Logray (Ewok Medicine Man) - TVC - Basic (VC55)

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Ewok lovers rejoice! We have received a tremendous definitive update to one of the first produced Ewok characters in action figure form, last revisited as 1998's POTF2 [FF/TKC] Ewoks: Wicket & Logray two-pack. Not only have we just received a long-awaited update to another vintage Kenner, and The Power Of The Force "2" era figure, but Hasbro has reviewed the way these loveable little fur-balls get approached in the basic figure line. Logray (Ewok Medicine Man) is next in line and receives a much-coveted place in The Vintage Collection. The final results are breathtaking, and for the first time, Hasbro has included all-new ball-jointed elbows in the Ewok species, a trend we hope to see Hasbro continue going forward. This new design pathway brings the articulation for Logray up to 12 marvelous points. We can’t imagine Hasbro will ever try to include knee joints in the Ewok action figures because we don’t know how they could make that work. The Ewoks have thick thighs, and articulation in this area may not provide satisfying results. So, we consider Logray (Ewok Medicine Man) as perfect as an Ewok action figure can be. Logray is the ideal proportion (compared to the other Ewoks released recently) and comes loaded with accessories. For the first time, Logray comes with a spear that looks like he borrowed from Wicket (VC27). There is a lot to like about Logray, and aside from one minor flaw, we’d rank Logray as one of the better action figures Hasbro has produced to date. That flaw? Hasbro decorated Logray wonderfully, but he looks more like an inverse of the onscreen character (as well as an inverse to the 1983 figure and the POTF2 figure). We’ll get to this in greater detail in a moment.

Things started changing for the better regarding Ewok action figures in 2006’s The Saga Collection when Chief Chirpa (SAGA 039) figure was released. Chirpa was an incredible action figure with realistic details, accurate proportions, and a stunning paint job. The figure doesn’t have nearly as much articulation as the newer Ewoks do, but it still has aged well after being released a half decade before Logray. Logray has all of the necessities you have come to expect for Ewoks. The figure comes loaded with ball-jointed articulation, including the head, shoulders, [new] elbows, hips, and feet. These places of movement are generous, and we bet you didn’t expect Ewok action figures to come with this much premium articulation. You can configure Logray into any position you want, and we are impressed with how much articulation Hasbro can shove into these inordinately minor Star Wars characters. It’s quite a feat that the final action figure has no silly or out-of-proportion joints, and the overall aesthetics are not compromised. And then things like his well-engineered hands have been designed so well to accommodate his many accessories. The headdress also fits like a glove, and we bet you’ll be very impressed with how much coloring and detail Hasbro has captured in this removable accessory, too. The staff is our favorite accessory, and although Hasbro has always made these look great, we think they finally mastered it in 2011. But then again, Hasbro has mastered most aspects of Logray, and aside from some deco issues, the figure is the best Ewok Hasbro made thus far (including the spectacular 2010 TVC Wicket (VC27) figure).

Let’s explain what we mean by calling Logray an inverse of all previous action figure versions. Logray (Ewok Medicine Man) is a fantastic action figure, so please don’t interpret this as criticism, but Logray appears too dark. And if you compare it against the 1983 ROTJ Logray (Ewok Medicine Man) figure (and even the 1998 POTF2 figure), you’ll see an interesting phenomenon. Where Logray is “light” on the vintage figure, it is dark on the 2011 TVC figure. This pattern includes the stripes on his fur and even the facial details. While it is odd that Hasbro got this coloring backward, it does affect just how accurate Logray is to the onscreen character. But again, this doesn’t mean that this figure isn’t outstanding and a remarkable addition to the line. It’s just one of those “we wish Hasbro would have” things that would have made this figure flawless. But we love this figure, and we know you will, too. It’s so comforting to know that the Ewoks are a hit for Hasbro. As collectors, we have witnessed these critters flying off of store shelves, but Hasbro can rarely comment similarly to the same thing. We’re thankful Hasbro is taking notice of this, and it’s a fantastic sign that Ewoks will continue coming to use for the duration of the basic figure line. To date, we have received some tremendous Ewok action figures. The 2007 TAC Romba & Graak (No. 43) set is brilliant, the 2008 TLC Leektar & Nippet (BD 4) set is sublime, and the 2009 LC Ewoks [Nho’Apakk & Paploo] set is a dream come true. Now our Ewoks come one per package. And that is fine with us. It’s all about “vintage” now, and that’s how Ewoks should come!