Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,221: Anakin Skywalker (Flashback/Dream Sequence, The Vintage Collection)

ANAKIN SKYWALKER Flashback/Dream Sequence
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. E7763 No. G0906
Number: #347
Includes: Lightsaber, hilt
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $16.99
Availability: January 2025
Appearances: Ahsoka

Bio: In the World Between Worlds, Anakin Skywalker appears to his former Padawan Ahsoka Tano to teach her one last, crucial lesson. (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: One of the things that's good - and bad - about collecting the same toys for over four decades are the improvements. When you see a live action-style figure like this Anakin Skywalker, based on Ahsoka, itself based on The Clone Wars, you might say "don't I have this already?" And the answer is "yes, twice." We last got that The Clone Wars The Vintage Collection Anakin Skywalker [FOTD #2,731] in 2020, itself a redux of a 2012 figure. Clearly enough time has passed, but if you're a toy company or licensor asking "why are our old fans acting like we're not doing anything good?" it's important to remember that not everybody is going to dive into their collection and compare an old figure to a new figure when pre-orders go live. If your memory of the old figure is positive, you may not want to replace it. (Conversely, if you make a new character, fans will take note.)

The big question is "Should you skip the original and/or replace it with this one?" I'd say yes, probably - if you get the 3-pack version or this one, they seem samey enough to get the job done. The 2012/2020 figure was very good for its time but this one refines it a bit. Emphasis on "a bit," mostly because the first one was good. It is hard to find new ways to make a super-articulated figure better, and in this case Hasbro does so with the new-style ball-jointed hips and thigh swivels. The rest of the joints are all pretty similar, and you even keep the cloth "skirt" which is a good move if Hasbro makes another Jedi Starfighter. If they don't, I wish they'd have done plastic.) The figure is generally excellent, with the kind of sculpting that's typical for a modern figure, a peg hole for the lightsaber hilt, a separately molded wig, and a good enough range of motion. The colors look good and I'd say the costume fits the figure better than the costume on the actor - that's good! The wig seems a little too floofy or high, which I would say gives the edge to the 2012/2020 hair. The figure's face is excellent, but he lacks any sort of scars. I'm not sure why, you could see it on the show.

It's a pity we never got to see this figure actually fight or duel or attack anybody on the TV show - the scene was economical. I don't think it's a lot to ask for some "Wars" to go with your "Stars," but such is budgeting on streaming - we got a pretty nice (if small) toy line from a series with a lot of cool stuff in it, and hopefully we'll see some more. Hasbro did a nice job overall here, and I would say my only genuine complaints are that his face is a little too clean, his hair is a little too perfect, but he's got it where it counts. You can pose his legs, you can pose his arms nicely, and it's worth noting he and the new Luke Farmboy share the same lightsaber hilts. I don't see this as a bad thing, and honestly at this point "close enough" works for me when it comes to lightsabers for my action figures. It's not a Vader hilt, we're winning here. If you see this figure at a good price, give it a look, and be sure to compare it to your old Anakin figures. You can really see how far Hasbro has come with sculpting in 13 years. And that's good! But also, if all we're getting after 13 years is new iterations of perfectly good existing things, I can't argue with the legions of fans who just moved on to other things.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,221: March 6, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,220: Dedra Meero (The Vintage Collection)

DEDRA MEERO Debut in this size
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. E7763 No. G0905
Number: #346
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $16.99
Availability: January 2025
Appearances: Andor

Bio: Methodical, polished, and ambitious, Dedra Meero embodies the ideals of the Imperial Security Bureau. She is ever vigilant, collecting and analyzing intelligence from across the galaxy. (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: My interest in pretty much any Star Wars property goes up the more I can get my head around it - so action figures, trading cards, and guide books help a lot! With Andor season 2 on the horizon and this Dedra Meero figure likely meant to have been to help promote it, hopefully we'll get more merch so more of us can know the names that were sometimes hard to understand in the mix. Getting a figure makes it more interesting to care about the show, and what shelf she might go on makes you actually have some stake in paying attention. Or at least that's been my finding - if there's no figure, it's probably not an important character. (Not that there's anything wrong with obscure background nobodies, I love them too.)

Dedra Meero is good at her job. And she has annoying coworkers... and someone who probably wants to date her, who's a creep, and that takes some doing when you have an entire faction of awful, creepy people. As I write this, the show is set to hit late next month and we'll see if she stays with the Empire, joins the Rebels, or somehow gets blown out an airlock. What we do know is that Hasbro did a nice job translating her costume with plastic, with the top being a consistent white color (that matches Luke from the same wave) with a mostly good paint job, at least on my sample. The belt is left unpainted at the bottom - I assume it's a one-off - but that would mean she shipped to stores so I could see other examples of her. The rank badge and code cylinders look great, and Hasbro once again nailed a tiny pea-sized facial portrait. It's Denise Gough, but tiny!

