IG-88 (Assassin Droid) - Scum & Villainy - 1:6 Scale Figures

Much of the anti-droid sentiment existing in the galaxy is unwarranted bigotry, but even pro-droid activists will find it hard to defend the rights of droids bearing arms. The memory of droid armies is still fresh in many minds, and the legions of mechanized troops used by the Trade Federation and other corporate interests paved the way for legislation that eventually did away with the soulless infantry.

Relics from that era still exist, such as the battered chrome war droid known as IG-88. The tall, cylinder-headed and heavily-armed mechanical bounty hunter responded to Darth Vader's call to capture the Millennium Falcon during the events surrounding the Battle of Hoth.

We are really beginning to wonder if Sideshow Collectibles’ 1:6 Scale Figure line has been a scam from the start. You might be surprised by that comment since we are totally devoted fans of most of their lines. But when we look at a piece like the IG-88 (Assassin Droid) 1:6 Scale Figure, we honestly don’t know just how much better the figures in this line can get. IG-88 (Assassin Droid) presents collectors with an all-new sculpt (and one that they can’t use over and over again for obvious reasons) that is brilliant beyond words. But still we want to know if a light bulb finally went off at Sideshow on how to make unbelievable perfect 1:6 Scale Figures all of a sudden? They’ve received assistance from Hot Toys in the past for some upgraded body types, but IG-88 was created on their own initiative. And that amazes us because it couldn’t be made better. In their early years in the line did they need to make “easy and cheap” figures to bring masterpieces like this a reality? Maybe it’s all of the above, but it is with complete certainty that IG-88 (Assassin Droid) is pure perfection. Before we begin the rave, we should point out that there is actually one tiny issue to address, but it is so insignificant when you way the pounds of positivity they’ve incorporated into this figure against it. IG-88 (Assassin Droid) is exactly where 1:6 Scale Figure making should have always been and until the next figure, IG-88 may stand the test of time for quite a while that it’s Sideshow’s best work to date. The shape of the droid, the coloring, the details, the accessories, the battle-damage and the functionality of the figure are mind-blowing. And it goes without saying that if you’re a bounty hunter lover (which many of us are), that this is the first 1:6 Scale Figure you’ve wanted to add to your own collection for quite some time. And we should probably add that those currently not collecting the line have been tempted for the last time and have made this their first purchase. And what a great first purchase IG-88 (Assassin Droid) is. Every aspect of this figure is amazing. That word gets overused a lot in reviews, but it totally applies here.

IG-88 has the most accurate design of any interpretation from any scale we have ever seen. Many licensees fail with IG-88 when it comes to the head shape. Sometimes the head sculpts looks too curvy and sometimes they look too thin. You'll be glad that we can confirm that IG-88's exact silhouette has been perfectly captured as he appeared in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. In fact, everything about it is perfect. We'll just come out and say it. Sideshow has attached the base of the portrait on a ball-socket joint and then added a swivel joint in the midsection of the head. This allows the upper half of his head to rotate while the lower half stays in the same place. The cap of his head also twists off to reveal a battery compartment. Three tiny batteries can be placed in it to light up the top of the head. (Pressing the top of the head turns this feature on and off.) In theory, this is an amazing detail, but in execution, this is the one part where the figure needed some tweaking. You can see the reddish-orange light peeking through the holes, but there are certain parts where the holes are so tiny and deep that the light isn’t bright enough to pierce through, almost making it look like IG-88’s head is having electrical problems. Again, this is insignificant, but we thought we should point it out. As your eyes travel down through the body and the appendages, you’ll quickly realize the painstaking effort the sculptors experienced attempting to make this figure a reality. IG-88 is loaded with gears, hoses, wires, cables, bolts, washers, grommets, panels and hydraulics as well as a ton of other details. Oh, and we should probably mention that a “nail” is protruding out from IG-88’s chest and can puncture skin, so be careful with that one! (It’s ridiculously sharp and we’re surprised there isn’t a warning label on this figure!)

Two important details we’d like to point out are the bellows covered elbow joints and the extendable legs. The bellows are real rubber and have flexibility when you articulate IG-88’s elbows. It looks fantastic and does wonders for the figure. And just like 2001’s POTJ IG-88 (Bounty Hunter) 12” figure, Sideshow’s IG-88 (Assassin Droid) comes with the same feature, but it actually works because the knees lock into place whereas the Hasbro figure had no locking mechanism and would collapse when you tried to stand the figure up. IG-88’s paint job is second to none. The droid is painted in the standard steel gray we always have seen and Sideshow really went to town ensuring that IG-88 has a worn and aged look. The final result is astounding. What bounty hunter would be complete without an arsenal of weapons? IG-88 comes with an imitation leather and removable bandolier. Great attention to detail was incorporated into its design and it's functional thanks to the place of sewn in magnets. These magnets allow both the E-11 Blaster pistol holster and the mines to securely stay on the belt without the use of plugs or other tiny attachments that can easily break. Sideshow Exclusive collectors are treated to a vibro axe (that was first introduced on 2007’s VTSC IG-88 (Bounty Hunter) figure and has a special place on the holster for IG-88 to store it. The larger BlasTech E-11 blaster rifle however has a subtle plug molded to it and a small hole has been hollowed out on IG-88’s left arm. The blaster plugs into this hole for a secure fit. No more issues with IG-88 dropping his blasters! What a great feature, huh? But perhaps the greatest accessory is the deluxe illuminated display base. Intended to look like a section of floor on Bespin, this electronic display base not only serves it’s purpose to show off your IG-88 (Assassin Droid) 1:6 Scale Figure, but it’s also a micro-environment as well. It’s gorgeous and certainly makes the price tag of the figure much more palatable. There’s not much more we can say about this figure. We hope you own one by now.