Dusty Trail Action Series 1: S.W.A.T. point man action figure review by Andrew Lenahan

Figure: S.W.A.T. Point Man / SWAT Point Man
Property: Dusty Trail Action Series
Series: 1
Keywords: Military figures, soldiers, police figures, S.W.A.T. team, SWAT team, Special Weapons and Tactics, point man, LAPD
Company: Dusty Trail Toys
Release year: 2003

Series Overview:
Bucking the industry trend of using licensed properties as the basis for toy lines, Dusty Trail introduced its Action Series: a line of figures who, though realistic, are not based on any particular person or existing character. Series 1 is a motley bunch, including a pirate, an old-west outlaw, a modern SWAT officer and matching criminal lowlife, and two World War II soldiers.

Character Overview:
While the military toys genre has always thrived, police toys have generally been more of a niche market, with such lines as C.O.P.S, Police Academy, Robocop, and Rescue Heroes rarely handing the topic realistically (though I should note that both LEGO and Playmobil have had numerous excellent police toys). Dusty Trail blends realism with action and drama for this figure. Although the card gives several paragraphs of information, it doesn't reveal his name or background.

Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 10
Nothing short of awesome. Corporal Smith from this series is a truly wonderous sculpt, and this SWAT officer is every bit as good. Every detail is exquisitely crafted, from the tread on his boots to the seams and rivets on his uniform and even a textured helmet. It's no exaggeration that this is one of the finest action figure sculpts I've ever seen. Although not a particularly colourful figure in his navy-blue-and-black outfit, the paint ops are still perfect. There are flecks of grime all over the figure, especially on the boots. It's an effect which can easily look silly if overdone, but the amount is perfect. This figure is a masterpiece.

Articulation: 4
None of the Dusty Trail Action Series figures are articulation superstars, and the SWAT point man is only barely adequate. He turns at the neck, shoulers, wrists, and left foot only, and none of the above can be turned much or they ruin his one and only pose. Worst of all, he has a non-removable peg in his right foot, so he cannot stand or do much of anything but stand on his base.

Accessories: 10
A base is just a base, but the SWAT point man comes with the coolest base this side of Cabin Control Nemo. It's a section of floor with a wall and door, which stands a full two inches above the point man himself. The door is pushed inward and bent, so that it's obsviously just been kicked off its hinges by the SWAT point man. All of this is pulled off with amazing accuracy and detail: the door is textured just like real wood grain, there's a great weathered look to the door frame, and all the splintering wood looks amazingly realistic. You want a good example of how perfect this thing is? Part of the inside door frame is so splintered that it's almost falling off, and there, if you look closely, is the contact plate for the door lock! Not just moulded, but painted too! Sculptor, you have created a work of art. As a side note, you can see a bit of carpet inside the door, and it's the same shade and texture as Spider's base, so I suspect they might be two parts of the same scene.

No other accesories could match the awesomeness of the base, but they're still cool. He gets a very accurately-sculpted MP-5 (a machine gun, not a newfangled music format) and a removable set of mirrored goggles that look like something Oakley would make for skiers.

Packaging: Above Average
The Dusty Trail action series uses packaging like the recent McFarlane figures. I like it there, and I like it here too. It shows the figure well, it's sturdy, and won't get damaged easily.

Overall score: 9
The SWAT point man is not only easily my favourite Dusty Trail figure, but a strong candidate for my top 10 figures ever. With a perfect sculpt and perfect accessories, this is a figure that deserves a place in every collection.

Availability:
Originally sold at a fairly hefty $12-15 (a bit more than McFarlane figures of similar size and quality), some of them are on Amazon.com for considerably less.

Dusty Trail Action Series 1: Spider action figure review by Andrew Lenahan

Figure: Spider
Property: Dusty Trail Action Series
Series: 1
Keywords: Spider, criminal, thug, lowlife, hoodlum, naughty
Company: Dusty Trail Toys
Release year: 2003

Series Overview:
Bucking the industry trend of using licensed properties as the basis for toy lines, Dusty Trail introduced its Action Series: a line of figures who, though realistic, are not based on any particular person or existing character. Series 1 is a motley bunch, including a pirate, an old-west outlaw, a modern SWAT officer and matching criminal lowlife, and two World War II soldiers.

Character Overview:
Spider's only attempt at characterisation is the name Spider, probably the result of his spider tattoos and black widow "hourglass" t-shirt. Other than that, he's just a generic bad guy. His base has the same texture as the carpet inside the SWAT point man's door, so it's likely that Spider is supposed to be the SWAT point man's quarry.

Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 8.5
He might not be a very interesting character, but that doesn't stop him from being a fine sculpt and an even finer paint job. He's posed so as to be leaping through the air while shooting, which isn't very realistic unless one considers John Woo movies realistic. But despite the strange pose, his sculpt is bursting with detail, from the intricate lacing and tread of his hiking boots to the tiny skull on his belt buckle. Paint is also well above average, with nice printed spider web and tribal tattoos and a very well-done hat pattern. Even his jeans have some colour highlights to them, making them look both faded and dirty.

Articulation: 4
As is typical of the Dusty Trail Action Series, Spider has very limited articulation. His head turns, as do his shoulders and, rather inexplicably, his ankles. If the "flying" pose is just too goofy for your tastes, he also looks okay lying down on either his back or his side.

Accessories: 6
Most of the Dusty Trail Action Series figures have nice bases, but Spider's is very plain, just a little oval of either blue-gray carpet or concrete. He also has two 40-caliber automatic Glock pistols, each of which is slightly different (one is in a firing position) and a little clear peg to let him float over his base.

Packaging: Above Average
The Dusty Trail action series uses packaging like the recent McFarlane figures. I like it there, and I like it here too. It shows the figure well, it's sturdy, and won't get damaged easily.

Overall score: 7
Although the figure sculpt and paint is quite good, Spider is a bit of a letdown with a weak base compared to his Action Series buddies. I can't imagine most people wanting Spider to display on his own, but he works nicely as a companion piece to the SWAT point man, who is probably part of the same scene.

Availability:
Originally sold at a fairly hefty $12-15 (a bit more than McFarlane figures of similar size and quality), Amazon.com (link) currently has them for $7.99 each as of this writing. This is quite a good price.

Dusty Trail Action Series 1: The Captain (pirate) action figure review by Andrew Lenahan

Figure: The Captain (pirate)
Property: Dusty Trail Action Series
Series: 1
Keywords: Historical figures, pirate captain, pirate, ship captain, corsair
Company: Dusty Trail Toys
Release year: 2003

Series Overview:
Bucking the industry trend of using licensed properties as the basis for toy lines, Dusty Trail introduced its Action Series: a line of figures who, though realistic, are not based on any particular person or existing character. Series 1 is a motley bunch, including a pirate, an old-west outlaw, a modern SWAT officer and matching criminal lowlife, and two World War II soldiers.

