Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,838: Clone Cadet Cutup

CLONE CADET CUTUP  Republic Clone Troopers
Discover the Force/The Clone Wars Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 37822 No.  37827  
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster rifle, helmet, stand, game cards, Bomb Squad Trooper, Hardcase
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $22.99
Availability: January 2012
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Clone troopers train for comb at on the planet Kamino.  Kamino is not only the place where the clone troopers are engineered; it is also where they are trained in battle tactics, fighting techniques and explosives.  Seasoned clone troopers push the cadets hard to turn them into the toughest and most skilled fighters in the galaxy.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's closet.

Commentary: One neat thing about The Clone Wars is that many clone troopers are basically retextured versions of the same model, so Cutup is cut from the same mold as Hevy.  By making one, Hasbro can do what the animators did and tweak the paint, giving us more figures from Domino Squad with little effort.  (So far, we've got two of the five.)   Close to a super-articulated figure, Cutup lacks ankles but is otherwise pretty poseable-- you get wrists, shoulders, all that stuff.  The helmet is partially transparent so you can actually see his face-- unusual for animated figures and clones in general-- plus he has a swell rifle.   The deco is similar to Hevy, but the number "4" now appears on his armor, as it's more appropriate for the other character.   While some fans give Hasbro grief for repaints, there are times where it makes a ton of good sense and this figure is one of them.  Heck, Hasbro can probably do at least another dozen figures based just on this mold, rounding out Domino Squad and then tackling the other teams from the series.  I hope they do, because Hevy and Cutup turned out pretty great!

Collector's Notes: The most popular set of the first batch of 2012 Battle Packs, the Republic Clone Troopers was the only one of the three which seemed to routinely sell out at retail-- this is, most likely, due to a combination of the show's popularity in terms of toys and/or the fact that all three figures in this set were obviously new and different to your average trooper fan.  As he shipped in wave 2 as well, there's a chance you'll still have a few opportunities to get it, and I do suggest you track this set down if you do cartoon figures.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,838: June 29, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,837: Shaak Ti

SHAAK TI The Force Unleashed
The Legacy Collection Shared Exclusive Expanded Universe Wave
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 93308
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD61
Includes: Lightsaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: May 2010
Appearances: The Force Unleashed video game

Bio:   Shaak Ti is a Jedi Master and member of the Jedi Council. She survives Order 66 and eventually arrives on Felucia, where she prepares the Force-sensitive Felucians for an unavoidable encounter with Darth Vader.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's old kitchen.

Commentary: Perfect? No. Good? Yes.  This Shaak Ti has face paint that's a little more white, and a little more intense than the other figures which hold her likeness, but she's still really good.  A super-articulated figure, this release represents her during the first Force Unleashed game where she's an outcast on Felucia, wearing rags in a manner which shows of her rack  nicely, as most outcasts fighting for survival are known to do.  Her head is posed in a more dynamic manner, plus she's wearing spikes and various wrappings rather than the incredibly thick and ornate Jedi robes of her movie appearances.  The big advantage here is that there is nothing to really get in the way of her articulation, making her an ideal figure to pose and duel Starkiller or other figures.

As a naked alien lady, she turned out quite well.  Her unique reddish/pinkish skin color is covered in rags and tribal markings, plus her clothes are vaguely tattered.  I guess it's meant to represent the breakdown of order, going from overly modest to dresses-too-sexy? I have no idea.  But it makes for a great figure, which has a fairly pale blue lightsaber blade.  If you're collecting this line and have the means, I have to assume you picked her up when you had the chance-- if you didn't, keep your eyes peeled.

Collector's Notes: Video gamers tend to spend a little more on toys, so it's no big surprise this Shaak Ti is now north of $30 loose.  So if you can get her for under $20, do so.  Just be prepared to pay up for this one.  While fans often decry the lack of Expanded Universe figures, The Force Unleashed has about 40, including some repacks and duplicated troopers from gift sets.   To put things in perspective, the first game in the series got more action figures in roughly two years than the original Star Wars movie in the entire original vintage line spanning 1978-1985.  Good luck finding one!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,837: June 28, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,836: Rodian Jedi

RODIAN JEDI  Arena Battle
The Legacy Collection Target Exclusive Geonosis Arena Packs 2010
Item No.: Asst. 97645 No.  97647  
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #2 of 6
Includes: Lightsaber, Battle Droid figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99
Availability: October 2010
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: The Jedi Knights rush to Geonosis to rescue Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Padme from execution. The Jedi brandish their lightsabers against the Geonosian warriors and the massive army of battle droids, super battle droids, and droidekas. All hope seems lost that any Jedi will survive this battle, then Yoda arrives with an army of clone troopers. Although many Jedi are lost that day, others survive this climactic battle that ushers in the Clone Wars.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's old kitchen.

Commentary:  While I can't be 100% certain, I'm pretty sure this Rodian Jedi exists because of fellow megafan Dan Curto's potential possible patronage of the character.  As far as I can tell from official sources, he has no name, but he is a pretty dang cool figure.  Based on a similar 2003 release with no articulation to speak of, the 2010 Rodian Jedi uses a Luke Skywalker body with new hands and a new head, showing that Hasbro really is getting good at making the most out of its existing mold investments.  This release has a delightful 14 joints and a swell green lightsaber, making it a nice and frankly unique release in a sea of retreads.  Of course, I realize that this figure is also a retread, but it's a big improvement over the previous release as he can stand up on his own more easily, and has a much larger head.  The detailing of the Expanded Universe Luke outfit works perfectly for this creation, which-- as far as I can tell-- is completely derived from a Hasbro in-house concept, from a piece of fanfic, or some healthy mix. (Correct me if I'm wrong.) 

It's a great figure and to date, this is the best Rodian Jedi Knight figure you can buy.  I do suggest you get it if the price is right, despite the wonky eyes the companion Battle Droid is still pretty good.

Collector's Notes: This set, and the whole second wave of Arena packs, seems to be climbing on the secondary market-- be very surprised if you can get it for under the original price.  If you can, buy it.  You won't be sorry!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,836: June 27, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,835: Anakin Skywalker

ANAKIN SKYWALKER Jedi High Council
Original Trilogy Collection Screen Scenes
Item No.: No. 32162
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: Scene 3
Includes: Base, extra base, 2 chairs, Saesee Tiin, Adi Gallia
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: 2004
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: The Jedi High Council is the main interface between the Jedi and the government of the Republic. The twelve High Council members are chosen from the ranks of the Jedi Masters and represent a gathering of great minds who have proven themselves and their abilities in the service of peace and justice.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo area.

Commentary:  Some figures you chase down because they're great, others you get out of obligation.  If you want a complete Jedi High Council chamber, you're going to end up with this Anakin Skywalker which, honestly, isn't a bad figure.  By the time he was released you probably already had an opportunity or two to buy this mold, and the darker dirt and pretty nicely painted head may not be enough to make it exciting.  (Of course, in 2012 there have been a couple new repaints of this mold, as well.)  Anakin's head looks vaguely like Jake Lloyd, and I mean that it sort of occupies this neat space between being true to the actor, and true to the character.  A completely realistic one may be creepy, but this one definitely feels a lot like an action figure made to look like him, which, uh, is exactly what it is.  The costume is good, the articulation is acceptable, given that it's a figure from 2000 it's actually quite good.   Really, the only thing I'd change would be to fix up the legs to have a better range of motion in the hips, because aside from that the sculpt and deco aren't bad.  It's just that the figure occupies that "don't I already have a figure just like this?" space... and it sort of does,  but it's just different enough to make you mad.  Sort of.  I think it's not different enough to make you mad, really, if it weren't for the Jedi screen scenes you probably would skip this set.

Collector's Notes: I was probably the only collector who ho-hummed the scenes as Hasbro put them out in 2004, as the figures were pretty lackluster and we were all lining up to shell out roughly $80 for a floor and some chairs.  You should have minimal difficulty getting this set for $20 or less today, which is funny because I remember these commanding a premium a few years ago.  I guess people realized the Jedi in the set weren't really good compared to other releases?


--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,835: June 26, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,834: Passel Argente

PASSEL ARGENTE Geonosian War Room
Saga Screen Scenes
Item No.: Asst. 84997 No. 84711
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 2 of 2
Includes: Table, Shu Mai, Nute Gunray
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Fall 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: In a conference room on Geonosis, leaders of the Confederacy of Independent Systems watch Republic and Separatist forces engage in what will become the first batle of the Clone Wars. unscrupulous opportunists who will do anything that will benefit them financially, they ally with Count Dooku to advance their own interests.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo area.

Commentary:  3-packs have always been a weird spot for Hasbro, even in the Kenner days.  They seem conflicted over if they should do new figures, popular characters, or some sort of mix and in 2003 they were erring toward more newness.  Passel Argente was part of a separatist 3-pack which, for all intents and purposes, was new enough to be good.  Passel was a great replication of the movie character, with brown robes and a nasty green face.  The sculpt and level of detail are really good, as, frankly, most figures since 2002 have had excellent sculpts with wonderful simulated cloth texture in their outfits.  The subtle paint job brings out the texture quite nicely, which makes up for the general lack of articulation.  Given the character doesn't do much, it's not like I expect a heck of a lot from the figure.  He can stand, he looks cool, and is basically a statue with moving arms.  Diorama fans would love this, but as a toy this figure doesn't bring a lot to the table.  Except, of course, for the other half of the table which the separatists use to monitor the first battle of the Clone Wars on Geonosis... and that alone makes this set worth picking up.

Collector's Notes: An orange/yellow repaint of this mold with lightsaber damage was sold in 2005.  The original set is under $15 still, and was in Kay-Bee on clearance back in the day in the good old days before Bain Capital gutted it.   But I digress.  I don't expect any more versions of this character to see release, so go buy an old one on the cheap and be happy.


--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,834: June 25, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,833: Clone Trooper

CLONE TROOPER Commemorative DVD Collection
Clone Wars Cartoon Network / Tartakovsky Animated Series Action Figures
Item No.: Asst. 34542 No. 34576
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Rifle, display stand, Anakin Skywalker, Saesee Tiin figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: Spring 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 closet.  It's a nice closet.

Commentary:  From 2002-2005, Hasbro came to the realization that they could sell action figures which were, on some levels, effectively statues.  This Clone Trooper is one such release, based on the earlier, Samurai Jack-esque animated series.  For all intents and purposes he's jointed only at the neck and shoulders, so he can basically pose at attention.  And that's it.  The figure has a grey belt and some black markings, but is mostly a bright white plastic.   The design is the same as the Phase I Clone Trooper, but with a new head.  (Really, why not do that?)  This is a decent enough figure and another fine display piece, but as a toy you can't do much with it.  I know you don't need articulation for a great figure, but hip joints can compensate for bum molding if the legs are uneven, so it's a good thing this figure includes a display stand.  It's a nice looking figure and unbelievably cheaper than buying a high-end cold cast statue.

Collector's Notes: When I first got these sets I was pretty proud to have found them in a comic shop in Tempe for about $15 each.  "What luck!" I said, "I never once saw these in Walmarts despite daily visits during their supposed release while I was in Los Angeles!"  Well, I'm the chump, historically speaking.  These sets now go for $1-$5, boxed, on eBay.  The pair of 3-packs is under $15. Don't I feel smart?  Argh.  Well, learn from my mistake and if you can, go buy them for $1 or whatever it is.  Maybe it's free and it comes with a free milkshake or something.  Whatever man.


--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,833: June 22, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,832: Clone Pilot Odd Ball

ODD BALL  Clone Pilot
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 37499 No.  37514
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC97
Includes: Helmet, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: May 2012
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.  No specific character information.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' photo area.

