sound designer describes the myriad weapons and features on this armored uniform for George Lucas and the Star Wars crew. For the first time ever, we have created this special action figure to commemorate hte birth of this favorite character from the Star Wars saga. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' room.

Commentary: When I posted that I received this Boba Fett figure in the mail-- and I held off on ordering it because I had to move this year-- I got a lot of responses like "so is it worth it?" That's not exactly a reassuring response to see, generally mail-in figures are jumped upon and the thought of not sending off for a figure which is clearly different is unthinkable. But you did ask the question, and you deserve an answer. The figure is a mishmash of existing figures: the bulk of it is the 2004 Vintage Boba Fett, but the holster is from the 2007 Animated Boba Fett. If what you're ultimately wondering is "Should I buy the McQuarrie version or this one?" I'd say go get the McQuarrie Concept version first.

The smaller pistol seems to be from the 2000 300th Edition Boba Fett, and the larger one seems to be taken from the aforementioned McQuarrie Concept version. Neither can be held particularly well, but the McQuarrie blaster does fit into the holster nicely. As gear goes-- and the figure as a whole-- I would best describe it as the best Hasbro wanted to do with what must have been a small budget. The figure has Wookiee scalps, the concept armor does not. The figure lacks the hooks/prongs/whatever on the rocket that the prototype armor has. Obviously, the prototype armor has fewer dents and scrapes, plus it has a much lighter gray body suit-- this figure, while light gray, is still relatively dark compared to the armor. The belt doesn't quite match either but remember-- this was not a figure meant to be a perfect replica of a unique piece of history so much as it was a token repaint wave figure being turned into a mail-in offer.

Because I'll buy anything, I think it's OK. I will say that I wish it was free with UPCs, because at $7... I don't know. At $7 I'd probably buy one at retail semi-happily, but ultimately it doesn't deliver on the authenticity I'd hope for on an obscure piece of Star Wars lore. It's plenty weird and neat in its own right, but as I was hoping they'd give us the grapple-hook rocket on his backpack I was a smidgen let down. Also, his cape lacks the towel elements of the original armor-- which probably makes for a better figure, but I was hoping it'd be more like the original.

Collector's Notes: This figure is still shipping and marks two years of mail-in figures based on some form of prototype Boba Fett. Mine took about six weeks to get here after I sent for it. The current redemption form may be found here but history says that Hasbro's Bozeman, MT fulfillment partners will take pretty much any UPCs so long as you supply a check and a valid address. The cardback comes unpunched, and it comes in a sturdy white mailer box. As of today, you have until March 31, 2011 to send for it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,709: January 2, 2012