Review – Star Wars Rorworr Action Figure

Between reviewing the Star Wars: Rebels Wullffwarro and Wookie Warrior pack a few weeks ago (review here), and the work on my Universe Expanded book (Kickstarter page), it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I’m already reviewing another Wookiee action figure. This Rorworr figure comes from the 2000 Invasion of Theed* roleplaying game . . . and I’m now trying to decide if the toy makes it into my book or not.

Not Officially Kenner “Expanded Universe”

The question was asked by a supporter of my Universe Expanded book whether or not Rorworr here would be in the book and my first reaction was: Not in the book! I’ve been trying very hard to stay focused on that 1998 Expanded Universe subline so that things don’t get out of hand, but as I thought about the question I started to wonder if this toy at least deserves a mention (maybe a spread) in the book.

Unlike a lot of the later Expanded Universe-inspired action figures the Rorworr toy certainly feels like it could have been a part of that 1998 subline. The basic figure — the body and the toy’s weapon — are from the 1998 Chewbacca as Boushh’s Bounty toy so there’s an excellent chance this was being sculpted at the same time as the Expanded Universe action figures. And it’s that connection that has me scratching my head and trying to decide how best to address the toy — if at all! — in the Universe Expanded book.

Well, I don’t have to decide right now what to do about Rorworr so for the moment let’s just take a look at this Hasbro action figure that was sculpted during the time of Kenner and sold in the Wizards of the Coast Invasion of Theed* roleplaying game. Did we get enough companies mentioned yet?

Nearly Classic Kenner Articulation

Rorworr features t-hip joints, swivel arms, and it’s just the addition of a swivel waist that makes the toy different from the articulation of the Chewbacca action figure that I owned back in 1978 (my second Star Wars action figure ever!). The toy’s head looks as if it might swivel, but unless mine has completely fused due to age or something weird there isn’t actually a joint there. I won’t be trying to force the head to turn; besides, my original Chewbacca couldn’t turn his head so why should this figure?

A Great Sculpt

So was Rorworr the very first Wookiee action figure that represented a character other than Chewbacca? I’m not at all surprised that the bulk of the toy was taken from a Chewbacca action figure, but if I am correct it is a bit strange that the first non-Chewie Wookie action figure was created for a roleplaying game. Anyway, what I love most about this toy is how the head sculpt is so very, very different from Chewbacca’s head design. It’s not tough at all to tell that this represents a different Wookiee character!

A Simpler Time

It’s tough to believe how much Star Wars has changed over the fifteen years since the Invasion of Theed* roleplaying game was released. Cartoons, books, comics, and many, many more toys have been released since 2000 than were released before that time. Rorworr comes from a much simpler era of Star Wars, and between that and the weird form of release this is a special and fun action figure. I wish Hasbro had included more action figures in Star Wars roleplaying game products; I assume they didn’t because sales of this box set just weren’t all that great.

Closing Thoughts

Whether or not Rorworr finds its way into my Universe Expanded book (Kickstarter page) it’s still fun to look back at the toy. What I find especially neat is that if the figure didn’t have that waist swivel it would be a clear evolutionary step between the 1978 Chewbacca action figure and the newer Star Wars: Rebels Wullffwarro and Wookie Warrior figures that I reviewed a few weeks ago (review here). If we look at the sculpts of all four toys (see above) I think it’s clear how we got to where we are today.

Action figure evolution? Yeah, someone needs to put some effort into studying that. Not it!