Figure of the Day: Day 1,021: Super Battle Droid Builder

SUPER BATTLE DROID BUILDER with Droid Factory Assembly Mold
Saga Deluxe Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84958 No. 84959
Number: n/a
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Includes: Machinery, Play-Doh canister, firing arm, projectile
Action Feature: Push button for lights and sounds
Retail: $9.99
Availability: April 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: The Super Battle Droids are used in battle by the Trade Federation. Assembled in a huge factory on the planet Geonosis, the Super Battle Droids are fearless and tireless. They will run at full speed into combat with cannons extended, firing until they have reduced their targets to smoldering ruins. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's back yard.

Commentary: What could make a Super Battle Droid better? How about blasting off a chunk of it which you, the hapless fan, have to rebuild? That's what this version is all about-- it's basically the same as the 2002 figure, but now it needs to be "molded" with its accessory. In other words, this is a figure designed squarely for the kids-- adult collectors probably won't dig the Play-Doh smell, but it is a great way to actually impale a droid on a lightsaber. Actually, this is probably the only way you can ever live out this sort of play mechanic, which is pretty cool now that I think about it. The deco is pretty iffy, but the articulation is great-- you get ankle joints, which was still quite unusual in 2003, along with knees, shoulders, hips, and elbows.

Collector's Notes: This was a really tough figure to find in 2003, and it has not yet been repackaged. It's neat, and something Hasbro really should consider reissuing now that kids are high on Star Wars again. If I hid this as a child, I'd be both delighted and going insane because it was a big deal for me to keep my toys in nearly perfect shape and I had issues with getting crap under my nails. TMI? Anyway, this is worth getting, in part because the "quick-steel" Play-Doh compound has a label on it that totally looks like Servotron's Spare Parts EP. (Not their finest work, I should add, but Shag did indeed design it.)

Day 1,021: May 13, 2009