OOM-9 was an OOM Command Battle Droid, a specialized version of the B1 Battle Droids. He was in command of the Trade Federation forces during the Invasion of Naboo.  He led the droid army to several early victories during the invasion, resulting in the subjugation of the planet under Nute Gunray.  However, his forces were unable to capture the escaped Jedi diplomats, Qui-Got Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi.  OOM-9 could be identified with his distinctive yellow markings, which was standard for all OOM command battle droids.  Other specialized battle droids were the red-marked security droids and the blue-marked pilot droids.  Together, these droids effectively conquered Naboo, were it not for the return of Queen Amidala and her Jedi escorts, who had unexpectedly enlisted the help of the Grand Gungan Army.  Under OOM-9, the droid army soundly defeated the Gungans in open battle.  However, the entire Trade Federation army was then almost immediately deactivated (including OOM-9 himself) due to the events of the space battle above Naboo when Anakin destroyed the Neimoidian droid control ship.

This figure is very similar to the other basic battle droid that was released earlier in the Episode I line, but there are several key differences.  The backpack is replaced with a double antenna, which plugs into an off-center hole in the droid’s back.  The neck extends and fully retracts.  Perhaps this was meant to help simulate the unfolding of the the droid infantry, but that’s not quite how it happened on screen - and OOM-9 did not deploy/unfold on screen anyway.  Another difference is the paint.  He’s got the yellow markings of a command droid, and also notable is the absence of any battle damage, carbon scoring, or dirt.  Besides the ball jointed head/extending neck, the figure has swivel shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees, which adds up to 10 points of articulation.  Pretty good for a figure from 1999, although the lack of ankles means it can’t do anything other than stand straight upright, nor can it perform a THWG (Two-handed weapon grip).

OOM-9 comes with a standard battle droid blaster, which he can hold in either hand, although not particularly securely.  He also comes with binoculars, which he can almost hold properly.  He can’t grip them with both hands, but he comes close enough to make it look like he was just doing it as he drops the second hand away, if you use your imagination.  He can also almost put the binoculars in front of his eyes.  I had it very close for a nanosecond, but couldn’t get it to stay that way long enough to snap a picture.

This figure is very slightly better than the basic battle droid figures in the line, but not by that much.  The binoculars and paint are cool, and gives the figure the necessary visuals to identify it as OOM-9, so he can do his duty of leading the droid forces.  Newer battle droid molds gave this character a better figure, but Hasbro has yet to make the definitive Battle Droid.  This one can still find a home on your shelf, even though it’s not the best version out there.  I give it a 6.