Figure of the Day: Day 89: Sly Moore

SLY MOORE Post-Original Trilogy Collection
Post-Original Trilogy Collection
Item No.: Asst. 85161 No. 85172
Number: 0503
Includes: Shadow cloak, blaster, base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99
Availability: Winter 2005
Appearances: The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones

Bio: Sly Moore is the staff aide for Chancellor Palpatine and is never far from his side. She has a piercing gaze and can only see in the ultraviolet spectrum. Her species, the Umbarans, are rumored to be able to influence and even control the minds of others. It is believed that she is very close to Palpatine and knows his deepest secrets. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: At the beginning of 2005, Hasbro made good by cranking out a couple of waves following the hugely popular Original Trilogy Collection with some fantastic minor characters like Sly Moore. According to the rumor mill, this figure was in development for a 2002 release but got delayed, tweaked, and released in 2005. (I don't necessarily believe it.) Continuing the proud tradition of roles for bald chicks in sci-fi, this figure represents an aide to Palpatine with her own shadowy secrets. (And if you squint right, she looks like a friend of mine's ex.) She has about six useful points of articulation with a ball joint at the neck and ball-ish joints at the elbows. She's capable of moving as much as you could hope for, and then some. To remove the cloak, her head pops right off-- again, very useful. Her sculpt is simple, as is her deco-- a little makeup, some feathers, and an icy gaze compensate for the fact that she's not exactly much of a toy. Also, she has a gun and her arms are visible which, I believe, is not how she's ever seen in the movies. (Taking toyetic license for a better action figure is a good thing, by the way.) In short, it's (as Hasbro once put it) a pretty nice "stand there and look good figure" as opposed to being an action figure.

Collector's Notes: Released alongside such figures as Senator Yarua, Pablo Jill, and another Queen Amidala, Sly Moore was never a big hit, and was a bit of a slow seller. Her figure goes for a smidge more than retail, but it's still very cheap. As no other versions of the character have been made as an action figure, it's easy to advise fans to snag her if they're fans of assistants, political types, or any figures to keep around Palpatine. Good job, Hasbro!

Day 89: August 3, 2006