Joker Squad

The joker Squadron set is an Entertainment Earth exclusive set that includes 5 Stormtroopers and a Quarren Sith Lord.

As you might know, I am a huge Star Wars nerd – it’s not so uncommon amongst thirtysomethings. It’s part of our DNA really. But there’s nerd, and there’s ÜBERNERD, and that line can be defined by one thing – Expanded Universe.

See, there is the official George Lucas universe – the six movies, the books, that sort of thing, direct from Lucas to you. Then there is this thing called the Expanded Universe. These are stories that take place before, after and between those movies, often times told in books, comics and video games. While most are approved as canon by Lucasfilm, some of it can really stretch its connection to the Star Wars Universe.

I’m all about the official Star Wars universe. I’ve seen all the movies, read the entire Marvel Comics run, played some games, and read some of the books that came out in the 90s (Timothy Zahn’s were my favorite). But other than that, forget about it. Knights of the Old Republic? No idea. Han Solo’s kids? Nope. I draw the line there.

The Joker Squad falls squarely into the ÜBERNERD Expanded Universe thing. While I’m sure these characters were in-demand by a subset of Star Wars fans, most of us have no idea who they are.

Included in this set are six figures that come from the Dark Horse comic series issues 16 and 17. If you want to read more about the background of the Joker Squad, check out the entry on Wookiepedia

The included figures are:

Lord Maleval, a Quarren Sith Lord, is armed with a red lightsaber and a lightwhip. Loyal to Darth Krayt, this villain features loads of articulation and a cloth robe with wires inside so you may pose it any way you see fit. Articulation is good, but the whip is just string. Would have been better as wire. The robe with wires is a nice idea, but hard to make look good.

Sergeant Harkas, or “Hardcase” as his men call him, has uniquely decorated armor indicating his rank. This tough-as-nails trooper leads his men against the opposition in the name of the Emperor! His helmet is removable, as is all the other helmets. It doesn’t fit quite right as you can see a bit of beard poking through the bottom.

Anson Trask, fresh out of training, is the “noob” of the group. Having just been assigned to his 1st mission, this soldier is ready to fight alongside his squadmates against a worthy foe… a group of defectors!

Jes Gistang handles the heavy weapons in Joker Squad. She’s the 1st-ever female Stormtrooper in the Star Wars action figure line! With slicked-back red hair and a weapon nearly as big as she is, this amazing figure is all set to rain down the pain on her enemies! This figure is probably the main reason to buy this set. A Female Stormtrooper! The armor is specially molded to have a sleeker appearance.

Hondo Karr, rumored to be an ex-Mandalorian, is as proficient with his blade as he is with a blaster. Surprising for a Stormtrooper, this anti-authoritarian loose cannon is a bit of a mystery. Can he be trusted with the future of the Empire? Not with a mullet like that.

Vax Potorr was born on Coruscant, and through a life of hardship, he eventually found his way into Joker Squad. Ready to jump headfirst into battle, he has his eye on the enemy and his blaster aimed right at their heads!

So if you are into the Expanded Universe, great, you will love this set. If not though, it’s still a good buy. You figure it’s $40 for six figures. That’s $6.66 a figure. That’s less than the price of a regular store bought figure. If you want an easy affordable way to bulk up your Stormtrooper army, this is the way to do it.

The Joker Squad is available NOW from Entertainment Earth

The background in these photos can be found at Action Figure Displays.