New & Rare STAR WARS Figures; Bates Mansion Model Kit

By Dan Cziraky     September 17, 2000

STAR WARS: POWER OF THE FORCE 2 - FAN CLUB EXCLUSIVE 'FREEZE FRAME' FIGURES (Kenner)

Just before the Christmas Season of 1998 started, Kenner announced that the last four figures in their 'Power of the Force' assortment, featuring the 'Freeze Frame' film slides, would not be shipped along with the newer, 'Expanded Universe' and 'Episode I Flashback Photo' figures. The 'Freeze Frames' ended up going overseas. Collectors freaked out, naturally enough. Fortunately, the Official Star Wars Fan Club stepped in, and picked up a large quantity of these figures for mail-order sale. Now, Fandom is pleased to bring these very same four figures to you.

* Death Star Droid with Mouse Droid: As seen in Star Wars: A New Hope, this insectoid cousin of 'C-3P0' was seen in the corridors of the Death Star. It features five points of articulation and has a shiny, black metallic body with large, silvery photo-receptors (or eyes). This is a much more accurate depiction of the character than the original 'Death Star Droid' twenty-plus years ago from Kenner. The 'Mouse Droid' was that little, black Tonka Toy-looking thing that 'Chewbacca' roared at and sent zipping away in fear in the movie. It's all-black, but doesn't have working wheels (boo!). Otherwise, this is a nice figure offering. (Customizers can also add moving wheels from a die-cast racing car.)

* Pote Snitkin with Force Pike and Blaster Pistol: Kenner couldn't even come up with a photo of this blink-and-you've-missed-him character from Return of the Jedi for the 'Freeze Frame' slide (instead, they opted for a shot of Luke kicking butt with his lightsaber on the desert skiff, supposedly from Pote's point of view!). A quick look at the desert sail barge scenes from Jedi: The Special Edition does reveal that there isn't a single clear shot of the character (who appears to be a dummy, and not even an actor in a creature suit!). This large, hulking character is quite dangerous looking, and comes with two weapon accessories. There are five points of articulation, as the head can't move because of the large collar around the figures neck. A nice alien creaturewhich was what Jedi was all about.

* Princess Leia Organa in Hoth Gear with Blaster Pistol: Our favorite ice queen in her ice gear! Leia's in her white, quilted snowsuit from The Empire Strikes Back, complete with removable vest and blaster. Leia has six points of articulation-and a rather stern expression on her regal face! Of course, we all know she warms up quite a bit later on in the film, thanks to the charms of ol' space scoundrel Han Solo.

AT-AT Driver with Imperial Blaster: Originally an exclusive available only in the electronic 'AT-AT' vehicle (along with the 'AT-AT Commander'), this all-new sculpt features six points of articulation and very nice detailing (check out the tiny lights on the chest plate). It also comes with an Imperial blaster, and looks like it could very well fit in the cockpit of the 'AT-AT' and actually grip the controls, as the elbows are angled slightly. A genuine threat to the Rebel Alliance; well, as much as any other Imperial flunky ever has been!

STAR WARS: POWER OF THE JEDI - Collections 1 & 2 (Hasbro)

After a Summer spent in fruitless, frustrating search for new Episode I and Power of the Force 2 figures, collectors can now rejoice with the release of the initial wave of Hasbro's new, combined Star Wars line, 'The Power of the Jedi.' Of course, if you're like me, you're still searching for such elusive Ep. I figures as 'R2-B1,' 'Jar Jar Binks (Naboo Swamp) with Fish,' as well as the rare Power of the Force 2 'Admiral Motti,' R2-D2 with Hologram Princess Leia,' and 'Stormtrooper with Blaster Rifle Rack.' Regardless, the big news is the 'banishment to Bogeyland' of those accursed COMMTech Chips! Yes, those annoying, awful-sounding rectangles of plastic are history, replaced by the 8-page 'Force File' info-booklets on each character.

* Obi-Wan Kenobi (Jedi): Collection 1-As opposed to the 'Obi-Wan Kenobi (Jedi Knight)' figure from the Ep. I line, I suppose. This version comes with a removable Jedi cloak (rather like a large shell, actually, like the one 'Mace Windu' came with), and Qui-Gon's green-bladed lightsaber. He has eight point of articulation, including jointed elbows.

* Anakin Skywalker (Mechanic): Collection 1-The dirty little slave-boy's been working on his racing pod again, and he's all grimy now! He-Who-Will-Be-Vader has ten points of articulation, including jointed wrists and knees-the better to scramble around Watto's junk yard in search of parts to cannibalize for his pod, I guess. He comes with a hydrospanner tool and an Otoga 222 pit droid that has removable arms and legs.

