Figure of the Day: Day 909: Probe Droid (Probot)

IMPERIAL PROBE DROID Hoth Recon Patrol
The Legacy Collection Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87752 No. 87789
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Firing rocket, 4 additional figures
Action Feature: Spring-loaded rocket, head "ejects"
Retail: $19.99
Availability: July 2008
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Bio: Used for reconnaissance and deep space exploration, Imperial probe droids gather data and transmit it over long distances. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' table.

Commentary: It took over 10 years, but Hasbro finally released an Imperial Probe Droid with paint more or less accurate to The Empire Strikes Back. Way back in 1997, Kenner cranked out a deluxe Probe Droid figure which had a grey body and a big orange missile-- which was actually accurate to some Lucasfilm photography, just not to the droid we saw in action. The figure has a jointed head, five jointed limbs, an articulated blaster, and a hidden cannon under its neck-- just push it up, and there you go. The set didn't include a manual, but the droid does feature two spring-loaded features. One is a firing rocket in one of its eyes, the other is a "self-destruct" lever right under its body. While there certainly are ways Hasbro could improve this figure, paint isn't one of them. Its silvery finish complete with dusted snow makes it fit in with any Hoth diorama, although it may look strange next to a bunch of non-snow dusted figures. While it would be nice to see one with a better range of articulation and maybe some sort of display stand one day, this is actually a pretty solid figure. Especially in a $20 boxed set, you really can't go wrong.

Collector's Notes: This is the best modern probe droid money can buy. Unless you decide you want the vintage Kenner one from the 1980s, you should go get this one and be secure in the knowledge that, most likely, this is probably as good as it's going to get for a very long time. Oh, and the video below? Yeah, that's me doing this. I'm a firm believer in zero budget marketing.

Day 909: December 8, 2008