Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,819: Darth Nihil

DARTH NIHIL and Deliah Blue
The Legacy Collection Entertainment Earth Exclusive Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504  No. 91264
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #16
Includes: Lightsaber, comic, second figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: November 2010
Appearances: Star Wars: Legacy comic books

Bio:   A powerful Sith warrior and a savvy ship's mechanic are caught up in the attack on Princess Marasiah Fel. Darth Nihl battles Cade Skywalker, the son of a Jedi that Nihl killed in the Massacre at Ossus. Delilah Blue repairs the Mynock so that its crew, the Jedi and the gravely wounded princess can flee the attacking Sith.   (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' backdrops.

Commentary:  As a figure that was rescued as an exclusive, Darth Nihil made a vocal portion of fans very happy.  And with good cause-- the figure is a super-articulated new sculpt with no (as far as I can tell) obviously reused parts.  A member of the Nagai race, his mere production is a nod to fans of the old Marvel comics as one of very few members of this race to see any sort of merchandising.  Covered with some black Sith tattoos and some Yuuzhan Vong-meets-Ren Faire armor, the end result is pretty cool.  I find it odd he doesn't wear pants, but his armored look really isn't that out of line with other toy lines like Masters of the Universe.  It's out of place in the "modern" (read: movie) era of the saga, because on the whole, men of this time wear pants.   Really, it's the least you can do.

The fringe looks great and hangs nicely, and the spikey shoulder pads look good as well.  The gloves are nothing fancy, but the Vong armor with its red highlights sets off his eyes nicely.  The hair sculpt is good, and the lightsaber "cane" is, I assume, a nod to the goth kids.  Oh, you wacky goth kids, making out all the time and not inviting me to your parties with your booze and on a good night, loose women.  Wait, where was I?  Right, the lamentations of a wasted young adulthood.

The figure holds his weapon just fine and has a removable blade.  Quite nice.  With the death of the comic pack line there isn't much hope for more characters from the Legacy comics, but hey, at least we got a few right?  Here's hoping Hasbro makes one or two more  between now and the time the line becomes unprofitable.

Collector's Notes: At press time the figure is still available and while I can't give exact numbers, it looks like it's going to be sold out shortly if it isn't already.  So I hope you got yours! This pairing is actually pretty nice, as you get two characters previously unmade, both of which were nods to Marvel's final comic stories, with great sculpts and excellent paint.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,819: June 4, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,800: Exar Kun

EXAR KUN & Ulic Qel-Droma
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87971 
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #11
Includes: Double-bladed lightsaber, Cape, Dark Lords of the Sith #6
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: March 2010
Appearances: Tales of the Jedi  comic books

Bio: Ulic Qel-Droma is battling the dark side of the Force; he believes that if he can conquer it, he will avenge the death of his master.  He is attacked by Exar Kun, who feels the Jedi is a threat to his goals. As the two battle, they are unaware that Sith Lords from the past have other plans for their destiny. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' old back yard.

Commentary:  We're at 1,800?  Good lord.   I was hoping to have some sort of book, or at least calendar, deal at this point but since I don't let's look at Exar Kun, one of the last comic pack figures to hit mass retail.  While Darth Maul was the first double-bladed lightsaber to be rendered in plastic, Exar Kun's was one of the first seen in the entire saga when he debuted in the Tales of the Jedi comics, which took place a few thousand years prior to the movies.  Back then, a story on the pre-history of the Jedi was refreshing and new, but now it seems every few years we're treated to a new period of time in the continuity full of characters we don't know nor do we care about.  But I digress.

Exar Kun here is modeled after a much older-looking character, as in the comics he had black hair for the most part and looked pretty young.  He has a marking scratched into his forehead from the ancient Sith, plus scars from one of the duels with his former Jedi friends.  The character is modeled after art from the Jedi Academy novels, where his spirit annoys and corrupts Luke's students in "modern times."  The figure is nicely articulated and has a great sculpt, but why is his hair grey?  Other than wrinkles, there's only so much you can do to make a figure look old and hair is right there at the top of the list.  I would just say this is a poor decision (or factory mistake) on Hasbro's part, because the figure is decorated well otherwise.  He has lots of armor, and the cloth-meets-plastic cape hangs nicely and most important of all, actually looks good.  Hasbro seems to have some difficulty getting capes right, so it's worth pointing out when they come up with a design that basically works.  I'm particularly pleased with his belt and gauntlets, which feature more extensive coloring and some nifty detail.  Oh, and his lightsabers are totally cool too.  The super-articulated figure doesn't really have meaningful hip movement thanks to the design of his outfit, but what a design!  It's not like it would have looked better had they rendered it in cloth, and there's little to no chance of most people buying Exar wanting to crack him open and sit him in a ship.  So as he is, he looks pretty good, but I get the feeling customizers will enjoy him the most after they fix his hair.

Collector's Notes: When I reviewed Ulic two years ago, I wrote this: "Part of the final wave of comic packs (and a recent release), odds are you can still have a shot at getting this one cheaply."  I think the set was around $30 or less back then.  Today?  $100 as a start.  Wow.  See Hasbro, people are interested in new character figures!  I saw this wave in stores a few times, so it's interesting to see something really shoot up in price this steeply.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,800: May 8, 2012

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,700: Lumiya

LUMIYA Dark Lady of the Sith
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87970
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #07
Includes: Lightwhip, alternate head, Luke Skywalker figure, comic book
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99
Availability: September 2009
Appearances: Star Wars Marvel comic books

Bio: Luke Skywalker is defeated in a battle with Lumiya, the Dark Lady of the Sith, who wields her lightwhip with devastating precision. But this confrontation is far from over. Lumiya wants to punish the Jedi who caused her to become more cyborg than human, while Luke tries to persuade his opponent to turn away from the dark side. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' former back yard.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now! 

