The Mandalorian’s IG-11 isn’t the first droid from the IG-Series, but where else have they appeared, and what’s the history of Holowan’s dangerous creation?
In The Mandalorian, IG-11 captured our hearts in a poignant scene during the finale when he sacrificed himself to save Din Djarin, the Child, Cara Dune, and Greef Karga, but he isn’t the first IG droid to feature in the Star Wars universe.
During the Clone Wars, a company known as Holowan Laboratories (and also Holowan Mechanicals) were responsible for developing and manufacturing various weapons and battle droids. As part of their work, they created a series of droids designed solely for killing or protection depending on who they were assigned to, and with this the IG-Series was born.
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Although active before the Clone Wars (as depicted in Darth Maul No. 2, which took place around 32 BBY), they were more prominent during this time, providing plenty of help to the highest bidder. For example, we saw them in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, such as when Anakin Skywalker and Ashoka Tano had to fight two of them off whilst trying to find R2-D2 in Season 1.
At some point between 22 and 19 BBY, Holowan started to ship a variety of IG droids to various buyers, including the IG-100 MagnaGuard. MagnaGuards were IG droids that came equipped with electrostaffs, and often fought in twos. General Grievous employed the IG-100s as his personal bodyguards, and during his battle with Obi-Wan Kenobi on Utapau, they did well in helping Grievous against the Jedi Master.
Perhaps one of the more famous IG-Series droids, IG-88 was one of the first assassin droids developed by Holowan Laboratories and was hired by Darth Vader to capture Han Solo and his companions in 3ABY. His biggest rival and fellow Bounty Hunter Boba Fett stopped him from claiming the bounty during the events of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.
In 9 ABY, six years after IG-88 was defeated by Boba Fett on Cloud City, IG-11 appeared in The Mandalorian. We became acquainted with the droid after his failed attempt to terminate the Child on Arvala-7. Whilst the Mandalorian was away, Kuiil and his expertise in reprogramming, he managed to completely wipe IG-11’s memory and begin to re-train the former assassination droid.
It took Din Djarin some time to trust IG-11, but after the droid risked everything to save the Child from the Scout Troopers and return him to the Mandalorian, they became friends. A Mandalorian never removes his helmet, however, it was in front of IG-11 that he revealed his face in order for the droid to save his life. In the final moments of IG-11’s life, he sacrificed himself to clear a path for Mando to survive by self-destructing and killing the Stormtroopers who were blocking their exit.
The IG-Series have a history of being the bad guys, but during The Mandalorian, we saw a different side to the droids, and who knows, maybe we’ll see them once again in the Star Wars universe, hopefully on the good side one more time.
Are you a fan of the IG-Series droids? What’s your favorite moment to feature the deadly droids? Let us know in the comments.