Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,344: Imperial Death Trooper (Rogue One Line Look)

IMPERIAL DEATH TROOPER The First Single Non-Exclusive One
Rogue One   Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. B7072 No. C1369
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, claw weapon, removable harness, belt
Action Feature: Recoiling claw
Retail: $7.99
Availability: January 2017
Appearances: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Bio: Encased in specialized stormtrooper armor with a dark, ominous gleam, Death Troopers are the elite soldiers of Imperial Intelligence and serve as bodyguards and enforcers for Director Krennic.  (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: There are at least four flavors of the 3 3/4-inch Imperial Death Trooper so far - I need to review more of them.   Three of them are five-jointed affairs, like this one.  Hasbro did a nice job here - it's not the exact same sculpt as the 2-pack version, but it's close.  It adds a new big weapon and unlike the rest of the line, Hasbro expertly tooled this one so he can stand while holding it and not fall over.  It's not precariously balanced either - he's been standing on my desk for several minutes as I type and seems to have no problems as I punch the desk and otherwise act like a brat.

The tall trooper is built very similar to the others, with long limbs and legs that swing forward without a fight.  It's great!  It's shiny and black, with deco that's good - but not necessarily perfect.  The bright green "tubes" on the helmet look great here and are brighter than The Black Series Walmart release.   The lenses and silver snaps are brighter, so in many respects this is a better looking - but not posing - figure.  He has no problems standing, sitting, holding his guns, and getting taken down by Baze Malbus.

The smaller rifle is similar to other rifles, but it lacks the paint (red dot) of its more expensive peers.   It's nice, though, it looks OK but in one hand it does come off as a bit silly.  Also silly, a giant claw weapon with retractable string that is clearly inspired by the small rifle - most of the design comes from enlarging and remixing pieces of the smaller weapon, so it's very Star Warsy.  Hasbro did a bang-up job making something that is a big and goofy toy, but dammit, it belongs.   The mechanism doesn't lock once you pull the string out, so it's a wonky toy.  Functionally it does what it's supposed to do, but as we've described here earlier the inability to "lock" it sort of negates a lot of the fun.  It auto-retracts and you can't use it for a trap or set up a cool camera shot or something.  At least it looks neat.

Between the 2-pack with Pao, the gift set from Kohl's, and the Walmart figure, you've probably got enough Death Troopers.  Then again, there were 6 in the movie and they're all a little different, so it's like building an army without having actual duplicates.  I rather like that.   If the whims hit you - and opportunity is there - get this one.  The only knock against it is that the buckles under his harness aren't painted - the 2-pack version has painted buckles, so they can't all be perfect.  It's close though!
Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,344: February 15, 2017