Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 1,802: AT-ST Driver

AT-ST DRIVER Another One
30th Anniversary Collection Target Exclusive Battle Pack
Item No.: Asst. 87565 No. 87567 
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $49.99
Availability: November 2007
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio:  The Rebel Alliance learns that the Empire is building a second Death Star and that the Emperor is on board overseeing its construction. The Rebels plan to destroy the station, but a deflector shield protects it from attack. Han, Chewie, Leia, Luke, C-3PO, and R2-D2 are sent to Endor to disable the shield. After being chased by Scout Troopers, they are befriended by the native Ewoks, who join their fight against the Empire. Han tricks the Stormtroopers into letting him into their bunker and shuts down the shield. Rebels and Ewoks battle the Stormtroopers, with Chewie arriving ot help his friends in a captured AT-ST Walker. With the shield down, the Rebel fleet destroys the Death Star, ending Emperor Palpatine's rule.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.

Commentary:  This AT-ST Driver was a great example of Hasbro exploiting its existing mold library when coming out with one of the best-ever exclusives for the price.  The big boxed set included numerous repaints and a few new guys, but this was one of the highlights in the set.  The head is a reuse of a 2002 Rebel Trooper, now with gray hair.  The body is a repainted 2003 Han Solo (AT-ST disguise/Endor Strike) outfit, which itself was a retool of the 2001 Imperial Officer figure.  The outfit was painted a little more green, given a little more detail, and presto-- instant "new mold" AT-ST Driver.  (A Super-Articulated AT-ST Driver would be sold at Target in 2010.)  This one is quite good and definitely meets the "good enough" criteria for an above-average vehicle driver figure.  the sculpt may not be the most current, but he has no problems sitting plus has limited elbow articulation and a swell communicator sculpted right in to his hand.  Some of you articulation fiends hate everything, but there's no denying this is a quality figure released, as a part of a boxed set, at an excellent price.   Had Hasbro carded it, it probably would have sold fairly well.   I'm actually somewhat surprised Hasbro hasn't cranked this one out for more gift sets.

Collector's Notes: Similar-but-different AT-ST Drivers were included with the Ultimate Battle of Hoth set and Walmart's exclusive AT-ST.  The Endor set, boxed, on eBay seems to go for as little as $60 and as high as $250.  At $80 or less, it's well worth owning, even for just the exclusive Ewoks and the logs.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 1,802: May 10, 2012