Editor’s Note:  This review has been updated with our second look at TVC…

Original Review:  Chris - 3/12/11 05:42 PM

I want to give this figure a bad grade because everything around it sucks.  The old skiff sucks.  The old Weequay Guard (Queequeg) sucks.  But before this becomes like my review of Transformers 2, I better get onto the actual subject.

I love the figure.  The only gripe I really have is that the shoulder pads appear a bit out of proportion, but that’s probably just a byproduct of the miniaturization.  The costume limits the articulation in places, but, as in the past, I won’t fault the figure for this.  The head sculpt is awesome.  The detail, paint apps and correct football shaped head are great.  The painted and sturdy vibro-ax is a welcome departure from previous vibro-axes that offered the rigidity of a twist tie.  Another 9 out of 10.  Deduction for the aforementioned shoulder proportionality. 

Updated Review:  Bret - 06/28/2018 07:05 AM

Yet another great addition to TVC, which in turn should be a great addition to your collection, especially with the Khetanna only, what, 8 months away?  This was a character that was long overdue.  The skiffmaster was the operations manager in charge of the execution of Luke Skywalker and his friends. He had a lot of responsibilities.  He had to make sure the skiffs were Dune Sea worthy, with particular emphasis on the gangplank functioning properly.  He had to motivate his team, which consisted of drivers, henchmen, security guards, and prisoner handlers.  He oversaw the morale of his team; ensuring everyone was well fed and supplied with the proper helmets and vibro-blades to get the job done.  He often took payroll disputes directly to Jabba, to ensure his men were not screwed over when it came to the overtime pay they deserved.  He was known around the palace as a henchman’s manager, often spotted playing sabaac or dejarik with his men after hours.  However, most audiences remained ignorant to the mundane but noble work handled by Skiffmaster.  Most fans just know that he was wildly hacked by Luke and his Green Stick of Death during the murder spree at the Pit of Carkoon, where he screamed the Wilhelm before plunging down the throat of the mighty Sarlaac.

Weequay (Skiff Master) gets his action figure debut here in TVC, and is one of 4 total Skiff guards to have been made in the line.  With this figure a reality, we are missing only 2 more figures from the prisoner skiff, so this was an important step forward for Hasbro and for collectors.  As Chris described, the figure is awesome all around, with the lone exception being the slightly puffy shoulders.  The included weapons look amazing, and the figure interacts with them perfectly, including a THWG.  I would add that the ankle articulation is a bit limited, but really, this figure just needs to stand on the skiff and look awesome, which it does spectacularly.  If you aren’t glad Hasbro made this figure, you are evil and need to be stopped.

Verdict: Re-issue (medium priority) 

This is the definitive version of a character whose importance to collectors skyrocketed after the Khetanna announcement from Hasbro.  Figures on Ebay go for a medium to high premium, and loose samples are hard to come by.  If you ordered a Sail Barge, you’ll want this figure to go along with it.  It will cost you, though.  It may make sense for Hasbro to find a way to re-release characters from the Battle of The Pit of Carkoon, because many of them spiked in cost on the secondary market, and will probably continue to rise as we get closer to the Khetanna delivery date.

Verdict Guide:
Re-sculpt = The figure is not definitive, and a new version should be developed.
Re-issue = This version is definitive (or close enough), and shows sufficient secondary market demand to warrant a straight repack.
No Action = This release does not require new attention.