Figure of the Day: Day 1,243: Plo Koon

PLO KOON Animated
The Clone Wars Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87633 No. 87855
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #14
Includes: Lightsaber gauntlet, hood (up), hood (down), two lightsabers
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: September 2008
Appearances: The Clone Wars

Bio: A member of the Jedi Council and an intrepid warrior descended from a long line of Jedi Knights, Plo Koon has fought in many battles in the Clone Wars. An imposing figure, he wears special protective goggles and an antiox mask on oxygen-rich worlds. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' shelves.

Commentary: Upon its release, this figure was the first-ever toy Plo Koon to include a rockin' double-bladed lightsaber gauntlet originally devised to be a part of Revenge of the Sith. It's awesome, and a great toy accessory-- and initially, one of the main reasons to pick this figure up. (The most recent The Legacy Collection release has a new version of the weapon.) The character is strikingly similar to his animation model, although the general pose and personality of the figure isn't consistent with the rest of the Jedi in the line. This is mostly due to his action pose which prevents him from sitting easily in vehicles or in general, which would lead me to assume we'll some day see a resculpt of this one.

While swappable heads are nothing new, swappable hoods were new as of this figure. You can use a hood that clips on his neck and fits over his head, or a second one that folds over his back. This looks pretty sharp and solves the ongoing problem in the movie line where cloth hoods tend to be ridiculously huge and made of a fabric without enough weight to fall gently on the figure's noggin. So hey, I approve.

His articulation is pretty good, basically the standard for the first year of The Clone Wars non-Clone figures. His arms are super-articulated, and his legs are limited to just the hips and waist. 10 joints may not be enough to convince you he's worth getting, but I think most people buying this are either kids that want a fun toy or collectors who admire the style of the show. Either way, a couple of extra knee joints probably wouldn't do much to improve it-- if you like its look, or wants something fun, this is the one for you.

Collector's Notes: This was the first of two deco jobs on this figure, and the one with the most accessories. While I prefer the paint job of the Target exclusive 2009 Ambush at Abregedo Battle Pack release, this one's got an extra lightsaber and the double-bladed gauntlet which gives it a slight edge. If you have one, you won't necessarily need the other unless you're particular about the exact shade of brown.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,243: March 19, 2010