Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,009: Stormtrooper Commander (Gaming Greats, The Vintage Collection)

STORMTROOPER COMMANDER Re-redux
The Vintage Collection Gaming Greats 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: No. F5559
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #254
Includes: Pistol, rifle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $16.99
Availability: August 2022
Appearances: The Force Unleashed
Bio: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed follows Darth Vader's secret apprentice, trained to hunt down Jedi, while Stormtrooper Commanders lead Imperial troops into battle. (Stolen from Amazon. There is no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Remember 20 years ago when we kept complaining Hasbro wasn't making Clone Trooper and Stormtrooper repaints, droid repaints, and other low-hanging fruit? From the ironic punishment division comes this fan channels shared exclusive Stormtrooper Commander, one of my favorite repaints of that armor as seen in The Force Unleashed game. Getting previous 3 3/4-inch versions of it were a hassle - one was a hoarded/stolen pre-order bonus at GameStop (that resulted in some fans never buying games there again), and the other was a Comic-Con exclusive. This one has more articulation and better paint, and all you have to do to get it is order it online. In the past few years Hasbro got repaint religion for Star Wars, which has resulted in a line that probably would've been more exciting in an era where the repaints didn't make up such a big part of the entire collection. A repaint of a figure you've got repainted a few times - and already potentially own - is a little less exciting.

Hasbro deployed the no-longer-new but newest Imperial Stormtrooper mold here, which didn't have the Walmart exclusive holster but has exceptionally good arm joints. The hip joints were state-of-the-art for the time, but we got much improved ball-and-socket hips last year that move much more smoothly. The wrists bend and swivel nicely, but the ankles are a little stiff so getting him in a good, stable pose may take a little work. The proportions are great, and the blue stripes have some nice scuffing to them. It shows battle damage, but that this particular trooper didn't bother to repaint his armor between missions. Hasbro's artists did a good job with the canvas they were given and the task they were assigned.

It includes two blasters - a Rogue One/Disney-era Stormtrooper blaster with the extra greeble on the side, and a smaller rifle. I like the silver brushing on the rifle, and the blaster pistol has a nice little silver mark on the sides. They're perfectly good accessories for this figure, but when compared to what other figures got for the same price you might feel a little ripped off. I personally don't know if there's anything else that would've been acceptable to make it more exciting, but a $16.99 price point is a little high for a repaint of a mold that has made its tooling investment back more than a few times.

If money is no object, this is a very nice figure with exciting paint on the front and the back. You'll love the scuffing, and the articulation is better than the post-30th Anniversary Collection-era releases. You may even want extras! As I write this they can be had for about retail price, and I wouldn't recommend going much higher because I'm cheap and after 3,000 figures I think building any more armies just isn't going to work for me. But if you focus on troopers, this is a great one for your squadron. (And if they made Kenner versions of this guy, OK, I'd buy two.) Here's hoping they put this armor into service on The Mandalorian or one of those new shows!

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,009: March 7, 2023

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,850: Shadow Stormtrooper (The Vintage Collection)

SHADOW STORMTROOPER (The Force Unleashed redux)
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: No. F2710
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #194
Includes: Blaster, rifle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: June 2021
Appearances: The Mandalorian
Bio: Shadow Troopers were a branch of Imperial shock troopers deployed during the Rise of the Empire era. These units were often either under the command of stormtrooper commanders, or the Emperor's Shadow Guard. They had many encounters with Galen Marek. (Stolen from Wookieepedia. There is no bio.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Thanks to a churn of new fans and a taste for endless repaints, the non-canon status of the Shadow Stormtrooper from The Force Awakens games is an easy redeco that delights fans over and over. The two games from the series were rendered unnecessary by Rogue One, but they're still neat - and thanks to a massive marketing initiative with tons of merchandise, fans really stuck with it. Few games before - and none since - have enjoyed this level of Hasbro action figure tie-in product.

The excellent trooper redesign from The Mandalorian and Rogue One is used yet again - there are some minor sculpt differences from the classic movie designs, such as the pistol - and molded in clear blue and sparkly grey colors. This is unlike the other Shadow Stormtrooper, which is a black figure. For those keeping track at home, there are at least three classes of Stormtrooper that fit the "Shadow Stormtrooper" bill - the silver lensed black ones from the Russ Manning comics, the black lensed ones from Crimson Empire, and also these blue ones.

Using the best Stormtrooper sculpt and a very good paint job puts this ahead of the Toys R Us one from about a decade ago [FOTD #1,371]. This brings the figure more in line with the figure's art and representation on the packaging, while the previous one - which used a different, older mold - was better about keeping the "cloaked trooper" gimmick at the forefront. They're each good for different reasons, but this one seems to borrow on the then-popular Tron: Legacy look with the blue striping and the dark armor.

