Lobot - OTC - Basic (OTC #20)

Lobot works with Lando Calrissian, the Baron Administrator of Cloud City and an old friend of Han Solo. Lobot has a device implanted in his head that connects him to the city's computer system, helping him to monitor the city's operational systems. When the evil Darth Vader arrives at Cloud City to capture the Rebels, jeopardizing the city's future, Lobot assists Lando in helping the Rebels escape.

Lobot wasn’t the best-selling action figure during the vintage Kenner era. But collectors have developed a fondness for the cyborg human over the years, and now the character is a mainstay in Star Wars collections. Lobot made a few appearances in the basic figure line. After the 1981 ESB Lobot action figure, Hasbro produced the first modern version of Lobot as 1998’s POTF2 [FF/TKC] Lobot action figure. The detail was excellent, but Lobot’s pose was a little bizarre. For one reason or another, Hasbro posed Lobot as if the action figure was dancing. At the time, collectors accepted the 1998 figure, but they soon pined for a more realistic approach. Six years needed to transpire before Hasbro revisited Lobot. But our patience paid off because they produced an excellent version of Lobot for The Original Trilogy Collection. Although without any premium articulation, the tooling of this Lobot action figure impressed collectors. And the “Easter egg” removable cyborg head unit and Bespin “laptop” with comlink accessories made Lobot was of the most treasured action figures of 2004. We believe that if the much-heckled “disco” version of Lobot from The Power Of The Force “2” collection didn’t get released, we might still be waiting for a premium and definitive version of the well-liked character from The Empire Strikes Back. Generally speaking, we’re fond of the character too, and we’re delighted to see an excellent all-new sculpt with accurate coloring and proportions for the first time.

Lobot is a Star Wars character that spoke “dialogue” in Episode V through the eyes and facial expressions. Who could forget Lobot standing completely still yet his eyes shot to the right (and our left) to get a glimpse of Lando and read his thoughts about Darth Vader’s newly altered plan? Lobot’s role in The Empire Strikes Back was powerful, and he stands out as one of the most significant new characters introduced into that film. As a kid, we wanted to know more about Lando Calrissian but were never given a chance. We had to make up our own stories about the Baron Administrator of Bespin when playing with the Kenner action figure. Still, Lobot helped us to develop Lando Calrissian’s story further. As an adult collector, there are more reasons to “play” with Lobot than ever before because Hasbro gave the action figure a few extra bells and whistles for this release. These enhancements make Lobot a completely worthwhile purchase, even if you have 1998’s POTF2 version or perhaps just the 1981 ESB Lobot Kenner figure. Although Lobot surprisingly doesn’t come with a blaster for this release, the figure does come with a commlink, datapad (or a Bespin laptop computer), and removable cyborg head unit. (The removal of the latter accessory makes Lobot look like the creepiest action figure in the entire line!) What’s extra special here is that the commlink and the datapad interact with each other. You can plug the commlink into a hole in the datapad that keeps it in a standing position. Or you can have Lobot hold each accessory separately. The accessories make Lobot look like the administrative assistant the character is.

On the screen of the datapad is a captured image of Cloud City in purple. You’ll also find other details like a keyboard and other buttons that give it a personal computer appearance while still feeling like it is from a galaxy far, far away from ours. It’s one of our most-favorite accessories ever received with an action figure. We hope other collectors find it enjoyable as well. It adds incredible value to a rather static (and potentially boring) action figure. Lobot is an entirely all-new action figure with ten points of swivel articulation. Most of the articulation is in the upper body, so Lobot lacks movement the most in the legs. This version of Lobot won’t do much for any action displays, but because the character didn’t deviate all that much from a static straight pose, you’re not missing much by the lack of lower body articulation. Hasbro gave Lobot a brilliant but straightforward head sculpt. The action figure looks a few years younger than the on-screen counterpart, but the likeness is quite impressive. Hasbro faithfully replicated the costume and the color palette with painstaking accuracy. The outfit is screen-accurate. And no matter your opinion of this character, Lobot is a remarkable addition to any collector’s stash. Hasbro will undoubtedly bring us a definitive version of him at some point, but this one shows exceptional execution by Hasbro. It’s incredible how far Hasbro has come to get details like height and proportions so close to the mark. Lobot is a perfect example of this, and we’re happy that they give less popular characters this much attention to detail and extra “Expanded Universe inspired” accessories as main characters. For only $4.99, Lobot is another figure in The Original Trilogy Collection that’s affordable. And this low cost is terrific to get new collectors to join our throng.