Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,969: MTT Battle Droid (Simple)

BATTLE DROID  The Cheapo One
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: No.  37905
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 15 more droids just like it, blasters, Obi-Wan figure with lightsaber, 4 more articulated droids, MTT vehicle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $129.99
Availability: August 2012
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio:  Battle Droids deploy from massive TRADE FEDERATION MTT vehicle’s motorized troop deployment rack! Includes 20 BATTLE DROID figures: 16 INFANTRY DROID and 4 PILOT DROID figures! 20 blasters! Includes 1 OBI-WAN KENOBI figure with lightsaber. Lights and sounds! Firing missile launchers! Pivoting cannons! Front hatch opens to release troop deployument rack. Side hatch opens to reveal blaster racks. Upper hatch opens to access storage space. Works with Movie Heroes or THE CLONE WARS figures (sold separately).   (Taken from Hasbro.com.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: There's a lot of figures we don't necessarily need resculpted, but hey, we're going to get them.  This Battle Droid is an interesting item which exists solely to serve as a slug figure in a much larger toy, the MTT.  This is a simplified new sculpt which looks really good, all things considered, and has a built-in figure stand so it may stand around on the droid deployment racks.  In short, it's as much an accessory as it is an action figure... it's cheap.  Fans lamented the fact that the MTT didn't come with 20 "Vintge" (read: expensive) Battle Droids, but given costs these simpler robots are an adequate substitute.   It's better than non-removable droids or folded-up non-articulated droids, which is what I would have expected from Kenner in the 1990s.

So how is the figure?  Good enough.  It's not great, but it actually isn't bad as a seat-filler.  Standing fairly tall, the figure has but two joints: the neck, and the right shoulder.  And that's it.  Each one includes a blaster which can be carried in the right hand, or in a hole on the back. The figure can usually stand on its own (the legs on some may need un-warping) and the only paint application is the eyes.   There's not a lot to it, but it makes for a decent driver for the hatch on your ATT or the MTT droid racks.  Since its feet are fused together, it stands fairly well and I'm quite impressed by Hasbro's decision to actually give him foot holes so you can put him on a figure stand if you're so inclined.  The arm and head are both a little loose, but the figure is likely to be more durable and likely to stay standing on a shelf than his many brothers and sisters since 1999.   It's very thin in spots, but functionally it's good.  You won't love this figure, and while some of you may even hate it there's no denying it serves a purpose fairly well.   I'm glad Hasbro gave us 16 of these buggers rather than empty Droid racks.

Collector's Notes: Not knowing how many Hasbro made, I would suspect the MTT will be showing up on closeout shelves in the coming year.  Not because it's a poor toy, but because it's pretty obscure, pretty expensive, and frankly, pretty blah compared to last year's Republic Attack Shuttle Vehicle/Fortress and the previous collector-friendly ships like the AT-TE, Turbo Tank, AT-AT, and Millennium Falcon.

Vehicle Notes:  We're pretty spoiled.  The MTT is pretty neat, but it's basically a big box with a single gimmick... even at $99.99, or $49.99, it's going to be hard to convince people that this is an excellent toy.  I almost wish the racks were not powered electronically to keep costs down, if a kid could just slide the rack out manually and push a button to deploy the droids I have no doubt it would be a much cheaper piece.   Plus the whole "deploy the droids!" play isn't as fun as, say, spring-loaded damaged TIE Fighter wings, or the ATT's battle-damage feature, or the split-apart Clone Wars Jedi Starfighters.  I do dig the numerous storage bays, though, as there are many places to keep guns and other small parts plus store spare figures.  In many respects, the MTT could have made a better action figure carry case-slash-vehicle than an electronic key driver/feature-based vehicle.  If they just stuck a handle on the thing and hollowed it out, it would be an awesome way to haul your collection around if you had a collection small enough to be carried by someone with two hands.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,969: December 31, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,968: Obi-Wan Kenobi

OBI-WAN KENOBI  The Clone Wars
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 37499 No.  38525
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC103
Includes: Lightsaber, hilt
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: October 2012
Appearances: The Clone 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's photo hole.

Commentary: It's always a little weird to see what Hasbro makes new and what Hasbro rereleases.  This Obi-Wan Kenobi is an awesome translation of the animated figure into the "realistic" style, fitting right in with your other figures.  It's also, by my count, at least the third "Clone Armor Kenobi" figure.  The first two were largely based on the 2003 animation design, while this one takes its cues from the 2008 animation model.  (The revised season 3 2010 model has yet to make the jump to "realistic.")   While not necessarily an essential release, I really dig this one and I appreciate that it brings a nice update of one of the best costumes to come out of the non-movie Star Wars mythos.

With 14 points of articulation, General Kenobi looks to reuse the limbs from the 2011 Clone Trooper at first glance.  When comparing Kenobi to the Clones, there's really only one piece that seems like it might be a straight reuse... everything else looks like a new sculpt.  The new Obi-Wan has swivel wrists, while the clones had bend-and-swivels.  The legs on the Clone Trooper were thinner, and the detail on the shoulder armor is different.  The gauntlets have different buttons on them, so it seems that the only reused parts on Obi-Wan Kenobi may be his lightsaber accessories.   Since 2012 we've seen nice "realistic" takes on Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Ahsoka with an announcement of Mace Windu for 2013.  If we get Hondo Ohnaka and some Weequay Pirates I'll be set for life.

Collector's Notes: A shared online exclusive, it's entirely possible  you won't ever see this figure sold individually for its suggested retail price in person.  But online?  Oh yeah.  Amazon's prices on some of these guys has been super cheap, to the point where I don't get why they're selling them below cost.  If you can get it cheaply, so so.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,968: December 28, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,967: Tri-Droid

TRI-DROID Battle on Mygeeto
30th Anniversary Collection Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87503 No. 87815
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 4 other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99-$24.99
Availability: Summer 2008
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: As a stronghold of the InterGalactic Banking Clan, the crystalline world of Mygeeto is caught in the maelstrom of the Clone Wars. It is where much of the Separatist movement’s wealth is kept, and so it is targeted by the Republic: gain control of Mygeeto, and the Separatists lose crucial funding. Ki-Adi-Mundi is stationed on the icy planet with the mission of wresting it from the Separatists. Together with Clone Commander Bacara, Ki-Adi-Mundi and the Galactic Marines battle the droid army in fierce urban fighting, pushing forward against a grim onslaught of super battle droids and enormous tri-droids.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: Part of the fun (and danger) of making figures from a movie with digital models is that it can sometimes be tough to get a sense of scale. Particularly if the people doing approvals were asleep at the wheel. The 2008  Tri-Droid as unique Mygeeto deco, and is a redecorated version of a single carded figure sold earlier that year. It's larger than your average action figure, but nowhere near the size of the massive Walmart-exclusive Tri-Droid vehicle (Octuptarra Droid) which would come for the cartoon line. Given the design with this deco never appeared in the movie anyway (as far as I can tell) it's impossible to be "wrong," which means that for what it is, it's quite nice. The dark droid with the red and white highlights looks great, I particularly liked the separatist droid army faction symbol on the top of the head. There are little red lights all around the head, big white stripes on the legs, and of course, it's sizable. Each leg has multiple moving parts, although the design is a little wobbly and may need some care when it's time to display this one.

