Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,033: Willrow Hood

WILLROW HOOD The Ice Cream Maker Guy
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 89027 
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD53
Includes: Droid part, ice cream maker, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: Late 2009/Early 2010
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Willrow Hood works for the gas mining company on Cloud City. When the Empire seizes control of the city, Hood destroys a computer memory core to prevent the Empire from discoviering information about secret transactions with the Rebels.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's old LA apartment's kitchen.  I took this a few years ago... this is probably from early 2010.

Commentary: There are two Star Wars figures that come to mind as existing largely in spite of any sane company's better judgement because fans raised awareness for it.  Did the fanbase actually want Willrow Hood, aka the Ice Cream Maker Guy?  Or did a couple of fan sites manage to stir the pot with petitions and basically raise awareness of this character to levels where thousands of fans knew who he was, so that it went from too obscure to even be a joke figure to an actual, viable option?   Sometimes gag figures come out at a good time and the marketplace more or less takes care of them, courtesy of their lower production runs as part of a "last wave" of an assortment or just generally being interesting.  Mr. Hood came out near the end of the line, but not close enough to the end to disappear neatly.  Stores were still ordering this wave and most of the other figures did quite well. He sat around for a bit, and was probably the one "new" figure from this wave you were most likely to see hanging around.  There's a big difference between the vocal fans who write about stuff and the silent fans who actually pay money.   He did do better than Leesub Sirln, who I am pretty sure nobody asked for, and slots for all-new, never-before-made-as-a-toy figures are more precious resource today than they were in 2009.  (Do you know how many new, never-before-made-as-a-figure non-exclusive characters we got in 2012? About 10.)

All complaining aside, it's a pretty decent figure and probably one of Hasbro's cheaper releases.  The all-orange suit has very little paint, short of some silver on the arms and black on the boots.  Oh, and his head.   The all-to-familiar speed suit is recreated here with a little bit of a gut, and quite a bit of articulation.  14 points?  That's surprising.  There are more wrinkles on the toy than on the movie's still shots, plus as far as I can tell he didn't have a gun on the big screen.  It adds a slightly more menacing element to the figure, which I feel sort of misses the entire point of it in the first place.  Lando tells people to evacuate, and two seconds later you see a guy running around with an ice cream machine.  Not a gun - an ice cream machine.  That, ultimately, is the entire appeal of this figure, it's basically an internet meme that somehow got made to the tune of dozens of thousands of units.

He does a good job standing, sitting, and most importantly holding his gear.   This is a high-quality execution of a so-so gag, and as such it's noteworthy for Jedi Defender and the sites that banged the drum to bring it into being... heck, even the fans who didn't like it and complained raised awareness of the character and probably helped serve up some units.   There really is no such thing as bad publicity, and when it comes to all-new characters there is very rarely such a thing as a bad Star Wars action figure.

Collector's Notes: Pricing is all over the map for this guy, but he's usually below $10 and if someone lists it on eBay for $1 or $2, he'll sell for that.  If and when I ever get to write a book about this hobby, this guy is going to get special mention because it really is a magnificent symbol.  Not only does it show what can happen when fans get together, but it also shows that the line got so big that, after a point, a character this ridiculous becomes a viable option simply because there really aren't all that many other good figure candidates to fill out a movie-themed Empire Strikes Back wave.  The fact that this figure exists is pretty amazing, but there's one last figure to discuss whose right to exist I call more into question.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,033: March 29, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,032: R7-Series Astromech Droid Yellow

R7-SERIES ASTROMECH DROID Yellow Dome with Silver and Red Markings
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: 100%-derived Expanded Universe astromechs have been increasingly common since 2006, and this R7-Series Astromech Droid is spawned from a design which first hit plastic back in 2008.   The body and dome are similar to Hasbro's R7 droids from that era, but R7 legs were not sold at the Disney theme parks.   As such, it's unique in that the coloration is across the board different than what you would've purchased in 2008, which was a black dome with more of a green-tinted yellowish-marked body.

The yellow/orange dome looks great, and it's pretty unique in the world of droid collecting.  R5-A2 is somewhat similar in color, and unless I'm forgetting one none of the R2 units have come out with this color yet.  (The dome in Yoda's Attack Fighter is sort of close.)   I really like how this one pops, the yellow paint surrounding the triangular red eye is fantastic, and the silver lines just sort of fade into the background.   Star Wars is not generally known for its bright and chipper colors, with few exceptions, so figures like these are more likely to pop on your shelf than, say, another white-armored trooper.  It's unfortunate that the figure is so hard to come by, but I will say it's one I'd probably have shelled out for had I not been able to get one through conventional means, i.e. kicking and screaming and begging and pleading with people who are no doubt scared of the man-child.

Collector's Notes: I checked eBay when I was writing this, and this build was available - bundled with a purple R3 droid - for about $33 shipped.  I consider this to be an overwhelmingly reasonable price.   The heat seems to be leaving the droids a bit on the secondary market, so if you can get one for $20 delivered (or less) it's a pretty good deal.  I know they sell for $12 at Disney World.  I realize this isn't cheap.  But when  you factor in things like a) admission to Disney Hollywood Studios, b) parking at said theme park, and c) travel to that part of Florida, a $10 per figure "convenience fee" is actually not at all bad.   If more droids come out in this line, and I hope they don't, I'd be delighted to get away with only having to pay an average of $22 per robot rather than having to network or worse, actually travel to Florida.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,032: March 28, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,031: Yoda

YODA with Yoda's Jedi Attack Fighter
The Yoda Line Class I Vehicles
Item No.: Asst. A0918 No. A0922
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Jedi Attack Fighter, cane, lightsaber, booster seat, Super Battle Droid, cloth robes
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: January 2013
Appearances: n/a

Bio: Yoda pilots an attack fighter to blast Super Battle Droids. The fighter is designed for hyperspace capability, which allows the Jedi Master to fly across the galaxy on solo missions. The craft's compact size and two missile launchers make it an ideal attack ship for Yoda to use in battle against the ever-present Battle Droid army. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: Many people have told me I'm a bad person for finding this Yoda figure to be charming despite its flaws.  Yes, I know the very idea that Yoda needs an attack vehicle goes against most of what we perceive his character to be, but I think it's funny - sort of like that quasi-bandit version from 2003.  He has jointed wrists, hips, elbows, and a moving neck plus cloth robes, a cane, and a lightsaber.  The head communicator gear is non-removable, but it's fitting given most "pilot" figures.  His eyes are a little big, had Hasbro made smaller black dots I think this would be a more widely accepted figure.  Oh, and his cloth robes are a little big, but they tend to be at this scale.

The figure is similar to many Yodas in the marketplace, specifically from Revenge of the Sith as you've got ball-jointed shoulders.  His tiny hands can grip his accessories just fine, but it's hard to get beyond the fact that they really, really are tiny.  He has no problem sitting in his vehicle (thanks to a booster seat) and as such, it meets my criteria for being a good figure.  I don't need it to be great - just make it so it can play well, and I won't complain too much.  It seems durable and I appreciate that the new head makes it unique, although the main reason I like this figure is really because the set as a whole is a lot of fun.  The droid dome, vehicle, and robot victim all come together to make a nice package.

Collector's Notes: The set is most likely being sold at a store near you right now. Go get one!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,031: March 27, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,030: Boss

BOSS Republic Commando Delta Squad
The Saga Collection Shared Exclusive
Item No.: No. 87269
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, backpack, 6 other action figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $33.99-$39.99
Availability: December 2006
Appearances: Star Wars: Republic Commando

Bio:      Known to his men as "Boss," Three-Eight doesn't talk much, except to bark out orders in a voice that carries over the fiercest artillery barrage.  (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: It may not seem fathomable today, but back in 2006 the idea of new and interesting Clone Trooper figures based on video games was exciting, uncharted new ground.  By 2013 we got three versions of Republic Commando Boss, but this was the very first version of the chief of Delta Squad.  Hasbro made the entire team by reusing its Scorch mold, and the item was a shared exclusive between a few online accounts.  As such,  you could grab it basically anywhere that wasn't Walmart, Kmart, Toys R Us, Target, and a long-forgotten chain called Kay-Bee Toys.  They used to be in malls.  Malls were these buildings you could go to and buy things like shoes or books or an Orange Julius while seeing girls that would never, ever give you their phone numbers while you and your buddies for some ungodly reason went to see "Carpool" starring Tom Arnold and underrated character actor David Paymer.  Oh, good times.

Fan complaints are pretty much what drives the internet, and these early Commando figures received their fair share mostly due to the lower-than-anticipated articulation tally.  Scorch had only 10 joints, so his brothers did as well - no knees, no ankles, and the shoulders could only swivel.  Some fans found this abhorrent, others shrugged and went on with their day.  Considering it was about $35 for 7 figures ($5 per figure) I didn't have much reason to complain, a single figure in 2006 was about $6.99 normally and frankly I didn't expect this figure to ever occupy a vehicle anyway.  (Since I got it, it never has sat in a ship.)

With a bright blue visor and orange-striped armor, Boss was a striking release and to this day, still looks awesome standing around holding his gun.  The oversized blaster is modeled after the video game Star Wars: Republic Commando, and his backpack is shared with Sev... minus a piece.  This figure also has more intense mud on his boots plus a black outline around his visor, which I prefer.  The light, white scrapes also seem more pronounced on this earlier release, but the gun's lack of scuffing and the figure's lack of leg joints may give the later version of Boss a slight edge.  I hesitate to declare any of the versions as the big winner, because each has its own unique benefits, which is a nice way of saying Hasbro never did completely top this figure from nearly seven years ago.

Collector's Notes: The set, in the box, is awesome as you get a video game background inserted in a quasi-vintage The Saga Collection box.  It's a beautiful display piece with several unique figures, and may be priced accordingly.  It was as high as $100 over the last few years, but I'm seeing them sell for closer to $60 and I gotta say $60 is pretty good for the entire package.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,030: March 26, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,029: Obi-Wan Kenobi

OBI-WAN KENOBI  Geonosis Arena  Battle
Discover the Force/Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 37822 No. 37826
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, stand, game cards, Jango Fett, Battle Droid
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $22.99
Availability: January 2012
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio:  The Geonosian arena is rocked by an intense battle. On Geonosis, secret factories are churning out hundreds of battle droids and super battle droids for the growing Separatist movement. Obi-Wan Kenobi fights Geonosian warriors and battle droids that overflow into the arena, as Jango Fett takes on the Jedi and clone troopers. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: Another example of how Hasbro has been successfully milking its past legacy is Obi-Wan Kenobi, a reissue of a reissue from 2012.  The mold started its life in late 2003, and saw a rerelease in 2009.  Today we see how the sculpt, which at the time was pretty cool, can be somewhat improved by paint.  For some reason, despite the boasting of "real scan" technology being employed in figure development, the hairstyles of the 3 3/4-inch action figures were pretty weak.  Obi-Wan's hair as a toy looks more like some sort of Classical Greek statue and less like the Scottish actor, who had slightly flatter hair and a different-looking beard.   As the figure was designed for not-fully-realized Outlander Club scene packs, he looks adequate standing around but isn't much good as a toy to play with and have sit in a vehicle.  You know how it is with the lower skirt pieces, and how articulation back then was still pretty experimental.  Chunky knee joints and swivel boots looked OK at the time, but were rendered obsolete just a few weeks later when that first-ever super-articulated Clone Trooper hit shelves.

