Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Action Figure Review: Imperial Jumptrooper from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase III by Hasbro

    Yesterday I was surprised by a package on my doorstep that arrived from GameStop. Opening it up I was pleased to find the Imperial Jumptrooper, a new GameStop exclusive Star Wars: The Black Series Phase III action figure. I preordered this sometime last year through GameStop's website and they're now shipping out and showing up in stores. Originally an Expanded Universe concept first appearing in the insanely fun Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back video game for Super Nintendo (that was a great series of games, wasn't it?) the Imperial Jumptroopers have entered into the New Canon through appearances in Star Wars: Commander and Star Wars Battlefront. This version is based off of the design seen in Star Wars: Rebels, however, which is a smart move. Rebels always had excellent character and trooper designs. While the Jumptrooper might not be a must have character, it is a very fun figure that's worth checking out. Let's see how high this guy flies after the break...



 The Facts:

Height: 6 inches

Articulation: Swivel/hinge, double hinged knees, swivel thighs, ball jointed hips, a ball jointed abdomen, swivel/hinge shoulders, swivel biceps, double hinged elbows, swivel/hinge wrists, a hinged neck, and a ball jointed head.



Accessories: E-11 blaster rifle, display stand, and jetpack.

Non-Scalper Price: $23 dollars
 Comparison:


* Hasbro has gotten their mileage from the basic Stormtrooper body and that's what is utilized again here for most of the Imperial Jumptrooper. The basic body is shared between the Jumptrooper on the left and the standard Stormtrooper on the right. The back is different, though, as there is a hole for the jetpack to plug into.
 The Positives:



* The Stormtrooper body is excellent, as usual, with the same sparse but crisp paint applications you'd expect. There's a bit more color here, though, and the orange details on the helmet and left shoulder pauldron really go a long ways to making this guy feel quite unique.

* I love the helmet design. It's kind of reminds me of a mix between the TIE Pilot and the AT-AT Pilot. The lens is one long piece, rather than being two separate eyes, and there are some nice orange and gray details on the helmet. The helmet has a "Mohawk" like the aforementioned troops although the Jumptrooper's is slimmer. The oxygen tubes running out of the helmet connect around to the jetpack on the back (which I'll cover shortly).

* The Jumptrooper is sporting an Imperial cog on both shoulders but the left should pauldron is notable for its bright orange color. Not only does it add a little bit of visual flair to break up the white and black but it's also reminiscent of the pauldrons sported by the Sandtroopers. The printing on both insignias is really extremely neat and clean!


* Here's a glimpse at the jetpack. It is removable from the back of the figure as it simply unplugs from the back of the figure and the tubes connected to the helmet unplug from the top of the jetpack. The tubes would just be hanging free, though, so there aren't that many display options to be had without the jetpack attached. Still, the pack is well designed. The paint applications are nice and the thrusters have some scorch marks on them.


 * The Jumptrooper's articulation is the same as nearly any other Stormtrooper in the line except the plastic quality on the joints, particularly the elbows and knees, is much more solid. This guy can hold up to some solid play, no doubt.

 * We've seen the E-11 so many times in this line, although you can't blame Hasbro since it is the default Imperial weapon. This version has some very heavy drybrush effects to give it a weathered appearance for that rugged look. Like always, it easily fits into the holster attached to the figure's belt.

* Interestingly this figure also comes with a translucent display stand. It's triangular, like a tortilla chip, and has a small wedge that the foot of a figure can be placed in. It's a little awkward but it does work. The Jumptrooper's boot is a little too wide to work as effectively as it probably should but it can still function. Personally, I'd love to see Hasbro include these with all upcoming figures.
   While the Imperial Jumptrooper might cost a dollar or two more than the average retail Star Wars: The Black Series figure due to GameStop's $22.99 price tag, the Jumptrooper is a really nice figure. The Stromtrooper body has been around the block more than once but it's still a well made base and Hasbro keeps improving the plastic quality. The helmet, color highlights, removable jetpack, and display stand do give this figure a lot of nice features. It's a Great and a 1/2 figure and well worth checking out. If you're a troop builder or a fan of Rebels, you'll probably enjoy having this guy around, if only to keep Boba Fett's ego in check.