In terms of articulation, she breaks no new ground and is perfectly fine. The wrists only swivel - there's no bend - and everything else is on par with other recent The Vintage Collection releases. It's great that Hasbro gave her thigh swivels and ball-jointed hips, but with the long tunic she may not be getting much use out of them. Heck, given the lack of vehicles and playsets, I'd argue most of the articulation is superfluous and were it not for the excellent sculpted detail and top-notch face paint, Hasbro could probably have made her with 5 or 10 joints, and most fans would never notice. Some loud ones would - but the bulk of this figure is being sold to adults, who will either never open her packaging or open her, stand her on a shelf, and never so much as look at the figure again. This is no fault of the figure, she's excellent, it's just the nature of the middle-aged collector to demand every last specification imaginable and then probably not make use of any of it. The quality is as good as you can expect to get these days - she even has a blaster!

With Dedra and a lot of streaming show figures, it's kind of unfortunate that they're all collector figures and there are few reasons for any kid to pick them up with the lack of "toy" elements. The glossy boots look good, the plastic selected for the face isn't too pale, and this is a figure that will probably be remembered as one of Hasbro's many excellent executions in this line. It's just that Andor gets such a small roster of figures that I would not be shocked if most fan ignore her, or forget they bought her, just because she's not part of a greater, growing collection. (I'd say "yet" but let's be honest, we're lucky to get 3 figures a year from any movie or streaming series anymore.)

If you're a fan of the show, and you enjoy Hasbro's excellent 3 3/4-inch action figures, I doubt you'll be disappointed with her. The hair is great, the pants are right, all she needs are some similarly dressed coworkers she can probably barely tolerate and you're all set. If she hits a store near you, consider picking her up to add to your hypothetical Andor collection. And/or cross your fingers Hasbro does some Kenner-style Andor or Rogue One figures before you decide to stop buying toys.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,220: March 4, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,219: Fennec Shand (The Retro Collection)

FENNEC SHAND In all the sizes
The Retro Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. F6874 No. F8565
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Removable helmet, 785MK Firepuncher-X sniper rifle
Action Feature: n/a
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: One of the figures I was the most excited to get in The Retro Collection somehow escaped my review log. I don't know how - Fennec Shand was on my wish list way back since I heard they were doing Kenner-ized The Mandalorian figures a very long time ago. A warrior since - and probably before - The Clone Wars, she's seemingly immortal and also never changes her clothes. Truly, the Fran Lebowitz of Star Wars, with a gun.

I know there are people who don't like what Hasbro is doing with this line, and prefer a $40 fan-made figure. Well, I like a $10-$12 figure, and this one turned out pretty well. It doesn't suffer from Bespin Luke Pose-ism, with her arms sticking out a little bit - the left hand on my sample can hold the rifle very well, while the right one will sometimes drop it. Figures by Kenner-actual tended to not have longer coats, so the squared-off butt that's revealed when her legs swing forward always weirds me out a bit. But other figures had this too. It's OK, it won't hurt us. The cut in the hips is very good, so her legs can move forward enough that she can sit in one of your vehicles. Or stand in it, if it's a Slave I or equivalent Firespray-class gunship. My requirements for good figure engineering are usually "can stand," "can sit," "can use their accessories," and other than some weirdness with the right hand, she's functionally perfect.

Kenner figures from 1979-1985 usually came in two flavors. There were ones where Kenner had good source material, and ones where they fudged it. Whoever saw Chewbacca clearly had a grasp of the costume. Walrus Man took more creative liberties. Fennec is more of the former - this is a simplified (but not by much) take on her costume, which is lighter on texture but still has the major milestones. he belt, the red triangles on her coat, the red band around her hair - and also her hair. If Kenner made this figure in the 1980s, you wouldn't get the separately-molded braid. They'd just lop it off. She has her red elbow pad, and while all the matching color bands in her boots and gloves are absent, that's fine. Kenner would have (and frequently did) leave that kind of thing unpainted.

The only place the figure's head and deco comes up a little short is the head. Ming-Na Wen had a pretty intense braid thing going on top of her head, and the figure's slightly smoother details downplay this a bit. Her face is a bit lacking compared to early press renders, which had slightly darker skin with no hint of translucency, plus slightly sharper (thinner) paint for her eyes that made them seem a little more realistic. I guess the final figure almost feels truer to what Kenner may have done, but she could just stand to be slightly more opaque. And if you don't like it, Hasbro has a solution - there's a rubbery helmet. It's great. It feels just like the Boushh helmet from 1983, with a slice so she can look out of it. It's not too big, and it's not too small. I'm really impressed with it, especially since Hasbro just opted for swappable heads for The Vintage Collection version.

