Figure of the Day: Day 243: Tusken Raider

TUSKEN RAIDER Sand People
Original Trilogy Collection
Item No.: Asst. 84715 No. 85373
Number: OTC-23
Includes: Stand, blaster rifle
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Fall 2004
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Tusken Raiders are fierce desert savages who live in the wastelands of Tatooine. Tough and aggressive, they attack anyone who is not part of their community. They are completely hidden by tattered rags and robes that they wear. When Rebel hero Luke Skywalker is searching for R2-D2, he is attacked by Tusken Raiders and rescued by Obi-Wan Kenobi. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: The toy shelf of Adam Pawlus.

Commentary: The Original Trilogy Collection series of action figures and vehicles was legendary for bringing some of the best packaging and the best figures to fans. Sure, some were reruns, but a few new sculpts and great repaints like this Tusken Raider made it a very compelling jumping-on point for fans who wanted to "collect them all," especially since "them all" ended up being 39. (Add in another 16 for the 2005 post-OTC line.) This figure was a redeco of the 2000 Power of the Jedi Tusken, which was originally meant to be in the Episode I line. The release you can see on the left there is the best-ever painted version of this figure, and to this date is arguably the best-ever Tusken Raider to be made by Hasbro. (The 2003 version is cool as you can cut its head off, but the deco isn't as good. The 2006 "Vintage" version is awesome, but the deco on the soft goods wasn't so hot.)

The figure can hold its gun. It can aim it, and it can hold it above its head. (If you hold it right, maybe a Gaffi stick.) The figure can't sit due to the oddly sculpted robes, which look good but that's about it. The detail is good, the coloring is great, the dirt makes a little more sense than on other figures, and overall it really is wonderful. However, it doesn't have the breathing gizmo that the Tuskens of Star Wars had (and the prequel ones largely didn't), but hey, whatever. It's good enough.

Collector's Notes: This mold was used three times so far. The first release was in 2000, and was the figure with the gun. The second was in 2002, and had more dirt and a newly sculpted Massiff, but no weapons. The third you can see here, and that was 2004. The mold is a strong one, so I fully expect to see it at least once more-- perhaps with the 2007 Bantha that Toys "R" Us is supposedly gonna get?

Day 243: January 4, 2007