Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,651: 3PO (Color-Changing Droids, Droid Factory, Galaxy's Edge)

3PO PROTOCOL DROID Color-Changing Droids
Star Wars Disney Droid Depot
Item No.: No. ???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: 4 droids - CZ, 3PO, R4, BB
Action Feature: Pops apart, changes from white to orange
Retail: $39.99
Availability: ca. July 2019
Appearances: n/a

Bio: All different types of Astromech droids populate the galaxy.  Each droid is different and has their own unique personality and colors.  These droids have the special ability to change color!  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  This is a color-change thing that makes sense. This 3PO Protocol Droid is gold - not unlike the Disney-era version of C-3PO - but turns black in cold temperatures.  In your hands, it will swiftly turn gold.  In the freezer, it's a matte black color.  3PO was molded in a shiny gold plastic and coated with a plastic that seems to turn clear when warm or black when chilled.  The clear coat is a little fuzzy - it tones down the sharpness of the details of a build-a-droid figure mold we've had in circulation in some form or another since 2009.  

Articulation is nothing new for a Disney protocol droid.  The 20 points of articulation all  move fairly well, but that's not what makes this figure interesting.  You could buy a black or a gold protocol droid years ago.  What you couldn't buy is this sort of dynamic oil leak thing that a color-change figure is uniquely capable of pulling off.  If the figure is at room temperature but in "black" mode, a few moments from a normal hand will start making the black vanish, revealing gold underneath.  What's particularly nifty about it is that, like the R4 droid, it looks like something a pack of Jawas pulled out of an oil or tar bath.  You can "clean" it up or "paint" it just by touching it, which gives it a dynamic look display fans might find annoying and kids may hopefully find enticing, should they get one.

Detail is about as good as always, and while the droid mold is a little taller than the latest C-3PO and 0-0-0 3 3/4-inch scale figures it's still plenty good.  I am amazed that Disney found a way to make what was essentially a new action feature on C-3PO.  Hasbro did do a Stormtrooper with color-change battle damage about 20 years ago, but that's just a blast mark - this is the total recolor package.  I am impressed, and if you're the kind to refrigerate your toys you should score this set.

 

 

Collector's Notes: I got mine from my pal Shannon. Thanks Shannon!  There are 2 droid 4-packs and 1 droid playset with a Gonk Droid at this time.  "Warm" colors on the droids are their movie-like state.  "Cold" colors tend to be a lot stranger.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,651: December 31, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,650: Knight of Ren (The Vintage Collection)

KNIGHT OF REN Axe and Ye Shall Receive
The Vintage Collection
Item No.: Asst. E5912 No. E4063
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #155
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: Axe head, axe pole
Retail: $12.99
Availability: October 2019
Appearances: The Force Awakens, The Rise of Skywalker

Bio: The Knights of Ren were a mysterious order of elite warriors that followed the dark side of the Force in an age when the Sith were extinct and the Jedi Order was all but destroyed.  (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: In The Force Awakens in 2015, we got to see a few people that are now known to us - still nameless - as a Knight of Ren.  Who is Ren? Why are they knights?  Are these muddy goth kids with sharp toys?   I'm writing this before The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters, so I don't know why or if this robed, spiked, and dirty warrior is important.  We saw him in a Force flashback in 2015, so the hope is that he'll do something cool in the new movie.  I wouldn't bank on it - I'll know (and you'll know) when this review goes live. 

The figure is good, and is Star Warsy enough that I'd say you should get it for that reason.  the two-piece axe pops together or apart nicely, and can be held just like you see in the very boring cardback photo.  The helmet has long straps of material over the top, which makes the figure look like a rather silly variation on Darth Revan.  On top of this, there's a cape - and all of these hide a lot of the joints.  Knight of Ren (the first) has loads of articulation like bend-and-swivel wrists but standard ankle joints.  The thigh cuts remain, as do the fancy hip joints allowing lateral movement.  Knight of Ren's costume is admittedly mostly bland.  Were it not for the graves and vambraces that seemed meant to evoke the Shredder, the figure is basically just some dude in black pajamas with gloves and boots.   There's also a belt buckle that probably has no real significance, but looks like it could be used to power a breathing device or to store cashews.  We just don't know and maybe never will.

