Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,581: Darth Vader (2019, The Vintage Collection)

DARTH VADER 2019 Rerelease/Redeco
The Vintage Collection Action Figures
Item No.: Asst. E0370  No. E5184
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #08
Includes: Mask/Helmet, lightsaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99
Availability: April 2019
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: As a Sith Lord, Vader turned against his former comrades and hunted the surviving Jedi into near extinction. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.  Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Let's start with a warning - it may be difficult to identify this variation of Darth Vader for the average citizen.  In 2010, Hasbro released a VC08 Darth Vader too, with a very similar card front.  It was a repurposed 2005 Evolutions Darth Vader from the Revenge of the Sith line.  This new 2019 release has a new paint job on the face under the helmet, so you will probably want to track it down.   So to put that in perspective, Hasbro's state-of-the-art Darth Vader that's brand new is, in fact, 14 years old with a new coat of paint.

If you want this one - and you do - here's what you want to look for on the packaging.  One, the top-left corner reads "AGE/EDAD/IDADE."  Two, look for assortment E0370 and number E5184 under that trilingual age warning.  Three, there's a smaller "Darth Vader" name in the pill under the Empire Strikes Back logo.  Four, the back of the carded figure shows Yak Face on it.  If you're buying online and it's not obviously from the wave with the new Vader (also includes Echo Base Han, Hoth Leia, and Jedi Luke with new head deco) be sure to ask a lot of questions or ask for photos.

So! This Darth Vader is quirky.  If you have that previous release, you'll want this one too.  The big changes include: the helmet seems to be fused to the mask which is still painted.   The head has new paint which is more in line with the DVD edit - dark make-up, dark circles on the eyes, no eyebrows.   The chest computer now has a blue light rather than a green one.

While it is possible the mask/helmet on mine was just fused shut, I just got this figure the day I wrote the review and haven't heard a lot of feedback yet.   I was surprised to notice bits of gold paint inside the helmet, so maybe mine just dried and fused itself - your mileage may vary.  The cape on mine has a garbage "chain" that's sewn on off-sides, but that head! Oh, that head! The scars are so nasty.  The skin is so pale! The chest armor is so glossy!  That right hand is still totally worthless!  Thank goodness the left hand can grip a lightsaber.

Back in 2005, this was the very best Darth Vader - but keep in mind it's from 2005.  It doesn't have rocker ankles, bend-and-swivel wrists, or anything like that - the hips are much simpler, too.   This was a big step in the right direction back then, but we've since had figures with considerably more articulation that would probably be more welcome to bring back in the line.  Of course, then you wouldn't get that awesome head deco, which Hasbro didn't highlight and you probably don't know exists because the reads on this feature have dropped considerably in recent years.  Your loss, dudes.  But I digress - variant seekers and those wanting the very best, go get this Vader.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,581: April 30, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,580: Imperial Jumptrooper (The Black Series 6-Inch)

IMPERIAL JUMPTROOPER GameStop Exclusive
The Force Awakens The Black Series 6-Inch Figure
Item No.: No. E5154
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #n/a
Includes: Rifle, backpack connects to helmet, display stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $22.99
Availability: March 2019
Appearances: Battlefront II (2017 Game)

Bio: An elite squadron within the Imperial ranks, jumptroopers (also known as rocket troopers) were outfitted  with jetpacks and utilized in tight spaces.  They were trained to act in unison, often swarming and overwhelming their targets.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability:  Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  While I did pre-order this figure, I don't own a console on which to play Battlefront II and couldn't even remember that was where this Jumptrooper came from.   As with many Stormtroopers, it uses the base 2013 trooper figure with some new parts.  The helmet, backpack, and shoulder pads are new - everything else seems recycled, even if we saw minor tweaks like the torso with a hole in the back used for Sandtroopers.   You get the double-jointed elbows, bend-and-swivel wrists, rocker ankles, and the usual gaggle of what makes Hasbro trooper figures pretty great.  It's clean - no battle damage here! - and looks like a fusion of the classic design with something modern.  It very much looks like what it is - a video game reinterpretation of a classic design.

