Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,248: First Order Stormtrooper Officer (The Black Series 6-Inch)

FIRST ORDER STORMTROOPER OFFICER Red Pauldron
The Force Awakens The Black Series 6-Inch Figure Amazon Exclusive Set
Item No.:   No.  B4053
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Rifle, pistol, 3 more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $79.99
Availability: November 2015
Appearances: The Force Awakens

Bio: Equipped with sleek armor and powerful weapons, the Stormtroopers enforce the will of the First Order.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  What a difference a few months make!  A few months ago we were freaking out over a first-look package variant of this trooper.  But now, the First Order Stormtrooper Officer marks the third release of the mold, and it's arguably the best one.  Why?  Because if you want an officer, he's got the shoulder pad.  If you don't, you can pop off his head and remove it - and presto, you've got a trooper.

So, that's you're selling point - new shoulder pad.  Otherwise, it's the same as the release from SDCC which got repackaged and sold to all in September.  While it's a pretty nifty figure, the elbows are still restricted in their movement and unless you're making a diorama, you probably won't want more than one or two of these.  If you only get one 6-inch Stormtrooper from this movie, an officer makes the most sense just because he grants you added options.   Also, thanks to a recent TV spot we know for sure that these costumes exist and will appear in the movie.

I like the base figure - but I don't love it, it's not as good as most of the 6-inch figures we've already been sold.  Granted, if he's just going to stand around anyway you don't need him to do a whole heck of a lot.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Amazon.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,248: November 30, 2015

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,247: R2-H15 (Disney Park Exclusive)

R2-H15 Disney Parks Holiday Figure
Star Wars   Droid Factory
Item No.: ???
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Head, 2 legs, torso, central third leg, Santa hat
Action Feature: Comes apart
Retail: $12.95
Availability: November 2015
Appearances: n/a

Bio: All different types of Astromech droids populate the Star Wars galaxy>  Each droid is different and has their own unique personality and colors.  This loyal Astromech is optimized to function and serve in remote, sub-zero environments.   Join R2-H15 on his adventures throughout the galaxy.  May the Force be with you... and your droids!  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Commentary: Jedi Mickey  happened on Lucas' watch, so R2-H15 isn't really all that weird.  The name (Holiday 2015) tells you its function, with the hat and colors alluding to the fact that this is a Christmas souvenir.  His packaging copy goes out of its way to say "winter" while not actually telling you a single thing about the robot's function - is he from Ilum, Starkiller Base, Hoth, or some other snowy world?  From which faction does he come?   And where did he get that swell hat?

The figure is plain white plastic with green, red, and gold highlights.  You've seen white domes on Disney droids before, so this isn't entirely new - but it is unique in that you probably don't have many of these.   He looks a little bit like a snowman, albeit with much more decoration.   His backside is notable in that it's loaded with paint - often Hasbro makes a figure with a plain white back, while R2-H15 seems to have been given the droid equivalent of an ugly sweater.  Big red and gold panels - gold gold, like, metallic - are lines with green borders to draw in your eye.  Even the bottom of the figure has red and white panels, looking something like the robot equivalent of a candy cane.    It's almost nightmarishly festive.

The hat is cute, but mine has a little ding in the red part.  It's metallic, sparkly red with hints of violet when the light hits it just right. The ball on top has a swirl, which I first assumed might be a little Death Star.  (It's not.)   It's a nice little accessory for the figure, although it might be going into a box unless R2-H15 goes into a holiday figure display with the Jawas, R2-D2, C-3PO, Red Vader, and so on.

I like it.  It's new enough to be interesting with a newly tooled hat and deco unlike anything I've got in my Star Wars toy box.   I won't say that you're guaranteed to love it, but if you're droid crazy like me you probably are just thrilled that it's a new figure with a new name and not R2-D2 with a new hat.  If you have the means, get this one - it's pretty cool.

