Background
Back in July, Sideshow released their 2008 San Diego Comic Con Exclusive Shadow Guard Vinyl Collectible Doll (VCD). If you weren’t able to make it out to the Con, there was still a non-attendee lot that was made available.
Produced by Medicom, the Shadow Guard is essentially the inverse of the Imperial Royal Guard VCD (that one is all red with a black visor). Each one of these elite guards is specially chosen by Palpatine for his exceptional loyalty to the Emperor and the Empire, and for his ability to use the Force.
Packaging
Unlike Medicom’s Star Wars RAH line, the VCD figures have one of the more unique packaging styles. They take the character’s face and use that for the front design, putting in plastic windowpanes where possible. Inside, the figure is contained within a dual, interlocking plastic package.
The Figure
The Shadow Guard VCD stands approximately 8” in height and has 4 points of articulation (shoulders and wrists). The rotocast vinyl figure comes equipped with a silver pike that includes a lightsaber-like blade. His right hand has a hole through it, which is where the pike slides through.
The outfit worn by the Shadow Guard is made of a silk-like material (maybe it is silk). The robe has a wire through the bottom of it for poseability. And the actual figure underneath is sculpted as if he is wearing a robe, which is why he has no legs. This version was limited to 600 pieces imported into the US.
Our Opinion
Medicom produces some of the highest quality licensed Star Wars products on the market (Kubricks, RAH, VCD). They each appeal to a different niche of collector. The Vinyl Collectible Doll line fits in with the designer vinyl toy genre, since it’s rotocast vinyl and slightly stylized.
When Sideshow first announced they would have Medicom’s Imperial Royal Guard, I wasn’t overly impressed. Mainly, it was because there didn’t appear to be much sculpting work. Well, swapping the colors has completely changed my opinion.
While it would have been nice to have the sleek helmet articulate, it’s stationary. What might be overlooked are the hands. They give the piece an “urban vinyl” look…especially the hand with the single pointing finger.
The one downside is that the figure is sold out. There currently is a Wait List available, so there’s a possibility you could pick one up.
You can pick one up at the following:
Sideshow: Waitlist - $64.99
Shadow Guard VCD:
Quality: 9/10
Paint: 9/10
Packaging: 7/10
Durability: 9/10
Hype: 8/10
Fun Factor: 8/10
Value: 7/10
Overall: 9.1/10
Have this figure? What do you rate it?
