Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,285: K-2SO (Rogue One)

K-2S0 Realistic Robot
Rogue One   Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. B7072 No. B7277
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Zipline claw accessory
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: September 2016
Appearances: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Bio: A reprogrammed Imperial security droid now loyal to the Alliance, K-2SO is an alarming sight standing within a secret Rebel base. The pragmatic droid  is an effective insertion agent, as he can blend in perfectly at Imperial installations and outposts.  (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Hey, something new!  K-2SO is an Imperial droid reprogrammed as a Rebel droid.  I'm assuming this is exposition and not a spoiler.   It's cast in black and quite tall - he towers over the other figures in the line so far.  The long arms and legs are connected by ball joints, so you can pop the limbs off if you like.  This also limits his movement as the legs can't properly swing forward - they can swivel out a bit, though, so that's better than nothing and it helps adjust his center of gravity if you decide to give him his grapple accessory.

He only has 6 joints - 2 at the neck - but he makes up for it with pretty good deco.  Scraped-up silver knees and elbows are matched with appropriately worn Imperial symbols on his shoulders, plus little silver highlights with detail around the fax joints, eyes, mouth, and wires.  There are even orangey/rusty rings around the hips and shoulders that seem close to the color of some existing Imperial Astromechs stationed on the second Death Star.   The proportions seem very new school, but other than that the visual language seems pretty close to being similar to the original trilogy.  I could see this guy banged up and rusted out, serving some limited function in Jabba's Palace.

The reverse side of the figure is interesting, in both good and bad ways.  He has two little antenna that come pre-bent thanks to the packaging, but he also oddly sports the classic Stormtrooper design "OII" on his upper back.  Why?  No idea!  Maybe it means something, and some day maybe someone will tell us.  Maybe it's an oversight.  The back of the figure is almost completely undecorated save for some spillover of the joints we discussed above - there are no special lights or symbols or buttons painted here.

His accessory is a "zipline" - a claw on an arm-mounted gadget that extends a rope out a few inches and he can zip up it, if he holds on.  I wish it was a backpack.   It looks OK, but if you lost it you probably won't miss it.  It's fun enough, but safety prevents us from getting long strings so figures can really go places.  It's only slightly longer than my water glass.

Unless you've got an allergy to the new movie, this is an awesome looking new droid and a worthwhile addition to your Imperial stash.  Even if the movie is weak, I assume this droid will still be welcomed by Imperial army collectors as one more addition to shelves or dioramas.   It looks good, it's real big, and I don't have a lot quite like it.  So, I approve - I know we all wish it were super-articulated, but given the history of Battle Droids maybe it'll be more sturdy as a limited articulation release.   We'll see how the 6-inch one plays out.  The new Empire figure designs seem pretty strong so far, so go ahead and get them.  Just don't expect this one to stay standing for long - its weighty torso makes it easy to accidentally knock down.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,285: October 4, 2016

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,284: Imperial Stormtrooper (Rogue One)

IMPERIAL STORMTROOPER ...with armor
Rogue One   Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. B7072 No. B7280
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, 3-piece blast-away armor
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: September 2016
Appearances: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Bio: Imperial installations, whether space-bound or ground-based, buzz with activity and vehicular traffic.  Skilled ground crews sort through this would-be chaos and see to the smooth operation of Imperial craft through regular maintenance. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: I love this Imperial Stormtrooper as much as I was confused by it.  Early photos showed a strange chest with a clip-on armor bit, but since Hasbro decided to not actually properly announce it or explain anything anymore, I got to guess.  The packaging sort of explains that the apron is a battle-damage gimmick, and if you assemble it correctly you can make the chest fly open - taking the pauldron with it - to make it look like the figure got shot.  And if you leave it completely off, you just have a nice, plain, glossy white Stormtrooper just like you probably remember (some of) your vintage Kenner ones being back 38 years ago.

