First Order Stormtrooper Heavy Gunner - S.H. Figuarts

S.H. Figuarts is a new standard figure series that incorporates the Bandai action figure "Art" under the theme "Pursuing Character Expression through Humanoid Action."

It’s a commonplace to expect a Star Wars licensee to reuse a sculpt that can be made into additional characters once that base sculpt is completed. In Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens there were many different types of First Order Stormtroopers. And S.H. Figuarts has taken the opportunity to produce as many versions of the many differing First Order Stormtrooper from the first film in the Sequel Trilogy. A web exclusive, S.H. Figuarts delivers the First Order Stormtrooper Heavy Gunner, a character that appeared in Episode VII, but was a little bit too obscure to see by the average film viewer. Images also exist of this character against a desert background, but those scenes didn’t make it off the cutting room floor. But they can be seen when Finn and Poe Dameron steal the First Order Special Forces TIE fighter from the First Order hangar. Essentially just a First Order Stormtrooper with an ammo vest and a huge gun, it is one of the cooler looking characters from The Force Awakens, and we’re thrilled that S.H. Figuarts felt it was a viable candidate for their high-end line of action figures. First Order Stormtrooper Heavy Gunner is a retool, not a figure with extra accessories. His ammo vest, whether part of the torso armor or just glued in place, isn’t removable which makes him a unique sculpt. This approach prevents it from looking too bulky and out of place. We get a much more streamlined character because of this.

Based on 2015’s SHF First Order Stormtrooper figure, the only new parts are the the torso and the upper right lega armor. The rest of the figure is the same. Because we have quite a few S.H. Figuarts figures under our belt now, you should know the drill well. These figures are lightweight, but this benefits the figure by allowing it to be posed in very dynamic and action-oriented ways. By not being “top heavy” or “weighty,” the First Order Stormtrooper Heavy Gunner can attain a variety of incredible poses with minimal effort. And if you have him utilize his heavy gun, that can act as another form of balance for the figure. Despite being lightweight, these figures are also quite sturdy. This figure also has a wide range of movement in spite of its armored physique. The First Order Stormtrooper Heavy Gunner can be posed in any position you desire and will look naturally doing so. Sure, you may have to twist a thigh or bicep here and there, but this figure looks astounding in any position you choose. We may be off a point here or there, but at last count, we were able, to sum up minimally 47 total points of articulation on the First Order Stormtrooper Heavy Gunner. That’s an incredible amount of articulation and if you're not into 6" scale now, you WILL BE once you get your hands on any figure from the S.H. Figuarts line. The First Order Stormtrooper Heavy Gunner is a fun release because of its accessories. This figure is a great one to begin your journey.

Not everything is completely flawless with the First Order Stormtrooper Heavy Gunner S.H. Figuarts figure. We’re going to talk about them briefly, but it certainly isn’t enough to detract from the figure’s overall quality and artfulness. He comes with a First Order blaster pistol that only attached to him via plugs. So when you pose the gun in his hand, you can see these unsightly plugs. It also leaves two holes in his right leg thigh armor. Certainly, S.H. Figuarts have come a long way with the First Order Stormtrooper characters. The original release wasn’t even able to wear the blaster pistol on his thigh armor. The articulation system is impressive beyond words. And there are points of articulation here that we’ll never see added to the figures in Hasbro line, despite their importance. For example, the two shoulder armor pieces each contain two points of articulation. There are four belt pouches that each have hinge-jointed articulation. And the “toe sections” of both of his boots also come with hinge-jointed articulation allowing you to angle his feet as needed for balance and believable running poses. There is so much to appreciate here that it's amazing. You will probably notice too that the First Order Stormtrooper Heavy Gunner is in a slightly smaller scale than The Black Series [Phase III] version is. The size issue tends to be a typical “issue” for Japanese collectibles, however. The First Order Stormtrooper Heavy Gunner is a lot of fun. Give it a try!