Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,318: The Stranger (Qimir, The Vintage Collection)

THE STRANGER (Qimir)
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. G2611 No. G2786
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #382
Includes: Two lightsabers, hilt, helmet, cloak
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: January 2026
Appearances: The Acolyte

Bio: Adopting the alias Qimir, the Stranger acts as a shiftless drifter. Little is known of this dark sider who trains Mae Aniseya in secret, hiding his face from his pupil. (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 eBay now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: One of the few figures I wanted after seeing The Acolyte was The Stranger (Qimir), who makes a pretty strong case for "hey maybe release some figures before the show starts." Is it a spoiler? Sure. Does it matter? No, it's so cool that seeing a figure like this might make you go "I want to watch the show now and I want to know more." The Acolyte was loaded up with considerable talent in front of and behind the camera, and decided to shoot itself in the foot. There were some great things in this show. There were some terrible aging make-up effects, and all it took was for one song so uncool that I found pretty much any discussion of the show's positives could be unraveled simply with the phrase "the power of many." For a show jam-packed with neato stuff, that's a real shame.

Manny Jacinto got to strut around nude - a first in Star Wars - denying me the part I was clearly born to play. But he did so with aplomb, getting to play an a-grade weirdo and a pretty compelling baddie with some great costumes and lack thereof. Like so many things in the recent saga, it's a shame that developments seem to conspire to keep him from coming back. Why? Because this is a great figure with a wonderful costume. He's got huge pants, a great shirt, and some of Hasbro's better bare arms. The brace on his left arm do a good job keeping him from having wrist cankles, but the right arm is a little bulky around the wrist. The range of motion is good, but it doesn't seem quite as muscular as the arms appeared on-screen. Can't win 'em all, I s'pose, you wouldn't want to accuse him of being some sort of master of the universe. The hands have no problems holding the lightasbers, and I've found the giant pants to be very good at helping him be posed in a stable way. I really like how Hasbro translated the design to a plastic man.

The head is top-notch, with a separately molded wig on a face that looks pretty great. That modern printing keeps getting better, and the simple deco on this figure is hard to ruin. Hasbro nailed the sculpted figure. The lightsabers are all decent, but you can't connect them in any way. The hilt fits like a glove in a socket on the belt, making this a figure with tons of good features that just plain work. Normally I'm fighting the pose or the lightsabers, but here? Everything is smooth. I love it.

To make things even more interesting, we get a cloth cloak and a plastic helmet. The helmet is another one of the great props, probably one of the highlights of the Disney era. It's gleefully creepy with a toothlike mouth and no eyes on a worn metal dome. I suppose the implication with all of the wear and tear is that this is a man who's been hit on the head a few times, which is more comical than cool, but it looks awesome enough that you might not think about that. I think it turned out great.

I don't love the cloak - as with other figures, I'm thinking we're hitting the limits of what cloth can do. It doesn't have a lot of weight to it, so it looks sort of like what the barber swings around you when it's time to get a haircut. The plastic one in The Black Series looks nicer, and I think I'd rather have something like that here. The material is good, but it just doesn't feel right for this particular figure. There are two layers of cloth and if I had this figure in my hand before I saw the show, I'd just say it looked like an awesome figure.

Loud, proud fans of The Acolyte are few but I think it's worth seeing the show. It's not my favorite series, but there's a lot in there that shows winning imagination and great work on the part of the writers and designers. Also, some of the most embarrassing stuff. The bulk of the non-Jedi costuming is all amazing, with unique armor and clothing to delight and frustrate. Maybe they'll find a place to reuse this stuff, as the Stranger's helmet seems like something that has had other owners and could be passed down. But I digress - this is the best The Acolyte figure, and it'll look awesome in other displays too. The pre-prequel show won't ever have a big collection of toys, so I'd still recommend picking up a few to put in other scenes or to just enjoy as a neat action figure. This review is way more positive than I was expecting, mostly because I was assuming I'd find fault with the deco, articulation, or five accessories. Even at $19.99, this is a figure that feels like it's better at pulling its weight. Bravo.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,318: February 10, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,317: Anakin Skywalker (Jedi Spirits, The Vintage Collection)

