Figure of the Day: Day 364: Captain Tarpals

CAPTAIN TARPALS Naboo Final Conflict
Original Trilogy Collection Toys "R" Us Gift Sets
Item No.: No. 34514
Number: n/a
Includes: Kaadu, feathers, shoulder armor
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Fall 2004
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Captain Tarpals served as a leader in the Security Forces of Otoh Gunga. He was one of the leaders of the Battle of Grassy Plains. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: Due to the hard-and-fast marketing gambit for Episode I, everybody pretty much burned out on the flick in a few months-- meaning that very few toys would follow the initial burst. Thankfully, Toys "R" Us took on this set which featured a partially retooled Captain Tarpals, which was actually a pretty cool character. From the waist-down, the figure has been given new knees so he can sit on the heavily retooled Kaadu, which is also pretty cool. The figure isn't exactly loaded with detail, but there's loads of color and paint that makes this figure look like a lot more work went into it than actually did. So what you have here is about 8 points of articulation, a good (but not great) sculpt, and a figure designed pretty much specifically to sit on top of a medium-sized creature. The figure works well as far as its purpose goes, but you might want to get the regular carded version-- you know, the one with an actual weapon-- for the purposes of dioramas or other forms of play.

Collector's Notes: The main reason this figure is exciting is it comes in a good gift set, with a retooled (and action feature-free) Kaadu, a redecorated Battle Droid, a Gungan Soldier, and a Naboo Soldier. For $20, it was a killer deal-- and hopefully Hasbro will reissue this four-pack (plus beast) as a Battle Pack some day as it really is a fun set of toys and for $20, is a great gift item. Even though it's Episode I.

Day 364: May 5, 2007