The packaging is great, but it's best to open it - with two blasters and the best articulation of any Stormtrooper mold at this size, it would be great if these were easier to get so you could grab an army. They're online exclusives, so they may be in relatively short supply for a while. If and when Hasbro ever makes a new Galen Marek - a "Starkiller" with a better likeness from the first game would likely sell preposterously good numbers - but for now, you can pre-build or augment your armies. You know, for the Imperial playsets we all hope to someday get but haven't for a couple of decades.

For (at least) the fifth release of this mold in slightly different colors, it's nice to have something that's a real departure from previous versions. The paint is clear, the blue lenses are sharp, and there's no better trooper at this size for pretty much any pose you might want. Sure, there's no holster, but it's not like they're particularly fantastic on older 3 3/4-inch Stormtroopers. Given what a departure the deco is on this trooper from previous releases, I'd say get one or two. It's not like you're going to see a whole heck of a lot from The Force Unleashed any time soon - so horde what you can.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,850: August 26, 2021

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,766: Incinerator Trooper (The Black Series 6-Inch)

INCINERATOR TROOPER Co-tool
The Black Series 2020 Line Look Orange Star Wars: The Mandalorian Packaging
Item No.: Asst. E8908 No. E9366
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #03 - Star Wars: The Mandalorian
Includes: Flame, flamethrower, harness
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: October 2020
Appearances: The Mandalorian

Bio: Incinerator Trooper armor was exceptionally heat-resistant and bore red markings in order to indicate their speciality. (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!

Commentary: Happy new year! This Incinerator Trooper comes from The Mandalorian, but previously was seen in The Force Unleashed video games. While most likely never to be integrated into the new canon on their own, the troopers have gotten a lot of love as toys from Hasbro as GameStop exclusives over the last year - and thankfully so, they're wonderful designs and easy repaints. The previous ones used a mold that's been in use since 2013, while the 2020 Incinerator Trooper uses the 2020 Imperial Stormtrooper [FOTD #2,739] mold. It's new, it's good, and you can probably safely assume we'll see many more figures using it going forward.

What's kind of awesome - and also not - is that this is the same figure at the same price, with lots more paint and gear. You don't get the basic Rogue One-style blaster, but you do get a much bigger torch, a pauldron, a harness, and lots of red paint - plus a massive fire blast effect piece. The plain trooper was a decent value proposition, but this plussed-up specialty torch Stormtrooper is significantly more exciting. (You will, of course, want both.)

I had no problems getting the figure to hold a torch in one hand, but gravity does make the fire blast seem to sag a bit over time on a shelf. You may want to make sure the figure - and possibly the accessories - are propped up if he is to spend a year or more on a shelf. The fire blast is molded to snap in perfectly on the nozzle of your torch, which is a lot more stable than the 3mm (or 5mm) pegs used in the Transformers: War for Cybertron C.O.M.B.A.T. system. (Check 'em out in Siege and Earthrise toys. Less so in Kingdom.) I wish he could hold the weapon in both hands without a fuss, but the left hand isn't as well-equipped for gripping things.

As a figure, this is a sensible and desirable retool of a trooper fans want anyway. Repaints of them are likely to continue, but that's a good thing - this is the sort of thing that sells easily. What's particularly exciting about figures like this is that we're seeing today - like when Lucas pulled Aayla Secura out of the comics and put her in the movies - that being removed from canon certainly doesn't mean a ticket to oblivion. We're still seeing Darth Revan products, we got a Jaina Solo figure, and seeing good designs plucked from relative obscurity and upgraded to full-fledged on-screen props could mean just about anything could make an appearance in a future TV show. (I volunteer to play Tig Fromm if the chance comes up, maybe in some sort of audio drama, please and thank you.)

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,766: January 5, 2021

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,708: Shadow Stormtrooper (The Black Series 6-Inch)

SHADOW STORMTROOPER Blue
The Black Series Gamestop Exclusive Gaming Greats 6-Inch Figure
Item No.: No. E9622
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #n/a
Includes: Blaster pistol, blaster rifle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: June 2020
Appearances: The Force Unleashed

Bio:  Star Wars: The Force Unleashed follows Darth Vader's secret apprentice, trained to hunt down and destroy Jedi, while Shadow Stormtroopers use cloaking devices to ambush enemies.   (Taken from Hasbro's marketing copy.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Hasbro is sure getting the most out of this mold  before the new one comes out!  Shadow Stormtrooper legions attacked you in The Force Unleashed, a game for the PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, and a few other systems.  It was pretty cool - and it was also previously sold as a 3 3/4-inch figure as a Toys R Us exclusive.  While the figure was released in 2020, the character design is nifty in how dated it is.  

