Collector Mystery Box - TBS [P3] - Six Inch Figures (Exclusive)

The latest generation of cold weather assault Stormtroopers, Snowtroopers wear advanced insulated armor and helmets that reduce the glare of icy terrain.

Well, this is something new from Hasbro. We didn’t expect the collector-focused line to head into a blind-boxed territory, but here we are with the TARGET exclusive Collector Mystery Box. It’s our personal opinion that Hasbro should stay far away from blind-boxed concepts like this. It’s not their market. And other licensees do it better. It might be inappropriate to call the Collector Mystery Box set a cash grab, but that’s how we feel. Maybe this does have a market. We’re not entirely sure who that us, however. Let’s get to the spoiling of this box right away. We’ve never understood the interest in blind-boxed merchandise. As finicky collectors, we want to know what we’re getting in advance. Imagine the constant disappointment of getting a box of junk that you don’t need or want for your collection? Thankfully, for The Black Series [Phase III] 6” Collector Mystery Box, the First Order Elite Snowtrooper is the star of the set, and all the other merchandise included with it support the figure. But for $39.99, it doesn’t feel like we’re getting a generous amount of merchandise. This set sells for double the price of a standard 6” figure. Getting a beanie and a pin and a comic book doesn’t necessarily feel like it makes up the difference.

As briefly mentioned, Hasbro included a First Order cape made out of an extremely soft and luxurious material. If we didn’t know better, we’d assume it was woven from cashmere. They’ve also added a First Order pin. What do people do with pins today? Are they collectible still? Is there a need for them? And finally, Hasbro added a variant cover edition of the Marvel #1 Star Wars: Allegiance full-size comic book. We suppose you get a nice collection of merchandise here, but it’s not our cup of tea and not our bag. We hope those who are into such gimmicks find these valuable in some way. The reason to purchase this set is for the exclusive First Order Elite Snowtrooper figure. Admittedly, it’s one of our most favorite characters in the First Order that Hasbro produced as an action figure. Yes, they were severely underutilized in The Force Awakens, but it may be possible that they will have a great role in Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker. Right out of the box, we were overwhelmed with strong similarities this figure has to the concept art interpretations of Commander Faie (BD 24) and Commander Keller from Star Wars: Republic #79. Now, these two characters aren’t exact matches of the First Order Elite Snowtrooper, but the costume approaches are similar, and the connections are uncanny.

The double-layered soft-goods cape is gorgeous, and its drape is brilliant and looks beautiful hanging off of the figure’s soldiers. The figure itself is nothing new. Hasbro took 2016’s TBS [P3] First Order Snowtrooper (12) figure and repainted it all over to give it a new style and appearance. You’ll find reds and blues added to the chest area and the sides of the backpack to make it different from previous releases. Also of note, the backpack comes with a soft-goods covering that wraps around it. We have to be honest. We’re not sure if it’s there to protect the backpack accessory, or if it’s part of the costume for this version of snowtrooper. We’ll need to read the included comic to see if we can learn anything more about this curious and included fabric piece. With an outstanding 28 points of articulation, the First Order Elite Snowtrooper poses well. And once again, the character comes without a removable helmet, something we’re glad to see implemented on so many First Order troopers. The figure also comes with a First Order blaster. The Collector Mystery Box feels like a silly way to offer exclusives. Again, this is how we feel. You might see this differently than we do. We do appreciate the 6” figure in this set, but we don’t feel we should have to pay $40 to get it.