The figure is part of a pretty great set, so if you like a nice Battle Pack I'd say the Battle on Mygeeto may be right for you - each of the figures has unique deco, with the two droids having drastically different paint jobs. get it if you can!

Collector's Notes: This was the final "new" Battle Pack in the 87503 assortment, which mean it got that lovely Last Wave Syndrome. The big difference, though, is nobody seemed to care.  I saw it at Entertainment Earth and Toys R Us... and if memory serves, that's about it. It's $30ish these days, give or take.  That isn't a terrible price, really, although you may think otherwise if/when Hasbro resculpts Ki-Adi-Mundi and Commander Bacara. (It'll happen. Eventually.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,967: December 27, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,966: Snaggletooth

SNAGGLETOOTH Villain Set
The Vintage Collection  Target Exclusive Special Action Figures Set
Item No.: Asst. 32976 No. 39752
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Boba Fett, Tusken Raider
Action Feature: Holster
Retail: $14.99, $24.99, $26.99, other (varies)
Availability: July 2012
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Boba Fett, a fearsome, intergalactic bounty hunter, poses a threat to any member of the Rebel Alliance. Sand People, a tribe of desert nomads, survive by robbing innocent travelers like Luke. Snaggletooth is an alien creature seen by Luke and Ben lurking in the cantina.   (Taken from the set's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: Depending on how much you paid for it, this Snaggletooth is either an awesome addition or a shameful cash grab.   So the update of Zutton or Snaggletooth or whatever his name is this week is tough to take on its own merits, despite being a new sculpt and a darned good one.   You get your 14 joints, and this figure probably would be really well-received on a Vintage cardback... if the original 1979 Kenner figure was the same guy.  There's another, similar alien named Zutton which has a different outfit and is slightly shorter-- that's what the 1979 figure is, and he's sorta from the Star Wars Holiday Special. Takeel is from the movie.  So... this is the one you should've got back then.

The figure is on par with Hasbro's better aliens today, with a nice wash over the body, good sculpting, uneven shoulders, and a nice recreation of the rubber mask.  It has a lot of personality, which is sort of a given when you've got a fang sticking out and big, black eyes.  Oh, and giant nostrils.  Seriously, this is a nifty one.  The boots look good, and you've got ankle joints and all that stuff.   Since it's a super-articulated vintage-quality figure, it's tough to review.  It looks right, the sculpting is good, it meets the expectations of a figure in 2012 and exceeds them slightly with some nice texture on the face and he looks good in a diorama.  I feel like I'm writing a fifth-grade book report.   It is what it is, and it's good.  You'd be smart to buy one for your Cantina toybox.

Collector's Notes: I got this set for $15, which was priced right.  The set included a variant Boba Fett (the backpack holds on better, the deco is 3% different) and yet another Tusken Raider.  But it was pretty common from its release around July through... well, now probably.  Don't overpay for this one in the future, it was pretty common and sat around.  Heck, I saw piles of these out at lunch today.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,966: December 26, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,965: Holiday Tall Jawa

JAWAS 3rd Edition
Star Wars Holiday Edition - Entertainment Earth Exclusive
Item No.: No. 34528
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 2 figures, 1 base, greeting card with envelope
Action Feature: Comes apart
Retail: $17.99
Availability: 2004
Appearances: n/a

Bio:     Hasbro and Lucasfilm Ltd. are delighted to present the third in a series of Star Wars Holiday Edition commemorative sets. Inspired by the artwork of renowned artist Ralph McQuarrie, this specially designed set captures the imaginative vision of McQuarrie's art in collectible 3 3/4" action figure scale. Our gift to you, this piece is a distinctive addition to any Star Wars collection. May the Force be with you, and happy holidays.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: This set is interesting.  It was the first Entertainment Earth exclusive, after being developed for the Fan Club which has historically had some interesting changes of management and whatnot.  The Holiday Edition Jawas (we're looking at the tall one today) has a short but weird development.  Around this time, and this was before I came on board at Entertainment Earth full-time, there were talks about making one of the Jawas bright red and the other bright green to distinguish them from the normal releases... a concept which would be revisited with Darth Vader later.  I kicked and screamed and basically acted like a little brat... so the figures have clear red and clear green eyes but are otherwise Jawa-colored, and the taller of the two figures actually looks like he could fit right in with your Sandcrawler dioramas.  The Jedi Training Remote could be found in a junkpile, so it's not out of the question that this figure (a retool of the delightful 1996 figures) could fit right at home with the movie collection.  I think this is the only figure in this sub-line that has that distinction.

Based on the 1996 sculpt-- it has a 1996 date on the back-- the figure is a little dated but still looks good.  The uni-leg remains, and is joined by a uni-arm as the hands are molded to the remote, so it all moves as one piece.  There's also a waist joint, but for all intents and purposes this is less of a toy than it is a decoration.  Like I was mentioning yesterday, this kind of product sort of kicks Hallmark in the balls, so to speak, as you can just stick an ornament hook in a figure's head for $10 and it looks way better than a $16-$20 resin figurine.   The set is an adequate representation of the characters on the Ralph McQuarrie holiday card, and in 2004 there were (if you can believe it) still only 3 different molds from which to choose for your Jawa needs.   This one, with the twin bandoliers and red (almost orange) eyes just seems to be a clever reuse of existing tooling and it serves a need nicely.

Oh, and there's a display base with the golden words "Holiday Edition" with a sandy base and two wrapped packages.  This would be a kajillion times better without the nameplate and the packages, but for the purposes of a holiday item it works nicely.

Collector's Notes: We had this in stock at Entertainment Earth for years.   It sold pretty well, but it would seem that the best audience for Star Wars mixed with holiday kitsch was (and always will be) Walmart.  Loose samples are as cheap as $6, packaged ones are around $20.  It's the last "Holiday Edition" set that actually looks like the card on which it's based, the last one being a cherry red Darth Vader which may be the only figure that I feel like a chump for buying.  I would laugh at me knowing how much I hate that figure.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,965: December 25, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,964: Santa Yoda

YODA 2nd Edition
Star Wars Holiday Edition
Item No.: No. 26763
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Bag, cane, stand, greeting card
Action Feature: Comes apart
Retail: $12.95
Availability: 2003
Appearances: n/a

Bio: Hasbro and Lucasfilm Ltd. are delighted to present the second in a series of Star Wars Holiday Edition commemorative sets. Inspired by the artwork of renowned artist Ralph McQuarrie, this specially designed set captures the imaginative vision of McQuarrie's art in collectible 3 3/4" action figure scale. Our gift to you, this piece is a distinctive addition to any Star Wars colection. May the Force be with you, and happy holidays.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: I actually didn't open this Yoda until this year, mostly because it was on the list of figures I was going to open after I got what I considered to be some form of permanent residence.  It's a very nice figure, and these show off just how far Hasbro came since the 1990s, during a time where Hallmark's Christmas ornaments were slightly more prized as collectibles due to their quality and authenticity, to some extend.  They were a harder material, and generally decorated significantly better than the toys of the day.  Flash-forward to 2003, and Hasbro is crushing them like a bug with figures like this Santa Yoda proving it.  It's a better item at a better price.  Suck on that, Hallmark!