Character Overview:
With Disney's blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean, and WizKids' popular Pirates of the Spanish Main and Pirates of the Crimson Coast games, pirates have more mainstream popularity than ever. Here, of course, we have a pirate action figure. I wonder, though, why Dusty Trail chose to make this thoroughly generic Captain (without even a name!) when so many interesting pirate characters exist in public-domain fiction and real historical contexts.

Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 8
Although not quite up to the dizzying heights of some of the other Dusty Trail Action Series, The Captain is still a strong sculpt. He's in a fairly dramatic pose, fiercely brandishing his weapon at some attacker while posing with one foot up on a crate. His soft rubber overcoat is folded realistically to match, and they didn't go overboard on decoration and make him a foppish Captain Hook type. Paint is also very good, with my favourite detail being the feather in his cap: resisting the temptation to make it pure white, it has some appropriately grimy detailing.

Articulation: 4
Like most of the Dusty Trail Action Series figures, The Captain is articulated only at the neck, shoulders, and wrists, and obviously only really meant to be posed in his packaged position. Adding insult to injury, his feet don't fit the base pegs very well, though it is possible to cram him on them.

Accessories: 8
All the Dusty Trail Action Series figures come with bases, and The Captain's base is one of the better ones. It's an oval section of a ship's deck, with a beveled edge to make it perfect for display. The wood grain is VERY realistic, and looks just like real stained wood unless you turn it over and reveal the unpainted plastic bottom. Attached to the base is the crate that he leans on. The only real problem with the base is that The Captain fits on it poorly. Additionally, there are three weapons: a cutlass sword and two pistols. One nice touch is that the pistols aren't the same: one is relaxed (and fits in his belt) while the other has the flint back and ready to fire!

Packaging: Above Average
The Dusty Trail action series uses packaging like the recent McFarlane figures. I like it there, and I like it here too. It shows the figure well, it's sturdy, and won't get damaged easily.

Overall score: 7
With a solid sculpt and accessory base, but pitiful articulation and some trouble fitting on his pegs, The Captain averages out to a decent yet entirely non-essential figure. Great if you know someone who could use a little inexpensive desk or shelf sculpture of a pirate, but don't expect to play with it.

Availability:
Originally sold at a fairly hefty $12-15 (a bit more than McFarlane figures of similar size and quality), Amazon.com (link) currently has them for $7.99 each as of this writing. This is quite a good price.

Dusty Trail Action Series 1: Schwartz MG 42 Gunner action figure review by Andrew Lenahan

Figure: Schwartz MG 42 Gunner
Property: Dusty Trail Action Series
Series: 1
Keywords: Military figures, soldiers, WWII, WW2, World War II, German, Nazi, Machinengewehr 42
Company: Dusty Trail Toys
Release year: 2003

Series Overview:
Bucking the industry trend of using licensed properties as the basis for toy lines, Dusty Trail introduced its Action Series: a line of figures who, though realistic, are not based on any particular person or existing character. Series 1 is a motley bunch, including a pirate, an old-west outlaw, a modern SWAT officer and matching criminal lowlife, and two World War II soldiers.

Character Overview:
With a tradition going back to ancient times, and through centuries of tin and wooden soldiers, military figures are truly one of the classic toy themes. However, modern military figures seem to be strictly divided between detailed (and expensive) replicas targeted squarely at adult collectors, and silly plastic characters for the kids to play with. Dusty Trail presents an interesting middle ground, with articulated 6" figures at a reasonable price point, while still packing in plenty of accuracy and detail for war buffs. The card gives a paragraph of detail about Sturmann Schwartz, and details his gear, but doesn't really give any background besides him being in France.

Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 8.5
The Dusty Trail Action Series line certainly has its share of truly awesome sculpts, and while Schwartz isn't among the best, he's still excellent and well above average for an action figure. With a somewhat more defensive pose than his American counterpart, Corporal Smith, he has an equally fierce expression and almost as much fine detail. He has plenty of realistic-looking attached gear as well. Paint detailing is also quite good, but again not as good as Corporal Smith's.

Articulation: 4
Like Corporal Smith, Schwartz has a minimum of articulation. His head and wrists can turn, as do both shoulders, and each has a somewhat better range of motion than Smith's. He scores higher than Smith because the peg which holds him on his base is attached to the base rather than his foot, so he can stand without his base.

Accessories: 9
Whatever his chances of surviving the war might be, Schwartz can rest easy knowing that when it comes to accessories, he has his enemy soundly beaten. He has a large base with a wall section attached, taller than the figure itself, in fact. Oddly, the card states that his base is supposed to be a street section, although unless Frech streets in WWII were paved with wooden boards, it's obviously a floor. It's all very detailed, and the wall is sculpted on both sides, so you can orient it for display either in front of Schwartz or behind him. He has three handheld accessories: two grenades (which tuck into his belt too) and his MG 42 machine gun, which is impressively long and accurately detailed. On the negative side, he doesn't hold onto his gun very easily.

Packaging: Above Average
The Dusty Trail action series uses packaging like the recent McFarlane figures. I like it there, and I like it here too. It shows the figure well, it's sturdy, and won't get damaged easily.

Overall score: 8
It's impossible not to compare Schwartz with Corporal Smith, who has a better sculpt and paint but weaker articulation and accessories. It's too close to call which is the better overall figure though. WWII buffs certainly deserve to own both.

Availability:
Originally sold at a fairly hefty $12-15 (a bit more than McFarlane figures of similar size and quality), Amazon.com (link) currently has them for $7.99 each as of this writing. This is quite a good price.

Dusty Trail Action Series 1: The Outlaw action figure review by Andrew Lenahan

Figure: The Outlaw
Property: Dusty Trail Action Series
Series: 1
Keywords: Historical figures, wild west, western, American west, outlaw
Company: Dusty Trail Toys
Release year: 2003

Series Overview:
Bucking the industry trend of using licensed properties as the basis for toy lines, Dusty Trail introduced its Action Series: a line of figures who, though realistic, are not based on any particular person or existing character. Series 1 is a motley bunch, including a pirate, an old-west outlaw, a modern SWAT officer and matching criminal lowlife, and two World War II soldiers.

