Stormtrooper (Prototype Edition) - RC - Basic (Exclusive)

This stormtrooper figure is inspired by the colorful prototypes that enable the development team to look past the deco and focus on the sculpt, analyze mold alignment, and adjust for quality.

After the third “Prototype Edition” release, you know the basis for these Target exclusive action figures. Hasbro’s designers use the leftover plastics that make our action figures and cast samples to analyze the details of the sculpt, the alignment where the two halves come together to review any other quality control issues that may arise during the action figure process. But collectors beg to differ that Hasbro ever used rainbow-colored parts to assemble these action figures for the quality control measures. Regardless, Hasbro decided to do the same for the Stormtrooper as they did with the Darth Vader (Prototype Edition) figure and Boba Fett (Prototype Edition) figure. And once again, the approach is made with a few variances this time. There is debate on how many Darth Vader (Prototype Edition) variations exist. But both the Stormtrooper (Prototype Edition) and Boba Fett (Prototype Edition) only have six permutations each, making it a more straightforward job to collect them all. Essentially, if you gather one of each color head/body, you’ll have all of the variations produced of the Stormtrooper (Prototype Edition) action figure.

Another Target exclusive, the Stormtrooper (Prototype Edition) figure, is an easy cash grab. Star Wars collectors hate trying to secure Target exclusives. The pre-order process is almost nonexistent, and begging your local red shirt to go to the back stockroom to see if they can find the item you’re looking for with the trusty DPCI number is hit or miss. And some clerks are rude. With Hasbro producing less Star Wars action figure volume than ever before, distribution for store exclusives is spotty. As of this figure’s review. The supply chain is in complete chaos, almost natural disaster-like, due to a reduction in the workforce. Also, the store reports are inconsistent and varied. Someone in California will find them the day someone in New York does. And then some areas never see these things. Despite the impossible chore of buying Star Wars action figures, Star Wars collectors should expect to go through a routine like it’s Groundhog Day until the line ends. This is our lot in life. We’ve been made to suffer. That said, the Stormtrooper (Prototype Edition) figure shouldn’t bring you many surprises. If you have the others, you know what to expect here.

The Stormtrooper (Prototype Edition) action figure has six different colors across six parts: head/torso, left arm, right arm, left leg, right leg, and blaster. Hasbro returned to the same approach of adding colorful accessories as they did with the Darth Vader (Prototype Edition) figure. If you recall, Boba Fett (Prototype Edition) came with a black blaster. But each version of the Stormtrooper (Prototype Edition) figure has a differently colored blaster, as it’s the sixth color used for this release. Stormtrooper (Prototype Edition) is a repaint of 2019’s RC Stormtrooper figure, which differs from 1978’s SW Stormtrooper figure. The tooling is different as you expect, but that’s nothing new here. Although many collectors have complained about another rainbow-colored action figure, it’s proving to be a challenging action figure to acquire. Are collectors secretly collecting these things? Target online shows that many stores don’t carry the figure, and then others have said that, and the stock magically appears later. Whatever your decision is on this figure, Hasbro seems to have made their point with this gimmicky exclusive. Should we expect any more of these in the future?