ANAKIN SKYWALKER (Jedi Spirits)
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Hasbro Pulse Exclusive Special Action Figure Set
Item No.: No. G1395
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Three figures, one cane
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $57.99
Availability: November 2025
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: As Luke Skywalker and his friends celebrate the overthrowing of the Galactic Empire, he sees the Force spirits of Anakin Skywalker, Yoda, and Obi-Wan Kenobi looking on. (Taken from the packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: If there's a short list of figures I never expected to see again, it would be something like this Anakin Skywalker (Jedi Spirit) thanks to its alternate head. If I were Hasbro, I'd have sold one Sebastian Shaw figure, and one Hayden Christensen figure, but not a double-header. The sculpts are excellent. The deco is good. The soft goods are also present.

The body seems to be a mix of new and old parts. I noticed right away that the boots looked like The Journey of Anakin Skywalker's "Darth Vader" [FOTD #3,285], and the legs seem to match as well. They're cast in clear blue. The left hand seems similar to that figure, but I am not able to easily remove it to check. It isn't obvious to me that the arms are shared, and the torso is unique as it has a pull-out chest attached to head. I think that's a brand-new feature with this figure.

The quality of work is, as always, very good. There are a lot of joints and textures sculpted on the figure, and the Sebastian Shaw head's gray hair looks great his distinctive smile. Unfortunately the deco left off the pronounced eyebrows, which really stand out on the original movie scene and the ultra-rare carded figure packaging. It's a good head, it's shiny, and it looks like him - but it could look more like him.

The Hayden Christensen head is really good. The messy hair is just perfect, and a little darker than the aforementioned Darth Vader. It's not the same sculpt either - it's a little more lively. The face looks great with a slight smirk that feels like he's thinking "Thanks, kid" with a perfect scar and eyes. It's really good. I was trying to pop it off to swap with the Vader figure, but it was not easy to do - and I don't want to break it. As such, I'll just say Hasbro could sell me a Revenge of the Sith Anakin with this head for twenty bucks and I'd pay it. Each head has a slightly different robe "plug" that easily fits in a cavity in the figure's chest. I really admire the sculpting work done here.

I don't like the blue robes. While it does evoke a bit of that magical shimmering light that exists only in movie magic, there's one problem: you can see through it. In the movie, you can't. This may have been the only solution Hasbro had with this figure format, but that's the problem: not every figure should be in The Vintage Collection. This figure would benefit greatly from being a "salt shaker figure," because the lower robes hinder all articulation and he's likely to face-plant with his ankles. In the movie, he only looks around and moves his head - Hasbro could've sold us 3 mostly-statues for $45 or $50 and as long as they were clear with robes molded to them you'd hear no complaints from me. I realize this is ridiculous nerdery, but your clothes don't turn partially invisible when you're a ghost. At least, as far as I know, all I've seen is the movies. It's not like vengeful spirits in horror movies are accidentally flashing libidinous teens at summer camp.

I realize the power of The Vintage Collection to move (higher priced) product, but this figure - and this set - would be better off as low-articulation figures. Even at the same price, mini-statues would be a better solution to delivering action figures with some hard-to-represent characteristics. I would also have been fine with a slightly less sheer cloth robe, but let's be honest: I'm a nutty collector. Any collector that insists Ghost Anakin needs bend-and-swivel wrists, or elbows, or knees is nuttier than I am. I would want any Jedi with a lightsaber to have joints for fun poses.

We have had a few Sebastian Shaw figures (1984, 1998, 1999) and all of which have their pros and cons - but this one might be the best overall execution of the concept so far. But I'm not happy with it - I hope Hasbro tries again, and understands that fans will most likely be very accepting of swapping a few joints for a better-looking figure. No kid is going to play with Spirit Anakin, no ship needs him as a pilot. Statue it up, and I'll throw down another $20. But please, keep the alternate heads, and these head sculpts. They're very good. (Plus or minus some eyebrows.)