Over the years, you sometimes hear people clamor for things and then it just kind of fizzles out - Indiana Jones toys come to mind, and peoples' alleged fandom for and love of all things Tron.  Some people love it, but more people say they love it.  The movie's sequel received a not-entirely-surprising amount of fanfare and the stylish designs and costumes certainly inspired a whole lot of people - including game developers.   This Stormtrooper seems to draw influence from the late '00s, with a dark body featuring blue outlines and highlights.   It's a great looking figure, but much like faux woodgrain dates things to the 1970s, this is very much of a specific era.

The figure itself is just the same basic Stormtrooper mold, cast in clear, and covered in black, silver, and seemingly sparkly paint.   Out of context this should be a hit with fans of the high-end Kaiju sofubi figure scene or indie designer toys as well as fans of the 2008 The Force Unleashed video game.   The figure itself doesn't feel too Star Wars-y in how it looks, but then again, neither due the bright orange and blue uniforms on Star Tours. I don't know why Hasbro dragged its feet so long to do weird Stormtrooper repaints, but now they're here and they're welcome.   With a $5 premium price you might not want to troop build this one, but it's certainly good enough to warrant grabbing one to add to your growing "Gaming Greats" stash.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from GameStop's web site.  

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,708: July 16, 2020

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,707: Stormtrooper Commander (The Black Series 6-Inch)

STORMTROOPER COMMANDER Blue
The Black Series Gamestop Exclusive Gaming Greats 6-Inch Figure
Item No.: Asst. E7549 No. E9497
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #n/a
Includes: Blaster pistol, blaster rifle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: May 2020
Appearances: The Force Unleashed

Bio:  Star Wars: The Force Unleashed follows Darth Vader's secret apprentice, trained to hunt down and destroy Jedi, while Stormtrooper Commanders lead Imperial troops into battle.   (Taken from Hasbro's marketing copy.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Fan logic based on nothing keeps coming up.  "Nobody's allowed to make toys of anything not canon!" I keep hearing, which is patently untrue.  Hasbro and Lucasfilm will make what they wish, what makes sense - which doesn't necessarily mean Darth Revan is or isn't canon, and since we got a few figures from The Force Unleashed it only makes sense that we'll get more repainted Stormtroopers from the game like the legendary Stormtrooper Commander, which started life as a pre-order bonus for the game 12 years ago.  You'll be forgiven for not remembering as the figure mostly went out the back door before a subsequent reissue as an SDCC exclusive.  Despite being yet another Stormtrooper or Sandtrooper repaint - and there have been plenty - this one is gorgeous.  I love it.

The figure's shiny white armor is now more of a matte off-white eggshell finish, covered in weathered blue rank marks and some of the best black blast mark battle damage I've seen out of Hasbro.   It's rare Hasbro tarts up the front and back of a figure with battle damage, but if you flip this guy over you'll see scuffs on the helmet, butt, legs, and arm.  

The new-for-2020 blue markings on the 2013 mold look fantastic, with even more weathering and scuffing than in the game - perhaps even too much.   Hasbro could do another version of this figure closer to the game and because this one is a decent departure, I'd still be happy to see it in another flavor.  He has no problem holding his blasters, the holster fits the smaller blaster just fine, and the figure has about 29 points of articulation including a nearly perfect set of neck joints.  You can get a lot of poses out of this mold, which is good, because you probably already bought it a few times with more coming.

It's more expensive than it needs to be, but at least it had more paint and seemingly stiffer, better joints than previous releases of this mold.  If you can get one for $25, you should.   The figure adds nothing new in terms of toy quality, but given the growing line of game-specific figures it's probably worth future-proofing your collection with this guy if and when the Secret Apprentice gets a figure.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from GameStop's web site.  

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,707: July 14, 2020

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,972: Imperial Navy Commando

IMPERIAL NAVY COMMANDO The Force Unleashed: Sith & Imperial Troopers
The Legacy Collection Toys R Us Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 33259 No. 33261
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, backpack
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: August 2011
Appearances: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game

Bio:    The navy commando officer leads a squad that consists of several troopers, a sergeant and a medic.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' former kitchen.

Commentary: The Imperial Navy Commando came in a set which, frankly, is kind of annoying.  It's a nice figure and a cool design, but it comes form the lesser ports of the Force Unleashed games, with last-gen exclusive characters that a lot of people flat-out will not recognize.  You get 14 points of articulation on this all-new sculpt, which was also shared with a Commander figure in the very same set.  Hasbro put a little extra deco into this figure on the back, under the backpack, where you can't see it.  Smart.   It's still cool, though, and is a fun hybrid of Stormtroopers, Scout Troopers, and various concept designs.  Do I detect a whiff of McQuarrie's early Snowtrooper?  I think I do.  It has a Clone gun for some reason, but hey, it's cool.  The chunky working holster is nice too.