Commentary:  The complaining about Odd Ball was pretty much the same across the board.  "Another Clone Pilot?  But the ones we have are fine!"  True!  You're right, but here's the thing: Hasbro realized they could make it better, and did.   The 2005 one was very good, and the Evolutions-class remake was also really nice.  However, this one is better.



Eliminating cut joints from the elbows and adding ankles joints was a swell move on Hasbro's part, but completely unnecessary.  We're getting a five-star sculpt on a figure which, for all intents and purposes, previously functioned well.  Hasbro has done a good job making sure the Revenge of the Sith Clone Pilots had good hip joints which can sit down, and this one does too.  He has 14 joints in total, but those hips are the ones which matter most so you can get him into a vehicle.  Ankle joints are nice, but totally unnecessary as he won't need them once placed in a ship.

The sculpt is top-notch, the head under the helmet looks great and the helmet itself has been resized to look good on a toy.  If you note the packaging in the video, the movie model has a bulbous helmet and Hasbro sized it down a smidgen so we wouldn't make our usual "wahhhhh it's too bulky!" complaints.   There's very little wiggle room at this scale, so I'm glad it fits.  The helmet glides over the head and the chest console plugs into the torso nicely.  He even sports a blaster which looks a little different from previous clone blasters, but admittedly I don't have all 200ish clone troopers to check in front of me right now.  The deco of Odd Ball's suit and helmet are great, save for one thing: the shoulders.  Rather than a Republic symbol, he carries the sign of the Galactic Empire.   Due to the overall rarity of the line these days I really hope Hasbro doesn't do a running change to drive us all nuts and sell more figures, but if they did a redeco of this mold in an exclusive gift set or as a vehicle pack-in I wouldn't complain. 

This might be Hasbro's best pilot action figure in the entire modern Star Wars line in terms of sculpt and functionality, so I personally think it's worthy of the highest possible marks despite the deco issue.   I can't wait to see if they can adapt the Rebel or Imperial pilots to a figure which has no problems sitting just like this one.  Well done, guys!

Collector's Notes: I haven't seen this wave in stores yet, but you knew that.  I got a case online from our sponsors, so click the link below or visit GalacticHunter.com today to shop online and support us by supporting our sponsors.  (And be sure to let 'em know we sent you!)  If you can, get one or more.  I'm hoping they show up in lots on eBay so I can get a couple extras.


--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,832: June 21, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,831: Obi-Wan Kenobi

OBI-WAN KENOBI  Duel on Naboo
Discover the Force Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 37822 No.  37855
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, game stuff, additional figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $22.99
Availability: April 2012
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi battle Darth Maul during the invasion of Naboo.  The two Jedi encounter the Sith Lord in the palace hangar and fight a fierce lightsaber duel that ends in the Theed Generator Complex.   Obi-Wan becomes separated from Quik-Gon by the complex's security shield, and can only watch as his Master continues the battle alone. But when the shield lowers once more, Obi-Wan attacks Maul with grief-stricken determination. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' photo area.

Commentary:  Is it possible for a figure to be simultaneously refreshing and redundant?   This Obi-Wan Kenobi is somehow both a throwback and a flash forward.  In 2012, there are no fewer than six ways to buy an Obi-Wan Kenobi figure from The Phantom Menace, most of which are revised 2009 figures.  There's one with a light-up lightsaber, and this one is a bizarre amalgamation of the best and... oldest Hasbro has offered.   Let's kick off with the elephant in the room: articulation.  Yes, Obi-Wan Kenobi has only 5 joints, a ball-jointed neck, swivel shoulders, and swivel hips with the robes split at the crotch, much like many of the figures from the 1970s and 1980s.  Rather than have a "skirt" in the way of the leg movement, the legs are split and they move pretty freely, so other than the figure's action/dueling pose this is closer to a vintage Kenner action figure than anything we've seen since, geez, maybe September 1997?  The squared-off t-crotch is so uncommon these days.  The figure has no problems standing, can sit fairly well, requires no display stand, and can hold his lightsaber just fine.  If it wasn't for the arm pose, this would be the ideal vehicle pilot action figure.  (Of these six new limited articulation figures, Luke is the best "pilot" and Vader is the most useless.)

The most remarkable thing about this figure is the exceptional head sculpt.  It's very similar to the Movie Heroes (Light-Up Lightsaber) release, but the plastic used here is unquestionably better.  The proportions are just right, the color of plastic is better, significantly better than the fleshy 2009 Legacy figure's head, and this is an odd step forward.  This Obi-Wan looks unquestionably better than any other Ewan McGregor figure I've ever bought, and the head sculpt is so good-- and the figure is so simple-- that I really think Hasbro should do more figures exactly like this.  I'd buy new figures from the other prequels done like this if Hasbro decided to crank out all-new-likeness Jangos and Padmes and so on.  (Episode II Anakin in particular could benefit from this treatment, particularly if he were designed to fit in the 2002 Speeder vehicle.)

This time around, Obi-Wan's costume has sharp textures, lots of wrinkles, and a pose that's good for a playset.  This figure is a big step toward toys, and isn't a 14-points-of-articulation, needs-a-display-stand, hands-pop-off-the-wrists release.  It's solid, it's fun, and my guess is a lot of you are going to hate it because it doesn't add to the articulation of previous releases.  A poll I ran a few weeks ago basically said about 50% of you hate these designs, about 25% of you like them, and 25% of you were on the fence.  I'll say this: if you collected toys before 1998, want Hasbro's best sculpts, or grew up during the real original Vintage Kenner days, consider tracking him down.  Of all the Obi-Wan figures thrust upon me this year so far, this is my favorite.

Collector's Notes: I write these in advance, and as I pen this one I just had this figure for about five hours.  I'm pretty sure distribution is going to be weak and I haven't yet seen them in the wild. (Update written day of posting: I still haven't seen these in retail stores.)   Oddly, the packaging illustration is wildly inaccurate-- the figures are more photoshopped than ever before, and I don't mean merely the lighting.  The figures are reshaped and posed in ways that are impossible for the figures to fit, which is really weird as "Product shown in fantasy situation" goes.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,831: June 20, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,830: Luke Skywalker

LUKE SKYWALKER  Hoth Outfit
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 37499 No.  37511
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC95
Includes: Scarf with goggles, lightsaber, lightsaber hilt, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: April 2012
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

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

Image: Adam Pawlus' photo area.

