The Vintage Collection sub-line taught me a valuable lesson about the internet.  You see, the point you’re trying to make doesn’t matter.  All that matters is the point the other person wants to argue, regardless of whether or not it’s the point you made.  When the Vintage Collection subline was active from 2005 through 2007, it was the only line in which every single figure was super articulated.  The other lines were a mixture of articulation levels.  So whenever a new wave of clamshell Vintage Collection was announced, it was reason for excitement. Someone would invariably say, “I’m excited we’re getting six new super articulated figures.”  To which, someone would invariably respond , “STOP SAYING VINTAGE COLLECTION FIGURES ARE DEFINITIVE!  SOME OF THEM ARE CRAP!”  Ten years later, the internet is still arguing imaginary points.  Nevertheless, Mr. Crankypants, who was arguing with the voices in his head, had a point.  Not all sub-line Vintage Collection figures were definitive, and this Tusken Raider is one such example.

As you may have gathered, this figure is a re-release of the 2006 Vintage Collection Tusken Raider.  If you did gather that, it was very correct of you.  In fact, this is the second re-release of that figure.  The first was 2012’s Discover the Force Tusken Raider which was exclusive to Walmart.  You’ll notice my 2012 review is very brief.  That was before I gained perspicacious linguistic mastery following my matriculation from the University of Phoenix.  Now you get longer reviews while I sip my Red Bull and vodka.  The “Discover the Force” line was abbreviated “DTF”, and yes, the internet handled that very well.  This second re-release in 2017 was also a Walmart exclusive as part of the 3.75” Black Series line.  Walmart loves them some Tusken Raiders.  When a figure wasn’t a homerun during its initial release, you know it received some groans upon announcement of its third release. 

The iconic Tusken Raider pose.

There is a lot to like about this figure, but unfortunately some things to truly hate.  We like to talk about an action figure’s job here.  That “job” is on a sliding scale depending on the quality tier and target audience of that figure’s line.  For the mass retail 5POA line, the primary job is for the figure to stand with cleanly applied paint applications.  For the premium collector line, or any line with added articulation, the primary job of an action figure is to strike the corresponding character’s iconic pose.  In many cases that simply translates to a THWG (two handed weapon grip).  In the case of the Tusken Raider, that is to hold the Gaffi stick menacingly above its head (inset left).  This figure can achieve that, so it’s a check mark in its favor.  Of course that pose is iconic in our minds because editors Paul Hirsch and Richard Chew decided to walk the frames back and forth to make it look like stunt coordinator Peter Diamond was repeatedly raising and lowering the weapon in a taunting and celebratory fashion.  Them editors did a lot on A New Hope.  Someone should give them an Oscar. 

The lower body articulation and the ease with which it can be engaged is wonderful.  This is some of the best range of motion you can achieve in a ball jointed ankle.  The hips are the standard swivel hips, but they have a great range of motion and appear to be cut at a slight angle, so you can mimic some of the range of motion achieved with a ball jointed hip.  This is all hidden under a nicely rendered soft goods lower cape which easily accommodates all the lower body posability.  The sculpt is nicely executed with the only nitpick being that the re-breather is permanently sculpted to the chest which causes it to appear too low on the figure.  This is where the figure shows its age.  If this figure were released today, that re-breather would certainly be a separate floating piece around the neck.  All in all there is no debating that this figure can achieve some truly dynamic poses.

But, as alluded to earlier, there are some things to hate, and I will list them in ascending order.  First is the Gaffi stick.  It’s at once too thick and too short (boy if I had a nickel).  It feels like it should be about a third longer than it is, and the barrel should be thinner.  It almost looks funny being posed with the figure.  Next…well I need to preface “next”.  I like soft goods on figures.  When done right, a figure will never look as good as when incorporating the right soft goods elements.  The upper robe is not done right.  Instead of actual sleeves, the fabric is basically folder over and held with a stitch.  In some poses, this accomplishes a decent Bedouin vibe.  In other poses, that stitch causes unwanted bunching of the material.  It’s like when your boxers roll up into your groin, except it’s happening to your action figure’s armpit.  Otherwise it’s exactly the same.  In certain poses, the fabric bunches behind the figure as you can see in the photos above.  It almost swallows the figure.  Finally, this figure comes from an era when the dreaded swivel elbows were still considered “premium”.  Trying to coerce swivel or “cut” elbows into the desired pose is like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube, and most times you just end up accidentally popping the joint apart.  As mentioned above, the figure can achieve some dynamic poses, but due to the swivel elbows, it’s not always fun getting there.  And posing figures should always be fun.  Five years since my last review, this figure still has me landing on a 6 out of 10.

While I very much want an all new Tusken Raider with ball-jointed everything, I’m not entirely positive Hasbro will be going back to this source.  It’s already been covered in the Vintage Collection, and it you check the feedback on the Hasbro Pulse Instagram page, it seems it’s not a top priority with the fans. If you want this figure, it’s still available from Walmart, and at a steep discount.  Click on the ad below if you’d like to purchase: