GEONOSIAN WARRIOR Purple
The Saga Collection Delta Squad Shared Exclusive
Item No.: No. 87269
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, backpack with scope, some leg thing, 6 other action figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $33.99-$39.99
Availability: December 2006
Appearances: Star Wars: Republic Commando

Bio: Though [Geonosian Warriors] lack ranged weaponss, they have the ability to fly, giving them an acute advantage on an open battlefield, and their powerful force pikes can kill with a single blow. (Taken from the figure's box.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: The history of action figures of the Geonosian race has not been a good one. The first few figures had very flimsy limbs and were designed based on early concepts from Attack of the Clones, leaving a few of them essentially nude and barely armed. This Geonosian Warrior had the benefit of coming out later than the rest, even though it was based on a repaint. This purple armored warrior started life as a modified Sun Fac, but minus some of the lower waist armor. The mold has a lot of articulation and is a fine example of what Hasbro can cram into a thin figure if they choose to do so. He doesn't have 14 points of articulation, but dammit, he has it where it counts! He can be posed as a sentry and in combat-ready poses, which is pretty much what you want from an alien whose primary function is essentially cannon fodder. As a character from a video game which I have yet to play, I can't vouch for authenticity too much yet, but I can say it's a neat (if oddly colored) addition to an alien race who could really use some more good figures in its ranks. Other than Sun Fac and Poggle the Leser, this is the only Geonosian figure that I don't consider to be largely crappy. (The winner of world's worst being the Geonosian Fighter pilot from 2003.)

Collector's Notes: This figure has never been released individually, and is part of the Republic Commando Delta Squad set. For what you got in the box, the set as fairly cheap and was around to be purchased (online mostly) for about a year. The set hasn't shot up yet, so you can still get it for $33-$40 before shipping if you're lucky. Given the set has three figures that were previously released and four that weren't, I consider it to be one of the better buys you can make. Sold individually, this one's a cheapee-- nobody likes Geonosians.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 719: April 24, 2008