IG-88

"We think, therefore we are. Therefore, we will propagate. Therefore, we will remain."

- IG-88

IG-88, also known as a Phlutdroid, was a rogue, deadly masculine IG-series assassin droid manufactured by Holowan Laboratories who worked as a bounty hunter. Following the Battle of Hoth, he and several other bounty hunters were summoned by Darth Vader to the Executor and hired to track down the Millennium Falcon and her Rebel crew. Unable to track his quarry, IG-88 trailed his chief rival, Boba Fett, to Bespin, where the bounty hunter destroyed the assassin droid. However, IG-88 managed to survive the defeat, and he later worked with mercenary Bazine Netal.

History
"What is that?" "IG-88. An actual bounty hunter. Also, probably interested in your data tape. He's good&mdash;one of the best in the galaxy. And he's a surprise. Take cover!"

- Leia Organa and Sabine Wren

The first of the IG-series assassin droid models created in secret by Holowan Laboratories, IG-88, also known as a Phlutdroid, realized his skill and desire to kill the moment he was first activated. He went rogue, and, from that moment on, became one of the most feared bounty hunters in the galaxy, in part due to the lingering fear of droids, particularly those capable of battle and assassination, from the Clone Wars. IG-88 was also a chief rival of the notorious bounty hunter Boba Fett.

During the Age of the Empire, IG-88 was hired by Imperial Security Bureau Agent Alexsandr Kallus to assist in tracking down Imperial Army deserter turned smuggler, Captain Han Solo of the Millennium Falcon.

Later, IG-88 teamed up with Hondo Ohnaka to collect the bounty on Crimson Dawn lieutenant Qi'ra's head. Tracking Qi'ra down, IG-88 and Hondo managed to apprehend Qi'ra. Turning the bounty hunter and the pirate against each other, Qi'ra convinced IG-88 to collect the bounty on Hondo instead of the bounty on her. Attacking Hondo, IG-88 was quickly stunned and put in binders. After Qi'ra had similarly tricked and apprehended Hondo, IG-88 was led away by Qi'ra so that she could collect the bounty on his head.

Later, IG-88 pursued Princess Leia Organa on Garel, seeking a data-tape in her possession of Imperial base locations. Organa was assisted by Sabine Wren, who identified the droid, and the pair fled as the assassin opened fire in the corridors of Garel City Spaceport. However, Wren planted a paint bomb, surprising IG-88 and covering him in purple paint. Leia convinced several stormtroopers to fire at the bounty hunter, and the droid was hit by a blast before retreating.

By the year 0 ABY, IG-88 consorted with the crime lord Jabba Desilijic Tiure. He was present in the Hutt's palace while Jabba received Darth Vader. The Sith Lord told the Hutt to dispense with his audience, and IG-88, along with fellow hunters including Fett and 4-LOM, departed from the court. In 3 ABY, IG-88 answered a call put out by Vader for bounty hunters to track down the Millennium Falcon. He and several other hunters, including Boba Fett, assembled aboard the Executor, where Vader offered a bounty for the live capture of Han Solo and his companions. However, it was not IG-88 who successfully tracked the quarry and the droid followed Fett to Cloud City on the planet Bespin, where the assassin droid was left for scrap after his longtime rival caught it trailing him. Ultimately, Fett captured Solo and delivered the bounty to Jabba on Tatooine.

Despite being defeated by Fett, IG-88 managed to survive the encounter. Eventually, IG-88 was contacted by mercenary Bazine Netal to discuss the location of the Millennium Falcon.

Characteristics
"This notorious IG-series assassin droid possessed an unstoppable desire to hunt and kill his prey, earning him a reputation as one of the top five bounty hunters in the galaxy. It also earned him access to some of the best-paying clients, like Darth Vader and a wide variety of Hutts."

- R0-GR

A rogue class 4 assassin droid, IG-88 was obsessed with hunting, destroying, and killing as a result of his incompletely formed droid programming. He tended to hunt alone and earned a reputation as a merciless hunter.

A hideous, battered chrome war droid, IG-88 stood 1.96 meters in height. His steady aim, along with his ability to track targets with advanced sensors that ringed his head and allowed him to see in all directions, won him great success. These sensors included multiple red photoreceptors, a heat sensor, and a sound sensor. IG-88 also had a vocoder at the base of his head. His torso was able to fully rotate on the battlefield, allowing him to blast enemies on all sides. His tough metal body allowed him to survive most attacks without taking any damage and featured acid-proof servo wires.

Equipment
"IG-88 could take down almost any target with his signature sniper rifle&hellip; as long as Boba Fett didn't get there first."

- R0-GR

IG-88 carried an arsenal of weapons, including blaster rifles, pulse cannons, a DAS-430 Neural Inhibitor, and a needle dart gun that launched poison darts. However, his most dangerous weapons were hidden inside his slender frame, including a flamethrower, a sonic device, and toxic gas dispensers. IG-88 also wore an ammunition bandolier that carried his concussion discs and vibroblades. As an IG-series droid, he was designed to have blasters built into each arm, but they were never installed.

Behind the scenes
"IG-88 was never going to be more than a filler for the now infamous bounty hunter Lineup. I decided we needed a real dirty, evil, and vicious bot. Like the bounty hunters of old. Lots of weapons and protection. Dark and oily. So we made him big- 7'8"ish tall. Had to drop him down a level on set to get him in shot. Lean, but strong. In short, a killer. We started with the head. Then with all the bits, we had the rest. It just came together to us until was just right. No, some of the grown-ups were not taken with the idea. It was taking a different direction from the other bots, but I thought it should. And when someone said, "I don't think you would find a robot like that on a spaceship," my reply was, "You would on mine." The rest is history."

- Bill Hargreaves, on designing IG-88

IG-88, originally referred to as a "chrome war droid" in the script and also called "Phlutdroid" during production, was created for the 1980 film Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back. His mechanical puppet was constructed by Bill Hargreaves and Steve Short of the props team and special effects department, whose design was a complete departure from concept artist Ralph McQuarrie's streamlined, if not elegant, version. IG-88's cylindrical head was originally a component of the combustion assembly in a Rolls-Royce Derwent jet engine, which was previously used as part of the distillery setup seen in Chalmun's Cantina in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. McQuarrie's early concept art of IG-88 later inspired the design of the IG-RM bodyguard and enforcer droid.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Galactic Defense
 * Star Wars: Force Arena
 * Forces of Destiny: The Leia Chronicles
 * Star Wars: The Original Trilogy – A Graphic Novel
 * Darth Vader 1: Vader
 * Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back
 * Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back junior novelization
 * Darth Vader 1: Vader
 * Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back
 * Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back junior novelization
 * Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back junior novelization

Non-canon appearances

 * Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes
 * Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes