This IG-97 assassin droid was released in March 2010 in a Walmart exclusive comic 2-pack. The set included this IG-97, and a Rom Mohc action figure. The droid can be seen in the expanded universe comic book storyline titled Star Wars: Tales #4.
IG-97 has 12 joints. Surprisingly, the joints are quite a bit different from regular Star Wars figures, but work quite well nonetheless. The head is ball-jointed, but it also can be extended out of the body, which makes the figure quite a bit taller. As a matter of fact, IG-97 stands about
one head taller than a basic Star Wars figure. Both shoulders and both legs are ball-jointed, the elbows, knees and ankles have swivel joints. The figure's waist is not movable. Despite the droid's petite nature, it stands remarkably well by itself. Because of the ball-joints in both legs, the stance can be widened,
which helps to balance the figure out drastically. The figure's articulation is thought out and executed very well, it's even possible to recreate the droid's "wake-up" sequence, when he's all folded together. Hasbro included 3 accessories with the figure, a blaster, a removable backpack, and an antenna. The blaster is a great fit for either hand, and the backpack and the antenna plug in firmly into the hole on the back of the droid.
The paint application on IG-97 is well done with lots of dirt and weathering on the droid's body. It looks used and rusty, which is appropriate since the comic book storyline plays on the desert planet Tatooine. All in all, this IG-97 figure is great, and it looks like the droid in the comic book, plus it'll also look nice mixed in with a regular battle droid army, and add some variety to your display.