Figure of the Day: Day 261: Bespin Security Guard

BESPIN SECURITY GUARD Carbon-Freezing Chamber
Power of the Jedi Playset Figure
Item No.: Asst. 26296
Number: n/a
Includes: Freezing Chamber playset
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $24.99
Availability: 2001

Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: The Bespin Wing Guard, informally known as the Bespin Security Guard or Cloud Police, was the primary security force of Cloud City on Bespin. Wing Guards dressed in dark blue uniforms with red and gold trim with dark blue helmets. They also carry silver blaster sidearms. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: While there's a really awesome Bespin Security Guard figure in the Power of the Jedi line, this is not it. This is the crappy (by comparison) one, as his arms are based on an existing Jedi Luke with the legs and lower body belonging to a Han Solo in Carbonite figure. This may sound ridiculous, but it's sensible-- the playset was designed to "freeze" Han Solo, so any figure that would come with it should, in theory, be able to interact with it if the fan doesn't have the Han. So that's the construction-- the head is new, and the upper body is new enough. It looks like a very primitive figure next to the other figures released at its time, but it's the only modern Bespin Guard figure that doesn't have the jacket sculpted in a weird, opened pose. So this one is the most authentic to the original 1980s Bespin Security Guard figures and, in many respects, the film. It's worth tracking down for now, but if Hasbro ever makes a new, closed-jacket Bespin Guard, you can probably skip this figure and never look back. There's not a lot of detail to be seen here, and it just looks... well, like it was rushed. And it no doubt was.

Collector's Notes: As a playset pack-in, it's a little cheesy. But what do you expect? The playset was first announced in 1998 and released several years later, hence its... very 1998-esque aesthetic, covered in guns. Oh, and don't miss the newer guard, which is well worth grabbing.

Day 261: January 22, 2007