Collector's Notes: Special thanks to Awesome Toy Blog's Matt Guzy for picking me up a sample at Disneyland!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,247: November 27, 2015

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,246: Imperial Shock Trooper (The Black Series 6-Inch)

IMPERIAL SHOCK TROOPER Stormtrooper x Shocktrooper
The Force Awakens The Black Series 6-Inch Figure Walmart Exclusive
Item No.:   No.  B4996
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Rifle, pistol
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $18.96
Availability: November 2015
Appearances: Star Wars Battlefront

Bio: Adept with heavy weaponry, Shock Troopers serve as elite frontline forces and even as bodyguards for the Emperor himself.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  I haven't had to do a lot of pound-the-ground toy hunting in quite some time - these days (as an employee of the world's finest Internet toy collector store) I just get things online.  It works pretty well, but we don't get all the exclusives - so I had to make a map and spend a few hours locating a Imperial Shock Trooper.  Oh sure, the store locators said they were in stock, but "in stock" does not mean "on shelf."  More hunting was necessary, and much gas was wasted, and dinner was delayed.  (On the bright side, fellow citizens of Phoenix, the Toyko Express on Indian School is quite delightful.)   Was it worth going around for a red Stormtrooper that's not as red as the one we're selling at work?  I'd say it was.

If you have a white Stormtrooper, you know what to expect here - a figure that is, without question, more interesting than the ones we're getting for the new movie.   They aren't bad as such, but the new line lacks double-jointed elbows that so many of us crave - so even though this is a figure from a video game, it's pretty fantastic.  You get the same guns with added silver wear and tear, and that looks fantastic.  As always the smaller blaster fits in the holster with no problems, and the guns fit in his hands just fine.   Repaints have to work with diminished expectations, and I would say that this is a good thing.   All Hasbro has to do is to deliver a figure that's as good as the exact same figure we got in the past, and they did.  There are no real surprises here, as he has bend-and-swivel wrists and rocker ankles.  The leg joints are a little stiff so it may take a few seconds to get them just-so to keep him standing, but it's not exactly a challenge.

The figure is covered in Revenge of the Sith Shocktrooper-inspired red paint, with big stripes and bold blasts of crimson.   There's more to it, though - not only does it have the typical markings and the new red ones, but the belt was decorated a quasi-canvas color.   It's a little browner on the back, giving it a distinctive look.  This is pretty important, as this figure is Stormtrooper/Sandtrooper #8 in this scale - and we've got 2 more coming before the year is up.  Heck, maybe more - Hasbro never formally announced this figure or most of its 2015 offerings, leading to the dubious benefit of reduced competition in aisles and a general feeling of being less informed, more likely to miss out, and in some cases a growing desire to let completism die.   Nobody wins when they can't get the toys they want at suggested retail prices.

At $1 below non-exclusive regular figures, this is probably the best 6-inch value of the year.   Having not played the game - I only own a Wii U from the new console generation - I can't vouch for its on-screen accuracy.  I can, however, say it delivers prequel markings on trilogy figures.  Perhaps it's blasphemous, but I like it - there's only so much Hasbro can do to exploit its tooling library, and this is certainly more interesting than battle damage.  It's also frustrating because here's yet another figure that exists in the 6-inch line that doesn't exist as a 3 3/4-inch figure.   It is neat, though, but as with many of these figures this was bought out of habit as much as a hobby - I have zero emotional attachment to it other than that it looks cool.  Part of me wishes the line launched with this figure, because it's really nice - clean paint lines, glossy red shoulders and lower legs, and it's just so pretty to look at.   But now, in the context of a line of dozens of 6-inch figures, it struggles to stand out.

Collector's Notes: I got mine at Walmart on November 16 during what ended up being a roughly 3-hour hunt.  This is what happens when your wife leaves you alone for the night and you write about toys.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,246: November 26, 2015

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,245: Darth Vader (Emperor's Wrath, The Black Series 6-Inch)

DARTH VADER Emperor's Wrath
The Force Awakens The Black Series 6-Inch Figure Walgreens Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. B3834 No.  B3896
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Removable hand, lightsaber with removable blade
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: November 2015
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Unable to watch his son Luke Skywalker die at the hands of the Emperor, Darth Vader received a lethal blast of Force lightning as he hurled his master to his doom. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  Depending on your point of view, Hasbro's 6-inch offerings for The Black Series since September have been pretty nicely optional. Variant costumes on figures you have mean you don't have to freak out if you miss this Darth Vader because there was one last year and odds are there will be another, different one later.   If you missed the first one, this one is different but pretty much the same - the key differences are the head and the paint job quality.  (It's better this time.)