The trooper itself is not the same sculpt or mold used for Mission Series.  He's about the same height, and has many of the same details, but they're different sizes or tweaked a tiny bit.  He still have 5 joints and a swell ball-jointed helmet, but the shiny finish isn't something I think we get enough of these days.  This feels like a much better version of the 1978 figure, with a different blaster - note the magazine, and what I assume is a scope or a rocket - setting it apart from other releases.  It's unique.

 Because of the armor there's no big and weird bonus accessory - I would have loved a "classic" blaster so I could tell you all to run out and troop build this guy, as he's so retro it hurts.  Seriously, you're gonna love this one unless you demand elbow joints or something.  As a plain ol' Stormtrooper, this is a nice enough figure that's just going to make you furious that Hasbro didn't do a new Death Star to do double-duty as a 40th Anniversary toy and a Rogue One tie-in.  Ah well.   I still dig it.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,284: October 3, 2016

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,283: Imperial Ground Crew (Rogue One)

IMPERIAL GROUND CREW ...with jetpack?
Rogue One   Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. B7072 No. B7279
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 2 traffic safety batons, jetpack
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: September 2016
Appearances: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Bio: Imperial installations, whether space-bound or ground-based, buzz with activity and vehicular traffic.  Skilled ground crews sort through this would-be chaos and see to the smooth operation of Imperial craft through regular maintenance. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Here's one you'll like.  The Imperial Ground Crew figure looks like it should fit in with the rest of your stuff.  It has a big silly flight pack and two safety batons, plus a look that looks like it could have been in the original Star Wars 39 years ago if the movie had more of a budget - it was a cheap movie when compared to Alien and The Empire Strikes Back.   As such, a lot of costume bits were reused and there weren't a heck of a lot of different helmets and uniforms, probably mostly because nobody was sitting around going "if we do like 3 more trooper costumes we'll sell a ton more toys" at that point.

At first glance, I thought I may have seen this somewhere before.  Its inspiration is fairly obvious, but the helmet and uniform are different - it lacks the long, sweeping build and has tightened the design up more than a bit.   The deco is similar, but adds kneepads, a more ornate chest piece, and more on top of a sharp sculpt.  The folds and wrinkles are ood, and "V" on the back of his body looks like it might connect to something - but what?  It's not the jet pack.  It's a nifty design that seems to suggest significance where there perhaps is none, much like the "OII" of old.   But having not seen the movie, I don't know nothin'.

His main accessories are a pair of painted lighted batons, much like what you use if you're on the tarmac and are trying to signal planes.   An Imperial figure of any kind without a gun or a lightsaber is a real rarity, and it takes massive guts to put out a trooper-like figure without a weapon.  Oh, and he's short - like Rey short, but I don't know how widespread this is yet.  Jyn seems tall compared to Cassian, so maybe this is just a rescaling in order to make the upcoming Darth Vader figure look larger.  We shall see.  Alls I know is that I've got other Stormtroopers that tower over this guy.

The jetpack ain't bad - I daresay of the big accessories we've seen since the Disney era began, this may be the best.  (But I'm still opening figures, you're reading these reviews as I open each one.)   It folds open with swing-out cannons, and wings fold out nicely as they're geared together.  It comes unadorned save for a silver stripe and Imperial logo painted on, but it looks like it's something that you may have had with a 1980s or 1990s Kenner toy from Batman or another line.   It fits nicely, he can still stand while wearing it, and it's meatier than anything else Hasbro has given us on a basic figure in some time.

So far?  Best in show.  It's new, it looks like it could fit in with virtually any era of Star Wars Empire action figures, and the costume is on the happy side of decent.  It might not be astonishingly different or truly out of this world in how it looks, but the glossy armor and soft grey work nicely together.   I suspect that despite being packed out at 2 per case, it'll sell out quickly if not firstly.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,283: October 2, 2016

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,282: Captain Cassian Andor (Rogue One)

CAPTAIN CASSIAN ANDOR Jacket
Rogue One Vehicle Pack-In
Item No.: No. B7101
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: U-Wing Fighter, 2 Nerf darts, blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $49.99-$59.99
Availability: September 2016
Appearances: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Bio: A sturdy troop transport and gunship used by the Rebel Alliance, the U-wing starfighter is a well-armed, swing-wing vessel that must penetrated heavy fire zones to deposit soldiers onto battlefields and then fly air support during dangerous missions against the Empire. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

