NIKTO Jabba's Skiff Guards
Power of the Force Cinema Scenes Collection
Item No.: Asst. 84035 No. 84061
Number: n/a
Includes: Force Pike, display base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Fall 1998
Appearances: Return of the Jedi

Bio: This character served as Jabba's weapons master who was seen manning an anti-personal turret but was killed aboard the sail barge Khetanna at the battle of the Great Pit of Carkoon. (Stolen from Wookieepedia)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: Vizam, or more generally Nikto was one of three awesome aliens from Jabba's Skiffs released in multi-packs over the past few years. Modeled after a different specimen than the 1984 version, this new one had a yellow armored torso, a different two-handed grip on his staff, and a slightly more lifelike face. While less harsh looking than the original, this new release is full of personality and looks spectacular in dioramas or shelves. While it has yet to be released in an individual package, the figure's awesomeness makes buying any of either of the two gift sets he was sold in worth picking up. I mean, it's a friggin' Nikto-- you need one, or more if multiple outfits are available. (Which, so far, they are not.) It only has six points of articulation, but the pose is good so that you'll probably enjoy it as is. There could be some tiny improvements in the paint, but it was a great figure for its time and, unlike the Barada from the set, didn't end up painted poorly. Sure, it's a little toy-like in appearance, but at least it doesn't look like its paint job was done by someone who was unfamiliar with the concept of applying color to a piece of plastic.

Collector's Notes: A nearly identical (or for the purposes of this column, completely identical) Nikto figure was sold in the Skirmish at Carkoon multipack in 2003 (and beyond) at Toys "R" Us. The only notable difference was that the Force Pike was black. ( MORE IMAGES )

Day 547: November 4, 2007