2021 saw Lucasfilm celebrate its 50th Anniversary, and to celebrate Hasbro released a number of special waves of 6-inch Black Series figures based on various points of the Lucasfilm history and with packaging to match. The Clone Wars wave saw four new/tweaked figures added to the Black Series line with special blister card packaging based on the original 2008 clone wars 3.75-inch white and blue clone trooper helmet style packaging.
The cards are appropriately re-sized for the 6-inch line and carry the character name, artwork, and Lucasfilm 50th logo on an insert at the base of the rounded blister. The back of the card is dominated by the Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary timeline, with the Clone Wars era highlighted in the brief accompanying text. Unlike most other Black Series figures, the card has apparently no room for any character background text.
"Commemorate the first 50 years of Lucasfilm with figures inspired by Star Wars: The Clone Wars!"
Echo makes his debut in the Star Wars Black Series, arriving in his ARC Trooper armour and equipment from The Clone Wars. The figure utilises the arms, torso and upper legs of the newer Clone Trooper body while also giving him new lower leg armour consistent with the ARC Trooper armour. Over this, we have a new dual pauldron with an equipment pouch, a new fixed rear backpack (glued in situ) and a kama with dual holsters. Unlike some of the previous Clone characters, the skirt piece is soft plastic and not soft goods.
The armour is cast in white with the inner suit in black. Having these as individual parts connected together does away with the issues from the older Clone Trooper body of painting white over black and messy joints around the knees and elbows. As a member of the 501st, Echo also has blue accents to the armour and grey applied to the forearm and lower leg armour. There are plenty of small details including coloured switches on the forearm armour and the handprint on his chest section.
The one negative on the sculpt and deco are the feet. They have been taken from the existing Clone Trooper with the inner piece painted in grey. On an ARC Trooper, this should extend and cover the foot more. Left in this state it does make Echo look like is wearing white sandals over grey socks.
While all the new Clone Troopers are assembled with a helmet over a Temura Morrison generic clone head, Echo's helmet is not glued in place and is removable to reveal a fully deco Echo head underneath. The helmet features the fin of the ARC troopers as well as a range finder that is articulated and can be moved down over the visor. Like the armour it is cast in white plastic with the blue of the 501st and the gloss black of the visor painted on top. Silver is then used around the breathing vents and grey trim around the back of the helmet.
The Echo head is most likely a tweak of an existing Temura Morrison clone trooper head from Revenge of the Sith. The hair is adjusted for the flat-top look as worn by Echo from his debut episode 'Clone Cadets' to his apparent death during the 'Citadel Attack'. Photoreal deco enhances the likeness adding realism to the eyes and shading around the eye sockets, nose and mouth. The helmet fit over the head is snug - so over time you may get some paint rub.
As an ARC Trooper Echo is fully equipped with Clone weaponry, starting with a pair of DC-17 blasters in his holsters. These have been included with most Clone Commander figures and are simply cast in black plastic with no paint apps. Once again, as has happened with other characters touting twin pistols, Hasbro has not updated the left hand with a trigger finger. While Echo can hold a DC-17 in either hand, the left grip is not as natural as the right,
Echo is then packed with the usual DC-15A and DC-15S blasters. Both are the newer tweaked versions and are both cast in black plastic with crisp, but unpainted detailing across the weaponry. The right-hand grips both weapons well with the trigger finger slotting in place, the left hand then comes across to cup the barrel of either weapon.
Echo has 19 points of articulation with the neck jointed both at the top and the base, and the arm movement expanded with the addition of butterfly shoulders. We do get single joints on the elbows and knees but the range is sufficient for firing poses with the blasters, and more dynamic and wider stances. The knee joints will bend enough for kneeling poses, but the hips won't raise the upper legs enough, and there is some interference from the Kama shirt section.
All of Echo's joints are tight, secure and move really well with ratchets evident on key joints like the ankle rockers.
The 50th Anniversary ARC Trooper Echo is a release that will please collectors of carded figures with its retro nod to the original Clone Wars figures of the early 2000s, as well as out of box collectors who can add the first ARC Trooper to their Clone Wars display. Echo is really well executed - other than the decision over the feet - using existing parts and bringing in new ones which will expand the options for future Clone releases and other ARC Trooper figures. There is a good choice of weapons and the articulation does its job although a bit more range in the hips would be a good future enhancement.
While not confirmed, Echo may get a repack in the main Galaxy Collection line in this state, but this is certainly not guaranteed and these Clone Wars carded figures are dwindling fast in stores so don't hesitate if your 501st Troopers or Clone Army need a new recruit,
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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...
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