Updating EP1: Vehicles, Playsets, and More - Part I

Now that we've completed a look at the basic figures that continue to worm their way into our 2025 displays, let's continue by analyzing other "expressions" from the Episode I line...

You know the rules: These are figures and toys from the Episode I line of 1999/2000 that have either never been updated, or have some other reason to avoid being tossed into the Great Heap.

For reference:
Collection 1
Collection 2
Collection 3

If you read the above you'll see that we highlighted the 34/53 basic figures (including two-packs and battle droid variants) that have survived the past 25 years without being replaced. I now feel like this should be given a new statistic, like baseball's WAR, or something like that. If there are any baseball nerds out there, this sounds like a good project: Determine every figure's WAR. We'll wait.

Okay, the wait was exhausting. Let's continue by taking a look at the stuff beyond the basic figure assortments.










1. STAP w/Battle Droid: First thing's first: if you are one of the nincompoops that pronounce the AT-AT as "ay-tee-ay-tee", then according to the laws of science, you have to pronounce this as "Ess-Tee-Ay-Pee". Now, for the rest of us that aim to build a better society, I should mention that this vehicle really should have been covered under the POTF2 banner a few weeks ago. The initial release was a POTF2 Episode I preview toy, along with Mace Windu, before the Episode I line look was launched. It was, however re-released (with possibly some inconsequential paint changes) a few months later in the actual E1 line. On one hand, you could have skipped POTF2 completely, and still satisfied having this item in your collection if you bought it in E1 packaging. However, as per Nomadscout's Authoritative Rules of Collecting, since the E1 version uses a POTF2 sculpt, it means the POTF2 one isn't officially rendered moot as it lives on in a different package. This is the same concept as the Rebo Band being one of my "POTF2 Survivors" even though it was re-released in TAC in 2007. The figures are basically interchangeable. Anyway, the STAP is pretty nifty, and I feel it has pretty much stood the test of time, and really doesn't need a redo. Hasbro has repainted it multiple times, during the TCW time-frame, showing off various color schemes and faction insignia. Even though the figure is terrible if you separate it from the vehicle, the synergy with the STAP is quite good. It's a keeper.

2. Graxol Kelvyyn: This figure came at a time when Hasbro just had money to burn. They were like, "That guy looks awesome, make a figure now!" He's super tall - quite possible the tallest figure in the line when standing up (or is he?). But he's meant to sit in his box seat. Watto's got it like that; his own luxury box where he can invite his human trafficking friends to watch gladiator racing. I say "human trafficking", but since Mr. Kelvyyn deals in other species, Wookiepedia lists him as one who partakes in selling living cargo. I suppose that could mean guppies or parakeets, but we get the drift. That was in "legends" anyway, as this doesn't seem to be a part of his bio in current canon. The best part about the figure is that he's got a uni-leg underneath his soft-goods gown, but it has knee articulation (allowing him to sit). I don't think I've ever seen this before or since. Does he have one giant knee? This figure stands zero chance of being redone, which is fine by me, unless another Anx has a large role in an upcoming series. One random note: I have to officially apologize to someone - I think it was Tannith? - after re-watching some of the TPM scenes, I now have to agree that the Watto that came with the Droid Factory 2-pack is more screen accurate than the original E1 figure. That's not to say the original is bad - I think it's a well done effort. But it does seem that he is way more blue than I originally thought. Take that with a grain of salt coming from me, but check it out yourselves.

3. Shakka: According to Legends, Shaaka was Graxol's slave/love interest. She currently has no canon appearances. The figure was Graxol's equal in terms of being a deep cut character, but they go hand-in-hand. So even back in 1999 when creating two blink-and-you'll-miss-them figures, Hasbro was mindful of completing the crew. They should do more of that today. Shaaka is a slave woman wearing almost nothing. It's a wonder the figure was ever made, and even more of a wonder that agents from Disney dressed like Men in Black haven't knocked on my door with a court order to seize it, and launch all Shakka's into the sun. Oh, and unlike most of the cinema scenes, the base that came with this one serves a direct purpose as a useful environmental piece since it has the 3 seats for Graxol, Shakka, and Watto.

