Figure of the Day: Day 811: 501st Legion Trooper

501ST LEGION TROOPER Super Articulated
30th Anniversary Collection Saga Legends
Item No.: Asst. 87500 No. 87429
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, coin
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Early 2008
Appearances: Revenge of the Sith

Image: Adam Pawlus' TV tray.

Bio: These highly trained tactical ops clone troopers accompany Darth Vader on a mission to destroy the Jedi. Vader and the troopers storm the Jedi Temple and, with crack marksmanship and coordinated team maneuvers, quickly eliminate the Jedi inside. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Commentary: After years of broken promises, the 501st Legion Trooper finally saw release with super articulation in early 2008. A Saga Legends 501st Trooper on an identical package was sold in 2007, but was based on a different mold with different articulation. The one we're looking at today has 14 points of articulation, and a number of ball joints giving the figure the best range of movement you can hope for on a currently available member of the 501st. It also has the exact same paint job as the previously released one, so it may be tough to spot which is which since there are few distinctive characteristics. (Basically, look for a chin on a carded figure-- this one doesn't have a removable helmet.) There's not much to say about the mold that hasn't been already said, so thanks Hasbro for getting this one out at the last minute.

Collector's Notes: Originally shown to fans at Comic-Con 2005, this super-articulated figure took its time getting out. The clone took three years and two botched releases to make it to the shelves, which was probably for the best-- it's allowed Hasbro to make different versions of this particular trooper, which also sold really well. So from a business perspective, it made sense to push this back, but most signs point to a factory SNAFU as the result of the delay. Today, the figure can still be found in some stores because Hasbro shipped it at a very generous 3 per case, essentially a 25% chunk of a case. Lovely!

--Adam Pawlus

Day 811: July 25, 2008