LEGO Star Wars Han Solo Mudtrooper Minifigure Promotional Polybag 40300 Review

Welcome back for another LEGO review. Today we will be taking a closer look at the Star Wars–themed polybag Han Solo Mudtrooper set number 40300. This set came out in 2018, has 22 pieces, and was designed for people age six and up.

No, It's Not Harrison Ford; This Is Han Solo From Solo (2018)

Han Solo needs no introduction to Star Wars or Harrison Ford fans, but this particular minifigure is based on Alden Ehrenreich’s performance in the 2018 Solo: A Star Wars Story film. The movie let us see Han Solo’s life before he met Luke on Tatooine and became a hero of the rebellion against the Empire.

This minifigure is from what I believe is the most important scene in setting Han’s course in life for the original films. After getting kicked out of the Imperial Academy, Han is stationed on Mimban as a mudtrooper. Here, Han saves Chewbacca, earns his life debt, and meets Tobias Beckett, who sets Han on his path as a smuggler.

This minifigure was given away as a free promotional item with purchases of $35 or more on Star Wars–themed sets at the LEGO store

Leg Piece

The leg piece shows us just how muddy Han gets on Mimban. The dark tan mud is caked all over his boots and pants. Curved lines are used to show us the mud oozing down his body. His boots are completely covered, but you can see sections of his sand-green knee pads and dark bluish grey uniform partially revealed under all that dirt.

I love that you can clearly see this is the same uniform printing used for the Han Solo Imperial Mudtrooper found in the Imperial TIE Fighter LEGO set 75211. I am a bit surprised that no mud-dripping patterns were drawn onto the side of the leg piece.

Torso Piece

Once again, we can see the muck covering Han Solo’s Imperial Mudtrooper uniform from the TIE Fighter set. I’m glad that LEGO followed the outline of the armor to not only give it more texture but also to make sure we don’t lose the shape of the outfit under the mud. The sand-green armor and utility belt peeking through lets us know this is a fully dressed human and not a swamp creature or clay face.

Once again, we see the curved lines that show the thick mud flowing down his body. Just like the leg piece, the side of the torso lacks any printing. The back, however, is just as detailed as the front.

The two details I love most in the back are that we can see the electronic controls on the armor caked in dirt, and that the belt manages to look like the mud is actually seeping over and behind the belt buckle. You can imagine how uncomfortable Han must be feeling right now.

Head Piece

The original head piece gives us two facial expressions. Bricklink describes these expressions as scared and determined. For me, the scared face looks more like shock than fear. Our overly confident Han Solo can’t believe the mess he’s gotten himself into. The other face could be determined or an angry scowl, depending on the situation being created for the scene. It just shows how small changes can make a big difference.

The mouth position is an obvious change in expression, but a closer look shows how the position of the eyebrows and the size of the white pupils add to the emotional state of the character. The mud pattern dripping down his face is exactly the same for both sides.

Hair Piece

The short, wavy hair with a center part is a standard piece for the Han Solo minifigure. It doesn’t matter if it's Harrison, Alden, or an animated cartoon playing the part; they have the same hair.

However, Han has reddish brown hair, and this piece is a dark tan color. No, he’s not turning grey … yet. The dark tan color represents his hair being completely drenched in mud, just like the rest of him. This hair would remain an original piece until the BTS Dynamite set came out in 2023.

Display Stand

I was surprised that Han Solo didn’t come with a blaster or any other accessories. I actually went back to look for accessories in the bag and on the floor, thinking I might have missed them. Instead of an accessory, we were given an elaborate display stand.

To create the 3x4 dimensions, we were given a 2x3 plate and two 1x3 plates. The stand is one brick high and has a 3x4 tile with four studs in the center that's typically used for minifigure stands in the CMF series. The back of the stand has two 1x2 bricks with an axle hole. Here, you insert 2L notched axles to give the cardboard backdrop something to be attached to.

The backdrop is secured in place with two smooth 1/2 Technic bush pieces. The front of the stand uses a 1x4 brick with studs on the side to attach the name tile. The name itself is printed on a sticker that has to be applied separately to the black 1x4 tile. The sides of the stand have 1x1 bricks with a Technic hole. Even though there are two holes, the set comes with only one Technic pin.

This stand can be attached to other minifigures in the series that have similar bases, allowing collectors to show off their complete set. The cardboard backdrop has a picture of a fallen AT-DT on the planet Mimban. This dark, dirty background works well with our mud-covered Han Solo and is a nice representation of the plant we see in the film.

Conclusion

This is an amazing polybag minifigure. Every single piece used to create the character was unique at the time. It has a completely different look from any other Han Solo minifigure. The characters found in these promotional minifigure polybags are usually fun and unique, but it’s usually just the minifigure and maybe a small accessory. I love the display stands that came with this series. They're great for collectors who want to show off their collection rather than play with their figures.