Figures That Make Me Happy:  CZ-4

So many of these "Figures that Make Me Happy" have some sort of anchor in my childhood, especially the Original Trilogy figures. CZ-4 marks a bit of a departure from that pattern. I vividly remember the CZ-series droid in the Sandcrawler because it frightened me, but not in the good manner that is a bit of a thrill. They way the CZ droid was rocking with a 1,000 yard stare in the midst of that junkyard on tracks scared me in the a disconcerting way. It was mildly disturbing. I would liken it to the difference between roller coasters, which I love, and that slingshot contraption, which I wouldn't set foot on for a million bucks. Both scary in their own way, but one is thrilling, and the other is too terrifying to enjoy. That's how I viewed Hermi Odle (roller coaster) and CZ-droids (slingshot) as a wee lad. So CZ-4 is not one of those figures I always wanted.

Fast forward to 1997, and childhood frights are well in my rearview. Heck, I used to be afraid of certain muppets. How silly is that? Okay, I'm still afraid of some muppets. You mean to tell me if you had an Uncle Deadly plush in your bedroom that you wouldn't be afraid that it would choke you in your sleep? Anyway, I digress. By this time, we were 56 figures into the modern line with no signs of slowing down. We had already gotten several figures that were not part of the Original 96. I felt emboldened to start peering into the background of the three films for my figure want lists. Now the creepiness of the "clown droid" was cool as all get out instead of scary. I wanted one in the lineup.

Relative to the figures like Garindan and Hermi Odle that I wanted since the vintage Kenner era, the wait would be relatively short. Ten years after the CZ droids landed on my radar, one entered the line courtesy of the 30th Anniversary Collection, but it definitely came with some cursed monkey paw. The character I had my sights set on was CZ-3 from A New Hope who can be seen to the side of the landspeeder sale to Wioslea:


What was delivered was CZ-4 who was the disassembled CZ droid in the corner of Jabba's dungeon:


Since the sculpts are identical, that in and of itself was not a deal breaker, but Hasbro took the opportunity to go to town with the paint apps. There's much too much black, gray, silver and rust on the figure, and the overall wash it too dark. If Hasbro still has the tooling, and re-released this figure in TVC as CZ-3 with the corresponding accurate paint apps, I would be almost as excited as I would be when and if they announce an all new Episode IV Luke.

Man, TAC was a great line.

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