I think this is a cool figure and probably exists as a canny attempt to give collectors more Sith-like baddies.   Funko is delivering more Knights of Ren than Hasbro so far - but hopefully Hasbro will continue the collection, and who knows - maybe Disney will give us a show about the Knights of Ren some day. (I would probably watch it.)  Right now we're being given these figures with minimal background, allowing us to fill in the blanks - effectively making them like Boba Fett in the 1970s and 1980s.  Maybe there's more to them - and maybe there never will be.  Either way, the design and mystery will probably be served to separate us from our money for years to come, with this release as a decent enough place to start the process.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,650: December 26, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,649: BB-19H (Droid Factory Line Look)

BB-19H Disney Parks Christmas Exclusive
Star Wars Disney Droid Factory
Item No.: No. ???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: Pops apart, 4 pieces in all
Retail: $12.99
Availability: October 2019
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 BB unit quietly observes the smugglers, brigands, scouts, and spies in Maz's castle.  Join BB-19H 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.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  I was surprised we didn't get a BB droid earlier!  BB-19H is the first holiday-specific BB droid out of Disney parks.  The 3 3/4-inch scale figure uses the droid bodies we started seeing a couple of years ago, but for the first time cast in clear plastic.   This is a figure I'd recommend to toy fanatics more than Star Wars fans.

The head is cast in clear red, painted gold with a big black central eye.  It pops nicely and does a good job showing the sculpted detail of BB-8's dome, which generally is eaten alive by the dirty paint on these figures.   The body is clear red with gold highlights, and when you crack it open there's a weighted ball inside that's grey with gold accents.  The candy-like red plastic obfuscates the gold painted details, but you can see a bit of the shine peek through in the thinner red plastic areas.  I don't get to use this word often in this column, but it's very pretty.

In terms of engineering, it's great - a two-piece clear shell has a weighted ball inside.  It fits together with pegs and tabs, allowing it to have a rounded base yet sit upright.  It's a Weeble.  There's a hole in the dome for hats if you're so inclined, making this a particularly distinctive figure that stands out in the ongoing, neverending collection of Disney droids.     I don't think any sane person will say it's worth $13, but it comes on a nice cardback with a fairly unimpressive character illustration.   If this were an indie figure, you'd pay $13 for it with a smile - so if you're a clear figure fan (Seth!) you should pick one up.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from my pal Shannon. Thanks Shannon!  Disney tends to make these guys as seasonal special editions, so get it now if you want one.  

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,649: December 24, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,648: Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight, The Black Series 6-Inch)

LUKE SKYWALKER (Jedi Knight)
The Black Series 6-Inch Figure Walmart Exclusive
Item No.: No. E6131
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber with removable blade, display base, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.87
Availability: October 2019
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio:  Luke Skywalker was a Tatooine farmboy who rose from humble beginnings to become one of the greatest Jedi the galaxy has ever known.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability:  Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  It was unclear where this figure would end up thanks to traditionally iffy communication surrounding launches, but I found Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight) by the pile - along with Spirit Yoda - about a month ago.  I like it! I first heard it was expected to be at Disney Stores, which I perused on business trips and came up empty.  I will say this is a pretty neat figure and I'm glad it's a decent upgrade of what was seemingly a future-proofed 2014 figure.

The decent-for-2014 head was replaced by a comparatively stunning, gorgeous, almost perfect upgrade.  The new hair and printed-on portrait give this figure a lot of life, even if the cheeks are a little rosy compared to the anemic and pale original.  He shares a lot of parts with his ancestor but replaces the belt with a new vest and ditches the gloved right hand for a new fleshy one.  Considering Hasbro usually just colors the gloved hands in flesh when it came to 3 3/4-inch figures, this is a welcome attention to detail.  I also appreciate the boots aren't overly dusted, and Hasbro trusts we can add dirt as needed.