The detail on his belt and texture on his garments still hold up quite nicely, and the "Force gesture" on his right hand is a nice touch.  This figure is also one of very, very few with a lightsaber hilt sculpted to his belt as the first release of this mold did not include a lightsaber accessory back in 2003, but rather a bar section and a drinking glass.  Here, he has a lightsaber and since he has two on his person when he's armed, it looks weird.   Ball-jointed shoulders make this figure a little livelier than one might hope, but his hands seem a little big relative to his head and as a toy it never really clicked anyway.  The head deco is improved, and the overall figure looks just fine, but it's not really fun to play with and it lacks the detail and range of motion of subsequent releases.  Were it a new mold with the neo-T-crotch design we're going to see more of in a few months I might be excited, but as it is it's pretty ho-hum for 2012 and one of dozens of reasons why the line just didn't have a good year.

Collector's Notes: The set is nifty enough to get on the cheap, but not for this figure.  If you're on the fence, don't buy it.  Unless you use the Amazon link on this page because I get a cut of the sale.  Yeah, I know that was a cheap plug, but why the heck not. 

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,029: March 25, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,028: Biker Scout

BIKER SCOUT Two of two in this set
30th Anniversary Collection Target Exclusive Battle Pack
Item No.: Asst. 87565 No. 87567 
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $49.99
Availability: November 2007
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: A scout trooper was a member of the Imperial Stormtrooper Corps specially trained for scouting, reconnaissance, combat survival, and most times, sniping.   (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: This Biker Scout comes from one of the best-ever multipacks, the 2007 Target-exclusive Ultimate Battle of Endor Battle Pack.  For about fifty bones, you got eight action figures, an AT-ST, two Speeder Bikes, and some logs.  For perspective, that was an astosnishingly good price even in 2007, when figures were about $7 so, being generous in our favor counting the 2 Ewoks as a single figure, it'd be about $89 worth of toys.  Granted, a lighter-colored Chewbacca and more Troopers may not be what you wanted, but the set was arguably worth it for these troopers and some of the other stuff in here.  The AT-ST Driver, for example.

The Biker Scout was the apex of this kind of trooper for several years, until it was sort of one-upped in 2012 with a new, slightly more articulated (but worse painted) release.  With 14 points of articulation, it's effectively the same figure-with-blaster that you got on a Saga Collection vintage cardback around 2006 but with different dirt on his armor.  Those gray splotches you see on his chest?  That's what makes this one unique.  The other trooper in the back has different grey splotches.  I know, it's absurd, but I've written 2,000 of these stupid things so you're going to get a few like this.  The unique dirt and "damage" make the figures look a little different, and it's appreciated just from the place of someone who seeks out such differences, but it's hardly essential.

I would advocate getting this figure, or one of his peers, over the new 2012 version that came with the bike for display reasons.  Why?  Better deco.  There's a little more going on here, if you look at the armor and the mask in particular.  The grey with the black really pops nicely, and his gun fits well in his ankle holster or his hand.  He can sort of ride the bike, kinda, but it isn't really a great fit.  Still, it's a decent enough figure to buy even if every figure in this gift set has since been basically lapped by other, similar, better figures with more articulation.  Except the logs.  You can only get the logs here.

Collector's Notes: This set is anywhere from $40 to $100 on eBay, and more on Amazon.  At the lower end, it's a bargain and at the higher end, it still isn't a bad deal.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,028: March 22, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,027: Tiree

TIREE Pops / Gold 2, Yavin Pilot Pack
Discover the Force Toys R Us Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. A0790 No. A0792
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Packaged with red Jek Porkins, Davish Krail, Mauler Mithel, and R5-D8 figures
Action Feature: Removable helmet, blaster fits in holster
Retail: $39.99
Availability: August 2012
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: The Battle of Yavin is a decisive battle in the fight to free the galaxy.  The Rebels achieve an important victory when they destroy the Death Star.  The pilots of Red Squadron and Gold Squadron, supported by their trusty Astromech Droids, take on the menacing Imperial pilots in a ferocious space dogfight around the battle station.  (Taken from the set's box.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: Courtesy of the quantity of lore and collectibles surrounding the assault on the first Death Star, it's hard to not recognize Tiree by his familiar name, so if you read the novelization in the 1970s or played the trading card game in the 1990s, you probably know who he is.  And here he is!   A younger pilot, the action figure looks slightly older and, again, uses the Vintage Luke Pilot body rather than the normal adult Pilot body shown on the package.  (You'll recall Davish "Pops" Krail and Vintage Wedge had the same issue.)   Clearly a factory error, the figure's shorter torso still has a hole for a lightsaber in it, making this a figure with a few shortcomings, specifically his coming up short in the height department and his plastic "cloth straps" around his crotchial region restricting movement, making him a questionable pilot for your starfighters.  He looks OK standing on a shelf, though, and I'm pretty sure that's what the bulk of you people are after anyway.  With 14 points of articulation, a blaster, and a nicely-painted helmet, Tiree comes off as a completely acceptable but not terribly exciting package.  

Since fan demand for Rebel Pilots has been high for a while, it's nice to see Hasbro actually make good and try to release most of these guys a decade or two or three after we would've liked them originally.  I'd like to make a proposal to Hasbro: if you have any more pilots, please keep waiting.  I would love to see any future pilots done in the 5-jointed "Saga Legends" style as they seem to be developed with sitting in mind, and I'd be much more interested to see pilot figures created with this as a central design point.  Also, they'll be cheaper, and I sincerely doubt anyone is super-pumped to pay $10 for a pilot nowadays.  But $6?  I'd buy more at $6, even (and especially) without the added unnecessary articulation.   If the orange-suited guy can sit in the ship, I'm happy.