This is one of the better Holiday Edition figures, as it actually looks like what the card represents.  Yoda has a mere 3 points of articulation, but sports a great head sculpt and articulated shoulders as well as a moving neck.  Each hand holds an accessory.  His right holds a sack filled with toys, while the left carries a cane.  Sure, Yoda's head departs from the card in that the figure's lips are parted slightly, but other than that it's a decent representation of the classic Lucasfilm Christmas card.  It has the big colorful ball (more orange than yellow) plus a green wooden toy block set on the base.  The base itself says "Holiday Edition" (no kidding) and has a nifty snowy design with tracks and footprints.  There's a groove in the back of the figure stand for displaying the card - a nice touch, to be sure.  The decoration is quit good with the toys in the back having lots of unique paint applications.  Having said that, they're a little muddy and it's tough to tell just what it is I'm looking at.  While hardly an essential figural purchase, it's a cute gift item and a nice holiday decoration.  You can do worse.

Collector's Notes: This figure doesn't actually have a name.  The front of the box doesn't have the word "Yoda" on it anywhere, and the back just identifies it as a McQuarrie art piece rendered in figure form.  How odd.  Also, the "2nd Edition" above refers to the packaging, which itself refers to this being the second in a series of Hasbro Star Wars Christmas figures.   There would be 4 total sets, although they could have called it quits after the first three and I'd have been pretty happy.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,964: December 24, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,963: R9-Series Blue Astromech Droid

R9-SERIES ASTROMECH DROID Blue Dome with Silver Panels
Star Tours Droid Factory Customizable Figure
Item No.: No. ???
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Head, 2 legs, torso, central third leg, optional hat
Action Feature: Comes apart
Retail: $10-$12
Availability: 2012
Appearances: n/a

Bio: These figures do not have specific packaging or configurations.  As such, we will be treating each dome as a unique "figure" as that part is the most plentiful.   At this time there are 25 domes and while Hasbro sometimes seems to indicate they are not Hasbro product, they do have Hasbro copyright markings and as such we are classifying them under the Hasbro banner.

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: Ah, it's the Christmas season.   That means I'm in the midst of my most sacred holiday tradition, which is re-listening to the five episodes of the classic Chunklet podcast.  (Reasons: Big Black, Mission of Burma, A Frames, Blood on the Wall, Scratch Acid, and I hate Christmas music.  'Tis the season for decent rock music.)  We'll also look at some Holiday-themed figures next week, as I keep neglecting to trot them out.  This has nothing to do with the R9-Series Astromech Droid but we've looked at a few of these by now.   This one is a decent release because the mold makes this color work.  The red one feels a little pock-marked and rough, but in blue it seems to smooth over much (but not all) of the rough edges.  We've still got silver panels, a black eye, and some other markings but it's obvious that this not-smooth dome really looks better in a darker color.  After looking at thousands of these goofy things, I can also say with quantifiable certitude that any and all astromech droid figures should have very glossy black central eyes... this one is a smidgen shiny, but the ones that REALLY shine are the most lively.   Because of its weirdness, I consider this a worthwhile purchase, although the green one ain't bad either.  I opted to stick it on the "dark blue" astromech body, which is actually a smidgen similar to R3-M3.

Collector's Notes:  This item was a customizable release at Disney Hollywood Studios in Orlando, and you can configure them any way you wish.  Well, in theory, that's assuming they have the parts you want and they might not.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,963: December 21, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,962: Pit Droid

PIT DROID  with Ratts Tyerell
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures and also Discover the Force Mos Espa Race set
Item No.: Asst. 37499 No.  26973  
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC77
Includes: Goggles, blaster, other figure
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' yard while under construction.  Yes, that is a pile of dirt.

Commentary: So while comparing this Pit Droid which came with Ratts Tyerell with the pair that came in the Mos Espa Arena Walmart Exclusive Gift Set, I found out they're all the same figure.  Harumph.  The Mos Espa Race packaging shows a Pit Droid with different deco, but that's not what you get.  You get this.  The mold is based on the infamous "Bonus Pit Droids" of 2000, a mold so rare fans actively lobbied for Hasbro to bring it out to the USA and they sort of succeeded, and the story goes (if I recall correctly) that Hasbro had to actually recreate the tooling to bring them back.  They did a nice job, it's a cute little figure.

The engineering is the same as before, and its fatal flaw is in the legs: they bend out of shape easily, and with no foot pegs he may fall over.  He has swivel shoulders and hips, plus a ball-jointed head.  The figure is filled with personality and can move his head around to emote in numerous fun little ways.  Well, a couple.  The figure has no accessories of his own, but is a nice bonus in any set.  The light, maroon-ish head has a lot of dirt and soot on it which makes this relatively simple design look amazing.  Sure, the sculpting is good, but the paint adds a lot of dimension to this otherwise more-or-less same figure.  I like it. It's cute.  More please.

Collector's Notes:  The set was widely available in 2012 at various points in the first half, so you should have got one at retail by now.  You might still be able to find it but I wouldn't hold your breath for too long... you're in the end of "crazy parents who will buy anything" season and that usually serves as a decent correction to any unsold pegwarmers.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,962: December 20, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,961: R2-D2

R2-D2 Many Features
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 97568  No. 21486
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: VC25
Includes: 7 glasses, drink tray, sensorscope, drink dispenser, lightsaber hilt
Action Feature: Pop-out arm, pop-up lightsaber, sensorscope, retractable third leg
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' former apartment complex' driveway.

Commentary: This figure's an odd one, because R2-D2 was released in the 2010 Vintage line as a figure which exceeds the mandate of updating 1984 Pop-Up Lightsaber R2-D2 by leaps and bounds.  In the old days an R2-D2 figure had, at beast, 2 action features.  One? The dome clicks when you turn it.  Two? Either you had a pop-up scope, or a lightsaber that pops up.  And that was it... and we liked it!   This figure goes and basically shoves in most of the Original Trilogy features you could ask for, including the lightsaber stored in the dome, the famous sensorscope, a pop-out arm, and yes, a drink tray with removable drinks.  Back when the figure first hit you could get it for $8, and it's really hard to complain about getting a figure with this many moving parts and accessories for the price.  The deco is good, too, super-clean and factory fresh.

The figure comes up short- literally- among his brothers.  This is the shortest Astromech droid sculpt, but there's a reason: according to some sources, all the other ones are too big and this guy is closer to the right size.  In what I consider a decision of mercy, Hasbro opted to do only R2-D2 in the shorter size, and keep each and every other Astromech droid in the larger, "normal" size.   (If I had to re-buy the entire lot of them again, my head would explode.)   This version of R2-D2 doesn't have any particularly exceptional articulation, it's just as good as the others with a better compliment of accessories and I would argue a better attention to detail.  The panels and everything look a smidgen better, making this a worthwhile purchase.

