YARUA Coruscant Senate
Post- Original Trilogy Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84851 No. 84580
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0502
Includes: Bandolier, base
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $5.99
Availability: Early 2005
Appearances: The Phantom Menace

Image: Adam Pawlus' garbage pile.

Bio: Yarua is a Wookiee senator on Coruscant. He represents his home world of Kashyyyk in the Galactic Senate. Although Wookiees are known for their strong tempers, Yarua is a voice of fairness and justice in the government. Like all Wookiees, Yarua is an imposing presence in the halls of the Senate, with his great height and fierce demeanor. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: One of the figures from Episode I I was really itching to get-- yes, even after I saw the movie-- was Yarua here. New Wookiees? Wow, that was exciting! Even though his costume was just a modified Chewbacca, the idea of having more giant hairy aliens sounded really fun, and thankfully Hasbro eventually got this out. With limited articulation-- really, just swivel elbows?-- it was a bit of a downer. Still, Hasbro made sure to include the display base, and the bandolier. Even more importantly, the fur was sculpted well, and the paint job was better than the Wookiees which would follow just a couple of months later. Yarua had some stray white, but it was much better than the random streaks and highlights we would suffer on Tarfful and Chewbacca from Revenge of the Sith. As such, it's sad to say this but the figure was something of a high point in some respects. While not particularly outstanding, Yarua represents one of the things we may have all thought about as kids. Were there more Wookiees? And if so, what kind of stuff would they be doing? Apparently, these tree-dwelling mechanics are also pretty decent public servants, so good for them. I'd suggest any fans with taste get this figure, as one can never have too many different Wookiees.

Collector's Notes: Depending on who you asked, the figure's sculpt was actually developed during Power of the Jedi and/or Saga, and was delayed a few years. Based on how the figure's engineering compares to his peers, this would make a lot of sense. The figure was available only briefly in Spring 2005, and has not yet been rereleased.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 797: July 11, 2008