Updating POTJ: Part IV

This one may be a little shorter than usual. That's because I procrastinated and decided to watch the Knicks-Lakers game. That was a mistake on my part, because now I'm freaking out that the season might be over because Brunson looked like he Gumby'd his ankle with a minute to go in OT. So you'll excuse me if at some point during this article there's a random string of expletives thrown in there. Ugh. Well, duty calls...

Here's Part IV of Power of the Jedi Survivors. This entry looks at more OT figures from both the basic line and the Deluxe line.

Rules: Figures and Toys from the POTJ line that haven't been updated/replaced by more modern versions.

For reference, here are all the previous entries in this gripping drama series that will have you on the edge of your seat:

POTF2: ANH
POTF2: ESB/ROTJ
POTF2: EU
POTF2: Vehicles/Playsets/More Part I
POTF2: Vehicles/Playsets/More Part II
EP1: Collection 1
EP1: Collection 2
EP1: Collection 3
EP1: Vehicles, Playsets, and More PART I
EP1: Vehicles, Playsets, and More PART II
EP1: Vehicles, Playsets, and More PART III
POTJ Part I
POTJ Part II
POTJ Part III





1. Rebel Fleet Trooper:

not reviewed at this time

This was a very commendable early attempt at super articulation in order for a figure to achieve an iconic pose that was otherwise impossible unless it was a pre-posed statue. I believe this was the first figure (granting an exception for the insane 39POA FX-7) to have as much as 11POA. It was all of the typical swivel variety, but with the angled cuts in the knees, you could get this guy to kneel, just like Pello Scrambas! This was virtually unheard of at the time. Not only that, but the arms were sculpted in such a way that when you swiveled them forward, the hands met fully extended to grip the pistol in a terrific approximation of the full pose. Sadly, over time, it seems that all of my RFT's of the era (and I have like 10 of them) have slowly warped in such a way that the arms have relaxed a bit and no longer meet when extended forward. This figure was a revelation at the time, and also trounced the POTF2 version, which can be seen HERE in may favorite image Chris has ever taken. It's notable that there were also two additional variant headsculpts/hair color RFT's that were available. Today, the only reason to keep this figure around is because you might argue he can still perform this position better than the TVC version. While the modern figure is leaps and bounds better than this one, you can't get a convincing kneeling THWG out of it. So the POTJ figure clings to survival here.

2. Sandtrooper (Tatooine Patrol):

not reviewed at this time

Like the RFT above, this Sandtrooper has been severely outdone multiple times over. However, while Hasbro has made no less than 713 Sandtrooper variations over the years, none is as convincing scanning the Dune Sea with electrobinoculars as this guy. And you may think, as I did, that the sandy wear on this figure is terrible and looks like literal crap - if you watch the "Look sir, droids!" scene, this weathering pattern may actually be the most accurate in the history of sandtroopers. It only dawned on me the other day when I was re-watching the scene, and I was stunned that this was the case. So for the accurate weathering and the nice pose, it remains in my display. It will be interesting to see if the inevitable and likely imminent TVC Sandtrooper is updated to do what this figure does so well.

3. Imperial Officer:

not reviewed at this time

I'm not an expert on the jumpsuit/tunic variations across the imperial ranks, but I think this may be the only figure in this outfit? Someone correct me if I'm wrong. Just like the RFT, there were eventually a total of 3 variants/running changes to this base figure. He can't do a whole lot, but he can be posed in the ubiquitous go-to officer move of clasping his hands behind his back. Personally, I preferred the arms folded across my chest move, which generally seemed to be frowned upon for some reason - which is probably why I liked to do it. Jumpsuit or tunic, either way, it's time for the black-clad Imperial Officer to make an appearance in TVC. In the meantime, while there were better versions later on down the road, (with tunics), these guys live on.

4. Chewbacca (Dejarik Champion):

not reviewed at this time

Like the Mechanic figure from our last chapter, this is a very scene specific Chewbacca, and I love it. The figure is definitely crap by today's standards, with weak sculpting and minimal articulation. But he's perfect to display Chewie at his most smug, as a gloats over his move against R2-D2. No Chewbacca to this point has elbows that can bend enough to replicate this pose. The best part of the figure may be the name. "Chewbacca (Dejarik Champion)" is great because, why is he a champion? Because he made one good move in a random game against a beat up astromech? Of course only moments later, R2 embarrassed him to the point where he may have contemplated ripping the droid apart. "Champion" indeed. In addition to the nifty Chewie, the chess table/chair accessory is also pretty great. It was something you could only get "firewalled" in the Falcon, but now you could have it on your desktop. Throw in an R2 opponent with C-3PO as his corner man, and you had a sweet little vignette. I doubt the pipelined Chewbacca will have elbows that can flex far enough past 90 degrees to accomplish what this one can.

5. Luke Skywalker in Bacta Tank:

Full gallery and review

POTJ had a few awesome deluxe sets, and this was one of them. It was as great as it was bizarre. I don't know if anyone was really asking for Luke Skywalker in a diaper, but there we were. The figure is pretty nonsensical as a standalone, but looks fantastic suspended inside the canister. The set had an "action feature" where you could fill the tube with water, and then blow bubble through the attached flexible straw to simulate Luke receiving his healing treatment. I'm sure kids had lots of fun taking turns doing this when they played Star Wars at each other's houses. In fact, this might be where Bird Flu originated. Or maybe it was just a gateway bong. In addition to the bacta tank, there was a large datapad accessory, that could be used by 2-1B (not included), as well as an attached circular pedestal that perfectly fit FX-7 (not included). All in all, this was a great environment set which served as the centerpiece of the Echo Base medical bay, which you could populate with all the necessary figures. I see no reason for Hasbro to ever revisit this set. It was an odd choice, but I'm grateful it was made. We can check the block that it exists, and move on.

6. Amanaman with Salacious Crumb:

Full gallery and review

Amanaman. Really nice figure. He looks great standing in the corner next to Carbonite Han Wall Decor. He came with Salacious Crumb, but toss that guy in your drawer and forget it. My sample has the skull-topped staff drooping badly, as the staff is made of fresh pasta, and over time can't really support the weight of the 3 skulls on top. I'm sure we're all in agreement that there is absolutely no need for an update. Wait, what's that you say? He made the March Madness bracket? Madness indeed! Seriously, I see no reason for this. He exists, he's pretty good, and there would have to be about 500 figures that are more worthy of new tooling than this guy, who would basically be a one-off. Sure, we do have a second (in some ways better) Amani that was released in a TLC comic pack, and as someone pointed out the other day, Amanin were in an unfinished TCW arc. But all that seems like a stretch to devote a precious slot in TVC.

More POTJ to come...

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