Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,175: Moff Gideon (Walmart Exclusive 2-Pack, Epic Hero Series)

MOFF GIDEON | Bo-Katan Kryze
Epic Hero Series Deluxe Walmart Exclusive Figure 2-Pack
Item No.: No. F9376
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Fire gauntlet, Cape, 2 jetpacks, Darksaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.84
Availability: August 2024
Appearances: The Mandalorian   

Bio: Imperial Moff Gideon once wielded the the ancient Darksaber, an artifact of great importance to Mandalorians. (Taken from the packaging)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Walmart now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: You should give this figure a look. Unlike the Maul set, you get your money's worth in the Moff Gideon & Bo-Katan Kryze 2-pack - more so if you didn't buy the single figures. Each figure has different accessories in the vein of "just different enough to make you mad," but I'm willing to play ball because I like the format enough. The Gideon figure and his cape are the same as the single-carded release, but Hasbro dropped the staff in favor of a new backpack and a repainted gauntlet with a flame shooting out of it - which you've already seen with Boba Fett and Paz Vizsla. Which version should you get? It's all about the accessories, and if this one goes on clearance (and I bet it will) I'd favor what's cheapest. 

For those who don't want to read the whole thing, Walmart's main selling point on the exclusive?  Backpack.  Flamethrower.

We'll look at the single version soon, but I'm stating with this one because it was a surprise. Hasbro never announced it, which is a pity given it's the first figure they made of this figure in this outfit - it's of interest to collectors. It's a new figure sculpt, and it's pretty close to what you saw on the show. His armor isn't as glossy, and the lights on the TV show chest are missing. Other than that, it's pretty much what you expect out of a toy action figure - black armor, red trim. There's not a ton of detail on the show model, so it translates nicely to the toy with a slightly brighter color of red for his various highlights. He has five points of articulation and various connection points to bolt on a backpack, his cape, or a flamethrower. He has no traditional weapons, but you can bolt on that flamethrower and it fits nicely. You also have to choose between an exclusive-to-this-set jet pack, or his cape. They fit in the hole nicely, and as I write this Gideon has the jetpack and Maul has the cape. It's a really good cape with red lining that stays on nicely, and the jetpack sticks well too.

There aren't a ton of amazing flourishes here, but there are some. His jetpack has paint on the underside, with blue vents and holes where you could connect some sort of flames if they existed. Maybe you can 3-D print some and share your files with the rest of the class. The figure also has a blaster in his holster, but it isn't removable. It's just a nice detail, along with darts in his kneepads and vertical stitches in his pants that are a lot like Darth Vader's. Star Wars has a stock look for its bad guys - black, red, and probably obscured in the face - and this is no exception. The figure can't have the kinds of texture you see on the TV show at this price point, but I think Hasbro made something that is a satisfying release for what amounts to a glorified bureaucrat cosplaying as the king of the natives of a planet he was sent to administer earlier in his career. His helmet has little crown points and everything - it's very silly when you think about it, but the kind of man that sets up his base in a hole on a supposedly abandoned planet instead of one with a decent restaurant or a place to get pants is clearly not a serious man.

Given Hasbro has already produced The Mandalorian, Grogu, Bo-Katan Kryze, Ahsoka Tano, and Luke Skywalker, it would be nice to see them continue The Mandalorian cast in this format. And I mean any weird alien, any guest star. I'd love a Kenner-ized Cobb Vanth or IG-12. It would be a hoot to see those ramshackle Stormtroopers or Frog Lady. These are generally very nice figures for the price.

I wouldn't mind if Hasbro just ditched Vintage and made Epic Hero Series figures the new standard - provided they could shave them down from 4-inches to 3 3/4-inches at that time. I like this figure because he looks good, can use his gear, and remain standing. His legs swing forward fairly well and if Hasbro made vehicles for him, he'd probably fit like a champ. If there's a The Vintage Collection version of this costume I have no doubts it will have perfect deco, an alternate head, and amazing articulation - but it doesn't exist. Instead we have this guy for $8-$10ish, depending on which version you buy. I opened this one first and I think he turned out well enough. I'd recommend it, if only because I believe that this sub-line (which I hope lasts) is a great way to collect the characters in a non-fragile format at a price that doesn't make my wallet just sigh heavily and shake its head. I hate re-buying characters at $20... but $10? Or under $10? I can live with that.

