Friday, March 6, 2009

Figure of the Day: Day 973: Padme Amidala

PADMÉ AMIDALA Ilum Outfit
Power of the Force Basic Figures
Item No.:
Asst. 87535 No. 87612
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #BD12
Includes: Blaster, Cloak, droid piece
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: July 2008
Appearances: Clone Wars (2003-2005 Series)

Bio: Quick-thinking and brave, Padmé has made a career out of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. On Ilum, her sharp eye and keen mind, along with a thermal detonator, save her from an ambush by a squad of heavily armed chameleon droids. (Taken from the toy's cardback.)

Image: Adam's TV tray.

Commentary: The speed of this figure's release was more than a little surprise. Padmé Amidala in her Ilum outfit was first released in 2007 as a fairly stiff, underarticulated action figure with a strange pose-- and this 2008 figure was a kajillion times better. A new sculpt, she's now a fully articulated ultra-modern space vixen. Her outfit has a cloth cape, but a plastic hood better frames her face and stays where it's supposed to. Her blaster fits neatly into her holster, and she can sit or stand or whatever. If you liked those first Clone Wars cartoons, this figure is a can't-miss release, but their are downers. (See below.) As a stand-alone release she's great, but no other Ilum-specific figures are really on the market outside a Battle Pack which includes yet another version of her in this very costume. Hasbro did us right with this second attempt, but do you really need two?

Collector's Notes: To date this mold has never been reissued or resculpted. This is the only release. Another sculpt of Padmé was an exclusive the previous year and included two Chameleon Droids which, to date, remain as exclusives to Target. So if you want everything Ilum, you're going to have to own at least two different versions of the same snow Padmé from about 18 months apart. Nice one, Hasbro.

--Adam Pawlus


Day 973: March 6, 2009

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