With just shy of 30 points of articulation, this glossy white figure stands quite nicely.  Thankfully, Hasbro decided that wasn't enough to make the figure interesting and threw in an all-new display stand.  It's a triangle with the series logo on it, and the foot more or less fits in there.  it's a little tight.  I don't believe it will help the figure stand on one foot over time - mine lasted minutes - but it'll help keep him from toppling on the shelf for a little bit longer.

I generally like that Hasbro is doing some neat trooper exclusives, and the design here does look cool. I also wouldn't have minded if they kept the old Jumptrooper design from The Force Unleashed games, as that was also a good one.  Hasbro did an admirable job translating the game art to a figure, but I assume for many collectors this is a figure for its own sake.  Maybe gamers are excited about it, but demand for the Inferno Squad Agent doesn't seem to be particularly high, but the Battlefront Shock Trooper seems to be very much desired.  (I  blame it going to Walmart.)

For the asking price, it's not bad - it looks cool and fits in to your shelf of Empire dudes.  I'd rather have more movie figures, but I assume this was done because of GameStop staying on message as the game itself no longer seems to be in any real demand.   New troopers make the line interesting, and I'd be keen to see what Hasbro designers might do if given free reign to do one or two of their own these days.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,580: April 25, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,579: Battle Droid (The Black Series 6-Inch)

BATTLE DROID 6-Inch Debut
The Force Awakens The Black Series 6-Inch Figure
Item No.: Asst. B3834 No. E4085
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #31
Includes: Rifle, backpack, antenna pack
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: March 2019
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Rather than use flesh-and-blood warriors, the Separatists prefer mindlessly loyal soldiers that are easily controlled.  Battle droids are dim-witted and no match for clone troopers or Jedi, but they weren't designed to be smart - they were designed to overwhelm Republic civilians through sheer numbers, something they do very effectively.  (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:  20 years on, you get the feeling Hasbro and Lucasfilm still don't much like the prequels.  It's a pity, there were some awesome designs in those movies and this Battle Droid was a hit as a small figure in 1999.  Today, six years into the 6-inch line, Hasbro adds a third character from The Phantom Menace in the line.  I can't assume we'll ever see the entire main cast at this rate, but at least we're getting Obi-Wan Kenobi this year.   Oh, and this Battle droid is pretty good.

I often roll my eyes at the 6-inch line and vintage line because there's not a lot of room to surprise anyone - the same basic cuts and joints are upgraded with a new joint every few years, or some new paint technique.   Lather, rinse, repeat.  Only though weird droids or unusual body designs do we get anything truly interesting, and given the problems many of these spindly droids had in the smaller scale I was most definitely interested to see what Hasbro would do with these guys.

One problem that may come up are limbs warping over time.  Many of the original smaller Battle Droids could be placed on display stands and would gradually tip over with time - I recommend you use stands with waist clips on this kind of figure to avoid such problems.  Hasbro shoved a ton of articulation on this one, with about 24 joints.  That's a lot.  He can stand, but due to the feet and proportions it's difficult to get him to keep standing up without support.  You can get him to fold up and crouch down, and he even has the telescoping antenna in his backpack!  It'll go great for that Battle of Naboo diorama you'll never make because there are no Gungans and you'd never buy enough of them to make it anyway.   You'd probably give it some thought, though - the battle damage and paint scuffing is really cool.  I like what Hasbro did here, and I wouldn't mind seeing a few deco variants of this one eventually.

