Imperial Forces (Bossk/IG-88/Snowtrooper) - TVC - Special Action Figure Sets

Added: July 26th 2011
Category: Vintage Collection, The
Reviewer: Paul Harrison
Score:

Name: Imperial Forces (Bossk/IG-88/Snowtrooper)
Collection: The Vintage Collection
Number: N/A (Target Exclusive)
Source: The Empire Strikes Back
Availability: July 2011
License: Hasbro

Review_ImperialForcesTVC001 Review_ImperialForcesTVC002 Review_ImperialForcesTVC003 Review_ImperialForcesTVC004
Review_ImperialForcesTVC005 Review_ImperialForcesTVC006 Review_ImperialForcesTVC007 Review_ImperialForcesTVC008
Review_ImperialForcesTVC009 Review_ImperialForcesTVC010 Review_ImperialForcesTVC011 Review_ImperialForcesTVC012
Review_ImperialForcesTVC013 Review_ImperialForcesTVC014 Review_ImperialForcesTVC015 Review_ImperialForcesTVC016
Review_ImperialForcesTVC017 Review_ImperialForcesTVC018 Review_ImperialForcesTVC019 Review_ImperialForcesTVC020
Review_ImperialForcesTVC021 Review_ImperialForcesTVC022 Review_ImperialForcesTVC023 Review_ImperialForcesTVC024
Review_ImperialForcesTVC025 Review_ImperialForcesTVC026 Review_ImperialForcesTVC027 Review_ImperialForcesTVC028
Review_ImperialForcesTVC029 Review_ImperialForcesTVC030 Review_ImperialForcesTVC031 Review_ImperialForcesTVC032
Review_ImperialForcesTVC033 Review_ImperialForcesTVC034 Review_ImperialForcesTVC035 Review_ImperialForcesTVC036
Review_ImperialForcesTVC037 Review_ImperialForcesTVC038 Review_ImperialForcesTVC039 Review_ImperialForcesTVC040
Review_ImperialForcesTVC041 Review_ImperialForcesTVC042 Review_ImperialForcesTVC043 Review_ImperialForcesTVC044
Review_ImperialForcesTVC045 Review_ImperialForcesTVC046 Review_ImperialForcesTVC047 Review_ImperialForcesTVC048
Review_ImperialForcesTVC049 Review_ImperialForcesTVC050 Review_ImperialForcesTVC051 Review_ImperialForcesTVC052
Review_ImperialForcesTVC053 Review_ImperialForcesTVC054 Review_ImperialForcesTVC055 Review_ImperialForcesTVC056
Review_ImperialForcesTVC057 Review_ImperialForcesTVC058 Review_ImperialForcesTVC059 Review_ImperialForcesTVC060

These two bounty hunters and a snowtrooper present ominous threats against the Rebel Alliance.

Deciding what multipacks to purchase from the second wave of the Target-exclusive Special Action Figure Sets should be an easy choice for all collectors. If you love everything “Kenner,” then sets like the Imperial Forces pack is a no-brainer. If you don’t like repurchasing figures with slight paint variances or even no notable differences at all again and again, then this is a set to skip. Admittedly, the Imperial Forces set is the most interesting to us, but the root of that affection is directly related to the bounty hunters. All three Star Wars characters included here were excellent when Hasbro first released them in the second wave of “Vintage” The Saga Collection vintage Kenner-styled figures (also known as VTSC). However, just like another Special Action Figure Set, this one also has one character out of place, the Snowtrooper. Or the bounty hunters are both out of place since it’s an Imperial Forces set. (Does “Imperial Forces” mean “affiliates of the Empire”? Whatever the reason, we have a hodgepodge of characters here. Typically, most Star Wars fans love bounty hunters, and this set has both bounty hunters and a popular troop builder. What else is there to love? While we love this Special Action Figure Set, we hope that Hasbro gets to the rest before we wamnt a full modern collection of these multipacks.

Bossk is a straight repack of 2010’s Star Wars [Shadow Of The Dark Side] Bossk (SL01) figure, which itself is a slight repaint of the original 2007 VTSC Bossk (Bounty Hunter) figure. Bossk has the same coloring, shading, accessories, and articulation and holds up flawlessly for a 2007 figure. Hasbro significantly raised their action figure standards in 2006 and beyond, so it makes sense why figures from this time and after still hold up remarkably well today. The only noticeable difference we can see on the Special Action Figure Set version of Bossk is that the eyes look brighter orange. But this difference is negligible. Bossk is a fantastic action figure whose “character” truly represents why The Empire Strikes Back is an engaging and dedicated film. IG-88 is also a straight repack of the 2010 Star Wars [Shadow Of The Dark Side] IG-88 (SL02) figure, which, just like Bossk, is a slight repaint of 2007’s VTSC IG-88 (Bounty Hunter) figure. Another gorgeously perfect figure, this assassin droid is the ideal complement to any collection and sets a precedent with a stunning 26 points of articulation. (The question you need to ask yourself is if you need to repurchase this bounty hunter, and that’s a question only you can answer. Another exciting aspect of the Imperial Forces set is the Snowtrooper, and hopefully, you’re not rolling your eyes.

