In Summer 2020, Hasbro moved to a Phase 4 packaging for their Star Wars Black Series figures, entitled the Galaxy Collection. This new design moved away from a fully uniform look for the series and introduced accent colours for each movie or show within the Star Wars Universe. The Galaxy Collection launched with two full waves - a Rebels wave with a number of repacked figures, and Wave 1 of the new Collection made up of 7 figures from across the Star Wars Saga. In this review we look at the new Imperial Stormtrooper from the first wave.
Packaging 4.0
The new Galaxy Collection packaging uses the same footprint dimensions as the previous Phase 3 boxes, although the window section is reduced and the right hand side is cut in at an angle. The base colour of the box remains black, with the Black Series logo on the top rail above the figure window. Each part of the Saga has been given an accent colour, and for The Mandalorian figures we have a deep, almost rusty, brown tone. The brown colour is used as a border under the window where the movie is named, and again as text for the character name which is listed as "Imperial Stormtrooper".
Troopers from the Mandalorian era are arguably Remnant Stormtroopers but I suspect that name is being held for a weathered and dirty version of this in the future. This trooper was modelled on the Rogue One troopers but since it was announced as a Rogue One release it was switched to sit in The Mandalorian era of the Galaxy Collection.
This angled panel on the right is used for an illustration of the character. This is done in a grey scale with the orange/brown accent colour applied as a glow at the base of the image. The Stormtrooper is shown cradling his blaster in the panel. There are no discernable details above the Stormtroopers head with a mountain range and what could be a moon or planet. Each art panel in a collection lines up with the next figure in the line to create a larger montage. When you begin to look how this works in practice then it will take up a bit more room as the figures have to be angled to create the wider panel. However, the logic of the side panel is more evident when figures are displayed side on where both the figure and the art are on display.
The brown band wraps round the other box side and angles upward and round to the back. It is here we still get a numbering system for the figures - now specific by movie or series. The Imperial Stormtrooper is number #02 in the Mandalorian range. The back of the box also carries the short background text. The background text relates the trooper to the Empire, and does not mention the downfall of the Empire or the Remnant factions that we find in The Mandalorian.
"Stormtroopers are elite shock troops fanatically loyal to the Empire and impossible to sway from the Imperial cause. They wear imposing white armor, which offers a wide range of survival equipment"
Due to the angles used for the box, there is a significant amount of tape in use which does look unsightly although they have avoided use on the front and the art panel. The figure is accessed via the top or bottom flaps - the bottom being a little easier to get at with less tape used.
The figure sits in an inner tray as normal, but now the outer window is part of this inner piece and is not attached to the box. This is most likely to assist in recycling of the packaging. The cardboard backing card is quite a dull grey and this is uniform on all figures. I wonder what it would have looked like if the accent colour was used as the backdrop?
Paint & Sculpt 4.0
This is a brand new Imperial Stormtrooper figure, based on the costumes and armour built for Rogue One, used in Solo and now being used in The Mandalorian. Starting with the helmet, and this is not a solid piece but rather this new approach from Hasbro of putting a helmet over a head sculpt underneath. This can leave to warping of the helmet, depending how its fixed in the factory. My review figure is not too bad - but I have seen some pretty horrible examples of this figure. The helmet looks to be proportioned well enough with the black rim and visors, nose piece and breather. The grey panels are painted on the forehead rim and the cheek with the blue lines applied neatly on the rounded base of the helmet.
The armour is now cast as individual pieces and they are all in a very high gloss white. This means a very limited need for any paint on the figure other than the black detail on the stomach section. The benefit though is very crisp lines and definition between black and white and no issues with overpainting as was seen on the early version of this figure from 2014.
Proportionally it looks a good match to the Rogue One troopers. I did think the chest piece was too slim to start with, but looking at reference photos the dimensions look to be spot on. The chest also looks less defined in the way it is shaped, but again a lot of this lies in the Rogue One design that the figure is then replicated.
The original Stormtrooper was released in 2014 and had was based on the Original Trilogy Troopers. It had some articulation issues and also suffered from some paint issues around the joints where white had to be applied over black plastic to match the armour panels.
The new helmet is smaller, as is the chest piece which is narrowed at the neck. The belt piece is changed to the newer Rogue One format and the holster is lost completely.
Looking at the two figures side by side, they do look very different - as though two companies produced them. I am not sure whether I would display these two side by side and each manages to show discrepancies in the other.
Accessories 4.0
The Imperial Stormtrooper comes with a single weapon, an E-11 Blaster Rifle. This is a new piece, cast in black plastic. It too is based on the Rogue One props with a larger stock piece on the side and a smaller second scope to the side of the barrel. While they are black on screen, there is some detail that would have been enhanced with a brush of silver or similar.
It fits into either hand, with both hands designed with a trigger finger that then slots into the trigger. The other hand can be used to cup the barrel. With the holster removed on the new figure, there is no options for holstering the blaster.
Considering this figure is being marketed as a Stormtrooper from The Mandalorian, I would have liked to have seen some other weapons included to give some differing options.
Articulation 4.5
The main selling point of this new Imperial Stormtrooper is its vastly improved set of articulation, with a total of 19 points of articulation across the body.
Head : neck base ball joint, neck top ball joint
Body : torso ball joint
Upper Arms : hinged pauldron, butterfly shoulders, ball joint shoulders
Lower Arms : single rotating elbow, wrist pivot
Legs : ball joint hips, single rotating knees, ankle rockers
While the elbows are downgraded to a single joint, they are designed so that they still bend well past 90 degrees while being easier on the eye than than the double joints. The arms are fully mobile thanks to the addition of the shoulder butterfly joints as well as a joint in the shoulder pauldron which allows it to move independently but in tandem with the arm as its raised and posed. These can look a little odd in some poses, but you can work with and round them to get the pose you need.
The legs are great, with the Stormtrooper having the ability to kneel, sit or stand in a number of poses. All the joints are secure and tight with no looseness present. The only issue I could find was that the chest armour - being a seperate piece - can ride up and then opens up a gap in the torso with some poses.
Summary
There is an element, in my opinion, that we as Black Series collectors have become very used to the proportions and design of the original Imperial Stormtrooper and initially in hand, this new version does not look quite right. Once you've played and posed with it a while then you will, I think, learn to appreciate the design and the features Hasbro have improved vs the original version - assuming you get an upwarped helmet.
This is very much the Rogue One / Solo Stormtrooper and I do find it a little odd it is badged as a Mandalorian release, even the packaging illustration and text alludes to a Stormtrooper at the height of the Empire. We now know this figure will be turned round as a Remnant repaint figure in the next few months which is a better fit for The Mandalorian - but in its clean and crisp execution this would have worked so well to launch the Galaxy Collection Rogue One series.
I score the new Galaxy Collection Imperial Stormtrooper a total of 4.0
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, black series, the mandalorian, imperial, stormtrooper, remnant