Rebel Trooper (Hoth) - TBS [P4] - Six Inch Figures (TESB03)

After the Battle of Yavin, the Rebels fled from the Imperial Starfleet, seeking a new main base of operations. They settled on the frozen Outer Rim world of Hoth.

Before we begin, we're going to whine and complain about something regarding this figure. How come Hasbro didn't include two additional alternate faceplates with The Black Series [Phase IV] version of the Rebel Trooper (Hoth) 6" figure? They've missed a great opportunity here, and it's more than an oversight. It was the ample opportunity to help 6" collectors army build this figure, give reason to purchase it again, and over collectors some diversity within the line. Why not include a black or Asian likeness this time? Or why not add some other white person likenesses to help show that the Rebel Alliance has more than two Rebel Troopers fighting in the Battle of Hoth. As you can see, we're quite bothered by this. It wouldn't cost that much to develop two additional faceplates. And we're thoroughly disappointed in Hasbro that they couldn't expend a little of their budget to make this a reality. For the record, this figure's correct name is Rebel Soldier (Hoth Battle Gear), and sometimes in the modern line, it's referred to as Hoth Rebel Trooper. Hasbro developed this figure with precision and adding unexpected extras, but sincerely appreciated. This figure's interchangeability is nothing short of amazing, and you can create many alternate looks and styles to assist you in proper army building. Hasbro humorously but cleverly adding the extra faceplate in the survival backpack. We bet you didn't know the Rebel Alliance troopers packed a different face for backup. Rebel Trooper (Hoth) is a triumphant winner in The Black Series 6" line. And Star Wars fans of any action figure persuasion won't be able to discount what this figure offers everyone. The various iterations you create of this figure makes it feel like you're creating MANY members of Echo Base. You attain many styles thanks to the goggles and the scarf. Options include placing the goggles on the brim of the cap or fitting to the figure's face as well. If that's not enough, the removable scarf doubles as a neck and face covering. You place it underneath the figure's neck "as designed" for a neck covering. Or you can flip it "upside-down" for a mouth and nose covering to protect from the harsh tundra of Hoth. The options are yours.

Hasbro outfitted the Rebel Trooper (Hoth) figure well, although we have a few points to make about the included weaponry. There is NO DOUBT that some of the Rebel troopers on Echo Base used the DH-17 blaster, but the numbers are small. You can see this weapon in a few production stills and reference images. Most of them utilized the DL-21 blaster pistol (a modified Armalite AR-7 blaster pistol) for their sidearm, from what we understand. It's a bit difficult to make out what gun is in the holsters of the troopers on Hoth in still and reference images online, but both weapons are correct depending upon the character discussed. We'd love to know conclusively which one they commonly used. Slightly more bothersome is the lack of a strap on the BlasTech A280 blaster rifle. We feel this is a massive setback for this figure. If you search this weapon online for reference images, you'll find it with and without a strap. So, the accessory isn't incorrect. However, in both, The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi, we cannot find a single trooper WITHOUT the strap on the gun, and the strap is most familiar with collectors since it's all we know. There are many soldiers in the Battle of Hoth and the Battle of Endor, so anything is possible. But it feels like Hasbro missed an essential detail by not including the strap on this weapon. We'll continue to comb the scenes for an unstrapped version of this blaster rifle, however. Other accessories include the survival backpack with a removable compartment and hidden alternate "bearded" faceplate. And we also get goggles with a real elastic band to stay firmly in place on the figure and a scarf attachment that Hasbro engineered to work two different ways. It's an innovative use of the same accessory. You can achieve over a dozen, perhaps a dozen and a half, unique looks for the Rebel Trooper (Hoth) figure between the two different faceplates and the goggles and the scarf. This yield is not something to brush aside. It's unbelievable that Hasbro could get that many distinct appearances out of the same character.

Imagine if they start making the suggested "troop builder" sets by giving collectors additional faceplates? We'll have an army of the Rebel Trooper (Hoth) characters at a quick pace. Our only suggestion is that Hasbro should periodically release this figure's main body with varying dirt collections and ranking badges to prevent things from becoming too repetitive with this body type. The Rebel Soldier (Hoth) figure also has an incredible articulation system. It too benefits from the updated "butterfly" shoulder joints. They don't work too well, reaching forward, but the arm goes backward exceptionally well. To our disappointment, Hasbro didn't update the knees with ball-jointed articulation. The Rebel Trooper (Hoth) figure still has double hinge-jointed knees. You get terrific flexibility from them (the figure can touch its heel to its butt), but aesthetically, it interrupts the figure's streamlined look a bit. This figure made its debut in The Empire Strikes Back 40th Anniversary line look, complete with incorrect vintage Kenner reference image and other packaging issues. Now Hasbro carried the figure forward into The Black Series [Phase IV] line in colorful and trapezoidal packaging where the figures are grouped and numbered according to Star Wars source, not unlike The Saga Collection from 2005-2007. Collectors of the 6" line have been given a considerable treat from Hasbro. With everything included here, it's fantastic they're only charging $19.99 for it. This figure might be served better in the Deluxe line with even more additional interchangeable faceplates and more extensive accessories, like seated cannons or anti-vehicle cannons. But the figure I still a newbie in the lineup, so Hasbro may make the most of this tooling in the future by releasing sets like we're suggesting. While we wait, be sure to enjoy the Rebel Trooper (Hoth) 6" figure. We hope they forge ahead with the same approach for the Rebel Commandos from the Battle of Endor. It's a simple and excellent way to develop the armies of Star Wars.