Figure of the Day: Day 895: 4-LOM

4-LOM Bounty Hunter Clone Wars Deluxe Figures Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87394 Manufacturer: Hasbro Number: #3041 Includes: Blaster rifle, coin Action Feature: n/a Retail: $6.99 Availability: November 2007 Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back Bio: A programming glitch changes 4-LOM from a protocol droid to a thief and a tracker of fugitives. Jabba the Hutt teams him with the bounty hunter Zuckuss, creating a formidable duo that successfully combines intuitive mysticism with emotionless logic. (Taken from the figure's cardback.) Image: Adam's tables. Commentary: It's a little ridiculous when you think about it, but Hasbro went back to the well to re-remake a minor character with incredible articulation after it was a weak seller 10 years earlier. Apparently Bounty Hunters like 4-LOM perform well enough to redo on a regular basis, because we got one, and the 2007 edition certainly sold quite nicely. Hasbro added this weird new joint on the shoulders that allows it to move in all directions, yet remain slightly constrained, no doubt mimicking the lack of mobility in the actual costume. The figure still looks like an ugly variant on C-3PO, with similar styling, a giant bug head, and a revised torso. Oh, and his hands can hold things. The 1997 4-LOM was pretty good, this one blows it away with so much added deco and articulation that, frankly, it's astonishing Hasbro even bothered. From head to toe, this is a great figure. There's really very little they could do to make it more compelling short of casting it in metal or giving it away for free. This is a wonderful release, and a highlight in an otherwise merely acceptable wave packed with mostly retooled versions of previously released figure. It's a gem, if you're a fan of the six hunters you owe it to yourself to get this version. Collector's Notes: This figure has never been rereleased, but it has been retooled. Pieces of it were modified to make K-3PX in the summer of 2008. It's the third 4-LOM figure made in this scale, but only the second one properly named. The 1982 release was mistakenly labeled "Zuckuss." --Adam Pawlus

Day 895: November 18, 2008