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 ain't bad. The vehicle in and of itself is a fun toy with a massive - massive - wingspan at 36-inches wide when sticking out at the sides, which makes you understand why Captain Cassian Andor's vessel was downsized a bit to fit only one action figure, rather than serve as a troop deployment device.  (I also assume it might have something to do with being shown the design before anyone could see the script and full functionality of the vehicle in the film or in the script, combined with how big most Rebel Fighter toys are and how much you can charge for them. But I digress.)   The figure pilot is a good one - as a figure.  In terms of awesomeness it's not bad, but if you compare the toy head which looks a lot like a doll version of actor Diego Luna to the box photo which really looks like him, it doesn't hold up as well.   If you look at it, though, with its big and wide eyes you'd probably say "Hey, it's that guy from the trailer whose name I don't know yet" or "Is that Bret McKenzie?"

I kid, but it's pretty good.   The hair looks good, the expression isn't bad, and the skin tone is far less pale than other figures in this line so far.  Since Diego Luna isn't a pale white dude, this is a good thing - but it's not uncommon for action figures of any and every race to be slightly lighter than their real-life counterparts.   His hands have a little overspray on the wrists - unintentional shades of Kenner ca. 1980-1982 (see: Lobots) - with a great pose that's very much like those original action figures.  He has a working holster and has no problems standing, sitting, or fitting in the ample seating area of this vessel.  Hasbro even added an elastic seat belt to hold him in place.  He has 5 joints, nice and skinny and perfect, giving you a nice shot at a real modern take on a "vintage" Kenner figure.  Heck, I'd say that's a theme of the line - the 3 3/4-inch figures and vehicles all seem to owe a lot more to the 1980s.

Cassian's jacket has a nice yellow stripe with a silver rank pin, a light brown shirt, tan pants, a working holster, and brown boots.   The face has big white eyes - perhaps too big - with a brown beard that seems about as well as the factory could paint this kind of scruff at this size.  In other words, it isn't perfect.  It's good, though.  This isn't to say it couldn't be better, but I quite like it and I love that Hasbro molded the jacket to his body rather than making it a separate, removable piece.  It looks better and feels much more sturdy.

I know you're already down on the ship, and odds are you're going to grouse before you buy it on sale if at all.  I've found the Nerf dart launcher to be hidden away, no more obtrusive than a battery compartment cover on a vintage toy.   Two rings store the darts on board, which is nice.  The wings swing out nicely, as do all four kickstands for the landing skids.  Assembly was kind of a pain, but it was quick with no labels to apply.   The swinging wings are a little flexible, but there are "shelves" on the body to prevent them from sagging over time.  Whoever designed this - my most sincere thanks for this feature.  Sagging wings on X-Wings can be a problem, so seeing prevention engineered in the ship means a lot to me as a long-term toy collector.

While having a cargo hold, a trooper container, or a bigger cockpit for two would be nice, vehicles have to make adjustments just to fit within the price point.  I bet it could be cheaper if they left out the figure and the launcher, but you'll be glad to know Hasbro didn't skimp on the quality of the plastic.  The windows are nice and clear, with the plastic looking as lovely as ever - not waxy like The Force Awakens' X-wing fighters last year.   I assume fans will hope that Cassian is sold separately, because taking (what I assume is) a fairly important character and making it a pack-in with an expensive vehicle seems like a tough sell for many fans.   Maybe he'll get a helmet later - or maybe this is it.   Either way, it's a nice figure and I like the U-wing itself enough to say you should get it if it's on sale for $40 or less, and even at regular price it's not bad given what inflation gets you in 2016.   It's good.  It may not be totally accurate, but if you're a fan of toys-as-toys it's neat.

