Review – Super Shogun Stormtrooper
Super7 (website, Twitter) made a lot of Star Wars geeks extremely happy last year when they announced this 24-inch tall Star Wars/Shogun Warriors mash-up. As soon as the toy was put up for pre-orders I jumped on it because I thought for sure it would sellout almost instantly. Imagine how shocked I am to say that the toy is still available at Amazon*. Oh well, that’s a good thing since it means that this review — going up almost a year after I got the toy — isn’t for an impossible to find toy. If you love what you see here you can still get one.
If you’re willing to spend the $300 on it.
Insanely Massive!
24-inches is stupidly huge for a toy, and this Super Shogun Stormtrooper does not disappoint when it comes to bulk. I shot these photos in the living room because the toy is just too damned big for my light tent; I wish I could have snapped this guy on a plain background but when a toy is too big for a 20-inch light tent it kinda demonstrates just how insanely massive it is when you’re forced to take pics in a completely different part of the house. And even though it’s so large it’s not all that heavy; the toy is hollow but still quite durable.
Super Shogun?
Inspired by the Shogun Warriors of the seventies, of which I have little hands-on experience, you’re best peek at the inspiration of this toy has to be this review at CollectionDX where the Super Shogun Stormtrooper is photographed with several toys that inspired its design. The review has tons of pics of the packaging and is recommended if you want a closer look at what’s sure to me a memorable, well-loved toy once the run completely sells out.
Articulation
Almost none to speak of. The arms swivel at the shoulders, the head rotates completely around, and the wrists swivel, but that’s it. Those old Shogun Warriors toys weren’t about articulation — they were all about MASS — and this toy follows its ancient inspiration. I suppose the firing fist — the left hand is spring-loaded and shoots off — could count as another point of articulation, but all it really is is a very silly feature that lets you blast other toys with a massive Stormtrooper fist. So it’s fun, but technically not a point of articulation.
Paint
There’s very little in the way of painted details, with most of the toy cast in the white plastic. This review at Figures.com shows some tight shots of the painted details, but basically where the toy was painted the factory put care into the work . . . which is to be expected when they’re working on a $300 toy. This may not be a 100% movie accurate Stormtrooper, but it’s a 1000% excellent work of art that’s pretty much a giant, kinda poseable Stormtrooper statue. Super7 deserves thanks for taking such a risk on a giant and unusual collectible.
Closing Thoughts
$300 is a lot to pay for anything, even a toy, and the Super Shogun Stormtrooper is very much worth the money if you’re an insane Stormtrooper fan. It’s got wheels so you can roll it around — the dogs and cats here at home hate it when I do that — it’s got a removable rifle and a firing fist, and it’s the largest Stormtrooper toy I’ve ever held. Seeing as how the run is still available (word is it was limited to 1,200 pieces) I suspect we’re not likely to see more of these made, and that makes me think that there will come a day when this is very much in demand. The fact that it’s really fun to play with, and makes an awesome display piece, just makes it even more likely that this is destined to me a spectacular prize in any Stormtrooper fan’s collection.
When the Boba Fett teaser was seen on the packaging my first thought was that I would skip buying the Fett in this line, but if Super7 is only going to release one of these every year or two then Fett may also have to be snagged when he’s announced. If he’s announced; I worry that this toy turned out just to be too big and expensive a project for him to ever get a companion. And if so that makes it even more likely that there will be a day when people will visit the house and be absolutely stunned that I own a Super Shogun Stormtrooper.
About one year after the toy arrived at my house I’m still extremely happy with my purchase. It’s seriously a very fun toy.
Philip Reed should get all of his Stormtrooper collectibles into one place and take a photo. But then he’d show just what a huge geek he is . . . and no one needs photographic proof of that, right?
Awesome stuff!
Thanks for the review Phil!
Maybe someday I’ll nab one…
I can;t see myself droppin that much cash for it, but it is one helluvan impressive toy. Thanks for the review!