Commentary: There's a short list of figures I tried to see if I could nag someone into making-- as I assume they would never see production-- and Lumiya was on it. While some of you know her as a villain from a recent-ish batch of novels, I grew up with her as one of the last major adversaries from the Empire to confront Luke and the Alliance of Free Planets from Marvel's comic line. Very, very few original characters from Marvel's run made it into the toy line, and most of those which did were existing bodies with new heads. So this one seemed pretty damned unlikely, particularly given she's an entirely new sculpt with an alternate head and a companion Luke figure to boot.

With 12 points of articulation, this is a pretty good figure and a great argument for why it's actually just fine when Hasbro drags their feet-- the longer you wait, generally speaking, the better the figure will look. Were she made in 1998 she's have 6 joints and a crappy accessory, and certainly not have the alternate head. You can choose between an unmasked head, after she lost a duel with Luke, or a partially masked head which is, really, a battle-damaged one. Her first appearance played her up as some security cyborg, and through time it turned out she was a Rebel pilot-- who is actually an Imperial agent-- who went on to fight along with green pirates and pale extra-galactic invaders.

This particular figure bases its design on her increasingly damaged form, right around the One Big Cool Duel around the time of the Nagai invasion. Exposed wires and boards on her torso are accentuated by silver armor, plus a big yellow flexible lightwhip makes for a great accessory. It's a reasonably simple figure, with a scarred eye and some decent overall deco. I like this one a lot, but mostly because I liked those old comic books. It's still a fine figure, but you won't declare this to be some giant amazing incredible release. It's just good, and if you like the character you should enjoy this release. If not... well, I'm going to like this a lot more than you are.

Collector's Notes: Fans of the 1980s Expanded Universe-- before it had the name-- should probably want this one. It seems to sell for roughly the original price, give or take, but I'd be dumb enough to pay more. I really like this set.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,700: December 20, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,692: Jarael

JARAEL and Rohlan Dyre
The Legacy Collection Entertainment Earth Exclusive Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 91774
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #15
Includes: Lightsaber, bag, Rohlan Dyre figure, comic book reprint
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: November 2010
Appearances: Knights of the Old Republic comic books

Bio: Jarael (born Edessa) was a female Arkanian Offshoot. She was hot-tempered with eyes and hands like Humans and pointed ears, bearing tattoos that were known as the Flames of the Crucible bearing the name "Jarael" in the ancient language of the Crucible meaning "protector." (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam's old apartment's common area.

Commentary: I wasn't as excited to see Jarael as I was her pack-mate, because Rohlan Dyre has an awesome design with great gear and Jarael is some blue chick. There was a long list of characters from the Knights of the Old Republic comic I expected to see plastic, and I guarantee you she wasn't one of the first six I'd have bet on getting. With what's essentially a tank top and a cloth lower dress, the figure has a good range of movement and has no real problems holding her staff weapon.

While the deco on the head is exceptional-- the hair sculpting is great, the blue skin is awesome, the deco is dynamite and the tattoos are just amazing-- it's still a boring character. There's not much getting around that. This is a quality figure of a character I'm willing to bet most of you didn't ask for, and it really is a good one. I mean, considering this is the only one Hasbro will ever do, it's awesome. The little pouches, the painted buttons, it's obvious Hasbro put a lot of love (and paint) into this one. For fans of the character or comic, you owe it to yourself to get her and add her to your collection. For people that don't dig the extreme pre-history of the Skywalker clan... run away.

Collector's Notes: Released about a year ago, and still available if you want it. Her parts have never been reused and unless maybe they crib these parts to make Dani or another Zeltron some day, I doubt the tooling will ever see the light of day again.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,692: December 8, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,619: Jaster Mereel

JASTER MEREEL and Montross
The Legacy Collection Entertainment Earth Exclusive Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 94958
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #18
Includes: Helmet, blaster pistols, rifle, jetpack, cape
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: November 2010
Appearances: Jango Fett: Open Seasons comic books

Bio: Mandalorian leader Jaster Mereel and his second-in-command Montross play pivotal roles in the dark past of Jango Fett. Mereel and Montross change the life of the future bounty hunter during the Mandalorian Civil War in the decades before the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: One of the most fascinating things about Boba Fett and the entire concept of the Mandalorians is if you don't like one origin story, you'll probably get another one to pick from down the road. Originally coined as an alias in the early career of Boba Fett, a comic book series established Jaster Mereel as a Mandalorian warrior who fought alongside Jango Fett and Montross, which doesn't quite fit with the current incarnation of the planet Mandalore as seen in The Clone Wars TV show. Rather than to try to make sense of it, as Lucasfilm seems intent on doing, I'd suggest you just enjoy them for their unusual differences and embrace the non-continuity which exists.

Jaster is a retooled 2008 Jango Fett, a body which has been used for Starkiller, Fenn Shysa, and probably more as Hasbro sees fit. It's a decent body, and really a good choice for an exclusive or collector-targeted figure. The mobility in the joints are good, but not great, so odds are this figure's life will be spent either carded or on a display shelf. He has 14 points of articulation, has a new head sculpt, and his weapons and holsters are also new. The pistols fit in his holsters just fine, while the rifle has a unique Mandalorian marking-- a Mythosaur skull or a Bantha skull or whatever the Hell they say it is this week-- sculpted on the weapon. His deco matches the Jango Fett: Open Seasons comic art nicely, and under the helmet is a newly-sculpted head which I've heard more than a few fans describe as John Kerry with a broken nose. The hair is a little messy and chunky, and the character in his face is a little more gritty than the 2007 Elite Forces of the Republic Mandalorians. I like this one-- I realize I don't need it but the cloth cape and weapons do make for a nice figure. Given the size of the line you can probably skip it, but I'm a big fan of recolored Mandalorian figures. The only thing stopping me from buying more is a lack of new ones to get.