Even though I forgot to review her earlier, you shouldn't skip this one. This figure never showed up at Target or Walmart, may have shown up at FYE near you, and was mostly an online (and later Ross) exclusive. If you didn't enjoy the character in The Mandalorian or The Book of Boba Fett, if you don't like Kenner toys, you probably don't want this figure. But I very much like these things, so even with a few shortcomings she's still pretty much as good as anything I had from the 1970s or 1980s. For those of you who may have had real Kenner toys as a kid, there's something magical about putting her next to a Luke or a Han as part of some greater toy universe. Also she might be around five bucks if you find her at a markdown store, and she's worth at least twice that.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,219: February 27, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,218: HK-87 Assassin Droid (Arcana)

HK-87 ASSASSIN DROID (Arcana | Red and Tan)
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. E7763 No. F9792
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #330
Includes: Cloth cloak, staff
Action Feature: The cape, my friend, is blowing in the wind
Retail: $16.99
Availability: September 2024
Appearances: Ahsoka

Bio: Assassins by design, the HK-87 droids loyal to Morgan Eslbeth have served her as tireless bodyguards and enforcers. (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: The HK-87 Assassin Droid (Arcana) figure is one that you're going to want... and find wanting. It's not bad - it's a redeco of another figure I actually didn't realize I hadn't yet reviewed, though, because there's a similarly colored 6-inch one from The Mandalorian, and a Kenner-flavored one without a cape, and a Vintage one in red. Also that red one is a 6-inch figure, but I skipped that one - there's just a lot of very similar product rolling around, each of which probably doesn't quite have the pack out you want. The "Kenner" one has no cape and no staff. This one has no blaster and/or no energy bolt effects for the staff - but is decent.

This is a good figure, but it doesn't amaze - why? Hasbro keeps upping the price, and upping the ante, so anything short of perfection is going to be disappointing. The red version of this very figure included a blaster - and this one doesn't - so that's a knock against it. This droid also has only swivel wrists, which kind of makes sense, but at $16.99 we've had figures with bend-and-swivel wrists and alternate hands. For a figure who double-grips a staff, that kind of accessory is helpful - not essential, but as it is it limits how he can hold the accessory. It doesn't mean you can't get a cool pose - far from it - but you may be asking why there's a premium price and less gear over the previous release. I don't have that answer.

If you can take it for what it is, it's OK - I don't feel you get enough parts in it to be worth $16.99, but the cape hangs nicely, the staff fits in his hands, he stands well, and the articulation he does have is pretty good. The sculpting work, the colors mostly look great, there's not as much battle damage on the cardback. There's a red visor that's very subtle, but looks great. If someone just handed you this figure with no concern for price or reference photo, you'd say "Wow, this looks fantastic!" and be very happy with it. This probably sounds contradictory, but such is how it is to be a super picky fan who isn't getting their money's worth on most new releases. He's a skinny boy and looks cool, but if you're not picky about joints you may be just as pleased with the $5-$7 The Retro Collection version at Ross or other fine closeout shops near you.

Being adapted from an old 1980s concept sketch, this is a cool droid. They even put it in nice colors, and came along kind of late and is now easily had at a lower price. Two years removed from the series, the $12-ish price on some online commerce sites is hard to beat - $17 seems too pricey, and $12 seems right where it should have been in the first place. I can't help but wish Lucasfilm had a better program for Ahsoka at the series' launch. Thrawn, the Rebels cast, killer droids, witches, fancy zombie Stormtroopers, intergalactic ships, space whales, turtle people, had they just dumped a Force Friday toy drop people would probably be incredibly excited. Spoilers be damned, laying your cards out on the able invites speculation and inspires awe - everything we saw for The Phantom Menace looked pretty great in the merch lead-up! If Lucasfilm keeps it all under wraps, that's a big loss to the marketing - and education - before a show airs. But I digress. Go make yourself a cool bridge and buy a couple of droids. It's not perfect, but it will be cool if you like the look of these things, and Disney's Lucasfilm has done a pretty bang-up job with cool designs for its Mando-era shows so far.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,218: February 25, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,214: Mae (Assassin, The Vintage Collection)

MAE (Assassin)
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. E7763 No. F9790
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #327
Includes: Cloth cloak, face mask, 2 daggers
Action Feature: Backpack and holster are removable
Retail: $16.99
Availability: September 2024
Appearances: The Acolyte

Bio: Set at the end of theHigh Republic, a former Padawan reunites with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes, but the forces they confront turn out to be far more sinister and personal than anticipated. (Taken from the figure's cardback. Yes, it's the same non-bio Osha got.)

