Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 1,015: Chewbacca (Dejarik Champion)

CHEWBACCA Dejarik Champion
Power of the Jedi Basic Figures Collection 2
Item No.:
Asst. 84455 No. 84363
Number: n/a
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Includes: Dejarik table, Force File
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Summer 2000
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: The mighty Chewbacca, a Wookiee from the planet Kashyyyk, is the friend and copilot to Han Solo. Known for his great strength, bravery and loyalty, Chewbacca often serves as Solo's conscience in their smuggling endeavors. (Taken from the figure's Force File.)

Image: Adam's desk.

Commentary: "Let the Wookiee win" is a phrase oft-quoted in fan circles lo these many years, and this Chewbacca figure really captured the moment nicely. His Dejarik table plugs right in to the 1995 version of the Millennium Falcon, and it has all these nifty monster pieces on it. The figure can sit right at the table, and was designed specifically for this purpose. If he's standing-- like in the picture-- he looks silly. A number of my friends pointed out that he looks like he's ready to give or receive some form of table dance, but the figure is essentially true to the scene from the original film. He's meant to sit down, hands behind his head, savoring the compliment/threat implied by the fact he might tear R2-D2 to pieces. As far as personality goes, this figure's pose captures it quite well. His face is a little too goofy given how dark his eyes looked in that sequence, but hey, nobody's perfect. As Chewbaccas that can sit go, this is arguably the best of them in recent memory because his pouch or waist fur doesn't get in the way of things.

Our favorite Wookiee has eight points of articulation, with his knees being the notable addition. The main reason to pick this figure up is for the pose or the table, although his smaller size may not be ideal for any displays you make with more recent action figures. Still, the sculpt is good, and I more or less dig this release despite it being a little out of date. Grab it if you can!

Collector's Notes: This figure was around for a while in 2000 and was pretty popular. Until early 2001, when Hasbro made the first "tall" Chewbacca with all the height you have since come to expect out of Hasbro. Dejarik Chewie was the last "short" version of the Wookiee hero.


Day 1,015: May 5, 2009

2 comments:

Unknown said...

I like using this figure as my AT-ST pilot. If you move his arms in front of him, he looks like he's resting them on the top panel, and he sticks securely out the hatch. He can also fit at the cramped Dejarik table in the new Falcon pretty well.

JGS said...

Yeah, he's now a "permanent" part of the my new giaganto Falcon. I was going to say, where else can you display this guy - but now I want to try out that AT-ST pose!