Collector's Notes:  While I do tend to do the eyeroll thing a bit when Hasbro announces yet another R2-D2, I can't argue that this wasn't a good one for the issue price.  It's great.  It's impressive.  It'll also set you back $6-$15 on eBay, which is certainly a worthwhile price.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,961: December 19, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,960: Obi-Wan Kenobi

OBI-WAN KENOBI Light-Up Lightsaber Blade!
Discover the Force Movie Heroes
Item No.:   Asst. 87752 No. 36571
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #MH16
Includes: Stand, card, die
Action Feature: Light-up lightsaber
Retail: $8.99
Availability: February 2012
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio:  Obi-Wan Kenobi battles Darth Maul in the Theed Royal Palace on Naboo. Obi-Wan becomes separated from Qui-Gon Jinn as the two Jedi duel the menacing Sith apprentice in the generator complex. When Obi-Wan is reunited with his Jedi Master, he faces an unexpected tragedy and must fight the powerful Darth Maul on his own.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' photo area.

Commentary: While light-up lightsabers aren't anything new (we were given 3 of them back in 1998), Obi-Wan Kenobi is less clunky in this Phantom Menace incarnation, but still has a few minor nits to pick.  The sculpt is fantastic and by and large, the engineering is great.  You can remove his lower "skirt" piece so he can sit in vehicles-- good move, Hasbro!  The head sculpt is wonderful, one of Hasbro's finer versions of the actor.  It's swimming in personality.  The figure also has decent articulation, with ball-jointed knees for no apparent reason.  I can't complain.   The right arm is swivel-only due to the lightsaber mechanism, but Hasbro was kindly enough to give us a swivel wrist and ball-jointed elbow on the other side.  Kenobi's robes are nicely done as well, and on the whole this figure shames most of Hasbro's Obi-Wan Kenobi sculpts based on the first prequel film.

My only beefs?  I got two.  One, the battery isn't replaceable.  This probably won't be a problem for years (by my findings with similar toys, perhaps 10, 15, or even more years) but it could eventually be a problem when there's a battery corroding inside my prized action figure and I can't get it out.  Two, the shoulders are a smidgen wide, undoubtedly to house the electronics.  For a kid, in the short-term (say, 10 years) this is probably one of the best figures you can get in terms of fun play value.  It's durable, you can fight with Obi-Wan's saber and not be afraid it might snap off... and of course, it lights up when you push the belt buckle.   This figure is a bizarre item in that it's clearly designed as a toy for kids, but has exceptional sculpting the likes of which we glimpse at once in a blue moon in this line.  Don't get me wrong-- most of the figures are well-sculpted, but human head are rarely done this well, with this quality of paint and plastic, resulting in an execution where I really have to reach to complain.  (But of course I'm going to complain.  Non-removable batteries make me sad.)

Collector's Notes:  This item hit big earlier in the year and may still be at a store near you.  At $10 it might be a stretch... but I'd be lying if I said that this wasn't my second-favorite version of the character from this movie.  (The first?  Naboo Battle Pack 2012.)   When you get right down to it, the only thing Hasbro could do to make this figure better is maybe remove some articulation and slash the price a couple of bucks.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,960: December 18, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,959: Shocktrooper

SHOCK TROOPER  The Red One
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 37499 No.  39651  
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC110
Includes: Blaster pistol, blaster rifle, helmet
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: July 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's photo dump.

Commentary: We got to a point in Star Wars where we're basically running a victory lap.  The Vintage line, if you take a step back, is a great entry-level line with tons of fan favorites and an adequate mix of "new" figures.  The Shock Trooper is not one of the new figures... technically, his entire wave of six figures is "been there, done that" with some improvements.  This figure is notable in that it's the third super-articulated version of the Shock Trooper, only this time it's based on the 2011 Vintage Clone Trooper body complete with ball-jointed hips and bend-and-swivel wrists.  Oh, and you get a removable helmet too, even though (if you ask me) that needs to stop as the solid helmets fit and look better.

Previous Shock Troopers were based on the III-06 mold (quick-draw arm action) and III-41 (Clone Trooper with the antenna backpack), so this one has similar-but-better articulation.  He's a little bit thinner, and as he's based on the Attack of the Clones body there may be some minor changes between the suit sculpts.  While I think the helmet could be improved and the deco could use some scuffing or something to add visual interest, Hasbro did a nice job making sure the red wasn't too glossy and that the guns had some painted details to make them look interesting.  I don't know that this figure is $10 worth of interesting in this particular era of collecting, mostly since a significant percentage of the Vintage line is stuff we long-term fans already own.  If the price is right, grab one, but odds are availability and the price combined will make it difficult (if not impossible) to do any serious army building.

Collector's Notes:  This item hit big around September, showing up at Walmarts and Toys R Us stores.  It hit online around July, and also came in the San Diego Comic-Con exclusive Carbonite gift set.  I would advise paying less than $15, or $12ish tops before shipping/tax really.  At this time no fewer than 5 figures share this body: there's also a ROTS White Clone, a ROTS 501st Clone, a plain white AOTC Clone, and a blue AOTC Clone.  And we're getting a green AOTC Clone early next year, so there.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,959: December 17, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,958: Blue R4-Series Astromech Droid

R4-SERIES ASTROMECH DROID White Dome with Blue Panels
Star Tours Droid Factory Customizable Figure
Item No.: No. ???
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Head, 2 legs, torso, central third leg, optional hat
Action Feature: Comes apart
Retail: $10-$12
Availability: 2012
Appearances: n/a

Bio: These figures do not have specific packaging or configurations.  As such, we will be treating each dome as a unique "figure" as that part is the most plentiful.   At this time there are 25 domes and while Hasbro sometimes seems to indicate they are not Hasbro product, they do have Hasbro copyright markings and as such we are classifying them under the Hasbro banner.

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: A few years ago I decided it would be funny, as there were many to review, to do a solid month of Clone Troopers in Figure of the Day.  I think people started sending hate mail around day 14, so I didn't do it with astromech figures this year.  You're welcome.  Anyway, the R4-series Astromech Droid now comes in a blue dome which matches R2-D2's body nicely.  The pattern on the head is pretty much identical to the purple one, except, well, it's blue.  The silver and black is pretty much the same, so what you have here is a decent (and presumably easy-to-make) redeco.  It's a nice design, and it fits in well with my other figures.  The body I picked for this one was R2-D2's, because, well, blue.  There's not a lot of light blue here just yet so it's a nice match when it comes to augmenting your droid pool.

Collector's Notes:  This item was a customizable release at Disney Hollywood Studios in Orlando, and you can configure them any way you wish. There's not much to it.  Get one if you want one, I did!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,958: December 14, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,957: Luke Skywalker

LUKE SKYWALKER  Bespin Battle
Discover the Force Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 37822 No.  37824
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, pistol, game stuff, additional figures
Action Feature: Gun fits in holster
Retail: $22.99
Availability: April 2012
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: During his Jedi training, Luke has a vision that his friends are in danger.  He rushes to Bespin to rescue Han and Leia, where he encounters Darth Vader and the bounty hunger Boba Fett.  The Sith Lord's plan has worked: he has lured Skywalker to the planet and intends to deliver him to the Emperor.  While Fett collects his long-sought quarry, Luke battles Vader in a menacing lightsaber duel. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's Carbon Freeze Chamber playset.