4. Trade Federation Droid Fighter Squadron Commander: That name was a lot to type. It's not explicitly stated on the "name pill" on the front of the box, but reading the fine print shows that this 3-pack of droid fighters consists of 2 "grunts" that can be blown off the hand-held flight device, while the third is actually the squadron commander and can convert into walking mode. This action can be seen very briefly when a handful of them were "walking" inside the hangar of the Trade Federation Control ship when The Republic Consular ship arrives in the opening scene of TPM. Anyway, one might argue that due to the walking, it counts as a figure. And if you go with that, then it is just a tick taller than Mr. Kelvyyn.

5. Darth Maul's Sith Speeder: Like the STAP, this is another great little vehicle that likely wouldn't benefit much from a modern update. It's well done, and the included figure interacts perfectly with the seat/controls. Sure there are better Darth Mauls, but this one still works for the intended purpose at least as well, if not better, until an update arrives (as per Chris's new crusade).

6. Jabba the Hutt: This one is quite obviously horrendous as a figure/beast/toy whatever. He's been captured in a very awkward spitting position, which serves the only purpose of launching the spring-loaded head of a chuba at the included gong to start the pod race. It may be the worst Jabba ever made. So why is it here? Technically, it's the only Episode I Jabba in the whole line. You could substitute another, less crappy version. (I actually use the POTF2 Jabba as a stand in for Gardulla the Hutt behind this Jabba.) But this is the only Jabba that is accurate for the film. Plus, he comes with a gong. A GONG!

7/8. Sebulba's and Anakin's Podracers: Now these entries are up for debate. When I was setting up the shot I had believed these were the only versions of these toys available. But then I jogged my terrible memory. Reviews on Rebelscum reminded me that these were released again during the horrific TPM3D debacle. I remembered passing on them, because why would I need these again? Well, I read a bit further, and learned something that I did not actually know. According to Rebelscum:

At first glance, the Movie Heroes Sebulba's Podracer may seem like nothing more than a repaint of the 1999 Episode I toy, but Hasbro went back and reworked the design to add a lot of extra detail. This vehicle is different enough to be considered new.

I can't confirm any of this from their images, and there were no comparison shots. If anyone can educate me, please do!

9/10. Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul Light Up Figures: These came up in conversation a couple of times recently. I had used the light up base to take a shot recreating the Ezra hologram from Ahsoka. At that time, and until yesterday, I had thought that I only owned the Darth Maul, but that the Qui-Gon was a limited release that was beyond my grasp as this expression was more or less dead on arrival due to poor sales. Well, apparently I was wrong about that (there's a trend here, today, eh?), because I then stumbled upon the Qui-Gon in one of my boxes that I was unpacking. I had been somewhat content with the Darth Maul hologram, because it did an awesome job of capturing his pose when we see him for the first time. Or we could go with the actual articulated Darth Maul hologram figure from TSC, and get this result. He looks like he's doing his best Hanz and Franz imitation. As for Qui-Gon, there was a reason I had him tucked away in storage as I don't believe he ever appeared as a hologram in the entire film. But then something happened. The Force Ghost of Qui-Gon appeared 23 years later in Obi-Wan Kenobi. Yes, fellow nerds, this is a hologram and not a Force Ghost. But in lieu of anything else, you could throw this out there as a substitute.

11. R2-D2 Carry All Playset: Like the BB-8 Starkiller Base playset, this is an odd mashup of good guy / bad guy themes. The R2-D2 (he's the good guy in this scenario) carry case doubles as a Trade Federation (bad guys) command ship interior. It's fairly simple, but actually not bad for what it is. You can use it for the moment Qui-Gon is trying to melt the blast doors to the bridge, and have a bunch of random figures watching from private seats in the bleachers next door. This was 1999's version of the modular interior hallway expression that we get today. It also comes with a permanently rolled up Droideka. That's the best Hasbro was able to do in 1999, and 25+ years later they haven't cracked the code to a 3.75" roll-up action Droideka. It was later slightly updated and included in the Blue Saga line.

We'll look at more survivors in the near future.

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