Stormtrooper - TBS [ROTJ40] - Six Inch Figures

When Hasbro released 2020’s TBS [P4] Imperial Stormtrooper (TM02) figure, everything changed. We had a new template for all Stormtrooper-related characters and additional re-releases of the standard Stormtroopers, like The Black Series [Return Of The Jedi 40] addition. Hasbro worked an incredible 30 points of articulation into the figure. They also added enhancements throughout the figure, like the double head joint. Not only does it come with a ball-socket head, but it also has a reversed ball-socket neck. Some refer to it as a barbell joint. The fluidity of the movement is fantastic, and you can tilt the head at every angle possible thanks to this ingenious design. The design of the helmet is equally impressive. Hasbro has come far with its tooling technology. The Stormtrooper shows collectors how exact they can be to capture every nuance and detail on the on-screen costume and apply it to a 6-inch action figure, along with unprecedented articulation.

Although not new for the Stormtroopers, the wonderfully installed “butterfly” joints work as well as ever and are necessary inclusions for these characters. They give an entire lateral movement of the shoulders. Hasbro combined this enhancement with updated ball-jointed shoulder joints, and the range of motion the figure achieves from these points is astounding. The enhanced ball-jointed articulation in the shoulders is also an incredible update here. The angles you can achieve in the elbows are unreal. Hasbro hasn’t ever had the success they do here with elbows. We hope they implement this in all new army-building figures, or at least the armored characters. The knees also have enhanced movement and move like they never could previously. You’re going to love what this figure offers. And it’s lovely to see the figure made available again and through the eyes of the Original Trilogy. Where the Imperial Stormtrooper falls short is with the accessories, but what else is new?

We all wondered if Hasbro would tweak this figure for a revised version of the Original Trilogy Imperial Stormtrooper, but they didn’t do anything. They’d have to change a couple of things and, of course, add the holster, but they ignored this important detail on this figure. So, it may be some time before we see a retooled version of this figure. We do have one complaint about the Stormtrooper. We don’t know why this happens across scales with these characters, but Hasbro must figure out why there are multiple shades of white across the many armored parts. The discoloration is subtle, but it’s present. And it affects the aesthetics of the figure. We won’t call the parts mismatched because, from afar, the Stormtrooper looks whole. But up close and visible in high-resolution photography, you can see how elements of pink, yellow, and gray pollute what should be pure white armor. If you want a screen-accurate Stormtrooper from the Original Trilogy, this one isn’t. But you might not want to waste time holding your breath, either.