Commentary: One area where I feel Hasbro has let down fans is making good toys, for kids, at prices which aren't awful.  This Luke Skywalker is a surprisingly toy-ish release, and is one of three new sculpts in a set for $20.  That basically brings us back to latter-1990s prices, with mid-1990s articulation.   The sculpting and deco on this figure are so delightful, I would advise you all to buy it.  Yes, even though 10 of you a week email me or post on forums about how I'm a terrible person for saying it.

While the 2010 Vintage Bespin Luke is close to a perfect figure, the 2012 Battle Pack Bespin Luke is a nearly perfect toy.  With only five points of articulation, he has no problems standing or sitting.  He balances well, he bends at the hips to sit in most vehicles, and he can hold his weapons with little difficulty.  The quality of the sculpt is really amazing, with a sharp level of detail that almost looks too good.  You can see all sorts of tiny wrinkles, folds, and other details which proves the sculptors put in a ton of work.  The head sculpt is also quite nice, but the kicker is that the hair is bright yellow.  If you're under 30 as of right now, you probably hate this.  If you're over 30, you may be delighted, because the original two Kenner Luke Skywalker figures with visible hair also had Crayola-bright wigs.   This figure might look even better with a proper color, but Hasbro has had difficulty matching the color perfectly - so going in the yellow direction makes it fun, because, well, they're not trying to be perfect.  They're trying to be interesting.

I am not one of the collectors who insists each and every figure have 12 or more points of articulation.  I'm pretty happy we got a ball-jointed head here, and while I wouldn't have minded a waist joint I can't deny that the final product looks good and holds together nicely.  It is a fun figure that works well as a toy and arguably better as a desk plaything, as super-articulated figures have a nasty habit of toppling over as their "sweet spot" for standing can be tricky to find.  With this Luke, he's got one pose.  And he's going to stand in it.  If I had my way I'd ask Hasbro to make the entire 1978-1985 Vintage line in this format, plus a smattering of Clone Wars and Prequel figures, but odds are that's going to never happen.

Collector's Notes: At Celebration VI, Hasbro confirmed (to me, in a Q&A) that there would be more "simple" articulation figures like this next year.  They didn't say what, but if the quality is on par with Luke here I'm happy.  This Luke figure didn't start shipping to stores until months after showing up online, so order yours from a dotcom or cross your fingers Target still has a few.  But if you like old toys, be sure to get it before it goes away.  It's nice.  I approve.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,957: December 13, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,956: Cyborg Darth Maul

DARTH MAUL Darth Maul Returns
The Clone Wars Target Exclusive Battle Pack
Item No.: No. A0730
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, spinning accessory, display stand, card, plus Nightsister and Savage Opress figures
Action Feature: Lightsaber splits in two, plugs into spinning energy grip
Retail: $19.99
Availability: September 2012
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Darth Maul returns from the dead and is ready for battle on new cybernetic legs. With the help of his brother Savage Opress and a powerful Nightsister, Maul prepares to avenge himself against the Jedi who almost killed him.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.   You'll note, it doesn't quite match the story... or maybe it does, from a certain point of view.)

Image: Adam's photo dump.

Commentary: One of the things that's good (or bad) about The Clone Wars is that it serves as a clearing house of ideas from the Lucas vaults.  The concept of Darth Maul as a half-cyborg, gloved arms, and no shirt with some sort of collar dates back to at least 2005, when we saw it in the graphic novel Star Wars: Visionaries.  Heck, we even got a "realistic" action figure of it in a comic pack in 2010.  It always baffles me when people cite some of this stuff as new and fresh and I'm sitting here going "Uh, no, I've had that in my closet for a while now thanks."

This Darth Maul is a better-looking figure with cleaner paint applications and a better face.  It's not a perfect translation of the cartoon, but as a toy it's great to look at.  (It will require a stand or assistance, though.)  The big clawed feet come straight from the cartoon, and it's really amazing just how slavish they were to replicating the comic design except the action figure has far, far shorter horns.  (Savage has some big horns, though.)  The ribbed, ALIEN-like lower torso is here, as are the ornate gloves, and even the unique grooves on his thighs.   They really went out of the way to make sure the New Maul looks a lot like the Old Maul you already have, but sharper and cleaner.  The streamlined sculpt looks fantastic, and makes me a little sad we're seeing so few animated figures these days.  Hasbro just makes better and better designs, too.

Rather than giving the action figure an action feature, they integrated it into the accessory.  That red blob on Darth Maul's hand has a handle in the center, and it spins around.  There are holes in it, and you can split Darth Maul's weapon and plug it into either side.   It's really clever and (if you ask me) a better idea than having a super-loose or geared wrist.  The figure is nicely poseable, the action feature is fun, and the paint job is simple, clean, and looks great.  I'm a big fan of this set and I do suggest you get one.

Collector's Notes: Target exclusives are often available for several weeks or even many months, as the production numbers are sizable and the distribution tends to be pretty good and surprisingly evenly rolled out.  If this figure is sold out by now in your neck of the woods, rest assured it was probably plentiful in October.  (It seemed to be in most markets.  Heck, it's still plentiful in Phoenix right now.)  I would suggest getting one at $20, I assume this set will be expensive down the road due to its including 3 desirable characters.  Unless we get a real Mother Talzin, of course, in which case all bets are off.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,956: December 12, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,955: AT-ST Driver

AT-ST DRIVER Endor AT-ST Crew
The Vintage Collection Kmart Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. A1116 No. A0398
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Packaged with AT-ST Gunner, helmet, blaster
Action Feature: Removable helmet
Retail: $14.99
Availability: October 2012
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: These two Imperial troopers find themselves in trouble when they encounter a couple of Ewoks and one giant Wookiee.  The unlucky driver is knocked unconscious by Widdle Warrick, Wunka and Chewbacca.  The gunner fares no better: he is unceremoniously tossed out of the vehicle by the trio.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo dump.

Commentary: This is a really interesting one.  The AT-ST Driver is director Richard Marquand, best-known is the dude who helmed Return of the Jedi.  The card game identifies the character as "Major Marquand," but Hasbro gives him a less specific name despite having a head which looks more than a little like the director.  The figure's super-articulated 14-joint body was used with a Hoth AT-ST Driver in 2010, but was given a number of upgrades.  For starters, the helmet now has goggles stuck to it and it looks way, way better than the separate goggles.  They're also given green lenses, which look quite distinctive.  The head is particularly lively, the color of plastic looks great even in dim light and the eyes have a tiny simulation of a spark of life behind them, thanks in part to a good choice of paint and a couple of very small, very subtle wrinkles.  Sure, he looks plastic, but the figure manages to feel just a little more alive than others.  I'm loath to keep him behind a helmet, it just looks so well done.  This AT-ST Driver is good in so many ways that the Vintage boxed AT-ST vehicle isn't.