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: In many respects, it's a shame people didn't show up for The Acolyte. The story will never be finished, the figure line will likely go underserved, and fans will miss some of Hasbro's best work like this Mae (Assassin) figure. I really liked the retro Kenner one, and this one is also quite excellent. The only thing she has gong against her is that she isn't from a Star Wars that most people bothered to watch... which seems like most of them, nowadays.

Mae looks just like Osha, but different. Both are played by the same actress and Hasbro uses different plastic wigs, but similar paint. Both have glossy eyes with a lively sparkle, and shiny lips that give her a little more life than your average figure. Mae's hair is a little longer in front, plus she has an optional mask you can use to change up her look. You have to remove the black cloth around her neck - which I found tricky - by sliding it forward, and then the mask clamps over her neck without your having to decapitate her. Nice work, Hasbro, I wish there was a manual or a picture explaining this to me before I tried popping her noggin off. The mask fits well, and Hasbro did a nice job with some very tiny, fine detail in her hair. I have no snark here, Hasbro did a good job.

The costume was similarly well-executed, with sculptors and painters translating cloth and metal - with signs of wear and actual tear - to the figure's limbs quite nicely. You're getting your money's worth with this one, with so many textures and moving parts that don't seem to clash. The elbows swivel well, the wrists easily hold the tiny daggers, and despite having a lot of moving bits she stands without falling over too easily. I especially like her cloth cloak, as the hood sits on her head nicely. My one complaint with the figure was that my sample was assembled oddly, with the lower part of her robes twisted funny and it took me some doing to finagle the waist, skirt, and legs in the right position after opening the package.

My main gripe about this figure - indeed, most figures - is that The Acolyte seems to be doomed to a small figure line and we probably won't get The Stranger or the other characters from the show that would make it even more fun to collect. If Kenner only made Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewbacca in 1978 I don't think we'd be talking about toy collecting today. If you don't have any thrust behind your figure line, there's no reason to collect it. You'll be missing out, but probably also feeling good about not buying as much stuff to keep around. Hopefully Hasbro and Lucasfilm will build out bigger collections for future shows, especially as The Acolyte currently has a grand total of checks notes one 3 3/4-inch figure now.

Both Mae and Osha were packed at one per case, and their prices seem to be dipping. I assume there will be units at Ross or Ollie's this year, and I'll probably buy a second of each if the price is right because of Mae's choker and easily lost daggers. If she winds up around $3.99, it's cheaper than buying another one later and paying for shipping. Even if you didn't watch (or don't care about) The Acolyte, it's a great figure with amazing detail and is a handy way to get an Amandla Stenberg figure or two if you're a fan of her work. Also this is one of the best costumes in the Disney+ era of Star Wars, and one of Hasbro's best figures of said work. Maybe they're showing something fancier at Toy Fair in a few weeks, but this is a high bar and I don't assume it will be easily surpassed. Go get one if you see her, you're good for it.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,217: February 20, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,216: Mace Windu (The Retro Collection)

MACE WINDU Kennerized
The Retro Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: No. G0371
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, cloak, another 5 figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $59.99
Availability: November 2024
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: The Star Wars Retro Collection is 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: This The Retro Collection Mace Windu in no way bad, but something about it seemed off - and it took me a while to finally just wander over to my old figures and compare him to the 1984 Anakin Skywalker and original Obi-Wan Kenobi. They're all aspiring to be very similar things, with similar levels of detail, but they're not the same - and the reason was a mix of texture and gloss! Jedi Master Windu turned out pretty well, but there are certain things that made his other figures really memorable like whites around his eyes (none here - Lando sometimes had them) and texture on his brown robes (smooth here.) Hasbro missed some opportunities for Kenner-style whimsy and fun weird mistakes, and it's a bit smoother than I would like, but it's good. And for the price, I can't complain.

This figure - and a lot of the newly-designed figures from 2024 - show signs of some evolution. On some, you're starting to see sharper details, although many look like the sculpt was put in Photoshop, selected, expanded by one pixel, and filled. Things are just the tiniest bit softer and rounder than they need to be - but the landmarks are generally good, if a little smoother than I would have loved. The robes aren't bad, but between the shine and smoothness they seem more hard and, well, "plastic" than the slightly more textured, wrinkled, and non-reflective torsos of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker from the old days. Mace Windu's barely-visible pants seem to have nailed it - the boots are also very good. The figure's torso has a shine that seemed to mostly go away by the 1980s, so I find it the slightest bit off... but I don't think any typical modern fan is going to notice or nitpick. They did a nice job, the robes look like an old figure!