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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,282: October 1, 2016

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,281: Sergeant Jyn Erso (Rogue One)

SERGRANT JYN ERSO (Eadu)
Rogue One   Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. B7072 No. B7275
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Projectile, launcher, blaster, breathing mask
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $7.99
Availability: September 2016
Appearances: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Bio: A highly skilled soldier in the Rebel Alliance, Jyn Erso is an impetuous, defiant warrior eager to bring the battle to the Empire.  Jyn has little patience for debated within Alliance High Command and often takes matters into her own hands. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

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

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: Here we are a year later, and Rogue One launches right now.  It's not a lot different from The Force Awakens other than there's less of it, and smarter case ratios, like doubling up on this one.  The packaging for Jyn Erso is just like the rest, basically The Force Awakens with its difficulty to read and complete and total lack of co-sells.  Each figure exists in a void, with no real information about the movie or the fact that it's a part of a greater collection.   As the packaging in the old days served as a marketing tool for the entire line, it seems a crying shame that giant warning labels, 4 languages of copy, and a giant graphic for an app I'll never download take up valuable real estate that probably won't help foster another generation of collectors.  There's no call to action or anything to make kids ask for that next figure.   In short - I hate it. I hope it works,  but it seems dark and murky and uninviting.

The figure itself?  Yeah, you'll want one.  It's not what I expected, but it's neat.  The vest is a separate rubbery piece which you can slide off, provided you remove her arms and head, so don't do that.   A blaster fits perfectly in either hand, which I should add are swivel-jointed.   That's right - seven points of articulation!  (But, so far, only on this specific figure.)  The breathing gear around her neck can be slid up and sort of fits around her face, which is pretty pale.  The paint job is adequate, but they're also doing more than older figures.  He's got a hat, goggles, lenses, eyes, lips, hair, and more painted - there's so much going on here that it opens the window to get more things wrong.   She has painted bandoliers, fingerless gloves, shoes, and more - the ambition was there. The factory did a pretty good job, too, but it's not perfect and I hope you get a good look at her in person before picking up yours.

Her small blaster is perfect, and the bigger gun is better than the "Combine" weapons last year.  It's basically a big bazooka which she can hold in her hand and fits well over her shoulder.  If you pose her right, she can even hold it and remain standing - that's no small feat!  Especially for such small feet.   I like it in the sense that it works well, and she can hold it while standing.   I'd also be very happy if they removed it to get the cost down to $5.99, but of course I would.  That's what matters to me.

The 6-inch figure had some coloring issues in the skin as well, so this one isn't worse.   If you get in real close you'll see where things aren't painted quite right, but most of it is done quite well and Hasbro is painting more things than we usually see on a costume at this size.   With The Force Awakens I felt a bit more compelled to say "This is great, buy it" but in this case we already know at least two more opportunities to get a Jyn this size are coming - maybe more - so I'd say you could probably wait.   I doubt we'll see this specific outfit again at this size, at least in the near future, so get her if you like the costume.   I'm not sure I love it - I like it - but the next version of Jyn Erso is sort of the action figure of your dreams.  Assuming you dream of 1980, and I do.   I'd say if you see this version of Jyn Erso this week, and you've got a few bucks, snag one.  I don't think I like it as much as the debut Rey last year, but it's not like I think I even saw this outfit prior to the toy anyway.


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

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,281: September 30, 2016

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,280: Captain Phasma (The Black Series 3 3/4-Inch)

CAPTAIN PHASMA The Force Awakens
The Force Awakens   The Black Series - Walmart Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. B4054 No. B7758
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.96
Availability: May 2016
Appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Bio: Clad in a distinctive metallic armor, Captain Phasma commands the First Order's legion of troopers. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: And here's one you won't see - she always seems to go first.  Captain Phasma came out as a basic figure, an Armor Up figure at Toys R Us, part of an Amazon set, and you've probably had your fill of that figure - so here's the new better one.   She has 26 points of articulation which, somehow, became the bare minimum for a super-articulated trooper.  There are no double-jointed elbows or knees but they are the classic ball-ish movement we've all accepted as normal, and they all work quite well.  She stands just fine, was painted well, and can hold her weapon.  It's a good one... but it doesn't so much more than that.