Collector's Notes: This set shipped last year as an online Entertainment Earth exclusive and is still available. It, and the other sets in the wave, were originally planned for a retail release but were instead produced in a limited quantity as an online exclusive. As always: this site is supported by that one ad banner, so if you feel like buying this figure (or anything from our sponsor) please click the "BUY THIS FIGURE" link below and order anything you were going to buy anyway. We get a cut, it costs you nothing, and helps us out a whole lot. Thank you for your support!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,619: August 29, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,562: Clone Trooper Lieutenant

CLONE TROOPER LIEUTENANT and Clone Trooper
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs Wave 7
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 91772
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #10
Includes: Helmet, grappling hook, blaster, extra figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: March 2010
Appearances: Star Wars: Routine Valor Comic Book

Bio: Clone Troopers display more than "Routine Valor" during a battle on Sarrish. When their Republic gunship crashes near a dangerous gun emplacement, the clones launch an attack to capture the promontory on which the gun is anchored. Although the odds are against them, the troopers dont hesitate to take on the deadly challenge. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's old neighbor's yard. The fence was low.

Commentary: Part of the last retail wave of comic packs, this orange Clone Trooper Lieutenant takes pieces of a few existing figures and bashes them together into this unique ranking officer. The kama is similar to the ARC Trooper one. The helmet is similar to the Evolutions sculpt. And the gun? Well, that's new. The blaster rifle has a hole in the barrel which can hold a grappling hook. It doesn't fire or launch, but it just looks cool. The figure has modified 212th Battalion orange markings, and is a pretty clean design. There aren't a lot of dents or dirty marks, making this figure look somewhat pristine. I don't consider the figure a required purchase, but if you have a need for big armies with lots of variety you need to buy this set.

Collector's Notes: While this wave of comic packs tends to be somewhat expensive, this set doesn't seem to be too bad most of the time. If you can get it for roughly retail, you should. Otherwise, just settle for some basic orange clones, and you'll probably be just as happy. The most exciting thing about this one, for me, is the grapple gun.

Day 1,562: June 9, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,561: Rohlan Dyre

ROHLAN DYRE and Jarael
The Legacy Collection Entertainment Earth Exclusive Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 91774
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #15
Includes: Blaster, helmet, backpack, Jarael figure, comic book reprint
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: November 2010
Appearances: Knights of the Old Republic comic books

Bio: Rohlan Dyre was a Human male Mandalorian Crusader and a former commander who fought in the early skirmishes of the Mandalorian Wars. He deserted the wars multiple times in an attempt to find answers pertaining to the war itself. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' apartment's rock pile. What a wonderful amenity.

Commentary: When Hasbro approached me with this wave as an exclusive for my day job at Entertainment Eart, I didn't realize that Rohlan Dyre would be the best of the wave. Truth is, I was excited to get Baron Fel with a decent head sculpt. This great ancient Mandalorian turned out especially well, with a removable helmet, amazingly detailed armor, a removable knife in his boot, a blaster in his holster, and a backpack. Really, you can't beat that for a comic pack figure. I'm surprised Hasbro didn't just hold back on him and sell him carded as a Vintage figure... it's certainly cool enough.

The sculpt of this Knights of the Old Republic comic book figure is wonderful. He has pits in his armor, gashes and cuts, little sculpted rivets (check out his back if you got one), loads of straps, wrinkles, creases, and other stuff. There could stand to be a little more dirt on the figure, but even as a clean release this blue and red armored warrior is pretty slick stuff.

Under the helmet is the character from the comic, complete with scars. I think the sculpt is wonderful, but the painted "scar" seems to clash with the character's dark skin a little much. It's not very subtle, like on Jango Fett figures. He's got nice hair and a decent expression, and my guess is Hasbro scarred this guy and made him meaner as a reaction to the Mandalorians sold in the Elite Forces of the Republic set a few years ago. There's no mistaking this guy for an accountant or an engineer, the dude under the helmet is a mean warrior type. As such, he should be welcome in your collection.

Collector's Notes: Hey, I sell this at my day job. You should buy one, support both this site and my employer so I can afford to spend more time writing about toys for you. I can't get too specific but it is indeed a limited edition.

Day 1,561: June 8, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,540: Master Tholme

THOLME and T'ra Saa
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs Wave 7
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 89779
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #12
Includes: Lightsaber, cane
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: March 2010
Appearances: Republic, Legacy comic books

Bio: Jedi Masters T'ra Saa and Tholme battle their own personal difficulties during the Clone Wars. T'ra Saa is severely wounded when bounty hunters attack a triage unit she is overseeing on Null. Her close friend Tholme is alarmed when circumstances indicate that fellow Jedi Quinlan Vos has truly turned to the dark side. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's old back yard.

Commentary: In the 2-year death march that was the demise of the comic packs line, some items were significantly delayed and released in seemingly smaller numbers. Tholme, a recurring Jedi Master from the Clone Wars-era of Star Wars: Republic comic books, was unceremoniously dumped online and, on the whole, at Target stores just before word got out that the final figures from this assortment were to be exclusive to an online retailer. While ample supplies of this wave were available for a brief time, after they dried up people suddenly became interested. (That is the way of our people.)

Tholme is an all-new mold with a lot going on. There's a ponytail, a cane implying an injury, and even a damaged eye with a scar. Hasbro did a good job painting this figure as well, giving a little more life to the sculpted details which show his age and combat-specific damage from the years. Like a lot of figures in the decline of the Comic Packs line, he is indeed super-articulated with 14 joints. As Jedi bodies go, aside from the right leg, it stands to reason Hasbro will eventually reuse the body for another minor movie character.