His cloth robes are pretty good, and are better than a lot of modern era cloth robes. There are no robes with sleeves and a hood in the 1980s, so this garment iterates on what we got in the 2000s - and it's better! The hood sits on his head well enough. It's not perfect, but it's pretty good - which is about how good Jedi Luke's cape was back in 1983. Hasbro did a nice job on these, and as we have no real analog, all I can say is "good job."

The purple lightsaber is very similar to the one we've been getting with most new retro figures since Bespin Luke in 1980. It's been the Darksaber, and Obi-Wan's lightsaber, and many others - and now it's purple. It looks fine! It would be interesting to see a telescoping lightsaber in this line again, but so far Hasbro has completely ditched those. I think it would have been neat to do them for any stories that take place before the 1977 movie - to keep some sort of chronological toy fiction of style - but this is probably what most fans actually want.

I find the figure's head and pose to be pretty good. A lot of humans were all over the map - some looking more like their actor than others - and this one is smack dab in the middle. Does it look like Samuel L. Jackson? Sort of - but if you told me they sculpted a stunt double, I'd believe you. Han didn't look much like Harrison Ford, so a figure that seems close enough is probably the best way to go. It doesn't have to be perfect - you just need to recognize it. His pose is good too - the arms aren't bent at the elbow very much, but they do stick out to the side a bit which seems good for his cloth robes. His posture has a slight slouch forward, most of which is in his neck, taking him a step away from the very stuff poses we got on so many of the modern figures. Also notable is that this figure - like many of these figures - has hands that are better than most original Kenner figures. Mace won't drop his lightsaber - the fingers "pinch" a bit more, and that's the kind of improvement I really love to see in The Retro Collection. If Hasbro wants to fix "original" figures too, I'm all for it. Anything that makes them stand better, sit better, or play better is welcome.

Since there's a lot of wiggle room on what it means to be a true Kenner figure, and a lot of artistic and editorial choices, I would say this one is a success. It's not how I would necessarily do it, but comparing it to other Retro-style figures not made by Kenner employees in their 70s or 80s, it looks like it belongs with Hasbro's other figures when you put them all on a shelf. I'm almost disappointed they didn't make him wrong on purpose with a 1998-style blue lightsaber like we got on that first mail-away Mace Windu figure - but again, that's the kind of nonsense I would argue to do. I like it enough to say I'd recommend him if you're collecting the line, and he's a very good figure in the set that holds up well - but not perfectly - against your actual ancient figures.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,216: February 18, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,215: Scout Trooper (Speeder Bike / Epic Hero Series)

SCOUT TROOPER Speeder Bike
Epic Hero Series Speeder Bikes
Item No.: Asst. G0363 No. G0372
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Basket, bike, blaster
Action Feature: Bike rolls on wheels, blasts apart/crash mechanism
Retail: $19.99
Availability: January 2025
Appearances: The Mandalorian   

Bio: Scout troopers were lightly armored comapred to other stormtroopers, which allowed them to move quickly and easily on speeder bikes in a range of environments. (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: One thing Epic Hero Series was short on for most of its first year were vehicles - so I'm glad we got a Speeder Bike with Scout Trooper, or Biker Scout to us old people. Like other 2025 figures, he has more articulation with increased movement on the hips, knees, elbows, and shoulders, like other competing $8 kid figures from Mattel or Spin Master. He has a blaster - but it's a Stormtrooper, not Biker Scout blaster, so that may agitate some people. It's also probably a cost-cutting move, so I'm not going to complain too much. For the asking price of $20, a pretty good $8 figure and a pretty good $12 bike seems like a decent deal - but getting him to sit just right can be tricky.

If Hasbro sold this trooper on a card by itself, I think it would be a massive hit. He's not too tall, he has just enough articulation to be interesting, and the Remnant Trooper slightly off-white deco hints at the post-Imperial lack of literal polish seen in plasteel uniform parts. The figure shows no actual mud or dirt splatters, but Hasbro still managed to evoke an aged, decaying era. That's good! The black bits look great, and everything seems pretty cleanly done. Most of the joints move well, but they're not quite as easy to move as the fancier The Vintage Collection figures. It took a few moments to get the legs posed right to stand, but since then he's stayed upright. The detail is pretty good - not like this figure has a ton of fancy greeblies - and it reminds me a lot of what the Kenner 1983 figure could have looked like as a more modern toy. I only wish it had the classic blaster pistol, rather than a Stormtrooper's blaster.

