Imperial Patrol Trooper - TBS [P3] - Six Inch Figures (72)

As the Empire reinforces its hold on worlds across the galaxy, local defense forces are being supplemented - and eventually completely replaced – with Imperial Stormtroopers. To cover distances across sprawling settlements and cities, Patrol Stormtroopers police the streets and alleys aboard swift interceptor speeder bikes.

It’s quite a shame that Solo: A Star Wars Story didn’t meet box office expectations. For us, it was an entirely enjoyable movie. It had its share of annoyances, and some of the plot twists were dizzying. But generally speaking, the film delivered a solid plot with a denouement that left no doubt where the characters’ loyalties lied. Solo: A Star Wars Story also introduced us to familiar newness when it came to the Galactic Empire. One character, the Imperial Patrol Trooper, instantly became the “prequel” version of Return Of The Jedi’s Biker Scout. With more a likeness to an Imperial Stormtrooper in the helmet, the Imperial Patrol Trooper rode boxy vehicles that chased after Han Solo and company as they fled his homeworld of Corellia for bigger and better adventure. Hasbro didn’t make this character a priority for the inaugural launch of The Black Series [Phase III] 6” figures based on Solo: A Star Wars Story. In fact, the only Imperial Patrol Trooper released at the movie’s release was the Imperial Patrol Trooper 12-Inch Figure. It was a nice attempt of the character, but not part of any scale that most active Star Wars collectors were interested.

Next came the 5POA Force Link 2.0 figure from the TARGET exclusive “Imperial Forces” multipack. That figure is a great release as well, but collectors are into articulation and desperately waiting for a figure that could move as the characters did in the film. So here we are. The Black Series [Phase III] 6” Imperial Patrol Trooper (72) figure is now out in the market, and overall we’re happy to report it’s a very nice looking figure. However, it’s not free from issues. Let’s go over some of the figure’s negative aspects first. We’re not happy with the quality of the plastic. It feels solid, but the coloring has a "stained" quality. Specifically, our sample’s white plastic is infected with a pinkish hue, and we cannot figure out what’s causing it. Did some black paint drip into the white mix and somehow discolor it in some way? But that’s what looks like happened. The figure’s white plastic looks stained by some red or pink dye. It’s noticeable to the naked eye, and we find it to be a huge disappointment in the final figure. We’re not sure why Hasbro struggles to produce sterling bright white plastic for troopers that require this detail, but it’s been problematic in The Black Series [Phase III] 6” line since the red/black phase began in 2015.

We don’t have this character’s vehicle yet, and in our opinion, it would have been best to hold off this basic figure’s release and include it as the pack-in figure to the vehicle’s line instead. His vehicle is quite simple in design, and it would have been a practical and easy vehicle for Hasbro to produce to help pad the vehicle assortment a little more evenly. In our opinion it would have been more interesting than Enfy’s Nest Swoop Bike/Enfys Nest (05) set. Imperial Patrol Trooper is loaded with the standard articulation Hasbro works into their standard 6” figures. The joints are looser in some spots than others, but the figure can maintain poses rather easily. He comes with a blaster pistol that looks very much like the ones used by Biker Scouts during the Battle of Endor, and Hasbro designed his right hand in a way to interact with it beautifully. The Imperial Patrol Trooper has an excellent head sculpt by the way. Hasbro captured the spirit of the character magnificently, and we’re pleased with the figure. Aside from the discolored white plastic, we’d say that the Imperial Patrol Trooper is one of the better figures based on Solo: A Star Wars Story in The Black Series [Phase III] 6” figure line. You’re probably going to enjoy it too.