Shock Trooper - TVC - Basic (VC110)

Added: August 5th 2012
Category: Vintage Collection, The
Reviewer: Paul Harrison
Score:

Name: Shock Trooper
Collection: The Vintage Collection
Number: VC110/EP303
Source: Revenge Of The Sith
Availability: August 2012
License: Hasbro

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Celebrate the legendary Star Wars saga that changed the universe forever! This collection brings to life the incredible story of good versus evil that captured our imagination and took us to a galaxy far, far away. Iconic Star Wars heroes and villains are captured with incredible detail and premium features to commemorate each epic tale in the Star Wars saga. May the Force be with you!

Celebrate 35 years of Star Wars in 2012 as we recreate a "lost" packaging line look that was created, contemplated... and put aside in favor of Kenner's classic black-and-silver Star Wars design. For the first time ever, we're bringing this line look out of the Kenner archives and treating you to a glimpse of what might have been. The same creative team who designed the black-and-silver look also developed this design as one of several options to be considered for the line. In this lost line look, they created high-tech imagery incorporating a signature Star Wars vehicle and an epic space theme. What might have been, what was and what is: It all captures our imaginations, just as the Star Wars saga captures out imaginations today, tomorrow and always!

It’s often the trend that when something good happens, something bad isn’t too far behind. In the case of the 2012 TVC Shock Trooper, positive and negative come hand in hand. It appears that Hasbro’s goal is to update all the movie-based clones from Episode III using the 2011 TVC Clone Trooper (VC45) template. When it comes to the Episode II (or Phase I) clones, it’s a wonderful thing. But for Episode III (or the Phase II clones), it’s not nearly as exciting. You see, although Hasbro designed an all-new and appropriately sized helmet for the Clone Trooper (VC45) figure, they haven’t done so for those who are part of Phase II. Instead, they’ve recycled the inordinately large helmet from 2005’s ROTS Clone Trooper To Stormtrooper Evolutions sets. They then repainted it and threw it carelessly onto the figure to make it Episode III specific. It’s a shame because the collecting community is warming up to the new body type. Initially thought to be too thin, the Clone Trooper (VC45) sculpt is indeed screen-accurate when compared to reference materials. If you’ve never taken the time to compare, you should. You may be shocked by what you’ll find, and that’s no pun intended.

The 2012 version of the Shock Trooper turned out nicely, but it isn’t perfect. You may feel that the figure looks better when packaged than when displayed loose. As stated, the bucket is too large, but interestingly, it doesn’t look as oversized as other Clone Trooper action figures that also use it. 2012’s SW [TPM 3D] BARC Speeder With Clone Trooper Deluxe figure or 2012’s TVC Clone Trooper (501st Legion) (VC60) figure come to mind. Much of this illusion stems from the distinctive paint job associated with a Shock Trooper’s bright red color flashes. The vertical hash marks running across the top of the helmet and the solid sections of red seem to “shrink” the overall girth of the helmet, resulting in a fairly fitted appearance. The problem is that illusion doesn’t treat its oversizedness. The helmet is too big and too loose for the size of the figure’s head. Poorly fitting buckets ruin a Clone Trooper’s aesthetics, especially for action figures. However, we must admit that, ultimately, the figure comes together quite well when fully assembled. We appreciate the fact that it features a removable helmet, a first in the basic figure line for Shock Troopers, excluding Commander Thire from 2007’s TAC Emperor Palpatine/Commander Thire (1 of 6) Order 66 sets. For reasons unexplained, the red color flashes suit this tooling extremely well.

The red color flashes are especially vibrant on the Clone Trooper. The Shock Trooper from the 2006 TSC Skirmish In The Senate Battle Packs set had a few issues of its own that Hasbro corrected on 2007’s TAC Shock Trooper Saga Legends figure. Star Wars collectors are particularly fond of the 2005 ROTS Clone Trooper (III 41) sculpt, so collectors typically prefer any clone based on this mold. We agree that there is something very special about that Phase II clone. But the fact of the matter is that the VC45 sculpt is entirely more accurate. For years, Hasbro action figures have left an indelible imprint on our minds, shaping how we envision specific figures. So, when they correct something, we think it doesn’t look right since it differs from what is popular and has been produced previously in the lines. We can admit, however, that Hasbro should have taken the paint job a little bit further here. For example, the figure shows no signs of battle damage. This clean palette is always a point of chagrin for most collectors because we want to see our figures filthy. But details like the double parallel bicep stripes and horizontal double parallel thigh stripes are perfectly executed and look fabulous. The Shock Trooper won’t be the most sought-after figure released, but you’ll be missing out if you pass on it. It isn’t without merit.

Collector Notes

Shock Trooper

Status: Shock Trooper is a rework of the Clone Trooper figure from 2012's SW [TPM 3D] BARC Speeder With Clone Trooper Deluxe set. This time the figure has been painted in the color flashes of a Shock Trooper. This figure is originally based on 2011's TVC Clone Trooper (VC45) figure.

Articulation Count: 27 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), ball-jointed left wrist (2), ball-jointed right wrist (2), ball-jointed torso (2), ball-jointed left hip (2), ball-jointed right hip (2), 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: removable phase II clone trooper helmet, DC-15S blaster, DC-15A rifle

Date Stamp: 2011

Packaging Details:

Version 1: Revenge Of The Sith

Name: Shock Trooper

Year: 2012

Assortment Number: 39651/37499

UPC: 653569732631

Retail: $9.99 USD

Details: Initial release

Version 2: Star Wars

Name: Shock Trooper

Year: 2012

Assortment Number: 39651

UPC: 653569768975

Retail: $9.99 USD

Details: "Lost" packaging line look and new figure number EP303

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



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