Figure of the Day: Day 207: Pablo-Jill

PABLO-JILL Geonosis Arena
Post-Original Trilogy Collection
Item No.: Asst. 85172 No. 85159
Number: 0501
Includes: Lightsaber, display stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99-$6.99
Availability: Winter 2005
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: The heroic Jedi Knight Pablo-Jill is stationed at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. He is one of the courageous Jedi who go to Geonosis to help rescue Obi-Wan Kenobi from the evil Separatist forces at the first battle of the Clone Wars. Like all Jedi, he uses a lightsaber for defense and combat, and is skilled in the ways of the Force. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's toy shelves.

Commentary: In 2002, this figure was tops of many fans' wish lists. In 2005, Pablo Jill made a too-brief appearance at retail, and looked like a figure from 2002. With a "unileg" of sorts-- as in, he's one piece from the waist down-- it seemed obvious this was a figure where Hasbro cut some corners. Sure, his arms are nicely jointed-- you get a swivel elbow, wrists, and shoulders-- but aside from the waist and neck, that's all you get. What we have here is essentially a statue, and given the character had very little time on-screen (and zero dialogue), well, he's a second-class citizen. He's really not capable of a lot of poses, but his freaky design, unusual face, and relative hardness-to-get makes this figure very popular with some collectors. (Mostly ones who don't yet have him.) He's really nothing to shout about, as he didn't live up to the standards of his time. But he's neat enough as alien Jedi go.

Collector's Notes: He might go for a few bucks on eBay, so if you see him for a fair price, odds are you should make a quick decision to buy (or to not buy.) There are no currently known plans for a reissue, and as a short-run figure, it really doesn't seem like Hasbro has a good reason to trot out a new version or a second run of the old one. Were I you, I'd buy it if I saw it-- unless you're reading this in 2011 and a super-articulated version is coming, in which case you should ignore this and just get the new one.

Day 207: November 29, 2006