Character Overview:
Much like The Captain, I wonder why a generic character was used. This could have been an opportunity to create a new character, or to make an interesting historical figure based on a real-life outlaw, perhaps along the lines of Todd McFarlane's stylised take on Billy The Kid. However, the packaging gives several paragraphs of information on The Outlaw, but no name or any background is given.

Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 7
The packaging does describe The Outlaw's pose: he's just left a saloon after cheating at cards, then turns to shoot someone pursuing him. Although by no means a poor sculpt, he's just not up to the high standard of the rest of the Dusty Trail Action Series. His pose seems contrived and unnatural, and the bottom of his plastic coat is thick and bulky (why not use a thin rubber coat like The Captain had?). This is also the only Action Series 1 figure with paint problems. His tan is every uneven... on his left hand, for example, all his fingers are a pottery-clay red colour, except his index finger, which is much paler. On his right hand, the palm and fingers are very dark, but the back of his hand is lighter. Most bizarrely of all--and I'm not making this up--he has bright hot-pink nail polish on! Either The Outlaw accidentally borrowed his preteen niece's makeup bag, or there was some sort of paint application screw-up. I was also somewhat disappointed by the lack of dirt on this figure, with only some speckling around his boots. He looks rather clean for a wild west outlaw. On the positive side, though, his facial detailing is excellent.

Articulation: 4
Like most of the Dusty Trail Action Series figures, The Outlaw is articulated only at the neck, shoulders, and wrists, and can only really pose in one position. And it's a fairly silly-looking position at that.

Accessories: 7
The Outlaw's main accessory is his base, which has two areas: a very well-sculpted sand/dust street area, and a slightly raised wooden sidewalk area. The wood plank effect is good, with a detailed texture, but not nearly as convincing as The Captain's wooden-looking base. His only other accessory is his trusty Colt pistol, which fits perfectly in his right hand.

Packaging: Above Average
The Dusty Trail action series uses packaging like the recent McFarlane figures. I like it there, and I like it here too. It shows the figure well, it's sturdy, and won't get damaged easily.

Overall score: 6.5
Though this is clearly not a must-have figure for most people, it's still one of relatively few good wild west figures on the market, and would make a decent little display piece for western fans. It's worth noting that there's a companion piece to this figure, a lawman, in Dusty Trail Action Series 2.

Availability:
Originally sold at a fairly hefty $12-15 (a bit more than McFarlane figures of similar size and quality), Amazon.com (link) currently has them for $7.99 each as of this writing. This is quite a good price.

Star Wars: Original Trilogy Collection: Millenium Falcon toy by Hasbro, review by Andrew Lenahan

Star Wars: Original Trilogy Collection: Millenium Falcon toy by Hasbro, review by Andrew Lenahan

Toy: Millenium Falcon
Property: Star Wars
Series: Original Trilogy Collection
Keywords: Millenium Falcon, Han Solo, starship, spaceship, smuggling ship, made the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs, smells kinda like a wookiee
Release year: 2004

Series Overview:
By 2004, both Star Wars prequels had already been extensively covered by various figure lines, and Revenge of the Sith was still a closely-guarded secret. Fortunately, Lucas had an ace up his sleeve to ensure that interest in the franchise remained strong: the long-awaited release of the original Star Wars trilogy on DVD. Riding on this wave of nostalgia for the first three films, the Original Trilogy Collection of toys had a distinctively vintage feel, even going so far as to revive the familiar "curved metal bands" design from the vintage toy packaging.

Ship Overview:
Even among those who acknowledge Star Wars to be the finest toy line of all time, there's little doubt that its subjects often veer toward the obscure, sometimes at the expense of play value. For example, have you played with your Cloud Car lately? No such obscurity plagues the Millenium Falcon. Han Solo's smuggling ship is recognisable even to non-fans, and is a cultural icon. In the original trilogy it survived dramatic space battles, dynamic chases, and even a mynock hunt. Even its interior was the site of many memorable scenes, like Luke's Jedi ball and Chewbacca's dejarik victory. This ship is the very definition of play value.

Sculpt and Paint: 9.5
Although not merely a reissue of the vintage Millenium Falcon (there's some new features, keep reading), it's obvious right from the first glance that the 1979 original was strongly used as the basis for this version. This is fortunate, as the original Millenium Falcon was also a triumph of both design and playability. There's little new here in the way of sculpt detail, but the revamped paint job is excellent, giving the Falcon an appropriately weathered look. The effect is augmented by a wide variety of fun stickers which you get to apply yourself. This really is an excellent toy, with the only possible complaint being a relative lack of detail inside the ship itself.

Action features and playability: 10
My friends, it just doesn't get any better than this. Most spaceship toys focus on the outside, with maybe an opening cockpit or two. The Millenium Falcon has almost as much play value when it's landed as when it's whooshing through hyperspace, thanks to a large removable section of roof revealing a spacious interior with the dejarik table, rotating gunner station, removable smuggling compartment, and movable loading ramp. Observant fans will notice the lack of a Jedi practice ball which was present in the old Falcon. I can only guess why it was removed, but I suspect it was considered a choking hazard. There's also three pieces of retractable landing gear on the bottom of the ship. A cockpit at the front of the ship also opens, and the inside has been retooled, allowing the generally larger current figures to fit inside better. Two figures are supposed to be able to fit, and generally do, but don't go crazy... if you figured Ephant Mon and B'omarr Monk could fit in here, keep dreaming.

Of course, the Falcon is foremostly a space vehicle, and in-flight action certainly hasn't been ignored. The satellite dish can be manually rotated and pivots up and down, as does the top gun, which also includes a cool ratchet sound as it moves. But the real attraction here is the suite of sound and light features. There are four buttons on the side, each of which activates a combination of sound and light, such as flyby and firing the front guns. Even the rear thrusters glow blue, which looks very cool in the dark. Finallt, there's a firing missile on the front, with a nearby button, which lights as it fires and also has an accompanying sound.

Overall, the Millenium Falcon is a triumph of playability. The phrase "hours of fun" gets thrown around quite a lot, but in this case it certainly applies. Any imaginitive child, whether a Star Wars fan or not, should be able to get a huge amount of fun from this toy, justifying its cost many times over.

Packaging: Average
It comes in a sturdy printed non-window box, typical of a toy of this size. Like the rest of the Original Trilogy Collection, it has a vintage look to it.

Overall score: 10
Being an improvement on the original Millenium Falcon, which in itself was a classic toy, is no small task. This new version pulls it off with (quite literally) flying colours. This is the best Star Wars vehicle yet, and I do not hesitate to give it my full recommendation.