Collector's Notes: I got mine fromWalmart. As Walmart exclusive toys for kids tend to be made in pretty big numbers, and in this case is shipping to even the smaller Walmarts (but not grocery stores), you'll probably have no problems finding this set.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,175: September 26, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,174: Professor Huyang (Droid Factory)

PROFESSOR HUYANG and Mary-Ann
Star Tours Droid Factory Ahsoka Set
Item No.: ???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: 3 more droids
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $49.99
Availability: January 2024
Appearances: Ahsoka   

Bio: All different types of droids populate the Star Wars galaxy. Each droid is different and has their own unique personality and colors. These four are featured in Star Wars: Ahsoka. 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 eBay now!

Commentary: Both Disney and Hasbro put out Professor Huyang figures at the same time for roughly the same price. Which is better? Probably Hasbro's. Hasbro's is taller and has more accessories - but there are elements that the Disney version has decorated that Hasbro left blank, and vice-versa. Hasbro's figure is almost a head taller than Disney's. It is bizarre, and sensible, that both have similar articulation - Hasbro has the edge with the thigh swivels - but hey, I'm getting ahead of myself. We're talking about the shorter Disney parks release.

Given both cost about the same, Disney's comes up short in more than just the literal way. It's curious to see where each design team put its priorities, as Disney's has a bolted-on backpack without any articulated back arms. Disney did paint the arm joints, though, while Hasbro didn't - and Hasbro gave hte backpack unit itself a little more paint. Hasbro added weathered paint to the legs, but Disney did not - although Disney has panted torso cables, while Hasbro does not. But Disney painted the chest bolt on his right, and the bicep wires, but Hasbro did not. It's extremely difficult to describe one without looking at the other, because neither provides a more authentic, more complete, or more accurate collecting experience. When placed side-by-side it just shows each company elected to cut different corners.

He's skinny, but nor tall, standing roughly 3 3/4-inches and not towering over the Hasbro figures. Scale is always tough to nail down, but I am reading Huyang is about 1.8 meters - so about 6 foot 2 inches. His shoulders swivel, but don't pivot out. The legs swing forward well enough, as his toolbelt seems to have just enough give to allow him to sit. The knees bend, the ankles bend and swivel, the wrists swivel... it's about as well-articulated as the Disney Protocol Droids. Depending on what you are looking for, this figure might have the edge on paint as he has painted hands, metallic deco on his helmet, the aforementioned waist, nipple, and backpack paint, and slightly better painted shoulders with the rings around each arm. By himself, not making size or detail comparisons, Disney did a good job. The sculpt matches the TV show, the expression is good, the yellow optics are bright, and it looks like the droid you're looking for. Depending on your collection needs - especially if all you buy are droids - this might be the best choice for you. The $16.99 Vintage figure offers more Huyang-ness, but this set has three plastic pals who are fun to be with, and I think most collectors will see that as a priority over a data pad or alternate arms.

Since Disney and Hasbro both have competing figures at the same time, with neither having the clear edge - each has unique painted elements the other lacks - I can't say either is better. Hasbro's is probably the right height, with more gear, but Disney's has a lot more front-facing painted details that look good. Neither seems to be quite the right color, though, and if you believe in magic there's a chance they could revisit the character for Ahsoka season 2. (I'll believe it when they announce a release date.) But I digress - Disney's Professor Huyang is good, but since there's another figure against which to compare him, I can't say either is perfect. Flip a coin, with a little more weight toward this one if you want the other Chopper, C4-R4C, and RD-3 figures exclusively in the set with the professor.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Disney Store.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,174: September 24, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,173: Admiral Ackbar (The Retro Collection)

