io9: stormtrooper

Famous Vietnam War Photographs, with Stormtrooper Legos

Lisa Katayama — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 08:00:00 PDT

During the Vietnam War, world-famous photographers like Marc Riboud and Eddie Adams captured iconic (and traumatic) moments on film. In 2008, most war photographs are created by embedded journalists whose images are tightly controlled. So British photographer Mike Stimpson decided to make his contribution to the repository of war photography by staging mock Vietnam-era moments using Lego. This one, based on a 1967 protest in Washington, DC, stars Stormtrooper Legos as the US Army. See, it looks just like the original image.

This is a recreation of a famous 1968 photo by Eddie Adams of a soldier with his gun to a Vietnamese man's head. The Lego version is much less intense, but the irony of the gun and the smiley faces is creepy. Images by Mike Stimpson

Classics in Lego via Notcot

How Would A Stormtrooper Get Naked?

Kevin Kelly — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 11:30:24 PST

Annalee is asking costumed fans roaming the halls of WonderCon one crucial question: How would they strip out of their costumes if they had to get naked really, really fast? She caught up with the an intrepid member of the Imperial Stormtrooper squad, complete with his own supply of Nerds candy. Stormtroopers have to eat too, you know. Since he was sitting behind a table, he may have already had his armored pants off, but find out how he'd disrobe in a hurry inside.

Annalee: "So, if you had to get out of that Stormtrooper outfit really, really fast what would you start with?"
Stormtrooper: "My helmet!"
Annalee: "Okay, then... what next?"
Stormtrooper: "Uh... my chestpiece!"
Annalee: "Okay, but what if you had to go to the bathroom? Is there any way to get out of there?"
Stormtrooper: "No!"

We left him to his Nerds and heard him whimpering for mommy. Did the Stormtroopers use catheters or something?

Sexy Recruitment Posters For The Empire

Kevin Kelly — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 09:30:17 PST

Although most of the stormtroopers in the Star Wars movies turned out to be vat-grown clones of Boba Fett's daddy, perhaps some of them were citizens from around the Empire doing their duty. These concept art recruitment posters by Feng Zhu might have been plastered in cantinas and spaceports around the galaxy in an effort to beef up the Imperial presence. After all, you can't expect your average clone to do everything, can you? More sexy troopers after the jump.

If the Imperial Army had stormtroopers that looked like this, we can only assume that a) they'd have a ton of new recruits signing up, and b) they'd run out of funds building form-fitting stormtrooper armor for these overly endowed postergirls. It's not clear if those boobs are silicon-enhanced or Force-imbued, but they're clearly meant to get your midichlorians flowing.

We especially love their vapid expressions and usage of makeup. Who knew they had lipstick in the Empire? It's probably not standard issue with those outfits, but no doubt they have some sort of high-tech makeup applicator that works in zero gravity. All that's missing from this is a "Shhhh! Loose Lips Sink Death Stars!" poster warning about spreading secrets, and it would be a perfect set. We're going to see about ordering the "Next Planet!" version for the io9 lobby.