Availability:
As of this writing, availability of Original Trilogy Collection items is dwindling, as stores clear shelf space for Revenge of the Sith items. You might still be able to find the Falcon at K-Mart, Wal-Mart, Toys R Us, or Amazon.com (link). Alternatively, try eBay.

Ghost Files Yu Yu Hakusho: Botan action figure by IF Labs, review by Andrew Lenahan

Series Overview:
Licenced by IF Labs from Funimation, Ghost Files Yu Yu Hakusho is a small series of four characters from the popular anime TV series. The figures are quite large-scaled at around 9" each. Each comes with a flimsy plastic stand.

Character Overview:
Botan is not actually named after Botan Rice Candy. They're both named after a type of flower. She dresses in a very cool traditional pink kimono with traditional flip-flops.

Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 10
Rather than going for a ludicrous amount of lifelike detail, the sculptors clearly went for a strong likeness of the cartoon character. And boy, did they ever pull it off. Her face is bright, vibrant, and expressive. Her hair is intricate and fluid, as though in motion from being blown by the wind. Her long kimono has details like a bow at the back, and huge exaggerated sleeves. Even more impressive than the fine sculpt is the wonderful paint job. Her hair includes two shades of blue to give the impression of highlights. Perhaps best of all, her kimono is dully reflective, almost metallic, giving a very realistic plastic impression of fine silk. The facts cannot be understated: this is truly a great figure. Botan is like a living cartoon character invisioned in a 3D form.

Articulation: 7
As far as articulation goes, Botan is not a strong figure, even compared with others in the same series. Her head turns, as do her shoulders, wrists, waist, and ankles. Her shoulder movement is of limited use, though, as her kimono sleeves are obviously meant to hang down and look silly sticking straight out or up. I do think, however, that adding more articulation would not have helped this figure, and may have detracted from the excellent sculpt. Finally, she stands up easily even without her base.

Accessories: 4
Lack of accessories are indeed the low point for this figure. Her only real accessory is a long staff, which is simply sculpted and unpainted, but is moulded in a somewhat metallic-looking copper-coloured plastic. Like the other Ghost Files Yu Yu Hakusho figures, she comes with a a flimsy plastic base. It's easier to stand her up without the base, in fact. The base is painted blue on the top, to accentuate the Ghost Files Yu Yu Hakusho logo.

Packaging: Average
A large figure needs a large package, which Botan has. It's a standard bubble and cardboard combo, though it is big and allows a good view of the figures inside.

Overall score: 8
Botan is truly a diamond in the rough. If you can look past the dearth of accessories and the weak articulation, you'll find that the core figure is a truly great sculpt. Recommended for series fans and neophytes alike.

Availability:
Botan might be somewhat of a challenge to find, though if you're lucky enough find her, she should be fairly cheap. We've only seen her at certain K. B. Toys stores, outlets in particular. If you don't have one near you, try eBay instead.

The Castles of New Orleans

[Note: this is also available at DeviantART, with a little cover illustration.]

It's late afternoon, approaching twilight. New Orleans. The skies are dark grey, the air tossed by rampant wind. A storm is coming. Myself, Madeline, and some friends are at a nice restaurant in the business district, flanked on all sides by gleaming towers of commerce. Aware of the coming storm, but awash in friendly chatter and a light afternoon meal, I ignore it and continue the conversation. Suddenly, klaxons sound. The lights flicker. Amid the din of the alarum, voices can be heard, "No, it can't be!" and "But... not now!" I'm reminded of Neon Genesis Evangelion, how NERV would always react to the arrival of each angel with disbelief. This was real, though. There would be no angels in New Orleans tonight. A state of Mardi Gras had been declared.

Down on the streets, revellers burst through the barricades as the first fattened drops of rain begin to fall from the charcoal-grey sky. Enormous mechanical parade floats creak and lurch to life, bulbous fibreglass eyes rolling, teeth gnashing. They ascend from their places of hibernation, breaking free of their chains, splintering the wooden doors binding them from the waking world as they join the procession, one after another.

The throng of humanity, doing all to disguise itself with a sheen of greasepaint and glint of cheap imported beads, congregate restlessly on both sides of the street as the lumbering floats approach in single file. This year, they've added a new feature to the festivities, a black rubber conveyor belt that revellers can place objects on, and the black band of posessions will follow the parade route slowly. I put a few things on, knick-knacks really: a grinning ceramic orange, a plastic cactus... I wonder if I'll see them again, if they'll be waiting when the parade is over, or if they'll be collected and loved.

The rain increases, coming down in thick sheets, while the distant rumble of thunder can be heard amongst the laughter and screams of the crowd. I am among them, and soon decide to procure an umbrella. Running through the rain-slicked streets ahead of the parade floats and most of the crowd, I duck into a tenement a block off the main road as the night begins. My mother is there, spinning at the loom, and lends me a brilliant orange umbrella, the sort that compacts itself into a sheath for easy carrying. Back on the street I open the umbrella, but the sheath escapes into the wind, which is a tempest, blowing leaves off the trees, garbage from the gutter, and the parade floats into one another, causing smaller parts to blow upward into the black night sky.

I catch a glimpse of the ascending umbrella sheath, which seems to expand in mid air, from a thin tube of fabric, to the size of a garbage bag, and finally billowing into a huge, parachute-like mass, which catches on a neon sign atop a nearby building. "Finnegan's Chewing Gum" it blares in red, orange, and yellow blinking tubes, while neon shapes explode in colour all around. I run into the building and quickly climb to the roof, where the umbrella sheath is still caught on the sign, flailing in the unearthly wind of the night, as the streets far below glow and throb with the pulse of celebration. I try to pull the fabric off the sign, but the metal supporting it sways and creaks, suggesting that, weakened by time and tonight's wind, it will soon fall. I decide to leave the sheath for now, hoping that I can return later to finish.

As I reach the street once more, the storm has died down somewhat and I rejoin Madeline and our group, and we decide to explore the castles of the city. [Editor's note: New Orleans isn't really a place known for having castles. Also, if you want a delicious, refreshing snack on the go, try a Take 5 candy bar, from Hershey's, with the taste of real pretzel in every bite! Take 5 today!] So anyway, we leave the crowded streets and run into the night toward manicured lawns and ancient towers brightened by torchlight, as the final thunderclaps of the waning storm boom over our heads. At an ancient gift shop of days gone by, we see a beautiful thing: drinking glasses with small pieces of real fruit, cherries and such, somehow encapsulated into the glass itself. They're lovely, but rather expensive, I suppose.

