Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,986: George Lucas (in Stormtrooper Diguise, The Black Series)

GEORGE LUCAS (in Stormtrooper Disguise)
The Black Series Shared Exclusive Action Figure
Item No.: No. F5373
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Helmet, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $26.99
Availability: May 2022
Appearances: n/a

Bio: We pay homage to George Lucas and his remarkable accomplishments in film with a likeness of the director himself, clad in the distinctive armor of Imperial stormtrooper.  (Taken from the cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: This George Lucas (in Stormtrooper Disguise) is arguably a nod to the 3 3/4-inch mail-in version as much as it is a 50th anniversary release. Packaged on upsized 6-inch scale Vintage-ish packaging, it's the 2020 Stormtrooper body with a new head. I thought that meant this would be great and an easy, bland review to write - but a chunk of his arm flew off within seconds after opening him. And his helmet doesn't seem to fit. Perhaps you should not bother to open this one if you buy it.

This concept is perfect for an anniversary figure. Utterly brilliant, had it shipped in 2021 instead of nearly a year late. I have other troopers using this mold and they're all superb, but for some reason a shard of the white plastic on the lower arm flew off when I moved his elbow for the first time. That's a first - I've never had this kind of defect on a The Black Series figure, and I've had guys take a nosedive off a shelf. I might reglue it, and I am happy it's not on the front - but when I pay $27 for a figure I expect it to not shatter until I do something stupid, you know? Articulation is no big surprise with the pinless articulation and nice bright shiny armor. You've bought this mold before and know what to expect, down to the "wrong" blaster from the Disney era, with the extra scope, and molded in a dark gray. It's distinctive, but it's weird. Similarly the Stormtrooper helmet has black lenses, which are my preference, but I know some want movie-accurate green.

Maybe it's just because it's cold - I took a while to open this guy - but the helmet won't fit over Mr. Lucas' prodigious mane. It's possible a warmer day would give the helmet a little more flex, but I doubt it - it's super tight and I don't want to risk something else shattering with normal use.

I should have left this figure on the card. I can't put the helmet on, the arm got damaged, and do I even need another Stormtrooper at an upcharge? Probably not. It would have been an excellent convention exclusive and it's the kind of thing that should be a special item because, let's be honest, my experience with it wasn't very good. It's probably also going to be a nail in the coffin of which figures I buy going forward, so don't be surprised if we shift away from 6-inch new purchases (outside 1970s and 1980s and maybe Mando) over the coming years. When you open a new toy and it cracks, and you just laugh and you're out a few bucks, at least for me it's time to move on. But You can rest assured that George Lucas' head is a weird mix of young and old, with the current white to gray hair, no glasses, and a generous amount of retouching for his chin. It makes him look good - just leave him in the package, you're unlikely to get any fun out of that helmet.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,986: December 15, 2022