Commentary:  Behold, a new Luke Skywalker in his Hoth outfit (not Hoth Battle Gear?)  It's the first new mold for this character in this outfit since 2003, which is a heck of a long time in the world of toy collecting.   This is Hasbro's best-ever, most-articulated Hoth Luke and to be honest, it's an alternate head away from being pretty much perfect.    The accessories are perfect-- no incorrect Darth Vader lightsbabers here!   The sculpt is superb-- check out the articulation!  Ball-jointed hips, man.  The only place the figure comes up short is the head, which has a combo goggles/scarf piece which is removable, and unfortunately the figure looks weird wearing it and weirder not wearing it.

In addition to a lightsaber which hangs perfectly on his belt and looks fantastic, the figure has the first-ever holster on a Hoth Luke figure.  It's a tight fit for his blaster, but it looks superb.  Seriously, it fits like a tight glove, and it's a big improvement over the previous representations of this costume.  Nearly every possible aspect which bugged me from previous figures, which were great, have been addressed.  The figure can sit on the Tauntaun from 2011 just fine, although getting his feet into the stirrups may take some doing.  As a "vintage" figure, I was hoping the head would be sculpted similar to how the 1982 version was done, complete with a scarf hanging down the right side of his hat and goggles which are positioned so you can actually see Luke's face.

I know it must be annoying to read this and say "it's almost perfect except..." and a few of you are saying "geez Adam, can't you like anything?" but the truth is, at $10, we're just a different head or goggles or something away from this being the perfect Hoth Luke.  As it stands, this isn't going to look good in the Wampa cave, which leaves the door open for Hasbro to redo and rerelease him later.  (Again, he can be posed pretty much any way you want-- it's just the head that needs to be tweaked.)  As new action figure releases get better and better, it stands to reason that fan expectations get higher and higher.  If a figure is a first-ever release, at least from where I sit, it just needs to be acceptable and I'm pretty happy.  This Hoth Luke comes after no fewer than 5 releases since 1997, each of which brought something new, different, or necessary to the table.   This one manages to combine the best of all those figures and beyond, and without question is the single best Hoth Luke figure ever released by Hasbro and potentially anybody-- but is it perfect?  Well, there's room for improvement.  Hasbro can and probably should tweak him for a "Wampa damage" release in the next year or two, just to get another squeeze from the mold.

If you have a 2011 Tauntaun, you need this figure.  Go get one.  If you don't, well, are you happy with your existing figures?  If so, move along.  If not, go get him, you're going to have a lot of fun messing around with this one.

Collector's Notes: Late 2011 was pretty thin for Vintage, and early 2012 got off to a rocky start.  Like always, wave 1 got amazing distribution and wave 2 was more than 50% old product, so that  means lots of wave 1 is still out there and wave 3 figures like this figure are, at least for a while, a little tough to find.  He's slated for at least 3 waves, though, which is good... he's just a little late for the Tauntaun which shipped late in 2011 and was clearanced out before his release.  Hasbro's ability to put out a pilot with a vehicle/creature lately has been pretty wonky.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,830: June 19, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,829: Nikto (Skiff Guard)

NIKTO  Skiff Guard
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 37499 No.  37517
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC99
Includes: Helmet, force pike, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: May 2012
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

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

Image: Adam Pawlus' photo area.

Commentary:  Not merely "a" Nikto, this Nikto Skiff Guard is a very important figure to fans of the original Kenner line.  (The one in the 1970s and 1980s, not the one in 1995.)   Unlike the other modern Nikto figures, this one is actually the same costume as the 1984 original, which does a bang-up job of upping our red Nikto armies to about 3 different characters so far, not including any Jedi of course.

We're spoiled rotten, but I'm OK with that.  This figure's costume is spectacular, with loads of sculpted detail and stitching.  The "armor" pieces are decorated nicely, and the quilted pants look pretty swell.  His gnarly hands and face have a little extra color in them, with claws on his hands and paint on his horns which just add so much to the design.  As much as I love the original, there's really no comparison when it comes to the quality of this figure versus the original except in sitting.  The original Kenner figure could sit slightly better, but this one is no slouch as the waist piece  covering the hip joints is quite pliable.



I have but one legit complaint: Hasbro's continued use of removable helmets.  For a few years it was cute, but not they're just not helpful.  Any part of the figure that falls off during play is unwelcome, and this one falls off if you turn him funny.  It's not super-loose, but it does look a little bulky on the figure and probably added some cost to the figure.  (Heck, of all I know it saved some too.)  The hat itself has a lot of texture on it, from a little fur to some white toothy things on the top.  Nikto's face looks closer to a real breathing thing than a rubber mask, which shows just how far Hasbro has come since Kenner made this figure originally.  The old one had black eyes, this one has a yellowish gold color which gives him a little more personality.

As with most vintage figures, he has 14 points of articulation.  There aren't any particularly special new joints here, but there is a holster for the pistol.  He also includes a staff, just like the 1984 figure.  I like this figure bunches and am thrilled we got an update of the original Nikto, which unfortunately begs the question "When will we get an update of the 1999 Nikto?"  

Collector's Notes: I haven't seen this wave in stores yet, but you knew that.  I got a case online from our sponsors, so click the link below or visit GalacticHunter.com today to shop online and support us by supporting our sponsors.  (And be sure to let 'em know we sent you!)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,829: June 18, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,828: Clone Trooper 501st Legion

CLONE TROOPER  501st Legion
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 37499 No.  98526
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC60
Includes: Blaster, rifle, helmet
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: April 2012
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.  No specific character information.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' photo area.

