Figure of the Day: Day 1,048: Obi-Wan Kenobi

OBI-WAN KENOBI Naboo
Power of the Jedi Collection 1
Item No.: Asst. 84445 No. 84251
Number: n/a
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Includes: Cloak, lightsaber, Force File
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: August 2000
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Obi-Wan is headstrong and impulsive, but he is also loyal and trustworthy. Despite the objections of the Jedi Council, Obi-Wan has vowed to fulfill his Master's dying wish: to train Anakin Skywalker to become a Jedi. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary: When I was toiling away for the folks at Yakface.com, I think this Obi-Wan Kenobi was one of the most hated figures from the staff. I thought it was pretty swell, but my guess is that its abundance ticked more people off than it delighted. It was a nice idea for a release, specifically being Obi-Wan Kenobi from the final scenes of The Phantom Menace. That's why he has his hood up, and Qui-Gon Jinn's lightsaber. I thought it was clever.

The figure is not one of the most articulated ones you can buy, and in the context of the upcoming super-articulated version of the character, you can probably pass on this one. It's not bad, though. This mold has been rereleased with different accessories, and its use of swivel elbows and the normal six other points of articulation made it good, but not great, by the standards of its day. (In 1999, the first Obi-Wan had a then-whopping 10 points of articulation.) The sculpt of the outfit was acceptable, the figure couldn't really sit, but he looked good in a diorama or in a fight. Really, it was the accessories that were the selling points, and if you didn't dig the robes with the hood up over his head you had plenty of good reason to think this one sucked. But I liked it then, as it was a nice toy, and I still think it's a fun little toy today. It's just that the likeness, articulation, and overall look and feel didn't exactly wow fans 9 years ago and I'm sure they won't impress you today.

Collector's Notes: Not a big seller, not worth much, not more than a footnote by today's standards.

Day 1,048: June 19, 2009