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse. Hasbro had a Pulse Premium exclusive window on this set for about a month, in which it did not sell out, nor did it sell out in subsequent months.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,317: February 5, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,316: Mandalorian Shriek-Hawk (Brown Chest Armor/No Rangefinder, The Vintage Collection)

MANDALORIAN SHRIEK-HAWK Brown Chest Armor, No Rangefinder
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Amazon Exclusive Special Action Figure Set
Item No.: No. G0265
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Four figures, four jet packs, four knives, five blasters
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $64.99
Availability: October 2024
Appearances: The Mandalorian

Bio: The Shriek-Hawks are a team of Mandalorian specialists skilled in jetpack operations as well as scouting and rescue missions. (Taken from the packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: I had this Mandalorian Shriek-Hawk for over a year before opening the set - there's a lot of toy action to absorb! Each figure has individually customized armor and stands out as an individual, but none of them have names or individual packaging. It's one big set, which is kind of a neat throwback to the Kenner era when you got names like "Rancor Keeper" or "A-Wing Fighter Pilot" because nobody wanted to dig deeper. Four figures share this name, and this is the one on the far right of the boxed set.

This figure has brown chest armor, a green left shoulder, a yellowish right shoulder, and Kenner-ish red and gold-ish gauntlets. The arms and legs share elements with Axe Woves and Mando, the chest armor seems to be unique, the helmet is unique, and the belt and codpiece are also unique. The helmet has a unique cracked - but articulated - rangefinder, which makes this guy stand out. Since all of the figures in this set have blue helmets and generally brown and gray bodies, it feels like a group but not a terribly cohesive one. And since there aren't a ton of clear images (or names) to easily compare costumes to figure, I'll leave it at "this is good enough for now." It might be old age, but it certainly feels like I'm at a point in my life where I can say "close enough, let's move on to something new next."

This figure has a distinctive holster, plus a vibro-blade... or kinfe... or whatever it is. The set on has one big rifle to share among them, which is a shame. It's a neat figure, but not one that stood out or one that was featured in a book or trading card or anything I've come across to make me bounce up and down, point, and demand it.

Hasbro probably got to this as quickly as possible, and that was a solid 18 months after they appeared on TV. It's an afterthought of a set. That's a bad choice - these figures aren't a spoiler, and they probably would have made people more excited for the show (and toys) had they been released before we knew they weren't anything super duper special. Imagination is worth a lot, and giving fans something to dream about is a lot more exciting and engaging than giving fans confirmed nobodies down the road.

See also, locking up the Rey/Luke story between The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. It's more rewarding for all parties to do something like a Sneak Preview wave, because - honestly - anybody that sees the bulk of figures and go "you ruined the show" needs to be bonked upside the head. Sure, a presumed-dead guy coming back is a spoiler. Yes, a decapitated figure or maybe even a disguised figure could be something that ruins the fun. But after 10 years of Disney-era Star Wars in live action, I don't think a single toy would tell me something that would in any way alter my enjoyment of the movie or TV show. Quite the opposite - getting to gawk over and speculate about a costume provides much more when it comes to anticipating the show, plus I'll even keep an eye out for it on-screen. Hopefully Hasbro and Lucasfilm can get more things like this out prior to airdate, because they'll only enrich the fan experience. The "no spoilers, I don't even want to see a trailer" crew can't be reasoned with nor should anyone try. They're lost. Make money off the rest of us. But I digress.

