Ephant Mon (Jabba’s Head Of Security) - SW [S - P1] - Basic (’02 #45) [Fans’ Choice #3]

With an officially designating label of “Fans’ Choice Figure No. 3” right on the figure’s packaging, Ephant Mon (Jabba’s Head Of Security) is an action figure that Hasbro created to appease longsuffering Star Wars collectors. Always falling short of winning the previous Fans’ Choice polls beforehand, Ephant Mon finally took the title home. Hasbro released the figure almost unnoticed in a noncommittal fashion, and few collectors found this gem on the shelves. Had they worked on this figure earlier, perhaps they could have gotten it out in the Power Of The Jedi line to charge more money for it. (It wouldn’t be until years later that the figure arrived in high quantities and on clearance at KB Toys.) Remarkably, Hasbro managed to add this figure in a line where the MSRP was $4.99 for a basic action figure. Hasbro utilized the umbrella of the Star Wars “Saga” line in the middle of the Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones hype to promote this figure, but very few fans found it. Interestingly, Hasbro will be the first to tell you that they “lost their shirt” on the Ephant Mon (Jabba’s Head Of Security) action figure. But we and all other collectors appreciate the loss they sustained because it turned out better than expected and has a sculpt that will stand the test of time, despite its limited articulation. As a member of Jabba’s entourage, Ephant Mon is a long-awaited welcomed addition to the basic figure line. The figure is hefty, weighty, full of girth, and has a paint job that rivals some of the best decorated previously released action figures under Hasbro’s belt. That is no small feat.

On top of expensing an all-new tooling budget, Hasbro also didn’t hold back the funds to cover the complicated paint operations needed to bring Ephant Mon (Jabba’s Head Of Security) to life. The figure looks beyond marvelous. Per various sources, the on-screen character of Ephant Mon was rescued by Jabba The Hutt. He became Jabba’s head of security in gratitude (or perhaps more of a need to get back on his feet again). We find this a bit ironic, but it is what it is. Various sources explain that Ephant Mon is a violent creature and the perfect candidate to keep things in order in a hive of motley characters in Jabba’s palace. Ephant Mon wields a cane in addition to a hidden vibroblade under the robes, and these two accessories combine to make a battle-ax weapon. Hasbro replicated this feature, and you can combine the two accessories to create a more extensive and “deadlier” weapon. Hasbro made the two parts interact well. There is excessive detail etched into Ephant Mon’s cane alone. Be sure not to miss the same tattoo we see on Jabba’s arm. These many details do so much for the figure. We’re thrilled that Hasbro paid attention to the intricacies innate in this background character, including the strands of the hair and the skin’s texture. The trunk-like snout is full of layered details like rolls of skin. And we adore the hinge-jointed mouth that gives the action figure unexpected versatility. The elements inside the mouth are also incredible for the record. You can see individual teeth and a tongue, and Hasbro spent the time to decorate the parts beautifully too. There is detail everywhere here.

It would be best if you spent time taking in every aspect of this figure to ensure you are getting the whole experience of the figure. There is a lot to process here and more to enjoy. Hasbro did their due diligence to ensure this Fans’ Choice figure met every expectation from the collecting community. So, with a figure that is this accurate to the on-screen character and possessing a paint job that will impress you beyond belief, is there any exercise of caution you should employ before purchasing Ephant Mon (Jabba’s Head Of Security)? The short answer is no. But we will emphasize that if you’re an articulation junky, you’ll feel mildly saddened by its lack of articulation. Right off of the bat, we’d like to comment that ball-jointed shoulders would have made this figure perfect. And the second thing we would comment on is the center of gravity. Ephant Mon is top-heavy and falls forward no matter how hard you attempt to prevent it. If you outstretch the arms, there is no way the figure maintains its balance and will not stand upright. So we wish Hasbro would have mastered that before releasing the sculpt for finalization and mass-production. But back to our original point, ball-jointed shoulders would have given Ephant Mon a bit more flexibility than two swivel shoulders will. But the fantastic sculpt and paint job outweighs the negatives you may find in this action figure. You’re getting a great deal of plastic here for less than $5. And it makes sense why Hasbro has lost their shirt. Ephant Mon (Jabba’s Head Of Security) is another must-have action figure for your collection. Don’t miss out on this fantastic figure.