Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 2,535: Imperial Patrol Trooper (Solo: A Star Wars Story line look)

IMPERIAL PATROL TROOPER Debut
Solo: A Star Wars Story Force Link 2.0 6-Figure Gift Set - Target Exclusive
Item No.:   No. E2827
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: n/a
Includes: Blaster, 5 more figures
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $44.99
Availability: September 2018
Appearances: Solo: A Star Wars Story

Bio: From gleaming cities to the muddy terrain of Mimban, Imperial forces protect and serve the Empire.  Their versatile training and equipment allows for them to be employed in a wide variety of environments against Rebel forces and others disloyal to the aims of the Empire.   (Taken from the set's packaging.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Commentary:  I was hoping we'd see the boxy bike, but at least we got the Imperial Patrol Trooper figure.  It's good!  I like the look, which mashed up a ton of troopers.  The legs look kind of like the Scarif Troopers and Tank Pilots from Rogue One.  Also the Mimban infantry.   The arms look like a primitive version of the Biker Scout's, with chunky angled armor and a lot of visible black body glove.  The helmet is a modified Stormtrooper design with green lenses and that forehead visor we saw on Scarif and Jedha (and the Mimban Stormtroopers.)

Articulation is pretty good - it looks like if we had a bike, he may be able to sit on it like the old Biker Scout on the 1983 Speeder Bike.  The legs swing forward rather well, and the wrists rotate.  You get 7 points of articulation with an itty bitty blaster, which he holds with two fingers.   I'm glad he has a good grip on it, unlike certain K-2SOs I could name.

The figure even looks cool from behind - the backpack has a lot of sculpted detail, plus the kinds of straps and buckles you want on your bike troopers.  He feels a lot more like a design out of the Return of the Jedi school, and it feels like an alternate take of classic Star Wars.  Had Kenner sold you a similar figure in 1985, you'd say "of course this is legit Star Wars."  The design is a great one, and it fits right in.  It's also from a movie you probably didn't see.   The designs were wonderful, and I'm very fond of this trooper.  I hope we see more between now and the time Hasbro pulls the plug on the scale because kids moved on from toys and are either on their smart phones or working for SETI@home in their spare time.  That's what kids do, right?

Force Link 2.0 Notes: "Halt!  Identify yourself!"   "I'm calling in for reenforcements." "We've identified criminals in the area."  Blast sounds. Screaming.  It's probably a Hasbro employee, but the filter and inflection are appropriate for a background trooper. I like it.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Target.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 2,535: November 20, 2018