Unfortunately, the figure also keeps the wonky 2014 elbows that couldn't even bend to a full right angle.  I have no problems posing Luke in his "Is he really going to shoot Jabba the Hutt?" pose, but he's not exactly perfect.  But then again, that's what these 6-inch figures are - display pieces.  He'll do his job well.  Hasbro did a great job upgrading a 2014 figure to look gorgeous, but it retains the 2014 functionality.  At least you get a fully-painted lightsaber hilt and a nice blaster.  Now let's talk about getting some aliens to stand around so Luke has someone to fight.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Walmart.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,648: December 19, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,647: Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight, Galaxy of Adventures 5-Inch)

LUKE SKYWALKER Jedi Knight
Galaxy of Adventures   5-Inch Walmart Exclusive
Item No.: No. E6129
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, removable vest
Action Feature: Lightsaber Slash
Retail: $9.96
Availability: October 2019
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Luke Skywalker, a Force-sensitive human male, was a legendary Jedi Master who fought in the Galactic Civil War during the reign of the Galactic Empire. (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: This Luke Skywalker from Galaxy of Adventures ain't bad.  Granted, he doesn't fight a Gorax like in the Forces of Destiny shorts but they can't all be perfect - this figure is a nifty twofer, which means it hits some marks and misses some others.  The base figure is the Death Star II outfit - complete with glove, but with a rubbery vest over it like you saw in Jabba's Palace.  In short, that effectively makes this an update of the 1983 Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker figure - it's close, but maybe not perfect, to what you see on the screen.

As with the other figures, Luke has an exceptional range of movement hampered only slightly by his vest.  The rubbery garment has cuts in it so the leg movement is good, but there's no waist movement as it covers the whole thing.  Luke can be posed kicking, slashing, The Force-ing, or generally standing around waiting for someone to push him into a giant hole with teeth.  You get swivel wrists, rocker ankles, and roughly 80% of the quality of The Black Series at 50% of the price.  If you just want a good Luke figure, this is it - he can stand, sit, slash, duel, and look pretty good while doing it.  The face could look a little more Lukey, but it's still good enough.

I don't love the slash attack - both arms can click up or down, but the spring-loaded action doesn't really give me a satisfying sense of sword fighting.   One arm might have been good, or some sort of spring-loaded waist - but both arms seem to have difficulty moving a decent distance at the same time.  

If you want a Luke figure to futz with on your desk, buy this one.  It's easy to pose, cheap, plentifulish, and cheap enough that it's not exactly going to break the bank.  I love how the hair is a separately molded piece of plastic with a fantastic painted face on it, and it feels like a pretty durable toy.  We won't know for sure how durable until we see how intact they are a few years from now at garage sales and thrift stores, but for now it's sturdy and holds together well.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Figure of the Day

Day 2,647: December 17, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,646: Jet Trooper (Galaxy of Adventures 5-Inch)

JET TROOPER Action Packed
Galaxy of Adventures   5-Inch
Item No.: Asst. E3016 No. E6706
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: Quick Draw Blaster
Retail: $9.99
Availability: October 2019
Appearances: The Rise of Skywalker

Bio: Rocket troopers also known as Jet troopers were a stormtrooper variant in the Stormtrooper Corps of the First Order.   (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: Good figure, iffy feature.  The Jet Trooper and most of the armored releases in the 5-inch Galaxy of Adventures line are great. The exaggerated boots and helmet improve the look a bit, as some of the arms of the normal releases are a bit skinny - these guys are just a bit bulked up, but retain the coloring and shine of the realistic movie figures.  It's stylized in a pleasant way that makes me want to demand Boba Fett, but what wouldn't?

Like the others, he has about 23 points of articulation.  You get the double-neck, the rocker ankles, the swivel wrists, and of course, the quick-draw shoulders.  In this case you get two - and I don't much love it.  Both hands fling up well together, but I just want one going up - getting both hands on the rifle and going up at the same time is kind of tricky.  He's easy to pose though, with arms that click in place as needed and hands that can grip the gun.  I like the strange helmet, the jetpack/vest looks good, and the design makes for a good figure.  The leg articulation is exceptionally good, and I wish there were vehicles or playsets to use with these guys.

