ASSASSIN DROID Repubic #57
30th Anniversary Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87528
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #11
Includes: Anakin figure, lightsaber, comic book
Action Feature: Articulated shoulder cannon weapon moves when right arm moves
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 2007
Appearances: Dark Horse Comics

Bio: The battle is going badly for the Republic on Jabiim. Separatist forces are launching their final strike, and Republic forces are in retreat. Only a handful of Padawans, whose Masters have been killed in battle, stand between the Republic forces and the approaching Separatists with their Pollux A-Series Assassin Droids. The Padawans decide to fight the Separatists, giving the Republic forces time to escape. Anakin chooses to join them in their brave yet futile last stand, but fate has other plans for young Skywalker. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: The amazing thing about Hasbro's line of figure comic packs is that they're often good. Sometimes they're so good that I'd almost they dump every other method of distributing figures to focus on building up this line, because of figures like this Assassin Droid. He has 12 points of articulation (with swivel and bending elbows and knees), and looks awesome. Hasbro took this design and made it their own, working in mud deco, lots of gritty grooves, and more joints than a figure of this level of popularity deserves. He can sit, stand, crouch, be "shot" and play dead, or even be posed for hand-to-hand combat. While it is missing wrist articulation, I almost don't care-- everything else about it just works nicely, which is more than you can usually say for any figure, let alone one in a budget set like this. The only negative thing I can really say about this figure is they put it in a two-pack rather than selling it individually so I can easily buy more. Good job, Hasbro!

Collector's Notes: This is one of the best and most fun sets you can buy from 2007. Not only is this figure great, but so is the Anakin Skwalker figure it comes with. (I got a second pack so I could keep the extra Anakin at work next to my extra comic pack Obi-Wan Kenobi. They're great figures.) It's relatively easy to get right now, so I suggest you snap it up-- it's a wonderful release and easily one of the best that 2007 had to offer.

Day 649: February 14, 2008