Review – Star Wars Black Stormtrooper

Hasbro’s 6-inch scale Star Wars Black Series Stormtrooper* is getting just a little easier to locate in stores these days. The toy shown in the pics here was bought at an Austin area Walmart a few weeks ago; hey, I actually found Star Wars Black at a Walmart! Trust me, that’s not at all common at the Walmarts in this area.

We Meet Again, Sandtrooper Tooling

Last year I shared pics of the 6-inch scale Sandtrooper action figure (pics posted here), and not surprisingly this 6-inch scale Star Wars Black Stormtrooper* has a lot in common with that first wave action figure. The only significant difference — besides the clean look and change in accessories — is that the left knee of the toy sports a different sculpt and the ab armor sculpt is slightly different. These are minor detail difference, but these show Hasbro is paying attention to their source material and working to make their toys as accurate to the films as possible.

So How Is It?

By now the hardcore 6-inch scale action figure fans who collect Star Wars toys have no doubt formed their own opinions of the Star Wars Black Stormtrooper*, but for the rest of you I can say that the figure is a strange mix of wonderful and disappointing. The sculpt is accurate and great, but the articulation choices really leave me feeling like the toy could have been better than it is.

The greatest issue I have with the articulation is that — like the Sandtrooper — the balance and poseability of the toy is limited. This is a fairly common problem with armored characters, but for reasons I cannot explain this figure design seems to suffer more than other armored action figures. The figure looks awkward in many poses — as perfectly illustrated in the kneeling pose shown at the review at ThEpic Review blog — and despite the number of points of articulation the toy feels stiff and wooden when posing it.

Warpy, Bendy, Scary

Another complaint I have with the Star Wars Black Stormtrooper* is that the knees — double-hinge joints — are really bendy and rubbery. Both knees were stiff at first, but once I managed to pop the frozen state of the joints things got soft and mushy. ThEpic Review writes:

“. . . I’m still a little bit annoyed by how soft they make the knee and elbow pieces. Once again, I’m not concerned that they’re going to tear, but they’re just a little too wiggly.”

It Truly Is A Great Sculpt

My articulation/plastic complaints aside, I cannot say enough kind words about the Star Wars Black Stormtrooper* sculpt. There’s no doubt this is an Imperial Stormtrooper from the classic Star Wars trilogy, and once I got this guy posed nicely on the shelf he popped out as perfect. It’s as good as I could have hoped for in the sculpting department and really fits in nicely with any collection of Stormtrooper toys and statues.

Closing Thoughts

I’m so torn on the Star Wars Black Stormtrooper* that I’m not sure if I recommend this or suggest that you pass it by. I think I’m leaning to recommend — that sculpt really is amazing — but more as an “adult collectible” than as an actual toy item. I can see where the classic 1978 Kenner Stormtrooper action figure is far more playable and enjoyable for kids because that toy didn’t have issues standing easily, and I once again beg the toymakers to think about playability of toys when they’re designing these.