Kithaba was a Klatooinian male slave who worked as a skiff guard for the crime lord Jabba Desilijic Tiure on the planet Tatooine. During the Galactic Civil War, Kithaba was assigned to travel with the prisoners Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Chewbacca in a Bantha-II cargo skiff to the Great Pit of Carkoon, where they would be executed. At the pit, the prisoners had a brief exchange with Jabba, who was viewing the executions from onboard his sail barge Khetanna, before Skywalker attacked Kithaba and his colleagues with a lightsaber that the droid R2-D2 had provided him with. Kithaba was the first guard to be knocked from the skiff, but managed to avoid the maw of the sarlacc that lived in the pit for some time while it consumed several of his colleagues. Shortly after Jabba himself was killed, the sarlacc wrapped its tongue around Kithaba and swallowed him.
I was not aware Sideshow has made Kithaba a low runner of just 500pcs batch. Could be enough to feed every collector who wanted one since the Skiff Guards are low in popularity. The stall had Weequay Pagetti Rook in stock for the longest of time and still does.
When it hit the shelf - Online stall shelf - somewhat true enough, it stayed "In Stock". I took a day to consider opening up my already wounded wallet for Kithaba and when I am ready to take the plunge, BAM! Out of stock! DAMN IT!!
When it hit the shelf - Online stall shelf - somewhat true enough, it stayed "In Stock". I took a day to consider opening up my already wounded wallet for Kithaba and when I am ready to take the plunge, BAM! Out of stock! DAMN IT!!
Massive regret for not being decisive but it will cost USD330 nonetheless. It is not meant to be. That lingering habbit of keep checking back for reliving and reminding my indecisiveness on missing out Kithaba reaped success when it suddenly become "in stock" again. This time it is not slipping by and action was swift. It again immediately went "out of stock" after I paid. Wow lucky me this time around. Could be someone withdrew (and forfeited) their PO, it could be a surprise find in the store, it could be well... it could be. The fact now is I am happy to have it in my collection although USD330 poorer.
DESIGN - 1/5
Not gonna hide that this never before super low score in this department is plainly tag to the price.
Pouches materials - This is 2026 and it is not acceptable for any collector's grade 1/6 figure regardless of prices that for Kithaba's pouches - 3x across the bandolier, 1x on the belt - are all molded plastic. Almost blasphemous. If it is leather pouches, it should be made in leather (or durable pleather), if cloth should be made in cloth. The only consolation of plastic molded pouches being durable.
Head Bandana - Wire should be worked into the head band but there is none. You have Kithaba on a moving Skiff but the head band is not able to pose flowing with the wind.
Hands - Gripping hands are not able to fully grip the vibro staff. Almost as if they are salvaged from existing hands design.
Weapon - The Vibro Staff from my set had a slightly bent pointed end due to the design that it run into a very small diameter cross section and given the soft plastic used, could not hold the straightness. Ideally it should be reinforce with a metal pin at that portion for a guaranteed straightness.
SCULPTING DETAILS - 4/5
One of the 2 most important thing that made a collectible a collectible grade is the sculpting work.
Bright point of this figure is the excellent headsculpt of Kithaba that captures his likeness definitely and also exude the mood of a foot soldier goon frowning and gritting his teeths.
Neck is also sculpted to show its alien skin texture.
Absolutely great job on the headsculpt.
PAINTING - 4.5/5
The other most important thing that could mean whether a figure reach that "high end" category is the paint work. An excellent sculpt with a bad paint work makes the item worthless.
Not the case here with Kithaba. The paint works brought Kithaba to life and gave it soul. That is how good the paintwork is.
Few shades of brown, with proper washes and drybrushing and highlighting all met out in cohesiveness on the headsculpt.
Paintwork on the Vibro Staff is consistent with the other Sideshow's figures weapon paintjob. No dip in quality is commendable as well.
ARTICULATION - 3/5
Waist up has the standard 1/6 figure articulation and the gear and garb does not restrict the articulations potential. All good.
Waist down is abit... stiff? Legs can only manage about 20° therefore a lower squat or a crunch position cannot be made let alone single knee kneeling post. I don't know the exact structure of it but do not think the apparent tight pants cause this limitation.
ACCESSORIES - NA
It is by now a known fact that Sideshow figures just give you the bare minimum of accessories. Kithaba is no exception.
An extra pair of relaxed L&R hands, a nonedescript hexagonal-crotch grabbing stand, and that's it.
As always, more hands style will enable greater posing possibilities but no luck in this set.
Sideshow basically gave Kithaba what he just essentially need which made this section Not Applicable.
Not gonna hide that this never before super low score in this department is plainly tag to the price.
Pouches materials - This is 2026 and it is not acceptable for any collector's grade 1/6 figure regardless of prices that for Kithaba's pouches - 3x across the bandolier, 1x on the belt - are all molded plastic. Almost blasphemous. If it is leather pouches, it should be made in leather (or durable pleather), if cloth should be made in cloth. The only consolation of plastic molded pouches being durable.
Head Bandana - Wire should be worked into the head band but there is none. You have Kithaba on a moving Skiff but the head band is not able to pose flowing with the wind.
