Okay, there I was, aimlessly wandering eBay when I come across what looks like a Star Wars Black Series Shadow Trooper. I love Shadow Troopers and I missed the Target set so I can’t help clicking it. Even if it’s a bootleg, I’m interested. But this doesn’t look like a bootleg, and it doesn’t look like the Target trooper…
Last night there were just a couple of regular auctions, no big deal. Today though there are 24 auctions, both regular and BIN. All with these pics:
At first I thought bootleg. But bootlegs usually have some articulation cut out. Hell, I just got a couple that were 5 POA. But no, as the pics show, this thing has full range, every point that the standard Stormtrooper has.
So then I thought, okay, this is another run of the Target exclusive Shadow Trooper set. But after looking at pics, the Shadow set was a Sandtrooper. And by now we should all know the difference between the Black Series Sandtrooper and Stormtrooper.
Ignore the pauldron, that is a separate piece and can be removed. The biggest differences are the left knee and the abs. Completely different sculpts. Like I said, the Target set is a Sandtrooper.
Our mystery Shadow Trooper here is most definitely a Stormtrooper.
Weirdest of all, there is packaging. A fancy box with an insert. Now, I’m not saying that bootlegs can’t have packaging, just that it always throws me off when it does.
UPDATE: I completely forgot about the S.H. Figuarts Shadow Trooper packaging, and this packaging is a match for that. But the figure is still a Black Series figure. Thanks to Twitter user Den-Obi-Wan Kenobi for the reminder!
It even comes with the same weapons as the original release of the Stormtrooper.
Now I’m not saying this is some official figure due for release later this year. It may very well be, and probably is, a knockoff. What I can say is that it looks like a very nice bootleg, if pictures are to be believed. And you all know me. Complete sucker for the Star Wars, and even more for the troopers, so I had to grab one with a Buy It Now. So now the long wait begins, along with anticipation and the hope that I don’t get screwed on this deal.
Snagged one of these and I’m happy with the purchase. It’s very good quality for a bootleg and Shadow Trooper figures are quite rare.
Had to snag two of these guys for my collection. Thanks for the heads up on them!
Yeah, it’s a SH Figuarts knockoff made from Black Series stormtrooper figure (odd, yeah). The price is great for a Figuarts knockoff, but too high for a BS knockoff, IMO. Easy pass.
Yeah, it’s the standard BS Stormie just with a black coat of paint in the Figuarts box by the looks of it I gotta admit, though, it’s strange for bootleggers to go this extra effort. It could be something like the NECA TMNT bootlegs where they got a hold of the original mold and went with black to mimic the Shadow Trooper.
The box, on the other hand, is a bit odd. Nice touch however.
It could be a bootleg of the SWB ANH Stormtrooper disguise Han Solo figure from wave 6. That figure had a slightly larger helmet than the typical stormtrooper figure.
Yeah, I completely forgot about that box. But at least it’s a nice knock-off.
Sweeet! As long as it’s nice, I’m good. Thanks for the info and the peace of mind. I managed to get in on the Shadow Trooper model before the prices went crazy but this just adds to the army. Woo!
Yeah, the box shares the same artwork as the SH Figuarts Shadow Trooper. Definite knock off.
Hey Robo! I have this figure. It arrived in the mail a few days ago. I ordered it because I missed out on the bandai kit trooper and really wanted a shadow trooper. I can say that I believe it is a bootleg, the bootleg Stormtrooper is exactly the same as the real deal. The Darth maul bootleg is the same way. They must have gotten hold of the molds used on the real deal. The figure is great, paint is fine and articulation is the same as stated.