The Last 17:  Is The Imperial Gunner A Stunner?

 
Kenner Name: Imperial Gunner

Modern Name: Imperial Gunner

Vintage Release: POTF 92-Back (1985) [No. 93760]

Does It Exist In The Modern Line: YES

Does It Exist In The Vintage Collection: YES

Does It Exist In The Vintage Collection On Its Debut Card: NO

Latest Modern Release: The Vintage Collection (2022)

Is The Modern Release Good Enough: NO

Review: VC232 - Imperial Gunner


The Imperial Gunner (also known as the Death Star Gunner in some circles) was the only true army builder in the Last 17 (unless you consider the A-Wing Pilot an army builder). That's pretty cruel to stick an army builder in an end-of-line and hard to acquire assortment. Hasbro would never do something like that...except for all the times they've done it. The worst was the Emperor's Royal Guard in the online exclusive final wave of TVC 1.0 (back before e-tail was as convenient as it is today). Anyway, I'm glad I wasn't an army builder in 1985.

The first version of a Vintage Collection Imperial Gunner came out in 2019 as the Rogue One sourced VC147 - Death Star Gunner. What made that release specific to Rogue One was the missing imperial cog on the figure's left shoulder. That detail was added to the 2022 release which came on a Return of the Jedi card under the name "Imperial Gunner", which makes it Hasbro's true O96 counterpart:


I gave that 2019 release a perfect 10 out of 10 score, which I deeply regret now. I think the articulation system on the figure was very deserving of that score at the time, but I downplayed how undersized that helmet was. In fact I called it accurate. That is the part I wish I could take back. I try not to overreact to such issues because, time and time again, it turns out that I (and/or the community) have a false perception in my head. So I talked myself into thinking that I was wrong, and Hasbro was right because that's often the case, and I end up getting embarrassed when I assume my "head canon" is correct. Well, this time I zigged instead of zagged and I ended up embarrassing myself. If I could get a redo, that figure is an 8 out of 10.

But there's a silver lining to this. If Hasbro were to ever give us the Imperial Gunner on a proper POTF card, they can tweak the figure to make repurchase worthwhile. If the Gunner were upgraded to rocker ankles with a newly sculpted helmet, I would definitely be a buyer. It doesn't have barbell hips, but the ball joints on the existing sculpt function very well, so I don't think the tooling costs could be justified especially since the demand would definitely be closer to the "niche" side. I'm not calling for any sort of wide, main-line release. But I hope Hasbro can figure out a way get me, and my fellow cult of POTF enthusiasts the 1985 Kenner figures on their proper Kenner card before the line ends (or I do).

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