Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,466: Carnor Jax

CARNOR JAX Training Uniform
The Legacy Collection Previews Exclusive
Item No.: No. 87924
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Pike, helmet, 5 other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $34.99
Availability: December 2008
Appearances: Crimson Empire comic books

Bio: Each member of the Royal Guard has undergone grueling tests of combat reflexes and stamina, and is trained in the deadly art of echani. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen. The inset is the logo on his back.

Commentary: For whatever reason, the Carnor Jax figure from the 2008 Crimson Empire boxed set looks like more of a hero than the actual hero of the series. His blue armor seems less aggressive, and his face looks more like a Han Solo or a Rebel pilot than it does a future would-be heir to the Emperor's throne. This is odd, as it's basically the same head used on the other black and red guard version of Carnor Jax sold a few years earlier. But back to this one.

The figure's body is shared with all four "royal guard trainees," which also include Alum Frost, Kir Kanos, and Lemmet Tauk. Each has a unique head sculpt, however all of their legs are recycled from the late 2007 30th Anniversary Collection training fatigues Clone Trooper action figure. The body and arms are entirely new, or at least, new enough that I certainly couldn't tell where they came from. The elements went together fairly well so that you probably wouldn't realize that the figure is mostly recycled bits and pieces, with the distinctive crest appearing on his helmet and the back of his body giving the figure a richer, more individualized look.

While derided by many fans as Power Rangers-esque, the design dates back roughly a decade and does give a more individualized appearance to a clan of characters that are, on the whole, faceless throughout the Expanded Universe. Without any ball joints and a total of 12 points of articulation, the figure wasn't exceptional by the standards of his day. Actually, this figure would've been considered pretty average in 2006, although the green and black design on his person plus the dry brushing on his body armor do seem to be a smidgen better than what most Star Wars figures offered at the time. I wouldn't suggest buying this Carnor Jax first, as the comic pack version was way cooler, but it's not a bad one to get after you've exhausted other avenues of the Empire's henchmen. Worth a look on the cheap, just don't overpay for it.

Collector's Notes: This set did not prove to be a big seller, and like a few other 2008-era boxed set exclusives, it did show up at other venues for pretty low prices. Today, it should run you anywhere between $20 and $40, which is quite a range.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,466: January 26, 2011