Figure of the Day: Day 418: JN-66 Librarian Droid

SP-4 & JN-66 Research Droids
Saga Collection 2
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84924
Number: 0305
Includes: Extra droid figure, hover stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99
Availability: January 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones Deleted Scene

Bio: The analysis droids SP-4 and JN-66 assist Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi when he seeks their help in identifying a small toxic dart. The origin of the mysterious weapon may provide the only clue in discovering who is behind the assassination attempt on Senator Amidala. Deep within the great Jedi Temple, in an encased analysis room, the SP-4 droid examines the dart and searches for a possible link in its streaming bank of datya. Typically reliable for such research, the analysis droid's assessment is less informative than the Jedi had hoped. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: What combines the fun of a librarian with the action packed excitement of a legless robot? Why, it's JN-66, the floating analysis droid! This little guy works at the Jedi Archives on Coruscant and was a pretty great little design that reminded me of Nintendo's ROB (Robotic Operating Buddy) from the NES days. It's great, but it only has three points of articulation-- thankfull, it's packaged with a second droid that has five points of articulation. Good news, indeed. This droid has decent deco, a good sculpt, and a unique look that really isn't replicated outside this set. As such, this is a nice figure to play with or add to your collection because unlike so many others, it's unique, and so far has never been reissued. It also looks a little like the droids from Polis Massa and might be a good place to start if you're an aspiring customizer. Of course, I'm not, so I'll just be waiting for Hasbro to make me all these wonderful droids between now and the time they find Star Wars has become unprofitable.

Collector's Notes: They came, they went, nobody really seemed to notice. Deleted scenes figures are always an interesting proposition, and these sold surprisingly well given that there's no action, no real recognition, and the only people who knew who they were were hardcore fans with DVDs and reference guides. So why can't we get more things like this? (Or for that matter, more astromech droids? Or Jocasta Nu, the Jedi librarian pain in the butt?) Anyway.

Day 418: June 28, 2007