Figure of the Day: Day 439: G2-4T

G2-4T Star Tours
Star Tours Collection 1
Item No.: No. 10161
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $10.00
Availability: Spring 2002
Appearances: Star Tours

Bio: G2-4T was a G2 "Goose Droid" that worked for the Star Tours travel agency. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: While rumors floated for years, it wasn't until 2002 when Hasbro gave in and gave us our very first Star Tours action figures, which included this here G2-4T, one of very few action figures in this line to have his name printed in plain English on the side of his head. Which is good, because for some reason I have a mental block which prevents me from remembering most of the Disney park droid names. If you're like me, the main reason you bought this figure was because you didn't have it-- not because you had an attachment to the design or character, or because it was particularly awesome. Hasbro made these exclusive to Disney parks, thus making it difficult for mere non-vacationing mortals to get them, and as such a lot of fans just don't care about them. And with good cause-- these figures really don't fit in most dioramas and basically work best as a "I went to Disneyworld and all I got was this stupid action figure" type item. It's not that it's a bad item, far from it-- there's a lot of sculpted wires and prongs and bits to admire, with a small splash of red here and there making this feel a little more like a cobbled-together robot than other toy droids in our collections. It has a very Star Wars feel, but it still doesn't quite fit in as well as other Expanded Universe themes, probably in part due to the fact it has actual readable characters on it-- very few figures can say that. With few points of articulation (or anywhere for them to go), it just doesn't sizzle like some other releases, but still, it is a droid, and it is Star Wars. And that's good enough for me to have bought my one.

Collector's Notes: Initially, this $10 figure shot up in value because it was hard to get. Time, the great equalizer, showed most fans don't want to pay real money for it, and it can be had on eBay for under $10 shipped. As such, be cheap when you buy yours. Hasbro released 12 action figures based on droids from the ride over 4 series and at last check, there were no plans to make more. As the series included three unique Astromech droids, it may be worth the while of some of you to track down some of these figures.

Day 439: July 19, 2007