ARC Trooper Echo [Lucasfilm 50] - TBS [AC] - Six Inch Figures (Exclusive)

Commemorate the first 50 years of Lucasflm with figures inspired by Star Wars: The Clone Wars!

ARC Trooper Echo is another example of a character that doesn’t make sense to place in packaging that imitates the 2008 and 2009 The Clone Wars 3.75-inch action figure line. Yes, The Black Series [Lucasfilm 50] line encompasses many different lines under one banner because it’s all about commemorating the anniversary of Lucasfilm. But it’s also essential for Hasbro to keep the line looking authentic to the period at hand. We didn’t see any ARC Troopers in the toy line until The Clone Wars [Shadow Of The Dark Side] lineup, which was the third phase of the entire The Clone Wars line. To place one in the “first phase” of The Clone Wars line makes no sense, and it is another anachronism in the Hasbro Star Wars toy line. Why doesn’t the current team keep this stuff in better check? Yes, Clone Trooper Echo was part of Season 1 of The Clone Wars, but the ARC Trooper armor didn’t become part of the story until Season 3. The ARC Trooper Echo is a beautiful addition to the 6-inch toy line. We only wish that Hasbro released it in different packaging and that they forwent the inclusion of The Clone Wars packaging for this figure. It should have been a general marketplace release.

Hasbro based most of ARC Trooper Echo on the new Clone Trooper tooling first used with 2020’s TBS [P4] Clone Trooper (Kamino) (TCW01) figure. There are many new parts here, but the figure's core is based on that original tooling. ARC Trooper Echo comes with a new layer of chest armor that Hasbro fitted to the torso. It’s immovable and provides a distinct look for the character. The figure also has a new head sculpt/portrait with a beautifully applied Photo Real deco. ARC Trooper Echo has no distinct facial tattoos, so we get an excellent and cleanly applied paint job here. There is also a new pauldron, kama, and holster/belt combination piece to outfit the character for ultimate screen accuracy. The lower arms and lower legs are also newly tooled parts. ARC Troopers have a lot of extra detail on these armor sections, so we’re happy that Hasbro didn’t settle with existing tooling and decided to recreate textures and designs faithful to the character’s appearance in The Clone Wars television series. From head to toe, ARC Trooper Echo is barely recognizable as Clone Trooper (Kamino). Hasbro added an overwhelming amount of newness to make this figure feel “all-new,” too.

Hasbro didn’t go cheap on accessories for ARC Trooper Echo either. They included both the DC-15 blaster and the DC-15 blaster rifle. The figure holds these guns well, but we wish the hands allowed for a tighter grasp because they fall out relatively easily, especially when carrying them with one hand instead of two. Hasbro also included two DC-17 blaster pistols. These much smaller guns are gorgeously tooled and fit into the holsters like a gun, and the figure also holds them well. ARC Trooper Echo comes with a removable helmet with a swivel rangefinder, and it fits exceptionally well: not too tight and loose. And Hasbro painted it beautifully and captured all of the detail and nuance of the on-screen character. The latest figures in The Black Series 6” line have incredible articulation systems. Despite all the extra gear, the same is true for ARC Trooper Echo. ARC Trooper Echo attains an astonishing array of poses and positions and has a fantastic center of gravity to hold these poses without issue. The biggest problem with this figure will be its availability. Currently a Target exclusive, it sells out in moments and is already commanding ridiculous prices on the aftermarket.