ADMIRAL ACKBAR He's Back!
The Retro Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure Hasbro Pulse/Shop Disney 6-Pack
Item No.: No. F6988
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Staff, plus Mon Mothma, Yak Face, Emperor's Royal Guard, Gamorrean Guard, and Wicket the Ewok
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $72.99
Availability: November 2023
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Star Wars Retro Collection includes Star Wars action figures from the 40-plus-year legacy of the Star Wars Galaxy, including movies and live-action series. (Stolen from the marketing copy. Packaging has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: Hasbro hasn't made a lot of Return of the Jedi Kenner figures yet, but most of them were ones I had as a kid - like Admiral Ackbar. This was the kind of figure that sparked my imagination as a kid - it was a weird lobster guy, with a strange head and webbed hands. He had a ribbed staff and had no problems holding it either. I have no idea where it came from - I don't think we've ever seen it in concept art or as a prop in a photo somewhere, but it's classic Kenner and as much a part of my experience with Star Wars as a lightsaber if not more so. All the jokes I could make about this will make someone angry... so moving on.

The remake is about as good as all the others. Details are softer, paint isn't quite right, the eyes are a smidgen more a-googily-doogily. One black dot is a little higher than the other, but being on opposing sides of his head makes it less likely that I would notice on my sample - and presumably all samples vary. His wrinkly or vaguely armored skin just isn't as crisp as the original, which is possibly the result of a scan not being cleaned up quite right. Having seen the level of sharpness of home-scanned toys, though, I'm not sure I believe that. Maybe the tool master just didn't put in the hours to make something perfect - it's still good, and it looks like what the molds may be after decades of use (or bad storage.). The yellow pants stripes are here, the skin is brighter than the movie skin, and the bib/vest seems a smidgen darker than my original Kenner figures - but the colors vary. For someone who has never owned an original, this is probably pretty good. Anyone who took this figure on adventures as a child will know it's not the same, though.

He's long sold out, but you can get one for a pretty fair/paltry $15 on eBay as I write this. It's long sold out at Shop Disney or Hasbro Pulse, and I've heard whispers that the run size wasn't exactly vast. If you have the money I would recommend you get the 1983 release - but if you're buying the 6-pack for Mon Mothma and Yak Face anyway, this is a heck of a nice design that is distinctly different from the original to anyone who can read the figure for clues, or is old. I am fond of the whole set - I opened Ackbar months ago but the Royal Guard is still carded - and they're the next best thing to a carded original. I wish they were slightly better, or that the eyes were aligned, but on a shelf or on a card, it's pretty good for roughly twelve bucks.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,173: September 19, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,172: Ezra Bridger (Hero of Lothal. The Vintage Collection)

EZRA BRIDGER Hero of Lothal
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. F6878 No. F9978
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #318
Includes: Lightsaber, Hilt, Blaster
Action Feature: Working holster, lightsaber plugs in belt
Retail: $16.99
Availability: May 2024
Appearances: Star Wars Rebels

Bio: One of the few Jedi trained after the fall of the Empire and an early member of the Rebel movement, Ezra Bridger vanished in the battle to liberate Lothal, disappearing into deep space. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: Is it retool... or pre-tool? Ezra Bridger (Hero of Lothal) shares a lot of parts with the as-of-yet unshipped pack-in figure with the HasLab The Ghost vehicle. From the pictures it lokos like it may be mostly deco changes. That version seems to have the same accessories as this version, but also sports a lothcat and one of Ezra's special helmets. I would say you might want both due to the changes painted on the figure, and this is the lesser of the two releases.

Much like Thrawn not being quite a perfect Rebels figure, Ezra isn't a perfect Ahsoka figure. I do like the engineering overall though - the gloves look good, the waist joint hidden in the belt region is good common sense, and the legs all seem to move without too much fuss. The colors are on-point, the eyes are expressive, and he's even got the scars under his eye. The figure's hair doesn't quite match the cartoon (or live-action), but it's Ezra-esque. It has his spirit, though, and I feel adult collectors in their 40s and 50s don't want spirit so much as authenticity.

