Saturday, September 1, 2018

Action Figure Review: Stormtrooper (with Blast Accessories) from Star Wars: The Black Series Phase III by Hasbro

  Like Captain Phasma (Quicksilver Baton), the Stormtrooper (with Blast Accessories) is another figure from Star Wars: The Black Series that appeared internationally before Hasbro ever even officially announced it. Unlike Phasma, the Stormtrooper doesn't have a planned US release. I picked this guy up at the same time I picked up Phasma and I'll be checking him out today. This is an interesting release as he seems to be Hasbro's attempt at a more deluxe figure that is released with some larger accessories. It feels like some sort of attempt to mix together the standard Black Series line with the Centerpiece Series. That could have worked but this figure ended up being a bit plane. Let's check out this Stormtrooper after the break...



 The Facts:

Height: 6 1/8ths 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:  BlasTech E-11 blaster rifle, energy blast, 2-piece stand, and 2 explosion effects.

Non-Scalper Price: $40 dollars

 Comparison:

* Stormtroopers are the bread and butter of army building in the Star Wars universe and Hasbro has released lots of them in multiple colors. Of course, this guy will mostly be compared to the standard Stormtrooper release (in the center) and the battle damaged Stormtrooper from the 2015 Amazon 4-pack (on the right). This one is a bit more scene specific but the battle damage looks better. Otherwise, he's pretty much exactly the same with a bit stronger feeling plastic.
 The Positives:


* Again, if you've seen the standard Stormtrooper you know what to expect here. If not, definitely check out that review. The only real difference between the previous figures and this guy are the blaster marks on his helmet, chest, and right shoulder. The paint work does look pretty decent on these so I'd consider that a plus. At least you're getting something a bit different for your money.


 * Of course the Stormtrooper comes with the BlasTech E-11 blaster rifle, as that's the main weapon for the Imperials. It's the same as the version that has come with most other releases and it's still a decent sculpt. 

* One thing I really like about this figure is the inclusion of the blast effect. It easily fits over the end of the E-11 and gives the weapon the effect of firing. It might not be 100% screen accurate but it's quite cool and it reminds me of the blast effects and Force effects from the Attack of the Clones line.

* Included here is something that really should be included with every figure in the Black Series: A display stand. It's actually made from two pieces (I'll get to that in a minute) and it features two pegs along with clips so multiple stands can clip together. Of course, since this is the only figure to have a stand, why does it matter if they clip together?


* The stand is actually reversible. The top side has the Star Wars logo while the bottom side looks like the flooring of the Death Star. It's a cool feature to have this reversible and it is definitely something I didn't notice right away.

 * Here's one of the more unusual accessories to come out of the Black Series: A random explosion. Molded in a translucent orange plastic with red and black effects this is a large explosion that can sit on the ground or on top of  a vehicle, I presume, so that you can pretend there is some chaos going on in your displays.

* The second explosion is a bit smaller but features the same effect as it also has different colors and a translucent paint effect. They kind of remind me of the explosions from the Centerpiece series statues but from what I can tell they are not the same pieces. Interesting.
 The Negatives:

* Considering we've seen so many Star Wars figures come with weapons with some weathering on the weapons and some paint applications, it's odd that a figure really designed to be an accessory pack has such a plain blaster.


* The idea of the explosion effects is cool but other than just having them positioned on the ground or on a flat surface they're kind of lifeless. They're a bit to too small to look natural just standing alone
   I like the concept of this release more than the actual release itself.  It's cool that Hasbro may be willing to consider releasing figures with larger accessories and more stuff at different price points but this guy is just a Stormtrooper re-deco with some fairly lackluster extras. I like the stand, but why only have one deluxe figure come with a basic looking stand? The explosions are cool in theory but they're kind of small. What is the intention? This guy is definitely an Eh and a 1/2 figure. Unless you're a completest on this line or obsessed with Stormtroopers, it's kind of an easy pass.

 
   Besides the basic Black Series Stormtrooper I've also reviewed the battle damaged Stormtrooper from the Amazon 4-pack, and the Crimson Stormtrooper from the Entertainment Earth 4-pack. I've also reviewed the Hero Mashers Stormtrooper, the Vintage Collection's TK-421, three of the Rebels sets with Stormtroopers (Garazeb "Zeb" Orrelios and Stormtrooper, Sabine Wren and Stormtrooper, and  Stormtrooper Commander and Hera Syndulla), the Micro Machines Ice Planet Hoth playset with a Stormtrooper microfigure, and the Stormtrooper Mini Head.


For more figures from Star Wars: The Black Series, 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
Ahsoka Tano 
AT-AT Pilot 
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
Dewback/ Sandtrooper
Director Krennic 
DJ (Canto Bight)
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
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 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) 
Lando Calrissian (Solo)
Lando Calrissian (The Empire Strikes Back)
Luke Skywalker 
Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master) 
Luke Skywalker (Jedi Master)- Ahch-To Island
Maz Kanata 
Obi-Wan Kenobi (Force Spirit)
Obi-Wan Kenobi (SDCC 2016)
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 Organa 
Qi'ra (Corellia)
Qui-Gon Jinn
R2-A3, R5-K6, and R2-F2
Range Trooper
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)
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 
Supreme Leader Snoke (Throne Room)
Tusken Raider 
X-34 Landspeeder & Luke Skywalker (SDCC Exclusive) 
X-Wing Pilot Asty 

5 comments:

  1. YES, the explosions are hollow on the bottom! I can just stick my tiny lights right in them, rather than lighting them from behind like I do with the Tamashii Effects.

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  2. This is another one that's high on my want list right now. I dub thee Tom the Dead Stormtrooper.

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    1. Hopefully he'll end up somewhere in the US as an exclusive. Maybe the Disney Store, as that seems to be an upcoming trend with these. He's not the best figure due to the price but if the price drops a bit for the US release he's a cool concept.

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    2. I definitely want at least one. An Imperial casualty for battle scenes and some cool explosions.

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    3. Do you have the Stormtrooper from the Amazon 4-pack set? It's fairly similar and quite a bit cheaper.

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