As far as bike compatibility goes, the figure isn't perfect. I wasn't able to get his feet on the pedals, his hands on the handlebars, and his butt on the seat very well. If you're willing to let the pedals go, it works pretty well and looks decent. The bike itself looks a lot like the old Kenner toys, down to the vertical handle grips, but there are some big departures. The flaps don't move - but you get wheels! You can zip it along the floor, and then the nose can hit a wall and flip the figure off the bike. It's a pretty cool mechanism, and it's a neat spin on the original toy which exploded as you press down on a pack on the back. This time around it has a big peg on the back, which presently serves no purpose. There's no part in this line which connects to it, although it does match the trooper's back hole.

The bike also has a cannon underneath, plus a cool little side basket for Grogu to sit in. (He's not included.) This makes it a real toy, and a pretty decent one - other than not sitting on the seat as the designers intended, it's good enough and fun enough for me to say I'm glad I got it. Maybe they'll revise the figure or the bike for a Return of the Jedi redeco some day, but until then I like this toy and hope kids pick it up - it's just about five years late for the episode tie-in, a blink to an adult or an eternity to the kids to whom this toy is marketed. I'm seeing a lot of these in Target right now, so you can probably easily get one. Give it a look if you see one on-shelf, because $20 for a pretty posable figure and a bike is a steal when most 3 3/4-inch figures are $17.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,215: February 13, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,214: Luke Skywalker (The Vintage Collection)

LUKE SKYWALKER (Original, 2025 Redux)
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. E7763 No. G0903
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #344
Includes: Droid caller, lightsaber, lightsaber hilt
Action Feature: Droid caller and hilt connect to belt
Retail: $16.99
Availability: January 2025
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Nineteen years after the formation of the Empire, Luke Skywalker is thrust into the struggle of the Rebel Alliance on a journey that will change the galaxy. (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: Go get this one. Un-retire from collecting, and go get one now.

I've noticed I've been considerably more grumpy, mostly because a lot of Star Wars action figures are getting further away from the original movies, or the original characters, or an ability to function as a toy. I like Retro because they play nicely... and Epic Hero Series for pretty much the same reason. I don't mind good upgrades of original figures, especially when they're like this Luke Skywalker and make good on a ton of necessary changes. For starters, the boots are probably correct - publicity photos show tan wraps, but they seem lighter in shots from the film. The removable droid caller is awesome. The head sculpt is a big improvement. Also, the last "farmboy" Luke figure was sold in a hard-to-find gift set back in 2009. There was a "Death Star Escape" version in 2011, but those wanting a plain white Luke from the original movie haven't had one in 14 years. That's preposterously long for the main outfit of the main character in the main movie.

If I have to knock this figure about anything, it's only one part - and I don't know that technology or materials would let it be better. Let's start with the "skirt." It's the right size, it fits well, the color matches the torso and arms - that's good! The holes are perfect fits for the lightsaber and droid caller. You can't beat that! Standing around on a shelf or in-pack, it is beyond improving. It is perfect. It is great - for a collector figure. If you're going to display this in a diorama, standing, this is it. If you're going to have him sit, it's not so good - it's a little thick so it looks right, and while it bends, it doesn't bend much or well. It gets in the way of the legs swinging forward a bit, so it might be a struggle to get him in one of your old Landspeeders. This has been true for pretty much every Luke since about 1998 - the 1978 and 1995 ones have squared-off joints so they just swing and sit, no fuss no muss. It is a fight to get Luke's hips bent 90 degrees with this in the way. Also, the texture and wrinkles are very good - but there are some horizontal lines in back, and I can't help but wonder if they're artifacts from a 3D print. Probably not! But that's where my head goes these days.

That is where my complaints stop. Vehicle functionality aside, this is a good figure with good articulation. The limbs can assume a variety of poses without sticking out oddly. That's good! His wrists can bend and swivel, his ankles rock, the knees are mostly hidden in the pants folds, and the white material is some of the best we've seen. His neck appears to be a separately molded neck piece - that has got to cost a bit more - with a separately molded wig. The eyes and lips are glossy and painted very nicely, with tiny details added to the belt. It's a new high bar for the character, and short of wild new manufacturing techniques I doubt we'll see any real improvements for years to come. Things like a thinner, durable material so the shirt can bend and maybe hide the arm joints would be amazing - but unlikely. Hasbro experimented with cloth in 2004 and it was a great idea, but it doesn't look quite as good as a plastic figure. And none of those other figures have a shirt that looks as good as this one.