The level of detail isn't bad, but there's not a lot of painted detail needed here.  It's a white figure with black deco, and Hasbro is pretty good at making these nowadays.  Get it if you can, it's neat and looks like it fits in with many of your other toys.  What more can you ask for?  Aside better pricing, I mean.

Collector's Notes: The set is expensive now, but was odd when it first hit too.  Just Darth Phobos would sell for $30 on eBay, and the whole set was $40.  Y'all so bad at math.  Now it's a lot more, so consider pricing out the set versus individual figures and be smart about it... it's probably more sensible to buy the set and sell off the spares.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,972: January 3, 2013

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,875: Jar Jar Binks in Carbonite

JAR JAR BINKS in Carbonite
The Vintage Collection Comic-Con 2012 Exclusive
Item No.: No.  39683  
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Block
Action Feature: Block has nail hole, reversible front
Retail: $75.00
Availability: July 2012
Appearances: The Force Unleashed (gag)

Bio: Celebrate the legendary Star Wars saga that changed the universe forever! This collection brings to life the incredible story of good versus evil that captured our imagination and took us to a galaxy far, far away. Iconic Star Wars heroes and villains are captured with incredible detail and premium features to commemorate each epic tale in the Star Wars saga. May the Force be with you!  (Taken from the figure's packaging.  No specific character information.)

Image: Adam's photo hole.

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,837: Shaak Ti

SHAAK TI The Force Unleashed
The Legacy Collection Shared Exclusive Expanded Universe Wave
Item No.: Asst. 87535 No. 93308
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD61
Includes: Lightsaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: May 2010
Appearances: The Force Unleashed video game

Bio:   Shaak Ti is a Jedi Master and member of the Jedi Council. She survives Order 66 and eventually arrives on Felucia, where she prepares the Force-sensitive Felucians for an unavoidable encounter with Darth Vader.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's old kitchen.

Commentary: Perfect? No. Good? Yes.  This Shaak Ti has face paint that's a little more white, and a little more intense than the other figures which hold her likeness, but she's still really good.  A super-articulated figure, this release represents her during the first Force Unleashed game where she's an outcast on Felucia, wearing rags in a manner which shows of her rack  nicely, as most outcasts fighting for survival are known to do.  Her head is posed in a more dynamic manner, plus she's wearing spikes and various wrappings rather than the incredibly thick and ornate Jedi robes of her movie appearances.  The big advantage here is that there is nothing to really get in the way of her articulation, making her an ideal figure to pose and duel Starkiller or other figures.

As a naked alien lady, she turned out quite well.  Her unique reddish/pinkish skin color is covered in rags and tribal markings, plus her clothes are vaguely tattered.  I guess it's meant to represent the breakdown of order, going from overly modest to dresses-too-sexy? I have no idea.  But it makes for a great figure, which has a fairly pale blue lightsaber blade.  If you're collecting this line and have the means, I have to assume you picked her up when you had the chance-- if you didn't, keep your eyes peeled.

Collector's Notes: Video gamers tend to spend a little more on toys, so it's no big surprise this Shaak Ti is now north of $30 loose.  So if you can get her for under $20, do so.  Just be prepared to pay up for this one.  While fans often decry the lack of Expanded Universe figures, The Force Unleashed has about 40, including some repacks and duplicated troopers from gift sets.   To put things in perspective, the first game in the series got more action figures in roughly two years than the original Star Wars movie in the entire original vintage line spanning 1978-1985.  Good luck finding one!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,837: June 28, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,827: Starkiller

STARKILLER  Vader's Apprentice
The Vintage Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 37499 No.  37518
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #VC100
Includes: 2 lightsabers, 2 hilts, backpack, skirt, shoulder armor, 2 gauntlets
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: May 2012
Appearances: The Force Unleashed II

Bio: Celebrate the legendary Star Wars saga that changed the universe forever! This collection brings to life the incredible story of good versus evil that captured our imagination and took us to a galaxy far, far away. Iconic Star Wars heroes and villains are captured with incredible detail and premium features to commemorate each epic tale in the Star Wars saga. May the Force be with you!  (Taken from the figure's packaging.  No specific character information.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' photo area.

Commentary:  With this wave, Hasbro seemed to be in a hurry to get rid of their plastic.  Starkiller is another one of their nifty two-for-one figures, where you get a more-or-less "Rebel hero" outfit as well as an "Imperial Pilot" outfit all in one figure.  The sculpt is arguably the best yet, with a really nice Sam Witwer likeness which, given the right paint or a less glossy plastic, would be perfect.  As it is, it's merely above par and potentially their best yet.