Commentary:  I don't know for certain how it will shake out, but so far this Clone Trooper may be one of the shortest-run Vintage Collection figures yet-- yes, shorter than Wedge, and somewhere around the Naval Trooper if he doesn't come back soon.  This figure (so far) only ships in a single revision case, so if you're sitting there saying "Well screw this figure, I don't want it" consider yourself lucky.  My stats show you guys really don't care about clone troopers much these days, and this one is pretty good.  Not great, but close-- the body is a reuse of the 2011 Vintage Attack of the Clones clone body with an existing, and not exactly superb, helmet. The figure has exceptional articulation with 14 joints, spanning bend-and-swivel wrists and ball-jointed hips.  Every joint has pretty much a full range of movement, and the deco is pretty good too.  Sure, it's "clean," but there's a little scuffing on the blue so it looks pretty good.   In this day and age, though, I expect a clone repaint to be great just because Hasbro has been doing such a bang-up job on the cheaper Clone Wars line's paint jobs these days.

If you bought the 2012 BARC Speeder with Clone Trooper, this is fundamentally the same figure with blue paint.   It's pretty good, it's the best overall 501st Legion trooper yet, but a new helmet.  While you no doubt have a vast army of this style of trooper by now... well, here's one more, and it's a little bit better.  Oh, and your chances of army-building with it are effectively zero unless the Asian eBay people get cracking and put these out.

Collector's Notes:  It's my sincere hope Hasbro reissues the snot out of it, because even though they say collectors don't buy troopers any more, all evidence says any non-plain-white trooper seems to sell just fine.  I haven't seen one in the wild yet, hopefully you are far luckier than I am.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,828: June 15, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,827: Starkiller

STARKILLER  Vader's Apprentice
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 37499 No.  37518
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC100
Includes: 2 lightsabers, 2 hilts, backpack, skirt, shoulder armor, 2 gauntlets
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: May 2012
Appearances: The Force Unleashed II

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' photo area.

Commentary:  With this wave, Hasbro seemed to be in a hurry to get rid of their plastic.  Starkiller is another one of their nifty two-for-one figures, where you get a more-or-less "Rebel hero" outfit as well as an "Imperial Pilot" outfit all in one figure.  The sculpt is arguably the best yet, with a really nice Sam Witwer likeness which, given the right paint or a less glossy plastic, would be perfect.  As it is, it's merely above par and potentially their best yet.



Much like Fordo and a few others, you can change Starkiller pretty easily.  He ships in his "pilot" outfit, and the pilot harness easily comes off like a belt.  To get him into his other outfit, you have to slide up a "skirt" piece, snap on a couple of gauntlets, and pop off his head to apply his shoulder armor.  It's a neat idea, but I personally would rather have had Hasbro make a second figure later.  For those of us wanting two to display, we're basically out of luck for a while.   He has 14 points of articulation, more or less what you expect as normal these days, and quite a bit of detail for such a simple outfit.  I can only imagine how great a 100% new TIE Fighter Pilot might be in 2013 or 2014, should Hasbro decide to give it a spin!

The gear is pretty good, although the shoulder armor is a little bulky for its intended purpose.  Unless you get it just right, he looks like he has no neck.  The lightsabers could be bluer, but it seems Hasbro has been doing pale blue for most figures over the last year.   It's a fun figure with enough to play around with that $10 doesn't seem like a bad price, but the plastic for the face could be a smidgen better.  I love the pilot outfit, and the fact you can take off the skirt/straps and he can sit in a stolen TIE Fighter if you'd like.  I'd say that as of now, this is Hasbro's best Starkiller and even if you didn't care for the game-- and many didn't-- the action figure is worth the asking price.  Given the secondary market, it wouldn't stun me if the figure will cost more than the game, depending on where you shop.   If you enjoyed the game, and enjoy late-era Galactic Empire costumes, this should fit right in with some of your Original Trilogy stuff.  Maybe off to the side a bit would be the best place for Starkiller, but he should be at home tormenting your Stormtroopers and other figures.

Collector's Notes: I haven't seen this wave in stores yet, but you knew that.  This one came from online, you can order a case at the link below or on any of the fine sponsors at GalacticHunter.com.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,827: June 14, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,826: Grand Moff Tarkin

GRAND MOFF TARKIN  Vintage
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 37499 No.  37516
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC98
Includes: Blaster, MSE Droid
Action Feature: Mouse Droid has rolling wheels
Retail: $9.99
Availability: May 2012
Appearances: Star Wars

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

Image: Adam Pawlus' photo area.  I sprang sixty cents for some red poster board.  What say you?

Commentary:  One of the things fans asked for-- and wisely so-- are for most of the major characters on a Vintage cardback.  Grand Moff Tarkin was one of those semi-conspicuously absent from the original Kenner line, and along with Slave Leia and Wedge Antilles, these heavy-hitters are all on Vintage cardbacks as of today.  Which, as a packaged collector, you may find exciting.  As I rip these open, well, it's less thrilling, but certainly quite nice to see.  Oh, and here's the video.  As that is what you may be here for when it comes to new figures.



Tarkin is, on paper, everything you could ask for.  He recycles 2009 Captain Needa's arms and 2008 Grand Admiral Thrawn's legs with new hands, a new torso, a new head, and a cloth piece below the belt.  On one hand, this is great-- the figure has no problems sitting.  However, it does look like an apron as it doesn't match the rest of the garment, and it photographs oddly.  Depending on your lighting situation, the color doesn't seem like a bad match, but it's obviously cloth against the plastic of the figure.  The new elements are sculpted well, with wrinkly old man hands a slightly hunched-over neck, and an entirely new head sculpt.  These are hurt by the materials used, as fans argue about the color of Tarkin's garments, and no argument is needed regarding his skin color.  Sure, he's pale, but Tarkin is so white and shiny that some of the detail is lost in the process.  The deco is fantastic and the template seems to be there, the sculpt really is amazing, but the shade of plastic sucks out all the detail so you wouldn't necessarily realize that a little bit of paint-- or even a running change using a different batch of plastic-- could make this figure look a lot better.

