Weequay (Skiff Master) - TVC - Basic (VC48)

How does Hasbro top the incredible Jabba’s aliens they have already given us? The answer is simple: keep giving us more! Hasbro has really dragged their feet updating (or making for the first time) many species in the different scenes of Return Of The Jedi in, around and encircling Jabba’s palace. But one species in particular had collectors scratching their heads because we didn't understand why Hasbro wouldn’t update it with the advent of better technology years ago. That species in particular was the Weequay and thankfully now our prayers have been answered because they have made a stunning version of this character in The Vintage Collection. Weequay (Skiff Master) should temporarily satiate our appetite for all things “Jabba” at least until the next figure gets made. Right from the start, Weequay (Skiff Master) brewed up an instant debate when early samples of this figure showed up on eBay and into some collectors’ hands. Outcries that the shoulders were too broad and his head was too elongated took away from really what was important here. And what's important is how awesome he is despite a few scaling flaws (if you see them, we necessarily do not). There will always be things that we could criticize with an action figure. But it may be more important to point out things on what makes the action figure relevant to the basic figure line in general. Does Weequay Skiff Master have hands that are too thin? (Possibly.) Are his braids too thick and flyaway off of his head? (Maybe.) Is he missing the bone nose ring? (Yes.) But these are all small things that are insignificant next to the power of an amazing sculpt. And that is exactly what Weequay (Skiff Master) has: an amazing sculpt.

Weequay (Skiff Master) has a dirty paint job that should make his wave mate Luke Skywalker (Dagobah Landing) (VC44) envious. He is wearing a large and oversized quilted shirt that lies over a long-sleeved shirt underneath. It has a ton of crevices and whatever wash Hasbro used to decorate it with has provided an absolutely amazing final result for the figure. He is wearing wide-leg pants that sit atop his boots and he has a real functioning holster that is at his left side. He comes super-articulated with 14 points and has a fantastic center of gravity which is important for a figure of this type. He comes with a force pike and a skiff guard blaster. Both are painted beautifully, just like they were when included with Wooof (VC24), and they can be held in his expertly crafted hands with great ease. As far as the criticisms of his shoulders are concerned, we see why some would see them as larger than they need to be, but it’s important to note that he is definitely wearing a bulky shirt in the film. So it could be said fairly that the shoulders look bulkier than normal. And as far as his head looking too elongated, well, the skeptics out there are mostly wrong. The Weequay species definitely all have elongated heads. The 1983 Hasbro figure is actually incorrect. Maybe it isn't as long as Hasbro crafted into this sculpt, but there is a significant oblong shape to their skull. So what a gift it is that Hasbro went above and beyond the magnetic hold of the vintage line and corrected a mistake that has withstood all of these years. So, for the first time in the basic figure line (and we’re only really talking about the Weequay Skiff Guard figure from The Power of The Force line), we finally have an accurate Weequay figure.

Not only did Hasbro develop a phenomenal sculpt, they also caught the fine details and applied it to the figure. For example, Weequay (Skiff Master) has ties around his elbows. These are also included on the basic action figure. And Hasbro has a talent to do this seamlessly. The joints on this figure are so well hidden that you’ll think this action figure has a lot less articulation than it does. From the beautiful brown outfit he is wearing to the inclusion of some awesome accessories (that are perfectly to scale now by the way), Weequay (Skiff Master) actually does more to us as far as wanting even more of Jabba’s crew than anything else. It goes without saying that we are desperate now for a new update to the original 1983 Weequay figure. But we’re not sure how much of this figure Hasbro will be able to use to make it for us. The Weequay (Skiff Master) is really unique from head to toe (as are most of the Weequay characters in Return Of The Jedi). While Hasbro can make the Gamorrean Guard (VC21) figure once and we can buy multiples to make various characters since they are barely indistinguishable from each other, it’s impossible to find two Weequay in Episode VI that are identical, hence the need for different sculpts for each. So it may take more time for Hasbro to bring us another great Weequay figure into the basic figure line. But you know what? This is fine because we know that once it does become available for us, we’ll rest assured that it’s of a premium quality and a product of Hasbro’s dedication to this brand. Part of a mixed wave of figures, Weequay (Skiff Guard) may be overshadowed by some of the other impressive characters in The Vintage Collection, but keep in mind this is a figure you’ll have to eventually pick up. There is no other option to consider.