A white figure with a few black and red elements, it's a simple figure and you can see why it's ten bucks.  (Actually, it's pretty good for ten bucks.)  If you stumble on one I'd say picking one up is a worthwhile pursuit.  It's not like  you've got a lot of 3 3/4-inch choices these days.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,646: December 12, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,645: Clone Commander Obi-Wan Kenobi (The Black Series 6-Inch)

CLONE COMMANDER OBI-WAN KENOBI (General of The Republic Army)
The Black Series 6-Inch Figure Walgreens Exclusive
Item No.: No. E5157
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber with removable blade, display base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: October 2019
Appearances: Clone Wars

Bio:  A legendary Jedi Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi was a noble man and gifted in the ways of the Force.  He trained Anakin Skywalker, served as a general in the Republic Army during the Clone Wars, and guided Luke Skywalker as a mentor.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability:  Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  A mix of new and old parts, Clone Commander Obi-Wan Kenobi is gem.  I'm a big fan of this costume, and it makes sense Hasbro would want to reuse some existing parts.  The Clone Trooper body from a few years ago is once more put through its paces, changing torso, head, and belt.  The same double-jointed knees and elbows are here, and they're still pretty great.  If you have a Clone army, odds are you've got a figure very close to this one already - but a new head and accessories go a long way.

The most strange thing about this figure is that it exists - this is probably Hasbro's best Ewan McGregor head, yet it doesn't come from a movie and it's a costume he never actually wore.   The hair is a separate molded piece and the face is a bit more flush than usual - it's a little much. That's really the only criticism I have of the figure itself, in a dark room it looks fine but it seems this figure-and-costume are kind of cursed.  Remember that Gentle Giant statue a few years ago?  Well, it's not that bad.  Obi-Wan looks a bit younger than his Revenge of the Sith counterpart and doesn't have the gray in his hair or beard either.  It's a good interim figure between movies, and is one of the most exciting figures based on that whole prequel era if you ask me.

Obi-Wan's lightsaber has a pointier tip to it, with a much bluer blade than some of the other releases.   The hilt is molded in grey but not painted silver like the previous Revenge of the Sith release - a figure that looked weak at the time and could really benefit from a rerelease with a fresh coat of paint.  Thankfully this clone armor Kenobi is pretty much perfect, and he has a display stand that I would say is acceptable.  Early The Black Series figures didn't have a consistent foot peg size, so this base clamps down on the foot rather than the old peg/hole system.  It seems to work, but it's kind of awkward and isn't good for long-term displaying.   Joints tend to sag over time, especially with big, heavy figures with lots of articulation - it should be fine for a few weeks or months, but if you have a display case expect disaster down the road.  We need waist clips, people. Gravity is real.

Get it. What else do you want me to say? It's Obi-Wan Kenobi in a cape and clone armor.  It's about as exciting as you can get out of a figure like this, so go run out to Walgreens or where ever and get yourself one.   This is one of my absolute favorite costume/character combo platters and I'm glad we got it in this size.   If you're unfamiliar with this particular suit, this is what Obi-Wan Kenobi wore on the Tartakovsky animated Clone Wars cartoon, which is a mostly silent and highly stylized series of shorts.  They really should have kept it for the 2008 CG series.  Their loss.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Walgreens.

--Adam Pawlus

Figure of the Day

Day 2,645: December 10, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,644: Shadow Trooper (The Vintage Collection)

SHADOW TROOPER Or, the Blackhole Stormtrooper?
The Vintage Collection
Item No.: Asst. E5912 No. E5194
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #163
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: Pistol, rifle,
Retail: $12.96
Availability: October 2019
Appearances: Star Wars (Russ Manning strips), Battlefront

Bio: Shadow troopers were elite and highly trained stormtroopers that served the Galactic Empire during the Galactic Civil War against the Rebel Alliance. They wore distinguishing black suits of experimental armor coupled with portable cloaking devices, rendering them almost completely invisible and highly suited for stealth missions.  (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: For you old people, you'll recognize the Shadow Trooper as a Blackhole Stormtrooper - a silver-lensed black-armored trooper from Russ Manning's old comic strips.  I am a cranky fan, and this scratches my Old Guy Fan itches like nobody's business.  Hasbro had done a few black Stormtroopers before, but they were close-but-not-perfect when it came to replicating the unique shiny black armor with silver eyes look.   I guess these appeared in games - which is why we get it with the pauldron and the extra-ornate blaster pistol - but this is unmistakably that Russ Manning art as a figure.  If you're an old Expanded Universe fan, you already know you want and indeed need this.

