As I mentioned in yesterday’s Purchase of the Droids review, I personally missed all the Power of the Force 2 nonsense because I started collecting in 1999 with TPM.  As such, I completely missed the “Fan Club 4”, which were 4 figures (Pote Snitkin, AT-AT Driver, Death Star Droid, and Hoth Leia) that were supposed to be part of the Freeze Frame subline of POTF2, but ended up being sold through the Star Wars Official Fan Club.  These were later clearanced at Toys R Us (because BIGJIM didn’t buy them at full price).  Pote was one of the more obscure characters in the trilogy, and it was interesting that it was made, even while Hasbro was busy pumping out 49 different variants of farmboy Luke, Darth Vader, and stormtroopers.  He’s technically a pilot/driver figure, so it did make some sense as Hasbro was about to release a repaint of the Kenner skiff. Around that time, Hasbro also released a Skiff Guards Cinema Scene, which technically only contained one real skiff guard (Barada), since Klaatu and Nikto (Vizam) were on the deck of the Barge.  Hasbro probably knew at that time that the Khetanna was on the way, so they were getting collectors prepared.

In today’s world, Pote Snitkin has seen a surge in prominence and popularity, as the Pit of Carkoon scene has quite suddenly become the center of the collecting universe.  After the release of The Khetanna and reveals of an improved Lando, a Skiff Guards 3 pack, and an all new skiff, there has been renewed focus on the characters that were part of the skirmish on screen.  Of course, as usual, Bantha Skull has been at the tip of the spear on this front, as we’ve been championing “completing the scene” at the sarlaac for quite some time.  While there are still 5 skiff figures and a few others from the barge deck that are as yet unmade (MIAF!), there are still some that are in dire need of improvement. 

This figure was pretty good for its time, and to some degree, has held up fairly well, considering it’s a 20-year-old figure.  It’s very large and quite hefty, something not too common at the time.  The sculpt (other than the articulation) is very detailed.  The skrilling face is particularly outstanding.  The paint is done well, and the details of the sculpt are nicely accentuated.  The figure has 6POA, due to the head, shoulders, hips, and waist.  The range of motion, however, is fairly limited.  This is particularly so when the figure is covered with the plastic removable shawl.  The head, in fact, is barely moveable, if even at all.  In addition to the shawl, the figure comes with a weird vibro club (“Force Pike”) and a very silly rifle (“Blaster Pistol”), which looks like a grenade launcher with a bayonet shaped like a Dothraki scythe.

The weapons are ridiculous, and the shawl should be soft goods.  The figure should be completely resculpted with improved articulated.  Interestingly, one of the biggest flaws of this figure might actually be rendered moot in a few months.  With the newly sculpted skiff on the horizon, it is likely that this Pote Snitkin figure will fit much better (or, at all) behind the controls of the skiff.  This one needs to be carefully angled and squeezed into place on the Kenner-era skiff.  Nevertheless, the figure is in need of an upgrade.  He’s looking worse and worse each day, as Hasbro puts out newer and better guards for the two skiffs.  Just as quickly as the POTF2 Pote Snitkin has been gaining attention recently, it is losing viability as a display piece in your modern collection. 

And if that isn’t enough, while doing research recently for the Yarna d’al Gargan figure, I’ve noticed that there is a Skrilling standing right behind Yarna as she bows to Jabba following the first dance number.  I can find no confirmation that this is Pote Snitkin, but it seems likely, as most of the skiff guards can be seen in the palace, often off duty and without armor.  It looks like this may be Snitkin without his shawl.  So if Hasbro is going to make a new Pote Snitkin figure, he should definitely have a removable soft goods shawl so he can be in both scenes in our displays.

This figure looks kinda neat, even today, but the crappy articulation, bizarre weaponry, and inability to properly fit into the Kenner Skiff mold hurts this figure.  However, we’re stuck with it for the time being because there is no other version of Pote Snitkin for you to upgrade.  You’re stuck with this 4/10 nonsense.

It’s clapping Pote Snitkin!  How about a Pote/Lando 2-pack?