Figure of the Day: Day 164: Rebel Fleet Trooper

REBEL FLEET TROOPER with Blaster Pistol and Rifle
Power of the Force Collection 1, 2
Item No.: Asst. 69570 No. 69696
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster pistol, blaster rifle, vest, Freeze Frame
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Summer 1997
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: The men and women serving the Alliance to Restore the Republic and its successor governments, the New Republic and Galactic Federation of Free Alliances, were dedicated to fighting for the freedom of the Galaxy. They were either from subjugated worlds or were Imperials disillusioned by the government's tyranny. Rebel forces were more individualistic and ragtag in contrast to the Imperial military. The Special Forces, or SpecForces, were a prominent part of the Rebel Alliance's ground forces, the Alliance Army. (Stolen from Wookieepedia.)

Image: The toy shelves of Adam Pawlus.

Commentary: Some figures aged well, but the poor Rebel Fleet Trooper didn't even start off well. The figure was taller than Darth Vader, was ridiculously beefy, and had the wrong color of pants-- but more on that later. With a non-removable helmet, the figure was initially quite exciting as it was another first-ever figure of a character we first saw in 1977. Still, six point of articulation and two good guns weren't enough to make this turkey an exciting figure, and it was one of many figures that caused fans to ask for a new version. It can sit all right, it looks OK, but when you get right down to it, it's a relic-- it's not a figure that you want as a fan, it's a collector's item and really isn't worth getting unless you choose to collect them all.

Collector's Notes: When first released, word of a variant came up that was yet another Internet Hoax-- someone forged a scan with "corrected" pants. Such a figure would never exist, until the Power of the Jedi resculpt was done correctly the first time in 2001. So we can't stress this enough: this is a crappy figure.

Day 164: October 17, 2006