Figure of the Day: Day 86: Jawa

JAWA and "Gonk" droid
Power of the Force Collection
Item No.: Asst. 84185 No. 84198
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, CommTech Chip
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: September 1999
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Jawas are small, foul smelling machine-scavengers of Tatooine's deserts. Crafty traders and talented mechanics, they often use power "Gonk" droids to provide energy for their scavenged goods. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' floor.

Commentary: Hasbro totally shifted gears to Episode I in 1999, with nearly a hundred figures released in one year's time. The original trilogy had a very small number released, like this Jawa and, by and large, the figures were improvements over previously released core characters. (Exceptions being Wuher, Motti, Aunt Beru, and a flesh-and-blood Sebastian Shaw Anakin Skywalker-- a Hell of a lineup.) This new Jawa was packaged with a new Power Droid, but the Jawa itself was fairly statuesque. As in, not much fun. With no worthwhile joints below the waist, his midsection and arms are all that would really move. He's got a great sculpt, the same light-up eye port all modern Jawas have, and is also the tallest of the Jawas so far-- and arguably one of the better ones. Since he comes with a Power Droid, this is a figure everyone should track down, although there are rumors that another Jawa/Droid combination set could be coming in 2007.

Collector's Notes: Since it came out in 1999 after a lot of collectors were feeling burned, this figure is still in circulation. Some online stores still have stock from those shipments. It was a very popular figure with fans of improved figures, but like always, that's a small market. The going rate on eBay tends to be about retail, if not less. To date, this Jawa has never been reissued.

Day 86: July 31, 2006