The figure's boots look great, the armor is nicely dented, and the armor is incredibly clean. There aren't any real signs of wear in the deco, and since we never really dwell on it, it looks fine. It'll be great in that diorama you won't build, because there's no actual shriek-hawks to herd or spires to climb, or cities to fly around in. A figure without vehicles, or playsets, or other toys to interact with can still look amazing, but I'd say it may never be fun. He can stand, he can hold his gear, and he looks incredibly distinctive. I love the glossy visor! But other than hanging out by the Armorer's Forge, I can't do much else with him. If you don't have thousands of figures, this is a good set and Amazon marked it down - it's great for the price. If you've got too much stuff, well.... this won't help that.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Amazon.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,316: February 3, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,315: IG-11 (Speeder Bike / Epic World of Action)

IG-11 & Grogu with Speeder Bike
Epic World of Action Amazon Exclusive
Item No.: No. G1422
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Red blaster, gray rifle, red rocket, clear gray rocket launcher, brown basket, IG-11 figure, Grogu figure, multi-piece speeder bike
Action Feature: Bag connects to figure and vehicle, rocket launcher fires and connects to bike, bike explodes
Retail: $19.99-$21.99
Availability: July 2025
Appearances: The Mandalorian

Bio: After his reprogramming, IG-11 tracked down Grogu and rescued him from Scout Troopers on a Speeder Bike. (Taken from the packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: Timing is everything. This awesome IG-11 & Grogu with Speeder Bike set came out in August 2025. Their debut on The Mandalorian with this vehicle was December 27, 2019. To put that in perspective, it would be like if Kenner put out Ewok figures in 1989, when the line had been dead for four years. Could you imagine something awesome being on TV when you were in kindergarten, and then the toy didn't come out until you were almost done with the sixth grade? It's a shame this couldn't have been out for season two. Or three. But I'd say all of Epic World of Action and Epic Hero Series was a spectacular line defeated by some pretty horrible timing.

At least the toy is good.

While The Vintage Collection had an IG-12 with Grogu and an Anzellan for $25, Epic World of Action did a trade-off where $20-$22 (or under $10) could get you a whole Speeder Bike with Grogu and IG-11. Each item has its advantages, but a vehicle with a wheel for $20 and two figures strikes me as a really good deal. I feel like a jerk getting it on sale, but Amazon has had a proclivity to mark down their Hasbro exclusives in recent years and I hate overpaying for everything.

Grogu is more or less the same figure with the hover pram or the N-1 starfighter. He has glossy, painted fur trim around his collar and sleeves. Otherwise, he's the same basic figure you've already purchased. This makes him just different enough to make you mad. He is articulated at the neck and shoulders.

IG-11 is a whole new animal with an all-new mold, but like many of the Disney-era toys it appears to be derived from the same basic sculpt we got with other IG-11 toys. The fingers look a lot like The Vintage Collection claws, and it's sadly missing the bandolier vest piece. This feels like a notable absence, and I'd have traded the blasters or rocket launcher for it. Maybe kids wouldn't. The detail is quite good, and he has exceptional articulation for an Epic kiddo figure. Check out actual ball jointed shoulders, bend-and-swivel elbows, ball-jointed hips, and bend-and-swivel knees. If Hasbro gave us this level of articulation on a lower-priced The Vintage Collection figure, I would be pretty happy. The red shoulders look great, and the metallic coloring is good. The hands easily grip the pistols or bike handlebars. Hasbro did a real nice job here, minus the lack of ammo belt vest.

IGgy has no problems sitting on the bike with his feet on the pedals and his hands on the bars. His butt may hover slightly, but it works. You can plug the bag on the roll behind the seat, or on the side of the bike. The clear gray rocket launcher also plugs into the side. This bike has added "battle damage" detail too, making it visually different from the other releases thus far.

Compared to the 1996 $9.99 Power of the Force POTF2 Speeder Bike, this is an amazing toy. Adjusted for inflation, it's priced comparably with a second figure and more action features baked in the bike. You don't have the easily lost flaps or jointed legs, but I kind of prefer the rolling wheels and bumper car action. I would actually recommend the entire line to figure fans as it's not very big and shows what Hasbro can do with toys when they set their brand plan to it, and you know what? I'd like more of this sort of thing. I don't believe Hasbro will give it to us, but it just proves they're still very good at making actual toys when they are allowed.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Amazon on sale for $6.25 around Black Friday. After Christmas it was under $9.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,315: January 29, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,314: Sandtrooper (Stormtroopers of the Empire, The Vintage Collection)

SANDTROOPER Re-revised
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Stormtroopers of the Empire Set
Item No.: No. G1281
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blasters x 3
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $49.99
Availability: September 2025
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Stormtroopers specialize in operations across the galaxy, from desert worlds to arctic conditions. Scout troopers patrol for the Empire with speeder bikes. (Taken from packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: As we eye a whopping, exhausting, confusing sixth decade of these action figures I have to wonder what's important. Is it fidelity to the films? Is it more important to deliver what we think we saw? Or is it better to make the best-possible toy? I'm sure some of you are going "yes, everything" and you're part of the problem as we look at this swell Sandtrooper figure from a 3-pack last year. I think it delivers the quintessential ideal of a Sandtrooper, with options. That's good!

In recent years we've seen licensees get more access to some archival materials, resulting in discoveries like some troopers having green lenses. This figure has black ones. What should it be? If you ask me, black is good because that is what people seem to remember seeing on-screen and with their other toys. I don't mind the idea of a variant or chase version, but after five decades I'm not necessarily interested in throwing out my old toys in the name of fidelity to the source material. And it feels about right - as far as I can tell Hasbro opted to make a specific splotched, orange-pauldron'd extra from StarWars.com. Hasbro's is a little less dirty, with lighter dirt on the figure that may look a little closer to the scenery. The helmet doesn't seem to be an exact match, which seems to be a thing Internet toy reviewers are expected to notice and be livid about, but it's close. The black band over the eyes is lower, like the photo. The mouth is more or less what you see.

The configuration is close. You'll notice there's an ammo pouch over the shoulder of the costume, but it was moved to the pauldron for the figure. It's close enough. The backpack is unique in that it uses shoulder straps rather than a peg to connect to the figure. I also need to note that the belt does not match exactly, as the black pouches from the movie are not replicated on the figure. I'm not dumping on Hasbro for this, they're modifying an existing trooper to do double-duty here and did a good job making something that gets the job done. With the abundant articulation and labor to build the figure, plus higher price points, you can't have everything - and I'm starting to wonder if I'd be OK with a slight reduction in articulation if it meant a bigger budget for more new tooling and deco. What would you rather have - a new belt, or rocker ankles and thigh swivels? Maybe there's a compromise to be had someday. If Hasbro made several troopers in various poses, I think I could live without them all needing to be super-articulated $20 (or higher) releases.

The backpack has good decoration with lots of painted bits. Hasbro did a great job matching the detail and painting the various white and gray bits, so I don't have much to complain about there. This would be a great figure to use for your "move along" scene dioramas, or any old desert dwelling scenario. I have many Sandtroopers and I would say this is one of Hasbro's very best - if you are so inclined, go get a set or three. Sure it's basically a tricked-out Stormtrooper with a unique belly region, but that's the best overall figure that we have right now. It's not perfect, but we know that he'll be back some day, because Hasbro will be revising these figures 'til I'm old and gray.

But how about blasters? We have a rifle with no paint. We have a grenade launcher with a painted strap. We also have a classic Stormtrooper blaster with a silver highlight. It's a pity and kind of a waste to give us army-building options in a set that is vaguely conducive to buying multiples. I can't speak for y'alls, but I don't need a ton of Scout Troopers or Snowtrooper Officers - but Sandtroopers? I could use more Sandtroopers. Anyway, it's a good three-pack.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse, it was later sold at Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,314: January 27, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,313 Luke Skywalker (Force Masters / Epic World of Action)

LUKE SKYWALKER Force Masters Pack
Epic World of Action Target Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. G0363 No. G0778
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Green lightsaber, 4 other figures with accessories
Action Feature: n/s
Retail: $34.99
Availability: July 2025
Appearances: Return of the Jedi, or really The Book of Boba Fett

Bio: Jedi Masters take on Sith Lord Darth Vader in this 5-pack of Star Wars action figures inspired by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker, Force Ghost Yoda, Ahsoka Tano, and Darth Vader. (Taken from the Target's web site. Package 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: It would be hyperbolic to call this Luke Skywalker the worst figure in the line, but it's probably the least interesting in the set. The worst one of all time was a Target exclusive from a multipack - check out Luke Skywalker (Battle at the Sarlacc Pit) [FOTD #1,508] from 2008 if you want to see what really cheaping out looks like.