As far as accessories go, the figure certainly has a nice pair. The lightsaber has a removable green blade, while his cane has a nifty design which may remind you of some sort of bird. Or the chozo, if you're in to that sort of thing. The added gold paint on the cane is a nice touch, and this set as a whole certainly seemed to show why Hasbro increased the price a few bucks on this segment of the line. Even in their decline, the comic packs continued to get better.

Collector's Notes: An unpackaged sample of Tholme commands above retail price for the set. T'ra Saa is slightly cheaper, so clearly, the kids love their Tholme. Based on the quantities that fans claimed to see (or not see) it's not unthinkable that there may be reserves waiting to show up on closeout some day. If by some miracle you can get this set at or under $20 today, I suggest you do so.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,540: May 10, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,522: Ysanne Isard

YSANNE ISARD and Baron Soontir Fel
The Legacy Collection Entertainment Earth Exclusive Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 19683
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #17
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: November 2010
Appearances: X-Wing: Rogue Squadron comic books

Bio: Soontir Fel and Ysanne Isard are one-time allies who find themselves on opposite sides after the fall of the Empire. Fel is a starfighter pilot and an Imperial hero who defects to the New Republic. Isard is the devious Director of Imperial Intelligence who manipulates events to reach the pinnacle of power. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: In 2009 it became painfully apparent that some combination of Hasbro and retailer support was going to lead to the end of the comic pack line-- several were tooled up, but never made it out. In late 2010, they found a home at Entertainment Earth bringing figures like Ysanne Isard to the fans. While they weren't instant sell-outs, they did turn out pretty well and it's nice to see these items see production at all. Isard is a simple repaint with a new head, but it works really well. The body is that of Juno Eclipse/Deena Shan, but painted in red and topped off with an entirely new head sculpt that brings you her white bangs and red eye. While not typically shown wearing gloves, well, it's not like it's a bad thing for someone to be wearing, I suppose. The recycled rank badge is also not exactly perfect, but, again, that's the nature of the beast when getting some of these increasingly obscure characters-- recycle parts, or get nothing at all.

She can stand and look good, but sitting is a little difficult due to her lower coat piece. That's really just fine, because it's not like she's known for flying a ship and there aren't many playsets for her to sit at in the first place. While the figure has a couple of minor changes from the artwork, it's still a great figure-- the head is good, the color is right, and she looks appropriately mean. When it comes to the director of Imperial Intelligence, you're going to want mean.

Collector's Notes: The figure was "canceled" as a mainline item and eventually ended up online as an exclusive. As such, order online, or from a collector-friendly store that buys products from EE Distribution if you want this one. Or wait.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,522: April 14, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,519: Dengar

DENGAR with Fenn Shysa
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87687
Number: #6
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Includes: Fenn figure, rifle, Marvel Comics #68
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99
Availability: August 2008
Appearances: Star Wars Marvel Comics (Various)

Bio: Mandalorian supercommando Fenn Shysa struggles to free Mandalore from the grip of slavers. His close friend Tobbi Dala has been captured by the slavers, but Shysa has someone they want even more: the bounty hunter Dengar. Princess Leia needs Dengar for her own reasons: he can lead her to Boba Fett, who is holding the carbonite-frozen Han Solo. But Shysa's not about to let her stop a prisoner exchange that will free his friend. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' floor.

Commentary: When you can't do something original, at least try to do something different. Hasbro succeeds in giving us something different with Dengar sporting dual shades of purple, much like the character had in his comic book appearances. The body is the 2004 mold which, for the time, was great. Heck, if Hasbro didn't do a new one in 2010, it'd still be great. The figure's face paint on the samples I've seen are mostly quite good, and the purple is just, well, a little weird. For those of you who like weird repaints of vinyl figures or Funko's many pop art-themed exclusive packs, the Marvel Hasbro Star Wars comic pack figures are probably right up your alley. There's not a lot of articulation to be had, but ball-jointed shoulders, swivel elbows, swivel wrists, and hips make him much more than a simple statue. The colors work well with the sculpt, although it's often odd to see a figure with an incredible, realistic sculpt be given a paint job out of a Filmation TV pilot. If you love the weird, and I do, you should get this.

Collector's Notes: This figure was sold with Fenn Shysa, a character who also had multiple weird recolors of his armor in the Marvel comic series. Because Fenn is so cool and Dengar is so weird, this is a set I'd suggest tracking down if the price is right. The current price is about $5-$13, and at those rates this set is an incredible value.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,519: April 11, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,491: Blackhole Stormtrooper

BLACKHOLE STORMTROOPER and Blackhole
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs Wave 7
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 89780
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #13
Includes: Blackhole "figure," torture droid, blaster, smoke stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: March 2010
Appearances: Star Wars newspaper strips

Bio: Shadow stormtroopers capture Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia on Vorzyd V. The Rebels are on the planet, also known as the Gambler's World, to stop the evil Empire's main source of income. After kidnapping the Rebels, the stormtroopers speak with Blackhole, the Imperial Intelligence Director, who orders the prisoners interrogated by an IT-O Droid. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' former apartment's back yard.

Commentary: Hasbro made a killing repainting Clone Troopers so it only makes sense they applied it to Blackhole Stormtroopers, the first-ever major paint variant on the standard armor to be seen outside the films. The figure is, sadly, not painted at all like in the comics where the trooper had black armor and very distinctive silver lenses-- so really, the authentic version of a Blackhole Stormtrooper (as represented by Funko, Gentle Giant, and other licensors) has yet to make it out in any form from Hasbro. It's more of a dark blue color, with blue lenses and a removable helmet-- presumably since that was the mold available to Hasbro's factory, the characters in the comics left their helmets on.

