BIKER SCOUT Two of two in this set 30th Anniversary Collection Target Exclusive Battle Pack
Item No.: Asst. 87565 No. 87567
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $49.99
Availability: November 2007
Appearances: Return of the Jedi
Bio: A scout trooper was a member of the Imperial Stormtrooper Corps specially trained for scouting, reconnaissance, combat survival, and most times, sniping. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)
Image: Adam Pawlus' desk.
Commentary: This Biker Scout comes from one of the best-ever multipacks, the 2007 Target-exclusive Ultimate Battle of Endor Battle Pack. For about fifty bones, you got eight action figures, an AT-ST, two Speeder Bikes, and some logs. For perspective, that was an astosnishingly good price even in 2007, when figures were about $7 so, being generous in our favor counting the 2 Ewoks as a single figure, it'd be about $89 worth of toys. Granted, a lighter-colored Chewbacca and more Troopers may not be what you wanted, but the set was arguably worth it for these troopers and some of the other stuff in here. The AT-ST Driver, for example.
The Biker Scout was the apex of this kind of trooper for several years, until it was sort of one-upped in 2012 with a new, slightly more articulated (but worse painted) release. With 14 points of articulation, it's effectively the same figure-with-blaster that you got on a Saga Collection vintage cardback around 2006 but with different dirt on his armor. Those gray splotches you see on his chest? That's what makes this one unique. The other trooper in the back has different grey splotches. I know, it's absurd, but I've written 2,000 of these stupid things so you're going to get a few like this. The unique dirt and "damage" make the figures look a little different, and it's appreciated just from the place of someone who seeks out such differences, but it's hardly essential.
I would advocate getting this figure, or one of his peers, over the new 2012 version that came with the bike for display reasons. Why? Better deco. There's a little more going on here, if you look at the armor and the mask in particular. The grey with the black really pops nicely, and his gun fits well in his ankle holster or his hand. He can sort of ride the bike, kinda, but it isn't really a great fit. Still, it's a decent enough figure to buy even if every figure in this gift set has since been basically lapped by other, similar, better figures with more articulation. Except the logs. You can only get the logs here.
Collector's Notes: This set is anywhere from $40 to $100 on eBay, and more on Amazon. At the lower end, it's a bargain and at the higher end, it still isn't a bad deal.
--Adam Pawlus
Day 2,028: March 22, 2013
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