This figure seems to be a design made that wasn't quite made to mimic Eman Esfandi - but Eman Esfandi was cast in Ahsoka as Ezra because he kind of looks like the drawings on which this figure was based. Given it's a figure based on a hologram, and the hair isn't quite right, and he doesn't have the scuff, but the outfit is pretty good, this is probably one of the more exciting figures from Hasbro in this scale lately. We've had so many attempts to do and redo Thrawn, Mando, Vader, and others, that accuracy aside just getting another character is some cause for excitement. The costume is fantastic, but the head doesn't match the performer, and as a repaint of a cartoon-turned-realistic figure, it shouldn't. It would be nice if Hasbro sprang for a new head on this one, but given development times (and costs) it's less surprising that a repaint is what we get in 2024. We're having to do a lot more "settling" these days, aren't we?

If you're OK with this figure being what amounts to a concept art version of the costume from the show, it's good. Articulation is typical of this series, with decent ranges of motion. While it's kind of hard to get both hands on his lightsaber, the legs swing forward perfectly and he should be able to fit in your vehicles just fine. The figure's costume fits much better than the one in the packaging photo of the actor, too, although both do match rather well. (The cartoon had a lot more yellow on it.) Approaching the figure on its own merits, it's pretty good. While this is a perfectly nice figure, it is probably a bad move to put out a figure that - assuming fans don't ignore it - will make fans ask for a more authentic version. I think it's nice but the funny thing is if they just pop a more accurate head on this body, I'd also complain about that. That's what we're getting with Thrawn, after all.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,172: September 17, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,171: Darth Maul (Deluxe, Cyborg, Epic Hero Series)

DARTH MAUL Cyborg Redeco - New Kids Line
Epic Hero Series Deluxe Walmart Exclusive Figure
Item No.: No. F9375
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, Armor, Spinny Lightsaber Energy
Action Feature: Lightsaber splits in two
Retail: $19.84
Availability: August 2024
Appearances: The Clone Wars
Bio: Darth Maul wields an intimidating double-bladed lightsaber and the power of the Dark Side. (Taken from the packaging)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Walmart now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Addendum: Walmart.com seems to have dropped the price by $7.  If your store has a price scanner (it doesn't) you should see if it got updated.

Commentary: I'm not going to beat around the bush here - is it possible Hasbro has been experimenting with price points to see if there's a figure that's too expensive to scalp? This Darth Maul figure is exclusive to Walmart and a wallet-shocking $19.84. One peg over, for the same price, is a two-pack of Bo-Katan and Moff Gideon with bonus weapons for the exact same price. (How people are selling them for $19.90 shipping on eBay, I don't know, I can only assume the seller somehow got them for free.) A normal Maul costs $8 or $10, so you're being charged for a 2-part spinny energy thing and an unpainted piece of clamp-on armor. It's so expensive that I want to believe that the prices were an administrative error, that someone put a wrong number on a spreadsheet because there is no way this is worth more than a typical The Vintage Collection figure and certainly isn't worth as much as 2.5 basic carded figures.

 I'm going to start the review by saying "wait for clearance or a sale." I think this is an incredibly clever figure - it takes some shortcuts that for the price are unacceptable, but in the form factor, are charming in a 1990s Kenner way. I hate what I paid for this figure, but I am delighted by the item, which I am sure is causing some of you to read this and go "so why are you so cranky?" Yeah, that also bothers me, but this is who I am after writing about toys on the internet for 29 years.

The core figure is the same as the basic Darth Maul figure from last week. They molded the limbs in pink and painted the boots and gloves to more closely resemble (but miss the mark on) Order 66 Maul figures [FOTD #2,858]. At this price - here we go again - it should be a whole new mold, the budget is there and a repaint with a new shorter "skirt" piece is insufficient for the asking price. But if this thing were $12.99, the same as other deluxe figures in the line right now? I would chuckle and say "it's probably fun enough to be worth running out to get." Heck, it's possible the pricing hike was intentional to see how popular characters sell for the holidays. Maul is at least a recognizable, and I turn gray saying this, classic part of Star Wars.