This figure hits the important notes - nice plastic cape, good blaster, decent deco, and Hasbro goes above and beyond the call of duty by ensuring she has a good silver paint job, at least on parts.  Some are molded in silver.  The match is largely good, so you may not immediately notice some are swirly silver and some are cleanly painted.  I'd rather it be consistent, but it still looks pretty good.

This is the go-to 3 3/4-inch Phasma.  I assume you'll see another one some day - maybe even a reissue - but if her outfit doesn't change I assume Hasbro won't or can't do much to improve on it.  It'd be interesting if they did, of course.  As it stands the sculpt doesn't seem to improve too much on previous iterations, it just adds more articulation while keeping that wonderful thigh-plug to store the blaster.  It's good!   It won't surprise you, but it delivers what you've come to expect from this size around this price point.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Walmart thanks to help from a pal.  Be back Friday as we kick off the Rogue One line.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,280: September 28, 2016

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,279: Han Solo (The Black Series 3 3/4-Inch)

HAN SOLO The Force Awakens
The Force Awakens   The Black Series - Walmart Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. B4054 No. B7759
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.96
Availability: May 2016
Appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Bio: Though Han Solo has seen much in his long, checkered career, nothing compares to the abominable threat of the First Order's latest weapon.  In a foolhardy mission to save the galaxy, Solo races to the heavily fortified Starkiller Base. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: This is another weird choice.  Han Solo in his new snow parka - not Hoth Gear, but certainly very blue - and Hasbro did a great job making it.   Why you'd make a super-articulated Han and not have it be in his primary costume that fans saw in the marketing and in the majority of the movie is beyond me, but Hasbro did a pretty good job providing a decent Harrison Ford likeness on a body with excellent hip articulation.   The paint job is acceptable, the eyes and smirk are decorated in a way that says "this whole is stupid, are you dumb kids done yet?" with hair that shows a bit of a struggle to replicate the color in the movie.  It's not greying - it's more snowed-on.  Mr. Ford's new toy looks more like a redhead who got hit with artificial snow.   On the bright side, when looked at under the right lighting and angles, it captures his likeness better than most figures from the past four decades.  That's a tough thing to do.

Articulation is really good - bend-and-swivel wrists let him hold his gun at all sorts of angles, or fish it out of the working holster.   The parka is nicely wrinkly, as are the pants, and so are the gloves.   Everything looks lived-in, but not too much.   He has some visible silver detailing, but on the whole the costume part doesn't need a heck of a lot of paint to look good as much of it is molded in color.   Painted elements are coated evenly and thick enough so that you can't see a lot of bare plastic shining through, and I appreciate that a great deal.   This is a figure capable of assuming some great poses, and in many respects may be one of Hasbro's better overall Han Solo toys.

His blaster is black, painted with silver scuffing via dots and a brown grip. It's gorgeous.  It goes in a brown rubbery holster, as is the style at the time.   While the Leia from this set is an argument to go back to 5-jointed figures permanently, this Han Solo's creation makes me wish we'd see more super-articulated guys.  I guess no mater what nothing will be perfect - but this is one of the better figures from The Force Awakens in any Hasbro scale.   I hope they carry forward with more like this, even the regular Han outfit and hopefully Luke and vested Leia, because they're good.   Maybe you won't be wowed - frankly, I don't think Hasbro is going to do anything to knock your socks off since we've seen thousands of figures and the price point has restrictions - but this is a figure you should buy when you see it.  He seems to be hanging around more lately, which is a shame as it's one of the better ones.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Walmart thanks to help from a pal.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,279: September 27, 2016

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,278: Princess Leia Organa (The Black Series 3 3/4-Inch)

PRINCESS LEIA ORGANA The Force Awakens
The Force Awakens   The Black Series - Walmart Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. B4054 No. B7760
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.96
Availability: May 2016
Appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Bio: Despite all that she has endured and lost in a lifetime of war, Princess Leia Organa continues to shine as a beacon of hope for the loyal soldiers of the Resistance under her command. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: While not the most memorable outfit she wore in The Force Awakens, this Princess Leia Organa figure retains her rank of royalty and is dressed accordingly.   Sadly, the figure was an exclusive and a late release in the line instead of something you could get at launch.  Seriously, Han, Luke, and Leia would probably have brought more people into the fold faster.   This movie-ending outfit wasn't where Leia did most of her memorable stuff, so I'm hoping we'll get the vested Leia later, but I am guessing it might be a little while.  I hope I'm wrong.

