Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,547: 4-LOM (or Kenner's Zuckuss)

4-LOM ...or Zuckuss in Vintage Kenner Colors The Vintage Collection Jedi-Con and Celebration V Exclusive Item No.: No. 19672 Number: #VCP01 Includes: Blaster, Zuckuss figure Action Feature: n/a Retail: $14.99 Availability: August 2010 Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back Bio: Referred to as "The Uncanny One" by his fellow hunters, Zuckuss was renowned for his ability to discover hidden quarry. His tracking skills derived both from his training as a findsman and from his innate Force-sensitivity, which allowed him to sense individuals at range and decipher the motives of his prey. Due to his famed abilities, Zuckuss was highly sought after, and he found employment with the Bounty Hunters' Guild, the Hutt Cartel, TaggeCo, and even the Rebellion for a time. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.) Image: Adam's bathroom. Commentary: Since I grew up heavily interested in the 1970s and 1980s Kenner toys, this 4-LOM and his cohort Zuckuss were a real treat. Along with Gentle Giant's jumbo take on the line, these figures are a wonderful reference to the toys so many of us had in our pockets before the weight of the world crushed our collective spirits. What's particularly neat about this figure is that Hasbro decided to do more than just repaint him. Based on the 2009 Zuckuss figure, this figure has been given a tan paint job with silver eyes. The faded look is right out of 1982, and it's hard to say exactly what inspired the original coloring-- black-and-white photographs? Toyetic license? No idea. What I do know is that I vastly prefer this one to the more accurate version Hasbro sold earlier, but that's just a matter of my weird taste. If Hasbro did a Luke repaint with screaming yellow hair and a lightsaber to match, I'd be willing to overpay for that, too. (Seriously, Hasbro. Do it. Original 12 figures repainted in Kenner colors, an easy $120 boxed set. Throw in Boba Fett in Kenner colors and I'll shell out even more.) While the plastic elements of the figure didn't receive any sculpting tweaks, Hasbro did change the material for his lower robes to more closely mach the thickness of the 1982 figure. While not an exact match, it's much closer to the 1982 figure than the very thin, somewhat transparent dark brown of the 2009 release. Heck, I don't know why I'm even continuing to ramble on this one-- it's the best Zuckus mold in 1982 4-LOM colors. If you aren't already excited, there's something terribly wrong with you. Collector's Notes: The complete set can be had for under $20, so don't overpay for this one either. Due to the weirdness level, I'd say it's worth shelling out for this one if the secondary market eventually warrants it. --Adam Pawlus

Day 1,547: May 19, 2011