I had no real problems getting this figure to stand, or to assume a few good poses. Hasbro did a nice job of incorporating modern articulation like the ball-and-socket hips, thigh swivels, and a more or less typical waist joint.

His accessories are pretty great. The hilt looks good on both lightsabers... perhaps not perfect, but scaled down to a better size with painted details that look proper. The hilt-only saber fits in the peg hole perfectly, almost looking like it's part of the figure's sculpt. The same is true for the tiny grain-of-rice sized droid caller. Once connected, it looks like it belongs on the figure. That's hard to beat. The lightsaber is similarly good with its blue blade, which is kind of the most old-fashioned thing about the figure. This was innovative back in 1995, and by now I was wondering if we'd find some new technique with a clear white core somehow - it's probably very difficult to accomplish, but I assume someone, somewhere, is figuring out how to hollow out the thin blade and paint the interior white or something. Maybe not. For now it looks great, and I doubt it would get any better in the next 5-10 years.

I wouldn't say anything is missing... but there are things I'd like to see. We've never had a Farmboy Luke packed with the Jedi Training Remote, and that would be nice to see. We also haven't had Luke include a blast shield helmet in quite some time. Were Hasbro to re-reissue this figure with alternate gear, I wouldn't mind seeing those. Or a poncho. Or macrobinoculars. And the floppy hat. Again, if they were so inclined to do it. (Watch, it's the SDCC exclusive or something.)

Right now I'd say the big problem for this figure will be availability. I assume Hasbro didn't make a lot of it, and it's the kind of thing that will probably sell well in stores to fan-types who aren't extremely online collectors. I hope you got yours - it's a figure that shows massive improvements in sculpting and articulation, and for now it's definitive. Maybe Hasbro can make a better one - with slightly more feathery hair or a slightly-open mouth - but aside from that? This is as good as this kind of figure is likely to get for a while. Go get it, and/or start asking Hasbro to reissue it. This is a figure upgrade that's so good that lapsed collectors should come back just to pick this one up. It's worth the asking price, as long as you're not buying it as an actual toy to play with.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,214: February 11, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,210: Mae (Assassin, The Retro Collection)

MAE (ASSASSIN)
The Retro Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: No. G0386
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Vinyl cape, 2 knives, another 5 figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $59.99
Availability: October 2024
Appearances: The Acolyte

Bio: The Star Wars Retro Collection is 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: A ninja! Well, more or less - for whatever reason we haven't had a lot of figures that make me say that we're dealing with the arts of ninjutsu, or at least its American pop culture ideal, in Star Wars. Mae (Assassin) does a pretty good job of taking a good costume and giving us a compelling figure. Osha [FOTD #3,191] looks great, but Mae - despite being a twin - share zero parts. I assume Hasbro broke some law of toy manufacturing to bring us this much variety. She has two new knives, a vinyl cape, and a lot of sculpted detail.

Mae's hair is secretly amazing. Because of the vinyl cape, her separately molded plastic wig looks like it's the same as Osha. If you slide the cape off, you'll see it's actually a very long piece. The vinyl cape also obfuscates all of Hasbro's hard work sculpting what may be one of the most fascinating costumes in recent Retro memory. She has chain mail under her top, as well as extra armor over her chest for bonus protection. Is it any good against a lightsaber? We'll never know. Her boots are shiny but don't look like there's much going on - but she has enough belts, wristbands, and cloth elements draped over her person to make up for it. There's a mask covering her face, and from behind (sans cape) there are lots of sculpted cloth bits, hair, and other bits and pieces.

New Retro figures tend to eschew inner-leg detail on "gown pants." Most new figures are just flat - but Mae has some exposed pants inside her right leg. I appreciate the extra unnecessary detail because this sort of thing adds cost to a figure, but somehow, did not cause the price of the set to exceed the very fair $60.

Her accessories are good, but not amazing. I wish Hasbro went with a cloth cloak rather than the vinyl cape, but at least the vinyl cape slides off so you can see the fantastic costume. Mine came pre-wrinkled, and I'm a little scared to heat it with a hair dryer or hot water because I haven't tested this material under those conditions. (I should have bought a spare Reva or Grand Inquisitor as a guinea pig.) The stock photos of the vinyl cape look amazing, but the reality is that it feels about as good as any old Kenner plastic accessory. It's thin, it's fine. Her two swords also look good, and both hands can grip without dropping them. In short, Hasbro executed this figure almost to the very best of their ability. The only way I think Hasbro can improve this figure - and indeed future figures - is to get rid of the inner "tray" in the packaging as it seems to distort the vinyl capes and wrinkle them. I haven't seen this happen to actual 1978-1985 Kenner figures - these trays are a menace. Still, even without the cape, this is one of the very best of these figures. I didn't expect to love it - sure it looked cool, but I was continuously impressed the more I looked at her. It's a shame she won't have more stories, but I guess that means I can have her show up pretty much anywhere my toy box can travel.

