Spacetrooper - LC - Basic (BD58)

Added: April 28th 2010
Category: Legacy Collection
Reviewer: Paul Harrison
Score:

Name: Spacetrooper
Collection: Legacy Collection
Number: BD58
Source: Expanded Universe (Heir To The Empire)
Availability: April 2010
License: Hasbro

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Spacetroopers are high-ranking Imperial commandos who wear powersuit armor designed for space combat. These Zero-G Assault Troopers are considered "walking tanks" because of the extensive weaponry built into their suits.

Spacetrooper is a testament to the fact of how large the Star Wars line has grown and how expanded it has become. If you’re a collector, you now need a qualifier at the end of the word “Spacetrooper” to know which one is the topic of conversation. That wasn’t true ten years ago. In fact, Hasbro managed to squeeze two Spacetrooper action figures into the Legacy Collection and both have turned out quite beautifully as far as action figures are concerned. But it is interesting that they are essentially considered the same Star Wars character and fall under the same listing in Wookieepedia. (Let us clarify, there are different types of Spacetroopers under the one listing.) Of course as far as the two action figures are concerned, one is realistically styled from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, but the latest version is based on its appearance from the Heir To The Empire comics. Spacetrooper got his start in the action figure line as 1998’s Expanded Universe Spacetrooper figure. A decent figure for the time, it now pales in comparison to this new release. This collection of figures is what really opened the door to the Expanded Universe for Star Wars collectors. Sadly, most collectors did not even see this group of figures at retail back then and they fetched a ridiculous premium on the secondary market. As with anything, they became more prevalent (due to them coming out of scalpers’ closets and then to eBay and not a reshipment of the product) and the prices they commanded became much less. That 1998 figure was pretty cool and holds up fairly well today. But if you compare it this new figure, well, let’s just say that they are night and day. The Expanded Universe wave in the Legacy Collection is filled with “huge” Star Wars figures and the Spacetrooper is no different. He is interestingly about as broad as the 1998 figure but much taller and larger in the head. The likeness is stupendous and this is a figure that will definitely be an important troop-builder of 2010. Technology has totally reinvented the way this figure was approached and the final product is staggering.

The Spacetrooper is very simply painted. The armor is cast in a very clean and bright white (except for one issue and we’ll get top that in a moment) and there aren’t any battle-damage markings (just like the 1998 version). The 1998 figure seems to have a pearly tone to the armor. That has been abandoned for a much more pristine (and brighter) look. And this works well for this character. By comparison, a lot more detail was applied to the Legacy Collection figure’s legs and joints and the improvements are significant. What we do find unfortunate is the quality of the plastic used to cast the figure. In a similar instance to what was seen on the Legacy Collection Stormtooper (BD46) and Han Solo (BD30) figures, the bright white has yellowed to a degree that is very visible to the eye. It is unknown if this can be easily wiped away like what was able to be accomplished with the 2002 figures that yellowed. But we don’t know why “yellowing” is rearing its ugly head again after so many years of success. The Spacetrooper has an awesome 14 points of articulation and comes with a removable jetpack and removable shoulder armor. While Hasbro could have just given us a nice big hole on the back of the figure, they went above and beyond to improve the aesthetics for this figure. The back jetpack attaches to three discreet slits and hold in place very firmly. And when you remove the backpack, the slits are arranged in a very pleasing pattern which looks like part of the Spacetroopere’s armor. To top it off, Hasbro has decoration the back panel with colorful red and blue shapes as if it is a functioning source of power or some life monitoring system. The results are fabulous and it just proved how both technology and clever design work hand in hand to make a stellar product. As a nice added bonus, the Spacetrooper has a wonderful ball-hinged torso and this allows to so much more movement that initially expected. If any figure deserved an all-new take, then it was certainly this figure. It is truly a masterpiece and we will hold Hasbro to the same standard for future Stormtrooper action figures. (And while they are at it we will encourage them to add in ball-jointed hips.)

Spacetroopers (or Zero-G assault stormtroopers) had a significant role in Heir To The Empire. They were a specialized branch of the Imperial Stormtrooper Corps and served the Empire by capturing enemy space ships. And apparently their loyalty to the Empire could only be rivaled by the Emperor Royal Guards. Their extended height is not due to them being extra tall soldiers. But the two-meter tall armor on the outside interfaces with the standard light stormtrooper armor. Additionally, the heavy armor allowed these stormtroopers to carry heavy firepower and an arsenal of weaponry in various compartments throughout the rest of the armor. Sadly, as great as this new version of the Spacetrooper is, it doesn't come with the articulated arm cannons of the 1998 figure. They took some shortcuts here which are definitely disappointing. Still, as part of the last wave of the Legacy Collection, Hasbro went out with a big bang. All of the figures make up an impressive collection of EU figures. And as a whole, we are getting some of the largest action figures in the line right here in this wave. They have all been designed with a careful eye and the paint jobs and other details are mesmerizing. We suspect that many collectors may be buying these figures by default to get the Build A Droid pieces to design BG-J38 (which is completely understandable in our eyes). But we bet that if you liked the big multimedia pushes of The Power Of The Force line, The Force Unleashed video game or Tartakovsky’s Clone Wars television show, there are other things this wave can offer you. Spacetrooper will indeed be an asset to your collection. It is very well-designed and despite the slight yellowing on the figure, it is a character that remains very popular despite appearing “long ago” in a mid-1990s comic series. We highly recommend this action figure for your collections. Action figures that are larger in size have been prominent in the basic line and we hope there are no signs of it slowing down. Spacetrooper is one of these and he is without a doubt an excellent action worthy of your consideration.

Collector Notes

Spacetrooper

Status: Spacetrooper is an all-new figure.

Articulation Count: 23 points (14 points 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 wrist (1), swivel right wrist (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: 3

Accessory Details: 2 removable shoulder armor pieces, removable jetpack

Original Droid Factory/Build A Droid Part: BG-J38 right leg

Date Stamp: 2009

Assortment Number: 99305/87535

UPC: 653569468363

Retail: $7.99 USD

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

Spacetrooper

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