THE END

Ghost Files Yu Yu Hakusho: Koenma action figure by IF Labs, review by Andrew Lenahan

Series Overview:
Licenced by IF Labs from Funimation, Ghost Files Yu Yu Hakusho is a small series of four characters from the popular anime TV series. The figures are quite large-scaled at around 9" each. Each comes with a flimsy plastic stand.

Character Overview:
Koenma Diaoh is a sort of beaurocrat of the spirit world, and appears in his true form (a little kid) or his human-world form as a young adult. Either way, he always has a pacifier.

Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 8
While not super-detailed, the figure is well sculpted and very true to the cartoon. The clothing has excellent drapery and folds, notable in particular around the lower pant legs. I particualrly like the hands. No holdable accessories means the sculptor didn't have to make them fit around a weapon or anything, and they're expressive and realistic. Paint is also simple but very good, with some nice detail work like the anime eyes, forehead "Jr" and hair highlights.

Articulation: 7
Koenma is articulated at the neck, shoulders, elbows, hands, waist, upper leg (an odd choice), knee, and ankles. The knee and elbow joints are very obvious even at a quick glance.

Accessories: 7.5
Little Koenma is the only real accessory, but he's almost like getting a second figure. His sculpt and paint quality are on par with the main figure, though he's much less articulated, with turning head, feet, and arms. Both figures have pacifiers, which are not removable. Also included is a stand, which is made of very cheap plastic and is very flimsy and the figure does not stand easily on it. On a positive note, the stand has a blue paint op so that the Ghost Files Yu Yu Hakusho logo stands out more.

Packaging: Average
A large figure needs a large package, which Koenma has. It's a standard bubble and cardboard combo, though it is big and allows a good view of the figures inside.

Overall score: 7.5
A good likeness and a cute second figure make this a solid effort from IF Labs. Fans of the show will probably love this, though there isn't anything special enough about it for non-fans to bother.

Availability:
Koenma might be somewhat of a challenge to find, though if you're lucky enough find him he should be fairly cheap. We've only seen him at certain K. B. Toys stores, outlets in particular. If you don't have one near you, try eBay instead.

Van Helsing Gross Dissection Lab by Jakks Pacific Toy Review by Andrew Lenahan

Series Overview:
Jakks Pacific Inc, best known for their wrestling figures, licensed the Van Helsing property, based on the 2004 summer movie with Hugh Jackman. Before its release, it looked quite likely that Van Helsing would be a solid blockbuster hit, but the movie proved disappointing, due at least partially to the fact that it was really hilariously awful. The toys, to put it charitably, are a mixed bag, ranging from somewhat decent to laughably terrible.

Toy Overview:
Dissection labs and such have long been a popular subject for boys' toys, and parents are often willing to buy anything with even vague potention for education. If Junior asks for a Gross Dissection lab at age 7, it'll be a microscope at age 12, a scanning electron microscope at age 15, and an MIT scholarship at 18. Or so they hope.

Even if we set science aside, Jakks Pacific really dropped the ball on this one. The idea is great... what better license for a gross lab toy than a film starring Frankenstein? Even Dracula and the Wolfman have gorydissection potential. All we get, though, is a pod with a little bat creature in it. You put the bat in the pod, "slice it open" (there's a pre-cut slit) and there you go. That's about it.

Toy Sculpt and Paint: 3
One of the good things about the movie and most of the action figures is the stylized gothic look. It wasn't a great film by any means, not was the visual look even spectacularly original, but careful thought was obviously put into it and it came out looking the part at least. The dissection lab, unfortunately, eschews the gothic look for generic sci-fi instead. The lab table that comes with the Wolfman in this very same toy line is far better looking than this! To make things even worse, the paint job is among the sloppiest I've ever encountered. The average Pinewood Derby car is painted better than this hunk of plastic.

Movement and Action Features: 2
The main feature here is a microscope-like appendage which moves pivots up and down and can also shift forward slightly. Unfortunately, it provides almost no magnification. There are also arms to hold the dissection subject to the table, which move in two places each, but very awkwardly and with little range of motion. There is also a velcro strap in case the arms cannot hold the subject to the table, which is almost always. Finally, there's a small drawer under the table. It's easy to open and close, but can only hold the tweezers, not the bat or even the scalpel.

Accessories: 4
The main accessory, the bat pod, is from the movie (not content just to rehash the classic Universal monsters, they had to ressurect Aliens as well). It essentially looks like a big green brain and is painted poorly with lighter green accents. The two tools provided are tweezers which work reasonably well and a pathetic scalpel. The scalpel is odd because it's not sharp enough for cutting but it's pointed and could be used as a poking weapon. Also included is a bag of purple-pink slime. I'm not sure whether the choice of purple rather than green should be considered a good thing or a bad thing. Green would look much better oozing out of the green brainlike pod, but purple is much less cliche. I've saved the best accessory--by far--for last. It's a little pygmy bat. It's not articulated, but it's a great sculpt and has a nice paint job. The same pygmy bat is also included with some of the Dracula figures.

Packaging: Average
A cardboard box. Functional, nothing special. Couldn't realistically have expected anything more (or less).

Overall score: 3
We could've dissected Frankenstein or the Wolfman and they give us a bat pod?! This is far from being the worst toy in history, but it may well be one of the biggest missed opportunities. A highly dissapointing toy, I can't even really say this is recommended for Van Helsing fans, because I asked them and they both have it already.

Availability:
If you really must have it, you can get it, and cheaply. As of this review, they're common at Toys R Us in the US, where our review sample was bought at 90% off, less than a dollar-fifty. They're also on Amazon.

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me: Moon Mission Mini-Me Action Figure by McFarlane Toys, Review by Andrew Lenahan

Series Overview:
Austin Powers might not necessarily seem like a natural for an action-figure line, but McFarlane Toys got the license in 1999 and produced two fine series. The later Goldmember line was made by Mezco, not McFarlane.

Toy Overview:
McFarlane's series-one Mini-Me must have been extremely popular, as he was made into a large-scale figure and then brought back as two different figures in series two, including this one. A companion piece to Moon Mission Dr. Evil, Moon Mission Mini-Me is based on the outfit from the moonbase scenes in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 9.5
Moon Mission Mini-Me's sculpt is even better (or at least, more realistic) than the previous version, though perhaps just a tiny bit less endearing as a result. For a three-inch piece of plastic, this figure absolutely bristles with detail, from textured lips (!) down to the tiny knobs on his breathing unit and even the zipper pull on his spacesuit! This is truly how an action figure should be made. The paint is also excellent, reinforcing some sculpt details and introducing others, like the tiny valve labels above each knob on the breathing unit. One minor quibble might be made regarding some too-dark facial details, especially the scar, and very dark areas around his eyes, making the figure look somewhat tired and bored. The effect is not extreme, though, and overall this is a damn fine figure.