Much like Fordo and a few others, you can change Starkiller pretty easily.  He ships in his "pilot" outfit, and the pilot harness easily comes off like a belt.  To get him into his other outfit, you have to slide up a "skirt" piece, snap on a couple of gauntlets, and pop off his head to apply his shoulder armor.  It's a neat idea, but I personally would rather have had Hasbro make a second figure later.  For those of us wanting two to display, we're basically out of luck for a while.   He has 14 points of articulation, more or less what you expect as normal these days, and quite a bit of detail for such a simple outfit.  I can only imagine how great a 100% new TIE Fighter Pilot might be in 2013 or 2014, should Hasbro decide to give it a spin!

The gear is pretty good, although the shoulder armor is a little bulky for its intended purpose.  Unless you get it just right, he looks like he has no neck.  The lightsabers could be bluer, but it seems Hasbro has been doing pale blue for most figures over the last year.   It's a fun figure with enough to play around with that $10 doesn't seem like a bad price, but the plastic for the face could be a smidgen better.  I love the pilot outfit, and the fact you can take off the skirt/straps and he can sit in a stolen TIE Fighter if you'd like.  I'd say that as of now, this is Hasbro's best Starkiller and even if you didn't care for the game-- and many didn't-- the action figure is worth the asking price.  Given the secondary market, it wouldn't stun me if the figure will cost more than the game, depending on where you shop.   If you enjoyed the game, and enjoy late-era Galactic Empire costumes, this should fit right in with some of your Original Trilogy stuff.  Maybe off to the side a bit would be the best place for Starkiller, but he should be at home tormenting your Stormtroopers and other figures.

Collector's Notes: I haven't seen this wave in stores yet, but you knew that.  This one came from online, you can order a case at the link below or on any of the fine sponsors at GalacticHunter.com.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,827: June 14, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,767: Imperial EVO Trooper

IMPERIAL EVO TROOPER The Force Unleashed: Sith & Imperial Troopers
The Legacy Collection Toys R Us Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 33259 No. 33261
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 2 pistols, 1 grenade launcher
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: August 2011
Appearances: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game

Bio: Trained to survive the galaxy's most treacherous weather conditions, EVO troopers have enhanced armor that withstands heat, acid and lightning. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' former kitchen.

Commentary: The good (or bad) thing about figures like the Imperial EVO Trooper is that Hasbro can easily tweak them and release them for another round at retail. This is the third one. The figure was originally released in 2008 with some dirt on its shins and slightly different deco than this release. Number two had brown camo splotches, and hit in 2010. This one came out in 2011, and is my favorite so far-- I like having a figure with crisp detail and no mud on it. Little silver details are painted, as are the hoses and the red stripe on his helmet. The figure still has a flat, unpainted panel on its chest that looks like it probably could have benefitted from a tampo or extra sculpted detail. The figure has a big, all-black grenade launcher as well as two smaller clone pistols for you to misplace when you move. If you like the design, the figure is on par with most troopers from 2005 on-- you get 14 joints, sitting is sort of tricky, and the detail is pretty good. The armor is a little chunky and may get in the way of some poses, but at this scale it seems Hasbro is still perfecting articulation on this kind of figure. I expect you'll like it if you get it, and this figure was the only straight-up repaint of an existing toy in this particular gift set. It's a good one too.

Collector's Notes: You may be able to find this at a store near you right now. I suggest that you buy it-- some of the Force Unleashed stuff has been getting expensive after it finally disappears from retail.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,767: March 22, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,724: PROXY

PROXY Communications Droid
The Legacy Collection Toys "R" Us Exclusive Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Figure Packs
Item No.: Asst. 97910 No. 97912
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #2 of 2
Includes: none
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $29.99
Availability: April 2010
Appearances: The Force Unleashed

Bio: This prototype holodroid has been Galen Marek's companion for many years. PROXY is a one-of-a-kind droid that uses advanced hologram technology and built-in servos to alter his appearance, becoming virtually anyone. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's old kitchen.

Commentary: Oh PROXY, you were one of the more memorable characters in The Force Unleashed. As a plot device, this character seemed to have more personality than a lot of his human counterparts, given a hard-working personality and the kind of can-do attitude about attacking your employer rarely seen outside a Pink Panther movie. An entirely new mold, the figure is super-articulated, super-thin, and a really nice recreation of the digital character. Leg articulation isn't perfect, but when it comes to exclusives like this, or weird Expanded Universe designs, they rarely are.

The skeletal robot basically sweats mist and projects holographic images on it, giving him the illusion of being other people. I don't think the concept-as-technology holds a lot of water, as it were, but it was fun to see him take on random character skins as "training programs" for Starkiller. If you get in real close, you can see wires, pistons, and other cables holding him together making him look like a part of the typical "used" Star Wars universe while technically being one of the highest-tech pieces of military equipment available to the Empire. Heck, even Darth Vader's suit looked like an Apple product despite being cobbled together after an accident. I mean, I assume that sort of attire isn't off-the-rack, but since I shop mostly out of dumpsters I am not up on galactic couture.