The base figure is the 2007 Stormtrooper, which was based on the 2004 Vintage Stormtrooper but with a new head, helmet, and torso. This is a nice figure and a neat set, but ultimately you may find it more irritating than fun-- basically for $15, you get a trooper and two very large accessories in the form of Blackhole and a torture droid. It's a little expensive for what you got at retail-- it's still a neat curiosity and one of very, very few figure packs made after the newspaper comic strips.

Collector's Notes: This set came and went really fast, but its secondary market value remains on the low side, close to retail. It was meant to be a 2009 release, but only one "2009"-style packaging wave of comic packs made it out in all of 2009. This set was seen briefly online at etailers as well as in physical Target stores, plus there were a few odd sightings elsewhere. This was part of the final wave of these figures to hit the mass market, and the 87504 SKU was pretty miserably managed by stores and Hasbro over its 3-year run. Basic figures get a new number to flush out old product-- so do Battle Packs and vehicles-- but comic packs were stuck with the same number, effectively telling stores that these were the same things for several years rather than rebooting every 12-18 months.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,491: March 2, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,467: Sigel Dare

SIGEL DARE & Darth Krayt
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87972
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #08
Includes: Lightsaber, cloth cape, Darth Krayt figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $13.99
Availability: September 2009
Appearances: Star Wars: Legacy comic books

Bio: Darth Krayt is not pleased; Admiral Stazi of the Galactic Alliance Remnant has stolen the Sith Lord's powerful new warship Imperious. Unknown to Stazi, Imperial Knights Sigel Dare and Treis Sinde have sabotaged the ship, hoping to ruin Krayt's plans. Now Dare must warn Stazi before the bombs planted on the ship explode! (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' former back yard.

Commentary: If you have a Sigel Dare in your collection, it's probably because you bought Darth Krayt and she just happened to be in the package. The third Imperial Knight action figure, the character isn't particularly memorable especially compared to Azlyn "Who Here Watched Irresponsible Captain Tylor?" Rae. After getting two Imperial Knights to help kick off the Legacy comic figures, it sort of sucks that another slot was taken up by a third one with non-matching red painted armor and mostly newly sculpted parts. Were she a head swap, I could understand her being made, but with so many recognizable (or at least modestly interesting) Sith and Jedi and smugglers in the series, seeing her paired with the hugely popular Darth Krayt was something of a drag. Sure, Krayt could carry the set, but seeing as the comic pack line seems to have limped to its end, well, sheesh.

The overall figure is, on her own, pretty great. The head sculpt isn't bad, and the deco (while not perfect) does a good job of emphasizing and exaggerating detail so that it looks decent on the toy shelf. A little eyeliner never hurts. Her metallic red armor looks exquisite, and if this sort of deco were applied to more Transformers toys Hasbro could probably get away with jacking them up a few more bucks. Very well done. She is indeed super-articulated with the full 14 joints and as many ball joints as you can reasonably expect from your average action figure. The cloth cape, a nice touch, sits well behind the figure and the entire ensemble is rounded out by a clear lightsaber. In short, the figure's main problem is that she exists and another character does not, and admittedly that's a pretty stupid thing for me to complain about. If you like the design, you really should make sure you get her-- and if not? Well, too bad, you have to get her if you want Darth Krayt.

Collector's Notes: Since this two-pack appeared near the end of the line for comic packs and has one of the most important villains in the comic series, it's going to cost you. While it did ship through early 2010, it's gone now, and it's $20 or more on eBay. As such, start saving or prepare to go without. This figure (and her companion) have little chance of a reissue given Hasbro's decreasing interest in the Expanded Universe in the immediate future.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,467: January 27, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,450: Darth Vader (Infinities)

DARTH VADER and Princess Leia
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87699
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #11
Includes: Lightsaber, companion Leia figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99
Availability: Fall 2008
Appearances: Return of the Jedi: Infinities

Bio: The Infinities series explores tantalizing "what if" stories about what might have happened to Star Wars characters if events had occurred differently. In this tale, the rescue of Han Solo from Jabba's palace fails, so Princess Leia goes after Boba Fett in order to save Han. The climactic events on the second Death Star also take a different turn that sees Darth Vader changing his allegiances and fighting alongside his children. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: Fact: it is impossible to give Darth Vader the "black repaint" treatment. Solution: white Darth Vader. Taken from what may be the most famous panel from a largely unread comic, this figure offers a hypothetical figure based on the notion if Darth Vader returned to the side of good and the Emperor ran off to cause trouble in the galaxy. A neat idea, sure, but not exactly an essential figure. In 2008, this 2004 Vintage sculpt was a little outdated but hey, at least the helmet stayed on-- which is more than most figures of the character since 2005 can claim.

Overall, it's OK-- the head can tilt back, and there's enough articulation in here that you won't be sorry you bought it, although it's obvious some joints are just not there. For example, no ankles, and only swivel elbows will remind you that this is an older mold. He'll have problems sitting due to his codpiece hanging off his belt, so really, leave this one in the package or expect him to do a lot of standing. This isn't a figure for piloting vehicles, but given the relative obscurity of the design odds are you won't be playing with it much anyway. It's a solid idea and certainly different enough to be worth a look, but your love of the movies should dictate if you shell out the money for this one.

Collector's Notes: This was not a great seller-- you may be able to find it at a store near you today if you keep your eyes peeled.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,450: January 4, 2011

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,439: Deliah Blue

DELIAH BLUE and Darth Nihil
The Legacy Collection Entertainment Earth Exclusive Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 91264
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #16
Includes: Blaster, comic, second figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: November 2010
Appearances: Star Wars: Legacy comic books

Bio: A powerful Sith warrior and a savvy ship's mechanic are caught up in the attack on Princess Marasiah Fel. Darth Nihl battles Cade Skywalker, the son of a Jedi that Nihl killed in the Massacre at Ossus. Delilah Blue repairs the Mynock so that its crew, the Jedi and the gravely wounded princess can flee the attacking Sith. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: A Battle Pack's backdrop-- see, those things are good for something.