Collector's Notes: This set is still available and had its price changed a couple of times in its short life so far.  I would expect you can go to a Toys R Us near you and buy one as of the day I post this, if not dozens, as the Ewok set in the same assortment proved to be more popular.  This illustrates part of the danger of assortments, which we saw a lot from 2010-2012 with The Clone Wars and Vintage Collection lines.  If one item in the assortment - just one - is a dud, it can cause big problems for the rest of the line.  With one dud in one case, one figure may remain unsold... and one more will be added for each new shipment.  Sooner or later you may see a peg of duds, which tells the store's now-automated inventory systems that there's plenty of the assortment on hand (not drilling down to specific details), meaning nothing else will get ordered.  With exclusives it's less of a problem, but it does show how assortments can mess things up for subsequent shipments of an item.   (Sadly, they're also the best and easiest way to stock this kind of product.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,027: March 21, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,026: Battle Droid

BATTLE DROID with MTT Droid Fighter
The Yoda Line Class I Vehicles
Item No.: Asst. A0918 No. A0920
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: MTT Droid Fighter, blaster, Obi-Wan Kenobi, 2 rockets, lightsaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: January 2013
Appearances: n/a

Bio: Piloted by Battle Droids, MTT Droid Fighters attack Republic ground forces led by Obi-Wan Kenobi. Deployed from Trade Federation MTTs (Multi Troop Transports), MTT Droid Fighters have missile launchers that mount on the wings for wide-sweeping firepower, or attach to the vehicle’s body for more focused blasts. (Taken from Hasbro.com.)

Image: Adam's photo venue.

Commentary: The Battle Droid Pilot is pretty awesome.  The funny thing is Hasbro has been pretty hesitant to crank out blue-bedecked Battle Droids over the years, and if memory serves the last (and only) other one also came in a Mini-Rig-type set in 2000, which also didn't get a lot of fan love.   The figure mold is the same as the 5-jointed droids included with the full-size 2012 MTT vehicle, so you know what to expect.  There's a good reason for this mold, as the mini MTT Droid Fighter was initially developed to fit into a compartment on the back of the MTT but got costed out.  And that dang thing was already expensive.  It's a great little goofy vehicle, and I do suggest getting it.  But I digress!  Let's talk about the droid.

With five points of articulation (and sadly no backpack) he fits in his ship perfectly.  He stands well, has no problems holding his gun, and has a delightful blue deco on his shoulders and chest.  As a cheap figure - and this is a cheap figure - it's pretty fantastic, its only shortcomings being an obscene amount of articulation and an equally obscene amount of paint to give it a battle-worn appearance.  Hasbro's cheaper Battle Droids tend to look a little too clean and bright, so some dirt or scuffs or indeed even a darker shade of tan might help make the figure look a little more battle-weary.   As it is, though, I still like it and it serves its purpose as a pilot well.  I applaud Hasbro for giving him unique deco in this set.  Obi-Wan Kenobi (included, see background) is recycled from the awesome Naboo Battle Pack from 2012.  It's awesome, but not distinctive in any noticeable way.

Collector's Notes: This is a fantastic set.  For $20ish it's an ideal "birthday present" gift, as Obi-Wan can fit inside and steal the ship, plus the ship's wings can be folded, twisted, and reconfigured with the removable cannons.   It's a fun toy set that actually gives the kids a bunch of play options, not the least of which is as an upgrade to a larger toy you already can't find at retail.   Kudos to Hasbro for putting together a good package at a good price, although I'm a little miffed both the full-sized MTT and the MTT upgrade ship both include Obi-Wan Kenobi and not, oh, let's say absolutely anybody else.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,026: March 20, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,025: AT-ST Gunner

AT-ST GUNNER 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 Driver, 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: Will nameless on the box, this AT-ST Gunner is based on Robert Watts, a Return of the Jedi co-producer eventually dubbed, not very originally, "Lieutenant Watts."   There aren't many cameo gag figures in this line, but Hasbro has put out quite a few good ones like Lt. Dannl Faytonni, Jeremoch Colton, and of course Baron Papanoida.  (We had better get a Steve Sansweet from the next 5 movies.  Get on that, Disney, he's good people.)  Watts the AT-ST Driver is the same as his box-mate save for the head, both figures recycle the basic body type introduced by a Hoth AT-ST Driver in a Target exclusive from a couple of years ago.  It's a really great mold, why it didn't get made as a "vintage" figure is beyond me as its 15 points of articulation and pretty fantastic hip joints make it an ideal pilot and a great collectible.  (I'm also fairly sure the figure's harness is really a seat belt.)

While the packaging showed a different harness with a holster, this figure is basically nothing too new for its time.  The new head and the cameo gimmick made it interesting, plus it had really fantastic packaging.  (Which I tossed out because I've only got so much room.)  This is a great trooper done right, and it looks good in the AT-ST vehicle.  Oh, and Kmart's exclusive AT-ST vehicle is, out-of-the-box, not much good until the Earth's gravity changes so it won't collapse upon itself.  If you're short on money, just buy the drivers, maybe the Ewoks, and if you've still got $30-$50 to blow just get that French LP by "Soggy" for your turntable.  You'll be glad you did.

Collector's Notes: Kmart being Kmart, you probably don't have one near you which means this was scarce.  It came out later than expected, but did tend to linger a little bit before getting marked down from the already pretty good price of $14.99.  Word on the street had it that, at one point, the AT-ST and the four figures were to be a larger gift set but Kmart demanded a smaller price point so Hasbro hacked it up into the set you see here.  True?  Probably but I can't confirm it with my data on hand, i.e., not that many people are looking forward to taking my calls.   But seriously, get that first "Soggy" record and if you can find the second one, Slog, do let me know. I want to hear it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,025: March 19, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,024: Clone Trooper Slick

CLONE TROOPER SLICK Clone Troopers from The Hidden Enemy Animated Series Episode
The Clone Wars Target Exclusive Gift Set
Item No.:   Asst. 19540 No.  19542 
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Stand, helmet, blaster, helmet
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: October 2010
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio:   The clone troopers are stunned when they discover that one of them is a traitor to the Republic.  When a droid battalion avoids an ambush, Captain Rex and the Jedi start looking for answers and uncover a breach in security.  Sergeant Slick and troopers Gus and Chopper all fall under suspicion and are questioned about their actions, as Rex helps the Jedi and Clone Commander Cody search for the traitor.    (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's old kitchen.

Commentary: Sometimes the figures make sense as an exclusive, but Clone Trooper Slick would have made an awesome single-carded release.  By 2009 Hasbro decided it didn't want to sell single-carded white animated clone troopers anymore (at least until the 2012 phase 2 ones), leaving them as pack-ins to vehicles or gift sets like this one. With the default season 1 haircut, this figure is about as close as you can get to a generic clone trooper with a removable helmet.  I would assume fans would have bought a bunch of these, as with the nifty helmet and 14 points of articulation it's pretty good.  If you have a plain white Clone you pretty much have this one, but he is a named and significant clone from a pretty good episode, so get him if your funds and the price align nicely.

Collector's Notes: This set sat around for a while, and now goes from anywhere between $20ish and $50ish.  For $25 I rather liked it, despite being asked to buy another Captain Rex.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,024: March 18, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,023: Commander Wolffe

COMMANDER WOLFFE 104th Battalion "Wolf Pack" Clone Troopers
Clone Wars Shared Online Exclusive Ultimate Gift Set
Item No.: No. A0793
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 2 blasters, display stand, card, plus Plo Koon, Boost, and Sinker 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.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: So is Commander Wolffe different?  Yes.  This figure mold was used in early 2012 for a single-carded figure, but this release was from a gift set with other Wolf Pack members.  The first carded one was more of a bluish grey color, but this one is less saturated and more... grey.   The paint on my sample is a little sharper, too, and the figure in the gift set is the better of the two if you ask me.  (Granted, a lot of this is because he matches his men, the carded release in and of itself was just fine.)   I like how the blasters still fit in the holster, but he has no articulation below the hips.  It's not really missed, as the figure's kama restricts the ability to sit and the ankles aren't really necessary, but the mold is mostly a figure to stand around and look good.

I see it as an improvement over the hard-to-find carded counterpart, so if you're on the fence just get the "Wolf Pack" gift set.  You're going to want the squad eventually.

Collector's Notes: Selling from anywhere from $12ish to $40ish, the set is pretty good in the era of the $10 single figure.  For $20, it's a must-buy.  For $30, it's very good.  At $40, only get it if you are too lazy to search around for a better price, or if it's 2029 and it's now a collectible for some reason.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,023: March 15, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,022: Mars Guo

MARS GUO Podracer Pilots
Discover the Force Toys R Us Exclusive
Item No.: No. 39611
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Packaged with Dud Bolt, Mars Guo, Clegg Holdfast, and Gasgano figures plus display base, flag, gun, removable goggles, Galactic Battle Game card
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $26.99
Availability: January 2012
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Podracers compete in the Boonta Eve Classic Podrace, a highly competitive and dangerous event held annually on Tatooine.  During the race, Clegg Holdfast and Mars Guo crash their Podracers, victims of sabotage by a fellow Podracer.  Teemto Pagalies falls out of the race when his vehicle is shot  by a Tusken Raider.  Dud Bolt tries to eliminate a Podracer but crashes his own vehicle instead.  Gasgano is one of the lucky ones to reach the finish line, coming in second place after Anakin Skywalker.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo dump.

Commentary: While some figures get changed a bit from release to release, this Mars Guo from an exclusive 5-figure gift set is mostly worth getting for his flag.  The figure's tints are slightly different from the 2006 release, with the same gun and goggles.  It's a nice figure to be sure, with pleasant deco, good stripes, and a decent leathery paint job on his costume.  It doesn't quite match the muted green I saw in the movie, although that could be an illusion.  The goggles also don't seem to match the movie.  And the gritted teeth, well, you can't see those.  He could use a little more personality and a little more authenticity, I guess is what I'm saying, but he'll get neither as the existing figure was pretty much a miracle as it was.

Oh, and for the curious his blaster was recycled from Durge.

Collector's Notes: This set got slashed pretty cheap late last year, so I would advise against paying more than $15 for it right now.  At $25 it was a decent deal, until you realize that 4 of the 5 figures were sold as 2-packs for $7 between 1999 and 2006.  So when you get right down to it, the individual figures offer more interesting accessories (like droid figures) so I would suggest this box to completeists only.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,022: March 14, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,021: General Grievous

GENERAL GRIEVOUS Carded Version
Clone Wars Cartoon Network / Tartakovsky Animated Series Action Figures
Item No.: Asst. 85661 No.    85469
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 2 lightsabers, display stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Early 2005
Appearances: Clone Wars 2003 series

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

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: One of the strange side effects of their being so much Star Wars is we get to see characters evolve in both merchandise and on the screen.  This General Grievous is painted quite differently from the version in the movie (and the cartoon version in the subsequent animated 3-pack), but it matches his first cartoon appearance pretty well.  The figure is pretty much the same from either release except deco, with this release (the first one) having a bluish body with a cream cape lining, and the 3-pack version being more of a bone color with a red cape lining.  You can't miss it.

Essentially a good (and cheap) maquette, the figure has moving arms and an articulated neck, plus a swivel waist.  You can get some pretty good poses out of the mold, although its lack of hip articulation can get annoying as his big legs aren't necessarily flush with the ground.  It's good... it could be better.  As a carded collectible or a desk-based display piece I give it high marks.  As a toy?  Heck no.

Collector's Notes: The secondary market pretty much confirms that this wasn't a figure people were really wanting.  It's pretty cheap, and was even cheaper in December of last year.  I'm not saying don't buy it... just don't overpay for it.  Ten bucks or so is about right.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,021: March 13, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,020: Orimaarko (Prune Face)

ORIMAARKO  Return of the Jedi
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 37499 No. 39665
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC114
Includes: Cloak, rifle, pistol, commlink (I think)
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: October 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's photo hole.

Commentary: If you told me in 1995, when I started picking up the new Kenner guys, that we'd all still be here doing this in 2005 I'd say you were nuts.  And if you told me that Orimaarko, the Prune Face guy from the 1980s who I had no idea where to find him in my old VHS tapes until I was like 10, I'd laugh at you. Seriously, I'm a bad person.   The line has shifted from "what's a surefire hit?" to "what should be a good seller?" to "whatever," and some of these figures are no doubt coming to pass because of their ease of development. The legs were on Major Panno and a Rebel Trooper before, and the bulk of the figure's build is Major Panno with a new head.  Between the two I like the design for Orimaarko more, but I was actually A-OK with my 1998 Kenner version of the figure too.