The deco here is good, there's a lot of grey but silver, purple, and yellow break it up nicely. A little more purple around the elbows and slightly darker "metal" parts would really sell the look, as the colors are a little muted compared to the rich blacks and vibrant purple seen on the in-game character model. Should Hasbro ever decide to rerelease and repaint, this figure could go from great-- and it is great-- to superb just by selecting slightly different materials. If you stumble on this set in your journeys, I do suggest buying it-- the Mandalorian Starkiller, PROXY, and redesigned Jumptrooper alone made this a worthwhile purchase. (The clear Stormtrooper less so... I'm terrified about keeping it from discoloring.)

Collector's Notes: The set came out during a real lull after the end of red-and-white Legacy and before Vintage launched, and also sat around for a bit. But because this is a good figure, the secondary market picked up on him and just this one robot will cost you about $15-$25. And the whole set was $30 when you skipped it-- see what you get for passing up a good deal? You get screwed. The boxed set is also a little more expensive than its issue price, but it appears to be cheaper than buying the figures separately. While I personally dislike seeing figures shoot up on the secondary market, it's nice to see that things fans asked for sometimes command a premium-- I'd rather see something good gain value than something "rare." And now that Hasbro is aware how much this guy costs, I'd say it's high time to rerelease it wouldn't you?

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,724: January 23, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,665: Starkiller

STARKILLER or Secret Apprentice or Galen Marek or whatever
The Legacy Collection Toys "R" Us Exclusive Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Figure Pack
Item No.: Asst. 97910 No. 97911
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Cape, lightsaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $29.99
Availability: August 2011
Appearances: The Force Unleashed

Bio: Starkiller is the secret apprentice of Darth Vader and the son of Jedi. Vader trains him in the ways of the Force and promises to reward him with great power. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's kitchen.

Commentary: One of the annoying things about video game figures in the line is that you generally have to play the game to know what it is-- in the case of this Starkiller, even if you played the game, it might not matter. This outfit was console-specific, so Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 owners never saw it. The all-new sculpt turned out quite well, with a fair amount of detail, the best head sculpt for the character yet, and a pretty good lightsaber too. The removable cape is a clever design which Hasbro should consider using on more of its Jedi figures, as the plastic hood clings snuggly to the neck and looks well. If you could buy this figure on a card, you would probably want to do so. It's worth a look, but its not exactly a great toy.

Collector's Notes: The boxed set is, arguably, worth the asking price. It's a nice figure and I think that if you feel you want video game figures, you'll enjoy this one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,665: November 1, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,637: Darth Phobos

DARTH PHOBOS The Force Unleashed: Sith & Imperial Troopers
The Legacy Collection Toys R Us Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 33259 No. 33261
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: August 2011
Appearances: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game

Bio: Using the power of the Force, this female Sith Lord can warp and control the minds of the weak and make them do her bidding. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: If you're an affluent Star Wars fan in 2011, there's a reason you don't recognize Darth Phobos-- the character was exclusive to the Wii and last-gen Playstation 2 versions of The Force Unleashed game. So if you picked up the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 ports, like any self-respecting gamer, the contents of Toys R Us' latest exclusive set based on the game is largely a mystery. Why her? I have no idea. When a number of other characters spanning other media may be more well known, like a character which appeared in every port of the game, she's a strange choice. But ours is not to question why-- ours is to point a finger and judge how well the character turned out as a toy.

The sculpt is, without question, a good one. The Theelin Sith Lord lacks the detail in some recent figures, but there are numerous sculpted elements which bring her to life like torn pants, laced-up elements to her garments, wrist armor, and... hooves, I guess. (She's the same species as Rystall.) Her hair is well-sculpted, but there's no getting past the deco-- this looks a little too colorful and a little too simple compared to the ornate, fine detail on recent figures. I don't even want to use a word like "cartoony" because recent animated figures have sharper paint jobs with more subtle shading, which this figure does not have. The in-game model appears more muted, while this is downright vibrant. I hate using a phrase like "ha ha she's going to fight Rainbow Brite" but... admit it, you think that too. Except for the lack of ankle joints, the sculpt is essentially super-articulated and that's always a plus for a figure which has little chance of ever getting a second release.

The lightsaber deco is exceptionally good. The paint job makes it look like metal, the silvery plastic has some added black that brings it to life in a way I've never seen on a Hasbro toy lightsaber accessory before-- it's genuinely impressive and worth examining up-close if you see one in stores (or buy it.) Since the deco doesn't match the source material I have a hard time being excited about this one, but I have to admit I wasn't excited about her in the first place-- characters from lesser ports of games I've played (so I've never "met" them for myself) are gleefully obscure, but if you're going to give me a light blue alien with darker blur markings, WHERE THE HELL IS VLIX AND THE FROMM GANG? Excuse me, I had something in my throat. What I meant to say was, the figure has the building blocks of a great release, but the simple deco knocks it down a peg or two. The eyes in particular are a little too stark for my liking, and the costume deco (and possibly sculpt) seems to lack a certain overt attempt at being what I presume to be what you humans call "sexy." It's a nice attempt, but it ultimately feels that it does not properly capture the personality of the character, nor the spirit of how most of Hasbro's toys are made these days.

