"Negola dewaghi wool dugger?"
"He doesn't like you."
―Ponda Baba and Evazan, to Luke Skywalker
Ponda Baba was a male Aqualish thug who rescued Dr. Cornelius Evazan from a bounty hunter. The two formed a partnership and began to smuggle spice for the crime lord Jabba the Hutt, resulting in him becoming a wanted man. Shortly before the Battle of Yavin, he was a patron in Chalmun's Spaceport Cantina on the planet Tatooine, where he instigated an argument with Luke Skywalker while bored and drunk. Evazan claimed that Baba did not like Skywalker and began to threaten the youth, leading to a brief confrontation with Obi-Wan Kenobi, who, after failing to calm tensions with the pirates, used his lightsaber to sever Baba's right arm. Kenobi, who was secretly one of the last remaining Jedi Masters of the nearly extinct Jedi Order, wounded Evazan with a slash across the torso when the pair drew their blaster pistols on the old man. Evazan later tried to reattach Baba's arm using his medical training, but ended up nearly killing the Aqualish in the process when the procedure failed.
Black Series 6" Ponda Baba was available in retail around Jan 2022 in the same wave as Bib Fortuna. This is one of those character that even Sideshow toys is not interested in making a 1/6 scale version. However Hasbro did made one under Power of the Force 2 series back in the late 1990s. Hasbro's 1/6 scale figures back then are meant to be played and not collector's level of quality and detail. That means this 6" version is the best bet to at least have Ponda Baba in 1/12 scale.
Many sellers in Carousell are pairing this togrther with Dr Evazan for sale as a set. Since these 2 are supposed to be operating in a pair, it make sense to have them together. Buying the pair-set gets about 25% less retail each figure. Paid the full retail price for Ponda Baba since I absolutely do not want Evazan. This is one of those decision that made me ponder a little but it didn't take too long.
Many sellers in Carousell are pairing this togrther with Dr Evazan for sale as a set. Since these 2 are supposed to be operating in a pair, it make sense to have them together. Buying the pair-set gets about 25% less retail each figure. Paid the full retail price for Ponda Baba since I absolutely do not want Evazan. This is one of those decision that made me ponder a little but it didn't take too long.
Category by category, this figure will not do well at all. But just let's run through it to arrange things into organized perspective for a clearer view.
DESIGN - 1/5
Scoreless in this department. The figure is basically a kitbash with waist down 100% of Luke Yavin Celebration. Jacket and arms are also of the same Luke Yavin figure. The body a small reculpting on the collar part to... again, the Luke Yavin figure.
Thing that made it worse is Luke has a smaller stature. Ponda Baba should be a burly dude. As such, the figure also suffer from a bigger headsculpt on a smaller body.
Fur on the back of the hands is the only worth mentioning here. Hasbro can totally ignore this and give normal hands and I reckon nobody would have notice it enough. And this point alone salvage this department from a total disaster.
This is a mass produced toy afterall and shortcuts like this can and should be expected. Design thoughts is clearly not a priority.
SCULPTING - 4.5/5
Headsculpt is as good as you can get and that's the reason for me to buy this figure even if paying the full retail price. Details around the eyes, "nose" ridges are definely sculpted. Strands of "beard" or hair that goes around the bottom of the head is also sculpted in clarity.
Fur on the back of the hands are also nicely sculpted with defined lines.
These 2 area alone are enough to justify a strong sculpting score.
The rest of the parts are just run of the mill stuffs.
PAINTING - 4/5
Very impressed with the paint job on the headsculpt. A good sculpt need to be complimented by good paint job and this figure achieve it. Base colour of the head is of a deeper cyanic shade and a subtle wash of Khaki to pop the blue and to give a pleasant layering.
Khaki wash is also applied over the black coloured painted beard to allow greater clarity of each strand of sculpted hair.
Similar painting treatment are given to the hands as well.
The same wash on the orange jacket would have push this figure up a few levels but it is not meant to be.
Blaster Pistol holster thigh strap is not painted at all leaving it the original colour as the pants. Not sure if it is actually not meant to have a thigh strap or Hasbro is caught napping there again.
Nevertheless, score given here are specifically for the head and hand sculpt painting.
ARTICULATION - 2.5/5
Ponda Baba has the standard articulations as a humanoid.
Head on a ball joint. Can look up a max of about 10° (due to the hair at the back of the head hindering elevation). Look down about 40°. Turn 360°.
Arms on a single elbow joint can elevate slightly above 90°. No butterfly joint. Hands turn 360° and swivel in and out.
Mid torso ball joint can achieve small degree of forward crunch and an even smaller degree of backward crunch due to the springback from the jacket.
No waist joint.
Legs with thigh swivel and on a double knee joint. Feet swivel up down and on rocker for left and right positioning.
The usage of an older body design incapacitate newer articulation design ie butterfly joints. But this guy here probably doesn't need those since his only dynamic pose, in the movie, was to draw the blaster which arm was swiftly sliced off by Ben Kenobi very shortly after.
ACCESSORIES - 1/5
This same figure was released as a single pack and as well as a 3 figures "Cantina Showdown" cinema scene exclusive which includes an interchangeable "cup-sucker" like hands which in the movie ANH, it was shown that Ponda Baba had that on when he shoved Luke. Then it show the severed arm with the hairy fingered hands. Have to scrutinize the scene to see this very subtle switch.
