'05 | #12  Emperor Palpatine - with Firing Force Lightning (Reviewed 06-12-2005)

Includes:
• Removable Hood
• Lightsaber
• Firing Force Lightning

Click thumbnail for large image Spice: With the release of Revenge of the Sith this summer we could all anticipate an Emperor Palpatine coming into our collections. What none of us could foresee is a version being put together so nicely. New recruits will most certainly be looking to add this to their collections, and for the rest of us who have been in it to win it since the late nineties, they give us a few good reasons to make this purchase. It's a little bit more than a fancy wrapper, this figure blends the Emperor of the past to the Emperor who was primarily featured in Return of the Jedi.

Click thumbnail for large image The most obvious change is this is the first time we could reveal the Emperors deformed melon, the removable hood is a nice, needed touch. You could easily re-create the defining moment as Anakin fell to the Dark Side. The articulation in the shoulder blades allow you to create a wide variety of poses with the included lightsaber. Perhaps the most intriguing accessory is the Firing Force Lightning. I almost like this better than electronic blue lights that has been featured on deluxe versions of Palpatine. This figure is excellent for the Yoda Senate chamber battle as well, my only gripe would be having a completely removable robe or perhaps even some soft goods technology could have been employed. How else could you create a scene where Master Yoda sent his majesty head over heels into his throne?

Click thumbnail for large image The spring load feature is well hidden, and you can barely see it when the lightning isn't ready to wax some poor unsuspecting Jedi. This character is evil personified, and the people at Hasbro really did an all around great job of transcending the wickedness. I get a serious attitude when I have to purchase yet another figure I already have many of, but they made enough changes in this resculpt to warrant another seven dollars to be dropped into my Star Wars collection. You could see why you could fall to your knees and pledge yourself to his teachings...

Spice - Great figure to represent the ultimate evil. If they could only have a removable head with that nasty smirk he had on his face as Vader discovered everything he had done had been for naught, as the true love of his life was gone. Soon afterwards the Dark Lord would wipe out everything that put him back together on that medial table. Palpatine was deformed, now his student would suffer the same fate.  That look in my opinion is shows you how twisted and evil he was. You couldn't go wrong with buying this figure, if you missed him first time through, it appears he will be in future case assortments so stay on the look out. Thumbs up, a must have.

(Figure '05 | #12, Asst. No. 85173, Item No. 85285, Backing Card P/N 6394131500, Window Insert P/N 6394141500 ) 

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