I like this figure, but I think he'll need some long-term support at the waist or under the arms.   The design is great, I love the added range of motion in the neck and wrists, and it's surprisingly expressive for a relatively dumb bit of cannon fodder.  Nice job, Hasbro - and thanks for including parts to let us know you could make OOM-9 if you feel like it.  (We are interested.)   Get yourself the Battle Droid, but I would probably not bother to army build it.  I have to assume we'll get variant deco figures later.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,579: April 23, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,578: Padme Amidala (The Black Series 6-Inch)

PADME AMIDALA 6-Inch Debut
The Force Awakens The Black Series 6-Inch Figure
Item No.: Asst. B3834 No. E4081
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #81
Includes: Pistol hand, rifle hand, cape, pistol, rifle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: March 2019
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Padme Amidala was a courages, hopeful leader, serving as Queen and then Senator of Naboo - and was also handy with a blaster.  Despite her ideals and al she did for the cause of peace, her secret, forbidden marriage to Jedi Anakin Skywalker would prove to have dire consequences for the galaxy.   (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:  Run and do not walk to your favorite online store or actual store to get yourself a 6-inch Padme figure.  It has been six years since The Black Series 6-inch figures debuted, and this is the very first Padme Amidala in any costume.  I would say she's worth the wait - the posture seems to match that of Natalie Portman, with exceptional range of movement in the elbows. 

Oh, and check the face printing. There can still be blemishes. Unfortunately.

The cape slides over the head - no decapitation necessary - and she has two different right hands depending on which blaster you prefer to use.   Both weapons have painted highlights and/or scuffing - they didn't cheap out here.  The texture on the cape is amazing, and the belt is loose enough to swivel around.  My only gripe on this figure is that both right hands are preposterously loose - it might just be my sample, but they just sort of fall with gravity.  For an exceptional figure with amazing articulation and a sculpt that hides most of her 29 points of articulation I assume we'd always find something off, but the gun hand being loose is a real bummer.  They did such a good job making sure she could hold her blasters!

This is a good wave, and I was wondering why Hasbro would double down on her in the case - it turns out it's because she's dang near perfect.   I assume a Nexu Damage variant has to be under consideration, but at least we got this one with all the gear first.  For whatever reason, Hasbro has done a generally good job getting Natalie Portman's face pretty close to the mark and this may be one of the best.  It's a pity there's no matching Anakin or Obi-Wan to go with her yet, but perhaps Hasbro will have something to announce in the near future.  After all, they're going to have to put out something in absence of new movies.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,578: April 18, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,577: Synara San (Resistance line look)

SYNARA SAN Animated
Star Wars Resistance  3 3/4-Inch Single Figure
Item No.: Asst. E5035 No. E5358
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, helmet
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: January 2019
Appearances: Star Wars Resistance

Bio: A salvager who scours the oceans and islands of Castilion for crashed starships, Synara keeps much to herself. (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: Unsurprisingly, I like the Synara San figure too despite her name being too similar to that of fonts.  This is a figure that manages to do a good job translating an excellent design to plastic.  Her belt, kneepads, and boots look a little bit like the Empire's Biker Scouts.  Her helmet looks a smidgen like Lando's from Return of the Jedi.  She's of the same alien race as Luminara Unduli and Barriss Offee, plus she has a swell silver blaster that fits in her holster.  The face paint is also pretty much perfectly where it needs to be, crisp and colorful. 

The helmet fits fine, the coat is sculpted close to the body, and she stands just fine.  The Biker Scout belt blocks her ability to sit a bit, but it's still a decent range of movement compared to countless other figures.   Thanks to her piecemeal costume, cool helmet, and alien uniqueness, she could probably fit in with any Cantina or Jabba's Palace diorama you were looking to populate.   There's a ponytail hanging off her head too, giving the design a little more personality.

As a semi-regular character, it's wonderful to see her in the plastic. There are some prominent figures we haven't yet seen as toys, and some that are glorified cameos - like Poe - that gobble up some of the wave one slots.  This is a worthwhile figure, and I would love to see more of her friends made as figures too.  Hasbro - well done.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,577: April 16, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,576: R2-D2 (Solo: A Star Wars Story line look)

R2-D2 and C-3PO
Solo: A Star Wars Story Force Link 2.0 Exclusive 2-Pack
Item No.:   No. E4590
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Flames, rocket launchers, removable limbs, C-3PO
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: September 2018
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: R2-D2, pronounced Artoo-Detoo and often referred to as R2 (Artoo), was an R2 series astromech droid manufactured by Industrial Automaton with masculine programming. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.  Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  Like his companion, this R2-D2 is fundamentally The Last Jedi 2017 figure with new deco and packaging.  That figure was, itself, a modified build-a-droid mold, so you can pop off the dome, jets, flames, and all three legs.   If you've bought previous versions of this mold, you know what to expect minus the deco.   R2-D2 has wheels, but some of his panels were left silver rather than blue giving him the appearance of early onset droid-pattern baldness.

The top of the dome and one of the side panels are left blank, which is a shame given this is a great mold with otherwise superb paint.   The projector has a dot painted in the middle, the big eye is glossy and black, and there's a ton of grit that looks great.   I was really impressed by the flames - Hasbro's clear plastic fades from blue to yellow to orange, and it's gorgeous.  Much like the Kaiju-inspired deco of its Jurassic World: Dino Hybrid toys, Hasbro seems to be taking pointers from Monster Kolor sofubi customizers and turning high-priced collector paint jobs out on kid-focused toys.  The results are striking - I'd like to see more of this kind of coloring on Hasbro toys.

It's good, but certainly not essential.  You've got tons of R2-D2 figures from this basic mold, so you may already have one you like more.  This R2-D2 has tons of great silver painted bits and wonderful grime, but the top of the dome is iffy enough that maybe you'd want to mix and match with other build-a-droid figures to get one to your liking. Hasbro did a good overall job, minus the dome quibbles.  Aside from that, this is one of their best efforts.

Force Link 2.0 Notes: Beeps from the movies. You know the ones.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Amazon. 

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,576: April 11, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,575: C-3PO (Solo: A Star Wars Story line look)

C-3PO and R2-D2
Solo: A Star Wars Story Force Link 2.0 Exclusive 2-Pack
Item No.:   No. E4590
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: R2-D2 with booster rockets
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: September 2018
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: C-3PO, sometimes spelled See-Threepio and often referred to simply as Threepio, was a 3PO unit protocol droid designed to interact with organics, programmed primarily for etiquette and protocol. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.  Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  This set with C-3PO went through some changes.  Originally intended as a Toys R Us exclusive 2-pack, it then debuted at Entertainment Earth, and through a series of things I shan't get in to, ended up getting dumped overseas and in closeout channels.  You can buy it on certain online stores now - look around, compare prices.   C-3PO is a really, really strong redeco of the good 2017 The Last Jedi figure with lots of grease and grime, along with an all-silver right leg.

The deco is why you buy this figure.  I love the nasty grease, although it would have been cool to have a Jawa restraining bolt on there.  The front and back of the figure has tons of dripping grime, some of which looks natural and some looks kind of faked.  At a distance, it all looks excellent.  The eyes are yellow and bright with a black dot in the middle, plus he has colorful wires in his belly and silver ones on his back.

You get your standard 5 joints - swivel neck, shoulders, and hips - and the Force Link 2.0 chip rattles around in his chest.   I like this figure a lot - classic fans might want it for their Sandcrawlers or any Tatooine dioramas.  Get it if the price moves you, it's a nice set.

Force Link 2.0 Notes: "I am C-3PO. Human/cyborg relations."   "Without the Republic fleet we're doomed."  "The chances of survival are 725 to 1."  "I've forgotten how much I hate space travel."   "It would take a miracle to save us now." 

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Amazon. 