It would be nice to have that "cup-sucker" hands with the single pack but it is not meant to be. This accessory, to me, is crucial part of this character which should be included regardless. Such a shame.
Except for a Blaster Pistol, there is nothing else within the single box pack.
Accessories isn't an important criteria for me when chosing to buy a figure. As long as the essentials are there and that will be fine. Unfortunately, "cup-sucker" hands are deem essential, it is in the movie. Low score here prevail.
DESIGN - 1/5
Scoreless in this department. The figure is basically a kitbash with waist down 100% of Luke Yavin Celebration. Jacket and arms are also of the same Luke Yavin figure. The body a small reculpting on the collar part to... again, the Luke Yavin figure.
Thing that made it worse is Luke has a smaller stature. Ponda Baba should be a burly dude. As such, the figure also suffer from a bigger headsculpt on a smaller body.
Fur on the back of the hands is the only worth mentioning here. Hasbro can totally ignore this and give normal hands and I reckon nobody would have notice it enough. And this point alone salvage this department from a total disaster.
This is a mass produced toy afterall and shortcuts like this can and should be expected. Design thoughts is clearly not a priority.
SCULPTING - 4.5/5
Headsculpt is as good as you can get and that's the reason for me to buy this figure even if paying the full retail price. Details around the eyes, "nose" ridges are definely sculpted. Strands of "beard" or hair that goes around the bottom of the head is also sculpted in clarity.
Fur on the back of the hands are also nicely sculpted with defined lines.
These 2 area alone are enough to justify a strong sculpting score.
The rest of the parts are just run of the mill stuffs.
PAINTING - 4/5
Very impressed with the paint job on the headsculpt. A good sculpt need to be complimented by good paint job and this figure achieve it. Base colour of the head is of a deeper cyanic shade and a subtle wash of Khaki to pop the blue and to give a pleasant layering.
Khaki wash is also applied over the black coloured painted beard to allow greater clarity of each strand of sculpted hair.
Similar painting treatment are given to the hands as well.
The same wash on the orange jacket would have push this figure up a few levels but it is not meant to be.
Blaster Pistol holster thigh strap is not painted at all leaving it the original colour as the pants. Not sure if it is actually not meant to have a thigh strap or Hasbro is caught napping there again.
Nevertheless, score given here are specifically for the head and hand sculpt painting.
ARTICULATION - 2.5/5
Ponda Baba has the standard articulations as a humanoid.
Head on a ball joint. Can look up a max of about 10° (due to the hair at the back of the head hindering elevation). Look down about 40°. Turn 360°.
Arms on a single elbow joint can elevate slightly above 90°. No butterfly joint. Hands turn 360° and swivel in and out.
Mid torso ball joint can achieve small degree of forward crunch and an even smaller degree of backward crunch due to the springback from the jacket.
No waist joint.
Legs with thigh swivel and on a double knee joint. Feet swivel up down and on rocker for left and right positioning.
The usage of an older body design incapacitate newer articulation design ie butterfly joints. But this guy here probably doesn't need those since his only dynamic pose, in the movie, was to draw the blaster which arm was swiftly sliced off by Ben Kenobi very shortly after.
ACCESSORIES - 1/5
This same figure was released as a single pack and as well as a 3 figures "Cantina Showdown" cinema scene exclusive which includes an interchangeable "cup-sucker" like hands which in the movie ANH, it was shown that Ponda Baba had that on when he shoved Luke. Then it show the severed arm with the hairy fingered hands. Have to scrutinize the scene to see this very subtle switch.
It would be nice to have that "cup-sucker" hands with the single pack but it is not meant to be. This accessory, to me, is crucial part of this character which should be included regardless. Such a shame.
Except for a Blaster Pistol, there is nothing else within the single box pack.
Accessories isn't an important criteria for me when chosing to buy a figure. As long as the essentials are there and that will be fine. Unfortunately, "cup-sucker" hands are deem essential, it is in the movie. Low score here prevail.
OVERALL - 3/5
I'd be honest to say the headsculpt is everything for this figure and I buy it because of that. However, this Ponda Baba version is as good as money can get for now. Putting everything together, it is still a good figure and a good representation of the character.
Alien character in Star Wars has always captivate me and I want every one of it to be made into high end 1/6 scale figure. It is unfair for Ponda Baba to not have one till date. He has dialogue and action in the movie and that should elevate him to at least a level 2 character. Why does Momaw Nadon, who just sits there showing half of his body, gets one made by Sideshow and not Ponda? That's a debate for another day.
I suppose if he is not paired with Dr Evazan, it will be an easier decision for the 1/6 boys to make one.
This 6" guy will be it for now. If Star Wars alien character is a thing for you, go get it.
I'd be honest to say the headsculpt is everything for this figure and I buy it because of that. However, this Ponda Baba version is as good as money can get for now. Putting everything together, it is still a good figure and a good representation of the character.
Alien character in Star Wars has always captivate me and I want every one of it to be made into high end 1/6 scale figure. It is unfair for Ponda Baba to not have one till date. He has dialogue and action in the movie and that should elevate him to at least a level 2 character. Why does Momaw Nadon, who just sits there showing half of his body, gets one made by Sideshow and not Ponda? That's a debate for another day.
I suppose if he is not paired with Dr Evazan, it will be an easier decision for the 1/6 boys to make one.
This 6" guy will be it for now. If Star Wars alien character is a thing for you, go get it.
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