Prince Xizor vs. Darth Vader - Hasbro - Shadows of the Empire (1996)

8D8 - ROTJ - Basic

8D8

Visual Analysis

Detailed Visual Analysis

General Analysis

8D8 was my 1984’s Easter basket present. I remember just weeks before going shopping with my mother and finding the new figure hanging from the pegs. I asked her if she could buy it for me but with the ulterior motive that I would be able to open it in the car on the way home. Not a chance! She said that it’s for Easter, and I had to wait nearly a month before finding him in my Easter basket one April Sunday morning. I loved 8D8 because right before I received the droid, I saw THE TERMINATOR movie at a friend’s house. (My parent wouldn’t allow us to watch the movie.) And for reasons I am not so sure I can explain today, 8D8 reminded me of the Terminator’s exoskeleton (which was seen at the climax of the film). I used 8D8 to torture various droids like R5-D4 and Power Droid, but I also used him to populate my various Jabba’s palace displays. In case you didn’t know, 8D8’s legs are removable and add extra play value to the action figure, but many kids didn’t know about this. He was released in the first version of JABBA'S DUNGEON along with Klaatu (Skiff Guard Outfit) and Nikto. It was an odd trio of figures, but it also worked somehow. Kenner/Hasbro updated 8D8 only once for the modern line in THE POWER OF THE FORCE “2” [GREEN/FREEZE FRAME] line, but I feel very strongly that we need an all-new definitive update which includes tons of articulation and placement on replica “vintage Kenner” card back.

Hasbro's Most Definitive Modern Counterpart: 1998's THE POWER OF THE FORCE "2" [GREEN/FREEZE FRAME] 8D8 figure.