AT-AT Commander

Recommended music: Florence Price – Symphony No. 1 in E Minor

It’s #StarWarsSaturday, and we’re cruising above the snowy plains of Hoth during The Empire Strikes Back. From the Hasbro Star Wars The Vintage Collection, it’s the AT-AT Commander!

The All-Terrain Armored Transport, or AT-AT, made its debut in The Empire Strikes Back during the Battle of Hoth. These massive, four-legged vehicles stood over 20 meters tall and served as moving fortresses for the Empire. They were known for their powerful laser cannons and the fear they inspired. The steady, metallic sound of their advance warned the Rebel Alliance of danger. Each AT-AT was crewed by two drivers (or pilots), a gunner, and a commander.

Blizzard Force, Darth Vader’s personal fleet, was an elite armored unit within the 501st Imperial Legion. After the Empire found the Rebel base on Hoth, General Veers led the attack on Echo Base with a group of twelve AT-AT walkers, each commanded by Imperial officers.

Kenner introduced the first AT-AT Commander figure in 1981. Hasbro followed up with a new version in the Power of the Force 2 line, which came with an updated AT-AT Walker in 1997. In 2006, Hasbro released the first General Veers figure as part of The Saga Collection, and now, twenty years later, the character is finally getting an update. The unnamed AT-AT Commander featured here was released in 2010 as part of the first wave of The Vintage Collection.

This figure uses the torso and arms from the 2008 Captain Needa figure in The Legacy Collection, while the legs come from a Janek Sunber figure released in a Comic Pack that same year. The rest of the parts are new for this version. It is a significant improvement over earlier versions, offering 14 points of articulation and accessories such as a blaster, removable chest armor, goggles, and a helmet. While it does not include an Imperial cap like the 2006 Veers figure, the helmet fits better and lets you place the goggles on top, just like in the film.

The Empire Strikes Back turned 45 last May! I “figure” there will be a new Episode V figure to share here for the rest of the anniversary year. Happy 45 years and counting to TESB!

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