This is the first Imperial Jumptrooper I've reviewed. For more Star Wars: The Black Series reviews check out the following:
442nd Siege Battalion Clone Trooper, 212th Attack Battalion Utapau Trooper, Coruscant Guard ---(Phase II), and 501st Legion Clone Trooper 4 pack
4-LOM
Admiral Ackbar and First Order Officer
Admiral Piett
Ahsoka Tano 
AT-AT Pilot 
Battle Droid
Baze Malbus
C-3PO
C-3PO (Resistance Base) 
Captain Cassian Andor (Eadu) 
Captain Phasma
Captain Phasma (Quicksilver Baton)
Captain Poe Dameron
Chewbacca (Target Exclusive)
Chewbacca (The Force Awakens)
Chirrut Imwe 
Clone Captain Rex (HasCon Exclusive)
Clone Commander Gree
Clone Commander Wolffe 
Constable Zuvio
Darth Revan 
Darth Vader (Emperor's Wrath)
Death Star Trooper
Dengar
Dewback/ Sandtrooper
Director Krennic 
DJ (Canto Bight)
Dryden Vos
Elite Praetorian Guard
Elite Praetorian Guard (with Heavy Blade)
Enfys Nest's Swoop Bike/ Enfys Nest
Finn (First Order Disguise)
Finn (FN-2187)
Finn (Jakku)
First Order Flametrooper
First Order General Hux
First Order Snowtrooper
First Order Snowtrooper Officer
First Order Special Forces TIE Fighter
First Order Stormtrooper
First Order Stormtrooper Executioner 
First Order Stormtrooper (with Gear)
First Order TIE Fighter Pilot
Gamorrean Guard
General Leia Organa
General Veers
Grand Admiral Thrawn (SDCC Exclusive)
Grand Moff Tarkin 
Guardians of Evil 4-Pack
Guavian Enforcer
Han Solo (Exogorth Escape)
Han Solo (Solo)
Han Solo (The Force Awakens)
Hera Syndulla
Imperial AT-ACT Driver
Imperial Death Trooper
Imperial Death Trooper, Captain Cassian Andor, and Sergeant Jyn Erso (Jedha) 3 pack
Imperial Hovertank Pilot 
Imperial Patrol Trooper
Imperial Shock Trooper 
Imperial Royal Guard 
Inferno Squad Agent
Jaina Solo (Legends)
Jango Fett
K-2SO
Kanan Jarrus
Kylo Ren 
Kylo Ren (SDCC 2016)
Kylo Ren (The Last Jedi) 
Kylo Ren (Starkiller Base)
Kylo Ren (Throne Room) 
L3-37
Lando Calrissian (Solo)
Lando Calrissian (The Empire Strikes Back)
Lando Calrissian (Skiff Guard)
Luke Skywalker 
Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master) 
Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master)- Ahch-To Island
Maz Kanata 
Moloch
Obi-Wan Kenobi (Force Spirit)
Obi-Wan Kenobi (SDCC 2016) 
Padme Amidala
Phase 1 Clone Trooper Commander, Phase II Clone Trooper, Imperial Stormtrooper, and First Order ---Stormtrooper Officer four pack
Poe Dameron
Poe Dameron and First Order Riot Control Stormtrooper
Porgs 
Princess Leia (Bespin Escape)
Princess Leia Organa 
Princess Leia Organa (Hoth)
Qi'ra (Corellia)
Qui-Gon Jinn
R2-A3, R5-K6, and R2-F2
Range Trooper
Rebel Trooper
Red Squadron (R2-D2, R5-D8, and R2-X2)
Resistance Tech Rose
Resistance Trooper
Rey (Island Journey)
Rey (Jakku) & BB-8 
Rey (Jedi Training)
Rey (Jedi Training)- Crait
Rey (Starkiller Base) 
Rey's Speeder (Jakku)
Rio Durant
Sabine Wren
Sandtrooper Sergeant, Crimson Stormtrooper, Lieutenant OXIXO, and R2-Q5
Scarif Stormtrooper
Scarif Stormtrooper Squad Leader 
Sergeant Jyn Erso (Eadu)
Sergeant Jyn Erso (Jedha)
Snowtrooper 
Stormtrooper (Mimban)
Stormtrooper (With Blast Accessories)
Supreme Leader Snoke (Throne Room)
Tobias Beckett
Tusken Raider 
Val (Vandor)
Vice Admiral Holdo
X-34 Landspeeder & Luke Skywalker (SDCC Exclusive) 
X-Wing Pilot Asty 
Zuckuss

6 comments:

  1. I was well pleased to actually find this guy for a decent price online.

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    Replies
    1. Glad you got him! He is quite cool. I'm glad the GameStop exclusives are fairly easy to come by.

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  2. Already grabbed two of these guys at my local GameStop. May get a third if I can.

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    Replies
    1. Nice! I've been seeing him pop up at a couple GameStops I hit frequently, so good luck!

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  3. Wahey. Mine finally arrived today (Maaaan, customs suuuuucks here. It's taking 2 months on average for a parcel to clear). He's really awesome. I gave him a spare DLT-20A and it suits him perfectly.

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    Replies
    1. Wow! That does take awhile. Sheesh. Glad you got him, though.

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