The blaster is a typical Stormtrooper blaster, but here's where things get weird.  There was supposed to be another change to the figure which you can see on the package, which either the factory (this is my guess) or Hasbro (not as likely) left out for some reason.  There are straps on the figure's shoulders and belt, just like the 2010 version.  However the packaging shows a couple of minor sculpting changes, including a holster for the blaster!    Given that this might get in the way of a figure sitting down inside the vehicle, I am not completely sorry to see it go.  It fits in the AT-ST head just fine, and is, if you ask me, the very best AT-ST Driver action figure your money can buy as of today.

Should this set wind up on clearance, I think I'm more likely to clear Kmart out of these guys than the Ewoks.  They're really well-done, and I honestly did not anticipate liking them so much.   I've got three "modern" AT-STs needing 2 pilots each, so should these ever go down to $10 or less, I'm cleaning them out.  For $15 it's an amazing value and it's a wonder Hasbro opted to leave these off the Vintage cardbacks.  Actually, I thank Hasbro for NOT putting them in the main line because unlike the 1990s, today, the only way you can pretty much be guaranteed to (eventually) find a figure is if it's a store exclusive.  The regular line stuff remains elusive these days.

Collector's Notes: DON'T PANIC!  Kmart exclusives are generally quite common and wind up on clearance, but are slow to roll out.  Also, Kmart's web site is notorious for filling orders with the wrong products.  I suggest being patient and/or networking here, as the numbers tell us Hasbro made a good number of these and they should be plentiful in the next few months.  The packaging is really nice too, although it's astonishingly wasteful.  It's about twice the size as it needs to be, you could cram the Ewoks in this box and have room to spare.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,955: December 11, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,954: Nanta (Corpsey the Ewok)

NANTA Ewok Pack
Discover the Force Toys R Us Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. A0790 No. A0791
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Packaged with Tippet, Flitchee, Teebo, and Kneesaa figures
Action Feature: Hood, spear, knife
Retail: $39.99
Availability: August 2012
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: The Ewoks of Bright Tree Village join forces with the Rebels to battle Imperial troopers.  These diminutive natives of Endor are fierce fighters with an array of weapons to help defeat the troopers and immobilize Imperial walkers.  Armed with spears, clubs and weapons taken from overpowered troopers, the Ewoks do their part to free the galaxy.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo dump.

Commentary: I'm never sure if I should be happy or sad when a "gag" figure makes it out.  I'm usually happy because when it comes to Star Wars, my love of things which are new tends to be more genuine than not.   Nanta is the fan-requested Ewok "Corpsey" but given a name that wouldn't give Hasbro or Lucas some sort of fit.   This figure's claim to fame is being the one that another Ewok cries over when it dies.   It's kind of morbid, but as the figure itself isn't "dead" in appearance it's still one more great Ewok for your dioramas, armies, or toy box horde.

Nanta's head and body are basically a tweaked Nho'apakk, with a resized neck peg and, as far as I can tell, few to no other changes.  (Why, I have no idea.)   The figure is now mostly dark grey or black fur with a little lighter grey fur, while it seems the movie has very light or even white stripes on his fur.  So it's close, but not a perfect recreation of the one photo some dude posted to Wookieepedia.  The hood coloring isn't quite a perfect match either, but it's still a solid Ewok figure that builds off an existing design and makes something new and different to the point where I assume your average fan would have little or no idea it's essentially a repaint with a new hat.   Other than the figure lacking the color of his seeming on-screen inspiration, it's a nice release with 10 points of articulation representing a previously-unmade character.  This figure is the reason people like me are still here, we buy 30 more Anakins and Vaders in between new droids, Ewoks, and Rebel Pilots.  It seems a lot less exciting as I type it out, but let me assure you that Nanta and his set are worth tracking down if you have love of Ewoks in your life.  Sure it's expensive, but it's a good set.

Collector's Notes: The set is showing up more now, which is good, because a lot of you people freak out when you don't run the math.  Why am I saying that? For some reason people decided this item is only shipping at a rate of one-case-per-store, and that's just ridiculous. I believe the initial report posted at Rebelscum regarding the run size and other 2012 Hasbro Toys R Us exclusives indicated the US run of the set to be around 30,000 sets which many do not understand is a very large number.  How do I figure? I am so glad you asked!  According to Wikipedia, Toys R Us has around 875 stores in the USA.  So assuming these numbers are correct, and as Hasbro does not reveal its final edition sizes we do not and probably will never know for sure, that puts us at an average of 34 sets per store, which is not a tiny number.   Obviously some will be a little higher and some will be a little lower, but you get the idea.   Sure, some scalper could pick up all 34 units per store as a store puts out 2-3 cases at a time, but that's pretty unlikely.  Keep your eyes peeled for these hitting the shelves, and remember: if you see them and pass on them, and regret it later, it's not my fault.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,954: December 10, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,953: Red R3-Series Astromech Droid

R3-SERIES ASTROMECH DROID Clear Dome with Red Panels
Star Tours Droid Factory Customizable Figure
Item No.: No. ???
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Head, 2 legs, torso, central third leg, optional hat
Action Feature: Comes apart
Retail: $10-$12
Availability: 2012
Appearances: n/a

Bio: These figures do not have specific packaging or configurations.  As such, we will be treating each dome as a unique "figure" as that part is the most plentiful.   At this time there are 25 domes and while Hasbro sometimes seems to indicate they are not Hasbro product, they do have Hasbro copyright markings and as such we are classifying them under the Hasbro banner.

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: When I first saw the red R3-Series Astromech Droid dome from the whole Disney Droid Factory, I said "Hey, didn't I already get this?"  It turns out no, I didn't.  While there was a droid from 2009 which looks similar, the deco is pretty different in that this one is redder, and has a silver box around the central eye whereas the other one was unpainted.  They are, fortunately, different enough to be interesting.   A yellow light under the eye brings the clear head some personality, and like his purple cousin from this line you can see right through him and into the body.  It's nice.

I chose the red "R2" body in the picture for this one, but you can slap it anywhere you please.  I really am happy Hasbro/Disney/whoever wants to take responsibility for this one made sure the deco was different from other droid releases, because for those of us crazy people who want one of all the droid parts, we want something different.   The figure has a hole in the dome for a droid hat, which looks better on some than others.

Collector's Notes:  This item was a customizable release at Disney Hollywood Studios in Orlando, and you can configure them any way you wish. While not my top pick, I can't argue that it turned out quite well and I look forward to seeing if there are any more R3 clear domes next year.  I also look forward to them ceasing making new parts to track down, because really, this is the most irritating distribution ever.  You have to go to Orlando and pay $100 just to see what they have, and heaven help you if they're out of right legs that day.  Hey Disney, if you're reading this: please let me consult on your eventual Anaheim roll-out.  I work cheap.  Here's the short version: look at LEGO's nicely-sorted pick-a-brick layout at the theme stores on your property.  Pieces are sorted by color and size.  This is nice.  Do that.  Your crappy little bins are set up like Goodwill, only more cluttered and harder to get through.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,953: December 7, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,952: Clone Trooper Boost

CLONE TROOPER BOOST 104th Battalion "Wolf Pack" Clone Troopers
Clone Wars Shared Online Exclusive Ultimate Gift Set
Item No.: No. A0793
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster rifle, pistol, rocket, rocket pack, display stand, card, plus Plo Koon, Sinker, and Commander Wolffe figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: Fall 2012
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: The famed 104th "Wolf Pack" Battalion serves under Jedi General Plo Koon and is led by Commander Wolffe.  At the Battle of Abregado, the entire battalion was decimated, losing only Wolffe, Sinker, and Boost.  Only luck, ingenuity and the unyielding determination of Plo Koon kept them alive.  The troopers' armor was originally red, but Wolffe, changed it to blue-gray to honor the many comrades who were lost in the battle.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.  It's weird. "Losing" only..?  No, "Leaving" only.  Argh.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: For whatever reason Hasbro has forsaken The Clone Wars in its animated form this season.  These are the first new animated figures since June/July with Fox, and these are the only other figures on the books for 2012... plus American packaging samples (and solicitations) for the 2013 figures have yet to surface.  Since the show has unlimited clones, aliens, Jedi, vehicles, and more I'm grumpy that all we got this year were about a dozen new figures.  Many of which, like Boost, were repaints.  At least I like clone repaints.  I like them lots.  I want more.

