Crowd Control Stormtrooper - POTF2 [R/G] - Deluxe

Height: 1.8 Meters Average
Status: Imperial Shock Troops
Classification: Human
Affiliation: Galactic Empire
Special Gear: Repulsor Jet-Pack With Crowd Control Specific Equipment

Feared throughout the galaxy, stormtroopers are elite shock troops deployed in the support of both ground forces and the Imperial fleet. They are responsible for policing Imperial outposts and territories, accountable for sustaining Imperial control in even the most dangerous sectors. This can be a challenging and often deadly assignment for the most reliable shock troop squadrons. Tough port cities such as Mos Eisley have high populations of outlaws, criminals, smugglers and other anti-Imperial types who create a typically chaotic atmosphere.

In order to suppress brawls and uprisings and to facilitate the supervision of areas with high criminal activity, the Empire began issuing crowd control thruster packs to many of its impact troops stationed in these areas. The packs themselves are made up of two large thrusters which extend outward for flight. Once in the air, a trooper can simply hover or travel up to speeds of 200km per hour. Dual hand levers provide acceleration as well as directional and weapons control. Mounted on the bolstered arms is a heavy blaster module, a grappling claw used for massive lifting and prisoner-hauling, and a supercharged taser which sends out a shockwave useful for repulsing and immobilizing victims.

These packs give the crowd control troopers a distinctive advantage during situations where they are outnumbered: two or three skilled troopers can effectively round up over fifty people with relative ease once taken to the air. The pack's incredible maneuverability and high speed make prisoner escape on foot virtually impossible, while its relatively quiet thrust has helped it to become a stealth vehicle sometimes used by the Imperial Espionage Division.

Kenner/Hasbro probably doesn’t get the credit they deserve for introducing a line of Star Wars toys that fall under the “Expanded Universe” banner. The Expanded Universe was a term that most collectors never heard until the Deluxe line was released. And anything falling outside the Star Wars films would be labeled as such. The first three Deluxe sets contained characters from the Original Trilogy but packed with accessories or vehicles not part of the films. They also wore gear different than they did in the films as well. In an effort to extrapolate playtime into something more imaginative for young Star Wars fans, Kenner/Hasbro produced these “outside of the box” sets to meet these needs. And the Deluxe line went over well because of the newness it presented. Collectors also developed an interest in the line because the “off screen” parts were nicely designed and believable (some more than others). Not all of the Deluxe sets were hits, but the ones that did go over well-assisted collectors with their dioramas, and allowed kids to enjoy Star Wars characters unlike anything to this point. This of the line as slightly accelerated Mini Rigs.

The Crowd Control Stormtrooper may be the best Deluxe figure set of the first wave that launched the line. We believe the set is inspired from events around Han Solo’s escape from Docking Bay 94 in Mos Eisley on Tatooine. Now, this is a stretch, but if you look carefully, you’ll find Stormtroopers in that scene that are dirty but without any specific Sandtrooper armor or gear. This is the same approach taken with the Crowd Control Stormtrooper. Of course, the Crowd Control Stormtrooper comes with a Flight-Action Thruster Pack And Capture Claw (as described by Kenner/Hasbro on the figure’s packaging) which wasn’t in the scene. But we strongly believe the basis of the Crowd Control Stormtrooper is based on the gearless Sandtroopers seen in the brief moments of Han Solo’s escape from Mos Eisley. Plus, we also see these Stormtroopers push their way through the streets of Mos Eisley with bystanders looking on with fear. Everything seemingly fits together nicely for this concept created by Kenner/Hasbro. Sadly, the Crowd Control Stormtrooper suffers from the inaccurate likeness of the original 1995 POTF2 [R/G] Stormtrooper figure, even though the Crowd Control Stormtrooper is an all-new sculpt.

The Flight-Action Thruster Pack And Capture Claw is perhaps as cool as it is corny. It’s a well-designed bulky accessory for the Crowd Control Stormtrooper, but the figure interacts with it beautifully. There is a hole in the figure’s back so it can be lodged into the Flight-Action Thruster Pack And Capture Claw accessory and stay in place with aggressive play. It’s designed with soft rubber tubes so the handles can be articulated as needed. They also fit well into the Crowd Control Stormtrooper’s hands (both of them). A button at the end of the claw’s arm is pressed to articulated the jaw-like action of it, and you can capture victims in it if you so desire. The large accessory mimics a jetpack, and with a flick of a button you can open it up and reveals an inordinate amount of detail housed inside of it. It’s highly detailed, colorful and has a believable look and feel to so many other Star Wars things already familiar to us. Overall, we think the Crowd Control Stormtrooper Deluxe figure set turned out well. The Crowd Control Stormtrooper and the Flight-Action Thruster Pack And Capture Claw might not be too useful by themselves, but when interacting together, it makes for a fun and enjoyable toy.