DEREK "HOBBIE" KLIVIAN with Baron Fel
30th Anniversary Collection Comic Packs
Item No.: Asst. 87504 No. 87529
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: 12
Includes: Blaster, helmet, Baron Fel
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $9.99
Availability: Fall 2007
Appearances: Comics

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: Rogue Squadron is sent to Brentaal IV, an important trading planet held by Imperial forces. The elite squadron's mission is to take control of the planet, but to do that they will have to defeat Baron Fel's formidable 181st Imperial Squadron - no easy task even for "Hobbie" Klivian and the other ace pilots in Rogue Squadron. Unknown to them, they are being used by bickering Imperial forces in a devious plot to consolidate their power. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: Fans demand Hasbro make more Rebel Pilots, so Hasbro meets that demand with the Hobbie Klivian action figure. Hobbie is a bit of a cheat-- you see, aside from the head, he's made of existing figure parts to keep costs down. His entire body and the removable helmet are taken from Dutch Vander, a 2003 pilot which proved fairly popular. The head is a new sculpt based on the designs spotted in the films. Put them all together, and you get a decent Expanded Universey version of this pilot. What's interesting is that this is one of two Hobbie figures from Hasbro, none of which are taken directly from the film.

When it comes to decoration, this figure wins no awards-- he does what is expected of him. Articulation is similarly uninspired, as one extra joint per arm and ball-jointed knees really don't do a lot to bring him to life. Thankfully he can sit, as he is a pilot, so for what you pay the figure is essentially a decent one. It's pretty unlikely he'll ship beyond the July 2008 line reboot, so get him if you haven't already done so.

Collector's Notes: A slow seller in many markets, Hobbie was packaged with the highly requested Baron Fel, which Hasbro managed to make look rather uninteresting. But more on him later. The set is a great buy for ten bucks, and you should totally get one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 782: June 26, 2008