Clone Trooper Boost (which I remember as it looks like he's crying... boo-hoo, get it?) is a redeco of one of this year's few new molds. It's based on the revised, Phase II Clone Trooper which was released in plain white back in January.  Sinker and Boost are the only repaints of it so far, and Boost came out pretty well.  With 12 points of articulation, he lacks ankle movement and his torso and wrist don't have the range of the original 2008 sculpt.  He does look closer to the show, as he's much thinner and the armor is truer to the digital models.  He's totally clean, with a little grey for his markings and no dirt of any kind.  (Dirt was largely removed from animated clones in late 2008.)

While I love the deco, especially the little wolf on his helmet, the figure continues to suffer from his ancestor's flaws.  The hip joints don't have enough clearance to swing the legs forward without warping the legs and stretching out the crotch area, and the hands are quite small.   You can get the guns into them, but it's a tight fit... many toy lines exaggerate hand and head size, but Hasbro has been getting better about keeping it authentic. I can't help  but like the guy, he's got a big black block on the back of his helmet, lots of weapons, and an optional rocket-firing backpack.  (Hasbro left out the slug rocket.)  It's a great toy set, and a nice figure.  It's a decent exclusive and a great way to wrap up the year, as 2012 was probably the worst year The Clone Wars had as a toy line.  Or at least, I hope it will be.

Collector's Notes: I doubt it'll get much cheaper than $20, but hey, you can play chicken all you want.  I was surprised to see it at $30 (which is what I paid, because I am dumb) so if you can get it for less you totally should.  At $5 a figure, it's a bargain.  Long-term collectors are basically just paying to get Sinker, Boost, and a cleaner Wolffe. Exclusives are typically easy to find, items are easy to find online, and shared online exclusives?  Forget about it.  So you've got no problem getting this set, which, as of this week, crept down to a very cheap $21.59.  SRP is around $40, but hey, price war.


--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,952: December 6, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,951: Ahsoka Tano

AHSOKA TANO  and eggs
The Clone Wars Brain Invaders DVD Set
Item No.: Asst. 30411 No. 31678
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #2 of 2
Includes: Stand, game card, lightsaber Geonosian worms, Clone Trooper Scythe figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: March 2012
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: Ahsoka battles brain worms that infect her comrades, including clone trooper Scythe.  The Geonosian worms turn their victims into menacing zombies, as Ahsoka finds out during a flight to a medical station.   The Padawan must find a way to destroy the parasite and save her friends.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: From a purely community-driven perspective, Ahsoka Tano is a fascinating character.  Kids like her, and there are anecdotes that the character is supposedly bringing in tons of new, adult, woman blood into the hobby and fandom.  True?  I dunno.  The ratings of The Clone Wars and sales of most licensed products aren't exactly on an upswing these days.  (Did you think the reason these figures weren't showing up at Walmart was because they were too damn popualr?  Hah!)

The figure takes the 2008 Ahsoka and gives her slightly improved face paint, which is nice because, let's face it, a decent face is probably one of the most important things any figure can have.  You could slap Hermi Odle's head on a small burlap sack and it would be a decent figure, so this one is a bit of an improvement.  The deco of her weapon and body isn't significantly different, but she is being attacked by what appears to be a very rapey Geonosian Brain Worm which is all sorts of creepy.  (This is how it was packaged, folks, I didn't pose it this way.)   With a decent amount of articulation, her very thin arms don't have the ball-jointed elbows so many fans crave.  Still, she's a good representation of the character and the optional brain worms are a nice bonus.  I would argue not as nice as Rotta the Huttlet, but hey, that's where I like to be.

Collector's Notes: Speaking of showing up at Walmart, this figure was supposed to have done just that.  She was developed as a 2-pack with a DVD for the chain, which as far as I can tell either never stocked them or only received a super-limited test run of them.  (I have only heard one report, sans evidence, of this set being sold there.)  The run was dumped at closeout channels like Marshall's or TJ Maxx, which seems to be happening a lot with anything that may have been a Walmart exclusive as of late.   If you can get it, get the set for the clone companion.  I'm still seeing these sets locally as of this week.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,951: December 5, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,950: Darth Maul

DARTH MAUL  Slashing Lightsaber Action!
Discover the Force Movie Heroes Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 36568 No.  38565  
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #MH15
Includes: Stand, card, die, lightsaber
Action Feature: Squeeze legs, arms move
Retail: $8.99
Availability: February 2012
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio:  Darth Maul duels Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Theed Royal Palace on Naboo. The Sith Lord handles the lightsaber with supreme skill, making it difficult for the two Jedi to gain the upper hand in life-or-death confrontation. Maul slashes at his opponents with his double-bladed lightsaber as the three duel from the hangar bay to the generator complex.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: With dozens of Darth Maul figures and few different costumes, it's increasingly tough to suggest any new version is worthwhile.  While the Naboo Battle Pack one had an exceptionally good sculpt and superior likeness, this one is worth getting mostly as a desk toy.   The head sculpt is OK, but the expression and paint job is merely acceptable.  The face design just doesn't seem quite right, but the leg mechanism works quite well.  If you squeeze his legs together, he does that little dance where one arm goes up, another goes down, and you can make pretend he's fighting.

As a figure to live on your desk for you to futz with while pretending to work, it's fair amount of fun.   Since it was developed for the kiddie line around a gimmick, it's more than a little limiting as it can't fit in the vehicle o really do much of anything other than "fight."  The sculpt is good, but not great, and the main reason to get really excited about this one is the one-piece double-bladed lightsaber with the "flared" blade, with extra energy deco near the hilt.   Believe it or not, no Darth Maul figure with a completely plastic lightsaber had that additional detail until 2012.