Commentary: The first-ever Zeltron action figure finally exists! Deliah Blue comes from the far-flung future of Star Wars: Legacy, about 100 years after Palpatine died and pretty much everybody you knew other than R2-D2 is gone. This red-skinned alien girl is the gal pal of the series' hero Cade Skywalker, and this is her first (and likely only) action figure. Easily one of the most colorful toys made as of late, the character does a good job recreating her very tight and revealing costume, offering up one of very few Star Wars action figures to sport cleavage. (Hooray for boobies.) She has more than one outfit, but this one really stands out and was probably the best one for Hasbro to make. After all, what other figures could have purple boots, a bare midriff, and the tightest buns this side of Princess Leia's hair? It's an unusual choice to make as a figure, especially when you consider that this item was developed for the main retail line and only found its way to being an online exclusive after retailers and Hasbro agreed that the comic pack line wasn't a good fit for store shelves.

Deliah's hair is a little less blue than I remember it being in the comic books, but if you can get past that the deco is more or less spot-on. Gold bracelets, purple jewels, red balloons, green clovers-- it doesn't get much better than this! Her sculpt is great, if perhaps a little too sexy for a line of kid's figures, but let's face it-- anyone who cares about this character is probably an adult anyway. As you can see in the picture, there's not too much difficulty in getting her to sit. Ms. Blue has 14 points of articulation, making her a super-articulated release that even has a (more or less) working holster for her blaster. The blaster is worth noting because it sports some green paint at the top which is downright unusual in this toy line.

It's unlikely Hasbro could do a much better version of the character if they even tried, the body is just about perfect and the head, with minor tweaks, would also be perfect-- as it is, it's merely top-notch or excellent. (I know, boo-hoo.) There aren't too many Legacy-era figures, and hopefully strong sales of this set might convince Hasbro to throw out a couple of more in the next several years. Right now, the entire collection stands at about 14. Admittedly, that's a great number of figures, but a couple of more Sith and maybe Jariah Syn would make it even better, wouldn't you say?

Collector's Notes: These sets had two shipments so far-- one shipment in November (which sold through before you could blink), and another in December. They're available through Entertainment Earth or shops that order products through EE Distribution, their wholesale wing, and they're in stock right now. And yes, I work at Entertainment Earth, so standard disclaimers apply. Order below through the "buy this figure" link to support this ongoing project and future exclusives!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,439: December 20, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,419: Montross

MONTROSS and Jaster Mereel
The Legacy Collection Entertainment Earth Exclusive Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 94958
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #18
Includes: Helmet, blaster pistols, rifle, jetpack, cape
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: November 2010
Appearances: Jango Fett: Open Seasons comic books, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter video game

Bio: Mandalorian leader Jaster Mereel and his second-in-command Montross play pivotal roles in the dark past of Jango Fett. Mereel and Montross change the life of the future bounty hunter during the Mandalorian Civil War in the decades before the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: Hasbro sure loves to do Mandalorians lately. Heck, Entertainment Earth alone has had no fewer than nine of them, but Montross is unique in that while he's clearly supposed to be a retooled Boba Fett, it's like someone at Hasbro said "hey, let's put more money in this one." Or maybe it was supposed to be an all-new figure and someone cheaped out, because the only reused parts here are a Boba Fett torso, backpack, and helmet from the Evolutions figure. Oh, and the legs from Mandalore. I missed that. Everything else, so far as I can see, is completely new.

Due to the beefy nature of the character, a slightly larger head and body would have helped him appear more menacing, but his armor does seem to help a bunch. The arms and legs are totally new, as is the head-- which looks a little more like a younger take on Ed Harris than a grizzled warrior, but hey, whatevs. It's not like the art in Open Seasons was necessarily realistic enough not to give Hasbro some ability to interpret the character, although I tend to remember him as he appeared in some of those video game promo shots complete with white hair. Why make him younger? No idea. But I usually leave the helmets on these dudes anyway and thankfully, it fits well. There's not a lot to the helmet rather than saying it's effectively a Boba helmet in Jango colors. Are you thrilled? Maybe you should be, maybe not.

The armor has been decorated to match the comic art, plus the all-new arms have sculpted symbols on them to match those red rectangles which probably hold some significance but what do I care? It looks cool. The thing that impressed me about the figure is a slight bit of improvement in how he (versus other Fetts) interact with his gear. The hands and weapons seem made for one another, and maybe it's just dumb luck but the jetpack stays in slightly better than the always-falls-out Evolutions Boba so far. You can pick up the figure and shake him around, it'll stay on nicely. Before we move on to the gear, let me also point out that the legs are new and while nothing to write home about, they do mesh with the design well.

His weapons are big. Really big. And what's particularly unusual about them is that Hasbro actually added painted details on each one, and I would say few figures over the entire line came with guns that had much decoration on them. Typically (but not always), all you get is one color unless it's a spear, a lightsaber, or a staff. Each pistol has three colors of paint, which is pretty impressive considering that one has been considered "a lot" of paint decorations. The two small pistols fit into the holsters, the big rifle actually fits into his hands well and can be aimed easily with minimal fidgeting. By comparison, getting Evo Boba to hold his gun this way is nearly impossible for me, but I'm "special" and I generally don't try very hard. This one just works, so clearly Hasbro got some great sculptors working for them now-- or two or three years ago, whenever this guy was originally made.

While not as crazy-impressive as the 2010 Pre Vizsla, this is a damn fine Mandalorian figure and probably one of the better ones in recent memory. But Tobbi and Fenn were cool too. Heck, they're all great. But I think you'll like this one a lot.