This is a good figure. Even if you threw your arms up at the show, this is one of those toys I wish I had as a child. Maybe it wouldn't be everybody's favorite, but who wouldn't have wanted a cool Star Wars assassin with all of this detail? The costume is as good as anything we saw out of Jabba's entourage, and it has more textures and materials than just about anything else we got out of Retro in the past few years. I'm not going to recommend this figure to you if you're not on board with The Retro Collection, but I'm going to suggest you pick this set up if Kenner is your jam. She's not a cool alien, that's true - but as human costumes go this may be the best to hit this format. I know you're not going to listen to me, but don't skip this set. Despite it being 50% Jedi, it's still really good.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,213: February 6, 2025

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,212: The Mandalorian (Speeder Bike / Epic Hero Series)

THE MANDALORIAN Biker
Epic Hero Series Speeder Bikes
Item No.: Asst. G0363 No. G0372
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Darksaber, rocket, launcher, bike
Action Feature: Bike rolls on wheels, removable launcher, launching rocket
Retail: $19.99
Availability: January 2025
Appearances: The Mandalorian   

Bio: The Mandalorian traversed Tatooine on a speeder bike, a vehicle capable of high-speed travel that requires skill and fast reflexes. (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: When Epic Hero Series became a thing, Marvel's figures had ball-jointed shoulders, knees, elbows, and hip joints. Star Wars had a ball-jointed neck and swivel arms and legs - until now! The biker assortment features greater articulation at the shoulders, elbows, knees, and hips, making this The Mandalorian the best in class for this particular line. This level of articulation has been the norm for Mattel Jurassic World humans and Spin Master's various Batman and DC Comicss lines, and they seem to do pretty well. If Hasbro made a "one size fits all" line with about this level of articulation, I think it would be pretty good - I dare say, good enough - if it meant getting more new characters in the line. If we could live in a world with Gunter or The Stranger or maybe a new Cantina patron with knees and elbows, I think we'd all be a lot happier than not getting them in the $16.99 assortments. As a figure, he's great. He looks well, he poses nicely, the separately molded belt and bandolier stand out a bit more, but mostly it's nice to have a tiny bit more articulation on a toy figure made to be a bike rider. His cape and Darksaber are similar to the other releases, so the main reason to buy this figure is, well, the figure. And the bike. The figure sculpting is nice and crisp, but on a shelf it's going to look pretty similar to the ones you purchased last year.

The bike is pretty neat - but the interaction isn't fantastic. I love what Hasbro did with the vehicle. Clear wheels? Great idea. Removable firing rocket launcher with multiple mounting points? No notes. Great idea. A big peg on the back which serves no obvious purpose? Uh... I'll get back to you there. Presumably a future toy will interact with it, but right now the backpack hole fits. I assume that was not the intent, because why would you have a guy flailing back there? ...maybe I just answered my own question, having Mando drag a guy around might be fun. The rocket fires well, the colors and paint are good, the designers did a good job making a fun toy.

However, there's a problem. Mando is a good figure. The bike is a good bike. Mando is not good at sitting on the bike. I think if Hasbro dropped the foot pedals, this would be a better piece. The 1983 Speeder Bike cheated - you just put the Biker Scout's butt on the seat, hands on the handlebars, and that was it. It worked, it was fast, it was fun. This one requires massaging all the joints just-so to get the butt kind of close to the seat, with hands on the handlebars, and the feet will probably eventually pop off the foot pegs. It just doesn't work as intended - I'm not sure if it wasn't tested with physical product, or if the joints just aren't quite what the prototypes were, or what. The cape gets in the way, too, and there's no on-board weapon storage. If you are happy with 3 parts of his body touching the bike, it gets the job done - but it looks like they were struggling to pull it off in the packaging photos, so what chance do I have?

I'd recommend either element - the figure, or the vehicle - on its own merits, but together they don't hang as well as I would like. A figure that can't fit in the seat, or use the clearly provided foot pegs on the pedals properly, would be the kind of thing that annoyed me to no end as a kid. So if it bothers you, maybe skip this one. If you can settle for a hovering foot or butt or maybe only have one hand on the handlebars, I'd say it's good enough to give a try and I hope there are other vehicles in the works that may not require such a specific seating position tolerance.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,212: February 4, 2025