Articulation: 7.5
Nobody really buys a McFarlane figure expecting dozens of points of articulation, and this figure is no exception. His head swivels, as do his shoulders, elbows, wrists, waist, and ankles. Overall, a decent showing, though he does have trouble standing if his feet are turned even slightly, a problem that's even worse if he's holding the cat. There is a display stand included though (see Accessories).

Accessories: 7.5
While Mini-Me got an awesomely-detailed chair in series one, his major accessory now is a display stand with a voice feature. Since Mini-Me doesn't really talk, the included phrase (yes, just one) is Dr. Evil saying "Breathtaking... I shall call him Mini-Me." I've never been too thrilled with voice features in figures: I'd almost invariably prefer more/better accessories instead, or a cheaper toy. The stand is nicely designed and painted, even though it doesn't really match the toy, and the attached foot peg makes him float rather than stand.

The smaller accessories fare better. There's a nice Mini Mr. Bigglesworth with an articulated (turning) head and a spot-on paint job. Next up is a cool briefcase which opens to reveal beautifully-detailed money. There's also a clear plastic helmet bubble that attaches to Mini-Me's suit, and a notepad with the "hangman" gag from the film. Last and least is a... pen. I always like really tiny accessories, but come on... it's a pen. I guess it's supposed to go with the notepad, in case you want to pose Mini-Me writing stuff. You know, I guess some kids might want to pretend he's a midget moon accountant or something.

Packaging: Average
This was before McFarlane switched to the superior all-plastic packaging, so we get cardboard with a bubble. It's colourful though. You also get a little colour leaflet advertising some other McFarlane Toys releases.

Overall score: 8.5
There's no way around the obvious: this is an excellent figure. But it's just a notch below the previous year's series one Mini-Me. So if you have to get just one, get that one instead. For anyone else, this Mini-Me rocks.

Availability:
I doubt you'll ever see any more of these in stores, though anything is possible. It's still not too tough to find one, though. Try ebay.

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: C-3PO action figure by Hasbro, review by Andrew Lenahan

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: C-3PO action figure by Hasbro, review by Andrew Lenahan

Figure: C-3PO
Property: Star Wars
Series: Revenge of the Sith (Episode III)
Number: III-18
Keywords: C-3PO, C-3P0, See-Threepio, Crow T. Robot's evolved form

Series Overview:
After a small four-figure preview set, the Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith action figure line was expanded in April 2005 with many more figures. A departure from the simpler retro feel of the previous series, the Sith line features cutting-edge packaging and an emphasis on playability, accessories, and action features.

Character Overview:
A metallic-gold humanoid protocol droid, C-3PO is largely a comic-relief character throughout the Star Wars films. Though derided by some as whiny and even annoying, C-3PO's tendency to fret rather than rush headfirst into insurmountable danger makes him in some ways the most human character of the series. In Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, C-3PO aquires his familiar gold frame and serves Padme Amidala with his loyal and adorable sidekick R2-D2.

Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 8
Necessarily made of more brittle hard plastic than his Star Wars compatriots due to his chrome paint, R2-D2 has a decent sculpt nontheless marred by some serious problems. By far the most glaring of these is his left thumb... he doesn't have one! My first suspicion was that my figure was some sort of moulding error, but a Google search for C-3PO +thumb turned up this review (link), where the author also makes note of a thumb problem. According to the picture, that C-3PO's thumb seems mutated whilst mine is gone altogether, but it's pretty clear that there's an issue with the thumbs on this figure. Also, the pneumatic tubes running from the forearm to the bicep don't have the space between the tube and the arm cut out, though it's possible such detailing would make them too brittle. On the positive side, the paint is fantastic, and may even be the best C-3PO figure yet in that regard. The bright, shiny chrome brings happy memories of the classic vintage C-3PO of yore, while the detailed paint ops of wires on his belly and backs of knees bring the figure into the modern age. The eyes and mouth are also painted, and there's even black details on the palms of his hands!

Articulation: 7
Let's face it, folks... C-3PO is never going to be the most articulated guy in the toybox. He's pretty stiff even in the movies, so a super-articulated C-3PO wouldn't make much sense anyway. This time, he has articulation at the neck (ball-jointed, though still a limited range of motion), the shoulders, mid-torso under the chest plate (also ball-jointed, good motion), and hips. One major complaint is that all four of C-3PO's limbs fall off easily. Try putting him in a sitting position and you'll see what I mean. They do snap back on easily, so this may be an undocumented feature rather than a flaw, and it does add some playability.

Accessories: 7.5
The only accessory is a base, and while that's nothing too special, many past C-3PO figures haven't come with anything at all. Probably the all-time high point was the C-3PO who came with a battle droid and conveyor and all their limbs interchanged, but that was a deluxe figure. The base here is very nicely done, with a section of metal flooring where C-3PO can stand, and the rest is ominous molten lava. It looks like ol' 3PO really gets himself into some trouble in this movie! Anyway, the right side of the base looks like it should connect with something, probably a base included with one of the other figures, though I haven't found out which one just yet. If a figure is only going to come with one accessory, a unique and interesting base is the way to go. I'd much prefer that to yet another tiny blaster or lightsaber.

Packaging: Above Average
The Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith figures are packaged in very cool oval-shaped bubble, with a menacing Darth Vader-above-molten-lava background. The packaging is slightly hard to open, but gone are the annoying twist-ties which have plagued Star Wars figures since the late 90s. Overall, the packaging is well above average for an action figure.

Overall score: 7.5
Of all the Star Wars figures, C-3PO is probably the one to have changed the least through all his various editions. Whether this is due to reverance to a classic character or lack if innovation is a matter of opinion. My favourite C-3PO will probably always be the conveyor-belt one from Epsode II: Attack of the Clones. After that high point, playing with this new 2005 C-3PO is very much like playing with the 1977 C-3PO. If you have fond memories of that, this guy is easily worth his five bucks just for nostalgia alone.

Availability:
C-3PO is available in toy stores and Wal-Marts as of this writing. Amazon.com (link) has it at a good price point.

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: Shaak Ti (Jedi warrior) action figure by Hasbro, review by Andrew Lenahan

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: Shaak Ti (Jedi master) action figure by Hasbro, review by Andrew Lenahan

Figure: Shaak Ti
Property: Star Wars
Series: Revenge of the Sith (Episode III)
Number: III-21
Keywords: Jedi, Jedi warrior, Jedi master, Jedi council, Jedi general, Jedi blah blah, boring Jedi, funky dreadlocks

Series Overview:
After a small four-figure preview set, the Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith action figure line was expanded in April 2005 with many more figures. A departure from the simpler retro feel of the previous series, the Sith line features cutting-edge packaging and an emphasis on playability and action features.

