Figure of the Day: Day 295: Tessek

TESSEK Jabba's Accountant
Power of the Jedi Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84455 No. 84639
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster pistoll, Force File
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Summer 2001
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: When the Empire invades Mon Calamari, Tessek escapes and becomes an accountant for Jabba the Hutt. Tessek despises Jabba and hopes to kill him and acquire his fortune. Unfortunately, Tessek doesn't realize his plans are known to Jabba's trusted servants... and to Jabba himself! (Taken from the figure's Force File.)

Image: Adam's toy shelves.

Commentary: Wait-- Squid Head is an accountant? The fleshing-out of character backgrounds revealed that what a lot of fans always assumed were cool mercenaries, awesome bounty hunters, and alien drunkards were-- unfortunately-- working stiffs just like you or me. Kids who grew up in the 1980s knew Squid Head as whatever they imagined, but when the modern Tessek figure was released it was accountant o'clock, like Norm on Cheers. And in all fairness, Norm is pretty cool.

Tessek is a great figure. His sculpt is so good, it looks like it came from an on-set still from Return of the Jedi, and the skin was carefully decorated to look like a high quality release. Not to knock Gentle Giant or Sideshow, but if they ever try to do Tessek, their work is cut out for them. There's a ridiculously high level of detail on this figure, from the cloth garments (rendered in plastic) to the gold belt to the suction cup fingers. Oh, and his turquoise eyes. And tiny blaster that fits in his holster, which is snuggly out of sight. While more articulation would be great, this figure's seven points are just fine considering that he has one of the best sculpts of the entire modern action figure line. If you see Tessek, you must buy Tessek. And if you are the sculptor of Tessek, please drop us a note and say hello because you do awesome work and we just want to make sure you know that. Few figures make you as glad to be a part of this hobby as this one, so kudos Hasbro-- this is a job well done!

Collector's Notes: At first, this figure-- as well as R2-Q5, Lando Calrissian, and Jar Jar Binks whom he shipped with-- were quite hard to find. It didn't last, but the figure was one of very few to deserve the hype-- it's excellent!

Day 295: February 25, 2007