Collector's Notes: The figure was "canceled" as a mainline item (check the SKU, it was meant to be part of the basic comic pack assortment at some point in history) but fate decided mainstream retail didn't want the comic pack line. We define "fate" as "keeping the same comic pack SKU from 2007-2009 when Battle Packs get refreshed every 18 months." So it's an online exclusive, which probably means it will ultimately be slightly easier to find than the final non-exclusive wave of comic packs from 2010. With the recent tales in the TV The Clone Wars the look and history of the Mandalorians have been, arguably, revised-- so mix your continuity any way you like. Also, I work for the company who sells this as an exclusive, so take that as you will. (We did not, however, have anything to do with its development-- we just sell the thing.)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,419: November 22, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,409: Koffi Arana

KOFFI ARANA Purge
30th Anniversary Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87530
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #13
Includes: Lightsaber, sword, flying severed hand of Darth Vader
Action Feature: Sword may be planted in chest
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 2007
Appearances: Purge comic book

Bio: The Jedi are on the run or in hiding after Order 66 wiped out most of the venerable order. Bultar Swan has a plan to crush the new Empire: destroy Darth Vader and thus weaken the Emperor and his fledgling rule. She brings together a handful of Jedi on the planet Kessel and leaks a false rumor that Obi-Wan Kenobi will be there, knowing Vader will take the bait... and the Jedi will be waiting for him. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: This set went from being a good seller to a pegwarmer pretty quickly, despite the Purge comic inside being something of a hot item at the time. Perhaps it was the characters-- Koffi Arana is relatively unknown despite actually appearing in the movies (techinically), but not in this costume. The hotheaded Jedi wears unique armor for reasons I'm not quite clear on, but the design does allow for a really cool spoiler/action feature. Darth Vader's severed arm is included holding a sword, and you can plant that sword in a groove on Koffi's torso. Pretty sweet!

The figure is an accurate translation of the costume in the comic, complete with goofy red tassles and gaudy red accents. Hasbro recreated it nicely, but since it was during a period where not all figures had super articulation, you might find it "old." It's good though-- 12 points of articulation and cut elbows are better than nothing at all, and when this figure rolled out in 2007 this line did wonders to bolster our comic book character ranks. He isn't as fancy as modern figures, but he also was packaged with Bultar Swan (also a new sculpt) and a full-size comic book reprint for ten bucks. Complain all you want, but these sets really got you your money's worth. Very few other characters from the orignal Purge comic saw release, but it's nice to see that Hasbro picked one that got stabbed through the chest. That's pretty hardcore, and it's not like a lot of lines have the balls to put in a toy aimed at all ages where somebody is impaled on a sharp object. Kudos, Hasbro, for trying something different.

Collector's Notes: If the Kmarts nearest you really suck, you might still have these around, and the price might be higher than issue price because the assortment (87504) shipped from 2007-2010 and was increased in price during that time. (This is kinda complicated, but this is a problem that happens when you don't discontinue old SKUs-- dead weight and unnecessary price increases.) Because it hung around forever, you can probably score this for under $10 if you do some looking around.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,409: November 8, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,387: Clone Commando

CLONE COMMANDO with Super Battle Droid
30th Anniversary Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87556
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #16
Includes: Gun, backpack, Super Battle Droid figure
Action Feature: Flames, bomb plug into figure
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 2007
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Only one clone commando lives to report what happened on the derelict factory moon of Asturias. While the commandos are escorting Director Lorca Oviedo, Oviedo's ship malfunctions near Asturias. Coming out of hyperspace, they are attacked by Separatist forces and crash on the moon. The commandos are attacked by super battle droids, droidekas, and battle droids, as a twisted web of lies and betrayals threatens them all. (Taken from the toy's cardback.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: In 2006 the reaction for Scorch, a clone action figure from Republic Commando, was so great we got the rest of his squad quite quickly-- and by the end of 2007 we even got this all-white Clone Commando in a comic pack. Based on a Tales story, this figure reused the same basic design and tweaks it. The unique character coloring is gone, as are the distinctive backpacks and armor bits. The figure is as you see it, reasonably devoid of extra gear in addition to ankle and knee joints. Fans cried bloody murder that these figures had a mere 10 points of articulation when many of their peers were 12 or 14. While I understand the desire for added joints, I dislike added costs, so I can get behind this figure being what it is pretty easily. He can stand and hold his weapon just fine, and the all-white look is unique given that, at the time, many of the Clone figures were brightly colored.

The sculpt, while good and largely accurate to media portrayals, does little to wow anybody. It's still good, it's just that Hasbro figures have seemingly hit a ceiling in 2007 where there wasn't much you could do. Once you hit "awesome" it's hard to go beyond that without really redoing how the line works, and while I think in 2010 we're seeing some dramatic improvements, the figures of 2007 are still fantastic. Along with his companion droid figure, this is a wonderful set. Get it.

Collector's Notes: While fans moaned, this is a good set. How do I know this? It sells for a lot on eBay. The free market has spoken, this assortment largely didn't sell in some stores, but this figure set sure did. Expect to pay $30 or more if you want one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,387: October 7, 2010

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,384: Clone Commander (Kashyyyk)

CLONE COMMANDER Bogey Squad Comic Pack
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs Wave 7
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 92474
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #09
Includes: Blaster, helmet, Trooper figure, Republic #83 comic book
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $14.99
Availability: March 2010
Appearances: Republic Comic Books

Bio: After receiving Order 66, the clone troopers in Bogey Squad hunt down Jedi General Quinlan Vos. The squad searches the forests of Kashyyyk to find and eliminate their former commander, who is now considered a traitor to the Republic. The troopers are highly skilled, but they are up against a resourceful quarry. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's neighbor's yard in Los Angeles. (This is what happens when you don't lock the gate.)