You get your normal super-articulated, 14-joint vintage figure with a blaster (meh) and a MSE droid (ooh!)  The droid is a nice accessory because it's a new sculpt, smaller than Hasbro's previous efforts and with some tiny wheels.  Rolling wheels aren't essential at this size but they really do look better than the non-wheeled version we saw since the late 1990s and the giant, pullback one we saw later.

Tarkin is a highly-improved sculpt with the best articulation and detail in the line.  Accuracy be damned, I want a less-glossy head and a greyer uniform should Hasbro ever decide to reissue this one.  They can dump the cloth tunic too, I appreciate its functionality but now I see figures returning to the t-crotch without the "skirt" in the way at all, like the 1997 Tarkin, I'd almost rather see that.  I bet you'll like this figure if you get it in your hands, but, obviously, it ain't perfect.  After nearly 2,000 figures I don't think it's unreasonable to expect each new figure is going to be as close to perfection as Hasbro can get, but I think we'll all be a lot happier of we realize "perfection" is like one of us giving 110% at work: it's just not possible.  I'm glad to see Hasbro trying new things, like the mixed media cloth skirt, but is it good?  Well, take a look at the picture and you tell me.  It's grown on me but it doesn't match our other Imperials, and that's also an issue after you get several hundred figures.

Collector's Notes: This figure is super-new so you may not have seen it yet.  As such, I suggest haunting your local toy shop or clicking the link below to order a case from our sponsors, which supports us, which means you'll get more videos if you like that sort of thing.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,826: June 13, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,825: Kithaba (Barada)

KITHABA  Skiff Guard
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 37499 No.  98527
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC56
Includes: Blaster, pike, shoulder strap
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: April 2012
Appearances: Star Wars

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

Image: Adam Pawlus' photo area.

Commentary:  The figure I was looking forward to the most out of this wave was Kithaba, because I love the original 1980s Power of the Force figures.  This is an update of the vintage Barada figure, more or less.  You're still going to have problems with it, as you let me know I was wrong about this figure before I started writing this review.  Let me explain that: I didn't even start writing this yet, and I started getting messages telling me what I think about this figure is wrong.  And this is before I told anyone what I thought of it.   Man, you people.

Because of a large amount of image flipping in Return of the Jedi, some of you said his bandolier is wrong, and others said it was correct.  This brings us to the classic "Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?" gag because, well, what's the truth?  Is what you think you see "right," or the actual prop?  In this case, Hasbro designed the figure after the actual costume, which is best seen during the battles with shots of Chewbacca.  Their bandoliers hang over the same shoulders when they share a frame, so there's your point of reference.  Kithaba's coloring is acceptable, but there's another instance of perception and reality, and in this case I'm not entirely sure what to say.  My gut says Hasbro got this one wrong, Kithaba's headband looks red in the movie and the figure is a much darker color.  Sometimes his vest looks more yellow, and sometimes it looks more tan or brown.   So if you want to say this costume is more or less authentic, or wrong, I guess you can make either argument.  Hasbro rarely gives us a chance to see if fans see the glass as half-empty or half-full, but here it is!

His accessories are great.   The holster isn't quite like the movie, but I'm glad it's here.  I like holsters, authenticity be damned.  The blaster looks good, and the classic staff weapon is included just like the original.  With 14 points of articulation, I have no real ability to complain about the sculpt.  It's nice, I like it.  The eyes are worth noting because in the movie (and the old toy), they look almost completely black.  The mask from the movie casts a shadow over the eyes, making them appear much darker than a well-lit mask might seem with human eyes underneath.  So here, Hasbro tried to make it more lifelike, more like the prequels-- you can see the whites of Kithaba's eyes, and he looks less like a rubber mask and more like a breathing creature as a result.  Is it better?   Is it worse?  I leave it up to you.

Collector's Notes: It's new and as of when I'm writing this I haven't seen it in the wild yet.  (I have seen evidence of the remainders from his case, though.)  The figure also shipped with a red headband, which is assumed to be the later release but the date stamp on the packaging is just that-- the date of the packaging.  The figures sometimes had different stamps carved into their legs.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,825: June 12, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,824: Shae Vizla (The Old Republic Bounty Hunter)

SHAE VIZLA  Old Republic Bounty Hunter
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 37499 No.  37519
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC101
Includes: 2 blasters, 2 flame effects, alternate helmet head, backpack
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: May 2012
Appearances: The Old Republic

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' photo area.

Commentary:  Sometimes there are character designs that are fantastic, ignoring the fact they came from a game you may never ever play (and may be a little off-model from said game.) Shae Vizla refined the notion of "female bounty hunter"-type which we previously saw with Rav Bralor, Aurra Sing, and Isabet Reau, and the result is way better.   While I frequently bemoan recent price increases, every now and again Hasbro reminds you that you're actually getting more for your money.  With a removable backpack, an alternate head rather than removable helmet, twin painted blasters, and a pair of flame effects, this is a superior action figure that, while not a perfect match with her game inspiration, actually seems to be slightly improved from the game design.   (Which I say as someone who hasn't played the game-- I really do like Hasbro's helmet design better.)   Here, watch this video, or don't.  It's sort of redundant but I figure maybe YouTubers might get a kick out of it.




Shae Vizla-- which is similar to but spelled differently from Pre Vizsla-- is pretty much an "A" figure.  Why not "A+"?  The face paint needs a little bit of work, but generally it all looks great.  Her unmasked head is molded in an orangey red, which means they use paint for her face-- which does wonders bringing out the detail.  They even gave her some make-up!  As of when I write this, I haven't opened the other figures from the wave yet but I don't think I'm being hyperbolic by saying that this may well be Hasbro's best figure ever.  The articulation is the typical 14 points, without bonus movement at the wrists or hips, but the deco and sculpt are so fantastic it's going to be hard to beat.  Darth Malgus was neat, sure, but the silver, gold, and other colors slathered over Ms. Vizla quite evenly shows that Hasbro can make a figure that can still impress collectors, even after 2,000 of the damn things.  She lacks unsightly date or SKU stamps, and the copyright information is sculpted on the backside of her shins, safely out of view.