Collector's Notes: A reasonably new set, she's just starting to show up now and is selling briskly. If history is any indication the set will probably be around for a short time, vanish, and then you'll be angry you missed it when it comes time to pay up on eBay. Why wait? The set is, on the whole, excellent-- the other 4 figures are really good, but just Darth Phobos, on eBay, was selling for $30 in the middle of August. Today she's closer to $15, which is still expensive compared to the entire set.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,637: September 22, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,624: Felucian Warrior

FELUCIAN WARRIOR Second Edition
The Legacy Collection Toys "R" Us Exclusive Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Figure Packs
Item No.: Asst. 97910 No. 97912
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #2 of 2
Includes: Bone club/sword/whatever
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $29.99
Availability: April 2010
Appearances: The Force Unleashed

Bio: Felucians use their natural Force abilities to control their environment, including the ferocious rancors. The native inhabitants of Felucia expertly wield their bone swords, showing no mercy to those who threaten them. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' guinea pig room.

Commentary: In The Force Unleashed game, you could slice up Felucians of varying shapes and colors, although it was hard to get a good look at some of them. With that in mind, I assume this more-muted Felucian Warrior is more or less authentic to the game-- I mean, the bone weapon is bone colored this time around, and the subtle colors seem to blend in with the Felucian Rancor and other scenery in the game. The design is nothing short of weird, with what I assume is a mask, some suction cuppy things on his arms, and little tiny hands off the arms. It's an unusual design for Star Wars but it seems to sort of kind of fit in with the game universe, I can't imagine seeing these in a movie and it fitting. 10 points of articulation make this a good, but not fantastic, figure-- it's unique looking and different enough to be worthwhile, but I wouldn't suggest tracking down these sets on the merits of this specific figures. (The other ones in the set, though, are worth grabbing.)

Collector's Notes: The sets did OK, and are now gone. So good luck getting one. Loose samples are pretty cheap though.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,624: September 5, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,604: Imperial Naval Commando Officer

IMPERIAL NAVY COMMANDO OFFICER The Force Unleashed: Sith & Imperial Troopers
The Legacy Collection Toys R Us Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. 33259 No. 33261
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, backpack, pauldron
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $39.99
Availability: August 2011
Appearances: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed video game

Bio: The navy commando officer leads a squad that consists of several troopers, a sergeant and a medic. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: The Imperial Navy Commando Officer, like the bulk of the figures from this set, are from the Wii, PSP, and PS2 ports of The Force Unleashed. So rather than just splitting confused fans into "played the game" and "did not play the game" groups, now Hasbro is going down the platform line. I've played through the original game twice, and was wondering if I just forgot these guys. It turns out I didn't, which means I'm glad I have my wits about me but it also means I just bought a 5-pack of figures where the only character from the game I actually played is a repaint of something I already have several of. What the heck is wrong with me?

As another of the Empire's troopers, the designs seem to mix together new and old elements to give you something vaguely new. The helmet is a little like Bacara's, the pauldron is unquestionably Sandtrooper-esque, and the rangefinder is a nod to the Fetts. Of course, in terms of the chronology of the story, the design is most likely a "futuristic" take on the ARC Trooper design. There are more elements on the armor, like a swell backpack that plugs in to a "n" shape on his armor, plus a nifty holster molded right into the side of the leg so it actually works well and doesn't hinder the movement of the figure. This is a job well done, and he has 14 points of articulation as well. There's a lot to like here. An added grenade on the front of his armor is a nice touch, and the armor seems to be a pretty good plastic translation of the in-game polygonal model.

The standard version of the commando also comes in this set, so troop building is a little tough. The officer is almost identical to the normal guy, with a few notable changes. One, the deco on the back of the figure is different as the area in which the backpack plugs is unpainted on the officer. Two, the helmet has been resculpted to have a rangefinder. Three, the pauldron. And... that's it, really.

