Kithaba (Skiff Guard) - TVC - Basic (VC56)

Back in the day, Kenner was guilty of creating mass confusion with some of the Star Wars characters from the Original Trilogy. Arguably, the most common is the 4-LOM/Zuckuss name switch. This mix-up borders on folklore now. But then there’s the Rebel Soldier (Hoth Battle Gear)/Rebel Commander enigma. And perhaps the” most recent” incertitude from Kenner is the 1985 The Power Of The Force Barada figure. Explaining why it’s muddled in disorder today takes time to clarify appropriately. The 1985 figure is technically Barada via the colors of Kithaba. There are costume and color differences between Barada and Kithaba, and the 1985 vintage figure mixes the two almost blatantly. But many need to look for these more astutely to see them. What makes things extra confusing is that the 1985 figure pictures the Barada character on its card back. Only in 2012's The Vintage Collection release of Kithaba (Skiff Guard) do we get this figure accurate for the first time. Technically, the 1985 POTF Barada Kenner vintage figure is an Expanded Universe extrapolation of either (or both) Barada and Kithaba. Look at the image of the classic Kenner figure in our Photo Gallery. You’ll notice its outfit matches Barada’s outfit (the character) exactly, except for the color scheme. The vintage Kenner figure also has Barada’s backpack, a key trait of this character. As you know, Kithaba didn’t wear a backpack. Blending both characters’ details proves that someone at Kenner confused Kithaba for Barada. Hopefully, this helps explain why there is so much uncertainty about these Klatooinian characters from Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi.

The good news is that Hasbro, through the efforts of the modern line, looks to correct these mistakes. They’ve done a great job so far. Evidence, like the first wave of The Vintage Collection, shows Hasbro corrected some of the most notable Kenner mistakes. They released a vintage-styled release of 4-LOM with 2010’s TVC 4-LOM (VC10) figure. So we’re proud to ride with Hasbro as they make things right years after the fact. Between the name corrections and the updated card artwork, like on 2011’s TVC Ponda Baba (Walrus Man) (VC70) and 2011’s TVC Rebel Soldier (Echo Base Battle Gear) (VC68), to the mind-blowing sculpts and paint operations, there are many things to be excited about with this line! And one of the most rewarding aspects for collectors of collecting this line is when Hasbro focuses on the various members of Jabba’s entourage. These characters typically become gems in the different toy lines Hasbro produces. There is something exceptional about aliens and other masked figures that Hasbro aces above and beyond their average human characters. Hasbro excelled in its processes of giving collectors perfectly scaled 3.75-inch scale aliens. And they come out incredibly well. Hasbro is also reissuing some of their greatest hits, and the Kithaba (Skiff Guard) re-release also celebrates the 40th Anniversary of Return Of The Jedi. Hasbro did a fine job replicating this figure the first time in the modern line, and the reissue corrects some of the issues, like mismatched joints, without carrying forward any of the vintage Kenner mistakes. Kithaba (Skiff Guard) should show how far the line has evolved.

Kithaba (Skiff Guard) comes with a notable amount of super-articulation. The figure doesn't come with complete ball-jointed articulation, but it’s well-proportioned and has a beautiful stance, giving it an ideal center of gravity. There are some impressive details within this figure. For example, Klatooinians have textured leather-like necks. Kithaba’s neck is full of this texture, and the design is exceptional. We’re surprised by how much effort Hasbro’s sculptors put into this detail and thoroughly impressed. The details of the figure’s costume and the corresponding color scheme are flawless and come with a bright color arrangement. The bandolier is removable, and the skiff guard blaster fits perfectly in its holster. That said, you’ll probably be less impressed with the force pike that comes with the original release. It’s a little too “bendy” for our tastes, and we’re perplexed by this since the staff that comes with 2011’s TVC Princess Leia (Slave Outfit) (VC64) figure was ideally solid. Thankfully, the reissue comes with a more rigid force pike. Likewise, the original version came with differently colored ball joints in the elbows and ankles. Thankfully, the reissue corrects these eyesores as well. With these corrections and the Photo Real updating (including half-toning washes), there is plenty to enjoy here. We found that the deco on the first issue looks a tad better because you can see the human” underneath the “makeup.” This detail gets muted with the reissue. Kithaba (Skiff Guard) deserves a long-running place in The Vintage Collection. And it serves as a well-made modern counterpart. We only hope a definitive modern update to Barada is next because the best we have is 2005's TSC Barada (SAGA 004) figure.

Editor's Note: Hasbro re-released The Vintage Collection Kithaba (Skiff Guard) (VC56) figure in April 2023 with a significant number of changes. Updates include: (1) new paint operations/deco including Photo Real, (2) half-toning wash (3) matching elbow and ankle joints, (4) refreshed 2023 packaging with Return Of The Jedi 40 logo, and (5) different placement of action figure and accessories in bubble

Review Status Update: The original publication date of this review is April 26, 2012. It was subsequently updated with a new Photo Gallery and revised General Analysis and republished on August 17, 2023 after Hasbro reissued the figure.