Complain as I do, it's a good figure.  Hasbro did a great job making sure the communicator deally fits in the cloth strap on the cloak, and that the weapons fit into the hands.  The head sculpt is good, the deco matches the still from the movie about as well as you might expect (I don't expect much camo on my cloth right now), and the little "pouch" on his chest looks pretty good.  There's only so much  you can do with fine stitching.  This figure sports 14 points of articulation and as such, hits all the high points most fans demand of their figures these days.  But is it fun?  Was anyone looking forward to it?  Not really.  But boy howdy, is that dirty green pattern on his pants cool or what?  Oh, I'd be a bad reviewer if I didn't mention that Hasbro's sculpt of his head looks more like a real person than the movie.  I don't know how it's even possible, but the rubbery mask looks like a rubbery mask and the action figure looks like an action figure of a real thing.  Does that make sense?  Mr. Peanut has never looked better.

Collector's Notes: The secondary market pretty much confirms that this wasn't a figure people were really wanting.  It's pretty cheap, and was even cheaper in December of last year.  I'm not saying don't buy it... just don't overpay for it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,020: March 12, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,019: Blue R8-Series Astromech Droid

R8-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: I'm not sure exactly when Star Wars action figure collecting went from a pleasant weekend hobby to a nigh-impenetrable mega-collection requiring a Sherpa and several thousand dollars to wade through an average year, but here we are.  The bad thing about a line this big is that about 50% of it is probably skippable, which you did not know when you made many purchases.  The good news is that Hasbro and its partners really cranked out some weird and awesome stuff like the Blue R8-Series Astromech Droid, another theme park exclusive available at Disney Hollywood Studios because screw you and your love of this hobby.

Applying Mr. Potato Head science to a galaxy far, far away was a fantastic idea that should never, ever have been executed because (at least this is my hunch) it's irritating about as many people as it delights.  Believe it or not, I actually am of the school that any and all newly manufactured action figures should probably be pretty common at least for a little while, because I get no kick out of owning a figure that you can't ever hope to find.  The $100 Disney cover charge stings too, but dagnabbit this is a nice figure.  The dark blue plastic body can be used for several droids, but it looks particularly lovely with this eyeless R8 dome. The yellow sensor and the silver panels pop nicely, as do baby blue lights off to the sides.  The silver color seems a little off, perhaps it would have looked more retro in a basic white.  (The black and white R8 dome looks particularly 1970s.)

This chipper little fellow looks wonderful and has typical Droid Factory/Build-A-Droid articulation with movement at 5 points.  The paint is applied mostly quite nicely, silver seems to be tough to do well and over time tends to be one of the paints that is likely to rub off easily, so be careful when you get yours.   Should fate smile on you and afford you a chance to buy one, do so.  It's a fun little figure.

Collector's Notes: As this figure is assembled at Disney Hollywood Studios (pending part availability) it's tough to say if you can hope to get one easily, samples on eBay go for $30 or so.  I realize I'm a real grouch when it comes to this concept, and it's in part because I have to assume more money could have been made making these a retailer exclusive, or perhaps a blind-packaged figure in the Easter section at Target, or some other, third thing.  Good day.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,019: March 11, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,018: Davish Krail (Pops)

DAVISH KRAIL Pops / Gold 5, Yavin Pilot Pack
Discover the Force Toys R Us Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. A0790 No. A0792
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Packaged with red Jek Porkins, Tiree, Mauler Mithel, and R5-D8 figures
Action Feature: Removable helmet, blaster fits in holster
Retail: $39.99
Availability: August 2012
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: The Battle of Yavin is a decisive battle in the fight to free the galaxy.  The Rebels achieve an important victory when they destroy the Death Star.  The pilots of Red Squadron and Gold Squadron, supported by their trusty Astromech Droids, take on the menacing Imperial pilots in a ferocious space dogfight around the battle station.  (Taken from the set's box.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: Gotta have my Pops!  I confess that the name Davish Krail did not immediately bring to mind Pops, one of the few pilots from the original Star Wars to be name-checked in print before the 1990s and 2000s. (I think I missed out on his trading card in the 1990s.  Pops I know.  Krail, not so much.)  As one of the pilots with lines in the movie, it makes sense that he would get a figure, I guess, eventually.  It took about 35 years, but here he is!  And was he worth it?  Ehhhh... sort of.

Familiarity breeds contempt, particularly when I'm familiar with this same arguably incorrect body type from previous pilot releases.  Pops probably shouldn't be using the shorter Luke body, particularly with the lightsaber hole, for yet another release.  There are other pilot bodies, but I'm going to go out on a limb and assume this was an error on the part of Hasbro's factory yet again.  The packaging photography for this figure and Tiree both show the use of an alternate torso, so it's a safe bet this shorter pilot, who seems to be lacking in the neck department, was not Hasbro's intent.  Considering that this figure is a pilot and arguably should spend his life in a vehicle, it shouldn't matter... but it's a little upsetting when the figure's development is arguably quite easy.  Just slap a new head and repainted helmet on an existing body, and you're done.  When you have the wrong body, it's a little less exciting... although I could make an argument that pretty much any orange-suited Rebel pilot is now well beyond the point of being either fresh or interesting due to the fact we have... how many do we have now?   We have to be close to 30, many of which used the Luke body when the early press photos and prototypes did not. Even Vintage Wedge had the wrong body.   Argh.

Because it's a new character and part of a set with other new characters and some decent upgrades, I begrudgingly give it a "buy."  It is not great in and of itself, but new characters are far and few between, so you're basically buying this one because there's no better version yet and the last decade or so has shown us that unless you're Luke, Wedge, or Biggs, you aren't likely to get a same-character, same-outfit rerelease.