Collector's Notes: This figure was packed at a higher number in the assortments, but sold quickly due to fans loving the character and using the head as a replacement for the Vintage one.  You may be able to find one at a store still stocking Movie Heroes.  New Movie Heroes 8-packs at Walmarts just showed up with this guy and the other Wave 2 guys, all in a big envelope, for like $25.  It's a killer deal and if you love toys it's one worth getting.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,950: December 4, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,949: Ki-Adi-Mundi

KI-ADI-MUNDI Battle on Mygeeto
30th Anniversary Collection Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87503 No. 87815
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, 4 other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99-$24.99
Availability: Summer 2008
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: As a stronghold of the InterGalactic Banking Clan, the crystalline world of Mygeeto is caught in the maelstrom of the Clone Wars. It is where much of the Separatist movement’s wealth is kept, and so it is targeted by the Republic: gain control of Mygeeto, and the Separatists lose crucial funding. Ki-Adi-Mundi is stationed on the icy planet with the mission of wresting it from the Separatists. Together with Clone Commander Bacara, Ki-Adi-Mundi and the Galactic Marines battle the droid army in fierce urban fighting, pushing forward against a grim onslaught of super battle droids and enormous tri-droids.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: One of the key arguments about any feature documenting these toys is "Is this different enough?" and the answer is usuall "sure, why not?"  Ki-Adi-Mundi, at first glance, looks the same as the 2005 release from Revenge of the Sith, but this late-run 2008 Mygeeto release has a few key differences.  The facial expression is painted in a way which just happens to look a little more intense, the tunic is splattered in hard-to-see dark brown mud splotches, and the lightsaber itself is now a one-piece weapon and mercifully dropped the removable blade gimmick which minimizes breakage.  I really liked the 2005 release, but the construction is better on this one overall... plus he has some awesome clone and droid figures.   If you're a new-ish collector just wanting a quality set of 5 prequel-based figures, this is a worthwhile Battle Pack to buy.

Collector's Notes: The "Battle on Mygeeto" Battle Pack was a very late release in the line, I saw a couple at Toys R Us and of course Entertainment Earth, and that was it.   The set had the very first super-articulated Bacara as well as two totally unique droids in it, so if it's still cheap on eBay and people haven't yet realizes that they missed it, I suggest buying it.  $30 or less for this set is a total bargain for the quality of what you get relative to what you pay for at Target these days.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,949: December 3, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,948: Purple R4-Series Astromech Droid

R4-SERIES ASTROMECH DROID White Dome with Purple Panels
Star Tours Droid Factory Customizable Figure
Item No.: No. ???
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Head, 2 legs, torso, central third leg, optional hat
Action Feature: Comes apart
Retail: $10-$12
Availability: 2012
Appearances: n/a

Bio: These figures do not have specific packaging or configurations.  As such, we will be treating each dome as a unique "figure" as that part is the most plentiful.   At this time there are 25 domes and while Hasbro sometimes seems to indicate they are not Hasbro product, they do have Hasbro copyright markings and as such we are classifying them under the Hasbro banner.

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: For whatever reason, the R4-series Astromech Droid domes were in short supply when I was in Orlando for my Disney overpriced shopping adventure last August, and my pal Shannon was goodly enough to drop in after the convention ended to paw through their restock and get me the ones I missed.  Good man, Shannon, I owe you still.

The dome is similar to the one used for the Droid Factory figures in 2008, except now it's got a hole in the head for any hat you may wish him to wear.  Well, not any hat, but there are optional Mickey Mouse ears or a fedora or a pirate hate, to name a few.  The Goofy ears look best.  Anyway.  The purple R4 looks a lot like the blue R4, except for the color.  The big eye looks curious and inviting, silver panels on the dome break up this otherwise way-too-pale little guy nicely.   There's not a whole heck of a lot to say here other than I appreciate them augmenting the ranks of the R4 cone-head droids, which has always felt a little on the lacking side to me.  If memory serves (I'm on a plane writing this) there were 5 R4s based on the original body design, and another 5 based on the build-a-droid chassis.  They're all pretty neat, the purple one is a little too clean but still nifty.

Collector's Notes:  This item was a customizable release at Disney Hollywood Studios in Orlando, and you can configure them any way you wish. Again, with one purple body, this is the one to get.  Unless someone cranked out an all-purple plastic body with white panels by now.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,948: November 30, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,947: Purple R6-Series Astromech Droid

R6-SERIES ASTROMECH DROID White Dome with Purple Panels
Star Tours Droid Factory Customizable Figure
Item No.: No. ???
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Head, 2 legs, torso, central third leg, optional hat
Action Feature: Comes apart
Retail: $10-$12
Availability: 2012
Appearances: n/a

Bio: These figures do not have specific packaging or configurations.  As such, we will be treating each dome as a unique "figure" as that part is the most plentiful.   At this time there are 25 domes and while Hasbro sometimes seems to indicate they are not Hasbro product, they do have Hasbro copyright markings and as such we are classifying them under the Hasbro banner.

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: Of the exclusive Disney domes, the R6 droid is the best.  It looks like it fell out of the late 1980s, and the purple panels do look quite nice on this one.  The trapezoidal head fits nicely (but not perfectly) on the droid body, and the colors do match quite well.  Detail feels a little soft here, but it's not like you'll notice.  The body has much crisper sculpting, but the paint distracts you from any rounded corners or softer lines.  Really, it's just a mass of white with purple bringing it to life, plus some nice red lights to break it up a bit.  The purple may be a smidgen too dark, as it obscures the round black eye in the center of its face.

If you can only get a couple of these droids, I'd put this one near the top of the list.  Distinctive and chipper, the R6 droid feels like it came out of a Star Wars sequel trilogy we'll sadly never see get made.

Collector's Notes:  This item was a customizable release at Disney Hollywood Studios in Orlando, and you can configure them any way you wish. This is the best configuration.  And yeah, we're looking at another purple astromech in the next FOTD too.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,947: November 29, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,946: Purple R3-Series Astromech Droid

R3-SERIES ASTROMECH DROID Clear Dome with Purple Panels
Star Tours Droid Factory Customizable Figure
Item No.: No. ???
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Head, 2 legs, torso, central third leg, optional hat
Action Feature: Comes apart
Retail: $10-$12
Availability: 2012
Appearances: n/a

Bio: These figures do not have specific packaging or configurations.  As such, we will be treating each dome as a unique "figure" as that part is the most plentiful.   At this time there are 25 domes and while Hasbro sometimes seems to indicate they are not Hasbro product, they do have Hasbro copyright markings and as such we are classifying them under the Hasbro banner.

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: With only one purple body, the R3-Series Astromech Droid purple dome really only makes sense on this frame.  Unless you're six and still have an imagination, I gotta color-coordinate these things or my head will explode.

With essentially the same layout as the clear red R3 dome, the purple one was more than a bit of a surprise given that we all know that Hasbro has made purple the official color of Mace Windu and Mace already has a droid.  Star Tours added three more to the mix, and I like it because unlike R3-M3 this one has a crystal-clear dome.  You can actually see all the junk on the body, which is slightly less cool than it sounds because unlike the regular Hasbro "Droid Factory" bodies, there's little extraneous deco here.  Those gears and guts are just silver on the Disney releases, but hey, at last the dome looks cool.  It's a different design from the traditional build-a-droid R3 head, as there's a hole in it for a hat, but it looks quite similar.  The paint job is nice and clean on the head, so I dig this one.

Collector's Notes:  This item was a customizable release at Disney Hollywood Studios in Orlando, and you can configure them any way you wish.  But really, this is the best way to do it right now.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,946: November 28, 2012