If you got the Rogue One Imperial Stormtrooper [FOTD #2,598] a few months ago, the core body is exactly the same.  You get the same amazing articulation, and the same construction, and many similar paint applications - just with more gear.  If you want a black pauldron, and a rifle, you get them here.  It's gorgeous, and something I've wanted them to do (correctly) for years.  The black Crimson Empire trooper figures didn't have the silver lenses, and neither did the Russ Manning-specific comic pack Blackhole Stormtrooper [FOTD #1,491] from 2011.  It took decades, but Hasbro nailed it this time.  Next time, I hope they can do it in red.

When you get one, take note - the black plastic absorbs a lot of visible flaws.  On my sample there were some strange molding defects, including dimples in the thighs and a strange mark on the back of the leg. There was no way I could have seen this before opening the package.  Also one of the knees on mine is stuck, and hopefully I can do something with boiling water to fix that - even if I can't, I'm pretty darned happy this figure exists in this deco.  Nice job pleasing the olds and the new fans, Hasbro/Disney/Lucas.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,644: December 5, 2019

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,643: Darth Vader (Galaxy of Adventures 5-Inch)

DARTH VADER New Is the New New Too
Galaxy of Adventures   5-Inch
Item No.: Asst. E3016 No. E6265
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: October 2019
Appearances: Star Wars?

Bio: As a Sith Lord, Darth Vader turned against his former comrades and hunted the surviving Jedi into near extinction. He became an enforcer of the Galactic Empire, who worked to crush the Alliance to Restore the Republic for opposing his Sith Master's will.  (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: Given there was a 5-jointed 3 3/4-inch action figure and a 5-inch super-articulated Darth Vader for $9.99 this year... something seems wrong.  This larger-than-usual Sith lord doesn't seem to necessarily be fro a specific film.  The asymmetrical helmet says it's not the prequels.  The red lenses would make me assume it's from the original film - but the gloves and robes match the sequels a bit more closely.  Since key art from Lucasfilm recently shows Darth Vader with elements from multiple suits mashed together, I think the answer is "Lucasfilm Licensing does not care, so why should we?"  Because that's what we do, dagnabbit.

The lightsaber is thicker than usual, with a big handle.  It feels more substantial than the larger 6-inch action figure lightsabers but it has a non-removable blade.  It's good - Hasbro did well here.  Vader's cape is non-removable, but it's flexible enough that it doesn't get in the way of action posing the figure.  Hasbro did a good job engineering this one.

The sculpt is interesting, but messy.  The chest has gone from a rectangle to a trapezoid, and the buttons are warped to match.  This is kind of interesting, btu it's also kind of annoying.  The helmet is also exaggerated a bit, with other elements like the boots, gloves, and belt buckle being enlarged too.  The texture of the black body suit is still there, and there are wrinkles all over to make it look a little more alive.  They did a nice job making a very stylized figure that's in no way authentic.  There are some similarities to the Galaxy of Adventures cartoon design, but that version is beefy like nobody's business and the helmet looks a bit different.  I would argue the figure is the better of the two designs.

Thanks to the big boots, wide-ranging hip joints, and rocker ankles, you'll have no problems getting cool poses out of this one.  I would give this as gifts to fair-weather fans that just want a toy Darth Vader for their desks.  The vinyl cape hangs better than the cloth one, and he seems to be a bit more balanced than the 6-inch The Black Series action figure line.  The spring-loaded waist gives a decent and unobtrusive slashing action, but the codpiece is wide enough to prevent the figure from seating, even though the capes are cut in a way that doesn't hinder movement.  As such, Hasbro will have to make a new one if we ever see a TIE fighter in this scale.

As its own animal, I'd strongly recommend this figure.  It's sturdy, $10, and more or less all the Darth Vader you need as a fan.  Collectors are already covered - but I would like to see Hasbro apply this articulation (and frankly, price point) to 6-inch or 3 3/4-inch figures to see if we can get something even better.  By trying something new, Hasbro escaped the bounds of comparisons to previous toys too much - this is its own thing. It's a new collection.  Your kids will probably like it, until they realize all the weird characters are in another scale.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,643: December 3, 2019