* Darth Maul (Final Duel): Collection 1- Yes! Fans and collectors can stop hacking apart their figures, 'cause this guy comes already bisected at the waist (so drop the X-Acto knife, pal!). Magnets hold him together, but he's easily chopped in half with the flick of a finger-how cool is that?! He's got the standard six points of articulation, his bisected lightsaber, and an 'I've just been cut in half!' expression on his face that perfectly captures the likeness of actor Ray Park. This Maul's head-horns look a little better, too; less knobby and more spiky.

* R2-D2 (Naboo Escape): Collection 1-Nicely detailed version of 'Artoo,' with rolling wheels on his three legs and rotating head dome. Not much in the way of action features, but otherwise a decent figure.

* Coruscant Guard: Collection 2-The blue-robed guards of the Republic Senate don't really command much respect in those funky helmets, do they? Still, they've got honking big blaster rifles. The figure has seven points of articulation, with extra joints in the arms so he can hold that blaster properly. Can he even see out of that helmet?

* Mas Amedda: Collection 2-A very cool alien design, the snail-headed alien is Vice Chairman of the Senate. He doesn't do much in Episode I, and comes with not a single accessory. The detailing is excellent, however, with six points of articulation, a genuinely smug expression, and it should really appeal to collectors, if not the kids.

* Security Battle Droid: Collection 2-Yet another battle droid, this one at least has a really cool, blaster-at-the-ready pose. It has eleven points of articulation, and a lever on its back allows you to raise his arms with the blaster, sort of drawing down on the 'rebel scum.'

* Tusken Raider (Desert Sniper): Collection 2-It's the guy that was taking pot-shots at the pod racers in Episode I. Eight points of articulation allows him to hold his long-barreled, projectile rifle at the ready. 'Bet I can hit Gasganno from here!' 'You're on!'

* Chewbacca (Dejarik Challenge): Collection 2-As seen in Star Wars, Chewie comes with the holographic chess (dejarik) table from the Millennium Falcon, complete with little playing pieces in combat. A great likeness highlighted by Chewie's casual, hands-behind-his-head pose as R2-D2 is urged to 'let the Wookie win' by C-3P0. Although Chewie has seven points of articulation, he can't really lower his arms, but his jointed knees allow him to sit comfortably at the dejarik table.

There are four other figures in the initial release that weren't available for review: 'Qui-Gon Jinn (Mos Espa Disguise),' 'Boss Nass (Gungun Sacred Place),' 'Gungun Warrior,' and 'Jek Porkins (Rebel Pilot).' Coming soon are 'Darth Vader (Dagobah)' with detachable head and faceplate that reveals Luke's face underneath, 'Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi (Jedi Knight),' and 'Fode and Beed (Podrace Announcer).'

* 'Mega-Action' Darth Maul with Lightsaber Attack Moves: Part of a new series of six-inch sized figures that possess action features. Very reminiscent of the old Kenner Super Powers toy line, where you'd squeeze Superman's legs together and watch him throw punches. Squeeze Maul's legs and he whips up his double-bladed lightsaber. This larger figure has great detailing, right down to the hand-tooled designs on his boots and the 'softgoods' robe (in other words, the bottom half of the robe is cloth instead of thin plastic). The lightsaber is nine-and-a-half inches long, and has one removable blade. 'Obi-Wan Kenobi with Lightsaber Battle Moves' and 'Destroyer Droid: Converts to Attack Mode' should be joining the Sith Lord on the market very soon. These figures are boxed instead of blistercarded.

THE BATES MANSION FROM PSYCHO MODEL KIT (Polar Lights)

This plastic kit of the infamous Psycho house from Hitchcock's 1960 horror classic easily recalls the great horror movie kits of the '60s and '70s from the defunct Aurora Plastics Co. Well, that's the idea, as Polar Lights has been re-releasing some of those classic kits for the past few years, as well as creating new ones like this kit. It features great detail, right down to the half-inch tall 'Mother' figure that sits in the second-story window. Molded in tan plastic, it requires gluing and painting, but modelers with moderate experience should have no trouble building this kit. It measures 4-1/2'W x 5-3/4'H x 7'L, and more adventuresome kitsters can use the enclosed base and winding stones to build a hillside diorama. The kit is 1/87-scale, which means you can use HO scale train set accessories for detailing. Otherwise, use the short steps to build it straight from the box. A nameplate with the Psycho logo is included, as well as a set of full-color inserts for the windows. You can use the box art as a painting guide, or try to paint it a black-and-white scheme to match the movie (you'll need to photocopy the window inserts in black-and-white if you do). Be advised, the window-insert sheet is short two windows. Call Polar Lights' parent company, Playing Mantis, at 1-800-MANTIS-8, and they'll mail you a second set.