If I have to nitpick-- and you know I do-- the figure's only real failing come from the compatibility with accessories.  While she can hold both pistols, there are no holsters, and these are more or less expected these days.  The guns themselves are fantastic, seemingly molded in black plastic with silver and blue paint.  They're also different sculpts.  The flames are gorgeous and fit perfectly into exceptionally-designed gauntlets, however gravity will cause them to sag within minutes.  I appreciate Hasbro spending the money to include the detail, but I'd rather Hasbro not go through the expense of including such an accessory if the result is non-functional.

The helmet is a little different than the game, with a shorter, uh, "face" plus a few other streamlined details on the armor.    I have a feeling you'll hang me for being OK with it being less authentic, but when comparing the toy to the game art, I like the toy better.

There's no doubt that this is a character design out of a post-Halo world, with nods to the rich lore of Star Wars history and, if I'm not mistaken, a nod or two to the great Samus Aran.  There are very few action figures in this line which look and feel like they would warrant a $9.99 price tag, but this is one of them.  If you shell out $10 or even $15 for her, I doubt you'll be sorry-- you can see where your money is going on this one, a strong contender for the best aesthetic achievement of the year and perhaps the new figure to beat as the entire line is concerned.  She looks more like she stepped out of a video game than from Star Wars, but geez, it's gorgeous!

Collector's Notes: This figure is super-new so you may not have seen it yet.  As such, I suggest haunting your local toy shop or clicking the link below to order a case from our sponsors, which supports us, which means you'll get more videos if you like that sort of thing.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,824: June 11, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,823: Captain Rex

CAPTAIN REX Launcher Fires Missile!
The Clone Wars Basic Action Figures
Item No.: Asst. 37290 No. 37297
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: CW13
Includes: 2 pistols, display stand, launcher, projectile
Action Feature: Gun launches rocket
Retail: $8.99
Availability: April 2012
Appearances: Clone Wars TV series

Bio: During the Clone Wars, Captain Rex is Anakin Skywalker's second-in-command.  This tough, free-thinking soldier commands the 501st Legion in many battles against the Droid Army.  A seasoned fighter, Rex opens fire with his blaster, destroying one Battle Droid after another in the fight to save the Republic.   (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' photo area.

Commentary:  One step forward, two steps back.  Captain Rex looks awesome.  I mean, seriously, awesome.  I know there should be some debate on if his helmet is too big-- I'll leave that to you in the comments-- but I can't deny the new sculpt is, overall, impressive and the deco is more ornate than just about any clone figure out of Hasbro.  It might even be better than a lot of the high-end statues and big figures I've seen, Rex is covered in "kill marks" and dirt, making his 2008 figure look like a cheapo pile of garbage.  Unfortunately, that cheapo pile of garbage had 14 points of articulation and a removable helmet, while this figure has no removable helmet (which I consider a plus) and only sports 8 points of articulation.  With SCUBA Ahsoka, I could see how reducing the articulation improved her aesthetics, a relatively dainty figure only had so much room to cram a joint before we got cankles.  With rex, I don't get it.  The 2012 Commander Cody had a new body sculpt with awesome rocker joints, a lot of gear, a removable helmet, two jet packs, and, well, less impressive deco.   The lack of wrists, knees, and ankles seems odd here.

I have to assume that when Hasbro was costing this figure out, they pulled resources from articulation and gear to really pump up the paint.  I mean, look at it-- there's very little white plastic exposed, except on the top and back of the helmet.  He's got a lot of yellowish brown dirt and scrapes on him, plus a lot of blue.  Like, a ton.  Those little "kill marks" are pretty amazing, this kind of fine detail probably doesn't come cheap and I doubt many fans would argue they would prefer knees over this kind of deco.  Of course, for $9, I kinda think I deserve both.  Rex' blasters fit perfectly in his hands or holsters, and his "skirt" does get in the way of his legs swinging forward to sit in a vehicle.  This is a figure meant for standing.

Other than that the paler blue details on his helmet seem more subtle on TV, I'd say Hasbro nailed the deco.  Well, that and the fact that a tiny part of his helmet seems clean.  The torso has a hole for a jetpack (were you so inclined) and oveall, it just looks amazing.  If you're a carded collector, you should have no reason to skip this figure beyond your inability to find it.   If you have the resources, I suggest that you get one.  It's the only "Phase 2" Rex to date, and hopefully Hasbro ships him long enough for you to go from desiring him to being sick of him.  Because that's how we are as collectors, figures are only fun until we can get them.

Collector's Notes: The figure is in 2 waves so far, so that has to help.   I haven't seen it in the wild yet.  I believe I heard Hasbro say they were working on Jedi Pong Krell, which could mean there's some sort of gift set en route which includes a repackaged Rex some day.  If Hasbro does decide to make this Rex again, I'd love to see it built off the 2012 Cody body, just because it'd be 40% more awesome.  When I did this write up in April, people were routinely paying $20 and as much as $40 for him.  Don't pay that.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,823: June 8, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,822: Daultay Dofine

DAULTAY DOFINE  Stunted Slime
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 37499 No.  37502  
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC82
Includes: Miter, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
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' Ultarama.

Commentary:  If there was a short list of character categories I'd never see again, the Trade Federation would be at the top.  But here we are, with a new character Daultay Dofine being done quite nicely.  Nute Gunray never got a proper update, or any figure from his Revenge of the Sith outfit, so seeing his sidekick done up as Hasbro's finest example of the species.  His removable hat is cool, the face sculpt looks a lot like the mask from the movie, even the cloth blue robes look nice-- and Hasbro gave them some added plastic bits for added definition.  I think overall an entirely plastic figure would look better, but the cloth-meets-plastic robes satisfy the needs of mobility and aesthetics, sort of.  I don't think it'll make either camp, the "more soft goods" or "more plastic" groups, particularly happy but it does look nice enough.

