CAPTAIN ANTILLES Tantive IV Invasion
Saga Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84715 No. 84767
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0415
Includes: Blaster, helmet, stand
Action Feature: Neck telescopes to simulate "strangling"
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Spring 2004
Appearances: Star Wars

Image: Adam Pawlus' kitchen.

Bio: Antilles was the captain of the Tantive IV when stormtroopers overran it in search of the stolen plans for the Death Star. Although the Royal House of Alderaan claimed that the Tantive IV was a diplomatic vessel, it was an integral component of the Rebels' fight Vader strangled the unfortunate captain while interrogating him about the stolen plans. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: One of the first human characters we got to see up close and personal was Captain Antilles. He's also one of the first people we saw get killed by Darth Vader. The figure doesn't really look all that great, as the face is one of surprise, but is also one of what seems to be Haley Joel Osment The sculpt is pretty expressive, but it also looks extremely young. It's possible Hasbro was working from the best possible reference, but the end result is just plan weird. This figure had a unique feature in that it was designed to be "strangled"-- he has a telescoping neck, so you could have a figure grip his hand around his neck. Problem is, very few figures have a hand with the ability to grip something so thick, and to date no Darth Vader figure has been made specifically designed to take advantage of this unique gimmick.

The figure itself is pretty good. The costume is a seemingly accurate representation of what we saw in the film, the removable helmet is a nice touch, and the holster for his blaster is really useful. With the jacket covering the holster, it's a lot more difficult to lose the gun, plus it's out of sight-- it's a nice design choice. The figure can sit, stand at attention, be a victim, and essentially delight fans in a variety of ways. In a way, this is almost unfortunate, because the figure cries out for some sort of variant face which might look better for a scenario that doesn't involve death by choking.

Collector's Notes: With one release in 2004, this figure tied with General Dodonna for Fan's Choice #4-- and both came out in the same wave, but this one got the sticker on the package. Fans of democratically released figures should get this one.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 790: July 4, 2008