The body is mostly the same as the previous release, right down to the original toy's SKU stamped on his boot.   The only tooling change is in his right hand - the bend-and-swivel wrist has been replaced by a swivel wrist with removable hand.  You can see faux wire damage underneath, but not a lot of fancy sculpted damaged wires like on some of the 3 3/4-inch stumps.   It's different, and it's not bad - the body itself is actually a little darker, a little glossier, I daresay a richer armor suit.  The silver is shinier and the buttons are painted on more cleanly.  This is an improvement.  The only thing it doesn't have is a really good helmet, but the cape is stitched better and everything generally looks better.  I kind of wish they just threw in an alternate head so you could use this as a regular Vader, because it does look that much nicer.   Unlike the little guys, there are no snap-on energy bolts - or any indication of energy on his body at all.  The cloth cape with neck chain sit nicely.

The head is new.  It's a skull wrapped in clear purple plastic, complete with internal lightning.  The good thing is that it feels like energy is going inside his head, but it also means that it's darkened by the clear purple helmet - so it looks sort of like veins.  The eye sockets are black and pop through the eyes on the helmet, which is otherwise undecorated.   It's a shadow of the iconic mask, more or less designed to toss his boss down a bottomless pit.   This is the embodiment of the American dream, right here.

Rounding out the set is a lightsaber, more or less the same as the first Vader.  The blade pops out and the hilt fits in the hand, albeit very tightly.   I dig it, but it's a very tight fit.  Sadly it can't be mounted on his belt, but hey - I'm sure Hasbro is already taking notes for Vader 2.0.   Double-jointed knees and rocker ankles make this figure great, but double-jointed elbows would be nice to have too - as it is, they're just the now-typical ball joints.   Not bad, but not great.   His left hand is also a bend-and-swivel joint, meaning he can use the Force or wave you away dismissively.

I like but do not love this figure.  It exposes some of the shortcomings of the original while giving you something different - but by no means necessary.   There are few variations that you can create with this figure, so it makes sense that Hasbro would want to keep Darth Vader in circulation for as long as possible.  For $20 it's great - for more than that, you'll probably wish it had more going on.   I'm not complaining, at least we got the few necessary changes to make it decent.   You won't need this figure, but you won't be sorry that you bought it.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Walgreens' Drugstore.com portal - unlike my problems with Boba Fett, it actually arrived within 2 days.  I was impressed.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,245: November 25, 2015

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,244: Poe Dameron (The Force Awakens X-Wing)

POE DAMERON Resistance X-Wing
The Force Awakens   Walmart* Exclusive Vehicle Pack-In
Item No.: No. B4006
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, X-Wing vehicle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $49.99  
Availability: November 2015
Appearances: The Force Awakens

Bio: The modern incarnation of a classic design, the Incom T-70 X-wing fighter is the signature combat craft of the Resistance forces in their fight against the First Order. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  While the Toys R Us TIE Fighter certainly walked the "just different enough to make you mad" qualifiers, Poe Dameron and his X-Wing are a bit more interesting.  The figure is - right now - exclusive to the vehicle, which is sufficiently different than the main line release.   Black and white plus orange and blue, we're getting a vehicle that's more than a tiny bit different and that makes a big difference.   The vehicle itself is pretty decent but has the same waxy plastic as its black cousin, with the same basic stickers and (at least on mine) perfectly straight cannons.  Plus the unique Poe figure.

As far as I can tell, Poe's body is pretty much the same as the armor version from September - I didn't see any immediately obvious differences in the limbs, torso, or jacket that I could pick out.   He has no real problems standing and is a bit of a challenge to get out of his vehicle - but he slips right in, easily.  Closing the hatch is easier than the regular release too.   His gun is the same, and fits right in his hand.

