Figure Of The Day: Day 201: Ki-Adi-Mundi

KI-ADI-MUNDI with Lightsaber
Episode I Collection 3
Item No.: Asst. 84123 No. 84105
Number: n/a
Includes: Lightsaber, CommTech Chip
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: May 1999
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: As part of the twelve-member Jedi Council gathered on Coruscant at the temple of the Jedi, Ki-Adi-Mundi must help must help make many fateful decisions as the council is called upon to consider the invasion of Naboo and the future of young Anakin Skywalker. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's toy shelves.

Commentary: Before you say Ki-Adi-Mundi has the wrong colored lightsaber, let me say both that you're right and you're wrong. Before Episode II, for some reason Lucasfilm Licensing allowed Jedi Masters and Knights to have a whole rainbow of lightsaber colors, as seen in the comics and video games. Plo Koon had a yellowish green weapon, Saesee Tiin also had a purple one, and even Mace Windu's was blue. Ki-Adi-Mundi and his purple lightsaber debuted in 1998 in the Star Wars ongoing series (which eventually was renamed Star Wars: Republic) so in the context of Episode I and its merchandising, this is totally 100% correct. Like many other oddities in the mythos and its licensed stories, George Lucas changed his mind and this altered a few other tidbits as time went on.

The figure itself is on the lower grades of what was available at the time. A large number of Episode I Jedi Knights had articulated wrists, elbows, and other "new"-to-us joints which really made the then-new figure line sizzle. Unfortunately Ki-Adi-Mundi was given but six joints, making him not so much a step forward as he was simply more of the same. The deco was good, the paint typically turned out nicely, and the figure aged well-- there wasn't a lot of "paint molting" problems, stability problems, or other annoyances of time. Ki-Adi-Mundi hasn't really had any bad figures, and since this one ties in more to the Expanded Universe than the films, collectors may wish to track it down.

Collector's Notes: In 2002, a revised Ki-Adi-Mundi was sold using this mold and a retooled arm with a magnet and added articulation, as well as the now "corrected" blue lightsaber. In 2005, an all-new super-poseable version of the Jedi was released for Revenge of the Sith. In between, a Jedi High Council version was produced which was, well, OK.

Day 201: November 23, 2006