Original Review by Chris: 10/23/2014

Repaint waves are an interesting concept.  They are called for when Hasbro needs to avoid a holiday in a current line, but for whatever reason, can’t provide newly tooled figures.  So by their very nature they require 100% reuse of existing tooling.  Usually not even minor retools can occur.  The problem is that the number of accurate all new characters that can be realized by simply changing the colors of an existing figure (or kitbash of figures) in the Star Wars universe is finite.  In fact, it’s pretty much limited to clones, astromechs and the occasional trooper.  When Pax Bonkik, the Rodian pod racer mechanic from Episode I, was called for in 2007’s repaint wave, Hasbro elected to use the body from 2006’s Vintage Saga Collection Greedo with a Han Solo smuggler vest.  It gets you in ballpark for a Pax Bonkik figure, but don’t look too closely.

By the time of the Battle of Yavin it seems that all Rodians wore the exact same outfit.  It was a mint green one piece jump suit with a sweet burnt orange vest.  This was pretty smart during Galactic Empire times.  All Rodians look alike.  If they also dress alike, no one would be able to tell them apart.  Do you know how many people in Mos Eisley were confused when they swore they saw Greedo walking around Mos Eisley after Solo straight up murdered him? They took to the holonet comment sections swearing they spotted a continuity error, but in fact that was a different Rodian…supposedly.  Unfortunately for Hasbro, Grand Republic Rodians had a little more diversity in their wardrobe.

Instead of the ribbed Episode IV Rodian jumpsuit, Pax Bonkik wore mechanics’ overalls as you would expect for the character.  The vest was likewise a utilitarian mult-pocketed garment instead of the smuggler’s vest which is worn strictly for comfort purposes just as masks are worn in Florin and Guilder.  While you may be sensing an indignant sarcasm in my comments at the outrage of the inaccuracy of this hugely important character to the Saga, I have a confession.  Prior to this figure being announced, I had no idea the character existed.  I never spotted him in The Phantom Menace until long after I owned the figure.  The only reason I know of these inaccuracies is due to the reference photos available on the internet.  So while the figure is a mere approximation of Pax Bonkik in the appropriate color scheme, I’m not sure how important accuracy is in this case.  A mere suggestion of the character is probably good enough.

Regardless of its likeness, I think the figure is eye-catching and certainly pops in a display since it breaks from the normal Tatooine color schemes.  Since it is based on a premium Vintage Collection figure, it comes from good stock.  Even better is that the horrid shag vest from the original Vintage Collection figure is ditched in favor of the plastic vest.  Taking some artistic display license, sneaking this figure into your Jabba’s palace display will spice things up a bit. While I feel the figure is a solid eight, I do need to account for the inaccuracies despite downplaying them earlier.  This brings me to a 7 out of 10 on Pax Bonkik.  Regardless of whether or not you have a pod race display, this figure is generic enough to have a home in every collection.

Updated Review by Chris, diorama photos by Bret: 2/4/2020

Ah, Pax.  Paximilian.  The Paxster.  Who can’t remember all his zany adventures in the thing with the stuff and his wacky friends? 

I still have no idea who this character is.  Not organically anyway.  Just as any of you, I can type “Pax Bonkik” into the internet machine and see that he served as Mars Guo’s indentured pod racer mechanic.  Armed with that information, I can spot the character in The Phantom Menace:

(click for the full sized image)

I think you can also see Pax in the background of the pod race garage scene when Padmé and Anakin ride up on the fart camel.  That’s the diorama shot I asked Mr. Nomadscout to take for me.  I couldn’t do it myself because I gave away my pod racers (like an idiot) when I thought we were done playing Star Wars here at Bantha Skull.  Then Hasbro just had to go and bring the Vintage Collection back, and now I don’t have enough guys to do some of the photography. 

It might seem like I’m taking the tinkle out of the character selection, but it’s not my intent.  Background characters are what drives the Star Wars line.  Han, Luke, Leia and Vader didn’t make Star Wars toys a cultural phenomenon.  Walrus Man, Hammerhead and (the wrong) Snaggletooth did.  So I’m a little delighted that this figure has been made because it can give a pod race display some depth.  My only regret is not getting two back when I had a standing pod race display.  As mentioned in the original review, this isn’t an accurate Pax Bonkik.  It takes some liberties, but it gives the impression of the character.  The figure is a solid 8, but I’m agreeing with myself on lowering the score to a 7 for those inaccuracies, so the 7 out of 10 stands.