Figure of the Day: Day 938: R4-J1

R4-J1 Astromech Droid
The Legacy Collection Basic Figures Build-A-Droid
Item No.: Asst. 87535
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: n/a
Availability: July 26, 2008
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: Purchased by an Outer Rim scavenger decades before the Battle of Yavin, R4-J1 scoured junkyards for parts after developing a scavenging rountine of its own. During this time, the droid developed an unusual trait that caused it to jury-rig devices it was supposed to repair. Seen in Mos Espa when Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala are riding the rickshaw RIC-920 to find Watto on Tatooine. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Commentary: Hasbro's desire to give us droids, and our desire to take them, finally met up in 2008. This R4-J1 was a figure most fans assumed was a Hasbro creation, but I have it on decent authority you can actually see it in Mos Espa. I need to look, but rather than do the research, I'll just write about the toy. Taking the same R4 mold we got in the first wave of figures, it's now a creamy color with green splotches. I think it's wonderful. The figure has a head that pops into a hole in the body, and the three legs pop in as you'd expect. Since it's a new mold, the sculpting is years beyond the R4 body we've been given since 2001-- note that this one has actual wires on the feet and a slightly less skinny body. As pack-ins go, this one is great-- get one for your droid shelf, and hold on to it for the day Hasbro or someone gets the sense to release ships with more droid sockets. Otherwise, what you have here is a great addition to nearly any diorama.

Collector's Notes: His parts and pieces come with the SCUBA Clone Trooper, Obi-Wan Kenobi in Clone armor, IG Lancer Droid, and the Heavy Gunner Clone Trooper. He shipped only with Wave 2 figures, so he may be tough to get in the long run.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 938: January 16, 2009