What makes this figure distinctive is the head - complete with molded-on helmet.   Just like the standard individually released pilot, there's no clear visor and it's pretty much the same design - except now it's white with blue and grey markings.  The face sculpt is not any different, so it still really doesn't look a heck of a lot like the actor.  A bit of hair is visible on the back of the helmet, and it's basically a scaled-down version of the 12-inch figure (with bike) from September.  It's a classic head swap - usually the vehicle isn't the selling point, but in this case I'd say you're going to want the figure just because the vehicle is fairly interesting.   $50 is a lot to ask, but seeing that Walmart has it during their busy season you may want to keep your eyes peeled.  It could end up on clearance in January, or all the moms and dads will clean them out not even realizing it's special.   I just decided it'd be easier to buy it and not fret later, and so far I do like this figure (and vehicle) more than the standard release.  It's handy that it just happens to be in Walmart's signature colors.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Walmart on a retail shelf last week.  * - Right now all signs point to this being an exclusive - but please note, it does not come with an exclusive sticker and was never announced in any official capacity by Hasbro.  As such, this could turn out to be wrong - but as far as I know, it isn't a wide-release item.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,244: November 24, 2015

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,243: Imperial Stormtrooper (The Black Series 6-Inch)

IMPERIAL STORMTROOPER Battle Damage
The Force Awakens The Black Series 6-Inch Figure Amazon Exclusive Set
Item No.:   No.  B4053
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Rifle, pistol, 3 more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $79.99
Availability: November 2015
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Under the tyrannical rule of the Empire, Stormtrooper legions ruthlessly crushed resistance across the galaxy.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  If there's one thing I know, it's that collectors are generally fine buying new Stormtrooper figures if they're a little bit different.  This battle-damaged version certainly is different.   The figure takes the same basic 2013 build, and changes up the deco in a meaningful way.   Comparing this one to The Force Awakens' new trooper, you can see that this line may have peaked early - not to knock the new trooper, but double-jointed elbow joints do wonders to give this figure a lot of extra personality.  The double-jointed knees, rocker ankles, and double-jointed head add to the punch.  It's good, you'll probably like it if you don't already have a Stormtrooper or Luke or Han in the disguises.

The main changes on this trooper are: silver gunmetal weapons rather than black.   The grenade on the back of his belt now lacks some grey paint from the original.   1 slash was added to the helmet, a blast was added to the right shoulder, a blast and a scrape were added to the right thigh, and the chest now has two big blaster marks.   The quality is just a little fuzzier, but it's basically the same as the earlier Stormtrooper.   If you need more (and you probably do), this is a nice one to have - but the blast marks aren't totally convincing.  I suppose you could wipe one of them off, because I can't imagine a trooper needs to get shot four or more times to go down.  This guy got his butt handed to him.   I suppose it looks acceptable, but at first glance I wasn't sure if I was looking at damage or some new rank marks in the thumbnails.

A Stormtrooper is essential to any collection.  Not necessarily this trooper, but a trooper.   My shelf has a growing number of these guys so I'm unsure if I'd buy extras if I had the chance, but I'm certainly happy to have the one and you may be too.    The smaller blaster fits in the holster just fine, and the guns fit the hands - no surprises there.  For a redeco boxed set, it hits all the right marks.  It's new, it's different, there's no duplication of things you wanted, but they may not be different enough to make you happy.  At least it's more troopers, and not Han with new pants.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Amazon.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,243: November 23, 2015

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,242: Clone Trooper Commander (Phase I, The Black Series 6-Inch)

CLONE TROOPER COMMANDER Phase I
The Force Awakens The Black Series 6-Inch Figure Amazon Exclusive Set
Item No.:   No.  B4053
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Rifle, pistol, 3 more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $79.99
Availability: November 2015
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Created in secret by Kaminoan cloners, the first Clone Troopers were deployed to protect the Jedi during the battle of Geonosis. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  Hasbro has our number. They know we like to "finish the set" now - so when they make a mold, they plan on making sure we can get the repaints.  Starscream means Thundercracker and Skywarp are coming, perhaps to be joined by Sunstorm or Acid Storm.   This Clone Trooper Commander is the yellow officer repaint - with him, we now have 4 of the 5 paint jobs this mold is obligated to get.  The blue one is still unavailable, so Hasbro has been good at getting us all of the different flavors.  Interestingly, the green one has off-white armor instead of white armor - I assume demand for a remake will start sooner or later.

