The Rebel Trooper from Hoth was released in the Spring of 2020 on special Kenner inspired vintage cardbacks to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back. This sub-line of the 6 inch Star Wars Black Series started in 2017 with the 40th Anniversary of A New Hope, and the 2020 line continues the design with a number of new characters and figures on these gorgeous vintage cards. The Hoth Trooper is part of Wave 2 which also includes the Tie Fighter Pilot, Lando Calrissian, Luke Snowtrooper Pilot and R2-D2 Dagobah.
Packaging 5/5
Like the 2017 releases for the 40th Anniversary of A New Hope, these new Empire Strikes Back figures come on a vintage inspired blister card - complete with original Kenner logo.
The card art remains the same as the original 1980's releases with the same card image of the trooper from Hoth, the same orange name plate and figure backdrop and the same red Empire Strikes Back Logo. Even the 4+ safety sign appeared on the original, although this new version has been changed to a circular design rather than plain text. The only new addition is a foil "40th Anniversary" logo in the top right next to the offset punched hole.
The card back is also a replication of the 1980's versions, with the other figures from the wave displayed in varying character specific colour boxes. Beneath this is the 40th Anniversary text which is generic to all card backs. There is no character unique text.
"Commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back with figures from The Black Series, featuring classic design and packaging"
The only downside of a card of this nature is damage, particularly if these are bought from physical stores rather than specialist retailers. Even fresh out of the case there is a slight bend on the card.
Paint & Sculpt 5/5
Out of the box we have a very impressive face print sculpt for the Trooper, using the face print technology. The figure is not specifically designed around an actor, but looks to be based on the Trooper we see in the film in front of the Radar Laser Cannon - the same screen grab used on the cardback, albeit reversed.
The costume does not appear to re-use anything from previous Hoth figures of Luke or Han and is again very faithful to the unnamed trooper from the cardback. The figure uses an off white for the coat with texture of the jacket built into the sculpt. It has some component parts sculpted onto the chest - including the grenades and rank badge, both neatly painted in silver. Further decor includes the insignia on the right shoulder and communicator on the wrist. Gloves and boots are also painted, with very crisp precision and no obvious errors.
The Hoth Rebel Trooper features a first for the Star Wars Black Series. While we have had alternative head options before, this release features alternative face pieces. It is a very clever idea which we will look at further on under accessories. But essentially there is a 2nd face hiding in an almost secret compartment of the figures backpack.
To allow these to be swapped the cap pops off, and then the face unclips from the head. The new face is then inserted and the cap placed back in place - leaving no obvious seam or indiction the head is in fact in three parts.
This second face sculpt is the same as the first to allow Hasbro to cast them all the same, but it has facial hair added which changes the look considerably - and that is a dream come true for army builders as we will see shortly.
Accessories 5/5
The accessory set on the Hoth Trooper is pretty in depth when you break it all down. We start with the backpack, which comes fitted to the figure but unclips by means of a plug and socket on the centre of the figures back. Two flexible straps at the side of the figures stomach give the illusion of a strap for the backpack without actually holding it in position.
The backpack is sculpted with good detail and painted neatly. As we have seen a hidden compartment on the rear pops open to allow the spare face to be stored inside. I find it strange that this feature is not advertised anywhere on the package. While most Black Series collectors will follow Hasbro news coverage, or social media and news sites (like ourselves), I bet there will be people out there who end up owning this figure - oblivious to what it can do?
The 2nd part, the scarf, is packed separate in the box - and again it is not immediately clear what it is for or how to use it. This is a rubbery cast piece that is designed to slot under the head piece. The head pops off for this to be positioned and the scarf can be positioned either way up.
Positioned lower down it is a scarf round the neck, positioned upwards it becomes a face mask.The fit is pretty good, but it doesn't always sit neatly against the V of the jacket neck. It also can crease when the head is turned.
We also get a pair of goggles. These are white framed with a translucent green visor that remains partially see through. They are fitted with black elastic - and if this release has a downside, the elastic is it. Mine snapped straight off the bat, and I had to glue the seam together. It also stretches and loses elasticity far too soon. From just a handful of poses to do this review, my goggle strap has gone slack and no longer holds its position.
What this all means for army builders is that the faces, scarf and goggles can be configured in numerous ways to give you a variation in your Hoth Rebel Troops. There are 15 different looks made up across the two faces and combinations of scarf and goggles. This is still the same two faces, and actually the same face when the mouth covering is used as the only difference between the two is the beard.
This is real innovation for the line, and opens up huge possibilities for future army building figures and sets, even alternative expressions of the same face could be included where the character design allows.
Our Trooper is also armed, with two weapon options, starting with the DH-17 Blaster. We've had this weapon a few times before including the Death Squad Commander from the A New Hope Anniversary figures as well as Lando and the Rebel Fleet Trooper.
The blaster has great detail but no paint apps. It can be held securely in the figures right hand only. And when not in use it slots into a holster on the figures right hip.
Weapon number two is new to the line, the A280 Blaster Rifle. The detail on this is less defined and mine had a bit of a stress mark in the plastic between main body and barrel. The fin at the end of the barrel is a bit large and the barrel itself a little warped.
This again fits into the right hand, with the left hand specifically shaped to cradle the rifle body for two handed infantry poses. The left hand is quite stiff and needs some teasing to slot onto the rifle. Warming it up will help.
The choice of accessory and customizable options on this figure are way beyond anything we've had before in a single figure release at sub £20. And therefore it is hard to criticize a bit of paint missing on the guns. I would however add it would have been really awesome for the figure to have included the macrobinoculars, a key part of that scene as they spot the walkers. It feels ungrateful to add this my review, but would have elevated a superb release a little further.
Articulation 5/5
Our Hoth Trooper is fully articulated with a total of 19 points of articulation.
Head : ball joint neck, ball joint neck base
Body : ball joint waist
Arms : ball joint shoulders, butterfly shoulders, single joint rotating elbows, wrist pivot
Legs : ball joint hips, thigh swivel, single joint rotating knees, ankle rockers
He includes the new neck joint where the ugly pivot has gone and instead we have two joints top and bottom of the neck to aid head movement. He also gets the relatively new butterfly shoulders that allow his arms to pull round and in further than normal for some two handed weapon posing.
Arms are fully mobile, as is the waist joint giving the figure some lean and ab crunch options. The legs are quite stiff and held back slightly at the hips and thigh by the lower skirt of the coat. The ankle rockers are tight and the figure stands perfectly well in a number of poses.
And for anyone who did wonder... the Hoth Trooper can sit on the 2014 Tauntaun release, giving another option for army-building (if we had Tauntauns to spare).
Summary
This new Hoth Rebel Soldier release really goes back to the roots of the Black Series with its depth of accessories and options. It also innovates with the various configurations of the head and brings new options into the line with the first ever swap out face part.
It delivers all this alongside a great sculpt, crisp paintwork and a level of articulation that is also improved on the norm by the addition of the revised neck joints and butterfly hips.
Yes, the weapons would have been nicer with a touch of paint. And the inclusion of the macrobinoculars would have set this set off nicely. But these are very very minor points in the grand scheme of a figure that remains sub £20 at most retailers and offers arguably the best value for money to date in the line.
I score the Star Wars Black Series Empire Strikes Back 40th Anniversary Hoth Rebel Trooper top marks of 5 out of 5.
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...
action figures, reviews, review, articulation, star wars, hasbro, black series, 40th anniversary, the empire strikes back, vintage card, kenner, hoth, rebel, trooper