Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,225: Tessek (The Vintage Collection)

TESSEK Squid Head Take Three
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: No. F6986
Number: #286
Includes: Blaster, cape, 3 more carded figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $72.99
Availability: October 2023
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: Protected by Skiff Guards, Jabba the Hutt's sail barge bustled with court members, henchmen, and dregs of the galaxy who attempted to curry favor with the grotesque crime lord. (Taken from the figure's set's box.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

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Commentary: One of the reasons I dragged my feet opening this set is it was two obscure new humans (exciting), one repack of a figure I already bought twice, and this new Tessek. Now I loves me some aliens - but I was also really happy with the ones I had. The 1983 Squid Head may not be the right colors, but he's a delightfully chunky alien who could hold his blaster, and look cool doing it. In 2001, Hasbro did another take on him - this time all-plastic - adding a working holster and fixing the colors. I would argue the 2001 Power of the Jedi Tessek may be the best overall... but if what you need is articulation, this 2023 release is the winner.

Despite being a recognizable alien, this character (and his species) has precious few figures. What's interesting is he's not an all-new release. The arms? Bib Fortuna. The legs? Cal Kestis. The hands, cape, torso, and head all seem to be new. I'm torn between praising Hasbro's cleverness, and being a little annoyed that the arms seem too skinny. When paying premium prices for fancy collector figures I want it to be all-new, but truth be told, it's not bad. The joints all move well, everything fits together nicely, and the head and hand sculpts are all excellent. The colors are a little too saturated, and the cape hangs kind of funny - but it needs to, in order to look like the movie.

Reusing elements has some positive side effects. Cal Kestis' legs can swing forward without hinderance. The cloth cape and skirt don't get in the way, and his girdle looks absolutely great. The arms move nicely, and the fingers - while odd - can hold his blaster without much fuss. The tongue and teeth look great, and the eyes look good too. It's weird that the cardback photo doesn't quite match the movie or figure, but hey, he's got eyes. I think they're a little dark, though.

This is a good figure that gets the job done. But if I were on a budget, I could skip it and be happy with the previous two - not because the figure is bad, but because it's overkill. For an alien who stands and does nothing, I don't need knees, or ankles, or wrists. A figure with five or six joints more than fills the need for a figure to hang out in a room with other aliens. The 2023 release has a sharp sculpt, great soft goods, and excellent coloring - so if you're buying one, this is probably the one to get - but don't feel bad if you've only got your originals. Kenner and Hasbro always do a good job with this guy, down to what I assume are some back-of-neck gonads.

If Hasbro is still making figures in 8 years, I'd suggest they re-reissue this guy in "Kenner colors." That is, a silver belt, paler robes, desaturated skin, and so on. I think fans would appreciate "Squid Head." This figure has been selling for $25-$60 by himself, so maybe there's no real reason for Hasbro to make fans wait. Of course, you could also just get a Power of the Jedi Tessek for about ten bucks (cheap) or the 1983 Squid Head for a mere $30 and up. None of them have ankle tilts, though.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Hasbro Pulse.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,225: March 20, 2025