Figure of the Day: Day 99: Super Battle Droid

SUPER BATTLE DROID Droid Army
Clone Wars Deluxe Figures Collection
Item No.: Asst. 84845 No. 84992
Number: n/a
Includes: Packaged with red Battle Droid, Destroyer Droid figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones, Clone Wars, Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Battle Droids are produced in massive foundries on Geonosis. Despite a treaty forbidding the expansion of those armies, Geonosian foundries are currently running at maximum capacity, with thousands more battle droids secretly massing on Geonosis. Destroyer Droids, also known as droidekas, are engineered specifically as mobile machines of destruction, capable of eliminating practically any opposition. They roll into battle in the shape of a wheel, then unfold to full-standing combat stance for assault. Super Battle Droids operate independently rather than in groups, making them stronger, more efficient models of technological weaponry. (Taken from the set's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy hole.

Commentary: In 2003, it hit Hasbro-- it's time to put out low-cost army building packs! For a mere ten bucks, you could get this Droid Army set with a Super Battle Droid. This newly sculpted figure had all sorts of dents and dings, and four points of articulation. Given the droid's design, it's a pretty solid figure for the price, it's a more solid design than some other Super Battle Droid figures and its unique pose is a great addition to any diorama. The grit and dirt looks great, and the overall design makes this one of the best (if not best) action feature-free versions of this particular piece of separatist weaponry. As seen in the image, a display stand helps a lot, which does speak of the chief design flaw of this toy-- he falls over. If you can get past that, though, the final product is quite good and his other two brothers in the set are pretty great too. Why not get one? It's worth your while.

Collector's Notes: There's not a lot to say about this. It shows Hasbro's progress in refining this design by adding "flaws" to the armor, and even with its limited articulation it just looks so gosh darn good that this item, formerly part of a pegwarming set in many markets, should be a must-own collector's figure. The entire set can be had for as little as its original retail price, about ten dollars, if you shop around-- like many Clone Wars items, most collectors have gravitated toward this Expanded Universe release and its popularity is causing it to actually be worth something. Unlike pretty much everything else from 1995-2005.

Day 99: August 13, 2006