Figure of the Day: Day 885: Sandtrooper

SANDTROOPER Escape from Mos Eisley
30th Anniversary Collection Saga Legends
Item No.: Asst. 85770 No. 86830
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: White shoulder pauldron, blaster, backpack, detonator, prod, coin
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $6.99
Availability: Early 2008
Appearances: Star Wars

Bio: Jedi mind tricks often work on the weak-minded. Such is the case when a squad of sandtroopers asks Jedi Maser Obi-Wan Kenobi about the two droids that are with him in a landspeeder. Obi-Wan tricks them into concluding, "These aren't the droids we're looking for." (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: Fans demanded more Stormtroopers, and with this Sandtrooper Hasbro basically came through. The figure is based on the 2004 Vintage Original Trilogy Collection Stormtrooper, but features a removable "grenade", a shoulder pad, and a backpack. And some sort of prod. But aside from that, it's totally a basic run-of-the-mill super-articulated Stormtrooper, so it's a great figure to pick up if for no reason other than it's flexible. If you need either form of trooper, you're covered. Given the recent deluge of Stormtroopers and variants on that theme, this figure is a solid basic model to pick up for any army or collection you may be building. You can add all the dirt you might like, of course, which is a plus given how many fans out there seem to really hate battle damage. (Of course, just as many love it. So go figure.) Sadly, there's not much remarkable about this release-- it's one of many based on the mold, and one that it would be wonderful to see stay in circulation for a while. As a new one is coming in 2009, who knows, maybe this will be it. Oh, one downer-- like every figure to use this mold as of press time, the holster on the belt for the blaster really doesn't work particularly well. A pity, but what can you do?

Collector's Notes: As the final "Saga Legends" variant, this one was around for a while near the end. Thankfully, it's a good figure-- and one you can still probably get for a fair price. Buy six, do the Emperor proud.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 885: November 4, 2008