JANGO FETT Droid Factory Capture
30th Anniversary Collection Battle Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87503 No. 87598
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, other figures
Action Feature: Press down on rocket for quick-draw attack, gun fits in holsters
Retail: $24.99
Availability: Fall 2007
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: Jango flees to Geonosis with his son Boba after a rain-soaked battle with Obi-Wan on Kamino. He finds the homing beacon on his ship and knows that the Jedi is in pursuit. And when Obi-Wan's rescuers arrive, he's waiting to apprehend them. (Taken from the figure's box. Awkward, isn't it?)

Image: Adam Pawlus' photo studio (top).

Commentary: Since 2002, Hasbro has made precious few improvements to Jango Fett-- and there are few to be found here. This figure takes the head of the Sneak Preview Jango Fett from early 2002 and transplants it on the quick-draw "Pilot" Jango Fett from late 2002. While it makes for a new (and fun) figure, it's not completely authentic to the film. At this point in the film, Jango's helmet was dented from his escape from Kamino-- here, it's clean. Also, the decision to include only one blaster seems a little cheap. Like the pilot release, his arms raise when you push down on his rocket, and the figure has a true-to-the-movie suit of armor. It looks really great overall, and even his rangefinder can be moved a little bit. Still, it's not the super-articulated Jango fans have been praying for, and there's very little that this figure has new to offer that you probably don't already own-- assuming you picked up the bulk of Jango Fett figures sold so far. It's neat, and if you are collecting them all, it's a must-buy. But if you're being picky and/or cheap, you can skip this one and your wallet will thank you.

Collector's Notes: This set was another very good one from Hasbro, assuming you didn't have most of these figures. C-3PO included the battle droid head and accessories, R2-D2 had pop-out rockets (but removed the strings and magnets from the earlier release), Anakin Skywalker is from the awesome Evolutions sets, and the Destroyer Droid is the popular (but not quite perfect) Episode I version from 1999. If you see the Droid Factory Capture Battle Pack and don't have most of these figures, it's well worth buying. If you have all of them, it's up to you-- Jango is really the only significantly different/new figure in the set, but R2-D2 had enough changes made so that variant hounds will find it worth picking up.

Day 573: November 30, 2007