Gamorrean Guard - OTC - Basic (OTC #30)

Gamorrean guards are tough brutes used by the crime lord Jabba the Hutt as enforcers and bodyguards. They are large, heavy-set, dim-witted and aggressive, qualities which make them perfect for the Hutt's purposes. When the heroic Rebels infiltrate the Hutt's palace to free Han Solo, they have to deal with the Gamorreans who stand guard throughout the palace.

One character that will probably always remain a fan favorite from Return Of The Jedi is the Gamorrean Guard. This means that all collectible formats of these beasts will also be in high demand. The 1983 Kenner release is a classic and will probably never cease being a favorite Star Wars action figure for collectors. We got very excited when Hasbro updated the very first modern Gamorrean Guard in 1997’s The Power Of The Force [Green/Freeze Frame] line. Collectors went crazy over the new version and bought him up like there was no tomorrow. After being out of circulation for nearly half a decade from its original release, Hasbro decided to bring a newly refreshed version of the 1997 version in a second wave of the TARGET exclusives that unfortunately got canceled before they went into production. But all was not lost. Thankfully, the announcement of the 2004 The Original Trilogy Collection meant that there was an opportunity to include the Gamorrean Guard into the basic figure lineup again and that’s exactly what Hasbro did. Always finding that Hasbro is full of surprises, they updated the paint job of the Gamorrean Guard tremendously. The figure looks so extravagant now that you might initially believe it’s all-new. (It’s not.) It’s done that done.

Like it or not, we have always been of the opinion that a paint job can make or break a figure. Some of you adamantly disagree, but it goes without saying that the finest specimens Hasbro has ever produced in the Star Wars line typically sport a stupendous paint job whether or not they are super-articulated. But for the 2004 update, Hasbro seemingly threw out all of the previously existing blueprints for the Gamorrean Guard’s paint job and we’re thankful they did. No longer sporting pale green skin, the newly decorated Gamorrean Guard now has skin color evenly applied in (a darker green color too). But that’s only the beginning here. The areas in his face are also consistent to the shade of skin seen on both his arms and legs. If you recall, the 1997 figure essentially had an all-tan face (with some hints of green) and green arms and legs. As a result, the 2004 OTC Gamorrean Guard look more solidly colored and much more screen accurate. Sure, the figure has limitations in his sculpt and articulation, but the newly enhanced paint job incredibly updates this figure to better than satisfactory status for us. When compared side by side, you’ll be thoroughly impressed with how incredibly the 2004 paint jobs enhanced such an old sculpt.

The details that really set the 2004 OTC Gamorrean Guard from the 1997 POTF2 [FF/TKC] Gamorrean Guard include the “dirty” wash added to his outfit and the silver added to the metal parts. The medallion in the center of his chest is glowing with individually painted silver grommets. They actually glow in the light. His shoulder armor and gauntlets have been given a shiny dark gray color that also picks up the light. The crevices in his skin are colored gray to represent the shadows formed from the folds of his fatty tissue. All this and more are wonderfully given to this action figure. Hasbro even updated his axe. It now sports a bronze blade instead of the dark gray blade of The Power Of The Force figure. They even updated his eyes to include the “human underneath the mask” pink color that can be seen in close up stills from the film. You should be happy about this! The 1997 version literally pales in comparison. This is a fantastic update to the Gamorrean Guard. Until Hasbro brings us an all-new sculpt, this is the one for your collection. (Editor’s Note: Hasbro indeed made a definitive version and released in as 2010’s TVC Gamorrean Guard (VC21) figure.) But with a paint job like this, it almost makes it alright to release a figure with this old of a date stamp.