This figure is a slight tweak of 2024 Epic Hero Series Luke Skywalker [FOTD #3,142]. That was a perfectly good figure for what it was, and for what it cost. The quality of the figure is still quite good for an under-$10 5-jointed toy-style action figure that feels like a modern take on what Kenner might have done. It has one gloved hand and is light on paint, other than the surprisingly good face, belt buckle, hand, and now green lightning. Does the green lightning make sense? No. Did Batman having a neon green Deep Dive suit? Also, no. But sometimes you get a redeco to grab kids and make another sale on your tooling investment, and that's what we get here. The figure itself is fine, but no longer has the Grogu backpack. I think that's a mistake - but probably one that kept the set's price down. Since Grogu has been in and out of circulation with other toys, having the backpack might be handy for any kid who actually go into this line. (As far as I can tell, that sort of thing didn't happen and I blame the line's slow roll and wide focus.)

What makes this figure interesting? Green. The green lightsaber is indeed a Luke/Anakin saber, but it's the wrong hilt. It's a weird error in 2025, as Hasbro has been better about getting it right and/or just using Obi-Wan's hilt because it would be close enough to work in this case. This is the only green "Power the Force" lightsaber with all the crackles and bolts. It looks neat. Luke's wrists also have a very small amount of green lightning on them, which I assume fans will see as out of character (they're right) while the toy nerds will see it as too slight and barely visible to be worth the pennies for paint (they are also right.) I like it because it's a weird flex and an intentional design choice, which we almost never see in Star Wars toys. Once in a while we get to see someone make something up, but that's increasingly rare - style comes from the style guide, which comes from Disney, and is not always exciting.

I wouldn't recommend getting the set just for this figure, but the whole set would be a nice gift for a kid that likes Jedi (and Sith.) Luke and Ahsoka are the least changed in the set, but the lightsaber makes him look distinctive enough that I'm not complaining. That is, not complaining for sale prices. If you're in the future and this set is $50 or $60 you might be complaining, but today it's $35 or less. It's worth it for $35 or less, and I really like this series as a product not focused on the increasingly overblown "premium collector experience." It's a toy, not something trying to impress jaded aging people who are trying to walk the line between recapturing their youth and their jaded sense of fun, with the added bonus that some people still seem a little ashamed to be buying toys. Which I find hillarous, because unless you're a hardcore toy collector all little plastic men are viewed as kiddie fare. $8, $80, $400, it's still a doll to the normies out there so buy whatever makes you happy.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Target on sale for $24.49. Presumably it'll be on sale again soon if it's not already.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,313: January 22, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,312: R7-A7 (The Vintage Collection)

R7-A7 Version 3.0
The Vintage Collection Amazon Exclusive 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: No. G0266
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #322
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: Pops apart
Retail: $69.99
Availability: May 2024
Appearances: Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Bio: After Ahsoka Tano left the Jedi Order, her trusty astromech droid A7-A7 stayed by her side to combat the force of the Galactic Empire.(Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: I took a long time to open this R7-A7 droid figure because I already had a cartoon version [FOTD #1,509]. Also, Disney did a bin version [FOTD #2,163] that was slightly more saturated than this one, but fundamentally the same basic design. It's good Hasbro made a version easier for fans to buy, but also, it's kind of exhausting to go back in the stacks and realize how many of the more-or-less same figure you've got at home. Disney's sculpt is very, very similar to Hasbro's.

And of course, Hasbro made one that is slightly better.

They share a similar build with pop-off legs, a pull-out middle leg, and a dome you can remove. Hasbro's has sharper detailing, with a gray area under the dome and the oh-so-important wiring on the feet. Disney typically leaves those off, and Hasbro never does. Is it worth the upcharge? Maybe. But since it's on clearance now, Hasbro's is clearly the way to go. The green isn't quite as bright, but it's good. There's also no "hat hole" on the top of Hasbro's dome, leaving us an overall better-looking figure.