The articulation is good-- ball-jointed elbows and swivel wrists are nice to have, but ultimately don't add much to how I'm assuming this figure will be used.  (1. Packaged, never to be opened.  2. Shelf bait.)  As the line goes on, it seems it's less about "what would be fun or exciting?" rather than "OK, so who's left?"  Daultay's left, because Nute Gunray and Rune Haako sold slowly enough where it probably didn't make sense to do him until a proper marketing push permitted it.  I like the figure, he's a high-quality figure, but he's basically no fun to play with and he's best for standing around, looking good.   If you want something fun, keep looking.  This isn't a knock against Hasbro, they're doing a bang-up job making new figures that, for all intents and purposes, have transcended the toy aisle and are now merely collectibles for old sci-fi fans.

Collector's Notes: The figure is being phased out somewhat quickly, so he may (or may not) be around long depending on how many Hasbro made.  There seems to be little shortage of this wave, but that can (and sometimes does) change overnight.  For $5 or so, it's great.  Even at $10 you're getting your money's worth.  It's just not as exciting as a new Luke or a new alien from a different species.  I figure we'll have him around until at least September if not September of next year, just from those first January 2012 shipments.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,822: June 7, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,821: Obi-Wan Kenobi

OBI-WAN KENOBI Order 66
30th Anniversary Collection Target Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 87356 No. 87360
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 4 of 6
Includes: Right hand, lightsaber right hand, cloak, lightsaber hilt (and AT-RT Driver)
Action Feature: Squeeze legs for lightsaber-swinging action
Retail: $9.99
Availability: March 2007
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio:  Obi-Wan's leadership during the Clone Wars earns him a well-deserved reputation as an outstanding general. He battles the Separatist forces with the help of clone troopers who operate AT-RT vehicles in the thick of battle.   (Taken from the set's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' old desk and old computer.

Commentary:  Continuing a proud tradition of excessive reuse, this Obi-Wan Kenobi figure is based on a figure from 2005 which, as of its release in 2007, was already old and crusty.  It's not terrible-- as a toy, it's actually quite fun, and the sculpt is more or less just fine.  This figure is a repaint of a figure from 2005, which was packed with a blue Jedi Starfighter in 2005, painted with weird lava highlights in 2005, and was rendered obsolete in 2005 with a super-aritculated pilot version.   That didn't take long!  Anyway, so why do you want this one, you ask, and why did I buy it in 2007?  Honestly, it's pretty good for what you got-- as of this figure's release, single figures were about $7 and it also included an exclusive orange Utapau AT-RT Driver figure, which was the real selling point.

Obi-Wan is the same mold as before, with a little more white in his beard.  That's the big difference.  Arguably the best release of this mold, it makes for an acceptable toy because he can swing his weapon around and the lightsaber is actually molded to his articulated hand.  It's a good, fun design but since it can't sit very well, it made for a below-average pilot figure, and because it had difficulty standing, it was hard to leave on your desk.   Hasbro had done better, but I'd be lying if I said this one wasn't any fun.  Since he has 10 joints and a hole for his lightsaber on his belt, it's a pretty good release.  It could be better, of course, but that can be said of pretty much everything in life.  I wouldn't chase him down just for this figure, but if you're a clone fan, this is a worthwhile set to get the AT-RT Driver with Obi-Wan as a bonus.

Collector's Notes: This set is worth about $5, packaged.  The entire wave of 6 2-packs is worth about $40-$80, depending on the day.  It's not bad for $10 particularly in today's market, but if you already have a few hundred figures this might not be an exciting pursuit given the alternatives available to you at retail or on eBay.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,821: June 6, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,820: Wooof (Klaatu)

WOOOF The 1983 Klaatu
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 97568  No. 21485
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: VC24
Includes: Helmet, blaster, staff
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 Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary:  This Wooof figure is an update of the 1983 Klaatu from Kenner, which also had the dubious distinction of being one of the last figures I ever saw on a retail shelf-- I bought mine on a family trip to San Diego a couple of years after the line died off.  We wound up at a Kay-Bee, it was a dollar, and I got it-- and because of that, the wait since the 1990s for Hasbro to remake him has been a long one.  I've actually  been looking forward to seeing a new version of him for years, and I think Hasbro did a decent job.  It's not perfect, but neither was the original.  The cool green alien now has a removable hat, which I have to admit doesn't really add to the figure.  It's easy to knock around, and while it's sculpted nicely I am surprised they didn't just glue (or mold) it to the head.  As with Giran, the head sculpt is exquisite and covered in horns, warts, bumps, and of course, green paint.  The shiny black eyes look great, bringing the figure to life. 

Compared to his original counterpart, it's remarkable how favorably the original holds up for being 28 years its elder.  The same soft goods "skirt" has been updated, but it seems to fit  better on the original-- the new one has some material hanging off his right hip.  Of course, the new one has 14 points of articulation and a holster, plus some amazing sculpting on his costume with top-notch texture detail.  I can't help but wonder if the 2010 release would have looked better with a plastic skirt, but as that element was a particularly memorable piece of the original it's good they tried to update it.  Overall, this is a figure with a fantastic sculpt and a paint job to match, I appreciate the extra weapons and detail but I could do without the helmet being removable.  I mean, what good will removing it do me, beyond Hasbro being able to point at it and say "we gave you more accessories!" anyway?   The same can be said of the removable bandolier-- it's a nice touch, but unless it helps Hasbro reduce costs in some way, it seems like wasted resources.  I don't want to take it off, but at least there's no subtle, sculpted groove acting as an eyesore underneath it.

If you're looking to update the original "Collect all 92 93 96 whatever" cardback tally, this is an essential figure.  It also looks really cool, and is the only action figure of this character in this outfit since 1983.

Collector's Notes: This figure was one of the nasty pegwarmers in his wave, sticking around for nearly a year unsold.  You might even still be able to find him at a Target near you.   If you can, I would suggest grabbing one-- you won't be disappointed!  On the secondary market, you should have little or no problem getting him for $5-$10.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,820: June 5, 2012