Character Overview:
In my opinion, the wholesale introduction of numerous new Jedi warriors (in Episode I: The Phantom Menace and Episode II: Attack of the Clones) was a mistake. They were pretty much introduced all at once, and not given any chance to develop as interesting characters. All we know about any of them is that they're Jedi, and presumably wise and good with their lightsabers. If you know your Kit Fisto from your Plo Koon, then congratulations, my friend, you're a bigger Star Wars fan than I. Compared to fascinating characters like Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi, they might as well call these latecomers "Generic Jedi Badass #12". Ok, on to our current review. Shaak Ti, at least, is one of the more interesting-looking new Jedi, though personality-wise she's every bit as much of a personality-free cypher as Saesee Tiin or Sora Bulq.

Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 8.5
Boring character or not, Shaak Ti is still a cool figure. Besides her reddish-pink skin, her most distinctive feature is her elaborate set of "head-tails", a zebra-striped protective appendage that seems to combine horns with dreadlocks. Not nearly as overly-posed as the Episode II figure of her, she's far more functional than before. There's plenty od fetail to the sculpt, as well. Her head-tails are lightly textured, and her loincloth has a great embroidered look, even though it's plastic. Not everything on her is moulded, though: she has a truly awesome fabric skirt. Forget about the vinyl capes and crude felt garments of yesteryear: this skirt is a fairly high-quality piece, with a pleated feel and serrated bottom edge! Paint is also impressive with her intricately-detailed face and cool zebra-striped head-tails.

Articulation: 9
Perhaps realising that the Episode II Shaak Ti was little more than a tiny statue, Hasbro gave her some decent articulation this time around. It turned out to be a wise choice, especially since she's such an action-oriented figure. She moves at the neck, shoulders, right elbow, right mid-forearm, waist, hips, and knees. Of those, the neck, shoulders, and knees are all ball-jointed, allowing for great range of motion. The articulation is mostly excellent, with the only drawback coming to mind being the arms being forever bent at a not-too-natural angle. Also, what's up with two points of articulation on the right arm, but none on the left? Strange!

Accessories: 7.5
Shaak Ti comes with a futuristic floor base... the same one as the Royal Guard figure, in fact. She also has the expected blue lightsaber, but with an extra little feaure. The blade can be removed, and the handle plugs into her belt for handy storage. Finally, she comes with... a Game Boy Advance?! No, that can't be it. Maybe it's a makeup compact, or a PDA, or a tricorder, or a cel phone? I'm not sure, but she comes with a little computer-y thing that doesn't fit in either of her hands.

Packaging: Above Average
The Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith figures are packaged in very cool oval-shaped bubble, with a menacing Darth Vader-above-molten-lava background. The packaging is slightly hard to open, but gone are the annoying twist-ties which have plagued Star Wars figures since the late 90s. Overall, the packaging is well above average for an action figure.

Overall score: 8
An above-average sculpt and great articulation make Shaak Ti a quality figure that belongs in any serious collection, though the mediocre accessories keep her from being among the best of the line. Nonetheless, Shaak Ti gets a strong recommendation from me.

Availability:
Shaak Ti is available in toy stores and Wal-Marts as of this writing. Amazon.com (link) has it at a fairly good price point.

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: Yoda (with cannon) action figure by Hasbro, review by Andrew Lenahan

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: Yoda (with cannon) action figure by Hasbro, review by Andrew Lenahan

Figure: Yoda (with cannon)
Property: Star Wars
Series: Revenge of the Sith (Episode III)
Number: III-3
Keywords: Yoda, Jedi, Jedi warrior, Jedi master, cannon, comes with a cannon, no really a freakin' cannon!

Series Overview:
After a small four-figure preview set, the Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith action figure line was expanded in April 2005 with many more figures. A departure from the simpler retro feel of the previous series, the Sith line features cutting-edge packaging and an emphasis on playability, accessories, and action features.

Character Overview:
Possibly the most famous and recognizable Star Wars character (besides perhaps Darth Vader), Yoda literally needs no introduction. In the prequels, Yoda is much more physically active and quite formidable with a lightsaber. Given the choice of accessories, it's clear that Yoda's distinction as a warrior continues in Episode III.

Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 7.0
The sculpt is interesting to say the least. Yoda appears strikingly slimmer than other versions, which is particularly apparent around the neck. Also, the folds of his pyjamas are very angular, stylistic almost to the point of being unrealistic. While I like his pose, the facial expression isn't a good one: he looks either bored, or annoyed, or constipated. Instead of a fearsome Jedi warrior or a wise master of the ways of the force, Yoda looks like a pissed-off carmudeon about to chase the neighbourhood kids off his lawn. Paint quality is also mixed. The detail on Yoda's face is nice (if you look closely you can see his yellow eyes) but the painted "hair" is sloppy, and his pyjamas have no paint at all!

Articulation: 7.5
The articulation here does its job. While the point count is low (neck, shoulders, wrists, hips, ankles) most of those are ball joints and have a good range of motion. Yoda stands up easily.

Accessories: 8.5
Accessories are undoubtedly the strong point of this figure. Yoda comes with a removable robe with subtle paint weathering, and a traditional green lightsaber that fits nicely into his hand. Oh, and did I mention the HUGE CANNON?! This thing is truly massive, being taller than Yoda and several times as long. It looks a little like a huge version of the Wookiee Warrior's gun. It fires a translucent red projectile, and the mechanism works well.

Packaging: Above Average
The Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith figures are packaged in very cool oval-shaped bubble, with a menacing Darth Vader-above-molten-lava background. The packaging is slightly hard to open, but gone are the annoying twist-ties which have plagued Star Wars figures since the late 90s. Overall, the packaging is well above average for an action figure.

Overall score: 7.5
Saved from mediocrity by the HUGE CANNON, this figure is still far from being the best Yoda yet. Get a 2004 Dagobah Yoda if you must get only one. Still, the cannon accessory makes it a fairly solid purchase, especially with its firing action.

Availability:
Yoda is available in toy stores and Wal-Marts as of this writing. Amazon.com (link) has it at a fairly good price point.

