Death Star Trooper

June 14, 2009 | By More


Star Wars®, Star Wars Action Figures®, Death Star Trooper®, Action Figure Review

The first twelve Star Wars Figures. That’s where this fellow harkens back to. You’d have to ask yourself why this guy got made when back when. Why? Easy, two words. Cannon fodder. There was this great Death Star Playset out, and nobody to fill it. You wouldn’t want to have Darth Vader at the computer consoles, would you?
And the stormtroopers had guard duty. Hasbro filled the void with guy. He was an “army builder” before we had the term.

This same concept would come along in Cobra’s army as well in theinitial GI Joe offerings (Cobra Commander, Officer, Trooper just like Vader, Trooper, Stormtrooper.)

Whymake him now? Well, for the same reason really. Today, more than ever, folks are looking for army builders. If you’re going to build a Death Star diorama or just display a number of troops in front of the Emperor and your shuttle, you need members of the Imperial Army/Navy.

Being an Imperial troop, we have seen surprisingly little of this guy over the years. The original and a very odd POTF2 version.

Appearance:

I have to say a couple of things about the package. One, I thought it was slick that Hasbro used the original DS Trooper card image on the back of this guy. Two, dude looks like he has to pee on the card. His legs are in the blister at a funny angle and it looks goofy for a such a sinister looking figure.

Now, on to the good stuff. Overall, the Death Star Trooper looks good. He’s a bit more menacing looking than some of the Imperials have been over the years. Gloves, boots, and holster are all there. His generic face looks like a real person not a generic sculpt.

I have to say though, that at certain angles, he looks a bit more like Dark Helmet from Spaceballs, than a Death Star Trooper. His helmet appears to be a bit large for my tastes. Although, I have to say there is so little in the way of reference material to look at for this guy, it could be right.

He’s got a seventies haircut under that helmet. The face reminds me a bit of Jack Bristow from Alias. I really expected a hat or headset under the helmet but there isn’t one.

The texture on his chest and back is pretty rough. If it was in scale, it’d look like corduroy. I’m not saying I want completely smooth figures, but the cloth is just a little overdone here.

This figure has one other thing that makes him a bit funny to me. His knees and elbows appear to be a bit puffed up. Maybe he wants to be the pirate.

The color is another thing where there isn’t a lot of reference. Looking at the pic on the back of the card, to mehis uniform should be grey. Could this be something right in original line, and not in the new stuff? Or is it another Han Solo Hoth coat issue, where not all the reference matches? (There may have been some of these guys in the detention block scene in black, now that I think about it.)

Fun:

There is plenty of articulation in this guy. No matter what display you are putting him in you should be able to get a pose that suits you. As long as it’s a standing position. Because of his jacket, he can’t sit. I need to add I noticed in the pictures that his ankles look a a little odd due to the articulation. That’s just the trade off, though.

I love the fact he has a removable helmet. I can make new Ewok drums if I want to now. Other that the helmet, he comes with the standard coin and a standard Imperial blaster. I have to say this one reminds me quite a bit of my old “Three position Laser Rifle.” That riffle tucks neatly into his holster, if you put it in with the handle facing the front. So apparently, all Imperial are left handed.

Overall:

Overall this a great improvement on a classic figure. He’s not the straight arms and legs stance of the original, and he’s not in the goofy dance pose of the POTF version.

If your looking for a great army builder, this guys should fit the bill. I would imagine there are few customizers who wouldn’t mind getting there hands on another generic Imperial as well.

Engineernerd Score: 85/100

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Star Wars®, Star Wars Action Figures®, Death Star Trooper®, Action Figure Review

Star Wars®, Star Wars Action Figures®, Death Star Trooper®, Action Figure Review

Star Wars®, Star Wars Action Figures®, Death Star Trooper®, Action Figure Review

Star Wars®, Star Wars Action Figures®, Death Star Trooper®, Action Figure ReviewStar Wars®, Star Wars Action Figures®, Death Star Trooper®, Action Figure ReviewStar Wars®, Star Wars Action Figures®, Death Star Trooper®, Action Figure Review

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