Sideshow Toys 1/6 Scale Star Wars - A New Hope - Garindan

Garindan

 

"I can tell you where to find them... for a price."

―Garindan

 

Garindan ezz Zavor, also called Long-Snoot, was a Kubaz who was considered to be the "greatest spy in Mos Eisley spaceport." was a male Kubaz who had been forced to work as a spy for the Galactic Empire. In private, Garindan loathed his Imperial overlords and sought to return to his clan and free his homeworld of Kubindi from Imperial rule. Prior to the Battle of Yavin, Garindan received news that his family was in danger. In an attempt to buy passage home, Garindan provided information about the location of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker, C-3PO, and R2-D2 to the Galactic Empire during a battle on the desert world of Tatooine. Despite the failure of that job, Garindan accepted another job to help Derrida the Ketton spy on the Rebel Alliance.

 

This is a 2nd entry of a 1/6 scale Garindan. The first being only the other 1/6 representation of this character from Hasbro's SAGA collection from 2003.

 

In the Hasbro's entry, the post closed with this call :

"Is there any chance this guy will be picked up by Sideshow or anyone else for a brand new entry? Probably not in my lifetime. However with the flurry of new Star Wars mini-series on Disney+, and if this guy made an appearance and make an impact, then his whole fortune in the 1/6 universe could change. Honestly I don't see that coming at all.
So to all SW 1/6 scale aliens species figures lovers out there, this is your (our) only chance. Headsculpt is the best there is - and the only one available. Grab one if you need to skip a lunch to do so, it is worth it at that."

 

Here we have it, Sideshow did indeed embarked on giving me a much better Garindan than any company had ever made (ie just Hasbro in the time of this blog post). Sideshow Toy's Garindan came under their "Scum & Villainy" project and was released together with Ponda Baba, Dr Evazan, Greedo (YES! Greedo!) and Labria.

 

The joy was short lived for whatever unknown reason , Sideshow stopped shipping their product directly to Singapore. There is no distributor of Sideshow Toys products here in this country means the only means to get it is from online stalls from overseas. Inclusive of shipping, the figure easily cost 30% more than buying it direct from Sideshow stall shipped. Price point overshot what I think is fair for a Sideshow 1/6 figure even when I am ready to pay a little bit more. Just too hard to commit.

 

Salvation came when a local collectible shop, through their network, managed to secure PO for Garindan, Greedo and Ponda Baba with prices somewhat in tune with Sideshow stall. All are standard versions though but it is these or nothing. All 3 were ordered, what a relief. Although I'd like to have Exclusive version for Ponda Baba for that alternate "hand" type accessory is more useful and on point for Ponda Baba. Oh well... better than nothing.

 

Garindan came first and it is here in this entry. At the time of this blog post, still pending Greedo and Ponda Baba arrival.

 

Garindan without it's cape kinda looks like 3A's Zomb MD without the snoot. As plain as it can be which is the charm for Original Trilogy characters design. In all the scenes in the movie, there is no footage of Garindan bearing a blaster. Blaster bearing could be an assumption with Mos Eisley being the Space Wild Wild West. Sidehow gave Garindan the DL-21 Blaster Pistol in the set.

Design - 2/5

Goggles - a fully molded piece and gloss painted both lens which on closer look can see "sunken" molding along the round edges. Given the premium price point Sideshow is charging for these figures, the least I expect are separate plastic/acrylic lenses mounted onto the goggle. But Sideshow does this exactly the same way as how Hasbro done theirs... disappointing. 

 

Outer Cape - Hood is to be placed right onto the head with the rest of the cape drape freely along the contour of the body with the help from buddy gravity. Inserted wires along the edge of the cape should add to posing possibilities... unfortunately there is none.

 

Inner Cape - It is secured around the neck with a hook and a loop on each side of the tip end of the cape. Here I feel wires can compensate the absence of it from the outer cape however, this too does not come with it. No posing with Garindan walking against the wind.

 

Shirt/blouse -  There aren't many Garindan figures out there regardless of scale. Whatever are out there either had a black or a grey shirt. More recent figures most, if not all, spot the grey shirt. Sideshow wants to be different and does a Blue!

Garindan being a cameo character does not enjoy enough screentime to check on its shirt colour. Perhaps Sideshow has direct access to the details and Blue is actually accurate? I don't know. It is just like Han Solo Hoth jacket has been seen as Blue for the longest of time until it is eventually confirmed as Brown. I hope such clarity can be had for Garindan.

 

Gloves - Sideshow has employ a 2 part gloves design since Han/Luke Hoth time (or even earlier) and they have stuck to this method ever since. Not sure if it is only on my set but the "sheath" of the glove seems to slide freely when it is not pointed down. When a pose of Garindan raising the hand, that arm part of the glove will just slide down to the elbow. It will need to be push a bit harder against the hand portion to get it snugged in. Then a small vibration will cause it to detach and slide off. Frustrating when doing poses.

Here I'd rather prefer the full glove hands as 1 piece per side. And a few more pairs as accessories to cover some other basic hand gestures and it is not meant to be.

 

Boots - Similar to the gloved hands plan, the boots follow suit ie a cut upper boots "sheath" and the separated feet both seemingly "fused" together rather seamlessly this time as compare to the gloves messy outing. Hot Toys is also known to employ this method on boots or footwear with a more elaborate design. Standard marching boots like this one on Garindan are already done in pleather or leather as a single piece top to toe. It is not too much for Sideshow to give Garindan a genuine leather material boots when they are asking for such a high MSRP.

Nothing that wrong with this current pair if Sideshow knock off 80 bucks from their price point.

 

Sideshow seem contented to get themself stuck in 2016 and refuse to move forward living in their own world. Saving grace that they are making such fringe characters that no one else is making resulted in the lack of choices for collectors who wanted these figures. We are buying them begrudgingly on the high price point with quality that did not match up - simply because there are no other choice.

 

Sculpting - 2.5/5

Garindan's long snoot will be appropriate for this section. It isn't the hardest thing to sculpt as compare to sculpting the likeness of a known actor. However the sculpting team has done a decent job here. When comparing to the Hasbro's version ($40), Sideshow's one does not immediately jump out as leaps and bounds ahead... they are actually comparable with Sideshow's version a nudge better. 

 

Painting - 2/5

Paint job on the long nose does exude a skin like texture. It is successful but this is to be expected nothing less.

Credit also on the painted lenses that the glossiness level actually reflects light. It is not hard to do but to the fact that Sideshow made an effort to do so, it is good to go.

 

The bomb dropped when Sideshow decide to deprive the rest of the head with any paint application. a dull grey with not even a paint lining on the stitches. I get it the rest of the head will be under a hood. That differentiate a company who wanted to elevate their product or a company (like Sideshow) who just want to do enough. Another disappointment here.

 

Articulation - 2.5/5

It is a mixed bag for Sideshow's body type. Sometimes collectors got floppy body, sometimes the body is nice and tight. My Garindan has the nice and tight one thanks goodness.

All articulation points are standard except for the ankle point which is still using the swivel and turn technique when ball and socket design has already been very common and give a much better range of articulation.

Posing of the figure is ok... because of the tighter fitting clothing, higher dynamic pose are not attempted.

 

Accessory - 3.5/5

Earlier in this post it was mentioned there is no proof that Garindan carry a weapon. Sideshow gave one to their version nonetheless. On the other hand, I believe it is expected 99.999% that a weapon will be included. Therefore it is not a case for Sideshow on whether they are given a choice or not.

While it is common knowledge that collectors already accepted that Sideshow Toys figures will only contain the essentials of essentials, nothing more.

These are all there is in this SGD 375 set... measly pair of spare hands - right hand for the blaster, left hand for the communicator. Standard Sideshow figure stand with no print. 

I personally appreciate such minimal outing as shared many times in my various posting in this blog that I am not an accessory person. I don't need more gadgets but a couple more pairs of gestured hands will be much appreciated.

 

Overall - 3/5

Sidehshow's Garindan gets dragged through the mud over the category breakdown, but there is only this to get if an upgrade from the Hasbro's version is important. Setting aside all the deep diving details, this figure - as a whole - still a massive upgrade from Hasbro's. Any Star Wars OTG Alien species type collectors need to pick this up period.

 

 

I closed my Hasbro's Garindan entry with a kind of critical take in it that I'm sure no one else will pick up this character and make it into a 1/6 figure. And that Hasbro's outing will be the last chance to get it. It was penned in Nov 2022. Then Sideshow announced their version barely 3yrs later, but is 22yrs after Hasbro first release theirs (in 2003).

So yeah this is a done deal unless some other company make this Garindan and is superior to this Sideshow version, then it can be considered. Until then...