Dud Bolt & MARS GUO
The Saga Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 87086
Number: 051
Includes: Blaster, Headgear, Dud Bolt, Display Base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Fall 2006
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: These two prodigiously-snouted racers compete in the same Podrace in which Anakin Skywalker wins his freedom from slavery. Dud Bolt, a shameless toady, is actually paid by the nefarious Sebulba to cause accidents during the race - a job that lands him in a Mos Espa med center. Mars Guo falls victim to Sebulba's own treachery when the cheating Dug pitches a chunk of debris into his engine intake. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: Since Episode I, fans have bellowed for few things more loudly than more Pod Racers and more Jedi Knights. Hasbro delivered on the Jedi regularly, but very few Pod Race drivers have been seen since 2000, so you can imagine the appearance of this Dud Bolt & Mars Guo two-pack was pretty exciting. Or it would have been, about four years ago. Both figures are well decorated and nicely designed, although there's little to set them apart from your average, run-of-the-mill figure. (I guess this is why you get two of them.) Mr. Guo doesn't have a lot in the way of articulation, but the decoration on his costume is pretty great and his removable goggles reveal a pair of eyes underneath. They put some nifty stripes on his skin, and the end result is a decent looking alien with no real home in the average collector's displays. There's no ship for it, and the "Pod Race collection" is about six characters. Hasbro's decision to make the figure part of a two-pack was a wise one, but there's one little problem-- the personalized display base reads "Dud Bolt & Mars Guo" and there's only one peg on it. D'oh!

Collector's Notes: The figure is mostly new parts-- well, the figure is, but his weapon originally came with Durge. The figure hasn't been reissued yet, and there are no known plans to release his Pod Racer, or for that matter any of the Mos Espa Pod Racers. The figure was fairly easy to come by after his late 2006 release, so you should be able to score this pair on the cheap. It's worth getting.

Day 552: November 10, 2007