Chancellor Valorum & Coruscant Guard - EI - Action Collection (Exclusive)

Finis Valorum, the beleaguered Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Senate, convenes an emergency session at the appeal of Queen Amidala to take action against the encroaching Trade Federation forces on Naboo.

An imposing Coruscant guard, wearing ceremonial robe and crested helmet, accompanies Senator Palpatine at the arrival of Queen Amidala and the Jedi ambassadors.

It’s probably true that Hasbro believed they could replicate their success of the Royal Guard/Emperor Palpatine two-pack by re-releasing a Chancellor Valorum & Coruscant Guard for the Episode I line. Call them whatever you want; Senate Guards, Coruscant Guards, but it should go without saying that a robed member of a security force is always going to go over big with collectors. Often referred to as the blue version of the Original Trilogy Emperor’s Royal Guard, the Coruscant Guard enters the Action Collection/12 Inch Figures line alongside a member of the Galactic Senate: the ever good-looking and handsomely charming Chancellor Valorum, played by none other than Terrence Stamp. It’s a bit odd that Hasbro chose Chancellor Valorum. They ousted him from the Galactic Senate through betrayal, and it seems that a Chancellor Palpatine would have made a wiser option here. Still, we’re thankful that Hasbro added Chancellor Valorum to the Action Collection line. The figure looks above average. It doesn’t have a dead-to-rights likeness of Terrence Stamp, but it does favor him in certain poses. It’s good enough shall we say? He has a beautifully ornate gown and clothing underneath but doesn’t come with any accessories. The lack of accessories is becoming commonplace in this line now.

Of course, we’re more fond of the Coruscant Guard. Senate Guard is, perhaps, a more descriptive and accurate assessment of this character, but for one reason or another, the Coruscant Guard name has stuck. Adorned in shimmery blue robes with a darker navy blue gown underneath, the Coruscant Guard protects the various politicians in office in the Senate. The 12 Inch Figure of the Coruscant Guard turned out quite well, but be prepared to be disappointed when it comes with the figure’s functionality. The outer robes prevent the Coruscant Guard from achieving any noteworthy poses. And even though Hasbro included a strapped blaster rifle to interact with the figure, it’s almost wasted thanks to the straight jacket that Hasbro adorned him. There is a slit on the right side of the Coruscant Guard’s robe which allows his arm to pass through and hold the rifle accessory. But most of us are inclined to hand the blaster rifle on his shoulders. That’s rendered almost impossible. You can see we achieved this pose in our Photo Gallery, but it didn’t want to stay put for too long, and it’s hard to lay it in a direction against the figure that’s screen-accurate. It’s difficult to rate this as a negative. We appreciate the accessory, and he holds it well in his right hand. We wish for more flexibility when it comes to posing the figure.

The Coruscant Guard’s head does not rotate, sadly. Nor is the helmet removable. But Hasbro did a great job creating a very generic likeness to put inside of it. You can make out the eyes and a portion of the character’s face, but aside from that, the person who is wearing this uniform remains a complete mystery. Hasbro utilized a leaner buck to produce both characters featured in this two-pack. Both look great with all their clothing and gear and don’t come across as too bulky or wearing ill-fitted clothing. Both figures come with adequate articulation, can kneel and can run, and do whatever else you want your Action Collection figure to achieve. This set was offered through the Star Wars Fan Club, and many collectors were appalled at the price they commanded for these two figures. Instead of a modest $39.99 which makes the most sense, the Fan Club set the price just below $70 and that put a bad taste in many collectors’ mouths. Charge almost $35 per figure feels egregious at best. We’re not sure why They felt they could charge the price they did for these figures. Yes, they turned out lovely, but that doesn’t mean you can charge highway robbery for them. The two-pack went up for pre-order on June 28, 2000 (at 5:45 AM) and began shipping shortly after that in August. These two figures look fantastic, but as with anything from the Episode I era, they probably will age over time.