Figure of the Day: Day 381: Obi-Wan Kenobi

OBI-WAN KENOBI Outlander Nightclub Encounter
Saga Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84717
Number: 0339
Includes: Glass, bar
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Fall 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker chase the assassin, who attempted to take the life of Senator Amidala, into the Outlander nightclub on Coruscant. As Obi-Wan bides his time, waiting for his quarry to make a move, he is approached by one of the low-life Slythmongers. Using the Jedi gesture of influence, he convinces the Slythmonger to reform his corrupt ways. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: A Jedi hero action figure is going to include a drink and a bar? I never thought I'd see the day, but in 2003 we saw Hasbro release Obi-Wan Kenobi specifically from that sequence of the film. The figure includes half of a bar (which can store drinks behind it) and a drink, plus was the most articulated (at the time) version of the character. In theory, this was great-- however it was 2003, and "super articulation" was just coming into its own with the release of the Clone Trooper still a few months down the road. Still, this was the best at the time, which as good and bad-- you see, Hasbro still hadn't quite figured out how to do Obi-Wan Kenobi's hair from Episode II, and as such, the beard and the whole head just looks bad. It's like releasing a tiny Padme figure with no makeup-- unfortunately, when you get down to a tiny scale, some things benefit from exaggeration or precision because otherwise they just look odd. This is one of those figures. If the head was better, I'd dare say it's one of the best Obi-Wan figures we're ever going to see, but it wasn't, so it isn't.

The figure has a lightsaber molded to his belt, and features over 11 points of articulation. It's an OK figure, but it isn't one that's going to win a lot of contests. Still, for the bar, at the right price, this figure is totally worth plunking down some cash on. There aren't many chances to buy Star Wars scenery, so be sure to get them when you can.

Collector's Notes: This item shipped near the end of the 2003 line of Saga, and as such was clearanced out quite violently shortly after its release. If you lived in the right area, you could get this entire wave at Target for a couple of bucks each. As people were sort of Attack of the Clones-d out by then, a lot of people didn't seem to mind.

Day 381: May 22, 2007