Figure of the Day: Day 969: Sharad Hett

SHARAD HETT with Ki-Adi-Mundi
The Legacy Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87775
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #16
Includes: 2 figures, 2 lightsabers, mask, hat, breathing mask
Action Feature: removable mask
Retail: $11.99
Availability: January 2009
Appearances: Star Wars comic series


Bio: Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi is sent to Tatooine to find the self-exiled Jedi Master Sharad Hett, who now lives among the fierce Tusken Raiders. As Sharad tells his anguished story to Ki, the assassin Aurra Sing locates the TRusken camp - and brings deadly trouble to the two Jedi and the Sand People. (Taken from the toy's cardback.)

Image: Adam's TV tray.

Commentary: Not surprisingly, Sharad Hett shares construction with his son, A'Sharad, who had a figure released two years ago. The key differences are the body and head, the arms are pretty much the same and the legs are as well. With this in mind, you basically know what to expect-- swivel neck, hips, elbows, wrists, and waist, with ball-jointed shoulders and knees. For part of a 2-pack, it's a pretty great figure, although there's certainly much room for improvement. Articulation being simplified no doubt helps keeps costs down, but there's one area in which this figure totally falls flat-- deco. His human head looks fine, but his Tusken mask does not. At all. The face and "mouth" of the mask is lacking color, and just looks bizarre compared to other Tusken toys or even his own son. There's an unpainted "nose," there could stand to be some more black in the mouth, etc. By itself it looks OK, but as the leader of a clan of warriors, he looks like someone didn't finish him. The mask pops on and off easily, so one could say that a customized mask or perhaps a mask from another figure might be an acceptable substitution, but it's always annoying when Hasbro does a figure that's pretty good, but just shy of being "good enough." I can live with the limited articulation, but the messed-up face is really hard to get past. Also, in the comics, the character had red lenses-- the figure does not.

Thankfully, aside from that, he matches the comic well. His human head matches the character art, his lightsaber is close to its appearance in the books, he has his distinctive blue robes, it's a nice action figure to say the least. Since he has a small, unpainted gaffi and a lightsaber, I'd say he basically has everything he needs. If you're a Tusken fan-- and I am-- you have to get one of these. When I got a POTJ Tusken, the first thing I did was hand him a lightsaber because I thought this character was such a neat idea. The comic he comes with is part of a really great series, even if it doesn't fit perfectly into the post-prequel continuity. Check it out!

Collector's Notes: As a new release it may be common in your area, or perhaps not. Either way, happy hunting for this one. I think this figure is great but then again, I'm a sucker for such things. The set is one of my favorite comic packs so far, so grab one if you have the means. I don't think you'll be sorry.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 969: March 2, 2009