Figure of the Day: Day 335: Chewbacca (Boushh's Prisoner)

CHEWBACCA Boushh Prisoner
The Saga Collection
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 85805
Number: 005
Includes: Metal chain, display stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: January 2006
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: The mighty Chewbacca has been "captured" and taken to Jabba's Palace. Jabba quickly realizes that his capture is a mere ploy to free Han Solo from carbonite. Jabba orders Chewbacca and his friends to be executed, but Luke Skywalker has other plans. Chewbacca helps his friends defect Jabba and saves Han and Lando Calrissian from their doom, proving once again that he is a fearless Wookie warrior! (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' Toy Shelves.

Commentary: Hasbro loves to find a new way to use an old mold-- and this particular Chewbacca mold has been used many, many times. (More on that later.) This release is unique in that it includes a metal chain for it pretending to be Boushh's captive prisoner, but otherwise isn't really all that new. The decoration is the same as the previous release, more or less, and the figure includes no weapons. You get a Wookiee, a chain, and a display base-- and that's it. Sure, it's a figure with 7 points of articulation, and yes, it's a very tall and properly scaled Chewbacca, but still, there's not much for him to do other than stand there. Also, Chewie in the movie doesn't look quite like this-- his hair is a little different, and the chain around his neck is over, not under, most of the fur. As this is the second version of a "Boushh's Prisoner" Chewbacca, one might hope it would be good enough to be the final. Sadly, there's still room for improvement, but it's better than the 1998 version.

This figure goes very well with the 2007 version of Leia in Boushh Disguise, but if you don't have that figure, you really don't need this new Chewbacca figure at all.

Collector's Notes: This mold has been used many, many times before. In 2001, it was packaged with goggles, a torch, and the monniker "Millennium Falcon Mechanic." And then it was repackaged several times. In 2004, the figure was packaged along with a carry case, a Millennium Falcon, and in some cases had added accessories like a display base. It was redecorated in late 2006/early 2007 in "Marvel Comics colors" which, most fans hope, will be the final use of this mold.

Day 335: April 6, 2007