The mold itself is the same as previous releases, right down to the SKU of the white toy being stamped in the foot.   The articulation is the same too, meaning that it's pretty good with a helmet that seems to be a good fit for the body proportions.   Hasbro's rocker ankles, double-jointed knees and elbows, plus bend-and-swivel wrists give you a good range of movement.   It's not optimal, but you can get a lot of good poses out of it.   The hands are a little stiff so getting two hands to grip the gun well can take some fidgeting, but it's totally doable.  The deco is on par with the others, with yellow rank marks coming in nice and clean.   There are really no big surprises here - he's par for the course, he's good.

The weapons, though, are notably unique in their deco.   Elements have white deco on both blasters, whereas others clones were often grey or unpainted weaponry.   For that reason this one stands out a bit, but it seems consistency is not on the menu for all elements of all figures.  Hasbro gets close, but there's something a little different about each figure... thankfully if uniformity matters, each figure has two guns so you can give some short blasters and some long blasters and maybe that'll do fine for and compulsions about color uniformity thus far.  Me, I'll live with the white bits.

This is a good figure in a perfectly nice set.  I won't say it's amazing - it's not - but it's no worse or better than any other 6-inch Clone.   If you're getting all of these, you'll like this one too.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Amazon.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,242: November 20, 2015

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,241: Clone Trooper (Phase II, The Black Series 6-Inch)

CLONE TROOPER Phase II
The Force Awakens The Black Series 6-Inch Figure Amazon Exclusive Set
Item No.:   No.  B4053
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Rifle, pistol, 3 more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $79.99
Availability: November 2015
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: As the Clone Wars drew to an end, Chancellor Palpatine issued Order 66, turning the Clone Troopers against their Jedi allies. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  I must have some sort of Stockholm Syndrome, because I was genuinely pleased to see the 6-inch Phase II Clone Trooper in this set.  It was enough to get me to buy this set.  Sure, it's the existing body with a new head.  It is an exclusive, after all.  And yes, it has the original plain white Clone's SKU still stamped on his foot.   Still, you can't bring me down - it's our very first Revenge of the Sith Clone Trooper and while it probably means a lifetime's worth of exclusive repaints are coming, right now, at this moment, I'm very happy to own this figure.  The helmet is nice, the deco is... acceptable, let's say.  

Given how inflation works, what $10 can buy you, and diminished expectations over time, I'd say this figure delivers about what we should expect before the inevitable price increases.   This isn't to say the figure is bad - far from it.  It does, however, illustrate what happens when white isn't white.  A common toy problem is to cast a part in dark plastic, and to paint over it in light paint.   More often than not the darker plastic shows through, as you can see in the Clone's knee pads, shoulder pads, and the back of his hands.  Otherwise, he's pretty white and nicely painted for a Hasbro figure.  Mine has a couple of black dots where there shouldn't be one, but given it's an Amazon exclusive my ability to pick out a good one is rather limited.  Heck, my box had torn Velcro tabs, too.  Thankfully the figure is mostly good, providing a decent basis from which to launch countless redecorated figures based on this template. 

