Figures That Make Me Happy:  Hermi Odle

Preface: We have to run the FTMMH today because of the preorders that are coming later (1PM ET). Nomad's collection feature is ready, but he doesn't want it to get "stepped on" by the preorder links that are getting posted later. He thinks he's an artist or something. Speaking of those preorder links, if you plan to order through Entertainment Earth today, it would mean a lot to us if you came back here at 1PM and used our links. It really helps the site, and I'm very eager to give away a Ghost later this year, but we need those fat commission checks to do so.





I have a little bit of a confession, and one that, given my noted passions over the years, is a little bit embarrassing. I didn't know who Ephant Mon was when he was being voted on for the Fans' Choice. This will shock no one who knows me well, but I'm very process oriented in the things I do, and I get obsessive about it. As an example, for work, I always go from the most difficult/unpleasant task to the easiest task. I can't even think of deviating. My process for campaigning for figures to complete a scene starts with the most prominent. I want the ones that drew my attention almost upon first viewing before I start pushing for figures that take a more analytical breakdown to identify. Now, none of this is to suggest that Ephant Mon is particularly hidden in Jabba's Palace. He's not. And like so many others, once I know where and when they appear, I'm almost in disbelief that I overlooked them. Jabba's head of security isn't hard to spot, but my eyes were drawn elsewhere. I was drawn to Hermi Odle. He was my plus sized alien of choice among the henchmen.

Thought I was born in '72, I was born in late '72. That means I was still ten years old when I saw Return of the Jedi in the theater (still the greatest movie going experience of my life). The Jabba's palace scenes were a little scary to a then ten year old. It was a menagerie of monsters, but that's why I love it so much:

Hey man, I think I like being scared
And I wish you all were there
Man I really, really think, really think
That I think I like being scared

If you know what the above is, you can be my friend. Salacious Crumb's laugh made me angry. I wanted to give that little punk a swirly so badly, but Hermni Odle's laugh was intimidating. Luke Skywalker was the most fierce hero the galaxy could muster, yet Odle was laughing in his holographic face when Jabba compared his best friend to a tapestry. I dreamed of getting a figure almost immediately. The Kenner line came and went, and despite accommodating blister busting figures like Amanaman, the chortling Baragwin gangster joined Grand Moff Tarkin, Dr. Evazan, Garindan and a host of other snubs from the classic line.

When fans put Ephant Mon on the board, I thought my last, best chance of ever getting Hermi Odle in plastic form had passed. Hasbro made it clear to the fans that Mon was a loss leader, and I felt the messaging was meant to indicate that we should not expect such an ambitious effort in the future. Then the 30th Anniversary Collection came along and brought with it one of the most ambitious basic figure lineups in the history of the line to include the Kenner days. The wait was worth it. Not only did I finally get my Hermi Odle figure, but he also came with a collector coin (my favorite pack-in). There is one more thing to note before concluding this entry. This is the second "Figure that Makes Me Happy" that has an articulated jaw to go with Gragra.

Again, please stop back at 1PM ET for Entertainment Earth shopping links. If you want to get a jump on the preorders, the Leia case is already available from Entertainment Earth HERE (sponsored).

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