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,575: April 9, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,574: Stormtrooper (Resistance line look)

FIRST ORDER STORMTROOPER Animated
Star Wars Resistance  3 3/4-Inch Single Figure
Item No.: Asst. E5035 No. E5080
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: January 2019
Appearances: Star Wars Resistance

Bio: Equiped with sleek armor and powerful weapons, the Stormtroopers of the First Order continue the legacy of the soldiers of the Galactic Empire. (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: Even Droids never got their own animated Stormtrooper!  This First Order-flavored cartoon trooper is the kind of thing I would have swooned over in the late 1980s - a future figure that carries on the story, in a cartoony style!  With 5 joints and an exaggerated scowl, it's a Stormtrooper!  What else could you want?

The figure lacks the hip plug for the blaster, but there's a lot of paint on the weapon.  Molded in white, there are lots of black markings on it to bring it to life. Similarly, the helmet has black and silver markings, more or less matching the look of the animated show.  It's very clean, and a good take on the sequel series troops.  We don't get painted soles on the boots, but that seems to be increasingly rare.  The figure isn't nearly as ornate as the others in this line, which I assume was on purpose - they have to cut costs somewhere.

 At first glance I thought the Stormtrooper was the same mold as Commander Pyre, but this isn't the case - the gold trooper's pose and chest are slightly different at a quick glance. Range of motion is very good but falls short of my 5POA ideal - the legs can't get that perfect 90-degree angle, but they come close.  The arms and wrists swivel as you please, and the ball-jointed helmet is as perfect as these heads can be.  I like it, and I kind of wish we'd see more like this.  If Hasbro ever feels like retooling the hips, I'd buy a few more to fit in my old Mini-Rigs.  It's a fun figure.   Because this line is small, I can't not recommend it.  BB-8 and Poe are the only other movie characters to get the cartoon treatment, so go ahead and snag this one if you like the look.  Its center of balance may require you to swing the arm forward a bit, but other than that?  It's nice.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,574: April 4, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,573: Torra Doza (Resistance line look)

TORRA DOZA Debut
Star Wars Resistance  3 3/4-Inch Single Figure
Item No.: Asst. E5035 No. E3942
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet (with head inside)
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: January 2019
Appearances: Star Wars Resistance

Bio: A daring pilot at the Colossus station with a sense of flair and competitiveness, Torra Doza has the combined energy of a hotshot ace and a fifteen-year old. (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: This is another good one.   Torra Doza doesn't do much early in the show, and her racing costume is pretty Earthy.  You might recognize the color scheme from either Hot Wheels collecting or their real-world inspirations from Gulf Racing.  It's nice that the Lucasfilm team made racing teams identifiable by using colors racing fans might recognize instantly.

The figure is pretty great.  She has a harness on which covers her chest and shoulders, not hindering articulation.  The helmet is actually an alternate head - you can see a painted face inside the visor.   I had a heck of a time getting it on the neck peg for the photo, and I don't know if it's just mine or not - but the helmet head doesn't stay on well.  It looks great, but it's not a particularly easy swap despite being on the same kind of neck ball peg Hasbro has been using for over 15 years.

For a 5-jointed figure, she's perfect. The legs swing forward and she sits at a normal right angle, so you can be furious that Hasbro has yet to (and let's be realistic, will never) release a companion vehicle.  The limbs are good, the paint job is decent, the coloring is bright, and like other Resistance humans she has a fantastic paint job on her face.   A few details were left undecorated - a couple of greeblies on her neck and above her belly, as well as her chest computer - but it's not like a better version is coming.   It's pretty good, and if it weren't $10 you'd consider this a great figure for the asking price.  For $10, I expect things like a blaster or maybe some more paint - but the second painted head in the helmet is no slouch.

While by no means essential, she's part of a currently 10-figure collection for this TV show.  Disney has proven the be good at releasing new stuff but not great about promoting it and developing (exploiting) it fully at retail, so like the 1980s TV shows it might be a small set of toys.  For that reason alone I'd recommend grabbing these figures now just because you probably won't have too many more series to worry about.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,573: April 2, 2019