His guns are unpainted, and it's worth noting the back of his knee pad straps are pure white.  Phase I Clone figures in this scale have a little grey bck there. Other than the helmet feeling a smidgen small, I'd say Hasbro did a good job with this one.  I await the 501st and other variants sure to follow in the next several years.  I begrudgingly give the set a "Buy" for $80, mostly because the original Stormtrooper is rather uninspired.  I'd probably buy the rest in the assortments, but as of my typing this review I've only played with this one figure - let's see how the others shake out over the next few days.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Amazon.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,241: November 19, 2015

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,240: Poe Dameron (Flight Suit 6-Inch Black Series, The Force Awakens)

POE DAMERON 07 / Pilot
The Force Awakens The Black Series 6-Inch Figure
Item No.: Asst. B3834 No.  B3841
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Pistol, helmet, gloved/ungloved hands
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: September 2015
Appearances: The Force Awakens

Bio: An ace pilot, Poe Dameron is a leader in the Resistance's fight against the First Order.  He soars into battle behind the controls of a modern X-Wing Fighter. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  The other Poe Dameron figure comes in the traditional flight suit.   It's actually kind of neat - the deco and detailing are better than ever, while the shoes and likeness, well, not so much.   This one is neat because (like the other one) the name Poe is written on the back of the helmet in Aurebesh, and the white vest has the words "PULL TO INFLATE" written on it, upside-down.  So that took  me a minute to figure out, but it makes perfect sense - after all, Poe would need to be able to read it.  On the other hand, if someone was going around with a shirt with upside-down lettering on it I'd assume the factory screwed up.

While the head sculpt is a little blah - the translucent skin, the old eyes and scruff  - the rest of the figure is pretty good.  Leave the exquisitely decorated helmet on his head, and odds are you won't mind that his lips were painted after the scruff was applied.  It just needs work - better paint masks or perhaps more skill in applying them.      Sculpting is similar to the smaller figure, only with more detail.  We've now got straps, hoses, a chest computer, and some of the worst shoes I've ever seen.  Functionally, they're great - I mean, rocker ankles!  That's good, right?  It should be, but the way the pants were cut and shoes were sculpted, while logical and functional, looks wonky.  You'll look at his lower legs and say "Hey, is that a ring like in the shoulders of my smaller figures?  Can the foot move there?"   Yes it can - and it doesn't look very good once you notice it.   You get around 20 points of articulation, which goes up to 22 with the bend-and-swivel ungloved hands.  That's right - not only did Hasbro include swappable mitts, but the flesh ones have extra joints.  It's a nice bonus!

As pilots go, Hasbro mostly upped their game here.  The grit on the vest looks wonderfully disgusting, and the suit feels like we're seeing some real wear and tear in spots.  The fake cloth detail in the orange plastic is really amazingly done, and while there are some areas that look like they might be underdetailed - some spots on the left shoulder, some bits on the belt and straps - we haven't seen many final shots from all sides yet, so we don't know.   As "Action Figure Guy" this is a pretty satisfying release - if I didn't know this was supposed to look like an actual guy, it'd just be a neato futuristic X-Wing pilot.  As it is, it's just OK.  I love the helmet and articulation.  I don't love the likeness, or rather,  how the likeness turned out in the materials used by the factory.  Maybe it looked awesome as a 3D sculpt on a PC screen, but in my hand I'm just not feeling it.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,240: November 18, 2015

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,239: Poe Dameron (Jacket 6-Inch Black Series, The Force Awakens)

POE DAMERON Target Exclusive
The Force Awakens The Black Series 6-Inch Figure Set
Item No.: No.  B4047
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Rifle, helmet, Stormtrooper figure with accessories
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: October 2015
Appearances: The Force Awakens

Bio: An ace pilot, Poe Dameron is a leader in the Resistance's fight against the First Order.  He soars into battle behind the controls of a modern X-Wing Fighter. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  While we have a vague idea what function many characters serve by now, Poe Dameron is... a pilot.  Is he the new Han?  A new Wedge?   A traitor?  A hero?  We have no idea.  We do know he has an orange flight suit and at least two X-Wing Fighters, plus he has this jacket - which Finn has too.  Is it First Order surplus or standard issue for the Resistance forces?   I don't know.  I don't know much of anything, which really sort of makes collecting these toys sort of a bizarre gamble.  I'm not able to buy these toys because I saw a movie and liked it - I got these toys because the franchise has offered me more good than bad and I'm hoping that they work out and I'll be very  happy I own these figures come movie time.  More than likely, though, even if I love the movie all I'll really do is reorganize them on a shelf until Episode VIII when they'll all become a lot more exciting.