The figure's range of motion is identical to the last figure - 5 joints - but he is a little more dynamic thanks to his accessory. Similar to the spinning things we saw for some kid-focused figures in the early to mid 2010s, you get some red Lightsaber energy whooshes that spin fairly well. It's a good accessory, but compared to what you got with Boba Fett or Paz Vizsla, it's pretty slight. The blade snaps in, and you're off to the races.

The figure also includes a snap-on piece of very Kennerian, Savage Oppr-esque armor. It's about as convincing as the Quick Change Batman chests, but it does give the figure some visual heft and I appreciat that because the painted-on triple belt doesn't look terribly convincing. In many respects, the figure is representative of the line as a whole with more recycled parts and fewer new characters, and great head sculpts. It's goofy fun, and it will be interesting to see if we get other characters oddly painted to pretend it's a new and different outfit. It may not draw any new converts to the brand, but I can tell you right now that I'll have more fun playing with and complaining about this figure than almost any collector-level toy in 2024, and that's kind of concerning in a very different way.

Nothing about this seems like a 21st century toy. A retooled skirt with the belt hastily painted on? Painting sleeves and boots and not giving him the specific armor, gloves, or chest at a massive mark-up? For such a major character it's a bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it pays off for them. 

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Walmart. I had to say, in front of my wife the first time I saw it, "That's... an absolutely terrible price. This is going to be on clearance before Christmas. Nobody's going to buy this." as I took it to the register so I could write about it and play with it. This is a disease now, right?

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,171: September 12, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,170: Tusken Warrior (The Retro Collection)

TUSKEN WARRIOR 12-back redux
The Retro Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. F6874 No. F8566
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Gaffi Stick, Robe
Action Feature: Removable cloak
Retail: $11.99
Availability: December 2023
Appearances: Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett

Bio: The Star Wars Retro Collection features design and detailing inspired by the original 1970s Star Wars figures and features original figure design and detailing! Continue your collection from a galaxy far, far away. (Stolen from the marketing copy. 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!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: I was excited when I heard they were doing The Book of Boba Fett Kenner figures. I was not entirely thrilled when I heard one of them was the Tusken Warrior, if only because I was sitting here hoping for Peli Motto, Cobb Vanth, or the revised Boba Fett. But looking at the wave, I can see where they're coming from. The Ahsoka wave threw a jacket on Ahsoka and gave us six all-new molds, while The Book of Boba Fett delivered four new molds and four "but she's got a new hat!" figures. Of those four retreads, this is the best. It's effectively a remastered version of one of the original 12 Kenner action figures!

If old-school Kenner kids still ran Star Wars, I would assume this is a fan's pet project. I don't know if there's a story behind it because Hasbro really doesn't talk about design or anything when it comes to their lower price points - so I just have to imagine someone saw there was a Vinyl Cape Jawa and a Cloth Cape Jawa and said "hey, why didn't they go back and redo the other vinyl cape figures?" In 2022 we got a new Vader with a cloth cape, and in late 2023 we got this cloth robed Tusken. This is the one I wish they made when I was a kid so we could really play with it, or have them steal vehicles. (And ride that Bantha we never got!) The gaffi stick is pretty much the same as an original. The figure itself i a dark brown color with a slightly tweaked paint job on the head. His gloves are now light tan, while the belt pouches are partially painted this time. As repaints go, it's nice to see something different on a troop builder that's arguably a big improvement.

What really got me was the robe. I have a lot of old figures, including a junker Tusken that made its way to my desk - I've been touching up his metal silver parts and off-and-on looking for a replacement cape. I didn't want a vinyl one, I was hoping to get something, well, like this - I wasn't expecting the shoulder part, but it's distinctive. I wish it didn't block the breathing gear on the neck, but aside from that the color, texture, and range of motion is excellent. You can raise his arms with no problems, it hangs well, and it's frankly better than most of the soft goods robes or cloaks we've seen on "modern" figures. Were this a variant from the old days, I'd have tracked one down because it really is distinctive, like the Blue Snaggletooth or Vinyl Jawa. I'm not saying it's perfect - the softer head details don't look as good as a Kenner original - but it's as good and interesting as we're going to get without Hasbro shelling out for improved tooling. If you have to reuse old tooling to save money, this is how you do it - one recreation of something old, and one new spin on a classic.