Disney's droid has blue lights that tend to color outside the lines, and appear brighter and bolder. Hasbro's color inside the lines. I like Disney's light treatment a little better, but when you get down to it they're both very similar figures. I'd highly recommend this set at current cheap prices. Under $40, this is a great set, even with the duplicates. Is it essential? Not really. Will I care about the live-action interpretations of select The Clone Wars guys in ten years? Probably not. But if you need a fix, this is a nice set and one that - as a set - probably wasn't helped by it being 50% "just different enough to make you mad." It's ultimately unsatisfying to leave collectors going "Don't I already have this?"

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Amazon. Late in 2025, this set showed up at TJ Maxx and Marshall's for about $19.99, so we can all feel like we should have waited.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,312: January 20, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,311: Clone Captain Rex (Force Mech Suit / Epic World of Action)

CLONE CAPTAIN REX Force Mech Suit
Epic World of Action Amazon Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. G0363 No. G1418
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 1 Mech, 2 big blasters, 2 small blasters, big and small removable pauldrons
Action Feature: n/s
Retail: $21.99
Availability: July 2025
Appearances: The Clone Wars, probably

Bio: Gear up for battle! Open the Star Wars mech suit at the feet and place the Clone Captain Rex action figure inside. (Taken from the Amazon's web site. Package has no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: If you bought Deep Dive Batman and though "Ha ha this is goofy I love it," this carries on Kenner's proud tradition of doing things that are silly fun. Some of you will love Clone Captain Rex with Mech Force Suit, and some of you will hate it. The reasons are going to be the same - it's basically the same as the single-carded Epic Hero Series Rex [FOTD #3,290] from a few months ago, with added paint and accessories. The $8 Clone figure was augmented in this $20 boxed set. They're good for different reasons, but I would probably steer you to the mech set just because it's more fun.

Rex himself is the same figure, with the same generous-for-a-kid-line articulation. You don't get a waist, or ankles, or wrists, but you do get a good range of movement everywhere else. The rangefinder does not move, but the pauldron (and head) are removable. He has holsters for blasters, but only one will fit due to the blast effect on his clear blue blasters. The toy designers did a good job here - but all versions of the figure were not exactly impulse-buy-in-a-store products, so its success is determined by the marketing Hasbro isn't doing. To my knowledge these weren't shown on a fan stream or in any hype event, so you're pretty much relying on people like me to tell you about these and I'm late because Amazon keeps marking down things, and I hate feeling bad about paying full price. I also would not be surprised if it got Ross'd in the next two years. Regular Anakin showed up at Ross within weeks of showing up at Target last year.

What makes this Rex unique? He has some tech circuity stuff on his chest on one side. Had Hasbro left it off, you'd never miss it - but the variation makes both this figure and the standard figure unique enough to warrant your interest. Or, just different enough to make you mad. I like goofy things, so I wanted both.

The mech is a unique mold, but it functions like the other ones. There's a hinge in the helmet, so you fold it up around the ankles and there's a clip to place Rex inside. Hasbro respects the kids who got this, so you'll see loads of circuitry inside along with padded elements and pretend controls. It is notable that Rex' rangefinder makes it a tight fit, and Rex' arms will stick out of the sides. It's goofy, and intentional - and I think a mistake. It would have been good to just cram them in the design somehow. There are no blaster storage areas, so you'll have his hands holding the guns sticking out under the mech armpits. Silly? Yes. Did Hasbro do it better with the S.N.A.K.E. armor about 40 years ago? Yeah. But who knows what kinds of meetings they had with Disney to get something this far and away silly approved for Star Wars.

Mech deco isn't merely good, it's interesting. He has blue stripes on his chest, knees, and shoulders as well as the tech pattern. There is a faux pauldron and ammo pouch on the mech chest, and clear blue fists. The wrists have a rotating joint, but you also get bending elbows and (barely) ball-jointed shoulders. The neck and legs don't move, but I don't think this item would work as a toy if they did.