This character has more variations than we can count, but the version in this set looks identical to the 2010 Star Wars [Shadow Of The Dark Side] Snowtrooper (SL23) figure. (Hasbro went through at least three unique paint jobs for this figure in the 2010 Saga Legends line alone. But there is also a bit of homage paying here as well. Hasbro has included a secondary DLT-20A blaster with the Snowtrooper. Why is this special? Well, it may seem like it’s just another weapon. Still, you may recall that the 1980 ESB Imperial Stormtrooper (Hoth Battle Gear) figure came with a long rifle, similar to the one included with the 1980 IG-88 (Bounty Hunter) action figure. The modern iteration of the Snowtrooper figure in this set comes with a similar “long rifle” again but in a contemporary take. They weren’t identical weapons in the vintage line but similar enough. So we have the super-articulated Snowtrooper packed with a “long rifle” for the first time. We thought that was an extraordinary way to pay homage or add nostalgia to make collectors smile. The Imperial Forces set is a fine addition to The Vintage Collection, but it isn’t something you need if you already have these figures. After all, a critical portion of the experience collecting this line is all about the packaging.

Collector Notes

Imperial Forces (Bossk/IG-88/Snowtrooper)

Assortment Number: 34277/32976

UPC: 653569622550

Retail: $19.99 USD

Market Value: Click here to check the latest prices based on Click here to check the market value on eBay! listings.

Bossk

Status: Bossk is a straight repack of 2010's SW [SOTDS] Bossk (SL01) figure which is a slight repaint of 2007's VTSC Bossk (Bounty Hunter) figure.

Articulation Count: 23 points (14 areas of articulation)

Articulation Details: ball-socket head (1), ball-jointed left shoulder (2), ball-jointed right shoulder (2), ball-jointed left elbow (2), ball-jointed right elbow (2), swivel left forearm (1), swivel right forearm (1), ball-jointed torso (2), swivel left hip (1), swivel right hip (1), ball-jointed left knee (2), ball-jointed right knee (2), ball-jointed left ankle (2), ball-jointed right ankle (2)

Accessory Count: 2

Accessory Details: removable collar, blaster rifle (grenade launcher)

Date Stamp: 2007

IG-88

Status: IG-88 is a straight repack of 2010's SW [SOTDS] IG-88 (SL02) figure which is a slight repaint of 2007's VTSC IG-88 (Bounty Hunter) figure.

Articulation Count: 26 points (20 areas of articulation)

Articulation Details: swivel head section (1), swivel neck (1), swivel left shoulder (1), swivel right shoulder (1), swivel left bicep (1), swivel right bicep (1), ball-jointed left elbow (2), ball-jointed right elbow (2), hinge-jointed torso (1), swivel waist (1), swivel left hip (1), swivel right hip (1), swivel left thigh (1), swivel right thigh (1), swivel left thigh armor (1), swivel right thigh armor (1), ball-jointed left knee (2), ball-jointed right knee (2), ball-jointed left ankle (2), ball-jointed right ankle (2)

Accessory Count: 4

Accessory Details: DLT-20A blaster, E-11 blaster, vibro blade, removable bandolier

Date Stamp: 2007

Snowtrooper

Status: Snowtrooper is a straight repack of 2010's SW [SOTDS] Snowtrooper (SL23) figure which is a repaint of 2007's VTSC Imperial Stormtrooper (Hoth Battle Gear) figure.

Articulation Count: 23 points (14 areas of articulation)

Articulation Details: ball-socket head (1), ball-jointed left shoulder (2), ball-jointed right shoulder (2), ball-jointed left elbow (2), ball-jointed right elbow (2), swivel left DLT-20A blasterwrist (1), swivel right wrist (1), ball-jointed waist (2), swivel left hip (1), swivel right hip (1), ball-jointed left knee (2), ball-jointed right knee (2), ball-jointed left ankle (2), ball-jointed right ankle (2)

Accessory Count: 4

Accessory Details: removable helmet, removable backpack, E-11 blaster, DLT-20A blaster

Date Stamp: 2007





The Vintage Collection Special Action Figure Sets

Android Set (See-Threepio (C-3PO)/Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2)/Chewbacca)

Droid Set (R5-D4/Death Star Droid/Power Droid)

Hero Set (Luke X-Wing Pilot/Ben Kenobi/Han Solo)

Hoth Rebels (Han Solo/Hoth Rebel Trooper/FX-7)/Bespin Alliance (Bespin Wing Guard/Lando Calrissian/Luke Skywalker (Bespin Fatigues)/Imperial Set (4-LOM/AT-AT Driver/Imperial TIE Fighter Pilot)

Imperial Forces (Bossk/IG-88/Snowtrooper)

Imperial Set (Imperial Commander/Dengar (Bounty Hunter)/AT-AT Driver)

Rebel Set (2-1B/Leia (Hoth Outfit)/Rebel Commander)

Villain Set (Sand People/Boba Fett/Snaggletooth)

Villain Set (Stormtrooper/Darth Vader/Death Squad Commander)



This review comes from Jedi Temple Archives
www.JediTempleArchives.com

The URL for this review is:
http://www.jeditemplearchives.com/content/modules.php?name=JReviews&rop=showcontent&id=794