Over the last few days, we reviewed the three Saga (2002) Walmart Cantina sets.  They were intended to be the first of 2 waves of these sets, but the second wave (with arguably more interesting character selection) was cancelled.  Included there were a retooled/repainted Wuher, a retooled/repainted Dr. Evazan, and the all new debut (YAY!) of Kitik Keed’kak.  There are few things that will replicate the extreme collector agita caused by the cancellation of a new figure that was already made public. 

Two long years after the wave was cancelled, Hasbro finally gathered all three figures together in the first of two 3-packs.  In 2004, Kmart picked up both sets as exclusives.  Each contained the three straight bar sections (very slightly repainted) from the original 2002 Saga sets, as well as all 9 bar glasses.  Additionally, the cardboard backdrops, which were supposed to help complete the look and serve as the central distillery, were combined into one long piece, rather than the 3 individual pieces that came with the first sets.  Personally, I tossed all of these.  Not a fan.

Dr. Evazan is a retool of the POTF2 figure.  Here, he was outfitted with new legs that have hinged knees to help him sit.  As with the other figures we already reviewed for the Walmart sets, this is a double-edged sword.  It makes sense that Hasbro would add this articulation so that the figures could take advantage of the included bar stools.  Of course, the bar stools shouldn’t be there to begin with.  Also, Evazan is never seen sitting down.  Nevertheless, the effort is appreciated, although the execution leaves a bit to be desired, as the narrow stance and odd lean give the figure a strange and tenuous grip on uprightness.  There is a HEAVY paint wash, which makes it look like ol’ Cornelius just emerged from a mud bath.  Besides the bar glasses, Evazan also comes with his blaster.  This is important, because he actually draws it during one of the most memorable moments in the OT.  Previous Walmart figures came with no weapons - even poor Greedo, who probably would of have been better off leaving his blaster at home that day.

Wuher is a retool/repaint of the POTF Commtech figure.  The huge upgrade here is that the bar glass, which was previously molded into his hand, has now been removed.  Sadly, like Evazan, he is overly washed with dark paint.  Additionally, his face is…horrible.  It’s almost like Hasbro forgot that Evazan was the deformed one, and tried to do the same to poor Wuher.  The terrible paint apps end up almost completely negating the removable glass upgrade, and the versions become a toss up as to which of the two is better.  I choose this figure for my displays, as I can’t get beyond the original’s molded glass, but I’m not happy about it.  Also, don’t forget that the Commtech version comes with the droid detector.  Sophie’s Choice, indeed.

Finally, there’s Kitik Keed’Kak.  This giant mantis-like alien can briefly be seen standing at the far end of the right side of the bar during the panning shot as Luke first surveys the cantina.  Keed’Kak is a poorly articulated figure, with effectively only 3 swivel POA’s at the shoulders and waist.  The hips do appear to have some articulation, but it is rendered useless by the plastic skirt which conceals the entire lower body.  The sculpt is pretty cool looking, but we’re left with what is almost a statue.  That was okay back in 2004, because it was exciting just to get this character as it was both a debut as well as the rescued release of the once-cancelled figure.  It was another addition to the Cantina, for which the OTC did wonders, taking us far beyond the redos of the Kenner figures to which we were (mostly) limited up to that point.

The set was highly desirable at the time.  Even though the luster has worn off, it still offers the opportunity to get 3 straight bar sections in one shot, and includes at least one figure which still needs to be in your display (and another that might be) even in 2020.