Figure of the Day: Day 1,069: Imperial Officer

IMPERIAL OFFICER Brown Hair Version/Release #3
Saga Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84994
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0255
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: n/a
Availability: January 2003
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: The Imperial Officers are cunning, calculating and ruthless. They have survived a grueling training program to earn their rank. Whether he is giving commands on the bridge of a Star Destroyer or leading a garrison of stormtroopers, the Imperial officer is in complete control and rules with an iron fist. Failure means death, as in the service of Darth Vader have discovered. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' yard.

Commentary: Here's where army building gets tricky. In 2001, Hasbro promised three head variants on this Imperial Officer, two of which didn't end up seeing release until 2003. The problem here is that while the first head and the second look really different, this one-- the third-- looks a lot like the first. The face is a little more realistic and the head is smaller than the 2001 version, which is really the easiest way to tell one figure from another. The body is the same, and the hair color is pretty much identical. If you buy this figure on the 2007 Saga Legends packages-- that one has a coin-- head #1 has a blue eye variant, and this one doesn't. So that's one way to snag this one. Confused yet? I am.

The figure is the same as the original release, with joints at the shoulders, neck, hips, waist, biceps, and gloves. It's nothing to sneeze at, but with fan expectations for ultra-mega-hyper articulation, you may not be thrilled with this one. Since it can sit, hold its weapon, and stand, I'm pretty happy with it-- but I wouldn't be at all shocked to see a new sculpt of this one in the next few years because it'd be an easy sell for some fans, assuming they're still here.

Collector's Notes: A short release, but not one that proved hard to find. It was also reissued in 2007 in the Saga Legends line with, as far as I can tell, no changes made to the actual toy.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,069: July 20, 2009