Commentary: Hasbro once told me that whenever a line needed a shot in the arm, that's when it was time to release some more Clone Trooper figures. If you look at their release strategy since 2002, it works-- in 2002 we got roughly 3 Clone Troopers. In 2003, we got a few more. In 2005, we got a ton, and the avalanche continued until today-- these figures really do wonders to support the line. This comic 2-pack would probably have done wonders for sales of the Comic Pack SKU, which had been the same 5-digit number since the line's introduction in early 2007, meaning stores never "flushed" the old ones out of the system. Had they done this, the line might have stood a chance of being around today, but Wal-Mart and Kmart decided they don't want to keep stocking the line so choke on that, fan boy.

Anyway, this particular Clone Commander comes inspired from the comic books which followed the last-known appearances of Quinlan Vos. The figure is the exact same tooling as the late 2006 release Commander Appo, meaning it's a III-41 Revenge of the Sith Clone Trooper body with a Clone Commander pauldron and some new paint. Given there have been reasonably few camo Clones out there, this was nice to see, only not a lot of people really got to see them out in the wild. With the 14 standard points of Clone articulation, this figure can't really surprise you but it's certainly delightful enough to warrant tracking down.

Collector's Notes: This assortment ultimately did hit stores, but for a very short time. Since the new packs were 1 per box, a single collector could (and often would) buy up the entire stock leaving you no evidence it had ever been there. As such, this set may actually cost you a little bit now. Were Hasbro to rerelease this one, it would probably sell just fine.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,384: October 4, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,364: Princess Leia

PRINCESS LEIA with Prince Xizor
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87687
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #8
Includes: Gown, blaster, Xizor figure, comic book
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99
Availability: Summer 2008
Appearances: Shadows of the Empire

Bio: As Leia struggles to save the Alliance from being crushed by the Empire, she learns that bounty hunters are after Luke. She infiltrates Black Sun to find out why that crime syndicate wants Luke dead. The leader of Black Sun is Prince Xizor, who sees Luke as a way to get his revenge upon Vader and, at the same time, gain favor with the Emperor. Her mission is in jeaopardy when she meets Xizor and finds herself unable to resist the prince's strange power. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' old desk.

Commentary: As figures I never expected to see go, this Princess Leia certainly made the list. This is basically from a scene in which Leia tries to make Xizor think he's gonna get some, and then knees him in the balls. Truly, a great toy for kids, right? Well, we have her, and space bedroom wear is just as goofy as you can hope. If there's one thing that does it for me, it's headbands! (Actually, no, not really.) This Leia has more articulation than she can handle, and the ankle joints make her legs look a little chunky. She lacks elbows, but other than that is a pretty robust figure in terms of movement. In short, your reasons for buying this figure are "do you love Leia figures" and "do you need a new Xizor", the answer to both I assume to be "yes" and "sure, why not." The detail on the figure is OK, but it's not really an amazing release given what else Hasbro has been releasing in the past four or five years. It's worth buying and certainly fits the bill of a good modern figure, just not as a great one.

Collector's Notes: This figure may be available at a store near you still-- it was not a hit. Don't pay a premium for this one, if anything try to get it for under $10 because it's just that common.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,364: September 6, 2010

Figure of the Day: Day 1,332: Dark Woman

DARK WOMAN & A'Sharad Hett
30th Anniversary Collection Comic Pack Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87520
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #08
Includes: Lightsaber
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: July 2007
Appearances: Star Wars ongoing series by Dark Horse Comics

Bio: The Jedi High Council sends A'Sharad Hett, Ki-Ad-Mundi, and Adi Gallia to capture bounty hunter Aurra Sing, who has killed two Jedi on Coruscant and is the murderer of Hett's father. The Dark Woman, Sing's former teacher. also asks to join the hunt but is denied. Events - and the Force - lead them all to a remote jungle world, where Hett confronts Sing in a lightsaber duel, and the Dark Woman seeks atonement for her failure to help Sing. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' old desk.

Commentary: In the comic pack assortments, Hasbro never really clearly defined what they were going for-- sometimes we would see a famous character paired with an obscure one, or in the case of Dark Woman, we see her paired with someone else you've probably never heard of. The Dark Woman has an all-new sculpt, but lacks the kind of super articulation fans started to expect and demand in 2007. With only 8 points of articulation, including ball-jointed arms and swivel forearms, there's not a lot going on here to delight fans of over-constructed heroes and villains.

The sculpt is derived from the comic art, but I don't remember specifically where. Her lightsaber is consistent with what I remember, and she always had white hair and looked a little old. But who is she modeled after? Hillary Clinton? Xeni Jardin? Someone's well-endowed aunt? The world may never know, but we can see that the sculpt was nicely done. The face has a lot of personality, the clothing has a lot of creases, and her boots have some nice detailing too. As a bonus, they gave her a little make-up, which helps a lot in the 3 3 /4-inch scale as a lot of sculpting detail is lost at this size. You gotta exaggerate, and having done that Hasbro pulled off a nice figure. Personally, if it meant we'd get more figures for $5 on average, I'd be thrilled to see Hasbro drop the average articulation per figure below 14 points back down to 8 or 10. They're all going to end up on display or in a box anyway, no point wasting money and resources on joints nobody will ever use (with some exceptions, of course.) I personally do not believe this figure would have benefitted from additional articulation.

Collector's Notes: While unlikely, you may be able to find this and other black-carded comic packs in your area. Try Kmarts or other places you don't touch with a 10-foot pole, you may be pleasantly surprised. (But the cost is probably closer to modern packs, $13-$15.) On the collector's market, she goes for around $10 before shipping sealed with her companion.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,332: July 22, 2010