Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,061: Tuken Chieftan (Tusken Raiders, The Vintage Collection)

TUSKEN CHIEFTAN (Tusken Raiders)
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Hasbro Pulse and ShopDisney Shared Exclusive Action Figure Set
Item No.: No. F8301
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 4 figures with cloaks, rifles, gaffi staffs
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $59.99
Availability: August 2023
Appearances: The Book of Boba Fett   

Bio: Survival in the unforgiving desert of Tatooine requires strict training and discipline for the members of a Tusken tribe. Led by a chieftain, each member of the clan must learn to be useful. (Taken from marketing copy. There is no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

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Commentary: I'm surprised they debuted the Tusken Chieftan in this set. As a recognizable character and a cool design, this is the very kind of thing I want in my Star Wars action figures. It's familiar, and it's new. It's a recognizable character. It's distinctive. And somehow, it didn't kick off on a cardback in stores.

While mostly new parts, our Chieftan does re-use the arms from Walmart's exclusive Tusken Raider [FOTD #2,860] from 2021 - but since they're under the robes, you'll never see it. He has a new torso, a great new robe with printed dark brown on it, a nice new head with distinctive mask, a unique torso, and startlingly good leg joints. They swing forward without obstruction, and they have those swivel thigh cuts. This is as good as it gets! Well, a Bantha would be better, but this is still great. The sculpted chest with bones looks wonderful, but overall, it could be better. This figure's colors are a little more saturated than what we saw on-screen, and the mask could be improved. The "mouth" has vertical lines on it on the TV show, and it's a bit wider than what we seem to be getting with the figure. There's a black fade at the bottom of the figure's head that seems to mimic some of what we're seeing on the show, but it's too stark. The extra stuff on the shoulders of the costume are missing on the figure too - the painted detail is better than nothing, but there's still room for improvement. The staff, though, is excellent.

I don't know if this is the Chieftan or a Chieftan yet. It's good - certainly better than nothing - but you could see Hasbro reissuing it with one or two more alterations within the next year and people like me will buy it again, begrudgingly. If that does not happen, this is a must-get figure set and just a cool addition to your clans, even if the price isn't a deal. It's OK. It's good enough - but most importantly, right now, it's new and interesting and the kind of reason we are in this hobby in the first place. "Here's a new figure of a guy you remember from that show!" is important in keeping me from completely quitting and selling my collection. The rest of the set isn't as distinctive - but we'll get to them soon enough. $60 is a lot to pay for just one specific character (and some trooper buddies) but I made no complaints when I pulled out my credit card to get this, and I don't think you will either.  

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,061: September 5, 2023