EMPEROR PALPATINE Executor Transmission
Original Trilogy Collection Fan Club Exclusive
Item No.: No. 85487
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Cane
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $10.99
Availability: Late 2004
Appearances: The Empire Strikes Back

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Bio: The Emperor sends a holographic message to Darth Vader, who is pursuing the Millennium Falcon through an asteroid field. "We have a new enemy," says the Emperor. "The young Rebel who destroyed the Death Star. I have no doubt this boy is the offspring of Anakin Skywalker." The Emperor and Vader agree to lure Luke to the dark side of the Force. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: Few characters get the kind of holographic treatment that Emperor Palpatine gets. At press time, there have been three full-sized figures (of which this is #2), two tiny accessory holographic figures, three decoes of bonus holographic figure from 2006, and a giant holographic head will be released at Comic-Con in about a week. This one is great, because it features the 1997 Emperor Palpatine sculpt and this just happens to lend itself well to the clear-ish treatment. The figure's hand can hold his cane just fine, the proportions are sensible, and he can stand-- and that's it. No sitting here, and no need for a display stand because the figure is a statue from the waist on down. You're essentially buying a chess piece with moving arms, which isn't necessarily a mark in the "con" column when it comes to a figure like this. As it's obviously meant for collectors, it doesn't need to be a lot of fun or act as a plaything. It's a neat release done right, and while a little more detail on the face would be nice, well, one can't get everything.

Collector's Notes: Another one-time release, this exclusive was pretty popular and came on great packaging-- so if you're a packaged fan or a loose fan, you should consider getting it. Even if holographic figures are blue and not purple these days.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 803: July 17, 2008