While Poe and Finn share a tailor, they don't share a sculpt.  This jacket has different wrinkles, and the head sculpt is cast in a different plastic with different deco than the flight suit version.  Neither one is screamingly Oscar Isaac in appearance, the elements are all here like the scruff and the hair but they don't quite add up to a perfect Poe from the early images we've seen.  An uneven scruff paint application can do wonders to make or break a figure, while no scruff at all is just, well, not notable.  On my sample you can see some weak spots in the paint, showing where the brushes didn't quite hit their mark.  It's subtle, but it does break the illusion of reality.   His upper lip got some of the scruff, too, so that's a little... off.  It's not the best head deco we've seen, but at least the eyes are clear and the hair seems to be covered evenly.

Poe's jacket looks great! There's some illusion of wear on it, plus various red and silver markings.  The sculpt is crisp and clean, I can only assume it's true to the movie because it's pretty finely detailed.  I assume that came from the actual prop.   The pants are nicely done, but the knees look a little weird - the yellow (what I assume to be) Jakku dirt has been described as "baby vomit."  It doesn't seem far off.   Similarly oddly matte are his boots, perfectly black but lacking in any real personality.  There's a shine you sometimes get on a Han Solo or a Darth Vader or even an X-Wing Luke that does wonders - not here.

Poe is an exceedingly average 6-inch action figure with 22ish points of articulation - I doubled-up on the bend-and-swivel wrists as well as the rocker ankles.   There's no cut at the boot, and single elbows are quite limiting, but other than that it seems to be a fairly nice and by-the-numbers action figure.  When working with price points and deadlines, there's probably only so much you can do.   The price point in particular leaves us only so much room to praise or complain, and at $40 for a set it's a decent value.  At $30, it's spectacular.   After getting a look at this one up close, though, I could see fans campaigning to Hasbro for better deco even if it meant a $1 or $2 price increase.  A little extra care put into the head paint masks at the factory could do wonders for making this one excellent, instead of someone else to hang out on a shelf until the movie gives him a personality.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Target's web site with a $10 off coupon, code "BESTGIFT."  Give it a shot, it might still work.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,239: November 17, 2015

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,238: First Order Snowtrooper Officer (6-Inch Black Series, The Force Awakens)

FIRST ORDER SNOWTROOPER OFFICER Toys R Us Exclusive
The Force Awakens The Black Series 6-Inch Figure
Item No.: No.  B4045
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, backpack, pauldron
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: October 2015
Appearances: The Force Awakens

Bio: The latest generation of cold weather assault Stormtroopers, Snowtroopers wear advanced insulated armor and helmets that reduce the glare of icy terrain. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  If the Snowtrooper Officer isn't just the regular Snowtrooper with a shoulder pad, I'll be surprised.   Comparing photos makes the two look nigh identical, which means I'm happy this one showed up first.   If they really, truly are the same only completists and army builders will need both.  Heck, do we even know if the pauldron is in the movie yet?   I have no idea, but I do know that this sure as heck looks like the new Snowtrooper from the photos I've seen.

Anyway, the figure's build is similar to other new troopers - that is, the articulation is emphasized more on the legs, despite the kama (skirt) restricting the movements.  Each leg has 5 joints - double knees, rocker ankles - and it's pretty great.  You can only get so much movement, though, just because of the garment wrapping around it.  The arms are like other recent Troopers, which is to say bend-and-swivel wrists are joined by ball-jointed shoulders and elbows.  The double-jointed elbows seem to be a thing of the past.  The neck and waist joints are also perfectly good.  It's sturdy and stands up nicely, but the elbows aren't the most conducive to posing and looking cool with his gun.

The sculpt is, well, it's very similar to the 3 3/4-inch figure - just with more joints.  The helmet is very glossy; it's quite nice.   The deco flourish on the chest is similar to the smaller figures, and we've got more detail on this one - but the chest deco is closer to the 3 3/4-inch regular Snowtrooper, with a smaller/darker chest design and the buttons being painted rather than their outlines.   I'm not saying either is superior, but it certainly works.   The difference in visual texture between the plastic armor and the cloth parts of the outfit is significant and obvious, which is fantastic - some of the figures don't have this kind of ccontrast.   Deco is more or less on par with the 3 3/4-inch figure, minus the backpack - that's where the paint goes.    Painted buttons, panels, and an outline look spectacular, especially when compared to the blank slate of the little versions.

