Figure of the Day: Day 35: Ellorrs Madak

ELLORRS MADAK Fan's Choice
Power of the Jedi Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84455 No. 84647
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster pistol, Force File
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Summer 2001
Appearances: Primarily Star Wars: A New Hope

Bio: Like all Duros, Ellorrs Madak is a natural wanderer who is at home wherever his travels take him. Although Duros tend to be a peaceful species, the Empire's restrictive trade practices prompt Madak to leave his government job and become a freelance flight instructor and occassional smuggler. (Taken from the figure's Force File.)

Image: After a hearty meal at Wendy's, this alien was hit by a shrink ray on Adam's TV tray.

Commentary: Every few years, Hasbro makes the mistake of letting fans vote on figures, which results in months of bickering, finger-pointing, and conspiracy-theorizing. For Fan's Choice Poll #1, Amanaman was assumed to be the sure-winner, but a last-minute upset let Ellorrs Madak, the Duro, snatch victory from his yellow-and-green grasp. The resulting figure was a work of art, with amazing sculpting, a too-uncommon working holster, very good paint, and the typical 6 points of articulation. This figure has two selling points: it's a Fan's Choice figure (which is a nice little collector subset unto itself), and it's a Cantina alien. If neither of those are selling points to you, it's hard to say to get this. It sits down nicely, looks cool, and is a figure that's only been made once, never repackaged, and never revised. I very much like it, and it's one of my favorite Cantina aliens. Be careful when selecting one, though, as the paint sometimes is wonky in places.

Collector's Notes: "Worthless" is a harsh sounding word but fairly accurate as to what this toy is worth. Made in big numbers, this requested figure more or less fizzled due to overproduction and in some markets, was still easy to have into 2005. (For the record, the target lifespan of a figure at retail, max, is about 6 months.) Along with Ketwol, the Bespin Guard, and a few others, he became a staple at some Toys "R" Us and Wal-Mart stores and may even still be hanging in your neck of the woods. If so, be aware he deserves a good home and is an excellent figure, just not popular. I wouldn't part with mine, and I'm still holding out hope that someday, Baniss Keeg (the other Duro) gets his own figure too.

Day 35: June 10, 2006