Figure of the Day: Day 121: Shock Trooper

SHOCK TROOPER Clone Trooper
Revenge of the Sith Collection 1; Episode III Greatest Battles Collection
Item No.: Asst. 85173 No. 85279; Asst. 87181 No. 87258
Number: III-06; 11 of 14
Includes: Rifle, pistol, shoulder armor with and without logo
Action Feature: Squeeze legs for quick-draw attack
Retail: $5.24-$5.99
Availability: Fall 2005-Fall 2006
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Bio: Shock Troopers are elite members of the Clone army. Under Palpatine's new regime, they are assigned as escorts and bodyguards to the Emperor. (Taken from the figure's Greatest Battles cardback.)

Image: Adam's Episode III shelf.

Commentary: While technically a variant, the Shock Trooper started life as a running change for the plain white quick-draw Clone Trooper. Hasbro wanted to get more product out without making a "new" figure, so repainting an existing figure made it easy to get this in stores in 2005, before it was given a real release with its own name and unique packaging in 2006. The figure's action feature doesn't get in the way beyond it effectively removing the waist joint, but aside from that, this figure is super-poseable with ball joints nearly everywhere. With a full range of movement, two weapons, and a sculpt that's definitely good enough for almost every use of a Shock Trooper, this is a figure worth buying. In multiples if possible.

Collector's Notes: The most amusing thing is that this figure doesn't appear on its own packaging, ever. In 2005, the Shock Trooper was released in the plain white Clone's packaging, so to look at the package, it's easy to mistake it for a "swapped out" or customized figure at first. In 2006, the packaging shows the action figure for the Skirmish in the Senate Shock Trooper, which uses a different mold and is easily distinguished by his belt and backpack. Either way, this figure is a good one no matter the packaging. Buy two, they're cheap.

Day 121: September 4, 2006