There is no reason to get back to army-building at my age, but if I saw these in stores (especially on sale) I'd throw down a few bucks for more. I'd love to see Hasbro do another riff on this figure and package it with a Retro Bantha (I've got fifty bucks, Hasbro. Or more!) Rethinking the vinyl cape is something I never expected to see, and I would love to see Hasbro consider doing the same with other figures like Obi-Wan Kenobi or Lando Calrissian some day. Will it happen? No. But it's funny to see that Hasbro could probably put out versions 1.5 or 2.0 of retro figures and make a compelling case for me to give them more money.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth. The first (and only) sighting I've had outside an online toy store or a brick and mortar store that wasn't supplied by EE Distribution was a Ross in September 2024, nine months after release.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,170: September 10, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,169: Darth Maul (Movie Version, Epic Hero Series)

DARTH MAUL New Kids Line
Epic Hero Series Basic Figure
Item No.: Asst. F9405 No. G0142
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber
Action Feature: Lightsaber splits in two
Retail: $7.99
Availability: July 2024
Appearances: The Phantom Menace
Bio: An agile Sith Lord, sinister Darth Maul wielded an intimidating double-bladed lightsaber and the power of the Dark Side. (Taken from the packaging)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: There are good figures. There are amazing figures. There are figures that by all measures are not very good. But Darth Maul is on the happy side of good, with a side of being priced well for a modern figure (when compared to older figures at their time of release.) You won't be blown away, but it's a good figure of a popular character a a price that's somewhere between "about right" and "hey have you seen The Vintage Collection-esque figures Spin Master is doing for Batman collectors now that cost less money?" I assume we're probably dealing with the realities of Hasbro having to pay Lucasfilm having to pay Disney, with factories specific to the House of Mouse and able to charge accordingly. This is not a bad figure. This isn't a bad figure for the price - especially if you see it for $7.99. The only thing I don't like about this figure is I have several Darth Maul figures, in this costume, that are of a similar quality and cost me a similar (or lower) price.

Darth Maul is one of those characters that came back from certain death and keeps reappearing to put out story hooks to use him again. Will we ever see his post-Solo machinations, pre-Rebels, on a show? Can we see more of what he did after the Empire caught him during Order 66? He's also one of few characters to be successfully recast, at least as his voice goes, to the point where they may as well dub over The Phantom Menace again. This is a popular character in a recognizable outfit, so the question isn't "will collectors buy him again?" but rather "are there enough fans out there that just want an $8-$10 Maul?" and the answer is probably going to be "yes." Fans love to hate him, and he should probably be kept in regular rotation as a toy.

This version is good. Obviously he's a little taller than the 3 3/4-inch scale ones, as Epic Hero Series is (for reasons I do not understand) 4-inch scale. The head is ball-jointed, allowing him to look in all directions. The horns are pointy enough, painted well, and on a head with a great facial expression. If you put your fingers on the horns, they feel sufficiently pointy and far pointier than I'd expect. The paint masks for his facial tattoos are also perfectly good, and arguably better than a lot of collector figures. He has a fantastic sneer, and I have no notes. For a kid line, this is a good noggin. For a collector line, it is also a good noggin.

The body is fine. Epic Hero Series seems to be going for limited functionality, so the "skirt" - while nicely sculpted - does get in the way of him seating. It's unlikely they're planning for this specific figure to be used with a vehicle (if they are, $50 says a new figure will be bundled with it) so all you need to be concerned with is "do the hips move enough so he can stay standing" and that's a solid "yes." The arms swivel freely, and there are no wrist joints. I wish there were, mostly because a lot of his personality (and indeed his whole deal) is swinging around a giant double-bladed lightsaber. He can hold it in either hand, and they were smart to make one of the hands posed at an angle so he look like he can fight with it. But this is not a figure that's meant to be expertly posed - you just put him on your table, and he stands. No fuss, no muss, no fighting to find a center of gravity. I'm arguably jealous that the kid line seems to function better than the collector stuff - this figure has been on my desk for weeks without face-planting.

My complaint about this figure - indeed, this is my complaint about all figures - is "where are his buddies?" Maul is cool, but action figure purchases should beget other figure purchases. This Maul has no other The Phantom Menace figures on the market to join him today, there's no retailer 3-pack with Qui-Gon or Obi-Wan, he is here by himself as either a token anniversary item (happy 25th, Episode I) or just as a cool character in the attempt to never, ever make weirdo tertiary guys ever again. I like what Hasbro did here. The figure itself doesn't have or need a lot of painted detail, so the sculpted robes and big boots all look superb. The pose is good, the lightsaber is great - but, I should note, the hilt's buttons are not painted. I don't think he's any worse off for it, bur it is worth noting previous figures did have those elements for many of the releases. It splits in half, and that's way more fun.

You don't need a new Maul figure. But if you want one, I can recommend this one highly. While he only has five joints, he makes them count and the general design of the figure is on the happy side of "good." I recommend this line to new fans because they're sturdy, solid figures in the tradition of some of Kenner's finest work. I have no reason to challenge Hasbro to try again, and this would be a great place for a new fan to try out action figures.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,169: September 5, 2024

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,168: RD-3 (Droid Factory)

RD-3 White SK-Series Droid with Gray and Yellow Accents
Star Tours Droid Factory Ahsoka Set
Item No.: ???
Manufacturer: Disney
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: Removable limbs
Retail: $49.99
Availability: January 2024
Appearances: Ahsoka   

Bio: All different types of droids populate the Star Wars galaxy. Each droid is different and has their own unique personality and colors. These four are featured in Star Wars: Ahsoka. 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 eBay now!

Commentary: I initially passed on this set. When something else came up that I wanted, I got it since I was paying shipping anyway - it's not a bad set, but I don't remember seeing RD-3 on the show, I already have a few Chopper toys, I don't remember C4-R4C, and Hasbro also has a Professor Huyang figure. 20 years ago I would have been - and was - over the moon for any new droid we could get, but a couple hundred later (and some I'm unable to get due to poor distribution/weird production) and I'm actually starting to sour a bit on some of it. This particular figure makes sense - it's a dome we haven't seen too much yet, and they even brought back the cables on his feet. In other words - they did a good job.

The deco is bright and clean, matching the pictures on the interwebs. The figure dome is a little more matte, the actual prop is a little more glossy, but the gray and silver and yellow are all where they seemingly should be. Thanks the the fact that it's a newer droid and we're not all inundated with dozens of them, it's still quite refreshing to have the same body again with a new dome. The features are much smoother, and I'd love to know more about how they designed him at a behind-the-scenes level - why are the parts smoothed out? Is it to be some sort of missing link between R2-D2 and BB-8? Or is this just a budget-friendly way to make a droid? It's a pretty compelling figure either way, and there's a hole for a hat. (Not included.)

You can also tell that there are separately molded panel elements on the dome, but mine don't pop off. You can see where the parts could separate more easily from the inside of the head.

As part of a $50 set, this is effectively a $12.50 droid - not much of a discount over a standard Disney single-carded figure. I would recommend this figure and the set to people who want more droids, not because it's great, but because it's different enough to be interesting and the color choices were good. The sculpting is pretty nice - the dome looks a lot newer and larger than the aging body - but it's not like Hasbro has been cranking out any SK-series droids yet. Give it a look it might be something you'll enjoy. Collector's Notes: I got mine from Disney Store. It's still in stock seven months later, so I assume others also skipped it. It's not a bad set, it's just not exciting after you have some of the molds dozens of times over.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,168: September 3, 2024