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Introduction
The big movie season is starting this weekend with the release of Avengers, and Deadpool 2 is right around the corner. But for many, it's the newest Star Wars film that's fueling their summertime anticipation. Called Solo: A Star Wars Story, it steps us back in time to meet a young Han and a young-ish Chewie, providing some cinematic background on perhaps the most beloved of all Star Wars heroes.
There's lots of toys of course, and the 6" scale Star Wars Black series is including several new designs. I already checked out the young Han, but the new Range Trooper really caught my eye. It's been awhile since a Trooper design really stood out for me, and when I saw this guy on the peg it was an instant buy.
These are shipping now, although distribution is a bit spotty. I found mine at Target, where you'll pay around $20 each.
Packaging - ***
The box package is exactly what you'd expect, based on every past release. I've always appreciated the numbering on the side - although I'm forever forgetting which
ones I already have and which ones I need - and the pencil drawing style artwork on the lower front corner is a big plus. It's all collector friendly too, a feature
most mass market releases lack.
Sculpting - ****
I've always loved Troopers, as bad as they might be militarily. They've gotten better in that area in more recent movies, thank God. The costumes have always kicked
ass, however, with one of the most interesting armor designs ever to grace the big screen. There's a reason so many adults dress up like these troops.
There are a ton of variations of course, driven by the specific environments and duties of each. While I like them all, my personal favorite is the Snowtroopers, perhaps because I've lived half my life walking around in the damn frozen precipitation myself.
I have no idea what this new Range Trooper is going to be doing, but I fell in love with the design from the first time I saw it. Clearly he's an offshoot of a Snowtrooper, with the 'skirt', fur collar, and parka-like lower layers. But he's got some very cool mechanical boots too, and the sculpts on the footwear is amazing for the scale. There's a ton of small detail, and the textures imply different materials and layers.
The collar really is a different material, and going with a faux fur adds a ton of realism. They managed to find some that seems appropriate in scale and thickness too, and you can adjust it around his neck and shoulders based on the head position.
This Black Series is 1/12 scale, and this trooper is right at 6" tall. The left hand is sculpted in a general tight grip, while the right is a specific gun grip hand. With those big feet, he stands great on his own in just about any pose.
Paint - ***1/2
The armor comes with lots of wear and tear, including worn high spots and damage. The clothing and boots are not dirtied up though, making it look a bit unusual. That's
not too far off reality though - clothes get washed, but dings and scrapes on the hard metal are more likely to remain for some time.
While the detail work on the armor is good, I would have liked to see more on the legs and boots. The majority is all one shade, with just a little difference in back where there are black 'cogs'. This lack of paint detail allows too much of the cool sculpt to get lost.
Articulation - ***1/2
The neck is only so-so, but the ball does have some mobility. The rotating hinge shoulders, elbows, and wrists create decent arm poses, including a good two handed gun
pose. The sides of the body are cut out quite a bit to allow for better arm movement, but it can create a weird look in some stances.
There's not much torso movement, and the ball hips are restricted by the armor and skirt. The rotating hinge knees and ankles work well though, allowing for better movement than I was expecting, given the thick design of the legs.
Accessories - **
Unfortunately, he doesn't come with much. There's a blaster...and that's it. The blaster looks great, and it fits neatly in his sculpted hands, but the quantity of
accessories is pretty thin, even at a $20 price point.
Fun Factor - ***1/2
While he doesn't have a ton of extras and the armor is somewhat restrictive, he's still a pretty cool figure overall, and kids will have a lot of fun with him on the
Star Wars battlefield. He also makes for a great display figure, adding some visual interest to the massive group of troopers already there.
Value - **1/2
The usual price for a Star Wars Black series figure is $20 - $22, and while he doesn't have a ton of extras, he does have a very unique sculpt, making him worth the
price tag.
Things to Watch Out For -
Not a thing.
Overall - ***1/2
This is a very attractive design, at least to me. He's got some old school Trooper blended with mountain man, mixed up with some funky mech. It doesn't sound good on
paper, but they've pulled it together in a way that works for me.
Of course, it helps that the overall quality of both the sculpting and the paint work on the 6" Black series has really improved over the last year. I've been impressed with all the latest releases, and I suspect I may be covering some more of my favorites in the coming weeks.
Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ***
Sculpting - ****
Paint - ***1/2
Articulation - ***1/2
Accessories - **
Fun Factor - ***1/2
Value - **1/2
Overall - ***1/2
Where to Buy
Online options include these site sponsors:
- Entertainment Earth has him as a single for $22.
- or you can search ebay for a deal.
Related Links -
Other recent Star Wars Black series reviews include the new Han Solo, as well as the Sandtrooper
and Dewback.
You should also hit the Search Reviews page, in case any other applicable reviews were done after this one was published.
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This product was purchased for the review by the reviewer. Photos and text by Michael Crawford.