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader action figure by Hasbro, review by Andrew Lenahan

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader action figure by Hasbro, review by Andrew Lenahan

Figure: Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader ("Anakin Skywalker with Darth Vader tunic and armor")
Property: Star Wars
Series: Revenge of the Sith (Episode III)
Number: Not numbered
Keywords: Anakin Skywalker, Darth Vader, Emperial, Empire, Jedi, evil, naughty, Hayden Christensen, Dark Helmet

Series Overview:
After a small four-figure preview set, the Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith action figure line was expanded in April 2005 with many more figures. A departure from the simpler retro feel of the previous series, the Sith line features cutting-edge packaging and an emphasis on playability, accessories, and action features.

Character Overview:
The change of young Jedi warrior Anakin Skywalker into the evil Darth Vader, and his eventual redemption, is the central conflict of the entire Star Wars sextet of movies. Although both Anakin and Darth Vader figures have been available since the vintage figure line, this figure allows an Anakin/Vader transormation, although not without some difficulty.

Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 7
Although passable, the Anakin figure's sculpt is adersely affected by the Darth Vader change. The shoulders are overly broad, and the waist is freakishly tiny. The effect isn't as bad with his Anakin garb on, though he still looks like he's wearing football shoulder pads under his Jedi robes. When fully dressed as Vader, though, he looks much better. Paint is similarly decent, though the dark 'n' gloomy Vader rarely has or needs much paint detail in his various figures. As one peculiarity, even in full Vader mode, the figure still has brown work boots.

Articulation: 6.5
Anakin articulates at the shoulders, forearms, waist, and hips, which is just below average for a modern Star Wars figure. As Darth Vader, articulation is the same. Anakin has what on first glance might look like the strangest action feature in the Star Wars line: his head can be pressed down to dissapear into his chest cavity. This is necessary for his transormation into Darth Vader, of course, but it looks wonderfully silly and adds considerable play value as Anakin, the Human Turtle.

Accessories: 8
This figure is all about accessories, so there's plenty to like here. The extensive accessory set is what makes the Darth Vader change possible. Even as Anakin, he has a large and well-sculpted flexible rubber robe and a removable skirt-type garment. Anakin's forearms are removable, and he comes with a good-guy blue lightsaber. The transormation into the evil Darth is realised through a combination helmet/cowl/cape piece which snaps onto Anakin's shoulders with some difficulty. Additional Vader pieces include replacement forearms, chest plate, chaps, and shin guards. Rounding out the sinister ensemble is the classic red lightsaber.

Packaging: Average
Though it lacks the very cool oval packaging of the rest of the Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith line, the packaging is basically okay. It doesn't really show off the accessories very well, and the dreaded twist-ties return, though mercifully there's only one of them.

Overall score: 7.5
With larger packaging and a slightly higher price point than the other Revenge of the Sith figures, Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader might be considered the equivalent of the "deluxe" figures from earlier lines. Though neither the best Anakin Skywalker figure or Darth Vader figure ever made, the changing gimmick adds enough interest for this figure to be worth a buy, especially for dedicated fans.

Availability:
Costing around $10, Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader is available in toy stores and Wal-Marts as of this writing. Amazon.com (link) has it at a fairly good price point.

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: R2-D2 action figure by Hasbro, review by Andrew Lenahan

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: R2-D2 action figure by Hasbro, review by Andrew Lenahan

Figure: R2-D2
Property: Star Wars
Series: Revenge of the Sith (Episode III)
Number: III-8
Keywords: R2-D2, droid, droids, Artoo-Detoo, R2 unit, Star Wars figures, action figures, adorable, astromech droid, cute, garbage can, midget-powered

Series Overview:
After a small four-figure preview set, the Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith action figure line was expanded in April 2005 with many more figures. A departure from the simpler retro feel of the previous series, the Sith line features cutting-edge packaging and an emphasis on playability and action features.

Character Overview:
A short, barrel-shaped astromech droid, described as "feisty" on the packaging, R2-D2 should be familiar to even the most casual of Star Wars fans. Though R2 himself hasn't changed much over the course of the two trilogies, new features are sometimes revealed: in this case, R2 has his propulsion jets (as seen in Episode II: Attack of the Clones) as well as some sort of grasping arm extending from the top of his head.

Action Figure Sculpt and Paint: 7.5
R2 is the second astromech droid in the Revenge of the Sith series after the gold-topped R4-G9, and to Hasbro's credit, they didn't try to cut corners by re-using R4's sculpt. Unfortunately, the R2 sculpt is not an improvement. Some of the finer points, like the seperately-moulded foot wires, are absent. On the positive side, R2-D2's paint is slightly better, with plenty of fine detail. R2 is more obviously "dirty" than R4, though not nearly so much as some of the earlier R2-D2 figures.

Articulation: 6.5
Articulation is another category where R2-D2 suffers from not being an R4-D9 repaint. For some reason, only R2's middle ankle is articulated, not the two side ones like many previous astromech units. Other articulation points include the shoulders and head. R2-D2's middle leg can be pressed inward for an action feature allowing the grappling arm to move forward a bit, though it hardly adds any play value.

Accessories: 8.5
This is, without a doubt, the best set of accessories for an astromech droid figue ever, and a strong contender for best accessories of any droid in the entire Star Wars line (I'd say it's pretty easily beaten by the old Attack of the Clones C-3PO who came with a battle droid and factory conveyor, but that was a deluxe figure so it's up to you whether it counts or not). In any case, R2 certainly has nothing to be ashamed of, accessory-wise. His flying jets are removable--and interchangable, if you feel like it. The jets have a cool translucent-blue effect at the bottom, which I guess is supposed to look like a rocket firing. The strange arm attachment also comes off. There's also a dark blue pile of droid debris with a C-3PO head and what looks like some super battle droid parts. Still not enough? Okay, R2's main accessory is a large floor section with a moving panel so you can tap it and flip poor R2 and other figures. The floor base even has a gradient black paint effect so it looks burnt.

Packaging: Above Average
The Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith figures are packaged in very cool oval-shaped bubble, with a menacing Darth Vader-above-molten-lava background. The packaging is slightly hard to open, but gone are the annoying twist-ties which have plagued Star Wars figures since the late 90s. Overall, the packaging is well above average for an action figure.

Overall score: 7.5
Fantastic accessories and decent but unspectacular sculpt and articulation average out to a solid figure which fits nicely with the rest of the Revenge of the Sith line. R4-G9 has a slight edge as a better figure, but R2-D2's superior accessories make him the more playable of the two. He might not be the ultimate astromech figure, but he's close, and definitely deserves a buy if you're collecting droids or the Sith figure series.

Availability:
As of this writing, Revenge of the Sith figures are widely available. I've seen R2-D2 at Toys R Us as well as on Amazon.com.