DEPA BILLABA Jedi Master
Saga Screen Scenes
Item No.: Asst. 84997 No. 84701
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 2 (of eventually 6)
Includes: Chair, other figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $19.99
Availability: Fall 2003
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Bio: Depa Billaba was a Chalactan Jedi Master serving on the Jedi High Council during the waning days of the Galactic Republic. Orphaned by space pirates at an extremely young age, she was rescued by Jedi Master Mace Windu. Before her Jedi Trials, she was the Padawan learner of Mace Windu. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy shelves.

Commentary: A lot of figures exist at least in part because fans demanded it, but sometimes fans demand them just because they're part of a larger set. In 1999, Lucas introduced us to two new groups to collect, the Jedi High Council (of which Depa Billaba here is a member) and Pod Racers. Eventually, Hasbro gave us the Jedi we asked for, but we're still waiting on some of those Pod Racers-- and with good cause, because some figures didn't turn out so well with the toy stylings of the time. Sadly, Depa was on that list-- but on the bright side, Depa was on that list. She didn't do anything in the movies and for my money, she really may as well have not existed in the comics. Woman in Jedi Robes does not necessarily a good figure make, and this one is extra dull-- her long brown plastic robes hinder any movement that isn't in her head or arms, and she was developed prior to the popularization of cloth robes and ball jointed arms. In short, you can swivel her elbows, move her head, and have her stand around. She can't even sit on the council, unfortunately, so this figure's (most likely) only chance of being made was somewhat squandered. Timing is everything, and some figures come out just to show us that we're sometimes better off not asking for figures today, but rather, waiting for three or four years. Were Depa made today, odds are we'd see removable cloth robes or something which may allow her to sit, or perhaps she'd have been given a lightsaber.

Collector's Notes: This set of figures, which included two more Jedi, was eventually unceremoniously dropped at Kay-Bee on clearance for about eight bucks. Also, I got this set when it first came out and didn't bother to open it until 2007, for whatever reason. I don't feel I missed much here. (MORE IMAGES)

--Adam Pawlus

Day 692: March 28, 2008