I like it!  I don't know how perfect it is (or isn't) but I like it.  I'm beginning to feel the three-month pre-release window is too much, and more and more it seems like they had it right for the prequels - 1-2 months is plenty.   Being asked to invest hundreds of dollars in figures in hopes that I'll like the movie is something I rarely do - usually the toy has to be awesome in and of itself, something I would want regardless of the media tie-in.  That's also rare - and problematic for Star Wars as precious few toys offer genuinely new and fun features that are cool in and of themselves.  I'm having a ton of fun with that new Millennium Falcon, but most of the rest of the stuff just looks different from things I already own - and this figure is in that category.  I don't want to deal with the fuss of chasing down exclusives later, so I bought it - it's more of a compulsion than genuine reverence, I admit.   I don't dislike it, but I sincerely hope the movie makes me super happy to have all these new figures.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Toys R Us at retail.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,238: November 16, 2015

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,237: Flametrooper (Armor, The Force Awakens)

FLAMETROOPER Space Armor
The Force Awakens   Armor Up Figures
Item No.: Asst. B3886 No. B3894
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, backpack, armor
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99  
Availability: September 2015
Appearances: The Force Awakens

Bio: Specialized Stormtroopers of the First Order, Flametroopers carry incendiary weapons that can transform any battlefield into an infernal blaze.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now! 

Commentary:  Buzz has it that the Flametrooper squad has a significant role in the movie, which I will not allude to here.   For that reason, it's possible fans may want one - or several - of them, so Hasbro's decision to include the same basic figure in at least three different sets so far (basic figure, this figure, Amazon's trooper boxed set) makes a lot of sense.  Even if you just buy one of everything, at a minimum, you'll get three of them.  Each includes different accessories or other figures, but they're all the same as this guy at their core.  They all have the same backpack and the same torch - it's the other stuff that sets them apart.  It's a decent enough figure - a little chunky, a little wobbly, and unable to hold his weapon with both hands.   The white plastic figure has very limited black deco, and all the parts fit together as long as you leave the orange First Order armor off.  That's when it gets awkward.

The orange armor itself is neat, and seems like it would have been better paired with another figure.  By wearing the orange armor, the figure's weapon no longer can plug in to a backpack - so there's a loose cord hanging around.  It's ugly.  The backpack itself must be stored elsewhere, as there's nowhere for it to connect to the armor.   While still ungainly, the ability to plug the backpack into the armor would have upped the elegance of this clunker significantly.  I dislike being unable to use all my accessories, but having the free-floating torch is just sort of bad planning.

Stylistically, the armor isn't half bad - it just doesn't add to the existing figure's accessories.  If you had the bare figure and only this armor, the orange body armor might remind you of a fire fighter with its bright colors and goofy breathing tubes. Silver highlights provide a metal look, with big First Order symbols - the biggest in the toy line so far - on each shoulder.   Amazingly, the figure's armor in no way restricts its movement - he can swing his arms up or sit without a hitch.   It could be great, but I'm one of those weird kids who hated taking off Batman's cape so he could wear armor or a backpack.   They could do better, I thought, and that's still how I feel here.

The figure is pretty much acceptable.  The armor shows careful engineering as far as figure compatibility goes, but it disrupts the character's unique flame gear.   If I said it was terrible, I'd be lying - similarly, if I said it was a good deal, that's also a total fib.   All of the parts in this box are fun to futz with, but not all at once.  Had they included an alternate weapon with the figure and left the movie backpack out, I think this would have been a stronger package.  As a kid, this sort of thing would drive me bonkers.  As an adult, I just put it on the shelf in the back, admiring the goofy armor and hoping the next one I crack open will be a little less taxing on my inner child's playtime.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.  

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,237: November 13, 2015