Figure of the Day: Day 865: Imperial Jumptrooper

IMPERIAL JUMPTROOPER Stormtrooper
30th Anniversary Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87483
Number: #0810
Includes: Blaster, Stand
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Early 2008
Appearances: The Force Unleashed

Image: Adam Pawlus' living room.

Bio: Equipped with jet backpacks, Imperial jumptroopers burst through the air in short spurts. Their long-range rail detonators eliminate all enemy targets from any vantage point. As the Emperor extends his iron-fisted rule, jumptroopers join Imperial forces from Outer Rim planets to more central locations like the Death Star. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: The Expanded Universe has its ups and downs, with the Jumptrooper being what I'd like to think of as a recent high point. Realizing a cash cow when they see it, variant Stormtroopers started to become part of the Star Wars line starting in 2006 with the Shadow Trooper. Fast forward a few years, and now we're seeing elements of Clone Trooper armor incorporated on the suits of the Empire's finest. The Jumptrooper is notable in that it was developed long before the game's release-- over a year and a half-- and as such doesn't perfectly mesh with the game. For example, the characters in the games can fly and have a jet pack, and this figure certainly has no jet pack. I guess he can fly, but you're going to need to throw it.

Slightly bulkier than your average Stormtrooper, this particular variant has essentially the same articulation, clocking in at 14 points. The trooper can sit, stand, and assume a few decent poses. Surely, he's unique enough to add to your pre-Rebellion era dioramas. The early days of the Empire are pretty lacking in toys outside the original Droids series and a handful of other figures, so this is a nice release to have. He only comes with a blaster pistol and display stand, which is OK, but it'd have been nice to see more gear with it. I'd still say you should get one or more, if you're looking to have some fun with the early Empire. And you should be looking for this.

Collector's Notes: For some reason, this figure wasn't rereleased in the mid-2008 line reboot with the Evo Trooper and Battle Damaged Darth Vader. Seeing as the troopers were quite popular, I'm more than a little stunned nobody has mentioned it coming back. So for now, you're going to have to do some work to find this one unless you just happen to be at the right toy store that's sitting on some older stock-- and they're out there.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 865: October 7, 2008