Hands - Gripping hands are not able to fully grip the vibro staff. Almost as if they are salvaged from existing hands design.
Weapon - The Vibro Staff from my set had a slightly bent pointed end due to the design that it run into a very small diameter cross section and given the soft plastic used, could not hold the straightness. Ideally it should be reinforce with a metal pin at that portion for a guaranteed straightness.
SCULPTING DETAILS - 4/5
One of the 2 most important thing that made a collectible a collectible grade is the sculpting work.
Bright point of this figure is the excellent headsculpt of Kithaba that captures his likeness definitely and also exude the mood of a foot soldier goon frowning and gritting his teeths.
Neck is also sculpted to show its alien skin texture.
Absolutely great job on the headsculpt.
PAINTING - 4.5/5
The other most important thing that could mean whether a figure reach that "high end" category is the paint work. An excellent sculpt with a bad paint work makes the item worthless.
Not the case here with Kithaba. The paint works brought Kithaba to life and gave it soul. That is how good the paintwork is.
Few shades of brown, with proper washes and drybrushing and highlighting all met out in cohesiveness on the headsculpt.
Paintwork on the Vibro Staff is consistent with the other Sideshow's figures weapon paintjob. No dip in quality is commendable as well.
ARTICULATION - 3/5
Waist up has the standard 1/6 figure articulation and the gear and garb does not restrict the articulations potential. All good.
Waist down is abit... stiff? Legs can only manage about 20° therefore a lower squat or a crunch position cannot be made let alone single knee kneeling post. I don't know the exact structure of it but do not think the apparent tight pants cause this limitation.
ACCESSORIES - NA
It is by now a known fact that Sideshow figures just give you the bare minimum of accessories. Kithaba is no exception.
An extra pair of relaxed L&R hands, a nonedescript hexagonal-crotch grabbing stand, and that's it.
As always, more hands style will enable greater posing possibilities but no luck in this set.
Sideshow basically gave Kithaba what he just essentially need which made this section Not Applicable.
OVERALL - 3.5/5
Individual scenario scrutiny is to zoom in on the details and to give a score. Here in the "Overall" section is judged very differently. Is the character in desire for me? Obviously yes otherwise I wouldn't have buy it. Is this figure an accurate and good representation of the actual character? A resounding YES! Is this figure worth the asking price... this where the pain is really.
I'd be quite honest to say this will be the one and only high end 1/6 scale ROTJ Kithaba and if you are a fan and you did not manage to buy one, then the boat has left the port and be prepared to pay through the roof for it in the secondary market.
So yes, this score reflect my whole sentiment about Sideshow's Kithaba. I want it, I got it, I think I paid too much for one but that is happiness money CAN buy. I rest my case.
I thought my next Skiff Guard is to be Pagetti Rook (aka Weequay) but Kithaba comes around and with that 500pcs so-call limited volume run gets everyone jittery. Even non-fans perhaps will FOMO and get one just to you know, better to have and not want than to want and not have.
Limited run or not for me is not the first consideration but to have all of the skiff guards on offer is plan. Crossed successfully a hurdle here.
FINAL WORD...
Sideshow really threw me off by announcing the 1/6 scale ROTJ Skiff Guards, not 1, but 5 of them. When these are not even made in the mass market Black Series 6" scale. Very brave for Sideshow to make this move.
And I think I understand why these cost so much but with the figure itself blatantly plain and with 2016-ish gear - due to the low popularity and the expected low sales. This become confirmed when Pagetti Rook, Klaatu, Ponda Baba, Dr Evazan etc stayed "in stock" after a long period post release. Sideshow need to satisfy factory's MOQ and also its expected sales that could only hit a third of their MOQ stock. Therefore a $100 figure will now have to sell at $300 to even it out. Any higher sales will become a bonus.
And I think I understand why these cost so much but with the figure itself blatantly plain and with 2016-ish gear - due to the low popularity and the expected low sales. This become confirmed when Pagetti Rook, Klaatu, Ponda Baba, Dr Evazan etc stayed "in stock" after a long period post release. Sideshow need to satisfy factory's MOQ and also its expected sales that could only hit a third of their MOQ stock. Therefore a $100 figure will now have to sell at $300 to even it out. Any higher sales will become a bonus.
That said, although there is a vast gap between price vs quality, I am just very glad to finally be able to own these Skiff Guards in 1/6 scale. It has always been my top priority want for skiff guards as I love them of their variety and of their alien origins.
Klaatu and Kithaba in the collection, next will be Pagetti Rook and Wooof which are both already available but am hoping the online stall mark the price down just like what they did with Greedo, Ponda and Evazan. No hurry there but hope I don't repeat the same mistake I had with Kithaba. A second chance is not always there for the weak minded.
Klaatu and Kithaba in the collection, next will be Pagetti Rook and Wooof which are both already available but am hoping the online stall mark the price down just like what they did with Greedo, Ponda and Evazan. No hurry there but hope I don't repeat the same mistake I had with Kithaba. A second chance is not always there for the weak minded.
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