Bias alert:  I recently mentioned that I wanted to feature my Mount Rushmore of figures “I’m happy they made”.  R1-G4 would be one of the likenesses on that stone monument.  I’ve always said that I would let the reader know if I feel I cannot give an unbiased review.  This is one of those cases.  My enthusiasm for this figure is so unbridled that it’s Billy Mumphrey-like.  I’m spoiling the grade and telling you now it’s a 10 out of 10, and I can’t honestly say that it’s objective. 

I’m a mere five years old sitting in the theater watching Star Wars, before it was called A New Hope, for the first time.  The “Purchase of the Droid” scene was a magical lineup of all sorts and sizes of mechanical wonders. There was a multi-limbed Treadweel droid.  There was a flashing beetle-like LIN Demolitiontech droid.  There was a tiny security droid and a more routine menagerie of protocol and astromich droids. But there was one stand out in the crowd.  Towering over man, machine and jawa alike was R1-G4.  I was instantly mesmerized by the giant droid with a cannon for a face.  When Uncle Owen would purchased C-3PO and R5-D4 I was beside myself.  How could he pass up the giant robot WITH A CANNON FOR A FACE?!?  Of course as the years went by the hulking mechanical mass was identified as an R1 series astromech and what I thought was a cannon has been identified as a commlink antenna. 

I have wanted a R1-G4 as a figure for as long as I can remember, but always doubted the prospects due to its size.  When it was finally released in 2004, I was beside myself with giddiness.  I bought every single one I found in store, and that amounted to two.  The figure looks wonderful to this day.  All of the markings and the paint are distressed. This is exactly how and aging piece of used technology should look.  Aside from standing there looking awesome, the figure barely does much else, but that’s exactly what it did on screen.  The two manipulator arms retract and extend.  The figure’s left manipulator can also move away and toward the body.  There is a single swivel joint at the base.  It’s quite stiff, and I don’t really understand the point of it.  I doesn’t serve any purpose that simply rotating the entire figure would achieve.

The back of the figure is not accurate.  The figure has an exhaust vent within the circle on the back.  On the actual prop that circle contained what looked like a tinted wall aquarium bubble window,  but was actually supposed to represent a video screen.  That inaccuracy matters not to me.  I’m in love with this figure and I don’t care who knows it.  The fact that it was made at all is the greatness of Star Wars toys.  I doubt we’ll ever see this figure at retail again either as a re-release or updated (though I would give my eye teeth for a re-release on a Vintage Collection card).  If you want one, you’ll unfortunately have to turn to the secondary market where it commands a bit of a premium.