Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,436: Battle Droid

BATTLE DROID Arena Battle
The Legacy Collection Target Exclusive Geonosis Arena Packs 2010
Item No.: Asst. 97645 No. 97647
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #2 of 6
Includes: Antenna, blaster, Rodian Jedi figure
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.99
Availability: October 2010
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: The Jedi Knights rush to Geonosis to rescue Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Padme from execution. The Jedi brandish their lightsabers against the Geonosian warriors and the massive army of battle droids, super battle droids, and droidekas. All hope seems lost that any Jedi will survive this battle, then Yoda arrives with an army of clone troopers. Although many Jedi are lost that day, others survive this climactic battle that ushers in the Clone Wars. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Commentary: The Battle Droid has quite the history at Hasbro, as the figures range from really good to almost perfect most of the time. It's very rare for Hasbro to make a bad one, but we often see ones that are just a hair shy of being great. In 2009, the same basic mold as this figure was introduced but one version had giant eyes painted on, while the other had no eyes. Between the two, it averages out to substandard and we all hoped for a cheap repaint-- which we eventually got in 2010 Saga Legends. Now this specific figure is a bizarre hybrid of the aforementioned two releases, as it has the deco of a standard red Battle Droid, but it has the antenna rather than the backpack. Weird! Also neat.

The figure itself is, unquestionably, Hasbro's best and most error-free execution of the form. He can fold up, he's loaded with detail and articulation, plus the plastic isn't weak and awful (so far, anyway) making this the go-to figure of the year. Nice! It's a nice, just-different-enough figure to add to your collection and to be honest I can't complain about this one too much. I'm just so happy the eye size is right this time, the fact that it can fold up into a little ball is the icing in the cake. My guess is that this is going to be as good as this mold gets, so strap yourself in for repaints and you're going to love every last one of them. Pick this set up if you've got a few bucks and happen to see one in the wild.

Collector's Notes: New, but surprisingly popular-- this figure seems to be selling extremely well. It's probably thanks to the unnamed Rodian Jedi, but it is a swell Battle Droid. Get while the getting is good, or clearance-y.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,436: December 15, 2010