The figure isn't bad, but it's a strong argument for the figure appearing in the main line.  Why do her as a $13 exclusive when her legs and waist are almost completely restricted?  The long plastic gown looks nice, but isn't a great looking toy.  Why include cloth soft goods when their use is completely restricted?   The super-articulated knees and ankles serve no real purpose, nor do the swivel hip joints, nor does the ab joint.  The ball-jointed shoulders, elbows, and swivel wrists are nice - but there's no accessory, either.  Hasbro clearly put a lot of work into a figure that could have been made more cheaply and you wouldn't notice the difference.  Back in the 1990s, fans would refer to a design such as this as a "salt and pepper shaker" figure.

Thankfully, the sculpt is good - the head is nice, the hair is good, the dress is decent enough, but the eyebrow deco doesn't do her any favors and at this size, the face is a little lumpier than it should be.  She looks better on screen than the figure makes her out to be, but the figure does one thing well that most Leia toys can't do.  She can stand!  The gown does wonders to keep her upright.    Since she can't sit, I'm not sure what to say here.  She meets the criteria of what most collectors of this size consider necessary, but the design prevents you from enjoying those benefits - it merely allows you to pay for them.   I hope Hasbro does a super-articulated version of the "General" outfit (or any at all), as this one was decent enough.  I look forward to something even more awesome.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Walmart thanks to help from a pal.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,278: September 22, 2016

Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,277: First Order Stormtrooper (The Black Series 3 3/4-Inch)

FIRST ORDER STORMTROOPER Super Articulated
The Force Awakens   The Black Series - Walmart Exclusive
Item No.: Asst. B4054 No. B4056
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: 2 blasters
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $12.96
Availability: December 2015
Appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Bio: Equipped with sleek armor and powerful weapons, the Stormtroopers enforce the will of the First Order. (Taken from the figure's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary: A later release for The Force Awakens, this First Order Stormtrooper adds all the articulation you'd expect with a paint job that would be wonky for the 1990s.   The sculpt and articulation are fantastic, and the paint is as sloppy as it gets.  I've bought a lot of figures, and I can say without a doubt that this has the worst paint job of any trooper figure.   The band on the forehead doesn't quite seem to be placed right above the lenses, there are numerous black smudges and streaks, the white paint on the belt isn't thick enough, and yet people continue to tell me this was the superior figure.  I don't get it.  I would like to agree with those who love it, but really, you're just being apologists.  Maybe you lucked into a good one, but even the best ones are still not as great as they could be.

Another 26 joint wonder, this Stormtrooper can do things like stand, sit, put both hands on his blaster, and plug his two blasters into his thigh - just not at the same time.   The figure has more paint than the 3 3/4-inch counterpart in the main line, as he has a little more detail on the chest armor and the more accurate hands with white on the fingers.  The black horizontal line across the back of the hand doesn't seem to be true to the movie, though, so if anything Hasbro could probably reissues this figure with better paint - and a few fixes - and it'd be the best one.  As it is, it's just OK.

Some of the white plastic already feels to be slightly discolored, but that might depend on the light in your room.   Some more black paint on the helmet would help, as the eyes and mouth should be connected with more black paint.   Hasbro also gave this release black soles on his boots, which the regular cheaper version lacks.  In short, neither version is truly superior.  Each has its pros and cons, and I'd say we should all hope Hasbro has an opportunity to redo it for the next sequel.  

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Walmart thanks to help from a pal.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,277: September 21, 2016