Figure of the Day: Day 894: Durge

DURGE with Swoop Bike
Clone Wars Deluxe Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84845 No. 84844
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster pistols, rifle, lance, bike
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 2003
Appearances: Clone Wars

Bio: A century before the Clone Wars, this 2,000 year old bounty hunter went into hibernation to recuperate after being tortured by Mandalorians. Awakening shortly after the Battle of Geonosis, Durge learns that the only Mandalorians still alive are the Clone Troopers, which were created from Mandalorian Jango Fett. Durge joins the Confederacy to enact his revenge upon Jango Fett's clones. His swoop bike is a high-performance craft with exceptional speed and challenges even the most skilled pilots. Simple vehicles, they achieve their performance through a combination of repulsorlift and turbothrust engines. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam's desk drawer.

Commentary: This Durge figure is a sad commentary and how far we've slipped as far as expectations of what your dollar can get you. In 2003, $10 got you a super-articulated figure (minus the ankles), a small vehicle, and more guns than the figure had hands. $5 got you a basic figure. And a nickel would get you two slurgs of petrol and some change on top of that, dadgummit. Of course, this wasn't to say it was a perfect set-- Hasbro dropped numerous paint applications from the basic Durge release for this deluxe version, but I dare say this made the figure better. Basic Durge had some exposed peachy-colored flesh on his arms, but the deluxe version was completely covered in his armor-- which I think provided a far better interpretation of the character as seen in comics and on the teevee. The figure's blaster pistols fit neatly into his holster, he can look around in all directions, and he's easily the best Durge your money can buy. Seriously, Hasbro has yet to do better-- this one has it all.

The bike itself is nice, as it features a few tabs for what seems to be a missing piece, and a place to keep the lance and the rifle. There's some nifty deco on it, some of which may have been sacrificed in order to meet the price point-- this set has a lot of plastic in it. The "damage" is a little weak, but it's a nifty green color and it doesn't look a lot like Durge's vehicles in any other format-- so it's possible this is a Hasbro creation, or something off of the Lucas drawing boards. Either way, it's pretty cool... it just doesn't look like the one in the cartoons. It doesn't blow up or do anything super neat, but as an accessory it really sizzles. It's not like Hasbro generally redoes a figure to add articulation and a freaking vehicle, but here you go-- they did, and it's great. You might still want all three versions of Durge, as each is pretty unique and ultimately brings something new to the table, but this is the best of them all. Skip it at your own peril.

Collector's Notes: This figure has never been rereleased, which is a shame as it's pretty great. Another "realistic" Durge was made for the comic pack line in late Summer 2008, which was a mishmash of this mold, the other mold, and new parts. Today the figure commands a slight premium on the secondary market, and it's probably worth the extra few bucks. It's a nice package.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 894: November 17, 2008