Tion Medon - ROTS - Sneak Preview (2 of 4)

Tion Medon is the local administrator on the remote sanctuary of Utapau, a planet pitted with enormous sinkholes. He meets Obi-Wan Kenobi, who has arrived in search of the droid army leader, General Grievous.

Sneak Preview Star Wars toys pretty much became an expectation by the time Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith was to be released in theaters. These teases were warmly embraced by the collecting community and it only made our passion grow stronger for what was to come. In January 2005, alongside the “post” The Original Trilogy Collection line, Hasbro released five items to help promote the new and very exciting Revenge Of The Sith line that was to come shortly after the Sneak Preview items got officially released a few months later in April of the same year. The only difference for the Revenge Of The Sith Sneak Preview stuff was that it actually came packaged in the same Revenge Of The Sith line look as the general release products. (Episode I Sneak Preview items came in The Power Of The Force packaging and Episode II Sneak Preview items came packaged in the Power Of The Jedi line look.) So with four all-new figures (with one that will be the new template for so many future astromech droids) and a vehicle, it was one of the greatest selections of Sneak Preview product to date. One action figure, Tion Medon was perhaps the most interesting of the bunch. Let’s take a look at why.

Tion Medon is a member of the P’aun species. His face texture looks like well-aged wood and his teeth look like they could do some major damage if provoked. He’s one of the administrators on Utapau and was the first point of contact to Obi-Wan Kenobi when he arrived on the planet from a tip that General Grievous was in the area. Tion Medon actually became an informant for Obi-Wan Kenobi and instantly ratted out the Separatists that were holding him and his people captive. His role in Revenge Of The Sith was short and sweet, but his insurmountable bravery to help save his people is sadly overlooked when so many other events of Utapau seem to overshadow it. Tion Medon set the stage for the Battle of Utapau. Had he not revealed to Obi-Wan Kenobi of the dangers his people were facing, Obi-Wan would not have brought the 212th Attack Battlion to help restore their freedom. As an action figure, Tion Medon is just average. He assuredly isn’t worthy of definitive status, but since he is a Star Wars character that garners just a luke warm reception from Star Wars fans, we think it’s safe to assume that this is a figure that Hasbro may never revisit. (Editor’s Note: While anything is possible, Tion Medon remains the only Sneak Preview figure to never see a rerelease.)

He comes with a limited eight points of articulation. His only meaningful articulation is found in his head and shoulders. The rest of the points are all swivel articulation, but he is cursed with swivel elbows and you already know how much we despise this specific type of articulation on our Star Wars action figures. His likeness is fair, but it’s far from perfect. Tion Medon has a very alarming presence in the film, yet his action figure version seems a little too content. It would have been very helpful to this action figure is Hasbro had incorporated a snarl in his mouth to help achieve his expression better. Tion Medon certainly had an even temperament in the film and quite frankly was very friendly, but his appearance counteracted that and Hasbro missed the boat here. The costume looks great, but we think Tion Medon is too short. Obi-Wan Kenobi needed to look up to him to make eye contact, yet this difference isn’t clear enough in the action figure line. Tion Medon’s accessories are very cool. He comes with a staff (it looks more like a cane) and a rifle (that we don’t see him use in the film). We are fond of this character, but the action figure just really doesn’t deliver. Hasbro really nailed the look of the P’aun species with 2005's ROTS Utapaun Warrior (III 53). If there was some way to switch out the portrait, it would be a marked improvement. But we’ll wait and see if Hasbro will revisit this character altogether first.