Collector's Notes: As a new set I've only just seen for the first time less than a week ago, I don't know how tough it will ultimately be to get one of these. Someone tried to hide this behind some Evolutions packs at my store, and it was the last one. I found it, I bought it. People who hide things are getting lazy, so do yourselves a favor and please stop trying. Nobody benefits when you hide stuff, particularly when you forget to go back and buy it. Now if you'll excuse me, a rerun of That 70's Show is about to start.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,604: August 8, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,575: EVO Trooper (Camo)

IMPERIAL EVO TROOPER Camo Repaint
The Legacy Collection Toys "R" Us Exclusive Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Figure Pack
Item No.: Asst. 97910 No. 97911
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #1 of 2
Includes: Backpack, twin pistols, rifle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $29.99
Availability: April 2010
Appearances: The Force Unleashed

Bio: Trained to survive the galaxy's most treacherous weather conditions, EVO troopers have enhanced armor that withstands extreme heat, acid rivers and lightning. Their FA-3 flechette launchers fire shards of metal capable of hitting multiple targets. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's kitchen. The blue dot you can see is my work computer in the other room.

Commentary: If you're anything like me, you bought the original Imperial EVO Trooper in 2008 as part of the 30th Anniversary Collection, and then again when they repackaged it in The Legacy Collection. So why not buy him again? This time around the previously mostly-white figure has had a generous amount of brown camo added to the figure, while some of the knee and shoulder pads lost their grey coloring. I wouldn't rate it better or worse than the original release, but it certainly is different. It still has 14 points of articulation and some great gear, but the toy itself is sort of a lateral move in terms of its appearance. I personally prefer the first carded release, but I don't mind getting new and weird troopers. A black redeco would be nice, but hey, this is better than just more of the same, right?

Collector's Notes: As of now it seems this set has been purged from Toys "R" Us at retail, although it wouldn't stun me if you saw some stragglers. For about $30 it's a wonderful set and is well worth your buying it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,575: June 28, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,524: Juno Eclipse

JUNO ECLIPSE Rogue Shadow Pilot
The Legacy Collection Toys "R" Us Exclusive Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Figure Pack
Item No.: Asst. 97910 No. 97911
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #1 of 2
Includes: Blaster, hat
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $29.99
Availability: April 2010
Appearances: The Force Unleashed

Bio: Juno Eclipse is the Imperial captain of the Rogue Shadow. She is appointed by Darth Vader to pilot his apprentice throughout the galaxy. Haunted by a tragic past, Eclipse serves the Empire loyally while secretly yearning for a new life. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: If at first you don't succeed, try, try again, and then sell it in a boxed set. Fans immediately took notice in 2008 when the Juno Eclipse action figure's outfit didn't quite match the design in the game, and Hasbro was hard at work on more figures based on the adventures from the Xbox, Playstation, and Wii. That wave ended up becoming boxed sets, and Juno did indeed get a retooled torso with an open jacket-- you can see it in the picture, obviously. Aside from the torso the figure is largely the same as the 2008 release, except she can sit much more easily now that the "skirt" piece of her jacket is no longer necessary. The opened jacket has the added benefit of having a specific rank badge, so she more or less matches the game's art. I don't have a whole heck of a lot to say other than "like the original release, but improved." I suppose they could do her with a new head sculpt again some day, but at this scale I don't expect to see much improvement-- this should be about as good as she gets.

Collector's Notes: At press time it seems the sets are sold through, so if you see it, grab it.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,524: April 18, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,517: Imperial Jumptrooper

IMPERIAL JUMPTROOPER Improved Edition
The Legacy Collection Toys "R" Us Exclusive Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Figure Packs
Item No.: Asst. 97910 No. 97912
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #2 of 2
Includes: Blaster, rifle, backpack
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $29.99
Availability: April 2010
Appearances: The Force Unleashed

Bio: Imperial jumptroopers use rocket packs to burst through the air in short spurts. These air-to-ground attack troopers are heavily armed, using powerful plasma disruptors and rail detonators that can eliminate enemy targets from any angle. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: In 2010, Hasbro decided to rerelease and revise a number of its Force Unleashed toys at Toys "R" Us for an exclusive boxed set. Some were just minor deco changes, but Hasbro did a good job updating the Imperial Jumptrooper. For starters, it finally has its backpack! The back was retooled and Hasbro made use of a redesigned jetpack similar to what Jango wore, so good call on their part. Check out the big red button and detail when you get yours-- you'll be impressed!

Since it's an exclusive refresh, there aren't a lot of major changes beyond that-- you still get 14 points of articulation, and he can still hold onto his weapons fairly well. The figure is essentially the same basic design from 2009, except now the reds are redder, the whites are whiter, and there's no dirt on the feet-- really, it looks better overall. The basic "enhanced Stormtrooper" design still comes through, and this is easily the better of the two Jumptrooper toys. Improved deco and more gear does wonders to make a good figure even better, so be sure to get this set-- and this figure-- if you're in the market for Force Unleashed toys.

Collector's Notes: The set is basically done shipping, but old stock from the back room keeps popping up around some US Toys "R" Us stores. For $30, this is a fantastic set-- be sure to get it if you see it. More than that, well, that's up to you-- but 5 figures for $30 is a great deal in this era of increasingly expensive toys.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,517: April 7, 2011