Collector's Notes: Toys R Us exclusives tend to stick around a while, and this one defied expectations (or maybe fell right into them) by selling slower than its equally-weighted counterpart, an Ewok gift set.  The Ewoks were shorter, but they were more diverse and interesting with better upgrades and even more exciting all-new figures.  Both are worthwhile purchases, but if you had to pick just one only a crazy person would pick the pilots over the Ewoks.  And yes, I am calling you crazy.  I've already got a good, comically portly Porkins so the Ewok set with the multi-Teebo and Kneesaa were more exciting from where I sat.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,018: March 8, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,017: Chewbacca

CHEWBACCA Bowcaster Fires Projectiles!
The Clone Wars Basic Action Figures
Item No.: Asst. 37290 No. 38415
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: CW9
Includes: Rifle, rocket, firing bowcaster, regular bowcaster, stand, card, die
Action Feature: Rocket-firing backpack
Retail: $8.99
Availability: January 2012
Appearances: Clone Wars TV series

Bio: Chewbacca is captured by Trandoshan hunters, who kidnap victims and hunt them as part of a deadly game.  The Wookiee comes across a group of Padawans who have been kidnapped, including Ahsoka, Anakin's Padawan.  Chewbacca joins them to find a way to escape from the planet.  His immense strength and his technological skills give the group much-needed support.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: This Chewbacca is a repaint, but a big improvement.  Back in 2011 I reviewed the original mold which, while showcasing exquisite sculpting, had a terrible head paint job and was unable to sit.  It would be highly narcissistic and delusional to think that Hasbro read my review and redecorated the figure while adding in a slice in his fur "skirt" allowing him to sit, not to mention unrealistic given the turnaround time.  But hey, more delusion juice for everyone!

Nicely articulated, all over, the figure's deco is roughly on par with the previous release save for the head.  His bandolier is removable, and feels looser on my sample.  The bowcasters are just as good as the previous release, but the lighter fur on the head (especially around the eyes) makes him look more like the Chewbacca we all know and love, rather than the Chewbacca who got a face full of soot from an exhaust pipe.  The figure's hands and feet have paint on them, with claws and grey skin decorated to the extent it looks a little better than most movie-based Chewbacca figures.   Seeing as how figures seemed to be less interesting, less articulated, and less geared up in 2012 it was wonderful to see a figure which was an improvement across the board.  Nothing was removed, things were only made better.  Skip the 2011 release and get this one instead.

Collector's Notes: Due to Hasbro's iffy (OK, AWFUL) casepacks of 2012, few figures looked new and many sat around.  Chewie was findable, but not super-common.  The 2011 figure was touch to find so the 2012 rerelease was not only an improvement, but a much-needed shot-in-the-arm for the figure's availability.   I won't say it was worth $12, but I won't say it wasn't, either.  If you only get one animated Chewbacca, make sure it's this one.  (For the record, that's the one on the Darth Maul cardback.  Not the Rex one.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,017: March 7, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,016: Jango Fett

JANGO FETT  Geonosis Arena  Battle
Discover the Force/Movie Heroes Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 37822 No. 37826
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blasters, backpack, helmet, stand, game cards, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Battle Droid
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $22.99
Availability: January 2012
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio:  The Geonosian arena is rocked by an intense battle. On Geonosis, secret factories are churning out hundreds of battle droids and super battle droids for the growing Separatist movement. Obi-Wan Kenobi fights Geonosian warriors and battle droids that overflow into the arena, as Jango Fett takes on the Jedi and clone troopers. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: Before Hasbro decided to make all-new, simplified molds of many characters they decided to rerun a rather old release with Jango Fett last year.  The core figure is from 2002, with slightly altered deco, a different jetpack, and a hole in his right wrist.  The original 2002 Kamino Escape Jango Fett body had a claw attachment on the wrist which made for a more compelling toy, which is important as the figure itself is nothing special and a hole begs the question "so what is missing here?"  With eight points of articulation, it was a good figure back in 2002 when the price point was a mere $4.99.  As 33 1/3% of a $23 set, it's nothing special.

The face under the helmet has been decorated quite cleanly, with the sculpted scarring clearly visible around his sharp eyes and eyebrows.  The mold has probably never looked better than this release, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's any fun by modern standards.  He can't fit in the new 2013 mini Jango Fett Slave I vehicle very well, so the main reason to track down this release is just to say that you've got them all.  Other releases of this mold should be sufficient, as cleaner paint apps are probably not a reason to re-buy the mold after several other releases as Jango (and a couple as other Mandalorians) over the past ten years.

Collector's Notes: On clearance, this set is arguably worth your money.  For ten or fifteen bucks, it's totally acceptable.  Is anyone else more or less amazed Hasbro is still getting mileage out of 10+-year-old molds when most toy lines crash and burn in a year or two, tops?

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,016: March 6, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,015: Emperor's Royal Guard

EMPEROR'S ROYAL GUARD  Return of the Jedi
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 37499 No. 38527
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC105
Includes: 2 helmets, force pike, blade weapon, shoulder armor, blaster, cloth robes
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: October 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's photo hole.

Commentary: Complain as I may about the $10-ish price point in 2012, this Emperor's Royal Guard was determined to prove me wrong. You get your money's worth here, more or less.  Because Hasbro is insane, or because of the high piece-count, this figure was delayed and eventually crammed in an online-exclusive wave which meant that one of the few figures fans were really superbly looking forward to building a squad of would be out of reach.

The figure has so much gear and such wonderful deco that it may be surprising that I don't much like it.  The figure has a complete alternate training wardrobe, complete with an Imperial symbol on his back and a nicely decorated head.  In his training gear, it's a really cool looking figure.  With his movie costume, the figure sort of misses the mark.  I don't particularly care for how he holds his pool cue, plus I found the cloth part to be ultimately clunky when trying to recreate the movie look.  The 1983 version got it wrong, too, but in 2012 I don't much feel there to be any reason for a figure to look anything less than perfect.  The bizarrely tall plastic 1997 take on the guard had no problem holding his weapon, and even though his arms protruded from the plastic cloak it more or less worked.

