This figure, released by the renowned American toy company Hasbro in January 2022, is part of the Star Wars Black Series. It features “George Lucas in Stormtrooper Disguise,” depicting the founder of Star Wars, George Lucas, as an Imperial Stormtrooper. This piece pays homage to the classic film while also commemorating the 50th anniversary of Lucasfilm.

The packaging features a cardback design that evokes a strong sense of nostalgia. The overall design continues the classic style of Star Wars products, prominently displaying the iconic film logo and the “Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary” commemorative logo, highlighting the special significance of this item. The “Star Wars” text is rendered in the familiar iconic font, while the background image of the Stormtrooper further reinforces the character theme. The transparent plastic casing allows consumers to clearly see the figure, the Stormtrooper helmet, and the included weapons, making the entire design look complete and collectible.

This articulated figure excels in design and detail. The facial expression is finely crafted, especially George Lucas’s iconic beard and hairstyle, which are sculpted with remarkable realism, showcasing a high level of accuracy. The Stormtrooper helmet can be worn directly without the need to remove the head sculpt, making it easy for players to display different looks and enhancing playability.

Additionally, the Stormtrooper’s armor faithfully recreates the look from the film and comes with a typical Stormtrooper blaster. In terms of articulation, it performs adequately; while the belt may slightly interfere with some exaggerated poses, it allows for classic positions such as standing with the blaster, kneeling, sitting, running, and shooting in combat to be easily achieved.

Reviews and Star Ratings:

Appearance design: With the helmet on, this figure faithfully recreates the image of the Imperial Stormtrooper from “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.” When the helmet is removed, the figure reveals a face strikingly similar to George Lucas. Notably, this figure features carefully designed joints that are cleverly concealed, making it much more refined compared to the joint designs of older Stormtrooper figures, thus enhancing the overall visual appeal.

Material and Texture: This figure is made from high-quality plastic, with the shoulder armor crafted from a soft material that not only enhances the range of motion for the arms but also improves overall playability. In terms of feel, the figure gives a sturdy and durable impression, making it ideal for both collecting and handling while also ensuring a great display effect.

Craftsmanship and Details:  Overall, the craftsmanship of the figure is decent, with only minor paint overspray that is not very noticeable. However, the included blaster rifle has a rougher finish and lacks any paint detailing.

Playability: The only notable feature is that the helmet can be worn directly without the need for replacement. The figure comes with only one blaster rifle and lacks any interchangeable hands, which significantly limits the flexibility for display poses. Additionally, the figure is missing the common holster typically seen on Stormtroopers, which is somewhat disappointing.

Displayability: When displayed alongside other figures from the Black Series or different brands like S.H.Figuarts or Mafex, it still showcases a high level of visual appeal.

Recommendation Rating:

Conclusion:

As one of the most common villainous characters in the Star Wars film series, the Imperial Stormtrooper has successfully established the classic image of the Galactic Empire as an authoritarian regime. As a fan of the Star Wars series and a toy enthusiast, I can’t think of any reason not to recommend this articulated figure. Especially when compared to other Japanese brands, it offers great appeal in terms of price. It’s an excellent choice for expanding your Stormtrooper army.