Review: Star Wars Black Series George Lucas Stormtrooper Disguise, Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary Exclusive
- Mephitsu
- 5 minutes ago
- 5 min read
"One thing about 'Star Wars' that I'm really proud of is that it expands the imagination."
In 2021, Lucasfilm celebrated its 50th Anniversary, and to mark that event, Hasbro released a number of Star Wars Black Series figures that marked particular eras of Star Wars. These included Kenner repainted figures on classic cards such as Greedo and the Jawa, Publishing releases from Star Wars comics and novels, and figures from the live action and animated content on classic inspired packaging like POTF2 and from The Clone Wars. Despite the 50th Anniversary being 2021 in terms of dating, the line did continue forward, and in 2022, Hasbro released a final figure under the 50th Anniversary banner celebrating the creator of Star Wars, George Lucas.
George has had a number of figure releases in the past, all in the 3.75-inch Star Wars line, including as an X-Wing Pilot (Jorg Sacul), as Baron Papanoida based on his cameo in Revenge of the Sith, and as a Stormtrooper in the Saga Collection. It is from this latter release that the Black Series version takes inspiration, recreating George as an Imperial Stormtrooper from the Original Trilogy, complete with a removable helmet. The figure is given a Kenner-esque retro cardback, using the original Star Wars logo for A New Hope and the tramline design. Even the artwork of the Stormtrooper and the red of the backing card and name plate are consistent with the original 1977 release from Kenner. In fact, the only real variation on the card front from those 70s and 80s cards is the use of the golden Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary logo. This is then repeated on the cardback along with the timeline we’ve seen on all the other releases and a short piece of text that focuses on the Lucasfilm history. Interestingly, and different to other 50th Anniversary Lucasfilm figures, space is turned over to a picture of George - albeit alongside a Sandtrooper - and some background text referencing George's accomplishment in film.
As a carded figure, George is primarily designed to be displayed mint-in-packaging. If it is opened, the box and blister are damaged to some degree, and there is no repack option as we get on the boxed Black Series releases. George utilises the newer Imperial Stormtrooper body that has been in circulation since 2020, when it debuted alongside the start of the Phase 4 Galaxy Collection packaging.
This incorporates cast gloss white armoured pieces, connected at the jointed sections by black joints that replicate the combat suit underneath the armour, completed with a ribbed finish. That minimises paintwork overall with just a few spots of black on the stomach section and again on the canister on the rear belt. There is also some overpainting of black on parts like the forearms, where the black undersuit continues onto what would be a cast white section.
The headsculpt, new for this figure (and at the time of writing never used elsewhere), features that iconic look for George, probably circa him making the Prequel movies, with his now trademark grey silver beard and hair c,omplete with front fringe swept up and back away from his forehead. Facial printing picks out the eyes and adds some more subtle shading and colour around the nose and the mouth. It is recogniseable as Lucas, particularly front on, but perhaps looses some of that likeness transplanted as it is onto a Stormtrooper body that does not have the same overall build.
The figure comes with a Stormtrooper helmet that is wearable, cast in the same gloss white plastic but with a small amount of flexibility to aid it going on over George’s head which is a snug fit particularly getting it over the front of his quiff. The helmet has black painted visor and upper trim along the brow ridge. The cheek, nose and mouth vents are also painted black with silver down the nose section and to either side of the mouth piece. A final pair of vents on the ridge, either side of the mouth, are painted in blue.
George comes with a base E-11 Stormtrooper Blaster, cast in grey black plastic with sufficient component detail on the sculpt but no paint work. There is no holster option on this newer Stormtrooper, so the weapon can only be held and only in the right hand, with the left able to cradle the barrel.
Articulation, as it was on the base figure, is all pinless and built into and around the armour, ensuring the overall look of the figure remains unbroken across most posed positions. There are 21 points of articulation, including butterfly shoulders under the hinged pauldrons to aid arm movement and in particular two handed firing positions with the blaster. The knees have scope to bend and kneel, while the ankle rockers are stable once posed, keeping George in check with more dynamic running poses available with the use of a support stand (not included).
The figure does suffer slightly from transplanting a new head onto an existing body, and therefore it doesn’t quite feel like George in terms of build and even the head, while a good likeness, can look out of place from certain angles. Head aside, this is a run-of-the-mill Stormtrooper with the improved body, wide-ranging articulation, and with a solitary blaster as an accessory. I wonder here if the figure could have played even further on George Lucas’s role here for display, including a Directors clapper-board or clipboard for him to hold to really lean into who he is.
As a release, this is one of just a few figures that mark the creative minds behind Star Wars. Alongside Georg,e we also have a figure of Dave Filoni as Trapper Wolf from his brief role in The Mandalorian. And from the Mandoverse, a figure of Jon Favreau unmasked in the Paz Viszla armour, a character he voices. George can now join this group of Star Wars creators, carded or uncarded, or can even simply be recruited into your Stormtrooper forces with you as the collector, knowing that beneath that row of helmets on display, George Lucas is making a 6-inch scaled cameo.
Keep Track of all the Star Wars Black Series figures from Hasbro at our comprehensive
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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...