Play features include 5mm ports - which mean something if you have a collection of 1980s Takara-designed toys. Transformers and Battle Beasts frequently used 5mm ports for their weaponry - which means you can plug Mini-Cons and the like on Rex' mech. You can also give the clear blue blasters to a number of modern (and old) Robots in Disguise. A clear blue shoulder pad also pops off and on using the 5mm peg, meaning your kids will have more fun with this than you will.

I don't know anyone who bought this figure - or at least, nobody told me. They're missing out, it's pretty cool. I assume kids of this era won't even know it exists, and it's likely the victim of being a good concept with terrible timing. Rex isn't on any new shows right now, and Star Wars is increasingly (and I hate to say, somewhat deservedly) a cultural punching bag. Product is rarely or never on-shelf with a new TV show or movie, reaction to recent TV shows has been poor, and follow-through on everything seems erratic and irrational. This toy would have been neat in 2008, during any of the many seasons of The Clone Wars. Or The Bad Batch. Or Ahsoka two years ago. But now? It's confusing, it's weird, and only the depraved toy junkies are going to buy this. So you know I love it, and if you're still reading my crap after 31 years you might too. I'd say get it now that the price is a little wobbly, and if you see it on deep discount maybe you'll want to buy two.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Amazon on sale under ten bucks.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,311: January 15, 2026

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,310 Anakin Skywalker (But He's Got a new Cape, The Vintage Collection)

ANAKIN SKYWALKER (He's Got a New Cape!)
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch The Journey of Anakin Skywalker set, Shop Disney/Hasbro Pulse
Item No.: No. G1282
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #n/a
Includes: 3 lightsabers, 3 hilts, 2 alternate hands, Sith lightning wrap
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $49.99-$57.99
Availability: May 2025
Appearances: Star Wars: Ahsoka 

Bio: A hero of the Clone Wars, Anakin Skywalker was a caring and compassionate Jedi. But his deep fear of loss led him to become Sith Lord Darth Vader, who spearheaded the Empire’s eradication of the Jedi Order. (Taken from packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: Say it with me - Anakin Skywalker is just different enough to make you mad. This version - from the 3-pack - is the one you want. A single-carded version of The Clone Wars armor (but live action) Anakin Skywalker [FOTD #3,221] was released about four months before the triple figure deluxe set came out. The figure is very good - as of now, this is the best version of this costume you can get. You get a de-aged Hayden Christensen with a separately molded wig (good) and shoulder armor that's molded right on (even better), plus gloves and boots and cloth bits so he can sit in starfighters. In terms of sculpt and function, Hasbro did a very nice job here. The figure, lightsaber, and hilt are pretty much the same from either release.

What makes the set special - not counting the so-far exclusive "Dark" Anakin/Darth Vader and a unique x-ray Darth Vader - is a cape. You're buying this figure for a brown piece of cloth with two elastic loops, and elastic may not last forever - so be careful with it. The stretchy blank bands go around each shoulder, with the brown cape hanging... let's say naturally. Because of the width of the elastic, it does look a little awkward in spots... but generally OK. If you missed this set, I bet a fan maker could stitch together a good one with non-elastic string that could be installed by removing the arms and popping them back in. Hasbro's solution is more functionally elegant for fans who may not have both versions of the figure, and may want to remove and replace this cape.

I don't think the cape is worth the asking price, and the set overall is a little weak if you don't actively want all three figures. In terms of pricing, it's close to consistent with the single-carded The Vintage Collection product. I'd recommend it for anyone who doesn't have these figures, and depending on your display or vehicle pilot needs it's better to get a duplicate with a cape than a straight-up repack. For more extensive notes on the original figure, please read my review from last year.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse in May. And it sat in the tray until December. The set was shared with advertiser Entertainment Earth and other sellers around December 2025. Thanks to a line-wide price increase in that period, you may see it at higher prices.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,310: January 13, 2026