There's still demand for this figure because it's arguably the best modern take on the trooper.  The 1997 one is tall and the arms are weird.  The 2002 one is plastic and looks funky.  The 2005 one lacks the pike, but is generally designed well.  And this one, well, why isn't it perfect?  Why include extra gear and not a perfect pike-gripping hand, or the best-ever crimson robes?  Is it a scale issue?  Was plastic too expensive?  It comes so close to being the best, and it's obvious Hasbro lavished this figure with time and resources to give us something truly great.  The fact that it's just OK is what's kind of disappointing... and its lack of availability.  And with the recent price increases it wouldn't stun me to never see this figure released again, but I think I'm OK with that.  I'd love to see Hasbro crank out a better Royal Guard in its Saga Legends line some day, if possible, that really only needs to stand and hold his weapon.   The action pose stuff is nice, but the character is basically little more than a mobile statue.

Collector's Notes: Hasbro underserved the market on this one, and odds are you didn't get too many of it.   Just for the training garb, it's worth picking up as it's superior to the Crimson Empire boxed set trainees and actually makes a decent Kir Kanos substitute.   Had Hasbro left out the movie helmet and robe entirely, I'd rate this figure more highly... I know it's silly, but including accessories that don't quite work well is almost worse than leaving the gear out entirely.  This is all moot since you'll never see it at American retail.  At the right price, buy it as a great Expanded Universe figure.  Just keep waiting for Hasbro to get that perfect Return of the Jedi guard.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,015: March 5, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,014: Anakin Skywalker

ANAKIN SKYWALKER The Rise of Darth Vader
Discover the Force Adjacent Target Exclusive Movie Heroes 2-Pack
Item No.: Asst. 39612 No. 39618
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, Darth Vader figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: February 2012
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

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.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: Not every purchase I make is a happy one, as this Anakin Skywalker proves.  "Why am I buying this?" I asked myself last year, and the answer was that Anakin was just different enough to make me mad.  The figure has new deco and a helmet previously (or actually, simultaneously) seen on Naboo pilot figures.  It's a mold from 2000 with improved deco.  The same mold was used in the Walmart Mos Espa Race set, except it had dust painted on his face.  The mold isn't very good... it's not bad, but it was 12 years old at the time of its release and was not engineered to sit in vehicles particularly well.   I'm actually a little miffed Hasbro didn't kick off its new 5-joint "Saga Legends" initiative in 2012 so we could maybe have gotten an Anakin that could sit in a Naboo Fighter or Pod Racer without skirt issues.  Had Hasbro opted to issue no vehicles at all in 2012, I'd have no reason to complain but the Anakin figures are, on the whole, crappy "pilots" for vehicles.  As a figure to stand around wearing a helmet?  It's fantastic.

All whining on my part aside, the figure isn't terrible.  The jointed knees were unique back in 2000, and the swivel wrists are a nice touch.  The head sculpt is good, and the paint on the figure's head, hair, and costume are cleanly applied.   As a stand-alone collectible, it isn't bad and I'm sure fans who aren't sick to death of "evolution" sets that are just a way to repackage molds we've all bought seventeen times over will be delighted by this pairing.   Darth Vader is essentially the same figure that has been in The Saga Collection and Saga Legends since 2006, with one scarred shoulder and shiny black armor.  And loose joints.  The arm may pop off for you.

The funny thing is if Hasbro did these exact figures in these exact costumes in that new (old) Saga Legends format, so they could sit easily?  I'd drop $15 on them with a smile.  As it is, yet another squeeze from these molds in an era where materials and labor costs are so high is an odd decision, and I'm sure this is one of many reasons why Target has few to no new interesting exclusives in Q1 2013.

Collector's Notes: Were this set ten bucks, I'd probably have little reason to complain.  With Walmart's 5-figure pack at about $20, this 2-figure set for $15 is sort of, how do you say, awful.  It did hit clearance at many locations of Target stores around the USA, even though it contained a new enough to warrant your attention Anakin Skywalker.  It shipped alongside a set of Darth Maul and Darth Sidious, which I realized as of yesterday I still need to pick up for the unique deco Sidious.  So that'll be here shortly.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,014: March 4, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,013: Clone Trooper

CLONE TROOPER Blue Variant / Lieutenant
Clone Wars Cartoon Network / Tartakovsky Animated Series Action Figures
Item No.: Asst. 85661 No. 85655
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Rifle, display stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Early 2005
Appearances: Clone Wars 2003 series

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

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Commentary: Third verse, same as the first: this Clone Trooper was one of three uniquely colored repaints to come later down the line, which gives you a nice figure based on a good sculpt with some excellent panel lines.  There's not a lot of articulation here, but it does show that when Hasbro has a white plastic figure, and then paints it white, it looks better.  It really does - it's almost ridiculous what a difference a coating of paint makes, although I'm sure these sort of cost-adding measures will never be seen on a Hasbro toy again.  Actually outside the Tartakovsky clones, I don't think I can name a white plastic figure that was also painted white on top of it.  I think Jorg Sacul had orange paint on an orange figure, and it really did make him look and feel a little more expensive.

With swivel shoulders and elbows, there isn't a lot you can do with this guy other than have him stand around and look cool.  As a line of mini maquettes rather than toys, this was another great experiment in action figures from Hasbro.  The company wasn't shy about making things that looked cool but were terrible toys from 2001-2005, and it really is neat to see something like this come to life and exist in a closet in my basement.  It's not exactly a grand fate, but it's better than being in a box somewhere.  I like this figure for what it is, but I've never had any urge to futz with it.  You open it, you take a picture of it... you've done all you can do with it.

Collector's Notes: The bulk of this sub-line is pretty easily obtained on eBay on the cheap, and as such it's worth it.  While by no means an impressive toy, it represents part of a really cool, really under-represented TV project and I'm a big sucker for Star Wars on television in any form.  If you can get it cheap, do so.  You probably can.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,013: March 1, 2013