Jawa And "Gonk" Droid - POTF2 [FB/CT] - Basic

Jawas are small, foul smelling machine-scavengers of Tatooine's deserts. Crafty traders and talented mechanics, they often use power "Gonk" droids to provide energy for their scavenged goods.

Well, Hasbro has set a precedent now, and should they choose to deviate from it at a later date, there will be outcries from collectors. A single-carded figure in the vintage Kenner era, Kenner/Hasbro determined that when it’s time to release a Jawa action figure, it will be packaged with something else. In 1996, it was another Jawa. For 1999, it’s a long-awaited EG-6 GNK power droid, which was part of the vintage Kenner line in 1979, albeit based on the Lars’ homestead droid and not the one running from the Jawas in the sandcrawler. Thankfully we get the latter, which is a first for the basic figure line. And both the updated Jawa and the all-new first-time release “Gonk” Droid are just so good that they actually make us tear up. This is a value. You get two fully articulated action figures for the $6.99 average MSRP. Hasbro could have easily packaged these figures individually and got that price for each. But they showed collectors grace and put together a dynamite two-pack that will thrill everyone who sees it. So, just based on the value alone, we have great affection for this two-pack release.

Jawa is an all-new figure. Although it appears that Hasbro has followed a similar method of designing this Jawa as they did with the 1996 POTF2 two-pack, they decided to included two articulated legs instead of just a half body hinge-joint. The outer robes make the posing of these legs nearly impossible, but let us make it clear how happy we are to get a Jawa with legs finally. This looks and feels like the classic vintage Kenner 1978 action figure, and when anything mirrors those figures, collectors are going to be happy. The paint job is a little bit too simple, but the sculpting is excellent. This figure could have stood a little bit of a final wash so that the textures and details could have been brought out a little (a lot) more. The stupid light eye port feature is still present, but unlike the older Jawas, the functionality works excellently. We still think that two small circles for eyes of yellow paint would be the best way to handle the Jawas’ eyes. But that’s just our own two cents. The Jawa comes with an ionization blaster which fits nicely in both hands. Sadly, there is no functioning holster.

The “Gonk” Droid is going to make a great number of collectors happy. It has a dynamic and stunning sculpt. And the paint job is even better. It looks JUST like the prop in the film. The figure does have one annoying issue. In an effort to also make the “Gonk” Droid kid friendly, Hasbro added an action feature that allows the legs to kick back and forth when a button is pressed on its side. What makes this action feature “bad” is that the legs, when in a rested position, don’t line up and it’s nearly impossible to stand the figure upright when you’re not “playing” with it. Many collectors have saved the rubber bands from other figures so that they could tether the “Gonk” Droid’s feet together. But despite this disappointing and unnecessary feature, it really doesn’t change our love for the figure. Because this figure looks amazing. One CommTech chip is included and it features the Jawa. And multiple variations of the Jawa exist.... if you care. You can find basically any combination of peg holes at the bottom of his feet. (No peg holes, both peg holes, left peg hole, right peg hole. All types have been found and documented.)